Back to the 80s Machinery Factory

Chapter 570 Dormitory Invention Competition

Did you understand everything I just said?

Zhang Nan couldn't help but ask.

Chen Luyang shook her head decisively without the slightest hesitation.

How could someone who can't even understand advanced mathematics possibly understand physics?!

Even though he couldn't understand a word, Chen Luyang still made sure to provide the emotional support he needed!

Whether I understand or not is unimportant, as long as you do~

Chen Luyang looked shy and bashful.

Zhang Nan stared at him for two seconds, her expression complex, as if she were caught between rationality and speechlessness.

After a long while, Zhang Nan calmly withdrew his gaze.

"Okay, I'll look into it."

After saying that, he adjusted his glasses on his nose, held the blueprints in his right hand, picked up the washbasin in his left, and walked upstairs with a clattering sound, leaving Chen Luyang with a tall and imposing figure.

The next day, before dawn, Zhang Diancai went directly from home to the repair shop to conduct experiments.

As soon as I entered, I saw Zhang Nan sitting at a workbench, intently drawing under the light.

What should I draw?

Zhang Diancai walked over, put his hands behind his back, and peeked inside.

The paper was covered with a bunch of angled cross-sections and geometric circles, with words like "movable base," "limiting ring," and "short-stroke cylinder" written next to it.

"What is this drawing?" he asked suspiciously.

"Teacher, this is a jack." Zhang Nan stood up quickly upon hearing the voice.

"A jack?!" Zhang Diancai was stunned for a moment, as if he doubted that he had heard correctly.

"Why are you suddenly studying jacks?"

"It wasn't me, it was Xiao Chen," Zhang Nan quickly explained.
“He said last night that he wanted to make a lightweight jack, so I’ll try to make one according to his idea.”

Zhang Diancai reached for the blueprints and said with delight:

"You even drew a hemispherical mat on this? Are you planning to build a satellite jack?"

Zhang Nan's face immediately turned red.

"The main problem was that the ground was uneven, so Xiao Chen asked me to find a way to level it myself."

"I was thinking that if the bottom could move a little, it would be stable no matter where it is placed, so I added this hemispherical mat."

Zhang Diancai chuckled: "Where do all these crooked tricks come from? Even repairing a car involves using a 'movable base'."

"However, your angle is quite interesting. If the swing amplitude of the hemisphere is controlled within five degrees, the point of force can automatically return to the center, and the jack can remain stable even if it is placed at an angle."

Zhang Nan's eyes lit up immediately!
After having an idea last night, he wanted to discuss it with Chen Luyang.

Unfortunately, Chen Luyang couldn't understand anything he was talking about.

Now that the teacher was finally around, Zhang Nan quickly spoke up:
"But teacher, I have another question."

"If the base moves, then the hydraulic cylinder on top also needs a limit, otherwise, if it's lifted up at a large angle, won't it slip?"

Zhang Diancai shook his head, picked up a pencil and drew on the drawing: "It's unlikely to slip, but there needs to be a backstop ring. Otherwise, if the bottom hemisphere tilts and the pressure is released, the whole car could easily tip over."

Zhang Nan pondered, "So that means we need to add a limit ring to make it move within a certain range?"

“Yes,” Zhang Diancai pondered, “Add a short-stroke hydraulic cylinder outside the limit ring, make sure the piston stroke doesn’t exceed forty millimeters, and add a double-pin positioning structure.”

"This way, even if the support point is off-center, it can automatically return to the correct position and also buffer the return force."

Zhang Nan nodded: "Okay, teacher, I'll give it a try..."

At this moment, in the dimly lit corner,
Chen Luyang was holding a basin in one hand and picking at a pimple on her chin with the other, secretly listening to the discussion among the faculty and students of the Department of Mechanics.

He's been really stressed out these past few days because of the repair shop issue.

Now that the problem has finally been resolved, the anger has flared up, and a big lump has appeared on his chin.

There were no classes scheduled at school this morning, so Chen Luyang slept in at the repair shop, planning to wash his face, have breakfast, and then go back.

As soon as I went downstairs, I heard Zhang Diancai and Zhang Nan chirping crickets, as if they were studying something.

Driven by curiosity, Chen Luyang strained his ears to hear what the people in the Department of Mechanics were talking about.

It would have been better if I hadn't listened; after listening, I got even more furious.

Is this human language? !

He originally thought he was quite good at Chinese, but when it came to advanced mathematics and STEM subjects, he felt like he was a different species.

Looking at these people is like looking at aliens.

Watching Zhang Diancai and Zhang Nan pull out the blueprints and gradually realize their ideas for a lightweight jack, one by one...
Chen Luyang's claim that she wasn't envious was a lie.

No matter how capable you are, all you can do is talk.

