The train driver in the courtyard

Chen Fangxuan has been struggling in this world for most of his life, but this is the first time he has been admitted to such a high-end hospital.

The single room is quiet and private, nurses are available 24 hours a day, and the service is very thoughtful.

The meals for patients are also very particular. In the morning, they have steaming hot millet porridge with golden poached eggs, which looks tempting.

At noon, we had porridge made from fresh fish fillets. The fish fillets were fresh and tender, and the rice porridge was thick. It was so delicious that it made your eyebrows fall off.

For dinner, we had chewy hand-rolled noodles paired with sweet and sour scrambled eggs with tomatoes, which was simple yet delicious.

The doctors all wore glasses and looked like well-educated people.

"On the railway?" Seeing that Chen Fangxuan couldn't eat anymore, the sister-in-law turned around and quickly handed the bowl of porridge to her brother.

The bowl contained bright yellow millet porridge with brown sugar added. My eldest brother hurriedly took it, stood aside, and started eating it with big mouthfuls.

The eldest sister-in-law continued, "Our factory director was ill a while ago and wanted to go to 301 for registration. He asked for help from many people but was unable to get it done. The factory director is a department-level leader. How can the locomotive section arrange for you to stay here?"

"What do you mean? My dear wife, isn't this arranged by Aiguo?" Chen Fangxuan felt uneasy when he heard this. Could it be that those who claimed to be comrades from the locomotive section were trying to harm his son-in-law?
Thinking of this, Chen Fangxuan was about to get off the hospital bed.

The eldest sister-in-law stopped him immediately and said anxiously, "Dad, please listen to me. Just because the locomotive section can't do it doesn't mean Xueru's family can't do it. Don't you see that Xueru's family is very capable?"

"Yes, yes, yes, my brother-in-law is indeed not an ordinary person. He can earn a million rubles by making something to pad the children's buttocks." The eldest brother drank millet porridge without interrupting his conversation. He smacked his lips as the porridge slid down his throat.

"That's rubles, the Russians' money."

As the eldest sister-in-law spoke, she sat down beside the bed, hesitated for a moment, and looked at Chen Fangxuan with a thoughtful look in her eyes, "Dad, one million rubles... Xueru and her husband don't lack money to spend..."

A while ago, a piece of news was suddenly published in the newspaper that a railway worker invented diapers through his own research and won a prize of one million rubles from the Russian Academy of Sciences.

When the sister-in-law learned that the railway worker was her brother-in-law, her mind became active as if it had been scratched by a cat.

"Xiao Jiujin is getting bigger and bigger, and the two houses allocated by the factory are not enough for him to live in. It just so happens that Aunt Wang next door is planning to move to another place to live with her son. Two tiled houses only cost 400 yuan, which is a great deal."

"And my younger brother, he's not young anymore, he doesn't have a formal job, and he can't even find a partner. I heard that someone at the coal briquette factory is selling factory quotas for only 280 yuan."

"besides……"

The sister-in-law was talking to herself, her words were like a machine gun, and she didn't notice that Chen Fangxuan's face had become as black as the bottom of a pot.

The eldest brother quickly stopped her and said with a frown, "What are you talking about? We can slowly solve the house issue. Didn't I contact the lumber mill for your brother's job a while ago? As long as he works in the mill for two years, Lao Wang can help him get a permanent job."

"We are all family. What's wrong with me borrowing some money first? It's not like I won't pay it back." The sister-in-law's eyes suddenly widened and her voice tone rose a few degrees.

Chen Fangxuan had long noticed that his sister-in-law had ideas about the money, but he had been ill a while ago and had never mentioned it.

Seeing his sister-in-law making a fuss in the ward, Chen Fangxuan waved his hands at her impatiently: "It's the old family's money. The money was earned by Xueru's family. How Xueru's family handles it is their own business."

"Dad, that's one million rubles, they can't spend it all in their lifetime. What's wrong with lending us some?" The eldest sister-in-law felt very aggrieved, her eyes turned red: "Dad, do you only care about my little sister and not Xingjia?"

"You..." Chen Fangxuan was so angry that he couldn't speak, and suddenly he started coughing violently.

The eldest sister-in-law was also panicked, and hurried to pat his back: "Dad, Dad, don't be angry, I won't mention it again in the future, okay?"

