In the blink of an eye, it was winter, this was the first winter for Lin Qiang and his party after coming to another world. In the winter, there is no heating or electric heating equipment, so you can only rely on coal stoves for heating. In order to prevent gas poisoning from his friends in the two-story building, Liang Shuopeng deliberately set aside a lot of time to tinker with new inventions to check the ventilation of the small building, and to strengthen the stove chimney and gas pipes.

"It's been a busy day, let's take a break." Han Xu greeted Liang Shuopeng, who was still holding the stove and chimney in the house, and put a plate of washed fruit on the long table in the living room. "Well, Sister Xu right away." Liang Shuopeng was still staring at the stove, he didn't want to let go of every detail.

Han Xu shook her head, she put her hands together, brought them to her mouth and exhaled, rubbing them vigorously before she felt that her body was a little warmer.

Because Qingling is located in a mountainous area, winter comes early and goes late, which is very long. The weather is cold, and a few days ago I was able to wear thin long sleeves to go out, but in a blink of an eye, wearing a padded jacket is no longer warm.

Lin Qiang pushed open the door and walked in, bringing snowflakes into the house, followed by Tsuneishi, the two of them exchanged things about the mine, and walked into the house while laughing, the atmosphere was happy and harmonious. The girls had already prepared their meals, and Han Xu beckoned everyone to sit around the table to eat. Everyone was about to eat when the door slammed open, and a miner rushed into the house.

The north wind poured in along the wide open door, and the little heat that had been accumulated in the house was squandered, and the miners' faces turned pale, and they did not know whether they were frozen or for some other reason.

Tsuneishi watched the miner snort and gasp, and hurriedly said, "Wait a minute, you first pant before you speak, or it will not be easy to vomit." The miner gasped for breath, but still didn't vomit and said, "No... No, again... Don't say, come... It's too late. Number two... Mine No. 2 exploded! ”

When everyone heard this, they were shocked, Lin Qiang hurriedly got up and put on his coat, and Chang Shi and Liang Shuopeng also got up and wanted to go with Lin Qiang. Han Xu suddenly said: "Calm down, there has been an explosion, and it was also the aftermath in the past, first ask what the reason is." Lin Qiang looked back and thought for a moment, then shook his head and said, "No matter what the reason is, I should also be the first to appear on the scene." Liangzi will follow me, and Changshi will stay first, in case someone destroys it, protect us people first. He explained this in Chinese, and then Lin Qiang followed up with the miners who came to report the message and said loudly in the language of this world: "Go, you lead the way." ”

After finishing speaking, he couldn't help but push open the door and walked into the snowstorm. Liang Shuopeng looked back at everyone, and followed Lin Qiang.

Tsuneishi was a little apprehensive, and he was also anxious at this time. The explosion in the mine may have been accidental, but it is also possible that someone would cause sabotage, as Han Xu and Lin Qiang feared. If it's the former, it's okay to say, if it's the latter, then Lin Qiang and Liang Shuopeng are far more dangerous than the people in the house.

"Don't worry, if the group of people from the royal capital chase here, it won't be a mine explosion. If there is a problem inside the mine, it will be the same whether you go or not, because this kind of sabotage in the dark will not be on the table, and no one will be able to waste so much effort to kill a few of us who are powerless. Han Xu knocked on the table and slowly analyzed, and then she frowned and said, "This shouldn't be coming at us." ”

Besides, Lin Qiang and Liang Shuopeng, after arriving at the No. 2 Mine Cave, they found that the No. 2 Mine at this time had become a purgatory on earth. The smoke and dust at the entrance of the mine have not yet dissipated, and the remaining miners, all with minor and serious injuries, are scattered at the mouth of the mine and wailing. Hal had blood on his head, and he sat on a large rock at the mouth of the mine, his eyes glazed.

"What the hell is going on?" Lin Qiang walked quickly to Hal and asked loudly. Hal said numbly: "The steam engine... exploded, and Lao Wang, who usually added fire to the steam engine, was instantly engulfed by the fire. The violent explosion caused a landslide, and many people were buried inside. Lin Qiang asked again: "What is the specific situation of the casualties?" Still motionless, Hal muttered, "There are dozens of people alive here, and less than ten survived..."

Lin Qiang sighed, squatted in front of Hal, stared into his eyes, and said solemnly: "Don't worry, there will be no less compensation at all, the families of the victims, I will be my own relatives to support." Hal's eyes finally moved, followed by hugging Lin Qiang and crying.

I cried for a while, maybe it wasn't long ago, in the winter, Lin Qiang's coat was already wet with Hal's tears. Hal cried, then choked hoarsely, then retched violently.

