The train driver in the courtyard

The general trend of historical development cannot be changed, but some minor events can accelerate or delay certain processes.

Just like Li Aiguo invented the tunnel boring machine, which ended the dispute over deep or shallow burial of the Beijing subway ahead of schedule.

The foreign exchange that Hextech earned from overseas provided the material basis for the Beijing Metro.

These seemingly isolated events were like stones thrown into a deep pool, causing ripples that eventually intertwined and triggered a huge storm - the construction of the Beijing Metro, which was originally delayed for two years, started ahead of schedule.

On July 1960, , a day engraved in the history of domestic railway development, Li Aiguo, who was used to wearing oil-resistant clothing, also changed into a clean Zhongshan suit and grinned at the mirror.

"Not bad, this guy is still the most handsome guy in the city."

After waving goodbye to Chen Xueru, Li Aiguo strode out of the house.

As soon as I went out, I saw Xu Damao and Liu Haizhong whispering with Yan Jiecheng.

"No, Uncle Er, Damao, I'm just a temporary worker. I don't have any special pass."

"Hey, Aiguo is here. Aiguo is the deputy commander-in-chief. He must have it."

"Aiguo, wait a minute." When Xu Damao saw Li Aiguo coming out, he quickly walked up to him.

Li Aiguo handed cigarettes to Xu Damao, Liu Haizhong and Yan Jiecheng, and asked with a smile: "Brother Damao, what's the matter?"

"It's not a big deal. I just want to join in the fun." Xu Damao rubbed his hands and said, "I heard there's a big event on Yuquan Road."

Liu Haizhong also nodded repeatedly: "Aiguo, take the two of us with you."

Yuquan Road is where the Beijing Metro ceremony was held.

Li Aiguo narrowed his eyes: "Why don't you go by yourselves?"

"You don't know?" Xu Damao was surprised.

Li Aiguo was embarrassed.

These days he was busy with the trench digger in the maintenance depot, and when he came back he was busy making dolls with Miss Chen, so he really had no idea how the ceremony would be arranged.

Yan Jiecheng looked around and said in a low voice, "Seven or eight days ago, the two kilometers around Yuquan Road were blocked by garrison soldiers. You need a special pass to enter."

It turned out to be an idea to get a pass. Li Aiguo smiled and said, "Second uncle, Damao, this really won't work."

Xu Damao sighed, "We know that, but we are a little unwilling. I heard from Yan Jiecheng that the old coach will also be there. We just want to take a look from afar."

Although the news that the CEO will attend the opening ceremony is not a secret, it is kept confidential within a certain range.

Li Aiguo turned his head and glanced at Yan Jiecheng.

"Brother Aiguo, I also heard it from others." Yan Jiecheng explained in a panic.

"Okay, be more careful next time."

Li Aiguo turned around and left the compound.

Xu Damao wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"Have you noticed that Aiguo is getting more and more aggressive now? He didn't get angry just now, but he scared me."

"It's all because of you!" Yan Jiecheng glanced at the two of them unhappily, "If any of you dare to tell anyone, don't blame me for being rude."

"I know, I know." Xu Damao and Liu Haizhong both sighed helplessly.

They actually didn't have any bad intentions, they just wanted to take a look at the old coach from a distance.

The GAZ jeep roared towards the western suburbs.

"I'm a little excited about patriotism." Zhou Ke suddenly said this while driving.

"When I first entered the railway industry, we couldn't make anything. We used all foreign products. Now, in the blink of an eye, we can build our own subway. It's incredible."

"Even more incredible things are yet to come." Li Aiguo was also in a good mood.

Now that the foundation has been laid, all kinds of good things can be produced in an endless stream.

The groundbreaking ceremony for Beijing Metro Line 1 was held on the west side of Yuquan Road in the western suburbs.

Because there were important people present, this place was blocked off early.

The GAZ jeep had a pass from the command center and was only allowed to enter after several inspections.

Revolutionary songs such as "We Are Walking on the Road" were played on site, but there was no sound amplification equipment and the music was drowned out by the noise of construction machinery.

At this time, leaders such as Liu Guozhang had arrived and stood in the engineering team's formation.

Seeing Li Aiguo coming over, Liu Guozhang waved at him and said, "Aiguo, come here quickly."

After entering the square formation, Li Aiguo looked up to the front and suddenly became excited.

Lao Shuai, Wei Shi Shuai, the Steel Company, 102, etc. were all standing under two ginkgo trees that were over 700 years old.

Even though Li Aiguo knew the importance of the Beijing Metro, he did not expect that so many bigwigs would attend the opening ceremony.