At this moment, the door of the ward was pushed open from the outside with a creaky sound.

Seeing Chen Fangxuan's expression, Chen Xueru hurriedly put down the net bag of fruits and snacks in her hand, walked over quickly, patted his back, and asked anxiously, "Dad, what's wrong with you? Are you sick again?"

"It's okay. I just choked while drinking water." Chen Fangxuan's coughing subsided. He took Chen Xueru's hand and looked at Li Aiguo: "Aiguo, you're back."

"Dad, you are a patient now, just focus on recuperating and don't worry about other things."

Li Aiguo looked at the tears in his sister-in-law's eyes, then looked at Chen Xingjia with his head hung down. How could he not understand what had happened?

His meaning was very clear. If the sister-in-law had any problems, she could talk to him directly and not use Chen Fangxuan as a cover.

The eldest sister-in-law also understood what he meant. Her face suddenly turned red and she stammered, "Aiguo, no, nothing."

Although the eldest sister-in-law likes to take advantage of others, she is not a bad person by nature. Li Aiguo did not bother with her. He sat there and chatted with Chen Fangxuan about family matters.

Seeing that it was almost nine o'clock, Li Aiguo was worried about going to the locomotive depot, so he said goodbye.

Before leaving, he went to the attending physician's office to ask about Chen Fangxuan's condition.

Chen Fangxuan suffered from tuberculosis, which was common in those days, mainly caused by malnutrition and overwork.

The doctor said that as long as I rest for a period of time, replenish my nutrition, and take special medicine, I will recover soon.

"Professor Chen, thank you so much." It's not popular to give red envelopes these days, so Li Aiguo could only express his sincere gratitude.

When he left the doctor's office, Chen Xingjia was waiting outside.

"Aiguo, your sister-in-law was indeed wrong today. I apologize to you on her behalf."

"We're family, so we don't have to talk behind each other's backs. Brother, if you have nothing else to do, I'm going to work."

Li Aiguo was about to go to work when Chen Xingjia turned around and stopped him again.

"Aiguo, your sister-in-law's idea is not without reason. The children are grown up, and it is indeed time to buy two rooms. You may not know that your sister-in-law is pregnant again. You won so much bonus this time."

Chen Xingjia was halfway through his words when he felt his face burning and lowered his head in embarrassment.

"I still have a use for the bonus." Li Aiguo looked at Chen Xingjia, thought for a moment, and said, "If you need money to buy a house, I'll lend you some first."

Private houses in the capital are cheap these days, and keeping one is a sure-win deal.

Li Aiguo has several thousand yuan in savings, so he doesn't need this. Chen Xingjia is a family member, so he will help him if he can.

"Patriotism, I, thank you so much." Chen Xingjia's expression was complicated, grateful and a little ashamed.

"I'll leave first, and then I'll ask Xueru to send the money home for you."

Li Aiguo rode his bicycle away.

The eldest sister-in-law came out of the ward, approached Chen Xingjia, and asked in a low voice: "Boss, how is it, did Aiguo agree?"

Chen Xingjia hummed and said, "He agreed to lend us a few hundred yuan to buy the house."

"Really? That's great." The eldest sister-in-law touched her slightly bulging belly and smiled brightly, "If we can really have two more rooms, I will give you eight or ten more children."

"This money has to be paid back." Chen Xingjia reminded his sister-in-law.

The eldest sister-in-law glared at him: "Look at what you said, am I the kind of person who is shameless? I have already thought about it. I will bring my own meals to the factory in the future. The meal tickets I save every month can be sold for five yuan."

******
Li Aiguo rode his bicycle at lightning speed to the Qianmen Locomotive Depot.

It was working hours and Cao Wenzhi and his team were ready to leave.

Li Aiguo gave away the gifts he brought back from the Russians. Vodka, pickles, sour cream, Russian chocolate... Although the gifts were not worth much, they were all gifts from the heart.

Cao Wenzhi pinched a piece of chocolate, put it in his mouth, chewed it twice, and immediately frowned: "Aiguo, did you buy a fake? Why is it full of sugar? It tastes nothing like the chocolate I got when I attended the staff meeting."

