The graduation project, Henry Grant had already decided on it during the summer break. In that future dream, there was a product that wasn’t very complicated, something Henry Grant could make himself, and it could also serve as the basis for his graduation thesis.

Most importantly, Henry Grant could apply for a patent for that product. If successful, it might even bring in a modest income in the future.

At his father’s factory, Henry Grant was only allowed to use some scrapped parts to get hands-on experience. Henry Grant never intended to modify anything with those scrapped parts, instead focusing wholeheartedly on honing his skills. But at school, he could finally get hands-on with real work.

While other classmates were still worrying about which group to join, Henry Grant had already quickly chosen his topic the very next day, reported it to his advisor, and received permission to use the school-run factory to complete his design project.

On the third morning after the semester started, after breakfast, Henry Grant headed straight to the school-run factory and found the person in charge to explain his purpose.

“You want to use a lathe and the tools from the fitting workshop to make your graduation project?” The workshop Director Harris, who was responsible for receiving students, didn’t find Henry Grant’s request strange at all. Every year during graduation project season, they had to help with quite a few things—it was perfectly normal.

“Could you wait a few days?” Director Harris was very friendly, but there was a hint of difficulty on his face: “A batch of students just finished their metalworking internship last term, and these lathes are currently being serviced. Would a week later be okay?”

The various workshops in the school-run factory were basically the places where students did their metalworking internships. After each internship, the machines had to be serviced and adjusted. Director Harris’s request was perfectly reasonable.

“Not even one is available?” Henry Grant didn’t want to waste that much time: “I just need to make four sets of hydraulic cylinders and pistons. It’ll take half a day, a day at most.”

“Do you need high precision?” Hearing this, Director Harris also felt that such a small job being delayed for a week didn’t make sense, so he thought for a moment and asked.

“Not really.” Sensing an opportunity in Director Harris’s words, Henry Grant immediately seized it: “As long as it comes out straight, it’s fine.”

“Over there, there’s an old lathe that’s been around for a long time, so its precision isn’t great.” Director Harris pointed to a corner room in the lathe workshop: “If you don’t need high precision, it should be fine.”

“Absolutely fine, no problem, thank you, Director Harris!” Henry Grant agreed at once. What’s the worry if the precision isn’t high? At worst, he could fix it up in the fitting workshop—no big deal.

After getting the key and applying for materials, Henry Grant excitedly went over to open that room and check out the condition of the old lathe.

There were only two lathes in the small room, and at a glance, both were very old—practically antiques. This room was probably dedicated to preserving these two old lathes, though who knew what commemorative value they had.

Director Harris was referring to the one in the innermost part. Henry Grant went over and circled around the lathe, inspecting its condition. It was clear that both machines had been well maintained, with no signs of rust at all.

The nameplate on the lathe, due to its age, had most of the lettering worn away. Only the first line was still faintly visible, though it was covered in machine oil. Henry Grant reached out and wiped it, making the writing clearer.

“Rheinmetall 1933”

“Rheinmetall, 1933.” Henry Grant looked at the nameplate and couldn’t help but gape. A German lathe from 1933—now that was truly old. Who would have thought that the school-run factory still had such a top-tier antique.

“There’s a problem with this guide rail!” After just a few glances, Henry Grant had already spotted the issue.

Chapter 0005: Not Competing for Bread, Competing for Pride (Part 1)

“A chubby student borrowed a set of scraping tools and went to the lathe workshop a little after ten this morning?” When Old Clark strolled into the fitting workshop a little after one in the afternoon, he noticed a set of tools was missing and asked around to find out what had happened.

The tools left outside were communal, not Old Clark’s personal set. Old Clark’s set had been specially made for himself before he retired, and no one else was allowed to use them.

Even so, Old Clark was a bit surprised. Why would a student borrow scraping tools? Could it be that there was a problem with the guide rail on one of the lathes, and someone needed to fix it, so they sent that chubby student to fetch the tools?

The more he thought about it, the more uneasy he felt, so Old Clark decided to go take a look. After all, it wasn’t far, and seeing for himself would put his mind at ease. He didn’t want the student to cause any trouble with the tools.

Just as he was about to get up, Henry Grant walked in. He was there to return the tools. A whole morning was enough for him to fix the guide rail on that 1933 Rheinmetall lathe.

“Fatty, what did you need the scraping tools for?” Old Clark waited for Henry Grant to put the tools away before asking.

“One of the lathe’s guide rails had a problem, so I used the scraper on it.” Henry Grant replied casually.

Buzz—Old Clark’s mind went blank for a moment. The last thing he wanted to see had happened. Was a lathe’s guide rail so easy to scrape? If it was ruined, that lathe would be scrapped.

“Take me to have a look.” Old Clark had been through a lot, so even though he panicked at first, he quickly regained his composure.

If it really was ruined, he’d see if it could be fixed! Hopefully it wouldn’t have to be scrapped. With these thoughts, Old Clark led the puzzled chubby student toward the lathe workshop.