Chapter 157 How Is This Possible

"Then you can take your apprentices and leave now." Seeing that the veteran mechanic had fallen into his trap, Liu Xing playfully gestured with a 'please leave' motion.

"You!!!" The old mechanic flicked his sleeve in anger, spat out a cold "Let's wait and see!", and left with his dozen or so apprentices.

He had no choice. Since he had made a wager with Liu Xing in front of Li Dawei, he naturally had to honor the bet. After all, if he went back on his word, he would no longer have a foothold in the Hengshui Winery.

Yet he believed that even if Liu Xing were given two days, he still might not be able to fix the malfunctioning bottling equipment they had bet on.

Do not ask why; to ask was because he and his dozen apprentices had failed to fix it after working on it for over half a month. For Liu Xing, working alone with perhaps one assistant, to fix it in two hours was nothing short of pipe-dreaming and arrogant bragging.

Indeed! He admitted that his repair skills were inferior to Lao Yu, the ace mechanic of Hengshui Winery, but regardless, he had been repairing bottling equipment for decades. How could he possibly be outperformed by a sixteen or seventeen-year-old kid?

If that were truly the case, he might as well buy a piece of soft tofu and smash his head against it to end his misery.

Liu Xing smiled faintly as he watched all the mechanics depart. Noticing that Kang Fuquan was still standing nearby, he immediately said, "Uncle-in-law, close all the workshop doors, and also shut any windows that offer a view of us from the outside."

He had originally wanted to close them all, but without ventilation, the smell of alcohol would be suffocating, so he decided against sealing everything entirely.

"You got it." Although Kang Fuquan harbored doubts, he asked no further questions and hurried to follow instructions.

A bitter smile appeared on Li Dawei's face. "Liu Xing! This time you've thoroughly offended half the mechanics in the Hengshui Winery! If you fail to fix this bottling equipment within two hours, I'm afraid the higher-ups will chew me out until I'm dead."

Despite saying this, he was actually overjoyed inside.

Because Liu Xing had thoroughly deflated veteran mechanics like Lao Wang, something Li Dawei himself had longed to do but could never accomplish.

"Look at that cowardly look of yours. Weren't my words to Lao Wang just now meant to have your back?" Liu Xing rolled his eyes at Li Dawei in mild exasperation. "To be honest, as a factory director reduced to this state, you're really not as useful as an ordinary employee."

"Sigh!" Li Dawei wanted to explain, but a thousand words melted into a single soft sigh.

Because he knew that explanations right now were useless.

Only Liu Xing displaying his genuine skills could save him.

Seeing that Liu Xing had tied his apron and put on his gloves, Li Dawei quickly asked, "Is there anything I can help with? If you trust me, I can have Lao Yu's son, Yu Bin, bring a few mechanics over to help. As of right now, they still take orders from me."

"No need. This bottling equipment isn't leaking wine; it should be easy to fix." Liu Xing glanced at the clock on the wall. "Go to the kitchen and tell the chef to whip up a few extra dishes. We'll have a drink later."

"You rascal, are you trying to chase even me away?" Li Dawei was torn between laughter and tears.

"Then tell me, what use is it for you to stay here?" Liu Xing asked teasingly.

The tools were readily available, spare parts were scattered in abundance across the floor around them, and he had even enlisted Kang Fuquan as his assistant. To be frank, keeping Li Dawei in the workshop would only cause unnecessary trouble.

"Fine! Fine!" Seeing that Liu Xing had effectively issued an eviction notice, Li Dawei had no choice but to compromise. "I'm leaving! Are you happy now that I'm walking away?"

"But if you need anything, just shout out loud; I'll be right outside." With that, Li Dawei turned and left with decisive steps.

As soon as Kang Fuquan closed the workshop doors, Liu Xing pressed the operating switch of the bottling equipment beside him. He saw it start up, but it jammed almost immediately accompanied by a burning smell, prompting him to quickly flip the switch back off.

"Brother Xing, let's get one thing straight first. I used to be a schoolteacher, not a mechanic. If this bottling equipment isn't fixed within two hours, don't drag me down with you as a scapegoat!" Seeing no one else around, Kang Fuquan voiced the worries weighing on his mind.

"Uncle-in-law, you're really underestimating me!" Liu Xing smiled. "Don't worry, I never do things I'm not sure of. As long as you're willing to help, we can get this bottling equipment sorted out in an hour at most."

"Really or not?" Kang Fuquan was growing apprehensive.

He was terrified that this kid Liu Xing had gotten too full of himself and was still blowing hot air at this late stage.

If Liu Xing ended up having to return the twenty thousand yuan to Hengshui Winery, that would be a minor issue, but his own lifelong reputation might be completely ruined right here in this workshop!

