Fusion System: Rebirth in a Courtyard - Bird Fighting Chronicles

Chapter 119 Abstaining from Alcohol and Burning the Wine Pot to Sever Old Ties, Entrusting an Orphan

The sound of the grinding wheel turning in Chenqing Tool Shop was particularly clear in the morning mist. Lin Chen was helping Xu Damao adjust the newly modified feeding device. Xu Damao was wearing faded work clothes, with fine beads of sweat on his forehead, and he was tightening the wrench with extra force—this was the third day since he was released from detention, and he was more concerned than anyone else about keeping his job as a deliveryman and handyman at the tool shop.

"Brother Lin, do you think this angle is okay? Adjust it down two centimeters, the feeding should be smoother." Xu Damao turned to the side, revealing a shallow scar on his face, which he had accidentally scraped off while moving steel yesterday, but he smiled and called it a "medal of merit." Lin Chen bent down to check it and drew a line on the iron plate with chalk: "Move it half an inch to the left, avoiding the wear zone of the grinding wheel, this will extend the life of the consumables."

Su Qing came out of the inner room carrying two bowls of hot porridge. The porcelain bowls clinked softly against the wooden tray. "Take a break and have breakfast first. It's freshly made millet porridge, and it'll be just right to warm your stomach with the pickled radish strips that Teacher Yan made." She placed the porridge on the worktable, her gaze sweeping over Xu Damao's reddened palms. She took out a box of clam oil from the drawer. "Use some of this when you get home tonight. You can't have cracked hands; it'll interfere with your work."

Xu Damao took the oil box, his face flushed red, and stammered, "Thank you, Sister Su Qing." He glanced at the clock on the wall and suddenly seemed to remember something: "I'm going to fetch water for the old lady. I promised her yesterday that I would fill the water tank this morning." With that, he picked up the two wooden buckets in the corner and walked briskly towards the backyard—the deaf old lady's letter of understanding was his lifeline, and he dared not renege on his promise to fetch water for the past six months.

Just as I reached the corner of the courtyard, I saw Liu Haizhong squatting by the public pond, clutching a chipped, rough porcelain wine jug in his hand, staring blankly at the water. At this time of day, he would usually be out at the street corner with his wine jug, bragging to his old friends, or at home grumbling and urging his children to do chores. Today, however, he appeared unusually sullen.

Xu Damao shrank back, intending to take a detour, but Liu Haizhong called out to him, "Damao, come here." He steeled himself and stepped forward, seeing Liu Haizhong's calloused hands trembling slightly, and a half-dried peanut shell still clinging to the rim of his liquor flask—a snack he always carried with him as a drink. "Master Liu, what's this…?"

Liu Haizhong didn't reply, but suddenly got up, walked to the stove, grabbed some red-hot charcoal from the firebox, and stuffed it into the wine pot. The rough porcelain hissed as it heated up, and black smoke billowed from the spout, carrying a burnt smell. Xu Damao was so frightened that he quickly backed away: "Master Liu, are you crazy? You saved up three months' salary to buy this wine pot!"

"Only a madman would waste time carrying around this broken pot!" Liu Haizhong smashed the warped wine pot on the ground, sending shards of porcelain flying high. "My third son, Guangfu, told me yesterday that he wanted to become an apprentice in the workshop. The foreman asked me for a guarantor, but I can't even find a decent acquaintance—I'm not even as good a father as a woodcutter!" He squatted down, ran his hands through his disheveled hair, and his shoulders heaved violently.

Xu Damao then understood, picked up a piece of unfired porcelain and examined it: "If you want to find a way for Guangfu, Brother Lin might be able to help. Yesterday I heard him on the phone with Director Wang of the textile factory, saying he wanted to recommend an apprentice to learn machine tool repair." These words were like a match, instantly lighting up Liu Haizhong's eyes. He stood up abruptly, not even noticing his heel stepping on the porcelain shard.

