Volume One, Chapter 13: Driving the Lambs to Market

The two tugged at each other for a moment. Seeing Zhang Yan’s determined stance demanding an answer and Wang Xiquan’s complete lack of intention to mediate, Maimaiti had no choice but to explain the reason.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Yan grinned slyly and snatched the document folder clutched under Wang Xiquan’s arm. “Who said there’s no detailed data? It’s all right here. Hehe, and you alone sorted and classified all these materials, right? Quite professional.”

Maimaiti’s mouth twitched sharply, feeling as if the bullet he had fired had ricocheted and hit him squarely between the eyes.

“Zhang Jie, you’re really pushing me onto the hot grill, huh?”

Maimaiti shook his head with a bitter smile, opened the folder, and began to carefully sift through the wind resource data, terrain and geological information one by one.

Daban City, as a prime wind site, lies in a temperate continental climate zone characterized by dryness and scarce rainfall, with an annual average precipitation of only about 70mm. Naturally, extreme natural disasters like floods or typhoons need not be considered.

However, due to Daban City’s complex topography surrounded by mountains and canyons, although this creates a strong wind tunnel effect, it also causes “valley winds” which affect wind speed and direction.

“Valley winds” refer to local wind phenomena caused by terrain and temperature differences.

During the day, air on the mountain slopes heats up and rises, creating upslope winds; at night, the air cools and sinks, forming downslope winds.

This phenomenon is especially pronounced in valley terrain, leading to continuous fluctuations in wind speed and direction between day and night.

This effect on the experimental wind turbines is negligible, but Maimaiti considered that since the eventual goal was to build large-scale wind farms based on these test turbines, laying a solid foundation was crucial.

After some thought and calculation, Maimaiti pointed to a marked spot on the topographic map and said, “In my opinion, this location is quite ideal!”

“Where?” Zhang Yan immediately leaned in, squinting at the map’s label. “Zone IV A?”

“Why?”

“According to the onsite Thies Clima cup anemometer data at 10, 30, and 50 meters, applying the MCP statistical method to the wind measurements, the multi-year average wind energy resource distribution shows the power density levels in this zone exceed level 7 at all heights; the annual effective wind speed hours exceed 7,700; wind direction is stable, with primary and secondary directions nearly opposite and wind energy well concentrated; turbulence intensity is moderate…”

Maimaiti, unwilling to go into detail, handed over the rough notes and added, “Zone IV A is adjacent to the heating station, located in the northern forest area, with the provincial Tuwu highway running through it. Connecting to the existing cables for grid testing will face no restrictions.”

“MCP method?” Wang Xiquan studied the hastily scribbled data and markings on the paper, clicking his tongue in admiration.

“Mr. Wang, this is currently a mature foreign technique for assessing wind resources and siting wind farms,” Zhang Yan began to explain.

But Ma Wenbin, suddenly stepping in from behind, took over: “It correlates short-term onsite measurement data with long-term reference station data to predict the long-term wind resource status at the target location. The process involves data collection, correlation analysis, statistical modeling, and forecasting.”

---

After finishing, Ma Wenbin examined the notes and admitted, “I was impulsive earlier and wrong. I only considered average wind speed to evaluate wind energy resources, ignoring the calculation of wind energy density, so the results definitely had errors.”

“Maimaiti, your approach is quite good. Next, we’ll probably need to rely on computer power,” Ma Wenbin praised sincerely after reading the rough calculations and ideas.

“Yes, indeed,” Maimaiti nodded slightly. “For turbulence intensity and wind shear index, we need gamma functions, plus linear regression, multiple regression, mean squared error, and determination coefficients—these can’t be done by hand…”

Ma Wenbin nodded thoughtfully, clutching the paper and casting an inquiring glance at Maimaiti, his gentle tone carrying a hint of insistence: “May I keep this draft?”

“No problem.”

With Maimaiti’s prompt agreement, Ma Wenbin turned to Wang Xiquan. “Mr. Wang, are you heading back to Bird City this afternoon? I’ll go with you. I’m planning to borrow their computer at the Geological Institute to run some statistical models.”

