For most students at Chinese universities, the summer vacation, which lasts from mid-July to the end of August, is a time to spend time with their families. And college students from distant overseas territories, although the semester has ended, have to continue to live on campus.

In order to prevent the summer life of these students who have come from thousands of miles or thousands of miles to study is too boring, the Ministry of Culture and Education has specially organized students to go to surrounding towns or enterprises to observe together with the school authorities. On the one hand, it is to increase students' knowledge, and on the other hand, it is also to improve students' understanding of the local area.

The first stop is Jersey City, an agricultural powerhouse west of Manchester City. During the corn harvest season, in the vast farm with 1,000 acres as the smallest unit, a row of corn harvesters dragged by steam tractors showed the momentum of sweeping thousands of troops, and the power of steel and steam quickly changed the original appearance of the farm.

Cutting stalks, picking ears, transporting, unloading and packing, the entire corn harvesting work was almost done in one go, and the thousands of acres of corn fields were swept away in half a day, and there were less than 100 farm workers in sight.

After the corn harvest, when the last batch of corn straw is sent to the green fodder processing plant, a row of rotary plows driven by steam tractors enters the field. Turn over the soil, crush all the remaining corn leaves or roots and bury them in the ground, and then pour a batch of manure to increase humus, so that the potatoes can be planted one month later.

Such a majestic agricultural production has left some students from Bermuda's small overseas territory stunned. Even the students from Nanshan's overseas consulates, who were far ahead in terms of agriculture, were impressed by the mechanized agricultural production. In contrast, the number of steam tractors in the inland large-scale farms under the overseas territory of Nanshan is not much, and animal agricultural machinery still accounts for a considerable proportion.

“…… What the students see now is only a small part. Jersey City is one of the important agricultural cities in Songzhou, with a total area of more than 90,000 acres of agriculture and animal husbandry, which is basically fully mechanized...... Forty percent of the capital's annual food consumption is consumed. Jersey City also accounts for 10 per cent of the corn and potato starch exported to Europe each year. In addition, leather, canned food, fruits, vegetables and wool are also important outputs in Jersey City......"

“…… Jersey City has a national horse breeding base and a crop seedling center directly under the Ministry of Agriculture, and there are first, second and third level breeding gardens for corn and wheat. Porter Agricultural University has also set up a number of agricultural research bases in the city to carry out long-term breeding experiments on high-yield crops. ”

The clerk of the Ministry of Culture and Education, who led the team, continued to explain the current situation of agricultural development in Jersey City during the student delegation, and the students listened with relish. If they had come to the state-owned wheat farm in Jersey City a month earlier, they would have seen an even more magnificent wheat harvest, with thousands of acres of wheat harvesting at that time. It's definitely unforgettable.

In the crowd, Gu Jikun's eyes never left the dozen or so steam tractors and towed agricultural machinery, although his expression was calm, his eyes were full of shock.

"One horse is flat, one breath is made...... At first, he also asked why each family didn't start the fertile fields and cultivate them intensively, so it was. Brother Zhongqing, with the help of this fine iron giant agricultural vehicle, I am afraid that a beautiful household can cultivate 100 acres of land in one day, saving time and effort. The cost of one acre is very small. Wang Fuzhi was even more uncalm, and he was amazed again and again by stacking hundreds of tons of corn buds directly around the edge of the farm.

"Xiping, such steam iron cars and agricultural machinery. After you finish your studies, can you make it back to Daming? Gu Jikun watched intently as the steam tractor went away along the operation lane, and finally looked at Luo Jian beside him, his face full of enthusiasm.

"The science of steam motor and clever transmission. How can you draw a gourd according to a scoop...... If there is no mechanical, physical, metallurgical, and machinist knowledge, let alone snails, gears, rotating shafts, cylinders, rotary tillage blades and other fine objects, even the seemingly crude steel plowshare cannot be made. ”

After a year of hard study, Luo Jian. At this time, his face was red, revealing a hint of guilt. After a simple small steam engine in his own cottage, Luo Jian also germinated the idea of building a taller steam machine. But with the deepening of the study, I really realized how deep the water is, and I only audited two large classes of physics mechanics, and I knew how shallow my previous knowledge was.

"Hey, according to this, I'm afraid that if you want to make a nail riveting thing in Daming, it will take dozens of Ming students and craftsmen to cross the ocean......" Gu Jikun couldn't help but sigh after hearing this.

