The train driver in the courtyard

"The slider is changed to thin oil lubrication; pneumatic water supply and shaft temperature display are added."

"Add a rear ventilation window to the driver's cab; add a coal pusher to the coal chute; add a whistle control valve to the right; install a combustion aid in the firebox and ashbox; install cold and hot water pumps"

"Install an overheating auxiliary device; use superheated steam for the wind pump; use spoke plate type for the spokes of the guide and follower coal wheels"

"The small smoke pipe was changed to a material root, and a smoke guide plate was added."

In the laboratory of the Railway Research Institute, Chief Engineer Liu was flipping through piles of manuscript paper. His expression became more and more excited, and finally his fingers could not help but tremble.

Seeing this, the assistant took out a glass medicine bottle from his pocket, poured a enamel pot of tea and handed it over.

"Mr. Liu, are you suffering from your old illness again?"

"I'm not old enough to use this stuff!"

Chief Engineer Liu pushed his hand away, waved the manuscript paper loudly, and spoke excitedly.

"If these improvements can be realized, the steam engine will be almost perfect!"

Perfect Liu Guozhang was shocked to hear Chief Engineer Liu give such a high evaluation of Li Aiguo's proposal.

You have to know that perfection is almost impossible in mechanical design, especially in heavy transport machinery such as steam engines.

"Mr. Liu, isn't that too much praise? Although my student is diligent, he has never been to college and has no research experience."

The higher the hold, the worse the fall.

Liu Guozhang was worried that if something unexpected happened, it would cause criticism from people with ulterior motives.

Chief Engineer Liu said, "Brother Guozhang, don't worry. Although I am old now, I still have good eyesight."

His face straightened and he said, "I am sure that as long as we improve it according to this plan, our Qianjin steam engine will become the most advanced steam locomotive in the world."

"Guozhang, you must not underestimate the front-line workers. There are many improvement plans here, which can only be thought of by those old drivers who have been driving steam locomotives for many years.

We are engaged in locomotive design and manufacturing, which is different from the young researchers at the Institute of Mathematics of the Academy of Sciences.

With just a pen and a piece of paper, they can charge into world-class problems.”

Institute of Mathematics, Academy of Sciences? ?
Li Aiguo felt that the name sounded familiar and gently touched Liu Guozhang's arm.

"Teacher, is there any connection between our railway and the Institute of Mathematics?"

"Of course. When we encounter complex calculations, we often ask for help from the Institute of Mathematics." Liu Guozhang said in a low voice.

Chief Engineer Liu is the chief engineer of Datong Factory. He is fully responsible for locomotive improvement and research and development. His words are authoritative.

With Chief Engineer Liu's final decision, the improvement work of Qianjin locomotive was launched in full swing.

However, there is no consensus between Datong Factory and the Railway Research Institute on the ownership of the improvement project.

Although Liu Guozhang respected Chief Engineer Liu out of personal feelings.

But behind him is the Railway Research Institute and dozens of researchers including Engineer Dong.

Liu Guozhang was unwilling and unable to give the project to Datong Factory.

However, Deputy Chief Engineer Wang of Datong Factory felt that the improvement work of the Qianjin steam engine had always been the responsibility of Datong Factory, and now the project should be brought back to Datong Factory.

Liu Guozhang and Deputy Chief Engineer Wang had a dispute over this.

These days everyone has a strong sense of collective honor.

Don't be fooled by the fact that those researchers appear to be weak and speak politely on a normal day.

But at this critical moment, everyone burst out with extremely strong fighting power.

Led by Zheng Han, the researchers from Datong Factory engaged in a heated debate with the researchers from Donggong Railway Research Institute.

The atmosphere in the conference room suddenly became tense.

"Okay, be quiet for a moment."

After Chief Engineer Liu and other researchers returned to their seats, they looked up at Li Aiguo, who had not spoken.

"Comrade Patriot, you came up with these improvements. What do you think of them?"

Li Aiguo straightened his chest and said, "Chief Engineer Liu, I am just a train driver. All the people here are excellent talents. I originally have no right to speak. Since you mentioned my name, I will show my ugliness."

Chief Engineer Liu said: "If you have any opinions, feel free to raise them. This is an academic discussion, so don't make it too serious."

If someone else had said these words at this time, Li Aiguo would definitely not believe it.

But veteran comrades like Chief Engineer Liu are truly concerned about the development of the railway industry.

So, Li Aiguo did not hide it.

