Liu Li's "rationalization proposal form," filled with writing and drawings, sat in Director Zhao's drawer for two days before finally being brought to the factory's technical department.

The technical department and the workshop were two different worlds. There was no roar of machines; the air was filled with the smell of ink from blueprints, mixed with the stale aroma of old teacups. Several large drawing boards stood against the wall, covered with densely packed assembly drawings, the lines as fine as hair. Department head Lao Wu took the form, pushed up his reading glasses that had slipped down to the tip of his nose, glanced at the "Recommended Person" column—"Liu Li, Apprentice in the Machining Group"—and his lips curled up almost imperceptibly.

"Add a ball-end turning device?" Old Wu held the edge of the form, his voice slow and deliberate. "The idea is certainly daring, but..." He didn't finish his sentence, but everyone understood what he meant—an apprentice trying to figure out the work of the technical department? He casually placed the form on top of a pile of unprocessed documents, as if he had just put a piece of waste paper on it.

"Section Chief Wu, let me take a look." A gentle voice came from the side. Fu Jingchen had just run back from outside, still clutching a micrometer in his hand. Hearing this, he came over. He picked up the form and glanced at the name. The name "Liu Li" made him pause—was she the girl who asked a question at night school last time?

He read the text instructions line by line, and when his gaze fell on the hand-drawn diagram, his previously casual expression froze. The lines weren't perfectly neat, and some parts had been redrawn and revised, but how the levers were connected, how the sliders moved, and how they coordinated with the lathe's guide bar were all clearly explained—the principles were spot on! This wasn't just a random drawing; it was clearly the result of several days of studying and figuring things out by the lathe.

"Section Chief, this suggestion is really insightful!" Fu Jingchen raised his head, his voice brimming with confidence. "Look at this mechanism. Although some details need to be improved, using an existing optical lever to drive the linear motion into the arc of the cutting tip is a flawless idea! The workshop is currently machining small ball joints, relying entirely on the operators' feel for the machine. If this can be done, it will save a lot of trouble in mass production!"

Old Wu glanced at him, a hint of disapproval in his eyes: "Jingchen, why are you taking a sketch drawn by an apprentice so seriously? Is it strong enough? Are the dimensions calculated correctly? Will it fit the lathe after installation? There are so many problems. Don't just mess around with things out of enthusiasm."

“It’s precisely because it was an apprentice who suggested it that we should take it even more seriously!” Fu Jingchen leaned forward and pointed to the key parts of the blueprint. “She not only does the work, but she also thinks about how to do it better. Isn’t that the kind of drive we need for the ‘Five Small’ activities? Besides, if the general direction is right, can’t our technical department make up for the details of the calculations and structural adjustments?”

He spoke clearly and logically, using gestures and explanations, which attracted the attention of several technicians in the office who were drawing diagrams. They gathered around and passed the forms around to look at them.

"Hey, looking at it this way, there's actually some trick to it."

"It makes sense in principle, and it's much more reliable than the 'automatic feeding' that the young worker suggested last time."

"It's not easy for a female apprentice to think of this..."

Some people poured cold water on the idea, saying, "The idea is good, but it's difficult to actually do it. If you can't finish it halfway, not only will you waste manpower and resources, but you'll also delay the girls' work."

Fu Jingchen ignored those words and turned to look at Lao Wu, his tone quite earnest: "Section Chief, how about I take the lead? Let's do a feasibility assessment first, calculate the dimensions, and then draw a detailed diagram. If the assessment proves it's not feasible, then we'll talk to Liu Li. This isn't about helping her, it's about supporting those in the workshop who are willing to use their brains—otherwise, who will dare to offer suggestions in the future?"

Old Wu glanced at the gleam in Fu Jingchen's eyes, then at the technicians gathered around discussing the matter, tapping his fingers on the edge of the table. He knew Fu Jingchen's personality: stubborn, technically astute, and not the kind of impulsive young man. Besides, if this suggestion went through, the technical department would gain prestige during the year-end factory awards for outstanding workers.

"Alright." Old Wu finally nodded. "You take the lead and produce an assessment report first. If you need data from the workshop, or ask Liu Li about the situation, you can go directly to coordinate."

"Thank you, Section Chief!" Fu Jingchen quickly folded the form and put it in his breast pocket, as if protecting a precious treasure, afraid that the corner would be folded.

That afternoon, Fu Jingchen, carrying a reply stamped with the red seal of the technical department, went straight to the machining workshop. He didn't look for Liu Li first, but went to Master Wang's workstation first, and Director Zhao followed him over.

"Master Wang, Director Zhao, the technical department has approved Liu Li's suggestion on the ball head turning device. It's officially approved, and I'll be responsible for the follow-up evaluation." Fu Jingchen handed over the reply letter, his tone quite solemn. "We might need to ask her about the details later, and we might even need her to help with the testing. We'll have to trouble the workshop to be understanding."

Director Zhao held the reply letter, his eyes gleaming as he looked at the red seal. He slapped his thigh repeatedly, exclaiming, "Take responsibility! We must take responsibility! I didn't realize this girl had such talent hidden away!"

Master Wang, who was squatting on the ground adjusting the chuck, slowly straightened up after hearing this. His face remained expressionless, but the scar at the corner of his eye seemed to have softened a bit. He nodded to Fu Jingchen and said only two words: "Okay."

The news spread like wildfire, reaching every corner of the workshop in less than half an hour. Liu Li was hunched over her lathe, struggling with a long shaft—both ends had to be machined coaxially, not even by the slightest deviation. She stared intently at the cutting edge, her palms sweating profusely. Suddenly, Zhang Shulan rushed up from behind, slapped her arm, and shouted in a voice loud enough for the entire workshop to hear:

"Lily! It's done! Your suggestion has been approved by the technical department! Technician Fu will personally oversee it! He'll even be coming to talk to you about it!"

Liu Li's hand trembled, and the tip of the tool scratched a thin mark on the shaft. Though shallow, it was visible to the naked eye. She quickly turned off the lathe, her heart pounding so hard she could hear it, like she was carrying a rabbit, almost jumping out of her chest. The project was approved? The technical department really approved it? And Fu Jingchen was in charge?

A surge of emotion welled up from her heart, a mixture of surprise, joy, and a little panic—her basic skills were so limited that even she felt her drawings were rough. Would she embarrass herself if she discussed things with the technical staff? Besides, participating in the testing would definitely take up her work time, and Sun Peng and his group already disliked her; they would probably start gossiping about her again.

She subconsciously looked towards Master Wang, and their eyes met. Master Wang nodded slightly. Liu Li gripped the chuck wrench tightly in her hand. The lump of iron, still warm from the lathe, felt much heavier than usual—the opportunity had arrived, but she wasn't sure if she could overcome this hurdle.