67: How about we make a bet?

"By the way, Ruan Xiu. Does your school have any programming experts?"

Returning from the office,

Li Mubai placed the labor contract on the coffee table and asked with a serious expression.

"Programming experts?"

Ruan Xiu had just picked up the contract when her movements paused. After a moment of thought, she said, "Of course there are, and quite a lot of them. However… most of them ended up going abroad."

They all went abroad?

Li Mubai couldn't help but sigh.

With all these talents going abroad, he couldn't blame them.

Given the current situation in the country,

even though these individuals weren't completely without opportunities domestically, the benefits and treatment were indeed not as good as abroad.

However…

Without such programming experts, what would they do about writing the programs for the Numerical Control Machine Tool?

Could it be that he would have to write them himself?

He could, but it would take too long.

The difficulties with the Numerical Control Machine Tool weren't just about programming; other challenges also needed to be addressed.

In that case,

the entire set of machine tools would take at least half a year, or even more than a year, to produce.

"Actually… I also know a little bit of programming."

Ruan Xiu hesitated.

"What did you just say?"

Li Mubai's eyes widened, somewhat disbelieving.

"When I was at the academy, I self-studied programming, but I didn't delve deeply into it. I was just curious, so I read some books in the library. If you need programming, I should be able to help you."

As Ruan Xiu spoke, she picked up the pen on the table and prepared to sign her name on the labor contract.

Self-taught programming?

Li Mubai was somewhat skeptical.

How deeply could one learn something like that by self-study?

Immediately after,

he asked a few simple questions.

Ruan Xiu, meanwhile, signed the contract while casually answering, appearing quite at ease.

Li Mubai, unconvinced, asked another question about programming.

This time,

he wasn't asking basic questions, but rather more in-depth ones.

However,

Ruan Xiu still answered them with ease, not even pausing to think, just replying offhand.

Finally,

Li Mubai asked a few more difficult questions.

The result was obvious.

Ruan Xiu easily answered them and even demonstrated her ability to extrapolate.

"You… how long have you been studying programming?"

"Two months. I originally planned to learn all these programming languages within half a month, but I didn't expect it to be a bit difficult, so I ended up studying for a month."

Studied for a month, and it was still a bit difficult?!

Hearing this,

Li Mubai was stunned.

At this moment,

he had to admit that there was a gap between people, and this gap was immense, like a chasm.

If he were to learn and master these programming languages,

without a system, he would have to spend at least several years to truly cross the threshold.

But how long did Ruan Xiu take?

One month!

This learning speed, even a rocket wouldn't be this fast!

Is this the world through the eyes of a genius?

It truly is extraordinary!

After a moment of admiration, Li Mubai told Ruan Xiu about his plan to build a Numerical Control Machine Tool.

"0.001 millimeter precision, can this… really be made?"

Ruan Xiu asked back, somewhat lacking confidence.

She understood Numerical Control Machine Tools very well.

After all, her major dictated that she would deal with such things.

Her academy did have a machine tool.

However, the precision of this machine tool could only reach 0.1 millimeters.

This machine tool was imported from Germany and was already considered a top-grade Numerical Control Machine Tool.

But what precision was Li Mubai talking about?

0.001 millimeters!

What kind of concept was that?

Looking at the world today, which country's Numerical Control Machine Tool could achieve this precision?

None at all!

To achieve this precision, even Germany would need at least another ten years, or even more time.

And now,

Li Mubai suddenly said he wanted to build a machine tool with this precision.

In Ruan Xiu's view,

this was undoubtedly a fantasy!

"Are you that lacking in confidence?"

Li Mubai smiled faintly.

If he didn't have the technology exchanged from the system and said such a thing, being ridiculed would be one thing.

But now,

he had complete knowledge of Advanced CNC Machine Tool in his mind.

With this knowledge, would building a machine tool still be an impossible task?

"It's not that I lack confidence. It's just… our country hasn't even broken through 0.1 millimeter precision. And a Numerical Control Machine Tool with 0.001 millimeter precision, that's… exaggerated."

Ruan Xiu originally wanted to say it was too mythical.

0.001 millimeter precision.

In her opinion, it was simply impossible to achieve.

However,

she ultimately chose not to shatter Li Mubai's illusion, only saying that the matter was a bit exaggerated.

"How about… we make a bet?"

Li Mubai smiled lightly, his face full of confidence.

"Bet on what?"

"We bet on whether a machine tool with 0.001 millimeter precision can be manufactured."

"And what are the stakes?"

"If I win, you promise me one thing. Similarly, if you win, I'll promise you one thing. This matter cannot violate the law, violate morality, or cause too much loss to the other party's interests. What do you think?"

"Okay!"

Ruan Xiu agreed without the slightest hesitation.

She looked at Li Mubai, a hint of a smile in her beautiful eyes:

"You can't go back on your word then."

"Of course."

Li Mubai nodded.

"Let's pinky swear, otherwise I won't believe you."

Ruan Xiu extended her hand, forming a loose fist with only her pinky finger extended.

Seeing this,

Li Mubai chuckled.

They weren't children anymore, still doing pinky swears…

Looking at her serious expression, he still extended his hand.

Their two pinky fingers hooked together.

Ruan Xiu chanted rhythmically:

"Pinky swear, pinky swear… for a hundred years… never change…"

…

The next day.

With Ruan Xiu, the programming language expert,

the manufacturing plan for the Numerical Control Machine Tool quickly officially began.

After purchasing all the other necessary parts, Li Mubai immersed himself in a spacious, idle factory building.

However,

within a few days, he began to feel tired.

Although he had drawn many parts into blueprints and asked Zhao Zhenghua for help in manufacturing them, the remaining core components were still time-consuming and labor-intensive.

After working continuously for two nights, he couldn't take it anymore.

Yet, only a very small portion of the core components had been made.

Because he wasn't a professional fitter,

the production of these core components was extremely slow and took a lot of time.

…

In the lounge.

Li Mubai lay on the sofa, looking exhausted.

His arm muscles ached in waves.

This was a lingering effect of overexertion while making parts.

It wasn't a serious illness, but he needed two days of rest to recover.

"If this continues, the production of core components will take who knows how long. I still need to hire a professional fitter."

Thinking this,

he immediately called Old Xiao over.

"Boss."

The door opened, and Old Xiao entered the lounge.

"Old Xiao, there's an urgent task now that I need you to complete."

Li Mubai sat up straight, his expression solemn.

Seeing this,

Old Xiao also looked serious: "Boss, just say the word."

Li Mubai didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point:

"The factory is currently short of a fitter, so I'd like you to help me recruit talent at the talent market."

A fitter?

Old Xiao was stunned for a moment, but quickly recovered:

"Boss, don't worry, leave this to me. However, the recruitment requirements…"

Li Mubai smiled faintly, then explained the requirements one by one.

Soon after,

Old Xiao walked out of the workshop with a determined expression and left the Steel Factory.

As for Li Mubai,

after Old Xiao left, he once again went into the workshop alone…