"I'm looking for something," Li Wei said as he pulled out his phone.
He brought up an exceptionally complex CAD design drawing. "A Custom Flange Adapter."
He pointed at the drawing on the screen, his speech clear and precise.
"Main material requirement is Hastelloy B-3. One end is a DN80 National Standard HG/T20592 Raised Face flange, pressure rating PN16. The other end..."
"The most critical part," Li Wei's tone grew heavier, "is that the central axes of the two flanges need a 15-degree angle. All sealing surfaces must reach a roughness of Ra1.6."
"The entire workpiece must be manufactured as a single piece; no welding is allowed. Furthermore, I need you to provide a 100% X-ray Flaw Detection Report to prove there are no internal defects."
After finishing, he looked up, his eyes burning as he stared at Lu You.
Behind him, Assistant Xiao Chen was already completely lost in the technical jargon.
But he could also sense that the manager was playing for keeps this time.
He was using the highest standards of the entire industry to issue an ultimate challenge to this small shop.
Li Wei even felt a hint of malicious pleasure in his heart.
The requirement he proposed could be described as vicious.
This was a non-standard part urgently designed based on a sudden failure in their project.
The drawings had only been finalized by Hans Cat's engineers yesterday; it was impossible for a second copy to exist anywhere in the world.
Material, standards, tolerances, craftsmanship... every requirement was an almost insurmountable hurdle.
Especially the 'single-piece molding' and the '15-degree angle.'
This required a top-tier Five-Axis Simultaneous CNC Machining Center to slowly 'carve' it out from a single piece of expensive bar stock, consuming a vast amount of time.
There were only a handful of domestic manufacturers capable of making it, and the fastest delivery time would be twenty days.
He brought it out today specifically to use this insurmountable mountain to crush the 'omnipotent' myth of this shop.
The surrounding air seemed to freeze.
Everyone could see that this big shot was here to cause trouble.
Lu You looked down, carefully examining the drawing on the phone screen without even a furrow of his brow.
A minute later, just as Li Wei was ready to utter a mocking 'as expected,' Lu You looked up.
His expression remained calm.
It was as if what Li Wei had just described wasn't some difficult problem, but as simple as asking for a bag of screws.
Then, he spoke the word that Li Wei had already heard several times today.
But this time, it exploded in his ears like a bolt from the blue.
"Yes!"
Li Wei's pupils contracted instantly.
"What?" he couldn't help but raise his voice.
"I said, I have it," Lu You repeated patiently.
"The Non-Standard Flange Adapter you requested—Hastelloy B-3, single-piece five-axis machining, 15-degree angle, Ra1.6 roughness, with a full set of flaw detection reports. I have it in stock in my shop."
"Impossible!" Li Wei lost his composure slightly.
He instinctively took a step forward. "That's absolutely impossible! This drawing was only finalized yesterday; it's unique! How could you possibly have it in stock?!"
"The facts are as they are." Lu You didn't bother to argue, simply asking, "However, this item isn't cheap."
"Talk is useless!" Li Wei forced himself to calm down. "Where is it? I want to see the stock! If the physical item has even the slightest discrepancy from my drawing, or if you can't produce a qualified flaw detection report..."
"According to your shop's rules, would that count as a failed challenge?"
He was using the other party's own rules to checkmate him.
"Of course it would," Lu You nodded, calmly accepting the challenge.
He then turned toward the door leading to the back warehouse. "Please wait a moment."
Watching Lu You disappear behind the door, Li Wei's heart pounded wildly.
Assistant Xiao Chen leaned in, his voice dry. "Man... Manager Li, he... he couldn't really..."
Li Wei didn't answer, his eyes fixed intently on that door.
Time felt incredibly long at this moment.
Three minutes later, the door opened.
Lu You walked out.
He was wearing a pair of brand-new, pure white gloves.
He carefully carried an oddly shaped part that shimmered with a metallic luster.
Lu You gently placed the part on the counter, which was covered with a soft, shock-proof cloth.
Li Wei's pupils shook instantly, and his breath hitched.
That's it!
The item that existed in the mobile CAD software, the crystallization of the wisdom of Hans Cat's top engineers.
The Custom Flange Adapter that had left his entire procurement team helpless.
It was now actually presented before his eyes!
The perfect mechanical machining texture, the precise chamfers, the unique 15-degree tilt.
All of it was exactly as designed in the drawing, without the slightest difference!
No, it was even more exquisite than the finished product Li Wei had envisioned in his mind!
He stepped forward quickly, abandoning his decorum.
He almost 'snatched' the adapter into his hands.
As the workpiece entered his hands, the heavy texture struck his soul through his palms.
With trembling hands, he took out a Digital Vernier Caliper with 0.01mm precision and a set of Feeler Gauges from his briefcase.
He began an on-site inspection in front of everyone.
Flange outer diameter: 200mm, perfectly accurate!
Bolt hole center distance: 160mm, not a hair off!
Sealing surface dimensions, boss height... he measured item by item, fine beads of cold sweat gradually appearing on his forehead.
His hands were shaking, not from nervousness, but from excitement.
Every dimension was perfectly at the center value of the tolerance range marked on the drawing!
What terrifying machining precision!
Even if Hans Cat's original factory were to make it, they could never achieve such perfection!
"The... the flaw detection report..." Li Wei's voice was already somewhat hoarse.
Lu You's expression remained unchanged as he took out a freshly printed document and handed it over.
Li Wei took it with trembling hands; it was an impeccably standardized digital X-ray Flaw Detection Report.
It clearly showed a digital perspective view of the workpiece's interior.
The image was clear, and the crystal lattice was dense.
There were no welding defects such as pores, slag inclusions, or cracks; the evaluation result was Class I (the highest grade), fully qualified.
And in the report generation time column—three minutes ago!
*Gulp.*
Li Wei swallowed hard with difficulty.
"You... you... how... how on earth did you do this?"
"I run a Hardware Store," Lu You's answer was as simple as ever.
"As for how it was done, that's a trade secret. This adapter, including the report, is eighteen thousand yuan in total."
"If there are no issues, you may proceed with the payment."
Eighteen thousand?
Eighteen thousand!
Li Wei's brain let out a loud bang!
This price was less than one-tenth of Hans Cat's original quote!
It was nearly half the price of the rush-order fees from top-tier domestic processing plants!
Most importantly, it was right here in my hands! It's in stock!
The technical problem that had plagued the entire project team for nearly half a month was solved at this moment!
The millions in potential losses caused by the delay of this part had also been avoided!
He held the adapter tightly in both hands, as if holding a rare treasure.
He tremblingly took out the company's dedicated procurement card from his bag:
"Payment, immediately!!"