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

The following day, at Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill, in the first assessment workshop.

Although it was winter, the workshop was bustling with activity. Inside the huge Soviet-style factory building, the roar of machines rose and fell, and the air was filled with the mixed smell of machine oil and cutting fluid.

The atmosphere today is exceptionally different.

The assessment area was surrounded by layers upon layers of people.

Not only the workers in Workshop 1, but even those who weren't on duty in other workshops came to watch the spectacle. Even the railings of the second-floor corridor were covered with heads.

Everyone had only one goal: to see how Su Zheng, the first-level worker who boasted about "skipping the eighth level exam," would make a fool of himself.

"Have you heard? If Su Zheng fails the exam, he won't get a raise for three years and will have to pay for the materials!"

"Hey, he brought it on himself! He should take a good look at himself in the mirror. Level 8 worker? Is that something a human can achieve? There are thousands of people in our factory, and we only have a handful of precious Level 8 workers."

"I think he's just desperate for attention and fame."

Whispers and jeers echoed through the crowd.

Before the assessment even began, several young apprentices who were also taking the assessment were already pale with fright at the scene.

"Next up, Zhao Tiezhu! He'll be assessed for Level 2 worker!"

As the examiner called his name, a sturdy young man walked nervously onto the control panel.

Perhaps it was because he was too nervous, or perhaps it was because hundreds of eyes were watching him, but his hand holding the file was trembling.

"Sizzle—"

The knife was slashed with too much force.

"Dimensions out of tolerance by 0.5 mm, defective! Next!"

The examiner was the factory's chief engineer, surnamed Wang, a notoriously incorruptible man. He glanced at the scrapped workpiece and coldly announced the result.

Zhao Tiezhu burst into tears on the spot and ran downstairs wiping away his tears.

The next few people also encountered numerous problems.

Some filed deep scratches on the surface of the workpiece, some broke the drill bit due to nervousness, and one even more outrageous was holding the measuring tools upside down.

The crowd erupted in laughter and boos.

Under such high pressure, if your mental fortitude is slightly weak, you'll be lucky to perform at half of your usual level.

"This generation of young people has terrible mental fortitude."

Standing beside the judges' panel, Yi Zhonghai shook his head, feigning deep regret, and said to Liu Haizhong beside him, "Back when we were taking the exams, we were so steady and methodical. Young people these days are so impetuous!"

Liu Haizhong, hands behind his back and his large pregnant belly protruding, snorted, "Of course. Especially that Su Zheng, let's see how he gets out of this mess. I've already spoken to a few of the old guys, and as soon as he steps onto the stage, we'll... hehe."

Just then.

"Next! Su Zheng! Assessment level... Level 8!"

As soon as Chief Engineer Wang shouted, the previously noisy workshop fell silent.

It's like someone pressed the mute button.

All eyes were drawn to the young figure in the waiting area.

Su Zheng stood up and straightened the collar of his work clothes.

Unlike the others, he didn't hesitate or show any panic despite the stares from those around him.

He was calm and walked steadily, as if he were not heading to an examination hall that would determine his fate, but a stage that he knew all too well.

Upon reaching the control panel, Su Zheng did not rush to look at the blueprints.

He first picked up the tools on the table and examined them one by one.

Files, scrapers, handsaws, calipers, micrometers...

His movements were fluid and professional. Every time he picked up a tool, he would gently test its feel, and even close his eyes to listen to the sound of the tools colliding.

His calm and composed demeanor stunned everyone who was expecting a laugh.

This guy... doesn't look like a novice.

He looks like a master craftsman who has been doing this for decades!

"Pretending." Yi Zhonghai snorted coldly, his voice not loud, but clearly audible in the quiet workshop. "No matter how well the tools are checked, it's all for nothing if there's no work to be done. Chief Engineer Wang, our time is precious, shouldn't we get him to start quickly?"

This is putting pressure on the examiners and creating psychological pressure on Su Zheng.

Chief Engineer Wang frowned, glanced at Yi Zhonghai, and without speaking, turned to Su Zheng: "Comrade Su Zheng, are the tools alright? If they are, we'll begin drawing questions. The assessment questions for Level 8 workers are..."

