mtl008 Chapter 216 At the crucial moment, true ability is still needed.
Chapter 216 At the crucial moment, true ability is still needed.
Just then, a middle-aged man wearing a dark blue Zhongshan suit stood up and walked towards Li Xiangyang.
He was tall and imposing, with a serious face, and an unusual air about him.
“Comrade,” the middle-aged man nodded slightly, “your analysis of that scam was very clear.”
Li Xiangyang sized up the other person and politely replied, "It was nothing."
"My name is Zhang Guohua, and I'm the factory manager of Chuncheng Machinery Factory." The middle-aged man pulled a business card from his pocket. "Our factory is currently setting up a sales department and needs some quick-thinking young people."
Upon hearing the words "machinery factory," Wang Ergou and Ma Hongxia's eyes lit up.
In those days, getting a job in a state-owned machinery factory was something many people dreamed of.
Li Xiangyang took the business card, glanced at it, and said, "Director Zhang, I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you. My ambitions lie elsewhere."
"Oh?" Zhang Guohua looked interested. "Where do you work?"
“I’m a hunter,” Li Xiangyang replied, his tone tinged with pride.
Zhang Guohua paused for a moment, then laughed, "A hunter? Good, no wonder you have such keen observation skills. But have you ever considered that with your intelligence, working in a machine factory might offer a better future?"
“Director Zhang,” Li Xiangyang said seriously, “I am very grateful for your appreciation. But I believe that a person should do what they are best at and most passionate about. That is the life I want.”
Zhang Guohua stared intently at Li Xiangyang for a moment, then said, "It's rare to see such thoughts in a young person. If you change your mind later, you can always come to me."
"Thank you, Director Zhang," Li Xiangyang said, carefully putting away the business card.
After Zhang Guohua left, Wang Ergou couldn't help but say, "Brother Xiangyang, you're too much..."
"Too what?" Li Xiangyang asked with a smile.
"That's incredibly foolish!" Wang Ergou exclaimed anxiously. "That's a machinery factory! Countless people would kill to get in."
Li Xiangyang shook his head: "Ergou, do you remember the first time we went hunting in the mountains? That feeling of freedom, that pride of earning a living through our own abilities, is something no job can buy."
Li Xiaoyun silently held Li Xiangyang's hand, her eyes full of approval.
She understood better than anyone that Li Xiangyang wasn't just talking big; he genuinely loved hunting.
The train continued forward, and the scenery outside the window rushed by.
Li Xiangyang gazed out the window, already pondering his plans after returning to the village.
This marriage proposal trip was not only to give Wang Ergou and Ma Hongxia a satisfactory outcome, but also to prepare for my upcoming wedding with Li Xiaoyun.
As evening approached, the train finally arrived at the station.
"Look, we're here!" Ma Hongxia peered out the window and excitedly tugged at Wang Ergou's sleeve.
Li Xiangyang carried his luggage and led everyone off the train.
The exit of the station was bustling with people coming and going.
"Everyone, stay close," Li Xiangyang said, looking around. "Let's find a place to stay first."
Just then, a familiar voice rang out: "Li Xiangyang!"
Li Xiangyang turned his head and saw that it was Zhang Guohua.
He was standing next to a GAZ truck, waving in our direction.
"You're here on business, right?" Zhang Guohua said with a smile as he walked over. "It's hard to find a hotel at this hour, why don't you stay at my place for the night? My wife just cooked dinner, we can have a simple meal together."
Li Xiangyang hesitated for a moment: "This is too much trouble for you..."
“What trouble?” Zhang Guohua waved his hand. “I see you’re here to propose marriage, right? On such a joyous occasion, we can’t let our guests stay in a hotel. Besides, I live alone; my house is big enough.”
Wang Ergou and Ma Hongxia exchanged a glance, both feeling flattered.
After all, Zhang Guohua was the factory director of the machinery factory, and being able to stay at his house was a great honor.
"Then I'll have to trouble Director Zhang." Seeing that he couldn't refuse, Li Xiangyang had no choice but to agree.
The car drove into a residential compound and stopped in front of a three-story building.
Zhang Guohua's home is on the second floor. The house isn't big, but it's very tidy.
"Old Zhang, you're back?" A petite woman poked her head out from the kitchen. Seeing so many guests, she quickly wiped her hands. "This is..."
“This is Li Xiangyang, and his friends,” Zhang Guohua introduced. “We met them on the train.”
"Please sit down, please sit down." Zhang Guohua's wife hurriedly invited everyone to sit down and went into the kitchen to add a few more dishes.
At the dinner table, Zhang Guohua talked about things at the factory.
The machinery factory recently took on an important project that requires the development of a new type of mechanical equipment.
"This equipment isn't that difficult to make; the main problem is that it has to withstand low temperatures," Zhang Guohua said, his eyes glancing at Li Xiangyang. "You hunters should know a lot about low temperatures, right?"
Li Xiangyang nodded: "Indeed, we often work in environments where the temperature is below minus thirty degrees Celsius."
"Do you know what kind of problems mechanical parts are most likely to have at this temperature?" Zhang Guohua pressed.
Li Xiangyang thought for a moment and said, "First, the lubricating oil will thicken, even solidify. Second, the metal will become brittle and easily break with the slightest bump. And then..."
As he was talking, he noticed that Zhang Guohua and his wife were both looking at him with surprised expressions.
“Comrade Li,” Zhang Guohua put down his chopsticks, “your analysis is more insightful than some of the engineers in our factory. You really haven’t studied mechanics?”
Li Xiangyang smiled and said, "Having hunted for so many years, I naturally know a bit about firearms. Besides, it's cold in the mountains, and many tools need special treatment before they can be used. These are all based on experience."
"Lessons from experience?" Zhang Guohua shook his head. "That's not just 'lessons from experience,' it's clearly that you've figured out the underlying principles."
Li Xiaoyun, who was standing to the side, nodded repeatedly as she listened.
She had known for a long time that Li Xiangyang was intelligent, but she hadn't expected him to have such insights into mechanics.
"Old Zhang," Zhang Guohua's wife suddenly spoke up, "how about we let Comrade Li be a consultant for the factory?"
Zhang Guohua's eyes lit up: "That's a great idea! Comrade Li, what do you think?"
Before Li Xiangyang could speak, Zhang Guohua added, "The salary is negotiable; we mainly want your advice. One or two visits a month will suffice."
This proposal is indeed very tempting.
They can earn some extra money without having to give up hunting.
More importantly, it can contribute to the country's industrial development.
"How about..." Li Xiangyang looked at Li Xiaoyun, "What do you think?"
Li Xiaoyun nodded with a smile: "I think it's a good idea. Anyway, you don't go hunting in the mountains every day. Why not come and help out when you have time?"
“Alright,” Li Xiangyang turned to Zhang Guohua, “but I have to make it clear first, we might not be able to come during peak hunting season.”
“No problem!” Zhang Guohua readily agreed. “We’ll do it by the number of times; you’ll get ten yuan per visit.”
This price was quite considerable at the time.
Wang Ergou and Ma Hongxia couldn't help but gasp when they heard this.
In this way, a simple meal not only solved the accommodation problem, but also brought Li Xiangyang an unexpected "part-time job".
That night, Li Xiaoyun and Ma Hongxia shared a room, while Li Xiangyang and Wang Ergou shared another.
"Brother Xiangyang," Wang Ergou lay on the bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep, "you tell me, our luck is just too good!"
Li Xiangyang lay on the bed and said softly, "Actually, there's no such thing as luck in this world. When it really matters, you have to rely on real skills."