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

The roar of engines still echoes in the first workshop.

The air was filled with the smell of engine oil and metal shavings, a smell that Yi Zhonghai had smelled his whole life, and also the smell that made him feel most at ease.

As one of the few level-eight fitters at Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill, Yi Zhonghai held absolute authority in the first workshop. Wearing his faded dark blue overalls, he paced around the workshop with his hands behind his back, like an old lion surveying its territory.

"Xiao Liu, keep your hand steady! That's not how you hold a file!"

"Daqiang, double-check the tolerances on that workpiece. Don't embarrass me!"

Yi Zhonghai would occasionally stop to give his apprentices some pointers. He felt quite pleased as his apprentices bowed and scraped respectfully at him.

This is his "retirement plan".

In this era, the master-apprentice relationship is like that of father and son. Although Yi Zhonghai is childless, he has taken in so many apprentices. As long as he trains these apprentices to occupy key positions in the workshop, when he gets old and retires, these apprentices will be his sons and his support.

Especially that apprentice named Xiao Wu.

Although Xiao Wu's technical talent is average, he is obedient and honest. Yi Zhonghai is currently working to get Xiao Wu assigned to the "finishing mill feeding" position.

This is a lucrative position.

The work is easy, unlike the backbreaking labor of a fitter. Moreover, because it's a crucial process, the salary is high, and there are generous subsidies. Once Xiao Wu secures this position, it's a certainty that he'll be able to give his master money for cigarettes and alcohol every month.

"Master, don't worry."

Xiao Wu was standing in front of the material delivery station, lighting a cigarette for Yi Zhonghai with a fawning expression. "I've already taken care of the workshop director. He said that as long as you say the word, this position is mine."

Yi Zhonghai took a drag of his cigarette and nodded in satisfaction: "Yes, do a good job. This position is important, you have to make me proud. In two years, when you're officially hired, I'll also..."

"Make way! Make way, everyone!"

Before Yi Zhonghai could finish speaking, he was interrupted by a noisy commotion.

The workshop door was pushed open, and several forklifts pulled in huge wooden crates. Following behind were a group of technicians wearing brand-new work clothes and safety helmets.

The one leading the group was Su Zheng.

Today, Su Zheng was holding a blueprint in his hand, directing the workers to unload goods. His eyes were focused and indifferent, not even glancing at Yi Zhonghai, as if this eighth-grade worker was nothing to him.

"What's going on?" Yi Zhonghai frowned, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart.

"It looks like... people from the technical department." Xiao Wu was a little flustered. "Master, they unloaded the stuff over here at the feeding station!"

Yi Zhonghai threw the cigarette butt on the ground and stomped it out.

"Let's go take a look."

He walked towards Su Zheng with his hands behind his back, adopting the air of a seasoned veteran.

"Advisor Su."

Yi Zhonghai greeted him with a forced smile, "What's all this fuss about? Our workshop's production schedule is tight, don't let it interfere with our work."

Su Zheng put down his pen and turned his head.

His gaze swept over Yi Zhonghai and Xiao Wu, then he said casually, "Master Yi, have your apprentice pack up. This position won't need anyone anymore."

"What?!"

Xiao Wu was startled, and the feeding clamp in his hand fell to the ground with a "clang".

Yi Zhonghai's face instantly darkened.

"Advisor Su, what do you mean by that?"

Yi Zhonghai, suppressing his anger, said, "Feeding the finishing mill is the most crucial part. The temperature, angle, and speed of each steel billet must be monitored by eye and fed in by hand. If it's even slightly off, the steel plate that comes out is scrap. You just dismiss this position with a 'we don't need anyone'? Do you even understand production?"

Yi Zhonghai's voice was loud, attracting a crowd of workers to watch.

He did this on purpose.

He wanted to use his prestige among the workers to put pressure on Su Zheng. He wanted to show everyone that this so-called "special advisor" was nothing more than a clueless young man giving orders blindly.

"Human eye? Human hand?"

Su Zheng smiled.

He pointed to a machine that was being unpacked behind him.

It was a complex robotic arm, brimming with industrial aesthetics. The hydraulic rods gleamed with a metallic sheen, and the sensor probes emitted a faint red glow.

"Master Yi, do you think the human eye is more accurate, or is an infrared thermometer more accurate? Is a human hand more steady, or is a hydraulic servo system more steady?"

"This..." Yi Zhonghai hesitated for a moment, then argued, "Machines are inanimate, people are alive! Can machines have experience? Can they have a feel for things? Feeding materials requires a 'skillful touch,' those clumsy machines will only damage the steel billets!"

"Skillful technique?"

Su Zheng shook his head, a hint of pity flashing in his eyes.

"In the industrial age, 'skill' is the least valuable thing. What we need is standard, precision, and tireless efficiency."

Su Zheng waved his hand.

"Install! Debug!"

The technicians immediately sprang into action.

In just half an hour, the equipment called "Tiangong-1 Automatic Feeder" was installed. It was like a steel giant, standing in front of the finishing mill, its cold mechanical arm ten times thicker than Xiao Wu's arm.

"start up."

Su Zheng pressed the button.

"Buzz—"

The machine emitted a deep rumble.

The conveyor belt started, and a red-hot steel billet was transported over.

The infrared sensor locks on instantly.

The robotic arm moved.

fast!

too fast!

