Fusion System: Rebirth in a Courtyard - Bird Fighting Chronicles

Chapter 20 The Bitter Play at the Cold Pool Never Ends, A Cold Eye Exposes True Character

In Beijing during the twelfth lunar month, the air was bitterly cold even at the crack of dawn. A thin layer of ice covered the communal pond in the Hongxing Courtyard, with icicles hanging from the eaves, each half a foot long, gleaming with a cold, hard white light. Qin Huairu, holding the infant Jia Huaihua, stood by the pond, her neck hunched, clutching a half-basin of dirty clothes in her hand. Her teeth chattered uncontrollably, but she had deliberately chosen this time—this was the prime time for Sha Zhu to return home from the guesthouse every day, the perfect time for their "virtuous wife" act.

She deliberately didn't wear the thick cotton-padded coat Lin Chen had reminded her to alter, instead wearing only a patched-up single garment with the sleeves rolled up high, revealing a pair of hands covered in chilblains. The chilblains were real, caused by washing clothes in the snow a few days ago, but now she deliberately applied some rouge to make the red, swollen marks look even more alarming. Jia Huaihua, still in her swaddling clothes, whimpered twice from the cold, and Qin Huairu quickly bent down to pat her gently, making soft, soothing sounds, just loud enough to carry towards the entrance of the central courtyard.

"Oh dear, Qin, you're doing laundry so early? It's freezing cold, aren't you afraid of catching a cold?" Aunt Li from the east wing came out carrying a chamber pot and couldn't help but sigh when she saw Qin Huairu's appearance. She was one of the few people in the courtyard who genuinely sympathized with Qin Huairu, always feeling that it wasn't easy for a widow to raise three children, but she didn't see through the calculations behind this "hardship."

Qin Huairu raised her head, her eyes instantly filling with tears, her voice trembling with sobs: "Aunt Li, there's nothing I can do. The children's clothes are so dirty they're unwearable. If I don't wash them soon, they won't have any to change into tomorrow. Huaihua still has a fever. I was thinking of washing the clothes and getting her some fever-reducing medicine, but... but we've used up all our food coupons." As she spoke, she deliberately shook the patched little cotton-padded jacket in her hand, the corner of which was still stained with some coal dust that she had intentionally smeared, making it look particularly shabby.

No sooner had he finished speaking than footsteps sounded at the entrance of the Intermediate People's Court. Qin Huai glanced out of the corner of his eye and saw Sha Zhu carrying a bulging lunchbox as he walked in. He immediately lowered his head and vigorously rubbed his clothes with his hands, which were red from the cold. The sound of the water splashing was particularly loud, and he occasionally let out a suppressed cough or two.

"Qin Huairu, what are you doing? Washing clothes in this freezing weather!" Sha Zhu was indeed drawn over, and seeing her hands, purple with cold, and the whimpering child in her arms, his face immediately darkened. He strode to the sink, snatched the washboard from Qin Huairu's hands, and said, "How many times have I told you, there's chores to do when I get home, but you insist on torturing yourself like this!"

Qin Huairu quickly stood up, wiped away the "tears" from the corners of her eyes, and said timidly, "Brother Shazhu, no need to trouble you, I can manage on my own. You work so hard and have to take care of Yushui, my little task is nothing." As she spoke, she secretly glanced at the lunchbox in Shazhu's hand. The lunchbox was a special type provided by the guesthouse, and it was filled with hot meals every day at this time, which was an important source of food for the three children of the Jia family.

Sha Zhu was most charmed by her "sensible yet pitiful" appearance, and his anger instantly subsided by more than half. He opened the lunchbox, which was full of braised pork and two steamed buns, the aroma instantly spreading in the cold air. "Here, give Huaihua some to help her recover." Sha Zhu stuffed the lunchbox into Qin Huairu's hand, then took out half a jin of grain coupons from his pocket. "This is what I saved up this month. Take it to buy medicine for the child, and let me know if you need more."

"Brother Shazhu, how could I possibly accept this..." Qin Huai feigned reluctance, but his hand was already tightly gripping the lunchbox and food coupons, a barely perceptible smug glint in his eyes. Just then, a cool voice came from the side: "Brother Shazhu, bringing food to Sister-in-law Qin so early? Looks like the treatment at the guesthouse is really good."

