Lu Changfeng came to talk to her with exactly this intention—he had a shadow over the Red Star Machinery Factory. Afraid of running into Su Daqiang again, who would constantly bring up past events, he felt somewhat ashamed.
“Yes, are you willing?”
Su Wanqing handed the laundry basin to Zhang Cuifen and said to Lu Changfeng, “Alright, you can accompany me.”
Su Wanqing happened to want to see what a state-owned factory looked like in this era. She took fifty cents from her pocket and gave it to Zhang Cuifen. “I’m going with Lu Changfeng to take care of something. The kids will have lunch at your place.”
In these times, no family had it easy, especially Zhang Cuifen’s, with four children and only her husband earning money.
Seeing Su Wanqing take the initiative to offer money, Zhang Cuifen almost wanted to feel her forehead to see if she had a fever. Su Wanqing was acting strangely, unlike herself.
Lu Changfeng rode his bicycle over, while Su Wanqing planned to take the bus.
Lu Changfeng said, “Sit on the back. I’ll take you.”
Su Wanqing felt a bit embarrassed. He was so thin, and with her weight, she was afraid she’d wear his legs out.
“Forget it, I’m too heavy. You won’t be able to pull me.”
Lu Changfeng glanced at her. “It’s fine.” A man who couldn’t pull his own wife would be too embarrassing.
It had been many years since he had gone out with Su Wanqing. Sitting behind him, she kept a respectful distance and didn’t wrap her arms around his waist.
After all, she wasn’t familiar with him.
People still pointed and whispered along the way—a handsome man pulling a fat woman.
Su Wanqing didn’t feel particularly embarrassed. In modern times, people would probably think she was a rich woman keeping a pretty boy.
Lu Changfeng had underestimated the difficulty of pulling Su Wanqing. He pedaled with great effort, and by the time they reached the Red Star Machinery Factory, he was drenched in sweat.
Su Wanqing had a good memory. After walking the route once, she knew the way.
“On the way back, I’ll ride the bike and take you,” she said guiltily.
“Alright!” Lu Changfeng’s legs were indeed sore, and he didn’t try to act tough.
The machinery factory was built with red bricks, and a gleaming red five-pointed star adorned the gate, giving it an impressive appearance.
Su Wanqing stood at the factory entrance, watching workers in blue uniforms coming and going, the crisp ringing of bicycle bells filling the air, and the scent of machine oil and metal lingering around her.
All of this felt both unfamiliar and novel to her.
A group of female workers had just gotten off their shift. Seeing the tall and handsome Lu Changfeng, one of them let out a “Wow.”
Su Wanqing sighed inwardly, realizing that even in this era, there were people who swooned over looks.
The factory grounds were quite large, with tall poplar trees lining both sides of the road. She followed Lu Changfeng toward the Workshop.
Glancing at the bulletin board, she saw a red list of production model workers and slogans like “Increase Production and Income, Contribute to the Four Modernizations.”
Everything was filled with the spirit of the times.
The original host had previously worked at the machinery factory. She had gotten in through her own efforts, but after getting married, she had given her job to Su Jianjun.
As soon as they entered the Workshop, they saw Su Daqiang. Su Daqiang knew Lu Changfeng was coming and was prepared to ask him for money later. Just by bringing up the past, he was sure Lu Changfeng would hand over the money.
When he saw Su Wanqing, Su Daqiang’s face immediately fell.
“Why aren’t you at home taking care of the kids? Coming here to interfere with Changfeng’s work.”
Su Wanqing rolled her eyes and said, “I wanted to come. My legs are my own, none of your business.”
Su Daqiang angrily retorted, “How dare you speak to your father like that?”
Su Wanqing sneered, “You’re all a family of bloodsuckers. Why should I speak nicely to you?”
The workshop was filled with his fellow workers, all whispering with heads bowed. Su Daqiang had never endured such humiliation before and was about to erupt when workshop director Feng Anbang stopped him.
“What’s all this noise? We have foreign guests visiting today.”
Feng Anbang turned to Lu Changfeng and said, “Engineer Lu, there’s a minor issue with today’s demonstration machine. Could you please help fix it?”
