Live Stream 1980: Netizens Teach Me How to Make a Rocket by Hand

Two days later.

On the Gobi Desert, a green commuter train is crawling along.

At the junction of the carriages, the smell of smoke mingled with the smell of sweat.

Lin Xi, wrapped in a military overcoat, huddled on a small stool in the corner, looking like the most inconspicuous vagrant.

His hands were inside his clothes, and there was an envelope in his inner pocket.

Thick and warm.

That was a 50 yuan "technological innovation award" given to him by the base.

In 1980, when apprentices earned only 18 yuan a month and pork cost 78 cents a pound.

This is a huge sum of money that would make the neighbors green with envy.

In the lower left corner of the field of view, light blue bullet comments drifted slowly by.

[This streamer's net worth has skyrocketed! He must be a tycoon from the 80s!]

[50 yuan? That's only the price of two cups of milk tea these days. Its purchasing power is truly astonishing.]

[The lack of education upstairs is terrifying! That 50 yuan could buy 300 jin of rice back then!]

[Listen to me, host! Get off the bus and buy two pounds of pig's head meat first, make those people who look down on you drool!]

Lin Xi's lips curled up almost imperceptibly, but she didn't reply.

Close your eyes and rest your mind.

But the unique cacophony of gossip in the carriage buzzed into my ears like flies.

"Hey, did you hear? The Red Star 2 almost exploded the other day!"

The speaker was a middle-aged worker named Lao Zhao.

He was enthusiastically showing off his "top secret" to those around him.

"Really? Wasn't it supposed to be a complete success?" Someone nearby asked, their eyes wide.

"It's very risky!"

Old Zhao lowered his voice, his face mysterious.

"I heard that a reckless intern in the maintenance team messed with key equipment and almost ruined the engine!"

"Fortunately, his master—Master Li Jianguo, an eighth-level master craftsman—had sharp eyes and turned the tide!"

"Otherwise, all our hard work over the past few years will be ruined by that brat!"

Immediately, a chorus of tsk-tsk sounds arose from the surrounding area.

"Young people these days are just unreliable."

"Has reading too many books made you stupid? You think you can just mess with such a vital national asset?"

"This kind of person should be fired. Keeping him at the base is just a scourge; he'll cause trouble sooner or later!"

Lin Xi pulled up the collar of his military overcoat, covering half of his face, revealing only a pair of eyes that seemed to be smiling but weren't.

The live stream chat exploded.

My blood pressure is rising! How can these people be so blatantly distorting the truth?

[The streamer clearly saved the entire base by turning the tide, so how did he become the scapegoat? I know this plot all too well; I'm starting to get depressed.]

[I'm so angry! Host, can you stop being such a coward? Slap Mr. Qian's award certificate in his face!]

Just then, a technician wearing black-rimmed glasses next to him pushed up the frame on his nose and chimed in:

"Old Zhao, you're only half right."

All eyes immediately turned to that direction.

The optician seemed to enjoy being treated like a "know-it-all," and said slowly and deliberately:

"I was drinking with Master Li Jianguo last night, and he only revealed the truth when he got drunk."

"He said that the malfunction was actually discovered first by the apprentice, the intern."

"If it weren't for this intern, we would have only been able to watch the fireworks that day."

"And I heard that even Professor Qian summoned that kid later and they talked for a long time in his office!"

The carriage fell silent for a few seconds.

Everyone looked at each other, somewhat unable to process this unexpected turn of events.

"Is that possible?" Old Zhao asked doubtfully, clearly unwilling to admit that his information was wrong.

"An intern can be more capable than so many veteran experts? That's too far-fetched. Old Li is just protecting his own, isn't he?"

"Exactly! If young people these days had this kind of ability, what would that be like?"

"Hey, what's that kid's name?"

The optician thought for a moment, then said, "It seems her name is... Lin Xi!"

......

"Young man?"