Lin Chen emerged from the north room carrying his toolbox. His face, still damp from washing, calmly swept over the lunchbox in Qin Huairu's hand, finally settling on her hands, which appeared to be covered in chilblains. Last night, he had used the "material analysis" function unlocked by the system to scan Qin Huairu's clothing and discovered that she was wearing a thick cotton-padded coat underneath, deliberately layered under a thin garment. Her hands, which appeared red and swollen, actually had unusually fair wrists, clearly a deliberate disguise.

Qin Huairu's face stiffened instantly. She subconsciously put her hands behind her back and tried to appear calm as she said, "Comrade Lin, you're up. Brother Shazhu was kind enough to bring Huaihua some food; the child still has a fever." As she spoke, she picked up the lunchbox and headed home, afraid that Lin Chen would say something to undermine her.

Lin Chen had no intention of letting her leave so easily. He stepped forward and stopped her, smiling as he said, "Sister-in-law Qin, don't be in such a hurry to leave. I borrowed a book called 'Nursing Care for Common Childhood Ailments' from the workshop library yesterday. It happens to contain methods for caring for children with fevers, as well as a few dietary therapy recipes that can be made without using food coupons. Would you like me to find it for you?" As he spoke, he made a move to go back to his room to get the book.

Qin Huairu's heart skipped a beat. She wasn't really going to buy medicine for the child; it was just an excuse to play the victim. If Lin Chen actually took out the book and discussed the nursing methods with her in detail, she would definitely be exposed. She quickly waved her hand and said, "No need, no need, Comrade Lin, you're too kind. I'll take the child to see a doctor first, just to be on the safe side."

Sha Zhu also felt that Lin Chen was meddling in other people's business. He frowned and said, "Lin Chen, don't interfere. It's not easy for Qin Huairu to raise three children alone. What's wrong with me helping her out?" He always felt that Lin Chen was prejudiced against Qin Huairu. Although Xu Damao was wrong to spread rumors last time, Lin Chen's attitude towards Qin Huairu was too cold.

Lin Chen looked at Sha Zhu, who seemed completely unaware of what was going on, and shook his head helplessly. "Brother Sha Zhu, it's not that I don't want you to help, but I feel that helping others should be done openly and honestly. Sister-in-law Qin, is Huaihua in your arms really running a fever? She's breathing steadily, and her face isn't red; she doesn't seem to have a fever." As he spoke, his gaze fell on the baby's face in the swaddling clothes, his tone carrying a hint of inquiry.

Upon hearing this, Qin Huairu's face instantly turned deathly pale. She had deliberately warmed the child's face with a hot towel that morning to make it appear slightly flushed, thinking she could get away with it, but Lin Chen hadn't noticed so closely. Aunt Li, who was standing nearby, also came over to take a look and said doubtfully, "Yes, Qin, this child doesn't look like he has a fever; he's shivering a bit from the cold."

Qin Huairu explained in a flustered manner, "I...I still had a fever a moment ago, but it probably went down a bit after being exposed to a draft." She tried to run home with the child in her arms, but Lin Chen stopped her again. Lin Chen's tone remained calm, yet carried an undeniable force: "Sister-in-law Qin, we're all neighbors, helping each other is only natural, but there's no need to use the child to play the victim, is there? Look at how fair the skin on your wrists is, it doesn't look like it's been exposed to the cold for a long time. And that cotton-padded jacket you're wearing underneath, was it made from the cotton that Brother Shazhu bought for you last month? Wearing a thin coat over it just for show, is that really necessary?"

These words struck Qin Huairu like a hammer blow. She hadn't expected Lin Chen to even know the details of her undershirt. For a moment, she was at a loss, and tears genuinely streamed down her face—not feigned, but from the embarrassment and hurt of being exposed. "I...I had no choice!" Qin Huairu squatted on the ground, sobbing. "Dongxu is gone, and there are three children to feed. My mother-in-law doesn't work, and I'm just a woman working as an apprentice in the factory, earning only a meager monthly allowance. If I don't do this, the children will go hungry!"

When Sha Zhu saw her crying, he immediately felt sorry for her and pointed at Lin Chen, saying, "Lin Chen, you've gone too far! So what if she's pretending to be pitiful? She's doing it for the child! You're a grown man, arguing with a widow over these things, what kind of ability is that!" As he spoke, he tried to help Qin Huairu up, but Lin Chen stopped him.

