Chapter 1: Concord is Excellent, So I Choose the Steel Rolling Mill

Beijing Medical University.
Dean’s Office.

“Shao Wen, Xiehe Hospital is an excellent institution,” Dean Qin Zhong said calmly.

Yet sitting opposite him, Lin Shaowen’s heart was a tempest of emotions.

How was it that after a drunken night, he had awakened into a world utterly unfamiliar?

Countless memories surfaced, causing his brow to knit slightly.

Lin Shaowen, twenty years old.
An outstanding graduate of Beijing Medical University.
His father, a senior engineer at the Ministry of Industry, had died in the line of duty.
His mother, a music teacher at a university, had passed away early.
He currently lived in the Ministry of Industry’s family housing and now faced a dilemma with two choices.

As an excellent medical graduate, he had received invitations from two units.
The first was Beijing Xiehe Hospital.
The second was the medical department of a steel rolling mill.

If placed in the future, the choice between these two would be as laughable as asking Pan Jinlian to choose between Ximen Qing or Wu Dalang.
But in the 1960s, both offers were significant.
Work was not divided by prestige; all jobs deserved respect.

“Dean, Xiehe houses nearly all the nation’s top professionals. Its equipment and technology are cutting-edge. I believe my future would be bright there...” Lin Shaowen said.

Hearing this, Dean Qin Zhong smiled with satisfaction.

“So... I choose the steel mill,” Lin Shaowen said with solemnity.

“Hmm.”
The dean’s smile froze, disbelief plain on his face.

Half an hour later.

Lin Shaowen, drenched in a verbal lashing, stepped out of the dean’s office with a long sigh.

He wasn’t a fool—he knew full well Xiehe was far superior to the steel mill. But the problem was... yes, he was an outstanding graduate from medical university, but he was not that person anymore.

If something went wrong at Xiehe, imprisonment would be the least of his worries; being shot would be far worse.

It was safer to keep his head down at the steel mill. After all, as a factory doctor, could he really expect to receive proper medical treatment?

The choice was made, but another problem remained: moving.

He currently lived in Ministry of Industry family housing. His father died in the line of duty during Lin’s high school years and was posthumously honored as a "martyr" by the ministry. But the housing belonged to the ministry; he couldn’t stay there indefinitely for free.

So an agreement was reached: once Lin Shaowen graduated and was employed, the ministry would coordinate with his new unit to provide housing, then reclaim the apartment.

As Lin Shaowen pondered this, a sudden “ding” echoed in his mind.

“The Multiverse Fishing System activated.”
“Congratulations, host, you have become a Multiverse Angler. Reward: one fishing ring, one fishing rod.”

...

“What the hell?”

Lin Shaowen was utterly stunned.

What on earth was this? Multiverse fishing? Fishing for all things? Was this real?

Having been in this world less than an hour, he already yearned for the colorful life of his past.

Everything here was gray and dull—buildings, objects, even people’s clothing were mostly dark shades. Aside from white shirts, color was a rarity.

Sensing puzzled gazes around him, Lin Shaowen quickly composed himself and rushed home.

His two-bedroom apartment contained mostly books and a large quantity of alcohol.

His father, after his mother’s passing, spent most of his time reading and drinking, eventually dying of a heart attack while on duty.

Lin Shaowen gazed silently at two black-and-white photos on the wall, then touched the ring on his left ring finger.

With a flash, he entered the ring.

The blinding sunlight made him shield his eyes. He found himself on a small island, about the size of a gymnasium, with nothing but a small cabin.

Sunshine, sandy beaches, palm trees, and seagulls—he felt enchanted.

He even thought it might be nice to spend a lifetime here.

But a towering clock tower nearby reminded him: he could only stay within the ring for two hours each day and was allowed just three fishing attempts. Regardless of success, he had to return to reality.

“Let’s try my hand.”

In his past life as a corporate drone, Lin Shaowen had a fondness for fishing. Though his income was limited, he had once bought a fishing rod and occasionally cast a line.

The fishing line arced perfectly, landing in the sea.

Lin Shaowen waited quietly. Ten minutes later, the float suddenly dipped sharply. He gripped the rod and pulled back; with a splash, a silver treasure chest emerged from the water.

“Obtained the essence of National Martial Art ‘Baji Fist.’ Learn now?”

Without hesitation, Lin Shaowen selected ‘learn.’ In an unfamiliar world, nothing was more reassuring than becoming stronger.

But fishing up a treasure chest—that was absurd.

Lin Shaowen muttered to himself and cast again.

“Obtained ‘Body Strengthening Pill.’ Consume now?”

“Consume.”

Lin Shaowen’s eyes lit up as his body underwent dramatic changes.

His once tanned skin grew fairer; his slender frame became robust. His physique attained perfect proportions, with eight neatly defined abdominal muscles. The pill was indeed effective.

“Impressive,” Lin Shaowen praised.

After this, he cast his line one last time.

“Obtained ten jin of pork, stored in the cabin.”

“...”

Lin Shaowen felt dismayed. What use was pork?

He desired medical skills. Although a factory doctor, he was a legitimate physician. In this era, professionals were scarce, and units were not easily interchangeable.

As for running away, that was out of the question.

Leaving the city required a letter of introduction; otherwise, they’d suspect you of espionage and detain you.

Exiting the beach, Lin Shaowen exhaled deeply.

He tidied his apartment, categorizing and storing items in the ring. After preparing a bowl of noodles and casually picking a coconut from the beach as a drink, he settled his dinner.

Arriving in this world and gaining a system left his mind in chaos.

Unable to sleep for a long time, he reluctantly pulled out his late father’s Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor) and forced down several gulps before finally drifting into a deep sleep.

The next day.

Knock knock knock!

“Who is it? So early in the morning...” Lin Shaowen called out irritably.

“It’s me, Old Zhang,” came a robust voice outside.

Old Zhang—Zhang Guoping—was his father’s comrade and director of the Ministry of Industry’s logistics department.

“I’m coming.”

Lin Shaowen jumped up and opened the door with a broad smile.

“Good morning, Uncle Zhang.”

“Morning my foot, it’s already ten o’clock.”

Zhang Guoping placed the breakfast he had brought on the table and pointed at his watch with a half-joking scold.

“You refuse to go to Xiehe Hospital, but chose the steel mill? Is there really a future there?”

“Uncle Zhang, Xiehe has no shortage of good doctors, but the steel mill workers desperately need a competent physician,” Lin Shaowen replied solemnly. “My father dedicated his life to the country; now... it’s my turn.”

His acting was convincing, as if he truly meant it.

“Good kid.”

Zhang Guoping patted his shoulder appreciatively. “I knew you were a stand-up guy. Eat your breakfast quickly, and I’ll take you to your unit afterward.”

“No need,” Lin Shaowen refused.

He was well aware that Zhang Guoping was here to reclaim the apartment.

Countless people at the Ministry of Industry were waiting for his graduation so they could move in. Once he left, his ties with the ministry would be severed. He didn’t want to trouble Zhang Guoping.

The decision was made, and now the next chapter began.