Courtyard House: Starting as an engineer, crushing a yard full of poultry

Director Bao watched with a broad smile, while Yi Zhonghai was utterly humiliated. This pleased Director Bao immensely; "So this is what happens when you never take me seriously!"

Factory Director Yang and Deputy Factory Director Li Huaide also entered the workshop. Li Xiangdong had met Li Huaide once when he reported for duty yesterday.

"Section Chief Li, we meet again. Is there anything else you need to do in your life? I'm in charge of logistics, so I can help you out in any way I can." Li Huaide shook hands with Li Xiangdong.

"I want to buy some planks and woodworking tools, but I don't know much about that..." Li Xiangdong said without hesitation. His eagerness was evident in his words, befitting his engineering background.

“We have a carpentry workshop in our own factory; we have everything you need. Just pay me,” Li Huaide said with a smile. As he spoke, he rolled up his sleeves, revealing his gleaming wrists.

Li Xiangdong recognized it at a glance; the watch on Li Huaide's wrist was one of the watches he had shipped out.

“Okay, let’s go repair the machine,” Li Xiangdong said with a smile.

The machine tool was a piece of cake for Li Xiangdong. Under the watchful eyes of Deputy Section Chief Zhang and several technicians, Li Xiangdong quickly disassembled the machine tool into eight pieces.

Yi Zhonghai and Jia Dongxu watched from the sidelines. At this moment, Yi Zhonghai couldn't help but say, "You've given these precision-machined parts a huge dent. What if you can't reassemble them in the end..."

"Yi Zhonghai, don't use your level to judge an eighth-level engineer."

Zhang, the deputy section chief and a level-nine engineer, glared at Yi Zhonghai and said angrily, "Just focus on your work as a fitter. Are you bored out of your mind? Why don't you learn something?"

One sentence shut Yi Zhonghai up.

That's right, he's a high-ranking worker at the factory, but he's no match for the engineers.

There are over a dozen level eight factory workers, and more than forty level seven workers who can be upgraded at any time. However, there are only two engineers, including Li Xiangdong.

Li Xiangdong completely ignored Yi Zhonghai, treating his words like the barking of a lapdog.

“These two gears are deformed, and this guide rail is deformed too.” Li Xiangdong found the problem: “Who used this machine tool? There’s so much grease, it hasn’t been maintained for at least two years.”

"It would be strange if nothing went wrong!"

All eyes turned to Yi Zhonghai, who had been using the machine ever since it was brought in.

"How does Section Chief Li plan to fix this?" Director Yang cursed Yi Zhonghai inwardly, while smilingly addressing Li Xiangdong.

“It’s simple, just replace it with the spare part,” Li Xiangdong said.

“But we don’t have any spare parts!” Deputy Section Chief Zhang shook his head and said, “The Russians didn’t provide any back then.”

"Let's build it!" Li Xiangdong shook his head and said, "Then we'll have to make it ourselves."

"Yi Zhonghai, hurry up!" Factory Director Yang said with a cold expression.

Moreover, the damage to this machine is inextricably linked to Yi Zhonghai.

I used to think Yi Zhonghai was an honest and kind gentleman, but now I see it was all an act.

"The gear error is within two levels, and the guide rail error is within one level." Li Xiangdong requested, "Just make it and replace it."

"However, we didn't have any with that kind of hardness just now, so we can only make do with the regular kind. We'll have to replace it every two or three months."

"I will research and develop new materials in the future."

Li Xiangdong was confident in his statement because he had a computer in the mysterious space containing a large amount of decrypted data.

"Um, I can't control it within two channels, let alone one," Yi Zhonghai said somewhat awkwardly. "I can only manage within three channels!"

“No, an eighth-grade worker is at least two levels.” Li Xiangdong was dumbfounded.

One thread means a trace, which is 0.01 millimeters.

"My master is very skilled at repairing machines, so he was specially approved by the leaders to be an eighth-grade worker," Jia Dongxu said angrily.

"You're good at repairing machines?" Li Xiangdong said disdainfully, "Then why can't this machine tool be repaired? Or did he break it because he didn't maintain it properly?"

"A seventh-grade worker is the standard within the third level. Tsk tsk, Yi Zhonghai, your eighth-grade worker is actually a fraud!"

Yi Zhonghai felt like he was about to vomit blood. His fig leaf had been torn off completely.

"Old Li, go to another workshop and transfer two level-eight workers over here." Factory Director Yang's face darkened.

"No need, Director Li, I'll do it myself. By the way, is it alright for Yi Zhonghai to process two rough blanks?" Li Xiangdong was essentially bashing Yi Zhonghai in.

"I...I...I..." Yi Zhonghai could barely catch his breath.

Li Xiangdong ignored Yi Zhonghai. He picked up the deformed guide rail and began to straighten it on the fitter's bench.

"Yi Zhonghai, what are you waiting for? Hurry up and get the steel ready!"

Factory Director Yang looked at Yi Zhonghai with a face full of disappointment and frustration. Yi Zhonghai was one of his men.

"No, Section Chief Li, you're an eighth-level engineer, do you also have the skills of an eighth-level fitter?" Li Huaide asked, his eyes darting around.

Chapter Nine: Yi Zhonghai Unleashes His Ultimate Move (Seeking flowers, votes, and generous donations!)

"I don't know which level, but it shouldn't be a problem within one level."

Li Xiangdong said proudly, "It's definitely much better than a shoddy, eighth-grade worker."

