The train driver in the courtyard

"Ah!"

"Who is praising me behind my back?"

at dusk.

The afterglow of the setting sun cast a warm yellow hue over the entire capital city.

Li Aiguo took the locomotive of Qianmen Locomotive Depot and brought Zhang Tianquan's wife Huang Sen back to the courtyard from Jingcheng Station.

The residents in the compound were sitting in front of their doors, fanning themselves with palm-leaf fans and chatting about family matters.

When they saw a strange girl, they all looked at her with curiosity.

"How come you all forgot? This is Brother Tianquan's wife, Comrade Huang Sen!"

Everyone then took a closer look and found that Huang Sen's appearance had changed a lot compared to half a year ago.

She was thin, her face looked a little haggard, and her belly was slightly bulging. No wonder no one recognized her at first.

The third aunt rubbed her eyes, stood up and greeted: "Oh, it's really Huang Sen!"

As she spoke, her eyes fell on Huang Sen's belly: "Girl, are you pregnant?"

"Yes, Auntie, it's been more than five months. The conditions in the mountains are too harsh, and the team feels sorry for me and let me come back to recuperate for a while." Huang Sen explained with a smile.

In fact, Huang Sen originally planned to stay in the prospecting team for a few more months, wait until the prospecting work in Dahei Mountain was successfully completed, and then return to Beijing to prepare for the birth of the child.

She devoted herself to her work and persisted even when her body could no longer bear it.

Unexpectedly, her health condition became worse and worse, and she even fainted in a valley once.

Fortunately, a villager who went up the mountain to collect herbs found her and quickly notified the prospecting team at the foot of the mountain, thus pulling her back from the brink of death.

When the leader of the prospecting team learned about this, he was furious and called the team leader to his office to criticize him harshly: "Huang Sen is the descendant of a meritorious official. If something happens to her, how can we explain to those seniors who have dedicated their lives to the cause of geology?"

The captain had no choice but to take seven or eight team members with him to do ideological work on Huang Sen in turn. After a long period of persuasion, they finally persuaded her to return to the capital.

"Oh my, this is great!" Auntie clapped her hands on her thighs, "Mrs. Liu has been looking forward to having a grandson!"

When the old ladies and young wives in the compound knew that Huang Sen had returned, they were all happy for Aunt Liu.

When Li Aiguo brought Huang Sen back to Liu's house, Aunt Liu and He Yushui had already cleaned up the house.

He Yushui pulled Huang Sen into the house to talk in private. Aunt Liu looked at Li Aiguo and said, "Aiguo, thank you so much."

"Auntie, please don't be polite with me. Huang Sen is from another place and he has just arrived in our capital. There must be many things he is not used to. If you need anything in the future, just let me know and don't be polite with me." Li Aiguo said with a smile.

"Oh, I know!" Aunt Liu didn't hesitate.

You should know that the reason why Huang Sen returned to the capital was because he showed signs of miscarriage.

Huang Sen needs a good rest and also needs to replenish his nutrition. Now supplies are in short supply in the capital, and Aunt Liu really needs Li Aiguo's help to get some supplies.

These trivial matters are nothing to Li Aiguo now.

As the days passed, Huang Sen discovered some strange things.

She often saw Aunt Liu quietly going out in the middle of the night, walking in a hurry with her bound feet.

After a while, Aunt Liu will come back with something.
Sometimes it's a can of milk powder, sometimes it's a piece of bacon.

These things, which were extremely rare in the era of material scarcity, gradually appeared in our homes.

"Mom, where...where did these things come from?" Huang Sen couldn't help but ask.

"Oh, don't worry about it!" Aunt Liu winked at Huang Sen and said mysteriously, "We have a way!"

Aunt Liu is an old lady from Beijing, and her two sons are both living in other places. What connections can she have?
Huang Sen couldn't help but look at Li Aiguo's home next door.

She also knew how valuable these supplies were, so she helped Aunt Liu hide them in the cabinet.

With these supplies, Huang Sen's health got better day by day, and the signs of miscarriage gradually disappeared.

*****
time.

Just like a woman’s first menstrual period, it always comes and goes quickly.

In the blink of an eye, it’s the end of the year.

With the full assistance of Professor Gilotti and Professor Xia Zhongsu, two top leaders in the computer field.

The Red Star Computer Institute has made significant progress and has successfully completed preparations for manufacturing the 4004 processor.

The 1013 Institute provides 5N-grade single crystal silicon.

