Fusion System: Rebirth in a Courtyard - Bird Fighting Chronicles

Chapter 197 Technical Poverty Alleviation: Passing on the Torch

Just after the spring equinox in 1996, the industrial park in my hometown county was bustling with life. The gilded school sign of "Chenqing Technical Training School" gleamed in the warm spring sun. The renovated old agricultural machinery factory had shed its former dilapidation; the gray-blue exterior walls had been painted a clean off-white, and the previously mottled windows had all been replaced with brand-new aluminum alloy frames. Through the glass, one could see neatly arranged desks and chairs and brand-new teaching equipment in the classrooms. The poverty alleviation workshop on the east side of the factory area was also completed. The huge workshop door was open, and several automated machine tools transferred from the Dongguan branch were undergoing final adjustments, the crisp sound of metal clashing echoing throughout the park.

On the day of the opening ceremony, the campus was packed with people. Three hundred students, mostly eighteen or nineteen years old, stood neatly in the playground, dressed in matching blue school uniforms. Their faces bore the simple honesty typical of rural children, yet their eyes shone with anticipation for the future. The playground was surrounded by villagers who had come to witness the ceremony. Many of the students' parents brought peanuts and dates they had grown themselves, eager to see for themselves what the school that offered their children free technical training was like.

Lin Chen and Su Qing had specially returned from Zhangcheng to attend the opening ceremony. Liu Guangtian, dressed in a sharp gray suit with a "Principal" badge on his chest, was busy coordinating the arrangements. Seeing the Lin couple approaching, he quickly went to greet them, holding a thick list of students: "Chairman Lin, President Su, all students have registered. Three teachers for the academic subjects have been seconded from the county education bureau, and all the technical teachers are in place. Uncle Wang and the others arrived from Dongguan yesterday."

Lin Chen took the roster and flipped through it. The family information section for the students was exceptionally detailed, including orphans who had lost both parents, children from families impoverished due to disability, and many impoverished students whose families couldn't even afford tuition. Turning to the last page, he saw a familiar name—"Yan Lei," with a note stating, "Great-grandson of Yan Bugui, parents divorced, living with grandmother." Lin Chen looked up at the crowd and, sure enough, saw a thin boy hiding in a corner, clutching a faded cloth bag tightly in his hand.

"Is this child Yan Xiaowei's son?" Lin Chen asked. Liu Guangtian nodded: "Yes, Yan Xiaowei said the child has loved tinkering with mechanical parts since he was little. Hearing that our school was recruiting, he brought the child to apply. I saw that the child had bright eyes and was good at learning technology, so I made an exception and admitted him." Lin Chen smiled with relief. Back then, Yan Bugui spent his life scheming against his children, but he never expected that one of his descendants would have such a child who loved technology. Perhaps this was the strange cycle of fate.

The opening ceremony officially began, with Deputy County Head Wang Qiming personally serving as the host. When he announced, "Chenqing Technical Training School is officially open," enthusiastic applause erupted on the playground, and many parents were moved to tears. Su Qing, speaking as a representative of the investors, didn't preach grand theories, but instead recounted her own experience of being assigned to odd jobs in a factory due to her family's political background, and how she regained her confidence after meeting Lin Chen: "Back then, I was just like everyone else, feeling lost about the future. But I firmly believed that with a skill, you'd never have to worry about food. Today, Chenqing provides everyone with the opportunity to learn technical skills. I hope everyone cherishes this hard-won opportunity and changes their destiny with their own hands."

Lin Chen then emphasized the school's educational philosophy: "We not only teach practical skills such as hardware processing and precision testing, but also the principles of 'being down-to-earth and doing things with integrity.' The school has established scholarships, and students with excellent academic performance and conduct can not only receive bonuses, but also directly enter Chenqing Company after graduation. The poverty alleviation workshop has already started production, and everyone can start interning in the workshop from the second month. During the internship, they will receive a salary, which will not only help them consolidate the skills they have learned, but also help ease the burden on their families."

