Courtyard House: Starting as a mediocre engineer

After a period of adjustment, Zhuang Zhongchen has gradually integrated into this vibrant era.

I have food and drink, a stable job, my own housing, and so on. I could easily live a carefree life and still have time to date girls.

Like a perennial substitute on a professional team, you don't actually need to do anything to get a high salary. And you won't miss out on any team honors. What more could you ask for than comfortably being a salary thief?

Of course, if someone does ask for advice, I can offer a few pointers. It's just a "small toy," after all, and what I say is all "basic common sense."

However, those two had already settled in Bengbu. Hearing such "advanced technological ideas" all of a sudden was, in a sense, a devastating blow!

Let me reiterate: by the time of the Industrial Revolution, China will have already achieved comprehensive leadership in the industrial sector. Even if we are still relatively behind in areas like lithography machines and chips, we will still be second in the world! And there aren't many countries left that second place. We have left almost all other countries far behind.

As for the "outdated concept" held by ordinary people, there are many reasons. But the main reason is media propaganda, which seems to particularly enjoy self-reflection. They like to use foreign PowerPoint presentations to compare domestic industrial products.

For example: the US's space program presentations are incredibly impressive! But the actual space station and lunar landing preparations are done in China; Western countries' sixth-generation fighter jet presentations are incredibly impressive! But the actual test flights are being conducted in China, with three sixth-generation fighter jets being launched simultaneously; Western countries' artificial intelligence presentations are incredibly impressive! But the real "lights-out factories" and autonomous driving are still being implemented in China…

Therefore, PPT and industrial finished products are different; they represent two different levels of difficulty.

To put it bluntly: anyone can draw blueprints and boast, but finished industrial products can't be faked. If you can do it, you can do it; if you can't, you can't!

Now, the situation both domestically and internationally is completely reversed.

Often, people in China know that such things exist, and may even obtain finished products to measure and imitate them, but there are too many historical debts, and many technical problems still cannot be overcome.

There's nothing I can do, I just can't do it!

That said, such "inability" often breaks the final barrier. After all, China still has a certain industrial base. Even if there are only tens of thousands of engineers in China, does that mean they aren't engineers?

Upon hearing this, the two men immediately scratched their heads, wishing they could write down every single word...

"Mr. Zhuang, I'm sorry. It's getting late. Please go to the restaurant; we still have many questions we'd like to ask you."

"Don't be shy, it's my turn to treat you here."

"How about this? Let's just go to a restaurant and get some dishes. Zhuang, you really don't need to treat us. Our company provides travel allowances and entertainment expenses. We don't need to spend any money; we can get reimbursed as long as we get the receipts. I'm really a little embarrassed, but how about we have a long talk tonight?"

"Hmm...that works too!"

After going outside to take a look, Zhuang Zhongchen called out to one of the mischievous kids, "Bang Geng, call your mom over. Ask her for a favor."

"oh!"

A short while later, Qin Huairu rushed over.

"Sister Qin, could you do me a favor and get some dishes from the People's Restaurant at the street corner? I have guests here today."

"Here's your food coupons and money, comrade. Don't worry about saving for us. Take two packs of cigarettes with you if you have any extra."

"Sister Qin, don't forget to issue the invoice! Also, when you get back, please help me cook a pot of noodles. There's some high-gluten flour in the rice bin."

"Got it!" Qin Huairu secretly rolled her eyes. She understood Zhuang Zhongchen's implication; she would also get a "running fee." Not to mention anything else, the two men had given her national grain coupons. If she exchanged them for local grain coupons, she could make a difference of more than one yuan.

During this period, only 17 restaurants in Beijing were fully open. This meant that no ration coupons were needed; you could buy food simply by paying. Of course, these restaurants were all very expensive. Restaurants like Lao Mo, Quanjude, Fengzeyuan, and Quanlaishun, which you often hear about, all belonged to these 17 restaurants.

As for other state-run restaurants, vegetables could be purchased with money, though they were a bit pricey, but no ration coupons like meat or oil were required. However, staple foods required grain coupons.

Because these state-run restaurants allowed customers to purchase refined grains using ration coupons (coarse grain coupons), they were popular with some wealthy families. They would often buy ration coupons on the black market.

In other words, the situation in the capital was relatively unique and different from other parts of the interior. People bought food coupons on the black market not to fill their stomachs, but to eat better.

That's why many rural people would go to Beijing to do odd jobs like fluffing cotton, making coal briquettes, or exchanging eggs. They didn't need to be paid; they just wanted to get a few grain coupons.

……

Two days later, Zhuang Zhongchen saw the two off. They were already eager to return home and bring their findings back to the project team as soon as possible.

However, regarding these technical difficulties, Zhuang Zhongchen basically only provided a general approach, without giving direct answers. In reality, it's quite similar. As long as you follow the correct line of thought, the answers will be easy to find.

"Mr. Zhuang, thank you so much. We've really come back with a great haul this time. Are you interested in...?"

"Hehe." Zhuang Zhongchen interrupted with a laugh, "If I joined your project team, what could I do besides translating materials and managing documents? When it comes to actual on-site situations, you guys have far more experience. This isn't just modesty; I'm still in the learning phase, so working at the Labor Bureau is the most suitable option. Being able to travel to various factories to learn, get in touch with all sorts of equipment, and improve my translation skills is also a contribution."

"Alright then! Thank you anyway."

"No need, no need, let's exchange ideas. Actually, I've learned a lot from you all."

"Hehe, you're too kind. See you later!"

"See you later!"

In any case, I guess this is a small contribution to the development of domestically produced 10,000-ton hydraulic presses!

No tasks were triggered, and it seems like this has turned into unpaid work? Is it all included in the "5 skill points" as my own after-sales service?

Well, since he'd already received the payment, he couldn't ask for too much. So, after a few days, Zhuang Zhongchen quickly put the matter out of his mind.

"Uncle, going out fishing?"

"Hey, Chenzi, you're out here on business too?"

"Today is Hai Zi's big day, and he wants me to go and support him."

"Of course. Even Hai Zi is getting married? Then you're busy!"

"Hehe. I wish you a fruitful trip!"

"That's for sure. I'm not bragging, but this is what your third uncle does when he fishes!"

"hehe."