A nation's industrial development begins with junior engineers.

"Old Li, do you think they're reliable?"

"Hey, I think it's pretty good. Like I said, we're complete novices when it comes to machining. Listening to the advice of experienced masters is always a good idea!"

"Okay, I think the three-shift system is fine. They've been doing it from workshop one to workshop three for a long time."

"I find this 'replacing the personnel but not the machines' a bit suspicious. Those machine tools look just as dilapidated as the ones in our maintenance workshop."

Li Changfu glared at Factory Director Yang: "How can you talk about your own factory like that!"

“However,” Li Changfu hesitated for a moment, “I think you should still bring Jiang Xia back. He’s got a knack for machine tools, it’ll be safer with him around.”

"That's right, it just so happens that Ming sent a car to take the water pump down to the well, so he brought him out along with it."

The two walked to the factory gate while talking.

At that moment, three Jiefang trucks rumbled in from the factory gate.

Yang Youning stood on tiptoe to look: "Weren't all the equipment from the machinery factory moved? Why are there still three large trucks here?"

"Oh, this was found in an old warehouse at the machine factory. It looks a bit like a machine tool, but the machine factory doesn't know what it was used for. Anyway, it's just a lump of iron. Let's just bring it back and put it away. Our warehouse is big anyway."

Yang Youning nodded. How could a steel rolling mill's warehouse be small? It's a proper warehouse, not to mention one with a roof and walls.

That open area was also a large one, filled with stress-relieving steel plates and pipes.

But why does this machine tool have a big tank?

The security guard approached at that moment. "Director Yang, hurry back to your office. Secretary Liu has been looking for you for ages. She says there's an urgent notice from above! They agreed to call back in half an hour, and it's been five minutes!"

Upon hearing this, Yang Youning turned and ran towards his office. Li Changfu thought for a moment and followed him.

When Yang Youning ran back to his office, panting, the red telephone started ringing.

Yang Youning grabbed the phone: "This is Yang Youning from the steel rolling mill. Hello, leader!"

"Comrade Yang Youning, this is the General Office. Regarding the joint application from the Ministry of Machine Building and the Ministry of Agriculture, our office has already issued the relevant instructions."

"At the same time, the Hongxing hand pump well has been recommended as a project to celebrate National Day. Therefore, we hope that your factory will increase production and complete the installation of the hand pump well in the surrounding areas of Beijing before National Day."

"At the same time, an additional 10 sets of products are requested. Please ensure that the task is completed on time and in the required quantity!"

"The official notification will be delivered tomorrow morning! That's all!"

Yang Youning didn't even know when the other party hung up the phone, and stood there blankly holding the receiver for a long time.

"Old Li! Our hand pump well has been selected as a gift for National Day!"

Yang Youning grabbed Li Changfu's hand and started jumping around.

"Xiao Liu! We've been selected as a gift for National Day!"

"Hahahaha~~~"

Yang Youning's little tongue was almost sticking out.

Li Changfu was also happy.

What do people value most in this era? Honor!

Whether it's an individual or a collective recognition, receiving an award is a full affirmation of your value. Moreover, the honor the steel rolling mill received this time, if not the absolute best, is certainly top-notch.

What does it mean to present a gift for National Day? It means to be seen by the entire nation.

Niu is very lucky!

After the initial excitement subsided, the three fell into a long silence.

"10 units, this is really going to be a disaster!"

"If that doesn't work, let's apply for support from the Ministry of Machinery. It doesn't matter if we lose face, as long as we don't delay the mission from above!"

Yang Youning said with a bitter expression.

Li Changfu gritted his teeth: "We'll fight! The reputation that the steel rolling mill has worked so hard to build can't just collapse like this."

"Go and bring Jiang Xia back right away. He proposed a plan from the beginning, but I felt it had flaws and didn't use it. Now it seems we have no choice but to use it!"

Yang Youning slapped his forehead. "That's right, how could I forget the main character? Why should Jiang Xia be able to enjoy himself at home while we old folks have to work so hard?"

