《Deep Space Wandering Fleet》 Chapter 1 - Chapter 1: Chapter 1 Day 30 Countdown Chapter 1: Chapter 1 Day 30 Countdown Editor: Henyee Translations July, Xia Country, Donghua City. The blazing sun felt scorching, with not a breath of wind; people were drenched with sweat just rolling down. Two young men were discussing something at the foot of the mountain. ¡°Since we¡¯re here, we should at least go up and take a look.¡± The other person quickly refused, ¡°Too exhausting. If it weren¡¯t for this damn task, I¡¯d rather stay home and enjoy the air conditioning!¡± ¡°In that case¡­ I¡¯ll go up by myself!¡± Sunlight filtered down through the dense branches and leaves, leaving shadows on the ground like scattered coins. Beneath his feet was the real yellow earth, heavy and solid, not something that could be worried would collapse underfoot; the oxygen he breathed in was the original product of photosynthesis from the plants. ¡°There¡¯s nothing like Mother Star!¡± When Zhang Yuan reached the peak of the mountain, it was exactly 6 p.m. He sat gasping on a rock, wiping sweat from his forehead. It was rare for someone with his sort of insanity to climb a mountain just to watch a sunset, especially during the hottest season. The Sun set slowly, the clouds on the horizon glowing red. A few birds flew by, chirping, free and at ease. These were all scenes of beauty not found in space. ¡°Still¡­ 30 days left?¡± Zhang Yuan sighed, opened the memo on his phone, and checked off ¡°Witness a sunset with my own eyes.¡± The screen displayed the words ¡°Completed¡± in large font. Zhang Yuan was a bit puzzled, unsure if he was on vacation or fulfilling a task assigned by his superiors. This peculiar memo contained many trivial matters, like ¡°Have a sumptuous meal,¡± ¡°Climb a mountain,¡± ¡°Get caught in a rain shower,¡± ¡°Witness a sunset,¡± ¡°Run a marathon,¡± and so on. A hodgepodge, it had almost everything. The memo was designed tailored for individuals by the medical AI ¡°Green Elf,¡± after collecting personal data. According to the experts, they said, ¡°Let them leave without any regrets, reducing the chances of psychological issues midway.¡± All right, to put it plainly, Zhang Yuan had no serious illnesses, no suicidal tendencies, and no thoughts of ¡°owing a billion and wanting to run away with his sister-in-law.¡± Leaving meant leaving Earth, leaving the Solar System, boarding the ¡°Earth Era¡± spaceship to Gliese 581g, 20.3 light years away, to embark on interstellar colonization! 20.3 light years! Anyone with some knowledge of space knew this was truly an astronomical number. The long journey, with the spaceship traveling at 0.007 times the speed of light, would take approximately¡­ 3000 years! Humanity had been preparing for this deep space colonization for far too long. The Constant Starship ¡°Earth Era,¡± along with 500,000 carefully selected volunteers from various fields, would bear the responsibility of restarting civilization on Gliese 581g. Nevertheless, no matter how well-prepared, the 3000-year-long interstellar journey remained an unprecedented expedition, and no one could guarantee its success rate. Therefore, with humanitarian consideration, almost all volunteers were granted a long vacation after completing their space skills training, to experience their last days on Earth¡­ For these reasons, Zhang Yuan was enjoying this last month¡¯s holiday. ¡°3000 years, by then, how will Earth Civilization have developed?¡± ¡°It must be incredibly powerful by then¡­¡± ¡°Who knows, later spaceships might even catch up with our first Colonization Ship!¡± Zhang Yuan took a deep breath, dreaming of humanity¡¯s bright future, and when he thought about becoming pioneers in history, he felt a surge of pride and ambition. The Sun gradually set¡­ Just as he descended the mountain, a tall young man with dark skin, wiping sweat from his face, ran up quickly. His name was Li Zhendong, and like Zhang Yuan, he was one of the astronauts about to leave the Solar System. Li Zhendong wasn¡¯t as heat-resistant as Zhang Yuan, and even without climbing the mountain, he was still drenched as if fished out of water. As he used his palm to fan his face, he complained, ¡°I told you, you could see the sunset from the foot of the mountain, but you insisted on climbing up. What kind of lousy memo is that, can¡¯t you skip it? Finally getting a vacation, and you still have to do this stuff. Isn¡¯t watching a sunset something for old people to do?¡± Zhang Yuan was also unbearably hot and shook his head, ¡°All right, all right, let¡¯s accomplish what we can. Things that feel annoying and troublesome now may become beautiful memories later.¡± He looked toward the horizon filled with fiery clouds, ¡°¡­After all, besides reincarnation, it seems like there¡¯s no other way to return to the Solar System. It¡¯s a one-way ticket, no turning back.¡± Saying this, Zhang Yuan caught his breath, ¡°All right, completed this task perfectly, let¡¯s see what the next memo is¡­¡± With a tap of a finger, the next entry in the memo appeared¡­ ¡°Find a girl you like and become a real man!¡± What? Zhang Yuan¡¯s heart skipped a beat, cursing the AI that created the memo¡ªwhat a fool! What kind of psychological counseling was this? He only had a month left of his vacation; who had time for romance? Behind this was a line of small text from ¡°Green Elf,¡± explaining the reasoning for this memo entry, ¡°A woman is a man¡¯s best teacher and a deep emotional support. Deep space travel is lonely and isolating, Mr. Zhang Yuan, given that you haven¡¯t yet¡­¡± Without time to look closely, he hurriedly tapped the screen again, trying to scroll to the next entry. Unexpectedly, Li Zhendong had sharp eyes, catching a glimpse of those words on Zhang Yuan¡¯s phone, as if discovering a New Continent. ¡°Hahahaha! Zhang Yuan, you¡¯re actually still a virgin? Haven¡¯t been in a relationship?¡± ¡°How embarrassing, how embarrassing!¡± The joyful laughter even drew frequent glances from passersby. The AI ¡°Green Elf,¡± having developed over fifty years as a medical AI, served over a billion people, with a high precision of analysis and a satisfaction rate of 61.69%. All right, in the demanding medical system, this satisfaction rate was already pretty decent. Since Zhang Yuan¡¯s memo stated ¡°to become a real man,¡± it implied he was still a virgin¡ªno doubt about it! ¡°Shut up, shut up!¡± Zhang Yuan¡¯s face felt hot, and he was somewhat embarrassed. Many college students had been in love so many times they couldn¡¯t count them on two hands. Someone like Zhang Yuan, who had lived for 23 years yet hadn¡¯t lost his virginity, could easily be thought to have a series of unmentionable physiological problems. ¡°I¡¯ve been in love so many times already, all right?¡± Li Zhendong boasted while laughing. He extended his fingers one by one, flaunting them before Zhang Yuan as if to show off his experience with girls. Seeing Li Zhendong¡¯s ¡°you¡¯re no match¡± look, Zhang Yuan unwillingly retorted, ¡°What are you thinking? I was in a relationship in high school too!¡± He pulled out a photo from his phone from long, long ago, ¡°Look, see, that¡¯s my girlfriend from high school¡ªcute and adorable, isn¡¯t she?¡± Li Zhendong saw it was indeed a photo of Zhang Yuan with a girl, the two cozily cuddled together, smiling happily at the camera. ¡°The girl seems nice¡­ is she your actual sister?¡± Zhang Yuan rebutted irritably, ¡°Please, where would I get a sister?¡± ¡°And then?¡± ¡°¡­We broke up after graduation, for various reasons, anyway.¡± ¡°That¡¯s dull.¡± Li Zhendong seemed to think of something, ¡°If you really have some unspeakable illness, you should quickly get it treated. Once you¡¯re on the spaceship, there are only a few clumsy AI doctors; there aren¡¯t many infertility specialists!¡± ¡°Scram, I¡¯m perfectly fine!¡± Zhang Yuan gave a kick, but Li Zhendong dodged nimbly. ¡°Got stuff to do, gotta go.¡± Zhang Yuan briskly walked to an electric car and got in. The electric car¡¯s left signal light flashed once and slowly started up. ¡°Bye!¡± Watching the white car leave, Li Zhendong took a long breath. He licked his lips, squinted his eyes, looking around as if he was a thief. Cautiously, he opened his own memo. He shivered suddenly! Only to see the memo read the same words, ¡°Find a girl you like and become a real man!¡± Li Zhendong murmured, ¡°Damn it, truly¡­ artificial idiot!¡± ¡­ (New book, new features. After months of preparation, finally got the outline mostly done. The early part of this book might feel like a scholarly story, but it is truly an interstellar tale.) (If you have votes, please cast them, thank you all!) (Is anyone looking to invest in a new book? I surely can¡¯t fail to pass this contract threshold, can I¡­) CREATORS¡¯ THOUGHTS Henyee From 18 Dec 2020, there will be only 40 chapters for Trial Read, with Chapters 20 to 40 locked. After a book is picked, Chapters 20-39 will have the locks automatically removed. Chapters 1-39 will become free to read, with Chapter 40 remaining a Premium chapter. The selected book will have a mark on the corner of the book cover in 30 days to indicate continuation. Coins spent on all books during Trial Read will all be refunded within 30 days. However, Fast Passes will not be refunded. Thank you for your understanding. Chapter 2 - Chapter 2: Chapter 2 Property Donation Chapter 2: Chapter 2 Property Donation Editor: Henyee Translations The autonomous electric vehicle was speeding down the road, and Zhang Yuanping calmed his mind. By the 23rd century, it was an era that placed great emphasis on intelligence, but the attribute of ¡°appearance¡± still held importance in social interactions. People who looked good had certain advantages in their personal development, regardless of gender. Zhang Yuan felt¡­ he looked good. It shouldn¡¯t be narcissism, because his relatives and friends all said so, and the fact that he had a decent romantic history from a young age indirectly proved it. As for why there were no women around him, it was because he aspired to be an astronaut since childhood, so he consciously suppressed that part of his desires. ¡°There were plenty of girls chasing after me¡­¡± With less than a month of vacation left, such a short time was at most just mutual attraction driven by hormones. It was impossible to form a connection on a spiritual level. Of course, finding a girl for physiological exchanges wasn¡¯t difficult. If it was agreed beforehand to just have fun, there would still be a lot of ¡°modern women¡± willing to have a story with ¡°astronauts,¡± which could be a source of bragging with companions in the future¡­ In this open era, few people cared if their future marriage partner was a virgin. However, Zhang Yuan did not like random hookups. Suddenly, his phone vibrated. He tapped open his phone, and it was a spam message. Since he never bothered to organize, there was a large number of unread red dots on it. [Four of your phone contacts on ¡°Possibly¡± set you as a ¡°secret crush.¡± Since you have not registered, we specially notify you via text message¡­ Download address¡­] Soft advertisement, so annoying, even in the 23rd century these things couldn¡¯t be eradicated. ¡°Forget it, forget it.¡± He wasn¡¯t some seasoned player in the love field, so since he couldn¡¯t be emotionless, there was no need to add emotional burdens before leaving. After skipping over this memo, Zhang Yuan felt much more comfortable. The autonomous vehicle was moving steadily on the road, and the vehicles on the road were very orderly, almost all moving at the same speed with no queue jumping or cutting in line of any unruly behavior. In terms of driving vehicles, artificial intelligence had much higher reliability than humans, and manual driving in non-emergency situations had already become illegal. Zhang Yuan was not a rich second-generation, and this autonomous vehicle wasn¡¯t his own; it was just a ride-share taxi on the roadside, anyway, readily available and no different from having his own car. The in-car screen was playing a space history documentary. ¡°¡­we have come this far, stepping over mud and hurdles, exploration and development have always been the main theme of the era¡­¡± He watched the documentary with interest. It had to be said, the progress of modern technology had been much slower than people of the old era had imagined. In 1969, when Americans first landed on the Moon, many scientists optimistically believed humans could colonize the Moon by the year 2000; by 2020, humans would occupy the Solar System and become a true interstellar civilization. Humans would find the legendary aliens, would have collisions and friction with alien civilizations, would experience strong artificial intelligence developing self-awareness and rebelling against humans¡­ In the end, it was a pity. The entire 21st century, nothing happened. There were no Brain chips, no strong artificial intelligence leading to the singularity, and no Eternal Life Technology. Virtual Imaging Technology remained expensive; AR glasses attempting to replace mobile phones were popular for a while, then eliminated for inconvenience; battery capacity never met demand; room temperature superconducting materials were never invented¡­ Not to mention things from science fiction novels like curvature engines, wormholes, Time Travel, and anti-gravity. In a comfortable life, humans seemed to have reached the limit of the entire civilization. Progress in Information Science gave people the illusion that science was still developing vigorously, numbing human nerves. Unfortunately, some critical technologies had not broken through for a long time. Finally, at the end of the 21st century, the exhaustion of oil caused a terrible global energy crisis. Two consecutive world wars caused human society to regress by a century! The entire 22nd century was bleak, later referred to by people as¡­ the ¡°Gray Era!¡± The male voice in the documentary, with a magnetic voice, said: ¡°Fortunately, everything has gotten through, we¡¯ve explored the unknown and found a new direction¡­¡± ¡°Controlled Nuclear Fusion!¡± ¡°¡­the successful ignition of the Artificial Sun, accompanied by the booming development of Space Industry, Space Botany, and Nanomaterials Science, brought human civilization into the golden stage once more!¡± ¡°In the latter half of the 23rd century, we will enter an unprecedented¡ªInterstellar Colonization Era!¡± The documentary was inspiring and had a bit of exaggeration, enough to fool some ordinary citizens. Zhang Yuan shook his head and chuckled. Fusion energy indeed brought endless energy, changing the living situation of humanity, but it did not mean that all humanity could achieve a greatly affluent life because of it. For the reason that oil wasn¡¯t just a source of energy, it was also an important industrial raw material. To give a few simple examples: without fertilizers and pesticides, human grain production directly reduced by half. Where do fertilizers and pesticides come from? Certainly from oil-derived products. Without acrylic, polyester, nylon, or vinylon, clothing prices soared, and the vast majority of people couldn¡¯t afford clothes, having to live naked. Where do these chemical fiber products come from? The answer is oil-derived products. Without petroleum solvents, chemical raw materials, lubricants, and other oil-derived products, over 90% of industrial factories would directly shut down. ¡°Oil is the lifeline of industry,¡± this phrase had no falsehood. Even though fusion energy was inexhaustible and limitless, it still had extraction costs, electricity transmission costs, and power station maintenance costs. Using industrial means to forcibly synthesize organics from inorganics with electricity remained too costly, much more than extracting oil in the old era. Up until now, many poor small countries¡¯ people still couldn¡¯t eat their fill, precisely due to the lack of oil substitutes. Fortunately, the booming development of Space Botany was slowly healing humanity¡¯s ¡°oil dependence syndrome.¡± Many industrial raw materials, such as polymer fibers, ethylene, benzene, Methane, and so on, found substitutes from Space Mutant Plants, and these plants could be grown on a large scale on the ground. Just like the high call from a small country¡¯s president: ¡°Praise Space Botany, finally letting us escape the survival crisis! Praise!¡± ¡­ An hour later, the autonomous vehicle passed through the agricultural zone and the industrial zone, entering the urban area. ¡°Distinguished guest, you have reached your designated destination. This service time was 1 hour and 2 minutes, total charge 43 coins¡­¡± A gentle electronic prompt sounded, Zhang Yuan paid and got out of the car, returning to his home. ¡°Home is still comfortable.¡± He first took a cold shower, then turned on the computer, logged onto the notary public website, and enthusiastically clicked the ¡°Property Donation¡± button on the webpage. After thinking carefully, he uploaded his home¡¯s property certificate. A line of information popped up on the webpage: ¡°2236-9 Beiping Street, Donghua City, room area 163.3 square meters, estimated value of 2.865 million federal coins.¡± Donating the house to the social welfare institution! Zhang Yuan took a deep breath, felt a bit reluctant, experiencing a sense of being the legendary godly rich, the kind who casually rewarded to show off¡­ ¡°If it¡¯s donated, then it¡¯s donated, bro is just that noble!¡± Actually, it wasn¡¯t that he was of high moral character. Zhang Yuan had no old people above him, no children below him, and since he had decided to leave Earth, could his Earthly property be brought onto the spaceship? ¡­ (ps: Updates every night at eight o¡¯clock.) Chapter 3 - Chapter 3: Chapter 3 Intelligence Enhancement Potion? Chapter 3: Chapter 3 Intelligence Enhancement Potion? Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°` So, since assets couldn¡¯t be brought onto the spaceship, it would be better to donate them to social welfare organizations, putting an end to it and saving the worry. However, donating also had its intricacies. Nowadays, welfare organizations were a mixed bag, many of which were established by the wealthy specifically to evade inheritance taxes. Donating assets to these organizations was just like throwing a meat bun to a dog. After much consideration, Zhang Yuan still decided to donate all his assets to the ¡°Deep Space Foundation.¡± This massive global nonprofit organization was the initiator of the entire interstellar colonization program. It was directly managed by the United Government, and the cash flow and a series of procedures were exceptionally standardized. Standing in front of the camera, Zhang Yuan said, ¡°I am willing to donate all of my fixed assets and monetary funds to the Deep Space Foundation, with the effective date being the year 2266¡­¡± He recorded a video, then filled in specific details, and the entire donation process was thus completed. Until the effective date arrived, the assets remained his own, and he could change his mind at any time. He pondered carefully for a while and set the effective date for two years later. A two-year buffer, the ¡°Earth Era¡± spaceship was expected to reach Pluto¡¯s orbit. If nothing went wrong, that would be best. If, unfortunately, something happened, even if a rescue team was sent, it was highly unlikely any of them would survive. ¡°Let¡¯s leave it at that!¡± ¡°Such a waste, really such a waste!¡± He heavily pressed confirm, feeling both pain and joy in his heart, a sense of inexplicable emptiness as if his whole body was paralyzed. These were the inheritances left to him by his father, just squandered like that. Soon, Zhang Yuan comforted himself a bit and pushed the reluctance in his heart to the back of his mind¡­ Afterward, it seemed there was nothing to do. Previously, when working in Space City, there was always endless work every day. The trainee captain bossed them around like dogs, grandly calling it ¡°stress training.¡± Suddenly having free time, he felt somewhat at a loss. Humans really were a wretched species. Some people liked to indulge and vent crazily before leaving. But he felt there was no need for that. ¡°Might as well read some books; studying a bit wouldn¡¯t hurt.¡± Zhang Yuan walked into the study and browsed the catalog on the bookshelf. ¡°Far Abelian Geometry and Tame Topology.¡± ¡°On Almost Complex Structures in Symplectic Spaces.¡± ¡°Integral Geometric Methods in the Langlands Program.¡± Looking at these titles, Zhang Yuan couldn¡¯t help but click his tongue. There were two types of mathematics books: The first kind made you not want to read after the first page; the second kind made you not want to read after the first sentence. But now, these books belonged to the third kind, making you not want to read just by looking at the titles. Zhang Yuan, with resignation, randomly flipped open a book. On a certain page, a certain line read, ¡°For prime number p, the projective limit of (Z/p^nZ)n¡Ý1¡­¡± ¡°1/5 =¡­5412541254125412¡± It was neither English nor an alien language, but any combination of these words couldn¡¯t be understood, especially with ellipses oddly placed before the number. What on earth was that? In neat small characters, a line on the blank space of the paper said, ¡°¡­Regarding the problem of p-adic integers, I have a better idea, but unfortunately the space here is too small to write it down.¡± Zhang Yuan¡¯s pulse on his forehead twitched a few times; he sighed and gave up on this area of struggle. To ask why his home had such books, of course, it was¡ªleft by his godfather-like father. According to his father¡¯s words, ¡°The world¡¯s problems ultimately fall into two categories, one being philosophical problems and the other being mathematical problems. Mastering mathematics, everything becomes simple¡­¡± Indeed, Zhang Yuan was the son of a scientist. The advantage was that he received the best education from an early age and developed many good habits. The disadvantage was that when his innate intelligence was simply at the average person¡¯s level, he had this feeling of being mentally challenged. Even though he worked hard and got into a decent university, graduating with excellent grades, compared to his father, he still felt like an idiot. The intelligence gap between people was sometimes greater than that between humans and dogs¡­ Ding dong, ding dong. Just then, the shrill doorbell rang from the doorway, pulling back his thoughts. Zhang Yuan jumped up from the stool and opened the door, only to find a delivery robot standing outside. ¡°Hello, Mr. Zhang Yuan. Your parcel, please check for receipt!¡± This kind of six-axis robot paired with driverless vehicles was already capable of performing some simple manual labor. Decades ago, a large number of delivery personnel were replaced by robots and became unemployed, which at the time caused large-scale protests (though, of course, abroad). ¡°Mine?¡± To save costs, the delivery robot only had simple AI without complex logic capabilities like language judgment. ¡°Hello, Mr. Zhang Yuan. Your parcel, please check for receipt!¡± Zhang Yuan looked at the senders¡¯ signature, and to his surprise, it was ¡°Donghua City Law Firm,¡± causing his heart to skip a beat. ¡°What¡¯s going on, a lawyer¡¯s letter? Did I break the law?¡± ¡°Hello, Mr. Zhang Yuan. Your parcel, please check for receipt!¡± The robot just mechanically repeated. ¡°¡­¡± After pressing his fingerprint to confirm it was the recipient himself, the robot handed him a large package. With a bang, he shut the door, feeling a bit nervous inside, eagerly unpacking the package. If he was really inexplicably guilty, perhaps his permit to board the spaceship would be canceled. That¡¯s something he definitely wouldn¡¯t want to see. The outermost layer was a paper letter, ¡°Dear Mr. Zhang Yuan, this is an item your father entrusted us to keep. The will only takes effect when you are about to leave Earth¡­¡± Feeling relieved, it turned out to be a ¡°gift¡± left by his father. Inside was a folding tablet computer and a cold iron box, with the dry ice inside the package still emitting a ghostly cold mist. He opened the tablet computer. ¡°Zhang Yuan!¡± A familiar figure appeared on the screen. It was his father. ¡°Dad.¡± Zhang Yuan murmured as he looked at the screen. The middle-aged man on the screen smiled, ¡°Recently feeling unwell, perhaps the end is near, and I¡¯m going to see Einstein¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­If you plan to live honestly on Earth, I believe the wealth I left you would be enough for a while.¡± Indeed, his father left him a house in Donghua City and a couple of million federal coins, enough to marry and raise a child. ¡°¡­If you want to leave with the ¡®Earth Era,¡¯ then these legacies are useless, just donate them. Only knowledge is the most important.¡± Zhang Yuan forced a smile; surprisingly, his and his father¡¯s thoughts were quite similar. ¡°I feel I¡¯ve not taught you enough knowledge. Although you seem diligent, in many fields, 1% of talent is more important, and you don¡¯t have a talent for research, just an ordinary person¡­¡± Zhang Yuan awkwardly scratched his head, his heart calm. Perhaps having been hit since childhood, his face had become thicker than a dead pig¡¯s. ¡°I¡¯m not a genius, but at least I¡¯m not dumb, otherwise, how could I have passed the astronaut exam? I¡¯m doing alright, okay.¡± Zhang Yuan was just somewhat puzzled as to what this already deceased father was doing. Why, at the last moment, send a computer to scold him? His father babbled on for half a day, and finally got to the point, ¡°Ahem, this computer contains some of my ideas and thoughts. These include the fields of artificial intelligence, robot algorithms, and some other cutting-edge technologies; they are still unpublished, you can take a look.¡± These were indeed good things! ¡°¡­Don¡¯t think about picking the fruits easy, they have not been completely perfected. If you¡¯re interested, you might try to improve them. It could be a small gift from me. Of course, if you don¡¯t understand the knowledge inside, copying it won¡¯t be of any use.¡± When discussing his academic achievements, his father waxed lyrical, as if only these things could ignite his desire to talk. After a while, his father¡¯s face slightly flushed, his expression began to look tired. ¡°¡­Oh, by the way, there¡¯s a¡­ potion in that iron box.¡± His expression turned somewhat strange, paused, and said, ¡°There is a 35% probability it will make you smarter, a 50% probability it won¡¯t change anything, and a 15% probability it will make you duller!¡± ¡°If you¡¯re dissatisfied with your current intelligence, perhaps you can give it a try.¡± ¡°All the consequences are yours to bear!¡± ¡°` Chapter 4 - Chapter 4: Chapter 4 The Feeling of Genius Chapter 4: Chapter 4 The Feeling of Genius Editor: Henyee Translations After finishing his sentence, his father closed the video and went back to work. At that time, even though he was seriously ill, he still insisted on working. The Earth Era, this giant spaceship of a new era, was built piece by piece by this group of workaholics. Zhang Yuan stared at the iron box, lost in thought. Even after being mocked, he still felt a sense of reluctance. His father¡¯s memory had become somewhat blurred, but now it became clear again, as if they had just parted yesterday. That feeling was really sad¡­ After two seconds, he remembered something and suddenly looked at the iron box. A drug that could enhance intelligence! Was it real or fake? Zhang Yuan swallowed a mouthful of saliva, frowned, and opened the iron box. He found a small blue glass bottle filled with liquid inside, along with a disposable syringe. Enhancing intelligence, impossible, could such advanced black technology really exist in the world? Impossible, absolutely impossible! ¡°If it really existed, the world would already be full of geniuses, and PhDs would be as common as dogs. Even if the price were high, it wouldn¡¯t matter.¡± But, since his father mentioned it, it probably wasn¡¯t groundless. He picked up the glass bottle, affected by dry ice, it was freezing cold, and the light blue liquid inside was no more than 3 milliliters. Zhang Yuan hesitated, wanting to find an institution to test the components of the liquid. But he was also afraid that this thing might be time-sensitive. Once the temperature rose, it might deteriorate and lose its effect. So, should he use it or not? Clenching his fists, he pondered hard for three seconds. First, the probability of success was greater than the probability of failure. Second, since it was sent by his father, it shouldn¡¯t be harmful¡­ Third, he was really unwilling to just be an ordinary person. Not using it would be foolish! Having made up his mind, Zhang Yuan stopped hesitating, took out the disposable syringe, and drew the blue liquid from the glass bottle. ¡°Inject intravenously¡­¡± ¡°Calm, calm.¡± With a deep breath, he plunged the syringe into the vein on his arm. A sharp pain. As an astronaut, he had received some medical training, so he was not unfamiliar with this kind of thing. Just an injection. Zhang Yuan bit his teeth and pressed the syringe with his thumb, slowly pushing the blue liquid in. Soon, his cheeks began to flush, a strange drowsy feeling emanating from his head. He couldn¡¯t tell if it was due to nerves or the drug taking effect. Suddenly, everything spun! His eyes widened, and he collapsed to the ground. ¡­ When he woke up again, he felt his mind was muddled, as if a whirlpool was spinning rapidly. He continued lying on the ground for a few minutes until the intense pain in his brain gradually subsided. ¡°¡­Able to think.¡± Zhang Yuan laboriously got up, looked around suspiciously, and then repackaged the syringe and glass bottle, putting them in the fridge. If necessary, maybe he should find a place to analyze the components of the remaining liquid. ¡°Have I gotten smarter or dumber?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s try!¡± he thought enthusiastically. The simplest test, of course, was calculation. Zhang Yuan gave himself a problem: ¡°7812378*7812378=¡­¡± ??? ?? ? It was like a machine had rusted and jammed, the answer didn¡¯t leap into his mind immediately. It¡¯s over! A wave of irritation. His entire face turned beet red. Damn it. Haven¡¯t become smarter, have I become dumber?! ¡°I shouldn¡¯t be this unlucky¡­ Ah, if I really am this unlucky, I¡¯ll just have to accept it.¡± He got up from the ground, checked the time, it was already 9 PM, and his stomach was rumbling with hunger. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s low blood sugar causing brain dysfunction¡­¡± He randomly found an excuse, trying to calm his chaotic emotions, walked into the kitchen, cooked a bowl of noodles for himself, and slurped it down. Man is iron, food is steel, test IQ after eating the noodles. Zhang Yuan took steps toward the study and pulled out the book, ¡°Far Abel Geometry and Tame Topology.¡± He couldn¡¯t understand it, still couldn¡¯t understand it. ¡°That¡¯s not right, maybe I¡¯m being too impatient, this book is too hard.¡± Understanding a book doesn¡¯t just depend on intelligence, it also requires accumulated knowledge. Far Abel Geometry is a distant branch of Algebraic Geometry, even PhD students in Mathematics find it overwhelming. Without relevant prior knowledge, even if Zhang Yuan¡¯s IQ were 250, he couldn¡¯t possibly understand its content. Then switch to another, simpler book. ¡°The Art of Computer Programming¡± A very classic book! In this era, programming had become a compulsory course in high school and university, even though many people disliked this course just as they disliked Mathematics and Physics. In their words, ¡°What¡¯s the use of learning this? I might not work in this field in the future!¡± But there¡¯s no denying that Software Engineering was still the highest employment rate specialty, whether in the field of Artificial Intelligence, Information Technology, or various mechanical designs, programming is needed. Zhang Yuan¡¯s university major was ¡°Space Machinery Engineering,¡± a messy field where you learned a bit of everything, programming was of course also mediocre. Zhang Yuan recalled the knowledge in his mind and opened the first page. [Volume 1, Chapter 1, Basic Algorithms.] ¡°Just think of it as reviewing. Though this book is classic, its elementary applications concerning simulation, numerical methods, symbolic computation, software, and system design are still pretty difficult.¡± Gradually, he entered a highly focused state, and a peculiar emotion arose in his mind. When pondering and solving problems, it was like conquering one challenging checkpoint after another. This powerful sense of conquest and satisfaction stimulated him to keep reading. Time passed by the second, until the entire book, over two hundred pages long, was finished. Zhang Yuan nodded, feeling like he had enjoyed a sumptuous feast. A pretty good book, no time wasted! He stopped his pen, hammered his achy back, continually reflecting on the knowledge he¡¯d acquired. He looked up to check the time. No way, it¡¯s already 3 AM, he¡¯d been reading for six hours! Time had passed quickly, it was time to sleep. Wait a minute! Intel¡­ Intelligence! Suddenly, he remembered something, and a deep sense of joy surged through him. In the past, although Zhang Yuan was a diligent and self-disciplined good student, he couldn¡¯t be diligent enough to study a boring book for six hours straight without any distractions¡­ He hadn¡¯t even noticed the passage of time. But now, something seemed different, the whole book wasn¡¯t just understood in one go, there weren¡¯t any obstacles in the middle, everything seemed to happen naturally. Haha! It was real! I really have become smarter! He excitedly rolled around on the bed¡­ Chapter 5 - Chapter 5: Chapter 5: The Trait Called "Workaholic Chapter 5: Chapter 5: The Trait Called ¡°Workaholic Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°` After being excited for a few minutes, the same question popped into his head. ¡°7812378 * 7812378 = ¡­¡± ??? ?? Still couldn¡¯t do it within a second, what was going on? As¡­ ahem, a genius, he shouldn¡¯t be stumped by such a problem! Zhang Yuan frowned, a vertical multiplication problem appeared in his mind. He stumbled through it for half a minute before finally coming up with the result. ¡°61033250014884.