108 sons

  A deputy factory director and an eighth-grade fitter, sat beside the ice machine that was being tested, chatting away as if they were in a park surrounded by birdsong and fragrant flowers.

  "Lao Zhu this person... Alas." Xie Chunyan looked at everything, unsure of what to say.

  Lin Zhenhua was a bit nervous, he pulled Fan Shibin and walked to the ice machine's operating platform, saying: "Director Fan, I'm not familiar with the ice machine, you must keep an eye on it, in case something goes wrong, hurry up and shut it down."

  Fan Shibo was sweating all over his head, he nodded desperately: "Xiao Lin, I know, I know, I've been listening to the sound all along."

  Sun Xiaodong, who was operating the machine over there, was even more nervous. His hands seemed to be shaking. He asked tremulously: "Manager Lin, Director Fan, what if my dad asks me to speed up later?"

  "Let's see how things go," said Fan Shibin. "From the current situation, adding 2,500 turns should be no problem."

  "As soon as the words fell, Sun Changyuan's voice rang out: 'Xiaodong, continue to accelerate, directly increase to 2500 rpm.'"

  Sun Xiaodong looked up at Fan Shibin, who gritted his teeth and nodded. Sun Xiaodong's trembling hands pushed the handle to the 2500 position.

  The machine's sound grew louder, and Fan Shibin nervously watched the readings on the instrument panel while listening to the sounds coming from the equipment. He could tell that everything was operating normally and that an accident shouldn't happen.

  "What's wrong with you, Suzuki? Step on it, 2500 rpm!" Lin Zhenhua turned his head and roared at Suzuki Nobuo.

  Suzuki Nobuo watched the thrilling gamble, his mind had already become a blank. Hearing Lin Zhenhua's roar, he didn't wait for the translator to finish translating, and his hand subconsciously reached for the handle, turning the speed to 2500 rpm. After adjusting it, he suddenly remembered that this was not an ordinary test drive, and his superior was still standing next to the ice machine.

  In the equipment area, Sun Changyuan and Zhu Tiejun's chess had reached the middle game. Zhu Tiejun turned his head to look at the opposite side, only to see Koizumi Jiro standing alone on his own side by the ice machine, his body seemingly shaking slightly, his eyes staring fixedly at the ice machine, as if he was ready to take off running at the slightest unusual sound.

  Zhu Tiejun smiled and asked Sun Changyuan: "Old Sun, how's the situation with our ice machine?"

  "Absolutely no problem, nothing will happen."

  "What is the speed now?"

  "It's 2500."

  "How high can it go?"

  "It should be able to go up to 5000 at most, but that's the design limit. Normally, it will reach its peak at around 3000."

  "In that case, what are we waiting for? Let's just go straight to 3000," said Zhu Tiejun.

  Sun Changyuan hesitated for a moment, and whispered: "Director Zhu, the faster the speed, the more dangerous it is. Although I think our axle is fine, but I don't want you to take this risk."

  "What's there to be afraid of? If I'm going to die, I'll die in the morning; if not, I won't die for ten thousand years. I didn't die back when I was fighting wars, so how could I possibly die here in this workshop? You said the axle is fine, so let's just get it over with once and for all."

  "Director Zhu, you really believe me?"

  Zhu Tiejun said: "Old Sun, when it comes to playing chess, you're no match for me. As for fixing the ice machine, I still can't trust you?"

  "Alright!" Sun Changyuan shouted, turning his head back to shout at Sun Xiaodong: "Xiaodong, increase the speed, 3000 revolutions!"

  "Dad!" Sun Xiaodong shouted out of breath, "Director Fan said it can't be added anymore!"

  Fan Shibo also shouted: "Master Sun, you can't add any more! If you don't consider yourself, you should consider Director Zhu!"

  Zhu Tiejun angrily said: "Old Fan, what are you afraid of? Don't you still trust the skills of our workers? Listen to me, speed up!"

  Sun Changyuan also shouted: "Xiaodong, what are you waiting for? Accelerate!"

  "Dad, I don't dare..." Sun Xiaodong cried out.

  "Despicable good-for-nothing! Don't you trust your father's skills?! Speed up!"

  Sun Xiaodong heard his father's scolding and knew that his father's mind was made up, this was not something he could change. He stomped his foot, stretched out his hand, and pushed the gearshift to 3000 rpm.

  3000 revolutions is already the upper limit of the ice machine's normal operating speed, and the noise becomes ear-piercing. The heavy body also starts to vibrate slightly, shaking up dust everywhere.

