Siheyuan: Starting from a Truck Driver

Ouch, that hurts!

it hurts!

The stinging feeling after a hangover is like a depth bomb exploding in the brain.

Li Xiaodong felt his temple throbbing.

Damn, Zhang Dongfang is such a heavy drinker. He drank two bottles of Lao Fenjiu by himself.

Then, Sha Zhu brought three more bottles of Erguotou, which he also drank.

This guy is such a drunkard!

Li Xiaodong complained in his heart, and suddenly felt uneasy.

No, this feeling is too familiar.

Did he travel back in time again?

He took a deep breath and slowly opened his eyes.

Through his blurred vision, he saw the mottled roof and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Fortunately, we didn't go back to the past. There's no point in giving up so easily when the big thing isn't finished yet!"

Unconsciously, he developed feelings for this simple and passionate era.

Glancing at my wrist, I saw it was already seven in the morning.

Put on your cotton coat, put on your leather shoes, and reheat the half fish that was left over from yesterday.

The steamed buns and fish taste good.

After a contented burp, he prepared to go out for work.

As soon as he started pushing his bicycle, he was stopped by Liu Haizhong.

Liu Haizhong waved the manuscript paper, his face full of joy, and said, "Xiaodong, I think we should put a few flower pots at the gate of the courtyard on your wedding day, just like the big flower baskets in Tiananmen Square."

Li Xiaodong: “…”

If you want to die, don't drag me into this!

"...Of course, the flower basket doesn't have to be too big. The main thing is to create a festive atmosphere." Liu Haizhong also realized that he had said something wrong and looked around with his little eyes.

"Uncle, I'll leave all matters concerning the wedding banquet to you. You don't have to report to me." Li Xiaodong breathed a sigh of relief. He had decided to take things as they come.

No matter how busy they were, he would never interfere.

"Okay, don't worry, I will make this wedding banquet the most glorious one in the history of our Siheyuan." Liu Haizhong looked proud and bowed and nodded repeatedly. This was a good opportunity for him to improve his status.

The bigger the occasion, the more powerful he appears as the wedding banquet manager.

"I still have work to do, so I'm leaving first." Li Xiaodong was too lazy to deal with these trivial matters and rode his bicycle away from the courtyard.

Just as my butt was firmly seated and my right foot was yet to step on the pedal, a pretty figure suddenly jumped out from behind the big tree in front of the gate.

"Brother Xiaodong, look what I made for you." Yu Li jumped over like a little white rabbit, holding a pair of gloves in her hands.

"Hey, this thing is soft and warm, it must be very comfortable to wear." Li Xiaodong took off his work gloves, took the woolen gloves with his right hand, rubbed them gently, and prepared to put them on...

Oops, I can’t put it on. My hands are too big and the gloves are too small.

It doesn't matter, the yarn is elastic.

Our veteran driver is good at using force to overcome clever tricks!

Li Xiaodong stuffed his hands into the gloves with force.

"Oh, your hands are too big, don't break them." Yu Li was anxious, shyly snatched the gloves, turned and ran away.

A voice came from the cold wind: "Wait until I tear it down and then I'll weave you a new one."

Li Xiaodong: “…”

……

I walked into the steel rolling mill in the severe cold, pushed open the door and entered the lounge. Li Zheng was already there.

There is a strange machine on the desk.

The dark green copper shell is shaped like a typewriter, with four cranks on the body, three large and one small.

This seemingly simple gadget was actually the top calculation tool of that era - a manual calculator.

Just a few shakes will give you the result, which is much more convenient than calculating with a pen.

Li Xiaodong walked closer and took a closer look at the nameplate, and immediately smiled.

It’s actually a “Flying Fish” brand.

This is the equipment used by the big guys in the Gobi Desert to grow giant mushrooms.

FAW Factory showed great sincerity in sending this thing to us.

In the team lounge, Li Zheng was so excited that his hair almost stood up. He pointed at the manual calculator and said proudly: "Brother Xiaodong, I have applied for a calculator. Can you use it?"

Manual calculators are not as simple as the electronic computers of later generations. They are complicated and sophisticated to operate, and difficult to use for people without special training.

Just like when modern people first come into contact with computers, they need to participate in training to learn basic operations.

However, Li Xiaodong, who rose to prominence through his own strength, is no ordinary person.

He held the handle and cranked it back and forth, turning it several times forward and several times backward...

With the help of billions of experience points, he was instantly promoted to a master of manual calculator.

"Come, let me show you. Mengmeng, come up with a question."

Niu Meng smiled and said, "12+20."

Li Xiaodong: “…”

This girl is at most at the lower grades of elementary school.

"Click, click, click..."

He first adjusted the plus and minus keys on the right, then entered "1" and "2" in sequence on the keyboard, shook the handle forward one circle, and the number "12" scrolled on the baffle on the front of the manual calculator.

...

...

With Li Xiaodong's skillful operation, the gears inside the manual calculator kept meshing and the calculation results popped up quickly on the baffle.

"31"

Oh, so easy and simple, this masterpiece of mechanical calculation is truly magical.

This is how the giants of the Gobi Desert shake back and forth, giving birth to big mushrooms.

A calculator needs batteries? This thing can be powered by half a steamed bun.

...

Li Zheng pursed his lips helplessly. Before coming here, he had planned to "educate" the driver.

Now he began to waver in his beliefs.

