Chapter 12: The Self-Taught Master
Reluctantly, Zhang Guohua said, “Ah, Comrade Cheng Shi, don’t get so worked up. This time, out of consideration for protecting young technicians, I’ll accept this price.”
A few minutes later, three hundred yuan was in Cheng Shi’s hand.
His heart stirred slightly.
Though compared to the wealth he would later amass, this sum was but a drop in the ocean.
Yet these three hundred yuan proved to him that this path was feasible, and signaled that money would flow steadily to him.
He held the bills up to the light to check the watermark, making sure they were real.
Zhang Guohua laughed in exasperation at the gesture, “Rest assured, we’re a state-owned enterprise—we wouldn’t cheat you out of such a small amount.”
Ha, shameless—just now you tried to swindle me out of three bearings.
My bottom line might well be your highest moral standard.
Cheng Shi didn’t bother arguing, simply pocketed the money and said, “Could you please issue a purchase order to prove that I sold these bearings to you for three hundred yuan, and that you bought them only after passing inspection?”
Zhang Guohua asked, “Aren’t you making them yourself? Why do you need a purchase order?”
With a faintly amused look, Cheng Shi replied, “Without a purchase order, if you tell your superiors you bought bearings from me for a thousand yuan each, where do I go to defend myself?”
I know all your usual tricks to squeeze money—I won’t take the fall for you.
Zhang Guohua called someone to prepare the purchase order while cursing inwardly: This little bastard is really pushing it, leaving us no way out.
Once I find out where you come from, just wait and see how I deal with you!
You’re still too young if you think a purchase order guarantees anything.
Without a supply contract, I could buy from you at a hundred yuan today and force you to sell at ten yuan tomorrow!
Handing the purchase order to Cheng Shi, Zhang Guohua asked, “How did you make them?”
Cheng Shi replied, “By hand.”
Innocent, yet guilty for possessing such a treasure.
He certainly couldn’t admit he had a CNC machine causing complications.
The technician frowned in thought: Is that possible?
He had heard that a few top experts could handcraft such high-precision parts.
But the defect rate was high, and it was a slow process.
Zhang Guohua’s curiosity was piqued, “How long does it take you to make one?”
Cheng Shi answered, “I can supply twenty a day.”
Because he hadn’t made any by hand for a long time, he didn’t dare promise too much.
When he got proficient, the output would far exceed twenty.
The technician immediately said, “Impossible.”
Even before their CNC lathe broke down, they could produce fewer than ten qualified pieces daily.
Cheng Shi ignored him completely.
Zhang Guohua said, “Forget twenty, if you bring even ten tomorrow, I’ll believe you.”
Cheng Shi nodded, “Fine.”
Zhang Guohua hurriedly asked, “When will you deliver them tomorrow? If we receive them earlier, we can try to catch up on schedule.”
Cheng Shi said, “It takes me two hours on the road today, two hours tomorrow. Including production time, I might only get here by the end of the day.”
Zhang Guohua: “I’ll arrange a car to pick you up. We’ll have a car waiting for you tomorrow so we can bring you over as soon as you finish.”
Though this sounded considerate, it concealed many ulterior motives.
First, he wanted to find out where Cheng Shi lived, so he could locate him immediately if needed.
Second, by bringing Cheng Shi here instead of exchanging money and goods on the spot, they could inspect the bearings in his presence to prevent him from delivering substandard products tomorrow.
Third, producing ten such high-precision bearings by hand daily was utterly impossible; Cheng Shi must have a CNC machine.
Once they found the machine’s location and seized it, the problem would be solved completely.
Cheng Shi knew these old foxes' intentions well but played along, saying, “Alright, thank you, Factory Director Zhang.”
A wise man doesn’t refuse a free ride.
No matter how cunning you are, I’m no less so.
Bring whatever tricks you have—I’m not afraid of anyone!
Zhang Guohua nodded toward Zhang Ziqiang, “Ziqiang, take the driver and go deliver Comrade Cheng Shi.”
Zhang Ziqiang frowned deeply, “Why me?”
I’m already humiliated enough.
He’s the one bullying me.
If it weren’t for the factory, I wouldn’t have swallowed my pride and apologized to him just now.
Now he wants me to deliver him? I’d be shameless.
Zhang Guohua squinted, “You have nothing else to do in the factory anyway.”
Actually, he feared the driver might be bribed by Cheng Shi, so he sent his own son.
Cheng Shi almost laughed aloud: Oh, this guy isn’t even favored by his own father. Suddenly, I don’t dislike him so much.
Before leaving, Cheng Shi took a trip to the restroom, giving Zhang Guohua a chance to assign tasks to Zhang Ziqiang.
After giving a few brief instructions, Zhang Guohua let him go and immediately called the provincial leader, “Leader, I’ve found someone who can make that part.”
The provincial leader was pleased and encouraged Zhang Guohua, “If the other party can make it, do they have suitable machinery? If so, see if they might part with it.”
Zhang Guohua had been waiting for this and quickly replied, “Yes, Leader. I will do everything to overcome the difficulties.”
With this endorsement, no matter what he did in the future, as long as it was for the factory, he would not be blamed.
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Cheng Shi got into the car and sat directly behind the driver, the reserved seat for leadership.
Zhang Ziqiang was furious: Damn, he really treats me like a servant.
Unwilling to accept this, he glanced back at Cheng Shi’s worn shoes with toes almost showing and faded jeans, “You really made those bearings?”
You little bastard can’t keep anything to yourself. Your father just warned you, and you immediately asked me, exposing all his intentions.
Cheng Shi smiled faintly, answering calmly, “Yes.”
Zhang Ziqiang was clearly dissatisfied, “Who did you learn the technique from?”
Cheng Shi looked younger than him by several years—how could he have such skill?
“Self-taught,” Cheng Shi replied lazily.
Zhang Ziqiang said, “Impossible.”
Cheng Shi said, “When you’re strong enough, anything is possible. Not only can you teach yourself, you can innovate.”
Seeing Zhang Ziqiang about to ask more, Cheng Shi grew impatient and said to the driver, “Please take me to the city machinery factory. I want to sleep for a while.”
Then he closed his eyes.
Zhang Ziqiang’s attempt was thwarted; he sulked and looked away.
Cheng Shi fell asleep easily and, upon waking, marveled: Youth is truly a blessing.
The driver stopped the car at the machinery factory gate and said, “Factory Director Zhang instructed us to take you right to your doorstep.”
Cheng Shi cooperated, “Okay, Building Six, staff quarters.”
When Cheng Shi stepped out of the brand-new Toyota Crown, neighbors upstairs and downstairs, as well as passing workers, gawked in disbelief.
“Damn, how did this kid get rich overnight? He must have done something shady.”
“There aren’t many cars like this in the whole city—it’s a symbol of wealth.”