Rebirth of Bloody Romance

At this point, Zhong Yuemin changed the subject, his tone more sincere. "But, second brother, you also know what kind of person I am. Since you came to see me, you must have encountered some problems. Let me put it this way, you tell me roughly the problems you encountered. If it is within my ability to solve, I will do my best. If not, then consider it as me treating everyone to a good meal, just as a gathering."

Zhou Huaihai had a complicated look on his face when he heard this. He knew Zhong Yuemin's character and abilities very well, and he also understood his concerns and difficulties.

After a moment's silence, Zhou Huaihai slowly said, "Yuemin, I understand your difficulties. But this matter is indeed very serious and involves the secrets of national defense security. However, since you said so, I will first introduce the general situation of the problem to you and see if you can give any suggestions."

As Zhou Huaihai told his story, Zhong Yuemin seemed to be caught in the center of a storm of technology and wisdom. The Military Industry Research Institute, a symbol of national power, took on the important task of developing a new type of rocket launcher, the Type 84.

Every improvement is a brave exploration into the unknown, but this time, they encountered unprecedented challenges.

"This year, we are facing an unprecedented challenge - developing a new Type 84 rocket launcher. This task requires not only sophisticated technical support, but also the concerted efforts of team members to reach the top. However, reality has dealt us a heavy blow."

Zhou Huaihai's voice was low and serious, and every word was like a heavy stone weighing on his heart. He said slowly: "This is not only a breakthrough in technology, but also a sacred mission entrusted to us by the country. But in a recent experiment, the rocket actually fell upside down at the moment of launch, and the experiment ended in a miserable failure. At that moment, the entire project team seemed to be thrown into an ice cellar by an invisible force, and morale plummeted."

When Zhou Huaihai said this, he sighed softly, with a hint of helplessness and anxiety in his eyes.

Zhou Huaihai raised his head and looked at Zhong Yuemin firmly, his eyes showing eager expectation. He continued, "We looked for the top physics experts and professors in the country, hoping to get their help, but we could not find the root of the problem. Just when we were almost desperate and ready to give up, someone mentioned you to me - Zhong Yuemin. So, this is why we are looking for you today."

Zhong Yuemin was stunned when he heard this, and a bitter smile appeared on his face. He never thought that he would return to the stage that once made him passionate but reluctant to let go in such a special situation.

"Brother, you really think highly of me. If you let me tinker with a rocket launcher, maybe I can handle it, and maybe I can shoot it quite accurately. But now, you actually asked me to make a rocket launcher! Do you think I have the ability to do it? Which great god is so cruel to trick me!"

However, Zhou Huaihai did not give up because of Zhong Yuemin's complaints. He knew Zhong Yuemin's talent and potential clearly.

"Yuemin, I have full confidence in your ability. Moreover, we are now in a desperate situation, and we cannot miss any glimmer of hope. You don't need to participate in the research and development work yourself, you just need to use your profound knowledge of physics and unique vision to provide us with valuable suggestions."

Zhong Yuemin was silent for a while, and finally nodded to show his agreement. He knew very well that this was not only a test of his ability, but also a responsibility to the country and the people.

Although he knew the task was arduous, he could not refuse the mission. After all, it was related to the safety of the country and the happiness of the people. So he decided to go all out and do his best to help the team overcome technical difficulties.

So, without violating the principles, Zhou Huaihai took out a few pages of densely packed papers from his briefcase and gently pushed them in front of Zhong Yuemin.

Zhong Yuemin took it with both hands, staring at the pages, a trace of solemnity flashed in his eyes. His fingertips gently stroked the numbers and formulas, as if he could feel the hard work and sweat of countless scientific researchers behind them.

These data and formulas are not just a series of cold symbols, but also the crystallization of their day and night struggle and unremitting efforts.

At this moment, the door of the restaurant was gently pushed open, and the waiter came in with steaming dishes. Several people tacitly paused their discussion and instead enjoyed this rare quiet time.

Zhou Huaihai noticed that there were still two bottles of wine left on the table, so he asked casually, "Comrade, is this wine nectar?"

The waiter smiled and replied, "Yes, this is our restaurant's specialty wine, nectar, which symbolizes good wishes and hopes. I hope it can add warmth and joy to your party."

Zhou Huaihai laughed and said jokingly, "Yuemin, we are the only ones who benefit from your kindness, otherwise we wouldn't be able to drink it. I heard that you need to make an appointment to drink this wine."

