Chapter 1362: The Best Times (Part 1)

"This time will be a big step in the progress of our human civilization. We will officially enter the age of the universe."

Secretary Steve Rogers' speech was spread all over the world through the Internet and various social media. Almost everyone in the world knows the news that the Nova Corps and Xinmeng will officially visit the earth.

Although for many people on earth, especially those who live at a relatively low level, this is not very important news.

For most people, they care about the universe, not where tomorrow's meal is.

Inside a technical school in Shandong, China. Chen Xiang watched Director Steve Rogers' impassioned speech on TV. She was probably a little excited, but only a little bit.

Because for him, tomorrow's exam is more important to him. Chen Xiang is 19 years old this year. He comes from a mountainous area in western China. He is currently studying in a technical school in Jinan, Shandong.

He majored in mech piloting. It sounds high-end and upscale and full of futuristic sci-fi. But in fact, this is not the case, because the predecessor of the mech driving major opened by this technical school is actually the excavator major.

Chen Xiang was originally a student majoring in excavators, and the school's excavator major began to be restructured a year and a half ago. Part of them continued to learn excavator driving and maintenance, while the other part became a professional mecha pilot. At first, Chen Xiang and his classmates were very excited.

"Could it be that we are going to become the children of destiny, and is this school secretly cultivating special talents for the country?!" Chen Xiang thought at the time. He has already thought of the plight of the protagonist in various mecha animations he has seen. Maybe I can become the same existence as those protagonists. Wearing armor and soaring in the blue sky or space, dodging various attacks of the enemy gorgeously. Then every shot and every knife of my own can destroy an enemy. When I am in trouble, the seeds in my heart burst, and then I yell loudly: "Oh, oh, oh, just big wood!" Immediately afterwards, my skills exploded instantly Kill the audience in seconds. Chen Xiang was still a little excited when he went to sleep after thinking about this.

But the reality soon broke a basin of cold water for Chen Xiang. Because when their group of selected students went to the first class of mech driving, the teacher at the podium said to them: "Using mecha armor to excavate and repair has become the current trend in the world. Traditional excavators It will inevitably be replaced by mechas with more complex functions. Especially if mining in space and alien planets in the future, the parts of traditional excavators are too large and heavy, and it is inconvenient to transport. Engineering mechas are more portable, so mechas Mining and extraction is imperative.”

"So students, your good time has come! Wearing engineering mechs, you will become a new generation of miners! Cheer, be proud, you will be the trendsetters of the times!" The teacher wearing gold-rimmed glasses on the podium The saliva flying across the mouth was extremely excited. But the cheers and applause that the teacher expected did not appear at all. The hearts of the students in the audience were completely chilled. It turned out that after a long time, they still went to mine...

It's just that it has changed from a traditional excavator to a construction machinery armor.

In fact, all of this was Li Jie's proposal to Tony: "Since you have made the steel armor and designed the engineering armor. Then why don't you generously take it out for the world to use?" This is When Li Jie watched movies in his previous life, he was very puzzled. Tony Stark obviously designed engineering mechs, but the world of Marvel (movies) is still dominated by traditional mechanical engineering.

Of course, Tony has his own concerns. Because he was afraid that his mecha technology would be stolen or something. However, he is also very clear about the huge impact it will have on traditional industries if engineering mechs are put into the market. It will be a revolution that will turn the world upside down. In the original story, Tony would not let go of his mecha technology, let alone put them on the shelves as commodities.

But when Li Jie appeared, and under his influence, a large number of like-minded companions were brought together to promote the progress and reform of the earth. Tony finally decided to put his design on the shelves and become a commodity.

Engineering mechs don't need to use all kinds of bulletproof armor, and they don't need to fly very fast. Even many models don't need flying ability at all, and they don't need to run very fast. It only needs to be able to meet various engineering requirements and work normally under various complex geographical conditions.

For this reason, Tony redesigned and expanded the entire engineering mecha product line. Composite the use of the mecha, while simplifying the operation as much as possible. Because Tony's Iron Armor is actually a very mature product, such a small change is a breeze for him.

In terms of the Stark Group's channel promotion, a new generation of engineering mechas has been put on the shelves and become a global product. And in order to promote the use of engineering mechs, the Stark Group has also set up training points in major cities in major countries around the world for free. Allow customers who have purchased their own engineering mechs to easily find operators.