Luo Jian didn't sigh with emotion, he was afraid of hitting his companions, because he knew that he had to make the nail riveting parts in the other party's mouth, and it would involve more basic processing machinery and machine tool technology. Almost everything we see now is the product of a huge industrial chain.

With the hands of a skilled craftsman in the Ming Dynasty, it may be possible to carve a few amazing objects, but these are simply not products that can be used for industrial manufacturing. His previous self-study and self-made achievements, compared with Huamei, are a bit golden.

Only by fully grasping the basic scientific knowledge can we talk about the bypass. Because of this, Luo Jian mustered up the courage to add two elective courses of physics and chemistry to himself a few months ago, and found physics and chemistry textbooks from Huamei Middle School, and studied late at night every day, and his reading energy frightened the students in the dormitory.

……

In the afternoon, under the organization of the clerk of the Ministry of Culture and Education, the students came to the Outer Island District of Manchester City to visit the Outer Island District Industrial Park.

Although the military training period of last autumn was spent in the Outer Island District, due to the strict student management system, Luo Gu Wang and the three of them did not really enter the industrial area except for a stroll in the commercial street of the Outer Island District. Therefore, this visit to the park is the first time for them to really get to know the gorgeous industry up close.

In a large factory of a state-owned heavy machinery company, rows of tall frame semi-finished products on the assembly line of heavy-duty tractors are gradually "growing flesh and bones" in the busy work of workers. Overhead is a steam engine power pack with steam booms moving back and forth, next to it is a bucket truck full of small parts, and behind it are steel rims stacked into neat hills.

The smell of various motor oils and industrial paints is so strong that it is a little difficult to get used to. Compared with the expressions of most of the students, who were a little tired of looking at them, Luo Guwang and the three of them did not get tired at all, just staring intently at the hands of the workers, and their minds were making up the entire manufacturing process.

“…… The state-owned heavy machinery company is a steam vehicle manufacturing center named by the Congressional Science and Technology Commission. The annual output of various types of tractors is nearly 400 units, but it still cannot meet the national demand...... In addition, it also has steam units and industrial machine tool production lines, with an annual output of more than 300 sets of various types of steam engines, boilers and small and medium-sized machine tools. Among them, the performance of the heavy-duty three-expansion steam unit for ships is not inferior to the level of the same industry in China, and has made great contributions to the national shipbuilding industry! At that time, all students are welcome to join this glorious enterprise! ”

In the workshop, an administrator of a state-owned heavy machinery company was spitting and was already advertising to attract outstanding talents.

However, the production capacity of the enterprise in his mouth is not worth bragging about at all. Based on Huamei's current more than 40 towns, the annual production capacity of steam tractors can only be divided into less than 10 units per town, not to mention all kinds of steam engines and industrial machine tools that are in greater demand in all walks of life. Especially for industrial machine tools, the product variety and production capacity are even more limited, and many components cannot be produced in-house. It still has not broken the technology and market monopoly of General Industries, one of the industrial giants of Huamei.

After visiting the state-owned heavy machinery company, the Ministry of Culture and Education took everyone to the factory of the famous General Industry Group. Driven by the vigorous steam power, the thrilling roar of metal forging machinery and the scene of raw material cutting and processing splashed with fire made the students gasp.

The deafening factory noise made all the verbal introductions in vain, looking at a large number of manufacturing scenes that made people foggy, except for Luo Jian's understanding and concentration because he had been exposed to relevant knowledge early, Gu Jikun and Wang Fuzhi didn't know how to express it.

It wasn't until near dusk that Luo Gu Wang and the three came to the last stop of today's visit, the factory of Manchester City Textile Company, a subsidiary of Yang Wenwen Living Art Group.

A more spectacular and pleasing picture of cloth textile processing appears in front of you. Hundreds of female textile workers wander in the mechanical passages, and hundreds of looms sway, shuttle and lift in unison under the power transmission...... In my ears was the rhythmic sound of mechanical friction and workmanship, huge spindles were turning rapidly, and countless snow-white cloths were growing and extending at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Most of the students followed the procession towards another dyeing workshop. Only Wang Fuzhi fell back in a daze. Compared with those things I saw before, the gorgeous cloth production line in front of me is easier for people to understand and empathize. After being stunned for a full quarter of an hour, Wang Fuzhi suddenly stomped his feet and sighed fiercely.

