In a corner of the lathe operator's workshop, an invisible yet palpable fresh air seemed to have been injected overnight. The usual monotonous routine was broken, replaced by a tense and efficient rhythm.

The changes are visible to the naked eye.

Previously, young worker Xiao Li needed to be urged by the foreman to collect the blanks, but now he arrives early every day to check the equipment, prepare the tools, and wait for the start whistle. The C620 lathe he's in charge seems to be roaring more urgently and powerfully than before. When machining the same type of shaft part, he no longer dawdles, but carefully studies the drawings, optimizes his clamping and toolpath, and strives to shorten auxiliary time and improve cutting efficiency.

Veteran craftsman Zhao Dayong used to prioritize stability in his work, with a "good enough" attitude towards precision. Now, he double-checks his dial indicator measurements every time, ensuring they fall within the upper-middle tolerance range. He knows that producing a high-quality product earns him a significantly higher bonus than simply completing a passable one. He's even started proactively figuring out how to fine-tune cutting parameters to increase speed while maintaining a smooth finish.

Team leader Lao Chen feels his work style has completely changed. He no longer needs to spend a lot of energy supervising and coordinating; the workers spontaneously cooperate with each other, working seamlessly together. Because a one-minute delay in the upstream process could affect the bonuses of the downstream process. He now focuses more on checking time records, calculating the rate of high-quality products, and inspecting the operating status of equipment to ensure the entire chain is smooth and efficient.

Liu Li would visit Group Two almost every day. She didn't interfere, but quietly observed, recorded data, and occasionally exchanged a few words with the workers about technical details. She could clearly feel the intrinsic motivation that had been ignited. The utilization rate of the machine tools improved significantly, the frequency of replacing the scrap baskets increased, and during breaks, the workers no longer discussed trivial matters, but rather how to optimize operations and avoid waste.

When the first trial period (half a month) ended and Lao Chen reported the preliminary statistical results, even Liu Li was somewhat surprised.

Work completion rate: 135% (35% over the target)

The percentage of high-quality products has increased from 75% to 92%.

Scrap rate: reduced to below 0.5%

Average utilization rate of key equipment: increased by nearly 20%

The bonuses calculated according to the trial method caused a stir among the participating workers. Xiao Li, the fastest and highest-quality worker, received an extra bonus nearly half his basic wage! Even Zhao Dayong, the most conservative worker, received a considerable bonus due to his high rate of producing high-quality products. The average bonus per person in the entire second group far exceeded their initial expectations.

On payday, the workers in Group Two beamed with barely suppressed joy and excitement. Little Li, clutching his much thicker pay bag, grinned sheepishly; Zhao Dayong carefully counted the money several times, muttering, "This...this really is extra money earned through my skills?"

The news spread like wildfire throughout the workshop and even the entire factory.

Workers from other sections and shifts looked at the group in the second group holding their noticeably thicker pay bags with complex emotions: envy, jealousy, curiosity, disbelief... a mix of feelings.

Zhang Degui, the veteran fitter who had previously been the most vocal opponent, ran into the second group in the canteen and couldn't help but ask, "Are they really giving out that much? Is it just an extra subsidy from the factory to make a show of it?"

The second group immediately retorted, "Master Zhang, what are you saying! Every penny we earn is from working extra hard and doing a good job! The records are crystal clear, you can go and see for yourself!"

Some people were doing the math: "If we keep doing this, we can earn an extra ten yuan or so a month! That's enough to buy a few more pounds of meat and get the kids some new clothes!"

"If I had known, I should have supported Director Liu back then..."

The success of the pilot program, in the most direct and irrefutable way—through tangible income growth—provided a resounding answer to all skeptics and onlookers. It demonstrated that breaking the "iron rice bowl" system and implementing distribution according to work can indeed greatly liberate productivity and stimulate workers' enthusiasm and creativity.

The winds of change began to subtly shift in the workshop. The previously strong opposition noticeably weakened, and many neutral workers, and even those who had initially opposed it, started privately inquiring when the method would be implemented in their own teams. A simple desire to "earn more money" began to overwhelm their fear of change and their inertia.

Looking at the refreshed spirit and encouraging data of Group Two, Liu Li felt gratified, but even more so, calm. The successful pilot program was only the first step in a long journey. How to reliably replicate the successful experience of this individual case throughout the entire workshop, balance the interests of workers with different jobs and skill levels, and resolve any potential new conflicts would be the more severe challenges ahead.

Regardless, the success of the pilot program was like opening a window to light in a dull iron house, allowing everyone to see the possibility and hope for change. The spark of reform has been ignited.