The knock on the door was more effective than any reminder could be. Qi Fang froze mid-action.
He then raised his eyes, his gaze sharp enough to pierce through the door and land squarely on the person outside.
Yan Xue found it amusing and nudged him. "They're calling for you, Master Qi."
Master Qi withdrew his gaze—and his hand. "I'm going."
After all, it was work hours. He couldn’t just stay in the breakroom with Yan Xue doing nothing. This wasn’t his private space.
The door soon opened, and Master Qi emerged looking even colder than when he’d entered. "Which workshop?"
The young apprentice had assumed the couple had been arguing inside, but when he glanced past Qi Fang, he saw Yan Xue’s bright, smiling eyes.
Honestly, she was quite lovely to look at—but after just one glance, he suddenly felt like the stove in the room wasn’t burning well enough.
Qi Fang stood at the doorway, glancing down at the apprentice, then surveying the crowded workshop outside before turning back to Yan Xue. "Why don’t you come with me?"
Yan Xue didn’t mind where she stayed, but she still asked the apprentice, "Is that allowed?"
The apprentice answered earnestly, "Master didn’t say we couldn’t bring others."
So Master Hong waited and waited for the apprentice to return, only to find him bringing back a young, pretty woman along the way.
"Master Qi’s wife came, so it took a little longer," the apprentice explained seriously.
Talk about poor timing—couldn’t he have waited before interrupting when the man’s wife was visiting?
But since she was already here, Master Hong gave Qi Fang a nod in greeting before explaining the situation.
After listening, Qi Fang first inspected the tractor being retrofitted. "Is this a TDT-40?"
Before the domestically produced Jicai-50 was developed and put into production, the main forestry logging tractors were Soviet-imported RT-12s.
But the RT-12 ran on wood gas, requiring a stop every hour and a half to reload firewood. Later, the Soviets produced a diesel version and renamed it the TDT-40.
However, TDT-40s were rare in Chengshui. Master Hong was impressed that Qi Fang recognized it at a glance. "Yes, one of the later batches of TDT-40s."
Qi Fang nodded without further comment and began inspecting the machine’s hydraulic transmission system, followed by the engine.
Master Hong watched him work. "Engineer Shen checked it once before and said the machine was overloaded. But we’ve used it like this plenty of times—never had issues before."
"Forestry logging and construction work are different," Qi Fang said. "Forestry machines operate at 60-70% capacity, while bulldozers run at over 90%."
Not just the utilization rate—the work intensity also differed. Bulldozers often faced prolonged, high-intensity operation.
After a full inspection, Qi Fang circled back to the front and examined the bulldozer’s blade. "What’s the capacity?"
Master Hong gave a number close to Qi Fang’s estimate. "The machine really is overloaded. This is a TDT-40 with a 50-horsepower engine. If it were an RT-12’s 45-horsepower, a blade this size might not even be movable."
Overloading strained both the engine and transmission system—no wonder the transmission kept failing.
"So what should we do?" Master Hong had assumed as long as it could move, it was fine. He hadn’t realized there were so many technicalities.
The best solution would be installing a higher-density hydraulic system, but since they were retrofitting a tractor into a bulldozer, the county definitely didn’t have the budget for that.
Qi Fang thought for a moment. "Got paper and pen?"
"Right here." Master Hong didn’t even bother waiting for the apprentice, fetching them himself.
Taking them, Qi Fang swiftly wrote down a series of formulas, leaving Master Hong wide-eyed and utterly lost.
In this era, few had university educations or systematic training. Most were lucky to attend technical school and land a job. The county machinery factory workers were mostly technical school graduates, though some with connections or talent went for further training after a few years.
Soon, Qi Fang finished calculating. When he looked up, Master Hong was still staring at the notebook, though his mind had clearly wandered off.
Pausing, Qi Fang simply circled a few numbers. "If you want to modify it, adjust the blade to this size. If not, don’t run the machine above 80% capacity."
With a straightforward answer, Master Hong finally understood. He took the notebook and thanked Qi Fang.
At least this was a clear solution—unlike Engineer Shen’s vague warning about avoiding overloading.
As for whether it would work, they’d just have to try.
Master Hong personally escorted them out of the workshop. Once they were a distance away, Qi Fang asked quietly, "Was it boring?"
Clearly referring to the time Yan Xue had spent waiting.
She shook her head. "Actually, it was interesting. I didn’t know you could turn a tractor into a bulldozer."
Her eyes sparkled, showing no sign of impatience.
It reminded Qi Fang of their childhood. Though they’d only met once back then, Young Miss Yan had found his tinkering utterly dull.
So he explained a bit more. "Only tracked tractors can be modified. Wheeled ones won’t work."
Yan Xue hadn’t known that, though thinking about it, bulldozers were all tracked. "Is it for handling rougher terrain?"
