Courtyard House: Starting as a mediocre engineer

Beside the desk, Zhuang Zhongchen was flipping through a book of home-style recipes. Next to him was a jar of pickled vegetables and several large bottles of sauces.

These were all gifts from the chefs. Before the start of the new school year, their compiled cookbooks and "Home-Style Recipes" had already been published. The pickles and sauces are also the chefs' exclusive recipes.

In fact, this gift was not insignificant. During this period, sauces and other condiments were also rationed, with each household receiving only a few ounces per month.

Interestingly, after its publication, "Home-Style Recipes" became an instant hit in Beijing. Within just over ten days, the first edition of 1 copies sold out completely. A second edition of 3 copies was then distributed to surrounding areas of Beijing, where it reportedly enjoyed great success as well.

The publisher is now preparing for the third edition, and this time they're going to print 20 copies directly?

And you know what? The sudden surge in popularity of "Home-Style Recipes" has also inspired some domestic publishers. It's like discovering a new continent; they've finally grasped the formidable power of foodies. I've heard that many new recipes are being edited at a rapid pace, and some are even preparing for publication in Hong Kong and overseas…

However, after reading this "Home-Style Recipes," Zhuang Zhongchen felt something was off. The recipes weren't home-style at all; they seemed rather high-end, as if those chefs were deliberately showing off their skills?

Well, thinking back to that later book, "600 Clever Ways to Cook Home Dishes," it has a very ordinary name, but the content is incredibly hardcore—a cookbook that's a masterpiece. It was compiled from oral accounts by Mr. Park Fengtian, a famous chef from Northeast China.

The ingredients include bear paws, roe deer meat, grouse... and most outrageously, tiger meat? Yes! Just the kind of big tiger you're thinking of.

This is the only cookbook in the world that uses tiger meat. As for the ingredients, they're basically all prepared three years' worth of food.

I've never understood how tiger meat became a family dish.

Later on, family meals turned into broccoli frozen for two years? And it was even touted as the "most nutritious" children's meal?

No wonder, Chinese cuisine is so unappetizing! They don't even have tiger meat!

So, this cookbook is actually quite basic. At least it's not that hardcore.

……

At this very moment, at the site of the 10,000-ton hydraulic press project.

When the equipment successfully completed its phased trial run, overcoming several technical hurdles, the entire audience erupted in cheers.

Several technical experts nearby were also in high spirits, engaged in a lively discussion.

"Based on the current progress, are we capable of creating a New Year's gift?"

"New Year's Day or Spring Festival?"

"Of course, it's New Year's Day."

"Time is a bit tight. We'll need to work a few more shifts."

"That's fine then. By the way, what about Engineer Zhuang? We should at least send him a small gift, right?"

"Once the project is successful, we will definitely receive an award certificate. However, since he works for a municipal government agency, it will be difficult to accept the monetary reward."

"Then send some local specialties. Send as much as you can. We don't lack them here anyway."

As a key national project, supplies are absolutely guaranteed, especially daily necessities. Although it is still the period of three years of hardship, the treatment of key personnel is actually not bad.

Engineers like Zhuang Zhongchen are practically government officials, aren't they? They receive an extra supply of soybeans and sugar every month.

Take, for example, institutions of higher learning. The food supply for university students is absolutely guaranteed. The only unusual thing they notice is that the large meat buns in the cafeteria have become vegetable and meat buns. They are still big, plump white flour buns, with plenty of oil.

To be honest, college students these days are truly the cream of the crop. Tuition is free, they receive government grants, food subsidies… it's even better than going to high school. High school students have to pay tuition. If they're frugal, they can even save a few hundred yuan after graduating from college.

You don't need to spend any money at all, and you can even save money!

Therefore, sending Zhuang Zhongchen some local specialties is no big deal at all; it's just a little bit slipping through your fingers.

Just then, an engineer in his thirties asked, "Could you ask that Engineer Zhuang you mentioned to help us solve some problems?"

This man, named Xing Xiao, is a hydraulic expert who was temporarily transferred from the hydraulic press factory.

"Old Xing, is it still about domestically produced hydraulic oil?"

"Yes, compared to imported hydraulic oil, the problems are huge. Not only does it fail to reach the designed power, but the oil lines also frequently get clogged."

In fact, besides 10,000-ton hydraulic presses, ordinary hydraulic presses are also widely used, ranging from hundreds to hundreds of tons. However, these small and medium-sized hydraulic presses are the most numerous.

However, in the early days of the People's Republic of China, domestic production of hydraulic oil was virtually impossible, and the country relied almost entirely on imports. Furthermore, due to foreign exchange constraints, import volumes were limited. After all, there were too many other goods that needed to be imported, making it impossible to allocate large quotas for hydraulic oil.

In the early 60s, the Daqing Oilfield was finally discovered, and China was able to shed its label as an "oil-poor country".

However, the discovery of the large oil field was only a few years old, and the domestic petrochemical industry was just starting out. They hadn't even figured out how to refine gasoline and diesel yet, let alone specialty oils like hydraulic fluid.

Therefore, key projects like 10,000-ton hydraulic presses will definitely guarantee the supply of imported hydraulic oil. As for the hydraulic oil for small and medium-sized hydraulic presses? That's basically the product from the hydraulic press factory in Xingxiao? We can't really control that much; we'll just use domestically produced hydraulic oil as a makeshift solution!

But what about the domestically produced hydraulic oil of that period? To put it bluntly, its quality was inferior even to later gutter oil. Undoubtedly, it frequently malfunctioned, becoming a major problem for domestically produced hydraulic presses.

At that time, domestic industry was in such a helpless state. The backwardness of even a small sector restricted overall development. It's like having an advanced hydraulic press—it's useless without proper hydraulic oil!

"Old Xing, we've spoken with Engineer Zhuang, and he's quite accomplished in theoretical areas. You could write him a letter and ask him; it might give your factory some inspiration."

"Alright. I'll write the letter now."

"..."

……

Zhuang Zhongchen had no idea that hydraulic after-sales service had come knocking again. At this very moment, he had arrived at his superior's office, excitedly receiving his latest assignment.

Okay! As a naturally handsome guy, he's incredibly charming whenever he encounters women of all ages, young girls, or any kind of woman. Because of this, the labor bureau leaders often send Zhuang Zhongchen on external liaison missions. At least he won't suffer any losses; in fact, he often gets quite a few benefits.

Today is a mobilization meeting for young people from various government agencies—to celebrate National Day! Party members and youth league members will participate in voluntary labor!

"Hey, Sister Zhao, Sister Feng, you two look younger and more beautiful every day! I've missed you so much!"

"Little Zhuang, you want a beating, don't you?"

"No, that's called a genuine expression of emotion. By the way, how are the arrangements for the voluntary labor?"

"I heard they're digging ditches. Wasn't there a flood a few days ago?"

"That won't do. You women will provide cover from the rear, while we men charge ahead."

"You're so rude! You want to make arrangements? Wait until you become a leader! Hehehe!"