Major Heavy Industry: Starting with a Fake Marriage

The next day, he went to the foundry workshop.

The foreman of the foundry workshop, surnamed Ma, was a rugged man from Northeast China. He was somewhat surprised to see Jiang Cheng: "Aren't you a mechanic? What are you doing here?"

"Director Sun assigned it," Jiang Cheng said. "Director Ma, if you need any work, just send me."

Director Ma looked at him for a while and said, "Okay, go help carry the molten iron ladle. Be careful, that thing is hot."

Lifting molten iron ladles is the most dangerous job in the foundry workshop. Two people carry molten iron ladles weighing over 100 pounds to the mold and pour the molten iron in. If they are not careful, the molten iron will spill out and cause serious injury.

Without saying a word, Jiang Cheng rolled up his sleeves and got to work.

By the end of the day, he was covered in sweat and had several blisters on his hands. But he didn't complain and came back the next day.

Director Ma observed this and began to have doubts. This kid doesn't seem like he's just here to coast along.

A week later, Director Ma couldn't hold back any longer: "Jiang Cheng, what's wrong with you? You're just a mechanic, why are you doing manual labor here?"

Jiang Cheng smiled and said, "Director Ma, you're short-staffed here, so it's my pleasure to lend a hand."

"Don't give me that," Director Ma said. "Do you think I don't know what Sun Jianguo is up to? He's setting you up. Are you just going to take it?"

Jiang Cheng looked at him: "Director Ma, what do you think I should do?"

Director Ma was stumped. He scratched his head and said, "I don't know either. Anyway, I think you're no ordinary person; it's a waste that you're doing this job."

Jiang Cheng didn't say anything and continued working.

Another week passed, and something happened in the foundry workshop.

That afternoon, a sand mixer suddenly stopped working. This sand mixer was an old piece of equipment in the factory, used for more than ten years, and it broke down every few days. Director Ma was in a panic and went to the machine repair shop to report the problem, but the machine repair shop said they didn't have enough manpower and there would be a waiting list.

"Queue up?" Director Ma snapped. "I need this urgently, why should I queue?"

But since they ignored him, there was nothing he could do.

Jiang Cheng, who was carrying a ladle of molten iron nearby, heard the commotion and came over to look at the sand mixer. He circled the machine twice, then said to Director Ma, "Director Ma, may I give it a try?"

Director Ma was taken aback: "You? You're a fitter, not an electrician."

"This problem isn't with the circuitry," Jiang Cheng said. "It's probably that the drive shaft is stuck."

Director Ma asked skeptically, "Are you sure?"

"Let me give it a try, it can't possibly go too badly."

Director Ma gritted his teeth and said, "Fine, you give it a try."

Jiang Cheng found some tools and began dismantling the protective cover of the sand mixer. The workers in the foundry workshop all gathered around to watch. Someone whispered, "Is this kid any good? He might make things worse."

Jiang Cheng ignored them and focused on disassembling the machine. He removed the protective cover, revealing the drive shaft inside. After a careful inspection, he discovered that the drive shaft was jammed due to severe bearing wear.

"Director Ma, do you have any butter?"

Director Ma had someone bring some grease. Jiang Cheng applied the grease to the bearing and then slowly turned the drive shaft with a wrench. At first, it was very stiff and wouldn't turn, so he increased the force and turned it little by little. After turning it a dozen or so times, the drive shaft suddenly loosened.

"Okay, give it a try."

Director Ma ordered the machine to be started. The sand mixer roared to life without a single problem.

The workers in the foundry were stunned. Director Ma shook Jiang Cheng's hand: "Good lad, you've really got it!"

Jiang Cheng smiled and said, "Director Ma, this machine is too old. The bearings are severely worn. Just adding grease won't solve the problem. It would be best to replace the bearings with new ones, which would allow it to last for several more years."

Director Ma sighed, "I also want to replace it, but the mechanics won't do it, saying they don't have the parts."

Jiang Cheng said, "I know a place that might have the parts. I'll ask them for you later."

Director Ma nodded repeatedly: "Okay, okay, then I'll trouble you."

The news quickly spread throughout the factory. Some praised Jiang Cheng's skills, while others sourly accused him of showing off. Sun Jianguo's face darkened for several days after hearing about it.

That evening, Jiang Cheng went to the lab and told Zheng Huaiyuan and Professor Qian about it. Professor Qian slapped his thigh and laughed, "Good! Good! That's what it means to get things done! Sun Jianguo wanted to mess with you, but you turned the tables on him and infuriated him!"

Zheng Huaiyuan frowned: "You handled this matter well, but it was also dangerous. Sun Jianguo is a petty person; the more you stand out, the more he wants to step on you."

Jiang Cheng said, "I know. Uncle Zheng, I'm not afraid of him stepping on me, I'm afraid that I won't be able to step on him back."

Zheng Huaiyuan looked at him: "How do you plan to retaliate?"

Jiang Cheng was silent for a moment, then said, "I want to modify the planer. If I succeed, it will be a real achievement. At that time, Sun Jianguo won't be able to suppress it."

Zheng Huaiyuan nodded: "The idea is right. But you need to be prepared, this road won't be easy. Before you succeed, countless people will try every means to stop you. After you succeed, there will be people who want to steal your credit."

Jiang Cheng said, "I understand."

Professor Qian chimed in from the side, "Stealing credit? Who dares? I'll be the first to object!"

Zheng Huaiyuan laughed: "Old Qian, when are you going to change your temper?"

Professor Qian snorted, "Change what? It's my right to protect my students!"

Jiang Cheng felt a warmth in his heart. He knew that these two elderly people truly considered him one of their own.

In the days that followed, Jiang Cheng worked in the foundry workshop while using his spare time to improve the planer design. Director Ma treated him better and better, sometimes letting him go early to run errands. The workers in the foundry workshop also got to know him and, knowing he was working on technical projects, kept it a secret for him.

But Sun Jianguo wasn't idle either.

One afternoon, Jiang Cheng was carrying a ladle of molten iron in the foundry when someone suddenly called out to him, "Jiang Cheng, the factory manager is looking for you!"

Jiang Cheng's heart sank; he had a bad feeling.

In the factory director's office, besides Director Zhou, there were also Sun Jianguo and Lao Meng, the head of the technical department. All three looked grim.

Factory Director Zhou cut to the chase: "Jiang Cheng, some people are saying you're doing personal work during work hours. Is that true?"

Jiang Cheng was taken aback: "What side job?"

Sun Jianguo, standing nearby, said, "Someone saw you going to the industrial college at night, doing some kind of research. That's factory technology; taking it outside—what is that if not private work?"

Jiang Cheng understood. Someone was watching him.

"Factory manager, I'm going to the industrial college to visit my father-in-law. I'll also take a look at some books and learn something. That doesn't count as side work, does it?"

Factory Director Zhou looked at him and asked, "Is your father-in-law Zheng Huaiyuan?"

"right."

Factory Director Zhou remained silent for a while. Zheng Huaiyuan was well-known in Shenyang's industrial circles, and he didn't want to offend him. But with Sun Jianguo present, he couldn't remain silent.

"Reading and studying is a good thing, but it shouldn't interfere with work," said Director Zhou. "Be more careful in the future."

Jiang Cheng nodded: "Yes, Factory Director."

Sun Jianguo persisted, "Factory Director, I heard he's working on some planer modification project at the Industrial College. That's our factory's technology. What if it gets leaked if we take it outside?"

Factory Director Zhou's expression changed: "Jiang Cheng, is that true?"