Courtyard House: Starting as a mediocre engineer

To be honest, the problem of substandard domestic hydraulic oil is relatively easy to solve.

In another dimension, China also has a wealth of experience in this area. The logic is simple: after using domestically produced hydraulic oil for so many years, surely they could find a solution?

Furthermore, there was Zhuang Zhongchen's later business of exporting used equipment. Those industrially barren countries couldn't possibly produce hydraulic oil, could they? Sometimes they'd be short just a few barrels of hydraulic oil; were they really going to wait for domestic exports? Who would be responsible for the delayed construction? Many times, emergency measures were needed.

To put it more plainly, it means using substitutes. Although they are not as good as the genuine products, they are still usable.

To be fair, Zhuang Zhongchen and his ilk are incredibly unconventional. There's nothing they wouldn't dare to do if it solved a problem.

However, a problem arises—there are simply too many such unorthodox methods. Even the alternatives come in many varieties?

Those scoundrels in China, they've been locked in infighting for decades, coming up with all sorts of ingenious ideas. What method haven't they tried? They even managed to refine gutter oil into aviation kerosene! Yes! The kind of aviation kerosene used in airplanes!

But the situation is completely different now. Substitutes, by their very nature, have their advantages and disadvantages. Compared to genuine hydraulic oil, they are suitable for different applications, and even their maintenance requirements are entirely different. To explain all of this comprehensively would require a very long article!

In other words, it includes the complete instructions for using the alternative. You can't just throw it in without considering the details, can you?

After some consideration, Zhuang Zhongchen finally decided to write one. It would be at least a hundred thousand words long and would take more than a month to complete.

Damn it, this after-sales service cost me a fortune. And all I got in return were 1 or 200 yuan worth of local specialties? That's a total rip-off!

Why--!

……

In November, the capital city was shrouded in the bleakness of late autumn.

When Zhuang Zhongchen arrived at a factory, he found that the open flames had been extinguished, but the entire warehouse had been burned to ruins.

Smelling the air and detecting the odor of kerosene, Zhuang Zhongchen smiled and greeted Staff Officer Fang beside him, "Old Fang, is this arson?"

This Staff Officer Fang was the fire department's operations staff officer. He also gloated, saying, "That's Old Qi's job. You've made a wasted trip. Look, isn't Old Qi coming over?"

Generally, upon receiving a fire alarm, the fire department will respond immediately. The police will also send personnel. Unlike later times, when the serious crimes unit would only be dispatched in the event of arson. Currently, there is also the need to guard against sabotage by spies, so the police need to have firsthand information.

If a fire breaks out in a residential area, it has nothing to do with the labor bureau; but if a fire breaks out in a factory, it could be a fire safety accident, and the labor bureau would have to send people to the scene.

After that, it's up to whoever's business it is to handle it. Since it was arson, the labor bureau has nothing to do with it; the police will definitely investigate.

After Lao Qi arrived, the three of them wrote the document and signed their names.

After offering cigarettes to everyone, Zhuang Zhongchen asked curiously, "Old Qi, have they caught the arsonist?"

"We caught them. We've even taken their statements."

"Huh?" The group was taken aback, not expecting it to be so fast.

"This kid is just a student, and I heard he's excellent in both character and academics, tutoring a female classmate next door..."

"And then?"

"Later, the boy took a bucket of kerosene from home and came to this warehouse, intending to set himself on fire. But as soon as he lit the fire, he got scared and ran away. He was fine, but he burned the whole place down to the ground?"

Holy crap!

"Do you know what happened next? After that kid calmed down, he changed his clothes and went to school. When we got there, he was still in the classroom listening attentively to the lesson!"

"How many years could he get in prison?"

"The death penalty is unlikely. Life imprisonment, perhaps!"

"No. Even if their affair is exposed, at most the school will give them a major demerit. Is that necessary? If they just get married, it won't even affect their college entrance exams, right?"

"Exactly. That's why they say he's a silly child. Sigh—!"

Only state officials like Zhuang Zhongchen would strictly abide by the Marriage Law.

But wouldn't a brat like that who causes such a huge mess be considered a weirdo?

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, everyone finished work and went home.

Realizing it was still early, and today's visit was just a formality, Zhuang Zhongchen decided not to return to his workplace and instead headed towards Wen Yumei's school...

In a garden, Zhuang Zhongchen had been waiting for almost half an hour. Suddenly, Wen Yumei's little head appeared. She said with delighted coquettishness, "Brother Chen, you've finally arrived! Hmph!"

Because communication was very inconvenient in those days, and schools strictly prohibited early romantic relationships among students, this place became their dating spot. Zhuang Zhongchen would come whenever he had time, and Wen Yumei would come to check on them every day.

In just over a month, their relationship rapidly intensified. The young girl's heart had already been set on that scumbag.

"Brother Chen, it seems like everyone else writes love letters. Why don't you write one for me?" Wen Yumei gently tried to pull away from Zhuang Zhongchen's hand when she realized it was already in his palm, but her bad brother was still so "domineering" that she could only helplessly let him "take advantage" of her.

"What, do people at your school write love letters?"

"Yes, yes, someone else wrote to me too." Wen Yumei proudly raised her head, revealing her fair swan neck.

"Oh?"

"I'll just hand them over to the teacher and let the teacher call my parents. Hehehe. They're just a bunch of immature kids, who would want them? Hehe."

Playing with the soft, boneless little hand, Zhuang Zhongchen chuckled. He wasn't in a hurry to get closer to the lively and adorable little girl beside him.

To be honest, before transmigrating, Zhuang Zhongchen's romantic history was completely blank. At first, he was a hopeless simp, then he was surrounded by beautiful, scheming women. Just when he finally wanted to find an honest, unassuming girl, he somehow transmigrated?!

Therefore, this kind of sweet romance is a heartwarming new experience.

"Brother Chen, there's a swing over there, I want to play on it!"

"???"

"Oh, right, I also want to eat candied hawthorn berries. Okay~!"

"???"

No, why do I have this feeling that dating has turned into raising a daughter?

"Brother Chen, let me tell you! I'm learning to knit sweaters and I'm going to knit you a pair of gloves."

"Okay, I'll definitely like it."

"No! I called it secretly, but my older brother found out. He thought I called it for him and even gave me some pocket money as a reward. Hehehe."

"Huh? Your brother won't be angry when he finds out?"

"I don't care. Anyway, the money they give me is both of ours. Hmph."

"ha?"