At seven o'clock in the morning, Bruce left home on time and rode his bicycle to work at Fawalt Steel Company's research institute in Xuanji City.
Bicycles are a very common means of transportation for urban residents in southern Africa. Compared with cars and motorcycles, bicycle travel is healthier, more environmentally friendly, no noise, and it is cheap, low-cost and does not require refueling. It is very popular in southern Africa.
In Europe, riding a bicycle to the countryside is now the most fashionable way of leisure for aristocratic young people. In southern Africa, it is a common means of transportation.
The morning scenery in Xuanji City is pleasant, the air is fresh and naturally carries the refreshing smell of morning dew, the landscape trees on both sides of the road are lush and vibrant, the bluestone slabs on the ground are so clean that you can see the texture of the stone, the tabby cat sleeps lazily on the windowsill, and the hound
Squatting behind the fence gate, I watched every passer-by vigilantly. Occasionally, people wearing white flannel underwear and sports jackets who got up early for morning exercises ran by sweating profusely, leaving their kind smiles to every passer-by.
Whether it's an acquaintance or a stranger.
When crossing the intersection and passing a breakfast shop, Bruce bought two steaming buns and a cup of freshly boiled soy milk for breakfast, and also bought a copy of the Southern African edition of The Times that had just been delivered to the newsstand.
The headline on the front page is still the familiar boldface "Beware of careerists from evil groups!!!".
Bruce shook his head, rolled up the newspaper and put it into the basket of his bicycle. He is a German from Germany and has now become a Southern African citizen. Although Nyasaland promised not to implement any restrictive measures against any group during the war,
, but Bruce is still worried.
On this issue, the performance of European countries is not good. Even if they have similar commitments, they will be overturned at any time, and everything will be subject to the actual implementation of the policy.
"Evil Group" is a relatively polite term. In the UK, the title used by The Times is "Warning about Germany's large-scale military expansion!!!".
This cannot be blamed on Germany. Britain has already begun to expand its military, and Germany must have made preparations early.
Bruce is responsible for the improvement of multi-functional military shovels at the institute. His team has fifteen people. In addition to Bruce, there is a German named Daniel. The others are British and Chinese, nearly half of the members.
Graduated from Nyasaland University, including Bruce.
Southern Africa is classifying and integrating military supplies. With unified specifications, all kinds of materials needed by soldiers on the front line are included. The Johannesburg Textile Company is developing portable equipment that can carry bullets, grenades, pistols and daggers. Henry's Steel Company is starting to
Researching helmets and multi-functional military shovels with better protective performance, upgrading existing equipment and trying to integrate different functions into a military shovel, all companies are racing against time for war.
"Good morning, Bruce-" At the entrance of the institute, Bruce met Daniel with red eyes and messy hair.
"Good morning, Daniel, what's wrong with you? You look a little embarrassed-" Bruce and Daniel have a good relationship, not all because Bruce and Daniel are German, Bruce has a good relationship with almost everyone.
"I'm going crazy. I had a fight with that damn neighbor yesterday. He's such a bastard. I'm going to take leave and go to the police station to report the crime." Daniel was furious. Bruce knew that Daniel's neighbor was from France.
Activists.
The contradiction between the French and the Germans is irreconcilable. Although Nyasaland treats everyone equally and most French and Germans can keep to themselves, there are always some people who do not follow the rules and discriminate against others. This is a very serious crime in Nyasaland.
"I support you Daniel, it's best to send that guy to jail." Bruce was filled with indignation. White people are already a minority group in Nyasaland, and Germans are a minority group among white people, so most Germans are united.
The research institute of Fawalt Steel Company in Xuanji City is a three-story building with a courtyard. It is a permanent building built of marble. Bruce puts his bicycle in the carport next to the office building and in the parking lot next to the carport.
Several cars have been parked on the street, one of which is a special car equipped by the company for Edmond, the director of the institute.
"Good morning, Bruce—"
"Good morning, Daniel, were you bitten by a dog?"
"Wow, Daniel, you look really cool today -"
"Daniel, the boss wants your plan, you'd better be fully prepared."
The atmosphere in the institute is very harmonious, everyone greets him warmly, and the embarrassed Daniel receives a lot of good-natured teasing.
In the director's office at the end of the third floor, Edmond was evaluating the functions of the new military shovel with Lieutenant Colonel Herta, an instructor at the Army Academy.
"The multi-functional military shovels we are using now are expensive and European countries generally cannot afford them. Therefore, the cost of new military shovels must be reduced, which will be more conducive to mass production." Edmond is not just a technician.
