He had received many experts who had returned from studying abroad, but it was his first time seeing a young man like Li Ming who had such a thorough understanding of cutting-edge technology.
"Good, good!" He Zhiyuan clapped his hands vigorously. "Comrade Li Ming, please remain seated for now. I have something I need to attend to immediately."
With that, he quickly walked to a small compartment at the end of the carriage, where the train's only telegraph machine was located.
After closing the door, He Zhiyuan's hands were still trembling as he said to the signalman:
"Connect me to the Organization Department! And make it quick!"
An inquiry came from the other end. He Zhiyuan took a deep breath, lowering his voice but speaking with unusual firmness:
"Tell them that He Zhiyuan has discovered an aviation engine genius! This matter must be reported to the higher-ups immediately!"
...
He Zhiyuan's hasty departure left a silence in the carriage.
Dozens of eyes stared intently at Li Ming, their expressions gradually shifting from surprise to a complex mixture of admiration, curiosity, suspicion, and even envy.
"Li Ming, you've been hiding your talents well!" Wang Deming broke the silence, stepping forward and patting Li Ming's shoulder. "We've been in class together every day, why have we never heard you mention any of this?"
Li Ming scratched his head, a little embarrassed: "I just read a lot of books and thought things through on my own."
Yang He's expression was volatile. As a senior in the same major, he felt utterly disgraced.
"Drawing a pretty blueprint doesn't mean it can be built," he couldn't help but say sourly, "Theory and practice are two different things."
"Senior Zhang is right," Li Ming replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, "That's why I wanted to return to the country to participate in practice and turn the blueprints into a real engine."
"Alright, alright," Wang Dachuan stepped in to mediate, "We've all returned to contribute to the nation's development, and everyone has their strengths. It's a good thing that Li Ming has research in engines; we should support him."
Several students majoring in physics and mechanics gathered around, asking Li Ming questions animatedly.
Li Ming answered patiently, but deliberately steered the conversation towards more basic aspects, avoiding another sensation.
After all, he had realized he had shown too much.
He Zhiyuan returned quickly, his expression both excited and serious.
He pulled Li Ming aside and whispered: "Comrade Li, I have just reported to my superiors. They attach great importance to this and have asked me to take special care of you. Furthermore, there will be a dedicated person to receive you when we arrive in the capital."
The train rattled rhythmically on the tracks, and the scenery outside the window gradually changed from rice paddies in the south to wheat fields in the north.
Three days later, when the train finally pulled into the capital's railway station, everyone was exhausted, yet unable to conceal their inner excitement.
"We're in the capital!" someone shouted, peering out the window.
The atmosphere in the carriage suddenly grew lively, and everyone scrambled to organize their luggage, preparing to disembark.
Li Ming also packed up, although his "luggage" was mostly in his system space.
The train slowly came to a stop. He Zhiyuan stood at the front of the carriage, raising his hand to signal for silence: "comrades, please follow me closely after disembarking and do not wander off. As far as I know, important leaders will be here to greet us today."
The last sentence caused another stir in the carriage.
Important leaders? What did that mean?
As the group, dragging their simple luggage, disembarked from the train, Li Ming immediately noticed a row of middle-aged men standing at the edge of the platform. They were dressed plainly but possessed an extraordinary demeanor, with serious expressions and keen eyes.
"Oh, it's Minister Zhao!" He Zhiyuan exclaimed in a low voice, then quickly stepped forward and saluted a tall, thin man wearing glasses. "Hello, Minister Zhao! I didn't expect you to come in person!"
The man smiled and waved his hand: "Old He, you've worked hard. These returning scholars are treasures, how could we not come to greet them in person?"
He Zhiyuan turned to introduce everyone: "comrades, this is Minister Zhao of the Industrial Department, this is Director Chen of the Military Industry Commission, and this is..."
Listening to each of the resounding names, all the overseas students were deeply shocked.
These were all important figures in the nation's industrial construction!
To be personally greeted by them showed the nation's emphasis on talent returning from overseas.
"Time is pressing, let's keep the small talk brief," Minister Zhao scanned the crowd, his gaze lingering on Li Ming for a moment. "Please get in the cars. We'll go to the guesthouse to rest, and then hold a small symposium to understand everyone's specialties and ideas."
Li Ming was arranged in a black Volga car, sharing it with Wang Deming, Minister Zhao, and He Zhiyuan.
"Little Comrade Li," Minister Zhao turned his head and asked kindly, "I hear you have a good understanding of aero engines?"
Li Ming nodded humbly: "I only know a little bit."
Minister Zhao smiled: "Old He's telegram to me didn't say that. He said you know everything about turbojet engines, and can even draw detailed design blueprints?"
"I have indeed compiled some materials and design plans," Li Ming no longer hid his talent, "If it helps the nation's construction, I am very willing to share them."
"Good! Ambitious!" Minister Zhao patted Li Ming's shoulder. "When we get there, you'll have to show it off properly."
The guesthouse was a Soviet-style building; though simple on the outside, it was clean, tidy, and well-equipped inside.
After settling in briefly, everyone was led to a spacious conference room.
The conference room was full of people, including the leaders seen on the platform earlier, and many technical personnel in work uniforms. The atmosphere was solemn yet full of anticipation.
Minister Zhao sat in the center of the rostrum. After a brief opening, he went straight to the point: "The main purpose of gathering everyone here today is to understand the specialties and ideas of the returning scholars, especially in terms of industrial technologies that the country urgently needs. Comrade He specifically mentioned Comrade Li Ming's knowledge of aero engines in his telegram, so I would like to invite Comrade Li Ming to give an introduction first."
All eyes converged on Li Ming.
He took a deep breath, took several rolls of blueprints from his briefcase, and walked to the blackboard.
"Leaders, comrades," Li Ming's voice was steady and powerful, "Today I want to introduce a simplified turbojet engine design."
He unrolled the first blueprint and taped it to the wall.
It was a detailed overall structural diagram of the engine, with clear and comprehensive annotations.
A gasp of admiration rippled through the conference room.
Many Engineers were seeing such exquisite technical blueprints for the first time.
"This engine design adopts a single-shaft structure, with a thrust of approximately 1.5 tons, mainly composed of an intake, an 8-stage axial compressor, an annular combustion chamber, a single-stage turbine, and an adjustable nozzle..."
Li Ming elaborated from the overall to the details, from the working principle to the design parameters.
He deliberately slowed his speech to ensure that every technical personnel present could follow his train of thought.
When he displayed the third blueprint—the detailed design of the turbine blade—an old, white-haired Chief Engineer in the front row couldn't help but stand up, walk closer to examine it carefully, and then excitedly said:
"This internal cooling channel design... it's so ingenious! I've seen similar technology in Polar Bear, but not this perfect!"
Li Ming then displayed detailed blueprints of key components such as the aerodynamic design of the compressor blades, the bearing system, and the fuel control unit, concluding with a complete manufacturing process specification.
The entire presentation lasted nearly an hour, and the conference room was silent, everyone deeply impressed.
Minister Zhao was the first to speak: "Comrade Li Ming, your design is indeed astonishing. However, I must point out that given the current level of domestic industry, there are significant difficulties in manufacturing such an engine, especially the machining of high-precision parts."
Other Engineers also nodded in agreement. A Chief Engineer from a military factory sighed:
"The three-dimensional surface machining of blades, the smelting of high-temperature alloys, the manufacturing of precision bearings... these are all our current weaknesses."
Li Ming smiled slightly: "Leaders, comrades, I understand your concerns. Indeed, with traditional machining methods, these parts are difficult to manufacture, at least to achieve the required precision. However..."