As soon as he finished speaking, cheers erupted from the crowd. A dark-skinned boy raised his hand and asked loudly, "Chairman Lin, I heard that learning precision testing requires computers. We country kids have never touched a computer before. Can we learn it?" Lin Chen smiled, walked over to him, and patted him on the shoulder: "That's a good question. To ensure everyone learns the technology well, we've specially purchased fifty brand-new computers and hired professional instructors to teach from the basics. Uncle Wang and the other technical backbones started from scratch. As long as you're willing to learn diligently, there's nothing you can't learn."

After the opening ceremony, the students eagerly entered the classrooms and workshops. Lin Chen and Su Qing arrived at the precision testing classroom and saw twenty brand-new computers neatly arranged on the tables. A young teacher wearing glasses was explaining the basic computer operations to the students. Yan Lei sat in the front row, his eyes fixed on the computer screen, his fingers carefully placed on the keyboard, typing according to the teacher's instructions, his face full of focused attention.

"This kid is quite talented. Yesterday I took him to the workshop to see the equipment, and he explained the basic principles of machine tools after just one look," Liu Guangtian said, pointing to Yan Lei. Lin Chen nodded, took a small, intricate model of a precision part from his pocket, and handed it to Yan Lei: "This is for you. If you have any questions in the future, you can always ask Teacher Wang or Principal Liu." Yan Lei took the model, his face flushed with excitement, and stammered, "Thank you, Chairman Lin! I will definitely study hard!"

Afterwards, they arrived at the poverty alleviation workshop. Uncle Wang was standing in front of an automated machine tool, explaining its operation to the trainees. He gently pressed a button, and the machine tool began to operate smoothly, quickly producing a standard bearing part. The trainees gathered around, watching intently, occasionally letting out exclamations of amazement. Seeing Lin Chen enter, Uncle Wang stopped his work and said with a smile, "Chairman Lin, after our company's modifications, this equipment is much easier to operate. These kids learn very quickly; some of the more perceptive ones can already operate simple processes independently."

Lin Chen walked to a machine tool and carefully inspected the machined parts. He picked up calipers and measured the dimensions; the error was completely within the standard range. He said with satisfaction, "Not bad, even better than I expected. We need to teach them the core technology, so they can not only learn how to operate it but also understand the underlying principles, so they can become true technical backbones in the future."

Just then, a quarrel broke out at the workshop entrance. Lin Chen and the others went over to see what was happening and found a middle-aged man pulling a trainee named Li Tieniu away, muttering curses as he said, "What's the use of learning this useless stuff? Come with me to the construction site and carry bricks; you can earn tens of yuan a day!" Li Tieniu forcefully broke free from his father's grasp and shouted, "I don't want to carry bricks! I want to learn a skill! Chairman Lin said that after learning a skill, I can become a technician, which is much better than carrying bricks!"

The man's attitude softened slightly upon seeing Lin Chen, but he still stubbornly insisted, "Chairman Lin, I know you mean well, but my family is poor and can't afford to wait. If this child goes to work on the construction site, he can immediately earn money to supplement the family income. But learning a skill will take two more years, and we simply can't afford to waste that time." Lin Chen told Liu Guangtian to continue teaching the other trainees, then pulled the man to a break room and poured him a glass of water. "Brother, I understand your difficulties. But have you considered that bricklaying is physical labor, and you won't be able to do it when you get older? But a skill is a lifelong livelihood; once you learn it, you can earn money for a lifetime."

The man fell silent. Lin Chen continued, "I've observed Tie Niu; he's very quick to learn and has a knack for technical skills. Here's what we'll do: starting this month, the school will give Tie Niu a living allowance of two hundred yuan, enough to help support his family. Once he starts his internship in the workshop, his salary will be even higher. Moreover, we've signed an agreement with the hardware factory in the county; if our graduates don't want to go to Zhangcheng, they can work in the county's factory, earning at least a thousand yuan a month—much better than manual labor."

Hearing this, the man's eyes lit up: "Chairman Lin, are you serious? Can I really work in a factory in the county after graduation, earning over a thousand a month?" Lin Chen took out a cooperation agreement signed with the county hardware factory and handed it to the man: "This is our official agreement; it's all clearly written on it. If you're not comfortable with it, I can have Principal Liu write a guarantee for you." The man took the agreement, read it carefully, and his hands trembled with excitement. He grabbed Li Tieniu's hand and said, "Son, I was wrong. You must study hard and become successful in the future, and I'll benefit from it too!"

