Reborn in 1985, starting from a machine factory

Secretary Liu and the factory director looked at Chen Mo almost simultaneously.

The factory manager realized his lapse in composure. He leaned back in his black leather office chair and glanced at Secretary Liu.

Secretary Liu, understanding the implication, asked, "Chen Mo, is there anything you want to say?"

"Regarding gantry milling machines, I've been looking at materials these past few days and found that Soviet equipment has some very distinctive features."

"The difficulty in maintenance is not due to a lack of technology, but rather to hidden problems left over from the original design of the equipment," Chen Mo said.

This sentence was clearly meant to relieve Yang's anger, and Yang gave Chen Mo a grateful look.

The factory manager, still furious, demanded, "Chen Mo, just tell me, can you fix it or not?"

After those words were spoken, the entire office fell silent once more.

Engineer Yang and several other engineers lowered their heads, afraid to even glance at the factory manager.

Secretary Liu was also worried for Chen Mo. The young man was quick-witted and had good judgment. If he studied diligently, he would definitely be able to put his skills to good use in the future.

But if he openly offended the factory manager, then he couldn't say much. It was better to just be a worker and stay a worker.

Chen Mo raised his head, his eyes calm: "Factory Manager, I've memorized this information. I can give it a try!"

This statement was very calm, as casual as a conversation between comrades about what to have for lunch in the cafeteria.

But the content of those words made Yang and the others look up simultaneously, and one of them, unable to contain himself, blurted out: "You?!"

A barely perceptible glint flashed in the factory manager's eyes. The image of Chen Mo describing the guide rail deformation from a few days ago flashed before his eyes: "You mean, you want to try it?"

Chen Mo nodded.

"Good, a newborn calf is not afraid of a tiger, young people should have drive."

"I promise you right now, if you can fix it, even if it's just a temporary fix, to ensure the project's schedule is met."

"The factory might have policies that favor you! People with skills should make the most of them!"

"Go ahead, just ask Secretary Liu to coordinate if needed."

Chen Mo straightened his chest abruptly: "Thank you for your trust, leader. I guarantee I will complete the task."

"I have..." Chen Mo looked at Engineer Yang.

Engineer Yang shook his head frantically.

Others might not know, but how could he not? He was just a factory worker who got a temporary technician position by sucking up to the boss.

Now they're eager to show off and get involved, but they definitely won't get away with it.

Chen Mo looked away: "Boss, I'll give it a try for now. If we need more people, I'll borrow some workers from the workshop to lend a hand!"

"Go get to work!" The factory manager nodded. "You guys go back too."

These words were like a pardon, and Yang and the others rushed to the door, with Chen Mo following closely behind.

Seeing that the office had quieted down again, the factory manager said, "Xiao Liu, you still need to keep in touch with things in the Soviet Union."

Secretary Liu had been on tenterhooks ever since Chen Mo took on the task, but he finally relaxed when he heard the factory director speak.

"Factory manager, do you also think Chen Mo lacks the ability?"

"How could that be?" The factory manager picked up a book from the table. "He works in the workshop, and it's already quite an achievement that he was able to get out of trouble in time. He's quite perceptive."

"I think there's an 80% chance he'll be able to repair the equipment!"

"Okay, factory manager, shall we remove the 'temporary' designation from his temporary technician status at the end of the year?" Secretary Liu tentatively suggested.

"Hmm!" The factory manager gave a noncommittal "hmm."

...

Back in the workshop, Chen Mo skillfully opened the metal toolbox and took out all the useful tools.

He also left behind a few of Yang's tools.

It's almost impossible for one person to repair such a huge gantry milling machine; someone has to help move and lift it.

In my past life, I was young and impetuous, and I didn't understand or care about these things.

Now everything seems clear: I'm just an employee at the factory, someone who's been helped along by others, and I don't have any deep-seated hatred for anyone.

Once you've secured the core interests, you should relinquish the rest; that will make the rest easier.

It's just a pity that we found out too late.

Otherwise, in my past life, I wouldn't have ended up like this: working for twenty years, I couldn't even find someone to drink with.

As for this repair, even if Engineer Yang wanted to come, Chen Mo would have to refuse.

He can only use the workers in the workshop.

After all, the technology department now holds the power to influence the discourse on technology.

Chen Mo approached the equipment, which had been mostly disassembled. Through the remaining structure, one could almost see the glory of the equipment when it left the factory.

After a moment's thought, Chen Mo inserted the hex wrench into the gap and firmly gripped the nut.

He then applied slight force with his hands, shaking the screw up and down, gradually loosening it.

These screws are two or three decades old, and they could easily break if you're not careful.

The main malfunction of this gantry milling machine this time was due to a similar reason.

One gear at a time was removed, with the help of Foreman Song and another worker.

Newspapers were laid out on the ground, and the disassembled gears were arranged on the newspapers in order of their serial numbers.

After studying Lei Feng's spirit repeatedly these past few days, the workers were already feeling dizzy and disoriented, but when they actually got to work, they found it exceptionally easy.

2:30 a.m. on the third night!

The workers from the Song shift have already left, and the night shift workers have taken their place.

Chen Mo remembered the location of every piece of equipment, gear, and even screw.

Even though decades have passed, it all feels like it happened yesterday.

Just like I was back then, full of vigor and high spirits.

As the last screw was loosened, more than ten workers shouted in unison as they placed the swing arm aside, revealing the entire guide rail underneath.

This time, without Chen Mo saying a word, several workers simultaneously pointed to the middle of the guide rail, where a screw was perfectly positioned and stuck.

The pulleys that were supposed to be working were now broken into pieces.

Unfortunately, even after the pulley is broken into pieces, the swing arm can still move within a certain range, so it cannot be positioned accurately.

Chen Mo rubbed his temples. It was the same in his previous life, but this screw was just a symptom.

With three layers of protective shields and countless gears blocking the way, a screw cannot appear out of thin air, nor can it easily pass through the shields.

Therefore, this screw can only come from inside the gantry milling machine.

To temporarily restore the gantry milling machine to normal operation, all that is needed now is to calibrate and repair the guide rails.

However, to completely repair the gantry milling machine, the swing arm must be completely disassembled and checked one by one.

Chen Mo shook his head slightly. Actually, it's better for equipment to break down frequently, otherwise some people always forget that the equipment needs maintenance.

Once he made up his mind, Chen Mo took out a micrometer and checked each item one by one.

Although the guide rail appears to be severely deformed, it can actually be completely repaired with red lead powder.

Only those skilled in using red lead powder for positioning and precise repair with a scraper can achieve this; only an eighth-level fitter can do it.

Even Chen Mo only had this skill before he was laid off in his previous life.

It's not convenient to reveal it now.

As the night shift workers gradually finished their shifts, Chen Mo stretched and leaned against the machine.

Yesterday was the same; he could take a nap after the night shift workers finished their shift.

The feeling of taking a nap today is completely different from that of taking a nap yesterday. Today, the gantry milling machine is only one step away from being revived.