Please pull the trigger for this world one more time.

"Master Guihai, we are the patrol officers from the Civil Armed Forces Division on duty this time. You..."

"oops……"

Gui Haishuo stood up from behind the counter and walked out quickly with a smile on his face.

"Hello, I..."

The official watched helplessly as Gui Haishuo walked right past him, his outstretched hand frozen in place.

"Zi'an! You're back!"

Gui Haishuo acted as if he hadn't seen the two people at all, walked straight to Mo Zian's side, looked him up and down, and said in an exaggerated tone, "Come on, let me see... Did you pass? You were accepted into the capital's military academy?"

"Yes, Master."

Mo Zian ignored the two officials beside him and excitedly told Gui Haishuo, "Vice Principal General Chen Zhiming personally presented the sword and conferred ranks. My friend from the hunting trip, that guy named Luo Chong, is actually in the same batch as me!"

"Wow, that's quite a coincidence. You mean his father is the one who's a senior staff officer in the Central Army Group?" Gui Haishuo chuckled and continued.

"Yes! We've made plans to go hunting together the day after tomorrow to celebrate!"

Gui Haishuo put his arm around Mo Zian's shoulder: "Alright, alright, I'll prepare the equipment for you. We may not have much, but we have plenty of hunting gear!"

"Thank you, Master!"

"Hey, let's not be so polite between father and son... What's that behind you?" Gui Haishuo asked, pointing to a wooden box on Mo Zian's back.

"Oh, this was given to me by a major named Shen Yi. I heard he was serving in the Southeast Army Group and he captured this in a battle."

Mo Zian opened the box as if no one else was there. "【Angry Python 2695】! Chen Huan's latest generation of equipment, take a look! Major Shen Yi said he asked me to give you his regards."

Gui Haishuo casually took out a weapon from the box: "It seems that major thinks highly of you. This is quite a good gun he gave you..."

At that moment, a little boy with a topknot ran out of the inner room and jumped into Mo Zian's arms.

"Brother's back!"

Mo Zian picked up Gui Haiye and pinched her chubby cheeks: "Little Yezi, don't I look handsome in this outfit?"

"handsome!"

At this moment, Gui Haishuo seemed to only then notice the two officials who had been left standing there for half a day. He put down the weapons in the box, turned around, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "Oh, gentlemen, we have a joyous occasion at home, so please forgive our neglect."

Both officials looked stiff. One of them paused for a moment and forced a smile, saying, "Ah? Hahaha, it's alright, it's alright. It's truly a joyous occasion that our outstanding student has been admitted to the capital's military academy."

"May I ask what brings you two here?" Gui Haishuo asked with a smile. "Whatever you need, as long as it's reasonable, I, Shuofeng, will do my best to cooperate."

"It's nothing, we're just... doing a routine patrol."

"Oh, then please proceed with the investigation, you two." Gui Haishuo gestured for them to proceed.

"No need, Master Guihai."

One of them said, "It just so happens that Master has a joyous occasion at home today, so we won't spoil the mood. Besides, Shuofeng has never had any problems during previous inspections. We... will come another day."

Gui Haishuo clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Oh dear, thank you both for your help. I have something to attend to at home, so I won't see you off."

The two officials from the Civil Martial Affairs Department clasped their hands in a fist salute and then strode away from Shuofeng. Gui Haiye leaned on Mo Zian's shoulder and made a face at their backs.

Gui Haishuo's smile softened, becoming unusually warm. He called out to the inner room, "Wife! Let's go to the photo studio!"

"Let's go take a picture!"

With a whirring flash, a family portrait was captured in an instant—since the invention of the camera, it seems that people have found a way to defy time.

It freezes memories, and then it never grows old.

After returning from the photo studio, Mo Zian temporarily took off his military uniform and changed into civilian clothes. He went to the workshop to continue helping the shop make ether guns, just like usual.

