Chapter 52 The Man Is Jealous
Summer on the island is like a pot of salty, fishy broth boiled by the sun. The sea breeze has lost its usual refreshing quality, becoming sticky and scalding, carrying moisture that clings to the skin, making it hard to breathe.
Jiang Suining stood on the reef, holding a leather-bound notebook in her hand, the edges of the pages frayed.
The notebook was filled with records of dates, times, estimated tide levels, and visually estimated sea current speeds. Next to it was a pencil sketch of the bay's topography, the lines simple yet clearly marked.
She planned to build a tidal energy cold storage facility. In the late 1970s, when resources were relatively scarce and technology was backward, building a large cold storage facility that could generate electricity from seemingly ethereal tidal forces to power refrigeration equipment was no less difficult than the legendary Yu Gong moving mountains.
However, without challenges, how can there be motivation! Her mind was full of advanced technology from the future. Fate brought her here, so wouldn't it be a disservice to God if she didn't make good use of this knowledge?
This place is called Black Rock Bay. Its entrance is narrow like a bottleneck, which effectively gathers the energy of the tides; the interior waters are wide, providing ample space for energy storage. After repeated surveys and comparisons of several locations on the island, she finally settled on this place.
This location is far from residential areas, minimizing construction disruptions, and not too far from major fishing ports, making seafood transportation relatively convenient later on. Not building a cold storage facility would be a waste.
After the site was selected, she immediately began the land use approval process. After understanding the approval process, she carefully prepared an application report. Instead of exaggerating the mystery of cold storage technology, she pragmatically emphasized that it was an abandoned land that was "unsuitable for cultivation and port construction" and defined its use as "an experimental facility to serve fishery production and explore the use of new energy sources".
Carrying this report, she traveled back and forth between Yelin Village and the township government time and time again, patiently explaining and persuading the officials in charge. Her status as a military dependent, and the potential benefits described in the report for the collective and fishermen, gradually melted away her initial doubts and evasions. In the end, the township level accepted her approach, and an application with supporting opinions was sent to the county seat.
The real test was at the county town's checkpoints. Jiang Suining frequently traveled between the county's urban and rural planning authorities and natural resources management departments, undergoing more professional and rigorous scrutiny. A tidal energy cold storage facility? The staff felt the idea was somewhat impractical, especially considering it was an individual applying for such a large plot of land; they had many doubts, flipping through the thick stack of regulations.
Jiang Suining demonstrated remarkable patience and resilience. She explained the project's initial purpose and feasibility repeatedly, describing the technical principles in simple terms and emphasizing its potential to promote the development of fisheries and the fruit and vegetable industry.
The approval process is lengthy and tedious, filled with waiting, inquiries, requests for supplementary materials, and the agony of uncertainty.
Finally, the county's natural resources department determined that the experimental project of using such unused wasteland for production services was in line with policy guidelines and approved it.
When the "Land Use Approval Document" bearing the bright red seal of the county people's government was finally handed to Jiang Suining, she stood on the steps of the county government building, overwhelmed with mixed emotions.
After obtaining the land use rights, in accordance with regulations, other relevant procedures such as individual business licenses, project registration, and environmental approvals are still required before construction of the cold storage facility can officially begin.
She found professionals to assist with the work and contacted the construction bureau. While advancing these procedures, she also designed the cold storage blueprints. However, tidal energy cold storage is an emerging industry in this era, and she still had to handle many technical issues.
Today, she came to Blackstone Bay in person to verify several data issues.
Jiang Suining checked a few data points and hurried home. She had arranged to discuss some issues with the blueprints with Lü Aiguo, but once they started talking, they completely forgot about the time.
Lu Ye worked overtime and was busy cooking when he got home. When the meal was ready, he went into the study to call Jiang Suining. He saw that the desk and floor of the study were covered with large drawings, which contained complex mechanical structures, winding circuit diagrams and densely packed calculation formulas.
Jiang Suining and Lü Aiguo were engrossed in their work, exuding an aura of intense focus and single-mindedness, completely unaware of him.
