Major Heavy Industry: Starting with a Fake Marriage

He goes to work every day, works, and comes home, becoming increasingly quiet. Zheng Yanxi sees this and is anxious, but doesn't know how to help him. All she can do is cook different meals for him every day, hoping he'll eat better and feel better.

But Jiang Cheng's mood was not good.

What troubled him most was his master's situation. He secretly visited Huang Deqing several times, but each time Huang Deqing chased him away. The last time, Huang Deqing said, "Chengzi, don't come anymore. If you come again, this old man really won't be able to explain himself."

Jiang Cheng knew that his master was afraid of implicating him. But the more his master acted this way, the more distressed Jiang Cheng felt.

One evening, Zheng Yanxi's father, Zheng Huaiyuan, came.

When Zheng Huaiyuan entered, Jiang Cheng was staring blankly at the blueprints on the table. They were drawings he had secretly made, a proposed improvement plan for the old gantry planer in the factory. This planer had been in use for over ten years; it was inefficient and lacked precision. He wanted to modify it, but given the current situation, he didn't dare to bring it out.

"Dad," Zheng Yanxi greeted him, "What brings you here?"

Zheng Huaiyuan looked at Jiang Cheng and said, "I heard you're back. I haven't seen you come to the academy since, so I came to check on you."

Jiang Cheng stood up: "Uncle Zheng, I—"

"No need to explain." Zheng Huaiyuan waved his hand and sat down in the chair. "I've heard about your situation."

Jiang Cheng remained silent. Zheng Huaiyuan looked at him, his gaze scrutinizing: "What's wrong? Gone already?"

Jiang Cheng raised his head: "Uncle Zheng, I'm not listless, I just don't know what to do."

"You don't know?" Zheng Huaiyuan laughed. "If you really didn't know, you wouldn't be staring blankly at the blueprints."

Jiang Cheng was taken aback. Zheng Huaiyuan pointed to the blueprints on the table: "May I take a look?"

Jiang Cheng hesitated for a moment before handing over the drawings. Zheng Huaiyuan took them and examined them carefully for a long time, his expression growing increasingly serious. After finishing, he looked up at Jiang Cheng and asked, "Did you draw this?"

"Um."

"Do you know how much this solution could improve the precision of that planer if it were implemented?"

Jiang Cheng said, "I've estimated it; it will increase by at least 30%."

"Thirty percent?" Zheng Huaiyuan gasped. "Are you sure?"

"More or less," Jiang Cheng said, "but it's just wishful thinking now, it can't be realized."

Zheng Huaiyuan put down the blueprints and looked at him: "Why can't it be implemented?"

"Because nobody supports me," Jiang Cheng said. "My mentor was transferred away, and I'm being ostracized in the workshop. If I put forward this plan, someone else will just take it."

Zheng Huaiyuan was silent for a moment, then said, "Jiang Cheng, have you ever thought about why you're being ostracized?"

Jiang Cheng was taken aback: "Because I stood up for you?"

"Because you stood out, and you have no one backing you up," Zheng Huaiyuan said. "You're just an ordinary worker, with no background or connections, and you suddenly appeared and stole the limelight from others. It's perfectly normal for others to want to step on you."

Jiang Cheng gave a wry smile: "Uncle Zheng, are you trying to comfort me or discourage me?"

"Neither," Zheng Huaiyuan said. "I wanted to ask you, what are you planning to do?"

Jiang Cheng remained silent. He had thought a lot these past few days, but the more he thought, the more confused he became. He had considered asking Director Wang for help, but Director Wang was in the provincial capital, too far away to offer immediate assistance. He had considered directly confronting Sun Jianguo, but that would only make things worse. He had considered simply transferring away, but he couldn't bear to leave, he couldn't bear to leave his mentor, he couldn't bear to leave this factory, and he couldn't bear to leave... He glanced at Zheng Yanxi.

Zheng Yanxi was looking at him, her eyes full of worry.

Zheng Huaiyuan glanced at his daughter, then said to Jiang Cheng, "I have a suggestion. Would you like to hear it?"

"Please speak."

"Find a way to realize this blueprint you have," Zheng Huaiyuan said. "No matter what method you use, make it a reality. If you succeed, it will be your asset. At that time, no one can suppress you."

Jiang Cheng smiled wryly: "Uncle Zheng, I don't even have the opportunity to conduct the experiment, how can I achieve it?"

"Opportunities are something you have to seek out," Zheng Huaiyuan said. "If the factory doesn't work, come to the college. I have equipment and materials; you can use your spare time. As long as you're determined, there's always a way."

Jiang Cheng was stunned. He looked at Zheng Huaiyuan, his usually stern father-in-law, whose eyes were now full of expectation.

"Uncle Zheng, would you... help me?"

"I'm not helping you," Zheng Huaiyuan said. "I'm helping my son-in-law. I'm also helping the country's industry. I've seen that planer; it's too outdated. If it can be improved, it will benefit the entire industry."

A surge of warmth welled up in Jiang Cheng's heart. For the first time in the past three months, he felt that he was not fighting alone.

"Dad, thank you," Zheng Yanxi said, her voice choked with emotion.

Zheng Huaiyuan waved his hand: "No need to thank me. If you want to thank someone, thank him." He looked at Jiang Cheng, "But I have to say this first: this can only be done in your spare time, and it can't interfere with your work. Also, you can't let anyone else know. You'd better handle this carefully."

Jiang Cheng nodded emphatically: "Uncle Zheng, I've got it."

From that day on, Jiang Cheng's life had an extra secret.

During the day, he pretended to be deaf and dumb at the factory, doing his work and swallowing his anger as usual. At night, he secretly went to Shenyang Institute of Technology and, in Zheng Huaiyuan's laboratory, studied his planer improvement plan bit by bit.

Zheng Huaiyuan found him some materials and introduced him to an elderly professor specializing in mechanical engineering. The professor, surnamed Qian, was over sixty years old, with completely white hair, but very energetic and possessed unique insights into mechanical design. Professor Qian's eyes lit up when he saw Jiang Cheng's proposal: "Young man, did you come up with this yourself?"

Jiang Cheng nodded. Professor Qian slammed his hand on the table and said, "Great! No one in China has proposed this approach before. If you can pull it off, I'll personally write you a letter of recommendation!"

Jiang Cheng felt confident. He began making models and conducting tests, verifying his design step by step. The frustrations he endured at the factory during the day were transformed into motivation in the laboratory at night.

But the situation at the factory was getting worse and worse.

One day, Sun Jianguo suddenly informed him that he was to be transferred to the foundry workshop.

"The foundry workshop?" Jiang Cheng thought he had misheard. "I'm a mechanic, what would I do in the foundry workshop?"

Sun Jianguo said with a smile, "The foundry workshop is short-handed, go and help out. It's all factory work, there's no distinction between high and low status."

The foundry workshop was the hardest and most tiring place in the factory. It was dirty and hot, and people dealt with molten iron every day. One wrong move and something could happen. Sun Jianguo's move was clearly an attempt to force him out.

Jiang Cheng looked at him and suddenly smiled: "Okay, I'll go."

Sun Jianguo was taken aback for a moment, clearly not expecting him to agree so readily. But soon, he smiled again: "Okay, I'll report for duty tomorrow."

That night, Jiang Cheng stayed in the lab until very late. Looking at the preliminary model, he made a decision.