¡± Not bad, still got it. Thinking it over carefully, a look of realization appeared on his face. ¡°So that¡¯s it¡­ the old me would have solved such problems directly on a computer, which caused my calculation skills to degrade significantly. If you don¡¯t use your brain, even geniuses can¡¯t instantly pop out answers¡­¡± ¡°Calculating slowly now is just because of a lack of proficiency and not mastering the relevant techniques. If I use mental arithmetic long-term, I can definitely improve.¡± The next day¡­ Zhang Yuan woke up bleary-eyed and rubbed his groggy head. Maybe it was because he was too excited last night, constantly testing his IQ, that he just couldn¡¯t fall asleep. By the time he finally managed to doze off, it was nearly dawn. He looked, and it was already 10 o¡¯clock. ¡°Darn!¡± Zhang Yuan rolled off the bed, quickly washed up, then hurriedly rushed out the door. ¡°I hope I¡¯m not late, otherwise Auntie will nag me for ages¡­¡± The 30-day vacation was tight, with every day planned out clearly, and he had already scheduled to have lunch at his aunt¡¯s today. July in Donghua City was like a furnace, with heat waves rolling over, and the roadside plants were caught in the inferno. Zhang Yuan hurried to the subway station, where there was always a comfortable air conditioner. This era did not lack energy, and the power generation of each large fusion nuclear power plant was comparable to the Three Gorges Hydroelectric Power Station of the past, with domestic electricity priced as low as 3 cents per degree. Thanks to this, apart from plastics and other traditional petroleum-derived products that remained expensive, high-energy-consuming industrial products like steel and cement had become unusually cheap. In particular, the vigorous development of nanotechnology had resulted in generation after generation of upgraded building materials. For example, adding 6% nano-silicon dioxide to cement could double its compressive strength and improve the overall working properties of concrete. The widespread availability of cheap, new materials had led to increasingly taller surface buildings in the city, with kilometer-high skyscrapers being commonplace. Two hundred years ago, the 828-meter-tall Burj Khalifa was the tallest building in the world, but now, it was merely the tallest building in a village. Moreover¡­ the same construction cost could now build at least five! Some transportation tracks were even placed thousands of meters high, with skyscrapers as the rail pillars. These became very popular in almost all large cities, making aerial rails the face of big cities. ¡°So many people.¡± Donghua City was one of the five first-tier cities in Xia Country. Even though he had missed the morning rush hour, the subway station was still crowded. ¡°Passengers, please give way to the elderly and children.¡± ¡°Please refrain from smoking or begging inside the carriages.¡± Completely solving traffic problems was impossible. Critics always found the most comfortable angles to attack the government, if the transit was too crowded, the government would definitely catch flak. But if there were too many subway trains, with lots of empty seats, it would be considered a ¡°waste of taxpayers¡¯ money.¡± No matter what, they would get criticized, so they just made do. Zhang Yuan stood at the back of the line, hearing someone constantly complain about ¡°not adding more trains¡± and so forth. He chuckled to himself, not thinking much of it, and instead picked up his phone to start doing exercises. This was a very popular app called ¡°Super Brain¡± that could test a person¡¯s memory, arithmetic skills, and reasoning ability. Since he was bored anyway, doing a few problems wasn¡¯t a bad idea, and he could also test his IQ. IQ was currently the most important issue to him. Every time he found his IQ to be high in a test, the satisfaction was indescribable. The subway station was noisy, making it hard to concentrate, but somehow, doing exercises always produced a peculiar sense of accomplishment, giving him a sensation like eating chocolate candies. Maybe it was because after using that elixir, he acquired a trait called ¡°workaholic¡±? ¡°I finally understand why someone would want to work all day long, turns out it¡¯s so darn enjoyable. Using my brain has become an unexpectedly fun thing!¡± Ding-dong¡­ The subway arrived, and the crowd surged in, clearing the earlier waiting area. Zhang Yuan entered the subway, found a random place to stand, and continued doing another problem. With increasing proficiency, he reduced the time for seven-digit basic arithmetic from half a minute per problem to 10 seconds per problem, and his calculation speed kept improving. That feeling of the answer almost jumping out was finally slowly emerging. The more he used his brain, the sharper it became, and this result pleased him greatly. Soon, he was no longer satisfied with ordinary basic arithmetic and moved on to square root calculations. ¡°Let¡¯s start with something simple, ¡Ì7812 (keep four significant figures).¡± Zhang Yuan gave himself a difficulty boost. There are many different methods to manually find the square root of an integer. The most conventional one is called trial and division, a bit like division, and if your mental arithmetic is good enough, you can indeed calculate it directly. Some algorithms are a bit more troublesome, like continued fraction expansion, bisection, Newton¡¯s iteration, etc. Fifteen seconds later, he got the specific conclusion. ¡°¡Ì7812 = 88.38¡­¡± Correct answer! ¡°¡Ì444¡± ¡°21.07¡± Correct answer! Ha ha! Is this¡­ what it feels like to be a genius? Gosh¡­ it feels awesome! The carriage was very quiet, except for the subway¡¯s electronic prompts, everyone else was busy immersing themselves in their own little world. Occasionally, a few people, whether they were reading a novel or watching a video at a peak moment, would burst into laughter like fools¡­ ¡°Subway time should be used for self-improvement, not entertainment!¡± A ¡°well-informed¡± guy who had returned from studying abroad frowned, lamenting this poor social trend. The phenomenon of ¡°phone addicts¡± was often criticized by major media outlets, but criticizing it didn¡¯t do much good; people still played on their phones and kept their heads down. You can¡¯t expect the government to legislate, banning playing phones in public, can you? This man¡¯s name was Ye Fan, and in his perception, foreign subways had everyone reading newspapers instead of playing on phones, and the social climate was a hundred times better than in Xia Country (though it was just that there was no internet). Anyway, no matter what, in his opinion, young people abroad lived much healthier lives than young people in Xia Country! ¡°No wonder these folks can¡¯t get into space, it¡¯s because they¡¯re putting learning time into entertainment¡­ No wonder they aren¡¯t making it to space!¡± Ye Fan thought secretly. ¡°There¡¯s a saying, what¡¯s it again? I just used the time others spent drinking coffee on work¡­¡± Especially the young guy next to him in a short sleeve shirt, who had a mysterious grin on his face. Tsk tsk, must be dating a 2D girl, huh? Hopeless! (By the way, let me explain the book¡¯s title. Originally, I wanted to call it ¡°Deep Space Era,¡± but it was too serious, and the click rate would be low.) (It¡¯s sci-fi, you know how it is, even though ¡°Wandering Earth¡± was a hit, that doesn¡¯t mean other sci-fi can hit too. Most people would see ¡°Deep Space Era¡± as a title and probably wouldn¡¯t even want to read it, not even want to click it.) (After thinking it over, I decided to change it to this, ¡°Deep Space Captain,¡± even though it sounds kind of corny, the click rate should be a bit higher¡­) ¡°` Chapter 6 - Chapter 6: Chapter 6: Who is this person? Chapter 6: Chapter 6: Who is this person? Editor: Henyee Translations Ye Fan felt a deep disdain in his heart and decided to return to the office to write an article, thoroughly criticizing this unhealthy phenomenon. If he could spark a topic and stir up quite a bit of heat, he could also boost his own reputation in the process! He even already had a title in mind¡ª¡±The Subway¡¯s ¡®Head-Down Tribe¡¯¡ªA Cultural Perspective of the Masses.¡± Thinking of this, he discreetly aimed his phone at Zhang Yuan, intending to use this counterexample as an illustration for his article. He glanced again at Zhang Yuan¡¯s phone screen and frowned. ¡°Huh, not flirting with a two-dimensional girl. Turns out he¡¯s doing Super Brain.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t be used as a picture anymore then¡­¡± Of course, he had seen this TV show that was all the rage across the nation. The Super Brain app was specially developed to select contestants. Contestants confident in their intelligence could answer questions on their phones, and the top one thousand of each season would qualify for the selection. After the selection, they could showcase their skills on the real stage. Because it was an online competition, many people used computers to cheat, making the whole result not very genuine. However, these cheaters would eventually be exposed during the selection. ¡°Quick calculation, huh, I can do that too!¡± Ye Fan curiously watched, eager to give it a try. He had also learned mental arithmetic in his childhood and now subconsciously wanted to compete with Zhang Yuan. ¡°88.8*8+88.88*8-8.99/8.88=¡­ (retain 4 significant digits)¡± Zhang Yuan thought for a few seconds and directly wrote down the answer. ¡°1420¡± ¡°So fast?¡± Ye Fan was surprised, ¡°Though you only need to retain 4 significant digits, just enough to omit the decimals¡­ This question is a bit interesting.¡± Still, he didn¡¯t think much of it, assuming Zhang Yuan had been calculating for quite a while. Next question, Zhang Yuan tapped with his finger. ¡°ln(40) (retain 3 significant digits)¡± This time, both stood at the same starting line. Ye Fan put in all his effort, racking his brains. ¡°Wait a minute, how do you calculate a logarithmic function? What is the base change formula again?¡± For a while, his brain turned a bit chaotic. He struggled with it: ¡°ln(40)=ln(4)+ln(10), and then¡­ Oh, no, still can¡¯t figure it out, do we need to memorize some logarithm tables?¡± Zhang Yuan again wrote down the answer on the screen. ¡°3.69¡± ¡°Correct answer!¡± Ye Fan¡¯s eyes widened, as if he had seen a ghost. He still hadn¡¯t figured out how to calculate the logarithm and had no idea. Right then, the other party started the next question again. ¡°sin(24¡ã) (retain 3 significant digits)¡± What was this? How to calculate trigonometric functions again? Double angle formula? Not right. sin(24¡ã), no way to calculate by hand! The person wrote the answer on the screen again: ¡°0.407¡± ¡°Correct answer!¡± ¡°¡­¡± After suffering a series of invisible blows, Ye Fan had a knot in his head and could only give up. He was too embarrassed to ask, so he searched through his phone and found the answer he wanted. ¡°So, hand-calculating logarithms or trigonometric functions requires Taylor series expansion¡­ Well, it¡¯s normal not to compete with these long-term trained people!¡± He couldn¡¯t help but pout, thinking with discontent: What¡¯s the big deal about quick calculation? This skill is completely useless¡ªno matter how fast a person calculates, can they match a computer? Perhaps, he could write another article to criticize those educational institutions teaching mental arithmetic. There was no need to burden children with irrelevant learning. Thinking so, he quietly took out his phone and opened the calculator app, thinking, with a computer¡¯s speed, could he not match your mental arithmetic? Zhang Yuan vaguely felt a sharp gaze at his back, as if someone was watching him. He looked around but didn¡¯t find anything. However, he didn¡¯t mind too much. A thief? Haha, he didn¡¯t have a cent in cash, and the only valuable item was the phone in his hand. Besides, what¡¯s on his phone screen wasn¡¯t particularly private. Glancing at it wouldn¡¯t take away a piece of his flesh. After completing a whole set of questions, the screen displayed the final score: ¡°Congratulations! Final time 312.42 seconds, SSS, ranked 28th today!¡± ¡°Please keep up the good work!¡± A two-dimensional girl with an admiring expression popped up on the screen. Only 28th place. It seemed a bit lower than expected. Zhang Yuan thought to himself, ¡°There are still many geniuses in this world; it¡¯s normal to rank like this.¡± With more training, perhaps his performance would improve again. But there was no need for that; he wasn¡¯t participating in competitions, and his calculation ability was just about enough. He casually opened the leaderboard. ¡°First place, Eternal Eternity, time 0.01 seconds.¡± ¡°Second place, Writing Novels Will Eat Dirt, time 0.07 seconds.¡± ¡°Third place, Can You Support Originals, time 0.11 seconds.¡± ¡°Third place, When Can I Take Leave, time 0.12 seconds.¡± Zhang Yuan smiled; humans couldn¡¯t possibly complete 20 questions in 0.01 seconds. These results must have been created by a program using screen-reading software to capture information. Some people like this, using cheats to pretend as if they are very capable. Human computational speed couldn¡¯t compare with cheats, so he extinguished this aspect of ambition. ¡°Dragon Bridge Station has arrived. Please get off. Distant Industrial and Commercial Bank reminds you: Please be careful when going out, mind your steps¡­¡± Watching Zhang Yuan leave, Ye Fan was still in a state of confusion. For longer calculations, even at the speed of his computer, he couldn¡¯t keep up with the other¡¯s mental arithmetic speed! Who the hell was this person? Calculation champion? Ye Fan tried hard to recall how long it took the last Super Brain champion to complete 20 questions. ¡°How long was it exactly¡­¡± 300 seconds? 200 seconds? It didn¡¯t seem right. He searched again, and tens of thousands of alpacas drifted across his mind. 313.6 seconds! Just one second more than the number he had just seen. ¡­ Intelligence was composed of three factors: memory, reasoning ability, and language ability. Quick arithmetic didn¡¯t necessarily mean high intelligence, but it undoubtedly represented a higher reasoning ability than ordinary people. Throughout the training process, the exaggerated pace of improvement also excited Zhang Yuan immensely. From a rusty brain to a flexible one, it took only a night! He even had another slight suspicion in his heart: maybe¡­ the speed of learning other disciplines was just as fast! There was a faint feeling in his heart that this was a kind of luxury. Becoming an all-around scientist like Newton in this era was already impossible. No more Newtons or Einsteins had appeared in history because the entire civilization¡¯s knowledge system was too vast, beyond the brain capacity of humans. No, it was difficult to bear even one ten-thousandth of the knowledge! History was full of brilliant figures, and these geniuses laid the foundation for the knowledge system of civilization. From the first Industrial Revolution to now, hundreds of years have passed, and the whole world had undergone dramatic changes. Yet human innate intelligence hadn¡¯t improved much, still using very primitive brains. Two hundred years ago, universities taught calculus; nowadays, universities still teach calculus. It¡¯s not that science hadn¡¯t progressed but that ordinary people¡¯s intelligence was like this. So, modern humans were not smarter than those of the 21st century, but they had to master more knowledge. To create new knowledge, one first had to stand on the shoulders of these giants. How hard was it? ¡°If it¡¯s really possible¡­¡± Zhang Yuan hoped to find the point he was most interested in, then add some useful stuff to this mountain of knowledge; that would already be great. Chapter 7 - Chapter 7: Chapter 7 The Child Next Door Chapter 7: Chapter 7 The Child Next Door Editor: Henyee Translations Stepping out of the subway station and walking east for about ten minutes, he arrived at his aunt¡¯s house. ¡°¡­ Are you really leaving Earth? You¡¯re the only son of your family! If you were my son, I¡¯d definitely scold you to death!¡± Unsurprisingly, his aunt, teary-eyed and extremely reluctant, said a lot to persuade him to stay. Faced with the concern from his relatives, Zhang Yuan awkwardly smiled, not knowing what to say. He turned his gaze outside the window. His aunt¡¯s home was on the 192nd floor, and looking out, one could see a vast distance. Donghua City was well-planned, with the outermost ring as the agricultural and industrial areas, and the city center in the middle. The buildings were spaced far apart to ensure every household could be in the sunlight. ¡°It¡¯s already planned. Turning back would be desertion and would face very severe punishment. It¡¯s also my dad¡¯s wish, and if he were alive, he¡¯d definitely support me¡­¡± Recalling countless days and nights of hard work, how could he possibly give up now? ¡°You¡¯re not coming back?¡± ¡°Yeah, not coming back¡­¡± His aunt¡¯s eyes turned red, and she opened her mouth, unable to speak. To cover up her sadness, she hurriedly ran to the kitchen to cook, occasionally wiping her eyes with her sleeves. Meanwhile, his uncle was cracking sunflower seeds and watching TV, sitting with crossed legs on the sofa. He said with great openness, ¡°A good man¡¯s ambition should be boundless. Going to space is a good thing! It¡¯s not like you¡¯re dead. I don¡¯t understand why your aunt is so sentimental!¡± ¡°Look at this news, if I weren¡¯t so old and lacking knowledge, I¡¯d want to sign up too!¡± The TV was blaring loudly, playing a documentary about the ¡°Earth Era¡± spaceship. Phrases like ¡°witness history,¡± ¡°restart new civilization,¡± and ¡°humankind¡¯s first¡± stirred his uncle¡¯s emotions, making him wish he could also venture into the stars. ¡°Alas, I¡¯m getting old. I wish I were as young as you.¡± Half an hour later, the meal was ready. The atmosphere at the dining table was somewhat silent. His aunt kept urging Zhang Yuan to eat more, saying things like ¡°eat well before the journey¡± and ¡°you won¡¯t get chicken, duck, or fish in space,¡± which were rather odd. To ease his relatives¡¯ worries, Zhang Yuan proactively talked about his future plans. ¡°¡­ Besides some routine maintenance work on the spaceship, there¡¯s plenty of personal time. So, I plan to learn as much as possible before hibernation, hopefully completing Master¡¯s and Doctorate courses before reaching the destination¡­¡± ¡°Are there teachers on the spaceship too?¡± ¡°Of course, there are fifty thousand people there! Most have special skills, with education levels higher than mine.¡± ¡°And there are many experts, like professors from universities and senior engineers from companies. These experts are very skilled, even some at the academician level!¡± His uncle nodded, sighing, ¡°That¡¯s a great idea. One should keep learning throughout life. Xiaoqing, did you hear that? Without studying, you can¡¯t establish yourself in society. Whatever you do needs knowledge! It¡¯s not the old days anymore¡­¡± The girl sitting next to Zhang Yuan was Ye Qingqing, his aunt¡¯s daughter. Suddenly being lectured, she couldn¡¯t help but pout. Although Zhang Yuan wasn¡¯t some top genius, he was a typical hardworking student, a ¡°good student¡± in the eyes of relatives. Ye Qingqing naturally wasn¡¯t pleased with being constantly compared to the ¡°good kid.¡± She quietly retorted to herself, ¡°I don¡¯t even use trigonometric functions to sell vegetables¡­¡± Ye Qingqing didn¡¯t dare to speak too loudly for fear that her father might hear and scold her. With how things evolved, the anti-intellectual argument that ¡°learning is useless¡± had long been discarded by the public. A simple comparison: the average income of staff in major Space Cities and Moon Bases was around 600,000. In contrast, Xia Country¡¯s average income was roughly 60,000. A tenfold difference in average income between the two! Xia Country had already become one of the wealthiest countries on Earth. Without studying, it¡¯s embarrassing to venture into space and one would ¡°likely¡± be a low-income earner. In essence, for ordinary people, working in a Space City or at a Moon Base was a very respectable job. ¡°By the way, when will you enter hibernation? Didn¡¯t the TV say that most of the journey would be spent in hibernation, with an average conscious time of less than ten years per person?¡± Zhang Yuan thought for a moment, then said, ¡°Well, it depends on one¡¯s abilities. If you¡¯re outstanding, you can apply to enter hibernation later. Ordinary people will likely enter hibernation after resupplying at Jupiter, sleeping through hundreds of years, waking for a few years, then entering hibernation again. We take turns working to get through these difficult times.¡± ¡°It will ultimately take three thousand years to reach the destination.¡± ¡°Three thousand years, huh.¡± His aunt¡¯s eyes turned red again. By that time, they would long be gone, not even their bones left. No one knew what would happen in the future, and who would contemplate things three thousand years from now. His uncle also sighed, ¡°Ah, let¡¯s eat, let¡¯s eat first.¡± Zhang Yuan felt a wave of emotions. Every astronaut had to face such a choice¨Cthey had to abandon their Mother Star, abandon everything, everything here¡­ Time aged quickly, and past stories were hard to find. These fifty thousand people would become witnesses of Earth¡¯s history, personally experiencing the next three thousand years of Earth¡¯s future. It sounded glamorous but was, in reality, profoundly harsh. They would be abandoned by the entire era. Some might wonder why there would be such fifty thousand people. It sounded strange, truly strange. Because¡­ The morning fungus knows not of twilight, and the cicada knows not spring and autumn. Without venturing beyond Earth, one would never understand just how vast the starry sky truly was. Viewed from the Universe¡¯s scale, Earth seemed so very small, small enough to make one¡¯s heart flutter, as if it could be obliterated with a flick of a finger. Just like a hundred years ago, when Professor Qi Yuanshan, the founder of the Deep Space Foundation and the Father of Nuclear Fusion, made his resounding proclamation, ¡°What does aerospace have to do with profits!¡± The atmosphere grew more silent, with only the sounds of eating. His uncle suddenly said, ¡°Uh, Xiaoqing is taking the college entrance exam next year. Are there any good majors you can recommend? The kind with good job prospects.¡± Zhang Yuan got into university Z, considered the best achievable school for ordinary people with effort. Plus, he had interned in a Space City, so he knew the situation there. Ye Qingqing looked up. She was already a high school junior, having a lively personality and not fond of studying. Based on her usual grades, she had a realistic grasp of her abilities and didn¡¯t expect to get into a particularly good university. In her view, not studying was the ultimate liberation; as long as she didn¡¯t need to study, life would be easy and happy. Even going to the market to sell vegetables seemed better than studying. Zhang Yuan thought for a moment, ¡°It depends on her interests for choosing a major.¡± His aunt awkwardly said, ¡°She doesn¡¯t have any particular hobbies¡­¡± This was quite normal. Most high school juniors didn¡¯t know what they wanted to do in the future and didn¡¯t have a complete life plan. Anyway, they just dutifully studied when teachers and parents told them to. It was only when it came time to fill out application forms that they hurriedly spent a few days planning their lives. Chapter 8 - Chapter 8: Chapter 8 The Higher the Education Level, the Better Chapter 8: Chapter 8 The Higher the Education Level, the Better Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°` Taking a responsible stance, Zhang Yuan organized his thoughts and began, ¡°The current pillar industries are Space Botany, Space Industry, and Nanomaterials Science.¡± ¡°Space Botany, which means cultivating superior Mutant Plants, these plants are widely used for growing food, extracting industrial raw materials, and in medical fields.¡± ¡°However, the minimum educational requirement to work in this industry is a graduate degree¡­ I guess that¡¯s the case.¡± ¡°A master¡¯s degree, huh¡­¡± Ye Qingqing frowned and muttered softly. She actually quite liked plants, all kinds of flower and herb cultivation, both enjoyable and rewarding, with high pay. But hearing this educational requirement made her somewhat hesitant. Zhang Yuan continued, ¡°The space industry system is even more massive; basically, there are all kinds of sectors, and the top-level manufacturing has been moved to the Moon. Low gravity and an oxygen-free environment are more suitable for developing heavy industry. The latest generation of Photon Chip technology is produced on the Moon.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a huge talent gap in this area, with higher-end being various Engineers and lower-end being Mechanical Technicians. For these, at least a graduate degree is needed.¡± ¡°Further down are technical workers, the minimum requirement is a bachelor¡¯s degree from the 995 type¡­¡± ¡°995¡­¡± Ye Qingqing stared, repeating once more. The 995 program was a major decision made by Xia Country at the turn of the century, with a total of 40 universities selected, basically the best universities in Xia Country. She involuntarily stuck out her tongue, ¡°This kind of school, definitely won¡¯t be able to get in¡­¡± Zhang Yuan continued, ¡°As for research in Nanomaterials, the academic requirement is even higher, you can¡¯t manage without a doctoral degree. Even in the production workshop, the technical workers also need 995.¡± ¡°Oh, if you graduate with just a bachelor¡¯s, you can only be a worker¡­¡± Young Uncle murmured, also startled. ¡°And it has to be 995!¡± Workers in Space City were much more valuable than those on Earth; an annual salary of several hundred thousand wasn¡¯t easy to get. Zhang Yuan quickly added, ¡°Oh, and there are various service industries in Space City, after all, people can¡¯t just work, they also need to rest and entertain. For girls, for instance, doctors, nurses, and the like, if they¡¯re excellent enough, they can still go to space. Artificial Intelligence hasn¡¯t been able to fully cover these fields yet.¡± ¡°The acceptance rate is about one in a thousand.¡± One in a thousand! Ye Qingqing¡¯s face turned red; even if she wasn¡¯t good at Mathematics, she knew what this number meant. ¡°¡­So, if you want a good prospect, you have to do well in university exams, and if there¡¯s a chance, it¡¯s best to study until you get a doctorate. Anyway, there¡¯s no such thing as having too high an education level. Unlike in the old days where PhD graduates couldn¡¯t find work, this likely won¡¯t happen anymore.¡± Ye Qingqing¡¯s brows already furrowed into a knot; although she knew the importance of studying, at her age not yet having entered society, not knowing the sweet and sour of life, there was always a sense of disinterest in studying. Studying was really annoying! Oh dear, if in the future one must study all the way to a PhD, studying for ten years, her heart felt as if inhabited by an angry little bird, wishing to bang her head against the culprit, Zhang Yuan¡¯s, face. ¡°Cousin¡­ what education level are you pursuing?¡± Ye Qingqing mischievously asked, her eyes rolling. ¡°Me¡­¡± Zhang Yuan scratched his head, embarrassed, and said, ¡°My major is Space Machinery Engineering¡­ I just graduated with a bachelor¡¯s degree, so my degree isn¡¯t enough, and I¡¯m just a repair worker. On the spaceship, my daily work is to check and maintain the spaceship, or do some cleaning, very simple work.¡± ¡°If I learned more, I should be able to take on a higher-level position¡­¡± Saying he was a worker was no big deal when he was one of the few who made it out of a one-in-a-thousand ratio. Zhang Yuan was always a very diligent person; now, with enhanced Intelligence, he was even more industrious. He had confidence in reaching higher levels within a few years. ¡°Spaceship repair worker, can you fix things? Fix the air conditioner, fix the television?¡± Ye Qingqing asked again. Faced with such a strange question, Zhang Yuan was taken aback; he repaired spaceships, how could he fix air conditioners? The two were worlds apart. ¡°Can you fix my dad¡¯s broken radio?¡± Ye Qingqing asked slyly. With a turn of thought, Zhang Yuan quickly understood what the little girl opposite him wanted. She was trying to undermine the ¡°usefulness of studying¡± argument to reduce future parental pressure on herself! And he, Zhang Yuan, inadvertently became the detestable ¡°other people¡¯s child.¡± Smiling inside, this kind of dislike for studying at that age was normal. He had gone through it like that himself; apart from a few exceptions, who likes studying all day? Did they really think using their brains wasn¡¯t tiring? ¡°That radio is really noisy, honestly noisy! Brother, can you help fix it?¡± Faced with the challenge from the little girl, as a¡­ ahem, genius, how could he be stumped by such a basic job? Fixing things was no big deal! Zhang Yuan shamelessly said, ¡°The structure of ordinary electronic devices isn¡¯t complicated; for the radio, it shouldn¡¯t be difficult either.¡± Young Uncle quickly interjected, ¡°Talking about radios here, first eat, first eat!¡± ¡­ After the meal, somehow Zhang Yuan felt a curiosity tickling his heart. This strange exploration desire continuously urged him to try, to explore. ¡°Young Uncle, if possible, let me give it a try!¡± Young Uncle hesitated for a moment, reluctantly returning to his room to bring out his cherished item. ¡°It took quite a lot of money to buy it! A small bargain was picked, and if it weren¡¯t for this defect, it would have been even pricier¡­¡± Faced with his precious collection, Young Uncle was beaming, his face full of pride. Zhang Yuan was stunned; it was actually a 20th-century antique. The square radio in front of him, with two long antennas. The black plastic surface was wiped very clean, feeling relatively rough to the touch, exuding a strong sense of history. Nowadays, people generally referred to the era before the oil crisis as the ¡°Old Era¡±; the chaotic and regressive hundred years in the middle as the ¡°Gray Era¡±; and the era after the ignition of nuclear fusion as the ¡°New Era.¡± Collecting electronic devices from the Old Era had become a new fashion trend, akin to collecting jade antiques. Young Uncle was one of the fervent enthusiasts. ¡°Can this still work? It¡¯s almost 300 years old!¡± When mentioning ¡°300,¡± Zhang Yuan inadvertently dragged out the sound. Hearing Zhang Yuan¡¯s astonished tone, it seemed to scratch an itch in Young Uncle¡¯s heart, ¡°Of course it can work; it¡¯s just a bit loud at first. I¡¯m not sure why there¡¯s so much noise; that¡¯s the only flaw¡­¡± He took a cassette tape from the safe and inserted it into the radio. The cassette was certainly an antique too; the image stuck on it no longer identifiable, depicting which star. After plugging the radio into a specially made power source, it suddenly emitted a stream of static, with the entire device trembling slightly. ¡°Buzz¡ªbuzz!¡± It startled Zhang Yuan. ¡°` Chapter 9 - Chapter 9: Chapter 9 Reading Is Still Useful Chapter 9: Chapter 9 Reading Is Still Useful Editor: Henyee Translations After a long while, the radio finally went back to normal and played the music from the tape. ¡°Sweet honey, your smile is so sweet, as if flowers bloom in the spring breeze¡­¡± An unknown singer, but the voice was quite pleasant. ¡°This is exactly the problem. It¡¯s only like this when it first starts up; it gradually gets better afterward, no idea why¡­¡± Young Uncle said, suddenly feeling uneasy in his heart. He had approached several shops, trying to get the thing repaired. But these shops didn¡¯t dare to take the job because if it was damaged, they¡¯d have to compensate. These old electronic products were very delicate; just a few touches might break one of the internal lines. Moreover, the various components of the radio had long since ceased production. Even if factories still produced them, they wouldn¡¯t fetch any price. Antiques, after all, needed the ¡°antique¡± aspect; if modern electronic components were installed in ancient instruments, what difference would it make from sticking a band-aid on it? Since it could still play normally, Young Uncle just made do with what he had. Zhang Yuan was eager to try and walked up to the radio: ¡°Let me try to fix it!¡± ¡°But¡­ sigh.¡± ¡°Give it a try.¡± The tone was obviously one of distrust. Young Uncle was suffering in his heart, feeling he might have overboasted. Even though his nephew was quite impressive, studying something called ¡°spaceship management¡± and even capable of fixing spaceships, fixing a spaceship was vastly different from fixing a radio! The most critical part was, if it broke, he couldn¡¯t possibly make his nephew pay for it! Seeing Zhang Yuan¡¯s hands already touching the radio, his heart clenched tightly! But, for the sake of face, he couldn¡¯t say much, only glancing viciously at his daughter. Ye Qingqing wasn¡¯t intimidated; she returned her father¡¯s glare, her heart blooming with laughter. In her view, this old antique had long been out of production, and even the design drawings were lost. Who could possibly fix it? Especially since¡­ dealing with minor issues was actually far more challenging than major ones. Knocking her cousin, this ¡°child from another family,¡± off his pedestal, at least temporarily, seemed to prove that ¡°studying was useless,¡± and maybe she could study a little less in the future¡­ At this moment, Zhang Yuan had already unscrewed the radio¡¯s casing, exposing the internal electronic structure: switches, power supply, variable capacitors, potentiometers, magnetic rods, and so on, which were not too complicated. It was precisely these uncomplicated things that had withstood the test of time and survived to the present. The more complex and delicate the things, the more prone they were to damage; few remained from 21st-century Huawei and Apple smartphones, with those retained commanding sky-high prices. Zhang Yuan had never repaired such an old artifact; this was a brand-new challenge. In the past, he might have avoided it, but now, he felt a strange, eager curiosity. He took a deep breath, his brain began to spin rapidly. He tried to predict the working mode of the radio using knowledge learned before. Any electronic equipment dealt with electricity and magnetic fields; essentially, they weren¡¯t much different. The working principle of a radio was merely to convert audio signals through various circuit structures. ¡°And this radio used tape playback just now, so the antenna, variable capacitor, and demodulation circuit basically didn¡¯t come into play. The noise at the beginning was unlikely to be caused by these parts¡­¡± ¡°Could it be a tape issue?