“The transmission ratio here needs to be recalculated,” Lü Aiguo said, pointing to the connection between the turbine and generator on the drawing, his brow furrowed. “According to your original design, the torque might not be sufficient at low tide to effectively start the refrigeration unit.”
Jiang Suining leaned closer, pointing her finger at another set of data: "I've considered it, but if we increase the impeller diameter, the resistance at high/tide levels will exceed the limit, and there will also be issues with structural strength. Perhaps... we could try a two-stage transmission? Using different gear combinations to adapt to tidal changes?"
"A two-stage transmission?①" Lü Aiguo's eyes lit up, and he immediately picked up a pencil and began to quickly calculate on the draft paper. "Theoretically feasible! But this would make the transmission structure more complex, and the requirements for machining precision would be much higher..."
"What about materials? Can we find an alloy that is both corrosion-resistant and strong enough? Or, can we use a composite structure?" Jiang Suining followed up with a question, her thoughts jumping around very quickly. ①
The two of them spoke rapidly, using technical terms like torque, efficiency, and load—terms far beyond the comprehension of the average person in this era. They left crumpled drafts on the floor, covered with various physics symbols and mathematical derivations.
Lu Ye paused at the door, almost unable to recognize his wife: Jiang Suining had her sleeves rolled up, her forehead hair damp with sweat and clinging to her cheeks, but her eyes shone with an astonishing brightness, a sharp light he had never seen on her face before.
She and Lü Aiguo were sitting head to head, having a heated discussion about a detail on the blueprint.
Is this really his wife who only went to high school? When did she acquire such knowledge? This shock was like a bucket of cold water poured over his head, instantly sobering him up, but also plunging him into deeper confusion: even if Sui Sui had good grades in the past, it was impossible for her to reach this level. Such profound knowledge involving mechanical engineering and basic physics could not have been achieved without systematic professional training.
An indescribable emotion surged within him: shock, confusion, a hint of... being excluded, and an uncontrollable, masculine jealousy at seeing his wife working so "intimately" with another man.
Lu Aiguo was the first to spot Lu Ye standing at the door. He immediately stood up and greeted him somewhat awkwardly, "Lu Ye."
Jiang Suining also looked up and saw her husband. A hint of panic flashed across her face, but it was quickly covered up by a smile: "You're back? We were discussing an improvement plan for the transmission system."
Lu Ye walked over, his gaze sweeping over the blueprints. He tried to keep his tone calm, but there was still a hint of barely perceptible bitterness in his voice: "Well, you guys... you're so busy you don't even know when to stop. The food is ready, let's eat first."
He couldn't understand the blueprints, but he could see the captivating look in his wife's eyes, a look of intense focus. He could also see the undisguised appreciation for her talent when Lü Aiguo looked at her. This appreciation transcended gender and made him feel an invisible pressure.
Lu Aiguo noticed that Lu Ye's expression was off, and probably guessed the reason. He didn't even eat and ran away as if fleeing.
There was a somewhat awkward silence at the dinner table.
Jiang Suining keenly sensed her husband's low spirits, picked up a piece of food for him with her chopsticks, and explained softly, "We've run into some trouble with the transmission system, and it might need to be redesigned, so we've been discussing it for a while longer."
“Hmm,” Lu Ye mumbled, shoveling food into his mouth. He couldn’t help but ask, seemingly casually, “Lu Aiguo seems to know a lot. What you’re discussing is quite profound.”
Jiang Suining sighed inwardly, knowing that her husband was jealous, and she was also fully aware of his shock and confusion.
She put down her chopsticks, looked into his eyes, and said sincerely, "Lu Ye, I know these things don't seem like something I can handle, but for this cold storage, I secretly read a lot of books and consulted many people. Lü Aiguo really helped a lot." She couldn't explain the true source of her knowledge and could only attribute everything to "self-study" and "consultation."
Thinking about the books his wife had bought or borrowed recently, which were all related to physics, mechanics, and cold storage, Lu Ye's doubts and jealousy subsided slightly, but the sense of estrangement did not completely disappear.
He trusted his wife's character, but what he was seeing was far beyond his comprehension. In the end, he simply nodded and said nothing more.