Lin Chen was explaining the improved plan for the wire breakage warning device to Liu Guangtian, the blueprints covered with dense annotations. Liu Guangtian's pencil flew across the draft paper, calculating rapidly, occasionally pausing to scratch his head: "Brother Lin, if we increase the spring's elasticity coefficient by another 10%, the warning sensitivity should improve significantly, but can our current materials withstand that?"

"I've already thought about this problem." Lin Chen picked up a rusty old spring from the shelf. "This is a car shock absorber spring I found at the junkyard. It has a high manganese content and is tough enough. We'll analyze the composition with the system later and then adjust the elasticity through high-temperature forging. It should meet the requirements." Just as he was about to activate the system panel, he saw Liu Haizhong stumble in, his clothes still covered in stove ash.

"Xiao Lin! Master Lin!" Liu Haizhong's voice trembled as he walked up to Lin Chen and suddenly stopped, rubbing his hands on his clothes as if he didn't know where to put them. Usually, he always maintained the air of a level six blacksmith, even when asking for help or being wary of others, he carried a volatile and domineering air. But now, he was like a helpless child.

Lin Chen put down the spring in his hand and gave Liu Guangtian a wink: "Guangtian, organize the data you just calculated. I'll talk to Master Liu." He led Liu Haizhong to sit on the long bench at the entrance of the tool shop. Su Qing brought over a cup of hot tea at the right time: "Master Liu, have some tea to warm yourself up first. Let's talk slowly."

Liu Haizhong held the enamel mug in both hands, the steam blurring his vision. "Xiao Lin, I know I was a scoundrel before. I stole your food coupons and even secretly took the scrap metal you collected..." He suddenly slammed the mug down on the stool and knelt down with a thud. "I beg you, for the sake of Guang Tian working for you, please show Guang Fu a way out! He's only fifteen; he can't just sit around with me and wait to die!"

Lin Chen quickly reached out to help him up, only to find the other man's arm stiff as a board: "Master Liu, what are you doing? Get up and talk. I know Guangfu. Last time he helped move steel, he volunteered for all the heavy and tiring work. He's much more reliable than other kids his age." He paused, glancing at the gray hair at Liu Haizhong's temples, "Tell me first, what does Guangfu want to do? If he doesn't want to learn a skill, forcing him won't work."

When his son was mentioned, Liu Haizhong's tone softened: "He mentioned to me that he was envious when he saw Guangtian fiddling with the machine tools and wanted to learn how to repair them. But everyone in our compound knows that I didn't get along with you before, so how could I bring it up..." He took out a cloth bag from his pocket, unfolded it layer by layer, and inside were fifteen yuan neatly folded. "This is what I scraped together by selling my wine jug and old cotton-padded coat. Consider it a gift for him to become my apprentice. Please don't think it's too little."

Lin Chen pushed the money back and pointed to Liu Guangtian, who was busy in the shop: "Guangtian learned the trade from me, and I haven't taken a single penny from him. If we're talking about an apprenticeship gift, the most valuable gift is the one he helped me improve—the cutting machine blades that allow the tool shop to earn tens of yuan more each month." Seeing Liu Haizhong's astonished expression, he continued, "If Guangfu really wants to learn, he can come to the tool shop as an apprentice starting tomorrow. Food and lodging will be provided, and he'll receive five yuan a month for living expenses. But I have one condition."

"Go ahead and say it! Don't just mention one condition, I'll agree to ten or eight!" Liu Haizhong's voice trembled with excitement.

"First, you're not allowed to hit or scold the children anymore." Lin Chen's tone became serious. "Guangtian told me before that you always took your anger out on him and Guangfu. The worst thing when learning a skill is to be impatient and restless. If you suffer grievances at home, you simply can't calm down and study." Seeing Liu Haizhong nod repeatedly, he continued, "Second, since you've given up drinking, you should completely give up the idea. In the future, when the tool shop is busy, if you have time, come and lend a hand. I'll pay you by the day, which is better than you drinking alone."

Liu Haizhong slapped his thigh hard: "I agree to both of those conditions! If I ever touch a drop of alcohol again, I'll chop these hands off!" He was about to bang his head against a pillar when Lin Chen grabbed him. Just then, Liu Guangtian came out with the blueprints and overheard his father's words. His eyes instantly reddened: "Dad, if you can really quit drinking, I'll use all my wages to buy you meat every month."

