Chapter 52: Who is this man?

I had an indigestible lunch at noon, and there wasn't much to do at work this afternoon.

Other colleagues who had returned from rural aid programs spent the morning reading newspapers, and in the afternoon, unable to sit still, they would wander around the workshop to chat with coworkers; those few hours passed easily.

Tang Lin, however, stayed in the office drawing blueprints, thinking about how to make some simple improvements to the backward machine tools of this era.

There were only a few ways to approach improving old-fashioned machine tools.

First was CNC (Computer Numerical Control) transformation.

By installing a CNC system, the tool movement could be automatically controlled according to programmed settings, improving machining precision and production efficiency while reducing reliance on worker experience.

Given the current level of technology, attempting this transformation seemed difficult; CNC would require assistance from the Electronic Computer Research Institute.

Second was the upgrade of the transmission system.

Replacing traditional belt and gear transmissions with high-precision ball screws and linear guides would reduce transmission errors and improve motion precision and stability.

Third was the optimization of spindle components.

Optimizing the precision of the spindle.

Fourth was tool holder improvement, fifth was lubrication system improvement, and sixth was electrical system updating.

Except for the first point, which was difficult to implement right now, the others were within the realm of what could be done immediately.

However, improving just one aspect wouldn't constitute a significant advancement for a machine tool; a systematic overhaul would require a massive investment.

Tang Lin recalled the knowledge she had studied and the machinery she had repaired, mentally visualizing how to make improvements. As the blueprints formed in her mind, her hands struggled to keep up with her thoughts.

With her Wood-element superpower, she possessed a photographic memory—an advantage that Leng Hui's Space-element superpower could not match.

Once a person has work to do and becomes immersed in it, time flies.

It wasn't until someone pushed the door open that Tang Lin's attention was pulled back to reality.

"Section Chief."

"Tang Lin, are you busy?"

"Mhm, just busy with trifles."

Tang Lin hadn't intended to show the blueprints to Li Yong before they were finished, lest she appear too frivolous or overly ambitious.

Li Yong didn't care what she was scribbling; he simply nodded and prepared to enter his office.

Before he could push the door open, Tang Lin called out to him again, "Section Chief, sorry to bother you, but I wanted to ask where I can order glass? What kind of procedures are required?"

"Glass?" Li Yong's hand retracted from the door. He turned around and asked, "What do you need glass for?"

Tang Lin gave an embarrassed smile. "I moved out after the divorce and changed houses. The windows have no glass, so I was thinking of getting some."

"It's a bit troublesome for an individual to buy glass. The factory's logistics department should have some. Just get a slip from logistics specifying the dimensions, pay at the finance office, and you can collect it from the warehouse."

The reason the factory warehouse stocked glass was that the factory's dormitories, office buildings, and workshops all had windows, and windows required glass.

However, the factory's glass was brought in directly from the glass factory, making it slightly cheaper than the prices at local retail shops.

Sometimes, when workers needed a piece or two for their homes, they would buy them from the factory with an official receipt.

But most workers were reluctant to spend money on glass because the glass of this era was very thin; it would shatter easily if accidentally struck by something.

Frugal families preferred to spend a little money on transparent thin film to nail over the windows rather than spending money on something as fragile as glass.

"Thank you. I'll go to the logistics department to get a slip right away."

Tang Lin checked the time; there was only an hour left until the end of the workday. She had to hurry to logistics, as delaying others' departure time would be a sin in itself.

When Su Youqin from the logistics department learned that Tang Lin needed glass to seal her windows, she approved the slip without a second thought.

Tang Lin thanked her and went to finance to sign the paperwork. The money for the glass would be deducted from her salary next month.

Then, she headed to the warehouse.

Leng Hui had given her the window dimensions last night. Tang Lin produced the slip stamped by both logistics and finance, and the warehouse staff eagerly helped her cut the glass to the required sizes.

One window required eight small panes, so five large windows meant forty panes. Adding the four for the bathroom, she had to move forty-four panes in total.

She asked the warehouse for cardboard boxes and scraps, but forty-four panes of glass still couldn't be moved all at once.

Although Tang Lin had the Wood-element superpower, at this moment she felt particularly envious of Leng Hui's Space-element superpower. If it were her, she could simply store the glass in her space in a secluded corner and bring it back safely and easily.

