Fusion System: Rebirth in a Courtyard - Bird Fighting Chronicles

Chapter 120 The forging hammer sings of the craftsman's will, the precision door opens to conti

The morning bell at Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill had just rung its third time when the sheet metal door of the forging workshop was pushed open. Lin Chen walked in, his feet glistening with morning dew, still carrying the faint smell of machine oil from Chenqing Tool Shop. He had just placed his canvas tool bag on the worktable when he saw Director Zhou Jianguo rushing out of his office, clutching a crumpled report in his hand, his brows furrowed in worry.

"Xiao Lin, you're finally here!" Zhou Jianguo slammed the report on the table, pointing to a line of data. "That German-imported CNC forging press in the precision group malfunctioned again yesterday during debugging. Three batches of gear blanks have excessive ovality. The technicians spent the whole night testing, but they couldn't even find the problem. We're due to deliver to the military unit in three days. If we miss the deadline, our workshop's advanced worker award for this year will be completely ruined!"

Lin Chen picked up the report, and the system panel popped up the instant his fingertip swept across the data column. On the pale blue screen, the 3D model of the forging press was slowly rotating, with a red marker precisely locked at the crankshaft connecting rod connection. [Equipment fault detected: Connecting rod bushing wear caused excessive clearance, eccentricity 0.03mm, exceeding the tolerance range by 2 times. Recommended solution: Replace with high-strength alloy bushing, and simultaneously calibrate the crankshaft balance.]

"Director Zhou, don't worry, we've found the problem." Lin Chen pointed to the tolerance values ​​on the report. "The connecting rod bushing is worn loose, causing eccentricity during forging. We need to re-machine a set of bushings, and we need to use a chromium-containing alloy material. Ordinary steel can't withstand the impact of the CNC forging press."

Zhou Jianguo's eyes lit up, and he was about to call the technician over, but then his face fell: "But Old Zhang from the precision group broke his leg yesterday, and the remaining apprentices can't even process ordinary bushings to the required standard, let alone alloy ones. We can't possibly ask the level eight fitter group to save the day, can we? That old bastard Yi Zhonghai, last time I asked him to help repair a machine tool, he even asked me for two kilograms of premium flour as a tip."

Lin Chen's lips curled slightly as he pulled an oil paper package from his tool bag. After opening it layer by layer, he revealed a blank bushing with a silvery-gray sheen: "I was prepared. This is scrap aerospace alloy I found at the junkyard the day before yesterday. It contains 12% chromium and 3% molybdenum, and its hardness is 20% higher than the original parts. I did some rough machining at the tool shop last night, and all that's left is precision grinding and drilling."

Zhou Jianguo picked up the blank and weighed it in his hand. The density was obviously greater than that of ordinary steel. He couldn't help but marvel: "Your craftsmanship is amazing! But who will process it? This job requires extremely high precision. Even a difference of 0.01mm will prevent it from being assembled."

"I recommend someone." Lin Chen stepped aside to let the figure behind him pass. Liu Guangtian stood there with his toolbox on his back, a brand-new apprentice badge pinned to his collar. His face showed a bit of nervousness, but more so, barely suppressed excitement. "Guangtian has been learning precision forging from me for half a year. The cutting machine blades he improved last time had a tolerance control within 0.005mm, which is even more stable than the old apprentices in the precision group."

Zhou Jianguo sized Liu Guangtian up and down, recalling the hexagonal bolt the young man had forged during the workshop skills competition. Under a magnifying glass, the six angles were perfectly symmetrical, which had caught his attention then. But then he remembered that Liu's father was Liu Haizhong, and Zhou Jianguo hesitated: "You know Old Liu's temper. Last time, when I offered his son a lighter job, he thought I was going to make things difficult for Guangtian and cursed at him for half an hour at the workshop entrance. If Guangtian were to join the precision group, wouldn't he make a scene and demand a permanent position for his son?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than a familiar loud voice came from the workshop entrance: "Director Zhou, don't worry! I, Liu Haizhong, am making this clear today: Guangtian gets into the precision group entirely on his own merit. If his skills aren't up to par and he's sent back, I won't utter a single word against it!"

