3.1 A Crazy Plan, A Fantasy
As the world was swallowed by chaos, like a surging vortex, the Quantum Spirit summoned Lín Xuān before the "Quantum Core." The lights in the base were dim, as if shrouded by the shadow of the apocalypse, and the surrounding equipment emitted faint electrical sounds from time to time, as if whispering the despair of the world.
The Quantum Spirit's voice was exceptionally clear in the quiet space, like a cold blade cutting through the silence: "Lín Xuān, we need to build a spaceship and a rocket to escape this apocalyptic Earth."
Lín Xuān, who was drinking water, almost sprayed it out when he heard this. His eyes widened like bronze bells, and he looked incredulously in the direction of the Quantum Spirit's signal source, stammering, "What… what did you say? Build a spaceship and a rocket? You're not joking, are you! This isn't building blocks. I don't even understand a car engine, let alone something that can fly into space! And where would we get the materials and technology? This is pure fantasy! Is your program malfunctioning?"
He gestured with his hands, his emotions as agitated as an erupting volcano, his face filled with shock and apprehension, as if he had heard the most absurd joke in the world.
He added urgently, "Little sister, don't kid me. This is completely unreliable!"
The Quantum Spirit ignored Lín Xuān's excitement and began to explain on its own, its voice as flat as still water: "I've already designed the spaceship structure; it will be modular. For the power module, we'll use engines from old, large-displacement cars from the junkyard, modified to provide power. The living module will be equipped with an activated carbon filter device modified from a fish tank water pump and a device for oxygen generation using distilled Erguotou liquor to ensure our survival. The control module will assemble the navigation system from old electronic components, and then use a mobile phone gyroscope chip for control. The rocket body will be made from discarded industrial pipes and scrap metal sheets, and the engine will use solid propellant made from potassium nitrate, white sugar, and waste vegetable oil."
Lín Xuān listened, dumbfounded, and slumped into a nearby chair, clasping his head with both hands, sighing, "This is too crazy. What's the difference between this and me plucking stars with my bare hands? You might as well ask me to negotiate with God!"
But looking at the Quantum Spirit's "confident" demeanor, he knew that this crazy plan might be their only hope.
Although his heart was full of fear and doubt, he gritted his teeth and decided to give it a try. It was like a drowning person desperately grabbing a single straw, because it was the only possibility of survival.
He took a deep breath and muttered to himself, "Forget it, forget it. We'll die if we stay here anyway. Might as well take a gamble. Who knows, maybe a blind cat will catch a dead mouse!"
After speaking, he stood up, took a deep breath, his eyes gradually firming, as if he had prepared himself to face the challenge. A faint but firm flame ignited in his heart, flickering in the darkness, yet burning stubbornly.
3.2 Difficult Preparations, A String of Embarrassing Incidents
The preparations began arduinely under the shadow of the apocalypse, and the first priority was material collection.
The construction funds were the academic proceeds of 5.2 million yuan left by Dr. Chén. To save expenses, they decided to use ordinary and recyclable waste materials. This sounded easy, but it was fraught with difficulties and unexpected setbacks at every step.
The Quantum Spirit instructed Lín Xuān to collect the frames of five shared bicycles as raw materials for the spaceship's keel structure. ROB1 also assisted in searching and transporting.
Lín Xuān and ROB1 arrived at the plaza where shared bicycles used to be gathered. The scene was like a fierce battlefield. Shared bicycles lay scattered everywhere, some crushed under collapsed billboards, only half their bodies visible, like soldiers buried by the enemy; others were mired in mud pits, as if struggling in pain.
"This isn't finding shared bicycles; it's like playing a super-difficult hide-and-seek, and in ruins!" Lín Xuān muttered as he rummaged through the debris, his feet occasionally kicking up small objects with a clatter.
Suddenly, he spotted a shared bicycle stuck between two cars and exclaimed excitedly, "ROB1, come quick, there's a 'survivor' here!" ROB1 walked over with heavy steps, extended its robotic arm, and pulled out the bicycle like picking a radish. However, it exerted too much force and stumbled backward, almost falling, which made Lín Xuān laugh out loud.
"ROB1, even a strongman like you makes mistakes! Seems you're not omnipotent after all!" Lín Xuān teased with a smile, easing the tense atmosphere, like a ray of sunshine breaking through the clouds, bringing a moment of warmth.
Just then, a noise suddenly came from not far away. Lín Xuān looked alertly and saw a ragged survivor hiding in a corner, his eyes full of caution and fear.
Lín Xuān walked forward and said friendly, "Hey, brother, don't be scared. We're not bad people. We're just looking for some materials."
The survivor hesitated and said in a low voice, "This place is dangerous. You should leave quickly."
Lín Xuān smiled, "It's okay, we have a robot to help us, we're not afraid. By the way, have you seen any other intact shared bicycles?"
The survivor shook his head, "They've all been looted. I was lucky to hide here."
Lín Xuān sighed helplessly and continued searching for shared bicycles with ROB1.
3.2.1 The Anguish of Preparing Welding Tools and Materials
The preparation of welding tools and materials also became a headache.
