"This assessment was mainly to test your fundamentals. When you go back, you must practice hard and get a firm grasp on the basics. We are self-funded visiting students; this opportunity didn’t come easy."

"We have to show them that even though we’re self-funded, it’s only because our own factory doesn’t have a school! It’s not because paying is the only way we could get in!"

Xie Changning’s words resonated with the children.

"That’s right! We have to work hard. We’re paying because we don’t have the resources, not because our skills are so bad that we have to buy our way into school!"

The children’s voices grew louder and louder.

Everyone was filled with wonderful expectations for the future.

"If the Director wasn’t too busy to be in two places at once, learning by her side would make us improve even faster than going to school!" one of the children piped up.

Xie Changning shook her head. "It’s not the same. You’ll go to school to build your foundation, but you’ll still be my soldiers when you come back. Under my leadership, you’ll become Level 4 workers, Level 5 Workers, even Level 8 Workers, and eventually, chief designers and chief engineers for even more advanced experimental projects!"

Xie Changning was painting a grand picture of the future for them.

"Just imagine, one day in the future, workers will see you and respectfully call you Engineer Lin! Mr. Wang! Chief Engineer Chen!"

"Wow! I get so excited just thinking about people calling me Fang Gong in the future! My parents have never been called something like that. I’m going to be even more impressive than them!"

In a child’s heart, their parents are like towering trees.

The thought that they had the chance to reach heights their parents never did filled the children with a natural sense of longing and excitement.

The journey back was filled with laughter and cheerful voices for Xie Changning.

The children were all dark and skinny, but their eyes were full of starlight—a testament to their hopes for the future and their inexhaustible drive.

Xie Changning found herself smiling along with them. ’How wonderful,’ she thought. ’These kids haven’t been infected with that modern sense of apathy yet.’

When they returned to the factory, Wang Guofu came out to greet them, only to see Xie Changning in the back of the truck as well.

His eyelids twitched in alarm.

"Quick, two female comrades, help the Director down!"

"No need, we’ll get her!"

Two of the girls quickly jumped down from the truck bed. Then, as Xie Changning climbed out, they carefully supported her, terrified she might fall.

Only after Xie Changning’s feet were firmly on the ground did they breathe a sigh of relief.

"For goodness’ sake, Director, you’re pregnant! Can’t you be a little more careful?" If something were to happen, how would they face the leadership, or Commander Yue?

"I’m fine."

Xie Changning clapped her hands together, dusting them off.

After the children got off the truck, every single one of them was beaming with joy.

Seeing the children so happy, Wang Guofu knew that things had most likely worked out.

"Come on in, everyone!"

The children had often played at the factory, but after visiting Chuncheng First Auto and now returning to their own, a single thought echoed in their minds: comparison is the thief of joy.

They’d never thought their own factory was small before, but seeing it again now, they all thought, ’We have to study hard and master our skills!’

’We’ll help the Director make the factory bigger and stronger! We’ll create a brilliant future!’

Sensing the change in the children, Wang Guofu couldn’t help but remark to Xie Changning as he walked beside her, "You really do have to get out and see the world. It certainly broadens your horizons!"

Look at them, every single one is brimming with motivation.

Operations inside the factory were running normally. In fact, the workers were so diligent that their pace was faster than Xie Changning had anticipated.

They could already produce 2,000 steel wires in a single day!

At this rate, they would meet the transaction volume in less than three days!

Xie Changning was very pleased.

Xie Changning did a lap around the factory. After the children had all dispersed, she asked Wang Guofu, "Is Workshop Number Five all cleaned up?"

Xie Changning had temporarily requisitioned Workshop Number Five for developing a printer.

Currently, patented printer technology was monopolized by foreign countries. If she wanted to make a splash at the Autumn Trade Fair, she needed a technological breakthrough. For Xie Changning, this wasn’t a difficult task.

All she needed was time.

"It’s all sorted out. The research team is also ready and waiting. We’re just waiting for your order."

"Are all the materials prepared?"

"Yes!"

"Alright. We start tomorrow!"

After Xie Changning spoke, Wang Guofu acknowledged her and went to announce the news.

Hearing that the research team was about to begin development, everyone grew tense. The team members, in particular, were worried about whether they were up to the task.

Their mood remained tense and apprehensive all the way until the next day.

Xie Changning arrived at Workshop Number Five in her work clothes. Seeing everyone’s nervous, apprehensive, yet expectant faces, she couldn’t help but laugh. "Haven’t you all already mastered disassembling and reassembling it?"

"Why are you all still so nervous?"

Teased by Xie Changning, one of the workers sighed. "Director, this time we’re making it ourselves! The slightest deviation could affect the entire machine."

’What if I make one wrong move with the file and mess up the whole part?’

"Who hasn’t gone through this! Don’t be discouraged! It’s normal to have some waste during R&D, so don’t worry!" The factory had already started production and was recouping its costs; it would be profitable in the future.

Besides, with her overseeing things, the losses wouldn’t exceed the profits.

After Xie Changning finished speaking, the tense atmosphere eased a little.

"You’ve all been familiarizing yourselves with the parts for so long. For starters, just try to replicate one and show me." Xie Changning didn’t put too much pressure on them, just asking them to produce a sample first.

The printer’s casing and other such parts were straightforward; the only tricky part was the electronic components.

Xie Changning planned to set aside a full day to explain the electronic components and let everyone digest the information.

Perhaps it was because Xie Changning was there, but their confidence grew a little. Under her watchful eye, they threw themselves into their work.

Fabricating parts by hand was a slow process. After a full day, some parts were only halfway finished.

To say nothing of the molds.

The molds for the fitters would take many days to complete.

A week passed like this. A prototype of the printer had already taken shape. All that was missing were the electronic components. Once those were made, they could begin trial runs!

The manufacturing process for the electronic components was rather complex.

Xie Changning would make them herself.

Of course, as she worked, she would have the workers specifically assigned to that production line watch closely. Workers from other lines could also gather around to observe and understand the principles.

"Does anyone here know how to take photos?"

Before the workday began, Xie Changning took out a camera she had stored in her ’space’ and asked if anyone in the factory knew how to use it.

The workers looked at each other, then shook their heads.

Seeing this, Xie Changning had no choice but to find a clever child of one of the factory employees to learn.

He was young and a quick learner. It took him almost no time to start taking decent photos. Seeing his potential, she couldn’t help but praise him. "When the factory expands and adds a publicity position later, you should apply."

"Really?!"

"Really."

Xie Changning nodded, flipping through the photos he had taken. A flash of surprise crossed her eyes.

’This must be what talent looks like, right?’

’To get this good in less than three hours!’