Encountering Obstacles in Tianjin Port, Astounding the Veteran Expert with Skill

The fleet left the Northeast and headed south all the way, its tires crushing the firm early-spring soil and kicking up faint dust.

The further they traveled inland, the chill in the wind was gradually replaced by a humid, salty breeze carrying the scent of moisture.

Large expanses of saline-alkali land and scattered reed marshes began to appear along the roadside.

Tiancheng had arrived.

As a major industrial port city in the north, Tiancheng's factory scale presented a completely different atmosphere from Shencheng. It lacked some of the roughness of heavy industry, replaced instead with greater precision and a busier tempo.

On both banks of the Hai River, factory buildings stood in forests, the sound of ship whistles intertwining with the roaring of machinery.

The focus of He Yuzhu's team for this trip was the Tiancheng Heavy Machinery Plant located along the Hai River and several large shipyards.

The equipment in these factories was exposed to moisture and sea breezes year-round, making corrosion and lubrication issues much more complex and specialized.

With the successful experience of Shencheng under their belts, the members of the team felt significantly more confident.

Ma Hua even began to contemplate Tiancheng's famous Goubuli steamed buns and Shibajie twisted dough crullers.

However, as soon as they arrived at the Tiancheng Heavy Machinery Plant, they ran into a polite yet firm rebuff.

The person greeting them was a technical vice director named Qian, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, speaking in a measured tone with the distinctive local Tianjin accent. His attitude was courteous yet permeated with aloofness.

"Engineer He, you've come a long way. Thank you for your hard work." Director Qian shook He Yuzhu's hand with a standard smile. "We received the documents from the ministry. However, our factory's situation is quite special; the equipment is precise and the operating conditions are complex. Lubrication in corrosive environments, in particular, has always been a stubborn and difficult problem."

Pushing up his glasses, he continued, "The veteran engineers in the factory's technical department have spent decades working on lubrication, and they all have their own experience and formulas. Your new formula... well, it's good for young people to show drive, but to be on the safe side, shouldn't we conduct a small-scale trial first to see the results?"

Between the lines, his words conveyed distrust and a desire to stall.

The several veteran factory engineers accompanying him all wore expressionless faces, their gazes carrying scrutiny and a trace of imperceptible contempt.

Clearly, He Yuzhu was too young, and the title of "expert" hailing from the capital did not carry enough weight in front of these experienced technical authorities.

Before He Yuzhu could speak, a white-haired veteran engineer named Sun chimed in, his tone carrying obvious disapproval: "Director Qian is right. When it comes to lubrication, a miss is as good as a mile. It cannot be resolved just by looking at document data."

"The imported ten-thousand-ton hydraulic press in our plant has never had satisfactory spindle lubrication, and no matter how many experts we invited, they all shook their heads. Would you dare to apply this new formula of yours to it?"

This was a direct challenge. That ten-thousand-ton hydraulic press was the plant's pride and joy, as well as a chronic headache. If anything went wrong with it, no one could shoulder the responsibility.

For a moment, the atmosphere grew somewhat tense.

Ma Hua turned red with anger and wanted to argue, but He Yuzhu stopped him with a glance.

He Yuzhu's expression remained calm as he looked at Engineer Sun. "Engineer Sun, could you first take us to see that hydraulic press?"

"Take a look? Of course you can take a look." Engineer Sun shrugged, wearing an expression that said looking would do no good.

The group arrived at the massive hydraulic press workshop.

A colossal machine stood in the center of the workshop, radiating a cold metallic sheen.

However, near the spindle area, obvious oil stains and rust marks could be seen, and several maintenance workers were gathered around looking distressed.

He Yuzhu carefully inspected the design of the lubrication points, the oil grades, and the surrounding corrosive environment.

*Ding! Suitable location detected: Hydraulic Press Workshop of the Tiancheng Heavy Machinery Plant. Do you wish to check in?*

"Check in."

*Check-in successful! Obtained: Primary Corrosive Environment Lubrication Adaptation Analysis (Time-limited).*

A stream of information poured into his mind, instantly analyzing the combined impact of moisture, salt, pressure, and temperature on the existing oil, and providing the key parameters and additive compatibility scheme required for the new formula adjustment.

"The problem lies in the insufficient synergistic effect of the demulsibility and anti-rust additives, making it impossible to effectively isolate the erosion of moisture and salt," He Yuzhu said, his tone resolute. "Our base formula needs to adjust the proportions of two key additives specifically for high-humidity and high-salt environments, and additionally incorporate a complexing agent to coat the metal surface and block electrochemical corrosion."

