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

Chapter 130 We're Moving to a New House

Zhang Chao nodded vigorously. "I'm studying something serious. Where do you want to go?"

"Tongxian Mechanical Technical School, three-month short-term welding training course, tuition fee 120 yuan."

Zhang Yong relayed Fang Qiming's reply verbatim. Teacher Fang had old connections at Tongxian Mechanical Technical School. Normally, the registration queue would have to wait until the end of the year, but Teacher Fang had made arrangements so that he could join the class next Monday.

"I asked an acquaintance, and they said that in the welding profession, as long as you have steady hands and a careful mind, you can become a master welder."

"You can definitely do it."

Zhang Chao's lips were pursed into a thin line, and his eyes were bloodshot.

"Yongzi, tuition fees—"

"I'll pay," Zhang Yong said before he could finish.

"No way!" Zhang Chao jumped to his feet, nearly tipping over his small stool. "I can't owe you anything more!"

"Who told you to owe me?" Zhang Yong patted his shoulder and pushed him back down.

"After you graduate, you can work for me, and I'll pay you according to the market rate. Consider it an advance payment."

77

Zhang Chao was stunned for a moment.

"real?"

"Really. I might even have to ask you for help later."

Zhang Yong said it half-jokingly.

Zhang Chao's Adam's apple bobbed, his hands rested on his knees, and his fingers were still trembling.

"Okay, I'll go."

Zhang Chao left early in the morning.

It's autumn now, and the days are short; the stairwells are still dark.

Zhang Yong took out 150 yuan, wrapped it in two layers of newspaper, and stuffed it into Zhang Chao's pants pocket.

"Use 120 for tuition, and the remaining 30 for daily necessities. Eat in the cafeteria there, don't be stingy, you're still growing."

Li Guilan was carrying a cloth bag containing a package of homemade sausages, two pairs of new shoes, and a bar of sulfur soap.

"Chaozi, the accommodations over there might not be very good. Let us know if you need anything, and we'll send it to you."

Zhang Chao took the cloth bag, lowered his head, and stammered for a long time without saying a word.

He walked to the entrance of the building, suddenly turned around, and bowed deeply to the door.

"Yongzi, Third Uncle and Third Aunt."

He muttered two words in a low voice.

Thanks.

Zhang Defa helped him up.

"Son, remember the number for the gatehouse. If you need money, just say so. Call us whenever you have time."

Zhang Chao nodded vigorously, wiped his face, slung his canvas bag over his shoulder, and followed Zhang Yong downstairs.

Zhang Defa stood by the window on the eighth floor, watching his son drive his motorcycle, with Zhang Chao and the red, white and blue twisted silk bag on the back, disappear at the end of Jinsong Road.

The sun had just risen, and the light shone on the chimneys of the factory across the street, making everything appear hazy and gray.

Three days after Zhang Chao left.

Around 6 p.m., Zhang Yong was in his bedroom revising the first draft of the second chapter of "The Ingenuity of a Great Nation: The Furnace Fire".

A handwritten manuscript lay open on the table, next to a steel ruler and a half-cold cup of tea. Two letters from readers were pressed under the base of the lamp, one from Shougang Group and the other from Luoyang Bearing Factory.

The tea reflected the sky outside the window; dusk turned to twilight, and twilight to darkness.

Grandpa Chen's shouts came from downstairs.

"Yongzi! The phone's on! It's Xiao Li's!"

Zhang Yong put down his pen and went downstairs to answer the phone.

"Feed".

"Yongzi, this is great news." Xiao Li's tone was different from before, revealing a sense of exhilaration.

"Ma Degui is now officially on the online wanted list."

"Baoding, Tianjin, and Shijiazhuang jointly issued a notice for assistance in the investigation. Photos and identity information were all posted online, and notices were sent to train stations, long-distance bus stations, and police stations in various counties."

Zhang Yong leaned against the wall without saying a word.

"Also, Chen Guoliang was suspended from his duties by the factory's discipline inspection team this afternoon. The United Machinery Factory has sent an investigation team to investigate, and all the unburned ledgers have been handed over."

