Returning to 1949, I decided to hand it over to the state.

As soon as Jiang Fan stood still, the female cadre glanced at his clothes casually, then suddenly stopped writing and stared directly at him.

Jiang Fan looked Jiang Fan up and down in his strange clothes, his brows furrowing slightly.

Jiang Fan felt a little uneasy under their gaze, but he didn't show it on his face and still wore a sincere smile.

The female cadre adjusted her hat brim, her tone tinged with doubt:

"Hello, comrade, what's with this... hairstyle?"

coming!

A surge of anticipation rose within Jiang Fan, and he immediately and fluently recited the speech he had prepared beforehand:

"Comrade, my name is Jiang Fan. I just returned from abroad. I came back this time in response to the call to build Ansteel."

"Returned from abroad?" Female cadre Song Ningyi's eyes widened instantly, and she almost dropped the pen in her hand.

She looked Jiang Fan up and down as if she had discovered some rare treasure, and a series of questions eagerly popped out:

Where do you live?

Jiang Fan quickly calculated in his mind; he couldn't just make up a place that didn't exist.

He vaguely remembered his grandfather mentioning the approximate location of the old house, so he answered vaguely:

"I remember the exact location of Tiedong District in AS City... but I can't remember it clearly because I rushed back here."

This blurring is safe, after all, the streets of Anshan in 1949 are definitely different from what he remembers.

Song Ningyi didn't delve into it further, carefully filled out the form, and then asked:

"Can you read?"

"I acknowledge it," Jiang Fan nodded.

Can you do math?

"meeting."

"So... do you understand technical aspects? Like turning, milling, planing, and grinding?"

Jiang Fan thought for a moment. Although he was a science popularization blogger, he had studied engines and mechanical principles a lot in order to make videos, and his hands-on ability was far beyond that of ordinary people.

He answered with a mixture of humility and confidence:

"I wouldn't say I'm an expert in the technology, but I can understand blueprints. English... would that count as a skill? I can also do some manual repairs, and I know a little bit about mechanics."

"Clatter!"

"English?! And she can fix machines?! She can read blueprints?!"

Song Ningyi dropped the pen from her hand onto the table, her mouth slightly open, her expression changing from surprise to shock, and even a hint of joy.

As if afraid the person in front of her would run away, she immediately turned her head and shouted towards the back of the group:

"Tian Tong, come help me cover for this, I have an urgent matter!"

At the back of the group, a young man with thick bandages wrapped around his hand responded and quickly walked over.

Jiang Fan stood there, his heart pounding: What's going on? What did I say wrong? Is this such a big reaction?

Before he could gather his thoughts, Song Ningyi had already walked around the table, grabbed his arm, and spoke urgently and passionately:

"Comrade Jiang, please come with me. My surname is Song, and my name is Song Ningyi."

"Ansteel desperately needs someone like you right now. I need to report to my superiors immediately. Could you please come with me?"

As Song Ningyi pulled him into the factory area, Jiang Fan's mind finally started working.

Yes, he was so focused on surviving that he forgot his true importance in this era.

In 1949, Northeast China had just experienced more than a decade of indoctrination under the puppet Manchukuo regime and destruction during the Kuomintang era. Let alone engineers, even talents who could read and write fluently and knew some foreign languages ​​and technology were extremely rare.

For Ansteel at this time, a young man who could speak English, understood some mechanical principles, and had returned from abroad was a precious asset, a timely help in need.

"Holy crap... am I actually a genius this time?"

Jiang Fan's anxiety dissipated considerably, replaced by a strange sense of excitement and responsibility.

He nodded and followed Song Ningyi, who was walking briskly.

……

So this is the Little White Building.

He muttered to himself, his gaze falling on the three-story white building in front of him, which stood out conspicuously against the backdrop of the low bungalows and gray-black factory buildings around it.

A red banner with white characters hangs in the center of the building: "Warmly celebrate the official establishment of Anshan Iron and Steel Company".

Several young people in gray uniforms were going in and out of the door, carrying books and blueprints, walking hurriedly.