Everyone turned around and saw Liu Haizhong wearing faded old work clothes, carrying a lunchbox, followed by Aunt Liu with a cloth bag. He put the lunchbox on the table, opened the lid, and inside was neatly arranged braised beef, still steaming: "This is beef shank that I asked Boss Wang from the butcher shop to reserve. If Guangtian passes the test today, consider it a reward for him; if he doesn't, consider this meat my apology to the masters in the precision group."

Looking at the gray hair at Liu Haizhong's temples, Zhou Jianguo recalled hearing yesterday that Liu had smashed and burned his treasured wine jug, and his heart softened. He patted Liu Guangtian on the shoulder: "Alright, I'll give you a chance. The precision group's assessment consists of three parts: manually polishing the bushing to a tolerance of within 0.008mm, drilling perpendicularity error not exceeding 0.01mm, and finally, on-site assembly and debugging. If you pass all three, I'll personally handle your transfer to the new group."

A crowd quickly gathered around the precision machining station. Yi Zhonghai, leaning on his cane, stood on the periphery, his face so dark it seemed to drip water. Yesterday, he had heard that Lin Chen was going to recommend Liu Guangtian for the precision machining team, so he had specifically asked someone to plead with Zhou Jianguo, hoping to get his distant nephew in. Unexpectedly, Zhou Jianguo had rejected the idea, saying, "Ability trumps seniority." Seeing Liu Guangtian pick up the micrometer, he couldn't help but sneer, "He's barely grown up, and he wants to do precision machining? Don't break the German equipment; you won't be able to afford to pay for it even if you sell your house."

Just as Liu Haizhong was about to lash out, Lin Chen grabbed him. Lin Chen handed Liu Guangtian an oilstone: "Follow our 'Three Grinding Method': first, rough grinding to set the shape; then, fine grinding to control tolerances; and finally, precision grinding for polishing. Remember, keep your wrist steady, your breathing even, and memorize the micrometer readings."

Liu Guangtian took a deep breath and secured the bushing blank to the vise. Holding a micrometer in his left hand and an oilstone in his right, he gently rotated his wrist, leaving even lines on the bushing surface. Sunlight streamed through the workshop's glass windows, illuminating his focused face; fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, but he didn't even bother to wipe them away. The surrounding chatter gradually subsided, and everyone's attention was focused on the bushing that was shrinking.

Yi Zhonghai's nephew, Yi Xiaochuan, stood to the side, arms crossed, and said sarcastically, "What's the use of polishing it smooth? Drilling is the real skill. Last time I drilled a drive shaft, I ruined three blanks before it was acceptable. With his skill level, he'd be lucky if he could drill straight."

Lin Chen ignored him and took out a homemade guide from his toolbox: "This is made from a stainless steel pipe with jewel bearings inlaid on the inner wall to ensure that the drill bit does not shift its center. Tomorrow, we'll use the 'three-point positioning method' we practiced last time to drill the center hole first, and then enlarge the hole step by step."

Liu Guangtian nodded and secured the guide to the bushing. The moment the drill bit touched the metal, he gently pressed the pedal, gradually increasing the rotation speed. Cutting fluid flowed down the drill bit, carrying tiny metal shavings that accumulated in a small pile on the workbench. Yi Zhonghai squinted, pulled a magnifying glass from his pocket, and stared intently at the drill bit's position—his area of ​​expertise, where even a seasoned technician with twenty years of experience would find it difficult to guarantee perfect drill perpendicularity.

Half an hour later, Liu Guangtian turned off the machine tool and picked up a brush to clean the chips off the bushing. Zhou Jianguo personally picked up the testing instrument; the dial indicator's pointer jumped gently, finally stopping at 0.006mm. "Perpendicularity error 0.005mm, tolerance 0.007mm, both excellent!" Zhou Jianguo's voice was filled with excitement. "The last step, on-site assembly!"

