Siheyuan: Mastery started in the 50s

My father nodded and slowly exhaled a puff of smoke. "Qiangzi, skills are not dead, they are alive. Just like this smoke, you think it is just a simple ball, but if you look closely, it changes infinitely in the air and takes various shapes. What you see now may only be a part of it. If you go deeper, you may find more details that you haven't noticed."

Wang Qiang was silent. He understood that his father's words made sense. Bench craftsmanship was not just a skill, but also contained many secrets hidden in the details. But how could he find these secrets? He felt like he was standing in front of a closed door. He knew there was a wider world behind the door, but he didn't know how to open it.

A few days later, one afternoon, the factory received a special order. The customer needed a batch of extremely high-precision parts. These parts not only required strict dimensions, but also had to meet extremely high standards in terms of finish and hardness. Even in the factory, few people could meet such requirements.

Wang Qiang looked at the order and immediately became motivated. This might be his chance to break through the bottleneck. He hoped to be in charge of the processing of this batch of parts.

In the workshop, Wang Qiang stared at the lathe intently, holding the tool firmly in his hand. He knew that the slightest mistake could lead to the scrapping of the workpiece, so he was extremely careful in every step. The lathe made a uniform roar, and the metal slowly took shape under the tool, but every time Wang Qiang inspected the workpiece, he always felt that it was not perfect enough. Wang Qiang stayed alone in the factory to work overtime. The entire workshop was empty, with only him. He kept adjusting the parameters of the lathe, trying to find the most suitable cutting speed and feed rate. Time flew by him, the night deepened, but he was not tired at all. His father's words kept echoing in his mind: "Skills are alive, and details determine success or failure."

Wang Qiang put down his tools, took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and tried to recall the experience his father and Master Liu had taught him. He realized that perhaps the problem was not the mastery of skills, but the understanding of materials. This batch of parts used a new alloy that was more difficult to process than ordinary steel. Each material has its own unique characteristics. Wang Qiang knew that only by understanding the properties of this material could he find the most suitable processing method.

So, he began to study the properties of this alloy. By reading materials and consulting experts, Wang Qiang gradually realized that this alloy has extremely high hardness and toughness, so it requires more delicate techniques when processing. He began to try using different tools and cutting fluids, adjusting the parameters of the lathe, and gradually found a suitable processing solution. Wang Qiang walked into his father's room again. His father was sitting by the bed, wearing reading glasses and reading a book. Wang Qiang hesitated and said, "Dad, I want to ask you something."

The father raised his head, looked at his son, put down the book, and motioned for him to continue.

"I recently received an order for a new alloy material. I couldn't figure it out at first, but after studying the material's properties, I found that the problem was with the choice of cutting tools and cutting fluid." Wang Qiang paused, his eyes a little confused, "But I still feel that these are not enough. I always feel that something seems to be missing when I operate."

My father listened carefully, was silent for a moment, and then said: "Qiangzi, I have seen your progress in recent times. You are already on the right track, and knowing that the characteristics of the material are the key. As for that 'something missing', I think it may be that your understanding of the process is not deep enough."

"Technology?" Wang Qiang frowned. "Are you saying that I ignored the process flow during processing?"

"It's not the process, it's the soul of the craft." My father said slowly, "Each workpiece has its own characteristics, just like a person has a personality. When processing, you must not only master the skills, but also understand the 'character' of the workpiece. Only when you can understand its temperament can you truly communicate with it and complete the most perfect work."

Wang Qiang fell into deep thought. He realized that what his father said was not just about the technical level, but a deeper level of understanding. He suddenly felt that although his previous efforts were in the right direction, they were far from enough. What he lacked was a more acute sense - an intuition about craftsmanship and materials, an ability to "communicate" with the workpiece through his hands.

In the following days, Wang Qiang put more energy into processing. He no longer just operated the machine mechanically, but began to try to "talk" with the workpiece. During each cutting and grinding, he tried to feel the feedback of the material and adjust his operation method. He found that when he relaxed his mind and focused on the workpiece itself, he could actually feel the subtle changes when the tool contacted the metal, as if a flowing force was transmitted between him and the workpiece.

One day, Master Liu walked to his workbench and watched Wang Qiang work silently. He nodded gently and said, "Not bad, Qiangzi, your touch has improved a lot."

Wang Qiang stopped his work, looked up, and unexpectedly saw a smile of approval on Master Liu's face. He was excited, knowing that he had finally taken an important step on this road.

As his understanding of the process deepened, Wang Qiang gradually mastered more techniques. He found that he could control every detail of the processing more accurately, and the parts he produced were not only more accurate, but also performed well in the factory's internal tests. This made him more determined to continue his research.

However, Wang Qiang's doubts were also increasing. He realized that benchwork is not just a craft, it is more like an art that requires constant pursuit of higher realms. He began to think about whether he could make some innovations on the existing basis and create his own unique craftsmanship.

"Qiangzi, what have you been busy with recently?" After dinner one day, the father asked Wang Qiang who was obviously more thoughtful.

Wang Qiang looked up at his father, hesitated for a moment, and said, "Dad, I'm wondering if I can make something new based on the existing technology. I think it's not enough to just master the existing skills. I want to find my own way."

The father looked at Wang Qiang, with a hint of relief in his eyes. "Qiangzi, you have come a long way to have this idea. Craftsmanship is a road with no end. Only by constant pursuit can you make continuous progress. Don't be afraid of failure, just try to do it."

Wang Qiang has been thinking about the new processing methods these days, and he is inevitably a little tired. When he returns to the courtyard at night, he lies on the bed tossing and turning, replaying the operation steps and various subtle adjustments in the workshop during the day in his mind. He knows that he has been immersed in this world of skills, and occasionally relaxing may make his mind clearer.