Zhang Ming stood on tiptoe, rummaging through the rust-covered ship compartments.
The freighter's propulsion system was simply too vast and complex. Its fuel tanks held heavy fuel oil, a black, viscous fuel that looked like asphalt.
In the engine room next door stood an enormous boiler, perhaps twenty or thirty meters tall at a glance, which burned through several tons of fuel a day.
A dizzying array of instrument readings filled the display screens.
"So... once the boiler produces steam, that steam has to both propel the ship and generate electricity. This is nothing like a factory boiler where you just shovel in some coal and boil water."
"You need people specifically assigned to adjust all the parameters."
Beside the engine room were dedicated liquid tanks and deep tanks for adjusting the freighter's draft, trim, list, and center of gravity. Those stations needed staff, too.
Under these circumstances, Zhang Ming knew he couldn't possibly handle so many complicated tasks alone. He could only make a strategic retreat and give up on this massive ship.
"Overly complicated divisions of labor aren't necessarily a good thing..."
"I'll stick with my little sailboat." Zhang Ming heaved a long sigh.
Still, he could take some of the freighter's resources to modify his sailboat.
A few interesting little ideas soon occurred to him.
He rummaged through cabinets and drawers in the various rooms, finding a large pile of paper and pens. These were desperately needed tools, and he wouldn't have to pluck bird feathers for a long time.
He also found some unworn sailor uniforms. Once he put one on, he really did look like a sailor-not the cross-dressing kind.
"Did your old owner live in this room?"
"Well, well, were you a dog of high standing? Can you speak English?"
"Woof, woof!"
With the