Chapter 453: The Scared Train Driver

Lu Cheng, being puzzled, naturally wanted to ask, after all he was the one who proposed pushing the development of the internal combustion engine.

Moreover, he received unanimous approval from the dean of the Railway Institute and the department, and the higher authorities explicitly said that as long as the internal combustion engine can be developed early, they will allocate personnel and funds.

Such a great boon for the nation and the people—why does Liu Baoquan, this train driver, seem reluctant?

"Master Liu, what's wrong? Do you have any objections to pushing the internal combustion engine reform? If you have any, tell me and I'll convey them."

Lu Cheng did not state outright that he was one of the main persons responsible for developing the internal combustion engine; since the project has not yet officially launched and is still in the preliminary resource‑coordination stage, no formal report has been issued.

At present it is only circulating internally that a reform of the internal combustion engine is to be launched.

Since Lu Cheng hasn't revealed his leadership role, he can also listen to the workers' opinions.

He handed Liu Baoquan a cigarette; the two, without any fuss, sat directly on a pile of coal.

Liu Baoquan lit the cigarette and took a drag: "Sigh, I certainly don't dare to voice opinions; as a driver, I have naturally been paying attention to the department's push to develop the internal combustion engine.

To be honest, the current train speed is indeed too slow; if we could really boost the train's speed, transport efficiency would increase dramatically."

Lu Cheng nodded; since Liu Baoquan understood all these benefits, why did he sigh just now?

Liu Baoquan exhaled another puff: "A good thing is a good thing, but do you know the difference between an internal combustion engine and a steam engine? I'm not talking about speed, …"

As the person in charge of this project, Lu Cheng obviously understands, and knows a lot; he often discusses it with Zheng Guoping and Wei Shu.

Yet to gauge Liu Baoquan's true thoughts, Lu Cheng pretended not to understand and shook his head.

Liu Baoquan sighed again: "I've been driving trains for decades, crawling and rolling in front of this locomotive; to brag a bit, just by listening to the steam valve's sound I know when to add coal, by watching the smoke color I can judge combustion efficiency, and by feeling the pipe temperature I can tell the Boiler's condition."

"I'm not exaggerating at all; my ears can distinguish 128 variations of whistle sounds…"

Lu Cheng replied in agreement: "Then you're truly not bragging; Master Liu's skill, nationwide, deserves a thumbs‑up. What do you call that? It's called 'listening to the train to know the train,' already reaching the state of man‑and‑machine unity."

Lu Cheng wasn't flattering; it was sincere respect from the heart.

In this era, laborers themselves are the most honored.

Liu Baoquan's face brimmed with pride: "But I've heard that the Internal Combustion Engine Train, you just press a button and it moves; the front is full of electronic panels, switching from coal to oil. You say this train, when it has not even a spark, is it still called a train?"

Lu Cheng understood; although Liu Baoquan didn't state why he sighed, the meaning was clear from his words.

It's that the old steam‑engine trains are operated out of habit, and they simply can't handle the new internal combustion engine trains.

One must know that the driver profession is already highly prized in this era.

And a train driver is the most envied occupation.

Folk sayings can prove that.

"Marry a man who works on the railway, the railway benefits clang loudly."

"A son‑in‑law who is a locomotive, the whole family's food and clothing have no worries."

"If it's a dragon you must hold it, if it's freight you must haul it; I say the arrival time is the arrival time."

"Feet never touch mud, traveling across mountains and rivers for thousands of miles."

"Eyes see the world's scenery, and grain coupons remain abundant."

"In short, etc., enough to prove that the train driver profession is the golden rice bowl among iron rice bowls."

"But once Internal Combustion Engine Trains are rolled out, these veteran drivers who have worked for decades will face two choices."

"One is to learn the operation knowledge of the New Type Internal Combustion Engine, which is difficult."

"Not to mention some drivers are illiterate, relying solely on experience to operate trains; even for those who can read, learning the circuitry knowledge and operating the equipment is also very hard."

"Mainly because they are older, not as sharp as younger minds."

"The second is to change positions or retire."

"This option, for someone who has spent a lifetime as a train driver, is simply the most terrifying choice."

"Not only is the golden rice bowl gone, they have long regarded the train as home, the train is dearer than their own children; being abruptly driven out of that home, who could accept it."

"So Liu Baoquan couldn't help sighing; he fears that once internal combustion engines massively replace steam engines, he will likely face retirement."

"It is equivalent to being driven out of his home, and from then on having to leave the profession he loves most."

Liu Baoquan finished a cigarette and sighed: "I was still thinking of taking on a few more disciples, while I still have some strength, to train a few outstanding train drivers for the country. Ha, now it seems there's no need for that; the country doesn't want us any more."

Hearing the sorrow in Liu Baoquan's words, Lu Cheng suddenly didn't know what to say.

He originally only knew that he must vigorously develop the Railway Industry, using his abilities and memories from his previous life, to make railway development lead the world.

So now, even as a Junior Police Officer, he will do everything possible to achieve this; fortunately, the success of the Snow Removal Machine Project earlier allowed him to stay at the Railway Institute and even set up a Research Institute.

But he overlooked that rapid reform would have a huge impact on some elderly people.

These top‑tech elderly, whose proud expertise would suddenly become useless, probably find that more painful than death.

Nevertheless, railway development is necessary, especially with the recent Reform and Opening Up, when all industries will experience rapid growth.

If railway transport can't keep up, other sectors will also suffer adverse effects.

Lu Cheng remained silent for a long while, then decided to encourage Liu Baoquan.

"Master Liu, this internal combustion engine operation looks hard, but once you master it, it's not that difficult, and it's very labor‑saving; you won't have to work as hard as now.

Moreover, there will definitely be crash‑course classes; you won't have to self‑study, a teacher will instruct. As long as you study earnestly, there'll be no problem. If anything is unclear, you can come ask me."

"Ask you?" Liu Baoquan asked puzzledly: "I know Lu Jingzhang went to university, but does your school teach this kind of knowledge?"

Lu Cheng decided to speak frankly: "The school certainly doesn't teach it. To be honest, I am one of the persons responsible for the internal combustion engine project, and I'm quite familiar with this knowledge…"

Hearing this, Liu Baoquan suddenly stood up.

"Y‑you're the person in charge? Then the words I just said…"

Liu Baoquan instantly felt embarrassed, even a bit scared.

Speaking those discouraging words in front of the person in charge, clearly showing lack of support for national development, if it gets out and he gets labeled with some tag, …

If it had been a few years ago, it would have been enough to drag him out for struggle sessions.

"Lu Jingzhang, you see… I didn't mean to say that, I didn't know you were the person in charge; please don't treat me as an equal…"