Chapter 175: with translation of chapter title

As for the significance of steam engines, there's no need to say more.

If one says the appearance of stirrups changed antiquity.

Then the appearance of the steam engine defined modernity.

From the start of the First Industrial Revolution until Earth before Lu Yuan's transmigration, this steam engine has been influencing Earth.

Although steam turbines had already been phased out in Lu Yuan's era.

But they are still influencing.

Isn't there a joke that humanity's highest technology is still boiling water?

Can Lu Yuan make a steam engine?

Of course.

Lu Yuan's Craftsmanship isn't given for nothing.

However, this steam engine is far more complicated than the things Lu Yuan made before.

If making a bicycle requires Lu Yuan to read half an hour of Craftsmanship, making the Snow Dragon Sunlight Armor requires him to read two or three hours of Craftsmanship.

Then this steam turbine...

Lu Yuan at least has to read for two nights!

It's tough~

Lu Yuan, who gets sleepy as soon as he reads, is wasting his talent.

Reading for two nights really is exhausting.

As for whether it's necessary to make this steam turbine...

It is still necessary.

Because as soon as steam turbines appear, the Great Zhou Dynasty will soon undergo earth-shaking changes.

The biggest change is that people's lives can become better.

Replace manual labor with machinery.

Of course... actually, the Great Zhou Dynasty is already moving in this direction.

However, the Great Zhou Dynasty is advancing in its own way, with spirit power cores as the foundation.

Just look at the Great Zhou Dynasty's large heavy industry driven by spirit power cores and you'll know.

The Great Zhou Dynasty is also progressing in its own way.

Lu Yuan believes that even without him, the Great Zhou Dynasty will develop well in a hundred years relying on spirit power cores.

No need to mention living conditions like those on Earth before Lu Yuan's transmigration.

But...

Lu Yuan feels that at the very least, conditions could reach those of 1990s China.

Because some things can be inherited and continue to develop.

Once someone starts something, those who follow can develop along that path ever better.

Just like 20 years ago on Earth, people had a little PHS in their hands, which was already impressive.

Who could have imagined that 20 years later, phones could do so many things?

But for Lu Yuan, this time is a bit long.

Lu Yuan doesn't really care about life a hundred years later; that probably has nothing to do with him.

What Lu Yuan wants is for current living conditions to improve.

Lu Yuan's original intention in building greenhouses is like this, and growing potatoes is also like this.

Why bother making these things...

Because... money is really damn impossible to spend!!

Lu Yuan wants to spend money to enjoy himself, but he can't spend this money!

Who can know the pain of carrying a huge sum but being unable to spend money?

Of course, Lu Yuan has over three hundred thousand, which in Huangcheng is still a gap compared to some super-rich merchants.

After all, Lu Yuan's money is merely an inheritance from his three grand-uncles.

And those three grand-uncles were just a vanguard general, plus the money's source isn't exactly clean.

Saying Lu Yuan has money is true, but he's absolutely not at the level of being the richest under heaven.

Then why don't other wealthy merchants have Lu Yuan's kind of pain...

Isn't it because Lu Yuan isn't a person of the Great Zhou Dynasty?

Isn't it because Lu Yuan is a transmigrator?

Here, wealthy people think being able to eat white flour steamed buns every meal is a good life, and they're content.

And as a modern person from Earth, how could this possibly satisfy Lu Yuan?

As for spending money on antiques and such...

Besides wasting money, it's still wasting money; Lu Yuan fundamentally doesn't like those old-fashioned things.

Otherwise, the things in his three grand-uncles' mansion, Lu Yuan couldn't possibly sell.

So Lu Yuan isn't a person of this world; naturally his thoughts differ from this world's.

Others think being able to eat white flour steamed buns every meal is a super good life.

But for Lu Yuan, this is merely the most basic requirement.

What Lu Yuan wants is a life like modern Earth.

Of course, this is a bit hard to achieve, but he also wants to get as close as possible.

At the very least, in winter he should be able to eat what he wants; if he wants southern dishes, he should eat southern dishes, rather than having cabbage and potatoes every meal.

And if Lu Yuan manages to produce a steam turbine, then

Not to mention what inspiration the steam turbine could give the Great Zhou Dynasty later; could others, through this steam turbine, advance to gas turbines, oil turbines?

But at the very least, in the future Lu Yuan and his wife wanting to eat some southern fruit—wouldn't that be as easy as pie?

In ancient times, Yang Guifei wanting to eat a single lychee required swift horses and men, with relays of a thousand li where people changed horses but the horses did not rest.

But with the wuwuwu moreover moreover little train, a few days' time is enough to transport it from the south to Huangcheng.

The key is that it can carry a lot of cargo.

How much manpower and material resources could this save?

From now on, in Huangcheng winter, wanting to eat anything—wouldn't that be as easy as just eating whatever you like?

The price wouldn't be too high either.

Why did Emperor Yang of the Sui open the Grand Canal?

What was it for?

Was it really just to go to Jiangnan to look at beautiful women?

Lu Yuan didn't believe it.