Although engineering mechas are not cheap, the price of an engineering mecha with special mining as its main function is generally around one million dollars. But compared with traditional special mining machines, the price is not too expensive. Because the price of traditional machinery is also close to 950,000 US dollars. Although the mecha is $50,000 more expensive, it has a lot of extra features that allow it to do more work.

These engineering mechs have been very popular in the market since they were launched, because there are too many engineering problems that cannot be solved by traditional machinery, or require extremely professional and precious top craftsmen who surpass giant pandas to complete. The multi-functionality of engineering mechs has helped many projects solve many problems. Moreover, Tony's design has greatly controlled the cost, so that the mecha is no longer something that the factory can't afford.

He even launched a variety of simplified versions to meet the needs of different markets.

Just like the mecha that Chen Xiang drove during the exam, this is one of the 30 mechas that the Stark Group sponsored for this technical school. Because it is a trainer, there are many functions that are not available and the power is relatively low. But this can control the cost. The price of such a mecha is only more than 300,000 yuan. The price is comparable to a domestic high-end CNC machine tool. It is really not expensive in construction machinery.

Chen Xiang operated the mech to complete an emergency turning and welding of parts. Although it looks difficult on the outside, because Chen Xiang needs to process a part with a precision error within eight thousandths of a millimeter in a temporary field site. But Chen Xiang, who controls everything in the mech, finds it not difficult at all. Because he only needs to input some instructions, and then the mecha can complete all this automatically.

This is also Tony's special design for the promotion of engineering mechas, which is to reduce the difficulty of using mechas and the cost of entry. As long as a normal person who has completed junior high school and is in a healthy mental state can control these mechs to do things that many masters can do.

After the cutting was completed, Chen Xiang used a welding test. The arm in the engineering mech protruded a welding torch head. He used the scanning function in the mech to scan the cracks that needed to be welded, and planned the best path.

"It's a pity that it's a trainer. It is said that those professional welding mechas that cost seven to eight million a piece can analyze the properties of the materials that need to be welded in an instant, and even complex multi-section materials can be welded together easily. The mecha can control Good welding temperature and automatic replacement of suitable welding wire." Chen Xiang thought so, but his hands didn't stop.

With the help of the mecha, Chen Xiang, who obviously hasn't done much welding work, is like a master who has worked for 20 years. His welding techniques are smooth and professional. The welded seam is smooth and even, and after grinding, it is white and shiny without any cracks.

The students and teachers of other majors in the technical school who were watching the exam couldn't help feeling a little bit cold. Especially a master who has been a turner and a welder for 30 years, they couldn't help but shook their heads and said in a low voice: "In the future, these skills will eventually be completely replaced by mechas!"

The wave of numerical control has made it difficult for traditional machining to stand up, and the only private land is probably some special processing. The emergence of engineering mechs has given these special processing a better choice, and perhaps there will not be many special processing jobs in the future to ask masters like myself for advice.

But Chen Xiang didn't feel the sorrow of those old masters. Because the glorious era of those old masters was too long for him. The long time is like the story in the storyteller. Now this is the era of his younger generation. Chen Xiang has seen earth-shaking changes in the world in the past few years when he walked out of the mountains. He firmly believes that he can find his shelter in this raging tide.

"The world is already changing. Maybe the teacher is right, we will really be the wavers of this era. No, even if we are not wavers, it would be great if we can follow the waves." Chen Xiang said after completing the special mining exam. All the exams were over, and finally I got a certificate of a B-level mecha mechanic.

Because the mecha driving test is all standardized by the Stark Group, it is a globally accepted certificate. The B-level certificate is also the highest-level certificate that students can obtain. The more advanced A-level and S-level need to take the exam after three years of work.

Chen Xiang didn't care that there were still ten days until the envoys of the Nova Corps would arrive. Because he got a good job just after graduation, a large company hired him with an annual salary of 150,000 to be in charge of special mining in the company.

Now he needs to do another important thing before entering the job, he needs to go home. Standing at the gate of the school, Chen Xiang's bank card contained the 5,000 yuan travel expenses given to him by the company. This was an advance payment for him to go to the company, and it was deducted from his first month's salary.

He carried his own little luggage, a washed white denim bag containing all his changes of clothes. He was going to Jinan North Railway Station, but the school didn't have a bus going there. In the past, I needed to walk an extra 40 minutes to the next bus stop to catch the bus. But today Chen Xiang decided to spend extravagantly.

With a wave of his hand, he stopped a semi-floating taxi. Since the Stark Group launched the levitation car, the whole world is following up on this concept. Many manufacturers have obtained Stark Group's levitation technology after paying a high fee for the right to use it. Even if it is castrated levitation technology.

