Chapter 43: A Master's Touch Reveals the Truth

Cheng Shi inspected the spinning machine.

It turned out that the seals on the ball screws in the traction section had aged, allowing dust to enter the internal mechanisms. In a spinning machine, ball screws are critical components used for traction, yarn intake, pattern variation, and spindle movement. Maintaining precision and stability in the traction section is essential to ensuring consistent yarn thickness. Because of the dust, the precision of the ball bearings had been compromised, causing the yarn to fluctuate between thick and thin.

Factory Manager Hu asked nervously, "Can it be fixed?"

"Yes," Cheng Shi replied. "I just need to make a new set of sealing kits. The previous ones were rubber. I’ll make you stainless steel ones; they’ll last much longer."

Manager Hu asked, "Good. How much will it cost?"

"One hundred yuan per unit," Cheng Shi said. "There are thirty units per machine, so three thousand yuan total. The process is a bit troublesome. If you think that's too expensive, you could have a rubber factory custom-make some covers for you. I can help you clean out the insides. That would be much cheaper. Although they’ll definitely fail within two years, as long as you remember to replace them on time, the effect is about the same."

The women in the workshop began to murmur, "Those foreigners are truly vile. I remember it used to have stainless steel seals. After they broke, they replaced them with rubber ones and claimed the rubber was better. It turns out they just wanted to force us to pay them for repairs every two years."

"Exactly, it’s despicable. We spent one hundred thousand dollars back then just to buy a few pieces of rubber."

Manager Hu said, "Comrade Cheng Shi, please do it for us. If we go to a rubber factory, we wouldn't even know the dimensions."

Cheng Shi replied, "I’ll need a few days; the quantity is a bit large. Once they’re finished, I’ll come over and install them. I need to take the ball screws with me to measure them and clean them while I’m at it. Don’t pay me until I’ve installed them and everything is running perfectly. I’ll guarantee the sealing kits for ten years. If they break within ten years, I’ll repair or replace them for free."

Manager Hu grabbed Cheng Shi’s hand and shook it vigorously, his eyes reddening. "Thank you so much, Comrade Cheng Shi. I don’t know what method Da Dong used to invite you, but I hope he didn't coerce you."

The textile factory had heard that major enterprises had offered Cheng Shi an annual salary of one hundred thousand yuan and still couldn't hire him, so they had expected him to demand an exorbitant fee. They were shocked that his charges were so low and his service so excellent. This led Manager Hu to suspect that Yu Da Dong had used "unconventional" means to bring him in.

Yu Da Dong, fearing that Cheng Shi might complain, stared at him nervously, worried that he might expose their methods now that he was being so cooperative.

Unaccustomed to such enthusiasm, Cheng Shi pulled his hand away. "No, I’m a friend of Da Dong’s. This is just a small favor, not worth mentioning."

Yu Da Dong was also taken aback.

Manager Hu finally felt at ease and said to Yu Da Dong, "Da Dong, I didn’t realize you knew such a brilliant friend. Why didn't you say so earlier?"

Yu Da Dong’s face lit up as if gilded, feeling immensely proud. "It just didn't cross my mind at the time. Besides, I brought him here immediately, didn't I?"

***

When it was time to leave, Manager Hu insisted that Cheng Shi take home a massive watermelon weighing over a dozen pounds. Cheng Shi was caught between laughter and tears; if he refused, Manager Hu would think he was being ungrateful. But how was he supposed to carry something so heavy? If he hung it on the handlebars, he couldn't steer steadily; if he put it on the back seat, he would have to hold it, or it would fall off.

Yu Da Dong said, "It’s fine, I’ll take you home."

And so, Yu Da Dong pedaled his tricycle all the way to Cheng Shi’s building, huffing and puffing, and then hauled the watermelon up to the seventh floor for him.

"You really could have just dropped me off downstairs," Cheng Shi said.

