71: Looks like a couple

Why did the boss come out so quickly? Is this the legendary ten-second true man? How terrifying!

Don't gossip. A few dozen seconds isn't even enough time to take off pants, is it?

Don't worry about it so much. As long as we don't try anything with Sister Ruan Xiu, we'll be fine. I think she'll be our boss lady sooner or later.

Stop discussing and focus on work. The boss is so good to us; we can't slack off during work.

...

Li Mubai walked back into the empty workshop, and the workers inside started to chatter.

However, the commotion didn't last long, and everyone quickly returned to work.

Machinery roared continuously.

Perhaps she was truly tired.

Ruan Xiu actually lay on the sofa, feeling her eyelids grow heavy, and gradually drifted off to sleep.

Meanwhile, Li Mubai.

He entered the empty workshop, once again working up a sweat, starting his manual steel-making mode. He still had at least several thousand parts waiting for him, so there was no time to waste.

Crafting precision parts requires extreme patience.

Even a slight distraction.

Could result in the part's precision and size not meeting the required standards.

As a result, Li Mubai dedicated himself wholeheartedly to the task.

As time passed by minute by minute.

Soon.

Two small parts were produced.

“This core component is finally complete!”

Li Mubai held the two small parts in his hand, his expression joyful.

The entire machine tool.

Has roughly over thirty core components.

And each core component is made up of many smaller parts.

And he, who had been busy for several days.

Finally, today, finished all the parts for the first core component!

Now.

As long as these parts are assembled, the structure of one core component will be complete.

Of course.

This path is still long and arduous.

Because there are still over thirty core components that haven't even begun production.

The parts that make up these components, big and small combined, number in the thousands.

If he doesn't hire people to help.

Li Mubai really doesn't know when he'll finish.

Soon.

He took out the previously made parts from the cabinet and began assembling them.

Before long.

Something resembling a mechanical arm began to take shape.

Just then.

A sound like the shaking of a bell suddenly rang out.

Ding-a-ling...

This was the factory's clock chime, amplified and broadcast throughout the entire factory area.

Normally.

When this sound rang out, it meant that quitting time had arrived.

“It's already quitting time so quickly; time really flies!”

Li Mubai sighed.

He put away the brand-new core components, locked them in the cabinet, and prepared to leave work.

He had originally wanted to rush to make a few more parts.

But thinking that Ruan Xiu was still in the office, he could only give up.

Outside the workshop, the sunset was beautiful.

Leaving this workshop.

Li Mubai went directly to the factory area where the office was located.

The machinery's roar still echoed.

Looking at the young faces still working enthusiastically inside the workshop, Li Mubai spoke loudly:

“Everyone, you've worked hard all day, go eat quickly.”

Most work at the Steel Factory is manual labor, and after a day's work, people usually feel weak and tired.

Although their labor was creating value for the Steel Factory.

He didn't lack the value of this bit of time.

In his previous life, what he disliked most was working overtime.

Therefore.

He also didn't want the workers of his company to miss out on many of life's pleasures because of overtime.

“Understood, Boss. We'll finish this bit of work and then leave.”

“Boss, you go ahead and be busy.”

“This isn't much work; we'll finish it and then head back to the county town.”

The workers grinned, revealing two rows of white teeth.

Li Mubai shook his head, no longer trying to persuade them, and went straight to his office, pushing the door open.

The office lights were not on, so the environment was slightly dim.

However, Li Mubai could still vaguely see a figure lying on the black sofa.

“How long has she been working overtime? Has she not rested properly for several nights?”

Walking to the sofa, looking at the face with closed bright eyes, Li Mubai murmured softly.

He also hoped the Numerical Control Machine Tool could be born sooner.

But not at the cost of sacrificing employee health.

“She clearly doesn't believe I can build a Numerical Control Machine Tool, yet she's working so hard. For what? Just to prove me wrong sooner?”

Li Mubai scoffed and shook his head.

On the sofa.

Ruan Xiu's hair bun, at some point, had come undone, her dark hair scattered messily on the sofa, with a few strands covering her face.

Li Mubai quietly gazed at the clean and fair face before him, suddenly finding it quite adorable.

He wanted to wake Ruan Xiu.

But seeing her sleeping so soundly, he didn't really want to disturb her sweet dreams.

He could tell that Ruan Xiu's mental state wasn't good.

Who knows how much overtime this girl had worked these past few days?

Even if the program progress was twenty percent complete, even a genius would need a considerable amount of time to write the code.