Now there are no car factories that still produce four-wheeled cars, well, this is a bit wrong. It should be said that those factories that can only produce cars with four wheels are destined to be eliminated.

Chen Xiang stopped a BAIC hover taxi. Chen Xiang was a little hesitant to get in the car, because the price of this floating taxi was 20% more expensive than the traditional four-wheeled taxi.

"Let's go?" The taxi driver pushed his sunglasses and raised his eyebrows at Chen Xiang outside the car.

"Let's go to the North Railway Station." Chen Xiang gritted his teeth. Anyway, today is extravagant, so let's be extravagant. I and my family have been poor all my life, and I have been in a big city like Jinan for three years and have never visited the city or taken a taxi. I have never been in a car in my life, so today I have the right to be an eye-opener.

The suspension car was running extremely smoothly on the road, and it was different from all the cars that Chen Xiang had been in. When those cars drive on the road, there are always various ditches and ridges that will make the car bump, and the tire noise formed by the friction between the tires and the ground will also be transmitted into the car. The suspension car does not have these troubles. Sitting in the back row of the car, Chen Xiang blows the natural and fresh air conditioner, feeling as if he is sitting in a big comfortable sofa. He almost fell asleep here.

He shook his head to wake himself up. Then he tried talking to the driver to relieve his fatigue.

"Brother has been a driver for many years?"

"More than ten years."

"This car is easy to drive."

"That's right! It's really easy to drive! This car is not bumpy at all, and my waist is much more comfortable. And this car doesn't consume gas."

"Don't eat oil?!" Chen Xiang was a little surprised.

"Hey, you young man doesn't understand cars at first glance. Men don't understand cars. Let me tell you, this kind of suspension car is completely powered by electricity. This car is powered by the Ark battery made by Stark Group. Energy. Clean and environmentally friendly, no exhaust emissions at all. In the future, there will be fewer and fewer cars burning oil. Now the price of gas at gas stations is getting cheaper and cheaper. I just bought an old Mercedes-Benz s200 last month. I ran to the gas station to see, well, the price of gas has dropped to three yuan." The driver was very talkative.

"Mercedes-Benz, that's expensive." In Chen Xiang's heart, Mercedes-Benz is the representative of high-end cars.

"Hey! What's expensive? It's just an old-fashioned four-wheeled car. No one wants it anymore. If rich people still drive a four-wheeled car to go out, it's too shameless. Now even taxis are hovering cars. The price of four-wheelers has collapsed a long time ago." The driver said: "The old S200 with 60,000 kilometers on it is now only 40,000 yuan. No one wants it. Everyone says that the country will ban four-wheelers on the road in the future. And the gas station may disappear one day. Who would dare to sell the car expensively."

"Then master, do you still buy it?"

"No way, who told me to like Mercedes-Benz when I was a child. If I can't drive it for two years, I have the right to collect it as an antique." It seems that the driver is also a person of faith.

During the conversation with the driver, Chen Xiang saw hovering cars speeding past on the road. I heard from the driver that there is an old-for-new policy. In the future, there will be fewer and fewer old cars and more and more suspension cars. This car is safer and more environmentally friendly. When taking the high speed to the North Railway Station, Chen Xiang also saw a huge construction site.

"Master, what are you repairing?"

"It seems to be building a huge building, just like the one in Shanghai. It is said that a building can house a million people after it is completed. It's like a myth, can a building house a million people?!"

"It should be possible..." Chen Xiang was not very sure.

The driver shook his head: "My wife told me to buy the uncompleted flats here first, saying that it will be convenient for everything to live in this building in the future. There are all schools and hospitals. I said that a million people are crowded in one building. I'm in a panic!" It seems that the driver doesn't like this place very much.

Chen Xiang asked: "Then your wife asked you to buy it, did you buy it?"

The driver said simply: "I bought it."

When passing by the construction site, Chen Xiang saw many engineering mechs working on the construction site. They are all doing all kinds of difficult processing projects, and those ordinary construction workers look at these workers who can fly into the sky and escape in mechas with great envy. Chen Xiang thought to himself: I will be a member here in the future.

The North Station has a larger platform, which is prepared for the super high-speed railway. Faster and more convenient than traditional high-speed rail. Chen Xiang's ticket is to take the Hyperloop home. It is more than 1,700 kilometers from Jinan to my hometown in the southwest, and the fare is more than 800 yuan. A little expensive, no! It should be said that it was too expensive compared to the train I had been sitting on before!

