Chapter 45: Ning Xiaohong

After Li Heshan finished his introduction, Zhao Guoyang stepped forward, greeting the other party courteously and shaking hands.

"Technician Zhao, hello, hello!" Liao Jingsheng gripped Zhao Guoyang's hand tightly, giving it a vigorous shake.

"The idea you gave the old company commander last time was truly excellent. After the tempering process, the strength of that batch of hoes has improved to a whole new level—something I never would have expected!" Liao Jingsheng said with genuine admiration.

"Director Liao, you're too kind. The tempering process is basic knowledge in the machinery field. I only know a thing or two about it myself."

"When I first saw the batch of hoes in Secretary Hu's hands, my initial impression was that the tempering temperature was too low, which affected the strength of the tools. For a professional machinery factory, this isn't a difficult problem to solve..." Zhao Guoyang replied calmly and confidently.

"Oh? Who's making such bold claims here?"

Just as they were speaking, a clear, pleasant voice sounded from behind them.

"Xiaohong, you're just in time! Come and meet your Brother Li, and Brother Hu. Uh... and this is... Technician Zhao, I believe!" Liao Jingsheng, not knowing Zhao Guoyang's name, hesitated a moment when he got to him.

Following everyone's gaze, Zhao Guoyang turned around and saw a petite, pretty young woman standing before him, her bright, expressive eyes seeming almost to speak. She wore a work cap and, from her appearance, couldn’t have been more than twenty-two years old. Yet, there was a maturity in her expression rare for her age, making it clear she wasn't an ordinary worker.

"Heh, so it's Xiaohong!" Li Heshan chuckled awkwardly as soon as he saw her—clearly familiar with the girl.

"Brother Li, you’re not here looking to wheedle another meal from my master today, are you?" the girl teased, casting him a playful glance.

"How could I? Today I’m here to introduce Director Liao to an expert in our field. Even if there is a meal, I’ll be the one treating!" Li Heshan patted his chest in earnest.

"That's good to hear!" the girl replied, turning away from him and meeting Zhao Guoyang’s gaze once more.

It was clear she had overheard Zhao Guoyang’s confident words just now and, seeing how young he was, regarded him with a touch of disdain, thinking he was all talk.

Zhao Guoyang, however, did not take offense at her attitude. He smiled unconcernedly, unwilling to quibble with a young woman.

"Ahem." Seeing the atmosphere, Liao Jingsheng quickly stepped in to smooth things over. "Comrade Zhao, this is Ning Xiaohong, the head of the technical department here at Xiangyang Machinery Factory."

"Xiaohong, this is Comrade Zhao. He's a technician from Hongda Machinery Factory in Ninghai. You’re both in the technical field and about the same age—you should communicate more."

"Ah, Director Liao, you’ve got it wrong. Our Brother Zhao is already head of the technical department. He became department head just months after joining the factory. That alone speaks for his skills!" Hu Ping interjected with a smile.

"Hmph! High-level technical skills? That’s hard to say—maybe he’s just well-connected!" Ning Xiaohong sniffed, clearly unimpressed by Zhao Guoyang's rapid promotion.

"Director Ning, my name is Zhao Guoyang. I graduated from Jinling University of Technology not long ago and joined Hongda Machinery Factory. I was promoted ahead of schedule for making significant contributions to the factory. My family are all ordinary people, no connections, nothing like what you imagine," Zhao Guoyang replied lightly.

His self-introduction was meant only as a courtesy, without any special intent. Yet, in Ning Xiaohong's eyes, it seemed like he was showing off.

Though she was already a department head, her lack of formal education had always been her weakness. Now, after she had just tried to put him down, this young man immediately brought up his prestigious university background—wasn’t that a deliberate slight?

It was little wonder she took it that way. In these times, university graduates were as precious as treasures, coveted everywhere, especially in the rural townships.

After Zhao Guoyang's self-introduction, Liao Jingsheng, Li Heshan, and Hu Ping were all momentarily taken aback. Liao Jingsheng had only just met Zhao Guoyang, so it was less surprising for him. But Li Heshan and Hu Ping looked as though their jaws might drop. The last time Hu Ping had met Zhao Guoyang on the train, the young man had only said he was a technician at Hongda Machinery Factory—never mentioning he was a university graduate, let alone from the nationally renowned Jinling University of Technology.

"Ah, so you’re a university graduate, Comrade Zhao! No wonder you caught the leadership’s attention so quickly," Li Heshan exclaimed in sudden understanding.

Liao Jingsheng and Hu Ping also looked at Zhao Guoyang with new-found admiration.

"Hmph! So what if you’re a university graduate? Plenty of graduates these days are all theory and no practice—empty inside like bamboo shoots, sharp on the outside and hollow within!" Ning Xiaohong couldn't help but pout.

Zhao Guoyang, baffled by her persistent need to challenge him, replied in a deeper tone, "Whether someone lacks practical ability is decided by facts, not conjecture."

"If Director Ning thinks my words just now were exaggerated, why not take me through your workshop right now and see for yourself whether I’m empty inside?"

"Fine, let’s go—I'm not afraid of you!" Ning Xiaohong shot Zhao Guoyang a fierce glare and strode ahead, chin held high.

Watching the two, sparks flying between them, Liao Jingsheng, Li Heshan, and Hu Ping exchanged uncertain glances. Seeing that Zhao Guoyang had already followed, the three quickly hurried after them.

When they entered the workshop, two workers from Xiangyang Machinery Factory were tempering a freshly made tool. Zhao Guoyang stopped, watching their process with interest. But as soon as he saw the two men using tap water directly as the quenching medium, his brows furrowed.

Ning Xiaohong, noticing his change in expression, looked at him quizzically, then went over to say a few words to the workers. When she returned, Zhao Guoyang shook his head and asked, "Director Liao, Director Ning, has your factory always used tap water as the quenching liquid?"

"Yes, why?" Liao Jingsheng answered, puzzled.

Ning Xiaohong, however, eyed Zhao Guoyang warily, suspecting he was about to make another grand claim.

Sure enough, Zhao Guoyang continued, "Are you aware that water with impurities is actually better than pure water for use as a quenching liquid?"

"Adding solid particles to the water not only helps clean the workpiece, but also disrupts the steam film that forms on the surface, improving cooling speed and preventing quenching spots from forming."

Pointing toward the tool about to come out of the furnace, Zhao Guoyang went on, "If I’m not mistaken, quenching spots must be a significant issue in your factory’s finished products, aren't they?"

"Yes, that’s absolutely right, Brother Zhao! Do you have a good solution for this?" Liao Jingsheng asked, his tone a mix of surprise and hope.

"In fact, it's an easy fix—just add some additives to the pure water," Zhao Guoyang replied casually.

After hearing this, Liao Jingsheng and Ning Xiaohong exchanged looks filled with doubt and astonishment.