"Brother Shazhu, listen to me first," Lin Chen's voice remained calm. "I'm not trying to argue with her, but I want her to understand that things gained by playing the victim are never a long-term solution. Sister-in-law Qin, you've been an apprentice in the workshop for two years now, haven't you? Why haven't you passed the exams? It's not because you're stupid, but because your mind isn't on the skills at all. Every day at work you're thinking about how to get close to Brother Shazhu, and after get off work you're thinking about how to act pitiful and get food stamps. When have you ever truly focused on learning a skill?"

Qin Huairu stopped crying, looked up at Lin Chen, her eyes filled with surprise. She truly hadn't focused on her skills; in the workshop, she either slacked off or schemed to cultivate a good relationship with Sha Zhu, never considering making a living with her own hands. Lin Chen's words were like a needle, piercing through her long-held self-deception.

"I...I can't learn those techniques," Qin Huairu said in a low voice. "I can never find the right angle to hold the file, and I always drill off-center. Master Yi has taught me many times, but I just can't learn it." This was the truth. She really didn't have much technical talent, and her mind wasn't on it, so naturally she couldn't learn it well.

Lin Chen took out a small file he had sharpened himself from the toolbox and handed it to Qin Huairu: "I specially sharpened this file; it's a third lighter than the ones in the workshop, and the handle is also treated with a non-slip surface. Give it a try. Actually, fitter skills aren't that difficult; the key is finding the right method. I can teach you. As long as you're willing to learn, you'll definitely pass the Level 2 worker exam in less than three months. Then your monthly salary and food rations will increase, and you won't have to rely on playing the victim to make a living."

Qin Huairu looked at the file in her hand. The blade was smooth and fine, and the handle was finely crafted to fit her palm perfectly, clearly showing considerable care had been taken in its preparation. A complex mix of emotions welled up within her—surprise, gratitude, and a touch of shame. The simple-minded Zhu beside her was also stunned. He hadn't expected Lin Chen to offer to teach Qin Huairu the technique, and for a moment, he didn't know what to say.

"Comrade Lin, you...you really want to teach me?" Qin Huai asked uncertainly. She felt that Lin Chen had always disliked her, so why would he suddenly be so kind?

Lin Chen smiled and said, "I'm not helping you, I'm helping Brother Shazhu, and also your three children. Brother Shazhu's salary and food stamps don't come from thin air; he also needs to save money to get married. He can't keep supporting you all the time. If you learn a skill and earn money with your own hands, it's respectable and reliable, and your children can live a better life with you. Isn't that better than playing the victim?"

Hearing this, Sha Zhu felt a warmth in his heart. He hadn't considered the long term before, only thinking about helping Qin Huairu in the present, but he hadn't thought that he would eventually get married and have children, and then he wouldn't be able to support the Jia family as he was now. Lin Chen's words had struck a chord with him. "That's right, Qin Huairu, Lin Chen is right. If you can really learn the skill, you won't have to work so hard in the future," Sha Zhu quickly agreed.

Qin Huairu looked at the file in her hand, then at the baby in her arms, and finally made up her mind. She stood up and bowed deeply to Lin Chen: "Comrade Lin, thank you. I was wrong before, and I will definitely learn the skills properly from now on and never do anything crooked again."

"That's right." Lin Chen nodded. "Come to the workshop at seven o'clock tomorrow morning, and I'll teach you how to read the blueprints first. Don't do the laundry today. Take the child home and take good care of him. Take the lunchbox and food coupons; consider it a small token of our affection for the child from Brother Shazhu, but this is the last time. From now on, you'll have to earn whatever you want with your own skills."

Qin Huai nodded vigorously, holding the child and clutching the lunchbox and food coupons in her hands, and hurried home. This time, her steps were no longer as light as before, but carried a heavy weight. She knew that Lin Chen had given her a chance to start over, and she couldn't miss it again.

Sha Zhu watched Qin Huairu's retreating figure, then looked at Lin Chen, scratched his head, and said, "Lin Chen, I didn't expect you to be so good at handling people. I misunderstood you before, thinking you had a problem with Qin Huairu."

Lin Chen patted him on the shoulder: "Brother Shazhu, I'm not targeting her personally. Qin Huairu has indeed had a tough time, but there's always a reason why someone is pitiful. Although what she did before was wrong, she's not beyond redemption. We're all neighbors, so we should help each other out if we can, but we need to help in the right way. It's better to teach someone how to fish than to give them a fish."