The professional terminology and adjustment plans he reeled off were extremely precise, pointing straight to the core.

The disapproving expressions on the faces of Engineer Sun and the veteran engineers froze, replaced by looks of astonishment.

The very points He Yuzhu mentioned were precisely the pain points they had explored for years without ever being able to resolve perfectly!

"Easier said than done!" A slightly younger engineer beside Engineer Sun couldn't help but retort. "Are the additive proportions that easy to adjust? Pulling one hair moves the whole body! A complexing agent? Which kind? What dosage? If you're not careful, it will accelerate the deterioration of the oil!"

"Use a compound of barium petroleum sulfonate and dodecenyl succinic acid in a 3:7 ratio. For the complexing agent, use a benzotriazole derivative at a dosage of five per ten-thousand." He Yuzhu stated the specific plan almost without hesitation. "After adjustment, the demulsibility will be enhanced by more than five times, and the rust prevention grade will be elevated by at least two levels."

Such concrete data and schemes!

The veteran engineers completely cast aside their contempt, crowding around him one after another. Some took out notebooks to start recording, while others furrowed their brows to contemplate the feasibility.

Director Qian also saw the potential and adopted a much more serious attitude. "Engineer He, your plan... are you confident?"

"We can first run a trial on the standby dry grease station system over there," He Yuzhu once again pulled out his proven method. "The results will be immediate."

"Good! We'll do as Engineer He says!" Director Qian made the decision.

The trial began immediately. The system was cleaned, new oil was blended according to He Yuzhu's plan, injected, and started up.

Everyone's eyes remained fixed squarely on that previously rust-covered dry grease station system that used to creak and groan during operation.

The machine started running. At first, there was no abnormality. A few minutes later, the veteran master responsible for monitoring suddenly shouted, "It's working! The oil output speed has stabilized! The pressure hasn't dropped either!"

In the past, this system could not run for long before pressure would drop and oil output would become uneven due to oil emulsification and clogging of the filter screens.

Time ticked by second by second. Half an hour, an hour... The system ran smoothly! The output grease was uniform and delicate, completely devoid of the previous water separation and turbidity!

"Miraculous!" an old maintenance worker couldn't help shouting. "This oil looks crystal clear!"

He Yuzhu had someone draw a small sample of the operating oil, drop it onto a prepared metal test piece, and place it into the humid salt-fog test chamber nearby.

After several hours of accelerated testing, the test piece was taken out. To everyone's amazement, the surface of the test piece showed only the most slight color variation, and when touched by hand, there was no trace of corrosion at all! Meanwhile, the comparative test piece using the old oil was already covered in rust!

Facts spoke louder than words!

"I'm convinced! Truly convinced!" Engineer Sun was the first to step forward, tightly grasping He Yuzhu's hand, his face filled with excitement and shame. "Engineer He! I apologize for any offense earlier! Your technology is beyond reproach! We old fellows have isolated ourselves for too long! Your formula and train of thought have completely enlightened us!"

The other veteran engineers also crowded around, asking questions all at once. Their attitudes had completely shifted, and their eyes were filled with admiration.

Director Qian was beaming with satisfaction. "Engineer He! Say no more! The ten-thousand-ton hydraulic press! We'll leave it entirely in your hands! Whatever cooperation you need, just say the word! Our plant will provide full support!"

With the biggest technological barrier conquered, the subsequent promotion work progressed like cutting through bamboo.

The enthusiasm for learning among the technical staff at the Tiancheng Heavy Machinery Plant reached an unprecedented high.

The news spread quickly, and the neighboring shipyards and machine tool plants successively sent people over to invite He Yuzhu's team to provide guidance.

The team members were kept spinning in a whirlwind of activity, but they all harbored a driving momentum and worked with fiery enthusiasm.

Watching those veteran experts who used to look down on everyone now humbly seeking guidance from Engineer He, Ma Hua stood with his back straight.

A few days later, a letter of gratitude and another merit-report from the Tiancheng Heavy Machinery Plant flew toward the capital once again.

Meanwhile, while He Yuzhu's team was making a splash in Tianjin and subduing all skepticism with solid technology, thousands of miles away in the courtyard, Qin Huairu—who had just been released and sent home to live in straitened circumstances—was once again starting to harbor crooked intentions.