Chapter 9: Old Huang's Opportunity

  At this point, Lin Hongfei also didn't rush to go out, "Master Huang, do you really know that experienced master who is good at metal processing?"

  Lin Hongfei was interested in this matter, and Old Master Huang suddenly felt a sense of relief in his heart. He was afraid that his words would not arouse Lin Hongfei's interest. Just then, Old Master Huang's daughter had brewed tea and brought it over on a tray. The stout Old Master Huang repeatedly made polite gestures, "Come, come, Mr. Lin, let's drink tea and talk...on this hot day."

  Lin Hongfei was speechless, looking at Old Huang's overly flattering behavior towards him, it seemed... what was that saying again? "No gift is given without expectation of reward, either treachery or theft."

  "To be honest with you, in our Beijun City, when it comes to metal processing, I, Old Huang, don't dare say I'm the number one person, but I must be among the top ten." After they sat down, they started talking about their skills. Although Boss Huang repeatedly showed humility, his face was still flushed with pride, obviously very proud of his abilities.

  Lin Hongfei was half-believing and half-doubting. At this time, those who ran hardware stores were more or less the same, and the bosses all had some metal processing skills. Usually, the front was the store, and the back was a small factory for metal processing. Lin Hongfei believed that Huang boss was good at metal processing, but if he said that this fat guy's metal processing level was among the best in Beijun City, Lin Hongfei was more skeptical. Before seeing the real ability of this fat old man, it was better to believe only three points.

  Seeing Lin Hongfei's expression, Old Huang suddenly became anxious and had the attitude of wanting to have a good talk with Lin Hongfei. "Mr. Lin, you shouldn't be skeptical. When I was at our city's First Machine Tool Factory in Beiguan, my master was the famous Shi Teacher. Talking about Shi Teacher's metalworking skills, who in the entire Guqi Province would dare not to give a thumbs up?"

  "I don't dare compare myself to Master, but I can say that I've learned a bit of his skills," he said, pointing to his own shop. "Mr. Lin, to be honest with you, the reason I can run such a big store is because my two hands are supporting it here. If you don't believe me, let's try it out now."

  After doing business for so many years, Old Huang has thoroughly understood the current society. As a businessman, if you don't have a big tree to rely on behind your back, it's not that no one will come to bother you, but even just "handling things in an official manner" can make you feel miserable. Old Huang isn't someone who hasn't thought of finding a big tree to lean on, but those big trees he could lean on are either insatiably greedy or themselves just half-grown trees. For this matter, Old Huang has pulled his hair out many times. Since this young man looks like a big tree, for Old Huang's sake, no matter what, he must try again.

  Lin Hongfei couldn't believe his luck, that he could actually meet a master craftsman in metal processing who was top-notch in the entire Beiguan City. But then he thought to himself, it wouldn't hurt to take a look at this master's level of craftsmanship. Although his own skills might not be particularly deep, his eyes were still sharp, and with one glance, he could tell how well something was made and whether it met his requirements. He nodded slightly and said with a smile, "Alright then, I'll trouble Master Huang."

  His gaze swept around Huang's shop and finally landed on a steel bar about half a centimeter thick, fourteen or fifteen centimeters long, and two centimeters wide. He picked up the steel bar and drew a processing diagram on a piece of paper, similar to the Great Wall's battlements, marking the specifications and dimensions of the "battlements", "mouth" and other places. After finishing, he handed it to Old Huang and smiled, "How about it, Master Huang? How long can you process this thing?"

  Seeing the thing Lin Hongfei handed over to him, Old Master Huang was slightly disappointed. He had thought that Lin Hongfei would let him process something much more difficult. But this small thing was really too easy. With full confidence, he said, "A small trinket, simple, half an hour is enough. Why don't you sit down and have a cup of tea first, Mr. Lin? I'll go to the back and attend to some business?"

  Although it's not clear why Old Huang suddenly became so enthusiastic and sentimental about his own affairs, Lin Hongfei felt that there was something fishy going on. This old man seemed to be overly eager, a business owner being so passionate towards someone who had no possibility of buying anything from him?

  But since Comrade Old Huang is so confident, this matter can be discussed slowly later. For now, let's take a look at Comrade Old Huang's metal processing level and see if it's as awesome as he says. He waved his hand to decline the suggestion and smiled, saying "It just so happens that I have nothing to do, let's go watch the excitement."

