Fusion System: Rebirth in a Courtyard - Bird Fighting Chronicles

Chapter 37: Amazing Skills on the Martial Arts Arena, Clues to a Secret Intrigue Emerge

As dawn broke, a thin layer of frost still clung to the blue bricks of the Hongxing Courtyard. Lin Chen stood at the gate, a canvas tool bag slung over his shoulder. Inside, besides the usual calipers and files, was a "high-efficiency forging mold sketch" he'd sketched overnight after fusing his skills. Key parameters were marked in red on the edges—his secret weapon for the city's skills competition. Footsteps sounded behind him, and Sha Zhu caught up, carrying an oil-paper bag containing hot steamed buns and braised eggs fresh from the canteen.

"Lin Chen, have something to eat on the way!" Sha Zhu stuffed the oil paper package into his hand, scratched his head, and said, "Don't be nervous during the fight. If all else fails, just show them your homemade wrench skills. That'll definitely impress them!" Lin Chen smiled and took the package. He could see the sincerity in Sha Zhu's eyes. Since getting rid of the moral blackmail from Yi Zhonghai and Qin Huairu, Sha Zhu had become much more cheerful. He not only learned culture from Lin Chen, but his cooking skills in the canteen had also improved. Last month, he was even named an "Advanced Cook".

"Don't worry, it won't cause any problems." Lin Chen patted his shoulder, and just as he was about to turn around, the door to the central courtyard creaked open. Yi Zhonghai, dressed in a crisp blue overalls, stood there, his "Level 8 Fitter" badge gleaming coldly in the morning light, followed by a dejected Qin Huairu. Seeing Lin Chen, Yi Zhonghai's lips curled into a half-smile: "Little Lin, are you going to participate in the martial arts competition? It's good that young people have ambition, but don't be too arrogant. There are many hidden talents in the city, unlike our factory where it's easy to stand out."

Lin Chen raised an eyebrow, knowing that Yi Zhonghai was deliberately trying to dampen Lin Chen's spirits, but he didn't respond. Instead, he looked at Qin Huairu: "Senior Sister Qin, did you read the 'Fitter's Manual' I gave you yesterday? You can ask me if you don't understand anything. Try to pass the next grading exam on your first try." Qin Huairu looked up abruptly, a hint of panic flashing in her eyes. She quickly lowered her head: "I...I read a few pages. Thank you, Junior Brother Lin." Her voice was barely audible. She hadn't been paying attention to the manual last night—Yi Zhonghai had talked to her in the middle of the night, forcing her to "trip up" Lin Chen at the martial arts competition, or else he would revoke her apprenticeship.

Seeing that Qin Huairu didn't respond, Yi Zhonghai's face darkened. "Alright, don't delay Lin Chen's journey." He stepped aside to make way, but as Lin Chen passed by, he whispered, "Remember, the nail that sticks out gets hammered down." Lin Chen didn't stop walking, only replying calmly, "I earn my living with my skills, I'm not afraid of being shot." In the morning light, his back was ramrod straight, which made Sha Zhu cheer, and Yi Zhonghai glared at him angrily.

The competition venue of the Municipal Federation of Trade Unions was set up in the auditorium of the Heavy Machinery Plant. A red banner with gold lettering reading "Citywide Workers' Skills Competition" hung at the entrance, and contestants from various factories came in an endless stream. Lin Chen had just finished registering when he was stopped by a middle-aged man in work clothes: "Are you Lin Chen from Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill?" The man wore a "judge" badge on his chest, and his eyes were sharp as knives. He was Zhao Tieshan, the director of the forging workshop of the Heavy Machinery Plant—a well-known "iron-faced judge" in the industry. He was famous for pointing out the contestant's technical defects on the spot during last year's competition, making the contestant lose face.

"Hello, Director Zhao, I'm Lin Chen." Lin Chen shook hands politely, clearly feeling the calluses on the other's palm—marks left from years of wielding a hammer. Zhao Tieshan squeezed his hand tightly, and seeing that Lin Chen's expression remained unchanged, a hint of approval flashed in his eyes: "I heard you improved the forging hammer device and even won the factory's technical innovation award? It's good for young people to have ideas, but competitions are about real skills, not those fancy gimmicks." As he spoke, he took a part out of his pocket, "This is a crankshaft blank that our factory scrapped last month, made of 40Cr. It requires a hardness of HRC55 or higher and a toughness of no less than 900MPa after forging. If you can make it before the competition, I'll acknowledge that you have some real skill."

The surrounding contestants immediately gathered around, whispering amongst themselves. "A 40Cr crankshaft, forging that is no easy feat!" "Is Director Zhao deliberately making things difficult? Who has time to make such a precision part before the competition?" Lin Chen took the blank, rubbing the oxide layer on its surface with his fingertips. The system panel instantly displayed data: "40Cr crankshaft blank, diameter 50mm, length 300mm, carbon content 0.4%, existing oxide layer thickness 0.2mm, can be removed through high-temperature forging." He looked up and smiled: "Director Zhao, give me two hours, and I guarantee it will be finished."