"Mm. Tracks have better traction. Agricultural tractors aren’t suitable—their tracks are narrow, and their engines are underpowered."
After a few more sentences, Qi Fang paused and glanced at Yan Xue, only to find her still smiling brightly.
She even raised a hand. "Go on." Her bright eyes were alight with curiosity—though whether she was listening or just watching was unclear.
Truthfully, she’d noticed that when he talked about machinery, a youthful energy flickered in him, reminiscent of the boy in that old photograph.
But before he could say much more, the shift bell rang. Workers scattered—some heading home, others to the canteen.
Qi Fang changed out of his work clothes, scrubbed his hands thoroughly, and took Yan Xue to the canteen.
He meticulously peeled and ate the two boiled eggs she’d brought, while his own lunchbox was filled with the canteen’s best dishes, placed in front of her.
After the meal, they carried Yan Xue’s belongings to Qi Fang’s temporary dorm—a small, spartan room among a row of single-story houses behind the factory.
The place was bare: just a kang bed, no table, only a washbasin and thermos on the floor, with luggage and clothes piled on the kang.
"You live here?" Yan Xue thought even his forestry station dorm was better. She touched the kang. "Does this heat well—"
Before she could finish, an arm wrapped around her waist from behind, pulling her firmly back.
Before she could react, she was pressed against the door—into the only blind spot in the tiny room.
Qi Fang nipped at her ear and whispered, "You can try it yourself." Before she could even turn around, he cupped her chin and pulled her into a kiss.
At first, it seemed fierce, but after that initial urgency, he quickly softened, the kiss turning lingering and tender.
It took a while before Yan Xue could finally catch her breath. She adjusted to a more comfortable position and teased, "Aren’t you afraid someone might knock on the door again?"
Qi Fang only gave her that brief respite before leaning in once more. "Don’t worry, it’s all taken care of—"
Before he could finish, the door behind them thudded loudly, freezing him in place.
Seeing his usually charming eyes darken with irritation, Yan Xue couldn’t help but laugh, earning a sharp glance from him.
Qi Fang’s hand was already on the doorknob, ready to storm out and confront whoever was outside. The sight made Yan Xue chuckle again, and she quickly grabbed his arm to stop him.
"Wait, it was just my elbow bumping into it by accident."
She raised her arm to show him, but in the next second, he yanked her close and bit down hard on her lips.
Still, that was as far as they could go. The dormitory didn’t even have curtains, and outside, people were constantly passing by, footsteps echoing at any moment.
This left Qi Fang in a visibly sour mood. Even as Yan Xue busied herself organizing the things she’d brought for him, he remained leaning against the door, trying to steady his breathing.
Noticing this, Yan Xue decided to shift the conversation to more serious matters. "The day after you left, Wu Xingde came."
Qi Fang’s expression darkened instantly. "Did he go to see you, or the repair shop?"
Impressed that he could still think clearly despite the blood rushing elsewhere, Yan Xue gave him an appraising look. "Both."
Qi Fang ignored the repair shop for now and frowned slightly. "Did he assume you were unaware?"
"Well, that depends on what kind of person he thinks you are."
Her words made him pause briefly before he continued, "So he really suspects you’ve kept something up your sleeve."
It was frustrating. This time, Wu Xingde had underestimated her, allowing her to counter him slightly. But what about next time?
Qi Fang clearly shared her concern, his brow furrowed. "Transferring me to the machinery factory was his way of forcing me to fix his mess."
Worried she might not fully grasp the situation, he explained further, "Not only did he just switch sides, but his first move was a disaster. National funding is limited—not every project gets approved. If the hydrostatic transmission is deemed unfeasible, the entire project will be shelved."
After all, money had to be spent wisely. No one would invest in a bottomless pit with uncertain results when there were quicker, more reliable alternatives.
That was why Wu Xingde was so desperate when the Jicai-50 malfunctioned. Hearing that Qi Fang might have a better solution, he’d pulled out all the stops.
Yan Xue understood the stakes. "So you plan to do nothing and let him crash and burn from his own recklessness?"
"With his backers, there’s little I can do—unless..." Qi Fang’s gaze turned cold. "Unless he becomes expendable."
Wu Xingde had made himself a weapon for those in power, giving them an opening to drag others down. But a blade was only useful while it remained sharp. Once it dulled—or worse, turned against its wielder—it would be discarded without hesitation.
The thought was disheartening. Realizing it would still take six or seven years for this all to end, Yan Xue couldn’t help but sigh.
What a waste of Su Changqing’s lifelong work and Qi Fang’s talent. Softening her voice, she asked, "If it could be fixed, could you do it?"
"At the very least, I could make it as stable as the original hydraulic system," Qi Fang said flatly. "But I wouldn’t be able to protect it."
That was the crux of the problem. They had no leverage, and their enemies were too powerful. Any move they made could backfire spectacularly.