He took a deep breath, spread the blueprint on the mottled table, and said softly: "Comrade Xiaodong, I signed a military order in front of the chief engineer, repeatedly guaranteeing that I can develop a central support structure, and the chief engineer will approve it..."

"It was you who signed the military order, not me. I'm just a driver. Don't you feel ashamed to ask a ninth-level engineer to invent something?" Li Xiaodong refused all moral kidnapping.

Li Zheng: “…”

He was a little confused about this driver.

In this era, anyone who receives such an important task will cheer excitedly and pat their chest to make a promise.

The more active ones will even bite their fingers and make a vow.

But this guy didn't seem to care.

Niu Meng's eyes lit up as he watched from the side. My master is so cool!

She happily brought a glass of honey water and gave Li Zheng a blank look.

"Is this how you treat people who ask for help?"

"..."

Li Zheng wanted to cry but had no tears.

...

Despite his casual attitude, Li Xiaodong really gave it his all.

With the help of a hand calculator, the drawing progressed rapidly.

Most of the data calculations were completed in just one morning.

At this rate, all the work could probably be completed in three days.

At lunch time, an exciting broadcast came from outside, indicating that it was time to get off work.

Li Xiaodong stood up lazily, shook his sore neck and moved his aching wrists.

Although the manual calculator is fast, it is made of metal gears and is very difficult to operate.

"Man is iron and rice is steel, let's go eat."

Hearing Li Xiaodong's instructions, Li Zheng quickly sorted out the drawings and put them into the drawer, locking it carefully.

They opened the cotton door curtain and stepped into the biting cold wind.

Niu Meng, who had been hiding for the whole morning, also showed up and followed closely behind the two of them.

When they entered the cafeteria, the workers were surprised to see Niu Meng and made way for her.

Apparently, this guy has a reputation for being a big eater.

"Fifteen steamed buns, six ounces of stewed cabbage, and three servings of porridge." Li Xiaodong squeezed into the crowd without hesitation and said to Sha Zhu who was yawning.

Sha Zhu had long been accustomed to the lifestyle of a big eater. As he served the dishes, he muttered, "Wei Zi, how come you are so energetic? After I came back from being caught in the rain yesterday, I slept until almost nine o'clock and now I'm still not energetic. Your old classmate is a real potboiler."

After Sha Zhu mentioned this, Li Xiaodong realized that his body seemed to be much stronger than before.

Since he came into this world, he has never been sick.

What makes him even more excited is that his driving skills seem to have improved and he can now drive for at least four hours continuously.

Of course, this is only theoretical and has not yet been verified in actual combat.

"Maybe it's because I'm still young." Li Xiaodong responded casually.

There was too much food, so Sha Zhu considerately found a tray and brought it to the table.

After putting down the tray, Sha Zhu stood aside waiting for the checkout.

Li Zheng looked at Li Xiaodong with a puzzled look in his eyes.

Li Xiaodong glared at him and said, "You are a level nine engineer. You have the highest salary among the three of us. You should pay for the meal."

"If the salary is high, then you have to pay for the food. What kind of logic is this?" Li Zheng is not a stupid person. So many meals will cost at least one dollar.

Li Xiaodong smiled at Li Zheng, and then under his silent gaze, he slowly covered his stomach, the veins on his neck throbbing, and he groaned in pain: "Ouch, my stomach hurts, apprentice, please ask for a leave for me this afternoon."

"Okay, I'll go right away." Niu Meng stood up happily.

Sha Zhu also pretended to be anxious: "Wei Zi, you can't just hold on when you're sick. I'll take you to the infirmary right now."

Li Zheng: "......"

He felt like the entire steel mill was against him.

*****

Li Xiaodong lives a very comfortable life.

In the factory, there are apprentices to serve us and there is also a special person in charge of lunch.

In the courtyard, Liu Hai was busy going up and down, taking care of his two sons.

Almost every household is involved in preparing for the wedding banquet.

Li Xiaodong and Yu Li hid in the room, enjoying the fun of bumper cars.

Happy times always pass by as quickly as a bird.

Three days later, the final part of the central support structure was designed.

Li Zheng took the sketch, his fingers trembling slightly.

It wasn’t easy, it was really not easy, but I, Li Zheng, finally won!

"Why? You don't want to leave. Do you want to stay here for a while?" Li Xiaodong asked.

"...No, I'll leave right away." Li Zheng touched his empty wallet, and rushed out of the lounge holding the blueprint without looking back.

Niu Meng whispered, "Master, just let him go like this. I want to play for a while longer!"

“…”Li Xiaodong.

It was already afternoon when Li Zheng left. The convoy had a heavy transportation task today, and all the trucks in the parking lot set off.

Only Li Xiaodong's truck remained stationary.

"Niu Meng, the truck hasn't moved for three days. Go warm it up." Li Xiaodong ordered.

"Got it!" Niu Meng jumped to the front of the car, shook the truck hard, and then drove carefully in the parking lot.

The truck engines emitted bluish smoke and their piercing roars broke the silence of the steel plant.

Although this wastes fuel and disturbs others, Li Xiaodong has his own unspeakable secret.

The trucks at that time used low-quality leaded gasoline No. 56.

Its quality is comparable to that of later crude oil refining by traditional methods, and it contains more impurities such as sulfur, mercaptans, and olefins.

Gasoline is usually stored in old iron drums.

Those are the dark green iron boxes with five-pointed star patterns, mixed with rust, dirt and other debris.