Anyway, Lu Yuan made up his mind—he'll look at this steam turbine himself when he goes home tonight.

But this time…

Lu Yuan doesn't intend to do this at the Forging Bureau.

In that case…

Then all the credit would be split among others.

Although Lu Yuan isn't too nitpicky, such an amazing thing would only be rewarded with three hundred or five hundred dollars at most.

Then Lu Yuan really feels a bit unhappy.

Speaking of which, the reward for Lu Yuan's previous potato yield of 2500 to 3000 jin per mu is about to be issued.

This matter surely has alarmed the Heavenly Lord.

Lu Yuan feels that he very likely will have an audience with the Heavenly Lord; when that time comes to meet the Heavenly Lord…

Lu Yuan is about to bring out this steam engine.

By then, won't the Heavenly Lord reward him with tens of thousands?

Of course, that's not the most important.

What Lu Yuan wants is not tens of thousands.

Lu Yuan wants more…

Namely…

The lack of patents in this world really pisses Lu Yuan off!

Last time, Lu Yuan's bicycle was incredibly popular!

Take a look—nowadays in Huangcheng, it's basically a necessity in every household.

Those with money will definitely buy a bicycle first.

Those without money will save up to buy a bicycle.

But after Lu Yuan invented the bicycle,

he was only rewarded with a few hundred dollars.

This was still Director Xu racking his brains to give Lu Yuan some sort of advanced award, adding extra to his reward.

Otherwise it would have been just three hundred dollars.

Not a cent more.

How well that bicycle sold!

How much money did the national treasury gain because of that bicycle!

In the end, Lu Yuan got just those few hundred dollars.

This really makes Lu Yuan a bit unhappy.

Lu Yuan feels that if he gets the chance to meet the Heavenly Lord,

he could bring up the matter of patents.

After all… Lu Yuan also has a legitimate reason!

Every time I come up with such a great invention, I'm only rewarded with a few hundred dollars and that's it.

That really dampens people's enthusiasm.

If there were patents, as long as someone invents something genuinely useful, they could live without worry for life.

How many people would need to get involved?

Wouldn't that be a good thing for the Great Zhou Dynasty?

So Lu Yuan truly isn't just trying to make more money; he's doing it for the sake of the entire Great Zhou Dynasty.

Anyway, Lu Yuan doesn't feel he's done anything wrong.

Speaking of this, Lu Yuan happens to recall another matter.

The father of the AK, extremely great, designed such a successful rifle, yet he gave it completely, asking for no patent fees, living his life in poverty.

Whereas the father of the M16 relied on that rifle to become rich overnight, earning hundreds of millions in patent fees each year.

Putting these two together, everyone would give a thumbs-up to the AK's father for his great ideal, but…

Lu Yuan thinks that perhaps more people would want to be the father of the M16.

Anyway, after Lu Yuan hands the steam turbine over to the current Heavenly Lord, he'll bring up this matter.

The Heavenly Lord would have no reason to disagree, right?

……

Soon, everyone arrived at the department store.

Lu Yuan picked out a pair of Wanqin watches in the same color for himself and his wife, looking like a couple's set.

Lu Yuan also wanted to buy one for Su Changliang.

But Su Changliang absolutely refused, saying he wanted to buy it himself.

If it were for Gu Lie, Gu Lie also wouldn't want it.

Because as an officer, the army issues pocket watches.

As for…… when Lu Yuan wanted to buy one for Gu Qingwan,

but Gu Qingwan merely lifted her hand—her snow‑white wrist already bore an exquisite ladies' watch.

Hehe, saved money~

After finishing shopping at the department store.

Everyone then went to the market, buying meat, vegetables, buying whatever they could.

Tonight we're having a big feast at home!

By the time they got home, it was already three in the afternoon.

Just about time to prepare the vegetables and such.

Gu Qingwan and Su Liyan each held a basin and a small stool, standing by the heated wall in the main hall, chatting and laughing while picking vegetables.

Meanwhile, Gu Lie and Su Changliang were snoring away.

Making a racket nonstop.

As for Lu Yuan, once home he pulled out 《Craftsmanship》 and began flipping to the page about steam turbines.

Lu Yuan was engrossed in reading.

Not long after, he was lost in it.

Su Liyan, who was picking vegetables, soon noticed her husband sitting in the main hall, reading intently.

The cigarette in her hand kept burning, one after another without stopping.

Seeing this, Su Liyan blinked.

She then quickly walked over to Su Changliang and Gu Lie opposite.

At that moment, Su Changliang didn't know what he and Gu Lie were saying, but he was laughing loudly.

However, Su Liyan immediately grabbed Su Changliang's ear and twisted it.

Then Su Changliang sucked in a breath of cold air, his face twisted in pain, and said:

"What the hell are you doing!!"

Su Liyan raised her eyebrows and said:

"Can't you see what your brother‑in‑law is doing? Making such a racket—if you're going to make noise, take it outside, not in the house."

Su Liyan was still gentle.

Even though she was pulling his ear, she wasn't actually using much force.