"Take it step by step," Yan Xue said, offering him a reassuring smile. "One day, you’ll stand before them, and they won’t be able to touch you."
At least things were better now than in the original timeline, where he hadn’t even begun his rise until after the reforms, sacrificing everything for revenge.
Her smile was warm and steady, like a breeze scattering the shadows in his heart.
Qi Fang watched her for a moment before murmuring, "Mm," and pulling her into his arms. He held her tightly, doing nothing else, just holding her.
That afternoon, Yan Xue left. There was no need to stay overnight—the place was close, and the conditions weren’t suitable anyway.
Before leaving, she put on another act, her expression stiff as if she and Qi Fang had argued.
As for Qi Fang? He didn’t need to pretend. His face was already impassive, and it only grew colder after she left.
Unexpectedly, just a few stops after boarding the bus, a heavily pregnant woman got on—Shan Qiufang.
Surprised, Yan Xue quickly called out, "Aunt Qiufang!" and squeezed aside to make room.
The conductor reminded passengers to offer their seats, but the bus was packed, and no one could move. Shan Qiufang ended up standing near the door.
Noticing this, Yan Xue switched places with her, moving to the lower step so Shan Qiufang could have a bit more space.
Grateful, Shan Qiufang shielded her belly and thanked her. "Daqiang’s grandma lives around here. I got delayed and almost missed the bus."
Then she asked, "What brings you to the county?" Yan Xue wasn’t carrying any bags, so it didn’t seem like she’d come to shop.
Yan Xue didn’t hide it. "Qi Fang’s been temporarily assigned to the machinery factory here. I came to bring him some things."
Shan Qiufang looked surprised. "Your Qi Fang is working here now?" After a pause, she added, "Wasn’t he in the logging team?"
"Transferred," Yan Xue explained briefly.
Shan Qiufang clicked her tongue in admiration. "He’s really something. No wonder he’s so good at fixing things."
After a few more praises, she brought up the wood ear mushrooms. "Do you still have any? Several families came asking about them."
"About twenty pounds left," Yan Xue replied. Just then, the bus took a sharp turn, jolting everyone inside. She quickly steadied Shan Qiufang.
Shan Qiufang gripped the seatback beside her. "This area’s all mountains. Going to the county means taking these winding roads."
It was a problem of the era’s infrastructure. Later, tunnels would be carved through mountains and bridges built over rivers, making travel much easier and faster.
Once the bus stabilized, Shan Qiufang relaxed slightly. "At least it’s just snowed. Otherwise, the roads would be even worse—way too slippery. See those trees down the slope with red ribbons? Every one of them has saved lives. People come back later to thank them by tying those on."
These treacherous mountain roads were especially dangerous in winter. Every year, a few vehicles skidded off, and those lucky enough to be caught by the trees below survived.
Grateful for their second chance, they returned to honor their "savior trees."
Yan Xue had just followed Shan Qiufang’s gaze when the driver suddenly cursed, "Where the hell did this out-of-towner come from? Driving like a maniac—you got a death wish?"
No one had noticed yet when a Nanjing-produced Yuejin truck overtook them and sped toward the curve ahead.
The vehicle swerved, but its tires skidded, causing the entire truck to slide sideways toward the edge of the bend...
This completely blocked the road. Just as a collision seemed inevitable, the driver slammed on the brakes. The rear of the turning car swung violently, sending passengers into chaos—some shouting, others tumbling.
Shan Qiufang was right above Yan Xue and had no time to react. She lost her footing and crashed toward the steps near the door.
If she hit the ground with full force, given her heavily pregnant belly...
Without a second thought, Yan Xue lunged forward, gripping the seats on either side to shield Shan Qiufang with her body. She felt a heavy impact, followed by a sharp pain in her left shoulder.
Amidst screams and gasps, the bus finally screeched to a halt just before hitting the Yuejin, narrowly avoiding sliding off the curve.
The driver, furious and shaken, stormed out the moment the vehicle stopped. "Do you even know how to drive? No slowing down on such a sharp bend? If this were January or February, you'd have already plunged off the cliff—you know that?"
The Yuejin’s driver climbed out, still trembling with fear, and didn’t dare respond.
After venting his anger, the bus driver cooled down and offered help. "Don’t move recklessly—one wrong move and you’ll go over. We need a heavy vehicle to pull you back."
Passengers grumbled, especially Shan Qiufang, who had nearly fallen. The moment she steadied herself, she turned to Yan Xue. "Xue, are you alright?"
Only then did she notice Yan Xue’s pale face and bloodless lips. Her heart clenched. "Are you hurt somewhere?"
"My arm got wrenched," Yan Xue managed through gritted teeth, sweat beading on her forehead.
Shan Qiufang grew even more frantic. "Which side?" She quickly spotted the unnatural angle of Yan Xue’s left arm. "Did your joint dislocate?"
