Love in the Courtyard: Starting with Engineers

Li Yu gathered all the key technical personnel, slammed three large stacks of blueprints on the table, and said in a firm voice, "Comrades, in three days, we must build a low-temperature, high-salt-spray chamber that can simulate the extreme environment of the South China Sea, and we also need to set up control systems for both the gas turbine and the steam turbine! This battle can only be won; we cannot afford to lose!"

As the technicians looked at the densely packed parameters on the blueprints and saw the light in Li Yu's eyes, they all clenched their fists.

"Don't worry, Chief Engineer! We guarantee the mission will be completed!"

"It's just building a simulator, right? Let's get it done tonight!"

"Domestically produced gas turbines must not be dismissed as mere showpieces!"

The roar of machines echoed through the workshop once again, the arc of welding torches pierced the night, and the crisp sounds of cutting tools rose and fell. Li Yu personally joined the workers, moving steel and adjusting equipment. Oil smeared his face, but it could not hide the sharpness in his eyes.

For the past three days, the lights at Longxing Machinery Factory have never gone out.

Meanwhile, back at the courtyard house, Yan Bugui, having heard about the review meeting, was holed up at home calculating his gains and muttering to himself, "If Chief Engineer Li wins, his status will be completely different. That silly Zhu kid has been behaving himself lately, not daring to cause any more trouble."

On the morning of the third day, as the first rays of sunlight pierced through the clouds and shone on the test field of Longxing Machinery Factory, a silver-gray low-temperature, high-salt-spray simulation chamber had already risen from the ground.

Outside the cabin, Li Yu gazed at the sunrise on the horizon and took a deep breath of the air, which smelled of iron filings.

He knew that a head-on confrontation was about to begin.

Professor Zhang's car had already driven onto the highway leading to Longxing Factory, its wheels rolling, carrying with them the skepticism of the conservatives, and also the scrutiny of a new era towards new technologies. Chapter Two: Extreme Testing, Ironclad Evidence Shatters Conservative Prejudice.

On the open ground of Longxing Machinery Factory, a temporary low-temperature and high-salt spray simulation chamber stands prominently. A layer of white frost covers the silver-gray chamber, and the temperature display inside the chamber is flashing a striking -10℃.

In the center of the cabin, the prototype of the marine gas turbine developed by Li Yu's team stands quietly, next to a steam turbine currently in service with the Navy, as a control group.

At the edge of the testing ground, Professor Zhang, accompanied by three conservative experts, paced back and forth with their hands behind their backs, their faces full of disdain. They wore thick military overcoats, and their breath vanished in the cold air.

"Hmph, pure nonsense." Professor Zhang glanced at the simulation chamber, his voice icy. "-10°C low temperature plus 95% salt spray concentration, let alone gas turbines, even alloy steel would be corroded and peel off! I bet this machine will break down in less than 24 hours."

The expert beside him quickly chimed in, "Professor Zhang is right! Gas turbines have a precise structure, and the blades are hollow. Once salt spray gets in, it immediately blocks them! Li Yu is just putting on a show, wasting the country's electricity!"

The technicians they brought huddled close to the monitoring equipment, their eyes wide open, eager to find any data loopholes so they could go back and claim credit with Professor Zhang.

Li Yu stood in front of the control panel, dressed in oil-stained overalls with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms, revealing his muscular arms. He listened to Professor Zhang and his group's sarcastic remarks, but his face remained expressionless. He simply spoke into the walkie-talkie in a deep voice: "Attention all departments, extreme condition testing, officially initiated!"

"Received! Gas turbine preheating complete!"

"Steam turbine preheating complete!"

"Salt spray generator activated! Low-temperature system stable!"

Commands came through the walkie-talkie, and the atmosphere at the test site instantly became tense.

As the technician pressed the start button, both machines roared simultaneously. The gas turbine's sound was deep and powerful, like a slumbering beast awakening; the steam turbine, on the other hand, had a familiar rumble, carrying the cumbersome feel of old-fashioned machinery.

On the monitoring screen, the data began to fluctuate rapidly.

Gas turbine: 18000 rpm, 22500 shaft horsepower, stable output.

Steam turbine: 3000 rpm, 8000 shaft horsepower, operating normally.

Professor Zhang leaned closer to the screen, glanced at the data, and snorted heavily, "What's the use of being stable now? Just wait and see, problems will arise before midnight."

His men stayed close to the monitoring station, recording data every ten minutes, their eyes glued to the gas turbine blade temperature and corrosion monitoring curves.

Time ticked by, the night at the test site grew darker, and the temperature dropped.

Arrives in 12 hours.

The technician loudly announced, "All parameters of the gas turbine are normal! No corrosion on the blades! Stable power output without fluctuations!"

"Steam turbine...blades show slight corrosion, resulting in a 3% power reduction!"

Professor Zhang paused, his brow furrowing slightly, but he said curtly, "It's a minor problem. Steam turbines are durable; this little bit of corrosion is nothing."

But his voice had lost its previous confidence.

Arrives in 24 hours.

The salt spray concentration inside the simulation chamber remained at 95%, and the low temperature did not loosen at all.

"Report! Gas turbine operating normally! Thermal efficiency maintained at 42%!"

"Steam turbine blade corrosion has worsened, resulting in a 15% power reduction! Shutdown and maintenance are necessary!"

Upon hearing this, the experts behind Professor Zhang's expression changed drastically. They exchanged glances, unable to utter another sarcastic remark.

Professor Zhang's lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but ultimately he fell silent. He walked to the monitoring console, his fingers trembling slightly as he traced the curves on the screen—the gas turbine's data was as stable as a straight line, without the slightest fluctuation. Meanwhile, the curve for the steam turbine next to it was already crooked and distorted, a truly appalling sight.

Undeterred, he personally climbed into the simulator to inspect it. The silvery-white blades gleamed coldly under the light, showing no signs of corrosion or even rust.

"This... how is this possible?" Professor Zhang muttered to himself, his eyes filled with disbelief. He had studied steam turbines his whole life and knew all too well the destructive power of high salt spray and low temperature environments on machinery, but the gas turbine in front of him was like an invincible warrior, having withstood this hellish test.

Time continued to move forward, and the sky above the test site began to lighten with the first light of dawn.

Arrives in 48 hours.

The gas turbine continued to operate stably, with no power reduction whatsoever.

The steam turbine was completely broken down; the rust on the blades was a continuous patch, and it creaked and groaned as it turned, like an old man in his twilight years.

Professor Zhang stopped pacing and refrained from making sarcastic remarks. He stood outside the simulator, his gaze fixed on the roaring gas turbine, his expression shifting from initial disdain to shock, and finally to solemnity.

Arrives in 72 hours!

Li Yu gave the order: "Stop the machine! Inspect the core components!"

The roar gradually subsided, the door to the simulator opened, and a blast of cold air rushed in. Technicians swarmed in to conduct a comprehensive inspection of the gas turbine.

A few minutes later, a technician held up the inspection report and shouted excitedly, "Chief Engineer, the core components are completely undamaged! The blades are as clean as new! The thermal efficiency remains at 42%! Far exceeding the design standard!"

The test site instantly erupted in excitement!

The workers and technicians at Longxing Machinery Factory hugged each other excitedly, their cheers echoing through the sky.