Yi Zhonghai, who was processing the rough blanks and feeling frustrated, heard Liu Lidong continue to argue relentlessly. He felt dizzy and then his throat felt sweet and his mouth tasted blood.

Yi Zhonghai took a deep breath, calming his blood pressure. He roused himself and focused on turning the rough carcass.

"Stop arguing and let Section Chief Li concentrate on his work," said Factory Director Yang.

Li Xiangdong now possesses immense mental strength, with control over his muscles down to the level of every single muscle fiber. Correcting a single guide rail is a piece of cake for him.

In just over ten minutes, Li Xiangdong had corrected the guide rail.

"I can't measure the error, it's incredible, I almost suspect the instrument in my hand is broken."

Deputy Section Chief Zhang said in surprise. He had just measured the guide rail.

"That means zero error!" Li Huaide exclaimed excitedly. "In that case, becoming an eighth-level fitter is definitely not a problem. As for the other aspects required of an eighth-level fitter, are they still a problem for an eighth-level engineer?"

“Zero error is impossible,” Deputy Section Chief Zhang shook his head and said, “This is probably outside the minimum value of the combined measurement error.”

"Tsk tsk, that's zero error! Yi Zhonghai, how's yours coming along?" Li Huaide looked at Yi Zhonghai. He had just finished.

Yi Zhonghai then forged the rough blanks of the two gears. Li Xiangdong picked up his tools and began to hand-rub the two gears together.

Yi Zhonghai walked to the side and sat down, his hands trembling uncontrollably. He was furious. When had anyone ever dared to humiliate him like that?

In just over ten minutes, Li Xiangdong hadn't even had a micrometer to measure. After putting down his tools, he said to Deputy Section Chief Zhang, "Alright, you can install it for me."

"Still can't measure the error!" Deputy Section Chief Zhang exclaimed in astonishment, "Your fitter skills are god-like!"

Li Xiangdong's face remained calm, but he was incredibly smug inside.

The combined spiritual power of his two bodies gave him a keen eye, as sharp as a measuring tool.

"Alright, you guys install it. I'll modify these machines later, or design a machine tool," Liu Xiangdong said calmly. "Then I'll head back now."

"Section Chief Li, wait a minute. Didn't you want timber?" Li Huaide said with a smile, "I'll take you over to choose some. I'll take you back by car later."

A shadow crossed Director Yang's face for a moment, but he still smiled and said, "Section Chief Li, you fixed the machine, so I'll give you a bicycle voucher. Consider it a reward."

"Uh, fixing the machine is part of my job," Li Xiangdong said, pausing for a moment.

“But making the parts isn’t your job,” Factory Director Yang said with a smile, handing a ticket to Li Xiangdong.

After exchanging a few polite words, Li Xiangdong followed Li Huaide and left.

Li Xiangdong understood what was going on; it was just a power struggle between the factory director and deputy director, both trying to win him over.

In the carpentry workshop, Li Xiangdong selected some timber, including sawn boards and some logs. He then loaded a brand-new set of woodworking tools onto a dilapidated truck.

"No need to pay. This should be around forty yuan, consider it a reward from the factory for you," Li Huaide said with a smile. "I'll treat you to a welcome-back dinner on Monday!"

"Thank you, Director Li!"

Li Xiangdong answered without the slightest hesitation.

Li Huaide left with a smile. He knew that Li Xiangdong had accepted the olive branch he had extended.

Li Xiangdong helped the driver load the timber and then sat in the passenger seat. Just as they were about to drive away, the factory's loudspeaker blared.

A broadcast announced that Yi Zhonghai's negligence had caused machine damage, resulting in a two-month salary deduction. Additionally, Section Chief Li Xiangdong, who repaired the machine, was awarded a bicycle voucher and fifty yuan in cash.

Li Xiangdong immediately understood where the cash had been spent: it was money for timber and tools.

Li Xiangdong returned home and ate a simple lunch. First, he made a large bed, with a wardrobe sandwiched between it. By the time he finished these two things, it was already past four in the afternoon.

Yan Bugui stood by the screen, staring wide-eyed as Li Xiangdong worked. Some other people who were leaving get off work also gathered around to watch the spectacle.

They never expected that Li Xiangdong would be a carpenter, and such a skilled one at that.

"Li Xiangdong, you're skilled in carpentry? Not bad at all!" Yan Bugui began to scheme: "You even bought so much timber..."

"So?" Li Xiangdong said casually. He then assembled the wardrobe. The wardrobe was old-fashioned, though it would be considered very fashionable nowadays.

Yan Bugui didn't seem to care at all about yesterday's conflict with Li Xiangdong. It was as if it had never happened, and he and Li Xiangdong maintained a good relationship.

"Please help me out, it's just a small favor. Make us a big bed, a wardrobe, and a chest of drawers." Yan Bugui said with a smile, "My son is going on a blind date..."

Li Xiangdong sneered, completely ignoring Yan Bugui's thoughts. He took the varnish and applied it to the bed and wardrobe.

The furniture was made from red pine, and Li Xiangdong only applied one layer of clear varnish. This varnish was taken from the mysterious space. He peeled off the wrapping paper.

“We have timber at home. Just make it for you. I’ll provide you with two meals…” Yan Bugui said shrewdly.

"Fuck off!"

Li Xiangdong was truly disgusted.

"How dare you speak to Section Chief Li like that?" Liu Haizhong, with his protruding belly, came over: "Old Yan doesn't take advantage like you do."