Cao Weidong carefully looked at the "black stone" in his hand.
This thing is as heavy as a piece of iron in your hand.
That’s why the gatekeeper calls this thing Tie Tuo Tuo.
Moreover, this thing is irregular in shape, with sharp corners, and a rough surface. It may scratch someone if you are not careful.
He glanced at the information that popped up on the system's virtual screen, thoughtfully.
"This thing has been here for many years."
The gatekeeper said lazily.
"No, it's been around since the blast furnaces started burning, until the steel plants closed down."
This is the slag used to make steel and forge iron.
The texture is hard.
No matter how much you throw it in the stove, it won't break.
At that time, the director of the steel plant thought that this stuff should be a good thing, so it was all stored here.
Over time, they become two "hills".
Cao Weidong’s strange way.
"Doesn't anyone want to use this thing?"
The gatekeeper said helplessly.
"I thought about it, but no one knows how to use it. This thing is too hard and cannot be burned by fire. The surface is also rough, so I ended up throwing it here."
"Later, during the large-scale steelmaking, something happened in the factory, and there were operational problems. After the county officials learned about the situation, they shut down the steel factory."
The gatekeeper said Hanhan Huhu.
But Cao Weidong still saw something in the other person's eyes.
he asked tentatively.
"Is it a security issue?"
The gatekeeper remained silent and did not speak.
Cao Weidong sighed.
No further questions were asked.
That period is not that far away from now.
Many pains caused by fanatical emotions have not dissipated yet.
After seeking the permission of the janitor, Cao Weidong packed a few slags in a bag, then declined the janitor's invitation to stay for dinner, and walked out of the steelmaking plant with Chen Xueru.
On the way, Chen Xueru asked curiously.
"Brother Dong, why did you pick this thing up? It's dirty and useless."
Cao Weidong smiled and said: "This is a treasure."
Looking at Chen Xueru's confused eyes, Cao Weidong explained.
"Wrought iron requires minerals."
"Maybe the ores used by steel plants contain associated metals. The melting points of these rare metals are higher than those of iron ore, so the steel plants can only smelt the iron, and the remaining rare metals are left as slag."
】
Chen Xueru said keenly: "Are rare metals more valuable?"
Cao Weidong smiled and said: "This is a very precious wealth that cannot be measured by money."
It can be said that the history of human civilization is the history of the development of materials.
The research and development of new materials can even promote the development of human civilization.
Chen Xueru’s eyes are bright.
"Brother Dong, do you have a way to refine these rare metals?"
Cao Weidong shook his head: "I have no choice now."
Chen Xueru was a little discouraged.
"Isn't that just a pile of useless broken rocks? It still takes up space."
"It depends on people. Maybe I will find a way to extract rare metals sometime... In short, this business is doing well. County Magistrate Ji not only gave me the right to operate the dock and intersection, but also gave me such a big gift. What a great gift."
What a good person."
"Let's go, let's go back first. I need to go to the county committee again tomorrow."
Chen Xueru nodded in confusion.
On the way back, Cao Weidong once again called up the system virtual screen.
[Ding, you have discovered associated metals and rare metal ores. Rare metals can be obtained after metallurgical refining...]
[Some functions of the mechanical space are missing. You can activate the special metal forging function by upgrading the level of the mechanical space or building a forging blast furnace...]
To what level can the special metal forging function be enabled by upgrading the mechanical space?
Cao Weidong asked silently.
New content appears on the system virtual screen.
[Mechanical space level 5 can enable non-ferrous metal smelting and forging functions, mechanical space level 6 can enable special metal smelting and forging functions, and mechanical space level 7 and above can unlock special metal microscopic research and innovative forging functions.]
"It's so troublesome."
Cao Weidong sighed.
Metal materials can usually be divided into three categories: ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals, and special metals.
Ferrous metals generally refer to steel materials, as well as chromium, manganese and their alloys.
The finished products of these materials are various common structural steels, stainless steel, heat-resistant steel, high-temperature alloys, stainless steel precision alloys, etc.
At the same time, this is also the most mainstream metal product in the current era.
When the mechanical space is opened, the system provides a metallurgical room, which can forge ordinary steel and alloy materials.
The second category is non-ferrous metals.
It is other metals except steel, iron, chromium and manganese.
Including light metals, heavy metals, precious metals, semi-metals, rare metals and rare earth metals.
When the mechanical space is upgraded to level 5, the non-ferrous metal forging function can be enabled and non-ferrous metals can be directional forged.
The third type of special metals is more interesting.
Its categories include structural metal materials and functional metal materials for different uses.
These include alloys and composite materials with special functions such as stealth, hydrogen resistance, superconductivity, shape memory, wear resistance, vibration reduction and damping.
It can be said that no matter what kind of metal it is, it is absolutely king for the current era!
However, his current mechanical space is lv1. He wants to upgrade to lv6 or lv7, but he doesn’t know until the Year of the Monkey and the Horse.
Cao Weidong asked without giving up: "Is there any other way to enable the metal forging function in advance?"
[The level of the metallurgical room can be improved by collecting blast furnace buildings.]
Cao Weidong looked back at the blast furnace of the steel plant, his eyes shining.
.......
Cao Weidong acted quickly and negotiated a purchase agreement with County Magistrate Ji the next day.
He provided 100 sets of biogas practical equipment to the county at a 50% discount, and County Magistrate Ji packaged the entire steel plant and gave it to Cao Weidong.
These include slag containing rare metals in the warehouse, as well as abandoned steelmaking equipment such as blast furnaces and trucks.
In addition, in order to show the responsibility of a large factory, he took over the staff of the janitor.
From now on, the janitor of the steel plant will become the janitor of the biogas plant.
County Magistrate Ji happily signed the agreement.
The more he looked at Cao Weidong, the more satisfied he became.
He walked over to shake hands with Cao Weidong and said sincerely.
"Comrade Weidong, not long after you came to Wan'an County, you helped me solve two big burdens. You are really a blessing. How can I thank you."
Cao Weidong said tentatively: "How about we raise another 10% on the purchase?"
County Magistrate Ji picked up the ceramic teapot on the table and said calmly.
"I won't keep you. Go slowly and won't send you away."
Cao Weidong touched his nose awkwardly.
After leaving the county party committee, he held the document in his arms and went to the steel factory immediately to tell the gatekeeper the news.
"From today on, you no longer need to look at the gate here. Go to the biogas plant opposite the county party committee compound. Wherever you go to look at the gate, I have already arranged the work for you."
The gatekeeper was completely confused.
What?
Am I changing my employer now?
But he came to his senses, simply pulled his things together, hugged them and left the steel factory.
The welfare benefits of the biogas plant are so good, only a fool would stay here.
Cao Weidong looked at the empty steel factory and smiled.
It's night.
The blast furnace of the steelmaking plant collapsed due to disrepair.
Fortunately, the steel factory is located on the outskirts of the city and the factory building is abandoned, so it did not attract anyone's attention.