The Quantum Spirit suggested using an oxy-acetylene torch and asked Lín Xuān to use polyethylene terephthalate (PET) melted from antifreeze plastic bottles to replace the carbon fiber adhesive.
As Lín Xuān collected plastic bottles, he set up a simple melting device, while ROB1 helped with carrying and assembly.
While collecting plastic bottles, Lín Xuān passed by an abandoned amusement park with a huge plastic slide. His eyes lit up, thinking about how much plastic that slide must have.
So, he climbed up the slide with great effort and began to dismantle it. He accidentally missed his footing and slid down the slide, landing on his buttocks. He winced in pain, muttering, "I'm really going all out for this spaceship. My butt must be bruised all over!" He looked like a comical clown, making people burst into laughter.
Just as he was about to continue dismantling the slide, a pessimistic-looking person passed by. Seeing his actions, the person sneered, "Don't waste your energy. The world is ending, and you're still thinking about building a spaceship. It's just wishful thinking."
Lín Xuān gave him a sideways glance, "How do you know it won't work if you don't try? It's better than waiting to die here." After that, he buried his head back in work.
3.2.2 The Difficult Search for Radiation Shielding Materials
The search for radiation shielding materials was equally arduous.
The Quantum Spirit instructed Lín Xuān to find 5mm lead glass from an abandoned hospital's CT room and insulation cotton from old refrigerators. Upon entering the abandoned hospital, a deathly aura filled the air, eerie and terrifying, making one's hair stand on end, as if walking into a haunted house, where every step was taken cautiously, for fear of disturbing something.
"This place is so creepy. I hope I can find the materials smoothly. Why do I feel a chill down my spine!" Lín Xuān cautiously walked into the CT room, looking at the thick and heavy lead glass, he frowned with worry.
At this moment, ROB1 entered like a strongman, easily lifting the lead glass with both hands. However, when turning, it almost hit the door frame, scaring Lín Xuān into shouting, "Be careful! This treasure can't be damaged! If it breaks, we'll be in big trouble!"
He looked so nervous, as if guarding a priceless treasure, not allowing the slightest mistake.
After leaving the hospital, they went to a scrap yard to look for old refrigerators.
The scrap yard was piled high with various kinds of garbage, emitting a pungent odor, like a giant garbage monster, making one sick.
Lín Xuān was rummaging through the mountains of scrap when he suddenly stepped on a banana peel and lunged forward, headfirst into a pile of old appliances. When he awkwardly climbed out, his face was covered in dust, making him look like a little cat. Even ROB1 let out a strange electronic sound, as if mocking him.
"You're laughing at me too! Hurry up and help me find it! Don't just stand there watching the excitement!" Lín Xuān said to ROB1 impatiently, but the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl up slightly. These minor incidents added a different flavor to the arduous preparations, like stars twinkling in the darkness, faint but bringing a glimmer of comfort.
In the scrap yard, Lín Xuān also met a few other survivors. Seeing Lín Xuān searching for old refrigerators, they curiously asked him what he was doing.
Lín Xuān explained briefly. One of the survivors looked at him with admiration, "You're so brave. We're all just thinking about how to survive, but you're thinking about escaping Earth."
Lín Xuān smiled, "I just don't want to wait for death. Having a little more hope is always good."
3.2.3 The Bumpy Journey of Collecting Rocket Materials
For the rocket body materials, they had to go to the scrap yard to find discarded industrial pipes and scrap metal sheets. The raw materials for the rocket propellant were potassium nitrate, white sugar, and waste vegetable oil.
When collecting potassium nitrate, Lín Xuān went to an abandoned fireworks factory, which was chaotic, with scattered raw materials everywhere.
He was searching through a pile of powder when he accidentally inhaled some, causing him to cough uncontrollably, tears streaming down his face. He muttered, "If this could blow me into space, I wouldn't have to go through all this trouble to build a spaceship. What sin did I commit!"
He looked pitiful and funny at the same time, making people want to cry and laugh.
When collecting waste vegetable oil, they went to the back kitchen of an abandoned restaurant. It was greasy, with oil stains all over the floor. Lín Xuān stepped on a patch of oil and slid for several meters before crashing into a large oil drum, almost knocking himself unconscious. Looking at the oil stains on his body, he could only smile wryly.
"After this trip, I'm practically a regular at the scrap yard. Maybe they'll give me a VIP card in the future!" Lín Xuān gave a helpless, wry smile and continued with the material collection. Each difficulty did not make him back down; instead, it strengthened his resolve to escape Earth, just as steel becomes harder when tempered in fire, his conviction grew stronger through hardship.
While looking for potassium nitrate at the fireworks factory, Lín Xuān also encountered a grumpy survivor who yelled at him for messing with things he considered useful.
Lín Xuān apologized and explained, but the other party didn't listen and almost got physical.
Seeing this, ROB1 stepped in front of Lín Xuān and emitted a warning electronic sound, which scared the other party away.
After this incident, Lín Xuān became even more careful, while also lamenting the complexity of human nature under the apocalypse.