Chapter 58: The Exhibition

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“The exhibition hall of the Capital Machine Tool Research Institute is just ahead. You may now go and explore their machine tools,” the staff explained.

“Mr. He Xingzhou’s presentation will begin at two o’clock this afternoon.”

“Ah? Two in the afternoon? We’ve come too early!” The visitors expressed their disappointment upon hearing this.

“Not really too early. There are already so many people now. When it hits two, it’ll be so crowded you won’t even be able to get in. Better to secure a spot first!”

“Haha, I’m so clever. I brought some bread and I’ll stay from nine till two. There’s no way I’m missing it!”

“Let’s visit some other halls first!”

...

“Director Liang, we have arrived!” Inside the exhibition hall, a secretary spoke to an elderly man wearing a jacket.

The man was about sixty years old, with graying temples, tanned skin, and deeply set wrinkles around his eyes.

His name was Liang An, the director of Qinzhou Machine Tool Factory.

Qinzhou Machine Tool Factory was one of the key enterprises supporting the machine tool industry in Shenzhou.

Liang An had been invited by the organizers to attend the exhibition. Upon learning the news of an important domestic machine tool being showcased today, he felt a heavy anticipation.

“I hope today brings me a surprise,” Liang An said gravely.

...

“I’ve already arrived, but they haven’t started officially yet. Currently, they’re only displaying some ordinary machine tools,” a German man was speaking with contacts back home at the venue.

He was Kugler, a representative sent by the German Industrial Association, here to gather intelligence.

...

“Mr. Nomura, you may now visit other exhibition halls,” said the interpreter and attendant in the reception room, where Kengo Nomura, president of the Cherry Blossom Nation’s Automotive Industry Association, was seated on the sofa.

“No, I’m not going anywhere now. I’ll wait till two,” Nomura declined the suggestion. He had only one purpose for being here: to find out whether the so-called advanced machine tools were genuine.

What exactly was He Xingzhou up to?

Besides him, the reception room also held industrial magnates or representatives from Korea, Russia, Gaul (France), John (England), Maple Leaf (Canada), Kangaroo (Australia), and others.

Their goals were the same as Nomura’s—to determine the authenticity of the new machine tools. This was a critical technological product that could reshape the global industrial landscape!

They were official guests, but within the exhibition halls, operatives from various countries’ intelligence agencies were also prepared.

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Everyone waited for two o’clock in the afternoon.

...

At two sharp, the exhibition hall of the Capital Machine Tool Research Institute was packed to capacity. The machine tools, previously covered with dust cloths, were finally unveiled.

Yet to the untrained eye, the machines’ appearances revealed nothing special.

“Please remain in your seats and refrain from wandering around. The hall is full; we will temporarily halt admitting other visitors!” On-site, SWAT officers maintained order. Entering the hall required a second security check, and no dangerous items were allowed inside.

This exhibition hall was arranged like a stage, surrounded by temporary seating. It looked less like an exhibition and more like a press conference venue.

It was the largest hall within the entire international exhibition center, vast in space. In previous years, it housed dozens of exhibition zones, but today, the entire main hall was dedicated solely to He Xingzhou!

At exactly two o’clock, the crowd suddenly erupted. Someone shouted, “He Xingzhou! He Xingzhou is here!”

From the staff passageway, a formally dressed young man walked out slowly. The moment he appeared, he became the center of attention.

Many spectators cheered, and media reporters hurried to take photos.

He Xingzhou stepped to the center of the platform and said, “Hello everyone, welcome to the exhibition hall of the Capital Machine Tool Research Institute. I believe you all know why we’re here today—to showcase the Longteng machine tool, developed jointly by the Capital Machine Tool Research Institute and several national research institutes, and—”

“I have already explained online that we will be manufacturing a model of the aerospace mothership.”

“These two things can be seen as one project. You’ve all waited long enough, so without further ado, let’s begin!”

As soon as He Xingzhou finished speaking, materials were brought in.

The audience fell into a respectful silence, watching intently.

He Xingzhou continued, “The entire model will require over one million parts! Its processing precision and speed will reach military-grade standards!”

“Start!” He Xingzhou commanded. The staff began adjusting the CNC machine tools. Under the spotlight, numerous machines started working.

Spectators close by observed the process directly, while those farther away watched on large screens.

Viewers online saw even more detail through strategically placed cameras, able to witness the inner workings of the machines.

He Xingzhou’s live broadcast room was immediately promoted across platforms, drawing massive crowds.

“What kind of stream is this? Watching parts being processed is so boring, why am I getting recommended this?” Some uninitiated viewers complained.

“Here it comes, here it comes! It’s finally starting!”

“Wow, this machining, these visuals—I don’t know why, but watching a piece of metal being shaped into various parts feels strangely satisfying!”

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“So many people here!”

“How long will this machining take?”

...

Noise reduction devices were installed in and around the machines, minimizing sound as much as possible. Meanwhile, a professional commentator explained the various features of the machine tools in detail.

The audience below listened with rapt attention.

“Acceleration, precision, efficiency, stability… all exceeding ours?” Kengo Nomura grew increasingly incredulous. How was this even possible?

“It’s all empty talk. These figures are probably just surface-level hype!” scoffed the German expert. “If Shenzhou truly had this technology, their advanced industries would have already surpassed us!”

“Are we sure this is an exhibition, not just a boasting press conference?” joked the industrialists from the Lighthouse, Gaul, and John nations.

“Could they really have achieved this level?” Even the veteran director of Qinzhou Machine Tool Factory harbored doubts—not out of unwillingness to believe, but because the performance described for the Longteng machine tool was truly world-class, top-tier worldwide!

Shenzhou had been chasing foreign technologies for years. How could it suddenly leap so far ahead? Even a breakthrough would be a gradual process. This sounded like cheating!

Those within the industry understood; others watching for entertainment did not.

They were more concerned with whether the so-called aerospace mothership could actually be built.

Piece by piece, parts were delivered to the assembly area, which was temporarily covered and hidden from view. The crowd could not see clearly nor discern the progress.

In a modern automobile factory, assembling a car from parts typically took only five to ten minutes!

But this aerospace mothership model had far too many parts. Each machine tool processed multiple types of parts, plus assembly was required, so the timeline was longer.

He Xingzhou was present at the assembly area, personally guiding staff using assembly equipment.

He had anticipated this during design, making assembly straightforward—like building with blocks. Following the correct sequence, it could be completed with ease.

A brand-new technological marvel, never before seen in the world, was taking shape!