Major Heavy Industry: Starting with a Fake Marriage

Jiang Cheng gripped the microphone, a surge of joy in his heart: "What kind of exam?"

"I took the entrance exam for the Workers' University. I registered and passed the initial screening. I'll be taking the exam in Shenyang next month."

"Okay, do your best on the exam."

"But—" Wang Xiaojun's voice trailed off, "I'm a little scared. I'm afraid I won't pass the exam."

Jiang Cheng was silent for a moment, then said, "Xiao Jun, do you know how I got into university back then?"

"have no idea."

"I didn't get in," Jiang Cheng said. "I never went to university. My skills weren't learned in university, they were learned in the factory. University just gives you a piece of paper. Real skills are on the machines."

There was a long silence on the other end of the phone. Then Wang Xiaojun's voice came through, nasal in tone: "Master, I understand."

"You don't need to know anything. Just go and take the exam. If you pass, it's your achievement. If you don't, it's not shameful. Come back, keep studying, and take the exam again next year."

"Um."

After hanging up the phone, Jiang Cheng stood by the window, looking at the sky outside. The sky was blue, the clouds were white, and the sun shone brightly. He suddenly remembered when he first transmigrated. Back then, he had only one thought: to use his knowledge to do something. Now, he had done many things. But he realized that the most important thing wasn't how many machines he had repaired, but how many people he had taught to repair machines.

These people are the spark. The wind can extinguish a fire, or it can fan it into a blaze. He believed it was the latter.

In March, the snow in Shenyang finally melted away.

Tender buds sprouted on the branches of the poplar trees, tiny, green, like grains of rice. The wind blew, less harsh, carrying the scent of earth. The sunlight felt warm and cozy on my skin, making me want to doze off.

The notification for the review has not yet arrived.

Jiang Cheng went to work and came home as usual every day, and took care of Jiang Yuan as usual. The little guy could walk quite steadily now, running around the house like a headless fly. His favorite thing to do was to throw things off the table one by one and then giggle. Zheng Yanxi would chase after him to clean up, scolding him as she did so, but a smile played on her lips as she scolded.

One evening, after dinner, Jiang Cheng was washing the dishes. Zheng Yanxi sat at the table reading a book, while Jiang Yuan played with a tin box at her feet. The box was something Jiang Cheng had brought back from the workshop; it had been fitted with screws, and a few screws were still inside, making a rattling sound when shaken. The little guy was fascinated by the box, shaking it back and forth, thoroughly enjoying himself.

"Jiang Cheng," Zheng Yanxi suddenly spoke, "I have something I want to tell you."

"What is it?"

"I want to pursue further studies at the city hospital."

Jiang Cheng paused for a moment, then continued washing.

"What kind of further study?"

"Emergency room. Three months. Station Chief Liu helped me get in touch with them. He said the city hospital was short-staffed and wanted me to go there for three months of training so I could be on duty in the emergency room when I came back."

Jiang Cheng washed the dishes, dried his hands, walked over, and sat down opposite her.

"When are you going?"

"next month."

Where is Jiang Yuan?

"I'll take him," Zheng Yanxi said. "I'll drop him off at my mom's in the morning and pick him up in the evening. My mom's retired, so she has time."

Jiang Cheng looked at her and remained silent for a moment. Then he said, "You go. I'll take care of things at home."

She looked at him, her eyes a little red. But she didn't cry, she just nodded.

"Yanxi, are you scared?" he asked.

"What are you afraid of?"

"I'm afraid you won't be able to keep up if you go. The emergency room at the city hospital is different from what you're doing now."

She lowered her head, looking at the book in her hands. After a while, she looked up at him: "I'm afraid. But not going is even more frightening."

Jiang Cheng reached out and took her hand; her hand was very cold.

Outside the window, the moon rose, round and bright, shining on the clivia on the windowsill. After the flowers faded, she replaced it with a new one, a round cactus covered in thorns. She said it was easy to care for and didn't need watering every day.

Looking at the cactus, Jiang Cheng suddenly realized she was right. Some things don't need daily watering to survive.

One day in late March, Jiang Cheng received an unexpected phone call.

The call was from Chief Engineer Zhao, who sounded very anxious: "Comrade Jiang Cheng, how's the situation on your end?"

"Chief Engineer Zhao, it's still waiting for approval."

"Don't wait any longer," Chief Engineer Zhao said. "The second batch of landing gear can't wait any longer. The military is pressing us hard; the planes are lying on the ground, waiting for your spare parts."

Jiang Cheng held the microphone and remained silent for a moment: "Chief Engineer Zhao, it's not that I don't want to do it. It's just that the notice said we can't conduct business during the suspension period. I can't violate the rules."

"That's not targeting you. That's targeting all local promotion agencies. But your project is a defense project, which is not under local jurisdiction. I'll have the ministry issue you a letter proving that the landing gear repair project is not affected by local review."

Jiang Cheng's heart skipped a beat: "Can we get it out?"

"Yes. Deputy Director Zhang has already signed it. It will be sent over in the next couple of days."

After hanging up the phone, Jiang Cheng stood by the window, looking at the sky outside. The sky was blue, the clouds were white, and the sun was shining brightly. He took a deep breath; the air smelled of grass mixed with the earthy scent of soil.

He turned and walked to the table, picked up the phone, and dialed Huang Deqing's number.

"Sir, the second batch of landing gear needs to be activated."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, then Huang Deqing's voice came through, very calm: "When?"

"Wait for the official letter from Beijing. Once it arrives, we'll get to work."

"We don't have enough people."

"I'm looking for someone."

Jiang Cheng hung up the phone and dialed several more numbers. Ansteel, the mining plant, the heavy machinery plant… one after another. Sun Deming, Lao Zhao, Li Zhiqiang… one after another.

"Deming, the second landing gear engagement has started. Come back."

"Brother Jiang, I'll be there tomorrow!"

"Old Zhao, the second batch of landing gear. Can you put people in there?"

"Yes. I spoke with the factory manager, and he agreed. I'll arrive tomorrow."

"Li Zhiqiang, second batch. Are you coming?"

"Come!"

The call was over. Jiang Cheng put down the receiver and leaned back in his chair. Sunlight streamed in through the window, warming his face. He closed his eyes, and an image flashed through his mind—the laboratory lights were on, the machines were running, and people were busy at work. That image made him feel at ease.

The next day, Sun Deming was the first to arrive.

He was carrying a large bag, travel-worn, his face red from the wind. Upon seeing Jiang Cheng, he threw the bag to the ground and rushed over to give him a bear hug.

"Brother Jiang, I'm finally back! I was so bored after being stuck at Ansteel for a month!"

Jiang Cheng was so tightly held that he could hardly breathe, patting his back: "Let go! Let go!"

Sun Deming released him, grinning, "Brother Jiang, you don't know, when I was at Ansteel, I was thinking about our center every day. Those guys repairing machines were still using the same old methods. I told them about coating, and nobody believed me. I said I'd show them, and after I did it, they were convinced."

Jiang Cheng looked at him and smiled: "You taught them?"