Rebirth: Controlled Nuclear Fusion

Part 31：18 People

The next day.
The first rays of the morning sun filtered through the windows, casting a warm glow into the Nanotechnology Research Laboratory at Huqing University.
A researcher, clad in a white lab coat, anxiously awaited the results of the experiment.
As the machine beeped, the results were printed, and he quickly grabbed the report, scrutinizing it with intensity. A smile slowly spread across his face, soon giving way to a hearty laugh.
"Ha ha... It's good! It's really good!"
At that moment, a girl, who had been dozing at a nearby desk, was roused from her sleep by the commotion.
Rubbing her eyes sleepily, she asked, "Uncle, what's so funny?"
"Xiaofei, we did it! The nanophotonic interferometry technique you suggested is correct, and we've successfully developed it! Ha ha..."
Upon hearing her uncle's excited words, Jo Yifei immediately shook off her drowsiness and hurriedly stood up to check the experimental results.
Her eyes widened in astonishment, her heart pounding with excitement.
"Ah! This is amazing! Uncle, we succeeded so easily, and it's already far superior to the previous atomic force microscope technology in terms of performance! Ha ha..." Jo Yifei couldn't help but share in the exhilaration.
"Yes, it's all thanks to you! Ha ha... By the way, how did you come up with this idea?" Jo Shan inquired.
"Well... I didn't actually come up with this," Jo Yifei replied, slightly embarrassed. She secretly wished that she had been the one to discover it.
Unfortunately, it had been her somewhat clumsy younger cousin, Jiang Fan, who had casually mentioned it to her.
"You didn't come up with it? Then it must have been one of Huqing's experts or professors?"
"Not really," Jo Yifei replied.
"Who, then?"
Jo Shan's face mirrored his confusion.
"It was Jiang Fan!"
"Jiang Fan? He understands nanotechnology?"
Jo Shan's surprise was palpable.
Jiang Fan's brilliance in controlled nuclear fusion had already stunned everyone, but who would have guessed that he was also so skilled in nanotechnology?
He was truly a genius in the world of scientific research.
At this thought, Jo Shan made up his mind—he had to make Jiang Fan his student. He couldn't afford to miss out on such a remarkable talent.
Turning to Jo Yifei, he asked, "Xiaofei, how did things go between you and Jiang Fan yesterday?"
"I..."
...
At the Northern Controlled Fusion Research Base of the Dragon Kingdom, Jiang Fan had just disembarked from the military jeep, only to double over against the wall, vomiting violently.
The road here had been too rough, and the constant jolting had upset his stomach.
As soon as he stepped out of the vehicle, he couldn't hold it in anymore and threw up—fortunately, he hadn't eaten much that morning.
Seeing this, Zhou Huaide couldn't help but laugh, teasing, "Xiaofan, I remember when I first came here, there wasn't even a proper road. The entire field was uneven and filled with pits. The two-hour journey made me vomit more than ten times. Ha ha..."
As Zhou Huaide and Jiang Fan joked, a researcher in a white lab coat rushed over, looking flustered.
"Commander Zhou, you're back!"
Seeing the researcher approach, Zhou Huaide smiled warmly. "What's going on, Wenshan?"
"They've all left. In the past few days, while you were in Kyoto, they've all been reassigned," Zhang Wenshan said, his words coming out in a flurry, leaving Zhou Huaide confused.
"They've all left? Slow down and tell me what happened."
Zhang Wenshan took a few deep breaths, trying to calm himself.
"While you were in Kyoto, the higher-ups decided to launch a new project and reassigned all of our researchers."
"What? Who had the audacity to take my people? Let's go!"
Zhou Huaide fumed, enraged. Indeed, the higher-ups had given him a directive to suspend the controlled nuclear fusion project on October 20th, but it was still July 28th. According to the plan, they still had three months left. Yet now, they had already pulled his team away.
Zhou Huaide had devoted ten years of his life to this project. Even if he hadn't achieved groundbreaking results, he had surely endured enough hardship.
Without so much as a word, they had taken his people away.
Zhou Huaide had invited Jiang Fan here because he had faith in the young man's ability to save the project. Now, with the researchers gone, how could they continue to make progress?
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. He stormed into his office.
"Wenshan, who gave the order?"
"Liu Shouchang!" Zhang Wenshan replied.
Zhou Huaide immediately picked up the office phone and dialed.
After a few rings, a deep voice answered.
"Who is this?"
"Liu Shouchang, what is the meaning of this? My Northern Base project hasn't reached the suspension date, and yet you've taken my researchers..."
The voice on the other end waited patiently until Zhou Huaide had finished speaking, then replied calmly,
"Xiao Zhou, I understand your frustration. You've been in charge of this project for ten years, and naturally, you have an emotional investment. But the directive was clear: the controlled fusion project was supposed to be suspended on October 20th. There's only three months left. The project has made no major breakthroughs in ten years. Don't take it too seriously."
"Shouchang, I've discovered a talent for controlled nuclear fusion. I believe he can make it happen!"
"I know what you're talking about. Yesterday, the head of the National Science and Technology Bureau spoke to me about it. Currently, there has been no major breakthrough in fusion worldwide, and we don't believe that one person can change the situation."
Zhou Huaide's anger flared. "I believe Jiang Fan can do it! You must return the researchers and let us complete this challenge!"
Hearing Zhou Huaide's firm resolve, Liu Shouchang's tone shifted, his voice growing stern.
"Do you know what those researchers are working on now? They're assigned to work on fighter jets. In six months, we will host the world military competition once every ten years. Do you remember the humiliation we suffered during the last competition? I'm sure you haven't forgotten! Do you want to bring further shame to our country?"
Liu Shouchang's words left Zhou Huaide speechless.
He recalled the disgrace of the last world military competition, and how nine of his comrades had lost their lives in that tragic event...
Zhou Huaide hung up the phone, sinking heavily into his chair.
"Commander Zhou, what should we do now?" Zhang Wenshan asked, his voice laced with concern.
"How many researchers are left at the base?" Zhou Huaide inquired.
"Only 18," Zhang Wenshan replied.