In the 90s, you could acquire max-level skills every 14 days.

"I know." Zhang Yong held the microphone and switched hands.

"My idea is to start with what we can access first."

"Repairing a car is the first step. Only by understanding why each part is broken can you know how to fix it. The same applies to energy efficiency issues. The logic of combustion control in a boiler and fuel atomization in an engine is the same."

There was a long silence on Fang Qiming's end.

"That works too. At least this line of thinking is clear-headed."

"You flatter me, Professor Fang."

"I wasn't praising you," Fang Qiming said seriously. "Actually, I don't have a good impression of working alone, because one person's strength is very limited. Anything that can be mass-produced requires many people to work together. As a teacher, what I hope for most is to connect everyone on this line of work."

"Right now, your idea is that you're short-handed."

After hanging up the phone, Zhang Yong stood at the entrance of the reception room for a while.

Bicycles whizzed past on Jinsong Road, and in the distance, the chimneys of the No. 2 Cotton Mill of Beijing emitted white-gray smoke that dissipated in the wind like cotton wool.

You have to start by repairing cars, understanding each part, before you can try to improve them. Then you can set standards, work on core components, and only then can you possibly get involved in building your own cars.

All of this is predicated on the fact that those who will be able to do these things in the future must see themselves.

How do you see it?

Now we can only rely on articles.

Zhang Yong rushed home, went into his bedroom, and closed the door.

He spread out the manuscript papers on the table and took out two stacks.

In the first stack of papers, he wrote down his new ideas for the Workers' Life Weekly:

How can I make a honeycomb briquette burn the longest? What exactly is natural gas? Why does my house keep experiencing power outages? Why do cars consume so much fuel?

Zhang Wengong's approach is to avoid grand theories and focus on numbers that ordinary people can understand.

"If your family burns 300 honeycomb briquettes all winter, 100 of their heat will escape through the chimney. If you modify the stove structure, you can save 50 briquettes. Saving 50 briquettes can last for an extra month."

"Why does the power go out at home every night? Because the boilers at the power plant are also burning coal. Burning one ton of coal can only generate 60% of the electricity it should generate, and the remaining 40% turns into black smoke. There is a coal shortage all over the country. Not only is there not enough coal, but the way it is burned is also wrong."

In the second stack, he wrote the title for the October magazine:

"The Ingenuity of a Great Nation: The Furnace Fire"

It tells the story of an old technician at a county coal mine who, in dire straits, led the few remaining workers to renovate an old boiler.

One more thing at the end of the story: once we fully understand the combustion technology of boilers, and shrink it a thousand times, it will be what's inside a car engine.

On one hand, he uses the pseudonym Zhang Wengong to popularize science and let the public know what energy waste is all about. On the other hand, he uses the pen name Zhang Yong to tell stories and show direction to people in the industry.

They're pursuing two parallel paths: one to build momentum, and the other to ignite the fire.

Zhang Yong wrote an outline and listed several sets of key data. He was engrossed in writing when he felt a stiffness in the back of his neck. There was a knock on the bedroom door three times.

"Yongzi, dinner's ready," Li Guilan called from outside.

"They're here."

Zhang Yong pressed the manuscript paper under the book, washed his hands, and came out.

On the table were stewed cabbage and pork with vermicelli and two steamed buns, while Li Guilan continued frying eggs in the kitchen.

Just as he was about to pick up his chopsticks, Chen Yang, the grandson of Grandpa Chen from the gatehouse, ran in from outside, panting heavily.

"Brother Yong! Someone's looking for you at the stadium! They want you to go there first thing tomorrow morning. They say there's something important going on with boxing!"

Zhang Yong reached out and covered Chen Yang's mouth. "Yangyang, what did you say? Someone's looking for me at the library. Okay, I got it."

After saying that, he kept winking at the kitchen. Chen Yang's mind raced for a while before he realized that Zhang Yong didn't want Li Guilan to know.

They changed their tune immediately.

"Yes, Yong-ge, the library wants you to come over; they say your book is warped!"

Zhang Yong shook his head helplessly, picked up a pear from the table, and handed it to Chen Yang.

"Eat up, eat up, I understand."

Chen Yang chuckled, chewed on a pear, and disappeared.

……

Early the next morning.

Chaoyang District Gymnasium, second floor.

When Zhang Yong pushed the door open, he saw Yang Cheng sitting alone on a bench by the field, smoking. There were three or four cigarette butts on the ground.

This was the first time he had ever seen Coach Yang smoke.

"coach."

Yang Cheng looked up at him and stubbed out his cigarette.

"Zhang Yong, there's something I need to tell you about the district team scrimmage next Thursday."

"Please speak."

"The registration deadline was yesterday. I glanced at the list and there was one extra person in the amateur group, added at the last minute."

Yang Cheng took a blue registration form out of his pocket and handed it over.

Zhang Yong took it and glanced at it.

The last line of the list was added with a fountain pen, and the handwriting was messy:

Zhao Tiezhu, FT zone, free fighting, no rank.

"I've inquired about this person." Yang Cheng's expression was not good.

"He's a 'wild fighter' from the south of Fengtai. He used to work as a bouncer. He's skilled in martial arts and his attacks are particularly ruthless. Last year, a folk fighting ring was set up in Shijingshan. He went up and fought three matches. In two of them, he cracked someone's eye socket, and in one match, he broke someone's nose. He was banned from the competition by the organizing committee."

Zhang Yong returned the note to Yang Cheng.

"How did he get into the amateur group?"

"They shoved it in." Yang Cheng gritted his teeth. "There's a deputy captain in the district team who has some shady dealings with people in Fengtai. He handled the application forms; it was just a matter of adding a name."

"You specifically named me to be attacked?"

Yang Cheng sighed and nodded.

"He's already made it clear that there are eight people registered in the amateur group, and he's in the same half of the bracket as you, so you'll run into each other in the second round."

Zhang Yong didn't say anything, walked to the window, and looked at the few bicycles parked downstairs.

Fengtai.

Xu Dacheng is from Fengtai.

"Zhang Yong," Yang Cheng said, walking over. "Have you offended someone?"

"Yes, I've offended a few people..."

"What's their background?"

"I've reported all the people selling counterfeit engine oil."

Yang Cheng was stunned for a moment, then cursed.

"Damn it, they resort to dirty tricks when they can't win. These bastards."

"To tell you the truth, this Zhao Tiezhu is a ruthless guy. He's caused serious injuries in the ring before. Even those amateurs who've been training for two or three years have had to drop out of the competition if they face him."

"If you don't want to go, I'll cancel it for you right now."

Zhang Yong turned around and leaned against the windowsill.

The system panel briefly floated into my mind.

[Fighting Lv.4: Progress 22% (AFK... 30x speed)]

There are six days left until next Thursday.

Six days later, your combat level may reach the mid-level of Lv.5.

Lv.5 is the level of a provincial-level professional athlete.

Zhang Yong looked up and smiled at Yang Cheng.

"Coach, there's no need to retreat."

"Since he's come knocking, I'll take him on." Zhang Yong picked up the boxing gloves beside him. "But you'll have to help me with extra training these next few days."

"Find more people to practice with me."

Yang Cheng's lips twitched, and it took him a while to utter a few words.

"You're really crazy."

"Hey, it's not like you just found out today."

Yang Cheng pulled out another cigarette from his pocket, put it in his mouth, and tossed his head away.

"OK."

He picked up the target and slapped it onto his hand with a loud crack.

"Then let's add more training. Starting today."

......