Chapter 56: Still, the Boss Gets Things Done

You all are truly impressive—now we've managed to overtake that newcomer at the top of the category list, ha! Our book club has real strength. Looking at the various test results gathered together, I could barely fit them into one file folder. In the end, it took three to hold all the documents. Now it was time to report to the director; the first phase of work was complete in just one month, which was a good pace.

“Are you sure everything is in order? Let me take a look at those reports,” the director said.

He took the folders from Yang Hui, opened one, and pulled out a document. It was the turbine's test report: from the turbine’s efficiency to its heat generation at various speeds, all the test data were neatly summarized on one page.

He then pulled from his drawer the engine design specifications Yang Hui had submitted earlier, compared the two, and nodded in satisfaction before carefully setting both files aside.

“Not bad at all. I’ve only looked at the turbine, but the general picture is clear—your design specs have been met, and some even exceeded expectations. You newcomers really are talented.”

The director had always had high hopes for this batch of university graduates, but he’d been cautious until they proved themselves. With this achievement, these green recruits finally demonstrated their capability.

“Thank you for the compliment, Director. We’ll keep working hard. But there’s still a problem that’s tough to resolve, and without a solution, we can’t move forward.”

If the problem has made its way to me, the director thought, it’s probably not technical—a sign that some coordination is needed. “Go ahead, tell me. I’ll do my best to help.”

That was exactly what Yang Hui had been waiting for. He immediately brought up the issue with the bearings.

“That shouldn’t be a problem. I spoke with the director at Liyang and told him this was our own project. We’re going to purchase the main shafts from them, so it’s a business opportunity—why wouldn’t they care about making money?”

Director Bai was puzzled. He recalled the conversation going smoothly, and the other side had sounded interested, not at all like previous times. Had something changed?

Yang Hui was just as baffled. Either way, Xie Lianfa had returned with only two main shafts—an undeniable fact.

“Wait here. I’ll call them and find out what’s going on. This is really strange—what is Liyang up to?” As he spoke, he picked up the phone and dialed the Liyang factory director’s office.

“Hello? Who is this?”

A muffled voice answered, but it sounded familiar—likely the same person from the engine accident site.

“Director Liu, it’s Bai from the Second Institute.”

“Oh, Director Bai! Is the main shaft matter settled?” Since this involved a financial transaction for his factory, Director Liu had to take it seriously. The call about the bearings made it clear there was more to the story.

“Actually, that’s exactly why I’m calling. When my people went over to make the test pieces a few days ago, you only made two shafts and then stopped. We’re on a tight schedule—what happened on your end?” Director Bai replied, seizing the moment.

“What happened? Maybe someone didn’t pay enough attention. Don’t worry, I’ll head to the workshop right away and check.”

At such a critical moment, how could they drop the ball? Director Liu was furious. This project was different from before and needed to be treated seriously—it was about the bottom line, after all.

“Alright, I’ll send someone over tomorrow. We’re waiting on the main shafts for engine testing.”

“Okay, I’ll look into it now. Talk soon.”

As soon as he hung up, Director Liu headed straight to the planning department. He needed to keep a close eye on this main shaft issue.

“Xiao Xie, what’s going on? When the Second Institute came to make test pieces, how did you arrange things? Just two shafts—what kind of testing can they do with that?” He stormed in and nearly exploded when he saw the young planner leisurely sipping tea.

Hearing Director Liu’s tone, Xiao Xie immediately set his cup down, standing so abruptly that tea splashed everywhere.

“Director, I—”

Seeing how flustered Xiao Xie was, Director Liu’s anger cooled a bit. That’s better—at your age, you shouldn’t be lounging around drinking tea.

He found a chair and sat down. “So, about the main shafts for the Second Institute—why did you only make two? They’re waiting for them. Get production moving immediately; we need finished products by tomorrow.”

So that’s what this was about. Why was the factory suddenly so attentive to the Second Institute’s trial orders? It didn’t make sense, but Xiao Xie didn’t dare ask. If the director said hurry up, then hurry up it was.

He quickly agreed, not even bothering to clean up the spilled tea before running off. If the director wanted things done quickly, he’d just push the pressure down the line—if need be, they’d work overtime tonight. The Second Institute’s blueprints were still on file, so they could get started right away.

But first, he needed materials. At the storage department, he checked the inventory list. The main shaft billets weren’t there.

“Chen, have the twelve large main shaft billets arrived yet?” The matching billets still hadn’t come in, and Xiao Xie was distraught. Without those twelve billets, what could they do—use oversized bars? Not only would that waste material, but it would also make machining a nightmare. The shafts were already difficult to process, and using larger stock would wear out countless tools.

“They’re still on the road—should arrive tonight.”

Relieved to hear they’d arrive by evening, Xiao Xie decided they’d just work late. A few extra hours wouldn’t matter.

“Alright, as soon as the billets arrive, send them straight to the machining shop—they’ll need them tonight.”

Once he’d given those instructions, he coordinated with the machining and heat treatment shops. It had been a long time since anyone had worked overtime here, and he worried the workers might resent having to stay late just for a few shafts.

But he had underestimated them. Arranging for night shift workers was easy.

With Xiao Xie—a clerical worker unused to overtime—keeping watch all night, the team efficiently produced ten main shafts.

The next day, when Yang Hui and Xie Lianfa came to collect the shafts, it was obvious that Xiao Xie was exhausted. Normally, he would have handed over the parts with a sour face, but today he was all gratitude, thrusting the hot shafts into Yang Hui’s hands and rushing off to his office—presumably to catch up on sleep.

Seeing so many shafts, Xie Lianfa was incredulous. “No way—the efficiency is incredible! If these ten shafts are all good, we’ll have more than enough for the entire engine test.”

Watching the man responsible for the handover head back inside, Yang Hui said, “Exactly. The director spoke directly to their factory director. Looks like they pulled an all-nighter to get these done.”

Yang Hui’s understanding of the power of authority deepened yet again. In his previous life, he’d been a low-level manager at a flight test institute before transferring to aerospace intelligence. Things had seemed smooth at first, but in the end, everything had fallen apart, leaving him in his present state.

He’d never had the chance to experience power at the top. This time, he was determined to do better.

“Let’s go. Since the factory took this so seriously, we can’t let them down. Let’s get back and start the full engine test.”

Hoisting the bag of ten main shafts, Yang Hui climbed back onto the old, rattling motorbike that always left his head ringing. The ride was exhilarating—a strange sort of pleasure.

“Section Chief Li, I’m here! Where are you?” Yang Hui called out.

Hearing Yang Hui, Section Chief Li came out. “You’re here. The rest of the parts are in that box for the impeller. Take a look.”

After checking the parts, Yang Hui placed the shafts he’d brought into the box, and with Xie Lianfa’s help, lifted it onto a handcart.

“Let’s go. I’ll take you to the full engine test center. Even though your project is small and the requirements are modest, you still need to do the basic tests. I’ll show you the way.”

They passed by all sorts of large test stands along the way—many of them familiar sights. In his previous life at the flight test institute, Yang Hui had seen plenty of these, some quite old-fashioned, but he still remembered their uses.

“Hey, Old Chen, come out! I’ve got work for you!” Section Chief Li shouted loudly, still far from the crowd.