The train driver in the courtyard

The early morning sun shines on the streets and alleys of the ancient capital, casting a faint golden glow on the city.

Li Aiguo rides his bicycle, traveling through these streets full of historical charm.

The familiar alleys and quaint buildings passed by him one by one, as if a scroll of time was slowly unfolding before his eyes.

Finally, he arrived at the Qianmen Locomotive Depot.

Here, it is a world where steam and steel are intertwined. The roar of steam boilers, the meshing of gears, the transmission of chains, and the reciprocating sound of pistons together play an industrial symphony.

At the station, rows of newly-prepared steam locomotives look like steel behemoths, ready to go in a majestic manner.

Li Aiguo, carrying a canvas bag, walked briskly between the locomotives, like a traveler wandering in a mechanical jungle.

Along the way, he greeted the train drivers enthusiastically from time to time, and his hearty smile seemed particularly warm in the steam.

Sudden.

He stopped.

Turn your head and look at the locomotive of train K16.

I saw substitute driver Chen checking the locomotive under the guidance of Huang Jing.

"Uncle Chen, the handle of this train is a bit loose. You need to push it a little harder... but not too hard." Huang Jing said as she gestured with her hands.

"This is a new furnace. You have to tell the fire operator not to fill it with so much coal." Her eyes were full of seriousness and concern.

"And..." Huang Jing seemed to have many more words to say. But when the words came to her lips, she seemed to suddenly realize something, looked at driver Chen, and said apologetically: "Uncle Chen, you are an experienced driver, you know these things better than me, I am really showing off my skills in front of you."

"Driver Huang, don't worry, I will take good care of your locomotive." Driver Chen smiled gently. He naturally understood Huang Jing's thoughts. After saying that, he turned around and boarded the train neatly.

Huang Jing stared at the locomotive moving away in a daze until it disappeared around the bend. Then she sighed and turned around.

When she saw Li Aiguo standing not far away, the disappointment on her face immediately disappeared and she greeted him happily.

"Master, aren't you off duty today? Why are you here?"

"Something happened in the studio." Li Aiguo raised his chin towards the locomotive and asked, "Hasn't the accident been investigated? Why are you still suspended?"

"I don't know the specific details, I just heard that the bureau seems to have a new opinion on this accident and is holding a meeting to discuss it. Not only me, but our entire crew has been suspended." Huang Jing sighed helplessly.

It seems that Director Xing Duan had guessed it right... Some people are really unwilling to fail, Li Aiguo thought to himself.

He looked at Huang Jing and suggested, "Since you don't have any work today, go to the studio and help me."

"Okay, okay. Master, you don't know, after I became a formal train driver, the most regrettable thing is that I can't help you work in the studio anymore."

Huang Jing was feeling a little depressed, but she immediately perked up after hearing these words.

Li Aiguo did not take Huang Jing back to the studio directly, but took the drawings to find Director Xing Duanchang.

The blueprint was spread out on the desk, and Li Aiguo stood beside it with a big smile, and it was obvious that he was saying, "Money!"

"This time you and your disciples are all here together, let me see what good stuff you have."

"You two are here together this time, let me see what good stuff it is."

There haven't been any new inventions in the Qianmen Locomotive Depot for a while.

When Duanchang Xing saw the drawings, he couldn't wait to pick them up and look at them.

When his eyes fell on the electric hoist and gantry on the drawing.

He frowned slightly and said with a puzzled look on his face: "Aiguo, are you planning to install a well-drilling device on the train?"

"That's not the case. This thing is called truck-mounted lifting equipment." Li Aiguo pointed to the drawing and explained the principle of truck-mounted lifting to Section Chief Xing.

When Director Xing Duan heard this, his eyes widened little by little and his mouth could hardly close.

"You mean, with just these few electric hoists, you can lift a car onto the train. Don't tell me, this idea is really feasible!"

Xing Duan was halfway through his words when he pondered for a moment and his expression suddenly changed.

What Li Aiguo came up with may not seem to have any profound principles or use any high technology, but it often produces miraculous effects.

