“Fatty, you’ve really got some skills!” Old Clark couldn’t help but marvel at how such a simple design had never occurred to anyone in the entire country before. He could only give Henry Grant a thumbs-up.

This Fatty Grant truly lives up to being a student of Shuimu University—he’s got real skills, and his designs are practical, not out of touch with reality. He’s got a bright future ahead.

Now that he had money, he could naturally consider more things. Henry Grant started thinking—he had to send twenty thousand back to his parents first, keep thirty thousand, and see if he could buy some titanium powder. But he’d have to start with titanium alloy.

“Old man, do you know where I can get titanium alloy or titanium powder?” Henry Grant finally let his fox tail show, quietly asking Old Clark this question.

Self-replication of nanorobots required micron-level titanium powder, and since the domestic titanium industry was just getting started, Henry Grant definitely didn’t have any channels to get it.

Some university labs might have it, maybe even the State Key Laboratory of Precision Instruments at Shuimu University, but Henry Grant didn’t have the connections to just walk into a state key lab and ask around. On the other hand, Old Clark did have that kind of ability.

“I’ve heard of titanium alloy—I’ll help you ask around.” Old Clark hadn’t worked with titanium alloy himself, but he’d heard about its high strength and low density, which was exactly what Fatty needed. He liked Fatty, especially since what he made was right up his alley, so Old Clark decided to help him out.

With money in hand and Old Clark helping to look into titanium alloy and powder, today was definitely a good day. Once the work was done, Henry Grant planned to leave.

However, Old Clark didn’t just come to give him money—the most important thing was to pass on his experience. Since Fatty had the talent, he’d teach him as much as he could. Who knows, maybe one day Fatty would become the youngest level-eight fitter.

Henry Grant was eager to learn more, too. Previously, just being able to machine with five-micron precision could earn him fifty thousand a day—who would complain about having such a money-making skill?

Besides, with a legendary, national treasure-level level-nine master fitter guiding him, only a fool wouldn’t learn! Without hesitation, Henry Grant followed Old Clark’s instructions, learning step by step.

As the saying goes, it takes three years to become a skilled lathe operator, and ten years to become a mediocre fitter. To truly master fitting is not something that happens overnight.

Well, Fatty was an exception. Watching the skillful hands of Henry Grant, Old Clark couldn’t help but sigh.

Before retiring, Old Clark was a level-eight fitter, which is the highest professional rank for fitters. The reason he’s now called a level-nine fitter is because after retirement, the state gave him an honorary promotion as a retirement benefit—it’s not an actual ninth level.

A fitter’s job isn’t just about the cutting work on the vise. As a fitter, you have to be a jack-of-all-trades. This is even more true for a level-eight fitter.

A level-eight fitter must know design, drafting, and process planning—they’re experts in mechanical design and drawing. They must master the machining properties of various metals, cutting performance, and the making, improvement, and repair of all kinds of tools. They must also be proficient, or even excel, in forging, casting, turning, milling, planing, grinding, boring, riveting, welding, and sheet metal work. Their basic skills reach a level unimaginable to ordinary people.

Old Clark was proficient in all of these, but his real specialty was assembly. All kinds of precision installation and adjustment, dynamic balancing, and even optimizing certain designs—these were his strengths.

He wished he could cram all this valuable experience into Henry Grant’s head in the shortest time possible.

Henry Grant didn’t disappoint—once he got hands-on, he could almost immediately master the skills. After a bit of practice, he could match, or even surpass, Old Clark’s peak level in most machining techniques and precision.

Such a genius learning speed made Old Clark look at Henry Grant as if he were a monster. This Fatty was probably born to be the best fitter—he was just freakishly talented.

No one knew where Old Clark had worked before—he’d made almost everything, and except for the newest materials, he’d machined nearly every kind of material before. He was a true all-rounder.

The old and the young were like a tortoise meeting a green bean—they hit it off right away. One taught with dedication, the other learned with diligence, both completely forgetting the passage of time.

Of course, it also had to do with Henry Grant wearing the exoskeleton chair. Old Clark sat and gave instructions, and he could also sit and practice at the most comfortable height. Otherwise, after so long, his feet would have been too sore to stand.

“Old man, the night shift is about to end.” A worker outside reminded the two in the workshop.

They both looked up and realized that, without noticing, it was already ten o’clock at night.

Chapter 0014: Learning the Craft (Part 2)

They agreed to continue tomorrow and parted ways at the entrance of the fitter’s workshop—one went home, the other back to the dorm.

Carrying two bags of Uni-brand zhajiang noodles back to the dorm, as soon as he opened the door, everyone was stunned.

“Fatty, didn’t you say you were going to lose weight?” William Clark, who was close to Fatty, questioned directly, “Why are you eating instant noodles again so late at night?”

“Don’t even mention it!” Henry Grant’s whole body was sore and limp as he lazily said, “I had breakfast early this morning, and I haven’t eaten anything since.”