"That wouldn't do," Yu Da Dong replied. "You’re the savior of our factory."

Cheng Shi invited him, "Do you want to come in and sit for a while?"

"No, it’s getting late. Another time." As he left, Yu Da Dong squeezed Cheng Shi’s hand firmly. "Don’t worry. From now on, you’re my brother. If you need anything, just say the word. No one will dare harass you again. Those guys, Lao Er and Lao San, were just misled by Liu Jie’s nonsense. I’ve already given Liu Jie a beating for it."

Cheng Shi remarked, "I was quite surprised that you came to find me over this."

Yu Da Dong was silent for a moment before saying, "I’m the only man left in the factory. I couldn't exactly let a group of women beg you for help, could I?"

Cheng Shi realized with a start: *That’s true. So, is that why you were the first to be laid off later?*

Cheng Yongjin and the others pointed curiously at Yu Da Dong’s retreating figure. "Who was that?"

Cheng Shi smiled. "An old friend."

Cheng Yongjin muttered, "He doesn't look like a good person."

Cheng Shi replied, "Dad, in other people's eyes, I’m not a good person either."

Cheng Yongjin was left speechless. *Fair enough.*

It is wrong to judge people by their appearance.

Cheng Shi sliced half the watermelon and handed it to Cheng Juan. "Take this to Brother Li. We can’t finish such a huge one in one sitting anyway, and it’ll go bad without a fridge."

Cheng Juan’s face flushed; she knew Cheng Shi was using his own way to help Cheng Yongjin and the others slowly accept Li Zhigang. She cut off a quarter. "That’s too much."

As soon as Cheng Juan left, Cheng Yongjin and Cai Aiping asked Cheng Shi, "Which Brother Li?"

Cheng Shi grinned. "My sister’s boyfriend."

***

Cheng Yongjin scoffed, "Don't tell me it’s that Li Zhigang. What kind of future does a self-employed businessman have? I won’t allow them to be together."

Cheng Shi replied, "Dad, I’m self-employed too, you know."

Cheng Yongjin was speechless again, feeling a bit flustered and angry. "You brat, are you doing this just to spite me? I’m her father—can’t I have a say in her marriage?"

Cheng Shi laughed. "Dad, why are you still so full of feudal ideas? It’s my sister who’s getting married, not you. Does it have to be someone you like? You’re not the one who has to share the bridal chamber with him."

Cai Aiping burst out laughing.

Enraged, Cheng Yongjin grabbed a clothes hanger. "You little rascal, you really need a thrashing every three days just to keep you in line. You even dare to lecture your own father."

Cheng Shi had already run off, calling back, "See, see? We were just talking, why are you getting so worked up?"

After Cheng Shi left, Cai Aiping commented, "I think Li Zhigang is fine, but he only has a mother at home. It might be hard to deal with the mother-in-law relationship."

A widowed mother often competes for her son's affection.

Cheng Yongjin rolled his eyes. "And you said I was the one with old-fashioned ideas! That’s completely baseless. My mother was a widow too, and did you ever see her fighting you for me?"

Cai Aiping sighed, "You’re a man; you don't understand the hardships of a woman." *If I hadn't come to the city with you and was still back in the countryside serving your mother, wouldn't I be suffering every single day?*

Cheng Shi dashed downstairs and bumped into Mo Xiaoxi, who was coming up.

He hit the brakes and smiled at her. "You’re back."

Mo Xiaoxi’s face turned red instantly. She whispered, "Thank you for feeding Caramel."

Cheng Shi replied, "Oh, so its name is Caramel? By the way, I need to pay you back."

Mo Xiaoxi quickly pressed a finger to her lips.

The door on the sixth floor swung open with a bang.

Teacher Mo stood in the doorway with a dark, gloomy expression.

Cheng Shi’s hair stood on end.

Mo Xiaoxi gave Cheng Shi a helpless look before lowering her head and retreating inside.