Crossing the Western Tianshan Mountains

He planned to go find Gulinar the next day.

Wu Yongjie's words were still exaggerated.

The sudden drop in temperature caused problems for many machines, starting with roadheaders. The low temperature increased the viscosity of the hydraulic and lubricating oils in the machines, increasing the resistance of the hydraulic systems and traditional components, reducing their efficiency and even rendering some parts inoperable.

Most of the workers were circling around the equipment, complaining about one problem or another. The worker in charge of maintenance also had a worried look on his face, saying that this was not something that could be solved by manpower and that the temperature needed to be better.

A tunnel boring machine (TBM) is an indispensable piece of equipment for tunnel construction. Like an underground pangolin, the cutterhead of a TBM is equipped with many cutting tools. Under the powerful propulsion force, the cutterhead rotates and squeezes, cutting the rock or soil at the front working surface of the section to be excavated.

The cut rock debris will enter the conveying system inside the machine through the opening on the cutter head, and will be sent to the rear of the machine by a screw conveyor or belt conveyor, and then transported out of the tunnel using supporting transportation equipment such as mine cars and dump trucks.

It can be said that the tunnel boring machine is the pioneer equipment that must be used in tunnel construction. If there is a problem with the tunnel boring machine, it will basically be stuck here.

Wu Yongjie initially said that such weather would not affect the work.

Yes, humans are the strongest and can still overcome harsh environments and continue to work at times like this, but I didn’t expect that machines would also go on strike.

When Wu Yongjie heard the news, he cursed.

For the first time, he felt discouraged and sat in the chair in the office in a daze. Ling Fengxi had of course also heard about this, but this time he was not in a hurry. He slowly walked into Wu Yongjie's office and handed him a cigarette. Wu Yongjie glanced at it and turned his head away.

I don't even feel like smoking anymore.

Ling Fengxi said, "When problems arise, we just solve them. What's the big deal? After all, there are projects in the Arctic and Antarctic. Think about how they do it."

What Wu Yongjie said was answered back to him. He stood up from his chair and walked out the door, as if the air in the room was polluted by Ling Fengxi.

Ling Fengxi also followed out, but this time he didn't say anything. He just lit a cigarette and smoked it silently.

The 14th plot of land can be seen from the yard. The workers are still busy. Wu Yongjie did not say to give up, and Ling Fengxi did not say anything either. The workers have to keep busy, but there is no point in this busyness.

After a long while, Wu Yongjie sighed and said, "Don't worry, this problem can be solved."

It is true that this problem can be solved, but it is tiring. Because I really don't know how many more problems the construction of the Xitianshan Tunnel will bring them in the future. When Tang Monk went to the West to obtain Buddhist scriptures, he encountered 81 difficulties, but none of them were as difficult as the Xitianshan Tunnel.

The project was halted for another two days.

In accordance with the requirements of the Engineering Department and the Technical Department, a batch of small backup power supplies and heating equipment were added locally, and backup generators with sufficient power were equipped at the construction site to cope with the unstable power supply of the power grid caused by low temperatures. Heating equipment such as ventilators can help hot air blowers to thaw the moisture and ice when electrical equipment becomes damp and frozen.

A temporary temperature control department was established, and some technicians were transferred to it. During the meeting, Wu Yongjie once again put pressure on the workers, "What are we doing with so many people and so many departments? Why are our projects always stopped for one reason or another? Why can't we think more ahead? We need a certain level of foresight. Shouldn't the technical department have known about low temperature equipment problems in advance?"

The members of the technical department were a little unconvinced and said, "Captain Wu, even if we know, so what? This is caused by the natural environment. Can we really fight against nature? Ask nature not to freeze our machines?"

Captain Wu said, "You pig-brained fellow, no need to speak."

The technician was so angry that he almost threw the bowl...

However, this person's confrontation also made Wu Yongjie realize that everyone was under pressure, and confrontational emotions would be more difficult to manage, so he fell silent.

After a while, he added, "This time, these problems will be handed over to the temperature control department. I hope the problem will not occur again with the machinery or temperature, because these two can be changed manually."

The conference was very unsuccessful, and everyone was in a heavy mood, especially in July when the weather was freezing cold, which made everyone realize that the conditions in the Western Tianshan Mountains had become extremely harsh. However, according to the plan, work would not be stopped in winter, so houses were built here to prepare for a long-term battle.

I dare not think about how I will live in the days ahead.

Ling Fengxi was still at the machinery parking area at this time. The workers removed the tarpaulin and shook off the thick snow. The machinery did not seem to have suffered any damage. Ling Fengxi's hand was touching a tunnel boring machine. The coldness and hardness went straight from his fingers to his bones. He held it for a while before letting go.

Do the workers in the West Tianshan Tunnel have to work with such cold machinery every day?

Now that the snow has melted, will it still be warm?

What no one expected was that in the afternoon, Gulinar actually came and boiled milk tea in a big pot in the yard. The unique fragrance of the milk tea could be smelled from afar, and from afar, one could seem to feel the warmth.

When Ye Minglang entered the yard, he saw Gulinar, dressed in fiery red, rolling up her sleeves, revealing her white arms, and adding firewood to the fire.

Seeing the pot of hot milk tea, the flames under the stove and Gulinar, dressed in red and working hard, Ye Minglang suddenly felt that all the coldness brought by the snow had stopped at this moment.

He walked over and called out, "Flower."

Gulinar responded and stood up. Ye Minglang held her hand and said, "Why didn't you let me come to you? I've been worried about you all day."

"The road is too dangerous. I'm worried about you coming to me. So I came to find you. Besides, it's too cold, and the workers need milk tea. How can I not come?"

"Are the sheep at home all right?"

"It's all right for now. My Ata and the others are ready to move, but they won't go too far. We're going to where we were last winter. There's a sheepfold with a roof there."

"Does that mean it's even further away from us? I can't send you milk tea, right?"

"How could that be? We mountain children don't have such problems at all. We have lived here for so long, our sheep and we have all gotten used to this place. It won't affect our daily lives."

At this time, more and more workers gathered around, and everyone was mainly feeling cold.

In fact, there is an electric heater in the dormitory, but that kind of heating is a warm device that cannot warm people's hearts. It is not like this big pot of milk tea and the red flame of the stove, which are things that can directly warm the heart and stomach. They couldn't help but be attracted and gathered around with their bowls.