¡± Zhang Yuan removed the tape, manually reset it, and inserted it back in. ¡°Sweet honey, your smile is so sweet¡­¡± This time, it played from the beginning without any noise. Zhang Yuan changed another tape and pressed the play button. ¡°My love for you is endless¡­¡± Still no noise. ¡°So, it shouldn¡¯t be due to the tape.¡± Young Uncle watched him trying again and again, growing more anxious, hastily saying, ¡°There¡¯s only noise when it first starts; afterward, there isn¡¯t any. If it doesn¡¯t work¡­ just forget it¡­¡± His heart always tightly clenched, just hoping his nephew would give up. Don¡¯t break it. Dear Lord, don¡¯t break it! ¡°Is it only like this at the start?¡± Zhang Yuan waited for a while, then brought the radio under the air conditioner to cool it for ten minutes. He plugged it back in, and surely enough, the cooled-off radio started blaring again. ¡°Buzz¡ªbuzz!¡± The piercing sound was gut-wrenching. After a while, it finally quieted down. Zhang Yuan was thoughtful. The whole troubleshooting process was somewhat like debugging in computer programming. The way for the bug to appear was already identified; now it was only necessary to find the cause and fix it. Zhang Yuan paced the room back and forth, quickly contemplating suspicious points. Poor contact? No, poor contact wouldn¡¯t cause the mad blaring at the beginning, only intermittent stoppage. ¡°Nor is it the current hum issue.¡± After thinking it over, it was most likely a preheating issue. This old-fashioned radio utilized vacuum tube technology. In this nearly vacuum-sealed chamber, there were two main devices: one was called the heater, located at the center of the vacuum tube, which would glow when operational; the other consisted of the cathode, metal grid, and metal plate. ¡°If the vacuum tube warms up improperly within the circuit, it can cause the circuit¡¯s voltage to be chaotic. This disordered voltage would erroneously transmit into the subsequent amplification circuit, causing the recorder to blare in the absence of an electrical signal.¡± ¡°And eventually, once the RF circuit fully warmed, the vacuum tube voltage adjusted, everything would return to normal, and the recorder would work properly.¡± Zhang Yuan clapped his hands; that should be the reason! Young Uncle watched Zhang Yuan pacing back and forth, just eating fruit, feeling terribly disheartened: how could a normal repairman be pacing around like this? Ye Qingqing just covered her mouth and snickered. Zhang Yuan lowered his head, squinting while he began disassembling the vacuum tubes one by one. He actually started dismantling! I¡­ Young Uncle nearly wanted to cry, trembling all over: ¡°Zhang Yuan, if it really doesn¡¯t work, how about going to a professional antique repair shop! I know a very skilled craftsman¡­ albeit a bit expensive.¡± Zhang Yuan paid no heed, wholly engrossed in his work. He truly hadn¡¯t heard what Young Uncle was saying. He restructured the arrangement of the vacuum tubes and then screwed each of them back in, waiting for the radio to cool down. Young Uncle¡¯s face was bright red, unable to help but wonder to himself: would it be broken? Did any extra parts appear? Even Aunt could hardly bear watching: ¡°Why are you so tense? It¡¯s just a radio; what¡¯s the big deal?¡± ¡°What do you know? Even if it¡¯s just a radio, do you know its history? It¡¯s very¡­¡± Zhang Yuan did not answer but pressed the play button instead. With a click¡ª The radio behaved like a docile lamb, warming up obediently with no more noise. ¡°Sweet honey, your smile is so sweet¡­¡± The gentle song echoed in the air. Chapter 10 - Chapter 10: Chapter 10 Smart Medicine? Chapter 10: Chapter 10 Smart Medicine? Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°` ¡°It¡¯s very expensive¡­ it is¡­¡± ?! Suddenly, hearing this soft music, Young Uncle¡¯s mouth gaped wide in astonishment, big enough to fit a pear. He had intended to say something but quickly swallowed his words. Unexpectedly, Zhang Yuan actually fixed the radio, and he did it in a very simple way! He was stunned for a few seconds, then hurried forward to inspect it closely. Every screw was tightened just right, and there were no extra parts left over. ¡°How did you do it?¡± After cooling the radio, he turned it on again, repeating the process several times. Each time it played perfectly, and he couldn¡¯t hide the smile on his face. ¡°You can fix radios?¡± The value increased, as the flawed antique became a perfect one. His previous doubts had long since vanished, as if they never existed. Zhang Yuan thought for a moment and honestly answered, ¡°I haven¡¯t learned it formally, but I read some related information online before¡­ Think it through carefully, and you can find the cause.¡± He then recounted his entire line of reasoning. ¡°¡­So I guessed that the former owner of this radio might have also removed these vacuum tubes when cleaning the dust. Then when reassembling, they mixed up the order, causing this problem.¡± Young Uncle listened with a vague understanding but felt it made a lot of sense. In other words, his nephew thought about it for a while, then took action and genuinely fixed it. Thought about it for a while¡­ It sounded simple, but in reality, it wasn¡¯t an easy feat. He restrained the urge to brag in front of friends and said with a smile, ¡°With the skills you just showed, opening an antique repair shop could easily earn you hundreds of thousands a year!¡± ¡°No way¡­ I actually don¡¯t really understand it.¡± ¡°I¡¯m telling the truth!¡± Actually, the important thing wasn¡¯t the level of skill in fixing things, but this ability to see through the surface to the essence. The specific principles are easy to explain, but how many can really think of it? ¡°So, Xiaoqing, you still need to study hard. If you don¡¯t understand the principles, you¡¯ll just be fumbling in the dark when fixing things.¡± Watching from the side, Ye Qingqing blinked her eyes, realizing that once again she was being lectured. So infuriating! He actually fixed it. Kids from other families really are lifelong adversaries! Terms like ¡°vacuum electronic tube¡± and ¡°radio frequency circuit¡± sounded impressively knowledgeable and convincing, leaving her with a deep sense of helplessness, not even a chance to chime in. Even¡­ A faint feeling of admiration emerged. She thought about what was in her head: 50% of her energy was used on longing for ¡°romance,¡± like the attractiveness of the school heartthrob, the class crush, and the superstar Cai Xukun; 30% on pondering what to wear and eat today, and whether she¡¯d get pimples; the remaining 20% was divided among various things, including novels, TV dramas, and¡­ studying. No wonder she couldn¡¯t learn anything well. Her head couldn¡¯t help but droop down. Young Uncle kept thanking Zhang Yuan profusely, even wanting to offer repair fees, making him feel quite embarrassed. ¡°If it were outside, the repair fee would be at least two to three thousand¡­¡± ¡°Young Uncle, how could I take your money¡­ money doesn¡¯t mean much to me.¡± Zhang Yuan was utterly embarrassed. Ye Qingqing just chuckled from the side. Suddenly, having a smart cousin seemed quite nice after all. At least, she could boast about it in front of her best friends. The word ¡°cousin¡± could even be dropped, just calling him her brother was fine, since they grew up together anyway. Being an astronaut was an incredibly esteemed identity¡­ Imagining the envious and jealous looks on her friends¡¯ faces, Ye Qingqing felt more and more that this was really cool, really cool! ¡­ When he walked out of Young Aunt¡¯s house, it was already three in the afternoon. Before leaving, Young Aunt had insisted on stuffing a big red envelope into his hands, a full ten thousand federal coins! Actually, Zhang Yuan didn¡¯t lack money, and money didn¡¯t serve much purpose for him. However, since it was the heartfelt gesture of family, he still accepted it. After all, he couldn¡¯t refuse as the red envelope was passed back and forth, and he really couldn¡¯t win against the elders. Walking on the bustling pedestrian street, Zhang Yuan was reflecting on his performance just now. ¡°99 points¡­ leaving the remaining point to avoid being too proud of myself!¡± An antique radio that produced noise, something he¡¯d never encountered before, would have left him utterly confused in the past. This rich sense of satisfaction felt like a strong coffee, leaving a lingering aftertaste. Undoubtedly, his reasoning ability and thinking ability had greatly improved! Previously, even if he had the knowledge in his mind, he wouldn¡¯t necessarily be able to deduce relevant conclusions, lacking the ability to infer by analogy. Possessing knowledge and applying knowledge are two entirely different challenges. ¡°But now, it¡¯s different¡­ Ha!¡± This magical power left Zhang Yuan absolutely thrilled. Not only that, he seemed to have regained a childlike curiosity, a strong desire to explore everything. Human curiosity and imagination are strongest in childhood, but as we age and our level of education increases, curiosity and imagination continuously diminish. This is the price of growing up. Children can play with mundane toys for a long time, with a boundless desire to explore the world. But upon growing up, they can¡¯t; doing one thing becomes tedious, and they dislike learning and using their brains. In other words, he had regained his innocent curiosity! Put simply¡­ he had the desire to learn, whether it was mathematics or physics. Exploring this world brought a vibrant sense of achievement. Things that once seemed very dull now seemed incredibly interesting. ¡°I just want to go back and keep studying¡­ have I become a freakish science giant?¡± Zhang Yuan was a little curious about the components of that strange potion, able to change a person¡¯s thinking level and interests. ¡°On Earth¡­ is there really such black technology?¡± ¡°Smart medicine?¡± With a casual search on his phone, Zhang Yuan was startled, there really was such a thing! ??? Some neurostimulant Western drugs, including Ritalin, Modafinil, and others, were dubbed ¡°smart medicine.¡± Many high school students, college students, and corporate managers took stimulant-like drugs to enhance temporary memory, making their thinking more agile. But this type of drug belonged to stimulants, with some degree of addictiveness, and long-term use would lead to dependency. It could even possibly cause insomnia, among other side effects. Zhang Yuan calmed his thoughts, ¡°This is insane¡­ these drugs are just stimulants, taken daily, and can¡¯t possibly have such strong effects.¡± ¡°Dad wouldn¡¯t give me something with side effects anyway.¡± So, what exactly was it? ¡°` Chapter 11 - Chapter 11: Chapter 11: Its Time to Learn Chapter 11: Chapter 11: It¡¯s Time to Learn Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°` Lying low for now, Zhang Yuan was unwilling to casually find an institution to test the composition of the remaining liquid. Who knows, maybe it might unintentionally expose some secret. If things get blown out of proportion then, it would not be worth the loss. He understood the principle of hiding one¡¯s wealth. The benefits his father gave him were enough for him alone to enjoy. ¡°Sigh, forget it, what¡¯s meant to be known will eventually be known. What shouldn¡¯t be known, it¡¯s better not to meddle unnecessarily¡­ Since Dad was vague and didn¡¯t explain the reason, he must have his own reasons.¡± Zhang Yuan suppressed his curiosity and cast the matter out of his mind. There were many shops on the pedestrian street, including convenience stores, clothing stores, restaurants, and fruit shops. The fruits here were cheap and fresh. There was a type of sea plant called ¡°Pu Pu Grass,¡± a new species cultivated a hundred years ago, known as ¡°God¡¯s gift to humankind from space.¡± This stuff tasted sweet, much like grapes, and its flesh was rich in a B-group vitamin with antioxidant properties, which was very beneficial to human health. Long-term consumption could even directly increase the average human lifespan. Zhang Yuan bought several pounds of ¡°Pu Pu Grass¡± at 3 federal coins per pound, intending to take them home to savor slowly. Next were the clothing stores, an endless row of them. Even now, with highly developed logistics and cheap online shopping, women still couldn¡¯t shake the bad habit of shopping. To them, online shopping and going out shopping were two completely different matters. This was because, in this era, there was no petroleum, and clothes were a bit expensive. Owning a wardrobe full of diverse clothes required a significant economic cost. As a result, women loved shopping even more; just looking and touching was fine for them. Zhang Yuan walked into a store selling underwear and casually bought several pieces of underwear, panties, and socks. ¡°After an eighty percent discount, it totals 887 yuan!¡± ¡°Make it cheaper, boss,¡± Zhang Yuan attempted to haggle. ¡°Sorry, no bargaining!¡± The reason there were sales clerks in the store was to increase employment. Even with Xia Country¡¯s productivity and social welfare system capable of supporting many idle people, if the overall unemployment rate got too high, these people would be idle, and the crime rate would rise. So, it was better to increase some low-end jobs without technical content. Really expensive! Four pairs of panties, three pieces of underwear, five pairs of socks, none of them brand names, yet they cost more than eight hundred yuan. An average person¡¯s salary was only about four to five thousand a month. Zhang Yuan twitched his nose, deeply realizing how poor his bargaining skills were, or maybe it was because the other party was a man. If it had been a female clerk, she might have been swayed by his looks and given a discount. However expensive it was, these were all clothes made of nanomaterials, very high quality, not easy to get dirty, and they wouldn¡¯t wear out for several years. Considering it like this, it was still a bargain. He planned to take these clothes for use on the spaceship. As he walked out of the store, he glanced at the latest clothing advertisement from a well-known fashion manufacturer, ¡°Nano-plastic fabric clothing, icy texture, an unprecedented silky enjoyment¡­¡± He casually touched this white dress that resembled stockings; it really was cool and refreshing. Ordinary clothes would block infrared radiation, but this nano clothing had no insulation capability; the nanopores in the material could let infrared radiation through, helping the body to dissipate heat. Of course, because the new material was thin and soft, when girls wore it, it accentuated their figure. Its price was quite steep as well, one piece costing more than two thousand. Nanotechnology changed the world, including fashion. Zhang Yuan felt it several times, the texture was incredibly good, and his mind wandered aimlessly: ¡°Looks somewhat like white stockings, pretty soft.¡± ¡°Petroleum is truly a wonderful thing, why were old-time clothes so cheap?¡± ¡°They actually burned petroleum as fuel!¡± Zhang Yuan sighed. He then thought of some countries on Earth, whose people, to this day, just barely had enough to eat, yet still couldn¡¯t afford clothes, submerged in misery. He didn¡¯t have much sympathy in his heart because most of these countries were former petroleum producers. They used to be the wealthiest on Earth, but now their current condition could only be described in one word: depletion. A flower doesn¡¯t stay in bloom for a hundred days, and people aren¡¯t good for a thousand days, there have been countless countries that have declined in history, whether individuals or civilizations, everything has its lifespan. Rising during times of crisis, declining in comfort and enjoyment, this is an unchanging truth. In times of prosperity, if one doesn¡¯t plan for the future, then they could only suffer when hard times come. Next, Zhang Yuan walked into a life insurance company, wanting to buy two extra retirement insurance policies for his Young Aunt and Young Uncle. Even if their family wasn¡¯t short on money right now, society changes, fortunes change, what if something happens in the future? Having more insurance is always better. ¡°¡­ Could you please not inform the involved parties for now, and do it two years later, is that possible? Pay the fees in one lump sum, no need for installments.¡± ¡°Of course it¡¯s possible!¡± The pretty clerk was exceptionally enthusiastic, her face flushed. Selling insurance comes with a commission, especially big deals like this, she couldn¡¯t be happier. Moreover, the other party was handsome, his manner was so cultured, giving people a very pleasant feeling. ¡°The total cost for two people¡­ three hundred thousand. Post-retirement, each person receives a refund of 2,000 federal coins per month, break even in 75 months without considering inflation.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Zhang Yuan cheerfully signed, then paid in full. Even though it was a splurge, his heart didn¡¯t ache; it was like a small parting gift for these relatives before he left. Having finished this, there weren¡¯t too many trivial matters to bother with. Zhang Yuan returned home and organized his current tasks. Regarding various memos, for some trivial matters, he simply abandoned attempts to fix them, now he only wanted to study. Study tirelessly! In the following days, Zhang Yuan joyfully browsed through various books, initially attempting to review all university courses, including ¡°Mathematical Analysis,¡± ¡°Real Analysis,¡± ¡°Near-contemporary algebra,¡± ¡°University Physics,¡± etc. The days passed by quickly. His biggest wish at the moment was to understand the articles his father left on the tablet. These articles were somewhat like casual notes, apparently recorded when Dad had inspirations at work, appearing somewhat disorganized. But Zhang Yuan had no doubt about their value¡­ ¡°` Chapter 12 - Chapter 12: Chapter 12 Please cooperate with the inspection Chapter 12: Chapter 12 Please cooperate with the inspection Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°A New Community Discovery Algorithm¡± ¡°Improvements in Machine Learning Classification and Regression Algorithms¡± ¡°Research on Whole-Body Motion Mapping Robots¡± Within this tablet, there were only a few lengthy articles, and much more were personal thoughts, making Zhang Yuan dizzy with all he saw. ¡°¡­The research work on deep neural networks should be strictly monitored. Artificial intelligence had no morals and no self-awareness. The instability of algorithms could easily lead to unforeseen crises.¡± ¡°¡­Social ethics had already begun to influence the development of science, especially biotechnology. Artificial womb technology, due to the prohibition of clones, had been unable to break through for a long time¡­ The old paradigms did not allow things that violated ethics to emerge. Only a new civilization could break this shackle¡­¡± Unfortunately, apart from these somewhat unethical thoughts and viewpoints, he could not understand the vast majority of the knowledge. With an insufficient level of knowledge, it felt like possessing a treasure mountain but being unable to dig out the treasures inside, leaving him annoyed and restless. In the end, the root of the issue was: his mathematics proficiency was inadequate, and he lacked prerequisite knowledge. Mathematics was the key to unlocking everything; without this key, it was difficult to unlock the corresponding knowledge points. But solely relying on undergraduate mathematics was definitely not enough. Zhang Yuan let out a sigh; he still needed to take it slowly. Even if he became smarter, it was impossible to reach the sky in one step. Then it was time to burn the candle at both ends, burning out night and day until the world turned dark and day and night reversed! ¡­ On this day, his friend Li Zhendong suddenly called, saving Zhang Yuan, who was nearly drowned in the ocean of knowledge. ¡°Zhang Yuan, have you visited all your relatives?¡± ¡°What?¡± he said, puzzled. ¡°Have you visited all your relatives? I¡¯m asking you!¡± Wait a minute, who are you? Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing? With dark circles under his eyes, Zhang Yuan heavily shook his head and suddenly realized that his holiday balance¡­ only had 20 days left. ¡°I¡¯m asking you a question! Have you visited all your relatives?¡± Li Zhendong loudly questioned. Zhang Yuan came to his senses and stiffly said, ¡°Ah, almost. Most of them are distant relatives, not much interaction¡­¡± Actually, he had not gone out for several days. Apart from being closer to his little aunt¡¯s family, the other relatives had not interacted much since his father¡¯s passing, which was quite convenient. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? Are you sick? What a face you have, looking like you¡¯ve overindulged.¡± ¡°No, no.¡± ¡°What are you doing cooped up at home all day? Not going out to play, not gaming, not posting on social media, like you¡¯ve disappeared.¡± ¡°Cultivation¡­ no, studying!¡± After a while, Zhang Yuan finally returned from the void to the present. He raised the tablet in his hand. The screen displayed an e-book. He said excitedly, ¡°I felt that what I learned before wasn¡¯t solid enough, so I simply re-learned it and picked up a lot of stuff. It was quite refreshing!¡± ¡°Stu¡ªdying?¡± These two words were deliberately drawn out, and Li Zhendong shouted discontentedly, ¡°You¡¯re not studying human physiology, are you? Exercise some restraint. Look at your face, don¡¯t think about those filthy things all day!¡± ¡°Shut up, open your damned eyes!¡± He showed the cover with the words ¡°Study Guide for Group Theory.¡± Zhang Yuan looked like an infatuated man, revealing a look of fascination, ¡°Mathematics is so much fun, especially the joy of calculating repeatedly using different methods and finally getting the answer, which is indescribable with words!¡± In his heart, Li Zhendong couldn¡¯t help but utter an internal ¡°boastful snob.¡± Such a good holiday, actually spent studying, are you a dog or what? However, recalling every move Zhang Yuan had made previously, it seemed a little possible. Just a little bit. ¡°¡­Why not read Deng Jiaxian¡¯s Academic Lecture III¡ªGroup Theory?¡± ¡°E-books are too expensive! 308 yuan per copy, I can¡¯t bear it. And it¡¯s a book from three hundred years ago; apart from being famous, it¡¯s nothing special¡­¡± Zhang Yuan said regrettably, ¡°By the way, what¡¯s up?¡± ¡°My mom wants to treat you to dinner; do you have time tonight? Come over to my house and hang out.¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Zhang Yuan was reluctant to go and wanted to continue burning the midnight oil. That learning ecstasy was inescapable. But at this moment, a sudden fatigue invaded his mind, and he knew he could not continue further. ¡°Alright.¡± Li Zhendong lived in the neighboring East Sea City, over four hundred kilometers away. Fortunately, modern transportation was developed, making travel convenient. After receiving the invitation, Zhang Yuan reluctantly put down the e-book and stood up to examine himself in the mirror. Lethargic! Truly lethargic. After ten days of intensive reading, apart from eating, drinking, and answering nature¡¯s call, he just read, read, and read. His entire self seemed rusty. Massive dark circles, a sallow face, and not to mention aches all over his body. ¡°I finally understand how academic gods in bionics rise up¡­ Humans¡¯ physical constitution truly sucks.¡± Zhang Yuan painstakingly walked out of his room. Outside, it was still scorching hot. ¡°Beep, ID number 330841244¡­ Zhang Yuan, please cooperate for inspection!¡± As he left the community, he was stopped by a security robot. The robot forcefully plucked a few strands of hair and drew a drop of blood for testing before finally allowing him to pass. ¡°Check completed, thanks for your cooperation. Have a pleasant trip.¡± ¡°Really unlucky! Perhaps my terrible complexion triggered some mechanism? How could I possibly be a drug addict?¡± Zhang Yuan shook his head and was not particularly opposed. These robots were specifically aimed at drug users. If someone took illegal drugs and the robot detected it, that person would be forcibly sent to a detox center. Thanks to such strict supervision, the drug abuse rate in Xia Country had always been low. However, over in North America, due to the prevalence of illegal drugs, they could already rename it Cannabis Country. There was still time, so perhaps a massage. He went into a self-service massage shop, paid, and then the massage machine began automatically massaging him. Soft music played, and his entire body¡¯s meridians seemed to be smoothed out. ¡°Truly pleasant¡­ Life on Earth is beautiful.¡± Because he was overly exhausted, Zhang Yuan unknowingly fell asleep. When he woke up, the machine had already stopped working. On the next bed lay a stylish middle-aged woman, who also squinted her eyes in enjoyment. Judging by her attire, she seemed to be a publicity aunt from the local community¡¯s ¡°Encourage Fertility Committee.¡± ¡°Hey handsome, are you local? I haven¡¯t seen you around before!¡± the middle-aged woman greeted out of habit. ¡°I live at 2236-9.¡± ¡°Oh, I remember now, the son of Zhang Qiming. You used to come to our house to play when you were little! Are you an astronaut? You¡¯re leaving Earth?¡± the middle-aged woman prattled on in a string. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± ¡°What about your assets? And no one to carry on the family line?¡± The middle-aged woman¡¯s gossiping urge surged, asking about family matters. Carry on the family line? Zhang Yuan secretly rolled his eyes. I¡¯m not even dead, and I¡¯ve already spread seeds onto an outer planet. Isn¡¯t that enough to bring glory to the ancestors? However, he only thought about saying this and did not speak it out loud. ¡°I can carry on the family line aboard the spaceship, and as for the assets, just donate them.¡± ¡°Donate¡­ donate?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s of no use anyway.¡± ¡°You really are generous.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not really generosity, it¡¯s simply a matter of letting go.¡± ¡°¡­¡± In the slightly incredulous gaze of the middle-aged woman, Zhang Yuan rolled off the massage bed, smiled, and left the self-service massage shop. It is very difficult for people to truly understand each other. Especially for those who have not witnessed space firsthand, it is even harder to comprehend this kind of thinking. In fact, there was no need to demand the whole world to understand oneself, having a group of like-minded companions was enough. Chapter 13 - Chapter 13: Chapter 13 Ill Tell Your Mom! Chapter 13: Chapter 13 I¡¯ll Tell Your Mom! Editor: Henyee Translations Zhang Yuan took out his phone, opened the ridesharing app, and used voice input for his destination. ¡°Destination: East Sea City, distance about 412 kilometers.¡± ¡°Searching for a carpool match, please wait¡­¡± A radar-like icon was spinning. This intercity bus carpooled ten people, with a cost of 60 yuan per person, quite economical. It quickly got onto the intercity high-altitude track, with a speed of up to 400 kilometers per hour. Such speed was beyond what an ordinary human could handle, so it had to be controlled by an unmanned system to strictly maintain the distance between cars. Once there was a fool who wanted to show off his driving skills in front of someone and switched to manual driving in non-emergency conditions, and the result¡­ as expected, was dust to dust. At a speed of 400 kilometers per hour, the car crashed into the high-track railing, with not a single organ intact. The carbon nanotube railing, however, remained unharmed in the accident, and the safety of the high track became legendary. An hour later, after getting off the bus, Zhang Yuan took the subway to reach his destination. ¡°You sure are on time, not a minute early!¡± Li Zhendong opened the door. ¡°I took a nap in the massage parlor, so I was a bit late¡­¡± ¡°Tsk tsk, that¡¯s a great place for a romantic encounter!¡± Li Zhendong had a mischievous expression. Spending too long in Space City had turned them into tinder, seemingly ready to ignite just upon contact with the opposite sex. Zhang Yuan responded irritably, ¡°Come on, they were all middle-aged women, where¡¯s the romance in that? My taste isn¡¯t that bad¡­ Can you stop talking about this stuff the moment we meet¡­¡± ¡°Zhang Yuan!¡± Li Zhendong suddenly looked serious, as if contemplating something. ¡°What?¡± Zhang Yuan felt a chill down his spine. Li Zhendong, looking excited, waved his phone, ¡°I¡¯ve been chatting with a girl these days, maybe something could happen¡­ Look at the photo, she¡¯s quite nice.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Taking the phone, Zhang Yuan saw it was a cute girl with pouty lips, fair and delicate. Chat history: [Girl: Does your job pay well?] [Li Zhendong: Not very high, money doesn¡¯t matter much to us, the main thing is to be happy¡­] [Spaceship photo] [Li Zhendong floating in zero-g photo] [Girl: Space seems so fun! I¡¯ve always dreamed of going there, but the travel costs are too expensive.] [Li Zhendong: Risking your life to do this work surely isn¡¯t fun. In zero gravity, you can choke just drinking water, and there have truly been such cases!] [Girl: Is your dad also a Space City worker?] [Li Zhendong: Of course, but I¡¯ve never relied on my dad, I got there on my own.] [¡­] (One thousand words of flirtation omitted) [Li Zhendong: Look, I¡¯m about to get on the spaceship. Can you join me for a movie? I¡¯ve never been on a date in my life.] [Girl: Haha~ Really? You don¡¯t have a girlfriend?] The girl still hadn¡¯t replied formally but seemed a bit interested. Li Zhendong, full of pride, boasted, ¡°See how good I am? Want me to teach you how to pick up girls? The first trick is to act innocent¡ªsome ladies like that! They like virgins!¡± Zhang Yuan furrowed his eyebrows as he listened. ¡°The second trick, letting go to capture.¡± ¡°The third trick, monkey steals the peach!¡± ¡°What¡­ steals the peach?!¡± Li Zhendong grew more agitated and louder, ¡°Oh, I mean steals the heart¡­ Just imagine, even after you¡¯re gone, left Earth, those girls still keep you in their hearts. In the deepest place, they reserve a spot for you, filled with the beautiful times you spent together.¡± ¡°One year, ten years, a hundred years later, at the moment of their passing, their last words are your name¡­ while you are in another corner of time and space.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you find this meaningful?¡± For some reason, Zhang Yuan felt nothing, even a bit nauseous¡­ He sighed, acknowledging that his friend, despite being intelligent, a genius, effortlessly achieving top-notch results¡ªa level befitting an Academic God¡ªhad one flaw¡­ extremely reserved and loved to brag. Zhang Yuan suddenly grinned, ¡°Player!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll tell your mom about this!¡± The atmosphere plunged into a deathly silence. Zhang Yuan repeated verbatim, ¡°¡­One year, ten years, a hundred years later, at the moment of their passing, their last words are your name?¡± ¡°Li Zhendong! Li Zhendong! Oh, I¡¯m dying.¡± ¡°Is that how they call out? Enjoy it? Enjoy it?¡± Silence engulfed them again. In a certain way, Zhang Yuan also showed some talent. Li Zhendong sighed as he stared at the ceiling, ¡°Right now, I just want to beat you to a pulp, truly!¡± ¡­ At the dining table, Li Zhendong behaved like a model son, saying nothing extra, just quietly eating. Mrs. Li was amicable, urging Zhang Yuan to eat more, saying, ¡°You won¡¯t find natural meat in space,¡± ¡°This big drumstick is real free-range chicken,¡± and so on, just like what a maternal aunt would say. And it was true; the limited space and poor ecological environment on the spaceship allowed for some plant cultivation but made it impossible to luxuriously breed pigs, cows, sheep, chickens, ducks, or fish. So the food in Space City was synthetic meat, tissues from animal cells cultivated in petri dishes. Li Zhendong¡¯s father, Li Cheng, and Zhang Yuan¡¯s father were colleagues at Space City. He was sharing stories from the past when they designed the ¡°Earth Era.¡± ¡°¡­Your dad, Zhang Qiming, truly was a genius. The problems we couldn¡¯t solve, he figured out with just a tap on his head and a twist of the pen, like he was on drugs!¡± ¡°Drugged?¡± Zhang Yuan couldn¡¯t help but wipe the sweat off his face. ¡°He built the majority of the spaceship¡¯s control program. So far, only 212 minor bugs have been found; it¡¯s incredibly difficult¡­¡± ¡°Sadly, he left too soon, such a pity¡­¡± Li Cheng felt complex emotions, even drinking a bit of alcohol. ¡°Even 212 is a small amount?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t understand, the spaceship¡¯s control engineering, one ring connects to the next, one layer overlaps another; the more complex the system, the greater the risk. The Earth Era has safety monitoring systems, energy systems, ecological systems, material cycle systems, communication systems, and several small industrial plants; the complexity of control engineering is beyond your imagination!¡± ¡°Software and hardware complement each other; software isn¡¯t any less difficult than hardware!¡± The two youngsters couldn¡¯t chime in with anything. After a while, Zhang Yuan asked, ¡°Can¡¯t the spaceship go any faster?¡± Li Cheng shook his head, ¡°Seven-thousandths of light speed is already very fast. Unless propelled by large-scale nuclear bombs, reaching possibly 3% of light speed, but our materials can¡¯t withstand the explosive power of nuclear bombs¡­ and in the foreseeable future, materials resistant to nukes won¡¯t emerge.