"This is authentic Russian candy." Li Aiguo smiled. The key to Russian food is just one word: "rough".

It’s ridiculous to think about the Russian national pavilions that are everywhere in the future. I guess even the Russians themselves have never seen the goods inside.

"Aiguo, can you drive tomorrow?" asked Master Zhang, who was on duty, with some concern.

"Not yet. I have other things to do." Li Aiguo looked at the mighty steam locomotive with envy. The speed-up team's work would begin soon. He estimated that the locomotive would not be able to run for a while.

Master Zhang secretly breathed a sigh of relief. As long as Li Aiguo was busy with other things, he could continue to be the regular driver for a while.

It was time to depart. Cao Wenzhi and the substitute driver boarded the locomotive. The whistle blew twice, and the locomotive disappeared in the distance, emitting black smoke.

Li Aiguo withdrew his gaze and wandered into the office of Director Xing.

"It's the patriots who are back. Come and sit down."

After presenting the sausages brought back from the Russians, Li Aiguo first handed over a note.

"Duanzhang, I'm here to cancel my leave."

Duanchang Xing took the note and was about to sign it when Li Aiguo handed over another note.

"Duanzhang, the department has set up a speed-up team, and I have been assigned to help."

Director Xing looked at the two notes and fell silent.

"Can we pass two notes at once?"

"No, this is the procedure. I cannot violate the procedure, and I cannot let you violate the procedure." Li Aiguo looked serious.

"."

Section Chief Xing quickly signed both notes, because the department had asked the maintenance section for people several times.

After talking about work, the two chatted for a while.

"I originally wanted to let you rest for a few days, but now the department is pressing you hard, so you need to report in this afternoon."

"It's my duty." When Li Aiguo was talking to Dou Wu on the phone at the Russian side, he had already inquired about the progress of the work in the department.

At present, the Railway Speed-up Group has been formally established and has been designated as a permanent institution within the Ministry, with several offices on the third floor of the Ministry of Railways' office building.

In the team leader's office, Minister Teng was listening to work reports from various places. Seeing Li Aiguo standing at the door, he nodded at him.

An officer brought a chair and Li Aiguo walked in quietly and sat down.

The person reporting on the work was Chen Dexiang, the speed-up specialist of Lanzhou Railway Bureau.

There is a special feature these days: government agencies are accustomed to sending specialists to take charge of special tasks.

The person in charge of sanitation is the health commissioner, the person in charge of ideological education is the education commissioner, and the person in charge of increasing train speed is naturally the speed-up commissioner.

This method is flexible and easy to perform tasks. Chen Dexiang flipped through the documents, looking a little embarrassed: "Team leader, Lanzhou has already started to implement passenger and freight diversion, which has indeed achieved certain results, but the passenger and freight diversion plan has too high requirements for dispatching, and production accidents caused by scheduling errors often occur, so the speed-up effect is not ideal."

Minister Teng frowned when he heard this. It had been nearly two months since the speed-up team was established. Under the unified command of the ministry, railway bureaus across the country had launched a major campaign to speed up trains.

The effect was really good at the beginning. In just half a month, the train speed increased by nearly 10%. However, as time went on, due to the limitations of infrastructure, the effect of train speed increase became worse and worse.

Minister Teng knew that this was not because the commissioner was not doing his job well, so he smiled and encouraged her: "You can go back first and attend the third work discussion meeting held by the department on time the day after tomorrow."

"Yes!" Chen Dexiang stood up and left the office.

"Aiguo, you came back just in time. I'm so busy here." Minister Teng asked his assistant to pour tea for Li Aiguo and joked with a smile: "Before you left, you submitted a plan for a railway network. This plan has a lot of problems."

Li Aiguo straightened his chest.

Minister Teng's face gradually became serious as he spoke: "The idea of ​​the railway network is good, but it requires each train to update its position on the network in real time. The network can be adjusted at any time according to the status of the train. With such a large workload, we also have to consider real-time signal transmission. This is no longer practical."

Li Aiguo said: "Minister, we can use computers to solve this problem."

Minister Teng: "Computers? The huge ones that cost hundreds of thousands? The cost is too high."

"We can design a computer specifically for running road network programs." Li Aiguo repeated the concept of the Minsk series of computers.

