Chapter Sixteen: Testing the Waters

“Yanru, tomorrow we not only have to handle the tutoring arrangements but also need to meet with Secretary Zhao and the leaders of the Agricultural Research Institute. Tonight, let’s spend the whole night in the city dealing with these matters.”

Lou Yanru stared blankly out the car window, lost in thought. Upon hearing Liu Weidong’s words, she quietly nodded.

The Qianjin Guesthouse was not far from the municipal government. Once inside the room, Lou Yanru’s expression remained heavy with worry.

“If you miss home, just go back to see them. Just remember to come find me early tomorrow morning. Tonight, I’ll draft a simple schematic of the oil press machine to get a head start on the progress.”

Lou Yanru hesitated.

“I’m conflicted too. I miss my mother but don’t quite dare to see her. I’m also worried about my younger sister—I want her to take the college entrance exam this year.”

“Your mother won’t be able to call you back to the city until national policies are fully implemented. The current policy for returning educated youth hasn’t been finalized yet. Since you’ve already transferred to a private teaching position and the exams are near, your mother wouldn’t treat the rest of your life so lightly.”

“Aren’t you afraid that if I get into university and move my household registration, she’ll force me to divorce?”

Lou Yanru’s face grew even more troubled.

Liu Weidong smiled, “Love isn’t about being tied down. If you leave me for university, I’ll accept it. At least then I’d be true to my heart and to all you’ve given me.”

Lou Yanru hadn’t expected him to say that. Angry, she stomped her foot and tried to leave, but Liu Weidong pulled her into his arms.

“I’m just teasing, my dear wife. You stuck by me through all those rough days when I drank and we barely had food. Now that we have money, why would you run off? You’re not foolish.”

“Annoying! If you say that again, I really will run away.”

Liu Weidong went out to buy some snacks from the grocery store and walked Yanru to the entrance of the medical college’s family housing. Watching her enter the building, he then headed back along the riverside.

The familiar riverside was lit by incandescent bulbs, creating soft, hazy halos in the night.

The river was pitch black; across the bank, there were no towering buildings or dazzling lights.

Yet in this moment, the peace and tranquility brought Liu Weidong an unusual sense of joy.

Every step since his rebirth had been methodical: he appeared just in time to save his wife during danger, secured their first pot of gold, helped her transfer to a private teaching position through contacts in tobacco and alcohol, and gained the approval of his father-in-law. No matter what difficulties came next, he was determined to achieve his set goals.

Back at the guesthouse, Liu Weidong sat by the window, gazing at the sparse lights outside while planning his next move.

Once his wife began university, the business had to quickly get on track. He needed to connect with more government and enterprise leaders to seize the opportunities of the times.

He requested a stack of red checkered letter paper and a 2B pencil from the guesthouse, then bent over the desk, focusing intently on designing new equipment for the oil plant.

Holding the pencil, he seemed transported back to the days when he dealt in import-export machinery.

Before his rebirth, chemical machinery was his main field. He could draw the blueprints for this kind of polymer separation machine with his eyes closed.

Without needing a ruler, every stroke was precise and decisive. Soon, neat and standardized component drawings covered the entire desk.

***

The next day, when Lou Yanru arrived at the inn, she was stunned to see her husband asleep at the table, a neat stack of sketches in front of him.

She picked up a few sheets and was shocked.

Though called sketches, the dimensions of parts and specifications of castings were all clearly marked.

These were no mere drafts; any machinist could produce parts directly from these drawings.

Where had he learned all this?

“You’re back? I’m starving. I’ll wash up and then we’ll have breakfast,” Liu Weidong said, waking and embracing her tiredly.

Lou Yanru ruffled his messy hair and scolded him with concern, “You didn’t sleep all night? No matter how urgent, you can’t push yourself so hard. Who will take care of me if you collapse?”

Liu Weidong stretched lazily. “I’m made of iron. Staying up all night is nothing. Once the oil plant’s machines are made, that ten thousand yuan can be cashed earlier. You’re about to start university—you’ll need the money.”

He then carried a basin to the washroom.