The conductor hurried over to check. "Looks like a dislocation." Raising her voice, she called out, "Can someone give up a seat? We’ve got a dislocated joint here!"
With the bus stalled and no immediate departure in sight, a few passengers near the door stepped off to make space. Yan Xue was helped into a seat, but the pain remained excruciating. Shan Qiufang paced anxiously. "How long until we leave? She needs to get to a hospital!"
Nearly half an hour passed before the bus driver flagged down a Jiefang truck to haul the stranded Yuejin back onto the road.
By the time they reached the town hospital, Yan Xue was too agonized to speak. After registration, the doctor confirmed a dislocation.
Pain relief, joint resetting, and a stabilizing bandage later, dusk had already fallen.
Shan Qiufang was guilt-ridden. "There are no buses at this hour. Why don’t you stay at my place tonight? I’ll take you home tomorrow."
With painkillers kicking in, Yan Xue’s color improved slightly, though her lips were still pale. "It’s fine. My arm’s hurt, not my legs."
She reassured Shan Qiufang, "Don’t blame yourself. Anyone in my place would’ve done the same."
"You think everyone’s as selfless as you?" Shan Qiufang blurted, then sighed. "How long will this take to heal? And Qi Fang isn’t even home."
At the mention of Qi Fang, Yan Xue hesitated. "It’s alright. The doctor said three or four weeks."
"Still, you need to rest. No heavy work for months. That reckless driver—couldn’t he have slowed down?"
But complaints wouldn’t help now. They needed to check if the post office was still open to send word to the forestry station. Otherwise, Yan Xue’s family would worry when she didn’t return that night.
Unfortunately, the post office was already closed. Shan Qiufang suggested, "Should we try your uncle’s workplace?"
"Anything wrong?" A voice interrupted as a cyclist passed by and stopped.
Yan Xue recognized him. "Secretary Qu."
"Didn’t you call me ‘brother’ last time?" Qu Mingli waved from his bike, then noticed her sling. "Need help?"
After his second offer, Yan Xue explained, "We missed the train after the accident. I wanted to call home."
"Use my office phone," Qu Mingli said without hesitation, turning his bike around.
The trio climbed the slope to the forestry bureau office, only to hear the phone ringing as they entered.
Qu Mingli gestured for them to wait while he answered. "Hello, Uncle Yue... Yes, I’ve settled in well here. The province’s land is prosperous, its people outstanding... The issue’s resolved. No trouble for the provincial office, right? The task will definitely be completed..."
Yan Xue hadn’t meant to eavesdrop, but "Uncle Yue" caught her attention—she recalled a prominent figure with that surname often featured in provincial newspapers.
Qu Mingli soon hung up and provided the number for Jinchuan Forestry Station.
After notifying her family and thanking him, Yan Xue stayed at Shan Qiufang’s place overnight and returned home the next day.
The Second Old Lady was heartbroken to see her sling. Even little Yan Jigang looked solemn, blowing on her injury and asking if it hurt.
Unexpectedly, a letter from Qi Fang arrived the following day, asking if everything at home was alright.
After some thought, Yan Xue chose not to mention her injury, replying only that all was well and he needn’t worry.
When Qi Fang received her response, he didn’t press further. He’d only asked because rumors had reached him about a near-accident on the road to Chengshui.
Meanwhile, after Wu Xingde’s failed attempt to sway Yan Xue, Engineer Shen had grown more relentless, repeatedly insinuating doubts about Qi Fang’s solution.
Frustrated by Qi Fang’s silence, Shen changed tactics. "I got another call from above yesterday—if we can’t fix these Jicai-50 machines, the hydrostatic research gets scrapped. They called it a waste of state funds, useless."
He sighed dramatically. "After a lifetime of research by so many, how can it be ‘useless’? If this fails, the project might stall for decades."
"A lifetime of research?" Qi Fang’s gaze turned sharp. "By whom? Your mentor? Or those who grabbed a half-finished project to chase fame?"
His peach-blossom eyes glinted coldly. "This isn’t my burden. I didn’t build these, nor have I taken a cent of state funding."
"The real issue is your rushed testing, slow problem-solving, and relying on a mechanic like me. That’s why it’s still unresolved."
The sudden outburst stunned everyone—especially Qi Fang’s uncharacteristic verbosity, each word striking a nerve.
Engineer Shen’s face darkened with rage. "What does a lowly mechanic know? You’re just afraid of being exposed as a fraud—"
Before he could finish speaking, Master Hong's booming voice came from outside the workshop, "Qi Fang, about that bulldozer you fixed for me last time..."
As soon as the door opened, he noticed the tense atmosphere inside and froze, "What's going on here?"
Qi Fang snapped, "If I'm not allowed to go home to my wife, I'll take it out on anyone in my way!"