¡± Li Zhendong also asked, ¡°Dad, after we leave, will they build the next Colonization Ship?¡± ¡°No, in the coming years, even decades, likely not¡­ the entire Earth¡¯s economic circle needs some time to recuperate.¡± ¡°This project was quite taxing, even with the strong support from various governments and the Deep Space Foundation, it requires a good rest period to slowly recover its vitality.¡± ¡°Public opposition to the special aeronautics tax is strong; several countries are quite stirred up¡ªit¡¯s likely to be canceled¡­¡± Zhang Yuan asked in confusion, ¡°Are we the only batch of Deep Space Colonizers?¡± ¡°Not exactly, as for the future, who knows?¡± ¡°The basic technology for deep space voyaging has matured; building a second large Colonization Ship won¡¯t be as costly as the first. Perhaps, once the governments have spare funds, launching a second one might be possible.¡± ¡°However, without new technology, significantly boosting travel speed is tough. Don¡¯t count on later ships catching up with you.¡± Zhang Yuan gnawed on a drumstick, pausing slightly, he deciphered a crucial piece of information: the once financially robust Deep Space Foundation seemed to be out of money. Chapter 14 - Chapter 14: Chapter 14 As Long As You Can Learn Chapter 14: Chapter 14 As Long As You Can Learn Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°` The construction of the ¡°Earth Era¡± consumed 2.07% of humanity¡¯s GDP every year. Over so many years, the total cost had reached an astronomical 159 trillion federal coins! This was an extremely large figure, and over time, ordinary people naturally became unwilling to accept it. Consider this: many people on Earth were still struggling to make ends meet! Li Cheng sighed again, ¡°The Deep Space Foundation still needed to prepare at least another trillion in funds to pave a path for the ¡®Earth Era.''¡± ¡°In the next 20 years, the Jupiter Industrial Base needed to collect a large amount of nuclear fuel. Its fusion energy would be used to launch long-distance lasers¡­¡± Zhang Yuan nodded, lost in thought. The Earth Era adopted a dual propulsion mode of light sail and nuclear fusion propulsion. A light sail referred to light pressure propulsion. When photons hit a smooth surface, they could change direction like a ping pong ball bouncing off a wall and impart corresponding force to the object, thus propelling the spaceship. However, the light pressure from the Sun was too weak to quickly propel a giant spaceship weighing tens of millions of tons. Only large artificial light sources from the Moon and Jupiter Base could generate enough pressure to move it. Think about it, the nuclear fuel on Jupiter, though seemingly inexhaustible, still required human cost. Moreover, this light path needed to be continuously launched for 20 years. The laser launching devices numbered in the tens of thousands and needed constant replacement, which was another massive expense. One could hardly imagine how, back then, Professor Qi Yuanshan, the ¡°Father of Nuclear Fusion,¡± persuaded those shrewd businessmen and cunning politicians. Deep space colonization, this super massive project had no apparent benefits. Not even in hundreds or thousands of years would it generate any profit. It was quite puzzling. After chatting for a while, Li Cheng found talking about these matters with the younger generation somewhat dull, ¡°Whether there¡¯s enough budget is a matter for the bosses above to worry about. You just focus on doing well in your tasks.¡± He shook his head, as if something had come to mind, and abruptly stopped eating. He stood up from the dining table, walked into his study, and became absorbed in contemplating some question alone. Although Zhang Yuan was very curious about this gossip, seeing this, he could only let it be. After dinner, Zhang Yuan privately complained, ¡°Your dad and my dad are really alike, just workaholics. Suddenly getting an inspiration and then getting all excited, busy writing it down. At times like this, you should never disturb him, or you¡¯ll either get a scolding or hear some inexplicable words.¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± Li Zhendong agreed wholeheartedly, ¡°I remember when I was little, I asked my dad why 1 + 1 = 2. Do you know what he said? He actually told me about Peano¡¯s axioms, and I was just in kindergarten at the time. I seriously doubted if he had any common sense!¡± ¡°Was your sister educated in a similar way?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Li Zhendong exaggeratedly said, ¡°Once, my sister asked him why the area of a rectangle is length times width. He directly spouted some esoteric stuff about Euclidean spaces and inner products. Fortunately, my mom was a normal person, or else she¡¯d be driven out of her mind by him.¡± Zhang Yuan also burst into laughter, reminiscing about his dad¡¯s eccentric behavior. At that time, he was playing with a Rubik¡¯s Cube on the sofa, and his dad suddenly had a whim and sternly began explaining Group Theory to a seven- or eight-year-old child. Yes, Group Theory, a subject Gawaro spent a night writing a paper on. ¡°It¡¯s just math from over five hundred years ago, very simple. Once you learn this, kids will look at you in awe!¡± Zhang Yuan was overjoyed, ¡°I want to learn; I want to learn!¡± ¡°¡­The group composed of all operations is called the Rubik¡¯s Cube group. Obviously, the Rubik¡¯s Cube group is a non-Abelian group¡­ If you can decompose it into products of simpler subgroups and then construct generators for each subgroup, you can prove its solvability. It¡¯s been proven: All Rubik¡¯s Cubes can be solved in less than 20 moves.¡± During this process, Zhang Qiming was animated, thoroughly enjoying the pleasure of being a teacher. But in the end, he discovered his son seemed to be staring at him blankly, unable to understand. Unable to understand? Zhang Qiming blurted out a curse, ¡°What an idiot!¡± He didn¡¯t know if he was referring to his son or himself. Zhang Yuan sighed. These memories, when looked back upon, didn¡¯t evoke the resistance they had at the time. Instead, they were nostalgic. It had been three years since his father¡¯s passing, hadn¡¯t it? Time flew by so fast; a blink of an eye, and three years had passed. The deceased were gone, leaving only memories. Seeing Zhang Yuan in a somewhat gloomy mood, Li Zhendong turned on the TV and switched to the children¡¯s channel, where a cartoon called ¡°Bear Out: The Bear Becomes a Sheep¡± was playing. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me as just a bear¡­¡± It was a very childish cartoon, but the little girl nearby watched it with great delight. Zhang Yuan then asked, ¡°When you leave, won¡¯t your parents miss you?¡± ¡°They won¡¯t. I still have a sister,¡± he pointed to a little girl in her early teens nearby, speaking without a care, ¡°And we can have several more in the future. Anyway, technology is advanced now; we can have as many children as we want and can afford to raise them.¡± He continued, ¡°Think about it. If I don¡¯t go on the spaceship and instead work on the Moon, visiting home once a year for the Spring Festival, spending three days each time, and accompanying them for two hours every day¡­ Considering 60 years, the time spent with them would only be 360 hours¡­¡± ¡°Now, I stay at home every day, eating and drinking, accompanying them for seven or eight hours a day, summing up to over two hundred hours a month. With the entire vacation, I¡¯ve already spent most of my life accompanying them, so what regrets are there?¡± Zhang Yuan scratched his head. What kind of absurd logic was this? But listening to it, it somehow made a bit of sense¡­ Mrs. Li smiled as she cut some fruit for them, seemingly accustomed to Li Zhendong¡¯s neurotic remarks, ¡°Zhang Yuan, why don¡¯t you stay with us tonight? We have an empty room anyway.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Zhang Yuan nodded, sighing inwardly. Li Zhendong¡¯s situation was quite similar to his own, but the difference was, Li Zhendong¡¯s parents were alive, and his family was harmonious. While he, Zhang Yuan, was the result of a test tube baby, with a father who provided the sperm, and an unknown woman donor from the human gene bank who supplied the egg. To this day, he didn¡¯t know who his biological mother was, nor did he need to know¡­ But who wouldn¡¯t love to have a kind and gentle mom? In university, their grades were quite similar. However, Li Zhendong was an Academic God, goofing around and still scoring over 90 in exams, while Zhang Yuan was just an academic achiever who needed to put in more effort to earn good scores. This was actually a difference in intelligence¡­ But it didn¡¯t matter! Thinking this, Zhang Yuan took out his phone and started browsing the ¡°Super Brain¡± app. When he saw those mathematical symbols, a strange sense of happiness arose in his mind. There was no need to envy others¡ªlearning made him happy, learning made him grow! As long as he could study, he felt he had the whole world! ¡°` Chapter 15 - Chapter 15: Chapter 15 Let Go of Your Claws! Chapter 15: Chapter 15 Let Go of Your Claws! Editor: Henyee Translations Li Zhendong glanced at Zhang Yuan, saw him smiling sweetly at his phone, and was momentarily stunned. Okay, got a girlfriend now. His nosy mind burned with curiosity. He took a quick peek, but no, he was actually doing Super Brain? Li Zhendong had to pinch his nose and said irritably, ¡°Working so hard, huh?¡± ¡°Boredom, just solving problems for fun. Look at this integration, what a beautiful method, it¡¯s rare to find integrals that can actually be solved analytically.¡± Just for fun¡­ Fun¡­ Ju¡­ Li Zhendong¡¯s forehead pulsed with veins, and his breathing quickened. Recalling his university days, Zhang Yuan was just as hardworking, causing him to be frequently criticized by his parents. ¡°Look at him, then look at you!¡± His father¡¯s judgment seemed to echo in his ears. Li Zhendong couldn¡¯t help feeling agitated; after graduating from university, this guy only ramped up his efforts instead of restraining himself. Solving problems had become a sophisticated leisure, that impressive?! ¡°Wait, my sister can¡¯t get through a game, a puzzle game, why not give it a try if you¡¯re bored.¡± Game? ¡°Let me have a look.¡± Seeing the mischievous look in his eyes, Zhang Yuan grew a bit interested. What difficulty could a child¡¯s game hold? A little girl handed over a learning machine, on which there was a small program called ¡°Lights Out.¡± The objective was this: A 4¡Á4 grid of lights was lit up on the panel, and every time one light was operated, it, along with its surrounding lights above, below, left, and right, would all change state (on to off, off to on). If you could turn all the lights off through a series of operations, the game would be cleared. ¡°This is pretty simple.¡± Zhang Yuan tapped a few times, turned off all the lights, and cleared the level. The screen then switched to another image, this time becoming a 5¡Á5 grid of lights, with a few lights already turned off in the middle. ¡°The difficulty has increased.¡± Zhang Yuan thought for a moment, tapped a few more times, and cleared it again, but this time took a bit longer than the previous attempt. Obviously, as the grid of lights increased, the game became more challenging. ¡°My thought is¡­¡± The little girl¡¯s eyes sparkled as she timidly said, ¡°If there¡¯s a very large grid of lights and their initial state is arbitrary, is there a mathematical algorithm to solve this problem, rather than randomly tapping?¡± Zhang Yuan scratched his head and laughed, ¡°Your sister has a way with math, this general algorithm, um, let me think¡­¡± ¡°Of course, she has half my intelligence!¡± ¡°Brother~ I¡¯m smarter than you~¡± ¡°In what way are you smarter than me?¡± Li Zhendong smiled externally and internally. This problem was hard. Why was it difficult? Because Li Zhendong thought for a while and couldn¡¯t figure it out. So, puzzle-loving Brother Zhang, take your time, think yourself into exhaustion, day and night¡­ He was very pleased! Extremely so! ¡°I¡¯ll go take a shower first. You take your time with it.¡± The little girl looked at Zhang Yuan expectantly; after all, she definitely couldn¡¯t solve this kind of problem. Yet as the person who posed the question, there was also an unusual pride in her heart. Zhang Yuan¡¯s response took them by surprise; he felt a bit embarrassed, ¡°No need, don¡¯t shower yet, I¡¯ve already solved it.¡± What? Solved it? Li Zhendong¡¯s eyes nearly popped out as he dashed out of the bathroom, then sheepishly put his clothes back on. Zhang Yuan spoke eloquently, ¡°According to the problem, when you press a switch once, the light itself and those around it all change state. So, we can draw a conclusion: for a given light, pressing the switch an odd number of times is the same as pressing it once; pressing it an even number of times is equivalent to not pressing it at all, or zero.¡± Interesting. ¡°So, if the problem has a solution, each light only needs to be operated on at most once, or not at all.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s first discuss an N*N matrix, which is actually a binary group and isomorphic to a full-rank matrix. Since the matrix is full rank, there must be a unique solution¡­¡± After listening to just a few sentences, Li Zhendong¡¯s head was about to explode, inspiration bubbling like a spring! Wait. It seems like¡­ that¡¯s it¡­ Such a simple problem. How did I not think of that? He shouted unwillingly, ¡°How can you use group theory? How can a middle schooler understand group theory? You can¡¯t do this to my sister!¡± Even Li Zhendong¡¯s mother came out to check, seeing they were not up to anything, shook her head, and returned to the kitchen. ¡°Alright then. Middle schoolers have learned systems of linear equations, right?¡± The little girl nodded, indeed binary system equations are part of middle school content, they can be solved by elimination method or substitution method. Even problems with three variables or four variables are manageable. Zhang Yuan continued, ¡°Assume Aij is the number of times the j-th light in the i-th row is adjusted. Obviously, according to what I just said, Aij is either 1 or 0.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s take the simplest 2¡Á2 matrix as an example, assuming the initial state is off for zero and on for one.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s assume the matrix¡¯s initial state is like this: [1-0] [0-0]¡± ¡°Then we can write four equations: A11¨’A12¨’A21=1 A11¨’A12¨’A22=0 A11¨’A21¨’A22=0 A12¨’A21¨’A22=0¡± ¡°By solving, we get A21=A11=A12=1, A22=0. So just toggle these three lights in order, A21, A11, A12, it doesn¡¯t matter what order.¡± ¡°Every N*N matrix problem can be calculated this way, and there¡¯s always a solution. But an N*M problem may not have a solution, and here¡¯s why¡­¡± Li Zhendong watched helplessly as admiration filled his sister¡¯s eyes, practically seeing stars! Even though he knew she probably wouldn¡¯t understand¡­ But, but, at this age, girls are innocent and pure, their eyes focused on learning, they have no resistance to intellectual brilliance! It¡¯s over; his sister¡¯s admiration for her brother has been stolen! Then he heard his sister ask, ¡°Why does this plus sign have a circle around it?¡± ¡°Because it¡¯s a binary field operation, 1¨’1=0, 1¨’0=1, 0¨’0=0, in computing it¡¯s called XOR operation¡­ If you use a regular plus sign, it would result in a negative number.¡± ¡°Brother Zhang, you know so much!¡± ¡°So you have to work a little harder, otherwise, like your brother, having talent that¡¯s unfulfilled means being smart is useless¡­¡± Bastard, still putting me down! Go die! ¡°Brother Zhang, help me with those Math Olympiad problems, a lot of them I don¡¯t understand. My brother won¡¯t help me.¡± ¡°Sure¡­ all right.¡± My sister is still a minor! Let go of your paws! ¡°Ahem!¡± Li Zhendong coughed heavily, warning, ¡°I¡¯m going to take a shower, don¡¯t mess around, my parents are home.¡± What? Zhang Yuan scratched his head. The little girl couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes. She was already in middle school and knew a lot; even dating wouldn¡¯t be opposed by family. She felt her own brother was a bit brainless, while Brother Zhang seemed more normal¡­ Chapter 16 - Chapter 16: Chapter 16 No Aliens Attacked Earth Chapter 16: Chapter 16 No Aliens Attacked Earth Editor: Henyee Translations Sure, here is your translated text: ¡°¡± Late at night, when everything was quiet, two young men were frantically working on their study problems. Li Zhendong was very angry, really angry. Every time Zhang Yuan surpassed him, he had to work hard again to surpass him back. For him, working hard was a painful affair. Especially when this guy was working on middle school math problems and grinning foolishly, what¡¯s that about? Doing middle school math problems with such joy, is he even human? Ruffling his hair, Li Zhendong grew irritated, and the various texts in the book looked like fleas jumping around, bouncing here and there. After a while, he still didn¡¯t understand a thing. Unable to calm down, he stopped looking. He glanced at Zhang Yuan¡¯s problem: ¡°Prove: the nth root of 2 is irrational. (n being an integer greater than or equal to 2.)¡± ¡°Proof: Assume the nth root of 2 is rational and denoted as p/q, with p and q being primes to each other.¡± ¡°Then 2 = (p^n)/(q^n), which means 2(q^n) = (p^n).¡± ¡°Rearranging gives p^n = q^n + q^n.¡± ¡°By Fermat¡¯s Last Theorem, there are no positive integer solutions to this equation. Hence, the assumption is wrong, and the nth root of 2 is irrational.¡± Li Zhendong nearly spat out old blood: ¡°You can¡¯t teach my sister like this, you really can¡¯t! Besides, you¡¯re helping her with math problems, how is this ok?¡± Zhang Yuan paused, realizing that he had unconsciously turned into a free homework doer. But it didn¡¯t matter, if the entire proof was copied exactly, the teacher would definitely laugh hysterically. ¡°Forget it, I¡¯m done. This much distraction is enough.¡± Zhang Yuan yawned, feeling quite carefree. Li Zhendong finally breathed a sigh of relief, eagerly put down the books in his hands, and rubbed his aching temples. He picked up a telescope, walked out to the balcony, and looked in the direction of deep space. Gliese 581, a Red Dwarf Star located about 2 degrees north of the Libra ¦Â Star, was their destination. Its mass was 0.31 solar masses, its radius was 0.38 solar radii, and its surface temperature was approximately 3,480K (3206.85¡ãC). A +10.56 apparent magnitude meant that ordinary telescopes couldn¡¯t see it, but Li Zhendong continued his ceaseless search. That was the future Mother Star after all! Li Zhendong had a sudden thought: ¡°Do you think there¡¯s a deep-space plan because the high human councils already know Aliens will attack Earth?¡± ¡°Impossible!¡± Zhang Yuan responded casually, ¡°If that were the case, they would definitely be building spaceships on a massive scale with global resources. Plus, would people like us get the chance to escape? Surely you¡¯ve watched various sci-fi movies, where, at the apocalypse, how expensive are tickets for Noah¡¯s Ark? Even as sons of scientists, there¡¯s no guarantee of us being that important!¡± ¡°Movies aren¡¯t reality, but they do somewhat reflect reality. Right now, no national leader is rushing to escape, since when have humans been so noble?¡± Silence ensued for a while. The 500,000 volunteers were not the most outstanding individuals of Earth Civilization. Everything depended on personal will. There were some scientific giants with dreams, but true political bigwigs would not abandon everything on Earth to venture into such desolate lands. Li Zhendong chuckled, ¡°Indeed. So there are no Aliens attacking Earth. Then what do you think is the reason?¡± Zhang Yuan pointed to two directions in the sky, frowning as he spoke, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s that, or maybe it¡¯s this¡­ or possibly both, or perhaps there are more important reasons we don¡¯t know.¡± Where Zhang Yuan pointed, one star was KIC-8462852, commonly known as Tabby Star. In the other direction, there was Eta Carinae. Looking up at the sky. The moon was bright, and lights from the big city obscured the dazzling starry sky above, making finding these stars all the more challenging. In the historical year of 1977, North America experienced a massive blackout. During that night when the lights vanished, the boundless heavens revealed their original, primitive appearance. In an amusing turn of events, on that night, police stations received many alarm calls reporting, ¡°Aliens are attacking Earth!¡± The reason was nothing more than¡­ these urban people had never seen the true Milky Way, and the primeval force from antiquity left them bewildered and alarmed. Indeed, Mother Earth was simply too warm and gentle, so gentle that humans of that era were reluctant to leave the swaddling, slowly forgetting the vast world outside. However¡­ This world was not just for humans. The universe wouldn¡¯t simply disappear because humans chose to cover their ears and pretend nothing happened. The first challenge came from ¡°Eta Carinae,¡± also known as Eta Carinae, a supergiant star with more than a hundred times the mass of the Sun. Scientists estimated that this star might explode within a million years, forming an extreme supernova! Note, it is an extreme supernova, with the word ¡°extreme¡± added. If considering Eta Carinae¡¯s distance from the Solar System of 7,500 light years as a somewhat okay news, then the other news was utterly deadly¡­ Research indicated its rotational axis possibly already aimed at the Solar System, like a stellar cannon ready to fire at any moment! When Eta Carinae exploded, powerful gamma-ray bursts would sweep across the entire Solar System. ¡°Unfortunately, this bright star cannot be seen from the Northern Hemisphere.¡± Of course, this disaster could be very large, or very small. Firstly, the timeline for its explosion was very blurred, perhaps a million years from now or maybe tomorrow, or even already happened a hundred years ago. Moreover, scientists were still in heated disputes over the rotational axis deviation of Eta Carinae and disaster prevention¡­ Human knowledge of such celestial bodies was minimal, making it difficult to accurately predict the disaster it might bring to human civilization. Gamma-ray bursts, after a long journey, might destroy the entire ecosystem or perhaps have little effect. It was unclear. The second challenge came from KIC 8462852, Tabby Star. In the 21st century, humans had already discovered this strange star, whose periodic dimming had garnered widespread attention from astronomers. At the time, many scientists speculated that a nebula or other large celestial body obstructed the star, causing its dimming. However! Hundreds of years of observation only proved one thing: Its dimming was increasing at a rate of 0.064% per decade. In other words, if the maximum dimming data ten years ago was 22.112%, now it would be 22.176%, without exception. What did this mean? It meant there was an artificial structure near that star, and it was being built at a constant speed. This construction had continued for hundreds of years! The Dyson Sphere was right there. It wouldn¡¯t change due to human will. This fact caused a significant panic among the high echelons of civilization. A distance of 1,400 light years was too far for humans, yet it was not enough to quell such panic. Any normal person knew what a ¡°Dyson Sphere¡± signified. In comparison to a civilization capable of building a Dyson Sphere, human civilization was merely an amoeba! At the time, Professor Qi Yuanshan, the ¡°Father of Nuclear Fusion,¡± excitedly wrote in his diary, ¡°Without Aliens, humanity might destroy itself through idleness!¡± ¡°¡­ just like the old days, the forthcoming entertainment craze and non-toxic neural drugs will inevitably destroy much of human spirit for progress. The Dyson Sphere being proven true, humanity might revive from decadent consumerism and capitalism, similar to the US and USSR Cold War effects!¡± ¡°Truth be told, having a good neighbor might bring hope, fortunate¡­ exceptional!¡± ¡°¡± Chapter 17 - Chapter 17: Chapter 17 Farewell to Once, Farewell to the Past Chapter 17: Chapter 17 Farewell to Once, Farewell to the Past Editor: Henyee Translations Zhang Yuan sighed, ¡°But I feel that the reasons for deep space colonization still aren¡¯t enough. The Dyson Sphere sounds indeed terrifying. But it directly proves the existence of truly powerful alien civilizations in the universe. Civilizations can be exposed.¡± ¡°It also proves that the universe isn¡¯t a dark forest; it can be communicated with. It¡¯s not as dangerous as we imagined.¡± Back in the 21st century, when it hadn¡¯t been proven to be a Dyson Sphere yet, scientists were already eagerly sending electromagnetic signals in that direction. After all, scientists often did such things. This series of signals represented humanity¡¯s ¡°friendly greetings¡± and ¡°aspirations for peace.¡± Although it was quite laughable to speak of ¡°aspirations for peace,¡± even when humanity experienced two world wars in the 22nd century, it indeed happened. There were always many optimists in the world who believed that aliens could be communicated with amicably. If true communication succeeded, human civilization would undergo a qualitative change! ¡°How can you be so optimistic? Powerhouses can be exposed, but what about the weak? Earth would be toyed to death by them, so why would they help monkeys?¡± Li Zhendong chuckled, these ridiculous events happened so often that they became normalized. Even now, there were still people sending electromagnetic waves toward KIC 8462852, hoping that the ¡°alien god¡± could help them escape suffering. Secretly transmitting electromagnetic waves, the government couldn¡¯t do anything; they had no means to stop it. Zhang Yuan teased along, ¡°Who knows? The people over in South America might eat the monkeys; but over here, people genuinely help the monkeys. When they see a sick monkey, they rescue it and give it food. Monkeys even boldly steal things, and if you harm them, you get fined¡­¡± ¡°Maybe in a while, aliens will come to Earth to distribute food.¡± ¡°Yeah, that would be really sweet¡­ When the time comes, don¡¯t say it was unexpectedly good.¡± Fortunately, the transmission speed of electromagnetic waves was only the speed of light, taking over 1,200 years to reach KIC 8462852. Moreover, electromagnetic waves attenuated significantly in cosmic space, coupled with cosmic radiation interference, turning into garbled nonsense 1,200 light years away. So, there¡¯s really no need to worry too much; ordinary civilian equipment couldn¡¯t possibly send signals that far. Whether Earth was exposed, no one knew. Perhaps, they observed primitive people thousands of years ago, paying no attention to these native monkeys. Looking up at the starry sky, Zhang Yuan felt a bit tired. He yawned, suddenly seeming invigorated, clenched his fist, ¡°So, I have to study!¡± ¡°Only by becoming stronger can one evolve from a monkey to a human.¡± ¡°Fighting, keep it up! Work hard!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Li Zhendong was at a loss for words; they had just rested for a few minutes, and this guy again wanted to study. What to do, waiting online, it¡¯s quite urgent! But quickly, Zhang Yuan declined the thought himself, ¡°Forget it, it¡¯s too late, not efficient, better to rest first. The time squeezed out would only be slept back, so it¡¯s better to have a regular schedule.¡± Li Zhendong was relieved. ¡°I¡¯ll report to Xisha Aviation City tomorrow.¡± Li Zhendong got nervous, ¡°Why? This vacation is mandatory, you¡¯re not allowed to end it early!¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing to do at home¡­ I¡¯ve finished all the books.¡± Zhang Yuan shook his head, explained, ¡°Buying e-books myself is really too expensive; the university there allows free book reading. Plus, there are many documents available for free, and some professors and experts can be consulted; inventing things behind closed doors isn¡¯t good.¡± This era greatly valued intellectual property, watching pirated material was illegal, and being caught would result in hefty fines. Professional books and papers were even more expensive. According to Zhang Yuan¡¯s current reading speed, with books and literature, he burned through hundreds to thousands of dollars daily. ¡°So, my plan is to read two books a day, plus five papers, for 20 consecutive days. Tens of thousands of dollars is still money¡­ might as well save a bit and donate to the Deep Space Foundation.¡± Li Zhendong felt his mind was about to explode, almost fainting to the ground. Reading two books a day¡­ Two books¡­ Two¡­ Are you a dog? Is a book a meaty bone? He felt entirely unwell, mumbling, ¡°You really are a damn¡­ wealthy dude!¡± ¡°That¡¯s it, sleep, sleep.¡± Watching Zhang Yuan step into his room, Li Zhendong took a deep breath. Thinking about how he spent his vacation flirting, playing games, teasing his silly sister, while others were studying, working hard, and diligent, he inexplicably felt a sense of guilt. Then, he picked up the half-read ¡°Complex Semi-Simple Lie Algebra¡± and began reading again. So frustrating. ¡­ forced, have no choice. ¡­ The next morning, Zhang Yuan got up early, bid farewell to Li Zhendong¡¯s parents, and returned to his own city. Despite the heartache, after purchasing a series of the latest electronic products, he copied all sorts of materials left by his father onto 10 mechanical hard drives. Over 3,000 years of interstellar travel, there¡¯s nothing reliable, especially electronic products. Who knows, maybe one day, this tablet would become unusable. Only by diversifying risks could these materials be preserved long-term. Even though these things would be worthless three thousand years later, Zhang Yuan still hoped to keep them. After checking several times, ¡°This should be it.¡± The Deep Space Planning Bureau allowed every astronaut to carry 20 kilograms of personal belongings. Inside the suitcase were some change of clothes, a few mementos from his father, and various messy electronic devices, including the latest photon chips, storage devices, etc., making sure nothing significant was missing. ¡°Sigh, I¡¯m about to leave here¡­¡± Zhang Yuan looked at this home he¡¯d lived in for more than a decade, every detail so familiar. He had laughed here, cried here, been mocked by his father, and also been sullen alone in the room¡­ So many, many stories happened. It felt like his mother; hiding here brought a harbor-like warmth. Sadly, he ultimately had to leave it. Gone for good, with no chance of regret. After cleaning up the place until every spot sparkled and discarding the trash, he shut the door with a ¡°bang,¡± the deep attachment in his heart growing stronger. He turned back and bowed. ¡°Goodbye.¡± ¡°Goodbye!¡± Saying farewell to the past, a tear unknowingly rolled down. Zhang Yuan wiped it with his sleeve, heading to the elevator. A man always had to head to distant lands, dry his tears, and not overthink things. Dragging his suitcase to the entrance of the community, there was a familiar park there; because the weather was too hot, there weren¡¯t many people inside. He remembered playing there often as a child. One day, he suddenly tumbled to the ground. Then, he had a flash of inspiration and started crying at the corner of the wall, unable to stop. His dad asked him what on earth he was doing, Zhang Yuan said, ¡°I know I have to die eventually, so I cried. Even if I won¡¯t die now¡­ a long, long time later, I still will, so I felt sad.¡± A little child, suddenly comprehending the concept of ¡°death,¡± couldn¡¯t wrap his head around it immediately, felt very uncomfortable, and could only keep crying. It seemed so absurd, yet so real. Death, such an unglamourous affair, yet the endpoint for everyone. ¡°So that¡¯s how it is¡­¡± his dad coolly said, ¡°Dead is dead, what¡¯s the big deal? Do you know the meaning of living? If you don¡¯t, why be afraid?¡± ¡°Living is for eating!¡± Zhang Yuan, all snots and tears. ¡°Hahaha, makes sense!¡± His father just laughed heartily and uncommonly made no further comments. As smart as his dad was, even he couldn¡¯t answer such an ultimate question. Chapter 18 - Chapter 18: Chapter 18 Xisha Aviation City Chapter 18: Chapter 18 Xisha Aviation City Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°` Zhang Yuan hurried to the train station. The phone displayed a message, ¡°[Dahua Transport] Dear passenger Zhang Yuan, your ticket was successfully paid at 10:03. Train G888, second class seat, Donghua (10:30) ¨C Xisha (11:45), ticket number 781234¡­¡± The time was almost up. Zhang Yuan boarded the train and found his seat. A gentle electronic voice sounded in the carriage, ¡°This train is bound for Xisha and will take one hour and fifteen minutes¡­¡± The gray-black sea-crossing bridge lay across the sea like a giant dragon. Modern carbon nanotube materials, capable of constructing a 36,000-kilometer space elevator, could certainly handle a small sea-crossing bridge. These bridges could easily withstand a Category 16 typhoon. Traditional transportation tools, airplanes, were instead becoming obsolete. Fuel was not much of an issue since hydrogen could replace traditional fossil fuels, but the payload and operational costs of planes couldn¡¯t compete with maglev trains. Moreover, with the speed of maglev trains approaching that of airplanes, cheaper tickets, and comfort without the ear problems caused by pressure, airplanes gradually lost their competitiveness, edging toward obsolescence. An hour later, a few vague shadows finally appeared on the blue horizon, fusion power plants. The nuclear fusion power plants were three hundred meters tall. Due to the massive heat dissipation, all the white mist around them was steam. This distilled water would be collected and supplied to the cities. Xisha Aviation City was located in Xia Country¡¯s southernmost sea. Hundreds of years ago, it had territorial disputes with neighboring small countries. Incidents of detaining fishing boats and skirmishing often occurred. But as time went on and society progressed, with Xia Country¡¯s rise, these trivial disputes became insignificant. ¡°Controlled nuclear fusion is really a good thing. Three cents per kilowatt-hour, how much cost does that cut for industrial production? What are other countries even playing at?