After resolving Li Tieniu's problem, Lin Chen and Su Qing went to the school cafeteria. The cafeteria was filled with the aroma of food, and staff were serving meals to the students. The portions were generous, consisting of two meat dishes and one vegetable dish, along with a bowl of egg drop soup. Su Qing walked to the serving window, picked up a spoon, and carefully inspected the food: "The ingredients must be fresh; we can't let the children get sick. The menu needs to be varied every week to ensure a balanced diet; the children are growing rapidly."

The canteen manager quickly said, "President Su, please rest assured, all the ingredients we purchase daily have inspection reports, and the menus are designed by a nutritionist to ensure that the children eat well and healthily." Lin Chen saw several students helping the staff clear the tableware, one of whom was Li Tieniu. He walked over and patted Li Tieniu on the shoulder: "Study hard, and when you're successful, take good care of your father." Li Tieniu nodded vigorously, his eyes filled with tears of gratitude.

In the afternoon, Lin Chen and Su Qing, accompanied by Liu Guangtian, arrived at the school dormitory. The dormitory was a six-person room, each bed covered with brand-new bedding, and each bedside table held a thermos and washbasin provided by the school. A desk was placed next to the window for students to study in the evenings. Yan Lei was sitting at the desk, reading in the sunlight streaming through the window, with the precision parts model Lin Chen had given her on it.

"Are the heating and electricity in the dormitories okay?" Su Qing asked Liu Guangtian. Liu Guangtian replied, "They're fine. We specially modified the heating pipes to ensure warmth in winter. Each dormitory has an electricity meter, and the power is on until 10 PM to facilitate the students' studies. The dormitory manager is a retired teacher hired from the county; she's very responsible and will take good care of the students."

Lin Chen walked over to Yan Lei and saw him reading a book called "Fundamentals of Hardware Processing," which was covered in dense notes. "Any questions you don't understand?" Lin Chen asked. Yan Lei looked up and said shyly, "I have a few questions about forging processes that I don't quite understand." Lin Chen pulled up a chair and sat down next to him, patiently explaining things to him, from temperature control in forging to the techniques of using molds, all in a simple and easy-to-understand way. Yan Lei listened very attentively, nodding from time to time to show that he understood, and quickly jotting down key points in his notebook.

Before they knew it, evening had fallen, and Lin Chen and Su Qing prepared to return to Zhangcheng. Before leaving, they went to Liu Guangtian's office. Liu Guangtian handed Lin Chen a detailed teaching plan: "This is the teaching plan for the next six months. The first three months will focus on theoretical knowledge and basic operations, while the latter three months will emphasize workshop practice. We will conduct assessments every month, and students who fail will receive make-up lessons to ensure that all students master the core technologies."

Lin Chen took the teaching plan, reviewed it carefully, and said with satisfaction, "This plan is very reasonable. If there is a shortage of teachers, just let us know, and the Zhangcheng headquarters will send technical experts to provide support. You don't need to worry about funding either; President Su will ensure it. As long as it's for the children's good, we're willing to invest whatever it takes." Su Qing added, "I'll come again next month to check on the school's operations and, while I'm at it, finalize the scholarship evaluation criteria. It must be fair, just, and transparent."

Liu Guangtian said emotionally, "Chairman Lin, President Su, thank you for trusting me so much. I will definitely run the school well and live up to your expectations, so that these children can learn real skills and become useful members of society in the future." Lin Chen patted him on the shoulder: "We believe in you. You learned the skills from me back then, and now you are passing them on. This is the passing on of the torch."

As the car drove away from the industrial park, Lin Chen looked back out the window and saw the trainees having physical education class on the playground. Sunlight shone on them, radiating youthful energy. The lights in the poverty alleviation workshop were already on, and Uncle Wang and the others were still explaining technical points to the trainees; the sound of the machine tools was particularly clear in the night. Su Qing leaned on Lin Chen's shoulder and whispered, "Seeing these kids reminds me of when we first started our business. It was tough then, but our hearts were full of hope."

