The train driver in the courtyard

When Wang Xiaomei heard that Zhang Shiqi was in trouble, she didn't even have time to eat dinner and hurried over in her half-worn cloth shoes.

When you push open the door.

In the dim glow of the incandescent lamp, Zhang Shiqi was drinking Erguotou with his neck tilted back, and the liquor dripped down his chin onto his blue cloth shirt.

"Brother Shiqi, don't do this." Wang Xiaomei rushed over and grabbed the bottle.

The smell of alcohol mixed with the faint smell of cigarettes on the man hit her in the face, and she hid the bottle of wine behind her back.

Zhang Shiqi stumbled to his feet, and the army green mattress was wrinkled into a ball: "Give it back to me!"

He suddenly swung his arm and swept the enamelware pot on the table down. The clanging sound startled Wang Xiaomei and made her shrink back.

"I was looking forward to joining the project team, but because..."

His voice suddenly choked, and he stretched out his hand to tightly grasp her wrist, "Because of our matter, Li Aiguo is targeting me everywhere!"

This is what a PUA master is.

Wang Xiaomei suddenly felt that the entire responsibility was on her, and she felt even more sympathetic and pity for the man in front of her.

"I'll go find Team Leader Li and explain everything!" Just as she was about to turn around, the force on her wrist suddenly tightened.

Zhang Shiqi's hot palm rubbed against her wrist bone, like a burning fire.

Wang Xiaomei's earlobes turned red instantly, this hug was hotter than any previous one.

Once this fire starts, it will be difficult to put out.

Zhang Shiqi felt the girl in front of him trembling all over, and he had an idea in his mind. He pulled Wang Xiaomei into his arms.

"If we go now, it will just confirm their gossip. Let's go get the marriage certificate tomorrow." The drunken breath sprayed beside her ears, and Wang Xiaomei was suddenly pulled into his arms.

His chest under the coarse shirt heaved violently, and Zhang Shiqi suddenly lowered his head and started biting.

She put her hands on his chest, but it felt like she was pressing on a hot iron plate and she gradually lost her strength.

The bed creaked.

When the cold fingertips touched the waistband, Wang Xiaomei suddenly came to her senses and grabbed the restless hand: "Don't wait until marriage like this. I'll give it all to you."

Her voice was as soft as a mosquito, but was interrupted by the man's anxious breathing.

"What are you afraid of? You will be mine sooner or later!"

"Brother Shiqi, I'm scared."

Feeling the body in his arms trembling like newly drawn silk, Zhang Shiqi suddenly tightened his arms: "I can't wait any longer!"

Zhang Shiqi pressed her down on the bed. The moonlight slanted in through the wooden lattice window, illuminating the crazy desire in his eyes.

Wang Xiaomei looked at the peeling ceiling above her head.

When Wang Xiaomei thought that Zhang Shiqi had lost the opportunity to advance because of her, she felt from the bottom of her heart that she should give him some compensation.

She loosened her grip and let the big hand pull off her belt.

At this moment, there was a crisp "crash" sound!
Broken glass flew onto the edge of the bed, shocking both of them and freezing at the same time.

Wang Xiaomei screamed and rolled off the bed, pulled up her pants and rushed out the door. The buttons of her blue shirt were crooked and most of her braids were loose.

Seeing that the duck that was about to be caught flew away, Zhang Shiqi punched the bed unwillingly.

"Damn you Zhao Qing, are you done yet?"

His eyes swept over Wang Xiaomei's shoes and he was stunned.

"Shoes. Maybe I can."

The soles of the pair of cloth shoes were still warm. He bent down to pick them up. A complete plan emerged in his mind, and a sinister smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

****
The next day, the fiery red sun hung above the experimental building, and golden light spread all over the machine factory.

Li Aiguo had breakfast in the cafeteria and then hurried to the laboratory.

"Aiguo, you're here." Staff Officer Xiao, who had disappeared for several days, was already waiting at the door.

"Old Xiao, thank you for your hard work. Did you bring the things back?" Li Aiguo asked impatiently.