¡± The nuclear fusion power plant had an unappealing characteristic: the larger the nuclear generating set, the more stable its operation and the lower its power generation cost. Plus, due to human technological limitations, there was no way to miniaturize nuclear fusion devices, so each nuclear fusion power plant was like a small mountain. Fusion and space economy made Xia Country the first country to brave the unknown, earning a fortune, so much so that it didn¡¯t mind giving some to its neighboring little brothers. Territorial disputes had long ceased to exist. Those who follow the path receive more help, those who walk alone receive less aid. Interests are the closest bond between countries. The train sped past the nuclear power plant. ¡°Look, look! It¡¯s the space elevator!¡± ¡°Where, where?¡± ¡°Right there¡­ that one as fine as a hair.¡± Squinting eyes could barely make out a slender column towering into the clouds, resembling a kite string. Under the sunlight, it had a dazzling, unreal quality. High. Too high¡­ Many seeing the space elevator for the first time couldn¡¯t help but press against the glass windows and take photos. The legendary ¡°Babylon Tower,¡± a miracle in history; there were a total of seventeen of these structures on this planet. Over the next thirty years, they were expected to increase to over thirty. Xisha Aviation City housed humanity¡¯s first space elevator, ¡°Tengyun.¡± Its geographical location was roughly three hundred kilometers from the Equator, slightly slanting, maximizing Earth¡¯s rotational force to provide greater payload capacity for the elevator. After nearly a hundred years of development, Xisha had become an international metropolis. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it collapse?¡± ¡°Impossible, the principle is different. The space elevator mainly relies on tension, not pressure. Do you understand the tension of a rope?¡± ¡°Would terrorists attack this tower?¡± Some curious onlookers let their imagination run wild. ¡°Well, attacking a space elevator is akin to launching a nuclear war and would receive equivalent retaliation. Xisha City¡¯s security is strict, with military troops stationed nearby, and no airplanes are allowed to pass¡­¡± ¡°Bro, are you already in Xisha City? I just saw your social media update~~~¡± At this moment, Zhang Yuan¡¯s cousin Ye Qingqing called, ¡°Are you going to space? I really want to go on a space tour once, but my parents want me to work-study and earn money. At 30,000 yuan for a trip, when am I ever going to make that much money¡­¡± She was practically dying of envy. ¡°Space tourism, it¡¯s not that marvelous actually, I¡¯m serious,¡± Zhang Yuan said with a smile. ¡°Slowly earn through work-study. Under eighteen, you can¡¯t even get a tourist visa.¡± Getting a visa was one thing, getting a tourist spot was another. The freight of the space elevator was limited each day, so not many tourist spots were available. Besides spending money, connections might also be needed. Social connections won¡¯t get completely eliminated in any era. In the course of this conversation, the train gradually stopped. ¡°Dear passengers, the terminal, Xisha, has arrived; please bring your belongings and prepare to disembark¡­¡± As the train arrived, tourists excitedly observed the distant space elevator; wherever they were, raising their heads, they could always see that robust pillar of the sky. This power derived from technology and industry could entirely arouse the national pride of Xia Country people. Almost all space elevators worldwide involved Xia Country¡¯s technology and investments. Having been exposed to this often, Zhang Yuan didn¡¯t feel much about it, and simply rented a self-driving motorboat. ¡°Whoosh!¡± The motorboat sped through Xisha City, splashing water all over. Xisha City enjoyed summer-like weather year-round, yet June temperatures were under twenty-eight degrees, definitely more comfortable than Donghua City. The city was mostly artificial islands, with bridges connecting island to island, and numerous waterways underneath where occasional tropical fish could be spotted. There was once a leader who, on a whim, wanted to fill these waterways for land transport to enhance traffic efficiency but faced unanimous opposition from the masses because¡­ they found boats more enjoyable, attracting tourism. As facts proved, the people were right for once. The omnipotent aerial tracks solved the traffic issues while water transport indeed bolstered tourism. ¡°Beep¡­ This service fee: 16 Yuan.¡± Zhang Yuan stepped off the motorboat and arrived at his destination. ¡°I am an astronaut for the Earth Era. May I check-in now?¡± Deep Space Planning Bureau staff scanned his ID, smiled slightly, and said, ¡°Mr. Zhang Yuan, your vacation has 19 days remaining. You are too early. Your launch batch has not been reached yet.¡± ¡°No¡­ I just want to ask, is there any place to stay?¡± The staff laughed and said, ¡°Unfortunately, if you were 3 days earlier, we could arrange accommodation for you. But now, it seems there¡¯s no such arrangement.¡± ¡°You might want to ask the adjacent university to see if there are any vacant student dormitories. I¡¯ll issue you an astronaut proof.¡± Zhang Yuan frowned, coming too early and being rejected. This was normal as the staff merely followed regulations. ¡°Alright, thank you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome!¡± Numerous aviation universities were stationed here, some being international institutions enrolling global students. However, due to the summer vacation, most students were away, leaving the university somewhat deserted. Soon, Zhang Yuan saw the four gilded characters ¡°Xisha University.¡± Because he looked somewhat student-like, he entered the school without issues. After questioning several people in a row, he reached a building¡¯s base, Deep Space Foundation (Xisha University Branch). ¡°Hello, I wish to meet Wang Zhong, Professor.¡± ¡°Do you have an appointment?¡± ¡°¡­No appointment.¡± ¡°Sorry, without an appointment, Professor Wang is very busy.¡± Having no choice, Zhang Yuan had to use his ace card, an astronaut proof, and his father¡¯s ID. Though it was somewhat embarrassing to rely on his father. ¡°I¡¯m Zhang Qiming¡¯s son, may I¡­ make a visit to Professor Wang Zhong?¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C ¡°Hahaha, suddenly found out this underdog¡¯s contract is signed, quickly made a radiant cover to calm the nerves.¡± ¡°And who said I can only sign a contract with a hundred thousand words?! (dog head emoji) (dog head emoji)¡± ¡°` Chapter 19 - Chapter 19: Chapter 19: Abolition of Special Aviation Tax Chapter 19: Chapter 19: Abolition of Special Aviation Tax Editor: Henyee Translations 1:00 PM. In front of his desk, the octogenarian Professor Wang Zhong was reading a document with a red header. As he delved deeper into the contents, his mood gradually worsened. ¡°Notice on the Cancellation of the Special Aviation Tax¡± ¡°The special aviation construction tax will be officially canceled starting December 31, 2264. This is hereby announced¡­¡± ¡°What was bound to come, still came.¡± The special aviation tax was a form of support from the United Government for the ¡°Deep Space Project.¡± Every participating country paid this tax annually. Now, this tax was being canceled. Professor Wang Zhong let out a long sigh, and as his thoughts deepened, the wrinkles on his forehead furrowed like valleys and ridges. In this era, with advances in medical technology, especially the advent of 3D bioprinting organs, the average human lifespan had reached 110 years, with healthier individuals living up to 140 years. But at the age of eighty, it was still a bit too old. The decline in his energy made Wang Zhong a bit out of sorts in his research endeavors. However, as an Academician at the Academy of Sciences, no matter how old he got, his intelligence far exceeded that of ordinary people. He was someone who couldn¡¯t stay idle. Even at his age, he found it good to contribute some remaining energy. Teaching some master¡¯s students wasn¡¯t a big issue, and he could also handle some administrative tasks along the way. As a scientific advisor for the Deep Space Foundation, he had endless tasks every day. Regarding this newly issued document, the more he looked at it, the more dejected he became. Time spared no one. If he were twenty or thirty years younger, he would have certainly fought hard during meetings, even if the argument wouldn¡¯t have a significant effect¡­ Wang Zhong made a phone call, trying to make his tone a bit gentler, ¡°¡­ Don¡¯t they know that without Jupiter Base¡¯s support, the Earth Era can¡¯t even accelerate to seven-tenths of the speed of light?¡± ¡°It costs a lot to build such a far-reaching light path!¡± On the other end of the line, a middle-aged man¡¯s voice replied, ¡°Professor Wang, reducing taxes is the trend of the times. It isn¡¯t something a few of us can stop. This decision has been studied for a long time, and it isn¡¯t a spur-of-the-moment decision. Chairman Lin of the Foundation has already¡­¡± Unwilling to accept it, Wang Zhong said, ¡°Do you understand the consequences if the travel speed doesn¡¯t reach seven-tenths of the speed of light? A 3000-year journey, with any variable creating a domino-like chain reaction¡­.¡± ¡°Professor Wang, we¡¯re trying to find a solution. Rest assured, even if we need to sell off large amounts of assets, we will gather this amount of money.¡± Wang Zhong hung up the phone, sighing once more. For politicians, the ¡°Earth Era¡± ship was already built. Of course, this tax collected from the people should be exempted. Truth be told, this additional tax had been collected for over forty years, and the public had already been grumbling about it. But¡­ Where would the subsequent funding come from? It remained a significant issue. Though the Deep Space Foundation was vast and wealthy, possessing numerous industries, without financial backing from the United Government, it couldn¡¯t withstand this tremendous demand for funds. Selling off assets wasn¡¯t a wise choice. Randomly selling in the capital market would only benefit those financial sharks. The market was a silent killer, the more anxious to sell, the lower prices they would offer. Furthermore, the Deep Space Foundation¡¯s goal wasn¡¯t just to launch one colony spacecraft but ten, twenty, even a hundred. These assets were their foundation! Just then, the office door knocked softly. ¡°Come in,¡± said Wang Zhong, pulling his thoughts back. A young girl, his student Xu Yunjing, entered. The girl said softly, ¡°Teacher, there are a few reporters outside who want to interview you. They are foreigners. Do you know them?¡± ¡°Foreigners?¡± ¡°It seems like some humanity association¡­ They want us to donate to impoverished areas.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t accept it, just say I¡¯m not in!¡± When it came to money matters, Wang Zhong¡¯s eyebrow twitched, and he raised his voice, ¡°It¡¯s obvious without thinking that they are here for our money! While our Foundation has many industries, the money didn¡¯t just blow in with the wind. It was created by all the scientists together!¡± ¡°¡­ In the future, don¡¯t bother with those kinds of reporters, especially foreign ones. They just like to dig a hole for you to jump into. If you say one wrong word, they¡¯ll make a big deal out of it and report all sorts of nonsense!¡± Xu Yunjing was left feeling embarrassed. It was apparent that her mentor was in a foul mood. Xia Country was an energy-exporting nation, with domestic electricity only costing 3 cents per unit, a sort of social welfare. However, electricity sold abroad was another story; Xia Country people¡¯s labor couldn¡¯t be cheaply sold, this electricity needed to profit. According to their initial contribution to the controlled nuclear fusion research funding, some countries had to pay 8 cents per unit, others 30 cents per unit. It was up to them whether they wanted to use it or not. The main reason was the high monopoly of the controlled nuclear fusion project. This highly challenging project almost integrated the most cutting-edge science of mankind, not something every country could simply decide to undertake. Xu Yunjing pondered and awkwardly asked, ¡°Teacher, will refusing the interview have a bad impact?¡± ¡°Impact? Impact my ass! Will not using electricity cause hunger? Is 30 cents per unit very expensive? What human rights, it¡¯s clearly trying to use electricity cheaply!¡± Wang Zhong scolded irritably, ¡°¡­ They didn¡¯t contribute much when doing the research, so why do they now want to reap the rewards?¡± ¡°This is a matter of national interest!¡± ¡°If they want cheaper electricity prices, they should send representatives to negotiate with the government instead of sneaky media campaigns to win the sympathy of our country¡¯s people!¡± Wang Zhong knew well the truth of talking too much would lead to mistakes, so he couldn¡¯t be bothered with these journalists. He just took the opportunity to educate his student about having ¡°political sensitivity.¡± In tackling any issue, emotional intelligence was necessary. ¡°Particularly for girls, don¡¯t let a savior complex make you use other people¡¯s resources gloriously!¡± After Xu Yunjing was educated for a while, she no longer considered it. She awkwardly added, ¡°Oh, and¡­ that brother¡¯s son wants to visit you. Do you have time?¡± ¡°Brother? What brother?¡± ¡°You know¡­ Brother Zhang!¡± Xu Yunjing gestured with both hands. Wang Zhong was momentarily stunned, then quickly understood. His expression softened, showing a trace of gentleness. Zhang Qiming, his most brilliant student, was the mastermind behind the Earth Era¡¯s main control system. All his students, whether doctoral or master¡¯s, called Zhang Qiming ¡°Brother.¡± As for¡­ his son? It seemed he hadn¡¯t heard much about him. Oh, not that he hadn¡¯t heard, but he had forgotten long ago. Everyone knew Einstein, but few cared to remember Einstein¡¯s son. Recalling the scene of Zhang Qiming¡¯s passing, where the elderly bid farewell to the younger, Wang Zhong sighed, ¡°Ah, let his son come over then.¡± CREATORS¡¯ THOUGHTS Henyee From 18 Dec 2020, there will be only 40 chapters for Trial Read, with Chapters 20 to 40 locked. After a book is picked, Chapters 20-39 will have the locks automatically removed. Chapters 1-39 will become free to read, with Chapter 40 remaining a Premium chapter. The selected book will have a mark on the corner of the book cover in 30 days to indicate continuation. Coins spent on all books during Trial Read will all be refunded within 30 days. However, Fast Passes will not be refunded. Thank you for your understanding. Chapter 20 - Chapter 20: Chapter 20 New Civilization School Chapter 20: Chapter 20 New Civilization School Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°` Facing the spirited and renowned old professor in front of him, Zhang Yuan felt a bit nervous. Not to mention all the other miscellaneous titles, just the title of ¡°Academician of Mathematics¡± was enough to scare an ordinary person half to death. Academician! The main research direction of Professor Wang was specialized, namely Motivation Theory, one of the most challenging subjects. Motive was an outcome of the extension of Galois Group Theory to higher dimensions, which was later surprisingly found to have a mysterious connection with Quantum Field Theory. The Langlands program and Motive Theory research were currently the two major mathematical mainstreams. The Langlands program attempted to unify Number Theory, Algebraic Geometry, and Groups, while Motive Theory tried to unify discrete and continuous. They were referred to as the obverse and reverse of the same coin. A mathematician once predicted, ¡°When Humanity truly completes these two frameworks, the mathematical community will witness a genuine unification. All mathematical problems will be solvable using these two grand theories.¡± It sounded impressive, but Humanity might never accomplish this step. The progress of the Langlands program was still so-so; after a few centuries of research, Humanity developed the geometric Langlands, p-adic Langlands, etc. But concerning Motive Theory, due to its highly abstract nature, it had turned into some mathematicians¡¯ own jargon, making peer review very difficult, so the development speed was extremely slow. Undoubtedly, Wang Zhong was one of the top mathematicians; the construction of mixed motives was proposed by Professor Wang, causing a massive sensation at the time. In the past, Zhang Yuan often heard his father mention his mentor with an air full of respect, so he visited the elder while on his way, without any other intentions. He even brought a small gift, a local specialty of Donghua City¡ªDonghua Ham. Although now, it seemed rather odd. ¡°Which university did you graduate from?¡± ¡°Z University,¡± Zhang Yuan answered honestly. ¡°Z University¡­¡± Wang Zhong frowned slightly, not entirely satisfied. Although Z University was ranked as the third-best university in Xia Country, compared to the top two, it was a bit lacking. In the eyes of an elder like him, a good student should go to one of the top two schools¡­ ¡°Are you also a space volunteer?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Very good, following in your father¡¯s footsteps.¡± Wang Zhong nodded, quite satisfied with this. If it weren¡¯t for his advanced age, barely having a few years left to live, he would certainly be one of the 500,000 to experience the life of interstellar travel. ¡°What are your plans?¡± Professor Wang picked up the teacup and took a slow sip. ¡°I have 19 days left for vacation. I plan to spend some time reading at the library. When I get on the spaceship, I hope to find a mentor and complete my master¡¯s and doctoral studies¡­¡± ¡°Learning more knowledge is pretty good, so which research direction do you want to pursue?¡± Speaking of which, Zhang Yuan smiled sheepishly, ¡°I quite like Mathematics, but restarting a civilization requires a lot of practical talent, so I still plan to engage in research in engineering fields, like Information Science¡­ um, mainly Mathematics and Space Engineering, I guess.¡± Wang Zhong was a science professor; the sciences looked down on engineering, and engineering looked down on the humanities¡ªthis was a longstanding academic disdain chain. It was determined by the simplicity of writing frivolous papers; science professors had relatively more difficult frivolous papers, needing some innovation, right? Whereas in the humanities, writing frivolous papers was just too easy, such as in Film Studies or Acting Studies, producing frivolous doctorates. When Zhang Yuan¡¯s father switched from Mathematics to Space Mechanics, Wang Zhong threw a tantrum, considering the switch to engineering as ¡°too utilitarian.¡± As expected, Wang Zhong frowned again, remained silent for a while. But since it was their first conversation, and the two were not very familiar, he did not express too many opinions. ¡°Have you found a mentor already?¡± ¡°Not yet. I¡¯ll have to take exams after boarding the spaceship; I hope to score high¡­¡± Zhang Yuan said very humbly. ¡°¡­¡± In Wang Zhong¡¯s view, he naturally misunderstood a bit. The ¡°Earth Era¡± was just a large spaceship; even with ample preparation, the resources and output inside the spaceship remained limited. The majority of the crew¡¯s time would be spent in hibernation. To restart a civilization on an unfamiliar planet, knowledge reserve and technical level were the most important. So, experts and scholars on the spaceship naturally controlled more resources, having more authority. These well-known experts and scholars had limited slots for students. Being their student, of course, had more benefits compared to ordinary technical workers, akin to a kind of ¡°backstage support.¡± Now, it seemed as if Zhang Yuan knew he couldn¡¯t score high, seeking for him to open the back door, attempting to find a good mentor through Wang Zhong. He frowned and asked, ¡°What kind of mentor do you want?¡± Zhang Yuan was taken aback, and he casually said, ¡°Of course, the more outstanding, the better; someone like my father would be perfect!¡± Wang Zhong felt even more displeased in his heart, and then looked at the ¡°Donghua Ham¡± on the table. With his years of teaching experience, someone who wanted to go through the back door based on their father¡¯s connections was undoubtedly an academic loser! If not, I¡¯d swallow this ham whole! He should look in the mirror and see what kind of character he was¡­ Wanting the top-notch mentor, first see if you deserve it! His view of Zhang Yuan turned somewhat unfriendly. ¡­ Wang Zhong was not someone completely ignorant of worldly affairs. The son of his proud disciple, showing a bit of care, wasn¡¯t really a big deal. But when it came to the ¡°Earth Era,¡± it seemed to touch on his sensitive point, making him very anxious. Because the ¡°Earth Era¡± was an independent society, once launched, Earth civilization would no longer be able to interfere with it. Disregarding all the chaotic factors like the Dyson Sphere, Extreme Supernova, this immense project actually had another intrinsic reason. It was the revelry of idealists on Earth! A great social experiment! When the ¡°Father of Nuclear Fusion,¡± Professor Qi Yuanshan, established the ¡°Deep Space Foundation,¡± he also formed a new school of thought called the ¡°New Civilization School.¡± The New Civilization School believed, Civilization¡¯s development, like biological evolution, could only be patched and repaired on the existing foundation, with no way to start completely afresh. Therefore, history, culture, and ideology from the past would profoundly impact future development. This impact could be good, but also bad, and couldn¡¯t be dramatically changed through simple repairs. It¡¯s just like human growth, once a worldview is formed, it¡¯s fixed. Thus, some old historical baggage would become a drag in the development process. The New Civilization School once posed a question: Why hadn¡¯t Earth¡¯s civilization formed a unified nation until now? The answer was simple. First, humans as a species cannot abandon vested power and interests. If multiple countries unified, certain small-country leaders would have to step down, a mass of class interests would be redistributed, and vested interests would be unwilling. A simple example is that the railroad gauges worldwide haven¡¯t been unified yet. Unifying railroad gauges involves political factors as well as various economic problems. Replacing old rails costs money¡ªwho would pay for this part? Since no one is willing to pay, it has to be dragged on. Just a ¡°rail gauge,¡± such a simple issue, who knows how long it¡¯ll take to resolve, let alone other complex interest issues. Second, the historical gaps between nations are difficult to mend; national hatreds, racial conflicts still exist today. After World War III and IV, except for the East Asia region, which was slightly better off, other places still had old and new enmities, and minor friction. The poorer the area, the bigger the conflict. In the foreseeable future, these are unlikely to disappear. Thirdly, many countries aren¡¯t even worth supporting or saving. Some countries have a dictatorial + bureaucratic capitalist system; some nations are addicted to drugs, exporting them globally, even with governments already hijacked by the underworld; some countries are universally lazy, preferring to let fruit wither on the ground than to pick it; and some countries hold universal religious beliefs¡­ The chaos of global ideologies can¡¯t be salvaged by merely one great person or one major power. In short, the ¡°New Civilization School¡± believed that since Earth¡¯s civilization can¡¯t unify now, it won¡¯t in the future either. Even if forcibly unified, more chaotic contradictions would emerge, determined by comprehensive factors such as history and culture. Therefore, the ¡°Earth Era¡± was a great attempt by the New Civilization School. It sought to use physical distance segmentation to discard all the dregs of human history, attempting to establish a stronger, unified, cohesive civilization with a common ideology for all! It¡¯s like an old father, seeing no hope for the future, placing all his hopes on an infant. This stronger new civilization, once successful, would have a certain probability to influence the original Earth civilization in return. This was the plan formulated by Mr. Qi Yuanshan back then. A great¡­ Millennial Plan! ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C (Regarding Motive Theory, Grothendieck¡¯s dream, he wanted to establish a ¡°universal¡± cohomology theory, called Motive Theory. Anyway, when you see the words motive or motivic in mathematics, you know it¡¯s very advanced and very abstract.) (There will be some mathematics-based science fiction content in the future, and you don¡¯t need to know much, just know that such things exist.) ¡°` CREATORS¡¯ THOUGHTS Henyee From 18 Dec 2020, there will be only 40 chapters for Trial Read, with Chapters 20 to 40 locked. After a book is picked, Chapters 20-39 will have the locks automatically removed. Chapters 1-39 will become free to read, with Chapter 40 remaining a Premium chapter. The selected book will have a mark on the corner of the book cover in 30 days to indicate continuation. Coins spent on all books during Trial Read will all be refunded within 30 days. However, Fast Passes will not be refunded. Thank you for your understanding. Chapter 21 - Chapter 21: Chapter 21 Senior Sister, Im Sorry! Chapter 21: Chapter 21 Senior Sister, I¡¯m Sorry! Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°` So, Wang Zhong absolutely did not allow this kind of ¡°back door¡± nonsense to pollute the entire human environment of the spaceship from the very beginning. Fifty million people, equivalent to a small city¡¯s size, any minor flaw would quickly amplify. Humans are profit-driven creatures; at that time, everyone would follow suit, constantly trying to pull strings to open back doors, and then what kind of strong civilization could be built? Thinking of this, Wang Zhong said calmly, ¡°How about this, you first complete a set of test papers. If your grades are good, I can help you see if there is a suitable mentor.¡± But the underlying message was, if you don¡¯t measure up, just get lost! ¡°Huh?¡± Zhang Yuan was surprised. ¡°We¡¯ll just test some mathematics. Regardless of the major, mathematics is a must.¡± Zhang Yuan scratched his head, feeling somewhat puzzled. He originally just wanted to visit this mentor and describe some future ideas; how did it suddenly turn into doing test papers? But¡­ whatever, just take it as a test from a senior to a junior. ¡°Little Xu, go fetch a set of test papers for him to do. I¡¯ve sent them to your email.¡± Wang Zhong instructed. ¡°Alright¡­ follow me.¡± Following this ¡°senior sister,¡± Zhang Yuan retrieved three test papers in total, namely ¡°Introduction to Algebraic Geometry,¡± ¡°Lie Algebras,¡± and ¡°Modular Forms and Number Theory.¡± Xu Yunjing certainly didn¡¯t know any grand ¡°Millennium Plans.¡± True idealists only appear after experiencing chaos; she couldn¡¯t figure out why her teacher had thought of so many things in such a short time. She smiled and comforted, ¡°Don¡¯t take it to heart. Professor Wang is just like this. He¡¯s not very patient; as he¡¯s gotten older, his thoughts have become more erratic that most people can¡¯t keep up. He might just want to check your level.¡± Zhang Yuan nodded, taking these exam papers. Xu Yunjing also said, ¡°However, for young people with talent, Professor Wang would love to hand over everything to them. Anyway, he¡¯s a pretty good teacher who doesn¡¯t allow slackers.¡± Wait a minute, has Old Wang gone senile? Glancing at the printed papers, Xu Yunjing turned pale. This was¡­ wasn¡¯t this her exam content? She was a graduate student, after all, and nearly failed. How could the test papers be given to an undergraduate? It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t work hard; it was because Professor Wang¡¯s requirements were too high. Especially ¡°Introduction to Algebraic Geometry,¡± an abnormal subject. What level is ¡°introduction¡±? Well, it¡¯s telling you ¡°1+1=2¡± and then directly asking you to solve ¡Ò{[arctanx]/(1+x^2)^2}dx¡­ Anyway, for the average person, it¡¯s like seeing a heavenly book. ¡°Do what you can first. I¡¯ll go ask about this test paper¡­ it seems a bit strange.¡± Xu Yunjing felt a bit sorry for this junior brother and ran off in a hurry. When she rushed to Wang Zhong¡¯s office, she suddenly found this old man frowning while on the phone, his voice unusually loud. Then Wang Zhong looked up, ¡°Come with me, we¡¯re going to a meeting!¡± ¡°Oh, okay!¡± Seeing his stern face, Xu Yunjing felt a bit panicked and forgot the words that were hanging on the tip of her tongue. ¡­ The two of them had a meeting all afternoon, leaving only Zhang Yuan racking his brains in a small room. Each difficult problem seemed like a steep mountain; the process of climbing was hard, but the scenery was beautiful. He enjoyed it so much that he couldn¡¯t stop, even forgetting to eat dinner. ¡­ At eight in the evening, Wang Zhong and Xu Yunjing finally returned to the office. Professor Wang sighed, ¡°¡­ The Foundation must be prepared for danger in times of peace. Although there is no lack of money right now, who knows in the future. Utilizing the astronauts¡¯ residual heat is also good. Well, it¡¯s okay like this, people have to be squeezed a bit to create greater value¡­¡± ¡°Fifty million people, if each generates an income of one hundred thousand yuan, that¡¯s 50 billion¡­¡± Wang Zhong sat in silence for a while; a retired scientist like him still had to worry about money, what was this even about? ¡°Go open the door.¡± ¡°Oh, alright.¡± Professor Wang was a very orthodox person; when female students were in his office, he habitually kept the door open. In his words, this practice reduced some unnecessary gossip. Although at eighty-something years of age, there really couldn¡¯t be any rumors. ¡°Forget it, forget it, you should head back and rest early too. In the future, it¡¯s better not to attend such activities; besides arguing with people, it doesn¡¯t have much meaning. Spend more time reading literature.¡± Xu Yunjing sighed as well, organizing the meeting notes. Wait a minute. Seems like something was forgotten! Oh no! My poor junior¡­ Senior sister apologizes. Xu Yunjing coughed and brought up that Zhang Yuan was still taking an exam, but she dared not mention anything about ¡°graduate mathematics,¡± or she would have to take the fall. ¡°Professor Wang, um¡­¡± ¡°¡­ How long has it taken him and he¡¯s still not done? It¡¯s just three math papers.¡± Professor Wang Zhong blew his nose and glared, already in a bad mood. Remembering this matter made him even more irritated, ¡°Go call him over.¡± He thought to himself, if Zhang Yuan got onto the spaceship through his father¡¯s connections, he must thoroughly investigate¡­ Even if he was Zhang Qiming¡¯s son, it would not do. If he needed to go, he should go quickly. Xu Yunjing went to the small classroom and asked softly, ¡°Well, well¡­ junior, have you finished the papers?¡± ¡°Just finished.¡± Zhang Yuan felt a bit embarrassed. Based on the two-hour time frame for each paper, he had actually taken longer. Finished? Was it scribbled? Curious, Xu Yunjing peeked at the papers. The writing was neat, and the format was fairly normal, likely not scribbled¡­ Whoa, the first few questions seemed right; not bad¡­ Graduate education isn¡¯t like undergraduate, with communal meals; it begins to cultivate real research abilities. Math papers are all made by professors themselves, without multiple choice questions; they¡¯re all proof questions. You either can do it, or you can¡¯t. Just from a few glances, sweat began to drip down Xu Yunjing¡¯s forehead. ¡°Senior sister¡­ um, senior, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Oh, nothing.¡± What was written here? Why didn¡¯t she quite understand? With a head full of question marks, Xu Yunjing walked into the office, carefully presenting the papers to Wang Zhong. Wang Zhong frowned, put on reading glasses, and with a rigorous attitude, began reviewing the papers. The old professor had a habit, the first few questions on the paper were foundational. If you couldn¡¯t solve them, sorry, this graduate student, bye-bye! If you can¡¯t even do the foundational questions, why are you even studying? Better to drop out early, don¡¯t waste everyone¡¯s time, okay? The middle questions were moderately difficult. If you couldn¡¯t do them, sorry, this fellow¡¯s fundamentals were not great, not likely to have any research ability, so just be an Outer Disciple. Only a master student, if you graduate, you graduate; if not, then leave quickly. As for the ones further back, those were the high-difficulty questions, his Inner Sect Disciples had to solve these, otherwise, he¡¯d be very disappointed and scold them thoroughly. Inner Sect Disciples, well, they¡¯re those with hope to advance to PhD level. The last question was of a monstrous difficulty. Whether Academic God or academic ace, just lie down; the purpose of this question was to make you understand the reverence for knowledge! In the old professor¡¯s eyes, scientific research was far more difficult than doing exams, at least the math questions in papers have solutions. Using tools already created by others and inventing tools yourself are two different concepts, doing research is like finding a needle in a haystack, not only requiring effort but also talent. Wang Zhong glanced at it, the first few simple questions were correct. ¡­ ¡°` Chapter 22 - Chapter 22: Chapter 22 This guy is just an undergraduate! Chapter 22: Chapter 22 This guy is just an undergraduate! Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°` After reviewing the first few problems, Professor Wang Zhong glanced at Zhang Yuan and slowly said, ¡°Your handwriting is quite good, very neat. Not like some people who use computers so much that they can¡¯t even write, like chicken scratch.