Sha Zhu nodded, seemingly understanding, his admiration for Lin Chen growing even stronger. Suddenly remembering something, he pulled a paper packet from his pocket and handed it to Lin Chen: "Oh, right, this is for you. Manager Wang from the guesthouse gave me half a pound of tea. I know you like tea, so I brought you some to try."

Lin Chen took the oil paper package, opened it, and a rich aroma of tea wafted out – it was top-quality jasmine tea. He smiled and said, "Then I won't be polite. Thank you, Brother Shazhu. Are you free tonight? Come to my house for drinks; I bought some pig's head meat from the black market yesterday."

"Great!" Sha Zhu's eyes lit up. He loved drinking and eating meat, so he quickly nodded in agreement. "I'll leave work early tonight and bring back two dishes from the guesthouse."

As the two were talking, a cough came from the stone table in the central courtyard. Yi Zhonghai sat there with a teacup in hand. He had witnessed everything that had just happened, and his opinion of Lin Chen had completely changed. Before, he thought Lin Chen was too cunning and difficult to control, but now he realized that this kid was not only technically skilled, but also very methodical in his dealings with people, far superior to Sha Zhu and Qin Huairu. He had originally intended to groom Qin Huairu and Sha Zhu to be his support in his old age, but now it seemed that Lin Chen might be a better choice.

"Xiao Lin, Sha Zhu, come sit down for a while." Yi Zhonghai waved to the two of them, his tone much gentler than usual.

Lin Chen and Sha Zhu exchanged a glance and walked over. Yi Zhonghai poured each of them a cup of tea, looked at Lin Chen and said, "Little Lin, what you said to Qin Huairu just now made a lot of sense. Giving a man a fish is not as good as teaching him how to fish. Many people understand this principle, but few can truly put it into practice."

Lin Chen smiled and said, "Master Yi, you flatter me. I just did what I was supposed to do. If Qin Huai can learn the skills well, it will be a good thing for the workshop. Right now, the workshop is short of skilled fitters."

Yi Zhonghai nodded. He knew Lin Chen was highly regarded in the workshop. Yesterday, Director Zhou had mentioned to him that Lin Chen was to be promoted to deputy leader of the precision forging group. He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said casually, "You've just been promoted to deputy leader, so your responsibilities in the workshop will be even heavier. If Qin Huairu has any questions, please take the time to teach her. After all, she's my apprentice, and if she doesn't learn well, I, as her teacher, will lose face."

Lin Chen understood the implication in his words: he wanted Yi Zhonghai to take good care of Qin Huairu, hoping to win him over. He calmly replied, "Master Yi, don't worry. As long as Qin Huairu is willing to learn, I will definitely teach her well. However, learning a skill depends on oneself. I can only guide her in; the rest is up to her." He didn't want to get too close to Yi Zhonghai; that old fox was too cunning, and dealing with him required caution.

Yi Zhonghai understood Lin Chen's implied meaning and realized he wasn't someone easily manipulated. This made him even more wary, but also strengthened his resolve to win him over. He smiled and said, "You're right, you're right. Lin, if you need any help in the workshop, just tell me. I've worked in the factory for so many years, I still have some connections."

Lin Chen quickly thanked him, "Then thank you very much, Master Yi. I'll definitely need your help a lot in the future." He knew that Yi Zhonghai's connections were indeed useful. If he encountered some problems that he couldn't solve in the workshop, he might need his help. There was no need to strain the relationship.

As the group was chatting, a quarrel broke out in the front yard. "Yan Bugui, stop trying to play dirty tricks on me! You borrowed half a jin of grain coupons from me almost half a year ago, when are you going to pay me back?" It was Liu Haizhong's voice, filled with anger.

"Master Liu, what's the rush? It's not like I'm not going to pay you back." Yan Bugui's voice carried a hint of evasion. "I'm just a little short on cash lately. I'll definitely pay you back when I get my salary this month."

"You're short of money? I think you're deliberately not paying me back!" Liu Haizhong's voice grew louder and louder. "Yesterday I saw you buying candy for your son. You have money to buy candy for your son, but no money to pay me back my food coupons? What kind of logic is that!"

Yi Zhonghai frowned, put down his teacup, and said, "These two old folks are arguing again." He stood up. "I'll go check on them. Don't let it get too big of a fuss; it wouldn't be good if the neighborhood committee found out."

