novelsite Chapter 3 The Seeds of Steel
Chapter 3 The Seeds of Steel
Before the morning light had completely dispelled the thin mist over Berlin, Wang Zhengyang was already standing in the center of the apartment's living room. He hadn't turned on the lights; the only light in the room was the grey-blue daylight filtering through the gaps in the curtains. He had his eyes closed, his breathing long and deep, and he was in a state of absolute stillness—except for the intricate storm unfolding in his mind.
The low-frequency hum of the Caldova gene engine was the background noise of his consciousness. After a night's rest, this resonance became clearer and more stable, like a precision instrument that had reached its optimal working state after warming up. He first focused his attention on the engine itself, trying to decipher the information flow contained in the hum. It was not a sound, but a vibrational pattern carrying data encoding: system status self-checks, energy cycle efficiency, synchronization rate with the host neural network... This information did not need translation; it was presented directly in the form of "understanding".
Activation rate: 0.29%. An increase of 0.07 percentage points from yesterday. The increase exceeded expectations, which may be the result of continuous engine optimization during deep sleep, or it may be that the compatibility between the soul and this advanced civilization creation is accelerating after rebirth.
Wang Zhengyang transformed this improvement into specific sensory training.
He started with the simplest things: redefining the metal map within a "three-meter radius". There was a 0.02 mm wear step on the cast iron valve core of the heating pipe; there was a 3% difference in the spring stiffness coefficient of the seven tumblers inside the door lock; there was a bubble defect inside the aluminum alloy profile of the window frame, about 0.5 × 0.3 mm in size; he could even "see" the lattice distortion area on the cross-section of the copper core of the wires buried under the floor due to bending.
This is not vision, but a higher-dimensional perception—directly understanding the internal structure and state of matter. He can distinguish the differences in atomic arrangement between cast iron and aluminum alloy, perceive the microscopic fatigue cracks that occur in spring steel after repeated compression, and "read" the faint magnetic field patterns formed by the flow of electrons in a copper wire when it is energized.
But this is not enough.
He walked to his toolbox. Today's goal wasn't to test accuracy, but to expand the dimensions of his capabilities. He took five items from the box: a new Swiss file, a piece of spring steel wire with a diameter of 6 millimeters, a ball bearing, a euro cent coin, and a piece of copper foil salvaged from an old circuit board. He casually placed them in five corners of the room, more than two meters apart.
Then, close your eyes and back up to the center of the room.
Simultaneous perception of multiple targets—this is the training theme he set for today.
A sensory field unfolded, covering the entire space like an invisible spiderweb. Five objects, like five stars, lit up simultaneously in his consciousness's star map. The sharpness of each tooth of the Swiss file's diamond-shaped serrations, the distribution of residual stress inside the spring steel wire, the degree of molecular aging of the plastic in the ball bearing cage, the micro-wear on the edge of the coin caused by circulation, the thickness of the oxide layer on the surface of the copper foil... five streams of information surged in at the same time.
Powered by the gene engine, the brain began to operate in parallel, like a multi-core processor. Initially, there was a slight dizziness, and interference arose between the information flows—the serrations of a file and the wear on the edge of a coin overlapped in perception. Wang Zhengyang adjusted his breathing, breaking down his attention into five independent threads, each processing information from a single target.
One minute, two minutes... five minutes later, the five information streams stabilized and ran in parallel. He could simultaneously "touch" every tiny chip on the tip of the file, track the transmission path of stress inside the spring steel wire, count the number and diameter deviation of the bearing balls, distinguish the wear gradient in different areas of a coin, and measure the thickness change of the copper foil oxide layer from the center to the edge.
Sweat beaded on his forehead. This state of being distracted by multiple things was exponentially draining his mental energy. But he persisted, constantly deepening his perception: from macroscopic structures to microscopic features, from static properties to dynamic parameters (such as the vibration spectrum produced when bearing balls rotate).
Ten minutes later, the limit was reached. A needle-like pain shot through his temples, and the five information streams began to blur and distort. Wang Zhengyang decisively focused his perception, retaining only the lock on the nearest target (the file), while actively cutting off the information streams of the other four targets.
He opened his eyes; the room was much brighter with morning light. He glanced at his watch: 7:23. The training lasted seventeen minutes, with stable parallel perception maintained for nine minutes and forty seconds. Record: Tomorrow's goal: twelve minutes.
The activation level of the gene engine has noticeably increased after such intensive use. He estimates that it has exceeded the 0.31% threshold.
