Chapter 168 Chapter 168 Riding a Bicycle
In addition to reviewing memorials every day, Lin Si would also select some small invention drawings suitable for the current national conditions from the system and send them to the Ministry of Industry.
The people in the Ministry of Industry have made up for their knowledge of physics and chemistry, and some things can be completed by craftsmen.
For example, the bicycle drawing that Lin Si gave me last time.
Compared to the more complex and sophisticated steam engine, the structural principle of this bicycle is much simpler and clearer. In addition, with the availability of rubber, a wooden or iron wheel can be made and a solid rubber strip nailed to the rim to achieve the desired shock absorption effect.
Officials watched as craftsmen crafted crucial metal connectors, precision bearings, cranks that drove the chain, and pedals for people to pedal. These parts, seemingly insignificant, were crucial to the smooth functioning of the bicycle, and no care was allowed.
After these parts are made, the craftsmen finally wrap cotton with leather and fix it to the frame beams, and the seat cushion is also completed.
The first bicycle should naturally be shown to Lin Si first.
Lin Si took some time to take Chunyi and Xiawu to look at it. As she looked, she thought, "We can add a frame to the front so that we can put some miscellaneous items in front while riding."
If one were to judge this bicycle from the perspective of the era before Lin Si's time travel, it would certainly not be considered sophisticated. The wheels were a mix of wood and iron, and the transmission was a basic chain mechanism.
But in ancient times, this bicycle was already a remarkable piece of fine craftsmanship. Although it looked a bit small overall, and the edges of its components were inevitably a bit rough, as long as it could be ridden steadily, it was considered a success.
So Lin Si slowly spoke under the gaze of the Ministry of Industry officials. "Who among you wants to try riding this bicycle?"
The officials from the Ministry of Industry looked at each other, not knowing who Lin Si was talking to.
Soon, there was a sound coming from the rooftop and the blind spot of the palace.
"Your Majesty, I'm coming!"
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, let me come!"
"Your Majesty...I want to ride too."
The voices are both male and female.
Officials from the Ministry of Works probably guessed that this was the legendary secret guard who appeared and disappeared mysteriously around Lin Si.
Cong Yiner jumped down from the roof and walked in from outside the hall.
Then she didn't take her eyes off the bicycle.
Just now when she heard His Majesty say that he wanted to ride this bicycle, she jumped off without thinking, but now the problem came, how to ride it.
So Cong Yiner looked at Lin Si eagerly. "May I ask your Majesty how to use this thing?"
Lin Si asked her to hold the front of the car with both hands, and then sat on the seat.
"Yes, just keep the balance like this."
Secret guards born in the Wugengtian era undergo rigorous training from a young age, with balance training being a fundamental and crucial component. For Congyin'er, mastering the balance of a bicycle wasn't difficult.
Following Lin Si's instructions, she lifted her feet off the ground and gently stepped on the pedals. With a slight push, the wheels began to roll slowly. At first, there was a slight wobbling, but after just three or five steps, she was able to control the wheel steadily and even turn with ease.
The officials from the Ministry of Industry looked at it and said nothing.
When the bicycle was made, they also learned to ride it.
It was really difficult, and the balance was very hard to master. The two of them helped each other and rode for a whole afternoon before they could barely ride it, and they fell several times.
But you can only go straight and cannot turn.
I didn't expect that His Majesty's secret guard could ride so smoothly and even turn smoothly on his first ride.
Cong Yin'er rode a small circle in the palace, and then braked and parked the bike under Lin Si's guidance.
She was now captivated by the bicycle. "Your Majesty, when will this bicycle be mass-produced? Can you give Wugengtian a few more?"
If we had bicycles, we wouldn't have to fight over a few horses every day at dawn.
Then I tried riding it for several more days, and they were all very smooth, just like the original print.
Several people also gave very good reviews, saying what a great thing it is.
Seeing Xia Wu's curious face, Lin Si asked Cong Yin'er to help her ride the bike and give it a try.
Xia Wu's sense of balance was surprisingly good. Except for being a little unstable when she first got on the bike, she had no problems riding towards the end.
Lin Si was very satisfied with the bicycle. She could already imagine the scene where the streets would be full of cyclists after the bicycles were mass-produced.
This kind of scene is not bad.
After Yin'er finished his shift, he brought a few Wugengtian back to the base.
Several people on the road kept praising it.
"I like this bike...it seems very convenient."
"Yes, yes, and it must be very comfortable to ride on the road with the wind blowing."
"I really like this bike... Riding it feels light and comfortable. It feels almost as good as traveling by light kung fu, and it saves energy."
"I just don't know how many of these bicycles we will be provided with every day."
Cong Yin'er looked very impatient. She couldn't wait to go back to the base to share her first cycling experience of the day.
So, as soon as they arrived at the base, Cong Yin'er immediately grabbed Wei Peng who wanted to go to the kitchen.