The combination of research and development has always been the goal required by Rock.
"No matter how you reduce costs, you must have the necessary functions. The simplified version can be sold to Europe. The ones we use ourselves must be of high quality and have complete functions." Lieutenant Colonel Herta doesn't care about anything else. Southern Africa has the most in the world.
To produce manganese and chromium, the United States imports large quantities of special ores from southern Africa. Favalte Steel Company has huge profits, and the equipment needed by professional soldiers in southern Africa can still be met.
"Then we will remove all unnecessary functions and only retain the most basic digging and chopping." Edmond crossed out most of the uncommon functions, and replaced the natural rubber triangular handle with a short wooden handle, which can
Further reduce costs.
While Britain ordered two million rifles, it also ordered one million military spades. These military spades are simplified versions, and the order can be completed within three months.
Daniel knocked on the door at this time.
"——That bastard is a habitual offender. He often curses and discriminates against me. When I came home from get off work last night, I found garbage in the yard. It was obviously the bastard who threw it over the fence. I threw it all for him. He walked back, and then we yelled at each other—" Daniel's body was trembling, and he looked very angry.
"It's too much. You should have gone to the police at that time!" Edmund was also very angry. Generally speaking, the quality of the residents of Xuanji City is relatively high, but racial discrimination is inevitable. It is only the beginning now. When the war breaks out,
This will happen more and more.
"I went, but the police are too busy, and no one has come to deal with it yet." This is probably the real reason for Daniel's anger. This kind of thing is not common in Xuanji City.
"Yesterday, the military and police had a joint exercise about controlling emergencies, so the police station is probably short of manpower -" Lieutenant Colonel Herta knew the situation. Every year, the military and police have joint exercises, and there have been a lot of them lately.
"Our scientific researchers should be better protected." Edmond did not agree with this excuse. Although Southern Africa also advertises itself as "fair and free", if a major incident occurs, researchers at the institute will still be the focus of protection.
These are all planned.
Lieutenant Colonel Herta nodded and said nothing. Most of the residents of Xuanji City work for scientific research institutions and Nyasaland University. This city emerged around Nyasaland University, so no one can enjoy privileges.
Demond also feels too good about himself.
"Who are your neighbors? Where do they work?" Edmond was also aware of this problem, but he had to first understand the other person's background.
"White man, Irish accent, seems to be an executive of Rand Bank -" Daniel didn't know very well. Farwalt Steel Company was not easy to mess with, and Rand Bank was even more difficult to mess with. The person who can own an independent house in Xuanji City must be
Senior managers and ordinary employees of Rand Bank also live in apartments.
At this point, even Edmund began to frown. He pondered for a moment and picked up the phone to call George Bell, the manager of Rand Bank in Xuanji City. The relationship between Fawalt Steel Company and Rand Bank was still very good.
"I have something to do later, so I'll take my leave -" Lieutenant Colonel Herta did not get involved in these disputes. Now he knew why the police had not come to the door until now.
Back in his office, Daniel felt uneasy. Edmund did not agree to Daniel's request for leave, but he took over the matter and still took the responsibility he should have.
"Don't worry, Daniel, it's not your fault." Bruce comforted Daniel. This is why Bruce is so popular.
"No matter what, I will make that bastard pay the price." Daniel now also realizes that the problem may not be easy to solve. After all, it has not caused serious consequences. Considering the background and strength of Rand Bank, I am afraid that Favalte Steel Company will not be good either.
make.
"Don't be afraid Daniel, we support you. If not, we can contact the newspaper. I know a reporter from The Times——"
"We don't need to call reporters, we'll go directly to lawyers and accuse that bastard of racial discrimination."
"Call the mayor's hotline. If that doesn't work, go to Eagle Castle and complain to the Lord——"
"Thank you, brothers, you really touched me." Daniel's colleagues were very enthusiastic and came up with ideas, and Daniel finally had a smile on his face.
I don’t know how Edmond negotiated with George Bell. When Daniel got home from get off work in the evening, he found his neighbor who was in a bad mood yesterday waiting in front of his fence with a bouquet of flowers in his hand.
Seeing Daniel, the neighbor looked slightly embarrassed and came over to apologize to Daniel: "I'm sorry Daniel, my work yesterday was not going well, so I lost control of my mood——"
Daniel was stunned, and it took him a long time to react: "Oh, Erwin, I was wrong too, I haven't been in a good mood these days -"
Don't care whether it's a sincere apology or not, just have this attitude. Daniel's requirements are not high.