Self-reliance

  Lin Zhenhua talked to Hu Yang for two hours straight. After he finished speaking, the two of them looked at each other in dismay, both with an expression of utter incredulity.

  Poplar felt incredible because he had always been limited to hearing about finite element analysis, and only today did he truly understand the specific algorithm. This brand new analytical theory made him feel like a sudden enlightenment, as if he had entered a whole new world.

  Lin Zhenhua felt incredible that he discovered Hu Yang's math foundation was surprisingly good, making it hard to believe that Hu Yang only had a high school diploma. Many extremely complex calculation methods seemed as natural as basic arithmetic operations to Hu Yang. Throughout Lin Zhenhua's entire explanation, Hu Yang didn't show any signs of hesitation, as if he wasn't being taught a new method by Lin Zhenhua, but rather listening to Lin Zhenhua's graduation thesis defense. Lin Zhenhua suspected again that Hu Yang might also be a time-traveler.

  "Hu Shifu, have you learned all of these things I've mentioned?" Lin Zhenhua asked cautiously.

  Poplar shook his head: "No, I heard you say for the first time today, and I really benefited a lot."

  "I feel like you don't have even a hint of studying at all."

  "Is it?" Hu Yang asked back, he thought for a moment and smiled: "Maybe it's because I had also thought of these methods in the past, but hadn't formed a systematic way of thinking. Today, hearing you say this, it has connected all my scattered thoughts together. This finite element analysis method is really too useful, I think it can play an enormous role in many fields."

  "That's right." Lin Zhenhua said, for later generations of mechanical professional students, finite element analysis is almost like a worker's slide rule, an indispensable tool. However, the later generations did finite element analysis were all realized with the help of computers, and never heard of manual calculation of finite elements.

  "Hu Shifu, the analysis we need to do is roughly like this. Think about it, can we calculate these calculations manually?" Lin Zhenhua said.

  Poplar thought for a moment and replied, "No problem, I'm confident I can figure it out. How about this, Teacher Lin? Consider this question my homework assignment, and I'll take responsibility for solving it and handing it in to you. You can also use the opportunity to test whether I've truly grasped the finite element analysis method."

  "Alright." Lin Zhenhua nodded in agreement, he had no idea how Hu Yang planned to do calculus, anyway he wasn't going to do it, as a young person of the 21st century, he had long lost his ability to calculate by hand.

  Huyang took the task from Lin Zhenhua and first went to the warehouse, asking for two reams of white paper, and asked the keeper Zheng Mingxia to record it on the account of the Buried Arc Welding Joint Research Group. Zheng Mingxia thought Huyang was doing a favor for his children, preparing draft paper for them. Only Lin Zhenhua knew that these two reams of paper were what Huyang planned to use for finite element analysis, and if he really wanted to calculate several curves, two reams might not be enough.

  Lin Zhenhua was too lazy to worry about Hu Yang, he rode his bicycle, carrying a bag of tangerines and two catties of white sugar, came to the Lu's Alley in Fenghua County, visiting Lan Wufeng's home.

  "Auntie, is Fengzi at home?" Lin Zhenhua stepped into No. 16 courtyard and asked Lan Auntie, who was washing clothes in the yard. Before this, Lin Zhenhua had come several times and was already quite familiar with Lan Auntie.

  "Hey, it's Little Hua!" Lan Dama shook off the soap bubbles on her hands and struggled to get up, greeting Lin Zhenhua. Lin Zhenhua had already heard from Lan Wufeng that Lan Dama had been working as a temporary worker in a factory canteen for many years, soaking in water every day, and had developed severe arthritis, almost losing her ability to work. It was because of this reason that Lan Wufeng had run back from the youth point in Yunnan.

  Lin Zhenhua accompanied Lan Dama into the house, then handed over the things in his hands: "Dama, some oranges and white sugar from our factory, try them fresh."

  "Oh dear, Little Hua, you've brought something again, how are we supposed to repay you?" Lan's mother said gratefully. Every time Lin Zhenhua came back, he would bring some things with him, and this had become a habit. The oranges he brought this time were nothing special, but the two catties of white sugar was a very generous gift. You see, white sugar was a rationed commodity, and each person could only get four liang per month. In those days, for a child to have a cup of sugar water was a luxurious treat.

  Lin Zhenhua put down the things, then stopped Lan's mother who was busy pouring water for him. He picked up the thermos and poured himself a cup of water, smiling and asked: "Auntie, what has Fengzi been doing lately?"

  Lan's mother said, "After you made a beehive coal mold for Fengzi last time, he now rides his bicycle outside every day to see which family wants to make beehive coal. He helps them and can earn more than one yuan on good days."

  "This kid, really doesn't mind using his strength." Lin Zhenhua chuckled and said.

  Fenghua County is one of the few coal-producing counties in the south, and there are not a few households burning coal in the county seat. In the past, everyone was burning coal balls, but in recent years, some families have started to switch to honeycomb coal, because the fire from the honeycomb coal stove is stronger and it's also easier to change the coal.