9:07 AM, Deutsche Bank Corporate Banking Department Conference Room.
Ms. Ella Schmidt pushed a printed preliminary credit report in front of Wang Zhengyang. Her movements were more formal than yesterday, her neatly manicured fingers tapping lightly on a paragraph on the paper.
"Mr. Wang, after a preliminary assessment, the credit department believes that your company's collateralized loan plan is feasible in terms of risk control." Her German was clear and standard, with each word pronounced precisely. "However, they have put forward two additional conditions."
Wang Zhengyang took the document and quickly scanned it. Condition 1: "Eurasia Technology Bridge Co., Ltd." needs to provide a non-binding opinion from a German-recognized technical evaluation institution, proving that the core technologies mentioned in the "Technical Verification Summary of Heavy Polar Transportation Platform" are theoretically feasible. Condition 2: The use of loan funds requires the opening of a escrow account, and large expenditures (a single transaction exceeding five thousand euros) require corresponding procurement contracts or service agreements as proof of fund usage.
"Acceptable." Wang Zhengyang said almost without hesitation. "For the technical evaluation agency, I will contact the cooperative laboratory of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Technical University of Berlin to obtain an informal expert opinion letter—our project already has technical consulting cooperation with them. The escrow account will be handled according to bank regulations."
His straightforward response slightly surprised Ira Schmidt. Clients typically object to oversight of funds. "Are you sure? This means every large expenditure will require additional documentation."
"That's exactly what we need." Wang Zhengyang gave a perfectly timed, slightly stubborn smile, typical of a tech expert. "Proper financial management helps ensure the project's compliance. In fact, we're already preparing a detailed procurement timeline and supplier list. Bank oversight can serve as an additional quality control measure."
This is a clever angle—it transforms regulation from restriction into quality assurance. Ira Schmidt's expression relaxed. "In that case, I will incorporate your feedback into the evaluation report. Final approval is expected to take three to five business days. In the meantime, please prepare a technical comment letter and a detailed plan for the use of funds."
"No problem." Wang Zhengyang stood up and shook hands with her. "Thank you for your professional support."
As Wang Zhengyang left the bank, the Berlin morning sun shone brightly. He stood on the street, seemingly waiting for a ride, but his mind was racing. The technical opinion letter wouldn't be difficult to obtain—he was a visiting scholar at the Technical University of Berlin and knew several lab directors. He could request a technical feasibility assessment without specific parameters under the guise of "project collaboration consultation," paying a consultation fee in return. This would actually make the project appear more legitimate.
A regulated account... in a sense, is indeed a good thing. All purchases made through this account will be fully recorded, providing a perfect legal cover for the "Longyuan" modification. As for expenses that cannot be accounted for openly—such as the special purchases that will soon be made through Li Ming, and the "gray" materials that may be obtained through Zhang Yiqiang's channels—he had already set aside cash in his personal account.
Two lines, one bright and one dark, running in parallel. That was his strategy.
At 10:40 a.m., in the backyard shed of "Old Chen's Tool Repair Shop" in the Weding industrial area on the eastern outskirts of Berlin.
When Wang Zhengyang pushed open the creaking iron door, the workshop was already bustling with activity. Chen Yishang and four young men were gathered around an old but sturdy workbench, on which several hand-drawn sketches were spread out, and several parts samples were placed beside them.
"...So we have to bevel this part, otherwise the first weld will be cold inside, and all the stress will be concentrated here. It will crack after a few days." Chen Yishang pointed to a schematic diagram of a welding node and explained to his four apprentices. His Shanghai accent jumped between professional terms, but his meaning was clear and powerful.
Hearing the door open, all five people turned around simultaneously. Chen Yishang immediately put down his chalk and greeted him, "Dr. Wang, you've arrived."
"Good morning, Master Chen and everyone." Wang Zhengyang nodded, his gaze sweeping over the four young men. They stood in a row after being introduced by Chen Yishang. Although they were wearing work clothes, they were all neat and tidy.
Chen Yishang introduced them one by one: "Xiao Li, Li Zhenhua, 26 years old, from Jiangxi, studied fitter with me for four years, and is now a chassis technician at the 'European Auto Repair Center' in the west of the city. His specialty is meticulousness; he never makes mistakes or omits anything when disassembling or assembling complex assemblies."
Li Zhenhua was not tall, but his arms were thick and his hands were broad, with a little black oil stain still remaining under his fingernails. He bowed slightly to Wang Zhengyang without saying a word.
