Chapter 18: Finally Holding a Leverage Against Cheng Shi

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Cheng Shi teased her, “Comrade Cai Aiping, if you don’t eat more nutritious food, where will your son’s hard-earned money go?”
Cheng Shi helped her sit down and watched as she sipped the malted milk drink.
Cai Aiping took tiny sips, as if afraid that gulping it all at once would prevent her from savoring this rare delicacy.
Seeing this, Cheng Shi felt a pang of sadness and said, “Mom, from now on I’ll buy you delicious things every day. You must stay healthy and keep getting younger, so you can watch me get married, have children, and be surrounded by grandchildren.”
When Cai Aiping heard “get married and have children,” her eyes curved into a smile: “That’s a good plan, a very good plan.”
Just then, Cheng Juan came in and overheard the last sentence, chuckling softly, “Tsk tsk, you’re really getting good at painting castles in the air. You even paint different dreams for everyone, making sure they all suit their tastes and leave them stuffed.”
Cheng Shi glanced back with a smile, “I want my sister to stay forever young and beautiful, so she can have a bunch of nephews and nieces for me to play with.”
Cheng Juan’s face flushed instantly, and she stood on tiptoe to pinch his ear, “Tch, you really can’t speak a word of sense.”
Cheng Shi bent down so she could reach, pretending to grimace, “Ouch, ouch, ouch. Comrade Cheng Juan, you practice twisting men’s ears here every day. If your future husband finds out, will he still dare to marry you?”
Cheng Juan, genuinely annoyed, reached out to hit him.
Cheng Shi dodged nimbly and teased, “Hey, missed me.”
Cheng Juan ran around the table but couldn’t catch him, fuming with embarrassment, stomping her foot, “Mom, look at him.”
Cai Aiping scolded Cheng Shi with a mock glare, “You’re hardly a kid anymore, and you’re still bullying your sister.”
She got up and made a cup of malted milk for Cheng Juan, smiling softly and whispering to Cheng Shi, “Come, let’s drink this and ignore him.”
Cheng Juan said, “Wow, Cheng Shi, you’re crazy. This stuff is so expensive, and you bought such a big jar.”
Cheng Shi grinned, “If you like it, I’ll make sure there’s plenty from now on.”
Cheng Juan rolled her eyes, “You’ve barely earned any money, and your ego’s already soaring.”
Cheng Shi replied, “Money? You just spend. I’ll have plenty in the future.”
At that moment, Cheng Yongjin came in, sweating profusely, his face flushed from the sun.
Cheng Shi hurried over and took the bag off his back, “Dad, where have you been? It’s so hot, be careful not to get heatstroke.”
Cheng Yongjin pulled a chilled soda from the bag, mist rising from the bottle. “Here, I bought these from the city ice cream factory. There are also popsicles.”
The factory was a full four kilometers away, and a round trip on a bicycle took nearly an hour.
Inside, the popsicles were wrapped in layers of quilts.
Cheng Yongjin must have pedaled with all his strength to get home before the popsicles melted.
Seeing his father’s clothes and bag soaked with sweat, and feeling a lump in his throat, Cheng Shi didn’t know what to say.

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Cheng Yongjin said, “Eat it quickly, it won’t taste good once it melts. You’re stuck in that hot storage room downstairs every day. From now on, I’ll bring you ice every morning.”
Cheng Shi replied, “It’s so hot, and you’re running around under the blazing sun. You should take care. Actually, I’m fine just wiping down with cool water.”
Cheng Yongjin said, “You take the safe route, but I’m happy to work hard. I can’t help you in many ways now, but I can at least make sure you’re a bit more comfortable while working.”
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After dinner, Cheng Shi was sent to rest by Cai Aiping.
Cheng Juan, knowing that Cheng Shi had made a big sum today, eagerly volunteered to wash the dishes.
The two women laughed and chatted in the kitchen.
After resting a while, Cheng Shi prepared to start drafting the part’s blueprint.
Since Cheng Yongjin often had to draw parts himself, there was a drawing board and T-square in the storage room.
Arranging his tools and preparing to measure, Cheng Shi suddenly realized a problem: even a high-precision vernier caliper could only measure up to ten microns.
This was enough for the current job, but if he needed to make parts with higher precision in the future, even if he managed to produce them, he wouldn’t have a way to inspect them.
Seeing Cheng Shi deep in thought at the table, Cheng Yongjin asked, “What’s wrong? Facing a tough problem?”
Cheng Shi snapped out of his reverie, “Dad, there’s quite a bit to do today. I might need your help machining that bearing.”
Cheng Yongjin suppressed his excitement, “I’m willing to help, but I don’t know if I can do it well.”
Cheng Shi said, “It’s fine. I’ve already set the program. Besides, you’re an old hand; after making a couple, your touch will come back naturally.”
Cheng Yongjin replied, “Alright, I’m free anyway. I’ll make one for you to see.”
Cheng Shi hurriedly said, “No rush. Tomorrow’s fine.”
Cheng Yongjin was already heading out, “It’s cooler now; it’s better for working.”
Cai Aiping placed a watermelon nearby, smiling quietly at Cheng Shi, “Don’t worry. He’s happy to work. No need to fear he’ll tire himself out.”
Cheng Shi smiled, finishing the watermelon in a few bites, then began drawing.
Cheng Yongjin only returned before bedtime, holding a bearing. “Take a look and see if this works.”
Cheng Shi measured it carefully and nodded repeatedly, “Hey, pretty good. Dad, your skills are still sharp.”
Though not as perfect as Cheng Shi’s, it was enough to meet the car factory’s requirements.
Cheng Yongjin beamed like a child praised by a teacher.
In truth, he had scrapped two of them but was too embarrassed to tell Cheng Shi.

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Cheng Shi said, “Dad, make nine more like this tomorrow.”
The next morning, father and son both rose early and got to work.
Cheng Juan had the day off and helped Cai Aiping with the shopping.
As Cheng Juan prepared to leave, Cai Aiping sighed, “Tsk tsk, I haven’t seen your father this energetic in years.”
Cheng Juan smiled, “Isn’t that the truth.”
After shopping, Cheng Juan spotted Liu Jie from afar but ignored him and walked past.
Liu Jie, inflamed with desire, closed in, “I will have you. Soon, I’ll come to your house to ask for your hand.”
Cheng Juan retorted, “If you block me again, I’ll call it harassment.”
Liu Jie smirked, “Don’t be like that. I know you like me too. You women always say no, but deep down, you’re thrilled.”
Cheng Juan, both angry and embarrassed, shouted, “Are you out of your mind?”
Cheng Yongjin heard the noise and came out to check.
Liu Jie wasn’t afraid of Cheng Yongjin but feared Cheng Shi overhearing, so he quickly turned and left.
Only after he was far away did he realize Cheng Yongjin was holding a half-finished machined part.
Could it be that Cheng Shi had repaired the machine tool?!
Hiding behind a tree, Liu Jie waited until Cheng Juan went upstairs, then quietly approached the storage room door, pushed it open, and peeked inside.
Inside, Cheng Yongjin was focused, wearing a mask and carefully machining a part.
Liu Jie was overjoyed: It really is true! Cheng Shi, I finally caught your tail.
Let’s see how proud you can be now!
He quietly closed the door and left.
Cheng Shi spent the whole day finishing the drawings.
By then, Cheng Yongjin had completed machining the ten bearings.
Cheng Shi reset the program and began machining the connecting rod journal.
Cheng Yongjin watched with growing astonishment.