Before anyone could even see it clearly, the robotic arm had already precisely grabbed the steel billet, adjusted the angle, and sent it into the mill inlet with an extremely smooth trajectory.

"Sizzle—"

The steel billet is rolled into a steel plate and extruded from the other end.

Then came the second piece, the third piece...

The robotic arm moved with fluid grace, without any pauses or unnecessary movements. Every gripping position and every feeding angle was executed with the precision of a copy-and-paste operation.

What's even more terrifying is its speed.

Xiao Wu usually delivers about 3 pieces per minute.

This machine gave out 15 yuan in one minute!

Efficiency increased by a full 5 times!

Moreover, the machine won't get tired, won't lose focus, won't tremble because it didn't sleep well last night, and won't dawdle because it wants to be lazy.

"This...this..."

Xiao Wu was dumbfounded. His pride in his "feel" and his "experience" that he relied on for survival were utterly crushed in front of this steel monster.

The surrounding workers were also dumbfounded.

They may not understand technology, but they know how to count. This efficiency is simply miraculous!

Yi Zhonghai's face turned deathly pale.

He stared intently at the machine, his lips trembling, trying to find something wrong with it to refute his argument.

"This... so fast, the quality must be terrible! There must be defective products!"

Yi Zhonghai, as if grasping at the last straw, shouted loudly.

"Test," Su Zheng uttered calmly.

The quality inspector came over with a micrometer and randomly selected ten freshly rolled steel plates.

A few minutes later.

"Report!"

The quality inspector's voice echoed throughout the workshop, "All qualified! And... the tolerance range is 60% smaller than with manual feeding! This is top-grade!"

boom!

These words struck Yi Zhonghai like a heavy hammer blow to the heart.

Premium grade.

All of them are top-grade products.

Yi Zhonghai spent his entire life training apprentices, only occasionally managing to produce a few top-grade products by sheer luck. But this machine did it as easily as drinking water.

"Impossible...this is impossible..."

Yi Zhonghai muttered to himself, his body swaying as he nearly fell.

Su Zheng walked up to Yi Zhonghai.

"Master Yi."

Su Zheng's voice was very soft, but to Yi Zhonghai it sounded like a thunderclap.

"Times have changed."

"In the past, you relied on experience, feel, and so-called 'special skills' to make a living. That was the logic of the handicraft era."

"But now, we live in the industrial age. An age where personal experience is worthless in the face of scientific data."

Su Zheng pointed to the tireless machine.

"It doesn't need to eat, it doesn't need to sleep, it doesn't need a raise, and it certainly doesn't need... retirement."

"Its sole purpose is production."

"so……"

Su Zheng's gaze fell on the dejected Xiao Wu. "Comrade, you can go to the logistics department to do cleaning. This position will be yours from now on."

Xiao Wu burst into tears and turned to Yi Zhonghai: "Master! Please help me! Didn't you say this job was secure?"

Yi Zhonghai opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

help?

How can I help?

What can he offer in return?

Faced with absolute efficiency and quality, his status as an eighth-grade worker was as worthless as a piece of waste paper.

He suddenly realized that Su Zheng was not just targeting a position, but the very foundation upon which Yi Zhonghai had established himself in the factory.

What is his foundation? It's his apprentices, his network, and the kind of technological monopoly that makes him indispensable.

But now, Su Zheng has easily shattered his monopoly with just one machine.

If all the key positions were replaced by machines...

If Su Zheng solves all the technical problems...

What use is this level eight worker then? What can he use to blackmail his superiors? What can he use to get his apprentices to show him respect?

fear.

An unprecedented, deep-seated fear instantly overwhelmed Yi Zhonghai.

Looking at the young, handsome, and spirited Su Zheng before him, he seemed to see a rising sun. Under that dazzling light, his own old oil lamp, almost burnt out, appeared so dim and so ridiculous.

"Good...good methods."

Yi Zhonghai gave a bitter laugh, and his once straight back instantly hunched over.

He neither argued nor made a scene.

He simply turned away silently, dragging his heavy steps out of the workshop. His back view was as aged as the end of an era.

Su Zheng watched Yi Zhonghai's departing figure, his eyes showing little emotion.

This is just the first blow.

Su Zheng will not show any mercy to this hypocrite who always likes to stand on the moral high ground and hold others hostage.

"Continue the renovation."

Su Zheng turned around and ordered the technicians, "Next, heat treatment furnace."

"yes!"

The technicians' answers were deafening.

At this moment, Su Zheng was the god of this workshop.

……

That evening, in the courtyard house.

Yi Zhonghai sat at home with a bottle of wine in front of him, but he didn't drink a drop.

Seeing that his expression was off, an older woman cautiously asked, "Old Yi, what's wrong? Did something happen at the factory?"

Yi Zhonghai raised his head, his eyes vacant.

"Old woman."

His voice was hoarse, "Our retirement money... I'm afraid it's in jeopardy."

"That Su Zheng... he's trying to uproot me."

Outside the window, the cold wind howled.

Looking at the lights still on in the backyard, Yi Zhonghai felt a sense of despair for the first time.

He knew he had lost the battle. And he had lost completely, with no chance of turning the tide.

Because the weapon his opponent was using was one he couldn't understand and couldn't block at all—

Dimensionality reduction strike.

……