"The laboratory in the Railway Research Institute has been built, all kinds of equipment are available, and an improvement team has also been established."

Zheng Han raised his hand and said, "The equipment in our Datong factory is also very complete, and our researchers far exceed those here in both quantity and quality."

"What Researcher Zheng said makes sense."

Li Aiguo said slowly: "It's just that this time the improvement is very large, involving all aspects of the locomotive. It may be difficult to complete the task relying on those steam engine researchers alone, and we need the help of various talents at any time.

There are all kinds of talents in the capital."

As soon as these words were spoken, Chief Engineer Liu immediately understood.

Seeing that Zheng Han was about to raise his hand, he stopped Zheng Han.

"The opinions of the patriotic comrades are very reasonable. Lao Wang, Guo Zhang, since the improvement team has been established, I think the general structure should not be changed.

It’s just that most of the improvements this time were proposed by Comrade Aiguo, so Comrade Aiguo should be the leader of the improvement group, and then two deputy leaders should be selected.”

Li Aiguo immediately understood Chief Engineer Liu’s intention.

Li Aiguo is a train driver at Qianmen and has no affiliation with either the Railway Research Institute or the Datong Factory.

The Railway Research Institute and Datong Factory will each appoint a deputy team leader. Once the improvement project is successful, the contributions of the two units will be roughly equal.

It not only avoids disputes, but also helps improve locomotives.

Although this old chief engineer has been immersed in research for many years, it is impossible for an old comrade like him who has gone through many ups and downs to not have any skills!
Deputy Chief Engineer Wang of Datong Factory and Liu Guozhang of Railway Research Institute also understood Mr. Liu's intention and nodded: "We will follow your arrangement."

Finally, Deputy Chief Engineer Wang and Liu Guozhang served as deputy team leaders, each responsible for part of the improvement projects.

In order to speed up the improvement progress, Chief Engineer Liu specially transferred a large number of researchers from Datong Factory to Beijing.

The improvement team, which originally had only a dozen people, has grown to forty or fifty people.

And all those researchers are highly educated talents.

It was the first time for Li Aiguo to be in charge of such a large project, but he was not nervous.

After all, there are Deputy Chief Engineer Wang and Liu Guozhang.

He, the team leader, is just a mascot.

Just as Li Aiguo expected, under the arrangement of Deputy Chief Engineer Wang and Liu Guozhang, the improvement work was carried out in full swing.

Considering the great significance of the improvement project, Chief Engineer Liu specially applied to his superiors for a batch of daily necessities in the name of Datong Factory.

One thousand kilograms of pork, five hundred kilograms of beef, and half a truckload of refined white flour. Director Wang of the Logistics Department of the Railway Research Institute felt like he was becoming quite the tycoon.

With the supplies, the food improvement team's food quality has been taken to a higher level.

Li Aiguo returned to his good life of punching in and eating.

Professor Chekov is in a good mood these days.

Datong is a good place with beautiful mountains and rivers. He took advantage of his free time to travel around the scenery.

In particular, Professor Chekov was particularly interested in the DT hat factory.

This factory produces Shuangyan brand sheepskin hats.

It has been exported to seven or eight countries and is also very popular in Russia.

Although the DT City Hat Factory, affiliated to the Second Light Industry Bureau, is only a collective enterprise, it has nothing to do with the Russians.

But now that the Russian experts are coming to visit, the factory leaders and worker representatives must give them a warm welcome.

The factory leaders took Professor Chekov to visit the sewing workshop, cutting workshop, packaging workshop, maintenance workshop, nursery, infirmary, and employee bath.
Professor Chekov also took a latest style of sheepskin hat from the worker and put it on his head.

The atmosphere on the scene reached its climax at this time.

The leaders of the hat factory also secretly breathed a sigh of relief and looked at each other, finally completing this foreign reception mission.

At this moment, Shekov, the translator who came with Professor Chekov, suddenly rushed over and whispered something in his ear.

Professor Chekov, who had been very excited just now, suddenly became serious.

The factory leaders' faces changed one after another, fearing that something might happen.

Translator Xie Kefu explained to the factory leader: "The professor has an emergency to deal with now, so let's stop here today."

The leaders of the hat factory were full of doubts, but at this time they could only smile and nod.

GAZ jeeps are running on the road.

Professor Chekov smoked a cigar, glanced at the driver, and asked Shekov in Russian with a strong dialect: "Are you sure? Datong Factory sent a group of experts to Beijing?"