Lin Chen and Sha Zhu followed. In the open space of the front yard, Liu Haizhong was pointing at Yan Bugui's nose and cursing, while Yan Bugui stood with his arms crossed, defiantly retorting. Several neighbors had gathered around, watching the commotion, but no one stepped in to stop the fight.

"Master Liu, you can't say that," Yan Bugui pushed up his glasses. "The candy I bought for my son was my own money, it has nothing to do with the food coupons I borrowed from you. We agreed that I would pay you back after I got my salary, and it's not payday yet, so why are you pressuring me?"

"Why should I rush you?" Liu Haizhong's face turned red with anger. "My son needs to pay tuition every day, and I'm short of money! If you don't return my food coupons today, I'll never forgive you!" As he spoke, he tried to snatch the abacus from Yan Bugui's hand, which was Yan Bugui's livelihood.

"You dare steal my abacus!" Yan Bugui quickly hugged the abacus to his chest. "I'll fight you to the death!" The two of them started fighting.

"Stop!" Yi Zhonghai shouted, stepping forward to pull the two apart. "What's the big deal? Is it really necessary to fight? We're all neighbors, we see each other all the time. What kind of behavior is this!"

Liu Haizhong, panting heavily, said, "Master Yi, you be the judge! He borrowed half a jin of grain coupons from me and hasn't paid them back in six months. Yesterday, he even bought candy for his son. Isn't he deliberately playing me for a fool?"

Yan Bugui retorted, "Master Yi, he's being unreasonable! We agreed to pay him back after I got my wages, but now he's pressuring me. How am I supposed to give him the money?"

Lin Chen found the two of them rather amusing. Liu Haizhong was hot-tempered and impulsive, while Yan Bugui was petty and calculating; it was no wonder they argued when they were together. He stepped forward and said, "Master Liu, Master Yan, this isn't difficult to resolve. Master Yan, when will you get your salary this month?"

Yan Bugui said, "Five more days."

"That's easy," Lin Chen said. "Master Yan, you write an IOU for Master Liu, stating that you'll repay the grain coupons in five days, and find a guarantor. If you don't repay in five days, the guarantor will have to pay. That way, Master Liu will be at ease, and you won't be forced to repay right now. How about that?"

Liu Haizhong thought about it and thought it was a good idea: "Okay, I agree. As long as he writes the IOU and finds a guarantor, I'll wait for him for another five days."

Yan Bugui breathed a sigh of relief. He really didn't have the money to repay now, and writing an IOU and finding a guarantor solved his immediate problem: "I agree. But who should we find as guarantor?"

All eyes turned to Yi Zhonghai. He was the senior member of the team and an eighth-grade fitter, making him the most suitable guarantor. Yi Zhonghai hesitated for a moment, then nodded: "Alright, I'll be the guarantor. But Yan Bugui, if you don't return the grain coupons in five days, I'll pay them for you. Then you can settle the score with me."

"Thank you, Master Yi!" Yan Bugui quickly expressed his gratitude, took out paper and pen from home, wrote an IOU, and handed it to Liu Haizhong. Liu Haizhong took the IOU, looked at it carefully, and put it away with satisfaction. The commotion was thus resolved.

After the neighbors had all left, Yi Zhonghai looked at Lin Chen and said, "Little Lin, you really know how to handle things. You resolved the matter with just a few words. It seems that this courtyard needs young people like you to keep things in order."

Lin Chen smiled and said, "Master Yi, you flatter me. It's just a small idea. Actually, most of the conflicts in the courtyard are caused by trivial matters. As long as we communicate well, they can always be resolved." He knew that Yi Zhonghai was testing him and trying to win him over, but he didn't want to get involved in the power struggles in the courtyard. He just wanted to focus on his technical work and live a good life.

Upon arriving at the workshop, Lin Chen had just reached his workstation when Director Zhou approached him. "Lin, I have good news for you," Director Zhou said with a smile. "The factory's Party Committee has officially approved your appointment as deputy leader of the precision forging group, responsible for technical guidance. Starting this month, your salary will increase to fifty yuan, and you'll also receive a level-three technical allowance."

Lin Chen was thrilled and quickly thanked him, "Thank you, Director Zhou. I will definitely work hard and live up to your expectations." Fifty yuan was a very high income at the time, and with the third-level technical allowance, his living conditions would be greatly improved.