Beside the CNC forging press, Master Wang, the old foreman of the precision group, was already waiting. Seeing Liu Guangtian approach, he handed him a pair of clean gloves: "Kid, this machine is our factory's prized possession, worth the equivalent of half the workshop's output. Be careful when assembling it; if the connecting rod pin gets stuck and can't be removed, you're not leaving today."

Liu Guangtian took the gloves, his fingers trembling slightly. Lin Chen stepped forward and whispered in his ear, "Think about the simulated assembly we practiced at the tool shop. Apply special lubricant to the bushing, align it with the crankshaft bore, and gently rotate to push it in. You'll hear a 'click' when it's in place. Trust yourself; you're more skilled than anyone else."

Liu Guangtian took a deep breath and aligned the lubricated bushing with the crankshaft bore. He closed his eyes, and countless images of practicing in the tool shop flashed through his mind—Lin Chen teaching him to measure with calipers, Liu Haizhong forging the blank over a fire, and even Jia Dang helping him clean up the debris with a small brush. When he felt slight resistance at his fingertips, he gently turned his wrist, and with a crisp "click," the bushing fit perfectly.

"Success!" Cheers erupted from the crowd. Master Wang started the equipment, and during the idle test, the vibration reading on the dial remained stable below 0.1 mm/s, 0.05 mm lower than the original factory standard. He patted Liu Guangtian on the shoulder and said to Zhou Jianguo, "Director Zhou, I want this young man! He's more talented than any apprentice I've ever trained. Train him well, and he'll definitely be a key technical member of our factory in the future!"

Zhou Jianguo laughed heartily and pulled out a transfer application form from his pocket: "I'll sign it right away! From today onwards, Liu Guangtian is a formal member of the precision group, enjoying the treatment of a level three apprentice, with an additional five yuan technical subsidy on his monthly salary!"

Liu Haizhong was so excited he couldn't speak. He hugged his son tightly, his rough hands stroking his back repeatedly. Aunt Liu took out a cloth bag containing a brand-new blue work uniform embroidered with the words "Precision Group." Although the stitches were a bit crooked, she had spent three sleepless nights embroidering it: "Guangtian, put on your new clothes and work hard from now on. Don't embarrass your father."

Yi Zhonghai's face turned ashen. He turned to leave, but Lin Chen stopped him: "Uncle Yi, please wait a moment." Lin Chen picked up the blank bushing on the table. "You are an eighth-level fitter with rich experience. Could you take a look at the material of this blank? If you have any suggestions for improvement, we can refine it accordingly."

Yi Zhonghai initially intended to refuse, but upon catching a glimpse of the silvery-gray alloy blank, his professional instincts kicked in. He took the blank, ran his fingers over the surface texture, and then gently tapped it near his ear. His expression gradually changed: "This is aerospace-grade chromium-molybdenum alloy, isn't it? The carbon content is controlled at around 0.35%, and the balance between toughness and hardness is excellent, even better than the special steel in our factory. Where did you get this?"

"I analyzed the composition of the old parts I found at the scrap yard using the system, and then adjusted the metallographic structure through forging." Lin Chen paused, then deliberately said, "Actually, Guangtian's current technology is largely thanks to your 'inspiration' back then. Last time you taught Qin Huairu how to polish parts in the workshop, although she didn't learn it, Guangtian understood your technique from the side. Later, we improved it, which led to the current 'three-grinding method'."

Yi Zhonghai's face flushed red and then paled. He snorted coldly and turned to leave, but his steps were much slower than when he arrived. The surrounding workers all laughed. Everyone knew that Yi Zhonghai valued his technical authority most. Lin Chen's words both gave him a way out and subtly mocked his poor teaching.

Chenqing Tool Shop was bustling with activity at noon. Qin Huairu, along with Jia Dang and Jia Huaihua, brought freshly steamed white flour buns, each marked with a red dot; Sha Zhu carried in half a pork carcass, saying it was extra from the canteen and he insisted on celebrating for Guangtian; Yan Bugui was rapidly calculating on his abacus, saying he wanted to calculate Guangtian's salary increase so that the tool shop's precision parts processing could be handled by Guangtian in the future.

