The　uncontrollable　duration　of　the　induction　period　poses　challenges　in　adapting　concrete　to　varying　construction　environments　and　locations:　too　short　hinders　transportation　and　pouring,　while　too　long　reduces　efficiency.　In　this　study,　the　induction　period　duration　is　controlled　by　the　sequential　introduction　of　citric　acid　(CA)　and　sodium　silicate　(SS)　into　the　cement　paste.　After　introducing　1.0　wt%　CA,　the　induction　period　of　cement　paste　is　prolonged　to　＞　28　d　due　to　C-S-H　nucleation　inhibited　by　CA　complexing　Ca2　+.　SS　promotes　the　precipitation　of　hydration　products　and　these　precipitates　can　adsorb　the　remaining　CA　in　the　pore　solution,　gradually　eliminating　the　effect　of　CA.　After　introducing　6.0　wt%　SS　into　the　cement　paste　containing　1.0　wt%　CA,　the　induction　period　is　shortened　to　7.9　h,　resulting　in　mortar　strengths　of　7.6　MPa　at　1　d　and　49.8　MPa　at　28　d.　In　this　way,　the　cement　paste　can　remain　plastic　for　a　long　time　and　set　and　harden　at　any　time　according　to　the　engineering　requirements.