"If the on-board lifting equipment is installed on the rescue train, it will be much more convenient for train rescue in the future," explained Li Aiguo.

"This is indeed a good idea." Director Xing stared at the blueprint and nodded: "I approve this project. How many people do you need to cooperate?"

“As you just said, the technology behind this thing is not complicated, and the cooperation of the maintenance workshop is enough.

The key is to purchase a 5T electric hoist. After all, the electric hoist is the core of the lifting equipment. "Li Aiguo said with some concern.

If the electric hoist is hoisted vertically, its full power can be exerted.

However, the lifting angle of the electric hoist installed on the train is very large, the power will decay rapidly, and a larger power is required to meet the lifting needs.

According to Li Aiguo's calculations, at least five 5T electric hoists are needed to ensure safe lifting.

If it were in later times, Li Aiguo would only need to open the Pindaidai and have someone send the electric hoist to him.

But in this era, electric hoists are truly high-tech and require Qianmen Locomotive Depot to purchase them.

"Wait a minute." Section Chief Xing picked up the phone, shook the handle skillfully, and connected with Section Chief Liu of the Materials Department.

Not long after, Section Chief Liu pushed open the door and walked in. When he saw Li Aiguo and the drawings on the table, he immediately guessed what had happened.

"Section Chief, Driver Li, what do you need our Logistics Department to help you with this time?"

Li Aiguo first handed Chief Liu a cigarette, and then explained the situation of the electric hoist.

Section Chief Liu is the head of the materials section and is also an experienced purchaser. He has a good understanding of the production situation of domestic machinery.

“After liberation, only Magic City in our country could produce 1.5t and 3t general-purpose wire rope electric hoists.

If we had ordered the 5-ton electric hoist half a month ago, I would have asked you to find a way from the port city.

Now the Tianjin Seventh Machinery Factory has produced 40t~0.25t electric hoists imitating the TB-type hoists of the Russians in the 5s.

However, after all, the 5t electric hoist is a new product with low production and great demand. It may be a bit troublesome to purchase it.

It is estimated to take at least half a year.

I will go back and apply to the Ministry now."

As he spoke, Section Chief Liu turned around and was about to leave.

"Wait a minute, half a year? By the time the electric hoist is purchased, the cucumbers will be cold."

Director Xing waved his hand to stop Section Chief Liu, then sat down at the table and shook the phone again.

This time he answered the phone at the Tianjin Railway Bureau: "Lao Zhang, I'm Lao Xing from the Qianmen Locomotive Depot. There is a state-owned factory in Tianjin called the Seventh Machinery Factory. Do we have any business dealings with the Seventh Machinery Factory?"

A middle-aged man's voice came from the other end of the phone: "The Seventh Machinery Factory, their leaders often go to other places for visits and study, and they often get sleeper tickets from me."

"That's easy. Here's the thing. We need five, no, ten 5T electric hoists. Could you help me with this?"

"Oh, I thought it was something serious, but it's just a small matter. I'm going to hang up the phone with the Seventh Machinery Factory now, please wait a moment."

After the other party hung up the phone, he called again a moment later.

Director Xing answered the phone and a middle-aged man's voice came from the receiver.

"Brother, you owe me a big drink this time.

The Seventh Machinery Plant currently has only a hundred or so hoists of that type in stock.

I used twenty sleeper tickets to make the arrangement."

When Director Xing heard this, he immediately became excited: "Then when can we go and get it back?"

"We are in charge of the trains, do we really need you to send people or vehicles to transport goods?

That's just a slap in my face.

Let’s put it this way. I estimate that the Seventh Machinery Factory will be able to deliver the electric hoist to the station in two days.

I'll find a freight train to send it to you."

"Thank you very much. I will treat you to a drink next time we have a meeting at the headquarters."

After hanging up the phone, Xing Duanzhang sat back in his chair, looked at Li Aiguo and said with a smile: "Well, the problem is solved."

"Captain Duan, you are still the best." Li Aiguo flattered him clumsily at the right time.