"You talk too much." Unwilling to continue explaining to Kang Fuquan, Liu Xing picked up a wrench and handed it to him. "Take off all the four-centimeter JP pipes on this bottling equipment for me. Remember, don't lose the sealing rings; originals are very hard to find."

"That's easy enough." Kang Fuquan hurriedly set to work.

Fearing that Kang Fuquan might make mistakes during his first disassembly, Liu Xing stood close by to guide him.

Only after observing that Kang Fuquan worked steadily and with great care did Liu Xing walk over to the motor, pick up a multimeter, and begin testing the resistance data of the capacitor.

...

After stepping out of the workshop, Li Dawei intended to head to the cafeteria to tell the manager, Wang Zhongyu, to prepare food and drinks in advance. To his surprise, before he even reached the cafeteria, he ran into Zeng Dezhi, the vice director of Hengshui Winery, and other members of the leadership.

Right behind them were Liu Siwen, the director of Zhongyi Winery, along with Lu Xiaoban and several other mechanics.

Seeing this scene, Li Dawei's expression darkened. "Old Zeng, what is the meaning of this? At such a critical juncture, why are you bringing people from Zhongyi Winery in here?"

"This wasn't my idea; it came from Secretary Bi and Bureau Chief Chang. Hearing that Liu Xing had come to help repair the bottling equipment, they had Director Liu bring people over to observe the situation and learn the techniques along the way," Zeng Dezhi explained with a bitter smile.

In truth, Liu Siwen had no desire to come.

After all, his relationship with Li Dawei was thoroughly frozen.

However, after the five ace mechanics invited by Zhaoqing Machinery turned out to be grand frauds, his proud head had no choice but to bow. This matter concerned the life and death of Zhongyi Winery; if he failed to follow the leadership's directives, his days as the director of Zhongyi Winery would undoubtedly be over.

"They want to come learn just because they say so? A dozen mechanics from our Hengshui Winery were chased out by Liu Xing, and you tell me—do you really think Liu Xing won't pack up and walk away the moment people from Zhongyi Winery step inside?" Li Dawei glared at the silent Liu Siwen. "I honestly don't know what's going on in your head. Hengshui Winery paid twenty thousand yuan to invite this mechanic, so why on earth should you get to learn the repair techniques for free?"

"Let me tell you, don't try to pressure me with Secretary Bi. He is the secretary of Zhongyi Winery, not Hengshui Winery." Pointing directly at Liu Siwen, Li Dawei turned on his heel and walked away.

These words were deeply wounding, but as the director of Zhongyi Winery, Liu Siwen had long since cultivated a thick-skinned resilience, so he felt no discouragement whatsoever. Instead, he chased after Li Dawei with a smiling, ingratiating face. "Old Li, we've fought each other for so many years; it's about time we put aside our prejudices and cooperate sincerely."

"Get lost, who's cooperating sincerely with you?" Furious, Li Dawei spun back around to glare at Zeng Dezhi. "Old Zeng, are you ignoring my words now too? Are you doing this to cross me on purpose?"

"I'm not. This time, bringing Zhongyi Winery's mechanics here really was ordered by Bureau Chief Chang and the municipal leadership panel. As you know, Zhongyi Winery is currently facing the exact same predicament as our Hengshui Winery," Zeng Dezhi said with an uncomfortably grim expression. "They even said they're willing to cover any expenses incurred by the repairs. Isn't... isn't that killing two birds with one stone for us?"

"And what if Liu Xing refuses?" Li Dawei put his hands on his hips and stared down Zeng Dezhi. "Which idiot came up with this half-baked idea? Doesn't he know that Liu Siwen went back on his word before and completely offended Liu Xing?"

In fact, the pressure Liu Siwen and Lu Su had previously exerted on Liu Xing to claw back that twenty thousand yuan repair fee had been abetted by certain leaders acting as accomplices. It was just that, out of deference to authority, no one dared to voice it aloud.

And now, with this new stunt pulled, Li Dawei could no longer hold back his explosion.

Seeing that everyone had been silenced by his outburst, he softened his tone somewhat. "Liu Xing earns his living through genuine skill, yet you lot want to plagiarize it without spending a single cent. Does the world work that easily?"

"Does it?"

Li Dawei threw his hands out toward Zeng Dezhi, his face etched with intense anger.

To be honest, he didn't want to say these things. Many of the leaders in Hengshui and Zhongyi Wineries were acquaintances, and some frequently transferred between the two plants.

Yet he feared that Liu Xing would assume Liu Siwen had been brought in with his approval, leading him to return the money in a fit of rage and walk out, leaving Hengshui Winery's crumbling mess completely beyond recovery.

This was no alarmist talk; Liu Xing's repair expertise was currently the absolute last straw keeping Hengshui Winery afloat. Once a disruption occurred, not even immortals descending to earth could salvage the situation.