After a few more moments, Hal finally relented. Although Liang Shuopeng knew that it was likely that these miners would be angry with him, as a technician, the problem he had studied was the first priority, and he asked, "Howl, I'm sorry, but I want to understand why the steam engine exploded." ”

Hal was in a trance because of grief just now, but after relieving himself a little at this time, when he heard Liang Shuopeng's words, he stood up instantly, and was about to pounce, but was hugged by Lin Qiang, who sensed it. Hal is usually very strong, otherwise he would not be the captain, but at this time, due to injury and fatigue, he did not struggle to get out of Lin Qiang's embrace. Unable to struggle, Har simply stood in place and scolded, he knew that Liang Shuopeng was the inventor of the steam engine, and at this time he poured all his unwillingness and anger on poor Liang Shuopeng.

The surrounding miners heard Hal's angry scolding, and they also reacted and rushed over here. Rhodes, who had just arrived with someone, saw this scene and hurriedly asked the rest of the miners behind him to rush up and pull the rack, and then shouted angrily: "Shut up." ”

The miners in Cave No. 2 stopped their movements and closed their mouths when they heard Rod's voice, but they still couldn't suppress the flames of anger in their eyes. Rhodes said in a deep voice: "Listen, I will definitely investigate this matter." My old Rhodes has been in the mine for so many years, and everyone must know what kind of character he is! I vouch for my personality that I will give an account to the victims. ”

The miners looked at Rod, and then at Hal and Lin Qiang and Liang Shuopeng. Hal stopped struggling, pushed Lin Qiang away, and went down the mountain past everyone, and the remaining lights in the No. 2 mine shone on Howl's back. Snowflakes were flying in front of Hal, and behind him were footprints full of black ash. The rest of the surviving miners, who were able to walk, also pushed away the miners who had just stopped him, and limped down the mountain, but those who could not, Rhodes ordered the workers who came to the rescue to carry them down the mountain on stretchers and to the warm miners' village, where he had prepared hot water and food, as well as necessary repair supplies.

After all the aftermath was handled, Rhodes said in a low voice: "Lin Qiang, Liang Shuopeng, you two go to my place." Lin Qiang nodded, Liang Shuopeng had been blushing just now, bearing the insult, and did not say a word, at this time he said in a hoarse voice: "Mine owner, I want to go and see the steam engine that exploded." Rod looked at him with a complicated look, wanted to say something, shook his head again, and finally spoke: "Tomorrow, tonight I will ask the workers to clear out the mine to see if there are any survivors, if you want to enter the cave, you have to tomorrow at the earliest." Liang Shuopeng faced the smoky mine cave and stood in the wind and snow for a long time. Lin Qiang and Rod looked at him silently and didn't say a word. Finally, Liang Shuopeng turned around and took the lead towards Rod's courtyard.

In a corner that few people couldn't see, an owl, with the help of the snowstorm, quietly rushed to the sky.

In Rod's small courtyard, only the innermost room was lit at this time. Through the dim light, Rod asked solemnly: "Liang Shuopeng, will the steam machine explode?" Liang Shuopeng nodded, shook his head and said: "Yes, in our place, the steam engine did explode when it was first invented." But I've designed this one over the years, and I've added a pressure safety device, as well as a good emergency bleed system. It can be said that even if it explodes, it will not be so tragic if it kills the severed hands and feet that are close. Liang Shuopeng's eyes were bloodshot, and he stared at Rod and said in a deep voice.

"Rod, it's not that I have blind trust in my brother. It's just that you don't know how far ahead of our technology is in this era. I'm sure my brother wouldn't have made such a low-level mistake. Lin Qiang sat still, his fists clenched, and placed them on his thighs.

Rhodes was silent, punched the table, and then sat weakly on his bench, sighed and said, "What should come will come, maybe, you should prepare..."

Lin Qiang raised his head sharply, narrowed his eyes, and asked, "Rod, do you know anything?" Rod waved his hand, just tilted his head back and looked at the ceiling. The three of them sat like this all night.

Early the next morning, before dawn, someone knocked on Rod's door. Lin Qiang stood up and opened the door, and found that it was Hal with bloodshot eyes and a sallow face. Lin Qiang stood for a while before dodging to let Hal in. Hal walked in silently, crossed Liang Shuopeng, and went directly to Rhodes, who was closing his eyes and recuperating, moved the corners of his mouth and whispered: "The mine has been cleared, and the people buried in it are dead." ”

Rhodes was motionless, Hal paused for a while, looked at Liang Shuopeng, and then said to Rhodes: "Someone found a scorched cloth fragment in the wreckage of the steam engine, and smelled on it, like gunpowder, and the smell was very strong, and I felt a lot. ”

Rod's eyes opened suddenly, and he said with a bit of anger: "How many people know about this? Hal said: "Brother of the investigation, he only told me about it, and the others don't know yet." ”

Rod thought for a moment, lowered his voice and said, "Don't spread the word yet." After a pause, he said, "Don't startle the snake, I want to see who is the person who did such a thing." ”