Chapter 133: Chapter 124: Super Huge Order

The next day, in the morning.

Lu Li first met with the two designers sent by Aerospace.

The two sides got acquainted with each other and then headed to Longda Machinery.

These two designers were quite old, estimated to be in their sixties or seventies.

The one with glasses was named Liu Quan.

The one without glasses was named Jiao Xue.

Around nine o’clock.

In the reception room.

Peng Erping, Engineer Fu, and the remaining designers and R&D personnel had just met Liu Quan and Jiao Xue.

When he learned that the people Lu Li brought were Liu Quan and Jiao Xue, Engineer Fu was stunned on the spot.

Engineer Fu, somewhat in disbelief, said to Liu Quan and Jiao Xue, “Teacher Liu, Teacher Jiao, it’s an immense honor for both of you to actually visit our plant.”

As he spoke, he became a bit excited, “Can… can I take a photo with both of you for a memento?”

Seeing Engineer Fu’s excited appearance, Lu Li was a bit puzzled. Could it be that Liu Quan and Jiao Xue were really impressive?

Liu Quan and Jiao Xue were quite humble, first saying “we don’t dare,” and then fulfilled Engineer Fu’s wish by taking a commemorative photo with him.

Afterwards, Peng Erping invited everyone to take a seat.

Engineer Fu took out the various data obtained from the previous day’s modeling, as well as the blueprints of the bacterial engine, and showed them to the two aerospace engine designers one by one.

Liu Quan and Jiao Xue expressed their gratitude, sat down, and began carefully reviewing the blueprints and designs.

During a moment of downtime, a relatively young R&D personnel from Longda Machinery sidled up to Engineer Fu and softly asked, “Boss, are these two old gentlemen really impressive?”

Lu Li only knew that these two were sent by Aerospace and didn’t know their specific identities.

Hearing someone asking Engineer Fu, he couldn’t help but perk up his ears.

Penei Engping, sitting nearby, did the same.

He also seemed curious about the background of the people Lu Li brought in.

Engineer Fu lowered his voice to explain, “More than just impressive, Teacher Liu is an academician of the Academy of Engineering, the chief designer of our country’s Aerospace Engine Group Limited, and also serves as a professor at Beijing University of Chemical Technology. In the global aerospace engine R&D industry, he is among the top. Teacher Jiao is not to be outdone; he is also an academician of the Academy of Engineering and the chief expert in aerospace electrical engineering. In the industry, he is the absolute authority!”

“Wow!”

“These two teachers are actually that impressive?”

A group of designers and R&D personnel from Longda Machinery were all stunned.

After learning of the situation, Peng Erping also looked incredulous.

Everyone could hardly believe it; Lu Li had actually managed to invite these two “great gods” to their plant.

At that moment, Peng Erping, Engineer Fu, and those designers and R&D personnel finally understood how terrifying Lu Li’s connections truly were.

Not to mention they hadn’t expected it; to be honest, even Lu Li hadn’t anticipated Liu Quan and Jiao Xue to be such great figures.

Lu Li finally realized how much value Mr. Zou placed on the bacterial engine.

Perhaps due to knowing their identities, everyone’s gaze became reverent, and they sat there quietly, not daring to make a sound, afraid of disturbing the two teachers.

After a while.

Liu Quan suddenly looked up with a surprised expression and asked, “Mr. Lu, who designed this engine blueprint? May I have the honor of meeting them?”

Jiao Xue also appeared moved and said, “Although this internal combustion engine has not yet been truly developed, I can confidently say that it’s definitely a pinnacle work of the power machinery industry. Who exactly is the mechanical genius that designed such a brilliant internal combustion engine?”

Wha… what?

Even Teacher Liu and Teacher Jiao are so astonished?

They even used such moving terms as “have the honor of meeting” and “mechanical genius”?

Peng Erping, Engineer Fu, and several designers and R&D personnel all couldn’t help but turn their heads towards Lu Li.

They were even more amazed that this Mr. Lu, looking so young, was so knowledgeable and talented that the engine he designed could astonish both Teacher Liu and Teacher Jiao?

Upon hearing the inquiry, Lu Li said, “I drew this engine blueprint, but it was not my design. I merely replicated it based on an observed type of bacteria.”

“Are you referring to E. coli?” Liu Quan still appeared quite surprised, “We previously observed that E. coli is very similar to an engine and attempted replication, but the final result was that the flagellar apparatus is non-reproducible because all its parts must exist to function. There’s no possible situation in which mutation and natural selection could cause this biological complexity. Naturally, we couldn’t replicate such an engine, but your blueprint seems to have solved flagellar reproduction, making it hopeful to create this water-cooled rotary engine, which is simply incredible.”

Jiao Xue, with strong curiosity and humility, asked, “Mr. Lu, could you please tell us how you solved the flagellar problem, this most critical issue?”

Engineer Fu, Peng Erping, and the other few designers were even more baffled.

They really didn’t expect that prominent figures like Liu Quan and Jiao Xue would want to seek professional knowledge from Lu Li.

Lu Li had no idea how he solved the flagellar reproduction.

He could just observe the specific molecular structure and replicate it in a drawing, without truly contemplating the reason.

He thought for a moment and spoke truthfully: “Perhaps your existing instruments can’t directly observe the specific shape of molecules, so you can’t solve the flagella problem. I used some special techniques to observe the specific structure of molecules, then draw them, and naturally solved it.”