Seeing Li Dawei react thus, Zeng Dezhi grew rather troubled as well. After a moment of internal deliberation, he took a step back. "Old Li, how about this? Let Secretary Secretary decide on this matter. You and I shouldn't concern ourselves with it anymore, since words from the likes of us don't carry much weight in Hengshui Winery anyway."

This was the brutal truth, prompting a fresh wave of desolate sorrow in Li Dawei's heart.

With a long sigh, he waved his hand. "Fine! We'll do it your way. But let's make one thing clear first: Liu Xing is currently repairing the bottling equipment right now. He made a bet with Lao Wang that he could fix a machine within two hours, so don't you dare go causing disruptions at a time like this."

"Understood." Shocked by the revelation, Zeng Dezhi said no more, instead leading Liu Siwen and the others toward Secretary Secretary's office.

Fearing that Liu Siwen might stir up trouble, Li Dawei followed closely behind.

Along the way, they encountered Lao Wang and the dozen or so other mechanics.

Out of politeness, Zeng Dezhi offered a smiling greeting, "Lao Wang, if you need to rest, don't just stand outside. Go on to the cafeteria and have some tea!"

"I don't have time for tea right now; I have to wait for the results of Liu Xing's repair work!" Lao Wang pointed to the watch on his right wrist. "He bet me that he could fix the bottling equipment—which the dozen of us couldn't fix in half a month—within two hours. Forty minutes have already passed and there hasn't been a single peep from inside. I have to keep an eye on him so he doesn't run away; otherwise, where on earth am I supposed to go to collect that twenty thousand yuan?"

"What? You bet twenty thousand yuan with Liu Xing?" Zeng Dezhi was startled out of his wits. "You're just a mechanic, where on earth did you get that kind of money?"

Liu Siwen, Lu Xiaoban, and the other Zhongyi Winery mechanics were equally stunned.

Twenty thousand yuan was no small sum; at current wage rates, a lifetime of saving wouldn't amount to that much!

"No, the deal is that if Liu Xing loses, he returns the twenty thousand yuan Hengshui Winery gave him, and if I lose, I pack up all my apprentices and get lost. That's the wager," Lao Wang hurriedly clarified.

Drawing a sharp breath, Zeng Dezhi turned his gaze toward the silently brooding Li Dawei. "Old Li, is what Lao Wang said true?"

"Yes," Li Dawei nodded.

"You—! Why didn't you stop him?" Sensing that things were turning ominous, Zeng Dezhi gestured sharply at Li Dawei before breaking into a run toward Secretary Secretary's office.

This time, Li Dawei chose not to follow, opting instead to wait outside the workshop door alongside Lao Wang and the rest of the mechanics.

With a little over an hour remaining before Liu Xing's deadline, he was determined not to miss the outcome for anything in the world.

Seeing that Li Dawei wasn't moving anywhere, Liu Siwen decided to stay put as well. To pass the time, he walked over to Lao Wang with a faint smile. "Is Liu Xing the only one inside that workshop repairing the equipment?"

"No, there's also his uncle-in-law. Sounds like he used to be a schoolteacher, a man with some ink in his belly." Lao Wang was acquainted with Liu Siwen, so he spoke without inhibition, blurting out whatever crossed his mind.

Upon hearing this, Liu Siwen slapped his thigh in sudden alarm. "We're in trouble. You're likely going to lose that bet with Liu Xing."

"Why's that? I had a dozen apprentices and couldn't fix that bottling equipment in over half a month, while Liu Xing and a single helper claim they can do it in two hours. Do you take me for a fool?" Lao Wang retorted with dissatisfaction.

"Oh, you!" Liu Siwen pointed a finger at Lao Wang and shook his head vigorously. "Just think about how old Liu Xing is. He only just turned sixteen this year, right? Under those circumstances, what kind of solid repair experience could he possibly have? I'm telling you, at best he picked up a few superficial tricks from some veteran master."

"But now that Liu Xing has an older uncle-in-law by his side, the situation changes entirely. It's highly probable that this uncle-in-law is actually a seasoned master mechanic in disguise." Pausing briefly, Liu Siwen added emphasis.

These words instantly sent a wave of panic through Lao Wang.

He, too, suddenly felt that Liu Xing's accompanying uncle-in-law was not to be underestimated.

After all, ever since entering the workshop, that man hadn't uttered a single word, projecting an aura of inscrutable depth.

In contrast, Liu Xing was arrogant, boisterous, and entirely devoid of humility—hardly the portrait of someone with true mastery.

At this thought, Lao Wang instinctively bolted toward the workshop.

However, before he had even covered two meters, Secretary Secretary's deep, resonant voice rang out: "Lao Wang, curb your impatience! Since you made a wager with Liu Xing beforehand, you must honor your commitment."