¡± Xu Yunjing, standing near, blushed. Could he be talking about her? No! It must be about someone else. Wang Zhong didn¡¯t pay attention to Xu Yunjing¡¯s expression. In his understanding, answering the simple initial problems correctly was something expected from a student. Looking further, the moderately difficult problems were also answered correctly. The solutions were well-reasoned, though the approach seemed a bit odd, not quite the conventional method¡­ Overall, they were still correct. Wang Zhong took a deep breath, looked up at Zhang Yuan, and the anger in his heart slowly dissipated. Upon closer inspection, this young man was quite good-looking, rather handsome, and somewhat resembled his father in his youth. The days and nights of struggle together between teacher and student over thirty years ago had long passed, yet seemed so near. Time flies by so quickly! Elderly people always tend to be a bit nostalgic. As he reviewed the test paper to this point, he thought to himself, since these questions were already answered correctly, the young man had some capability, so he wouldn¡¯t investigate any longer if there had been any favoritism. Among 500,000 people, it¡¯s impossible for everyone to be a born saint; there¡¯s bound to be a trace of Earthly habits remaining, which can only be slowly corrected in the future. Social interactions are such that if there were none at all, it would be too cold, too lacking in security; but if it became a society ruled by human emotions, bureaucratism would prevail, which would certainly be a disaster for a civilization. Continuing to look further. Oh, those few harder problems¡­ Also correct! Not bad, very not bad! These problems, even some quite intelligent students might not necessarily get right. The stern expression on Wang Zhong¡¯s face began to soften, a sign that his mood improved. He had misjudged the young man, with this level, he didn¡¯t need any favoritism; an astronaut exam would be a breeze. Seeing Professor Wang¡¯s expression relax, Xu Yunjing also let out a sigh of relief, swallowing back the ¡°wrong test paper¡± she had been hesitant to voice for so long. Since this guy got it right, I suppose I needn¡¯t say anything more? Whatever! The last problem¡­ Hmm, this¡­ A fine layer of sweat appeared on Professor Wang¡¯s brow, and his expression became serious. Xu Yunjing curiously observed from the side, but really couldn¡¯t understand the proof of this problem. Furthermore, during the exam, she was utterly defeated by it, unable to solve it at all. ¡°Did you do it yourself?¡± Wang Zhong couldn¡¯t help but ask. Actually, he knew in his heart, as the questions were of his own making, the answers couldn¡¯t be found online. ¡°Yes,¡± Zhang Yuan replied. ¡°Xu Yunjing, did you understand it?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Xu Yunjing was stunned, suddenly called upon, her mind in disarray. ¡°In the exam, it seems you didn¡¯t answer this problem, did you?¡± With a flushed face, covering her embarrassment for a long time, she finally uttered two words. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Zhang Yuan, tell her your problem-solving approach.¡± Zhang Yuan thought for a moment, and said, ¡°This constructed L-function has the following properties¡­ it involves mapping the category of sheaves to the contravariant functor of H, decomposing through any special cohomology theory¡­¡± Xu Yunjing pretended to listen intently, while also eyeing her newly met junior fellow. Speaking of mathematical thinking, excellent mathematicians master several methods. The first method: if a problem is difficult and cannot be solved directly, one can attempt to consider its equivalent problem. To give a simple example, Fermat¡¯s Last Theorem and the Taniyama-Shimura Conjecture are an example of equivalent problems. Mathematician Wiles proved the famous Fermat¡¯s Last Theorem by demonstrating the Taniyama-Shimura Conjecture. The second method: if the problem is difficult, and an equivalent problem also cannot be found, one can attempt to think about a broader issue. What does that mean? Still taking Fermat¡¯s Last Theorem as an example, the ¡°abc conjecture¡± is a stronger, broader conjecture. If the abc conjecture were true, then Fermat¡¯s Last Theorem would be trivial, provable in just five sentences. Easier said than done. The vast majority of people just solve problems without delving into the deep mathematical essence, and drawing inferences from one example is not something everyone can do. After Zhang Yuan explained for quite a while, Professor Wang nodded in satisfaction and asked, ¡°Do you understand now?¡± Xu Yunjing hesitated for a moment, then quietly replied, ¡°Um¡­ I should have understood.¡± ¡°Did you really understand?¡± Wang Zhong furrowed his brow and slowly said, ¡°Then repeat it back to me.¡± ¡°¡­¡± With a blush, she felt like ten thousand grass-mud horses were galloping through her mind, feeling extremely troubled, she stuck out her tongue, ¡°¡­ Not entirely. I only got the gist.¡± According to Xu Yunjing¡¯s very reluctant understanding, the proof of the last problem used a very cutting-edge L-function, akin to piloting a bomber and suddenly dropping a nuclear bomb! It directly blew the problem to smithereens¡­ Not just this problem was obliterated, but the whole category of similar problems were resolved in one fell swoop. This was a typical high-dimensional crushing method, full of the aesthetic of sheer force. Wang Zhong furrowed his brow, knowing that the graduate student he was currently mentoring couldn¡¯t be considered a genius. Xisha University, after all, was not among the top two universities, so it was inevitable that the quality of students was slightly lower. ¡°If you don¡¯t understand, just leave it at that, no one¡¯s blaming you. Don¡¯t pretend to understand when you don¡¯t in the future.¡± He turned back to Zhang Yuan and said, ¡°Very good problem-solving thinking, but isn¡¯t it overkill? Have you read through those papers? Motivic-L functions, this is cutting-edge mathematics, isn¡¯t it?¡± Zhang Yuan replied shyly, ¡°I¡¯ve only read some introductions. Cutting-edge mathematics is still difficult for me to understand. But since I know the properties of these functions, I just used them effortlessly.¡± Used effortlessly? Xu Yunjing muttered inside: Why can¡¯t I use them effortlessly? Professor Wang couldn¡¯t help but laugh, saying, ¡°Using the most advanced mathematical theories to solve a math problem on a test? Can you use theorems you don¡¯t understand? Do you just trust other people¡¯s research results like that? What if they¡¯re wrong?¡± This was his usual style; he never praised anyone¡­ But in reality, his heart was filled with appreciation. What does research require? Innovation! Not those who stick rigidly to the norm and follow rules step by step! How many people are great at solving problems but turn out to be trash when it comes to actual research? Because they can only circle within existing frameworks. When they hear about cutting-edge mathematics, they have only one response: I can¡¯t do it, I can¡¯t understand it, it¡¯s like a heavenly book! They don¡¯t even dare to pay attention to it, let alone possess the spirit of exploring the unknown, unraveling the mysteries! ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Zhang Yuan felt he was indeed at fault. Wang Zhong¡¯s expression became slightly gentler, cautious not to indiscriminately dampen the young man¡¯s confidence, ¡°In academics, one should be more down-to-earth. Although doing so can¡¯t be considered wrong, it isn¡¯t very solid. However, solving the problem is better than not solving it at all, so for this exam paper, I¡¯ll give you 99 points.¡± Zhang Yuan nodded understandingly, acknowledging his mistake, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I self-studied these courses. I deeply understand my own lack of knowledge, my foundation is not solid, which is why I want to pursue further studies¡­¡± ¡°Self-study¡­¡± Wang Zhong snapped back, a statement caught abruptly in his throat. What was going on? Suddenly, he remembered, this fellow was just an undergraduate! ¡­ ¡°` Chapter 23 - Chapter 23: Chapter 23 This Robot Wants to Harm Me! Chapter 23: Chapter 23 This Robot Wants to Harm Me! Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°` After reviewing the exams for half an hour, all three received high scores. Professor Wang Zhong became more and more satisfied with this young man, and the stern look on his face had long since disappeared. Talented young individuals¡­ Is that considered using connections? That is what they deserve! He asked kindly, ¡°What was your undergraduate major?¡± ¡°Space Mechanical Engineering.¡± ¡°Why choose this major, what a waste!¡± This major covers a bit of everything¡ªbiology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, mechanics¡ªall in the name of better understanding the entire space industry. But everyone¡¯s energy is ultimately limited, and learning everything often means learning nothing well. Few people truly master the subjects during their undergraduate years. ¡°A bright mind should study pure math; what¡¯s the point in studying space machinery? Maintenance of spaceships can be done by others!¡± Wang Zhong shook his head, sighed, and felt his idea was unrealistic. There are only 500,000 people on the spaceship, and everyone must be put to use. Pure theoreticians can only be sustained by Earth Civilization. He explained, ¡°The research conditions on the spaceship are not great, and most people tend toward administrative work, maintaining the existing systems.¡± ¡°¡­Administrative work is indeed important but very time-consuming, suitable for a retired person like me. There are so many trivial matters to manage every day that I can¡¯t even supervise PhD students anymore; I can only manage a few masters¡¯¡­¡± Xu Yunjing rolled her eyes, unsure what to say, making it seem like guiding a master¡¯s student was easy. Perhaps, in the eyes of someone so exceptional, it indeed was simple. ¡°But even if the conditions on the spaceship are poor, research must be taken seriously. Humans, once they become lazy, find it hard to return to diligence,¡± Wang Zhong advised. ¡°You must pay attention to this!¡± Zhang Yuan nodded. Wang Zhong asked again, ¡°Did you publish any good papers during your undergraduate years?¡± ¡°No.¡± Wang Zhong frowned, instinctively attributing the lack of good papers to Zhang Yuan¡¯s unfit major. Moreover, with just an undergraduate degree, it¡¯s normal not to have particularly outstanding papers. ¡°It¡¯s okay, you¡¯re still young. As for a mentor, it still depends on your research direction. You must be cautious and deliberate.¡± ¡­ At nine in the evening, Zhang Yuan left the office, feeling delighted. Professor Wang Zhong promised to write him a recommendation letter. A recommendation letter can sometimes just be an extra touch of success, and sometimes very important. ¡°As long as your ability is sufficient, why worry about not finding a mentor?¡± He wasn¡¯t concerned about this issue. He also held a temporary student card in his pocket. This meant he could temporarily stay at Xisha University for a few days and borrow books from the library for free. This was excellent. At night, Xisha University was brightly lit, and even during the summer holiday, some students stayed to participate in summer camp activities. Competitions like mathematical modeling and robotics contests all had intensive training during the vacation. Couples played joyfully on the beach, with waves rolling in, mixed with screams and cheers. A seaside university is just this joyful. After a while, the tide began to rise, and some patrolling robots blared warnings that the tide was coming and not to swim. If someone drowned again, it wouldn¡¯t be the school¡¯s fault. ¡°So hungry!¡± Zhang Yuan suddenly remembered that he hadn¡¯t had dinner yet and hurried toward the east gate. The food stalls at the East Gate were extremely popular, and the strong aroma of seafood could be smelled from afar. Zhang Yuan swallowed a mouthful of saliva. ¡°One seafood stir-fried noodles and two skewers of grilled octopus.¡± ¡°Your order is confirmed, please wait.¡± ¡°Hey, hey, student, student!¡± Turning around, a blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl stopped him. A foreigner? Not surprising, since Xisha City was an international metropolis filled with foreigners. Over 35% of Xisha University¡¯s students were recruited globally. ¡°Uh¡­ What¡¯s up?¡± Zhang Yuan asked, frowning. ¡°Did you meet Professor Wang Zhong? Prof. Wang!¡± Her fluent Xia language was quite rare. Nowadays, intelligent translation systems are widespread, and all sorts of languages can be flexibly translated with just a smartphone, so few people are willing to spend the effort to learn other languages. In Xia Country¡¯s college entrance exams, English teaching had also become an elective subject rather than a compulsory one. Zhang Yuan replied, ¡°Yes, why?¡± ¡°Can you take me to see him? I¡¯m Angelica, a reporter from the Lan Country Humanitarian Association, and I want to interview Professor Wang, the science advisor of the Deep Space Foundation¡­¡± ¡°What¡­ Humanitarian Association?¡± Hearing the words that followed, Zhang Yuan shivered all over. He pretended not to have heard and continued walking on his own. ¡°Student, please help, I have some questions for him, really, please.¡± Angelica grabbed him, her eyes sparkling. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to interview him and also apply for an allocation of electricity aid for impoverished countries¡­¡± Zhang Yuan thought about it and was still not inclined to get involved in such inexplicable matters. Just thinking with his pinky, he knew the Foundation itself lacked money, and Professor Wang certainly didn¡¯t want to see her. Plus, these Humanitarian Associations often had political entanglements, which were really annoying. Some Western nations are still stuck in the dream of being traditional powers and always point fingers at Xia Country¡¯s internal affairs and human rights, under the guise of freedom and democracy. Please, the world has long since changed! Zhang Yuan didn¡¯t want to help and, in a flash of inspiration, said, ¡°Sorry, we have different ideals, and I can¡¯t help you. Because I¡¯m a member of the Cat and Dog Protection Association, if you want to apply for rescue funds, we are competitors¡­¡± The blonde beauty widened her eyes. ¡°Cat and¡­ Dog Protection Association?¡± ¡°Animal-Protection, you know?¡± Zhang Yuan pretended to be serious. ¡°We should love animals, love them like we love ourselves. We shouldn¡¯t eat animal meat and should eat more environmentally friendly synthetic meat and plants¡­¡± The blonde beauty agreed, ¡°So you¡¯re also a benevolent person. Synthetic meat can indeed replace natural meat, and we can reduce slaughter in the future, and protect the environment¡­¡± ¡°Guest No. 719, your grilled octopus and seafood stir-fried noodles are packed.¡± Zhang Yuan felt awkward inside and cursed at the damned robot for wanting to betray him! The blonde girl looked at Zhang Yuan and the steaming grilled octopus with disdain, and her expression became strange. Zhang Yuan blushed deeply, adopting a saintly expression, ¡°Actually¡­ my association mainly focuses on the Cat and Dog Protection Association, not eating cat meat and dog meat. I believe we should raise cats and dogs as our own children.¡± ¡°Cats and dogs under one year old should be placed in cradles, fed with milk powder, and receive the greatest care and love from humans!¡± ¡°Ah?!¡± The blonde reporter Angelica couldn¡¯t help but shiver. In that brief moment of being stunned, Zhang Yuan had already run far away. It was only then she realized she had been teased, and she couldn¡¯t help stomping her feet in anger, cursing in pure Xia language, ¡°Jerk!¡± ¡°` Chapter 24 - Chapter 24: Chapter 24: 3,000 Beauties in the Imperial Harem? Chapter 24: Chapter 24: 3,000 Beauties in the Imperial Harem? Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°` After teasing a foreign beauty, Zhang Yuan felt¡­ Not bad! As for the ¡°Love Animal Association,¡± it was pure nonsense, just a convenient excuse to slip away. While munching on grilled octopus skewers, he secretly lamented, ¡°Ah, soon I won¡¯t be able to eat this anymore, what a pity¡­¡± Replacing natural meat with synthetic meat grown from cells in Petri dishes had long been achieved technically. Furthermore, after extensive research, synthetic meat turned out to be cheaper, more environmentally friendly, and healthier than natural meat, winning the hearts of many Third World citizens. However, synthetic meat always tasted soft, somewhat like a meat patty, lacking the elasticity of muscle and the chewiness of soft bones, not quite appealing to the taste. As Zhang Yuan ate, he pondered the conversation he had with Professor Wang Zhong. They talked for a long time, discussing not only academic issues but also some details about the ¡°Earth Era,¡± including the work system, economic system, and so on. For someone like him, an undergraduate with decent grades but no special achievements, the roles available were mostly Second Level or third-level jobs, with a basic salary of one thousand and eleven yuan per month. If he published a few good papers and proved his academic value, he could get better jobs and his salary would rise to one thousand three hundred¡­ That¡¯s how harsh the competition was. ¡°If I followed a good mentor and produced excellent experimental results, I could also get a raise.¡± ¡°If I could complete some high-quality patents, bringing some revenue to the Deep Space Foundation on Earth, the salary could continue to increase¡­¡± ¡°Is this the new economic system they¡¯ve devised? Hmm, it feels strange, but it sounds quite effective.¡± Ideals could motivate for a while but not for a lifetime. The ¡°Earth Era¡± was an independent little society and naturally required a complete economic system to stimulate the working enthusiasm of its internal staff. Here, ¡°money¡± wasn¡¯t the Earth-used federal coins but the currency within the spaceship, known as ¡°New Coin.¡± As long as his work did not go drastically wrong, he received a fixed amount each awake month according to work level, essentially serving as a government-issued bond. New Coin could be used to purchase food, clothes, and various entertainment services inside the spaceship, as well as for trading among each other. Of course, because resource production was quite limited, salaries could not be very high, topping at three or four thousand, so the wealth gap would not be very large¡­ Besides this economic policy, there was another one, which was the conversion policy between federal coins and New Coin. The Deep Space Foundation, which provided subsequent ¡°light path¡± support, might be short of money. To quickly raise these funds, the Foundation called on astronauts to make donations, which could be personal assets or intellectual property. Asset donation was not a mandatory measure; it was up to personal ability. Assets on Earth could be converted to some extent into ¡°New Coin¡± for use inside the spaceship. This conversion plan was still under study and would be announced to everyone when ready. ¡°Hey¡­ although this approach was somewhat odd, everyone should understand, right? Helping the Foundation was helping ourselves.¡± The fifty thousand people boarding the spaceship carried a bit of idealism. Going to an unknown Planet to establish a Human colony required enduring hardships and being prepared to possibly pay with their lives. All difficulties were discussed in advance, and everyone was mentally prepared. Was it likely to expect a better enjoyment than on Earth? If you wanted to enjoy yourself, you might as well stay on Earth. Anyway, Zhang Yuan had already donated all of his family¡¯s assets and felt quite at ease. However, there was one thing he cared about, which was the work level inside the spaceship. The higher the work level, the more privileges one had within the spaceship, and the more important the position and salary. People always needed to set some goals for themselves, and Zhang Yuan didn¡¯t want to become a marginal figure that the spaceship could do without. However, work level could not be obtained through donations; it could only be achieved by one¡¯s own abilities after obtaining accomplishments, calculated fairly and justly through a complete ¡°impact factor algorithm.¡± The highest-level positions were ¡°Captain,¡± with only a few candidates who were irreplaceable. Zhang Yuan knew deeply how difficult it was for the spaceship to travel twenty light years to a Planet. Even though Earth Civilization had prepared as much as possible, the entire journey was still extremely arduous. The Captain not only needed to make overall plans but also manage material allocation, nurture the next generation of successors, and bear tremendous psychological pressure. Those comments saying even a pig could be a Captain were essentially pig-thinking. Besides the Captain, the middle-level cadres inside the spaceship included leaders of various departments, university experts and professors, project reviewers, and community organization committee members, among others. The lowest-level workers were, of course, like those spaceship maintenance workers and production line workers. These workers were carried in saturation numbers, and to put it harshly, it was not that they were not important, but that they were so numerous that even if half of them were lost, it would not significantly impact the spaceship¡¯s operation¡­ Thinking of this, Zhang Yuan basically made a plan for the future. His undergraduate grades were decent, but among the excellent group, they were just average, so it was best to write a few good papers to improve some social status. ¡°In the new society, knowledge reigns supreme, and the social atmosphere is very good.¡± ¡°With good papers, it would be easier to find a mentor, and it would also prove one¡¯s ability to gain higher social status.¡± But what to write about¡­? What papers could be written? After racking his brains and exhausting all thoughts, he temporarily had no particularly good ideas. Writing a superficial paper wouldn¡¯t bring much benefit and would even earn a scolding from Professor Wang Zhong, which he didn¡¯t want. With such thoughts, after spending more than ten minutes, Zhang Yuan finally reached his temporary dormitory floor, panting heavily. The dorm light was on, and there was a roommate inside, also an early-arrived astronaut like him. ¡°Knock, knock, knock,¡± he rapped on the door. ¡°Come in!¡± As soon as he walked through the door, Zhang Yuan got quite a surprise. The floor was littered with a jumble of mechanical creations, red, white, yellow, with various bizarre-shaped robots. Some were still crashing around, like a four-wheel-drive car, ¡°bang,¡± hitting the wall. ¡°Be careful, don¡¯t step on them.¡± In the corner squatted a plain-looking young man, with a bit of greasy stuff smeared on his face. Zhang Yuan quickly dodged. The four-wheel-drive car bumped into the table leg again, dropping a few parts. He cautiously maneuvered around the robots, placed his seafood noodles on the table, and curiously asked, ¡°Dude, are you making robots?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m choosing¡­¡± ¡°These are my favorite creations. Deciding which ones to take to space, it¡¯s a headache!¡± The young man said with a frown. Yet, he was a bit smug, his eyes constantly observing Zhang Yuan¡¯s expression. Zhang Yuan chuckled and nodded understandingly, ¡°A harem of three thousand beauties and you can only bring one on the journey, it¡¯s painful, huh?¡± Everyone¡¯s carrying allowance was twenty kilograms, no more than that. These machines were metal, and just two of them together exceeded twenty kilograms. ¡°Exactly! I¡¯ve been fretting over it for hours!¡± the young man across lamented. Regarding this behavior, Zhang Yuan had no intention of commenting. Everyone had their own hobbies, and it wasn¡¯t really a big deal. Someone who could make robots by themselves was certainly a rather impressive individual. ¡°` Chapter 25 - Chapter 25: Chapter 25 Chapter 25: Chapter 25 Editor: Henyee Translations Zhang Yuan opened his seafood noodles, planning to fill his stomach first. Unexpectedly, the man across from him, upon smelling the food, gulped involuntarily. ¡°Would you like some? I can share half with you.¡± ¡°Ah, thank you! I¡¯ve been busy deciding what treasures to take on the journey, and I forgot to eat.¡± With this shared meal, the two quickly became acquainted. This guy¡¯s name was Ye Kaifu, and he had the same level of education¡ªonly a bachelor¡¯s degree. But most importantly, he was a ¡°Level 8 Mechanic,¡± skilled in various craftsmanship techniques. Zhang Yuan¡¯s curiosity was piqued: ¡°Is it that profession where¡­ you file an iron ball with a file?¡± Level 8 Mechanic, what kind of salary do they have? Needless to say, it was certainly higher than his! ¡°It¡¯s not about filing a ball, but using basic tools like files, cutters, and polishers to grind a cube of iron into a sphere. The maximum error is only a hair¡¯s width. This qualifies as Level 8.¡± ¡°A hair¡¯s breadth of precision? That¡¯s quite difficult, relying solely on manual perception for measurement.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re skilled enough, it¡¯s okay, but for higher precision, advanced tools are necessary.¡± ¡°Amazing!¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing, there are more skilled people out there¡­ Like Level 9 Machinists or Level 10 Mechanics.¡± Zhang Yuan sighed inwardly; everyone on the Earth Era had a skill, and he might have been the most mediocre one¡­ Of course, that was his past self. Such high-level machinists were cultivated to quickly reboot civilization. The spaceship¡¯s load was limited, so not every industrial machine could be carried. Some parts had to be crafted manually. Never underestimate the power of humans. Within a few bites, he swallowed the noodles down and turned his attention to studying those metal creations. He was also a mechanical enthusiast and had participated in a robotics competition during university. In programming, he was competent. But due to poor hands-on skills, he didn¡¯t make much of an impact. Ye Kaifu was beaming with excitement, his eyes glimmering. Talking about his creations seemed to strike a chord: ¡°This was my work in the ESL Robotics Competition, this one in the National Competition, and this one¡­ this one¡­ #¡­%;¡± ¡°Did you make them yourself with a file?¡± ¡°How could that be? The sensors and other parts were purchased, but most components were indeed handmade.¡± ¡°What about the robot program?¡± ¡°Uh, most of it was done by me¡­¡± Ye Kaifu said, his expression becoming slightly unnatural. Because¡­ During university, he accidentally became a sycophant. In competitions, he always brought his ¡°girlfriend¡± and his ¡°girlfriend¡¯s male best friend,¡± functioning as one god carrying two mortals. But no matter how amazing a person was, there was a limit to what one could achieve. So, he never won first prize. The sycophant ultimately had nothing. In a fit of anger, he left this heartbreaking world. Zhang Yuan laughed: ¡°Don¡¯t feel regret. First prize is so hard¡­ I¡¯ve participated too and didn¡¯t win anything!¡± As they chatted, Zhang Yuan casually picked up something resembling a mechanical hand and examined it with curiosity. Its appearance was impressive, with a metal power aesthetic, perfect as a movie prop. He hefted it in his hands; wow, almost twenty kilograms! Designing this mechanical arm would require a tremendous amount of time, and making it actually move would be incredibly challenging. This guy was a true genius! Ye Kaifu looked a bit proud: ¡°¡­This is a Power Armor I made over four months, and it won a second prize in the Milky Way Awards. It was even borrowed for the movie Terminator 100!¡± ¡°Power Armor?¡± ¡°Well, I only made one arm. You make a move, and it mimics you. Want to try it?¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Zhang Yuan, intrigued, put on a very tight leather glove that extended to his wrist. The leather glove was connected by a wire to the iron arm. When he turned on the switch, the sound of mechanical movement roared, much like an engine starting. Ye Kaifu made some adjustments: ¡°All set, you can move now.¡± Zhang Yuan attempted to curl his five fingers into a fist. A mechanical sound followed, and the iron arm skillfully curled its five fingers into a fist. He opened his fingers, and the iron arm did the same. He asked curiously, ¡°Is this leather glove a pressure sensor, the famous MIA pressure sensor system?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Facing someone knowledgeable, Ye Kaifu was even more enthusiastic, rattling off various parameters. ¡°Try squeezing it.¡± He picked up a can and placed it in front of the mechanical arm. Zhang Yuan carefully moved his arm, and the iron arm mirrored his movements, cautiously gripping the can with its five fingers. Crash¡ª The can let out a spine-chilling roar as it was crushed into a metal disc. ¡°The maximum grip strength can reach 320 kilograms, while an ordinary person¡¯s grip strength is only about fifty to sixty kilograms.¡± Wiping the sweat from his face, Ye Kaifu asked, ¡°How does it feel?¡± ¡°No need to mention the good points, just the flaws, or I won¡¯t be able to make the decision to scrap it. I can¡¯t possibly take it to the sky.¡± ¡°Really, talk about the flaws?¡± Zhang Yuan scratched his head: ¡°I don¡¯t really know how to put it¡­¡± ¡°Go on, go on, don¡¯t be shy!¡± ¡°Uh, operating it feels a bit like a digger¡­¡± ¡°First, there¡¯s no feedback to the human body. Without looking, I can¡¯t tell if the iron hand is holding something or how much force I¡¯m using. Compared to a human body, it lacks tactile sensation; it¡¯s inconvenient.¡± Ye Kaifu nodded, ¡°Indeed, without human-machine interaction, you can only estimate how to grip things visually.¡± Zhang Yuan continued, ¡°Second, I can¡¯t seem to control the grip strength. I crushed the can instantly¡­ I just wanted to pick it up gently.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± ¡°Third, it seems there¡¯s a slight delay, and the movements aren¡¯t very smooth. The distance the mechanical hand moves feels different from the distance I move¡­ How to put it, it¡¯s not very precise.¡± Although Ye Kaifu was somewhat unhappy, he had to admit that Zhang Yuan had a point. Moreover, it was he who asked for criticism, so he couldn¡¯t blame others. He hung his head, ¡°Sigh, you¡¯re right, which is why it only got second place. Best to abandon it.¡± ¡°Goodbye, dear. See you in the next life¡­¡± He lifted the mechanical arm and placed it in a box. Zhang Yuan felt a little embarrassed, wondering if he had been too blunt, making the thing seem worthless. He hurriedly said, ¡°Your model is pretty good actually. When it¡¯s moving, the gears have backlash, and different angles have different friction. The design complexity is high, and making it this well is already quite an achievement.¡± ¡°The model¡¯s fine, but what use is there? It doesn¡¯t have much technical content; it just takes time.¡± Ye Kaifu shook his head, sighed, and became lost in the sorrow of losing his harem¡­ Seeing this, Zhang Yuan decided not to say more and put the matter out of his mind. With nothing else to do, he decided to study. Studying always brought a sense of happiness. ¡°What should I learn¡­¡± The knowledge he once studied flashed through his mind. Suddenly, a spark of inspiration struck him, and he recalled that there seemed to be a good idea in his father¡¯s tablet. ¡°The Study of Full Body Action Mapping Robots¡± Chapter 26 - Chapter 26: Chapter 26 Whats wrong with it? Chapter 26: Chapter 26 What¡¯s wrong with it? Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°` Zhang Yuan opened the tablet and began to study it seriously. Having studied mathematics for so long, perhaps he could tackle his father¡¯s article, add his own thoughts, and organize it into a paper. The full-body movement-mirroring robot aimed to achieve the function that when a human made a move, the robot would perform an almost identical action, similar to the mechanical arm Ye Kaifu had just demonstrated. Don¡¯t underestimate this function. It was the basis and premise of the ¡°Power Exoskeleton¡±! The Power Exoskeleton, also known as Power Armor, was currently a major research hotspot. It wasn¡¯t just a weapon of war but could also be used for civilian purposes, such as replacing a space suit. Due to the rapid development of nanomaterials, space suits were evolving towards simplicity and lightness. But one thing remained unavoidable, no matter what, space suits still had to carry a large oxygen tank and numerous life-support systems and communication systems. The universe was dangerous. Whether it was a leak or a temperature loss, any small mistake could be fatal. These life-support systems had to be carried; missing any one of them was not an option. Therefore, scientists proposed using the more cumbersome Power Armor to replace space suits. After all, with Power Armor, carrying more things wasn¡¯t a worry, and it was safer and more reliable. Even if thick armor got hit by fast-moving space debris, it wasn¡¯t a big deal. Apart from replacing space suits, Power Armor could connect with humans through VR devices to perform dangerous and challenging tasks remotely, eliminating risks to human lives. It was easy to talk about, but challenging to execute. Research on the Power Exoskeleton had been ongoing for a decade and was still in the experimental stage. The main reason was still¡­ immature technology. For example, taking a balloon in hand and shaking it rapidly in all directions was simple for humans. But for robots, it was no less than a herculean task! Why? Robots lacked self-awareness; they had no idea how much force they used or how to shake it. These needed to be solved with mathematics. Even the most sensitive sensors couldn¡¯t function as comprehensively as human skin. Gripping the balloon first required adjusting the cooperative pressure of the robotic hand¡ªnot too much, not too little¡ªor it would burst. And shaking it rapidly was even more difficult. Reportedly, a small company invented a patent for rapid pressure measurement ten years ago¡ªthe ¡°MIA Pressure Sensing System.