Zhao Tieshan was somewhat surprised. He had thought he would stump this young man, but he didn't expect him to be so decisive. He immediately had someone take Lin Chen to the temporary forge. Sha Zhu had followed them over at some point and whispered at the door, "Lin Chen, do you need any help? I'll be your assistant!" Lin Chen waved his hand and took out a self-made wear-resistant wrench and the "advanced forging hammer" he had just fused from his tool bag. This was something he had made last night by fusing an ordinary iron hammer with alloy fragments. It was 30% lighter than a regular iron hammer, but its hardness was twice as high.

Ignition and heating were initiated, and the furnace in the forging workshop quickly glowed red-hot. Lin Chen fed the crankshaft blank into the heating furnace, setting the temperature to 1050℃—the optimal forging temperature for 40Cr steel, ensuring both plasticity and preventing coarse grains. While waiting for the temperature to rise, he took out a sketch and used the system to simulate the forging process: the first forging to remove the oxide scale, the second to lengthen the rod section, the third to upset the crank, the fourth to precision forging, and finally, quenching. The time and force of each step were calculated precisely to the second.

"Ding—" The furnace indicator light lit up. Lin Chen put on protective gloves and picked out the glowing red-hot billet. In the firelight, his eyes were focused and resolute. The advanced forging hammer in his hand fell with a precision as precise as a machine calibration—one strike to remove the oxide scale, a second to correct the bend, and a third to shape the crankshaft's arc. The hammer blows were powerful and rhythmic, making Zhao Tieshan and Sha Zhu, watching from the doorway, hold their breath. Sha Zhu muttered to himself, "This technique is even more skillful than our cafeteria chef's wok-flipping..."

After forging, Lin Chen placed the crankshaft into the quenching tank. The coolant instantly boiled, sending up a cloud of white mist. He glanced at the clock on the wall; exactly one and a half hours had passed. After cooling, he measured the dimensions with calipers; the diameter error was no more than 0.02mm, and the crank angle was precise. Zhao Tieshan personally tested it with a hardness tester. When the value showed HRC56, his eyes lit up. He then tested the toughness; the value of 920MPa far exceeded the requirements. "Good lad, you've really got it!" Zhao Tieshan patted him on the shoulder. "If this crankshaft were in our factory, it could be installed and used directly!"

The news quickly spread throughout the competition venue, and Yi Zhonghai, representing the Red Star Steel Rolling Mill team, looked extremely grim. He had specifically sought out connections last night to inquire about Zhao Tieshan's preferences, preparing two cartons of cigarettes in an attempt to smooth things over, but Lin Chen had unexpectedly won over the other party with his genuine skill. Qin Huairu stood behind him, her palms drenched in cold sweat—she knew that if Lin Chen truly won the championship, Yi Zhonghai would never let her off the hook.

At 9:00 AM, the competition officially began. The forging group's task was "Forging a high-precision gear blank," requiring a diameter of 100mm, an inner hole of 30mm, a tolerance of ±0.01mm, and a material of 20CrMnTi. The difficulty in forging this material lies in temperature control; too high a temperature will cause the alloy elements to burn off, while too low a temperature will prevent the forging from going through. Many contestants panicked right from the start. Lin Chen, however, remained calm and composed. He first used the system to analyze the composition of the blank and found that the manganese content was slightly higher than the standard. He immediately adjusted the heating temperature to 980℃, 20℃ lower than the conventional temperature.

The worker at the next workstation was Master Li from the machine tool factory. Seeing that Lin Chen's heating temperature was too low, he couldn't help but remind him, "Young man, 20CrMnTi needs to be heated to over 1000℃. Your temperature isn't high enough; it won't forge through!" Lin Chen looked up and smiled, "Thank you, Master Li. I've tested the composition; it has a high manganese content. Low temperature can ensure plasticity." Master Li was skeptical, but then he saw Lin Chen begin forging. His hammering was light yet precise, and the outline of the gear blank quickly appeared.