Staff Officer Xiao pointed to a GAZ jeep parked not far away and said, "It's all in the trunk."

Zhang Tan and the group of technicians were surprised to see this situation.

Staff Officer Xiao’s rank is not low, and he often follows Li Aiguo around, acting as a “military supervisor”.

He left the First Machinery Factory at a critical moment and traveled around for several days. What did he bring back?
"Aiguo, what did you do this time?"

"You'll find out later."

After Li Aiguo opened the trunk of the jeep, Zhang Tan and the technicians looked at the pile of strange things in the trunk and fell into silence.

"What the hell is this!"

"Something that can save your life!" Li Aiguo rummaged through the pile of things for a while and took out a strange instrument.

Although Staff Officer Xiao brought the thing back, he didn't know what it was, so he came over to watch the fun.

Li Aiguo turned the knob of the instrument, and the instrument made a crackling sound, which scared Zhang Tan and the technicians.

The instrument moved closer to Staff Officer Xiao, and the crackling sound did not change. Li Aiguo then moved the instrument closer to Zhang Tan, and the crackling sound became much more rapid.

"This, this." Zhang Tan was frightened by this strange thing.

"This is a Geiger counter, used to check for nuclear radiation."

In later times, as long as you place an order, the Geiger counter will be delivered to your home, and you can return or exchange it within seven days without giving any reason.

But in those days, because the Geiger counter required a Geiger-Muller tube filled with helium, neon, and argon, only laboratories involved in nuclear research could produce it in China.

Li Aiguo also spent a lot of effort to borrow one.

While explaining, Li Aiguo held a Geiger counter and checked the technicians one by one.

The crackling sound scared many people.

A young technician raised his hand and said, "Team Leader Li, how about I come back to work tomorrow?"

"why?"

"I heard that nuclear radiation can make men lose their fertility. I don't have a child yet, so I'm going to go back and have one now." The young technician covered his crotch.

Li Aiguo: "."

He was silent for a moment and explained, "We use depleted uranium materials, which are not highly radioactive and will not affect fertility, so don't worry."

"So that's how it is. I was scared to death."

The young technician just breathed a sigh of relief when Li Aiguo continued, "But depleted uranium materials in the form of dust can still harm the human body."

After these words were spoken, the young technician's face turned ugly again.

Zhang Tan and the technicians' expressions suddenly changed.

"Anyone who wants to quit now can do so, and it won't be recorded in the file." Li Aiguo said as he handed the Geiger counter to Staff Officer Xiao.

For two full minutes, no one dropped out.

"Someone has to do this dangerous thing of patriotism. Why can't that person be me?!" Zhang Tan puffed out his chest.

The technicians nodded.

Li Aiguo looked at the young but determined faces in front of him, and a warm feeling surged in his heart.

It is with this spirit that we have been able to rise from poverty and stand at the top of the world.

Looking at the slogan "Self-reliance, hard work" hanging on the wall, Li Aiguo said in a deep voice: "Since everyone has chosen to stay, let's take the best protective measures."

He took out another raincoat-like protective suit from the trunk.

"This thing is a protective suit. It can block most of the radiation. Plus, the radiation from depleted uranium is not high, so it's enough to keep everyone safe."

"In addition to protective clothing, there are also radiation-proof masks and special sealed gloves. Every two hours of work, a full-body test is conducted. Staff Officer Xiao is the inspector. The radiation value is a red line that must not be crossed."

When Staff Officer Xiao heard this, his eyes widened little by little.

He didn't expect that Li Aiguo asked him to go to the capital urgently just to get these life-saving items back.

This guy really puts his comrades first.

But why can the Qianmen Locomotive Depot Umbrella Factory produce protective clothing?
Afterwards, Li Aiguo demonstrated how to wear protective clothing.

"First, take off all your clothes."

tear
Take off your clothes.

There was a sudden gasp in the laboratory.

"Our team leader Li is such a beast."

"Yeah, I definitely won't change clothes with Team Leader Li next time. This is discouraging."

"Oh, is that thing real?"

The technicians took a few steps back, and some even quickly put on their clothes and tried to escape outside.