For Lu Changfeng, this wasn’t a big problem. His team had participated in the development of this set of machines. He took the tools and began repairing it.
Director Wang Dafu was pacing anxiously nearby and asked his secretary, “Xiao Tang, why hasn’t Comrade Liu arrived yet? The foreign guests will be here soon.” Comrade Liu was the translator for the machinery factory today.
Secretary Tang was sweating on his forehead. “Director, it seems Comrade Liu was in a car accident.”
“What? Then what do we do? Who knows English?” Director Wang shouted urgently, his voice nearly echoing throughout the entire workshop.
There were people in the factory who knew English, but none were capable of directly discussing technical matters with foreign guests.
No one dared to respond.
Just as the atmosphere grew tense, Su Wanqing stepped forward and said, “I can do it, but first let me see the materials you’ve prepared.”
As a Chemistry Doctorate from a National Key Laboratory, reading English original literature and attending international academic conferences were routine for her. She had taken the TOEFL, been an exchange student, and usually watched American TV shows without subtitles.
Her English proficiency, especially in technical English, was absolutely solid.
Director Wang looked her up and down. “You, a housewife, know English?”
Without wasting words, Su Wanqing introduced herself fluently in English: “Hello everyone, I am Jessica. As today’s translator, I will show you our machines.”
Seeing her speak English effortlessly—though he couldn’t understand it—Director Wang was overjoyed. “Alright, it’s you then.”
Secretary Tang handed a stack of technical materials to Su Wanqing. She quickly skimmed through them while Lu Changfeng finished adjusting the machine.
As Su Wanqing reviewed the materials, she asked Lu Changfeng about parts she didn’t understand. Lu Changfeng was puzzled. “You’re today’s translator?”
He had been too focused on fixing the machine to hear Su Wanqing showcasing her English earlier.
Su Wanqing nodded. “Yes.”
Lu Changfeng was shocked. “You actually know English!”
Su Wanqing said, “Hurry up and answer my questions. We’re running out of time.”
Lu Changfeng answered each of her questions one by one.
Soon, Su Wanqing became familiar with the materials, and the foreign delegation arrived.
A comrade from the foreign affairs office led five blond, blue-eyed foreigners into the workshop.
At the forefront was a Caucasian man around fifty years old, tall and wearing a well-fitted suit, with an arrogant demeanor.
He was Mr. Smith, the representative of the Rockefeller Company’s China office in M Country. Behind him followed an assistant and three engineers.
Director Wang immediately put on an enthusiastic smile, stepped forward, and extended both hands. “Wee, Wee!”
He only knew a few words, and even those were spoken with a thick local accent.
Mr. Smith politely shook his hand, though his expression remained indifferent. He then launched into a long, fluent stream of English.
Su Wanqing immediately translated: “Director Wang, Mr. Smith says today’s schedule is quite tight, and he hopes we can get straight to the point.”
Director Wang said: “Alright, let’s proceed with the demonstration of the C-130 model hydraulic press.”
Su Wanqing promptly translated this for Smith. Hearing Su Wanqing’s fluent American English, Smith was so astonished that he looked at her with newfound respect. He never expected that in this seemingly outdated factory, there would be such a hidden talent—and a plump housewife at that.
Smith: “Okay!”
Director Wang understood this and immediately arranged for the workers to begin the demonstration. After watching the machine in operation, Smith raised the technical manual in his hand and asked a series of questions.
After listening, Su Wanqing did not hesitate in the slightest. She immediately turned to Director Wang and translated fluently: “Director, Mr. Smith asks: According to the technical manual we provided, the main cylinder of this hydraulic press can achieve a maximum pressure of 30,000 kilonewtons, with a pressure-holding time exceeding ten minutes.
He wants to know under what working conditions this data was tested? Also, what sealing technology do we use to ensure that under such high pressure, the hydraulic oil leakage rate can be controlled below three per thousand?”
This professional translation not only amazed Director Wang and Lu Changfeng but also drew looks of admiration from several engineers in the Technical Department.
She had only glanced at the materials briefly and already memorized them—truly impressive!