Chapter 570: A New Approach

Sergeant Lu Cheng, I don't agree with the plan you proposed.

When he heard Tan Kaiping's words, Lu Cheng was momentarily unable to believe it.

He thought that, despite the large age gap, his relationship with Tan Kaiping was that of like‑minded, close friends, and therefore should not have his request dismissed outright.

"Chief Engineer Tan, I know that procedurally, whether it's early‑stage R&D or later‑stage manufacturing, we should follow the steps one by one, but the reason I act this way…"

"I know you're doing this for Captain Lei."

So Tan Kaiping knew about this, Lu Cheng continued, "That's right; if we follow the normal procedure, producing an internal combustion engine could take one or two years—we could wait—but Captain Lei can't wait now.

Therefore, I earnestly ask Chief Engineer Tan to help me just this once."

Lu Cheng rarely asks for favors, but this time he spoke with a pleading tone.

He knew that at present only Chief Engineer Tan could accomplish this task.

Hearing Lu Cheng's humbled tone, Tan Kaiping felt the man was truly sentimental; for Captain Lei, he was determined to try every method to cut the time down to a few months.

"Is it because of Captain Lei that I'm asking for your life today, and you're willing to give it?"

Lu Cheng forced a bitter smile, "I say I can give it; you surely won't believe me, but there are three people who would do so without hesitation."

Tan Kaiping nodded, "You must understand that producing an internal combustion engine is a very complex project; setting aside procedures, every blueprint must be tested in practice before it can enter formal factory production."

He added that starting manufacture recklessly with incomplete blueprints, if a later R&D direction turns out wrong, could require a total redo, wasting massive resources.

Lu Cheng understood Tan Kaiping's point.

To produce a new type of equipment, the blueprints must first be perfected; this is the premise and foundation of production.

Even if the blueprint is only half drawn, who can know whether that half is erroneous?

If it's wrong, then the early‑stage components produced would all be wasted.

Tan Kaiping also considered that the nation's resources are already scarce and cannot afford such waste.

As Chief Engineer, all production standards must obey scientific, precise, and economical criteria; one must not continuously trial‑and‑error for the sake of production, thereby squandering resources.

Relying on wasteful resources, even if a qualified product is eventually produced, would still be disgraceful to Tan Kaiping.

This generation is overly frugal; while being thrifty themselves, they must also be thrifty for the nation.

Think of Captain Lei, a man who can use a washcloth riddled with holes—how could he ever agree to waste such massive resources?

Even if the product is completed on schedule, Captain Lei would likely refuse to ride an Internal Combustion Engine Train built on wasteful resources.

At that thought, a sudden sense of powerlessness arose.

After expending so much effort to shorten the R&D timeline, it got stuck in later manufacturing.

"I understand, Chief Engineer Tan, and thank you for taking precious time to meet me."

He had originally intended not to let Captain Lei be left with regret, but now it seemed he would break his promise.

Thinking of Captain Lei's disappointed gaze, Lu Cheng couldn't help but sigh; there was no other way now.

When he saw Lu Cheng about to leave, Tan Kaiping also rose.

"Sergeant Lu Cheng, please wait…"

Lu Cheng turned back, forcing a smile, "Chief Engineer Tan, you don't need to see me off; the train over there is about to depart. We'll have a meal next time—my treat."

Tan Kaiping forced a wry smile, thinking that if he didn't help Lu Cheng succeed, he wouldn't have the mood to eat on the road.

"Perhaps we can change our approach to get Captain Lei onto a train equipped with an internal combustion engine."

Lu Cheng's previously despondent mood instantly lit up with a spark.

He asked impatiently, "What approach?"

Tan Kaiping didn't answer immediately; instead, he fetched a dozen or so Hero Brand ink bottles and placed them on the table in order.

Seeing Lu Cheng's puzzlement, he also took out a dictionary and set it at the front.

"Sergeant Lu Cheng, please look," Tan Kaiping said, first pointing at the ink bottles.

"Each ink bottle is like a carriage, and this dictionary serves as the internal‑combustion‑engine style locomotive…"

Lu Cheng nodded and waited for Tan Kaiping to continue.

"Normally, one locomotive pulling a dozen carriages requires the locomotive to have sufficient power to haul them…"

As he spoke, Tan Kaiping pushed all the ink bottles aside, leaving only one, and swapped the thick dictionary for a chalk box.

"But if only one carriage is pulled, the locomotive doesn't need that much power; its traction is enough to move it."

Lu Cheng roughly understood, "You mean we should first produce a small internal combustion engine."

Tan Kaiping smiled, "Sergeant Lu Cheng is indeed clever; that's exactly my point. If we develop and produce simultaneously without delaying, only a small engine produced first can reduce resource waste."

Moreover, you should know that producing large components inevitably encounters casting difficulties that delay the schedule, whereas small components are easier to produce.

Lu Cheng barely hesitated; although given the current timeline they could only first produce a small internal combustion engine to pull one carriage, it was still an Internal Combustion Engine Train.

Grasping Tan Kaiping's hand, Lu Cheng said gratefully, "Thank you, Chief Engineer Tan. We'll proceed as you suggested; I'll have the early blueprints sent over immediately and first produce a small internal combustion engine."

Without delay, Lu Cheng picked up the phone and called the Iron Science Institute right away.

Tan Kaiping couldn't help but exclaim at Lu Cheng's decisive temperament; with a comrade like him, the National Railway has no reason to fear stagnation.

After hanging up, Tan Kaiping added, "Alright, Sergeant Lu Cheng, to maximize efficiency, I'll dispatch two technicians to be stationed in Capital City so they can communicate on blueprint issues at any time."

Lu Cheng was overjoyed at the news, "That's wonderful; rest assured, I'll give the technicians the full One‑stop Service—food, drink, lodging, and transport."

"One‑stop Service?"

Tan Kaiping clearly didn't understand; Lu Cheng paused, "Ah? It means… treating them seriously."

"Oh, no need to make it overly special."

"Alright, Chief Engineer Tan, I'm in a hurry to catch the train; any specific issues we can discuss in detail later."

The trip wasn't in vain; the manufacturing concerns that worried him were temporarily resolved by Tan Kaiping's method.

Lu Cheng returned to the train, feeling relaxed all the way.

Now all tasks are proceeding according to plan, provided that Jiang Yuanchao can safely bring the computer equipment back to Capital City; otherwise, no matter how good the plan is, it will be for naught.

Carrying wind and snow, the train moved straight toward the northeast.

Finally arriving at the terminal station Ha City, a broadcast sounded in the carriage.

"Travelers, this train has arrived at the terminal station Ha City Station; please organize your luggage in advance and prepare to disembark.

Ha City's winter temperatures are low; passengers disembarking, please have cotton hats and gloves ready and take care to keep warm…"

After the announcement, amid the sounding of "The East Is Red," the passengers began to disembark one by one.

After the Train Staff cleaned each carriage, Lu Cheng got off the train and took a deep breath of the uniquely crisp air of the northeast.

He stretched a big yawn, then prepared to return to the Railway Bureau Guesthouse to rest.

Just as he turned, among the crowd facing away from the exit, a red silhouette stood there, its graceful oval face bearing a faint smile.