  There are no specialized factories for making beehive coal in the county town. The beehive coal used by each household is made by themselves using a mold. The mold for beehive coal is a cylindrical tube with a long handle, and there are seven round cylinders inside the tube to form the seven air holes of the beehive coal. When making beehive coal, you need to mix coal powder and clay in a certain proportion, knead them evenly, then press them into the mold, tighten it, and then push the shaped beehive coal out by pushing the sleeve rod on the mold, and dry it on the ground.

  This mold for making beehive coal is not available on the market, and even if it were, no family would be willing to spend money to buy it. The workers at Hanhua Machinery Factory have a unique advantage in this regard, as they can find some scrap materials in the factory to make molds. Residents in the county town do not have such conditions, and sometimes need to borrow molds from factory workers for use.

  Lan Wufeng decided not to be a thief anymore, but for the time being, he couldn't find any good employment channels. Lin Zhenhua gave him an idea and first made a set of beehive coal molds for him. Then, he asked Lan Wufeng to bring the molds to the county town to help people make beehive coal. Some residents in the county town did not have laborers who could do this kind of work at home, and they also lacked tools, so they were willing to spend some money to ask someone for help. Lan Wufeng started by helping people with coal and continued until he finished making the beehive coal. He only charged two cents as a processing fee for each beehive coal, which was still an acceptable price for many families. Lan Wufeng worked hard and could make several hundred blocks of beehive coal in one day, sometimes earning more than one yuan.

  "Kobayashi, I really want to thank you. The things that Hiko did in the past, I also knew about them, they were all shameful things. Since getting to know you, Hiko told me that he wants to be self-sufficient and can't do those sneaky things anymore." said Lan's mother.

  "Fengzi is a very filial person. I always think that people with filial piety will definitely not be bad people. As long as you give him an opportunity, he will surely make everyone proud of him." Lin Zhenhua said.

  "I just hope there's such a day," said Lan's mother.

  "Brother Lin, Brother Lin." Just as he was saying this, Lan Wufeng's shout came from the courtyard. Lin Zhenhua walked out of the door and saw that Lan Wufeng had pushed his bicycle into the yard, his whole body looking like he had just crawled out of a coal heap, with only one row of teeth still white.

  "Oh no, Fengzi, how did you get all dusty again?" Lan's mother said with concern.

  Lan Wufeng chuckled: "It's nothing, I'll just take a shower and it'll be fine."

  As he spoke, he didn't mind the cold and directly took off his clothes in the yard, leaving only a pair of shorts. He then poured cool water from the faucet onto his head with a basin. It was already December, although it wasn't freezing, but the chill was biting. Lan Wufeng poured cold water on himself, and a wisp of steam could be faintly seen rising up.

  "Fengzi washes like this every day and is used to it." Lan's mother saw Lin Zhenhua's stunned expression and explained with a smile.

  Lan Wufeng splashed several basins of water, washing his body clean. Lan's mother handed him a large towel, and he wiped himself dry while asking Lin Zhenhua: "Lin Ge, how did you have time to come over today?"

  "Xiao Hua brought us tangerines and white sugar, at least two catties of white sugar." Lan Dama said while tidying up Lan Wufeng's dirty clothes.

  "Lin Ge, how can I dare to accept it? Otherwise, you keep the tangerines and take back the white sugar?" said Lan Wufeng.

  Lin Zhenhua said, "Fengzi, just keep it, it's not something valuable. This white sugar was given to me when I went to Ruiping Mechanical Factory for training, they gave me over ten kilograms. Our factory also distributed a few kilograms, so I thought of bringing some back for you guys."

  "Then thank you, Lin Ge," Lan Wufeng said, "Anyway, I owe you so much already. Alas, it's just unknown when I can repay it."

  "Hehe, don't worry, there will be opportunities," Lin Zhenhua said. "You just hold on for a little while longer, the country's policies are about to loosen up, and when that happens, you'll have your chance to shine."

  "I believe Brother Lin's words." Lan Wufeng said.

  "Fengzi, you must remember your brother Lin's kindness. If one day you become successful, you absolutely cannot forget about brother Lin, do you understand? If you dare to forget about brother Lin, I will be the first one not to let you off." Lan Dama warned.

  Lan Wufeng smiled at Lin Zhenhua: "Brother Lin, do you think I'm the kind of person who forgets kindness and betrays righteousness?"

  "What kindness and righteousness, we are all friends, it's only natural to help each other out. If you make it a debt, then it's not interesting. If one day you become successful and can still recognize me as a friend, I'll be very happy. If you have your own world and nothing to do with me, I'll also be very happy."

  Lan Wufeng said, "I know Lin Ge doesn't like to hear words of gratitude, so I won't say them. What will happen in the future, now saying more is useless. I'll just say one sentence, Lin Ge, you should believe in yourself, you won't misjudge people."