Beside her, an older woman knitting a sweater gently poked Lin Xi's arm with the needle.

She scrutinized Lin Xi's casual clothes, her eyes filled with a hint of inquiry:

Which workshop are you from?

"You look unfamiliar. Are you new here?"

Lin Xi smiled politely and moved the stool to the side.

"Auntie, I was interning in the maintenance team before, and I was just transferred here."

"Hey! The maintenance team is great! They're the core technical team, their jobs are invaluable!"

The woman's eyes lit up instantly, and she even stopped what she was doing; she was incredibly enthusiastic.

"Which department have you been transferred to? The system control department? Or the telemetry department? Do you have a partner yet?"

Several of the other workers nearby also perked up their ears.

In this closed, base-like society, departments represented class and the value of food ration coupons.

Lin Xi paused, her tone calm:

"He's been transferred to the Red Star Labor Service Center."

The voice just fell.

The smile on the woman's face froze as if it had been frozen by liquid nitrogen.

The envious glances around them instantly turned into strange looks, disdain, and even a hint of disgust.

Hongxing Labor Service Center.

In the base's hierarchy of contempt at that time, that was the sewer.

That was a place for employees who made mistakes and young family members who couldn't get into school to just coast along.

It was a true "place of exile".

"Ah... well... that's good too."

The middle-aged woman managed to squeeze out a dry sentence, subtly shifting her body in the opposite direction.

The enthusiastic middle-aged woman from just a moment ago has instantly become just another passerby.

Old Zhao glanced at Lin Xi, his eyes seeming to say, "I knew it."

"I knew it. He must have caused trouble in the maintenance team and got reassigned by his superiors."

"Young man, let me give you some advice as someone who's been there."

Old Zhao looked very serious and said, "Go back and apologize to your superiors, write a letter of self-criticism written in blood, and try to get transferred back."

"Going to a service company at such a young age basically ruins your life."

"Without even a formal position, girls will avoid me when I'm looking for a partner."

Faced with this overwhelming and condescending "good intention," Lin Xi did not argue.

He simply put his hands in his sleeves, like an old man watching a play.

The live stream chat was almost flooding the screen with comments.

[Absolutely amazing! This face-changing speed is faster than flipping through a book!]

[I'm so angry! Can't you stand up straight, streamer?]

[How can sparrows know the ambitions of a swan! These people know nothing! That's a startup base specially approved by Qian Xuesen!]

[Don't panic! The calmer you are now, the more painful the slap in the face will be! Waiting for the plot twist!]

......

"Besides—besides—"

The train slowly pulled into the living quarters platform, letting out a long sigh.

The car door opened with a "bang".

The crowd surged down.

Lin Xi wasn't in a hurry. After most of the people had left, she slowly picked up her worn-out canvas bag and got off the bus.

Outside the platform was a dusty dirt road, with dust flying everywhere.

In the most conspicuous spot at the exit, a dark green Jeep 212 was parked.

The car body was polished to a gleaming shine, reflecting a majestic light in the sunlight.

That was the headquarters' special vehicle, which could only be mobilized by leaders.

Mr. Qian's bodyguard, Xiao Wu, was standing beside the car, his back ramrod straight, his eyes gleaming as he peered at the platform.

"Wow, which high-ranking leader has come to inspect the area?"

"With this level of protocol, could it be that someone from the ministry has come?"

The crowd that had just exited the station slowed down, craning their necks to see which important person had arrived.

Old Zhao, the glasses technician, and the old lady all stopped in their tracks, their faces filled with curiosity and awe.

Just then, Lin Xi came out.

Under everyone's astonished gaze, Xiao Wu's eyes lit up, and he strode over to the "assigned intern".

"Snapped!"

A standard military salute!

"Comrade Lin Xi!"

Xiao Wu's voice was loud and clear, with a strong penetrating quality: "I have been waiting here for a long time on Mr. Qian's orders!"