Originally, they planned to go straight to the municipal committee to meet Secretary Zhao, but Liu Weidong instead took Lou Yanru on bus number 8.

“Aren’t we supposed to go to the municipal committee? Why the oil plant first?”

“What would I say to Secretary Zhao? ‘Please help get your father-in-law rehabilitated earlier’? That’s not something you say outright. It has to be subtle. Why did I stay up all night drawing those blueprints? That’s my token of loyalty, you understand?”

Lou Yanru was speechless.

At the oil plant’s technical department, Song Yi and Li Tie were stunned by the blueprints Liu Weidong presented.

“Weidong, did you draw these last night? Without professional drafting tools or a copying machine, you managed to mark such precise lines and angles?”

Liu Weidong nodded. “I’ve seen blueprints for imported polymer separation machines. I just made some modifications to increase oil yield and purity. Engineer Song, with your expertise, you should know I’m not just talking nonsense.”

Song Yi immediately took the sketches and hurried off.

Then Liu Weidong looked at Li Tie.

“Director Li, now you need to seek help from the city leaders. State-owned factories are already fully booked with plans. Without a directive from the city, even if you take these blueprints to the Machinery Factory, it might delay our research progress.”

Li Tie slapped his forehead. “Exactly. It’s a planned economy now; state-owned factories produce according to plans. I’ll take the project report to the city. You have to come with me—I’m afraid I can’t explain some of the technical details well.”

Li Tie then stood and left the technical department.

***

“Yanru, soon we’ll go to the municipal government with Director Li. You get off at No. 1 Middle School and find Principal Sun yourself. Once you’re done, come back to the guesthouse and wait for me.”

Soon Li Tie returned with his bag and called Liu Weidong downstairs.

“Director Li, who are you going to see? I suggest going straight to Deputy Secretary Zhao of the municipal committee. If you go to the Revolutionary Committee, it might be…”

Li Tie sighed and said nothing, just instructed the driver to head to the municipal committee.

At No. 1 Middle School, Lou Yanru got off. Li Tie patted Liu Weidong on the shoulder.

“Weidong, it’s a pity for you not to be at our plant—you’ve got both education and technical skill, plus political insight.”

Liu Weidong did not know Deputy Secretary Zhao Lijun in his previous life. Seeing this upright leader with a military bearing, he recalled Lou Nan’s words.

Also a former soldier, Zhao Lijun looked dignified and unlike Director Ma.

“I heard your oil plant wanted to launch a satellite project. I didn’t expect you’d dare to surpass the best so quickly. Have your designs been verified by the technical department? Scientific research can’t be careless.”

Li Tie quickly placed the documents on Zhao Lijun’s desk.

“Secretary Zhao, the machine’s principles and chemical reaction formulas were independently developed by Engineer Liu. We compared them multiple times with advanced foreign equipment, and theoretically it’s feasible. We now need to build an experimental model as soon as possible, so we’re here to ask for your help.”

Zhao Lijun immediately looked at Liu Weidong.

“The young man is impressive. To design equipment that rivals foreign machines at such a young age—where did you graduate from?”

Liu Weidong stood up quickly. “Report, Secretary Zhao, I never attended university. I’m self-taught and currently a member of the Second Working Team of Qianjin Commune.

“I come to you out of desperation. State-owned factories are producing according to plan, and it was my father-in-law who advised me to seek your help when we faced difficulties.”

“Farmer? Self-taught? You’re quite a remarkable fellow. Who is your father-in-law? Does he know me?”

Liu Weidong smiled wryly. “My father-in-law is Lou Nan, former director of the Agricultural Commission. Yesterday I visited him at the Wuxing Farm. I mentioned the difficulties the oil plant is facing with innovation. After all his hard work on farm transformation, he’s still writing reports on farmland renovation and seed improvement plans…”

Liu Weidong hesitated as if wanting to say more.

Zhao Lijun furrowed his brow, then slowly stood and looked out the window.

“Dark clouds cannot obscure the sun. Restoring production requires many pioneers like you and Lou Nan. Be bold and move forward. As long as it benefits the nation and the people, I will firmly support it.”