Shenyang Huaguang Light Bulb Factory produced two 3000W mercury arc lamps specifically for the Red Star Computing Institute.

The laboratory of Jingcheng Chemical Plant helped to manufacture the photosensitive material (photoresist).

The only thing missing now is the mask.

In later generations, precision plotters were used to draw masks, with a precision that could reach the micron level.

But in these days, it can only be painted by hand.

"Micron level. That is to say, the image accuracy must reach 1/60 of the diameter of a hair."

Professor Xia Zhongsu came up with an idea: "I remember that when the Institute of Computing Technology manufactured precision equipment, it hired fitters. But the precision of that equipment was only at the millimeter level."

"Fitter? How could I have forgotten about this?"

You have to know that these days senior fitters are versatile workers who can tinker with fighter jet engines and open locks.

Li Aiguo immediately picked up the phone and after a few shakes, he was connected to the steel rolling mill.

"Brother Li, I am patriotic. I have a task here and need a few good fitters."

******
In the early morning, before the first ray of sunlight fully penetrated the steel mill, the mill, which had been silent all night, became bustling.

The end of the year is just a few months away, and it is time to strive for advancement.

The workers arrived at their posts early, sweating profusely, and the fitter workshop was bustling with activity.

The sounds of various tools colliding together form a melody of labor.

Suddenly, the passionate and generous voice of the announcer came from the factory's loudspeaker.

"Attention, all fitters. Attention, all fitters. The Red Star Computing Institute needs five senior fitters to support the construction. The accuracy of the workpieces must reach 0.002 mm. If there are any workers who are willing to participate, please go to Deputy Director Li's office to sign up."

The workers in the locksmith workshop stopped their work and started talking among themselves.

"Support construction? Is there any subsidy?"

"Needless to say, you can make as many white steamed buns as you want every day."

"Big white bun. Hiss. I have to go sign up right away."

"They want a master chef, he has to be accurate, can you do it?"

The workers talked for a while, shook their heads, and returned to their workstations to continue working.

After all, in a locksmith workshop, level 0.05 or workers can only control the accuracy within at best.

Workers at levels 0.005 and can only control the accuracy within .

To achieve 0.002 mm is an extremely difficult task even for an eighth-level master chef.

Everyone knows that one should do things within one's ability and eat as much as one's stomach can accommodate. This is an eternal truth.

There were two level eight fitters in the fitter workshop, and seven or eight extremely skilled level seven fitters signed up to participate in the construction support work of the Red Star Computing Institute.

After the "interview", the seventh-level worker Lao Gan returned to the workshop with his hands behind his back, humming a little tune.

"Disciple, you and Master will go to the Red Star Computing Institute together tomorrow. You don't need to bring any food or meal tickets.

"Master, I've asked around. The food at the Red Star Computing Institute is really good. We can eat white flour buns every day, and even a bowl of shredded pork noodles at noon!"

The young apprentice's eyes widened with excitement: "Shredded pork noodles? Master, are you sure? Even the richest textile factories haven't eaten meat for two months."

"Master Zhao, what exactly does the Red Star Computing Institute do? How come they live so comfortably?"

When the other workers in the workshop heard this, they all gathered around.

Jia Dongxu also mixed in the crowd, listening with his ears perked up.

"I don't understand either. I heard from that young leader that they are researching computing chickens..." The old man was so happy that he didn't ask in detail.

At this time, he scratched his head and said vaguely, "I think he raises pheasants?"

"A chicken farm? How can we still be short of meat?" Jia Dongxu immediately turned into a "big shot" and stood up and spoke loudly.

"So it's a chicken farm. Is the subsidy a rooster?"

"Big rooster? They raise pheasants! Director Li said that each chef will receive a subsidy of 2 yuan per day, two kilograms of flour, one kilogram of eggs, and a cloth coupon!"

Every time the old man spoke, the workers watching would open their mouths wider.

When they heard the word "cloth coupons", the workers all gasped, contributing to the warming temperature in the capital.

Jia Dongxu couldn't help swallowing his saliva: "Master Zhao, what about the apprentice? Does he also get a subsidy?"

"Of course. I will receive a subsidy of 1 yuan a day, one pound of flour and half a pound of eggs." The old man patted the young apprentice on the shoulder and said, "Go back and make preparations quickly, but don't embarrass the master."

"Master, don't worry!" The little apprentice was immediately delighted.