"Xiao Zhang, Zhang Haitao, 28 years old, from Northeast China, is a welder. He has a welding master certification from the German Association of Craftsmen and is skilled in welding special steels, aluminum alloys, and dissimilar materials. He used to work in a shipyard and now he takes on some engineering welding jobs on his own."
Zhang Haitao was tall with broad shoulders, and his right hand had obvious burn scars on his fingers—a welder's badge of honor. He grinned, revealing a set of white teeth.
"Xiao Liu, Liu Qiming, 24 years old, from Sichuan, CNC machining. He previously worked as a programmer and operator at a precision mold factory in Stuttgart. He is proficient in three-axis and five-axis machining, and is skilled in turning, milling, planing, and grinding. He returned to China six months ago due to family matters and has not yet found a stable job since returning."
Liu Qiming wore thick-rimmed black glasses, but his eyes were very bright. His hands were clean, and his knuckles were flexible, the kind of hands that had been used for long-term operation of precision equipment.
"Xiao Wang, Wang Jianguo, 30 years old, from Shandong, specializes in hydraulics and piping systems. He worked for Liebherr's construction machinery dealership for eight years, rising from a junior worker to a technical team leader. He is familiar with various high-pressure hydraulic systems and piping designs. He speaks fluent German and can communicate directly with German engineers."
Wang Jianguo was the eldest of the five, with a calm demeanor and a shallow wrinkle on his forehead. There were several discolored patches on the back of his hands caused by prolonged immersion in hydraulic oil.
While listening, Wang Zhengyang simultaneously employed his mechanical affinity to conduct "on-site verification." This verification was not based on distrust, but rather on building a more accurate cognitive model.
When Chen Yishang introduced Li Zhenhua, Wang Zhengyang's senses swept over the wrenches in the tool bag at his waist—the wear patterns on the wrench handles indicated that he habitually used a specific angle of force, an angle suitable for disassembling bolts in confined spaces. Professional habits cannot be faked.
Beneath the scars on Zhang Haitao's fingers, there are slight, irregular healing marks on the bones, caused by long-term exposure to the vibrations of a welding torch. However, the dexterity of his fingers is not impaired, and the skin on his fingertips may even be more sensitive to temperature changes than the average person.
Liu Qiming's eyeglass frames, with their self-made copper wire reinforcement, are incredibly ingenious in their fixing method—the copper wire passes through the hinge hole of the frame, the winding method is both secure and does not affect opening and closing, and the end is finished with a smooth and rounded finish. This is a typical example of precision manufacturing thinking.
Wang Jianguo's work clothes cuffs had faint, indelible hydraulic oil stains, but more importantly, Wang Zhengyang noticed that the pressure gauge pen he carried with him had extremely precise grinding marks on the sealing cone surface of the pen tip, indicating that he often maintained and calibrated the measuring tool himself.
Each of his four apprentices has their own specialty, and all of them are truly skilled. Chen Yishang was not exaggerating.
But Wang Zhengyang chose Chen Yishang not only because of his solid skills and reliable character, but also for a deeper and more hidden reason.
It was a fragment of a past life's memory: Three months after the fall of Berlin, Wang Zhengyang had briefly stopped at a temporary shelter during his exile. There were several survivors who had escaped from the Berlin university town. One of them mentioned in casual conversation that there was a Chinese master craftsman nicknamed "Iron Hand" at their initial hiding place. He could "feel" where metal parts were about to break without any equipment, and he could even make simple pieces of iron "temporarily obey" and reinforce their doors and windows several times. The man said that Master "Iron Hand" was taciturn but had excellent craftsmanship. Unfortunately, the stronghold was later overrun by a large swarm of mutated rats, and "Iron Hand" was buried in the ruins while covering the retreat of a few young men.
The description is vague; the idea of "making the metal piece temporarily obey" is likely just an exaggerated rumor. But in a world where psychic powers have descended and superpowers have awakened, such a description makes it hard for Wang Zhengyang not to associate it with some kind of talent related to metal perception or even rudimentary manipulation. If that "iron hand" is Chen Yishang... then he is not only an excellent mechanic, but also a precious seed of superpowers yet to be awakened.
Technology is the foundation of the present, while potential superpowers represent the possibilities of the future. Chen Yishang's deep concern for his son's future is the strongest link connecting the present and the future.