Liu Quan was taken aback: “Are you saying you have a method to directly observe molecular shapes?”

Lu Li nodded: “Yes.”

Jiao Xue inhaled sharply: “This… this is even more shocking than the flagella engine. Currently, even the most advanced global instruments can’t truly see large molecules. For example, scanning tunneling microscopes can magnify millions to tens of millions of times but still can’t see the true appearance of molecules, only detect their existence through different light and electrical reactions at various locations. As for protons, neutrons, electrons, quarks, virtual particles, and the like, they can’t be seen either and can only be detected through certain experiments to ascertain their existence and some properties. Some detections can’t even verify them, just infer or speculate, like virtual particles, so there is currently no instrument that can directly see molecules. You… you can actually observe them?”

Engineer Fu, Peng Erping, and several designers were all dumbfounded.

They had thought Lu Li mastered technology advanced enough to directly observe molecular structures!

Liu Quan hurriedly asked: “Mr. Lu, may I have the privilege of using your instrument to observe molecular shapes?”

Lu Li helplessly replied: “Teacher Liu, it’s not that I’m unwilling, but my method of observing molecular shapes is exclusive to me; I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed.”

Liu Quan and Jiao Xue thought Lu Li was “cherishing his broom.”

Such matters are quite normal; no one would share the most advanced observational instrument they developed with others.

While Liu Quan and Jiao Xue felt regret, they wondered if they could make friends with Lu Li, hoping he could assist them in observing unclear shapes in the future.

After a brief conversation, Liu Quan steered the topic to the main matter, “Based on my discussions with Old Jiao, this engine can indeed be manufactured. However, merely solving the insulation material may not suffice; there are some delicate components that, given the capability of your factory, I must say it seems quite challenging to manufacture them unless you invest a large amount of funds.”

Lu Li inquired: “How much funding do you think needs to be invested to have a hope of developing it?”

Engineer Fu seemed to have an idea but remained silent, keeping his head down.

Peng Erping and the others all looked at Liu Quan.

Liu Quan pondered for a moment: “I expect no less than two billion in research funding to successfully develop this engine.”

Oh my!

Two billion in research funding?

Lu Li was speechless and glanced at Engineer Fu.

Engineer Fu noticed Lu Li’s gaze and explained somewhat awkwardly: “Mr. Lu, the normal engine development cost ranges from a few million to tens of millions. For such an advanced engine involving so many precision components, twenty billion in research funding is quite normal. I wanted to explain yesterday, but when you learned we lacked necessary insulation materials, you immediately left, so… I didn’t have the chance to say.”

Lu Li frowned: “Twenty billion in research funding sounds a bit much.”

Liu Quan seemed to have received instructions before coming and blinked: “Twenty billion is a lot for most enterprises, but for our aerospace, research funding is ample. Mr. Lu, are you interested in collaborating with us to establish a new company and jointly develop this advanced engine?”

Collaborate with you to develop, who would own the rights to this engine in the future?

Lu Li was no fool; if aerospace was so tempted, it indicated the rotary engine’s value could be extremely high.

He was not inclined to share his achievements, as he still counted on this engine to truly relax in the future.

Lu Li politely declined: “Even though twenty billion is a lot, I should be able to think of a way to gather it.”

Liu Quan felt quite regretful: “Okay, then shall we discuss other aspects of cooperation?”

Lu Li knew about this matter long ago.

Mr. Zou had mentioned it on the phone before.

He agreed, “Alright, how do we collaborate? You tell me.”

Liu Quan glanced at Jiao Xue, then returned his gaze to Lu Li, “President Zou’s idea is, if you successfully develop the rotary engine, we hope you can authorize us to continue developing engines suitable for aerospace use based on the original engine. Additionally, if we succeed in improving it, you’ll be responsible for assisting in production. Of course, the compensation won’t be low; the profit could be up to twenty percent, the highest on the market currently.”

This is like delivering money right to the door!

How could Lu Li refuse such an offer?

He readily agreed: “Sure, I can agree.”

Liu Quan asked: “The engines we need may have stringent manufacturing requirements, and the quantities won’t be small. Can your factory meet the production requirements?”

Jiao Xue subtly mentioned, “To secure our orders, your factory would need some renovation and purchase many machines to meet aerospace standards.”

Lu Li wiped some sweat and said: “That’s Mr. Peng’s factory; I’m merely having him assist with the design. Of course, if the design is successful, I might authorize production to Mr. Peng’s factory.”

Peng Erping seemed to realize a large order was at hand, hurriedly assuring: “If Mr. Lu is willing to authorize, I can immediately invest in establishing a new factory area to meet aerospace requirements. How much do you think we should invest to approximately meet them?”

Liu Quan pondered briefly, “At least we should have an aerospace engine pulsating production line, ensuring no less than three hundred units annually.”

An aerospace pulsating production line?

Only three hundred units annually?

Lu Li felt somewhat disappointed, thinking the order was small.

However, Peng Erping hesitated momentarily before gritting his teeth: “Although a pulsating production line may cost thirty to forty billion, I’ll find a way to build it. As I said, as long as Mr. Lu authorizes and your aerospace can pass the order to me.”

Lu Li’s eyes widened; a pulsating production line’s construction cost might be thirty to forty billion?

He finally realized the size of the order aerospace brought.

Based on production line calculations, possibly earning a few hundred million US dollars annually could be easy.

Lu Li never imagined connecting with aerospace could result in such a large order; if the engine is truly manufactured, he could finally relax!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep