The train driver in the courtyard

The next day.

When Li Aiguo returned from driving, he first walked around the maintenance workshop of the locomotive depot. Director Zhang guarded him like a thief.

When he learned that Li Aiguo needed seamless steel pipes, the old director finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Patriotic, seamless steel pipes are pipe products. The main task of our maintenance workshop is to repair motorcycles, and we don't need that stuff.

You can't find it even if you turn the workshop over. "

"How can we turn over the workshop?"

Li Aiguo laughed twice, put down the wooden box in his hand, whistled with his hands behind his back, and left the workshop as if nothing had happened.

Director Zhang wiped the sweat from his forehead, looked at Li Aiguo's back, and asked doubtfully: "What does he want seamless steel pipes for?"

Of course it’s a gun barrel!

While studying Miss Chen last night, Li Aiguo also studied the materials needed to make RPG.

He was able to get most of the materials, but he lacked seamless steel pipes.

The key is that seamless steel pipes cannot be replaced by other materials.

If it explodes, it will really be like setting off a big firecracker.

Afterwards, Li Aiguo went to the Locomotive Depot Armed Forces Department for a tour.

Although there are mortars and cannons in the weapons warehouse of the Ministry of Armed Forces, the barrels are too thick and are not suitable for use.

In addition, those gadgets are all the treasures of Mr. Niu. If there is no suitable reason, they will never be given away casually.

There was no other way, so Li Aiguo could only drag his tired legs back to the courtyard.

As soon as I walked to the door of the courtyard, I saw Yan Bugui happily running to the junk shop holding a few wine bottles.

"Third uncle, have you got something good again?"

"It's patriotic. Ahem, it's not a good thing. The daughter of Lao Huang's family in our compound is coming home today. Please drink home wine. There are so few wine bottles left.

I said no, but Huang insisted on giving it to me.

Tell me, what is this?

Hey, I won’t tell you anymore, I have to go to the junk shop quickly. "

Yan Bugui ran away in a panic, fearing that Li Aiguo would snatch his wine bottle.

Li Aiguo squinted his eyes and looked at his back, then suddenly turned around and strode towards the scrap shop.

Nowadays, a dead horse is being treated as a living horse doctor. Maybe someone who is not wise will sell the steel pipe to a scrap shop!

"Third uncle, I'll give you eight cents for five wine bottles. Please take the money."

In the scrap shop.

Wang Dakui took the bottle and quoted the price, and Wang Tingting took out the money and handed it to Yan Bugui.

It's quite a bit like a husband singing and a wife accompanying her.

Good guy, the two of them turned the collective junk shop into a mom-and-pop shop.

Seeing Li Aiguo coming, Wang Tingting's face turned red again, "Driver Li, it's late, I have to go back."

After saying that, the little girl left in a panic.

Li Aiguo felt like a big light bulb.

"How's it going, Dakui, business is going well lately." He sat down, took out a cigarette and handed it to Wang Dakui.

"The Chinese New Year will be here in two months, and some diligent people started cleaning their houses. They dug out all the scrap metal and newspapers and sent them all to our scrap shop. So, business is pretty good."

Wang Dakui took the cigarette and lit it: "Brother Patriot, I haven't received any books in the past two days."

"No books." Li Aiguo waved his hand, "Do you have any steel pipes here? The kind without seams can be used to make guns."

"Steel pipe." Wang Dakui raised his eyelids and thought for a moment. He wiped the dust on his hands with a towel and shook his head: "Brother Patriot, it's not like you don't know that those things are pipe products. We are a regular scrap shop and we can't accept them. Stuff.”

Li Aiguo knew this was the result, but he couldn't help but feel a little frustrated.

At this moment.

A voice came from the side: "Brother Patriot, I know where the pipe you want is."

Li Aiguo turned around and saw Zhang Erpao sticking his head out of the cardboard. He wiped his nose with one hand and raised the other hand.

Wang Dakui's eyes widened and he reprimanded: "What do you know, you little kid? The patriotic brothers want steel pipes without seams, and they must be the kind that can be used as gun barrels."

"Don't listen to this kid's nonsense, be patriotic."

