The footsteps outside the door grew closer, and Chen Hao subconsciously looked up.
The workshop door was pushed open a crack, and a communications officer poked his head in: "External signal, encrypted channel, someone wants to talk to you."
Chen Hao was sitting at the control panel looking at the shift schedule when he heard this and paused for a moment.
"who?"
"I don't know, they didn't show their face, they only said they were discussing a collaboration."
Susan sat up straight: "At this time? We've just rolled out the new system, what cooperation is there to begin with?"
Carl, who was squatting next to the equipment box tightening screws, looked up when he heard this: "You're not after the electrolytic cell, are you?"
Nana had already walked to the main control terminal and swiped her finger across the screen a few times.
“The signal source is stable and the encryption level is high; it’s not something just anyone could get their hands on.” She paused. “Preliminary analysis suggests that the other party has no intention of attacking.”
Chen Hao scratched the back of his head: "Then I'll take it."
When the screen lit up, only a blurry human silhouette was visible against a gray-white wall. The sound was processed, making it impossible to discern the gender.
"Your technology is updated very quickly." The other party said something that made one's heart race right from the start.
"We observed them all day."
Chen Hao almost burst out laughing: "You guys are pretty good at peeping."
"Just a record." The other party's tone was calm. "Your use of discarded metal cans as energy storage devices has significantly improved efficiency. This approach... is worth discussing."
Susan sneered, "So you came here to copy homework?"
"No," the other person replied quickly, "I'm here to exchange something."
Nana said softly, "They are proposing resource sharing."
"Oh?" Chen Hao leaned back in his chair. "What will you use to exchange?"
“Transportation technology.” A simple diagram appears on the screen, with lines outlining the structure of a certain type of hovercraft. “It can carry heavy loads, adapt to complex terrain, and has a range of more than fifty hours.”
Chen Hao stared at it for two seconds, then turned to Nana and asked, "Is this thing reliable?"
"The design principles are consistent with basic aerodynamic models," she said. "If the actual product can reach the level of the drawings, it will indeed be much more efficient than our current method of transporting by foot."
Carl stood up and walked to the screen: "What do you want?"
“Exploration data from the marine area,” the other party said, “especially the mineral distribution information you recently brought back.”
The air suddenly became quiet.
Susan stood up abruptly: "No way. If those veins are mined on a large scale, the entire ecosystem will be thrown into chaos."
“We will not develop without limits,” the other party responded. “As long as the scope is defined and there are regular rotations, the impact can be controlled within five percent.”
“You make it sound so easy,” she said, her tone hardening. “The last time someone said that, they ended up digging up the entire mudflat.”
Chen Hao didn't rush to express his opinion. He reached out and touched the energy meter that hadn't been put away yet on the corner of the table, his mind racing.
On one hand, there are readily available transportation vehicles, which can save a lot of manpower. In the future, delivering supplies will no longer require strenuous physical exertion.
On the other hand, they're handing over the data they painstakingly collected after several trips to the sea?
"Nana," he suddenly spoke, "is this deal worthwhile?"
Nana tapped a few times on the keyboard, bringing up a set of simulation data.
"If only exploration records of the outer areas are provided, while maintaining autonomy over the core mining area, and technical support for the other party's airborne vehicles is obtained—"
She paused for a second before concluding: "Resource utilization will increase more than threefold, and the risk level is within a controllable range."
"That sounds like a windfall," Carl frowned. "There's no way it's that easy."
“Perhaps they also need our technology,” Nana said. “For example, the low-cost assembly method of electrolytic cells may be a weakness for them.”
Chen Hao suddenly smiled: "I understand."
"They want to use our territory to do things, but they are afraid that we will not agree, so they give us some sweeteners first."
"Smart people never fight for things; they exchange them."
Susan still didn't believe it: "What if they take the data and then turn their backs on us?"
"Then let's sign an agreement." Chen Hao slammed his hand on the table. "Make it clear what we can and cannot do, and whoever crosses the line will have to pay compensation—oh wait, I mean, compensation for parts."
Nana immediately began drafting an electronic memo.
