Sold into a ghost marriage? Four-year-old and his thuggish father go on a killing spree.

"Station Chief Han, just you wait. I bet he won't even be able to put half of it together! A peasant like him, does he really think he's an engineer?"

Xiao Li's voice was full of schadenfreude.

These past three days have been difficult for Gu Yanqiu.

His "dormitory," converted from a storage room, became the dirtiest corner of the agricultural machinery station.

The most senior technician in the station, a master craftsman named Wang Jianguo, never gave Gu Yanqiu a kind look from day one.

Gu Yanqiu received his new work uniform, and Wang Jianguo "accidentally" spilled a bucket of waste engine oil on it.

Gu Yanqiu had just finished cleaning a crucial gear when Wang Jianguo accidentally threw the mud-covered wrench into the pile of parts.

Even when Gu Yanqiu brought him lunch, Wang Jianguo would snatch half a steamed bun from him under the pretext of "young people should eat more, don't be shy."

Xiao Li was Wang Jianguo's biggest follower, always calling him "Master Wang this, Master Wang that," while he didn't even bother to look at Gu Yanqiu properly, and would only say "Hey, you new guy" all the time.

Gu Yanqiu endured it all.

He was like a silent stone, enduring wind and rain without uttering a sound.

He silently washed his work clothes, which had been splashed with machine oil, and cleaned the dirty gears again and again. When there wasn't enough food, he would drink two extra bowls of free vegetable soup.

He poured all his energy into the small mountain of "scrap metal" in front of him.

That was the engine of a Soviet S-4 combine harvester.

Outdated models, complex structures

Many parts are unrecognizable due to corrosion.

On the first day, he did not assemble the parts himself. Instead, he laid out all the parts, regardless of size, and identified, cleaned, and categorized them one by one.

His hands seemed to have eyes, able to perceive the most subtle differences in metal.

This bearing has slight wear and needs to be polished.

That piston ring lacks elasticity and must be replaced.

This fuel injector is severely clogged and needs to be cleared little by little with a special thin steel wire.

His "mechanical cognition" ability was brought to its fullest potential at this moment.

The next day, he began to assemble it.

There were no blueprints; all the structural diagrams were in his mind.

His movements were quick and precise.

The torque of each screw, the meshing of each gear,

Everything was just right.

Wang Jianguo and Xiao Li occasionally came over to watch the commotion. When they saw him working like a madman amidst the piles of parts, their mockery deepened.

"Hey, do they really think they're Pangu creating the world?"

"Don't end up with a pile of scrap metal that can't even make a sound."

Gu Yanqiu turned a deaf ear.

In his world, there was only this cold steel.

When he was hungry, he would nibble on a piece of the dry rations he had brought with him.

If you're thirsty, just drink a sip of cool water.

When I'm extremely tired, I lean against the cold wall and doze off for ten minutes.

Only one thought occupied his mind:

Niannian is still waiting for me.

I can't lose!

On the afternoon of the third day, there was less than an hour left before the deadline given by Station Master Han.

Gu Yanqiu finally tightened the last screw.

A complex engine, gleaming with a cold metallic sheen, was presented in its entirety to everyone.

Although the outer shell is covered with the marks of time, every part inside has been polished to a shine.

Wang Jianguo and Xiao Li huddled over, their faces full of disbelief.

"So what if we put it together? Scrap metal is still scrap metal, it definitely won't move!" Wang Jianguo said confidently.

Gu Yanqiu ignored him, connected the fuel line and the battery, and then walked to the starting device.

Everyone in the repair workshop was drawn to the commotion and formed a circle around it.

All eyes were on the engine.

Gu Yanqiu took a deep breath and pressed the start button!

"Click...click..."

The engine made two muffled sounds, and then went silent.

"Hahaha! I knew it!"

Xiao Li was the first to burst out laughing, "What a waste of effort! We might as well sell this iron for some money!"

A smug smile appeared on Wang Jianguo's face.

However, Gu Yanqiu's expression did not change at all.

He checked the fuel system again, adjusted the ignition timing, and then pressed the start button once more!

"Buzz—"

This time, it wasn't a dull sound!

Instead, it was a deep roar!

Immediately afterwards!

"Boom! Boom! Rumble—!"

The steel behemoth, which had been dormant for two years, was completely awakened at this moment!

The deafening roar echoed throughout the entire agricultural machinery station, and the ground trembled slightly!

A plume of black smoke billowed from the exhaust pipe, its powerful rhythm proclaiming its surging vitality!

Everyone was startled by the sudden loud noise and took a step back, their faces filled with horror!

Xiao Li's laughter stopped abruptly, his mouth agape, wide enough to fit an egg.

Wang Jianguo's smug smile froze instantly, turning a deep purplish-red.

How...how is this possible?!

He actually managed to fix a pile of scrap metal that had been abandoned for two years!

Station Master Han strode over. He didn't say anything, but simply walked around the engine, stretching out his calloused hands to feel the vibrations of the engine.

As he listened to the steady yet powerful roar, an unprecedented glint of light flashed in his eyes!

"Good! Good lad!"

He slapped Gu Yanqiu's shoulder hard, with surprising force, "I knew I hadn't misjudged you!"

He turned around and, facing the stunned crowd, announced in an unquestionable tone:

"From today onwards, Gu Yanqiu, you are officially our station's maintenance technician! You will be responsible for the maintenance of all large equipment in the station!"

In short, he skipped the probationary period and even seemed to have the status of the top technical expert!

Wang Jianguo's face turned as black as the bottom of a pot.

He felt a burning sensation on his face, as if he had been slapped countless times in public.

His decades-long experience was completely outdone by a newcomer who came from humble beginnings in just three days!

How could he swallow this insult!

That evening, Gu Yanqiu received his first paycheck in the county town—eighteen yuan.

He wrapped the money in layers of handkerchiefs and carefully put it close to his body, thinking about what to buy for Niannian when he went back this weekend.

It was late at night, so he went to the public water room to fetch water to wash up.

As he passed the public phone booth at the end of the corridor, he heard a low, resentful voice coming from inside.

It's Wang Jianguo.

"...Yes, it's me. Go to Chengjiawan, under Baiyang Commune, and find out about a guy named Gu Yanqiu. Dig up his whole history!"

"Yes! The more details the better! I don't believe a lazy bum who idles around all day could have such great abilities! There must be something fishy going on behind his back!"

Gu Yanqiu stopped in his tracks as he was fetching water.

His face was expressionless.

In the darkness, his eyes were like ice-cold knives, chillingly cold.

He didn't say a word, carrying the basin of water, and walked past the phone booth expressionlessly, as if he hadn't heard anything.

Wang Jianguo, you want to play, don't you?