Siheyuan: I eat melons while doing scientific research

Chapter 1391 "Multifunctional" or "Incapable" (4k)

And you know what? For the treatment of moderate to severe and difficult-to-treat infections, being able to rule out an incorrect route brings enormous benefits and saves a lot of time.

After all, the treatments for Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria are not exactly diametrically opposed, but each has its own advantages. Moreover, considering that the possibility of fungal infections and other infections is relatively low, ruling out Gram-negative bacteria is truly a blessing for most patients in this category.

Of course, the bizarre case of someone discovering a lung fungal infection from smelly socks is an exception.

Lou Xiao'e found this even more interesting. In fact, it was something she hadn't thought of at the moment. It was a reagent with very clear indications, and there were many ways to use it. Otherwise, the horseshoe crab wouldn't have been sucked out like that.

"Yes, next we need to study the mechanism, find the effective ingredients, and try to extract them. It would be even better if we could synthesize them artificially..." Lou Xiao'e said enthusiastically, envisioning the future. For pharmaceuticals, the ability to synthesize them artificially is far more significant than simply extracting them from the source.

This is somewhat similar to the aquaculture industry. Although it is said that farmed food is not as delicious as natural food, most people have not thought about one thing - if there were no farmed food, most people would probably not be able to eat many delicious foods at all.

Take bamboo fungus as an example. Before artificial cultivation, dried bamboo fungus could fetch tens of thousands of yuan per kilogram, and that was at the end of the 20th century.

The artificial synthesis of pharmaceuticals is even more advanced than this. Artificially synthesized drugs can perform some targeted selection and have fewer impurities. Just look at the comparison between semi-synthetic antibiotics and the earliest penicillin V and G to see that they are far superior.

So Lou Xiao'e was ambitious, and Gao Zhendong didn't want to discourage her. If things could go as you think, the horseshoe crab wouldn't have suffered so much.

However, Lou Xiao'e's approach is correct, and her idea is right, so what are we waiting for? Praise her!

Gao Zhendong praised Lou Xiao'e to the skies, until he was a little embarrassed.

"Alright, alright, I was just thinking about it. I'm not good at chemistry, so synthesis is probably too difficult, but I should at least be able to extract the active ingredients." Returning to reality, Lou Xiao'e set herself a minimum target.

Gao Zhendong felt relieved. "Ah, that's right, having lofty ideals but being down-to-earth."

When necessary, Gao Zhendong wouldn't mind helping her out. He had to take good care of his own wife, so spending a little money was understandable. Besides, this stuff could really save lives, so it wasn't a waste of money.
-
In the conference room of the Third Factory, a red banner hung there.

—"A warm welcome to the leaders of the Ministry of Machinery Industry for their visit and exchange."

In terms of rank, the Third Factory is still incomparable to the chief engineer of the Ministry of Machinery Industry. Gao Zhendong is an exception; his situation is special, and it's difficult to classify his rank.

This was the work of Factory Director Zheng Liangshu; he's extremely skilled in this area. But that's about it. The Third Factory rarely displays welcome banners, and at most, they're only hung in the conference room; they're never displayed at the factory gate.

Even hanging up a banner can leak secrets; there's really no way to reason with people about this.

"Comrade Zhendong, thank you so much! We've shamelessly come to accept your gift." In the conference room, the chief engineer of the Ministry of Machinery Industry expressed his gratitude to Gao Zhendong and also cracked a joke.

Gao Zhendong paused for a moment, having become somewhat sensitive to the sound of "thick" in the last few days.

"Oh, no, I was just joking. This matter can only be handled by your Ministry of Machinery Industry. I'm just asking you to do more work since you're capable."

The chief engineer of the Ministry of Machinery Industry said sternly, "That won't do. You can't joke about that. If you do, our gift will be gone."

People laughed.

The chief engineer said this half-jokingly and half-seriously: "I absolutely need the stuff, and you can't go back on your word."

After exchanging pleasantries, the comrades all sat down.

"It seems you comrades are all in a hurry. Well then, I won't keep you in suspense any longer. This time, I want to develop a new type of vehicle and an engine!"

Damn it! ! !

The comrades from the Ministry of Machinery Industry almost jumped up, including the comrades from Beijing Automotive Plant who had the most dealings with Gao Zhendong, or rather, the comrades from Beijing Automotive Engine Plant.