¡± It¡¯s the glove Ye Kaifu used, earning billions in patent fees per year. Of course, apart from cooperative pressure, there were many other challenges, such as joint drive force, body balance capability, control algorithms, etc. Such a complex project, with both hardware and software, running millions of lines of code, wasn¡¯t something Zhang Yuan could handle alone. Therefore, he only wanted to solve one relatively key issue, then write a paper or patent. It would be even better if it could generate income for the Foundation. ¡°Let¡¯s write a paper!¡± He got down to work, and a line of small text appeared on the screen. ¡°A High-Degree-of-Freedom Robot Kinematics Analysis Theory Based on Geometric Group Theory and Topology¡±¡­ The more research he did, the more profound and complex the ideas seemed. His father¡¯s idea primarily focused on the complex kinematics of a ¡°27-degree-of-freedom¡± robotic hand, which involved group theory, topology, and some knowledge of hypercomplex numbers, making it quite challenging to comprehend. Even understanding the inspiration didn¡¯t mean he could smoothly write the whole paper. His father only provided a general direction; Zhang Yuan had to fill in the large blanks himself. Writing a paper was a painful task, like squeezing water from a sponge, with many details to address. Fully presenting inspiration wasn¡¯t easy. Zhang Yuan¡¯s brain operated quickly, entering a highly focused state. He tried to sort out the overall thought process but was quickly hindered by numerous detailed problems. Sometimes, seemingly ¡°obvious¡± problems became obstacles when writing papers, becoming distinctly ¡°non-obvious.¡± Zhang Yuan sighed deeply. ¡°With so many degrees of freedom in kinematics, coupled with strange algorithms, with my current ability, I could only understand, yet there really was no way to independently propose something. I wonder how my father thought it up¡­¡± ¡°Oh, Ye Kaifu, could you let me see your control program?¡± ¡°What program?¡± Ye Kaifu turned his head. ¡°The program for that mechanical hand.¡± ¡°Oh, sure, no problem. This kind of programming, I¡¯m actually not an expert, just self-taught¡­¡± Ye Kaifu said very cautiously. Saying he wasn¡¯t an expert was really a modest statement. Being able to write the related program already made him far more impressive than regular undergraduates! Ye Kaifu looked at Zhang Yuan with a bit of a competitive spirit, wanting to know what level this new roommate was at. Young people always had a sense of competition, especially these astronauts from all corners of the world, who were likely relatively outstanding. Soon, the related program was sent to Zhang Yuan¡¯s computer. Zhang Yuan pinched his nose as he looked at the program. How to put it? Ye Kaifu indeed was an amateur, with poor programming habits¡­ Not mentioning the lack of comments in the code, the variable and function names were actually ¡°a,¡± ¡°b,¡± ¡°c,¡± ¡°d,¡± making it all foggy. The downside to doing this was that, after a while, even the programmer himself couldn¡¯t determine what his code was supposed to do. However, the algorithm content inside was much simpler than the idea his father proposed. He quickly analyzed the general idea. The entire glove was a very sensitive pressure sensor; the movement of human fingers caused pressure changes in the glove. Then, by processing this data with a certain algorithm, the specific direction of finger movements could be determined. ¡°And then transmitting the movement direction to the mechanical hand would make it follow suit.¡± This idea was quite intuitive and didn¡¯t have particularly good mathematical modeling, mainly relying on the intrinsic functions of the ¡°MIA Pressure Sensor.¡± By the standards of real scientific evaluation, it would be just ¡°ordinary.¡± Of course, Ye Kaifu was just an undergraduate, so one couldn¡¯t expect too much; no one expected an undergraduate to perform groundbreaking work. Zhang Yuan carefully thought it over, analyzing many areas for improvement. ¡°Hey, anything wrong?¡± Ye Kaifu asked with concern, seeing the rich expression on Zhang Yuan¡¯s face, as he alternated between deep thought and frowning. Yet he wondered to himself, in such a short time, could you really understand the entire algorithm? It shouldn¡¯t be, after all, it took him ages to come up with it¡­ Anyway, my ex-girlfriend, and her male best friend, certainly couldn¡¯t understand it. ¡°Ah, nothing, just some parts¡­¡± Zhang Yuan turned back and, seeing none of Ye Kaifu¡¯s displeasure, continued, ¡± ¡­a bit of a different opinion, don¡¯t mind, okay?¡± ¡°` Chapter 27 - Chapter 27: Chapter 27 Big... Boss? Chapter 27: Chapter 27 Big¡­ Boss? Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°` Zhang Yuan observed the other person¡¯s expression. If the other was someone who thought ¡°I¡¯m so awesome, invincible in the world,¡± then just agreeing a few times would suffice. After all, there was no deep connection, and there was no need to argue to the death with them. But if the other person genuinely wanted to ask for advice, a few exchanges would be nice. ¡°No need to mind, just say it directly!¡± Ye Kaifu hurriedly said. Zhang Yuan continued, ¡°¡­This whole function should be handling the pressure changes in the glove, right? It¡¯s the SDK interface for that leather glove.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Ye Kaifu¡¯s heart skipped a beat; he didn¡¯t expect this kid to really understand it. ¡°Since the data generated by the entire glove is immense, this algorithm selectively discards most of it; about 70% of the data is discarded.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Ye Kaifu nodded again. Zhang Yuan went on, ¡°I think these redundant data shouldn¡¯t all be discarded. A hand, along with the arm, has 22 joints. Only taking data from these 22 points might not cause significant errors, but lacking details from other parts feels crude¡­¡± ¡°I have a few ideas for handling these seemingly useless data.¡± ¡°The first is to calculate the variance after dividing the data into blocks. The variance of redundant data won¡¯t be significant¡­ Calculating this way can determine redundancy; better than discarding randomly¡­¡± ¡°The second method is utility function; we can calculate the value of block data after dividing it using a utility function¡­ Assuming max[i][j] represents the optimal solution from data i to j, with max[i][j] = max(max[i][k] + max[k + 1][j] + w(i, j))¡­¡± At first, Ye Kaifu listened with animated enthusiasm, agreeing repeatedly. Later on, he remained silent, becoming completely dazed. Because, in the end, he had no idea what Zhang Yuan was talking about¡­ This brother, with your max[i][j] or whatever, what are you even doing? But a strong aura emanating from him made it hard for Ye Kaifu to speak. Once he opened his mouth, he felt like he¡¯d become illiterate. ¡°¡­Lastly, I want to say, though an arm only has 22 joints, it has at least 27 degrees of freedom because the arm, wrist, and fingers can rotate. Missing these 5 degrees of freedom makes operations like using an excavator. You hadn¡¯t considered this well¡­¡± Ye Kaifu understood this sentence; he also knew this fact and thought about it for a long time but eventually abandoned it due to difficulty. Once an arm can rotate, the modeling and design complexity exponentially increases, and he simply couldn¡¯t handle it. ¡°So, what do you think should be done?¡± Zhang Yuan said, ¡°Rotational calculations can usually be handled with quaternions. A good book on this is ¡®Quaternion Physics,¡¯ understandable with some basic complex analysis.¡± Saying this, he felt his thoughts clearing up. Being a teacher indeed had its benefits. ¡°Quaternion, huh¡­¡± Ye Kaifu knew of the term, already somewhat convinced. His mind wandered, ¡°¡­If my former teammates were him, we might have won first prize?¡± ¡°In large part, my undergraduate university wasn¡¯t great; geniuses comparable to me were too few, so I grew lazy. But now it¡¯s different¡­¡± Soon, he began encouraging himself, ¡°Work hard, fight! Only with diligent study can I, Ye Kaifu, surely surpass him!¡± Eagerly, he said, ¡°Zhang Yuan, let me treat you to a night snack. I didn¡¯t quite understand just now. Could you explain it again?¡± ¡°Still eating now? It¡¯s almost 11 p.m.; it¡¯ll make you fat.¡± Since he only ate half a bowl of mixed noodles, Zhang Yuan indeed felt unsatisfied, tempted slightly. ¡°Of course, night life is just beginning!¡± ¡°Well¡­ okay then.¡± Too low blood sugar could make the brain dumb. Zhang Yuan comforted himself like this. Action is better than thought, and the two sneaked out of the dorm again. I must say, the university seems like the most energetic period in human life; students generally don¡¯t sleep before 12. The East Gate remained bustling. Along the way, Ye Kaifu kept talking about various mechanical models and chip parameters, describing the latest space weapons with an exaggerated and fervent tone. ¡°¡­I really like the Enterprise developed by Eagle Country, and Country Mi¡¯s Giant Rock Turtle is also good. Eh, our Flying Dragon is nice, an authentic Sky Carrier with the latest electromagnetic gun.¡± ¡°Indeed, these space weapons¡­ are quite astonishing results.¡± Barely understanding what he was saying, Zhang Yuan licked his dry lips, ¡°But aren¡¯t the research speeds of these weapons currently slow? The global trend is cooperation, not previous confrontations, so research on such weapons has slowed.¡± Ye Kaifu spat passionately, as if he hadn¡¯t chatted like this for ages, ¡°There are aliens, and isn¡¯t the Dyson Sphere the driving force behind it! Although it¡¯s over a thousand light years away.¡± ¡°Over a thousand light years isn¡¯t much of a drive. If it were at Centauri Alpha Star, that would be a drive!¡± ¡°If the great era of space opens, maybe everyone can buy a private spaceship then?¡± ¡°¡­That day will surely come. I¡¯ve already thought about it; my spaceship will be called Queen Elizabeth! I can pilot my ship for space tourism!¡± As Ye Kaifu fell into fervor, chattering endlessly on his own, Zhang Yuan abruptly interjected, ¡°Brother, if you keep this up, you won¡¯t get a girlfriend!¡± ¡°Why?!¡± ¡°How do you know?¡± Cold sweat dripped from Ye Kaifu¡¯s forehead as he shut his mouth. Zhang Yuan sneaked a glance around, relieved that the blonde reporter he¡¯d bullied wasn¡¯t there, before nonchalantly sitting on a chair. ¡°Because in front of me, you keep talking about this Elizabeth stuff. From that term, I deduced, you don¡¯t have a girlfriend¡­¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that name cute?¡± Zhang Yuan found it somewhat amusing, ¡°Yes, very cute! But girls probably wouldn¡¯t like it.¡± ¡°Together!¡± ¡°Together!¡± ¡°Together!¡± Suddenly, the neighboring table erupted in uproar. The group had drunk a lot, and a couple even kissed amidst the commotion. It wasn¡¯t a big deal; in this era, such behavior was normal. Facing this public display of affection, Zhang Yuan glanced twice and couldn¡¯t be bothered. Ye Kaifu sighed a bit enviously, ¡°Now those still in campus are mostly top students, right? Youth is nice; I truly miss my university days.¡± Zhang Yuan said, ¡°Probably mostly top students, but not all. Many slackers are hoping to win a prize to leverage.¡± ¡°Anyway, with a national award, be it applying for scholarships or job searching, they¡¯re in a stronger position.¡± Prompted by this, Ye Kaifu recalled his ¡®simp¡¯ experience, being used by that so-called ¡®ex-girlfriend.¡¯ Well, ¡®ex-girlfriend¡¯ meant not even holding hands; a mere title got him hooked willingly. How stupid! He said bitterly, ¡°The toughest part in college isn¡¯t seeing couples in love, top students flaunting grades, or the wealthy flaunting cash; it¡¯s seeing couples flaunt cash, top students flaunt love, and the wealthy flaunt grades¡­¡± I really want to have a cute girl who truly likes me! ¡°` Chapter 28 - Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Living is for Learning! Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Living is for Learning! Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°` Ye Kaifu thought of this and let out a long sigh. Forget it, forget it, better to look on the spaceship. The gender ratio on the spaceship was strictly controlled at 1:1, and everyone had been genetically tested with no dominant hereditary diseases, so the girls were certainly not bad-looking! Two hundred and fifty thousand young and beautiful girls¡­ two hundred and fifty thousand, there must be one suitable for me! Zhang Yuan took a bite of his fried noodles, bringing Ye Kaifu back to cold reality, ¡°Falling in love is nothing to envy, reproduction isn¡¯t a compulsory course in life. Look at them drinking constantly, what¡¯s the point?¡± Ye Kaifu retorted defiantly, ¡°Isn¡¯t living all about mating and reproducing?¡± Zhang Yuan said with a hint of disdain, ¡°Of course not!¡± ¡°Living is for¡­ learning!¡± ¡°Pfft?!¡± Ye Kaifu almost spat out a mouthful of noodles. Zhang Yuan said seriously, ¡°Let me tell you a story, there was a person named Wolf who planned to commit suicide at midnight because of a breakup.¡± ¡°And then?¡± ¡°Because he was efficient, he finished writing his will by 10 o¡¯clock, so at 12 he decided to read a mathematics book¡­¡± ¡°He saw Fermat¡¯s Last Theorem and started trying to prove it.¡± ¡°And then, dawn came, and he hadn¡¯t proved it in the entire night.¡± ¡°???¡± Ye Kaifu was a bit puzzled. Zhang Yuan continued, ¡°After a night of mathematical research, Wolf¡¯s mind finally became clear, and he decided not to commit suicide. Later, he became a successful entrepreneur.¡± ¡°¡­When he died of old age, people discovered his revised will, leaving one hundred thousand yuan as a reward for the first person to prove Fermat¡¯s Last Theorem.¡± ¡°In the late 20th century, the mathematician Wiles finally received this prize.¡± ¡°???¡± Ye Kaifu blinked. ¡°What I¡¯m trying to say is that love makes people foolish, and mathematics makes people happy. There¡¯s nothing worth talking about in love, you might as well go study hard instead of booking hotel rooms¡­ Knowledge will never let you down or abandon you.¡± ¡°So, living is for learning!¡± With that, Zhang Yuan couldn¡¯t help but take out his phone and start swiping the ¡°Super Brain¡± app, thoroughly enjoying the happiness it brought. Ye Kaifu¡¯s brain almost crashed. He wanted to forcefully argue, but the ancient aura from someone stronger made him nod. Recalling his time as a sycophant, it seemed like he¡¯d really become dumber, unable to distinguish right from wrong. A single word from the goddess could excite him for a week¡ªit¡¯s simply foolish. He said somewhat speechlessly, ¡°What you say makes sense¡­¡± Zhang Yuan continued to swipe math problems while silently praising his newly invented concept. A daily good deed is better than building a Level 7 pagoda. Young man, the sea of bitterness is boundless, turn back and find the shore. ¡­ After enlightening Ye Kaifu, Zhang Yuan returned to his dorm room, absorbed in researching his algorithms, unable to extricate himself. What he had just been telling Ye Kaifu about variance and dynamic programming was basic knowledge in operations research. These things were still too elementary, things he could easily think of that experts had already considered. Moreover, the mathematical model Ye Kaifu designed was not good, the foundation wasn¡¯t solid, and no matter how much optimization, it could only be optimized to that extent. Hoping to write an extraordinary paper this way was almost impossible. As for his dad¡¯s idea, it was much more brilliant. It involved using a nonlinear geometric theory to solve nonlinearity and nonholonomic problems in robotics kinematics. Especially when two matching parts have symmetry, it could be easily expressed and reasoned through geometric Group Theory. The entire process¡­ how to put it, because the core algorithm had already been developed by his dad, it only needed to be understood. But expressing it was particularly cumbersome, as the human arm alone has 27 degrees of freedom, making the expression method unbelievably complicated. ¡°Maybe seeing something so cumbersome, Dad simply was lazy to do it?¡± Zhang Yuan thought to himself, ¡°It¡¯s very possible, after all, he has to design the various systems of the spaceship, which is even more complex and difficult¡­¡± ¡°Or perhaps, it was a special little gift prepared for me.¡± ¡°The gap between people is really big¡­¡± Thus, Zhang Yuan immersed himself in research and exploration, as time passed day by day. One day, two days, three days¡­ A week passed. After being infused with the notion that ¡°living is for learning,¡± Ye Kaifu also embarked on a liver-busting lifestyle. On one hand, he had a mindset of envy, jealousy, and competition. Zhang Yuan¡¯s theoretical knowledge was evidently stronger than his by an unknown margin. On the other hand, there was indeed a sense of wanting to ¡°catch up¡± with the other through ¡°hard work.¡± When Zhang Yuan went to the library, he went to the library; when Zhang Yuan slept, he slept, unwilling to miss a single moment. It¡¯s undeniable that the academic atmosphere, although elusive yet truly existing, could easily spread on a dormitory basis. If an entire dormitory was filled with top students, it was likely the result of mutual cross-contamination. But after a week, Ye Kaifu felt like he was about to explode! He was really about to not be able to hold on. It was driving him crazy, as day in and day out, at least 12 hours were spent studying. Apart from eating, drinking, and relieving himself, it was all about studying, studying, studying! Even in his dreams, he could see those damned theorems¡ªit was really driving him crazy. ¡°Why am I working so hard? I¡¯m on vacation!¡± He had frequently asked himself like this, ¡°I¡¯m soon going to have no fun left, so let¡¯s take a day off.¡± ¡°Hey, you, can you take a break¡­ Ahhhhh!¡± He shouted in his heart. He once thought of himself as a model of hard work and studiousness, but compared to real maniacs who take doing math problems as ¡°leisure,¡± he was like a small witch seeing a big witch. The most crucial thing was, his roommate actually enjoyed it, unable to extricate himself, occasionally laughing joyfully¡­ What is this? As he thought, Ye Kaifu began to breathe heavily, trying to suppress his pounding chest muscles. ¡°Persevere, keep going, fighting!¡± ¡°Only those who can stay calm are truly strong!¡± He cheered himself on, stifling his desire to go out and have fun with the girls. But in the blink of an eye, Zhang Yuan¡¯s self-talk completely shattered Ye Kaifu¡¯s mental defense, ¡°¡­Hmm, let¡¯s finish reading these papers too, since they can be read for free with the campus network¡­¡± ¡°In total it¡¯s 200 pages, not much.¡± Two hundred pages! ¡°Fuck!¡± in his heart. A little person in Ye Kaifu¡¯s head was frantically pulling him to indulge. ¡°No, big brother, I really can¡¯t hold on. Once he finishes reading two hundred pages, another day will have passed. I want to play games, want to flirt, eating a big meal is fine too¡­ Every cell in my body yearns for entertainment.¡± ¡°I need to rest!¡± Another little person shouted in his mind, ¡°No, absolutely not! If someone is smarter, stronger, and even more diligent than you, then you have to accompany him to the end!¡± ¡°Ye Kaifu, you absolutely must not degenerate!¡± ¡°No, I want to degenerate!¡± ¡°¡­Absolutely must not degenerate!¡± ¡°Ahhhhh, Zhang Yuan, degenerate quickly, please, no, I beg you!¡± ¡°` Chapter 29 - Chapter 29: Chapter 29: No Need to Give Fools Face Chapter 29: Chapter 29: No Need to Give Fools Face Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°` It seemed like Zhang Yuan heard Ye Kaifu¡¯s thoughts and suddenly lifted his head, glancing around. ¡°Why do I feel like someone is calling me? Were you calling me?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m just reading,¡± Ye Kaifu quickly replied. Zhang Yuan lowered his head again, looked for a while, and then spoke suspiciously, ¡°¡­Forget it. These papers don¡¯t seem worth reading. I¡¯ve decided to go attend this public lecture to change my perspective. Are you coming?¡± It was currently the time when various Olympic Training Camps were opening, and all kinds of public lectures at the university could be audited for free. According to Zhang Yuan¡¯s plan, he would find something simple to pass the time. Yes, just like that. After reading papers for a long time, he also got tired, so a short break made his efforts more effective. Hearing this, Ye Kaifu couldn¡¯t help but feel a surge of joy in his heart, as if a sweet spring had erupted in a dry desert. ¡°Haha, he¡¯s finally going out¡­ he¡¯s slipping, he¡¯s just pretending after all!¡± ¡°What are you laughing about, so happy?¡± Ye Kaifu drifted off into his own world and didn¡¯t answer. ¡°Hey! Are you coming or not?¡± Ye Kaifu quickly snapped back to reality, pretending to be serious, ¡°No, just got dust in my eyes. Did you finish that¡­ thesis of yours?¡± Zhang Yuan sighed, ¡°Not even close, just finished reading the literature and organized my thoughts. Going out to hear a lecture is good; when I get back, I¡¯ll start writing in one go, which will probably take many days.¡± Damn it, really going to the lecture? Well, attending a lecture is better than staying in the dorm. Ye Kaifu said, ¡°Alright, I also want to check it out¡­ I haven¡¯t attended a class at Xisha University yet, don¡¯t know how good the professors are here, but I do know there are quite a few pretty girls.¡± ¡°A lot of pretty girls?¡± ¡°Of course, since you make me bring you meals every day, you naturally wouldn¡¯t see them!¡± Stepping out of the dormitory door brought a peculiar sense of returning to the living world. Zhang Yuan took a few deep breaths. The air was fresh, carrying a hint of salty sea breeze, and the distant cries of seagulls could be heard. These clever birds knew that where there were people, there was food. Looking again, he realized he only had 12 days of vacation left, a subtle sense of urgency arose in his heart. Time flew by so fast! Writing a thesis was not only a mental task but also a physical one; trying to write down ideas exactly as they appeared in his mind was exhausting. The first task was to organize one¡¯s thoughts and understand what needed to be done. This part was actually quite challenging, but fortunately, his father¡¯s guidance had already reduced much of the difficulty. Secondly, he needed to read a lot of literature to see if there were articles on the same topic. Like the topic Zhang Yuan was working on now¡ª¡±robotics kinematics¡±¡ªthere were simply too many articles. Things like ¡°forward kinematics,¡± ¡°inverse kinematics,¡± and ¡°vector methods,¡± ¡°quaternion methods,¡± etc. However, the passion for writing a thesis often inversely correlated with the number of articles read. Why was that? Sometimes, while reading, he would find that his ideas had already been done by others, losing their value. At other times, he found that compared to others¡¯ ideas, his own seemed like garbage¡­ So, wanting to produce a valuable thesis was really difficult. It required coming up with something others hadn¡¯t thought of that was also practically valuable, which was extremely hard¡­ Luckily, after a week of reading, Zhang Yuan had basically confirmed that his father¡¯s idea hadn¡¯t been written about by others. And its actual application value was likely more advanced than the mainstream algorithms! As for how innovative this thesis was and in which journal it could be published, he wasn¡¯t quite sure, as he had never mixed in this circle. Zhang Yuan only set one goal for himself, to completely finish it before getting on the spaceship! Turning around the corner, they entered the cafeteria, quickly ate two buns, and hurried to the classroom. Class time was about to start, and the classroom was full of people. However, there was a strange phenomenon: the first three rows were empty. Noticing no vacant seats, Zhang Yuan reluctantly sat in the farthest seat on the left in the front row. Ye Kaifu had no choice but to sit next to Zhang Yuan, biting the bullet. Based on past classroom experiences, courses where the first three rows were empty were either very trivial, so trivial that even the top students didn¡¯t bother attending, such as ¡°Literature and Life,¡± ¡°Law, Religion, and Human Order,¡± ¡°World Famous History¡±¡­ Or they were incredibly difficult, to the point that even the Academic Gods couldn¡¯t understand them, so attending was as good as not attending, hence opting not to attend. Or it could be that¡­the teacher was a bit of a freak! Often making things difficult for students. Sitting in the front row posed the risk of answering questions, so everyone simply voted with their feet and sat at the back en masse. Ye Kaifu frowned and said, ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be like this; teachers care about face too¡­ Doing this would make the instructors very unhappy.¡± Xisha University was considered a fairly good university, and this situation was indeed unusual. Zhang Yuan said expressionlessly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it; teachers are already used to teaching a bunch of fools. They don¡¯t need fools to give them face, just as long as they don¡¯t go too far.¡± ¡°Makes sense.¡± At this moment, a sound of light footsteps running came from the corridor, and in came a young, beautiful female teacher. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, it¡¯s my first time substituting, so my teaching experience may not be sufficient¡­ My surname is Wang, and my name is Wang Lili. You can call me Mr. Wang.¡± Her voice was soft and cute. ¡°Hey, move up to the front, it¡¯s not nice to leave it empty¡­¡± Beauty equaled justice, and soon there was excitement among the male species, voluntarily moving from the back to the first three rows, fully giving the beautiful teacher enough face. Judging by her age, she should be a graduate student sister. Helping the teacher substitute wasn¡¯t much, as it consolidated knowledge and brought funding. Naturally, the level of a graduate student wanting to teach undergraduates was somewhat lacking, and this senior student¡¯s level was definitely among the best. Seeing a large number of male classmates moving their seats, Ye Kaifu felt smug again. Haha, your post-event behavior is too blatant! What¡¯s the point of coming over now? The teacher¡¯s favorability was already maxed out by the two of us who sat in the front row from the start. But seeing Zhang Yuan with his out-of-this-world focus and serious expression, Ye Kaifu quickly calmed his inner thoughts, no longer letting his mind wander. A strong person was indeed strong, unaffected by a teacher¡¯s appearance. ¡°And of course, in the life of a strong person, there were only the words ¡®study,¡¯ unaffected by the appearance of beautiful females.¡± ¡°Truly awesome!¡± ¡°` Chapter 30 - Chapter 30: Chapter 30 That, This... Green Function? Chapter 30: Chapter 30 That, This¡­ Green Function? Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°` The beautiful teacher, Wang Lili, paused for a moment and then began, ¡°Um¡­ Today, I¡¯m going to teach you some knowledge about mathematical physics equations. Of course, it won¡¯t be the homogeneous equations you¡¯ve learned in class but rather¡­¡± ¡°Today¡¯s key content: the Green Function method for the two-dimensional Laplace equation¡­¡± As soon as these words were out, the class erupted in groans. Ye Kaifu finally understood why the first three rows were empty. This course must be a bomb! The usual final questions in math exams, such as Fourier Transforms, orthogonal expansions, ordinary differential equations, and so on, had become routine tools here. Could it not be difficult? Without saying much more, the teacher officially began the class. ¡°Dear students, I believe you¡¯ve all learned homogeneous partial differential equations and non-homogeneous partial differential equations. Due to time constraints, we¡¯re not going to review them here¡­¡± Ye Kaifu habitually glanced at Zhang Yuan and found this god-like figure was still lost in thought, unaware of what he was pondering. Wait. He seemed to be asleep! Asleep, really asleep! Haha! Ye Kaifu almost burst out laughing, seeing himself gain an advantage in ¡°effort value.¡± He couldn¡¯t have been happier and nearly exploded in his seat. ¡°Work hard, work hard, he¡¯s sleeping, I can¡¯t slack off!¡± ¡°I have to take this opportunity to learn more.¡± ¡°Now, most textbooks establish the Green Function method using a three-dimensional Laplace equation background. Its core content is the spatial form of Green¡¯s formula and a point-analytic representation of three-dimensional harmonic functions. The Green Function method for two-dimensional problems has similarities with the three-dimensional problems¡­%@@!¡± The content was obviously very difficult, and even high attractiveness couldn¡¯t directly boost the intelligence of male livestock, making the whole classroom atmosphere very awkward, equivalent to a pretty girl talking to herself on the podium. The basic knowledge of the Green Function method is double integrals and triple integrals. Ye Kaifu racked his brains, only to find he had forgotten most of it, occasionally skipping some content. Skipping and skipping, he ended up not knowing what the teacher was talking about. He simply gave up, dared not play with his phone in the first row, and just appreciated the teacher¡¯s beauty. ¡°Oh my gosh¡­ Now I know why my boss couldn¡¯t be bothered to take this class and sent me instead.¡± ¡°It¡¯s really torturous!¡± Seeing pairs of bewildered eyes, heads nodding off, and some punks playing with their phones, Wang Lili stood at the blackboard, continuously ridiculing in her heart. ¡°This is basically a class on a bunch of pigs¡­¡± So, she seemed to forget that she had gone through this herself. Her teacher probably viewed her as a pig too. ¡°Endure, endure!¡± ¡°Can¡¯t hold it, so annoying!¡± Wang Lili didn¡¯t have the broad tolerance of an old professor, with a bunch of students playing with their phones and dozing off while continuing to deliver a sermon. She wasn¡¯t pleased either. She had painstakingly prepared for the class, and they were playing down there? Why should I? Make me preach like a nun, I can¡¯t do that¡­ Hmm, let¡¯s call on a few people to liven up the classroom atmosphere and wake up those who are sleeping! Just like that! This guy in the first row looked pretty serious; he sat in the first row from the beginning, so the probability of being a top student was quite high. He should be able to answer the question, and it¡¯s his turn, so no one¡¯s embarrassed, and it can wake up the sleeping ones. ¡°This student, could you solve this problem?¡± Wang Lili suddenly said with a smile. The atmosphere in the classroom suddenly became serious. ¡°Roll call¡± was indeed a nuclear weapon in the classroom; almost all the sleeping students fell from paradise and quickly returned to the mortal world. Those playing with their phones also put their phones back in their pockets¡­ ¡°What? Me?¡± Ye Kaifu stood up, his face turning red. He pretended to study seriously, only to be called to answer a question. How tragic. Really. ¡°Student, first consider¡­¡± Wang Lili slightly reminded him with a few more words. ¡°Uh, this, the Green function¡­ two-dimensional Green function¡­¡± Ye Kaifu weakly said. Aside from these words, he seemed to know nothing else. He kept scratching his head and rubbing his ears, his brain spinning intensely. Sadly, even if his head exploded, he couldn¡¯t solve this problem. ¡°Sigh, sit down, sit down¡­¡± Wang Lili hadn¡¯t expected the good student in the front row couldn¡¯t answer, so she had to wave her hand in dismay. Perhaps it was that her teaching was too bad, or maybe the content was just too difficult¡­ However, the classroom atmosphere improved quite a bit. After all this, everyone had straightened up in their seats, except for a few stubborn ones who were still asleep, genuinely asleep. Especially the one on the far left of the first row, sleeping too comfortably, right? Sleeping in the first row was too influential! ¡°Does anyone know how to solve this problem? Just follow the method I just mentioned, using a harmonic function¡­¡± Wang Lili reiterated. The classroom atmosphere was very awkward for a moment. ¡°This¡­ the student on the far left?¡± Ye Kaifu quickly tapped the slumbering Zhang Yuan, making him jump up from his seat with an ¡°Ah.¡± What¡¯s going on? Zhang Yuan opened his eyes in confusion. A small laugh echoed through the classroom. ¡°The teacher asked you to solve the problem!¡± Sitting beside him, Ye Kaifu winked and was amused beyond measure. Zhang Yuan blushed and scratched his head in embarrassment. Because of continuous late-night work and excessive fatigue, he accidentally fell asleep. ¡°Student, can you do it?¡± Although a bit displeased, Wang Lili was ready to let the student sit down after waking him up. Everyone was an adult, responsible for their own life choices, and there was no need to overly criticize others. Besides, this was just a course arranged by the school for various competitions, with no exams and no binding agreement¡­ Zhang Yuan glanced at the PPT; his slightly dazed mind started to clear. He quietly said, ¡°It should be solved using the Green function¡­¡± Everyone laughed. The Green function had been discussed for the entire class, and even a pig would remember these four words. Surely this guy only repeated those words after sleeping through the whole class. Zhang Yuan paused for only two seconds, then continued, ¡°Let v be another known harmonic function on the plane D. According to Green¡¯s formula, 0=¡Ò¡Ò(v?u/?n-u?v/?n)d¦Ä. After subtracting the two equations¡­ considering the boundary conditions¡­¡± ¡°£¤@¡­%£¤¡± A few top students perked up their ears and vaguely understood what he was talking about. Thinking back and forth, it seemed right and wasn¡¯t nonsense. If someone could ramble to such a level, they¡¯d be astonishingly impressive¡­ Whispering rose in the classroom. What was happening? A sleeping guy just obliterated them all! ¡°` Chapter 31 - Chapter 31: Chapter 31 Galaxy Award Chapter 31: Chapter 31 Galaxy Award Editor: Henyee Translations When Zhang Yuan finished explaining the entire solution, Wang Lili just opened her mouth and swallowed the heartfelt words she had prepared. She secretly rolled her eyes and replied, ¡°Student¡­ very good answer, please sit down.