Just kidding, money is secondary. The key is that flour and eggs are scarce supplies.

If I work at the Red Star Computing Institute for half a month, I won’t have to buy New Year’s goods.

The workers all praised the grandeur of this chicken farm.

Jia Dongxu was so jealous that he almost drooled. He turned his eyes, slipped out of the crowd quietly, and found Yi Zhonghai who was slacking off in the warehouse.

"It's Dongxu." Yi Zhonghai saw Jia Dongxu and greeted him.

Ever since Jia Zhang was sent back to the countryside, the relationship between the two families has become more harmonious, and Yi Zhonghai has become more pleasing to Jia Dongxu.

"Master, have you heard that there is a chicken farm that needs the help of a senior fitter?"

"The loud speaker was shouting so loudly, how could the master not hear it? It's just that the requirements were too strict this time."

Although Yi Zhonghai was unwilling to admit it in front of Jia Dongxu, he also believed that he could not achieve an accuracy of 0.002.

"You are confused, Master. Everyone in our workshop knows that after the accuracy reaches 0.005, there is no way to measure it.

The accuracy is determined entirely by the master craftsman's own feeling.

How did that chicken farm determine that your precision was insufficient?”

Upon hearing this, Yi Zhonghai was stunned.

Yes, the vernier calipers and other measuring equipment in the workshop have an accuracy of only 0.02 mm, and the micrometer in the design department has an accuracy of only 0.005 mm.

No measurement, no harm.

Yi Zhonghai stood up suddenly and said, "Come on, apprentice, let's go to the chicken farm and get some old hens."

"Master, the chicken farm doesn't give us chickens. What we give us are flour, eggs and cloth coupons." Jia Dongxu corrected quickly.

"."Yi Zhonghai: "That's even better!"

At this moment in the conference room, Li Aiguo was worried.

In order to find a senior fitter who can make hand-drawn mask plates, the Red Star Computing Institute offered a "sky-high price".

There are more than ten fitters who have signed up, but currently only four senior fitters have passed the test.

"Brother Li, don't be anxious. Our steel rolling mill has many talented people. Let's wait a little longer." Deputy Director Li also felt embarrassed at this moment.

He had promised on the phone that he would have enough senior fitters, but this was the result? Deputy Director Li handed Li Aiguo a cigarette and lowered his voice: "Brother Li, my medicinal wine is almost used up."

"Huo! I gave you two big jars last time. Even if you drink one cup every day, you can last until the end of the year." Li Aiguo took the cigarette and his eyes widened suddenly.

Deputy Director Li quickly took out a match, lit a cigarette for Li Aiguo, and laughed dryly: "I drink two cups a day. No, no, no, it's a friend of mine who drinks two cups a day."

Li Aiguo: "."

He was silent for a moment, took a puff of cigarette, and advised: "Brother, although the medicinal wine is good, you can't drink too much."

He knew in his heart that medicinal wine was just an auxiliary thing.

If used properly, it can maintain your health, but Deputy Director Li is already in his forties. If he does this every day, even a body of iron cannot withstand it.

"Ahem, I'll be more careful next time."

Deputy Director Li was not angry. Instead, he felt that Li Aiguo treated him as his own and that was why he cared about him so much.

After all, a jar of medicinal wine is worth hundreds of dollars. If it were someone else, they might even wish he could drink more every day.

As we were chatting, we heard footsteps outside the door and someone pushed the door open and came in.

Seeing that it was Yi Zhonghai and Jia Dongxu who came in, Li Aiguo: “.”

Seeing Li Aiguo chatting and laughing with Deputy Factory Director Li, Yi Zhonghai: “.”

For a moment, the air in the room seemed to freeze, and both sides fell into an eerie silence.

Yi Zhonghai was a little confused at first, but then he understood.

No wonder Li Aiguo lives such a good life, it turns out he is the manager of a pheasant farm.

Are you kidding? How can life not be comfortable when you can just eat pheasants as much as you want?

The first to break the deadlock was Deputy Factory Director Li. He looked at Yi Zhonghai and asked, "Master Yi, what are you doing...?"

Yi Zhonghai nodded and smiled: "Director, I'm here to sign up."

"That's right, my master is a master chef." Jia Dongxu wiped his nose.

Deputy Director Li had some impression of Yi Zhonghai's technical level, which seemed not very good.

But no one can predict this kind of thing for sure, and we are short of people right now, so why not let anyone give it a try?
So he turned his gaze to Li Aiguo and asked, "Aiguo, what do you think?"