“…… That's it. There are more than 100 female workers, and I am afraid that the annual output of fine cloth is not less than 500,000 horses. I heard that in recent years, the price of gorgeous and precious fine fabrics in Zhejiang is high and difficult to find, and there are more long pieces of cloth with high quality and low prices, which are rampant in the market. Guangzhou, Quanzhou, Songjiang, Jiaxing, Huzhou weavers produce a lot of coarse cloth discarded. It is difficult for small weaving households to make a living, and those who hate and strike and self-destruct looms do not know how many, and cotton, silk and linen are exported abroad...... When I see it today, I should know the reason, hey, how can the small family of the Ming Dynasty compete, and An Neng is undefeated! In addition, the provincial governments of the coastal provinces allowed cloth merchants to purchase gorgeous fabrics at will, and circulated them to the inner provinces, states and counties. If this continues, in less than ten years, the interests of the people of Daming will be lost, and the bankrupt small households will inevitably be displaced, and a big disaster will eventually occur! The things that are clothed are more harmful than the swords! ”

(Note: The width and length of the gorgeous cloth far exceed the standard of the Ming Dynasty, and one horse is equivalent to five horses of the Ming Dynasty, so the coastal cloth merchants of the Ming Dynasty often use "big horses" to describe the gorgeous cloth.) ）

Looking back at his companions, Gu Jikun's face was not good-looking. Wang Fuzhi's sudden appearance of that terrible prophecy was exaggerated, but it also made Gu Jikun's heart gradually grow a trace of inexplicable fear.

In a year's gorgeous life, most of what you see is fullness, luxury, glamor, exquisiteness, elegance and wealth, a prosperous society that is full of contentment. What we see today is the real force behind the creation of these feelings, a powerful sense of oppression that makes it difficult to breathe.

Hearing that he was going to visit Beiyang Shipbuilding Group and Huamei Wood Group in the western area of Long Island next week, Gu Jikun suddenly had a feeling of wanting to avoid it.

"This should be what the university professor calls 'the power of industry'......" Luo Jian also muttered to himself in a sluggishness.

A train around the industrial zone happened to pass by nearby at this time, and the rhythmic sonorous roar was mixed with a dragon's roar. The mighty steam locomotives, glowing with snow-white steam and spewing black smoke, dragged long freight cars like a long dragon towards the port.

After a short time, the three Luo Gu Wang, who did not have any intention to continue visiting, had already separated from the large group, and just stood far away outside the gate of the textile workshop, looking at the sunset that was slowly setting on the peaks of the mountains in the west.

……

After completing her graduation thesis, An Jie was personally arranged by her mother Zhang Li. Entered his own headquarters of Standard Oil Corporation in North America as an executive management internship.

An Jie is the first child of the An family to graduate from college and officially enter the management of the group, coupled with the special status, managers or supervisors at all levels of the entire group headquarters are carefully coping, which makes An Jie a little uncomfortable.

Although An Jie studied geography and geology, it seems that her family did not plan to let her enter the Ministry of Land and Resources too early, or stay in school as a teaching assistant and continue to study for a master's degree.

The first few days of internship work seemed very leisurely, and An Jie took the initiative to propose to Zhang Li that she wanted to go to the production company to have a look, and went out to relax. Seeing that her daughter was willing to care about the production of grassroots enterprises, she also took the opportunity to give her the fictitious title of "Department Performance Management Director", so that her daughter could familiarize herself with the various production departments set up by the group in the industrial zone on the outer islands.

Under the service of several department managers. It took Anjie more than half a day to walk through all the workshops, and she herself felt confused about what she could manage, so she could only politely express her condolences to the employees on behalf of the headquarters and the board of directors, and then took the car to the dock, intending to return to the southern part of Manchester City.

Noble horses dragged luxurious carriages and gracefully trotted into the harbor. An Jie found that she was a step late, the current large ferry ship in the outer island area had already left, and she still had to wait at least half an hour before the next liner.

"Uncle Huang, thank you for your hospitality today, I hope I won't affect your work. I will go back to build yì to my mother. Workers spend a maximum of three hours on the shop floor per shift. ”

An Jie stepped out of the carriage and saluted the department manager who accompanied her throughout the tour. Seeing that the daughter of the group was so polite, the old man surnamed Huang was even more respectful.

