80: Chapter 80 Carbon Plates; Iron Rods

Hu Gualing carefully reviewed the notes on his phone once more. Satisfied that nothing was missing, he tapped save and exited the note interface, returning to the home screen.

Just then, he caught sight of the gallery icon on his phone's home screen. A thought struck him; he remembered the photos of the Nadi design drafts he had taken at the factory...

Since he could understand that design draft, it meant that it might be possible to create the finished shoe by following the pattern. The only difficulty was that Nadi used modern manufacturing processes and Materials that were modern chemical products, which couldn't be found in the game. Therefore, he had to temporarily shelve the idea of replicating it.

But now, with a Materials expert like Teacher Zhang right in front of him, it would be a pity not to ask for his advice.

Thinking this, Hu Gualing casually tapped into his gallery, opened the Nadi design draft, and handed it to Teacher Zhang. "Teacher Zhang, could you take a look at this?"

"What's this?" Teacher Zhang leaned in curiously.

The picture was very clear, and he immediately noticed the title at the top. He couldn't help but be surprised. "Oh? A design draft? And it's a collaboration between Nadi and you?"

Hu Gualing smiled sheepishly. "Teacher Zhang, could you explain to me what kind of Materials are used in this shoe?"

"What's this? Are you thinking of manufacturing it yourself?" Teacher Zhang teased.

"I don't have that kind of skill." Hu Gualing waved his hands repeatedly. Even though he didn't know the industry well, he knew that such things required production lines, with specific people responsible for every single part.

"I'm just curious if making shoes is like Forging, where you can find substitute Materials in ancient times..."

Hearing Hu Gualing say this, a normal person might have been a bit suspicious by now, but Teacher Zhang didn't think much of it.

It was just an interest in ancient craftsmanship. Although it didn't seem very practical now, the theoretical research he did every day was far more abstract than this.

So, he didn't suspect a thing. He took another look at the design draft and quickly offered his evaluation: "The main Materials used are resin, a three-dimensional double-sided mesh fabric, and a plate-like structure made of carbon fiber. It seems Nadi put a lot of effort into the Materials for this shoe."

Hu Gualing still didn't understand, but out of trust for Teacher Zhang, he remained hopeful. "Then, Teacher Zhang, according to what you said, can we find substitutes for this resin stuff in ancient times?"

Teacher Zhang shook his head. "Although ancient times had natural resins like rosin or amber, these resins have simple structures and couldn't be used to make shoes. If you want to get lightweight and durable polymer resin, even without considering the manufacturing process, you can't bypass the most critical raw material—petroleum."

"Petroleum..." Hu Gualing was dumbfounded.

This stuff certainly existed in ancient times, but nowadays, extracting petroleum requires state-owned enterprises to step in, involving a massive amount of effort to complete the entire series of processes, from surveying and drilling to refining.

In the ancient setting of Fantasy Jianghu, even if the game developers had a wild imagination and buried petroleum under the map, there was no way he could dig it out! Did they really think digging for oil was the same as digging a well?...

Seeing Hu Gualing staring blankly, looking quite disappointed, Teacher Zhang couldn't help but say: "Given the production conditions of ancient times, you definitely can't think about using Materials like resin or plastic, but you could use thick-soled shoes made of hemp rope instead."

"Thick-soled shoes?"

"It refers to soles made by repeatedly stitching hemp thread. Although hemp rope is a very common material, the soles made from it are lightweight, thick, and durable. I even wore them when I was young..." Teacher Zhang wore a look of nostalgia.

Hemp rope? That was simple; it surely wouldn't be hard to find in the game... Hu Gualing thought to himself, then couldn't help but ask: "Then what about the three-dimensional mesh surface and the carbon fiber plate you mentioned? What can be used to replace those?"

"The mesh fabric is easier to handle. You could use tanned cowhide for the upper and poke pinholes in it to barely achieve a similar effect, but... this carbon fiber plate structure..." Teacher Zhang fell into deep thought at this point.

"Is this thing very difficult to deal with?" Hu Gualing's heart tightened.

Teacher Zhang thought for a moment. "Let's put it this way: carbon fiber is only one-tenth the thickness of a strand of hair, its weight is almost negligible, yet its strength can reach four times that of aluminum alloy."

"This kind of material, let alone in ancient times, even today requires the coordinated efforts of several chemical plants to complete production."