Even though he knew these might be the last 20 days of leisure he would ever have, he did it anyway, because that's life—what you're used to is often the most comfortable.

Life returned to normal until four or five days later, when Li Yu brought Li Xinhuo to Shuofeng and, carrying a large pile of belongings, went straight into the basement—

The mother and son lived in Shuofeng, only coming out to eat each day. Sometimes they wouldn't even come out at mealtimes and needed someone to bring them food.

It was past noon that day.

Mo Zian put the hot food into a box and went to the basement. However, there was no one in the basement at this time; it was just a storage room.

Mo Zian walked skillfully to a lamp base, turned it slightly, and a hidden door opened in the basement floor.

From the hidden door, the faint rumble of machinery could be heard.

Entering through the hidden door, one finds an extremely spacious underground space.

……

"Record: Twelfth test run. Rotor normal, bearings normal, core normal, ether combustion cylinder... normal! Air intake manifold overheating!"

As soon as Li Yu finished speaking, Li Xinhuo had already finished recording. He put down his notebook and looked at Mo Zian, who was walking slowly towards him.

"Thanks, Old Mo... Mom, let's eat!"

"They're here."

Li Yu put down the wrench and the broken air tube in his hand, first wiping his oily hands with the towel that Mo Zian had brought, and then, while lost in thought about something, he ate with gusto.

Mo Zian also took out bowls and chopsticks, sat down to eat with them, and looked to the side where there was a shell that looked like a two-wheeled motorcycle from his previous life—

At first, Mo Zian was a little curious as to why this world had four-wheeled ether cars and bicycles, but not motorcycles.

Later, Mo Zian learned that it was because the ether engine could not be miniaturized, and due to the development of ether, fuel-related technologies were also suppressed.

But now, it seems that a change is about to happen.

"Hey, Xin Huo, how's your progress?" Mo Zian asked.

Upon hearing Mo Zian's question, Li Xinhuo's face lit up with joy: "The progress is very good! I feel it's almost finished, the miniaturized ether engine..."

As Li Xinhuo spoke, he put a piece of braised pork in his mouth, shoveled a few mouthfuls of rice into his mouth, and said with puffed-out cheeks, "Old Mo, let me tell you, your idea of ​​a 'motorcycle' is brilliant! A lot of people outside aren't interested in miniaturizing engines..."

Li Xinhuo chewed quickly a few times, then swallowed: "My mother said that this time our family is not only going to build an ethereal version of the motorcycle, but also a fuel-powered one!"

Mo Zian was slightly taken aback: "It runs on oil? Gasoline?"

He didn't finish his sentence: Isn't this step too big? And... with ether, will it even work?

At this moment, upon hearing the discussion of his research, Li Yu stopped thinking and explained, "Actually, the Empire has long had reserves of fuel-related technologies. Not only us, but the other side of the river has also been busy."

Mo Zian knew that the other side of the river referred to Chen Huan—although the empire had already attacked Lijiang a few years ago, many people in the empire still couldn't change their way of referring to him.

"But will anyone approve?" Mo Zian asked his question.

"Probably, it's too expensive."

Li Yu looked at an ether tank next to him. "The Empire has been exploring for oil all over the country in recent years. The Mojiang Province has the most, followed by the Yushan Province. I recently heard that they have also made contact with the archipelago. It seems that oil is also produced there."

Mo Zian already understood what Li Yu wanted to say—

An Ether Cart is unaffordable for most ordinary families in the Empire, and even if they could afford it, they couldn't afford to maintain it—after all, even the worst Ether Jar costs 10 silver dollars and can travel about 600 miles (300 km).

Fuel is much cheaper, and cars that run on gasoline are also cheaper.

Mo Zian had already studied history. The situation of the Guangwu Empire in the past was not good, so it went further and further down the path of ether, which was easy to use and had amazing energy, but was not cheap.