Moreover, Su Liyan's voice is naturally soft and sweet, so even when she speaks angrily it stays gentle.

But…… Gu Qingwan is different.

At this moment, Gu Qingwan also walked over and kicked Gu Lie's thigh, glaring and scolding in a low voice:

"Get out!"

Gu Lie, who wasn't just afraid of his sister, flung the door open and darted out in a swoosh.

And Su Changliang hurriedly followed him out.

Instantly, the house fell quiet.

Su Liyan and Gu Qingwan then silently returned to their seats; after sitting down, they spoke by leaning close to each other's ears.

Time ticked by second by second.

When it was time to eat dinner, Lu Yuan finally set down 《Craftsmanship》.

For this evening meal, since they couldn't drink alcohol—or could only take a sip or two—they ate quickly.

Don't let the full table fool you.

But everyone is young; even Lu Yuan is only three or four years older than Su Changliang and Gu Lie.

Men this age really aren't much for chatting over drinks.

Usually they just bow their heads and eat.

Unlike some older folks, who can while away the night on a few peanuts and two bottles of loose liquor.

After Lu Yuan and the four others finished eating, it was actually only just half past seven in the evening.

Gu Lie and Gu Qingwan weren't in a hurry to go back either.

They planned to play for an hour or two before heading home.

After eating, Lu Yuan continued reading.

Su Liyan, meanwhile, opened her sewing machine, preparing to stitch a few tiny clothes for the baby in her belly.

This seems premature.

But it's not really early; some things just need to be prepared in advance.

And for Su Liyan, doing this is just like serving her husband—a source of great happiness~

Su Liyan certainly wouldn't think of this as a livelihood.

After Gu Qingwan washed the dishes outside and came back inside, seeing Lu Yuan still reading, she couldn't help but feel curious and moved closer.

Speaking of which, Gu Qingwan had never before seen Lu Yuan so quiet.

After returning in the mid-afternoon, Lu Yuan kept reading without saying a word.

After eating, he continued as well.

This made Gu Qingwan very curious, wondering if Lu Yuan was about to invent something again.

Gu Qingwan wiped her hands with a towel while curiously moving over to Lu Yuan.

Seeing Gu Qingwan beside him out of the corner of his eye, Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow and said:

"What's up?"

Gu Qingwan blinked, then said directly:

"Not much, just curious what you're doing. Since you came back this afternoon, you haven't said a word, just been reading."

"Are you going to invent something again?"

Lu Yuan continued flipping through the book Artisan's Heart in his hand and said:

"Why should I tell you?"

Gu Qingwan pursed her lips slightly, a bit unhappy, and said:

"Why do you talk to me like that? I haven't provoked you."

Lu Yuan looked at Gu Qingwan's wronged expression and found it somewhat amusing, saying:

"Where am I not speaking properly?"

"Clearly it's you who aren't speaking properly, and you won't call me brother."

Gu Qingwan stared at Lu Yuan before her, speechless.

"This little thing, clearly so much younger than me, yet insists on calling me brother every time."

"But… oh well, oh well…"

"I'll just go along with this little thing this once…"

Immediately Gu Qingwan said in a coquettish voice:

"Okay~ brother~ what are you doing~ can you tell me, little sister~"

Seeing Gu Qingwan like that, Lu Yuan grinned, then put down the book Artisan's Heart in his hand and said proudly:

"Do you think there's a vehicle in this world that, when empty, can travel seventy to eighty kilometers in an hour?"

"A vehicle?"

Gu Qingwan blinked, thinking a horse could only run twenty to thirty kilometers in an hour, right?

"But this thing shouldn't be hard to make, right?"

"Just need to pile up a large amount of spirit power cores."

"Just as Gu Qingwan was thinking that, Lu Yuan immediately added:"

"No need to use spirit power cores to drive it; instead, use coal."

"Huh?"

Gu Qingwan looked at Lu Yuan, completely bewildered.

"Use coal to drive a vehicle?"

"What on earth are you talking about…"

"Could it be that putting a stove behind a carriage would make the horse, feeling a hot butt, gallop madly?"

"Before Gu Qingwan could regain her composure, Lu Yuan shook his head, chuckled, and continued proudly:"

"This vehicle, when fully loaded with up to ten thousand tons, as long as the coal supply is sufficient,"

"it could maintain a speed of around twenty kilometers per hour."

Gu Qingwan was bewildered.

"Pull… ten thousand tons of cargo??"

"You… you mean ten thousand catties, right?"

Lu Yuan grinned extremely proudly and said:

"You heard right, it's ten thousand tons, not ten thousand catties!"

"Ten thousand catties is only five tons; what's impressive about that?"

Looking at Lu Yuan's current expression and hearing his words,

Gu Qingwan was utterly bewildered—could such a divine object still exist in this world?!

Gu Qingwan stammered while looking at Lu Yuan and said:

"There… there isn't such a vehicle, right?"

Lu Yuan chuckled hehe and said:

"Well, there wasn't before, but now there is."

All done~

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(End of chapter)