Li Aiguo leaned back in his chair: "There is still one vacancy. As long as you pass the test, you can take it."

Although he hated Yi Zhonghai, as long as Yi Zhonghai's technical level really met the requirements, Li Aiguo would not reject Yi Zhonghai.

Putting personal interests above public ones is not Li Aiguo's style.

Yi Zhonghai breathed a sigh of relief: "The precision of 0.002 mm is something that I can easily grasp."

"That's right, my master is a master chef." Jia Dongxu wiped his nose.

At this time, Professor Xia Zhongsu placed the tools and drawings on the table.

A metal mask, a carbide stylus, a stylus gauge, a stylus plate, a height gauge, a dividing head
The metal plate and the tools are nothing.

As a seventh-level experienced fitter, Yi Zhonghai has come into contact with this kind of thing many times and is no longer surprised by it.

Only that drawing made Yi Zhonghai feel a little confused when looking at the densely packed lines on it.

The distance between the lines is too close, which will definitely affect the accuracy.

"Master Yi, please carve the pattern on the metal plate according to the drawing." Professor Xia Zhongsu explained the specific plan.

What does a chicken farm need this thing for? Yi Zhonghai muttered a few words, picked up the marking needle, and got busy.

I have to say that Yi Zhonghai’s title of seventh-level fitter is not an exaggeration.

As soon as he got started, he showed his solid skills.

The marking needle in his hand moved carefully on the metal plate. His movements were steady and skillful, and every line was carved in a precise manner.

However, this job was quite difficult, and the entire carving process lasted for half an hour.

At this time, Yi Zhonghai's forehead was covered with dense beads of sweat, and his clothes were soaked with sweat and stuck tightly to his spine.

"finished!"

Professor Xia Zhongsu took the mask, took a quick look at it, nodded, and said, "It looks okay."

"That's right, my master is a master chef." Jia Dongxu wiped his nose.

Yi Zhonghai took the measuring tool and handed it over: "Comrade, you can measure it."

"Please call me professor." Professor Xia Zhongsu waved his hand to correct.

"Professor... Wow, this chicken farm is quite large. They even hired a chicken-raising professor."

Yi Zhonghai thought to himself and said, "Professor Yangji, can you measure it?"

Professor Xia Zhongsu: “.”

He felt that there seemed to be something wrong with the brain of the senior fitter in front of him.

"This micrometer screw."

"No need, we have special measuring instruments." As he spoke, Professor Xia Zhongsu opened the large box he carried with him.

Yi Zhonghai was confused at this moment. Is there any measuring instrument in the world more accurate than the micrometer?
"This is a polarimeter developed by the Magic City Physical Optical Instrument Factory. It is a tool used in our laboratory to test accuracy."

Professor Xia Zhongsu explained as he took out a wooden box from the big box.

Opening the box, inside is an instrument with a unique appearance. It has a square "body". The shell is made of thick metal and the surface is sprayed with a layer of military green paint, exuding a sense of calmness and reliability.

On the front of the instrument, the most eye-catching thing is the large dial. The numbers and scales on the dial are painted with eye-catching white paint, which is particularly clear against the military green background.

Yi Zhonghai looked at such high-end equipment and exclaimed in his heart, Wow! This chicken farm is really advanced.

Although he didn't understand how to use this thing, he was already starting to get nervous.

"I'm going to start testing now, and I hope the accuracy will meet the requirements."

"That's right, my master is a great chef." Jia Dongxu raised his sleeve to wipe his nose.

Li Aiguo: "."

Yi Zhonghai: "."

Deputy Director Li: "."

Xia Zhongsu had no idea about Jia Dongxu's mental state, and was unwilling to waste time, so he turned on the polarimeter, placed the mask on the platform, and turned the button.

Click, click, click. Along with the buzzing sound inside the instrument, a purple light shot out from the opening above and shone on the mask.

The needle on the dashboard jumped and finally stopped.

Professor Xia Zhongsu adjusted his glasses, picked up a pen, and squinted his eyes while taking notes: "Currently, the optical rotation is 0.001°. When -15°≤optical rotation≤+15°, it is ±0.01°. The standard deviation s is 0.002° optical rotation.

The current temperature is 0.5 degrees Celsius, and the temperature control accuracy is ±℃. Excluding all non-standard parameters, the final accuracy should be."