"Dear Professor, I am 100% sure."

Xie Kefu also answered in the same language: "This morning when I was eating in the cafeteria, I secretly went to the cafeteria of those experts and found that more than half of the people were gone. After asking the chef in the cafeteria, I found out that these people had left.

Later, I found another friend with whom I had a good relationship.

Under my inductive questioning, he personally admitted that Datong Factory had sent at least fifty experts to the Beijing Railway Research Institute.

Professor Chekov still has great confidence in Shekov's abilities.

This person received training from the Cheka.

"Now is a critical time to improve the steam locomotive. Why should Datong Factory do it?"

Shekov hesitated for a moment and said in a low voice: "In fact, my dear friend also provided a piece of information.

A few days ago, Chief Engineer Liu's student Zheng Han had brought more than a dozen experts to Beijing to participate in the steam engine improvement work led by the Railway Research Institute.

"So there should be a breakthrough in the capital!"

The road was very rough and the GAZ jeep jolted twice. Professor Chekov's fingers trembled and the cigar almost fell out of his hand.

He was no longer in the mood to smoke a cigar. He frowned and said, "This breakthrough must be very significant, otherwise Datong Factory would not have made such a big move."

He turned his head and looked at Xie Kefu: "Dear Xie, things have changed. I don't think we can stay here anymore."

"Professor, I will have someone arrange it right away, and we will set off for the capital this afternoon." Xie Kefu said after taking a deep breath.

Professor Chekov turned his head and looked out the car window, and felt that the beautiful scenery suddenly became ugly.

Li Aiguo didn't know that the improvement work of the Beijing Railway Research Institute had been noticed.

Even if he knew, he wouldn't care.

Because at this time Li Aiguo had devoted himself to the improvement work.

Combining his previous life experience, Li Aiguo put forward a total of seventeen improvement requirements for the Qianjin steam engine.

It can be said that once the improvements are completed, the forward steam engine will become the most advanced steam engine in the world.

As a train driver who particularly likes driving big trains, how can I not be excited to think about being able to drive the most advanced steam locomotive in the world these days!
It’s just that some of the improvements are particularly advanced.

Just like the change from smoke pipe to material root was not carried out until the 1970s, the technical requirements were particularly high in this era.

Fortunately, the entire improvement team now has dozens of undergraduates and graduate students, so the progress of the improvement work is not slow. It was not until the improvement work of adding an overheating booster was put on the agenda that the improvement team encountered real difficulties.

Because driving safety needs to be ensured and the power of the steam engine needs to be maximized, the size requirements of the overheat booster are strict.

At the same time, the size of the thermal aid also affects the effect, so it is necessary to find a balance between the two.

The team led by Engineer Dong spent three full days but still failed to produce the drawings.

The team led by Deputy Chief Engineer Wang had just completed the improvement of installing pneumatic water supply, and was also arranged by Li Aiguo to work together with Engineer Dong to solve this problem.

Another five days passed, but Li Aiguo still hadn't received the drawings of the overheat booster.

This time, Li Aiguo could no longer sit still.

Improvement projects are time-limited.

And since Chief Engineer Liu has reported the improvement work of the Qianjin steam engine.

A delegation from the Hungarian People's Ministry of Railways will arrive in Beijing soon.

This is a huge order involving 200 steam engines!

The mascot Li Aiguo decided to go on his own.

He called together Engineer Dong, Deputy Chief Engineer Wang and several technical representatives.

"Tell us what difficulties you have encountered. Why can't so many of you handle it?" Li Aiguo asked with a stern face.

Engineer Dong and Deputy Chief Engineer Wang are much older and more senior than Li Aiguo.

Now that I was being held accountable in a serious tone, I had no complaints in my heart.

Engineer Dong hung his head and said, "The calculations are too complicated."

Li Aiguo frowned: "Can't we use a few more abacuses?"

Engineer Dong was at a loss whether to laugh or cry when he heard this: "This is not a problem of computational effort, because the design work involves classical groups and matrix geometry, which we don't understand at all."

"."Li Aiguo was silent for a moment.

He now has an option to get the drawings directly out of the system.

Start the system secretly and search for the blueprint in the system.
[Thermal Auxiliary Device Blueprint], worth 100 points.

My goodness, one drawing costs 100 points. Li Aiguo is reluctant to give it up.

He worked so hard for so long, but only managed to accumulate more than 300 points.