"Comrade Jiang, this is our company building. Everyone calls it the Little White Building. All the government staff work here."

Jiang Fan nodded, gazing at the small building that bore witness to countless historical events, and suddenly felt a little uneasy.

He tentatively asked:

"Comrade Song, why did you bring me here? What's the specific reason? Could you give me a heads-up?" He scratched his head, looking apprehensive.

"I'm actually a little nervous."

This isn't an act.

Although his loyalty to the Party and the country was beyond question, anyone would tremble at the thought of venturing alone into the core industrial area of ​​77 years ago and facing an unknown situation.

Song Ningyi smiled upon hearing this, but didn't stop walking. She said, half-jokingly and half-seriously:

"Comrade Jiang, according to regulations, someone like you who has studied abroad and possesses technical expertise should report directly to the factory's top leadership. Moreover..."

"The factory has indeed encountered some tricky mechanical problems recently, and we're worried that no one can solve them. Perhaps you can be of some help."

Jiang Fan frowned, and before he could ask any further questions, the two of them had already arrived in front of the building.

Song Ningyi stood in front of the iron gate and gestured for him to enter.

Jiang Fan had originally wanted to ask another question, but now he had to swallow back the words that were about to come out, sighed inwardly, and stepped inside.

The lobby on the first floor was bustling with people, mostly young people his age, dressed simply but neatly, with energetic expressions on their faces. They were probably cadres transferred from various places.

Song Ningyi didn't linger and led him straight up to the second floor. At the end of the corridor, there was another door, and outside stood a heavily armed guard.

Even from a distance, Jiang Fan could sense the aura behind that door.

This is quite a spectacle... Could it be that I'm about to meet the legendary leader?

Jiang Fan's heart skipped a beat, and he unconsciously straightened his back and swallowed.

His heart pounded even harder as he watched Song Ningyi step forward and whisper with the guard.

A moment later, the guard pushed open the door and entered the room to report:

"Sir, Comrade Song Ningyi has brought someone with her. Would you like to see her?"

After a few seconds, the guard came out and opened the wooden door:

"Please come in."

As soon as Jiang Fan and Song Ningyi reached the door, a dozen pairs of eyes immediately fixed on him.

This is a conference room, with a long table full of people, and every face is solemn amidst the swirling smoke.

Jiang Fan felt a chill run down his spine from the stare and froze on the spot, unsure which foot to step with.

"Comrade Jiang, come in quickly," Song Ningyi gently reminded him.

Jiang Fan then came to his senses and quickly followed.

He kept his eyelids down, only daring to glance at people out of the corner of his eye.

Song Ningyi stood at attention and reported:

"Greetings, leaders. Greetings, Chief Li. This is Comrade Jiang Fan. He claims to have just returned from abroad. He speaks English, can read blueprints, and is also skilled in mechanical repair. I feel that the situation is special and it is necessary to report to you all."

"This is Comrade Jiang's information."

The middle-aged man sitting at the head of the long table was wearing a green Zhongshan suit, with a cigarette between his left and Song Ningyi's documents in his right.

He glanced at Jiang Fan twice, slowly exhaled a smoke ring, and sized him up.

"I understand," the man said.

"Comrade Xiao Song, you can go ahead and get busy."

Song Ningyi saluted, turned and left, gently closing the door behind her.

Jiang Fan was left alone in the room, facing the scrutiny of the dozen or so leaders.

His palms were slightly sweaty, but he remained rational and immediately imitated the address he had just heard, flashing a smile:

"Greetings, Commander Li! Greetings, fellow leaders!"

This was the first time he had ever truly stood before such a formidable force.

Commander Li stubbed out his cigarette in the jar on the table, walked over to Jiang Fan, and said:

"Little one, you're very conscious! You studied abroad and still know to come back and contribute to your hometown. Good! Very good!"

"What did you study abroad? What industry did you work in?"

He was kind, but for some reason, those eyes made Jiang Fan feel a little guilty.

This question, in particular, may seem like casual conversation, but it's actually deadly.

They're obviously asking for details.