57: The Institute's Dilemma

Pingshan County.

Weapon Research Institute.

Inside a workshop at this moment.

Elder Xu, a materials expert, was intently operating a machine.

Click...

As the crisp sound of steel breaking rang out.

Elder Xu stopped his movements.

Long hours of labor had left him exhausted, his body slightly hunched, and the wrinkled, sweaty face showed disappointment after that sharp snap.

"Elder Xu, did it fail again?"

Luhai Peak, a tank research and development expert standing by, couldn't help but ask when he saw the disappointment on the elder's face.

His essential daily task now was to come to Elder Xu's workshop and check on the production of the tank's outer armor.

He had initially thought that using the new type of steel to make the tank's outer armor would be very simple.

However, after actual operation, he realized he was gravely mistaken.

The new steel had a strong characteristic. This was a benefit brought by the steel, but also a challenge, because he couldn't use simple machinery to cut the steel into the parts needed for the tank's outer armor.

So, he thought of a method: melting all the delivered steel plates, then reshaping them with molds to create the tank's outer armor parts.

Theoretically, this method seemed to have no problems.

But when he actually tried it, he found that this method was simply impossible to achieve.

After the re-melted molten steel was poured into molds and re-solidified and cooled, it did achieve the shape he wanted.

And he quickly replaced all the outer armor of a tank with the new material.

But during an accidental experiment, he suddenly discovered that the hardness of these re-melted materials was many times lower than before melting.

It could only barely pass the second-level hardness test.

One must know that the steel before melting could perfectly pass the third-level hardness test!

And now, after re-melting, the hardness of the steel could only barely withstand the second-level hardness test!

Upon learning this conclusion, Luhai Peak was puzzled.

Since he was not an expert in materials, he directly reported this problem to Zhao Zhenghua.

Zhao Zhenghua, who was happy that the tank upgrade was completed, felt like the sky had fallen when he heard this news.

There was less than a week left until the superior leaders came to inspect the new tank. At this critical juncture, Luhai Peak told him that there was a problem with the tank's installation; how could he be happy?

So, after understanding the problem, Zhao Zhenghua immediately rushed to find the materials expert, Elder Xu, only hoping that this materials expert could successfully solve this problem.

Regarding this problem, Elder Xu readily agreed and then began testing.

He initially thought it was a trivial matter.

However, after trying various methods, he felt deeply powerless.

It had been almost a week since this problem appeared, but now, it still hadn't been resolved.

"Alas..."

"I don't know why, but as soon as this material is re-melted, its hardness drops exponentially. Five days have passed, and I've tried all sorts of methods, but I still can't solve this problem. I don't even know where the problem lies."

Elder Xu sighed deeply.

Looking at the steel broken into two halves on the tester, he felt as if the bright white world before his eyes suddenly began to waver and dim, and a sense of powerlessness kept welling up in his heart, making his body sway precariously.

He hadn't eaten breakfast this morning. He had come to the workshop early and started another experiment.

However, after a morning of experiments, he hadn't come up with any useful conclusions, and his body had instead shown symptoms of hypoglycemia.

"Elder Xu!"

Seeing Elder Xu swaying precariously, Luhai Peak shouted loudly and rushed to the elder's side, grabbing Elder Xu's swaying body to prevent him from falling to the ground.

"I... I'm fine..."

"The inspection of the new weapon by the superiors is not far off, and the experiment cannot be delayed. This problem must be resolved before then."

After several breaths, Elder Xu finally recovered. Although he said so, Luhai Peak could still feel the weakness in Elder Xu's tone.

"Elder Xu, don't push yourself too hard, your health is important."

"Director Zhao has already requested experts from various fields to come and solve the problem from above. These people should arrive soon. You should rest well first. If you fall ill, it would be a huge loss for the Research Institute and for the country."

Luhai Peak said, helping Elder Xu to a chair with a backrest and assisting him to sit down.

Then, he went and brought a glass of water, handing it to the elder.

Looking at this tired-looking elder, who had dedicated most of his life to the Research Institute, a feeling of admiration and respect inevitably rose in his heart.

The motherland could only prosper and become strong because of people like these!

Compared to this elder, everything Luhai Peak had done seemed so insignificant.

People who were willing to sacrifice themselves for the motherland, for great ideals, and for the people—such people were the heroes in his heart!

"I haven't been able to find the problem after so long."

"It's my incompetence..."

Elder Xu held the water cup, looking at the steel not far away, his tone full of self-reproach.

After taking a few sips of plain water, his complexion gradually improved, and his lips were no longer pale and bloodless as they had been initially, but rather showed a hint of rosiness.

"Elder Xu, this is not your fault."

"The new type of steel Director Zhao brought in is not only unprecedented but also likely unmatched in the future. As of now, I haven't seen any material better than this. Even Eagle Country might not have such material."

"I wonder who made this kind of material. I really want to meet this extraordinary genius."

Luhai Peak smiled slightly. Seeing that Elder Xu's condition had improved a lot, his mood also gradually brightened.

"The person who can create this type of material is indeed an extraordinary genius."

Elder Xu regained some strength and nodded in approval at this moment. He fully agreed with Luhai Peak's words. At least, he couldn't make such a material. Even if he were given ten or twenty more years, he might not be able to do it. Therefore, he wholeheartedly agreed that the creator of this material was an extraordinary genius.

"Actually, we don't need to go through so much trouble."

"We just need to give the tank's outer armor model to that manufacturer and ask him to make the parts proportionally. This way, we won't have to go to great lengths to solve the problem of the material's hardness decreasing after re-melting."

Saying this, Luhai Peak shook his head with some helplessness. He really wanted to do this, but there was a regulation in the Research Institute that everything related to it could not be leaked, otherwise, it would be treated as a disclosure of secrets. Therefore, this idea was destined not to be realized. Of course, it wasn't completely impossible to achieve. The premise was to make the developer of that material a member of the Research Institute. In this way, they wouldn't have to be busy here.