The large office of the technology center preparatory team was finally no longer so empty. Several old desks were pieced together, and a preliminary organizational chart and annual plan draft were hung on the wall. Although simple, it finally looked like an office. Liu Li and several colleagues who were transferred over time began to sort out the factory's technical resources and the problems that urgently needed to be solved.

The first major obstacle encountered was the severe shortage and aging of precision measuring instruments.

This issue came to light during discussions about the first proposed research project—"Improving the transmission accuracy and stability of small and medium-sized gearboxes." The research team needed to accurately measure key parameters such as gear tooth profile error and cumulative pitch error, but after searching the entire factory, they could only find a few old dial indicators and micrometers, which were barely accurate enough, but far from sufficient for in-depth research on gear meshing quality.

"The old multi-tool microscope in the warehouse has a blurry lens, loose rails, and the measurement results are wildly inconsistent, making it unusable."

"The same goes for the surface finish tester; we can't even find all the standard blocks, so we're not even sure about the data we get."

"Without a laser interferometer, the straightness error of the machine tool guideway cannot be accurately measured, so how can we talk about precision compensation?"

Several experienced craftsmen and technicians transferred from the workshop shook their heads as they looked at the equipment list. Even the most skilled cook can't cook without ingredients; without a discerning eye, many intricate process studies and quality analysis tasks were simply impossible. Requesting the purchase of new high-precision instruments? The report was submitted, but the finance department immediately shook their heads. Foreign exchange was tight, the budget was limited, and it was out of the question in the short term.

Liu Li frowned deeply as she looked at the problematic equipment circled in red on the list. This was the first real challenge the technology center had encountered since its establishment. If even the most basic measurements couldn't be guaranteed, all subsequent plans would be castles in the air. She called a meeting with the preparatory team to discuss the issue. Everyone offered their opinions, but no one could come up with a quick and effective solution, and the atmosphere became somewhat somber.

That evening, she and Fu Jingchen met in the cafeteria as usual. Liu Li rummaged through the food in her lunchbox, looking somewhat absent-minded. She couldn't help but sigh and brought up the matter of the measuring instrument as a worry.

"...We're stuck at the first step. Without reliable measurement data, we can't make any progress in improving the gearbox's precision. Buying a new one is unrealistic, and repairing the old one might mean losing its precision. It's really worrying."

Fu Jingchen listened quietly, and only after she finished speaking did he put down his chopsticks, ponder for a moment, and then said, "It seems that our school's mechanical engineering laboratory has a few idle second-hand measuring devices, which were provided as part of a project introduced a few years ago. Their accuracy should be much better than the old equipment in your factory. They mainly use the newer models now, and the old ones are used less."

Liu Li's eyes lit up, and she looked up: "Really? Can we borrow it?"

“I can’t guarantee it,” Fu Jingchen said cautiously, “but I can go back and ask my supervisor if it’s possible to lend it to you temporarily for a period of time through collaborative research or paid services, just in case. Even if it can’t be borrowed long-term, it would be good if we could calibrate your existing old equipment or provide some support for the retesting of key data.”

He didn't take on everything; he simply offered a possible clue and a direction to strive for. But for Liu Li, who was in a predicament, it was like seeing a ray of light in the darkness.

"Then... could you please ask around for me?" Liu Li's voice was full of expectation.

"Okay, I'll go talk to my advisor when I get back to the institute tomorrow." Fu Jingchen nodded, and seeing her eyes light up again, the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up slightly.

He didn't offer many words of comfort, but simply provided practical assistance when she encountered difficulties. This subtle yet crucial support instantly soothed most of the anxiety Liu Li felt due to the equipment problem. She suddenly felt that although the road ahead was still fraught with difficulties, it didn't seem so helpless anymore.