Jingqifa, a subsidiary of Beijing Automobile Engine Manufacturing Plant, was established because the demand for engines could not meet the supply. It not only had to supply the Beijing Automobile Engine Manufacturing Plant itself, but also had to supply its sister plants.

As the person from Beijing Automotive Industry Group who had the most dealings with Gao Zhendong, Jingqifa was naturally brought along as well. Even if they weren't involved, it would be nice to liven up the atmosphere.

These acquaintances were all so surprised by Gao Zhendong's extravagant gesture that they jumped up.

They listened intently to Gao Zhendong's words, afraid of missing a single one.

That's why the comrades in the Ministry of Machinery Industry were very perceptive in understanding the hidden meaning in Gao Zhendong's words: a grand gesture indeed!

"New vehicle type", not new model.

If it's the latter, then it's probably similar to Beijing Automotive's 3, 5, and 7 series models—a pleasant surprise, but not unexpected.

However, the term "new type of vehicle" is a different matter altogether.

And there's an engine too! Comrades, the success of the 463 is still fresh in our minds, and we are enjoying all the benefits it brought. Now there's a new engine?
The chief engineer thought to himself, "Luckily I led the team myself, otherwise it would have been too disrespectful to Comrade Gao Zhendong."

He quickly clasped his hands in thanks, saying politely, "Comrade Zhendong, this gift is too much for me, I can't accept it, I really can't accept it."

"Oh? Then I'll take it back?" Gao Zhendong said with a smile.

"No way! You're already here." Politeness aside, you still have to accept the gifts. It's like a child refusing New Year's money; the gesture is fine, but the money absolutely cannot be refused.

The comrades burst into laughter.

"Well then, let me introduce this new model of vehicle first," Gao Zhendong said with a smile.

Okay, okay, this is good!
Gao Zhendong took out a prepared picture and hung it on the wall.

The comrades were immediately drawn to it; the car model looked rather sleek and attractive! But it didn't seem very new...

Because of the generational gap in manufacturing processes, the SUV proposed by the system is naturally not the kind with a perfectly streamlined design, complex lines, numerous curves, and extremely high manufacturing difficulty. Even so, it still retains some elements of 21st-century SUVs, making it look quite pleasing to the eye. It is different from current cars, but it does not completely subvert existing aesthetic preferences.

Completely overturning the trend would be disastrous. In this regard, being half a step ahead is genius, but being a full step ahead will really lead to a crushing defeat.

Anyway, this car looks good, but from the outside, the comrades really don't think it's a new type of car.

With a hint of doubt and complete trust in Gao Zhendong, the director of the Beijing Automobile Factory asked, "Committee Member Gao, this thing looks a bit like our Jeep."

Jeep, a general term for off-road vehicles in this era. This is why people don't think it's very new. Although this car looks quite different from a Jeep, from an appearance perspective, it's just a variant of the Jeep, only better looking. It's a bit difficult to call it "new" at the vehicle type level.

Gao Zhendong laughed and said, "Yes, it does look like one. Strictly speaking, it's a type of vehicle that evolved from the Jeep, so it's not surprising that it looks like a Jeep."

"I see..." The comrades said they understood, but stared intently at the car's exterior design, as if trying to figure out exactly how new it was from its appearance.

Gao Zhendong then took out another diagram: "This is the general structure of this vehicle, comrades, take a look."

Looking at the picture, although it lacked details such as the suspension, the comrades from Beijing Automobile Factory immediately noticed the biggest difference.

"Committee Member Gao, this car... doesn't have a frame?"

Gao Zhendong smiled and nodded: "Yes, no!"

This is a bit unconventional. How can an off-road vehicle not have a frame? Without a frame, how can it cope with the body twisting caused by harsh road conditions?
“Committee Member Gao, this structure is actually somewhat like that of a small sedan.” Small sedans don’t have a frame.

Gao Zhendong nodded: "Yes, this is a car that combines the advantages and disadvantages of sedans and SUVs. I'll call it a sports utility vehicle for now."

Utility vehicle? That name sounds good, but I don't know if it means "multi-functional" or "multi-functional" (meaning it can't do many things).

Gao Zhendong knew that his comrades were full of doubts about this thing, so he explained: "Actually, this is a type of vehicle that simplifies the main beam of an off-road vehicle and uses the body as the load-bearing structure, but retains the high chassis of an off-road vehicle to maintain a certain degree of passability, and retains the large cargo box of an off-road vehicle to ensure its loading capacity."

