Time was ticking away as the deadline approached. When the first batch of core gears, manufactured entirely using the new "pre-aging treatment + pre-deformation correction" process, and the gearbox assemblies assembled with precision tooling, were carefully placed on the final testing platform, the entire Hongxing Factory seemed to fall silent.

Inside the inspection area designated in the final assembly workshop, the lights were on, and people were bustling about, yet an unusual silence prevailed. The factory director, the party secretary, all the factory leaders, and the core members of the task force were all present. No one spoke; an almost frozen tension hung in the air. All eyes were focused on the gearboxes gleaming with a cold, metallic sheen, and on the busy inspectors.

Static accuracy testing was completed first.

"Tooth profile error, acceptable."

"Tooth direction error, acceptable."

"Weekly cumulative error, acceptable."

"All key shaft, hole dimensions and geometric tolerances are within the standard range."

The inspector read out the data point by point, his voice steady, yet it made many in the room's palms sweat. Passing the static test was the foundation; the real test was yet to come.

The gearbox was sent into the soundproofing test chamber. The heavy door closed, isolating the inside from the outside into two separate worlds. Through the observation window, one could see the equipment starting up, the gears beginning to mesh and turn. Those outside unconsciously held their breath, straining to listen, even though they couldn't hear anything.

Inside the testing room, the inspector stared intently at the screen of the noise meter, listening headphones pressed tightly against his ears. Time ticked by, second by second.

There was no heart-pounding, periodic "buzzing" sound, no harsh, scraping noise. What reached the eardrums was a deep, steady, continuous "buzzing" sound, like a healthy pulse.

The pointer on the noise meter remained steady at a certain value, fluctuating slightly.

The inspector checked several times before finally looking up and speaking clearly through the internal communication device, his voice carrying a barely perceptible hint of excitement:

"Noise test...passed! Value is 2 decibels below the standard limit!"

"good!"

Someone let out a low gasp, and suppressed cheers rippled through the crowd, but were quickly suppressed by even greater tension—there was one last, and most brutal, lifespan bench test.

The gearbox was transferred to a fatigue testing bench to simulate extreme working conditions and undergo destructive testing several times its normal service life. This is the ultimate test of the quality of materials, heat treatment, machining, and assembly. The testing takes time, but by continuously monitoring operating parameters and conducting phased disassembly and inspection, trends can be predicted in advance.

Several hours passed in anxious waiting. The test bench operated smoothly, and all monitoring data was normal. During the mid-term disassembly and inspection according to procedure, several experienced workers put on white gloves, picked up high-powered magnifying glasses, and examined every gear tooth surface and every bearing raceway with the care of archaeologists to precious cultural relics.

No pitting defects were found in the early stages of corrosion.

There are no abnormal signs of wear.

The meshing surfaces are as smooth as new, with only the uniform and fine textures that appear after normal break-in.

Master Wang Jianguo straightened up, took off his gloves, looked at Liu Li who had been standing guard beside him, and the muscles on his bronze face twitched slightly before finally turning into a very brief but weighty nod.

That's enough. This gesture speaks louder than a thousand words.

Finally, when all the life enhancement test procedures were completed and the comprehensive test report was officially printed and delivered to the factory manager, everyone saw the most crucial line of conclusion:

"For this batch of gearbox samples, all test items, including dynamic performance (noise, lifespan), meet and in some aspects exceed the export technical standards. Judgment: Qualified."

quiet.

A deathly silence lasted for several seconds.

Then, "BOOM—!!!"

A deafening roar of cheers, applause, and excited shouts erupted, nearly lifting the roof off the workshop! Workers patted each other on the shoulder, and veteran workers, their eyes red-rimmed, wiped their eyes vigorously. The anxiety, frustration, and exhaustion accumulated over the past few months burst forth in a torrent of ecstatic joy!

The factory director held the report, his hand trembling slightly. He looked at Liu Li, who stood in the center of the crowd, exhausted but with her back straight, and his voice was filled with barely suppressed excitement: "Comrade Liu Li! All the comrades in the assault team! You did it! You have made a great contribution to the Red Star Factory!"

The Party Secretary patted Liu Li's shoulder forcefully, repeatedly saying, "Good! Good! That's wonderful!"

Standing there, Liu Li felt the thunderous cheers around her, saw the gratified smile behind Fu Jingchen's glasses, saw the rare praise in Master Wang's eyes, and saw Zhang Shulan's excitedly flushed cheeks... Her tense nerves finally relaxed, and a huge warm current mixed with a sense of accomplishment and relief swept through her body, making her eyes a little hot.

She took a deep breath, suppressed her surging emotions, and a clear and bright smile appeared on her face. This smile was the posture of a victor, and even more so, the best consolation for the countless sleepless nights and countless difficult choices she had made in the past.

In the decisive moment, they withstood the pressure and, with their wisdom, hard work, and unwavering belief, finally broke through the technical barriers and successfully passed the test! The gears of the Red Star Factory finally meshed firmly according to the predetermined precision and rhythm, steadily moving towards a bright future.