After Liu Li's mindset cleared up, her work became much easier—she no longer struggled with files and copper, but instead learned to work with them. Her success rate in blind key duplication increased, and even if she made a mistake occasionally, she could tell what was wrong just by touching it with her fingertips and calmly make the correction.
But Master Wang didn't let up. Once, Liu Li successfully made a difficult key and was waiting for her master to praise her. But Master Wang only glanced at it and said slowly, "You're getting the hang of it with your hands, but you have to keep up with your mind. It's not just about skill, it's also about reasoning. If you can only do it but can't explain it, you'll still suffer if someone asks you 'Why did you do it this way' and you can't answer."
These words were a wake-up call for Liu Li—she had been so focused on practicing that she had neglected the theory. The "Metalworking Technology" textbook that Fu Jingchen had given her was still under her pillow in the dormitory; she hadn't bothered to read it then. Now that she had a feel for it on her hands, she might be able to connect the dots when she looked at the theory again.
The cafeteria was packed with people at lunchtime that day. Liu Li was carrying her tray—two steamed buns mixed with cornmeal, a bowl of stir-fried cabbage, and a small piece of pickled vegetable on a plate—looking for an empty seat when she heard someone call out to her, "Liu Li, sit here!"
Looking up, Liu Li saw Fu Jingchen sitting at a table by the window, the space opposite him empty. Several pages of paper lay open in front of him, covered in formulas, with bits of rice still stuck to the edges. Liu Li walked over and put down her tray: "Engineer Fu, you just got your food too?"
Fu Jingchen moved the manuscript paper aside to make room: "I just came from the technical department and picked up a few things." He pushed the manuscript paper to Liu Li, "Take a look at this, you might need it."
Liu Li picked up the manuscript paper, flipped through two pages, and her eyes lit up—it wasn't some empty theoretical stuff, but all the practical information for the competition: one page listed the key points of tolerance fits, and even drew a diagram of how to use thread gauges and radius gauges, marking out the places where it was easy to misread the readings; the other page was about the parts processing technology, clearly explaining how to select datums and arrange processes for shaft and sleeve parts, and also marking out "common mistakes".
"This... you specially prepared this?" Liu Li was a little surprised.
"I chatted with the veteran workers about the key points of previous skills competitions and looked through some materials," Fu Jingchen said casually, picking up a piece of cabbage. "With your experience, and by thoroughly understanding these theories, you'll feel more confident."
Liu Li felt a warm glow in her heart—Fu Jingchen always offered help when she needed it, unassuming yet incredibly genuine. She took a bite of her steamed bun and asked, "Engineer Fu, when I had keys made before, sometimes they looked exactly the same, but they wouldn't click properly when I inserted them. Is that related to the 'fit gap' you mentioned?"
“Yes,” Fu Jingchen put down his chopsticks, picked up the manuscript paper, and pointed to the “Transition Fit” column. “If you feel it’s stuck, it might be because the gap is too small, or there are burrs in some places that haven’t been cleaned properly. Theoretically, if you calculate the gap range well, and then make fine adjustments by feel, it’s less likely to have problems. For example, if you’re filing a dovetail groove, calculate the angle and gap first, and then start working. It’s more time-saving and accurate than trying blindly.”
He didn't use any complicated jargon; he explained everything based on Liu Li's practical experience, which Liu Li understood immediately. For example, when talking about "datum selection," Fu Jingchen gave an example from her previous experience machining axles: "When you were machining a long axle, you machined one end first and then the other end. You were choosing one end face as the datum. This is what is called 'datum unification' in theory, which can reduce errors."
That noon, the two ate and chatted, and the noise of the cafeteria seemed to fade away. Liu Li asked all the questions she didn't understand, and Fu Jingchen answered them one by one. He also talked to her about advanced technologies abroad, broadening her horizons.
In the days that followed, Liu Li adjusted her training rhythm—during the day, she practiced hands-on with Master Wang to hone her skills; at night, she stayed in the workshop break room, studying the materials given to her by Fu Jingchen under a desk lamp, and flipping through a few pages of "Metal Technology". When she encountered something she didn't understand, she would ask Fu Jingchen for help the next day when he came to the workshop. Sometimes they would chat for a bit in the tea room, and sometimes she would squat by the machine tool for a while, and the problem would be solved quickly.
She also tried to apply theory to practice. For example, when practicing dovetail joints, she would first calculate the angles and clearances on paper, then file them down. After a few filings, she would measure with a ruler and adjust according to the theoretical values. This saved her half the time compared to blindly trying different things, and the joints were much tighter. She told Master Wang about this, and he didn't say anything. He just took the part she had filed, touched it, and a slight smile appeared on his lips—although he valued "hand skills," he also appreciated the "theory + practice" approach.
Now, Liu Li not only has accurate aim, but also a clear understanding of the principles. Theory acts as a framework, supporting her practical experience and transforming her from a mere apprentice who only knows how to work into a skilled worker who can explain "why things are done this way." As the competition draws closer, Liu Li's confidence grows stronger—she knows she is ready.
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