The rumbling sound from outside had stopped at some point.

Li Mubai sat on a nearby chair, waiting quietly, and resting at the same time.

Making precision parts was also very taxing on the mind and body.

This afternoon's work inevitably made him feel a little tired.

Time slowly passed.

After an unknown amount of time, the sunset in the western sky outside the factory was already level with the horizon.

The scorching sun of noon had now become gentle and soft, carrying a hint of twilight.

Just then.

Thump-thump...

The office door was knocked.

The door wasn't opened, but a voice came through it.

“Boss, are you in there?”

Li Mubai was very familiar with this voice; he could instantly tell it was Old Xiao.

He was a little afraid of disturbing Ruan Xiu's rest, so he got up, went to the door, and gently opened it.

“Old...”

Shhh—

Old Xiao was about to speak when he saw Li Mubai's index finger raised to his lips.

After stepping out of the office and closing the door.

Li Mubai then looked at Old Xiao and asked softly:

“Is something wrong?”

“Boss, our raw materials are about to run out; it's time to purchase a batch of new materials.”

Old Xiao said, lowering his voice.

“You can handle that.”

“Thank you for your trust, Boss. But Boss, the steel our factory currently produces has no shortage of market. Should we consider expanding the factory area again?”

“That... we'll talk about it later. I have other important things to do right now.”

Li Mubai replied after a moment of thought.

He also wanted to expand the factory area.

This would increase production, allowing him to earn more money.

More money also meant more exchange points.

Of course, he wouldn't be at odds with exchange points.

However...

Having just exchanged for the Advanced CNC Machine Tool, he was now penniless and had no money to expand the factory area.

Only after the next batch of steel was produced and sold to the Research Institute would he have the money to expand the factory area.

Old Xiao quickly departed.

Returning to the office, Li Mubai found that Ruan Xiu had already woken up and was sitting on the sofa, staring blankly.

“You're awake?”

Ruan Xiu looked at Li Mubai when she heard his voice, a hint of confusion in her eyes, as if she hadn't fully woken up.

“Uh.”

Ruan Xiu nodded.

“Let's go, I'll take you home.”

Li Mubai folded the blanket and placed it in the cabinet against the wall.

Then, the two got up and left.

Under the sunset.

The two shadows on the road were stretched very long...

Ruan Xiu sat sideways on the bicycle, one hand resting on the edge of the back seat, the other holding onto Li Mubai's shirt on his back.

Listening to the wind rushing past her ears, her brows relaxed, and a hint of contentment appeared in her eyes.

At this moment, the two looked very much like a couple in love.

The bicycle rode on the streets of the county town.

Drawing envious glances from single passersby along the road.

“I want sweet love too!”

A single person wailed.

“A talented man and a beautiful woman, this young couple is a good match.”

An old man nodded, his eyes showing blessings.

“This man is so handsome! Oh no, it's the feeling of my heart fluttering. I wish I could go ask for his number, if only he were single.”

A young woman looked at Ruan Xiu on the back seat, her eyes filled with envy.

The evening breeze gently blew.

The western twilight had completely set, buried by the horizon.

Even so.

The western sky was still dyed in a rosy glow, with clouds like a painting, making people nostalgic.

Ruan Xiu looked back at this scene, her eyes showing appreciation.

Perhaps it was shyness from hearing the passersby's envy or blessings, or perhaps it was the reflection of the evening glow in the sky, but at this moment, a faint blush colored her cheeks.

Before long.

The sky had completely darkened.

And Ruan Xiu was dropped off at her dormitory building by Li Mubai.

“You go up. Try not to go out at night; it's not very safe outside.”

Li Mubai held the bicycle and warned Ruan Xiu.

In the society of the 1990s, social order was not yet so stable, and hooligans often appeared on the streets.

These people didn't really respect the law.

Of course.

They might not even understand the law.

Often, such people acted purely on their whims, making them the most dangerous.

And Ruan Xiu was beautiful, with a delicate face and a graceful figure.

If she were targeted going out at night, it would inevitably lead to trouble.

“Uh. Got it. You should go back quickly too. Ride slowly on the way and be careful.”

Ruan Xiu nodded softly, then went upstairs.

Li Mubai looked up from downstairs, watching until Ruan Xiu poked her head out of the window. Only then did he nod to her and slowly rode away on his bicycle.

Ruan Xiu watched for a long time.

Until the bicycle disappeared at the street corner, only then did she stop.