Just then, Lin Chen caught a glimpse of Qin Huairu standing at the entrance of the blacksmith's workshop, holding a water cup, seemingly about to enter. A thought struck him; remembering Yi Zhonghai's unusual behavior that morning, he immediately became more alert. Sure enough, as soon as Qin Huairu stepped inside, she "accidentally" slipped, spilling water from her cup onto Lin Chen's workbench—where his newly drawn gear machining sketch lay. Lin Chen reacted swiftly, grabbing the sketch in his hand; the water only reached the edge of the workbench, soaking a small patch of the tablecloth.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to!" Qin Huairu apologized hastily, her face full of panic, but a hint of disappointment flashed in her eyes. Lin Chen looked at her and said calmly, "Senior Sister Qin, this is a martial arts competition venue, there are many people and things can get messy. You should go outside and wait, to avoid any further incidents." The surrounding contestants all looked over, and whispers arose. Zhao Tieshan walked over, frowning, and asked, "What happened?" Lin Chen shook his head, "It's nothing, Senior Sister Qin just slipped." He didn't want to make a big deal out of it, after all, Qin Huairu was forced into it, but this also made him see Yi Zhonghai's true colors—in order to suppress him, he didn't hesitate to have his disciple use such despicable methods.

Qin Huairu was "invited" out of the forging workshop by Zhao Tieshan. Yi Zhonghai glared at her fiercely at the door, startling her so much that she quickly lowered her head. Lin Chen took a deep breath and refocused on the competition. He repeatedly calibrated the dimensions of the gear blank using the system-integrated "precision measuring ruler" to ensure that the tolerances were within the required range. During the final quenching process, he specifically adjusted the concentration of the quenching medium and slowed down the cooling rate. This ensured both hardness and reduced internal stress, preventing the gear blank from deforming.

During the lunch break, Sha Zhu pulled Lin Chen aside and said mysteriously, "I just overheard Yi Zhonghai talking to Master Li from the machine tool factory. It seems like he's trying to get Master Li to give you a low score during the evaluation!" Lin Chen wasn't surprised; Yi Zhonghai would do anything to protect his position. He patted Sha Zhu on the shoulder, "It's okay, the evaluation is based on the actual product, not personal connections. By the way, could you do me a favor? Go to the hardware store near the entrance and buy a box of grease, and borrow a pair of calipers." Although Sha Zhu didn't know what he wanted, he readily agreed.

The afternoon session consisted of a skills presentation, where each contestant had to explain their forging process and technological innovations. When it was Lin Chen's turn, he placed the finished gear blank on the display table and took out the crankshaft he had made for Zhao Tieshan that morning: "Esteemed judges, the gear blank I forged today uses a 'low-temperature forging + gradient quenching' process, which solves the problems of easy burning and deformation of 20CrMnTi material. As you can see, the tolerance of the gear blank is controlled within ±0.008mm, far exceeding the requirements of the question, with a hardness of HRC58 and a toughness of 950MPa. In addition, I have also improved the traditional forging hammer device, increasing production efficiency by 30%. This is the improved drawing I produced."

The judges passed around the gear blank and drawings, while Zhao Tieshan repeatedly measured with calipers, a smile of approval on his face. Just then, Master Li from the machine tool factory spoke up: "Master Lin, your craftsmanship is indeed excellent, but I think your gear blank has a fatal flaw—the surface finish of the inner hole is insufficient, which does not meet the requirements for precision parts." He then produced his measurement report, which stated, "Inner hole surface finish Ra1.6, not up to standard." The surrounding contestants were stunned. Inner hole surface finish is a crucial indicator for precision parts; if it truly didn't meet the standard, Lin Chen's score would definitely be affected.

Yi Zhonghai sat in the audience, a smug smile playing on his lips—this was exactly what he and Master Li had planned, deliberately using the surface finish issue to make things difficult for Lin Chen. Qin Huairu kept her head down, not daring to look at Lin Chen on stage. Lin Chen, however, remained calm, taking out the grease and vernier calipers that Sha Zhu had bought from his toolbox. He evenly applied the grease to the surface of the inner hole, then measured it with the vernier calipers: "Master Li, you see, the surface finish of the inner hole actually meets the standard. The inaccurate data was caused by the presence of fine iron filings during the measurement earlier. The grease I applied can absorb the iron filings. Now, if we measure it again, the surface finish should be Ra0.8, meeting the first-level precision requirement."

Master Li's expression changed. He took the calipers and measured, and sure enough, it showed Ra 0.8. He hadn't expected Lin Chen to find a solution so quickly. Zhao Tieshan laughed and said, "Master Li, it seems you didn't clean the parts before measuring." Master Li blushed deeply, unable to utter a word in rebuttal. The other judges also gave high scores, and Lin Chen's total score quickly rose to first place in the forging group.

After the competition, Lin Chen was named a "Citywide Forging Technician Expert," receiving a certificate of honor and a 500 yuan bonus. Zhao Tieshan specifically sought him out, handing him a business card: "Lin, our factory is developing new heavy machinery and urgently needs technical talent like you. If you're interested in switching jobs, feel free to contact me anytime; the salary will be twice what you're currently receiving!" Lin Chen accepted the card and politely thanked him: "Thank you, Director Zhao, I'll consider it." He knew that this business card meant he had established himself in the industry and no longer had to suffer from Yi Zhonghai's suppression.

