Chapter 97: Engine Technology

Due to the lack of modern plastic film, Li Mingyuan adopted a combination of multi-layered treated oil paper and straw mats.

The inner layer is oil paper that has undergone special treatment and been coated with vegetable oil to increase water resistance; the outer layer is thick straw mats, which can be flexibly adjusted according to weather conditions—lifted during the day to increase light exposure, and lowered at night to retain heat.

"This design has two benefits," Li Mingyuan explained to the workers, "First, it can regulate temperature and light; second, straw mats are more durable than oil paper and can protect the oil paper inside, extending its service life."

The workers listened, only half-understanding, but they were all infected by Li Mingyuan's enthusiasm and confidence, and were full of drive.

In just one week, the first experimental greenhouse began to take shape.

Next was the construction of the irrigation system.

Li Mingyuan designed a simple drip irrigation system, composed of bamboo pipes and clay pots, which could precisely control the water volume and avoid waste.

At the same time, he also planned a rainwater collection system, channeling rainwater collected from the roof into a storage tank to further conserve water.

"In the dry season, water is the most precious resource," Li Mingyuan said to the workers, "This system will allow us to grow the most vegetables using the least amount of water."

……

One week later, all three greenhouses were completed: one for leafy vegetables, one for root vegetables, and another as a seedling area.

In addition, a small recirculating aquaculture pond had also been completed, inside which crucian carp and grass carp caught from a nearby river were placed.

"Now, we need to prepare the seeds," Li Mingyuan said to Factory Lou Changzhang, "I have some special varieties of seeds here; they have short growth cycles, high yields, and strong disease resistance."

Factory Lou Changzhang asked curiously, "Where did these seeds come from? I don't seem to have seen them on the market."

Li Mingyuan smiled mysteriously, "These are rare varieties I collected from an old farmer who spent his whole life researching breeding."

Of course, this was just a cover.

In reality, these seeds all came from his System Space—that magical "Small World."

Every night, when everyone else was resting, Li Mingyuan would sneak into his System Space.

Over the past few months, Li Mingyuan had planted various high-yield crops and raised some poultry and livestock in this space, forming a self-sufficient small farm.

In the System Space, the sunlight was abundant, the climate was pleasant, there were no pests or diseases, and the crop growth rate was several times that of the outside world.

The rice, wheat, and vegetables Li Mingyuan planted had already been harvested several times, and the poultry and livestock had also bred for several generations.

This night, Li Mingyuan entered the System Space again to admire his "private farm."

In the rice paddy, golden rice ears hung their heads low, heavy and full, signaling that a harvest was imminent. In the vegetable plots, various vegetables were growing vigorously, and some were already ready for harvest.

In the chicken coop, dozens of chickens were leisurely pecking at food; in the pigsty, two fat pigs were lying lazily—a scene of a bumper harvest.

"Harvest the rice," Li Mingyuan commanded softly.

The system responded immediately; a golden light flashed, and the rice in the paddy was instantly harvested and processed into bags of crystal-clear rice and packets of high-quality seeds.

Li Mingyuan selected some of the best seeds, preparing to take them out to plant in the greenhouses.

These were varieties optimized and accelerated in growth by the System Space, with yields and quality far exceeding ordinary varieties.

……

The next day, Li Mingyuan brought these seeds to the greenhouses and personally instructed the workers on sowing.

He specifically emphasized the key points of planting techniques: soil treatment, sowing depth, watering frequency, etc., to ensure these precious seeds could fully realize their potential.

"According to my calculations, the first batch of vegetables can be harvested in about thirty days," Li Mingyuan said to Factory Lou Changzhang, "By then, the factory canteen will be able to use the fresh vegetables we grew ourselves."

Factory Lou Changzhang praised him repeatedly, "That's great! This is truly a pioneering feat! However, Chief Engineer Li, won't focusing so much on agriculture delay your proper work?"

"Of course not," Li Mingyuan said sternly, "I have been thinking about a question: our work is not just about manufacturing weapons, but also about improving the people's standard of living. This farm experiment is just a small attempt to see if we can increase food production under limited resource conditions."

Factory Lou Changzhang nodded thoughtfully, "You are right. A military factory is not just a place for making weapons; it should also be responsible for the lives of the workers."

While the greenhouse farm was steadily advancing, Li Mingyuan did not relax his research and development on new technologies.

Especially with resource bottlenecks encountered in electronic equipment R&D, he decided to turn to another equally important field—mechanical industry, specifically Engine technology.

At night, Li Mingyuan worked overtime alone in his office, thinking about the next direction for a technological breakthrough.

The system interface unfolded before his eyes, displaying a series of technical data regarding Engines, including internal combustion engine principles, diesel engine construction, gasoline engine design, and many other aspects.

These were all precious materials he had brought back from the "Polar Bear."

"I can initiate the Third Production Line plan—the Logistics Production Line," Li Mingyuan muttered to himself, "Weapons are the priority, but logistics are equally important. Automobiles, tractors, generators... these all require reliable Engines."

He carefully flipped through the materials, from the most basic four-stroke principle to complex multi-cylinder designs, from simple carburetors to advanced fuel injection systems... as his reading deepened, he felt a familiar sensation welling up in his heart.

【Detected that the host is researching Engine technology; activate the "Heaven-Defying Comprehension" trait to quickly master the relevant technology?】

"Activate," Li Mingyuan answered without hesitation.

【Heaven-Defying Comprehension trait activated; currently parsing Engine technology...】

A torrent of information surged into Li Mingyuan's brain, from the most basic internal combustion engine principles to complex multi-cylinder Engine designs, from simple gasoline engines to efficient diesel engines, from primitive carburetors to advanced fuel injection systems...

Various pieces of knowledge combined in his mind like a puzzle, forming a complete technical system.

【Technical parsing complete; the host has mastered the 1960s-level Engine technology system.】

Li Mingyuan let out a long breath, feeling his head heavy and clear, as if it had been filled with hot water.

The knowledge acquired this time was very comprehensive, including: design principles for four-stroke and two-stroke Engines, and structural design for multi-cylinder inline and V-type Engines.

Optimization of high-efficiency valves and intake/exhaust systems, improved carburetors and primary fuel injection systems, and principles of supercharging technology and exhaust turbochargers.

Diesel engine high-pressure injection systems and Combustion Chamber design, optimized design of Engine cooling and lubrication systems, and the application of lightweight materials and structural strength calculations.

This knowledge was enough for him to design Engines 20 years more advanced than the current ones; whether in terms of power, efficiency, or reliability, they would far exceed existing levels.