Lin Chen held Su Qing's hand and said with emotion, "Yes, skills can change destiny, and kindness can warm hearts. When I was reborn in the courtyard house, my biggest wish was to survive. I never thought I would have the opportunity to help so many children. Once the school is established, we will build branch schools in more places so that more impoverished young people can learn skills and live a better life with their own hands."

Upon returning to Zhangcheng, Lin Chen and Su Qing immediately threw themselves into their work at the company. However, they remained concerned about the training school, calling Liu Guangtian daily to inquire about its operations and the students' learning progress. Liu Guangtian also regularly sent them reports and photos, updating them on the school's latest developments. The reports showed that the students were highly motivated, with a 95% pass rate in the first monthly exam, and many students were already able to independently complete simple parts processing.

A month later, Su Qing returned to the training school as agreed. She first reviewed the school's financial statements to ensure all funds were used effectively. Then she went to the workshop and saw the trainees diligently carrying out their practical training. Li Tieniu was operating a CNC machine tool, skillfully machining a bearing part. Seeing Su Qing enter, he immediately stopped what he was doing and said with a smile, "President Su, I can process parts independently now! Uncle Wang even praised me for doing a good job!"

Su Qing picked up the parts that Li Tieniu had processed, examined them carefully, and said with satisfaction, "Well done, even better than I expected. Starting next month, you can work with Uncle Wang and the others on some simple orders, and your internship salary will be paid on time." Li Tieniu was so excited that he couldn't speak, he just kept nodding.

Following this, Su Qing convened a faculty meeting to jointly establish the scholarship evaluation criteria. The scholarships are divided into three levels: first prize of 3,000 yuan per person per year, second prize of 2,000 yuan per person per year, and third prize of 1,000 yuan per person per year. The awards are based not only on academic performance but also on internship performance and moral character. Su Qing emphasized, "The scholarships are not only a reward for the students but also an incentive for them. We want them to understand that as long as they work hard, they will definitely be rewarded."

That afternoon, Su Qing held a press conference on the school's playground to announce the scholarship evaluation criteria. When she announced the scholarship amounts and evaluation standards, the students cheered excitedly. Yan Lei raised his hand and said, "President Su, I will definitely study hard and strive to get the first-class scholarship!" Su Qing smiled and said, "I believe in you. As long as you work hard, you can definitely do it."

After the press conference, Su Qing specifically sought out Li Tieniu's father. At that moment, Li Tieniu's father was working on the construction site outside the workshop. Seeing Su Qing approach, he quickly put down his tools and said apologetically, "President Su, I was short-sighted before. Thanks to you and Chairman Lin, Tieniu is doing very well in his studies and even receives a living allowance, making our family's life much better." Su Qing smiled and said, "It's what we should do. Tieniu is working very hard and will definitely be successful in the future, so please don't worry."

Before leaving the school, Su Qing received an application from Liu Guangtian inviting Lin Chen to give a technical lecture to the students. Su Qing immediately agreed, saying she would discuss it with Lin Chen and arrange a time for him to come as soon as possible. Looking at the energetic faces in the school, she felt a great sense of accomplishment. She knew that Chenqing Technical Training School was not just a school, but a beacon of hope; it would illuminate the path of these impoverished youths with the light of technology, allowing them to realize their life's value through the passing down of knowledge and skills.

Back in Zhangcheng, Su Qing told Lin Chen about the school's situation in detail. Lin Chen was delighted and immediately decided to personally visit the school next month to give a technical lecture to the students. He said, "I want to tell the children about my experience as an apprentice in a steel rolling mill, about the hardships and gains on the road to entrepreneurship, so they understand that no matter how great the difficulties, as long as they persevere, they will definitely succeed."

As night deepened, the headquarters building of Chenqing Company remained brightly lit. Lin Chen and Su Qing stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows, gazing at the myriad lights outside, their hearts filled with hope for the future. They knew that the road to poverty alleviation through technology was long, but as long as they remained true to their original aspirations and worked hand in hand, they were certain that more impoverished youths could change their destinies through technology, and that the story of passing on the torch would unfold in more places. And this was precisely their greatest responsibility and mission as entrepreneurs.