"The eldest lady is really considerate of the staff, and she is tired from this trip, right? Hurry home and rest. Don't worry the lord and the lady. If you don't come here in the future, it's not good for your body to smell too much fog. ”

This manager Huang was a Ming immigrant who settled in Manchester City in 1626, and was only an ordinary servant hired by the An family at the beginning. Because of his age, cautious personality, and careful work, he sat in the position of deputy chief manager of Anjia Manor in less than two years. Last year, Zhang Li was selected as the manager of the logistics department of a production enterprise in the outer islands, responsible for some unimportant administrative affairs, and enjoyed a high salary of $80 per month. It's a complete turnover.

Speaking of which, Manager Huang also watched An Jie grow up, and naturally has a more cordial care for this eldest lady of the An family than ordinary people, just like treating his own daughter.

Just smiling slightly, An Jie, accompanied by her personal maid, lifted her skirt and walked towards the pier trestle, intending to breathe some fresh bay air. In the shale oil processing workshop before, even if she wore a mask, if it weren't for the personal maid's reaction to the handkerchief, An Jie almost couldn't hold back and wanted to vomit.

A burst of laughter from young people came from behind her, and An Jie turned around curiously, only to see about 100 college students wearing the emblem of the National University of the Capital also standing in the port waiting for the ferry.

As the figure shook, An Jie's gaze suddenly stopped, and a trace of consternation appeared on his face.

In a certain direction, dozens of meters away, another pair of eyes also looked at An Jie blankly, also with a slightly uncomfortable expression.

Lowered her head and thought about it, after hinting at the personal maid, An Jie still lifted her skirt and walked towards Luo Jian, and then when she was about to approach the other party, she turned around and took a few steps back towards a large flatbed truck on the side, just blocking the sight of other college students.

"Miss Ann...... Don't come unharmed. Luo Jian also walked over slowly, stopped a few steps away, put his hands together, and bowed slightly, "Today, the university and the Ministry of Culture and Education took me to observe the industrial zone, but I didn't expect to meet Miss An." ”

After a birthday party last year, the two lost contact. Now that more than half a year has passed, neither of them knows what to say when they meet.

"Mr. Luo seems to have lost weight, is it hard to study?" Quietly looking at the other party's young face and slightly sunken eyes, An Jie's voice trembled slightly.

"What's the point of being tired, I'm just afraid that I won't be good at school, and I will have the high hopes of An Shibo and Miss." Luo Jian lowered his head and said, the person was already turning slightly, "Until today, I don't know where the gorgeous and prosperous world is, and the Ming Dynasty is far behind...... Study hard in the next year, it's worth the trip. ”

"Is Mr. Luo regretting it?" Seeing that the other party's feelings were low, there was obviously an evasive mentality, An Jie couldn't help but ask softly.

"Knowing Miss An, the great fortune of life, how can I regret it?" Luo Jian stopped, a little absent-minded, "After you have made up your mind and returned to your hometown, you should concentrate on studying and prospering in the Ming Dynasty." ”

There is no nutritious answer, or it is not the answer you want at all. An Jie stared blankly at the other party's distant back, and her heart suddenly hurt.

"Miss An!"

A familiar greeting suddenly came from behind him, and An Jie quickly changed to a smile as she turned around. I didn't know that a ferry had already docked at the pier, and a handsome young man in a navy uniform was walking towards him with a polite smile.

"Lieutenant Wen, why are you here?"

After An Jie saluted, he had to put his hand on the other party's outstretched arm. This is a relationship that has long been made public between the two, and no matter what, An Jie must abide by the attitude of getting along with this relationship.

"I heard Aunt Zhang say that you are visiting the outer island area today, so I will pick you up. The 'Lala Zhen Food Shop' in the West Side of Long Island Commercial Plaza has been renovated, and I heard that there are new dishes to be launched, so you can try it. Wen Yujun replied with a smile as he walked towards the ferry with his fiancée.

Respect for military personnel in the country has formed certain conventional rules, although there are many people on the ship this wave, whether it is the workers in the outer island area who have left work or the college students who have returned to school, they have consciously made way for the naval lieutenant who boarded the ship and the beautiful girl beside him.

"That young lady is so pretty......"

"It seems that the carriage just now is settled, that is, ......"

"Maybe I should join the Navy after graduating from college, it's so majestic!"

The young students were all whispering, showing envious eyes, while someone in the crowd was desperately lowering his head at this time. (To be continued......)