Although Minister Teng was not clear about what a special computer was, when he heard that Li Aiguo had brought a computer research institute from the Russians, he immediately realized that Li Aiguo was not just talking nonsense.

"I plan to set up a computer research institute in the name of our Ministry of Railways. The name of the institute will be Red Star Computer Research Institute."

"This institute is nominally a joint venture between our railway department and Andre Trading Company. With the backing of 'foreign capital', it is easier to do many things. However, the real control of the institute is still in our hands."

"But you still have to solve some procedural issues for the related work."

Hearing this, Minister Teng nodded and said: "We have jointly established several companies with the Russians on the principles of friendship, mutual assistance, equality and mutual benefit.

The four joint ventures, namely Nonferrous Metals Company (Bianjiang), Oil Company (Bianjiang), Shipbuilding Company (Dalian) and Civil Aviation Company (Dalian), are jointly managed and operated by both parties.

These companies not only broke the imperialist intentions, but also promoted economic cooperation between the two countries.

This model has been praised several times before. With the precedent, there should be no problem with the procedure.”

Minister Teng did not make one point clear. The Andre Company is a small group on the Russian side. In the cooperation between the two sides, the Ministry of Railways will be in a strong position.

It was because of the precedent of these four companies that Li Aiguo thought about setting up a joint venture research institute.

He went on to say, "At present, the equipment sent from the Russians is on the way. A dozen researchers from the Russians will join the Red Star Research Institute as foreign experts."

Minister Teng pondered for a moment and said, "It is important to prepare food before troops move. It is patriotic. It takes a lot of money to build a research institute. What is your budget? I will try to find a way to solve it for you."

"In fact, I have already raised the funds." Li Aiguo said with a smile.

Minister Teng frowned. "Funds from Andre Trading Company? Aiguo, didn't you just say that Andre Trading Company is just a name? Why are they willing to provide this funding?"

"You misunderstood. It's the one million rubles. I plan to donate it to the Red Star Computer Research Institute as start-up capital." Li Aiguo said in a deep voice.

Hearing this, Minister Teng looked at Li Aiguo in disbelief.

"You plan to give away the entire million rubles?"

No wonder Minister Teng was so surprised.

In fact, when the news that Li Aiguo won a one million ruble bonus was disclosed by Renren Daily, many people who followed Li Aiguo began to speculate how the money should be handled.

Generally speaking, for prize money won abroad like Li Aiguo, after it is brought back to China, the commerce department will convert the prize money into an equivalent amount of RMB and distribute it to the winner.

But this is one million rubles!
【1950年1月，1卢布约合 6，724元旧人民币（1955年前的人民币面值）。】

[After 1955, the Sino-Soviet agreement adjusted the exchange rate to 1 ruble = 0.5 new RMB]

Please note that this exchange rate is mainly used in non-trade areas (such as living expenses settlement for international students and diplomats).

If in the dove market or in the trade field, 1 ruble can be exchanged for at least 0.7 new yuan.

In other words, Li Aiguo won a bonus of 700,000 RMB this time.

This is money that many people would find difficult to earn in their entire lifetime.

If all of them were distributed in full, it would inevitably cause criticism from some people.

Therefore, Minister Teng had already made up his mind to persuade Li Aiguo to consider the overall situation and donate part of the prize money.

Who would have thought that before he even opened his mouth, this guy actually planned to donate all his prize money.

"Minister, I now earn more than 100 yuan a month. My children don't have to pay for school and medical treatment. So much money is meaningless to me. It's better to spend it on something more important."

While Li Aiguo was speaking, Minister Teng kept staring at his face but did not find any "hypocrisy" in it.

On second thought, if bragging is considered hypocrisy, then if he is willing to give out 700,000 yuan, then even if it is hypocrisy, it is not just ordinary hypocrisy, but sincerity.

"Okay, okay, Aiguo, I didn't misjudge you!" Minister Teng slapped the table excitedly, stood up and said, "Don't worry about the formalities, I'll take care of it."

"Thank you very much."

It is far from enough for the Red Star Computer Research Institute to have only those old Russian researchers. He also has to find a way to recruit another group of talents.

Li Aiguo told Minister Teng about the idea of ​​recruiting researchers.