The pencil calculated quickly on the paper, and soon, Professor Xia Zhongsu gave the result: "The accuracy is 0.003 mm."

"That's right, my master is a master chef!" Jia Dongxu wiped his nose.

"Snapped!"

Yi Zhonghai couldn't bear it any longer, and slapped Jia Dongxu on the forehead, shouting angrily: "If you don't speak, no one will think you are dumb."

"Master, you are the master chef. Look how well and neatly you draw. Today you even performed beyond your level." Jia Dongxu felt aggrieved.

Yi Zhonghai: "."

Li Aiguo: "."

Deputy Director Li: "."

Yi Zhonghai's mouth twitched twice, and he finally forced out an awkward smile: "Ahem, I've been a little unemployed recently, and I'm sorry that I couldn't meet your requirements."

He saw Jia Dongxu standing there in a daze, so he pulled Jia Dongxu and said, "Hurry up and leave."

"Master, you didn't pass the test?" Jia Dongxu realized belatedly: "Didn't you just say that they couldn't find the problem?"

Yi Zhonghai: "."

He had the idea of ​​sending Jia Dongxu back to Jia Zhang.

I heard that Jia Zhang has been reformed very well in the dung team.

"Ah, the weather is so nice today." There was silence in the meeting room. Yi Zhonghai whistled and walked out of the meeting room with his hands behind his back.

Back in the workshop, Yi Zhonghai still couldn't understand why a chicken farm could be equipped with such advanced measuring instruments.

When several senior masters learned that Yi Zhonghai had just gone for an interview, they all came to inquire about the situation.

Jia Dongxu got a few cigarettes and immediately became excited and started dancing with joy.

"I'm telling you, I'm telling you, my master was like Lu Ban possessed just now, and the way he used the needle was simply amazing!"

Xu Damao happened to be in the workshop to help the publicity department spread fire prevention knowledge. Hearing the excitement here, he also came over and asked, "Did Master Yi pass?"

Everyone looked at Jia Dongxu.

"That's right, my master is a master chef." Jia Dongxu wiped his nose and then continued, "I'm just a little bit away from passing the interview."

Xu Damao laughed: "You put it here!"

Jia Dongxu was annoyed, slamming the table and saying, "It's not that my master's skills are not good enough, you know? The person in charge of the interview this time is that thief Li Aiguo!"

"It's Li Aiguo." Xu Damao narrowed his eyes slightly: "So, you think Li Aiguo deliberately made things difficult for Master Yi?"

"Of course I'm going to say that. You know how violent I am! I clenched my fists right away." Jia Dongxu put his hands on his waist and said, "It was only my master who stopped me. Otherwise, I would have made Li Aiguo kneel down and apologize in a second."

"Hey, Jia Dongxu, you are so awesome?" Xu Damao pretended to be surprised and took two steps back.

Jia Dongxu straightened his chest and said, "If Li Aiguo dared to be a second late, I would die under his fist and he would be responsible for the murder. I want to ask you, is he afraid?"

Xu Damao: "."

He couldn't help but give Jia Dongxu a thumbs up, calling him a manly man who could pee while standing.

Failure to pass the interview is not a big deal, after all, the Institute of Computing Technology only selects five senior fitters.

However, after Jia Dongxu's noise, all the workers in the workshop knew that Yi Zhonghai's real level was only 0.003 mm.

The fake level 8 identity that Yi Zhonghai had created in the past was exposed.

Yi Zhonghai was so angry that he dragged Jia Dongxu to the warehouse and scolded him: "Children can learn to speak when they are one or two years old. But adults may have to grow up to thirty years old to learn to shut up."

Jia Dongxu said happily: "Master, I am 25 years old this year, not even 30 yet."

Yi Zhonghai: "."

The happiest person in the whole incident was Xu Damao.

Brother Mao is a ruthless man in society, who doesn't talk much. He just reported Jia Zhang a while ago and sent Jia Zhang back to his hometown.

Now, Yi Zhonghai’s fake level 8 identity has been exposed in just a few words.

"Excuse me, is there anyone who can rival me? Is there any? Is there any?" Xu Damao stood at the door of the workshop, laughing so hard that he fell backwards.

Section Chief Chen of the Publicity Department came over and frowned: "Xu Damao, have the fire prevention materials been put down?"

"Hey, Chief, I'll go right away." Xu Damao restrained his smile, and quickly slipped away with his tail between his legs.

(End of this chapter)