It's really shocking.

After pretending to be awesome, Li Aiguo put on his protective clothing and checked the tightness.

I have to say that the craftsmanship of the umbrella factory of Qianmen Locomotive Depot is getting better and better, and the rubber clothing is made with great precision.

Zhang Tan also put on the protective suit, looked around, and was a little surprised: "Team Leader Li, you know what, wearing this suit makes me look completely different."

These words touched the hearts of the technicians.

This protective suit is quite intimidating at first glance. If someone sees it, they will definitely think it is a high-level talent.

"Let's get started. The forging workshop is still waiting. Today we need to embed the depleted uranium alloy skeleton into the steel matrix in the form of a grid, and then fill the grid with ceramics. We will use the high density of uranium to constrain the ceramic material and reduce stress wave damage."

The technicians now understood the entire production process.

Since Li Aiguo modified some technologies according to the current industrial technology level, production is not difficult.

Manufacturing is progressing smoothly.

The only thing that made the technicians feel depressed was that every two hours, they would be called aside by Staff Officer Xiao and have their Geiger counters buzz for a while.

Fortunately, as Li Aiguo expected, the radiation properties of depleted uranium materials did not change even at high temperatures.

Time passed in a busy manner, and in the blink of an eye, five days had passed.

The grid matrix of depleted uranium alloy has been manufactured. After confirming that the anti-oxidation coating has been applied, Li Aiguo decided to proceed to the next step.

"Notify the factory and ask them to start producing 601 steel alloy plates according to the original plan." A call was made from the laboratory to the factory director's office.

After receiving the call, the factory director immediately called the leaders of the forging workshop and the materials department into the office.

"At present, more than half of our factory's key projects have been completed. Now it's up to you."

"Don't worry, our forging workshop has already organized five ninth-level workers and more than ten eighth-level workers."

"I will contact Baosteel right away and ask them to send the 601 steel over."

The forging workshop and materials department were mobilized instantly.

When Wang Xiaomei received the notice from her leader, she was helping Zhang Shiqi sew clothes in the dormitory.

After the last incident, Wang Xiaomei felt a little resentful that Zhang Shiqi did not respect her and was a little angry, so she ignored Zhang Shiqi for several days.

Zhang Shiqi brought her food, invited her to the movies, apologized to her, and said that he would not touch her before marriage. Only then did Wang Xiaomei reconcile with him.

"Shiqi, I have already handed the marriage application form to my leader." Wang Xiaomei looked up at Zhang Shiqi while sewing clothes.

"Okay, we can get married soon." Zhang Shiqi said with a smile.

At this time, a voice came from outside: "Xiaomei, the leader asked you to go to Baosteel to carry out the task."

"Okay, I'll be there right away." When Wang Xiaomei heard that there was a mission, she stood up and prepared to leave.

"Xiaomei, wait a minute."

Zhang Shiqi called Wang Xiaomei and took out a pair of shoes from under the bed.

"Xiaomei, these are the shoes you left with me last time. Look, I cleaned them for you. Hurry and put them on."

Looking at the clean shoes, Wang Xiaomei felt a little touched.

"Brother Shiqi, you are so nice."

"Leave it here for now and put it on when I come back."

Zhang Shiqi smiled and said, "Look, your shoes are dirty. It's better to go to another factory this time. It would be bad if someone saw it."

Although Wang Xiaomei felt that Zhang Shiqi was a little strange, she just thought he was thinking about her, so she sat on a chair and changed her shoes.

She stood up and took two steps, frowning: "These shoes seem a bit heavy."

"This is your illusion. After all, I just changed my shoes and my feet haven't adapted to them yet." Zhang Shiqi touched his chin, adjusted his collar, and deliberately put on the appearance of a great poet. He cleared his throat and said, "Xiaomei, before you leave, I want to express my feelings for you in a poem."

He pulled out a piece of letter paper from under the pillow, his eyes were so affectionate that they seemed to drown Wang Xiaomei, and he slowly read: "Gobi wind, it is my longing for you that is whistling; the lights in the factory area, it is my eyes shining as I wait for your return.

