Siheyuan: Starting from the driver

Chapter 755 Extraordinary Results from Hidden Currents
Steel rolling mill.

It was another uneventful morning in the materials science department.

This period of time has finally allowed Li Kailang to have a good rest.

"I haven't felt this good in a long time. No work, I can sleep whenever I want. This is the kind of life I should be living."

During this period, Li Kailang has made up for all the good days he missed in the past two years.

With no one supervising him, Corey had nothing to do and no one to tell him what to do.

"correct!"

Suddenly, he remembered something: Director Yang had asked him to find a way to bring Jin Jianxian and the other two to the steel rolling mill.

Director Yang had mentioned this to him a few times, but he wouldn't let it go, especially since he was going to the technical department in a few days anyway.

If Corey doesn't have someone he knows, it's not easy to get things done.

"Since I have nothing to do right now, I'll go take a look."

It's been almost two years since I last visited Jin Jianxian. I wonder how he's doing? Is he still being harassed by those two scoundrels?

Thinking it over and doing it without anyone stopping him, Li Kailang rode his old bicycle straight to the Third Parts Factory.

The Third Parts Factory.

As before, after announcing myself, I entered under Jin Jianxian's guidance.

"How are you doing now? You've passed all the exams, so your factory manager should be giving you an important position, right?"

Jin Jianxian shook his head and then nodded: "My factory director did intend to entrust me with important responsibilities, but right now I just want to rest and don't really want to take on any responsibility."

Even after falling to the ground, he still didn't tell Li Kailang the truth.

Li Kailang nodded in deep agreement: "That's true, me too. Before the results come out, I don't want to take on any heavy responsibilities."

"I'm just thinking about catching up on all the rest I missed. I've had a really comfortable time lately, with nothing bothering me."

He made a couple of sarcastic remarks, but didn't forget to ask a question in return.

"Are you still working as a repairman? By the way, are those two scoundrels giving you a hard time?"

Jin Jianxian nodded: "They're still doing it. The maintenance workers have it much easier compared to them."

"As for those two, they haven't made a move since I finished my exams. I guess they want to see me make a fool of myself."

After that day, Wang Lixing and Mu Guangfu dared not provoke Jin Jianxian again.

Everyone is waiting for Kim Geon-hyun to produce results.

If Kim Geon-hyun graduates smoothly, he might become their boss in the future, and then they will be in big trouble.

If he doesn't graduate, then let's see how they curse Kim Geon-hyun to death.

In short, it all depends on the results.

Li Kailang nodded, and after a few more casual words, he got straight to the point.

"Jianxian, I'm here this time for the same reason as before: do you have any plans to work at our factory?"

"As you know, our steel rolling mill is a large factory with several thousand employees, so there is plenty of room for you to showcase your talents."

"You're not having an easy time here, why don't you come to my place? Wouldn't it be great if we brothers teamed up?"

"How about it?"

Li Kailang looked at Jin Jianxian expectantly. This invitation was partly due to Director Yang's instructions, but also because of his own selfish motives.

Upon hearing this, Jin Jianxian fell silent and hesitated.

Li Kailang remained silent, giving Jin Jianxian ample time to think.

Finally, he slowly spoke: "Kailang, I understand your kindness and your factory manager's high regard for me, and I am grateful, but..."

He looked at the bustling scene in the workshop, his gaze drifting into the distance.

"I'll say it again, let's wait for the results. There's no point in thinking about it now. What if, I mean, what if I fail this exam? What would that mean for me?"

"Follow me to the steel mill with my tail between my legs? What will people say? That I, Jin Jianxian, couldn't make it in the third-tier city and had to run away because of my old classmate's connections? I can't swallow this insult."

"I have to get my diploma here, honorably, and show those who are waiting to see me fail!"

"I'll feel more at ease once I have the results, and then it won't be too late to make plans. If I agree now and fail, you'll be embarrassed, and I'll be even more embarrassed."

Looking at the stubbornness and resentment in Jin Jianxian's eyes, Li Kailang knew that he was deeply hurt by the previous grievances.

They had to get their graduation certificates to prove themselves and shut up the gossip.

He patted Kim Geon-hyun's shoulder forcefully:

"Alright! I understand you. You have your own ideas, that's true, you're a man! Forgive me for being nosy, but I'll say it again, the door to the steel rolling mill's technical department is always open for you."

"Once you get your report card, no matter what the result is, we'll have a proper talk."

Li Kailang's tone was sincere and firm.

"Thank you, Cheerful. I'm so grateful for your words."

Jin Jianxian felt a surge of warmth in his heart and was about to say something more when someone suddenly shouted at the workshop door: "Jin Gong! Jin Gong! Come and see, the lathe has broken down again."

