Courtyard House: A Major Power's Heavy Industry, Hand-Crafted Nuclear Fusion

A black Hongqi sedan slowly pulled up in front of the factory building, its body covered with a thin layer of dust, clearly indicating that it had traveled a long distance.

The car door opened, and an elderly man with graying temples, dressed in a Zhongshan suit, stepped out.

Although he was old, he had an upright posture and sharp eyes like a hawk.

Behind him followed an elderly expert with thick-rimmed glasses and gray hair, as well as several serious-looking staff members.

Factory Director Yang and Deputy Factory Director Li had already received a call from the gatekeeper and came running down, panting, to greet them.

"Minister Liu! Why did you come in person?"

Factory Director Yang was so nervous that his palms were sweating.

Minister Liu is a powerful figure in the Ministry of Industry. It's usually difficult to even meet him. Why did he suddenly launch a surprise visit today?

Moreover, judging from their travel-worn appearance, they seem to have come directly from out of town.

"I have to come."

Minister Liu glanced at the Third Workshop in the distance, where the noise was still deafening. "I heard your Red Star Factory has made quite a splash, even I couldn't sit still. Old Yang, you've really surprised me this time."

"Well..." Director Yang said somewhat embarrassedly, "It's mainly thanks to Comrade Su Zheng. We just provided logistical support."

"Su Zheng?"

Minister Liu repeated the name to himself, then turned to the senior expert beside him, "Engineer Chen, did you bring the materials?"

"I brought it."

The veteran expert, known as Engineer Chen, took out a set of precise German-imported measuring tools from his briefcase, his expression somewhat complicated:

"Minister, to be honest, I'm still a bit skeptical. Even the best machine tools in the Soviet Union couldn't achieve a precision of Ra0.02. I'm well aware of the level of our domestic basic industries..."

He shook his head and didn't continue, but the meaning was clear:

It's highly likely that it's either boasting or a miscalculation.

"Whether it's bragging or not, we'll see."

Minister Liu waved his hand and said, "Let's go to the conference room. Call Su Zheng here; I want to interrogate him in person."

……

The atmosphere in the factory's conference room was as heavy as a solid iron plate.

At one end of the long table sat Minister Liu and Engineer Chen.

Factory Director Yang and Deputy Factory Director Li sat beside him, not daring to utter a sound.

Su Zheng, on the other hand, sat calmly opposite him.

He had just come out of the workshop, still wearing his work clothes with black machine oil stains on his cuffs, but this did not diminish his calm and composed demeanor in the slightest.

"Is this the finished sample?"

Engineer Chen picked up the precision-ground bearing sleeve that had just been removed from the machine tool and examined it carefully under the light.

Smooth and mirror-like.

Even under strong light, not a single scratch can be seen with the naked eye.

Engineer Chen's pupils contracted slightly.

A true expert's skill is immediately apparent.

Just based on its appearance, it already surpasses 99% of domestic products.

He picked up a micrometer and a surface roughness measuring instrument and began on-site testing.

"drop--"

As the measuring instrument readings fluctuated, Mr. Chen's hands began to tremble slightly.

"How is it?" Minister Liu asked in a deep voice.

"this……"

Engineer Chen took off his glasses, rubbed his eyes, put them back on, and measured again.

The result remains unchanged.

"Ra 0.018... Roundness error 0.2 micrometers..."

Chen's voice trembled as he abruptly looked up at Su Zheng, his eyes filled with shock and disbelief.

"Was this made in China? Was it really ground from that repaired M1320?"

Su Zheng nodded: "Yes."

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

Engineer Chen stood up excitedly. "I know the M1320 very well. Its factory precision limit is only Ra0.08! How did you manage to do this? Unless... unless you completely replaced the spindle system!"

"That's right, it's been changed."

Su Zheng said calmly, "I changed it into a hybrid dynamic and static pressure spindle."

"A mixture of dynamic and static pressure?"

Engineer Chen was stunned. "That's technology that's still in the theoretical stage! Soviet experts couldn't figure it out after three years, and you...you figured it out all by yourself?"

Su Zheng took out a roll of blueprints from his pocket and pushed it over.

"This is the final assembly drawing; you can take a look."

Engineer Chen was overjoyed and immediately began studying the blueprints.

The more he looked, the more interesting his expression became.

From shock to confusion, then to sudden realization, and finally to deep admiration.

"Genius...absolutely a genius design!"

Pointing to the spiral groove structure on the blueprint, Engineer Chen was so excited he was almost incoherent. "Minister! Look at this return oil groove! It cleverly solves the temperature rise problem by utilizing the shear thinning effect of the fluid! And this labyrinth seal... It's amazing! Absolutely amazing!"

Although Minister Liu didn't understand the technology, he already had a good idea of ​​what was going on when he saw Engineer Chen's expression.