"Sister Wei, don't go to the kitchen. I need to tell you something. I'm on duty at the Imperial Palace today. The Ministry of Industry has just developed a new bicycle, and His Majesty allowed me to try it out. It's truly amazing! I just sit on it and pedal, and the tires will turn, allowing me to move forward."
Wei Peng no longer had the heart to go to the kitchen to cook, and just asked, "Is it so magical? Can it replace a horse?"
The other two Wugentian shook their heads. "It's still no use using a horse. It's not as fast as a horse."
"Yes, we tried, but it didn't work even though we kicked our feet until they were sparking."
Even Qi Liang came up to ask, "If that's really what you said, then wouldn't it be possible to use it as a means of transportation, or even ride all over Anjing on one bicycle?"
"Yes, this is good. Although it's not as fast as a horse, it's still good for transportation."
"If I had known that His Majesty was going to choose someone to ride this bicycle, I would have gone to the palace to take my turn today."
"Yeah, we have such bad luck."
Cong Yiner raised his chin. "I'm the first one to ride such an amazing bike!"
Guo Zi ruthlessly shattered Cong Yin'er's beautiful fantasy. "The people in the Ministry of Industry must have tested this thing themselves, so why are you the first one to ride it?"
"I don't care. I'm the first one to ride before your majesty."
The five-star members discussed the matter in great detail. Some said they would definitely ride the bicycles once they were mass-produced, while others expressed their fear that they would not be able to get a large enough share.
So when Zhong Diyan appeared, everyone looked at him in unison.
Zhong Diyan understood, "His Majesty said that he would provide Wugengtian with enough bicycles, so you don't have to worry."
Qi Liang and Guo Zi nodded in satisfaction. "I knew you wouldn't let us down."
………
A few months later.
Bicycles quickly became popular in Anjing, and riding a bicycle required strict adherence to the rule of keeping to the right.
Bai Manman has now adapted very well to life in Anjing. The dormitory is very close to the school and can be reached on foot.
But recently she often saw people riding this strange vehicle on the road? It should be considered a vehicle, after all, it also uses the same lane as an ox cart.
Bai Manman later found out that this strange thing was called a bicycle.
Bicycle, what a strange name.
Bai Manman and the international students from Nanzhao were standing on the side of the road, watching the woman riding her bicycle very fast, even raising dust on the roadside.
Not only Bai Manman, but also the people on the roadside will stop to watch when they see someone riding a bicycle.
This bicycle is not cheap.
Bai Manman and the international students from Nanzhao are not very old, and children are at the age when they are interested in new things.
Sometimes when I see someone riding a bicycle on the road, I can stare at it for a long time without blinking.
It's not that several of them haven't thought about spending money to buy one. Their pocket money is distributed on time every month by the Ministry of Rites. The amount is not small, but not much either.
Even if they pooled their money together, they still couldn't afford it.
As the oldest child in Nanzhao, Bai Manman could only comfort the other international students, "It's okay, it's okay. We can see it every day when we go to and from school. It can be regarded as satisfying our curiosity."
"Then can we stay on the street for a while after school tomorrow? I want to watch them ride their bikes."
"I want to see it, too."
"We can't buy it, but at least let us take a closer look!"
The situation is even worse for international students in Xiping.
So one day after school, such a strange scene appeared. The Xiping and Nanzhao international students squatted on the side of the road in tacit understanding, and stared at anyone who rode a bicycle.
The two sides also divided each other's territories, aiming to avoid disturbing each other.
They not only saw men and women in smart clothes riding bicycles in narrow sleeves, but also saw people in official uniforms riding bicycles to work.
Zhang Dai is one of them.
Feng Ling's house was very close to the imperial palace, but very far from his office in the Ministry of Industry and Technology.
The public oxcarts did not go directly there, so he had to walk for a long time every time to catch a oxcart, and then walk to the yamen at the nearest stop.
Now that he has a bicycle, Zhang Dai feels it is much more convenient.
He could easily ride from the house to the Technical Department, and the weather was just right now, neither too cold nor too hot, and the breeze was cool.
Zhang Dai went out on his bike today and happened to meet Liang Nian.
Zhang Dai said respectfully, "How is Prime Minister Liang? Are you preparing to ride your bike to court?"
Liang Nian sat on the saddle expertly. "Well, riding a bicycle is also a form of exercise," he said, and rode off in a flash.
Zhang Dai rode his bike to the yamen and quickly parked it in the designated parking area.
There are several good parking spots in this area that are not exposed to the sun and there will be no bird droppings on the seat cushions, so these spots are on a first-come, first-served basis.
Fortunately, there is one last spot left.
Zhang Dai parked the car and happened to meet the Minister of Rites.
The Minister of Rites was born with a poor sense of balance. When the Ministry of Works was trying to make a bicycle, he also tried it, but he just couldn't figure out how to ride it and even fell several times.
The Minister of Rites, who was so dreadful that he fell and doubted his life, could only angrily say, "What kind of bicycle is this? It's simply inhumane!"
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