"Is that so..." After hearing Teacher Zhang say this, Hu Gualing knew he definitely couldn't consider this stuff. However, he hadn't intended to perfectly replicate it in the game anyway. "Then, if we just don't use this thing, it shouldn't matter, right?"

Teacher Zhang shook his head. "This carbon plate is crucial to the design of this shoe. It reduces the overall weight of the shoe, makes the sole more durable, and provides shock absorption and rebound for the foot, which must be very effective for running and exercise. You could say the entire shoe is designed based on this carbon plate."

Hu Gualing understood now—this shoe design was great, and the carbon plate used was impressive, but both the design and the Materials were indispensable. It seemed there was no way to imitate it...

"Wrought iron? No, no, even if it had elasticity, the weight wouldn't be up to standard. Oak? That seems barely satisfactory..." Teacher Zhang muttered to himself, then finally looked at Hu Gualing. "If you really want to make a pair of shoes for fun, I can introduce you to a place that processes carbon plates. But as for finding raw Materials to replace the carbon plate, I really can't think of any." He sighed and shook his head, indicating he was truly helpless.

"No, no, thank you, Teacher Zhang. I was just purely curious." Hu Gualing quickly refused. He didn't want Teacher Zhang and Wu Yingying to think he was trying to make fake shoes.

Moreover, he realized belatedly that his attitude just now had indeed been a bit too excited.

There is a term called "thirst for knowledge," which is true, but if this term were applied to him, it would be quite inappropriate.

In any case, he had already understood the most important Forging knowledge. Whether he could make the sneakers or not didn't matter; it wouldn't be good if someone figured something out because of this.

With his plan to replicate the Nadi shoe in the game falling through, Hu Gualing calmed down a bit, put away his phone, and stopped talking about the design draft.

After being refused so decisively, Teacher Zhang was momentarily stunned.

He had originally thought that Hu Gualing was investigating these things because he definitely wanted to do something.

He hadn't expected it was just out of curiosity?

In today's society, young people who are not restless or mercenary like this are truly rare...

While sighing with emotion, Teacher Zhang couldn't help but think of Hu Gualing's identity.

He had seen in the news that Hu Gualing's primary job was supposed to be a security guard?

Teacher Zhang asked curiously: "By the way, why did you become a security guard? I think, given your personality, studying metalworking and becoming a technician in a processing plant would be perfect for you."

'Do you think I don't want to be a technical talent or a white-collar office worker? Do you think I'm unwilling?'

Hearing this question, Hu Gualing couldn't help but complain internally, figuring that Professor Zhang was, after all, a high-level intellectual who didn't know the hardships of the world... He answered somewhat recklessly: "It's just because I wasn't good at studying; I have no degree and no background, so I had to become a security guard."

Teacher Zhang was a bit puzzled: "That shouldn't be. I see that you are quite eager to learn, and judging by your Forging skills, your learning ability is quite solid. How could you be bad at studying?"

"This..." Hu Gualing hadn't originally thought that being bad at studying was something shameful, but now, being grilled by a professor like Teacher Zhang, and with Wu Yingying, a graduate student, right there, even with his thick skin, he couldn't help but feel embarrassed. He felt his face getting hot, so he had to explain vaguely: "I don't know about that. Anyway, I couldn't understand class back then, couldn't do the problems, and couldn't guess the answers correctly on tests. My grades were just like that..."

"Is that so?" Teacher Zhang was thoughtful, then immediately understood and comforted him: "That just means your talent and interests aren't in textbook knowledge. But don't be nervous; the splendor of life isn't something that cold, hard numbers on a test paper can determine. At least in my opinion, you are a quite good kid. Even if you don't have a degree, I would want to keep you here to work."

At the end of this statement, Teacher Zhang used a half-joking tone.

In reality, he really thought highly of this young man, Hu Gualing. His physique was excellent, and his hands-on ability was strong. Although he lacked a degree, given the eager attitude and self-learning ability he had shown, he believed that mastering basic Materials science knowledge was just a matter of time.

Wu Yingying also understood her teacher's meaning and couldn't help but be a bit surprised.

To work in this research institute, one must at least be a graduate student in a relevant field. If Hu Gualing really stayed here with her teacher, it would be quite an exception. Even in the entire scientific circle, it would be a piece of news of some significance.

First the Nadi collaboration, and now her teacher's recruitment; as expected, do outstanding people shine wherever they are?

Thinking that such a person had happened to be a security guard at her own factory before this, Wu Yingying felt a secret joy, as if she had gotten a bargain. She would really have to find an opportunity to thank the HR manager responsible for the hiring back then...