"Keep a good job." Director Zhou patted him on the shoulder. "I have high hopes for you. By the way, that old forging press in the workshop has been breaking down lately. The repairman has tried to fix it several times but hasn't been able to. Go and see if you can fix it. If you can, it'll be a great achievement."

Lin Chen nodded: "Okay, Director Zhou, I'll go take a look now." He walked to the forging press, opened the system's "Equipment Diagnosis" function, and glanced at the forging press. The fault cause immediately appeared on the system panel: "Severe crankshaft wear, excessive bearing clearance, hydraulic system oil leak." A repair plan and a list of required parts were also attached.

Lin Chen had a better understanding of the situation. He found the repairman and said, "Master Wang, I've found the problem with this forging press. The crankshaft is severely worn, the bearing clearance is too large, and there's an oil leak in the hydraulic system. The crankshaft and bearings need to be replaced, and the hydraulic system needs to be repaired."

Master Wang looked at him in surprise: "Xiao Lin, how did you know? We've been trying to fix it for days and haven't found the cause." He had always thought it was a problem with the motor, but he never expected it to be a problem with the crankshaft and bearings.

Lin Chen smiled and said, "I've studied a little equipment maintenance before, and I just checked it carefully and found a problem. Look, the crankshaft wear marks here are very obvious, and the bearing clearance is also much larger than normal." He pointed to the key parts of the forging press and explained to Master Wang.

Master Wang examined it carefully and confirmed that it was exactly as Lin Chen had described. He said admiringly, "Little Lin, you're amazing! With you here, we won't have to worry about equipment problems in the workshop anymore."

Lin Chen and Master Wang began repairing the forging press according to the repair plan provided by the system. He used the system to fuse some scrap parts and create a specialized repair tool, greatly improving efficiency. What would normally take three days to complete was finished in just one day.

When the forging press restarted and began operating smoothly, enthusiastic applause erupted in the workshop. Director Zhou looked at Lin Chen, his eyes filled with admiration: "Lin, you've done a fantastic job! If this forging press hadn't been repaired, it would have affected our workshop's production schedule, resulting in significant losses. The factory's Party Committee will definitely reward you handsomely!"

Lin Chen said modestly, "This is all I should do. It's mainly because Master Wang and the others cooperated so well." He knew that he couldn't have repaired the forging press so quickly by himself alone; teamwork was the most important thing.

When Lin Chen got home from get off work that evening, he had just reached the gate of his courtyard when he saw Sha Zhu waiting for him with an oil-paper package and a bottle of baijiu (Chinese liquor). "Lin Chen, you're finally back!" Sha Zhu said with a smile. "Come on in, I bought some pig's head and peanuts. Let's have a good drink to celebrate your promotion!"

Lin Chen felt a warmth in his heart, nodded, and went home with Sha Zhu. He told Sha Zhu about fixing the rotary press in the workshop that day, and Sha Zhu listened with great excitement: "Lin Chen, you're amazing! I knew you could do great things! Cheers!"

The two men drank and chatted. Sha Zhu recounted amusing anecdotes from the guesthouse, and Lin Chen shared stories about the workshop. Suddenly, Sha Zhu sighed, "Lin Chen, I used to think Qin Huairu had it tough and wanted to help her. Now I realize that what I did wasn't helping her; it hurt her. I'll never again give her so much unconditional support. I'll let her learn a skill and earn a living with her own hands."

Lin Chen smiled and said, "Silly Brother Zhu, it's good that you understand. Actually, Qin Huairu isn't a bad person at heart; she was just forced by life to go astray. As long as she's willing to change, she'll definitely be able to live a good life in the future."

Just then, there was a knock at the door. Lin Chen opened the door and saw Qin Huairu standing there, holding a bowl with two steaming eggs in it. "Comrade Lin, Brother Shazhu, I brought you two eggs." Qin Huairu's face was slightly shy. "Thank you for what happened this morning. These are eggs from my own chickens, they're not worth much, please don't mind them."

Lin Chen took the bowl and said with a smile, "Thank you, Sister-in-law Qin, you're too kind. Remember to come to the workshop at seven o'clock tomorrow morning, I'll teach you how to read the blueprints."

"Okay, I'll remember." Qin Huairu nodded, turned around, and left. Watching her retreating figure, Lin Chen was filled with mixed emotions.