The terms and conditions were listed one by one on the screen:
1. Data sharing is limited to areas south of 30 degrees north latitude;
2. Mining activities shall not exceed seventy-two hours per month;
3. Both parties will take turns sending supervisors to conduct on-site inspections of the operations;
4. If either party breaches the contract, the cooperation will automatically terminate.
“Let’s add one more thing,” Chen Hao leaned closer and dictated, “If they dare to secretly expand their excavation, we will release their vehicle blueprints to all settlements.”
Nana finished typing and confirmed sending.
A few minutes later, the other party replied: Agreed.
"Is it really settled?" Carl looked at the confirmation icon that popped up on the screen, somewhat incredulous.
"It's settled then." Chen Hao stretched. "From now on, we won't have to walk when we go out; we'll fly."
Susan looked down at the simplified electrolytic cell flowchart in her hand, tapping her fingertips lightly on the paper twice.
We should give them this?
"It's just the outer casing assembly process," Chen Hao waved his hand. "They didn't provide the core material ratios or the current adjustment module."
"It's just a token gesture."
Nana archived the communication records and casually set a countdown reminder: next contact in 72 hours.
“They will send over the first batch of technical data,” she said. “I suggest arranging for someone to receive it and conduct a safety inspection.”
"You decide." Chen Hao stood up and walked around to the other side of the control panel. "But the most important thing right now is how to teach people to operate that thing."
“I’ve looked at the blueprints,” Carl interjected. “The control system looks simpler than an old-fashioned trolley; you could learn it in a day at most.”
“Then you’re the coach.” Chen Hao pointed at him. “Once the materials arrive, start training.”
Susan finally folded the paper and stuffed it into her work uniform pocket.
She didn't voice any further objections, but muttered under her breath, "I hope I don't get myself into trouble."
"There aren't that many pitfalls," Chen Hao grinned. "We have electricity, technology, and people willing to train us. Even outsiders are coming to us for cooperation—"
He looked around the workshop. "Who was it that said we could only endure the days?"
No one responded.
But the atmosphere was definitely different.
It's late at night, but the lights are still on.
The projection screen quietly displayed a summary of the cooperation framework signed by both parties, with clear font and distinct clauses.
Chen Hao stood in front of the control panel, staring at the "Cooperation Confirmed" status message for a long time.
Then he turned to everyone in the room and said, "We are no longer fighting alone."
Nana is backing up the communication logs in real time, and the system is automatically marking the next contact time.
Susan remained seated at the conference table, her fingers unconsciously rubbing the corner of the paper in her pocket.
Carl has begun discussing a list of new tools that might be needed for vehicle repairs with the new mechanics around him.
No one left.
No one mentioned "what if we get scammed" anymore.
Chen Hao picked up a pen and drew a circle on the whiteboard.
"We're having a meeting tomorrow, and we're changing the agenda," he said. "We won't be talking about how to repair equipment anymore."
"Let's talk about how to develop."
He wrote down two words: planning.
The pen paused for a moment, then added a line of smaller text:
"The first step is to expand the base outward by 500 meters."
The writing on the whiteboard was not yet dry when new noises came from outside the door.
The correspondent pushed the door open again: "They sent the first technical data package, and it's being uncompressed."
"Want to watch it now?"
Chen Hao glanced at the screen, then looked at everyone in the room.
"Wait until tomorrow morning," he said. "Today's been busy enough."
He put the pen back in the pen holder and, as he turned around, casually turned off the power to a nearby printer that was not in use.
The machine emitted a slight hum, then fell silent.
Susan suddenly spoke up: "That upper limit of concentration... is it really going to be written into the teaching manual?"
Which one?
"Mineral solutions exceeding 12.5% will produce gas."
Chen Hao thought for a moment: "Write it."
"But don't just write down numbers."
"Add one sentence."
He walked to the whiteboard, picked up a pen, and wrote three words in the blank corner:
Don't be reckless.
The pen cap clicked shut.
The light shone on his face, revealing a slight smile.
Carl glanced at the three words, then turned to his assistant and said, "This will be the first thing on the training exams from now on."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com