"It's not me who is great, it's our trains that are great. Okay, Aiguo, the problem with the electric hoist has been solved. I'm now waiting for your on-board lifting equipment."

"Don't worry."

Afterwards, Li Aiguo went to the Materials Department to collect some equipment and brought it to the maintenance workshop.

At this time, the rescue train was quietly parked in the workshop for maintenance.

Rescue team leader Liu Qingsong and several members of the rescue team were surrounding workshop director Zhang.

You and I were talking about something, and from the looks of it, it seemed that they wanted Director Zhang to help them modify some equipment.

"Equipping a rescue train with machine guns? Your idea is too outrageous. Why don't you just take to the sky?"

Director Zhang refused helplessly, beads of sweat already oozing out of his forehead.

But those rescue team members didn't seem to give up easily and kept persuading, making Director Zhang so anxious that he was sweating profusely.

Seeing Li Aiguo coming in, Director Zhang waved his hand and said, "Aiguo, explain to these guys that it is against the rules to install machine guns on the train."

"What's going on?" Li Aiguo walked over with a smile on his face. After listening to Liu Qingsong's complaints, he almost laughed out loud.

It turned out that rescue trains often carried out missions in the wilderness during this period, especially in mountainous areas, where ferocious beasts such as wolves and leopards often roamed.

Liu Qingsong thought about installing a heavy machine gun on the top of the train so that he could defend himself when encountering wild beasts and also hunt at the same time.

"I read in a magazine that the Russians even have cannons mounted on their trains.

Let's just install a machine gun. Technically speaking, it shouldn't be difficult, right?

Besides, there is no rule in our section that prohibits installing machine guns on trains, right?" Liu Qingsong said with a wronged look on his face.

Good man, there really is no such rule... Li Aiguo suppressed his laughter and asked, "Have you ever thought about what ordinary people would think if they saw this train running through the capital?"

"...I haven't really thought about this." Liu Qingsong's expression changed slightly.

As the leader of the rescue team, he was naturally aware of the special situation in the capital.

"Alas, if we can't install machine guns, then there's no way to modify it...Okay, Lao Zhang, quickly send someone to prepare the train so we can leave."

Liu Qingsong's enthusiasm seemed to be extinguished by a basin of cold water.

As the captain, he has been keen on improving the rescue train since it was built.

Now I heard that it is impossible to install new equipment, and I feel so depressed.

"Wait a minute, I came here today to give you a big gift!" Li Aiguo said, asking Huang Jing to take out the drawings. "On-truck lifting equipment."

Liu Qingsong looked at the design on the drawing and instantly understood Li Aiguo's intention.

The rescue team members also gathered around.

"If we have this thing, we won't have to carry it with our hands and shoulders when we need to rescue a train in the future!"

"You don't know, every time I load a car, I'm exhausted."

“It’s not a big deal if it’s just a little effort, the key is that it’s too dangerous.

Our rescue train has only been in use for more than a year, and it has already had more than a dozen accidents due to hoisting trains.”

"The worst-hit person was Lao Wang, whose leg was broken by the car body during the lifting operation.

Although I saved my life, I am now disabled and can only work in a warehouse."

As the saying goes, laymen watch the excitement, while insiders watch the door.

Liu Qingsong and the rescue team members immediately realized the huge role of the vehicle-mounted lifting equipment.

Liu Qingsong slapped the blueprint in front of Director Zhang, widened his eyes and said, "Old Zhang, immediately cooperate with driver Li to get the on-board lifting equipment out and install it on our rescue train."

Director Zhang: "."

He thought he could take it easy today, but unexpectedly he got another big job.

However, this is not the first time that the maintenance workshop and Li Aiguo have cooperated.

Both Director Zhang and the workers in the workshop have long been accustomed to this high-intensity innovative work.

"Aiguo, how do we install this gantry?" Director Zhang quickly mobilized a dozen workers and started working around the rescue train.

The lifting equipment has a simple structure and the masters are all level five or six masters. In less than one morning, the main frame of the lifting equipment was installed.

After lunch, the matching diesel generator was installed under the car.

