Chapter 113: Exploring the Second Wave of Automotive Inventions

Turning to the man beside him, Xiao Weiguo asked, "Engineer Wang, why are all the drivers so burly? Does driving require that much physical strength?"

A man in his thirties standing next to Li Daniu chuckled and said, "Young man, it’s common knowledge that you need immense strength to handle these big trucks. With a frame as delicate as yours, I’m afraid you’d struggle just to make a turn, ha-ha!"

Except for Li Daniu, the other drivers burst into laughter.

Not convinced, Xiao Weiguo climbed into the driver’s seat of a nearby "Liberation" truck and tried to turn the steering wheel. To his surprise, it took a great deal of effort just to budge it slightly. Furthermore, he noticed a serious issue: the truck had no seatbelts, the seat was as hard as a block of iron, and there was no individual driver’s seat—just a long wooden bench spanning the width of the cab.

Xiao Weiguo began to formulate the focus of his upcoming conversation with Wang Weihe.

Once he stepped out, he addressed the drivers: "Comrades, I have a few questions. First, how much strength is generally required to operate this vehicle? Second, in the event of an accident, what are the chances of survival for the driver? Third, when you drive for more than two hours, do you experience significant physical discomfort?"

The drivers began to chime in all at once. Xiao Weiguo quickly gestured for quiet and turned to Engineer Wang. "Engineer Wang, the brake-cooling device I installed was inspired by Comrade Li Daniu here. I would like to ask him to answer these three questions for us."

Feeling a surge of pride as everyone’s eyes turned toward him, Li Daniu puffed out his chest and said, "Driving this truck requires at least fifty percent more strength than an average adult possesses, and maintaining that level of exertion is exhausting. As for the second question, minor bumps are usually fine, but in a serious accident, the driver is almost certain to perish. A driver from the neighboring factory’s fleet flew right through the windshield last month and died on the spot. Regarding the third question, driving is a full-body workout. After a long shift, every part of your body aches, but we drivers are generally tough, so we just endure it. I don't think it’s a real problem."

Xiao Weiguo feigned deep thought, his brow furrowed. Engineer Wang quickly dismissed the drivers and their captain to ensure Xiao would not be disturbed.

Five minutes later, feeling that the timing was right, Xiao Weiguo looked up with an expression of sudden realization and said, "Engineer Wang, I have some thoughts on the three questions I raised. Would you like to hear them?"

Wang Weihe replied excitedly, "Weiguo, please, go ahead. I’m taking notes."

Xiao Weiguo nodded. "First, the fact that you need immense strength to drive is unhealthy. I think we should look into adding something to the steering wheel—I call it a 'power steering system.' Its purpose is to reduce the effort needed to turn the wheel, which would lower the difficulty for drivers significantly and allow them to devote more energy to building the factory.

"Second, we could add a strap to the driver’s seat to secure them in place. This would prevent the driver from being thrown out during a serious accident, effectively increasing their survival rate. Every driver is a valuable asset. I call this a 'seatbelt.'

"Third, the current seating is far too primitive. It’s uncomfortable for a normal person to sit on for even a short time, let alone while driving. We should find a way to improve the comfort of the driver’s station—perhaps by installing something akin to a sofa, so the driver feels like they are sitting on a couch while working. I call this a 'driver’s seat comfort upgrade.'"

Wang Weihe muttered to himself as he listened, "Power steering system... seatbelt... driver’s seat comfort upgrade... This is brilliant! Why haven’t any of our engineers thought of this? A power steering system could certainly be achieved through hydraulics. Seatbelts seem fine, provided they don't cause fractures, but the seat comfort is something we’ll have to discuss; it doesn't quite align with our spirit of hard work and simple living."

"Engineer Wang, I actually have a specific design in mind for the seatbelt. It certainly shouldn't just be a crude rope tied horizontally or vertically. I’m thinking of a three-point seatbelt with a retractable mechanism..."

Xiao Weiguo gave a detailed explanation of modern seatbelts. Unsure if the West had invented them yet, he added, "Engineer Wang, you could absolutely register patents for these inventions in the Western world. That way, if foreigners use our technology, they would have to pay us royalties. Of course, we should verify if these inventions already exist abroad, though I suspect some do not."

These were the fruits of decades of automotive progress. While they might seem mundane to a modern person, in this era of reconstruction, they were epoch-making inventions—the kind worthy of being placed on the desks of national leaders.

"Invention... patent..." Wang Weihe’s eyes grew brighter. He gripped Xiao Weiguo’s hand and shook it fervently. "Weiguo, how does your mind work? I must return at once. Everything you’ve described is feasible and would greatly accelerate our automotive transport industry. As for registering patents abroad, we will hold a meeting to discuss it."

Xiao Weiguo added more fuel to the fire: "Engineer Wang, from what I understand, foreigners place great importance on these patents. Imagine, if Westerners had to use our inventions and pay us royalties for them—that would be a tremendous boost to our national prestige. In the future, we won't just defeat them on the battlefield; we can outdo them in other areas as well. The significance is immense."

Engineer Wang took off his glasses and wiped them gently. "You’re right. I will urge them to get started on this immediately. I can’t wait to get back. By the way, Weiguo, give me your father’s information as soon as possible. I will make calls and send telegrams to the repair plant so they can notify your father’s brigade. As for your reward, it has been handed over to your factory office; they will see that you receive it. Please be patient."

Xiao Weiguo borrowed a pen and paper, wrote down his father’s details, and handed them to Wang Weihe, who rushed off to handle the matter.

With nothing left to do, Xiao Weiguo asked Wang Weihe if he was needed further. Wang assured him that he had more than enough to work with and that they would keep in touch via telegram and phone once he returned to the Northeast.

Xiao Weiguo decided he needed to return early to inform his father, Xiao Pingyue, of the situation. He wanted his father to be prepared for the move to the city so he wouldn't be caught off guard when the official notice arrived. Besides, this was such happy news that he wanted his family to know in advance so they could start celebrating sooner.

With these thoughts in mind, Xiao Weiguo mounted his bicycle and rode toward the Xiao Family Brigade.