When you need it, you will regret it.
Li Aiguo suddenly asked: "We don't understand mathematics, why don't we ask those who do to help us?"

He remembered that he often collaborated with researchers from the Institute of Mathematics on the railway.

Deputy Chief Engineer Wang often interacts with mathematical researchers on weekdays. He said, "The person who knows the most about classical groups and matrix geometry in China is Professor Hua, but he is currently attending an important conference in the south."

Professor Hua. Wow, you’re a big shot.

There was no way to invite Professor Hua, and Li Aiguo felt a little regretful for a moment.

only.
Li Aiguo coughed twice and said, "Doesn't Professor Hua have any apprentices?"

".Hey, you nevermind, there really is one." Vice President Wang seemed to remember something, and slapped his thigh and said, "A while ago, Professor Hua personally brought back a data clerk named Chen from Xiamen University. He used to teach at Beijing No. 4 Middle School, and everyone in the Institute of Mathematics called him Chen Data."

Teacher Chen Li Aiguo's breathing became rapid.

If he guessed correctly, this Teacher Chen should be the big guy who later came up with 1+2.

With such a big guy, why would you spend points to redeem blueprints? !

"Ahem." Li Aiguo coughed twice, leaning back and posing as a team leader. "Since Professor Hua can't be invited, I'll just make do with my apprentice. Go and get Teacher Chen right now."

At that time, Chen Ziliao was just an intern researcher at the Institute of Mathematics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He was unknown in the academic circles at home and abroad, and he had not achieved much in his daily work.

So Deputy Chief Engineer Wang did not consider Chen's information.

It’s just that Li Aiguo is the team leader now.

He had no choice but to follow the "advice" and go to the Institute of Mathematics in person.

The Institute of Mathematics was established in 52 and its director is Professor Hua.

The research institute was originally located in Qinghua Garden, but was temporarily moved to Xiyuan Hotel in May this year.

In those days, materials were scarce and the Institute of Mathematics was engaged in academic research. Although the higher-ups paid more attention to it, life was still quite hard.

One of the favorite things about being a mathematics researcher is working with other departments.

Firstly, I can contribute the mathematical knowledge I have mastered to economic development.

Secondly, those departments needed help from the Institute of Mathematics, and they couldn’t go empty-handed, so they would provide a batch of supplies every time.

So when Deputy Chief Engineer Wang, the old friend, arrived at the Institute of Mathematics, he was immediately warmly welcomed.

The two men entered the office and started a sincere negotiation.

The leaders of the Institute of Mathematics used complex mathematical models to estimate the size of the railway department and offered a fair price of 400 yuan for 1,000 kilograms of fine grain, 500 kilograms of pork.

The landlord's family doesn't have any food left.

After some bargaining, which is unique to intellectuals, between Deputy Chief Engineer Wang and the institute's leaders.

The steam engine improvement team obtained the "right to use" from Chen Ziyuan and two other mathematical researchers in exchange for 500 kilograms of refined white flour, 100 kilograms of pork, 100 kilograms of sanitary oil, and 200 yuan.

After receiving the 'quotation sheet', Li Aiguo was at a loss whether to laugh or cry when facing the cost-conscious Deputy Chief Engineer Wang.

He didn't know whether to praise Deputy Chief Engineer Wang for his ability or to lament that these researchers were underpaid.

But none of this matters.

"Now that we have reached an agreement, quickly send the supplies over and pick up the people."

"Don't worry, I have arranged for a truck and a jeep."

Just like that, Chen Zilan and two other mathematics researchers came to the Railway Research Institute.

Li Aiguo recognized Chen Ziran at a glance.

Just because he looks like the kind of big shot who is wholeheartedly devoted to academic research.

Introvert, silent, even a little "eccentric", he walked into the office and sat directly on the chair.

"Chen, I've long heard of your name." Li Aiguo walked up and stretched out his hand.

Chen Zilan was stunned for a moment, then stood up and shook hands with him.

"Leader, do you want to do some calculations?"

Li Aiguo: "."

He looked Chen up and down. He was wearing a navy blue Zhongshan suit that had been washed to a pale color. He was thin with prominent cheekbones. The lenses of the tortoise shell glasses on his nose were worn out and the legs were broken, which were now wrapped with medical tape.

The only bright thing on his body was the pen in his jacket pocket.

Life is not easy for Chen Ziran these days.