This set of descriptions confused the comrades, so they simply stopped thinking about it and asked directly.

What are the benefits of this?

"The advantage is that it's moderate; it doesn't excel in anything, but it's good at everything."

Moderation? What kind of benefit is that? Many comrades don't quite understand.

The chief engineer of the Ministry of Motor Transport Industry's eyes lit up. This was quite something. As they were building cars, they were getting closer to understanding the Dao.

As a veteran in his fifties, he knows that the concept of moderation is not necessarily a bad thing in many practical products, especially the more universal the product.

This Committee Member Gao is indeed extraordinary. He can do things that are extreme, like 463, and he can also think about things that are universal.

"Let me start with the benefits. Reducing the frame significantly lowers the vehicle's weight, and the space previously occupied by the frame is now freed up, resulting in better power and loading performance. It's also easier to improve comfort."

Gao Zhendong's words made the comrades think, and it seemed to be true.

"But if we want to save on the frame, wouldn't it be better to just use a sedan?"

These days, some cars have a frame, but some don't.

"But cars don't have the same off-road capability as it, nor does it have the same loading capacity."

"But its off-road capability isn't as good as an off-road vehicle."

"But it's more comfortable than an off-road vehicle."

At this moment, Gao Zhendong was acting as if you were talking to me about law, and I was talking to you about morality; you were talking to me about morality, and I was talking to you about customs.

Comrades still haven't figured it out. Doesn't this mean that this thing won't work, and that thing won't work either?
Gao Zhendong explained: "Actually, comrades need to consider one thing, which is that for ordinary people, the ultimate comfort of a sedan and the ultimate off-road capability of an off-road vehicle are not what they really need. Most car users just need good enough loading capacity and decent off-road capability, and not too uncomfortable, which is just enough. Especially when most car buyers can only afford one car."

At this point, Gao Zhendong brought up another unorthodox method he often uses in discussions—the 80/20 principle.

"In fact, from a statistical point of view, 80% of functions and performance are actually used for no more than 20% of the time, while 20% of commonly used functions occupy more than 80% of the usage scenarios."

These days, comrades just love numbers. They always feel that numbers sound more credible. Gao Zhendong's words successfully led them in the direction that Gao Zhendong wanted them to think about.

"Yes, that makes sense."

"That's true. It seems that ordinary people don't need such extreme functions. On the contrary, it's enough to have more features, make it look better, and ensure that other functions are not bad."

"If you consider it that way, this car actually has a bit of potential."

The comrades discussed it extensively and felt that Gao Zhendong's words made sense.

However, the chief engineer of the Motor Industry Department was far more familiar with automobiles than anyone else. His expertise extended beyond just technology to include the industry background.

"But Committee Member Gao, I think that for ordinary people like us, the small bread that you proposed before and has now begun to promote is the most suitable, isn't it?"

Gao Zhendong nodded: "Yes, that's the most suitable one."

"What is the significance of developing this type of vehicle?"

"This type of vehicle wasn't originally intended for widespread domestic promotion. Given the road and economic conditions in China, this vehicle is a bit ahead of its time. It's meant to be sold abroad," Gao Zhendong said with a smile.

The chief engineer of the Ministry of Machinery Industry slapped his forehead!
"Hey! I get it!" No wonder he always felt that although the car made sense in theory, it was a bit impractical and, compared to a minivan, it had very few advantages.

So this thing wasn't made for domestic use.

If you consider it from this perspective, then this thing becomes interesting.

"But why do I feel like this car looks a bit like a Western type of car called a station wagon?" The chief engineer stroked his chin. If it's interesting, then we should try our best to find out the problems and hidden dangers and solve them.

Wagons are a very interesting type of vehicle. They can be roughly seen as sedans in the body of SUVs. Of course, not only is the body height lower than that of an SUV, but the cabin height is also lower.

Decades later, it is no longer popular in China because it has been completely outclassed by the versatility of SUVs. However, there are still a small number of car enthusiasts who are obsessed with it, especially the special shooting brake version, which is really good-looking.

These days, sedans already have a fairly high chassis, so if it's a station wagon, it really does look like one.

Gao Zhendong nodded: "Yes, it does look a bit like it, but that car is still not as tall as this one. And although this SUV doesn't have a ladder frame, its high-end version is still based on an off-road vehicle, with four-wheel drive and differential locks. The biggest difference between it and an off-road vehicle, besides the ladder frame, is the suspension."

(End of this chapter)