However, once things start, they are difficult to control completely. In the days that followed, as the cold storage design entered a critical technical phase, Jiang Suining and Lü Aiguo's discussions became more frequent and in-depth, sometimes even lasting until late at night.
Several times when Lu Ye returned from the army late at night, he could see the light on in his small house and the two figures, heads bowed in deep thought, reflected in the window.
One time, he couldn't resist and pushed open the door to bring her tea. He saw Jiang Suining resting on the table, clearly exhausted. Lu Aiguo was sitting beside her, carefully draping his coat over her shoulders. The action itself may not have been intentional, but to Lu Ye, it was particularly irritating.
“Lu Aiguo!” His voice involuntarily took on a stern tone.
Lu Aiguo was startled and quickly stood up, explaining somewhat awkwardly, "Lu Ye, don't misunderstand. Senior sister is too tired and just fell asleep. I was just worried she would catch a cold."
Lu Ye walked over and casually took the coat away: "It's getting late, you should go home and rest. Sui Sui doesn't have to work tomorrow, don't you?"
His dismissal was obvious, and Lü Aiguo, being no fool, understood. He glanced at Jiang Suining, who was being closely protected by Lu Ye, touched his nose, and wisely took his leave.
Jiang Suining was awakened by the commotion. She opened her eyes groggily and saw her husband's tense profile and the lingering anger in his eyes. She was momentarily dazed, but then realized that Lü Aiguo was not there. She gradually understood what had happened.
“I didn’t misunderstand,” Lu Ye interrupted her, his voice low and filled with suppressed emotion. “I know you’re busy with important matters, but Sui Sui, I am your husband.”
He looked at her, his eyes filled with complex emotions. "I watched you discuss things I couldn't understand at all, watched you work tirelessly towards the same goal... I felt like an outsider." He paused, finally voicing his deepest unease, "You've become... a little unfamiliar to me."
Jiang Suining's heart clenched painfully. She gripped his hand tightly, her icy fingertips conveying her apology and understanding.
"I'm sorry, I neglected your feelings." She leaned into his arms, listening to his steady and strong heartbeat, and felt incredibly at ease. "I haven't changed. I'm still the Jiang Suining who needs you and depends on you. It's just that this cold storage is too important to me. It's not just a business; it can change the livelihoods of many people... That's why I'm so invested in it."
She looked up at his furrowed brows and said earnestly, "I promise you, I'll be more careful in the future and try not to discuss things with him alone for too long at night. I'll bring some of the work that requires calculation and verification back to do, and you can stay with me, okay?"
She gently kissed his chin, her words soothing: "You'll never be an outsider. You're my pillar of strength. Without your support, I can't do anything. No matter how complex the blueprints and calculations are, they can't compare to the weight you hold in my heart."
His wife's gentle words and dependent demeanor melted the ice in Lu Ye's heart like a spring breeze. He sighed and hugged her tightly: Yes, what was he struggling with? His wife was ambitious and capable; he should be proud of her, not be troubled by inexplicable jealousy and inferiority.
She will always be his wife, and that will never change.
"Okay," he replied in a deep voice, resting his chin on the top of her head. "Do whatever you want, but don't overwork yourself, it will hurt me."
Since then, Jiang Suining has indeed been more careful not to discuss things with Lü Aiguo face-to-face at night. She only resolves problems during the day. For some desk work that requires quiet calculation, she will sit next to Lu Ye on a small stool when he is at home to complete it.
Although Lu Ye still couldn't understand what she was writing or drawing, looking at his wife's profile as she focused on her work and listening to the scratching of the pen on the paper, the feeling of being needed and integrated dispelled all his previous unease.
He would hand her a glass of warm water when she rubbed her eyes, and when she frowned over a problem, he would encourage her in his unique military way: "Don't rush, think it over slowly, you can always overcome it."
The design blueprints for the tidal energy cold storage were gradually perfected amidst setbacks, while Jiang Suining and Lu Ye's relationship became even stronger and deeper.
He knew she had a secret, but she was unwilling to tell him, so he didn't ask. He chose to use boundless trust and tolerance to become her strongest support in this era, lifting her up to realize that seemingly impossible dream.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