He turned to look at Factory Director Yang, his gaze turning somewhat stern:

"Old Yang, such an important talent, such a core technological breakthrough, why didn't you report it sooner?"

Factory Director Yang was startled and quickly stood up to apologize:

"Minister, it was my mistake. Mainly... this happened too suddenly. And Comrade Su Zheng... he made three conditions while repairing the machine."

"Oh? Three conditions?"

Minister Liu became interested. "Tell me about it."

Factory Director Yang braced himself and recited the three points Su Zheng had raised: "independent laboratory," "technical veto power," and "private soldiers in the security department."

After he finished speaking, he looked at the minister with some trepidation, afraid of being accused of "allowing his subordinates to create independent kingdoms".

After all, in that era that emphasized collectivism, such "privileges" were somewhat taboo.

The conference room was deathly silent.

Deputy Factory Director Li kicked Factory Director Yang under the table, secretly lamenting: This is it, Su Zheng is going to be criticized.

However, to everyone's surprise,

"Snapped!"

Minister Liu slammed his hand on the table, making a loud noise.

"Good! Well suggested!"

Minister Liu stood up, his eyes fixed intently on Su Zheng. "When it comes to technology, you need this kind of domineering spirit! You need this kind of undisturbed environment! Forget collective leadership, forget layers of approval—all of that must give way when it comes to tackling core technologies!"

He paused, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes:

"Especially the two points about 'independent laboratories' and 'private soldiers in the security department' show that although you are young, you have a very strong sense of confidentiality! You know that core technologies are the lifeblood of the country and cannot be taken lightly!"

"Director Yang, I order you not only to agree to Su Zheng's three conditions, but to add to them!"

"From today onwards, Su Zheng's independent laboratory is directly upgraded to a 'Ministerial-level Key Concern Project'! All funding, materials, and personnel will be directly allocated by the Ministry of Industry! No one but me has the right to interfere with his experiments!"

"Also, the security department is understaffed. I'll transfer a squad from the National Guard Bureau to specifically oversee the lab's security. Remember, Su Zheng is a national treasure; if even a hair on his head is harmed, you'll be held responsible!"

Factory Director Yang and Deputy Factory Director Li were stunned, then overjoyed.

A ministerial-level project! The security bureau is on guard duty!

This isn't making a mistake; this is hooking up with someone incredibly powerful!

"Yes, sir! We guarantee to complete the mission!" Factory Director Yang stood at attention and saluted, his voice booming.

Minister Liu nodded in satisfaction, then walked up to Su Zheng and extended his hand.

"Comrade Xiao Su, thank you for your contributions to the country. Your 'Chinese heart' allows us to stand tall in front of foreigners!"

Su Zheng grasped those calloused hands and felt the sincerity and passion of this old revolutionary.

"You flatter me, Minister. This is just the beginning."

"What a wonderful beginning!"

Minister Liu laughed heartily, "Then I'll give you even more responsibility. Since you can modify machine tools to this extent, what about other things?"

He paused, his expression turning serious. "The department has a project codenamed '01' that's recently encountered some technical bottlenecks. The main issue is... the high-precision barrel manufacturing. Our sniper rifles just can't seem to get accurate, and that's been a major concern for the soldiers on the front lines."

Minister Liu stared intently into Su Zheng's eyes.

"I've reviewed your resume and witnessed the technical skills you just demonstrated. An engineer who understands mechanical principles, possesses top-notch machining techniques, and, most importantly, has a strong sense of confidentiality is exactly the kind of person I need right now."

"Xiao Su, would you be interested in taking on the challenge?"

Upon hearing the words "sniper rifle," Su Zheng's heart skipped a beat.

"I know a little about guns."

"good!"

Minister Liu's smile faded, and he said seriously, "As long as you're willing to take on this mission, whatever your conditions are, just name them! As long as it's for the country, even if you want the stars in the sky, I'll find a way to pluck them down for you!"

Everyone was looking at Su Zheng.

He has now achieved great success.

Money, status, and honor are readily available to him, as long as he asks.

Su Zheng remained silent for a moment.

He turned his head and looked through the conference room window at the wasteland in the northwest corner of the factory area.

The area is overgrown with weeds and is usually frequented only by stray dogs.

But in Su Zheng's eyes, it was a perfect "testing ground".

"Minister, I do have a request."

Su Zheng pointed to the wasteland.

"I want that land."

"The current laboratory is too small and too close to the production area, making it unsuitable for... certain 'big-scale' experiments."

"I want to build a new workshop there. A completely enclosed workshop with its own power supply, specifically for 'building big stuff'."

Minister Liu followed his finger and his eyes suddenly narrowed.

He understood what Su Zheng meant—the gun was just the beginning.

This kid probably has something even more astonishing on his mind.

"Good! That's bold! That land is yours!"

Minister Liu made the decision on the spot:

"Whether you build a workshop or a firing range, do whatever you want! I want to see just how much of a commotion you can make on that wasteland!"