Mystery Detective of the Steam World

Chapter 50 Building a Car
Purchasing the equipment itself didn't waste much of Li Wei's time, or rather, he didn't spend any time at all.

"I hope to buy some equipment, instruments and materials needed to make small devices like dolls."

Li Wei directly stated his requirements to Hank.

Uncle Hank was a little surprised by Li Wei's direct request.

"That's it? No other requirements?"

"No, but it's best to get everything at once."

“That’s no problem…”

Uncle Hank scratched his bald head, looked at Levi, and then at Eileen.

"However, regarding the price..."

"Price is not an issue."

"Ok."

Seeing that Li Wei agreed so readily, Uncle Hank no longer hesitated.

"I'll send someone to handle it immediately; it should be done in an hour at most!"

After saying that, Uncle Hank turned and left, while Levi, feeling bored, began to wander around the huge shop-factory. Eileen followed beside Levi, introducing him to the equipment—it was clear she was quite familiar with it.

With Eileen's explanation, Levi also gained a general understanding of the steam technology of this era.

The steam engines in this world, like those in Livy's time, are powered by steam (which is obvious, of course). However, the source of this steam power is different. In Livy's world, steam engines generate steam from coal and water to drive machinery and produce power.

However, the steam power in this world comes from a raw material called "jelly." According to Eileen's description, Levi felt that it was similar to coal, but its burning time and energy efficiency were hundreds of times or even higher than coal. The steam-powered machines that Levi had seen on the streets outside, which were about two people tall and resembled mechs, only needed a piece of jelly the size of a fingernail, plus a 1000-liter water tank, to generate enough power to sustain them for several days.

Of course, as times progress and technology develops, people have come up with many ways to extend the operating time of steam machinery and reduce consumption.

The most common method currently is the "steam storage method," which involves storing large amounts of steam in high-pressure tanks, and then using these tanks to drive the machinery. If the steam in the high-pressure tanks runs out, they can be refilled at a gas station. Most civilian vehicles and steam-powered machinery are currently driven in this way.

If you don't want to waste time filling it up, you can replace the gas canister just like you would a battery, which is quick and easy.

Of course, this thing isn't entirely without danger; after all, if it explodes, the person sitting on it could very well be subjected to a one-way, high-altitude bungee jump…

Compared to other dangerous flammable and explosive chemical gases, this stuff is not so easy to explode.

"Ok?"

However, just as Li Wei walked around a dismantling machine that was being assembled and came to the other side of the factory, he saw something that looked somewhat familiar.

It was a four-wheeled steam vehicle.

However, unlike the steam carriage Li Wei had ridden in before, this steam carriage was more in line with the style of Li Wei's era.

Li Wei had ridden in steam-powered vehicles of this era several times. They were definitely faster than horse-drawn carriages, and their ride was quite smooth. If Li Wei had to complain, it would be about the appearance of these vehicles.

Perhaps due to inertia, these steam locomotives, in Levi's opinion, were essentially miniaturized versions of a steam train, with the locomotive and the first carriage connected together. Therefore, it's natural to imagine a chimney standing at the front of these locomotives.

So here's the question: if you're sitting in a car and there's a chimney in front of you, what can you see?
Some steam-powered vehicles opted to place the chimney on the side of the front to avoid obstructing the driver's view. However... opening the window meant being hit directly in the face by the steam, which was quite unpleasant.

However, all steam cars in this world are designed this way, so there's nothing Levi can do about it.

On the contrary, this car looked a lot like a Jeep from his own world to Li Wei. It was square and tall, and it didn't have that annoying chimney on the front, so it looked quite pleasing to the eye... However, it was no exception to the common practice of having exhaust outlets on both sides like shark gills.

"Are you interested in it?"

Just as Li Wei was looking the car up and down, Uncle Hank's voice came from the side. Li Wei glanced at him and nodded.

"That's right, I really like this design. Is this the new car you're planning to build?"

"More or less. Although I'm confident I can solve these problems, I'm not sure if this kind of car will be popular..."

At this point, Uncle Hank looked a little embarrassed, while Eileen just chuckled.

"Uncle Hank is the best steam mechanic on this street; there's nothing he can't build!"

"oh……………"

Li Wei stared at the steam engine in front of him, pondering for a moment.

"Can I go in and try?"

"Of course, please."

Uncle Hank naturally wouldn't refuse this seemingly wealthy customer. Li Wei quickly opened the car door and got in, then followed Uncle Hank's instructions to perform some operations.

Steam-powered vehicles of this era were quite simple; driving them was not much different from driving a tractor. Levi gave it a try and felt confident in his ability to operate the vehicle. He then got off and looked at Uncle Hank.

“Mr. Hank, I want to discuss a deal with you.”

"Please speak, Mr. Li Wei."