My little plum, you are the most beautiful flower in spring, blooming in my lonely heart."

Wang Xiaomei's face turned red instantly, she twisted the corners of her clothes with her hands and lowered her head shyly.

But before she could immerse herself in this tenderness and sweetness, she heard the shouts of her colleagues outside.

"Xiaomei, hurry up, the leader is urging us."

"I'm leaving, Brother Shiqi." Wang Xiaomei looked up at Zhang Shiqi, turned around and ran out of the dormitory quickly.

Zhang Shiqi looked at her back and touched his chin.

****
evening.

The sky gradually darkened.

The steam from the forge workshop dyed the dusk blue-gray, and the sixty-ton air hammer made a deafening roar.

When the 601 steel raw material truck covered with black cloth slowly drove in, the old masters immediately gathered around.

The workshop director, wearing cowhide gloves, used a steel chisel to lift up a corner of the black cloth. The blue steel surface was shining with a cold metallic luster.

"Team leader Li, can you tell us what we should do?" The workshop director gathered the old masters together and turned to look at Li Aiguo.

"Listen up!" Li Aiguo shouted, his voice cut off by the roar of the machine, "The carbon content of 601 alloy steel is 0.3% higher than usual, and the forging temperature must be precisely controlled at 1180℃!
Every degree of deviation will cause the armor's bullet-proof performance to drop avalanche-like!"

Li Aiguo explained the manufacturing process that he and Zhang Tan developed together.

Those old masters have many years of experience and quickly mastered it.

"Team Leader Li, just wait and see! Our hands are more accurate than a thermometer! We will definitely make this donkey meat hotpot."

As the crane slowly lifted the steel ingot, the furnace door opened with a bang, and an orange-red heat wave hit us in the face.

Master Zhou, the pliers master, tensed all his muscles and accurately delivered the steel ingot into the heating furnace.

"Timing begins!"

The technician stared at the pocket watch, and the sound of the second hand ticking seemed to carry a tense rhythm.

When the temperature pointer approached the critical value, Lao Li waved his arm violently, the crane started again, and the red ingot was moved to the forging machine like a scorching sun.

Several technicians place a depleted uranium alloy grid matrix between two steel ingots.

“Hammer drop!”

Li Aiguo's shout tore through the stagnant air.

The air hammer smashed down with tremendous force, and sparks shot towards the protective net like shotguns.

The master craftsmen's steel chisels flew up and down amid the flying sparks.

The depleted uranium alloy grid exudes a faint blue light under high temperature, entwining and blending with the red steel ingots, as if undergoing a dangerous and magnificent chemical reaction.

Behind the goggles of the master craftsmen, their eyes are sharper than the steel drills in their hands. They constantly adjust the forging angle according to the deformation of the steel ingot.

The Geiger counter makes a regular ticking sound, like a sophisticated heartbeat monitor, always alert to changes in radiation.

"The pressure is increased to 800 MPa!"

The hydraulic press started up slowly, and the steel ingot gradually took shape under the tremendous pressure. The depleted uranium and 601 steel blended together like water and milk, turning into an indestructible composite armor.

"Maintain the pressure for 30 minutes!" Li Aiguo's voice was hoarse, but his eyes were burning with a light hotter than a furnace.

When the last step was completed, the surface of the armor glowed with a mixture of faint blue and silver-white light, as if solidifying the heat and tenacity of the entire workshop.

The technician carefully measured the thickness of the armor with a caliper, but his hands were shaking slightly - this is not just a piece of steel plate, but also the crystallization of the wisdom and sweat of countless people, carrying the heavy responsibility of protecting the country.

"The thickness is acceptable!"

"We made it!"

Old Zhou threw away his protective mask and slapped Li Aiguo's back with his calloused hands. The whole workshop was boiling, and smiles bloomed on faces covered with oil and sweat. Some people even sang "We Workers Have Power" at the top of their lungs.

Outside the workshop, night has fallen, but the lights here are still bright, accompanied by the roar of machines, telling our military industry legend.