However, things are different now. The empire is in a very good position. With the maturation of oil-related technologies, related industrial products will inevitably be put on the agenda. Now is a good opportunity to further enhance the country's economic and industrial strength.

To put it another way, if the Chenhuan people had started to vigorously study the technology of oil routes, then Emperor Guangwu would have had no reason to fall behind.

"By the way, Old Mo."

After dinner, Li Xinhuo stopped Mo Zian and asked, "Could you come with me to the Capital Machinery Bureau tomorrow?"

"Sure," Mo Zian readily agreed, then asked, "What are you going there to do? Apply for a technology patent?"

"No, I went to answer a call."

Li Xinhu shook his head and said, "The Empire has started a large-scale recruitment drive again. This time it's to build the highway and railway from Yancheng to Weiyuan City."

"Big brother, are you crazy?" Mo Zian asked, somewhat puzzled. "Once the motorcycle is built, shouldn't our family open a small factory together? Why are you going to work on road construction?"

"No, brother, that's different."

Li Xinhuo said firmly, "I have to go out and hone my skills, to train myself... Besides, don't look at me like this, I'm a level two mechanic. If I go there, I'll at least be a small leader, and I can guarantee two lotus flowers on my collar."

I checked the salary, it's pretty good.

"Does Aunt Yu know about this?" Mo Zian asked.

Li Xinhuo nodded: "I know, don't worry... My brother is going to study in the Holy Light Dynasty, so I can't just stay at home."

"Alright then, I'll go talk to my master and see if he can drive you there tomorrow."

The next day, Mo Zian drove his family's Ethercar and took Li Xinhuo to the entrance of the Capital Machinery Bureau, which was already packed with people.

Mo Zian and Li Xinhuo had actually arrived quite early, but it was clear that the Empire's large-scale recruitment had attracted a lot of enthusiasm, including many people from the surrounding areas of Guangwu City who had come here to apply.

"Brother, just put me down here."

Looking at the massive crowd before him, Li Xinhuo rubbed his temples, took a few deep breaths, and finally climbed out of the car.

You might not believe it, but Li Xinhuo, who is usually outgoing and enthusiastic, suddenly becomes socially awkward when there are more than 10 people in her field of vision.

"I reckon with so many people, it might not be finished by the end of the morning. Why don't you go back first?" Li Xinhuo said.

"No need, I'll just go wander around somewhere else. I'll wait for your good news."

Watching Li Xinhuo merge into the queue, Mo Zian drove away. After parking the car in an open space, a man walked over and peered through the car window.

"Hello, this parking fee applies."

Mo Zian was momentarily dazed; this smell... why did it smell so familiar...?

"Where are you from? Who gave you permission to charge fees here?" Mo Zian asked, rolling down the car window.

"Hello, this parking fee applies."

"Do you have a business license?" Mo Zian continued to ask.

"Hello, this parking fee applies."

Mo Zian took a deep breath: "Then tell me, where is it free?"

"Hello, this parking fee applies."

Mo Zian's eyebrows twitched with anger: "No, big brother... can you say anything else?"

"Hello, this..."

"Alright, alright, I'm leaving!"

Mo Zian lost his temper. Adhering to the principle of not arguing with scoundrels or fighting with vicious dogs, he found a quiet spot to park his car.

He didn't intend to take out his military officer's ID; he felt that would be wrong, very inappropriate.

Shaking off his annoying mood, Mo Zian made his way through a maze of turns to a bustling street.

"Oh ho ho ho, Fuqin Road, here I come!"

Why was Mo Zian so excited? Because this was the largest food street in Guangwu City, bustling with people. Mo Zian began to think about where he should start eating.

Just then, a petite figure wearing a hood walked towards them, bumping into Mo Zian slightly due to the crowd.

Mo Zian subconsciously apologized, then suddenly woke up and touched his pocket.

Where's my wallet?

I lost my wallet.

Where are your documents?

I lost my ID too!