In the lounge, a simple lunch had already been prepared.
Although it was just some steamed buns, pickles, and thin porridge, everyone ate with relish.
After all, this was their first meal back in their homeland.
"comrades, we're about to take the train. It will be several days until we reach the capital," He Zhiyuan said, putting down his chopsticks. "On the way, I'll talk with each Comrade to understand everyone's specialties and ideas, so we can better arrange work. After all, the country is now in need of talent everywhere, with all industries waiting to be rebuilt."
"Group Leader He, I want to be a university professor!" a physics student raised his hand and said.
"I want to participate in water conservancy project construction!"
"I studied agricultural science and want to contribute to increasing food production!"
...
Everyone eagerly expressed their wishes, and the atmosphere immediately became lively.
He Zhiyuan smiled and nodded, occasionally jotting down a few notes.
Two hours later, everyone boarded the special train bound for the capital.
It was an ordinary green-skinned train. The interior of the carriages was simple but clean, and dozens of returning students were accommodated in three carriages.
The train slowly started, and the scenery outside the window began to move backward.
Li Ming sat by the window, looking at the fields, villages, and distant mountains outside, feeling the pulse of this era.
"comrades!" He Zhiyuan stood in the center of the carriage, clapping his hands to attract everyone's attention. "The journey is long, so why don't we have some discussions to help everyone understand each other's specialties? First, please briefly introduce which field you'd like to work in."
Suddenly, the carriage became lively again. Li Ming listened to the speeches around him; many people had lofty ambitions but were also pragmatic, not aiming too high.
"Comrade Li Ming, what about you?" He Zhiyuan's gaze fell on Li Ming. "I heard you studied aeronautical engineering. Do you have any thoughts?"
The carriage suddenly fell silent, and everyone looked at Li Ming.
As one of the youngest overseas students, Li Ming had always been seen as a quiet academic overachiever. Everyone was now curious about what he would say.
Li Ming slowly stood up, his expression calm: "I want to build our own fighter jets for Dragon Country."
As soon as these words were spoken, the carriage was completely silent, and everyone was stunned.
Fighter jets? That was the most cutting-edge military technology!
Even Wang Deming's mouth hung open in surprise.
"Haha, Comrade Li has great ambitions!" He Zhiyuan broke the silence, a relieved smile appearing on his face. "Good! Good! Our country needs young people with dreams like you."
His tone turned gentle but slightly realistic: "However, the domestic technological foundation in this area is still very weak. We can't even produce aircraft engines yet, and currently, we mainly rely on Polar Bear's assistance. But it is precisely young people like you, with knowledge and ideals, who are needed to join us and achieve technological breakthroughs step by step!"
"Engines?" A tall, thin boy in the corner scoffed, "Li Ming, I know you have good grades, but this isn't something you can make by reading a few books. Don't just talk big."
This person was Yang He, who was in the same department as Li Ming but a year ahead, and had always held a grudge against Li Ming.
He adopted an "I know more than you" attitude and continued, "I also studied aviation, and I know how difficult it is. Not to mention the technical drawings, even the machine tools for manufacturing precision parts are a problem, let alone high-temperature alloy materials. Do you think a fighter jet is a bicycle that you can just build?"
Some people in the carriage laughed, while others frowned, feeling that Yang He was too harsh.
Li Ming wasn't angry; instead, he smiled slightly: "Senior Yang He is right, a fighter jet is not a simple thing, especially the engine. But what I want to say is that the principle of a turbojet engine is actually not complicated."
He walked to the center of the carriage and suddenly began to explain volubly:
"A turbojet engine is mainly composed of five parts: the intake, compressor, combustion chamber, turbine, and exhaust nozzle. The working principle is to use the compressor to compress air, which then mixes with fuel and burns in the combustion chamber. A portion of the resulting high-temperature and high-pressure gas drives the turbine to power the compressor, while the other portion is ejected at high speed from the exhaust nozzle to generate thrust."
Li Ming's voice grew more confident as he began to explain the design essentials of each component in detail:
"The most critical aspects are the aerodynamic shape of the compressor blades and the heat resistance of the turbine blades. Compressor blades require precise 3D curved surface design to achieve optimal compression efficiency, while turbine blades need special high-temperature alloys and internal cooling passages to withstand high-temperature environments above 1000 degrees Celsius..."
He even began to calculate rotor balance issues, bearing selection, and sealing system design, from theory to practice, from materials to processes, as if enumerating his family treasures.
What was even more shocking was that he took out paper and pen and quickly drew a complete cross-sectional structural diagram of a turbojet engine, marking various key dimensions and parameters.
"According to my calculations, this design plan is feasible based on our country's existing industrial foundation. Of course, some material and processing precision issues need to be resolved, but by simplifying the design and adjusting parameters, a simplified version with about 1.5 tons of thrust can be manufactured first..."
The entire carriage was silent.
Everyone, including those non-aviation students, was stunned by Li Ming's professional knowledge and confidence.
Yang He's face turned pale, then green. Although he also studied aviation, he clearly didn't understand it as deeply as Li Ming.
He opened his mouth, wanting to refute but unable to speak.
Wang Deming and Wang Dachuan exchanged glances, both seeing surprise and admiration in each other's eyes.
And He Zhiyuan, this experienced old cadre, was now dumbfounded.
He stared intently at the drawing in Li Ming's hand, his fingers trembling slightly.
As the representative sent by the organization, he had some understanding of the country's current technological situation and knew what Li Ming's words just now meant.
"Comrade Li, Comrade Li," He Zhiyuan's voice changed, "Where did you learn all this knowledge?"
Li Ming's heart tightened, realizing he might have appeared too advanced, but he still calmly replied:
"I read some relevant materials in the school library and combined them with some of my own thoughts."
He Zhiyuan took a deep breath, trying to control his excited emotions.
He could hardly believe that this young man in front of him had mastered such profound aero-engine technology!
This was one of the most urgently needed and lacking technical fields in the country right now!
"Can you... write all this down in detail?" He Zhiyuan's voice still trembled.
"Of course," Li Ming nodded. "I have already organized a complete design plan and manufacturing process, including drawings and calculation data."
He Zhiyuan's breathing almost stopped.
He had encountered an extraordinary talent!