"Chief Engineer Wang, please wait a moment."

Su Zheng suddenly spoke, interrupting Chief Engineer Wang.

The entire audience erupted in uproar.

Calling for a halt now? Are you scared? Are you going to back down?

Liu Haizhong immediately perked up and shouted, "What's wrong, Su Zheng? Want to back out now? Too late! If you admit defeat now, then kowtow to everyone in front of you and admit you were just bragging, and maybe everyone will forgive you!"

A burst of laughter erupted from the crowd.

Su Zheng didn't even glance at Liu Haizhong, but calmly looked at Chief Engineer Wang and pointed to the ordinary steel on the platform:

"Chief Engineer Wang, isn't it a bit too frivolous to use ordinary 45# steel for the Level 8 worker assessment?"

What?

Child's play?

Chief Engineer Wang was stunned.

The surrounding workers were also dumbfounded.

What's this kid saying? Does he think the questions are too easy?

Su Zheng continued, "Since we're skipping eight levels of the exam, we need to demonstrate real ability to convince everyone. I'm requesting a change of application materials."

He turned around and pointed to a pile of scrap materials in the corner of the workshop.

There were some special scrap steel piled up there that had been rejected because they were too difficult to process.

"That piece of scrap W18Cr4V (high-speed tool steel) has high hardness and high toughness, but it is just right to test the extreme level of an eighth-level fitter."

Su Zheng's voice wasn't loud, but it was firm and resolute. "Also, don't draw any questions for the assessment. What tests an eighth-level fitter the most? It's 'feel,' 'precision,' and 'fit.' I'll use that piece of scrap steel to manually machine a 'regular dodecahedron.' Requirements: blind fit, interchangeability, no air leakage, and... it must have the effect of an 'air spring.'"

Dead silence.

A deathly silence.

Even Director Yang, who had been observing from the second floor, suddenly gripped the railing tightly, leaned forward, and looked utterly incredulous.

Regular dodecahedron!

That was the "ultimate nightmare" in fitter's exams!

The twelve sides must have perfect angles, flatness, and smoothness; even the slightest error will result in gaps during assembly.

Moreover, he also had to use high-speed tool steel, such a tough material, to grind it!

The most outrageous one is... an air spring?

That's a level of skill that only top-tier, national treasure-level craftsmen can achieve! By using extremely precise coordination, air is trapped inside the workpiece, creating an air cushion effect!

Is this kid...crazy?

"Su Zheng! Stop making trouble!" Yi Zhonghai couldn't sit still any longer, slamming his hand on the table and standing up. "The assessment has standards! You think you can just change it whenever you want? You think you can just change the questions whenever you want? I think you know you can't pass, so you're deliberately making the questions difficult to buy time, or you're just looking for an excuse!"

"Exactly!" Liu Haizhong jumped in, "What air spring? Never even heard of it! I think he's just bragging!"

Su Zheng glanced at Yi Zhonghai indifferently: "Uncle, you're an eighth-grade worker, you should know the value of the 'regular dodecahedron'. If I can make it, wouldn't that be more convincing than the standard assessment? If I can't make it, then I'm willing to accept the punishment, or even... leave the steel rolling mill."

"Leave the steel rolling mill?" Yi Zhonghai's eyes lit up.

"Alright! You said it!" Yi Zhonghai was afraid Su Zheng would go back on his word. "Chief Engineer Wang, since he's courting death, let's grant his wish! Let him do it!"

Chief Engineer Wang gave Su Zheng a deep look.

He saw an unprecedented confidence in the young man's eyes. It wasn't arrogance, but a confidence that allowed him to control everything.

"Okay." Chief Engineer Wang took a deep breath and nodded. "Su Zheng, I approve your application. But let me make this clear from the start: high-speed steel processing is extremely difficult. If you can't complete it within the specified time or the precision doesn't meet the requirements, you'll get a zero! And since this is your application, you'll have to bear the consequences of failure yourself."

Thank you.

Su Zheng's lips curled up slightly.

He turned and walked towards the scrap area, lifting the heavy piece of special steel scrap with one hand as if it were a block of tofu.

Return to the workbench and secure the scrap material to the vise.

"Alright, let's begin."