To truly bring his ideas to fruition, we still need talents like Zhang Diancai and Zhang Nan.

Despite this, after failing to understand a word the two were saying!
Chen Luyang made a sarcastic remark:
Who is so kind as to understand science and engineering?
Is that something a human can understand?

Anyway, I couldn't understand it.

snort!
……

After washing her face, Chen Luyang tidied herself up and took the bus back to school.

As soon as I turned the corner to the dormitory building, I saw a group of people gathered together, looking at the notice posted there.

Chen Luyang squeezed through the crowd out of curiosity to take a look!
On the red paper with black characters, it was clearly written:

Notice Regarding the Spring Hygiene Month and the "Dormitory Invention Competition"

In order to strengthen campus civility and promote the in-depth development of the Spring Hygiene Month activities, the school's Youth League Committee, in conjunction with the General Affairs Office and the Student Union, decided to jointly hold a "Dormitory Invention Competition".

Competition requirements: safe, practical, economical, and scalable.
The first prize is an enamel mug and five bars of soap!
The second prize is two towels and two bars of soap!
Several third-prize winners will receive a bar of soap and be publicly commended on the school radio!
……

Good guy~
Chen Luyang's eyelids twitched.

How many bars of soap did Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) get for this International Women's Day event?!

This soap is practically free.

The crowd also became lively.

"Sigh, this year's prizes aren't as good as last year's. Last year, the first prize was a radio!"

"Absolutely! I remember last year they even gave us a bedside lamp. It's so convenient to clip onto the headboard to read!"

"And that 'automatic clothesline' that so-and-so invented two years ago was directly used by the dormitory management department in the faculty and staff dormitories!"

"Yes, yes, yes! Now that you mention clotheslines, I remember something. And those two physics students made a 'foot fan,' so you can study while stepping on it to get some fresh air. It really helps keep mosquitoes away and also exercises your legs!"

"What a fresh idea! I even voted for them back then."

"Unfortunately, the 'self-heating washbasin' made by the chemistry department was the last one to catch fire. The smoke was so thick it almost exploded, so neither of them won an award in the end."

"That's called 'passionate as fire'!"

"Come on! That's called being lucky to survive."

……

Standing in the crowd, listening to the conversation of the group in front of her, a small flame in Chen Luyang's heart was suddenly ignited!
Chen Luyang, deeply hurt by the jack incident last night and this morning,

At this very moment!

Suddenly I realized, he's got it!

He's doing it again!!!
Although in Chen Luyang's heart, he kept trying to comfort himself with a sour feeling.

I'm a humanities student, I don't understand what you're saying, but I'm right!!
I was perfectly justified!! But every time someone asked me, "Did you understand?", Chen Luyang's face would turn red!

It's embarrassing and hurtful to be constantly asked if you understand something when you're a grown man. It's like having your face scrubbed with a steel wool pad.

But he still had to suffer torment time and time again.

Because he really couldn't understand... *sobs*

But at this moment, looking at the big red paper downstairs in the dormitory building, and listening to the chattering of the students around me,
Chen Luyang suddenly felt like she could do it!
Who doesn't dream of becoming an inventor?
When she was a child, Chen Luyang also wanted to be a scientist!
He can't even figure out a jack, but can't he come up with a small invention?!
Besides, what kind of inventions were those anyway!

Clotheslines, foot fans, self-heating washbasins... each one more bizarre than the last.

If I could come up with a small invention, wouldn't I be able to launch a counterattack and dominate the competition?!

The thought of winning first prize, holding an enamel mug in my left hand and five bars of soap in my right, receiving recognition on the radio, and having my name heard by thousands—that was a truly momentous occasion.
Chen Luyang couldn't help but tremble with excitement!

Just do it and that's it.

……

I returned to 421 excitedly.

As soon as Chen Luyang pushed open the door, she excitedly asked:

"Did you see the notice posted downstairs? It's about dorm room inventions, are you interested in signing up?"

Zhang Dongliang shook his head directly: "Inventing what... I've only invented two children in my life, and they're almost as big as Nezha. I dare not invent anything else."

wipe……

Nothing!

Chen Luyang rolled her eyes at Zhang Dongliang.

This is a section chief at the Tonghu City Education Bureau, and he managed to subdue just two kids.

"Tao-ge! What about you?" Chen Luyang turned around and looked at the dormitory leader with great enthusiasm.

Tao Runze, as the class monitor of Class 1 of the Economics Department and the backbone of Dormitory 421, is the head of the dormitory who never gets out of bed. He always keeps his word and resolutely implements matters concerning the school and the class!
To Chen Luyang's surprise, Tao Runze looked hesitant.

"If you're talking about inventions, I have indeed invented some, but those were all pesticides to prevent apples from getting worms and disease."