  Sun Changyuan looked up at Zhu Tiejun, whose face was calm and serene, as if he hadn't heard the deafening roar beside him. He pointed to the chessboard with his hand and said, "Your turn."

  Sun Changyuan picked up the pawn made of a nut and pushed it forward one step, saying: "Pawn to the corner!"

  People outside the safety line fell silent, the rumbling sound of machines seemed to have disappeared, and everyone's eyes were left with only Zhu Tiejun and Sun Changyuan in front of that oil-stained chessboard. On the chessboard, those majestic cars, horses, and cannons, those kings, generals, and ministers, all became dull and lost their luster, except for that one small steel-cast pawn, which was moving forward steadfastly and indomitably, step by step, with no retreat...

  "Little Japan, what are you waiting for!" Lin Zhenhua reminded Suzuki Nobuo again. Suzuki Nobuo looked up at Koizumi Jiro, only to see that his face had turned as white as paper. He raised his hand, his lips trembling, and it took him a long time to spit out one sentence: "Stop the car! Stop the car quickly!"

  Suzuki Shinobu pressed the stop button, and the sound of the ice machine suddenly dropped. Seeing this scene, Lin Zhenhua's heart burst into bloom, he turned his head to shout at Sun Xiaodong: "Xiaodong, stop the car!"

  "Hurray!" The crowd outside the safety zone cheered and rushed towards Zhu Tiejun and Sun Changyuan, surrounding them. Sun Changyuan looked up at the crowd with a hint of shyness on his face, pointed to the chessboard and said to Zhu Tiejun: "Director Zhu, let's end it here?"

  "Alright, alright, you win this round! Good job, old Sun, a small pawn has forced my old general to die!"

  Koizumi Jiro walked over with a gloomy face, still pale and wan, like a clown in a play. Everyone made way for him to stand before Sun Changyuan. He adjusted his work uniform, bowed at a 90-degree angle, and said: "Mr. Sun, please forgive my previous offense. I deeply admire your technology."

  The translator translated his words to Sun Changyuan, who showed a triumphant smile on his face. He pointed at the ice maker behind him and said: "Little devil, remember this, things made by Chinese people are of much better quality."

  "Yes, yes, I have great admiration for your manufacturing capabilities." Koizumi said obediently.

  Sun Changyuan took the upper hand and said with pleasure: "Little devils, remember this for next time, don't mess with us Chinese people. Otherwise, whether it's fighting or competing in skills, we can beat you until you're picking up your teeth from all over the ground."

  Looking at Xie Chunyan with difficulty, I don't know whether I should translate this sentence or not.

  Xie Chunyan smiled and said to the translator, "Translate it this way: our teacher Fu hopes that he will remember to be friends with the Chinese people generation after generation."

  Koizumi Jiro's spirit was thoroughly dampened, and he honestly signed the equipment installation file, stating that the quality of the Chinese-made spindle is consistent with the Japanese original factory. In the future, if there are any problems with the equipment, Nichihiro Heavy Industries will be responsible. After all this, he was almost carried out of the workshop by Suzuki Nobuo and several other Japanese workers, the torture of standing next to the equipment just now had exhausted his entire body's strength.

  "Dad, you scared me to death." Sun Xiaodong walked in front of his father and said with lingering fear.

  Sun Changyuan broke the rules and didn't scold his son severely. Perhaps it was the danger of fighting for their lives earlier that made him feel the preciousness of kinship. He stretched out his hand to help his son brush off the dust on his body, and said softly: "You ungrateful thing, if I die, you must take good care of your mother, do you understand?"

  "Old Zhu, you were too reckless just now." Xie Chunyuan also said to Zhu Tiejun. As the head of the production department, she had dealt with Zhu Tiejun many times, but this experience was a first. After going through a storm, everyone's emotions had undergone a subtle change, transforming from a simple superior-subordinate work relationship into a deep and harmonious friendship.

  Zhu Tiejun smiled and said: "Old Xie, we helped you vent your anger, how are you going to thank us?"

  "Let's drink!" Xie Chunyan said without hesitation. "Tonight, I'll treat you to eight dishes and eight bowls of food, four special wines, and plenty of everything."

  "Thanks, Director Zhe, isn't that excessive? The central government is now advocating for four dishes and one soup." Zhu Tiejun reminded with a hint of mockery.

  "Whatever the bill is, I'll pay for it myself and you can eat as much as you want," said Chunyan.

  Zhu Tiejun said with a smile: "Alright, let's go! If we don't make Director Xie bankrupt today, we're not worthy of being Hanhua Factory people!"

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  According to the announcement, it will be on shelves tomorrow, morning or evening... don't know