It was already evening when they returned to the courtyard. As soon as they entered the central courtyard, they saw all the neighbors gathered around a stone table. On the table were sunflower seeds and peanuts that Yan Bugui had bought, and Grandpa Wang was holding a large red lantern. "Xiao Lin's back!" Grandpa Wang exclaimed first. "We heard you got first place in the city, so we came to celebrate!" Aunt Li brought out a bowl of steaming egg custard: "I made this especially for you, to help you recover!" Yan Bugui also joined in, his ledger filled with notes: "I calculated it, your prize money can buy 500 jin of coarse grains, enough for you to eat for more than half a year!"

Lin Chen felt a warmth in his heart, surprised that his neighbors cared so much about his affairs. Sha Zhu ran over carrying a wine jug: "Lin Chen, I got some braised pork from the cafeteria! Let's drink until we drop tonight!" Just then, Yi Zhonghai's door slammed open, and he stood there, his face ashen: "What's all the noise about! It's just a worthless award, what's there to brag about!" His words instantly silenced the lively atmosphere, and the neighbors stood awkwardly in place.

Lin Chen stepped forward and placed the certificate of honor on the stone table: "Master Yi, this isn't a worthless award; it's recognition of your skills. I know you're not convinced, but let me tell you, you can't go far by scheming and suppressing others. Only real ability can secure your place." He paused, his gaze sweeping over Yi Zhonghai, "Also, regarding the incident at the martial arts competition today where Senior Sister Qin splashed water on me, I know who instructed them. I don't want to pursue it, but I hope this kind of thing won't happen again in the future."

Yi Zhonghai's face turned deathly pale. He hadn't expected Lin Chen to know he was behind it. Qin Huairu came out of the house, head bowed, and said, "It was my own idea, it has nothing to do with Master Yi." Lin Chen looked at her and shook his head: "Senior Sister Qin, you don't need to cover for him. I know you want to get a permanent position and earn a living through your own abilities, but this kind of method won't work. I've already spoken to Director Zhou, and he'll let you join the precision forging group as an apprentice, learning the technology from me. As long as you study hard, I guarantee you'll pass the next certification exam."

Qin Huairu looked up abruptly, her eyes filled with surprise and gratitude: "Really...really?" Lin Chen nodded: "I keep my word. But I have one condition: don't listen to Master Yi's advice to scheme against others anymore. It's more reassuring to earn a living with your skills." Qin Huairu nodded vigorously, tears welling up in her eyes—she was finally free from being Yi Zhonghai's pawn, free from relying on pretense and scheming to make a living.

Seeing Qin Huairu side with Lin Chen, Yi Zhonghai trembled with anger, pointing at Lin Chen and saying, "You... don't be so smug! I'm an eighth-grade fitter, you'll never catch up to me!" Lin Chen smiled and said, "Master Yi, technology is constantly evolving. If you keep sticking to the old ways, you'll be eliminated sooner or later. If you're willing, I can teach you new forging techniques, after all, we're neighbors."

These words completely shattered Yi Zhonghai's mental defenses. Clutching his chest, he staggered back into the house, the sound of the door closing carrying an unprecedented sense of utter disarray. The neighbors, witnessing this, began to murmur amongst themselves: "Little Lin is truly amazing! He won the competition through his own skill and even helped Miss Qin!" "Yi Zhonghai is just too stubborn, always trying to scheme against others. Now he's fallen for it!"

That evening, the stone table was laden with food, and neighbors raised their glasses in celebration, laughter echoing through the courtyard. Yan Bugui, unusually generous, brought out his treasured rice wine, saying, "I've stored this wine for five years; I brought it out today especially to celebrate Xiao Lin's success!" Grandpa Wang placed a piece of braised pork on Lin Chen's plate: "With Xiao Lin around in our courtyard now, we'll never have to worry about Jia Zhangshi stealing again!" Aunt Li also smiled and said, "Yes, with the burglar alarm and Xiao Lin keeping watch, we can live in peace!"

Looking at the bustling scene before him, Lin Chen was filled with mixed emotions. He recalled the hardships he faced after his rebirth, the anxiety he felt when he first fused scrap metal, and his numerous clashes with the retirement group. Now, he had not only established himself in the workshop but had also won the trust of his neighbors. His system panel had accumulated 18000 points, unlocking the "Equipment Improvement Blueprint" function.

As night deepened, the neighbors gradually dispersed. Lin Chen returned to his house, activated the system panel, and smiled as he looked at the two new features: "Advanced Machining Skills" and "Equipment Improvement Blueprints." He knew this was just the beginning. His next task was to completely dismantle Yi Zhonghai's retirement group, restore the courtyard to its former tranquility, and then, with the brothers who trusted him, carve out a niche for themselves in this turbulent era through their own skills.