Li Aiguo waved his hand at Wang Dakui, looked at Zhang Erpao and said, "Second Pao, tell me what's going on with that pipe? Where is it?"

Zhang Erpao walked out from the pile of waste paper, wiped his nose and said: "I have it at home, it will be used as a chimney!"

"chimney."

Wang Dakui seemed to remember something, scratched his head and said, "Don't mention it, your chimney seems to be really round, different from other people's houses in the village."

Zhang Erpao is a child of his uncle's family and used to go there often.

Li Aiguo: "Are you sure it's a seamless steel pipe?"

Zhang Erpao: "If there were a crack, wouldn't the smoke escape along the crack?"

Li Aiguo: "."

If you think about it carefully, it really makes sense.

"Is that thing strong?"

"That steel pipe was brought back from the Northeast by my father." Zhang Erpao puffed up his chest and said, "My father said that that thing can be used as a cannon pipe. The reason why I named it Erpao was because of that pipe. son."

Li Aiguo: "."

He originally thought that the name Zhang Erpao was randomly chosen, but he did not expect that there was such an allusion.

However, there is a big problem now.

When Zhang Erpao's father came back from Northeast China, it must have been before liberation.

Could seamless steel pipes be produced in China before liberation?

Forget it.

When he met Zhang Erpao's father, everything became clear.

"Second Artillery, let's go to your house tomorrow morning to take a look at the steel pipe. We're going to visit your father."

Li Aiguo stood up.

It was a good day off the next day.

Li Aiguo was originally going to take Zhang Erpao to Zhangjiazhuang, but was picked up by a black car and taken to the Railway Research Institute.

In the office of the director of the institute, Li Aiguo met the old director and teacher Liu Guozhang.

There is also a comrade wearing a gray tunic suit sitting on the sofa.

Li Aiguo waited until the staff closed the door, then sat on the sofa and asked, "Director, teacher, has something happened?"

"Didn't you come up with the automatic fuel ignition equipment? Now the Dalian factory has produced the first batch of ignition equipment. Big Brother is very interested and wants to purchase a batch and also buy back the equipment technology."

"Originally, the opinion in the ministry was to only sell equipment, not technology. Later, I thought that Big Brother could make this thing, so I prepared to sell the technology as well. You are the inventor of the technology, so the higher ups need to listen to your opinion. .”

Li Aiguo nodded in agreement.

The automatic fuel ignition equipment is not complicated. With Big Brother's industrial level, it can be copied as long as it is disassembled.

Now that the big brother is too embarrassed to rob his little brother's things because of his face, he is willing to exchange them for something. Naturally, we have to take advantage of this.

This is why Li Aiguo dared to directly show all the drawings to Professor Kirov for inspection.

If you really want to make it yourself, you only need to buy one. With your technical strength, you can clearly understand the principles and techniques of the equipment by taking it apart.

Don’t think that copycats are our exclusive property.

There used to be a big dog owner named San Dezi who lived in the compound.

This guy was beaten twice by the residents during the First World War. Since then, he has worked hard and accumulated a lot of skills and equipment, especially good at making kicks.

Santoku planned to occupy the compound, and to this end he also recruited an Akita dog and a plate of macaroni to form an axis team.

After Sandoko bullied two neighbors, he saw that the neighbors did not dare to fight back. So he felt invincible in the compound, so he picked up a stick and started to occupy other neighbors' property.

However, other residents joined forces and beat him severely.

The Akita dog was beaten into a drowned dog, and its hair was bald.

Macaroni also became soft noodles.

As the stewards, Lao Maozi and Lao Mei took the opportunity to rush into Sandezi's house and robbed a lot of good things.

Then after these two guys went back, they started a big business of copycats and created many flying monkeys.

It's just that now that Lao Maozi has become the eldest brother, there are so many younger brothers watching, and being the eldest brother requires some dignity, so he doesn't even bother to do such a thing.

"It doesn't matter if it's sold, I don't have any objections."

Li Aiguo also knows that technology belongs to him and the country, and the superiors are only asking for his opinions out of respect.

"Don't worry, Comrade Li Aiguo, we will apply for rewards for you, and we will not treat the heroes badly."