Xiao Li paused for a moment.

"The case involving counterfeit engine oil from Tongxian and waste oil processing in Baoding has been temporarily closed. In a few years, someone will come to interview us. After that, no one in our area will use counterfeit oil anymore."

Zhang Yong loosened his grip on the microphone.

It started with Wei Dabiao's three Dongfeng trucks having cylinder defects, then Lida Auto Repair Shop exposed the fake oil, then Boss Zhou's auto parts store, then Ma Degui in Baoding, then Uncle Zhang Dewang's scam, and then Chen Guoliang's state-owned factory backyard a few months ago.

"Thanks, Xiao Li."

"Don't mention it," Xiao Li chuckled. "Just try to avoid getting beaten up in the future. My duty room's dispatch log is almost full of entries written by you alone."

"But thank you too, this time, I've been awarded the advanced worker title."

Zhang Yong smiled too. After hanging up the phone, he stood at the door of the reception room for a while.

Grandpa Chen poked his head out of the window.

"Yongzi, which case have you closed?"

"Yes."

"That's good." Grandpa Chen picked up the enamel mug and blew on it. "Oh dear, I've also seen the excitement."

Zhang Yong nodded and went upstairs.

He paused when he reached the corner on the third floor.

The system panel silently appeared in my mind.

[Fighting Lv.5: Progress 95% (AFK — 30x speed)]

Time flies, and the fighting skill will soon reach Lv.6.

Once he achieves this breakthrough, he will have the confidence to face anyone who comes after him.

But there's no rush now.

Zhang Yong opened the door, and the aroma of pork ribs wafted towards him.

Li Guilan called from the kitchen, "Wash your hands and eat! Don't dawdle!"

Zhang Defa was already sitting at the table, chopsticks in hand, a bowl of corn porridge in front of him, staring blankly at the spare ribs on the table.

"Dad, eat."

Zhang Defa looked up. "Has Chaozi started learning welding?"

'

"I've started school. I called yesterday to let them know I'm safe and sound. They said the vocational school cafeteria has meat buns, which is great."

Zhang Defa then reached for the ribs with his chopsticks, picked one up, took a bite, and chewed for a long time.

"Your aunt's side—"

"Dad, don't think about it anymore." Zhang Yong sat down and served himself a bowl of porridge. "Auntie has thought things through. We should cooperate. After the auction proceeds come in, we'll divide the money proportionally and move on once the accounts are settled."

"Look ahead to the future."

Zhang Defa nodded and said nothing more.

Li Guilan brought out a plate of smashed cucumbers and placed it on the table.

"Alright, alright, you're all looking so grumpy, is it really necessary? The bad guys have been caught, we're trying to get the money back, and Chaozi has gone to learn a trade, he's much better off than before."

She handed him the chopsticks.

"Let's eat first!"

"If you have time to overthink things, you'd be better off asking more about the housing allocation."

"If it's our turn this time, we have to move to a different floor, even if it's a lower floor. I can hardly climb eight floors anymore."

Zhang Defa nodded vigorously: "Yes, we'll listen to our wives!"

Watching his parents bicker while picking up food, Zhang Yong knew that to truly improve the family's life, relying solely on writing fees wouldn't be enough; he needed to quickly translate his technical skills into practical work and generate income.

After finishing his meal, he helped his mother clear the table and then returned to his small bedroom, which was lit by a dim, yellowish lamp.

Next to the manuscript paper on the writing desk, there were several sketches of boiler parts filled with dimensions and annotations.

Zhang Yong took a deep breath, opened the calendar on the table, circled the date for the day after tomorrow, and wrote four characters next to it.

Tongxian Coal Mine.

Teacher Fang called to say that the nozzle processing is complete and the clamp material has arrived.

The tube walls of Furnace No. 1 won't wait for anyone; we need to get there soon.

Outside the window, the pile drivers at the construction site in the distance were roaring.

In 1990, Beijing was a city where buildings were being constructed everywhere.

7