But Chen Xiang still spent the money, because he had to rush home to share his good news with his family. Traditional trains need to keep him bumping for more than 20 hours on the journey, but he only needs to sit on the Hyperloop for one hour.

When the train with silvery white light like a silver dragon stopped in front of him, Chen Xiang couldn't help sighing: "It's so beautiful!" He had never seen such a beautiful train. Streamlined body, silver-white paint that exudes light. Walking into the car, the seats are set to two on each side. The seat is wide and comfortable, allowing people to put their feet upright.

The train departs on time, and the seats are full. Sitting next to Chen Xiang was a middle-aged man who looked to be in his forties and wore gold-rimmed glasses. At the beginning of the trip, he took out his computer and was doing his work.

Chen Xiang glanced secretly, it was a lesson plan. It seems to be a lesson plan about a middle school in Southwest China, huh? Isn't this southwest xx middle school from my hometown? Chen Xiang's hometown is a national poverty-stricken county. Education has always been poor. Although he didn't want to say that, Chen Xiang always felt that the teachers in the middle school he studied in the past always had an earthy taste. There is no way to do this, because as a national-level poverty-stricken county, there are no good teachers willing to come to their hometown to teach. There are many teachers who came here 20 or 30 years ago, and some who stayed in school to work as substitute teachers.

So Chen Xiang couldn't help but said to the person beside him who looked like a teacher: "Are you a teacher?"

"Yeah." The other party was very busy, so he just nodded and didn't look at Chen Xiang or speak to him.

"I'm from this middle school." Chen Xiang pointed to the teacher's lesson plan and said a little excitedly.

"Are you a student of this school?" The middle-aged teacher raised his head now, and he looked Chen Xiang up and down: "What class do you belong to?"

"I've already graduated. After graduating from junior high school, I came to Jinan to attend a technical school." Chen Xiang was a little embarrassed: "You are a teacher."

"Yes, you can call me Teacher Wang. What's your last name?"

"Miangui's surname is Chen. Teacher Wang, are you a teacher in this school? Why haven't I seen you before?" Teacher Wang's temperament is very outstanding, and this kind of scholarly teacher will definitely be noticed in his former school of.

"Well, it's normal that you don't know me. Because I've only been there for half a year." Teacher Wang adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses: "The state promotes the western education plan, and I'm a participant. I used to be a middle school teacher in Jinan. After responding to the call of the country, I went to your original school to teach mathematics. This Sunday happens to be my birthday, so I will go back to Jinan to celebrate my birthday and then go back today.”

Chen Xiang always has respect for teachers who are willing to go to a national-level poverty-stricken county like his hometown. He said respectfully: "Mr. Wang, you can give up your life in Jinan and go to work in our national poverty-stricken county. You are really amazing."

Chen Xiang's praise made Teacher Wang blush a little, and he waved his hands quickly: "Xiao Chen, don't call me so great. In fact, I also participated in volunteer teaching many years ago when I just graduated from university. I spent two months as a volunteer teacher in the western mountainous area. I fled back. Because I was too poor and had nothing. I am used to life in big cities, but I can’t live in poor places. Those teachers who can stick to these places for more than ten or twenty years are the real ones. great."

"I am responding to the call now, mainly because of the convenient transportation. It only takes one hour to take the train from Jinan, and then an hour to go there by the suspension car. It takes two hours to reach the county. Teachers like us who support education, related The department reimburses our round-trip fare. They know that many people are like me. In fact, we are all willing to teach children in poor areas. But we can’t stand the local accommodation and living environment. So we make a compromise , work in poor villages, and live back in the city.”

"I just live in the county from Monday to Friday, and I'm going back to Jinan on weekends." Teacher Wang was still a little embarrassed. Maybe he is nearly forty years old, but he still has some arrogance and shame of a literati, which makes him feel that what he does is actually a bit hypocritical. But for Chen Xiang, it is good that a teacher like Mr. Wang is willing to come. My hometown is too backward, and I need such teachers to educate the next generation.

The train was running at high speed in a passage similar to a vacuum glass tube. Chen Xiang looked at the blurred scenery outside through the window glass and tube glass. He vaguely seemed to see another silver dragon running on the ground. Is there anyone in the car like me? Is there anyone like Mr. Wang in the car?

On the criss-crossing trunk lines, every silver dragon running on a gallop carries countless people and their pursuits.

Maybe this era is not perfect, but for Chen Xiang, this is the best era.