Back in 1978, I was admitted to Northwestern Polytechnical University.

Chapter 96 It's almost New Year's, time to take Dad to enjoy the good life!
A biting wind swept across the dam, causing withered branches to tremble and snow to fly across the ground.

At this time of year, it's almost impossible to go out. Every household stays on their heated kang (traditional heated brick bed). Unless there's something important, they don't even go downstairs. After all, it's impossible to heat the whole house by burning coal like city dwellers do. They just light a fire once in the morning and once in the evening to keep the kang warm.

However, early in the morning, Qin Baomin put on his cotton-padded coat, then a sheepskin overcoat, and a dog-skin hat, and went out warmly and comfortably.

"Brother Qin, going out again?" Aunt Wang, who was carrying firewood next door, greeted Qin Baomin as soon as she saw him leave. Looking at Qin Baomin's brand-new coat and hat, her eyes were full of envy: "This coat and hat, they must be very warm."

"Of course, Liangzi mailed them all back. Sigh, isn't this just wasting money? I told him to save it for his wedding..." Qin Baomin said with a smug look on his face. "I'm not going to talk about this anymore. I'm going to go check at the village entrance. School's out for break, Liangzi should be back by now..."

Qin Baomin had been longing for his son for half a year, and now his son was finally coming back!
We've prepared two or three times more New Year's goods than usual. My son has been away for half a year; I wonder if he's lost weight...

With that thought in mind, Qin Baomin strode towards the village entrance.

Watching Qin Baomin's departing figure, Aunt Wang's eyes were filled with envy. How wonderful it would be if her own child could also get into university!
At the village entrance, Qin Baomin tucked his hands into his sleeves, feeling the warmth of the winter sun; his heart was filled with warmth.

"Old Qin, why are you out again?" Village Chief Wang Jinshan walked over: "I already told you, as soon as Liangzi comes back, the township will send someone to notify us. Then, we'll drive the village tractor to the township to pick Liangzi up..."

The bus can only go as far as the township; the rest of the way, you have to walk. He's the first college student in the village, so we have to take care of him and pick him up in a tractor!
and many more!

What's that in the distance? 212?

"He's here, he's here! It must be Liangzi coming back!" Wang Jinshan exclaimed excitedly. "I'll go tell everyone to come to the village entrance to greet him."

"Goodbye, village chief. It's freezing cold. Let everyone stay home and wait for Liangzi to come back so he can visit each household..."

As they were talking, 212 pulled up in front of them. The car stopped, and Niu Guishan got out: "Village Chief Wang, Old Qin, you're both here! That's great!"

"Teacher Niu, where's Liangzi?"

"Qin Liang has gone to the capital for a meeting. I'll pick you up and take you there. Then we'll take the train together to Chang'an for the New Year."

A meeting in the capital?
Wang Jinshan's eyes widened. The highest-level place he had ever been was a meeting in the county. He had boasted about it for months afterward. Qin Liang was actually able to attend a meeting in the capital. That was truly amazing!

Indeed, college students are great; they're so talented!
"Why go to Chang'an for the New Year? Liangzi... isn't coming back?"

"Well, Qin Liang is currently undertaking a lot of tasks and doesn't have time to go home for the New Year. Old Qin, why don't you go home and pack your things... Oh, by the way, Qin Liang asked me to bring some New Year's goods. Village Chief Wang, could you please help distribute them to everyone in the village?"

The driver took a bag from the back, and Wang Jinshan glanced at it, shocked: "White Rabbit milk candy? Such a big bag, how much is it worth! Liangzi is still in school, we can't accept his things in the village... Oh, and there's cigarettes and alcohol too, this, this is too valuable..."

Since Qin Liang couldn't come back, Northwestern Polytechnical University had to make arrangements. Qin Liang had brought a lot of revenue to the university in the past six months, so it was only natural for him to bring some things for the villagers when he picked up his father. After all, Qin Baomin was going to Chang'an soon and would be away from home for most of the year, so the villagers would have to look after him.

At this moment, many people gathered around, adults and children alike beaming with joy. This was Qin Baomin's home.

"These are fried rice cakes that I made, and Liangzi really likes them."

"These are the green bean strips I dried. I'll serve them as a dish to entertain guests during the Chinese New Year in winter. Liangzi likes them too."

Qin Baomin took out the New Year's goods one by one and put them into bags. Niu Guishan became more and more curious as he looked at them and couldn't help but ask, "Old Qin, what do you mean by this?"

“Liangzi is someone who does important things, I can’t be a burden to him. I know he’s busy, I’ll just spend the New Year at home by myself, they…”

"Old Qin, that's not right of you. That's shirking responsibility! We called you over not just for the New Year, you have a mission to complete."

"What mission?"

"You'll find out when you get there; it has to be kept secret for now."

“Alright, since it’s a task assigned by my superiors, I, Qin Baomin, have a duty to do it. I can’t let Liangzi down.”

Niu Guishan sighed inwardly. Before setting off, Professor Sha and Professor Liu had said that an old farmer like Qin Liang's father was unwilling to cause trouble for his son, so they had to use the mission to command him!
Qin Liang has made such great contributions to Northwestern Polytechnical University and to the aviation industry of our country. Of course, Northwestern Polytechnical University should also solve his worries!
That afternoon, Qin Baomin locked his front door, took a few reluctant glances, and then got on bus 212. "This bus is really nice," he thought, "only a county magistrate could ride in it!"

The entire village came to see them off. The children, with runny noses, held White Rabbit milk candies in their hands, having already put them in their mouths several times, then spat them out and wrapped them up again. This one piece of candy would last them until the New Year...

The capital city, the aviation industry system, the canteen.

"Come on, Comrade Qin Liang, let me toast you!" Engineer Li walked over with a glass of wine in hand. "I apologize to you. I spoke a bit harshly at the meeting today..."

"Engineer Li, it's all my fault. I was young and impetuous, and I didn't give you older colleagues any face..."

"What do we care about saving face? Developing our country's aviation industry is the most important thing!" Just then, Old Wu walked over: "Liangzi, we're both in Chang'an, it's a pity we haven't had time before. By the way, you...have you heard of the Spey project?"

Mr. Wu left Institute 606 and went to Factory 430 in Chang'an, all for the Spey engine!
The Spey, developed by Rolls-Royce in the 1960s, was the first turbofan engine. It was subsequently widely used in commercial airliners and fighter jets. Due to its advanced performance, the Americans even imported a production line for it.

In 1975, in order to improve the industrial level of the East, relevant departments decided to purchase Spey engines. In addition to purchasing a batch of complete engines, they also bought the engine technology. Due to the resistance of Factory 410, production could only be carried out at Factory 430. Historically, in 79, the engine using British blanks passed the acceptance test. Just when they were planning to continue their efforts and manufacture the engine using domestic blanks, the imitation project came to an abrupt end!
Needless to say, no new engines were built; the forty engines that were already in the warehouse had no one to install them!
More than a decade later, when the JH-7 fighter-bomber was launched, it was embarrassing to find that there were no engines available. It even had to go to Britain to buy second-hand Spey engines. Only then did it restart the localization process. In the new century, the engine, codenamed WS-9, was finally fully localized.

Currently, Spey is in this awkward situation in China!

Qin Liang took a deep breath: "The Spey is very useful. The technology we learned from the British can be used in our own engines, which will save us a lot of trouble..."

Qin Liang was familiar with Spey!
(End of this chapter)