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

"I've made up my mind."

I registered for Mechanical Engineering and Automation.

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, then Fang Qiming's breathing became heavier.

"Good! You have good taste! I knew you weren't just a writer!"

"Ms. Fang, I'd like to audit Ms. Zhao's literature class. You don't mind, do you?"

"Let him listen in if he wants! Just leave your main job to me!"

"Zhang Yong! How did you suddenly change your mind? I thought you would choose Zhao Huaijin, after all... he's a professor, and I'm just a lecturer right now..."

Zhang Yong smiled.

"Because Lenin once said that there is only one true and sole basis for increasing wealth and building a socialist society, and that is large-scale industry."

Fang Qiming paused for a few seconds on the other end.

"You even know that?"

"It was taught in the first year of high school."

To be precise, it's the first year of high school in 2026.

Zhang Yong silently added a sentence in his heart, while also thanking the teachers of 2026 in his heart.

What I used to find boring—historical anecdotes, political common sense, and language arts materials—have now all become useful knowledge reserves.

Fang Qiming praised him repeatedly on the other end of the phone.

"Alright! The lab key is ready, and I'll make you all you can eat with your teacher's wife's braised tofu and boneless meat."

After hanging up with Fang Qiming, Zhang Yong dialed Zhao Huaijin's number.

When Zhao Huaijin heard Zhang Yong say he had chosen the Mechanical Engineering Department, he started sighing repeatedly on the phone.

Zhang Yong waited for Zhao Huaijin to finish grieving before slowly speaking.

"Professor Zhao, my choice of mechanical engineering does not mean I'm giving up writing. On the contrary, I want to write even better."

"Think about it, what is the power of literature? It is to empower those who read it. Workers who read good articles will be more motivated. And when workers are motivated, they drive social progress, which in turn inspires even better literature."

"Literature and industry are not opposed, but symbiotic."

Zhao Huaijin remained silent for a long time on the other end of the phone.

"I understand your choice, but I just feel it's a pity."

Zhao Huaijin sighed again.

"Alright. You can sit in on the class; I'll save you a seat. But if you write something good, show it to me first."

"Definitely. I've already written one; I'll send it to you later for your review."

Zhang Yong hung up the phone and went back upstairs.

Li Guilan and Zhang Defa were already asleep, and Zhang Defa's thunderous snoring could be heard from the bedroom.

Zhang Yong went back to his room, closed the door, and sat under the lamp.

Out of the corner of my eye, the panel glowed in the darkness.

[Writing Lv.4: Progress 24% (AFK efficiency +10%)]

[Driving Lv.6: Progress 6% (fixed)]

[Auto Repair Lv.2: Progress 94% (AFK)]

The progress has reached 94%.

It's just a little bit away from Lv.3.

Zhang Yong picked up his pen and continued writing "The Whisper of the Machine".

The title of the second section has been decided: Four Key Points to Avoid Being Scammed When Buying Oil.

Firstly, by observing the product under transmitted light, the genuine product appears amber in color, while the counterfeit appears cloudy and dark.

Secondly, you can smell it. Genuine products have a mineral smell, while fake oils tend to have a burnt, sweet smell.

Next, take a drop and rub it between your fingertips to experience the feel. The genuine product is very smooth, while the fake oil feels rough and grainy.

Finally, check the packaging. Genuine products have a smooth seal and clear printing, while counterfeit oil labels are often misaligned.

Zhang Yong wrote faster and faster, the pen tip making a swishing sound on the manuscript paper.

He wrote for most of the night before putting down his pen and stretching his neck.

The numbers on the panel suddenly jumped.

【Ding】

[Auto Repair Level 2 upgraded to Level 3.]

[Lv.3: System-level diagnostics and deep repair - Mastered.]

[Current automotive repair skills are equivalent to those of a senior mechanic plus a systematic theoretical framework.]

Zhang Yong slightly widened his eyes.

I've leveled up to Lv.3!

Level 2 is still at the stage of identifying problems and performing basic repairs.

Reaching Lv.3 means that you are able to diagnose complex faults, develop repair plans, and have the ability to assess the remaining lifespan of components.

Now, those two trucks in Tongxian County can probably solve the problem with just a few hundred yuan in material costs.

Zhang Yong took a deep breath and counted the number of words on the manuscript.

It contains a total of 12,000 words and is divided into five chapters.

It records methods for repairing tractors and also explains techniques for identifying engine oil; the technical details are written very clearly.

Zhang Yong put down his pen and flicked his wrist.

Another all-nighter.

But this time, he didn't feel tired.

For the first time, he felt that he was not just a time traveler taking advantage of the system in 1990.

Finally, my two feet slowly touched the ground.

......

As the sun rose, Zhang Yong neatly folded the two letters.

The first envelope was addressed to the editorial department of the "October" magazine on Beichizi Street in Beijing, and the recipient was Chief Editor Zhou Deqing.

The second one was placed under the lamp, the envelope still blank.

Having done all this, he stretched and leaned back in his chair.

In 2026, when he read Tomato Novels, he often saw comments saying "the channel is the content".

Writing a good novel is only half the battle; the second hurdle is deciding where to publish it and who to read it.

The same principle applied to the print media industry in 1990.

October is a national first-class literary journal, positioned as serious literature.

The reason his previous submission to "The Spirit of Craftsmen of a Great Nation" made it to the front page was that although the article was about industrial topics, it was essentially about people and looking to the future.

But "The Whisper of the Machine" is different.

This is a reference article.

He teaches people how to repair tractors, how to identify counterfeit engine oil, and how to troubleshoot abnormal water temperature.

No matter how you package it with stories, the core is still popular science.

Zhang Yong knew very well that this article, once submitted to "October," would most likely not make it to the front page.

But he still wanted to deliver it.

As the old saying goes, you only know how deep the water is when you go into the river.

He wanted to confirm one thing—how tolerant serious literary journals were of popular science on technology in 1990.

Zhang Yong put the first draft into an envelope, sealed it, and placed it on the corner of the table.

I'll mail it from the post office when it gets light.

As for the second one—

Zhang Yong looked at the blank envelope but didn't rush to touch it.

Let's wait for the response from "October".

……

The response came faster than Zhang Yong had anticipated.

The next afternoon, Grandpa Chen from the gatehouse went upstairs in his slippers.

"Zhang Yong! Phone call! From the magazine!"

Zhang Yong was in his bedroom flipping through the Harbin Institute of Technology's "Principles of Metal Cutting" book that Fang Qiming had lent him when he heard the shout. He then covered the book with his pillow and went downstairs.

As soon as I picked up the receiver, Zhou Deqing's voice came through.

"Zhang Yong."

It was Zhou Deqing's voice.

He remained composed, but his demeanor betrayed weariness and an unnatural politeness.

Upon hearing this tone, Zhang Yong immediately understood what was going on.

really.

Zhou Deqing spoke in a very roundabout way.

He first praised "Whispers of the Machine" for its "novel topic" and "closeness to the masses," and then said several times that "Comrade Zhang Yong's sense of social responsibility is admirable."

Then the conversation shifted.

"But Zhang Yong, after all, October has been a champion of serious literature for many years."

"The higher-ups... have been keeping a close eye on things lately, and the front page for this issue has already been decided internally."

"It is a novella by Chen Ping, a writer who returned from overseas."

......