Li Aiguo straightened his chest: "Director, you are too polite. If everyone cares about gains and losses and seeks personal gain, then how can we defeat the invaders and build the country to be more prosperous and stronger?"

"Driver Li, you have a very high level of ideological awareness!" The old director nodded appreciatively.

Liu Guozhang continued: "One more thing, the higher-ups don't understand the true value of this technology. As the inventor of the technology and a train driver, you may have a more intuitive feeling. So I want to ask for your opinion. Let's take a look. What would be a better exchange?"

As he spoke, Liu Guozhang handed over a list: "This is the equipment we are prepared to exchange for technology."

There are some mechanical equipment on the list, as well as some weapons and firearms, including the RPG-2.

Li Aiguo said: "I think we should exchange machine tools, even if they are old machine tools."

At this time, the middle-aged man who had been sitting silently next to him spoke up: "Machine tool? The people above are more inclined to RPG-2. Although we have also copied the Type 56 rocket launcher, it cannot match the RPG-2 in terms of power and range. "

From his sonorous and powerful tone, Li Aiguo could tell that this veteran comrade should be one of the people responsible for this transaction.

Li Aiguo said: "I don't know about the RPG-2, but if this weapon is really good and can have an overwhelming advantage over the opponent, or even just threaten the opponent, Big Brother probably won't sell it to us.

If possible, it is best to switch to an advanced lathe.

Of course, Big Brother doesn't know how to produce any advanced lathes.

But its Eastern European brothers are all masters of lathe manufacturing, such as Jieko's Skoda machine tools. "

Big Brother always regards the things belonging to the little brothers as his own.

In comparison, we are still outsiders.

Li Aiguo had to praise the wise decision above.

Not only can we get help, but we are not as controlled by others as those little brothers!

Li Aiguo's words are actually a bit excessive.

But the man in the gray tunic had no intention of pursuing the matter at all.

He can be responsible for this kind of transaction, and he has a clear understanding of the relationship with Big Brother.

Instead, Teacher Liu Guozhang became a little anxious and glared at Li Aiguo: "Aiguo, stop talking nonsense. The above is just asking for your opinion, not asking you to make suggestions."

He turned to look at the Chinese tunic suit and said with a smile: "Comrade Liu, this student of mine is just a train driver and has no brains."

“The unpatriotic comrade’s point of view is correct.”

The man in Mao suit sat upright, put his hands on his knees, and said: "In fact, we have already conducted detailed tests on the power of RPG-2.

It was effective against infantry fighting vehicles and skirmishers, but was helpless against heavily armored tanks.

Because there is currently a lack of fighter jets in the country, and when we are unable to gain air superiority, what we need most now is a weapon that can severely damage armored tanks.

Obviously RPG-2 does not meet this condition.

Comrade Patriot, I will forward your opinions to my superiors. "

At this point, Li Aiguo knew that he had completed his mission and it was time to leave.

He stood up and said hello to a few people, then turned and left the office.

The sky is clear outside.

Li Aiguo looked at the brilliant sun in the sky and waved his fist heavily.

Machine tools are the mother of industry.

If only I could get an advanced machine tool.

It's not in vain that he spent so much effort.

Beijing.

In a seemingly ordinary courtyard.

The man in the gray tunic suit just now held a document and knocked lightly on the door. After waiting for a response from the office, he opened the door and walked in.

From his cautious attitude, it can be seen that this office is unusual.

In front of Zhu Hong's desk, a gray-haired leader sat.

The man in Mao suit walked over, stood upright in front of the leader, and reported the situation.

"Leader, I just came back from the Railway Research Institute. Here is the Railway Research Institute's estimate of the value of automatic fuel ignition technology.

Because the temperature over there in Big Brother is much colder than ours, the chances of furnace problems are much more serious.

Therefore, according to the estimates of the Railway Research Institute, this technology is expected to be exchanged for a Jieke five-axis machine tool and some industrial products. "

"Jieke five-axis lathe. Why is it a Jieke lathe? I don't feel bad selling it. I see, it's really interesting."

After tapping his fingers on the table twice, the leader understood and looked at the tunic suit.

"Who provided the suggestion to replace the machine tool? Director Li or Old Liu?"