Get it back! We must get it back immediately!

Under the cover of night, a small jeep drove out of the steel rolling mill.

In Qin Family Village, Qin Jingru, with her long braid twisted, listened to her mother's nagging, letting it go in one ear and out the other.

"Good boy, didn't they say Jiang Xia is already engaged? Stop focusing on him. Jiang Sizhu and Jiang Wuzhu are good too, they're both full-time employees!"

"Yeah, we're all permanent employees anyway, what's the difference? We all have food ration certificates and household registration. What are you complaining about!"

"Just pick one, and you'll be a city dweller with government-subsidized grain rations from now on!"

Qin Jingru wanted to refute this, but how can ordinary full-time employees and engineers be the same?

Moreover, she had inquired and learned that Jiang Sizhu and Jiang Wuzhu had clearly stated that they wanted to settle down in the countryside and work in the city.

That won't do! If her home is still in the countryside, wouldn't she still have to work in the fields? She didn't want to go to the fields anymore.

I didn't see my cousin living in the city, where she just cooks and takes care of the kids all day.

Why is it that my cousin gets to do it?

I must get into the city! Qin Jingru made up her mind.

Her family's lecture left her dizzy and disoriented, so she turned around and stormed out in a huff.

Aimlessly, Qin Jingru sat under a tree at the crossroads, hitting it left and right with a stick.

The sound of a donkey pedaling its paws echoed from the dirt road, and a small donkey cart slowly approached.

A kerosene lamp hung on the shaft of the cart, illuminating the driver's face.

Qin Jingru looked up and her eyes flashed with a sharp light.

Who else could it be but Jiang Xia?

Qin Jingru felt a surge of excitement. How could she have run into him here? Could this be what God meant by fate?

I have a special connection with Jiangxia!

Thinking of this, Qin Jingru smoothed her long black braid again, rushed to the middle of the road, and waved frantically at the donkey cart.

Uncle Jiang was chatting with Jiang Xia when someone suddenly rushed out from the roadside.

I quickly pulled on the reins, and luckily the little donkey wasn't walking fast. It brayed twice and then stopped.

"Who is it! Daring to stop a car on the road? Don't you have a death wish!"

Uncle Jiang looked at the figure in front of him and said in an annoyed tone.

Unexpectedly, the figure didn't reply, but instead took a few steps forward: "You must be Comrade Jiang Xia, I am Qin Jingru from Qin Family Village."

Jiang Xia frowned slightly; the sudden braking just now had almost caused him to roll off the donkey cart.

Looking at the instigator in front of him, he asked irritably, "What is it?"

Qin Jingru flicked her braid, walked closer, and stood in the glow of the kerosene lamp.

"Do I look pretty?"

Jiang Xia sized up Qin Jingru. She was pretty, but why did she seem a little off-track-minded?

Seeing that Jiang Xia remained silent, Qin Jingru gritted her teeth and said directly, "I've taken a liking to you. Will you come and propose marriage?"

Jiang Xia was dumbfounded. Wasn't it said that relationships between men and women were taboo in this era? How did this reckless guy suddenly appear?

Uncle Jiang leaned closer to take a look. There was nothing he could do; the old man was a bit night-blind and hard of hearing.

"Oh, Qin Jingru! Don't bother with the matchmaking! I already have a marriage planned in Jiangxia, I can't go on any more matchmaking!"

As he spoke, he used his whip to shove Qin Jingru aside, gave a shout, and continued on his way.

Qin Jingru gritted her teeth and decided to follow.

So what if there's a marriage arrangement? We're not married yet.

Like my cousin, she was also arranged to marry someone, but in the end she still married someone from the city.

Of all the women in the surrounding villages, I am the most beautiful. Just like my mother said, what man doesn't like a beautiful woman!

Maybe it was too dark today and he couldn't see clearly. He quickly tidied himself up. I don't believe it!