Chapter 212: Gold

Management is a vast topic, invisible and intangible, yet neither businesses nor states can ignore its existence. Qiming wants to continue existing, so in this regard they must devote thought.

Chen Mu previously focused solely on living well his own days, had no insight into such matters, and hearing Dong Junwei speak fluently, he naturally had no objection.

In the days when he went out, with fewer workers, construction would inevitably have gaps; therefore, undertaking some work in spiritual civilization and regulations is also a solution.

Two days later.

The heat-storage times of the three metals were finally completed.

The final data are:

Aluminum: 7 hours;

Stainless steel: 26 hours;

Copper: 46 hours.

It is obvious that using copper as a heat source yields better results than stainless steel.

The wires found inside the second cardboard box are plentiful in number, and copper has no advantage as a building material, so using it for this purpose is just right.

"What pattern can be seen from this data?"

Chen Mu only knew the density of those properties' specific values; asking him to summarize any pattern is obviously impossible.

"I actually have an idea," Tang Jing said.

"What?"

"According to this ratio, the property that best fits should be reactivity."

"Metal reactivity?" Chen Mu blinked.

"Yes." Tang Jing nodded.

"But why would reactivity be related to a material's heat-storage capacity?" Chen Mu asked again.

"That's hard to say; metallic reactivity refers to the tendency to lose electrons in aqueous solution and form metal cations, a thermodynamic concept." Tang Jing said: "If we must speak of it, that's the only connection; of course, even if there is none, special abilities are inherently unreasonable, and all we can do is summarize and induct."

"I recall the concrete manifestation of reactivity should be……" Chen Mu stumbled over the word for a moment.

"Standard electrode potential." Tang Jing answered.

"Is aluminum the most reactive?"

"Among these three, yes, but among all metals, lithium should be the most reactive—the kind used in batteries; I roughly calculated that lithium's heat-storage time is only 4.5 hours, whereas we need the least reactive kind."

"Which is the least reactive?" He Ying asked.

"Gold." Tang Jing said.

"Gold?"

"Correct." Tang Jing said: "I calculated gold's heat-storage time as 124 hours; if I'm not mistaken, its temperature limit would also be higher, and used in an engine it could supply about 80-plus hours, based on the class monitor's current ability."

"But gold is hard to find, isn't it…"

"Yeah."

"What about something a bit worse?"

"Silver, over 60 hours."

"It's not easy to find either."

Dong Junwei suddenly said: "I know where there is gold."

"I know too, the bank vault?" Chen Mu laughed.

"I mean inside the school." Dong Junwei said.

"There's also gold in the school?"

"Do you still remember Qi Luo, the geography teacher from our first year of high school?" Dong Junwei asked.

"That pretty Teacher Qi?" Zhu Hao said immediately.

"Yeah, every time she comes to school she wears her jewelry on the way, but when class starts she locks it in her desk drawer." Dong Junwei recalled, saying.

"Class Monitor, how do you know?" Chen Mu asked curiously.

"She told me." Dong Junwei spread her hands.

"Why would Teacher Qi tell you that?" He Ying asked doubtfully.

"Last time I went to her office to help a bit, I complimented her bracelet as pretty, and then we got onto this topic." Dong Junwei recalled past school events, unconsciously smiling, and said: "You know, students aren't allowed to wear jewelry, but teachers in principle aren't encouraged to either; however, Teacher Qi loves beauty by nature, so she adopted this compromise."

"But putting the jewelry in the desk drawer, aren't you afraid it's unsafe?" Chen Mu asked, puzzled.

"The school is the safest place, with cameras everywhere in the office corridors and constant foot traffic—who would steal here?" Dong Junwei said: "Besides, it's just ordinary gold jewelry; her husband is very rich, so these items are probably no different from toys."

Chen Mu never expected the Class Monitor, who usually looks aloof, to become animated when gossiping about teachers' trivial matters, which made him laugh involuntarily.

"When the disaster struck, it was during the break between the second and third periods; I estimate those gold ornaments are very likely still in the desk drawer." Dong Junwei said.

"Then, when we go out next time, shall we go look for them?" Chen Mu said.

"It can be considered."

Tang Jing said: "By the way, where is Teacher Qi Luo's office?"

"The offices of the assistant-section teachers are all in the administrative annex building; Teacher Qi's is Room 309 on the third floor." Dong Junwei said.

"If so, our next target will be there; we'll drive the vehicle up and bring back a container full of gold." Chen Mu said boldly.

"I suggest the Class Monitor go along too." Tang Jing suddenly said.

"Me?" Dong Junwei blinked.

"Well." Tang Jing said: "Even if we use copper as a heat source, the vehicle's operating time will at most not exceed 20 hours; if we cannot replenish heat midway, the engine will stop. So having the Class Monitor come along can improve efficiency, and once we have gold next time, we won't need it."

Although copper's heat-storage time is 46 hours, because the metal heat source's temperature gradually drops over time, the actual time the engine can utilize it is also about 20 hours.

After being heated by Dong Junwei, the metal has a particular cooling characteristic.

Namely, it is independent of the surrounding environment.

It only cools linearly with time.

After testing, whether it is placed in water or under the sun, it does not affect the cooling speed, just like this piece of metal always radiates heat outward with the same efficiency.

This property means that although its efficiency is not high, it can serve as a stable heat source.

As long as the timing is calculated correctly, there will be no accidents; in a sense, it is more reliable than electricity and fuel.

"Also good."

Dong Junwei nodded: "Since I came into this room, I haven't gone out yet; this is a good chance to go out for a stroll."

Tang Jing said: "Don't worry, this time we have a car to ride, so we won't get tired, and with Chen Mu leading, safety is not an issue."

"The class monitor is a human-shaped refueling machine, so he still gets tired." Chen Mu laughed.

It requires consuming half of one's mental power each day to keep the vehicle running for twenty hours; this job is certainly not easy.

Chen Mu also said: "Besides, since we are driving this time, I plan to stay out for a few more days; if possible, it's best to look for the other eight gathering points marked by the Qingbei; An Ruosuo only knows one of them, and it's uncertain whether anyone is there now, but I think we should at least go check it out."