Zhong Yuemin looked up, a playful smile on his lips, his eyes flashing with familiarity and helplessness towards Zhou Huaihai.

"Second brother, what you said is right. During the Chinese New Year, you helped me taste a lot of treasures in my wine cellar." Zhong Yuemin's words were light-hearted and humorous, instantly dissolving the tense atmosphere.

Zhou Huaihai chuckled, and there was a bit of cunning and intimacy in his laughter. He did not directly respond to Zhong Yuemin's teasing, but turned the topic to the waiter.

"Comrade, do you have enough wine in your store today? Give us a few more bottles. Don't worry, with your boss here, no one dares to trouble you." There was a bit of boldness in his words, as if he was expressing his trust and respect for Zhong Yuemin in this way.

The waitress looked at Zhong Yuemin with some embarrassment after hearing this. It was obvious that this question was beyond her authority. Seeing this, Zhong Yuemin gently waved her hand. "Don't pay attention to him. He gets carried away when he talks about wine. Please close the door for us when you leave, so that no one can disturb us."

The waiter left and closed the door quietly.

"Yuemin, look at how stingy you are."

"Second brother, these two bottles are not enough?"

"Cough, cough," Zhou Huaihai coughed twice, as if he was adjusting his state, and then changed the subject, "Well, we are all on official business today, so let's not drink the wine for now. Xiao Zhang, take these two bottles of wine away for me later, and we can taste them next time we have a chance." There was a sense of formality and seriousness in his words, as if he was reminding himself and everyone present that the top priority at the moment was to solve the problem at hand.

"Okay, okay, Chief." Xiao Zhang responded quickly. Although he was confused, a soldier's duty was to obey orders. He quickly wrote down Zhou Huaihai's instructions.

Zhong Yuemin, as if in another world, did not respond to Zhou Huaihai's "change of mind".

Zhong Yuemin looked at the document in his hand intently. His concentration and seriousness made people admire him.

Zhong Yuemin's brows were sometimes furrowed, and his eyes were sometimes flickering. He picked up a pen and began to calculate quickly on paper. Every number seemed to carry his deep thoughts and considerations on the improvement of the rocket launcher.

The other people present felt mixed emotions when they saw this scene.

Zhong Yuemin calculated it once, and then deduced it silently in his mind, and finally asked Qingluan in the space, "Qingluan, is my calculation correct?"

"Zhong Youli, you can be more confident. Why do you need to ask me such a simple question?"

"Qingluan, damn it!"

"I'm sorry, I don't have an uncle."

"You, you..." Zhong Yuemin was so depressed that he wanted to vomit blood.

Zhou Huaihai patted Zhong Yuemin's shoulder gently, bringing him back to reality from his thoughts. "Yuemin, Yuemin, what's wrong? Do you have any clues?" His tone was full of anticipation and anxiety, like a child waiting for the answer to be revealed.

Zhong Yuemin came back to his senses, his eyes flashing with thought. "Ah? Second brother, the problem lies in the engine. This is because the gunpowder has been burning at high temperatures for a long time, causing the strength of the steel pipe to drop sharply, and eventually it could not withstand the huge pressure inside the engine and caused a failure."

Zhong Yuemin's voice was steady and powerful, and every word he spoke carried weight.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Huaihai slapped his thigh so hard that even Zhong Yuemin was startled. "My dear brother! What are you doing? You almost slapped me to death." Zhong Yuemin complained half-jokingly, but his eyes were full of smiles.

"Yuemin, don't be so modest."

Zhou Huaihai said excitedly, "We consulted several experts on this issue and spent a lot of effort to deduce this conclusion. But you solved it in just a few strokes. I can't help but admire your brain! I said I was right to find you."

Zhou Huaihai's words were full of admiration and trust for Zhong Yuemin, as if he had found the key to solving the problem.

Zhong Yuemin smiled bitterly and shook his head. "Second brother, please don't flatter me. I just happen to know a little about this. Besides, although the problem has been found, it is not so easy to solve. We still need further research and experiments to ensure the performance and safety of the rocket launcher."

Seeing this, Zhou Huaihai quickly restrained his exaggerated movements, but the joy in his eyes was hard to conceal. "Yuemin, don't be modest. Everyone in this circle knows that you, Zhong Yuemin, are famous for your 'eagle eyes and golden pupils'. No matter how complicated the problem is, you can make it simple. This time, we were able to find the problem so quickly, all thanks to your keenness and professional knowledge."

