Chapter 104 addresses the problem of machine tools in a machinery factory.
These two leaders decided on their own to put her in charge of that expensive imported machine, without asking her opinion or considering the immense pressure she might face.
But things have already come to this point, and the die is cast.
"Comrade Xu, could you please come and take a look?" Director Zhang greeted him, his tone encouraging and entrusted.
Xu Zhili composed herself, handed Xu Zhian over to a kind-looking female worker nearby to look after, and then calmly walked to the lathe.
She didn't start immediately, but instead walked around the machine, her sharp eyes scanning every part.
Finally, she stopped at the side of the machine, listened intently, and although the machine had stopped, she could still seem to catch a very faint, discordant lingering sound.
"Director Zhang!"
She looked up, her voice clear and calm, "The sound before and now is wrong, like something is stuck in the transmission or there's severe wear. The problem is most likely inside."
Director Zhang's eyes lit up; this was exactly the direction he had vaguely sensed.
“That makes sense, Xiao Li. Quick, get the tools and open the lid.” He immediately gave the order, his professionalism allowing him to get into the zone quickly.
Without the slightest hesitation, Li Mingyang quickly ran to fetch the tools.
Under Director Zhang's command, he and Xu Zhili worked together seamlessly and carefully removed the heavy transmission box cover.
The complex internal structure was exposed to everyone.
Xu Zhili's gaze carefully swept over each component.
Suddenly, her gaze fixed on a key gear.
“Director Zhang, look here.” She pointed to the part of the gear near the root.
The metal teeth, which should have been smooth, were covered with alarming pits and scratches, and there were even some obvious chips and deformations. The wear and tear was far beyond what a new machine should be like.
Director Zhang took a closer look, gasped, and his face instantly turned ashen: "This...this wear is too abnormal. How could a new gear be like this?"
An ominous premonition enveloped him.
Just as everyone was shocked by the terrible state of the gears, Xu Zhili's gaze fell on the bottom corner of the transmission box.
She picked up a small brush and gently brushed away a thin layer of lubricant, revealing a small clump of tiny fragments underneath that shimmered with an unusual metallic luster.
She carefully picked up a few grains with tweezers.
“Director Zhang, Factory Director Zhou, look at these debris,” Xu Zhili held up the tweezers in front of the two of them. “They are very hard and have strange shapes, unlike the powder produced by normal wear and tear of gears.”
"I suspect that during the assembly or transportation of the equipment, a foreign object may have accidentally gotten inside the machine."
"It is these hard debris that grind like sand as the gears turn, causing this catastrophic damage."
Factory Director Zhou and Director Zhang stared at the few tiny "culprits," their faces so dark they could drip water.
Factory Director Zhou said, enunciating each word clearly, "Damn it! Investigate! We must thoroughly investigate how they got in, but now..."
He suppressed his anger and made a decisive decision: "Director Zhang, immediately organize the replacement of spare parts. Resuming production is the top priority. Comrade Xu and Comrade Li, thank you for your assistance."
Director Zhang nodded emphatically: "Understood!"
He quickly directed the workers to retrieve the parts from the warehouse.
Xu Zhili and Li Mingyang immediately got to work, one responsible for cleaning the oil stains and residual debris inside the box, and the other assisting the workers in replacing it.
The whole process was tense yet orderly.
Finally, the new parts were installed and the cover was closed and secured again.
As soon as the power was turned on, the lathe emitted a low hum, followed by a smooth and steady running sound—it had "come alive"!
A burst of suppressed cheers erupted in the workshop.
Factory Director Zhou breathed a long sigh of relief, and his gaze toward Xu Zhili completely changed, filled with sincere admiration and lingering fear.
"Comrade Xiao Xu! Great, excellent! We really owe you a lot this time. Your sharp eyes and quick judgment have been a huge help to our machinery factory. On behalf of the entire factory, I thank you."
He reached out and patted Xu Zhili's shoulder forcefully, perhaps feeling that a handshake was inappropriate.
Xu Zhili wiped the fine sweat from her forehead and smiled modestly: "Director Zhou, you flatter me. It's because Director Zhang trusted me and Technician Li cooperated well with everyone. I just made some observations and speculations."
Her gaze swept over the unusual metal fragments that had been cleaned up and deliberately collected on oil paper, but she couldn't feel at ease.
What is the material and origin of these debris, and how did they appear so precisely in vital areas?
Was this really just a simple "accident"?
Factory Director Zhou patted Xu Zhili on the shoulder with a smile, his face full of undisguised admiration: "Comrade Xu, well done! With your sharp eyes and problem-solving skills, it's a waste of your talents to stay in the countryside!"
He turned to Director Zhang and said, "Old Zhang, go and get the last specially approved recruitment quota for our factory this year."
Xu Zhili was completely stunned, her eyes widening slightly: "Director Zhou? What's this...?"
"Don't you understand?"
Factory Director Zhou laughed heartily, his tone carrying an undeniable certainty, "Just based on your skill just now, finding the lathe malfunction so quickly and solving the problem so swiftly, this last spot is definitely yours."
"Our machinery factory is looking for promising talents like you who are sensitive to machines, willing to study, and can step up in critical moments."
Director Zhang, who was standing to the side, immediately chimed in with a smile, his tone enthusiastic: "Yes, Comrade Xu, the factory director has a discerning eye and has taken a liking to you."
"This is a golden opportunity that many people would love to have. Once you're in the factory, work hard and you'll have a bright future ahead of you, given your abilities."
As he spoke, he quickly went to retrieve the job application form.
Li Mingyang stood to the side, a hint of envy flashing across his face, but mostly admiration.
He sincerely said to Xu Zhili, "Comrade Xu, congratulations! You really have the ability. I will have to learn a lot from you in the factory in the future."
A huge wave of surprise washed over Xu Zhili, and her heart pounded.
She never imagined that a passive, even pressured, act of helping would open such a door that would change her destiny.
This is like a windfall.
However, the ecstasy lasted only a moment.
Her younger brother Xu Zhian's innocent and dependent face appeared clearly in her mind.
The boiling blood quickly cooled down.
She took a deep breath, suppressing her excitement, and looked at Factory Director Zhou with obvious hesitation and apology: "Factory Director, Director Zhang, Technician Li... I... I am extremely grateful for the factory's high regard. This opportunity... I never dreamed of it. But..."
She bit her lower lip and spoke with difficulty, "My younger brother... he's still young, and I've always taken care of him in the countryside. If I go to work in the factory, the rules are strict, and I... I'm afraid I won't be able to take good care of him. He's frail and can't be left alone..."
She knew in her heart that if she could get rid of her status as an educated youth, end her days of working in the countryside, and move to the city, life would indeed be much more convenient.
However, while the city has its conveniences, it lacks the unrestrained and carefree feeling of the countryside.
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