The rotary tiller is a type of agricultural machinery towed by a tractor, capable of performing plowing operations in large fields. The rotary tiller blade is the plowshare on the rotary tiller and is a consumable item. Depending on the degree of wear, it generally needs to be replaced every few hundred or over a thousand mu of land. In those years, in countries like Japan where the rate of such agricultural machinery was relatively high, about 10 million rotary tiller blades were consumed annually. Although China's level of agricultural mechanization was low, there was still a market for about 2 million blades per year.

The domestic selling price of rotary tiller blades is generally 2 to 3 yuan per blade, while the cost is only about half of that, making it a high-profit product. Brian Wade, who succeeded Jane Newman as the director of Qingfeng Factory, happened to discover this product and ordered the technical and production departments of Qingfeng Factory to develop it and launch it on the market. Unexpectedly, although the product was developed, the process of bringing it to market did not go smoothly. After accepting two batches of products from Qingfeng Factory, the provincial agricultural supply company firmly refused to accept any more, citing that the rotary tiller blades produced by Qingfeng Factory were of poor quality, with an average service life only two-thirds that of domestic peers.

“The agricultural supply company says that other people's blades can plow 700 mu, but ours can't even reach 500 mu. The Japanese blades can plow 1,200 mu. Damn Eugene Lane's ancestors, the blades he made are so lousy that I have to keep sucking up to the agricultural supply company and get nothing in return.” Donald Shaw cursed as he spoke.

On the side, Leonard Miller quietly explained Donald Shaw's words to Henry Carter. The Eugene Lane mentioned by Donald Shaw is the technical section chief of Qingfeng Factory, a bona fide university graduate from the early 1960s, and quite capable. This time, the development of the rotary tiller blade was the responsibility of Eugene Lane and the production section chief George King, with this result.

“I just thought of something, Section Chief Shaw, you say our blades aren't good enough—could it be that they weren't quenched after processing?” Mark Newman guessed, trying to sound clever. Having learned the importance of quenching from his own misfortunes, he took this opportunity to show off to Donald Shaw, “Section Chief Shaw, why not let Henry Carter take a look at these blades? He knows how to quench, and his skills are top-notch.”

Donald Shaw said disdainfully, “Fatty, if you don't understand, don't talk nonsense. Would we sell unquenched blades? No matter how much of a fool Eugene Lane is, he still knows that much, right?”

Seeing that Mark Newman had brought the topic to him, Henry Carter thought for a moment and said, “Section Chief Shaw, if you don't mind, may I take a look at our blades? When I was in technical school, I learned a bit about rotary tiller blades. Who knows, even a fool may have a good idea.”

Donald Shaw was somewhat educated himself and had some cultural background. Hearing Henry Carter use such an uncommon idiom and speak so modestly, he felt a bit of admiration. He bent down, untied the rope on the woven bag, and said to Henry Carter, “The blades are all inside. Take a look if you want.”

Henry Carter reached into the bag and took out a blade, examining it carefully under the light. He then picked up another blade, tapped them together to listen to the sound of the metal, and said, “Section Chief Shaw, the steel used for our blades really isn't up to standard.”

“Oh?” Donald Shaw raised his eyes, red from drinking, and stared at Henry Carter, asking, “What’s wrong with it? Tell me.”

Henry Carter said, “I haven’t done any testing, so I can’t say for sure. But judging from the color and sound of the steel, the sulfur and phosphorus content is probably too high, and the toughness of the material doesn’t meet the standard requirements.”

“Not bad!” Donald Shaw showed a look of surprise. “Eugene Lane told me the same thing. He said it’s not our processing that’s the problem, but that the steel provided by Beixi Steel Plant is substandard, so our blades can’t compare with those of other domestic companies. Young Carter, you’re really something, being able to spot the problem at a glance. Come, let me toast you. We don’t have a single young person as technically skilled as you in Qingfeng Factory!”

With this one sentence, Donald Shaw managed to insult Mark Newman, Harold Young, and Leonard Miller present, but the three of them didn’t mind, since they really didn’t know anything about technology and weren’t ashamed of it.

Henry Carter clinked glasses with Donald Shaw, drank, and then said, “However, Section Chief Shaw, I think Section Chief Lane’s words are a bit one-sided. The material is bad, and that’s not something we can change. But we can make up for it in the process. If the process is chosen well, it’s entirely possible to use this kind of steel to achieve the product quality of advanced domestic companies.”

“Are you serious?” Donald Shaw put down his glass, his expression turning serious. “Young Carter, are you saying our product can still be saved?”

Henry Carter said, “That depends on whether the factory wants to save it. If you want to, there’s definitely a way.”

“Of course we want to!” Donald Shaw said. “We have a whole warehouse stacked with 10,000 blades. If the agricultural supply company won’t accept them, more than 10,000 yuan in costs will go down the drain. If there’s a way to improve the quality of these blades to the level of advanced domestic companies… no, as long as it reaches the domestic average, I’ll force the agricultural supply company to take them. If they dare refuse, I’ll shove the blades in their faces!”