“I’ll come too,” Zhang Yan immediately raised her hand. “This is my specialty.”

“All right, then let’s go together,” Wang Xiquan said with a smile.

In truth, Wang Xiquan was not well-versed in early-stage work like wind energy assessment and resource calculation for wind farm construction, and computer systems were quite novel to him as a senior about to retire.

So from the start, he consciously kept silent, refraining from offering personal opinions in a leadership tone.

Besides not wanting to invite ridicule, Wang Xiquan was also concerned that a casual remark might steer Ma Wenbin and Zhang Yan’s thinking off course, so he let them freely explore.

Maimaiti’s sudden involvement, however, brightened Wang Xiquan’s eyes—the young man in his early twenties had surprisingly broad knowledge that extended into aerodynamics and natural sciences.

Yet, Maimaiti’s elusive and detached demeanor puzzled Wang Xiquan, as if there was always a veil between them.

This man clearly knew everything but was tight-lipped, unwilling to speak freely. Only after repeated gentle refusals did he gradually, like squeezing water from a sponge, reveal bits and pieces.

Though Wang Xiquan chose to ignore this behavior, attributing it to youthful quirks, over time, Maimaiti’s manner increasingly piqued his curiosity...

—

“Make yourself comfortable, don’t be shy.”

In the office, Wang Xiquan poured a cup of floral tea for Maimaiti and relaxed himself.

“I called you here for no other reason than to ask if you’ve encountered any difficulties at work lately.”

“No... nothing, really?”

“Really nothing? I don’t think so! I can see dissatisfaction written all over your face.”

“Maybe I just didn’t rest well at noon.”

“You don’t have the habit of napping! Honestly, are you perhaps unhappy with the conditions and treatment here at Daban City?”

“Not at all. I swear to heaven... to the Party, I have no complaints.”

Maimaiti’s reflex to sit up straighter made Wang Xiquan laugh behind his desk. “So you actually have issues with me as your leader?”

“Not at all! I’m here precisely because I don’t have to do menial tasks and can learn a lot from you, Mr. Wang. I’m very content. Besides, my current pay is quite good compared to my peers. I won’t mention the trivial stuff, but if you raise my salary, I’m afraid others might object.”

Maimaiti’s words were artfully crafted to show loyalty while tactfully declining special favors.

Wang Xiquan admired Maimaiti’s emotional intelligence beyond his years, nodding slightly and steering the topic back to the original point.

“I don’t think so. Maimaiti, you’re playing hard to get. If you don’t like this work environment, or you have issues with me as your leader, why do you keep so much knowledge about wind power basics to yourself, reluctant to speak up?”

“Well...” Maimaiti was momentarily at a loss. Seeing Wang Xiquan’s pressing gaze, he knew he couldn’t brush it off this time.

He laughed nervously, quickly organizing his thoughts.

After a pause, he said slowly, “It’s like this, Mr. Wang. I learned all this by reading on my own. The reason I don’t want to say much is I’m afraid if I’m wrong, Chief Engineer Ma and the others might think I’m just mucking about. You know, Mr. Wang, they all think I’m a donkey.”

“Besides,” he added, “I don’t mind being called a donkey, but if I say too much and delay the research progress, I can’t bear that responsibility.”

Maimaiti spoke with heartfelt emotion and nervousness, convincing Wang Xiquan to accept this explanation.

He comforted him, “It’s no big deal, Maimaiti. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Our wind turbine experiments are like a blank sheet of paper—we can scribble and draw any which way. Didn’t I say the other day that armchair theorizing has to be done with flair?

“And about them thinking you’re a donkey—you needn’t worry. Wenbin and the others have some academic stubbornness but mean well. Besides, if you come up with something impressive, they’ll look at you in a whole new light.”

Maimaiti secretly sighed with relief at successfully diverting Wang Xiquan’s attention.

At that moment, Wang Xiquan glanced at the clock on the wall. “Perfect timing. Go pack up a few things and come with us back to U City.”