When that East German grinding machine stopped, the atmosphere in the workshop became as heavy as lead, so oppressive that it was hard to breathe. The next day, when we arrived at work, the behemoth was still standing against the wall, but the usual buzzing was gone, leaving only a deathly silence—more unsettling than when the machine was running. The unfinished military workpieces on the table were like silent reminders, urging us to hurry up.
Early in the morning, Director Zhao, along with Section Chief Li from the Equipment Department and several veteran mechanics, gathered around the machine. Master Wang was also there, his hands behind his back, his brows furrowed, slowly circling the grinder, his eyes scanning every possible spot for potential problems.
Liu Li held a wrench in her hand, but her mind was already on the grinding machine. She noticed that Director Zhao had dark circles under his eyes, clearly from staying up all night; Section Chief Li held a listening rod and gently pressed it against the grinding machine housing, listening from different angles, but apart from the occasional hissing sound from the hydraulic system indicating a slight leak, he couldn't hear anything unusual.
"Start it again, let it idle, and I'll listen to it again," Section Chief Li said to Master Dong, straightening up.
Master Dong's hands were trembling slightly as he pressed the power switch. The grinding machine motor first hummed, and then the transmission system started to turn—that thin, piercing "humming" sound came out again, with a trembling quality, and you could feel a slight vibration when you stepped on the ground.
"Stop!" Section Chief Li shouted, his face so dark it could drip water. "The voice is wrong, and it's trembling noticeably. There's definitely something wrong."
"How about we take the protective cover off and take a look?" suggested an experienced mechanic.
Director Zhao glanced at Section Chief Li and Master Wang, and seeing that they didn't object, he nodded: "Be gentle, just open the visible openings, don't touch the things inside."
Two mechanics used tools to remove the protective cover from the transmission parts, exposing the gears and shafts inside, all coated with a thick layer of black lubricant—it looked complicated. The younger workers gathered around to watch, muttering under their breath, "My goodness, so many gears, how are we supposed to understand that?"
The experienced workers crowded around, examining the work lights closely—
"The gears are meshing well; I haven't seen any broken or worn teeth."
"This shaft feels a bit loose? No, but when I touch it again, it feels just right."
"The bearing housing is a bit hot, but not ridiculously hot..."
Everyone chimed in with their opinions, but no one dared to make a decision. This foreign equipment was different from the domestically produced one; most of the blueprints were in German, and the translated documents didn't explain the details clearly. If they made a wrong judgment and damaged a part, no one could bear the responsibility.
Master Wang finally spoke, his voice low and deep: "It doesn't seem like a single part is broken, but rather like the entire transmission chain is stuck somewhere, and the power isn't being transmitted to the right place." He pointed to a mechanism inside the transmission box that was covered with pipes, "Especially here, the sound is most obvious coming from here."
Section Chief Li closed his notebook, which contained only a few lines of uncertain notes. He sighed and said, "The problem is definitely in the transmission system, but whether it's the gears, the shaft, the bearing, or the clearance isn't adjusted properly... you can't tell just by looking at it. This thing is too complicated, with each part connected to the next."
The scene fell silent; you could hear a pin drop. Even the most experienced workers in the workshop were at a loss with this foreign machine—this feeling of uncertainty was even more frustrating than if the machine had broken down.
"How about... we report it?" Section Chief Li brought it up again, his tone full of helplessness. "Let's ask the experts from the equipment department of the bureau to come, or... try contacting the East German manufacturer? Although the chances are slim..." Back then, contacting foreign manufacturers was harder than climbing to heaven.
Director Zhao's face was ashen, and his lips were pressed tightly together—inviting outsiders was tantamount to admitting that our workshop and factory didn't have the capability, that we had delayed military production, and that we would be held accountable by higher-ups. All that pressure was on him.
“Director Zhao,” said Zhou, the old mechanic, who was a few years older than Wang and usually didn’t talk much, “the intricacies of this foreign product are too complicated for us to figure out. If we force it, we might break it and suffer huge losses. I think Section Chief Li is right.”
Even Master Zhou said so, so Director Zhao had lost all hope. He sighed, looking as if he had aged several years in an instant, and waved his hand: "Put the cover back on first. Section Chief Li, quickly write the report, I'll sign it, and submit it to the factory management immediately!"
The protective cover was put back in place, and the grinding machine fell silent again, like a sleeping beast. But everyone knew that if it "woke up," the production schedule might be ruined.
The news spread quickly, and the workers panicked.
"Even Master Zhou and Master Wang are at a loss, how long are we going to have to wait?"
"Military work cannot be delayed. What if we can't deliver?"
"It's all over, our workshop's chances of being recognized as an advanced worker this year are definitely gone..."
Zhang Shulan leaned closer to Liu Li and whispered, "Li, what's wrong with this foreign gadget? Even the experienced craftsman can't figure it out..."
Liu Li didn't speak, her eyes still fixed on the grinder, her mind replaying the transmission structure she'd just seen—Master Wang had said, "The power isn't being transmitted in the right place," which was roughly what she'd guessed; perhaps some rotating part wasn't aligned, causing it to vibrate at high speed. But without data, without proper analysis, it was all just guesswork. What could she, a newly promoted first-level worker, do in front of equipment that even veteran workers dared not touch?
She noticed that Fu Jingchen had also arrived and was speaking quietly with Section Chief Li, holding several drawings covered in German in his hand, his brows furrowed, clearly also at a loss.
"Stop crowding around! Get back to your posts!" Director Zhao shouted, forcing himself to stay focused. "The other machine operators, just do what you're supposed to do, and get as much work as you can!"
The workers slowly dispersed, but the heavy atmosphere in the workshop remained. That grinding machine cast a shadow over everyone's hearts. The delivery date for the military parts was fast approaching, but a solution was nowhere in sight. Even the experienced workers were at a loss. Liu Li gripped the wrench in her hand, her sliver of desire to help flickering like a suppressed flame—perhaps there was something she could try?
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