"Hello? What? The first batch of depleted uranium armor has been forged? Great! You wait, I'll be there soon."

Director Guo had fallen asleep at this time. After receiving the call, he got up from the bed and started to get dressed.

Director Guo's wife was awakened, sat up, and said worriedly, "Old Guo, your heart is not in good condition. The doctor at 301 reminded you to rest more. If there is anything, can't it wait until tomorrow?"

"We can't wait! If we succeed, we can become really strong in the future!" Director Guo's heart was pounding with excitement.

He didn't care that it was dark outside and took a GAZ jeep to the forging workshop.

"This is the depleted uranium armor." Director Guo stared at the armor that had been divided into small pieces. He couldn't help but want to reach out and touch it, but he retracted his hand as soon as he stretched out his hand.

Li Aiguo said with a smile: "Director, don't worry, I have just checked it with a Geiger counter, and the radiation is not over the limit."

"Good, good, good!" Director Guo took the armor in his hand, weighed it, and exclaimed: "Comrade Patriot, you are simply a genius."

Several technicians and leaders nearby nodded.

"If we didn't have the technology provided by our patriotic comrades, we wouldn't be able to make it even if we knew it."

“Patriotic comrades are not only geniuses, but all-rounders.”

"I think Comrade Aiguo's research on materials is comparable to those of the old researchers."

Seeing that the workshop was about to start praising each other, Li Aiguo interrupted quickly: "Even if I were made of iron, I could only hammer a few nails. The most important thing is the far-sightedness of the factory leaders and the concerted efforts of everyone."

Director Guo nodded in praise.

"Well, we in the military industry are very particular about whether we are a mule or a horse. Patriotic comrade, I plan to experiment with this depleted uranium armor. What do you think?"

"Depleted uranium armor can be used as external armor because it is relatively light."

Li Aiguo pondered for a moment, pointed at the armor and said, "The new tank is still in the planning stage. The armor here is enough to equip a Type 59 tank. I think we should use the Type 59 tank for the experiment."

"Since we are only testing the armor, we can use scrapped tanks as experimental subjects, which can save a lot of money."

The First Machine Factory is a factory that produces tanks, and the thing they have the most is tanks.

Director Guo nodded: "This is a good idea. I will report to Junwei tomorrow and conduct the first test!"

This project is Junwei’s key project. Now that it has produced results, it is natural to report to Junwei.

The next day, Director Guo personally called the leader of Junwei and reported the achievements of the First Machine Factory.

The top leader was very happy and immediately assigned several leaders to form an observation group to participate in this test.

These leaders are of very high levels, and the test is also related to the promotion of depleted uranium armor, so Li Aiguo has been concentrating on the preparations for the past two days.

The Type 59 tank obtained by the First Machine Factory is a test aircraft.

As a target for testing the power of armor-piercing projectiles and anti-tank rockets, the tank's surface armor had long been blown to pieces, and there was even a hole at the front.

"This was opened by a single shot from the Type 59 130mm cannon," said the head of the logistics department.

"Well, Director Guo is really thrifty." Li Aiguo walked around the tank and scratched his head.

Zhang Tan also felt that the comrades in the logistics department were deliberately making things difficult, so he said with a smile, "Team Leader Li, how about I ask them to change another one?"

"No need. These damages will not affect the functioning of the external depleted uranium armor." Li Aiguo waved his hand and asked the technicians to "hang" the external depleted uranium armor on the test machine by welding.

The quality of welding is related to the test results, so the technicians have to be careful.

And we had to keep an eye on the Geiger counter at all times. The entire welding work lasted for two days.

On the morning of the third day, when the welding work was about to be completed, a security officer ran over in a hurry.

"Report, we found something unusual at the security checkpoint, but we didn't find any of the supplies the other party had smuggled in. Team Leader Li, our Section Chief Lu wants you to come over."

"Zhang Tan, keep an eye on it for me."

Li Aiguo changed into a clean Zhongshan suit and followed the security officer to the security department.

As soon as he entered the door, his eyes widened.

"It's you?!"

(End of this chapter)