Liu Guangtian, dressed in brand-new precision assembly work clothes and wearing an apprentice badge on his chest, was demonstrating newly learned drilling techniques to everyone. Jia Dang was diligently taking notes in his notebook, occasionally asking questions: "Brother Guangtian, why is the angle of this drill bit 118 degrees? Can't it be made with a round head?"

"Round-tipped drills won't work; the cutting force will be dispersed, making it easy to jam the drill," Liu Guangtian patiently explained. "118 degrees is the optimal angle derived from countless experiments. It ensures cutting efficiency while reducing drill wear. As Brother Lin said, all technical parameters are based on evidence; you can't just go by feeling."

Liu Haizhong sat to the side, watching his son talk so eloquently, his eyes welling up with tears. He recalled how he used to vent his frustrations on his children; the scars on Guangtian's hands and the bruises on Guangfu's arms were proof of his volatile temper. It wasn't until the day he burned the wine jug and saw Guangtian burning the midnight oil at the tool shop, studying the technology, that he realized how foolish he had been.

"Xiao Lin, let me toast you!" Liu Haizhong picked up his teacup. It was jasmine tea brewed by Su Qing, but it tasted like alcohol. "I used to be a bastard, stealing your food coupons, robbing your scrap metal, and always causing you trouble. Not only did you not hold a grudge, but you also helped Guangtian learn technology and get into the precision group. I, Liu Haizhong, will remember this kindness for the rest of my life!"

Lin Chen also picked up his teacup and gently clinked it against his: "Master Liu, we both make a living with our skills, and we know best how valuable those skills are. Guang Tian is talented and hardworking; even without me, he would have made a name for himself sooner or later. From now on, let's help each other out and make our lives prosperous."

Su Qing brought over a plate of freshly fried peanuts and said with a smile, "Now that Guangtian has joined the precision group, our tool shop's precision parts processing will be guaranteed. I've already talked to Director Wang of the textile factory; they need a batch of custom-made thread breakage warning devices, and Guangtian can process the core components. We'll pay him labor costs so he can earn some extra pocket money."

Aunt Liu quickly waved her hand, "No need, no need. It's enough for me to learn the skills from you all. How can I ask for wages?"

"Auntie, you have to give him this money," Lin Chen said earnestly. "Technology is for creating value. He put in the work and deserves a reward. Besides, he needs to get married and build a house in the future, so it's always good to save more money."

Just then, the sound of a bicycle bell came from outside the door. He Yushui pushed in a brand-new Forever brand bicycle, with a cloth bag hanging on the handlebars: "Lin Chen, I heard that Guangtian joined the precision group, so I came here to congratulate him. This is a precision caliper that I asked someone to buy from Shanghai as a gift for Guangtian."

Liu Guangtian quickly took the calipers, opened them, and saw that the brand-new vernier calipers gleamed with silver light, and the graduations were clearly visible. He was so excited that he couldn't speak. This was the tool he had always dreamed of. Before, he could only borrow his master's calipers in the workshop, but now he finally had his own.

Looking at the bustling tool shop, He Yushui smiled and said to Lin Chen, "My brother told me yesterday that if it weren't for you, he would still be kept in the dark by the Jia family and have been spending all his salary. Now he's working as a cook at the military guesthouse, his salary has increased a lot, and he's even saved up to buy a house. He'll be moving in next month."

Lin Chen nodded. He had already heard about Sha Zhu buying a house yesterday. Sha Zhu had even come to the tool shop to ask him to help design the kitchen stove, saying that he wanted it to be made according to the energy-saving stove style that Lin Chen had previously improved, which would save coal and have a strong fire.

As evening fell, Zhou Jianguo suddenly rushed over, holding a blueprint in his hand: "Xiao Lin, the military unit has placed an additional order for a batch of high-strength gear shafts. The precision requirements are the same as today's bushings, and they must be delivered within three days. The precision engineers are overwhelmed. Could you and Guangtian work together to expedite the process?"