Director Zhang found that the steel wire rope brought by Huang Jing was not strong enough, so he went to the maintenance workshop to select the steel wire rope himself.

By the time we got off work, more than half of the main structure of the truck crane had been completed.

This is because Li Aiguo required quality assurance, and the workers slowed down their work to ensure the weight of the truck crane, which is why the progress is so slow.

"The rest will probably be finished tomorrow."

"Don't worry, the electric hoist will probably take a few days to arrive."

At this time, as the trains returned to the locomotive depot one after another.

The maintenance workshop is also becoming increasingly busy.

Seeing this, Li Aiguo asked the workers to return to their original jobs.

He himself walked slowly back to the studio.

I picked a handful of fresh Chinese cabbage from the greenhouse, then rode my bike back to the courtyard.

When I got home, Chen Xueru hadn't come back yet.

Li Aiguo washed his hands, walked into the kitchen, and started making noodles skillfully.

After a while, two bowls of steaming egg and bok choy noodles came out of the pot.

The overflowing fragrance filled the whole house.

As soon as Miss Chen comes back, she can eat these delicious noodles.

In the evening, after the two had eaten and drunk their fill, Li Aiguo washed the dishes and carefully tidied the house.

It took him half an hour to get everything done.

Straightening his aching back, Li Aiguo muttered quietly, "Doing housework is more troublesome than driving a train."

Just then, a middle-aged woman's voice came from outside: "Please come to the Intermediate Court for a meeting."

Li Aiguo had not originally planned to attend the evening meeting.

If you have the time, you can spend more time to improve your skill points and achieve the goal of dominating the server as soon as possible.

But when he thought of Uncle Niu, he put down the book in his hand, slowly stood up, and walked out of the house.

At this time, the sun was setting.

The blood-red setting sun dyed the courtyard blood red, as if covering this ancient courtyard with a layer of mysterious gauze.

As soon as I stepped out of the house, Zhang Gangzhu and his wife followed closely.

"Brother Aiguo, I heard that the Jia family has become a food-scarce household... This old guy Yi Zhonghai is really getting more and more outrageous." Zhang Gangzhu's face was full of indignation.

It seems that the eyes of the masses are sharp, Li Aiguo sighed in his heart.

Sighing all the way to the middle courtyard, Zhang Gangzhu suddenly laughed out loud: "These three managers really know how to have fun."

Li Aiguo turned his head when he heard the voice, only to see that the square table and benches usually used for meetings were gone.

In the middle of the crowd.

There were only three lonely benches, and Yi Zhonghai, Liu Haizhong and Sanda Ye, the three managers, each occupied one bench.

"It seems like they have learned their lesson from last time... But this is really too much of a disregard for our neighborhood patrol. Brother Aiguo, just wait."

Zhang Gangzhu rolled his eyes, pulled his wife and said, "Wife, come with me."

After saying that, the two turned around and ran back to the house.

A moment later, the two men came back with flushed faces, panting and carrying an extremely large chair.

The chair exudes an ancient atmosphere and is made of mahogany.

The chair looked extremely old, and must have been there for quite some time. The backrest was tall, and was carefully carved with intricate and exquisite patterns.

"Brother Aiguo, how about this chair? I bought it from the Trust Store for only three dollars.

The old man selling the chair said that this chair was an item in the palace of the previous dynasty." Zhang Gangzhu said proudly.

When this huge chair was placed in the middle of the crowd, Yi Zhonghai's face suddenly became gloomy.

His original intention was to prevent Li Aiguo from overpowering him.

So they deliberately removed the benches and tables and only put out single stools, just to make Li Aiguo stand.

But I didn’t expect that someone would get such a “throne”.

Liu Haizhong rolled his eyes and said, "Patriotic, this thing was only for high officials in the previous dynasty. If you sit on it... I'm afraid it's not appropriate."

"Second Master, you guessed right, this is indeed something from the royal palace. But, haven't you heard the saying? The swallows that used to fly in front of the mansions of the rich and powerful now fly into the homes of ordinary people."

