Chapter 046: This Can't Be Possible

After eating and drinking their fill, Liu Xing noticed that Li Dawei still hadn’t returned. He could only cradle Guazi in his arms and recline in his chair to rest. Drifting into a vague slumber, he didn’t know how long he’d slept before he was roused by Li Weiwei’s voice calling him, “Brother Liu Xing, wake up! My father asked you to go to the workshop and take a look at the liquor-filling equipment!”

“Really?” Liu Xing glanced at the VIP room and saw Li Dawei standing by the door, whispering with Director Zhang. He had no choice but to nudge Guazi awake and take her by the hand to leave.

At that moment, Li Weiwei, sitting in her wheelchair, held him back. “Don’t bring Guazi with you—it’s dangerous in the workshop.”

“All right,” Liu Xing nodded. The workshop was full of heavy machinery; it truly wasn’t suitable for Guazi.

“Then I’ll stay right here and wait for you, I won’t go anywhere,” Guazi raised her little head and said to Liu Xing.

“Mm.” Liu Xing stroked her small cheek and turned to leave.

To his surprise, Director Zhang was much more courteous this time, greeting him with a smile: “Little Liu! I didn’t know you were the expert Old Li invited—please forgive me for any disrespect before.”

“It’s nothing,” Liu Xing replied without concern. In his previous life, he’d met countless smooth operators like Director Zhang, so such things had long ceased to bother him.

“Let’s go to the workshop and look at the liquor-filling equipment.” Director Zhang led the way ahead.

Li Dawei walked beside Liu Xing.

A short while later, they arrived at the entrance to Factory Building No. 2. The entire structure was built of red brick, and from the fresh paint outside, it was clear it had only been erected a few years ago.

The workshop Director Zhang mentioned was inside this building, but the main doors were tightly shut.

Li Dawei waved to the guard at the door, and with a creak, the doors swung open.

Director Zhang entered first.

Following behind, Liu Xing immediately covered his nose in surprise. As soon as the doors opened, an overpowering smell of alcohol assaulted them, so strong it made his throat sting.

Working in such an environment, to be frank, was worse than being a beggar. At least a beggar’s life wasn’t in constant danger.

Inside the workshop, Liu Xing surveyed the scene: discarded barrels were piled everywhere, along with heaps of grain husks stacked like mounds.

The pungent smell of alcohol drifted from five liquor-filling machines near the windows, and he could hear the machines dripping—not water, but wine.

Beside the equipment, only an elderly man in blue overalls was busy; as for other workers, none were in sight.

Director Zhang noticed Liu Xing’s puzzled expression and hastened to explain, “This workshop is already half-shut. The filling equipment broke down, and Old Yu has been repairing it for more than half a month, but there’s been no progress.”

“That’s Old Yu,” Li Dawei pointed at the elderly man.

“Oh,” Liu Xing nodded.

“So, can you get these machines running again and make them leak-proof?” Director Zhang asked, patting his round belly and smiling.

Though he smiled, Liu Xing detected a trace of mockery and mischief in Director Zhang’s eyes. Clearly, he’d come along to watch a spectacle. After all, Liu Xing was only sixteen or seventeen; if even the old factory repairman couldn’t fix the machines, how could a youth like him manage? Unless the sun rose in the west.

Liu Xing didn’t expose Director Zhang’s intentions. Folding his arms, he replied, “Your machines aren’t working because of an electrical circuit issue, not a motor problem. Fixing it is simple, but I won’t lift a finger.”

“Why not?” Director Zhang was puzzled.

Li Dawei, too, was a bit perplexed. Director Zhang was already looking down on Liu Xing—if Liu Xing didn’t show what he could do, how could Li Dawei support him? After all, Hengshui Distillery wasn’t his private property, but a state-run enterprise.

Liu Xing spread his hands, “No reason. I already told Factory Director Li: I can do the job, but payment comes first.”

By “payment,” he naturally meant his fee.

Li Dawei’s mouth twitched. Wasn’t this kid deliberately embarrassing him in front of Director Zhang? Demanding money before even working—how could that be?

But since he’d already said as much, there was no taking it back. He glanced at Director Zhang, “Why don’t you fetch five hundred yuan from the finance office and let Liu Xing show us what he can do? If he’s no good, consider it money spent to avoid disaster.”