"Indeed. You might be willing to throw away your dignity, but our Hengshui Winery cannot afford to lose ours." This was Zeng Dezhi's voice, carrying a tone of rebuke and a subtle chill.

Hearing this, Lao Wang could only release a helpless sigh and retreat.

Startled by the sudden arrival of Secretary Secretary, Liu Siwen quickly snapped out of his daze and hurried forward. "Oh! Why did you have to come out personally? I should have gone to your office to see you instead."

"You coming to see me wouldn't bring any good news. Listen up! Hengshui Winery doesn't welcome you. If you don't want to be thrown out by the security guards, get lost right now." Waving his hand dismissively, Secretary Secretary ignored Liu Siwen entirely and walked directly toward Li Dawei.

Such a blunt attitude and stern demeanor threw Liu Siwen into a panic. He quickly chased after Secretary Secretary. "Please don't be so heartless! I brought people here to learn how to repair the bottling equipment with the explicit approval of Secretary Bi and Bureau Chief Chang!"

"They amount to nothing!!" Secretary Secretary glared at Liu Siwen. "Don't treat me like a fool. Your Zhongyi Winery wronged Liu Xing, so why should our Hengshui Winery pay the price for it?"

"Listen to me well: outside of Hengshui Winery, I won't interfere, but within these grounds, anyone who dares to scheme against Liu Xing or harbor designs on his repair techniques—forget it! You'll only do it by stepping over my dead body!" Secretary Secretary roared these final words, radiating a blend of authoritative majesty and unyielding righteousness.

The declaration frightened Liu Siwen into shrinking his neck back into his shoulders. He originally intended to coax Secretary Secretary into calming down with a few pleasantries, but the very next second, he froze completely.

He was not the only one paralyzed in place; Lao Wang and the dozen other Hengshui mechanics, along with Li Dawei, Lu Xiaoban, and Zeng Dezhi, were all struck motionless.

The reason for this stunned silence was the sudden, steady roar of bottling equipment operating from within the tightly shut workshop across from them.

This mechanical roar carried no abnormal noise, no stutters, and no jams; it hummed with smooth, continuous power.

"Th-this... how is that possible?"

Lao Wang's eyes bulged so wide his jaw nearly hit the floor.

Had such operational sounds drifted from any other workshop, he would have paid them no mind.

Yet every single piece of bottling equipment in this particular workshop was utterly broken, and the only occupants inside were Liu Xing and Kang Fuquan.

Under such conditions, for the machinery to suddenly resume normal operation could only signify one thing:

Liu Xing had genuinely succeeded in repairing the targeted bottling equipment.

As for the time elapsed...

Lao Wang instinctively glanced down at the watch on his right wrist, and upon realizing that less than an hour had passed, he stood rooted to the spot, utterly dumbfounded.

Li Dawei was equally stunned, but as the reality washed over him, waves of ecstatic joy surged through his chest.

This Liu Xing truly was a monstrous talent.

Bottling equipment that a dozen Hengshui mechanics had failed to mend in over half a month had been fixed by him in a mere hour. What did this prove? It proved absolute mastery and unwavering confidence in his craft!

"Hahaha... Well done, Liu Xing!" Li Dawei threw his head back and burst into unbridled laughter.

Secretary Secretary was similarly overcome with emotion.

Only now did he realize what an extraordinary powerhouse Liu Xing truly was.

He had previously worried that Liu Xing was unequal to the task; now, he saw how severely he had underestimated the young man.

By pushing forward with Liu Xing's selection to tackle the repairs in the face of widespread opposition from the leadership, Li Dawei had truly rendered an immense service to the factory.

Barring unforeseen accidents, the stubborn bottleneck that had plagued Hengshui Winery for years was finally resolved.

And with that crisis resolved, guiding Hengshui Winery back onto the tracks of normal operation and restoring its former standing would be a breeze.

With this thought, the corners of Secretary Secretary's eyes reddened, and tears of pure joy welled up.

Yet while Liu Xing's success brought jubilation to some, it plunged others into despair.

That person, without a doubt, was Liu Siwen.

The more monstrous Liu Xing's performance at Hengshui Winery appeared, the more hollow and powerless Liu Siwen's own position became.

In the future, he would scarcely have any standing left before the higher-ups.

And the root cause, obviously, was his prior betrayal which had thoroughly alienated Liu Xing.

Realizing that remaining here was a dead end—especially since Secretary Secretary would never grant him access to the workshop—Liu Siwen weighed his options before turning on his heel. Dragging Lu Xiaoban and the mechanics with him, he fled in a panic to report the grim reality back to their superiors.

He could only pray that Liu Xing's triumph was somehow a fluke; otherwise, his own troubles had only just begun.