"Masters," Wang Zhengyang said, turning to the five people, "Master Chen should have already given a brief introduction to our project. Let me clarify again: We are currently carrying out an overseas testing mission for a national-level heavy equipment. The core of the mission is to conduct approximately six months of adaptive modifications and extreme environment simulation tests on a large railway transport platform in Germany. After the tests are completed, the platform will be transported back to China as a whole."
He paused, observing their reactions. All five listened attentively; no one whispered among themselves.
"Participating in this project offers three layers of protection. First, financial security: During your stay in Germany, you will be paid 20% above the standard hourly wage for your specific job in the German market, paid weekly, either in cash or by bank transfer. The project also provides basic work accident insurance, as well as subsidies for food, accommodation, and transportation."
Li Zhenhua's Adam's apple bobbed. Zhang Haitao's eyes lit up. Liu Qiming adjusted his glasses. Wang Jianguo nodded slightly.
"Secondly, technical support: The project involves a large amount of non-standard and high-requirement modification work. I will provide detailed technical specifications and drawings, and Master Chen will be responsible for on-site technical guidance and process control. This is an excellent opportunity for everyone to improve their skills and challenge themselves."
This touched Liu Qiming, whose eyes revealed the eagerness of a technician.
"Third, and most importantly, is job security." Wang Zhengyang emphasized, emphasizing each word, "After the project concludes, the key technical personnel—I mean the real backbone—who pass the comprehensive assessment will have the opportunity to return to China with the equipment and work for large state-owned enterprises or national research institutes. They will be formally employed and their household registration will be resolved. For those with immediate family members in China who need care, such as for children's education or parents' medical care, there will also be corresponding preferential resettlement policies."
That last sentence was like a heavy hammer blow.
Chen Yishang's breathing became noticeably heavier. Li Zhenhua clenched his fists. Zhang Haitao opened his mouth. Liu Qiming suddenly looked up. Wang Jianguo took a deep breath.
Of the five of them, only Liu Qiming was a student; the other four held limited-term work visas or blue cards. Their lives in Germany seemed stable, but in reality, they were walking on thin ice. Language, culture, career ceilings, uncertainty about the future… and the meaning of a formal, tenured technical position in China for them and their families was self-evident.
"Dr. Wang," Chen Yishang's voice was a little hoarse, "can all of this... be written into the contract?"
"The core terms will be included as an appendix in your formal employment contract," Wang Zhengyang answered decisively. "Of course, this is contingent on passing the technical assessments, security evaluations, and background checks during the project. The project has confidentiality requirements, so the review process will be more rigorous."
"We are willing to accept scrutiny," Wang Jianguo was the first to speak. He was the oldest and the most pragmatic, "as long as the opportunity is real."
"The opportunity is real." Wang Zhengyang looked at him, "But I must emphasize that this project is not an ordinary modification. Many of the designs are test-oriented, with extremely high requirements for precision, reliability, and process consistency. The workload will be very heavy, sometimes requiring continuous operation, and the environment may be quite harsh. Most importantly, the project content must be kept absolutely confidential and must never be mentioned to outsiders, including family members."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the eyes of each of the five men: "Now, those who want to join, stay. Those who have doubts can leave. Just pretend you never saw me today, and Master Chen will give you compensation for today's lost work."
The silence lasted for about ten seconds.
Li Zhenhua was the first to take a small step forward. Zhang Haitao followed. Liu Qiming bit his lip and also stopped. Wang Jianguo looked at Chen Yishang, who nodded emphatically, and Wang Jianguo straightened up as well.
"Okay." Wang Zhengyang's face was devoid of any smile, only a calm certainty. "Welcome everyone to the preparatory team for the 'Polar Transportation Platform Test Project.' This afternoon, we will go to the project platform site to begin preliminary surveying. Before that, everyone needs to sign a temporary technical service agreement and a confidentiality agreement."
He took out five pre-prepared documents from his briefcase, each only two pages long, with clear and simple terms: service content, remuneration standards, confidentiality obligations, and liability for breach of contract. The remuneration standards specified the exact amount, which was very attractive.
The five people took turns reading, signing, and pressing their fingerprints. The atmosphere became formal and solemn.
"Master Chen," Wang Zhengyang put away the documents, "Meet at the entrance of the Oberhausen marshalling yard at 1 p.m. Bring your personal tools and surveying equipment. Today's work mainly involves familiarizing yourself with the car bodies and conducting basic surveying."
"Understood," Chen Yishang replied.