The tool shop was bustling with activity at lunchtime. Qin Huairu brought Jia Dang over freshly sewn tool covers, each embroidered with the words "Chenqing Tools," the stitches fine and neat. Jia Dang also clutched a paper packet containing fruit candies she'd bought with her saved allowance: "Brother Lin, these are for Guangfu. I heard he's coming to be an apprentice. I'll teach him sewing, and he can teach me how to identify tools, okay?"

Yan Bugui was busy calculating on his abacus, a rare smile on his face: "We finalized the deal with Hongxing Elementary School yesterday. We'll make them fifty sets of small saws and chisels for their craft classes. We've already received the advance payment, enough to buy a new batch of steel." He pushed up his reading glasses and looked at Liu Haizhong: "Old Liu, if you come and help, I'll calculate your technical consultant salary, which will be higher than what you get as a forger in the factory."

Liu Haizhong held a bowl of rice in his hands, eating quickly, but his eyes were a little moist. He used to act like the patriarch in the courtyard, often arguing with Yan Bugui, but now the other man was offering him a way out, a gesture that warmed his heart. Su Qing brought over a plate of scrambled eggs and placed it in front of Liu Haizhong: "Master Liu, please eat more. You'll be going to the scrap yard with us this afternoon to pick out materials; you'll need strength."

In the afternoon at the scrap yard, Lin Chen was leading Liu Haizhong and Liu Guangfu to select suitable steel. Although Liu Haizhong had a volatile temper, he had been a blacksmith for over twenty years and was exceptionally sensitive to the texture of steel. He could pick up a piece of scrap steel, weigh it in his hand, and tell roughly how much carbon it contained. "This piece won't do; it's too brittle and will easily crack during forging," he said, pointing to a rusty steel plate. "This one is good; it was salvaged from a machine tool body. It has a high manganese content and good toughness, perfect for making small parts."

Lin Chen nodded approvingly: "Master Liu is indeed an expert. From now on, I'll leave the material selection to you. Do you think you can pick out any suitable material from this pile of scrap steel to make springs? The spring is a key component of our wire breakage warning device. If we can make it ourselves, the cost can be reduced significantly."

Liu Haizhong squatted down and carefully examined the scrap steel in the pile. Suddenly, his eyes lit up, and he picked up a steel bar about the thickness of a wrist: "This is spring steel from a car suspension. Although it's rusted, the quality hasn't changed. We'll soak it in alkaline water when we get back, then grind it clean with a grinding wheel, forge it at high temperature, and then quench it. The elasticity will definitely be sufficient." As he spoke, he began to demonstrate the forging technique. His hands flew across the forging table, displaying the demeanor of a master craftsman.

Back at the tool shop, Liu Haizhong immediately got to work. He found a large basin, poured in alkaline water to soak the spring steel, and then began cleaning the long-unused forging anvil. Liu Guangfu squatted beside him, helping out and handing him tools with practiced ease. Lin Chen, meanwhile, was adjusting the quenching water tank, using the system to monitor the water temperature: "The quenching temperature is crucial. Too high and it will become brittle; too low and it won't be elastic enough. I'll measure it with a thermometer later. Just listen to my instructions."

The sound of hammering echoed in the tool shop. Liu Haizhong gripped the hammer, veins bulging on his arm, each strike precise and powerful. Liu Guangfu stood beside him, intently watching his father's movements, occasionally sketching in his notebook. Lin Chen, holding a thermometer, kept a close eye on the furnace's temperature: "Almost there, eight hundred degrees Celsius, perfect for forging!"

Liu Haizhong quickly placed the red-hot steel on the anvil, and sparks flew as the hammer fell. He explained as he forged, "When forging, you have to follow the grain of the steel, not just hit it randomly, otherwise there will be cracks inside. You see, by hitting it one strike at a time, you knock out the impurities, and the steel will become stronger." Liu Guangfu listened very attentively, his little face full of focus.

