Major Heavy Industry: Starting with a Fake Marriage

That day, they finished plating three bars. At this rate, fifty bars would take seventeen days. Adding stress relief, grinding, and inspection, it would take at least a month. They were almost two months ahead of schedule.

But Jiang Cheng couldn't be happy. He knew that fast didn't equal good. Every single one had to withstand inspection; every single one had to be flawless. This wasn't a machine in a factory, where a broken one could be repaired. This was a component on an airplane; a problem here meant loss of life.

That night, after everyone had left, Jiang Cheng remained alone in the lab. He checked the three landing gears he had coated during the day again, re-measuring each one. The data was fine, but he was still uneasy.

He squatted on the ground, staring at the three silver-white pillars for a long time. The light shone on the metal surface, reflecting a cold light. He reached out and touched it; it was cool and smooth, like ice.

"Aren't you leaving yet?"

He looked up and saw Huang Deqing standing at the door, holding a lunchbox in his hand.

"Master, why haven't you left yet?"

"I brought you food." Huang Deqing walked in and placed the lunchbox on the table. "Eat it while it's hot."

"Work will eventually be finished, so don't push yourself too hard. Rest when you need to. If you collapse, who will do this work?"

Jiang Cheng nodded: "I understand. Take care of yourself too."

Huang Deqing didn't say anything more and turned to leave.

The door closed. Jiang Cheng sat on the stool and continued eating his dumplings. As he ate, he remembered something. Tomorrow, an old expert named Shen was coming to Beijing. He was from the Aerospace Materials Research Institute and specialized in coating technology. Chief Engineer Zhao had said on the phone that Engineer Shen was a leading authority in the field of coating in China, a bit temperamental, but his technical skills were unquestionable. He was coming to conduct the final review of the landing gear repair plan.

Final review. These four words made Jiang Cheng's heart sink. If Engineer Shen didn't approve, all his previous efforts would have been in vain.

He finished the last grain of rice, closed the lunchbox, stood up, turned off the light, and locked the door.

Wasting food is a bad habit, a self-awareness that Jiang Cheng developed in his previous life.

Stepping out of the courtyard, the night wind whipped at his face, making him shiver. He zipped his coat all the way up and hunched his shoulders as he walked. The streetlights cast a dim, yellowish glow on the ground, like clumps of ink that wouldn't dissolve. His footsteps echoed through the empty street, each beat like a heartbeat.

He went downstairs and looked up at the fourth-floor window. The light was off. He checked his watch; it was almost eleven. She was asleep.

He tiptoed upstairs, opened the door, and went inside. Zheng Yanxi was already asleep, and Jiang Yuan was asleep in the small bed as well. The room was quiet, with only the crackling of the fire in the stove. The iron kettle sat on top, steaming, its lid bobbing gently from the steam.

He didn't turn on the light, but groped his way to the bedside and sat down. Moonlight streamed in through the window, illuminating Zheng Yanxi's face. She was sleeping soundly, her breathing even, her brows slightly furrowed, as if she were thinking about something in her dream.

He reached out and gently smoothed the wrinkles between her brows. She stirred, but didn't wake up.

He lay down and stared at the ceiling. The moonlight shone on the ceiling, bright and clear, like a mirror. He saw his own face in that mirror—tired, pale, but with bright eyes.

He closed his eyes, his mind still racing with thoughts of tomorrow. Engineer Shen, the reviewer, the landing gear. These words swirled in his head like a swarm of headless flies.

He finally fell asleep after an unknown amount of time.

The next morning, Engineer Shen arrived.

A black sedan pulled up in front of the promotion center. The door opened, and a man in his sixties stepped out. He had gray hair, a thin face, wore black-rimmed glasses, and a navy blue Zhongshan suit, buttoned up meticulously. He stood at the entrance, looked the three-story building up and down, and his lips curled slightly downwards—his expression seemed to say: This is it?

Chief Engineer Zhao got out of the car from the other side and saw Jiang Cheng standing at the door. He quickly walked over and shook hands: "Comrade Jiang Cheng, this is Engineer Shen, from the Institute of Aeronautical Materials, an authority in the field of coating in China."

Jiang Cheng extended his hand: "Hello, Engineer Shen."

Shen Gong didn't shake hands, but just nodded, his gaze sweeping over Jiang Cheng as if he were examining a less-than-satisfactory product.

"You're Jiang Cheng?" His voice was flat, devoid of emotion.

"it's me."

"I heard your method involved 120,000 low-temperature experiments?"

"Yes."

"Did you bring the data?"

"I brought it. It's in the office."

Engineer Shen didn't say anything more and walked straight into the building. Jiang Cheng followed behind him, and Chief Engineer Zhao followed behind Jiang Cheng. The three of them went upstairs and into the office. Engineer Shen sat down in the chair, looked around, his gaze lingered on the clivia plant for a moment, and then moved away.

Jiang Cheng placed the lab report and data records on the table. Engineer Shen picked them up and began to read them page by page. He read very slowly, going over each page twice and pointing to each number with his finger. The office was quiet, save for the sound of turning pages and the rustling of the wind through the poplar trees outside the window.

After reading for nearly an hour, Engineer Shen put down the report, took off his glasses, wiped them, and put them back on.

"The data is fine," he said.

Jiang Cheng breathed a sigh of relief.

"But—" Engineer Shen looked at him, "The data being fine doesn't mean the solution is flawless. The lab data was obtained under ideal conditions. In actual use, the landing gear has to withstand temperature changes, humidity changes, salt spray corrosion, and impact loads. Your coating can withstand 120,000 cycles in the lab, but how long will it last in actual use? Have you conducted accelerated aging tests? Have you conducted salt spray tests? Have you conducted impact tests?"

A series of questions, each hitting the key points. Jiang Cheng took a deep breath and took out another report from the drawer.

"Engineer Shen, we've done all of these tests." He handed over the report. "Accelerated aging test, simulating five years of use, no change in the coating. Salt spray test, 120 hours, no rust. Impact test, 10 joules, no cracks."

Engineer Shen took the report and began reading it again. This time he read it much faster, finishing in about twenty minutes. He put down the report, took off his glasses, and looked at Jiang Cheng.

"Where were all these things made?"

"It was done for me by Engineer Lin at the Shenyang Aero Engine Research Institute."

Engineer Shen nodded and didn't ask any more questions. He stood up, walked to the window, turned his back to Jiang Cheng, and looked out. In the courtyard, Huang Deqing was leading several students in dismantling an old piece of equipment, and the clanging sounds came up.

"Who is that person?" Engineer Shen asked, pointing at Huang Deqing.

"My master is Huang Deqing, a level six fitter."

Engineer Shen turned around and looked at Jiang Cheng: "Did your master teach you that?"

"Mostly."

After a moment of silence, Engineer Shen said, "Comrade Jiang Cheng, I approve of your proposal."