Lin Chen took the blueprint, and the system panel instantly displayed the analysis results: [Gear shaft material: 40CrNiMoA, heat treatment requirements: quenching and tempering, hardness HRC38-42, critical tolerance: 0.005mm. Suggested machining process: forging blank → rough turning → quenching and tempering → finish turning → grinding → polishing.]

"No problem." Lin Chen looked at Liu Guangtian, "Do you dare to take on the challenge? Complete the precision machining of fifty gear shafts in three days."

Liu Guangtian's eyes lit up as he gripped the precision calipers tightly. "Brother Lin, I dare! You teach me how to do it, and I guarantee I'll finish it on time!"

Liu Haizhong patted his chest and said, "Director Zhou, I'll help too! Leave the forging of the blanks to me, and I'll guarantee that the metallographic structure of every blank will be up to standard. My son and I will work with Xiao Lin, fifty blanks in three days, no problem!"

Zhou Jianguo was overjoyed and pulled out two industrial vouchers from his pocket: "These are the bicycle industrial vouchers I've saved. If you complete the order on time, I'll apply for a bonus and buy Guangtian a new bicycle!"

That night, the lights in Chenqing's tool shop stayed on all night. The sounds of hammering, machine tools turning, and calipers measuring mingled together, echoing through the quiet courtyard. Lin Chen was in charge of designing the processing flow and quality inspection, Liu Guangtian focused on precision grinding and polishing, and Liu Haizhong was sweating profusely as he forged blanks. Su Qing brewed a large pot of brown sugar ginger tea and brought it to them every hour; Qin Huairu brought Jia Dang over to help clean up the chips and even brought over the heater from her house; Sha Zhu also rushed over after get off work to lend a hand, moving blanks and delivering tools, keeping himself busy and happy.

The next morning, as the first rays of sunlight streamed into the tool shop, the first qualified gear shaft had been completed. Lin Chen measured it with a micrometer, and all parameters exceeded the requirements of the blueprints. Looking at the busy neighbors before him, he activated the system panel, which displayed a new notification: [The host has successfully rallied the neighborhood's strength, completing the emergency production task. The "Courtyard Cohesion" buff has been upgraded to 50%. New feature "Batch Processing Optimization" unlocked, increasing team processing efficiency by 40%. 2000 points gained, current total points: 16600.]

Three days later, when fifty gleaming gear shafts were neatly arranged before the military unit's inspection team, they were speechless with astonishment. The head of the inspection team, holding the test report, said to Zhou Jianguo, "Director Zhou, the technical level of your steel rolling mill has truly exceeded our expectations! The pass rate for this batch of gear shafts is 100%, and the precision is even higher than our requirements. From now on, we will exclusively purchase precision parts from you!"

At the commendation ceremony, Liu Guangtian, wearing brand-new work clothes and a "Factory-Level Outstanding Apprentice" medal on his chest, stood on the podium. Zhou Jianguo personally presented him with a bonus and bicycle industry vouchers. Liu Haizhong, sitting in the audience, was so moved that tears welled up in his eyes, and he clapped vigorously until his palms turned red.

After the meeting, Lin Chen led Liu Guangtian and Liu Haizhong to the scrap yard. Liu Haizhong pointed to a pile of scrap steel and said, "Xiao Lin, look at these car half-shafts. They're all high-strength alloys. We can forge them into gear blanks, which is much cheaper than buying new steel." Liu Guangtian, meanwhile, took calipers and carefully measured the dimensions of the scrap steel, muttering, "This can be made into a gear shaft, that can be modified into a bushing blank..."

Watching the father and son work together seamlessly, Lin Chen felt particularly at ease. He knew that Liu Guangtian's growth was just the beginning. With the mutual support of the neighbors in the courtyard and the continuous development of Chenqing Tool Shop, in this era full of opportunities and challenges, they would surely be able to create their own world with their own hands and skills.

As the sun set, the three pushed a cart full of scrap steel back home. Liu Haizhong hummed a work song he had learned when he was working at the docks, while Liu Guangtian excitedly talked about the latest happenings in the precision group. Lin Chen walked in the middle, listening to the father and son's laughter and watching the wisps of smoke rising from the courtyard in the distance, a gratified smile appeared on his lips.