"It is said that 10* was also planning to participate, but was removed from the list at the critical moment," Liu Guozhang whispered in Li Aiguo's ear.

At ten o'clock, the ceremony began.

A senior leader announced the start of the project using an old-fashioned microphone, stressing that "this is the first subway line that we designed and built ourselves."

Another senior leader read out the "Ten-Year Plan for the Underground Railroad."

The military representative read out the "Military Instructions on the Combat Readiness Function of the Beijing Metro"

The railway soldiers stood in line, applauded loudly, and the scene was solemn and warm.

After the simple and solemn ceremony, the foundation laying ceremony that was common in later generations took place.

The old marshal was now very old. With the help of his guards, he picked up a silver-plated shovel, shoveled a shovel of soil, and threw it into the pit.

The next step was to announce the official start of the project, but the old coach stopped and looked around the crowd.

"Have the patriotic comrades arrived? Have you brought the construction drawings?"

The old commander's voice was not loud, but it had an unquestionable power.

The scene suddenly became quiet, and many people were wondering in their hearts, who is patriotic?
Li Aiguo was staring at the silver-plated shovel at this moment. This thing became the treasure of the Railway Museum in later generations.

Hearing the shout, he was also stunned.

Just kidding, who wouldn’t be confused if the coach suddenly called their name?

"Aiguo, the old commander called your name." Liu Guozhang was the veteran comrade who reacted the fastest. He handed the engineering design to Li Aiguo and said, "Give it over."

According to the pre-designed process, the construction drawings had to be sent to the front after the ceremony, and a photo would be left for the reporter from Renmin Daily, and that would be the end of the matter.

The old coach's sudden change of the normal process attracted many people's attention.

Li Aiguo is a man who is used to big scenes.

The bigger the scene, the calmer he became. At this moment, he came to his senses and walked to the front with the construction drawings under the gaze of all the big guys.

"Master, this is the design drawing of Beijing Metro Line 1 drawn by 320 engineers from our Railway Technology Research Institute, Beijing Engineering Bureau and 21 units across the country under the leadership of their superiors."

The old commander took the blueprint and nodded in appreciation: "I remember that the original design for the Beijing Metro was designed by the Russians. Now we can finally hold up this banner ourselves. You have done a great job."

This evaluation of "very good" may seem bland, but coming from the old coach's mouth, it carries a lot of weight.

The engineers and experts on the scene all puffed out their chests, with pride on their faces.

"You have invented the shield machine." The old commander handed the blueprint to the guard and said kindly, "Now you have invented the tank armor. Especially the tank armor, it is a national treasure. You are a rare talent."

After that, the old commander lowered his voice, in a voice that only Li Aiguo could hear, and said, "The farmer has accepted a good student."

Li Aiguo then realized that the old coach personally called his name, probably not just for the Beijing Metro.

Things turned out just as Li Aiguo expected.

After the Type 59 tank equipped with depleted uranium armor swept away John Bull's Conqueror, our strength has increased a bit.

If it were someone else, someone would definitely have had other ideas.

For example, some people will gossip behind your back, saying that your achievements are greater than your boss's.

But Li Aiguo happened to be the farmer's student, and his loyalty was beyond doubt.

The senior leaders above were very happy when they saw this situation, but this also brought up a new problem.

How to reward this genius who has made significant contributions.

Li Aiguo had no shortage of money and had won military honors, but he was unwilling to work in the Ministry of Railways and was particularly lazy.

Finally, after comprehensive consideration and based on the above suggestions, we had this very special roll call.

This is a reward for Li Aiguo, but it is also to tell all those with ulterior motives that the benchmark has been set.

Sure enough, a few leaders who had not paid attention to it looked at Li Aiguo deeply after hearing what the old commander said.

"This is what I should do." After understanding the old marshal's meaning, Li Aiguo straightened his back and saluted the old marshal.

"It is a great honor for the country to have such an outstanding talent as you!" The old commander said as he handed the silver-plated shovel to Li Aiguo: "The future belongs to you young people, and you young people should shoulder this responsibility."

Li Aiguo tightly grasped the silver-plated shovel, took a deep breath, and filled some soil into the pit.

These soils are not soils, but lands.

Click.

The photographer from Renren Daily took two photos in succession.

One is a photo of the old commander handing over a silver-plated shovel, and the other is a photo of him filling the soil.

These photos, like all records from the scene, were subsequently classified as confidential and were not released until decades later.

After filling the soil, Li Aiguo returned to the engineering team.

After coming to his senses from the excitement, he realized a big problem: he had forgotten to return the silver-plated shovel!
(End of this chapter)