"I hope you can build a car according to my requirements." It has to be said that Uncle Hank was somewhat surprised by Levi's request.

"According to your request...? Mr. Li Wei, you mean..."

“I don’t understand steam dynamics, so I can’t make any technical demands on you… Um, Eileen, give me a pen and paper.”

Eileen quickly grabbed a pen and paper from the side, and then Levi walked to the table, scribbled a few lines on the paper, and then handed it over.

"I hope you can manufacture a car with this shape."

"This is………?"

Uncle Hank curiously took the blueprints that Levi handed him and glanced at them. Then, he was immediately surprised and his eyes widened!
No wonder Uncle Hank was so surprised, because the car in the drawing looked like something he had never seen before!

The vehicles of this era are all very three-dimensional. Perhaps because steam cars were improved from steam trains, steam cars in this world are still tall and large, just like steam trains.

However, the vehicle in Li Wei's drawings was flat!
Although Levi raised the chassis to take into account the road conditions of this world, in Uncle Hank's eyes, this strange car shape was simply astonishing! Unbelievable!
If it weren't for the four wheels on it, he would have doubted whether it was really a steam car.
What Li Wei took out was, of course, a supercar from his world, since owning a supercar had always been his dream. Before he fell ill and was hospitalized, one of his biggest wishes was to earn enough money to buy a supercar.

Of course, you can't buy a genuine supercar now, but with the technology of this world... is it possible to assemble one?

"This truly surprises me... Mr. Levi..."

Uncle Hank stared intently at the blueprints before him, examining them carefully. Eileen, standing beside him, was also eager to see them, but unfortunately, Uncle Hank was 1.8 meters tall, and she clearly couldn't reach them, so she could only watch anxiously from the sidelines.

"You mean...we want to build a steam car like this?"

"Yes."

"But where do we put the steam engine and gas tank? There doesn't seem to be any space in front of this vehicle."

"Why not just put it at the back?"

"And there are chimneys that emit steam..."

"Couldn't we just install some pipes to drain the water from under the car?"

"Under the car?"

Li Wei was naturally completely ignorant of steam dynamics, and his knowledge of vehicles was limited to driving racing games. Therefore, his requests were quite amateurish. Anyway, he didn't care about any of that; he just wanted to create a supercar designed according to his own ideas and requirements. The rest—that was for experts to solve. He was a detective, not a car maker.

Food, clothing, shelter, and transportation are basic human needs. Li Wei has already solved the first three, leaving only the last one. Naturally, he doesn't mind spending a little money to make himself more comfortable.

However, these broad answers only made Uncle Hank more and more excited. If it weren't for the fact that his face was blackened by smoke, it would have been flushed red.

What Li Wei said, though still considered wild fantasy in this era, was like opening a whole new door for Uncle Hank!

The doors don't open to the sides, but rather upwards. A flat, streamlined body, a rear-mounted drivetrain, and exhaust pipes…

The power system can be solved using the latest steam engines and high-pressure gas cylinders. Times are changing; steam engines are getting smaller, and high-pressure gas cylinders are getting larger. Once the power problem is solved, other issues don't seem too serious, and besides, for now…

The more Uncle Hank thought about it, the more he felt that this thing had potential!

Most importantly, this isn't something I just fantasized about; it's something someone else ordered, which means it's guaranteed to sell!
"Can it be done?"

Seeing Uncle Hank remain silent, Li Wei asked curiously. He was already mentally prepared; if it didn't work out, driving an off-road vehicle wouldn't be a bad option... Although supercars are indeed a man's dream, if the technology level isn't up to par... there's nothing that can be done.

"can."

Fortunately, Uncle Hank did not disappoint Levi, nodding vigorously.

"However, this will cost a lot of money, because we need to buy the latest steam engines and high-pressure gas cylinders, and we also need to conduct experiments..."

"How much."

Li Wei didn't want to listen to the process, so he skipped straight to the end, since he wouldn't understand anyway.

"...Adding the equipment you requested earlier, the total is 500 pounds. Because your requirements include a lot of the latest research and development equipment, which is quite expensive..."

"no problem."

Li Wei directly took out the punch card and placed it in Uncle Hank's hand, interrupting the latter's incessant talking. Looking at the bank card with the citizen number marked, he swallowed hard.

"You...are you really going to make this decision? You know this isn't a small amount of money. What if I take your money and run away..."

“You were recommended by Eileen, so I trust Eileen.”

Li Wei glanced at the uneasy Eileen. During the time Eileen had worked for Li Wei, she had performed very well, and Li Wei was very satisfied with her.

"Moreover, I am a detective."

Li Wei put his top hat back on, stared at Uncle Hank, and smiled slightly.

"I am quite confident in my professional abilities."

(End of this chapter)