"If we take this out, what if a few people die from the poison... we can't say for sure!"

Chen Luyang's brows furrowed slightly.

This is indeed a difficult situation to handle.

Dormitory inventions should be safe, practical, economical, and easily scalable.

This pesticide does not meet safety principles from the outset.

Chen Luyang said helplessly, "Brother Tao, can't you just stop doing those biochemical stuff!"

"With so many inventions out there, it would be strange if you insisted on making these scary ones."

Tao Runze sighed heavily.

"I've spent most of my life leading everyone to grow apples. I don't know how to grow anything else besides apples!"

Chen Luyang: "Brother, you've wasted your time coming to Peking University. You should have gone to the Academy of Agricultural Sciences!"

Tao Runze was also very upset: "Who wouldn't say that? But you know, I've already passed the entrance exam and got into Peking University. It doesn't seem right if I don't go."

Hearing this made Chen Luyang feel even worse.

He's a special admissions student, and he really doesn't want to talk to these self-righteous people who got in!

Turning his head, Chen Luyang asked Pan Yu, whom he valued most in the entire dormitory;
"Brother Pan, you definitely have to participate!"

Others might not be able to do it, but Pan Yu was the workshop director of the First Machine Tool Plant, so he had extremely strong hands-on skills!

He's absolutely in control when it comes to designing things.

Unexpectedly, Pan Yu refused even more decisively.

"I think I'll pass."

Chen Luyang was taken aback: "Why?"

Pan Yu, with an air of keeping his achievements hidden, said, "If I participate, it would be like bullying people. Let the students participate more actively."

After asking around without getting a response, Wu Dechen finally asked curiously, "Xiao Chen, you've been asking around, are you going to participate or not?"

"I want to participate," Chen Luyang said shyly.

Upon hearing that Chen Luyang was going to participate, all five of the older guys in the dorm became interested.

"That's right, Xiao Chen. You're both the workshop director of the machinery factory and the small factory manager of the repair shop. You're perfect for this activity!"

Tao Runze was the first to raise his book in support!

Jiang Feng and Zhang Dongliang followed suit, with one word of support and praise after another!
Poor Chen Luyang usually only interacts with Zhang Nan or Zhang Guoqiang.

He couldn't understand any of the theories.

He can't do anything with his hands.

Hearing so much praise all of a sudden made him feel completely overwhelmed.

Just as Chen Luyang was drifting aimlessly, a discordant voice suddenly rang out.

"Xiao Chen, I don't think you should participate in this activity."

In an instant, Chen Luyang's eyes, sharp as flying knives, pierced the air and shot fiercely towards Pan Yu, who was speaking.

“Although you are young, you are a senior engineer after all. It would be too unfair for you to participate in the competition.”

The knife-throwing action is paused.

"What if you come up with something that causes a sensation on campus, or even influences the landscape of small inventions in universities across the country, triggering a second campus technological revolution?!"

The throwing knife was withdrawn.

"I think you should give the other students a chance."

Chen Luyang stared at Pan Yu for a long time with an incredibly complex and emotional gaze.

"Brother Pan, I never expected that you would be the one who truly understands me on campus!"

"Isn't that necessary!"

Pan Yu reached into a bag on the wooden stool beside the bed and took out a small handful of melon seeds, glancing at Chen Luyang with an all-knowing look.

He slept in bunk beds with Chen Luyang for half a semester.
To put it bluntly,

He knew exactly how many times Chen Luyang tossed and turned at night, how many times he got up to urinate, and how many bouts of diarrhea he had after eating the fruit!
Not to mention what kind of kowtow Chen Luyang likes to hear!
"But have you decided what you want to invent or design?" Pan Yu asked curiously.

"I've made up my mind!" Chen Luyang's eyes shone brightly.

"I want to design an automatic door closing device!"

Everyone:? ? ?
……

From his very first night at Peking University, Chen Luyang, who slept on the upper bunk right next to the door, had always wanted to get his hands on this thing!

Usually, everyone reads and studies in the hallway in the evenings.
Because Chen Luyang had so much to translate and so many materials to prepare for the project, she was often the last one in the dormitory to go to bed.

In this situation, it's quite normal for him to close the door, get into bed, and finish everything at once.

But~
There are always a few days when we're tired and want to slack off, and all six of us in the dorm end up lying in bed.

Unfortunately, Pan Yu was still asleep downstairs, snoring. At this point, Chen Luyang had no choice but to huff and puff as he got out of bed, lock the door, and then climb up like a monkey climbing a tree.

Chen Luyang firmly believes!
With so many dormitories and rooms across the entire school, I'm sure I'm not the only one with this problem!

Once I solve this global problem, I'll have no trouble winning the first prize!

(End of this chapter)