During the quenching process, Lin Chen personally operated the machine, quickly immersing the forged spring steel into the water tank. With a "sizzle," white steam rose. After the steel cooled, he picked up a spring, tested its elasticity, and handed it to Liu Haizhong: "Look, the quality is even better than the springs we bought before. From now on, we'll make our own warning device springs, which will reduce costs by 30%."

In the evening, Sha Zhu rushed over with a lunchbox containing freshly stewed pork rib soup: "Brother Lin, I heard Guangfu is coming to be an apprentice, so I specially made this soup for you guys to nourish yourselves." He looked at the busy crowd in the shop and scratched his head: "The canteen isn't busy lately, so I'll come over and lend a hand tonight. I can move things and deliver goods."

Lin Chen smiled and took the lunchbox: "Perfect timing. We were discussing making a shelf to store our finished tools. You're strong, so you can help build the shelf." He pointed to a pile of wood in the corner: "This is old pine wood I found at the junkyard. It'll be ready to use after some sanding. Let's work on it together tonight."

As night fell, kerosene lamps were lit in the tool shop, their dim light illuminating the busy figures of everyone. Liu Haizhong and Shazhu were setting up shelves, the rhythmic clanging of their hammers distinct; Liu Guangtian and Liu Guangfu were organizing tools, carefully categorizing the forged springs; Su Qing and Qin Huairu were mending torn fabric, their soft laughter occasionally breaking the silence; Yan Bugui was doing accounts nearby, glancing up at everyone from time to time with a satisfied smile on his face.

Lin Chen stood at the doorway, looking at the lights in the courtyard, feeling exceptionally at ease. He activated the system panel, which displayed a new notification: [The host has successfully facilitated neighborly cooperation, helping Liu Haizhong achieve self-redemption. The "Courtyard Cohesion" buff has been upgraded to 40%. The "Cultivating Technical Talents" task has been completed, earning 1500 points. Current total points: 14600. New feature "Material Optimization Formula" unlocked, increasing forging strength by 30%.]

At this moment, Liu Haizhong walked over, holding a small, newly forged wrench in his hand, and handed it to Lin Chen: "Xiao Lin, this is one I made for you, using the best spring steel. Try it out and see if it's comfortable to hold." Lin Chen took the wrench; it felt heavy in his hand, and the edges were polished very smoothly, showing that care had been put into it. "Thank you, Master Liu, this wrench is even better than the one I bought."

Liu Haizhong smiled sheepishly, "I was foolish before, always trying to put on airs, scheming and calculating, and in the end, I couldn't even help my son with his future. Now I understand that living isn't about temper, but about skills and relationships." Looking at the busy people in the shop, his voice choked with emotion, "From now on, this tool shop is my home. If anyone dares to cause trouble, I'll be the first to object!"

Night deepened, and the lights in the tool shop gradually went out, leaving only the bronze signboard at the entrance gleaming faintly in the moonlight. Lin Chen lay in bed, listening to the even breathing coming from the courtyard, his heart filled with hope. He knew that with Guangfu's arrival, the tool shop's technical capabilities were growing stronger; and with Liu Haizhong's transformation, the atmosphere in the courtyard was becoming increasingly harmonious. In this special era, these neighbors, who had once schemed against each other, were relying on mutual trust and support, step by step moving towards a better future.

The next morning, Liu Guangfu arrived at the tool shop early, carrying his schoolbag, dressed in clean clothes, and with his hair neatly combed. Jia Dang ran over with a newly sewn pencil case and handed it to Guangfu: "I made this for you. It's perfect for holding pencils and rulers. How about we study and work together from now on?"

Lin Chen looked at the children before him, then at Liu Haizhong and Liu Guangtian who were busy at work, and nodded with a smile. He took out the springs he had forged yesterday and said to everyone, "Today we'll start mass production of the thread breakage warning devices. With Master Liu's technical support, we'll definitely be able to complete the textile factory's order on time. Once we've made some money, we'll add a few more new machines to the tool shop, so everyone's lives will get better and better!"