"Coming!" Jin Jianxian spread his hands apologetically at Li Kailang. "Look, this..."

"Go on with your work! Business is important, I need to get back to the factory too."

After finishing his business, Li Kailang returned to the steel rolling mill.

It was nearly noon when we returned to the steel rolling mill.

The factory area was still bustling with activity, but he himself had nothing to do.

With the results announced this weekend just days away, this is his last chance to relax and enjoy himself.

Li Kailang got his lunch at the cafeteria and found a place to sit down.

While eating, I listened discreetly to the idle chatter of several technicians at the next table.

"Have you heard? The new finishing mill on the cold rolling line is stuck in the debugging process again. The experts have left, and we can't fix it ourselves. It's been delayed for several days. The production department is extremely anxious, and Engineer Ling's hair has turned quite white."

A young technician wearing glasses said in a low voice.

"Sigh, don't even mention it. Those precious vocational school graduates in our department, they're all talk and no action in theory, but when they get to the field, they can't even figure out a hydraulic schematic. They have too little practical experience."

"Deputy Sun is certainly outspoken and decisive, but his temper... he almost got into a fight with the equipment department last time," another older man sighed.

"I heard the factory is going to transfer people from outside? Or are they planning to select people internally?" someone asked curiously.

"Hard to say. It's not that easy to adjust things from the outside. As for the inside, who do you think is capable?" The man with glasses pushed up his glasses and lowered his voice even further.

"Who knows? We'll see. Anyway, this technical department is a tough job."

The conversation ended with a sigh.

Li Kailang silently rummaged through the food in his lunchbox, taking in every word they said.

After finishing his meal, Li Kailang didn't go back to the Materials Science Department, but instead went to check on the Technology Department.

I might be starting work in the technical department in a few days, so I'm here to inquire about the situation.

However, we didn't get too close, since the technical department is a key department of the steel rolling mill.

People outside the technical department are at risk of leaking confidential information if they linger outside their office.

Although Li Kailang is a mechanical engineering student, he is also an employee of a steel rolling mill.

But ultimately, he wasn't part of the technical department. After learning a little about it, Li Kailang left.

"There's nothing much to do, so I might as well take a stroll around the workshop."

Immediately, Li Kailang went to check on the situation in other workshops.

Workshop 1
The ear-piercing metallic scraping sounds, the dull thuds, and the pervasive smell of engine oil together formed the noisy and chaotic background of the first workshop.

Qin Huairu held a file that seemed incredibly heavy to her, while the workpiece in front of her was crooked and twisted.

When Master Liu Xiaoyan saw this workpiece, she was so angry that she held her forehead in exasperation, utterly helpless.

"I've never taught such a stupid idiot as you. You've been here for over four months, and you still can't do this right."

“I’ve been working in the steel rolling mill for so many years and I’ve never seen anyone like you. You’ve been here for four months and the work you’re doing is still the same as when you first started.”

"You...you..."

Liu Xiaoyan really wanted to say that Qin Huairu's skills were exactly the same as her deceased husband Jia Dongxu's, no wonder they were from the same family!

Finally, barely suppressing her anger, she said, "Go play by yourself!"

Liu Xiaoyan has completely given up on Qin Huairu.

Wang Xiuying, the senior sister standing next to her, symbolically demonstrated the most basic points of flat surface sanding twice.

That perfunctory attitude is more embarrassing than directly insulting someone.

Wang Xiuying glanced at Qin Huairu's rough fingers and bewildered face, and finally left with only the words, "If you can't finish it, just leave it there. Don't hold others up," before turning around and returning to her workstation.

Qin Huairu pursed her lips, her eyes brimming with tears, feeling very wronged.

"I tried my best, but I just couldn't do it well. Is that my fault?"

Seeing that her master and senior sister were ignoring her, Qin Huairu recalled what her master had taught her: hold the file firmly, apply even pressure with your arm, keep your eyes on the reference surface, and keep it parallel.
But when that cold metallic touch came again, the muscle memory in my arm completely disobeyed my brain's commands.

It's not that she doesn't try, or that she doesn't want to learn.

She did try her best during those four months.

But the lines on the blueprints, the markings on the vernier calipers, and the technical terms used by her master were like gibberish to her.

Her talent seems to have been completely misdirected, just as Liu Xiaoyan said:
"Your hands and your brain are born to spin and weave!"

"Forcing yourself into this pile of iron lumps is either a waste of yourself or a waste of the things!"

"Hey, Master Qin, what kind of artistic creation are you up to this time?"

A male worker at the next workstation glanced at the unfinished workpiece in her hands, his tone undisguisedly sarcastic.

The people nearby chuckled softly.

On the surface, because of the presence of Yi Zhonghai, an eighth-level fitter, no one dared to lay a hand on her or say anything lewd.