Zhong Yuemin shook his head. "Second brother, you are setting a trap for me. I dare not claim to have 'fire eyes and golden pupils', it's just a coincidence."

Zhong Yuemin turned his gaze to Zhou Huaihai, asking, "Second brother, have you found any specific solution to this problem?"

Comrade Tian Chuan next to Zhou Huaihai took over the conversation and said seriously, "At present, we have indeed found a possible solution. We plan to thicken the thickness of the engine casing and add a heat-insulating layer on its inner wall to prevent failures caused by excessive temperature of the inner casing. However, the key is that we are currently facing two difficulties: one is what kind of material to choose as the heat-insulating layer, which must be both high-temperature resistant and have good heat-insulating properties; the other is what kind of process method to use to evenly apply the heat-insulating layer on the inside of the engine casing. This is the first attempt in China, and there is no ready-made experience to learn from."

Zhou Huaihai introduced at the right time. "Yuemin, this is Tian Chuan, a physics expert from our institute. He has profound attainments in the fields of materials science and heat treatment. He led the team to come up with the solution to this problem."

Upon hearing this, Zhong Yuemin immediately extended his hand to shake hands with Tian Chuan, showing his respect and recognition for the expert. "Hello, Expert Tian."

Tian Chuan waved his hands quickly, appearing somewhat modest. "I don't deserve it, I don't deserve it. I feel ashamed in front of Mr. Zhong. You are well-read and have unique insights. In comparison, I still have a lot to learn."

Zhong Yuemin smiled slightly, his tone calm and humble. "You don't have to be like this, Expert Tian. Knowledge is endless, and everyone has their own areas of expertise. I just read more books. To really practice and solve problems, we still have to rely on experts like you."

After some communication, the atmosphere among the people became more harmonious.

Faced with the difficulty of material selection, although Zhong Yuemin was a little confused, he knew very well that he had a think tank like Qingluan around him.

So, Zhong Yuemin half-jokingly called out in his heart, "Qingluan, Qingluan, help me!" There was a hint of helplessness and expectation in his words.

Qingluan's familiar and slightly teasing voice came. "Zhong Youli, if I were the same as you, I would ignore you. However, since you are so sincere, I will give you some advice."

Zhong Yuemin chuckled. He knew that although Qingluan was harsh in words, she was always willing to help him in her heart. "Qingluan, tell me! What are the requirements for choosing this material?"

Qingluan began to analyze it carefully. "The first method is the most economical and practical. It uses silicon carbide and magnesium oxide as solid components and epoxy resin as adhesive. This combination is low in cost, but the effect may not be satisfactory. The high temperature resistance and heat insulation performance are relatively limited. However, it can be used as a makeshift."

Zhong Yuemin frowned when he heard this, and was obviously not satisfied with this plan. "What about the second option? Is there a better choice?"

Qingluan chuckled, as if she had already expected Zhong Yuemin's reaction. "Hehe... the best arrow shell, or the engine shell that suits your needs, needs to be strong, heat-resistant, and lightweight. The most suitable material that meets these conditions is CC composite material."

Zhong Yuemin was moved when he heard this, but then he teased, "Qingluan, why do I feel like I'm gloating when I hear you say this? Is this material particularly expensive?"

Qingluan did not shy away from speaking frankly. "If we use CC composite materials, the cost will be extremely high. It costs 50,000 to 60,000 US dollars to fire a shell. This price is no joke."

Zhong Yuemin took a deep breath. This price was far beyond his expectations.

Zhong Yuemin informed Zhou Huaihai and others in detail of the two material solutions proposed by Qingluan.

After hearing this, Zhou Huaihai frowned and fell into deep thought. He knew the excellent performance of CC composite materials, but he also knew that its high cost was a huge burden for the current project.

"Everyone knows the benefits of CC composite materials, but the reality is that we really can't afford the cost."

Zhou Huaihai's words were filled with a hint of helplessness, but more of a clear understanding of the team's financial situation. He looked at Zhong Yuemin and continued, "Let's first use the ordinary coating method you mentioned. Although the effect may not be as good as CC composite materials, it can at least solve the problem to a certain extent, and it will not bring too much financial pressure to the project."

Zhong Yuemin nodded to show his understanding. "Second brother is right. We have to make a choice based on the actual situation. We should use ordinary materials for painting first, and then consider upgrading materials when the funds and technical conditions are more mature."