The man in gray tunic lowered his voice: "It's the train driver."

He hesitated and then said: "The train driver also mentioned information about RPG-2. He seems to know the parameters of RPG-2 quite well. Do you want me to send someone to investigate the source of his information?"

"No need. Professor Mokilov came to the capital a while ago. They dealt with a public manager with ulterior motives in a tavern, and drank three bottles of wine together. It is inevitable for people to get drunk sometimes."

The leader spoke halfway and did not continue.

If Li Aiguo were here, he would definitely be amazed at how this person knew so clearly the information he reported to the farmer.

The man in gray tunic suddenly understood and quickly stood up straight.

"I understand, leader."

After the man in the gray Chinese tunic suit left, the leader shook the phone. After the call was transferred, he said into the phone: "[Farmer], your talented little driver has done great service for us this time."

Li Aiguo didn't know these things.

Even if he knew it, he wouldn't care.

In this day and age, as long as you are open-minded, there is nothing to fear.

Especially since he had already communicated with the [Farmer] before doing those things.

It was a towering tree that stood tall and strong.

noon.

After lunch, Li Aiguo came to the collective scrap shop.

Wang Dakui was left to guard the scrap shop. He got on his bicycle, carried Zhang Erpao, and ran towards Zhangjiazhuang on the outskirts of Beijing.

Of course, since you are visiting your elders, gifts are essential.

Li Aiguo went to a snack shop and weighed two kilograms of snacks. He also bought a large front door, two bottles of Laofen wine and two kilograms of pork.

By this time the weather had turned cold.

Although Li Aiguo changed into a coat, his face was still a little cold.

The country road was bumpy. Zhang Erpao was sitting in the back seat, holding on to Li Aiguo's clothes for fear of falling.

After riding for more than an hour, under the guidance of Zhang Erpao, we finally entered the village.

It was past ten o'clock in the morning, it was the busy farming season, and there were not many people in the village.

Only a few children running around with runny noses saw Li Aiguo coming on his bicycle, and they all ran over to look at him.

When passing by a girl wearing a floral cotton-padded jacket, Zhang Erpao puffed up his chest and shouted to the girl:

"Erya, have you seen the bicycle?"

"Ah, it's Brother Second Artillery. I haven't seen you for a while. Why don't you have a runny nose?" the girl said in surprise.

Zhang Erpao looked at the scratched area on Li Aiguo's coat, then looked at the girl, raised his head proudly and said, "Of course, I am from the city now."

The bicycle drove away, leaving the girl with envious eyes. Zhang Erpao was extremely proud.

Erya is a village beauty. In the past, he and his friends were happy to have something to say to Erya.

"That's my home."

Zhang Erpao's home is no different from ordinary villagers.

An adobe wall encloses a small courtyard, two adobe thatched houses, and a kitchen next to it.

The so-called wooden door is actually a broken fence, horizontally framed by two wooden poles, with a hemp rope tied to the poles on the outside.

"Dad, I'm back."

Untying the rope, Zhang Erpao opened the door and entered the yard.

Li Aiguo pushed his bicycle and followed behind. As soon as he entered the door, he noticed the chimney next to the kitchen.

The chimney was dark and covered with black soot. The original texture could no longer be seen clearly, but it was indeed round enough and the thickness was appropriate.

Li Aiguo borrowed a soft ruler for measuring cloth from Chen Xueru last night and made up his mind to measure it first.

At this time, a middle-aged woman came out of the house.

"Oh, Second Artillery, why are you back! Didn't I ask you to work hard with your cousin in the city?"

"Mom, I came back today to do some business. Where is my father?"

"Your father has taken the production team to work in the fields."

During this time, Erpao Niang also saw Li Aiguo.

A pair of dusty hands wiped on the clothes, and he said with some restraint: "Second Artillery, who is this comrade? You kid has no manners, and you don't know how to introduce him."

"This is Brother Dakui's good brother, Li Aiguo and Driver Li."

"Hey, it's comrade driver. Come inside and warm yourself up."

Zhang Erpao went to the field to call Erpao's father, and Li Aiguo was let into the house by Erpao's mother. (End of chapter)