That remark implied Liu Xing had never seen money before and subtly belittled him.

But Liu Xing, having weathered many storms, had developed a skin thicker than a city wall. Hearing Li Dawei’s roundabout insult, he simply laughed, “Five hundred isn’t enough. My base fee is one thousand—not a penny less.”

Since Director Li wanted to talk money, Liu Xing saw no reason to be polite. After all, he’d been reborn and wouldn’t rely on Hengshui Distillery for a livelihood. If he couldn’t fix the machines, he’d simply walk away.

If they didn’t want him, he certainly didn’t care.

Li Dawei was both amused and annoyed at Liu Xing’s haggling, but he said nothing more and looked to Director Zhang.

Indeed, if Liu Xing truly had the skills to repair the equipment and solve the alcohol evaporation issue, a mere thousand yuan was nothing. Frankly, the experts they’d invited before had charged more for a single meal.

Director Zhang’s thoughts mirrored Li Dawei’s. After a moment’s consideration, he said, “All right, I’ll go fetch a thousand yuan from finance. But let me be clear, Little Liu: if you’re here to cheat us, you might not make it out of this workshop.”

“Ha, you can try,” Liu Xing replied with a sardonic grin.

“Why, you little—” Director Zhang, realizing Liu Xing was a tough nut to crack, nearly lost his temper, but Li Dawei stopped him. “What’s the point of arguing? People with real skills often have strange tempers. Be tolerant—just go get the money.”

“Go on,” Li Dawei urged.

“Fine!” Director Zhang had no choice but to leave for the finance office.

Liu Xing didn’t idle away the time. He headed toward Old Yu.

Li Dawei, surprised, followed along.

Old Yu’s real name was Yu Lajun, a veteran employee of Hengshui Distillery.

Despite his white hair and approaching retirement, he was a skilled technician, highly valued by the leadership. Seeing the equipment broken and no one able to fix it, he’d volunteered himself, working in the workshop for half a month. Unfortunately, age had dulled his wits, and the more he tinkered, the worse the machines got.

Just as he was about to take a break, he heard footsteps behind him.

Turning, he saw Li Dawei approaching with a teenage boy and frowned, “I told you not to bother me. I’m not taking on any apprentices.”

“Old Yu, he’s not here to be your apprentice, but to help repair the machines and solve the evaporation issue,” Li Dawei explained with a slight smile.

“What? A boy who’s barely grown up can handle these complex machines?” Old Yu put on his reading glasses, scrutinized Liu Xing, and frowned, “Director Li, stop joking. If you have nothing better to do, try hiring more workers instead of chasing wild ideas.”

“I’m not joking,” Li Dawei replied, half-amused, half-exasperated.

Liu Xing wasn’t offended, and looked at Old Yu with a calm smile. If such provocation could anger him, he’d hardly be worthy of being reborn.

Old Yu was slightly surprised by Liu Xing’s composure, but quickly returned to his work.

Director Zhang soon returned from finance with a thousand yuan, “Little Liu, here’s the money. Now it’s your turn. Show us your membrane-overlay method and your real skills. Don’t embarrass yourself in front of Old Yu, or don’t blame me for not warning you.”

Liu Xing took the money. “Rest assured, I do things by the book. Payment for service, trouble for a fee—I understand the rules.”

After tucking away the cash, he donned canvas gloves, tied on an apron, and approached the machines. Seeing a pile of tools nearby, he picked up a tester and began examining the circuits.

His focused expression and seasoned movements left Old Yu stunned. “This kid’s got something—he actually knows the basics of electrical repair.”

“If he didn’t, I wouldn’t have invited him,” Li Dawei replied, feeling that Old Yu’s praise for Liu Xing was praise for himself.

“You did something right for once. But to truly fix these machines, I’m afraid the boy’s experience might not be enough.”

Just as Old Yu finished speaking, the liquor-filling equipment beside them suddenly roared to life. The noise was loud, but the machines didn’t stop.

“What’s going on?” Old Yu stared at Liu Xing in astonishment.

Li Dawei’s eyes widened.

Director Zhang was dumbfounded.

How could this be? The machines Old Yu had spent half a month trying to fix were running smoothly in Liu Xing’s hands within minutes?

This… this couldn’t be possible.

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