Meanwhile, Hu Gualing was also happy, because Teacher Zhang's words were truly well-spoken. He felt that Teacher Zhang had high emotional intelligence. Not only did he no longer feel inferior about his grades, but he also felt a little proud.

No wonder he could be a professor.

However, as for staying here to work...

Although he could indeed learn a lot by following Teacher Zhang, he just wanted to create more powerful cold weapon equipment in the game; he wasn't trying to build airplanes or cannons. The knowledge he had just learned was already enough.

So he just smiled sheepishly and said nothing.

Seeing this, Teacher Zhang didn't bring up the matter again. Instead, he took out paper and pen to copy down the test data, then took his phone and took photos of the steel blade that had just come out of the furnace.

'Teacher Zhang is really passionate about this hobby.' Just as Hu Gualing was thinking this, he saw Teacher Zhang finish taking the photos, pick up the steel blade, and open another furnace.

Inside the furnace was a vertical container; he didn't know what it was for. He saw Teacher Zhang insert the steel blade into it and close the furnace.

What is he doing?

Wasn't it already finished?

Hu Gualing asked, full of confusion: "Teacher Zhang, what process is this?"

Teacher Zhang smiled. "It's not a process; I'm just smelting this blade back into molten iron."

"Ah?" Hu Gualing couldn't believe it, but seeing Teacher Zhang cover the furnace and turn the start knob, the furnace emitted a humming sound as it started up.

Seeing the rapidly rising temperature reflecting red on the furnace walls, Hu Gualing knew that what Teacher Zhang said was true.

But he didn't understand. Such a good blade, which could truly cut iron like mud, had just come out of the furnace; why was it being destroyed?

Even in today's society, weapons were truly of no use, but it would be good to keep it as a collection. It shouldn't be destroyed!

Even though this blade wasn't his, he had participated in the Forging process by swinging the hammer, and he had personally used this blade to cut wooden posts and iron posts. Therefore, he couldn't help but feel a bit heartbroken. He frowned as he watched the running furnace, his expression revealing reluctance and confusion.

Seeing him like this, Teacher Zhang explained: "It has been sharpened; keeping it would inevitably pose a hidden danger. It's better to melt it down."

"Yes, that makes sense." Although he said that, Hu Gualing still felt a bit regretful inside.

Not to mention anything else, the result that Teacher Zhang, at his age with graying hair, had spent so much effort and sweated profusely to create was about to be destroyed in the blink of an eye. It really didn't feel good to watch.

However, what Teacher Zhang said was indeed reasonable. Keeping such a sharp, honed steel blade could lead to terrible consequences if an accident occurred.

Anyway, it wasn't his property, so if it was melted, so be it.

Before long, the humming heating sound stopped. He saw Teacher Zhang turn another knob on the furnace, wait for a while, and then open the furnace.

Hu Gualing looked at the place where the steel blade had been inserted. The blade was gone. The vertical container that had held the steel blade now contained a rod without edges or corners. It seemed that in a short amount of time, the steel blade had been melted into molten iron and then, through some cooling means, solidified into this shape.

'This really is high-tech. If I could move Teacher Zhang's equipment into the game, crafting gear would be so time-saving and effortless...' Hu Gualing thought aimlessly, but then he saw Teacher Zhang pull the metal rod out of the furnace, hold it in his hands, walk slowly to the side, and lift the rod to hang it on the ceiling.

Hu Gualing looked up and couldn't help but be stunned.

Because on that ceiling, there were already countless similar iron rods hanging.

The metallic ceiling gleamed with a cold silver light, while the iron rods hanging from it carried a rough, rugged aura, giving a sense of incongruity.

Hu Gualing had first noticed these iron rods at the entrance, but he had just assumed it was the decoration style and didn't think much of it.

Who could have imagined that these metal rods were all crafted by Teacher Zhang himself, and then personally melted down and recast by him?

Seeing Teacher Zhang use a tool to clamp the iron rod and stretch his arm to reach the hook on the ceiling, Hu Gualing suddenly felt that he looked a bit lonely...

However, this feeling flashed through his mind only for a moment. He was very excited now. Thinking that he could start crafting equipment once he entered the game tonight, he had no mood to worry about Teacher Zhang's affairs.

Once he crafted the equipment and equipped it, his combat power would definitely increase by a large margin. Then, he would defeat Miao Cuihua and walk out of that Novice Village. Outside the village, what kind of surprises would there be...