Minister Teng thought for a moment and said, "Currently, the computer talents in China are mainly concentrated in the Institute of Computing Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Computing Technology of Harbin Institute of Technology.

Let's put it this way. Once the formalities for the Red Star Computing Institute are completed, I will issue a document in the name of the Ministry of Railways, requesting support from these two institutes.

If you like any of them, you can transfer them directly under the name of the Ministry of Railways."

As soon as these words were spoken, Li Aiguo suddenly became excited.

With the endorsement of the Ministry of Railways, the Red Star Computing Institute, which originally needed half a year to build up its R&D capabilities, is expected to be able to start research projects next month.

Time is like the wages a man hands in.

Faster and faster, less and less.

In the blink of an eye, it was already three days later.

Minister Teng informed Li Aiguo over the phone that Haizili had approved the plan to build the Red Star Computer Research Institute in cooperation with Andre Trading Company.

And because of the special status of Andre Trading Company, the Red Star Computer Research Institute has been designated as a key research institute and enjoys certain conveniences in material allocation and personnel dispatch.

Because the Red Star Computer Research Institute belonged to the Ministry of Railways, it was located next to the Beijing Railway Technology Research Institute.

It used to be the 1013 Institute, but later the 1013 Institute moved to the suburbs and the house became vacant.

"Director Teng of the 1013 Institute, thank you so much!" Li Aiguo was so excited that he almost jumped up after hearing the news.

When Li Aiguo was working with Professor Xia Zhongsu in the past, he had heard him mention the name of the 1013 Institute.

The 1013 Institute also studies computers, but it is not under the management of the Institute of Computing Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Instead, it is directly led by the Tenth Institute of the National Defense Science and Technology Commission.

The 1013 Institute has a military background and belongs to the 116th Unit of Beijing. The project it undertakes is to design a special machine to control the missile body.

Because of confidentiality, Li Aiguo did not know more about the situation. He only knew that the 1013 Institute seemed to be developing integrated circuits.

But that's not the point.

The key point is that although the 1013 Institute moved all its equipment away, the infrastructure remained.

For example, the power supply system, laboratories, staff dormitories, and even the canteen are all complete.

It can be said that as long as the Red Star Computer Research Institute has manpower and new equipment, it will be able to form R&D capabilities.

"What do you think about the position of director of the Red Star Computer Research Institute?" Minister Teng raised a new question on the phone at this time.

Li Aiguo was well prepared: "I think it is more appropriate for Professor Gillotti to be the director of this institute. Firstly, he has served as the director of the Minsk Computer Research Institute and is more familiar with the work.

Secondly, Professor Gilotti is the most famous computer expert in Russia and even in the world, and can enhance the reputation of the Red Star Computer Research Institute. "

Of course, Li Aiguo didn’t mention the most important point.

It is inevitable that those old Russian researchers will not be able to adapt to the local climate when they come to the University of Tokyo. Having Professor Gilotti as the director of the institute can motivate them.

"Does Professor Gillotti agree?" Minister Teng was a little worried.

"As agreed, Professor Gillotti and those researchers will arrive in the capital in a week. I will talk to him in person then."

Li Aiguo was about to hang up when Minister Teng suddenly said, "Please pay attention to Renren Daily tomorrow."

"Everyone's Daily?"

Li Aiguo couldn't understand what Minister Teng was going to do.

But he didn't think much about it. He rode his bike out of the studio and headed towards the 301 Hospital.

After more than a month of treatment, Chen Fangxuan's health has improved greatly and all he needs to do now is go home and recuperate.

The sister-in-law originally planned to persuade Chen Fangxuan to stay in the hospital for a while longer. After all, the meals for patients in the 301 Hospital include meat dishes, and there is no need to pay medical expenses.

"You can live here without paying? Can these food, drinks, and medicines appear out of thin air? They are all bought with money! Whose money is spent in the hospital? Isn't it everyone's money?"

"If we do this, won't we all be the ones who suffer?"

"Okay, okay, you have a high level of ideological awareness. Let's be discharged from the hospital tomorrow." The sister-in-law was so angry that her face turned red and she had no choice but to do as Chen Fangxuan said.

Today Li Aiguo made an appointment with Chen Xueru to pick up Chen Fangxuan from the hospital.

(End of this chapter)