But technical disdain and verbal harassment are everywhere.

Qin Huairu's skills are similar to Jia Dongxu's back then, or even worse.

"Birds of a feather flock together." This skill is truly top-notch; no matter how you try, you can't do it well. That's a skill in itself.

Qin Huairu's face instantly burned hot, as if she had been slapped hard in public.

She bit her lower lip so hard it almost bled, burying her head even lower, wishing she could bury her whole face in that pile of cold scrap metal.

Liu Xiaoyan couldn't stand Qin Huairu anymore, so she went directly to Guo Da Piezi.

"Director Guo, I really can't stand Qin Huairu anymore. Could you let her work under someone else? If that's not possible, she can work under Engineer Yi."

"I really can't teach her anymore. With her blockheaded nature, she's not much different from Jia Dongxu back then, and might even be worse!"

Seeing Liu Xiaoyan's impotent rage, Guo Da Piezi slightly curled the corner of his mouth and pretended to soothe her:

"Master Liu, don't be angry, don't be angry. You can't ruin your health if you get angry. You're the head of the female workers in our workshop, you absolutely can't have anything happen to you."

"Come on, take a deep breath, take a deep breath!"

Guo Da Piezi was just putting on a show.

"Qin Huairu is new to our factory, so it's understandable that she's not doing well. She's probably just not quite there yet. We'll take it one step at a time, no rush!"

"Director Guo, that's a nice way to put it. Who has been here for four months and done so many things but still looks like a complete novice?"

"I don't care, I can't teach Qin Huairu anymore, you can find someone else to teach her." Liu Xiaoyan waved her hand, showing an attitude of not caring about anything.

The sounds of their argument drifted out of the office, making Qin Huairu blush with shame.

And this wasn't the first time such an argument had occurred.

Guo Da Piezi pretended to comfort him: "Master Liu, Qin Huairu is a female worker. If you don't teach her, no one in our workshop will be able to teach her."

“We can’t let the male workers teach her, can we? Just bear with it a little longer, and maybe Qin Huairu will get the hang of it in a couple of months.”

After much persuasion, Guo Dapizi finally managed to convince Liu Xiaoyan to stay.

But this was not a good thing for Qin Huairu, as she had to experience Liu Xiaoyan's disappointment again and again.

And that's exactly what Guo Da Piezi wanted.

He still remembered Yi Zhonghai's slap. He couldn't handle Yi Zhonghai, and he couldn't handle Qin Huairu either.

It was Qin Huairu herself who gave herself the opportunity, which is why she's so bad.

Even Yi Zhonghai couldn't say much about Liu Xiaoyan's handling of Qin Huairu.

"This is the last time I'll tolerate Qin Huairu. If this happens again, I won't care!"

Liu Xiaoyan waved her hand and stormed out of the office in anger.

Guo Da Piezi, with his belly protruding and hands behind his back, strolled out with a square gait.

His small eyes, like searchlights, habitually scanned the entire workshop, passing over Yi Zhonghai.

Finally, the image was precisely fixed on that lonely, stiff figure in the corner—Qin Huairu.

The burning pain from Yi Zhonghai's slap that day still seems to linger to this day.

Guo Da Piezi remembered every single detail of that humiliation.

Yi Zhonghai was a senior, level-eight worker, a technical expert, and the factory's prized possession. Guo Da Piezi really couldn't afford to offend him, nor did he dare to openly make a move against him.

But he couldn't afford to offend Yi Zhonghai, nor could he afford to offend Qin Huairu, that good-for-nothing.

No matter how capable Yi Zhonghai is, he can't just sit in the workshop every day and teach her how to work, can he?

Making Qin Huairu suffer, humiliating her, and forcing her to quit her job is tantamount to slapping Yi Zhonghai in the face!
Didn't Liu Xiaoyan approach him wanting to transfer Qin Huairu or change her job?
Huh, what a beautiful thought!
Guo Da Piezi was using Qin Huairu as a "living advertisement" to annoy Yi Zhonghai.

Guo Da Piezi passed by Qin Huairu's workstation and slowly picked up a workpiece.

The rough workpiece was ground until it was pitted and uneven, as if it had been chewed by a dog. It couldn't even achieve basic flatness, let alone smoothness, and the edges were crooked.

He chuckled and picked up the second item, which was even worse. One corner had been filed down too much and turned into a bevel.

The third item. He didn't even bother to look at it again, and threw it back into the basket with a "thud," the sound particularly jarring in the noisy workshop.

There was no criticism as expected.

"Master Qin, keep up the good work!"

A word of encouragement only made Qin Huairu feel more ashamed.

Seeing this, Guo Da Piezi was satisfied and swaggered away.

(End of this chapter)