"Comrade Tang, find a large cardboard box, pad the bottom with plenty of cardboard, tie it tightly, and you'll be fine if you push it back slowly."

The warehouse manager was eager to get off work; seeing Tang Lin's dilemma, he offered some advice.

Though he was in a hurry to leave, the manager was quite conscientious when tying the glass. He even helped her tie a few wooden slats to the back of her bicycle to prevent the glass from sliding out of the cardboard and hitting the ground halfway.

Watching the manager lock up the warehouse and cycle away in a hurry, Tang Lin looked up at the sky and resignedly began pushing her bicycle out.

She had intended to take it in two trips, but the manager found it too much trouble and insisted she take it all at once.

Thinking about the forty-minute ride, Tang Lin felt a headache coming on.

*If you aren't eager to get off work, there's something wrong with your head.*

Unless there was an urgent task, the mechanical factory finished work very punctually.

By the time Tang Lin pushed her bicycle out of the factory gates, most of the workers had already left. She occasionally bumped into a familiar colleague; they would nod in greeting and head home.

"Comrade Tang, are you leaving so late too?"

"Eh, what are you hauling on the back of your bike?"

Qi Nuanyang hopped off his bicycle as he passed Tang Lin, noticing the cardboard box on her rear rack.

"Vice Factory Director Qi, you're leaving late too." Tang Lin held her bicycle and glanced back at the seat. "I got some glass from the factory, so I'm leaving a bit late today."

"I see you're struggling to push it. Come, let me help you." Qi Nuanyang put down his kickstand, walked around the bike, and reached for the handlebars.

"No, no, no, Vice Factory Director Qi, this load is quite heavy," Tang Lin said truthfully.

How could Vice Factory Director Qi stand seeing a woman smaller than himself worrying about being unable to push a bike? He insisted on taking the handlebars on the spot.

"See, you're underestimating me. No matter what, I'm a man; I'm bound to be stronger than you."

"Vice Factory Director Qi, there are dozens of panes of glass back there; the weight is really not light." Tang Lin was worried he might accidentally break them.

The Vice Factory Director refused to believe it and insisted on helping.

Having no choice, Tang Lin carefully let him hold the bicycle and slowly released her grip.

Holding the bike was fine, but pushing it required effort, and if they encountered an uphill slope, it would be even more strenuous.

After pushing for a while, Qi Nuanyang wiped the sweat from his face and asked, "Comrade Tang, where do you live?"

"Over by Furong Street."

"Where?" Qi Nuanyang suppressed the shock in his heart, barely able to maintain the faint smile at the corners of his mouth as he looked at Tang Lin. "How do you live so far away?"

"I have no choice; there's no housing near the factory," Tang Lin shrugged helplessly.

Qi Nuanyang stopped and put his kickstand down. "I see. Your place is too far. Walking there isn't practical. Let's split the load and re-tie the glass; that way, we can ride there much faster and it won't be as tiring."

Standing to the side, Tang Lin watched the sweat-drenched Qi Nuanyang. He looked full of life and grit, a far cry from his previous image of a refined, otherworldly gentleman.

Tang Lin stepped forward to hold the glass while he untied the ropes, her face full of apology and gratitude. "Vice Factory Director Qi, I'm truly sorry today. Making you run around for my sake... thank you for your hard work."

The corners of Qi Nuanyang's mouth curled upward, revealing a row of bright white teeth. That smile seemed capable of instantly dispelling the gloom brought by life.

"It's nothing. We're colleagues; it's just lending a hand. I believe if you encountered difficulties in life, you would be willing to lend me a hand too, right?"

Tang Lin nodded. "If there is ever anything I can do to help in the future, please don't hesitate to ask, Vice Factory Director Qi. If I can help, I definitely will."

The glass was repacked and tied to the back seats of the two bicycles. Riding them back this way was both time-saving and less exhausting.

In the morning, Leng Hui had prepared the wood-burning stove, and in the afternoon, she had burned two loads of wood, so it was almost completely dry.

After boiling a pot of hot water and washing herself from head to toe, she was sitting in the courtyard drying her hair when she saw Ms. Tang Lin actually bringing a man with a heavy "uncle vibe" into the yard.

Before they had even parked their bicycles, and without waiting for an introduction, Leng Hui pulled her aside, her eyes full of gossip: "Who is this? Is this the stepfather you found for me? Can he cook? Can he take care of people?"