  Lao Huang knew Lin Hongfei's thoughts, and naturally understood that Lin Hongfei was not there to watch the commotion, but rather to see if he really had the skills. This was exactly what Lao Huang wanted, as he had been worried that Lin Hongfei wouldn't be able to appreciate his own abilities. After a slight show of modesty, Lao Huang brought Lin Hongfei to the backyard where he did his processing work, leaving only his 16 or 17-year-old daughter in front to help him watch the store.

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  Although he knew that a small hardware store couldn't possibly have any good metalworking machine tools, Lin Hongfei still couldn't help but feel some disappointment after seeing the equipment in the backyard: there were only some simple lathes, drilling machines, milling machines and planers, which was really too crude. Could Old Huang really process what he wanted with these crude devices?

  Old Huang closed the switch and began to work on the steel bar Lin Hongfei had chosen, after which Lin Hongfei's eyes suddenly widened in surprise!

  Master!

  This chubby and somewhat lewd old Huang is absolutely a master in metal processing!

  These extremely crude processing equipment were used by Old Huang with a magical effect!

  Yes, in Lin Hongfei's view, the metal processing level of this yellow chubby guy in front of him can be described with the eight words "out of the ordinary and flowing like clouds".

  In the past, Lin Hongfei had always heard that the old generation of craftsmen in the Republic were incredibly skilled, able to detect even a single thread's deviation in processing just by feel. At the time, Lin Hongfei didn't quite believe it, thinking it was probably exaggerated for propaganda purposes. But now, seeing Old Huang's level of craftsmanship, Lin Hongfei couldn't help but believe it.

  Watching Old Huang work on metal processing here, it's actually a delightful and pleasant feeling. What kind of state is this? But according to Old Huang's words, he just learned a few tricks from his master, if it was his master who came out in person? Then what would be the state of that?

  Wasn't his master really that kind of eight-level craftsman who was revered as a "Crafts God" abroad? Lin Hongfei was startled by his own guess! However, he immediately felt ecstatic in his heart! If Beiguan City really had such a god-level eight-level craftsman, then his subsequent series of plans would have the strongest technical guarantee.

  ……………

  It was supposed to be half an hour, but in just over 20 minutes, Old Huang had finished processing the section of metal "city wall" that Lin Hongfei had requested. He handed the metal "city wall" to Lin Hongfei, and Old Huang looked confident. "How's that? Mr. Lin, is my craftsmanship still up to par?"

  Lin Hongfei sincerely raised his thumb, "Huang Shifu, no need to say, you're the best at metal processing!"

  He was praised and commended by Lin Hongfei, and Huang Shifu immediately smiled, as if Lin Hongfei's recognition was something he could be proud of.

  "Mr. Lin, I'm old Huang, nothing else but this skill in my hands, if you want to do something in the future, just come find me, old Huang will definitely make you satisfied." Old Huang said cautiously after glancing at Lin Hongfei.

  "Huh?" Lin Hongfei was taken aback for a moment. There's more to what Old Huang said than meets the eye.

  Lin Hongfei suddenly understood that Old Huang must have had an ulterior motive for his behavior in front of him earlier.

  But this was also the most puzzling thing for Lin Hongfei, he was certain that he had never seen this old Huang before, so why was he so sure that he could help him?

  "This is easy to say, if nothing unexpected happens, I will come again in a day or two, and at that time, there is still something to trouble Master Huang." Lin Hongfei said with a smile.

  Although Huang seemed to be seeking something from him, Lin Hongfei wouldn't say anything since he didn't bring it up himself. However, since Huang had real skills, the things he prepared for his grandfather could be made with materials other than aviation aluminum, and he could ask Huang for help with processing them. The only problem was how to convince his father to agree to his request tonight.

  "Really?!" Huang Shifu was overjoyed!

  Just now he was still hesitating about how to speak, after all, he and this young man with the surname Lin had only just met for the first time. If he rashly proposed that kind of request, wouldn't he be considered by others to have some ulterior motive? Since he would come again tomorrow, then it couldn't be better, it was clear that this was going to be a regular thing.

  "It's true, just after tomorrow."

  "That's right." Master Huang nodded repeatedly, looking very excited.

  What does this old Huang want to do after all? The appearance of Old Huang made Lin Hongfei even more confused, what kind of medicine is this guy selling in his gourd?

  …………………

  "Dad, why are you being so humble and flattering to that person?" Lin Hongfei left, and Old Huang's daughter came to find trouble with him, pouting, "Look at you, like a...like something, I feel embarrassed."

  She said she looked like a pug, but Old Huang didn't take it seriously at all. With an excited face, "Lingling, I'm telling you, as long as we serve this one well, that Director Niu won't be able to do anything to us."