Courtyard House: Starting as a mediocre engineer

In reality, Zhuang Zhongchen's actions were a counter-strategy. Since Gu Qiming wanted to sideline him, he might as well sideline him as well. Three groups were formed within the vocational skills division, and in effect, Gu Qiming became one of the group leaders?

From deputy section chief to team leader? Just ask how disgusting that is!

As the acting section chief, these arrangements were within Zhuang Zhongchen's authority. His superiors would generally never interfere.

Furthermore, since Gu Qiming wanted the "examination business," hadn't we already given you the examination team? Aren't you satisfied yet? Therefore, you can effectively stifle Gu Qiming, leaving him unable to voice his grievances.

As for Huang Ya? Isn't he just a 50-something-year-old employee? That's the age when a man should be striving!

In short, I don't care whether I'm a section chief or not, I'm just going to torment you to death!

You think you can mess with me? You're still too green, you little bastard!

However, this bizarre move immediately left the others looking at each other in bewilderment. Their expressions all became strange...

In fact, even Zhuang Zhongchen was a little puzzled. Judging by their individual abilities, he should have completely outclassed Gu Qiming in every aspect, so how come Gu Qiming had been so domineering over him before?

Anyway, I'm just killing time, so I might as well eat, sleep, and beat up Xiaoming. I'll give him a slap to wake him up! If one slap isn't enough, I'll just slap him a few more times.

However, at that moment, a "beep" sounded.

[Task Completion: Change Huangya's Fate and Realize Your Life's Value]

As he was nearing retirement, Huang Ya had long lost his life goals, spending his days aimlessly and preparing to live a mediocre life.

However, after becoming the head of the propaganda team, Huang Ya discovered a new life goal, helping a total of 5327 workers obtain vocational skill level certificates. Before retiring, he received two commendations and one honorary title for outstanding worker, earning him widespread praise.

Huang Ya felt the value of life for the first time and was grateful to you for the rest of his life.

Reward: 10 shopping vouchers.

Holy crap! Zhuang Zhongchen almost burst out laughing. Is this even allowed?

……

At that very moment, the editorial department of "Mechanical Engineering" was present.

An editor was reviewing submissions from last weekend. When he saw Zhuang Zhongchen's translation, he gave it a quick look, then signed it and sent it to the editor-in-chief.

The editor-in-chief also gave it a quick look and soon signed it off. It was then sent to the chief editor.

However, the editor-in-chief's final review was much simpler. After a quick glance, he asked, "Is this a translation?"

"Yes! The translator also included the original source."

Are we familiar with the translator?

"He must be a newcomer. According to his self-introduction in the submission, he is an engineer from the Municipal Labor Bureau."

"An engineer? A translator of a foreign journal article? Or something in hydraulics? No problem then, schedule it for the next issue!"

"Editor-in-chief, how are the payment for articles calculated?"

"High-quality papers like this are so rare these days. Let's aim for the highest possible grade! If the opportunity arises, we can commission papers on a long-term basis. Hmm... let's first see what the readers' feedback is like this time, using translation quality as the standard."

"Yes, Editor-in-Chief."

As he gave the instructions, the editor-in-chief also signed off on them...

In fact, even Zhuang Zhongchen was unaware of just how important the translations from this period were—far exceeding what later generations had imagined.

Let's put it this way! Everyone should know that these were the first batch of college students after the resumption of the college entrance examination. Every single one of them was an exceptional individual.

But the first batch of doctoral students? Those were the very elite, the most exceptional geniuses. If they stayed in China, almost every one of them would be a force to be reckoned with.

However, do you know what the first batch of doctoral students did for their doctoral dissertations? They translated a paper from a top international journal and passed the defense!

It seems ridiculous, doesn't it? Back in the 80s, you could get a PhD simply by translating one paper from a top international journal?

Now it was the early 60s, and the role of translated manuscripts was even more important; it was no exaggeration to say that they were crucial.

For example, Yuan Longping saw a translated article on the latest foreign genetics in a domestic journal. He immediately changed his research approach and began researching hybrid rice, ultimately embarking on a legendary path…

This included smuggling foreign journals into China (in those days, foreign countries strictly controlled journals, even those that were publicly distributed).

The secret front also made enormous sacrifices. Every year, many comrades on Hong Kong Island were arrested and imprisoned for smuggling periodicals into the country.

This is why publishing papers in domestic journals later required payment. In other words, you had to pay to publish a paper. And it had to be original. Forget about translated works.

But in this day and age, even for a newcomer, the editorial department is willing to offer the maximum fee.

And an engineer translated a paper from a foreign journal?

It's similar to how, later on, a university professor translated a paper from a top international journal, and without any review, which domestic journal wouldn't publish it?

Keep in mind that there are only tens of thousands of engineers now. By the time of the Industrial Cthulhu Age, there will be at least 10 university professors in China, right? So in terms of status, engineers at this time are in no way inferior to university professors of the future.

This shows that Zhuang Zhongchen also somewhat underestimated the importance of engineers.

……

Putting all that aside for now, Zhuang Zhongchen had already arrived at the next office and found Engineer Cheng from the safety supervision department.

Engineer Cheng was in charge of handling Jia Dongxu's safety incident. How to write the conclusion was entirely up to him.

"Old Cheng, do you know Jia Dongxu? He lives in the same courtyard house as me."

"Oh? What a coincidence?"

"That's right. Jia Dongxu's master is an old man in our courtyard, Master Yi Zhonghai, an eighth-grade worker from the steel rolling mill."

"Hmm, I vaguely remember."

"Master Yi asked me for a favor—Jia Dongxu's wife and children are so pitiful. According to the replacement standards, shouldn't he be replacing the deceased's original position? But his wife is a young widow, and she's surrounded by a group of grown men. Does she even care about her reputation? So it would be best if we could arrange for her to get a job in the office."

"Huh? Xiao Zhuang, is there anything else?"

"No, really no. The accident will be handled as it should be. It's just that the old neighbor couldn't refuse because of the orphan and widow."

"No problem! I'll call you right now."

"Is it too much trouble?"

"Hehe, what's the trouble? We originally blocked the steel rolling mill to hold a safety training course to train a group of safety officers for various units. Our organization doesn't have the funds, so of course we have to go to the steel rolling mill to 'hit the rich.' The higher-ups are already cursing and slamming their fists on the table. Too many people died in safety accidents in the first half of the year! So this matter of yours is a small matter, just something we can do on the side. The steel rolling mill will definitely agree."

Sure enough, a few minutes later, Engineer Cheng hung up the phone and made a "done" gesture.

Zhuang Zhongchen raised an eyebrow as well: "Old Cheng, give me your home address, when are we two brothers going for a drink?"

Engineer Cheng understood immediately. He smiled and pulled out paper and pen...