His mathematical ideas were not understood by the world, and because he was not good at interpersonal communication, he repeatedly ran into obstacles at work.

When he was teaching at Beijing No. 4 Middle School, he was suspended from work and sent back home to recuperate because of his poor performance, which was actually expulsion.

After returning to his hometown, Chen Zilan fell ill. Due to lack of income, his life became difficult, so he had to set up a street stall to earn a living.

Fortunately, Professor Youhua brought him back to the Institute of Mathematics in Beijing.

Otherwise, a generation of mathematical genius might have died young.

Now that Li Aiguo has met Chen Ziran, he naturally wants to lend him a helping hand.

But the wind is about to blow, so we have to take our time to deal with this matter.

Otherwise, I won’t be able to help Chen with the information, and it might even get myself into trouble, which would be a waste of time and effort.

"Leader, would you like to do some calculations?" Chen Zilan felt that this young leader was a little weird as he had spent so much money to invite them.

And you have to pay a high subsidy of three dollars a day, so why waste time?
Doesn’t he know that wasting time is wasting life?

Li Aiguo was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Brother Chen, your glasses seem to be broken, right?"

Chen Zilan was a few years older than Li Aiguo. He was slightly stunned when he heard this address, but didn't think much about it.

".No, it's just that my lenses are a little dirty." Chen Ziliao is a typical social phobic. When he mentioned his own affairs, he became uncomfortable all over.

He took off his glasses, wiped them with the corner of his clothes, and put them back on, as if to indicate that there was nothing wrong with his glasses.

"The purpose of glasses is to see things clearly. In our next work, we will need to calculate a lot of data. We can't afford to wear out our glasses."

Li Aiguo looked at Deputy Chief Engineer Wang and said, "Chief Engineer Wang, in order to ensure that the improvement work can proceed smoothly, I think Comrade Chen Zilan should be given a new pair of glasses. What do you think?"

Deputy Chief Engineer Wang didn't understand Li Aiguo's purpose. It was just a pair of glasses, so he didn't take it seriously.

"As I should. Sharpening the knife does not delay the chopping of wood."

"That's settled then. Comrade Chen Zilan, can you ride a bicycle?" Li Aiguo asked.

"You can ride, right?"

"Come on, let's go get some glasses."

Chen Ziran was over 1.7 meters tall, which was rare in this era.

Although he seldom rides a bicycle, his two long legs hanging on the ground look like pedals.

He followed Li Aiguo on his bicycle, still confused.

Who am I? Where am I going? What is my purpose?
He felt that this young leader was too weird.

There are many places to get glasses in Beijing these days, the most famous of which is the Jingming Optician Shop in Dashilan.

Jingming Optical Shop is the first optical shop in Beijing.

It is famous not because of its large scale or superb craftsmanship in fitting glasses.

But the owner of the shrewd spectacles shop made his fortune by exploiting his apprentices.

There are many eyewear companies in Beijing, but his company has the most deaths.

Before liberation, everyone in Beijing knew that Jingming Optician Shop was particularly fond of recruiting apprentices.

Why?

After three years of apprenticeship, I am about to become a formal employee, but it is time for me to die.

After liberation, apprentices from a Jingming spectacles shop complained that their fellow apprentices had died of lung disease, also known as tuberculosis.

In the past, people worked too hard and had poor nutrition. How could they not get sick? They didn’t get sick and are still alive today. They are really lucky!
The younger brother of Zhou Laoshuan, a maintenance worker at the locomotive depot, died of exhaustion while working at the Jingming Optician Shop.

Li Aiguo often talked to him about things before liberation. According to Zhou Laoshuan, the apprenticeship system in the eyewear industry was very harsh.

Apprentices must work in the store for three years and one session and are not allowed to quit during the term. If they quit during the term, they must pay for three years and one session's worth of food.

During the apprenticeship period, one must obey the orders of the shopkeeper or the senior apprentice. If one disobeys, the shopkeeper or the senior apprentice can beat and scold him at will, and the parents cannot protect him.

It was also stipulated that during the apprenticeship period, apprentices were not allowed to go home without reason, the store provided meals, and they took care of their own clothes and bedding. If they were sick, they had to go home and get treatment and come back after they recovered.

Later, the "Second Uncle" (the owner of the spectacles shop) and the "Second Aunt" (the owner's wife) of the smart spectacles shop all ate the peanuts.

The situation improved only after the Jingming Optical Company implemented a public-private partnership. (End of this chapter)