Li Aiguo looked at him in astonishment through his bangs.

He sat down on the chair slowly and said solemnly, "We the people are now in charge. The high officials of the previous dynasty can sit on this chair, so why can't we ordinary people sit on it?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Liu Haizhong's face turned pale instantly and he could no longer utter a single word.

Yi Zhonghai was secretly delighted at Liu Haizhong's proactive attack, but he didn't expect that he would be defeated so quickly.

I sighed in my heart: Why did you provoke him when he was fine?

"Ahem, Haizhong, let's have a meeting first and explain the situation to the residents."

Yi Zhonghai's words helped Liu Haizhong out of the predicament.

Liu Haizhong stood up and said with his big belly sticking out: "Everyone knows the situation in our capital now. In order to alleviate the food shortage, the superiors have specially spent a high price to purchase food from abroad. This reflects our spirit. We must take it as the basis, the core, the fundamental, the focus, and the measure. It's just that the amount of food is limited and we need to..."

Liu Haizhong kept talking endlessly. Yi Zhonghai was a little anxious and interrupted him with a wave of his hand: "Haizhong, let's get to the point."

Liu Haizhong felt depressed because he was interrupted, but he still interrupted his 20,000-word speech and said loudly: "After screening, our three uncles in charge selected five households that are short of food. Now, please let the uncle announce the list."

Yi Zhonghai took over the right to speak, took out a list from his pocket, and read out: "Zhang Xingfang's family in the front yard, Jia Zhang's family and Liu Mingde's family in the middle yard, Chen Guangde's family and Huaisi's family in the back yard.

These five families are the food-deficient households in our courtyard. Once their names are submitted to the street office, they will receive 20 kilograms of corn flour every month."

After finishing his speech, Yi Zhonghai looked around and said, "Okay, it's getting late. Let's go back and have some rest. We still have to go to work tomorrow."

In the past, courtyard meetings would always take several hours to complete.

Today it was over in just ten minutes and it was obvious to the residents that something was wrong.

"I say, uncle, it's ok for Zhang Xingfang and his family, but how come the Jia family is also short of food?

Her family is not short of food. I saw Jia Zhang eating white flour buns a while ago." A sarcastic voice came from the crowd.

Yi Zhonghai frowned slightly and said slowly: "Food-deficient households are not unable to afford food. If they really could not afford food, wouldn't they starve to death?

There is a complex set of rules for assessing households that are food insecure.”

"Then could you please explain the rules again so that we can understand them?" The sarcastic voice sounded again.

Cold sweat broke out on Yi Zhonghai's forehead.

The residents also noticed something was going on and started discussing it in low voices.

"Yes, Jia Zhang is so fat and white, how could her family be short of food?"

"That's hard to say. Didn't Qin Huairu go back to her hometown to borrow food a while ago?"

"Then she can borrow food. The families who are really in need of food can't even borrow food."

"I think the uncle should publish the standards."

Jia Zhang was very excited about the fact that her family had become food-scarce.

Seeing someone making trouble, he suddenly stood up from his chair, pointed at the crowd and cursed loudly: "Xu Damao, you bastard, you just can't stand seeing my family have enough food, right! If you have the guts, get out of here."

Xu Damao only dared to talk big, but when he saw that Jia Zhang was really angry, he quickly shrank his neck and hid in the crowd.

The residents did not want to offend the Jia family. After all, less trouble is worse than more, so they all kept their mouths shut.

Yi Zhonghai was secretly delighted when he saw this, and took the opportunity to say, "Alright, the specific rules are too complicated to explain in a short time. Is it fun to dwell on these?! Okay, let's all go."

Upon hearing this, the residents could only sigh inwardly, stand up, pick up their benches and prepare to leave.

At this moment, a voice came: "The rules are too complicated, I can explain them slowly. I believe everyone is not in a hurry, right?"

The residents who had originally planned to leave put down their stools and sat back down.

Yi Zhonghai's expression suddenly turned ugly: "Li Aiguo, this matter has nothing to do with your street patrol team."

(End of this chapter)