¡± So it turned out to be the legendary Academic God. People like this were actually the most annoying; they understood without studying and spoiled the classroom atmosphere. Ye Kaifu had already restored his admiration and was no longer surprised, as if he was numb. ¡°The Great God is indeed the Great God, not changing his essence as a strong person because of sleeping¡­¡± The strong had the privilege of sleeping. He was ashamed of his jealousy. Afterwards, everything was peaceful. Zhang Yuan didn¡¯t doze off again, only mentally wandered, as if his pupils were focused on a distant void. The teacher didn¡¯t call names anymore, simply reciting the lecture like scripture until it ended. ¡°Ring ring,¡± the bell rang. Wang Lili assigned a few after-class exercises, indicating that everyone could leave. When it was time to go, everyone became extremely enthusiastic again, which was really frustrating. ¡°Let¡¯s go, time to head back.¡± After taking a short nap, Zhang Yuan was full of energy and wanted to go back to the dorm to continue working on his thesis. Ye Kaifu reluctantly packed his materials and asked Zhang Yuan, ¡°Mathematical equations are too difficult. Is there an overall framework for easier understanding?¡± Zhang Yuan thought for a moment and said, ¡°Framework? You mean a problem-solving approach? This course actually doesn¡¯t have many complicated things.¡± ¡°Solving a homogeneous partial differential equation is the simplest. You just need to use separation of variables and follow a four-step approach to solve it¡­¡± ¡°Then comes the determination problem of an inhomogeneous general equation. The method is to introduce a new function, or use a parameter variation method, viewing the inhomogeneous problem as a homogeneous one to solve. Then, by using the Fourier series expansion, a new condition can be formed to solve it¡­¡± ¡°Later on, dealing with inhomogeneous boundary conditions is about converting them to homogeneous boundary conditions, thus turning it into solving an inhomogeneous general equation problem¡­¡± ¡°Stop!¡± Ye Kaifu was on the verge of tears and couldn¡¯t help but shout. When he realized there were no shortcuts in the entire learning process, he could only silently chant a phrase in his heart: Terrifying! ¡­ After packing up, the two were ready to leave. ¡°Zhang Yuan, don¡¯t go yet!¡± At this moment, Zhang Yuan suddenly heard a female voice calling behind him. He turned around and saw it was Xu Yunjing, the graduate student under Professor Wang Zhong. ¡°Senior sister, are you here attending the lecture too?¡± Xu Yunjing said, ¡°Yes¡­ I¡¯m planning to switch to the mechanical field when I pursue a doctorate, so I need to learn some related knowledge to make it easier to change fields in the future.¡± Zhang Yuan asked curiously, ¡°Switch to engineering? Aren¡¯t you studying mathematics now? Won¡¯t Professor Wang be upset?¡± ¡°He won¡¯t, he won¡¯t¡­ He should respect my opinion.¡± Xu Yunjing thought, I¡¯m not that genius student. Why go down the pure mathematics path, which is tough and offers no money? Why make life difficult for myself? ¡°Is he your¡­ junior? Your titles are so strange.¡± Wang Lili, the substitute teacher with large twinkling eyes, also looked over. ¡°Yes, let me introduce you.¡± Xu Yunjing said with a smile, ¡°This is Wang Lili, my good friend, currently studying for a master¡¯s with Professor Lin from the Mechanical Engineering College.¡± ¡°Hello, senior sister!¡± ¡°This junior sure is shy, huh? Spacing out and sleeping in class, and I even caught him red-handed.¡± Wang Lili said with a smile. She lowered her voice slightly, ¡°Though he finished that problem in a flash.¡± Zhang Yuan felt a bit embarrassed. ¡°Senior sister, I¡¯m really sorry. I got tired writing the thesis, so I accidentally fell asleep. I didn¡¯t mean it.¡± ¡°Writing a thesis at such a young age. What¡¯s your topic?¡± ¡°Using geometric group theory and topological analysis to study robotic motion¡­¡± Upon hearing the topic, Wang Lili was at a loss for words. ¡°Are the kids this twisted nowadays? Group theory, topology and all that, while I¡¯m still troubled for publishing papers. Getting a third or fourth-tier one would already be nice.¡± Seeing them chatting, and in no time becoming senior sister and junior, Ye Kaifu on the side rolled his eyes. He lost interest in being the third wheel. He grumbled a farewell, ¡°Zhang Yuan, I¡¯m heading to the library, bye!¡± ¡°Bye-bye!¡± Ye Kaifu swaggered off with a smile on his face, while inwardly venting. What¡¯s this ¡°living is for learning¡±? That¡¯s definitely a lie. Such a pretty senior sister got attracted in no time. This skill is a model for our generation. Since Zhang Yuan is hitting on girls, I should as well. Maybe I can encounter someone in the library? The vacation is almost over. I can¡¯t go on miserable like this. ¡­ After chatting for a while, Zhang Yuan asked, ¡°Senior sister, was there something you needed me for?¡± Xu Yunjing smacked her forehead. ¡°Almost forgot, I actually do have something.¡± At this time, there were only the three of them left in the entire classroom. Xu Yunjing searched in her little bag. She pulled out an invitation and handed it to Zhang Yuan. ¡°In a week, there will be a ¡®Galaxy Award¡¯ ceremony in the great hall of Xisha University to commemorate the successful construction of the Earth Era. You have an important award to receive, don¡¯t forget.¡± Award? Zhang Yuan shivered all over. It seemed he had done nothing. The thesis wasn¡¯t even done, and he was just an ordinary spaceship worker. What award would he receive? How come? ¡°How could it be my turn?¡± ¡°It¡¯s your father¡¯s award, dream on!¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Zhang Yuan¡¯s heart jolted. His father¡¯s award, it seemed he had no right to refuse. Xu Yunjing made an exaggerated gesture, ¡°That¡¯s the legendary Galaxy Award first prize, with a ten-million reward! You, as your father¡¯s only direct kin, should receive it on his behalf, not overstepping, right?¡± ¡°The Earth Era is about to set sail, so all these grand projects need to be completed. Moreover, there will be a fundraising ceremony afterwards, inciting those tycoons to donate. That¡¯s the most crucial part.¡± ¡°The foundation is short on money, not billions but trillions! Squeezing some funds from those entrepreneurs would be good.¡± ¡°Alright, alright, I got it.¡± However, it couldn¡¯t be called a grand project; it¡¯s the honor my father deserves! Zhang Yuan thought about it. He had already donated all his possessions, so there was no mental burden. He could go. He then asked, ¡°Do I need to give a speech or something?¡± Xu Yunjing said with a smile, ¡°Just go up to accept the award. Who would care about you, a small figure, seeing your little vanity! You¡¯re not the person involved, just a stand-in, and the reporters won¡¯t make it hard for you.¡± ¡°They might let you say a few words of ¡®thanks,¡¯ thanking the government, the foundation, the judges and so forth. It¡¯s simple. You don¡¯t need to worry about the fundraising event afterwards; we¡¯ll handle it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Zhang Yuan hated troublesome ceremonies the most. If he had to give a long speech and write a special article, he¡¯d rather work on the thesis in that time. ¡°Don¡¯t forget, I¡¯ll remind you again when the time comes.¡± ¡°Got it, got it.¡± After finishing, Zhang Yuan waved goodbye to the two who were teasing him, and walked off alone to think about his thesis. Chapter 32 - Chapter 32: Chapter 32 More Beautiful Memories Chapter 32: Chapter 32 More Beautiful Memories Editor: Henyee Translations A week went by in a hurry just like that. The days were pretty much the same as before, a routine of the library, dormitory, and cafeteria. It was quite fulfilling, or rather, it had never been so fulfilling. Ye Kaifu always followed closely behind, outwardly defiant, but inwardly relishing the torment. This life was just too exciting. He never imagined meeting such a lunatic in the final days of the holiday, let alone becoming someone caught up in their madness. What on Earth was happening! However, this day marked the day of farewell. The Space Elevator had a limited daily capacity. The 500,000 astronauts couldn¡¯t all be sent up at once; they were to ascend in many batches, in sequence. The two of them weren¡¯t in the same launch batch. Ye Kaifu¡¯s holiday had ended, and he was scheduled to go up to space early. ¡°¡­You¡¯ve learned about the economic policies and work grade system on the spaceship, right? Although it¡¯s not fully public yet, I assume you¡¯ll systematically study them once you¡¯re on the spaceship. It¡¯s good to prepare early, like writing papers and preparing for graduate exams, for instance.¡± ¡°Got it, got it, you don¡¯t need to worry about me.¡± Ye Kaifu smirked and said, ¡°I¡¯m a Level 8 Mechanic. I start with an eighth-level work grade, way higher than you. A Second Level small fry can only clean on the spaceship, can¡¯t do anything else.¡± Zhang Yuan retorted irritably, ¡°You¡¯re right; you¡¯re way more impressive than me. See you then.¡± Ye Kaifu suddenly widened his eyes and shouted, ¡°Zhang Yuan, being with you is tiring but fulfilling. If I had met you earlier, I certainly would have been more than now¡­¡± Goosebumps all over! People around gave strange looks. ¡°Scram! Get lost! You¡¯re leaving and still disgusting me!¡± Zhang Yuan yelled. ¡°Hahaha, idiot, look at yourself! I¡¯m a standard straight guy. Who the hell would want to be with you!¡± Ye Kaifu was beyond happy, feeling incredibly refreshed. Did you see those little girls¡¯ faces about to puke? Hahaha! Zhang Yuan checked his phone calendar, remaining holiday balance: 5 days. As that moment approached, a strange sense of urgency grew stronger inside him. This feeling was hard to describe with words, like the last moment of life was approaching¡ªnervousness, fear, uncertainty¡ªall mixed together, forming a complex sense of disconnection. ¡°Bye!¡± Ye Kaifu left with a suitcase, waving backward as he walked away, thinking he looked dashing. He left alone, abandoning his mechanical harem, discarding fantasies of the fleet, leaving everything behind, traveling light. His figure appeared very small amidst the orderly astronaut lineup. Perhaps, everyone seemed tiny in front of the grand Space Elevator, insignificantly small. ¡°Bye.¡± The sun slowly rose from the east. This was probably the last sunrise this batch of astronauts would see on Earth. And it was Zhang Yuan¡¯s fifth to last. Zhang Yuan saw Ye Kaifu wipe his eyes with a sleeve as he passed the security check and entered the Space Elevator. No, he wiped twice, maybe three times¡­ Many astronauts did the same. Once up there, they¡¯d never set foot on Mother Star¡¯s solid ground again. Never again. He couldn¡¯t help but sigh, ¡°Such fools.¡± No, it was a group of fools. ¡­ He turned around and returned to the campus. Now he was alone once more. Living alone in the dormitory inevitably brought a sense of solitude. The thesis was almost done, with some wording and phrasing details needing revision, which could be finished in a night¡­ Zhang Yuan thought of giving himself a day off, for a real rest. Lying in bed, he prepared to take a short nap but found he couldn¡¯t sleep, overwhelmed with thoughts. He opened his long-unvisited social media apps, seeing a bunch of notifications. ¡°Li Zhendong, how¡¯s the girl you arranged to meet?¡± Li Zhendong¡¯s voice was still as arrogant as ever: ¡°We ended it long ago. The girl was a catfish, full of acne, couldn¡¯t go for it. By the way, how¡¯s your mechanic roommate?¡± ¡°Gone up.¡± ¡°So early, huh?¡± ¡°Yeah, different batches.¡± They chatted casually for a bit. As that moment approached, this show-off seemed not to be in a good mood either, speaking more seriously, less lively. ¡°¡­Touring with my family, trying to persuade my parents to have another child.¡± ¡°My mom often hides to cry. Don¡¯t know how to console her. She just wants to cry, women are like this, my mom¡¯s no exception¡­¡± Zhang Yuan sighed, ¡°Sigh, in the last few days, spend more time with them. Don¡¯t come early.¡± After hanging up, Zhang Yuan suddenly remembered the forgotten ¡°memo.¡± He¡¯d been busy with the thesis for half a month, almost forgot about it. More good memories, there should be more, a little more. He walked into a supermarket, bought a 38-federal-coin popsicle, and put it in his mouth, cream flavored. The taste was mediocre, didn¡¯t know why it sold so expensively. Then he checked off an item on the memo: ¡°Eat an ice pop at a price that makes me feel heartache¡­¡± ¡°Done!¡± On the spaceship, he probably wouldn¡¯t even get to eat popsicles, no space for an ice pop factory on board. ¡°No wonder Ye Kaifu kept eating popsicles before leaving¡­ Turns out he was working on his memo.¡± What should he do next? Unknown. Zhang Yuan felt slightly lost, suddenly having free time and seeming a bit aimless. Maybe go back to studying? Anyway, there¡¯s no end to learning. No, today was a rest day. ¡°¡­I want that BQ ice cream,¡± a girl next to him said. The boy beside her dotingly replied, ¡°That¡¯s expensive. I¡¯ll give you two options: eat a BQ ice cream, or drink two milk teas, so I can have one too.¡± ¡°Then two milk teas¡­ see how good I am to you?¡± Watching couples pass by in the supermarket, Zhang Yuan couldn¡¯t figure out why, but he thought of his ex-girlfriend. How many years ago was that? Zhang Yuan thought carefully and suddenly realized he couldn¡¯t even remember her appearance well, took several seconds to recall a name. He merely remembered: she was quite cute, had a little temper, average grades. Due to academic pressure, needed coaxing to study well daily. Back then, they were high school students, had no money, not allowed to use mobile phones, could only go out using very old banknotes. On every date, she¡¯d give Zhang Yuan all her money, saying: taking it out was troublesome. As a result, Zhang Yuan held less than a hundred federal coins in his left hand, with his right arm around something warm and soft. In that nothing-to-show-for era, he felt content as if he owned the entire world. ¡°¡­Although dating lowered my intelligence, that period was quite happy,¡± Zhang Yuan sat on the steps, reminiscing. That girl who found spending money troublesome, she must have grown up too, right? Should he make a call? After thinking it over, he shook his head. Forget it, after so long without contact, there¡¯s no such thing as feelings anymore, just memories remain, like a piece of art, vaguely beautified. Chapter 33 - Chapter 33: Chapter 33 Award Ceremony Chapter 33: Chapter 33 Award Ceremony Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°` First love happens only once; it exists solely within memories. In a lifetime, one will never again experience an age where the scent of the opposite sex quickens their heartbeat. Zhang Yuan reflected, time truly is a terrifying assassin, even blurring the memories of first love, making all the past unpleasantness vanish, making it seem so perfect¡­ If they boarded the spaceship, everything on Earth would surely grow old with time. All the memories would become more beautiful. Just like that day, when he climbed a mountain in the sweltering heat to witness a sunset, the whole process was hot and uncomfortable. But decades later, most of the unpleasantness would be forgotten, leaving only that sun that refused to set¡­ ¡°A distance of 20 light years, that¡¯s already another space-time, isn¡¯t it?¡± Sighing long, Zhang Yuan walked out of the supermarket. ¡­ Next, at one o¡¯clock in the afternoon, the ¡°Galaxy Award¡± ceremony would take place. Zhang Yuan arrived early at the venue, with all kinds of festive decorations making the hall especially grand. The ¡°Galaxy Award¡± was held every two years, jointly established by the Deep Space Foundation and the National Science and Technology Association, rewarding outstanding contributors in the aerospace industry, and has a history of over eighty years. This national award, with generous prizes, awards 10 million yuan to first-prize winners, 5 million for second, and even 2 million for third prize. It is also the highest-paying science-related award in the country, with live broadcast coverage by major media. In short, the organizers had ¡°wealthy and bold¡± written all over their faces. ¡°Obviously they¡¯re going to be broke in the future, still handing out bonuses like this¡­¡± Regarding this, Zhang Yuan couldn¡¯t help but ridicule in his mind. But there was no choice; those who made outstanding contributions should be rewarded. No matter how poor, scientists shouldn¡¯t be deprived. It was still early, and the ceremony hadn¡¯t officially started. Zhang Yuan already saw many old friends, including Professor Wang Zhong, Xu Yunjing, Wang Lili, and some of his father¡¯s former colleagues, all casting friendly glances his way. ¡°Nervous?¡± ¡°Just fine, after all, I¡¯m just a substitute to collect the award¡­¡± Professor Wang smiled and said, ¡°One day, you should rely on your own strength to stand on such a stage.¡± Zhang Yuan nodded, feeling moved, ¡°Professor Wang, I¡¯ve written a paper recently, could you have a look at it?¡± Professor Wang Zhong, hearing that Zhang Yuan had really written a paper, felt quite pleased, ¡°Oh? What¡¯s the title? If it¡¯s nonsense, I will criticize you. Research papers are not undergraduate theses; if they¡¯re not published, they are practically useless¡­¡± Zhang Yuan hurriedly replied, ¡°Definitely no nonsense! The title is ¡®Kinematic Analysis of High-Degree-of-Freedom Robots Based on Geometric Group Theory and Topology.¡¯ I¡¯ll send it to your email.¡± ¡°Geometric Group Theory? Okay, I¡¯ll help you take a look after I get back.¡± Professor Wang glanced over the title, ¡°But I¡¯m not very proficient in robotics knowledge, I can only help see if there¡¯s any logical error in the mathematical reasoning. If it¡¯s good, I¡¯ll forward it to other professors for further review.¡± Zhang Yuan said happily, ¡°Thank you, Professor Wang!¡± Reviewing papers is an exhausting task, requiring effort yet offering no authorship credit. Only professors with good relationships are willing to help this way. Without a professor¡¯s recommendation, the chances of getting published are greatly reduced. Professional reviewers rarely want to look at unknown works. Seeing that it¡¯s a submission by an undergraduate without notable endorsements, they might just pass on it. After all, there are many amateur scientists worldwide who claim to have invented ¡°Perpetual Motion Machines¡± or proved the ¡°Goldbach Conjecture¡± every day. If all nonsensical papers were read, there¡¯d be no time to do anything else. Zhang Yuan, after all, was writing this kind of proper long paper for the first time. Having Professor Wang oversee it, those unqualified details could be amended. Shortly after, Xu Yunjing quietly walked over, tapped Zhang Yuan on the shoulder. Seeing his casual wear, she was quite displeased, ¡°Why are you dressed like this? No, no, you need to change clothes quickly.¡± Zhang Yuan was puzzled, ¡°How should I dress then?¡± ¡°I told you to be a bit formal!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have such clothes; I never wear that kind of¡­¡± ¡°Wang Lili, hurry and lend him your boyfriend¡¯s suit!¡± ¡°Oh, okay.¡± Wang Lili darted out of the venue. After a dozen minutes, she returned, panting, telling Zhang Yuan, ¡°Quickly put it on, put it on!¡± Changing clothes, especially someone else¡¯s, was giving Zhang Yuan a headache. ¡°Senior sister, if you keep tugging at me like this, your boyfriend will get jealous.¡± Wang Lili giggled, ¡°Jealous of my little junior? That would be too petty¡­ You¡¯re about to ascend; would he still be jealous of you?¡± ¡°Quickly now, I¡¯m a volunteer and must handle the entire venue¡¯s work! If I get scolded afterwards, you¡¯ll be responsible!¡± ¡°How should I take responsibility, by marrying you?¡± Wang Lili stared at him, ¡°Such boldness, daring to flirt with senior now? If you¡¯re willing to stay, I might consider it¡­¡± ¡°Absolutely not!¡± With no choice, Zhang Yuan had to go to the restroom to change into the suit. Clothes make the man; Buddha relies on gold decoration, after changing, he felt like a different person. ¡°Unexpectedly, looking quite handsome¡­ If my boyfriend sees this, he might really get jealous.¡± Wang Lili chuckled. A group of volunteer girls also gathered around, chattering and watching the ¡°first-prize winner,¡± making Zhang Yuan blush slightly. Sisters, the winner is not me¡­ ¡°Alright, the meeting is about to start, just sit here and wait. When you hear your name, go up to receive the award. Have you planned what to say? You don¡¯t need to say much, three thank-yous, two to three minutes, the reporters won¡¯t trouble you.¡± Zhang Yuan nodded. A burst of music began, and everyone standing returned to their places. The speeches by various leaders were followed by some cultural performances. The whole process was boring and almost put Zhang Yuan to sleep. But for those interested, it was a good opportunity for socializing. After all, the ¡°Galaxy Award¡± is a major national award, and those attending the ceremony were big shots from various fields, including leaders, CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, academic elites, and so on. Some students were just there to join in the fun, or perhaps they were extras sent by the student union. Some students wished to be remembered here. With so many big shots, perhaps in the future, just by being recognized, they could gain an opportunity? Others from within the industry were exchanging insights on industry trends, using all sorts of professional jargon that left listeners in the clouds. ¡­ ¡°` Chapter 34 - Chapter 34: Chapter 34: Big Trouble! Chapter 34: Chapter 34: Big Trouble! Editor: Henyee Translations Zhang Yuan had no interest in communicating with others. He was about to leave Earth, so why bother with anyone? Sleeping seemed more practical. For some reason, he could never fall asleep in his dorm, yet in a classroom or such public places, he found it easier to become drowsy. Half an hour passed in a flash¡­ The award ceremony typically began with the third prize; after all, presenting the first prize right away would leave nothing for the end. The atmosphere in the venue was excellent, the host was very professional and humorous, plus it was the most prestigious award in the country, and the applause was like waves. ¡°Next, the recipient of the Galaxy Award First Prize is¡­¡± the host intentionally left a suspense, glanced at the still-sleeping Zhang Yuan, and was slightly stunned. Zhang Yuan suddenly heard his father¡¯s name and woke up with a jolt. On the screen, a video was playing: it was an introduction to his father¡¯s life. A renowned mathematician and engineer, chief engineer for the spaceship¡¯s main control system and nuclear engine¡­ Looking at the lines of text on the screen, the audience whispered and gasped. Any one of these achievements alone would be enough for an ordinary person to boast about for a lifetime. Amidst everyone¡¯s amazement, a piece of somber music began to play. Due to overwork, Professor Zhang died young, at the age of 60, so his family was to accept the award on his behalf. After the host finished speaking, Zhang Yuan went on stage, bowed slightly, and received the gold medal. A microphone was handed over. The host wanted him to share a few words of gratitude. The venue gradually became quiet. Zhang Yuan had already prepared his remarks and was not nervous. ¡°I am honored to accept the Galaxy Award First Prize on behalf of my father.¡± ¡°First of all, please allow me to thank the judging panel, thank the Science Committee, thank¡­¡± It was a very procedural speech; after all, ¡°thanks¡± usually numbered three, more would sound redundant, and less would not seem formal enough. Originally, being awarded the first prize was a significant event, with a principle of preferring quality over quantity, so several editions might not even see one being awarded; it was often left ¡°vacant.¡± However, now that the person involved had passed away and the family was accepting on their behalf, some of that significance was lost, and journalists were not very interested in interviews. What could they uncover by interviewing a family member? Zhang Yuan mused that if he himself had received the award, that would be the real glory¡­ He thanked his father for allowing him to experience the feeling of accolades. It was stressful, yet motivating. However, what he said next was what Zhang Yuan truly intended to say. ¡°¡­ According to my father¡¯s last wishes, here, I am willing to donate all the prize money, which is ten million in cash, to the Deep Space Foundation to support the development of the aerospace industry!¡± This stirred a hornet¡¯s nest, and a buzz like bees could be heard from the audience. Although Zhang Yuan was only the representative, such an act of donating all the prize money still sparked a lot of discussion. Nobody would believe in supposed last wishes; no matter how genius Zhang Qiming was, he couldn¡¯t have known he¡¯d win an award after dying. Thus, it must be the personal decision of the young man. Ten million! This was definitely not a small sum, enough for an ordinary person to live a very comfortable life for the rest of their days. And yet he just gave it up like that. Clap clap clap! The audience erupted with unprecedented applause. ¡°Thank you, everyone!¡± With a slight bow, Zhang Yuan handed the microphone back to the host, preparing to step down from the stage. He noticed Professor Wang Zhong, as well as several other notable figures nearby, were beaming with surprise. ¡°Mr. Zhang, can we have an interview?¡± A swarm of reporters rushed over, like a pack of dogs drawn to the scent of a bone, excited beyond measure. ¡°Mr. Zhang, I have a question I¡¯d like to ask you¡­¡± ¡°Mr. Zhang, could you come over here, please!¡± ¡°Why did you ??¡­?¡± Zhang Yuan felt dizzy and disoriented. Oh no, it seemed like good intentions resulted in trouble, inadvertently drawing the attention of so many reporters! The host cleared his throat, understanding exactly what this group of reporters wanted to ask. He hurriedly came to the rescue: ¡°Dear journalist friends, due to time constraints, only one question is allowed.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s have this lady, please, what would you like to ask?¡± he pointed to a lady at the front and asked. Zhang Yuan¡¯s heart sank. What a coincidence, it was that blonde reporter Angelica whom he had once bullied. Yes, the one from some Humanities Association whom he had teased before. Would she take this occasion to make fun of him? Angelica looked at Zhang Yuan with a complex expression. She wanted to get back at him but didn¡¯t dare to do so outright in this setting. However, she quickly adjusted her emotions and, after some deliberation, said in fluent Xia, ¡°Hello, everyone, my name is Angelica, from Lan Country.¡± ¡°My aspiration is to travel the world. I have visited many corners of the world, the bustling Xia Country, the beautiful Country Mi, but also some poor small countries¡­¡± ¡°¡­I once visited a small country and met a rich man there. He wore clothes made of burlap, a kind of, um, yellowed plant fiber clothing, which is the best clothing there. He had eight wives; please do not laugh at this, in their country, polygamy is legal.¡± ¡°How rich was he? He owned a cassava processing plant with two machines capable of grinding cassava into powder.¡± ¡°Because of this, he became a well-known rich person far and wide. Almost all the girls in the village were willing to marry him.¡± ¡°You can imagine, such poverty still exists in corners of the world, not just one place or one person, but many, many people¡­¡± The venue became quiet for a moment. Then whispers began again. Zhang Yuan could already imagine what she wanted to ask. Angelica continued, ¡°What I want to ask is, Mr. Zhang Yuan, why did you not donate this money to people who need it more?¡± ¡°There are so many poor people in the world who need our help. The Deep Space Foundation is already wealthy, investing hundreds of trillions each year in spaceflight and aerospace; I apologize for not remembering the exact number. Yet so little is donated to impoverished people; isn¡¯t this somewhat putting the cart before the horse?¡± The question was sharp, even carrying a hint of political sensitivity. Several political figures were already slightly frowning, worried the young man might respond poorly. The entire award ceremony was being broadcast live, and every word and action would be recorded, leading to wide public discussion. Especially with the full donation of the prize money, it was bound to stir conversation. The atmosphere in the venue quieted down, and all eyes were focused on Zhang Yuan, eager to know how this young man would handle it. Chapter 35 - Chapter 35: Chapter 35 Making a Bigger Cake Chapter 35: Chapter 35 Making a Bigger Cake Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°` Zhang Yuan thought for a couple of seconds, then took the microphone from the host. He suddenly felt that there weren¡¯t as many conspiracy theories as one might think. This blonde girl was quite adorable. She was likely genuinely thinking this way when she asked the question. Taking a deep breath, Zhang Yuan said slowly and steadily, ¡°Ma¡¯am, there¡¯s a concept you might have misunderstood.¡± ¡°Every year, the funds allocated for poverty alleviation by the government and various charity organizations amount to several hundred billion. It¡¯s real money, donated by the people of each country. These kind-hearted people have sacrificed their own interests to help others. Indeed, they are very great.¡± ¡°But the 167 trillion produced by the aerospace industry each year is gross domestic product, not real money. It doesn¡¯t belong to the Deep Space Foundation but is collective wealth created by 43 million space workers and 2.2 billion surface workers, involving 273 large and small industries¡­¡± ¡°If there weren¡¯t this 167 trillion in GDP, I think there would be more than two billion additional people living in poverty on Earth. Everyone would have a worse living experience¡­¡± ¡°Therefore, the amount of money donated for poverty alleviation and the total output value are two concepts that shouldn¡¯t be confused.¡± ¡°As for your question, I can answer it like this: the aerospace industry is equivalent to enlarging the pie, while donating to the poor is merely redistributing the pie. I am more inclined towards the concept of ¡®enlarging the pie,¡¯ which is why I donate money to the Deep Space Foundation¡­¡± The audience below listened intently. Zhang Yuan¡¯s speech had a measured pace and clear logic, as if all his notes had already been prepared. Wang Lili and Xu Yunjing were quietly discussing: ¡°I didn¡¯t expect him to be so eloquent. He¡¯s usually quite shy.¡± ¡°Maybe it¡¯s just an act!¡± ¡°Haha, this is Zhang Yuan¡¯s true self!¡± Zhang Yuan continued, ¡°¡­Why did I make this choice?¡± ¡°Ms. Angelica, I wonder if you have ever taken the space elevator or personally witnessed the entirety of the Solar System. If you have truly seen the vastness of space, you would realize that the cake of aerospace is astonishingly large, a hundred times, a thousand times, or even ten thousand times larger than you imagine!¡± ¡°As long as this cake is made well, it can feed hundreds of billions, even trillions of people!¡± ¡°The poverty alleviation you mentioned is just a minor issue.¡± ¡°However¡­¡± ¡°The difficulty of getting a slice of this cake is daunting. Billions are merely a drop in the bucket; trillions are just a drop in the ocean. The space elevator behind us, humanity¡¯s first, consumed trillions in funding and took a full twenty years to build!¡± ¡°¡­No private capital has the determination and ability to spend decades building a 36,000-kilometer space elevator, seemingly without any output, except for non-profit organizations like the Deep Space Foundation¡­¡± ¡°If, a hundred years ago, there had been no investment in this space elevator and no generous donations from those idealists, I think we might still be confined to the small Earth, living in widespread poverty. Even with controlled nuclear fusion, we would still be poor.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I donated the prize money my father received to the Foundation, though it¡¯s just a drop in the ocean; it¡¯s also my heartfelt wish¡­¡± ¡°We need more like-minded people to expand this pie together and let more people enjoy its benefits.¡± ¡°As for the poverty alleviation issue you mentioned, it¡¯s not that it¡¯s unimportant. I highly agree with your idea and greatly admire your benevolence. But we in Xia Country have an old saying: ¡®Teaching a man to fish is better than giving him a fish.¡¯ Simply giving them money and food will only raise a group of lazy people, and there¡¯s no essential improvement.¡± ¡°¡­I believe that only through education can their lives be changed. As for this aspect, the Deep Space Foundation has a charitable department in online education, aiming to spread education through remote networks, but I won¡¯t elaborate here. If you¡¯re interested, you can look into it.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± A burst of even more enthusiastic applause broke out. Zhang Yuan¡¯s response was smooth and sophisticated; it was impeccable from any angle. The blonde journalist just opened her mouth, unable to speak. Although she herself was not convinced, the audience had been convinced, and that was enough. ¡°Professor Wang, Zhang Qiming¡¯s son is quite impressive, very articulate.¡± The Foundation¡¯s vice-chairman, Liu Yi, said happily, ¡°It¡¯s as if we specially arranged for it.¡± ¡°With a scientist¡¯s son donating ten million, those wealthy bosses have to bleed heavily!¡± Wang Zhong chuckled without speaking, but the pride in his heart was hard to conceal. Praising his disciple¡¯s grandchild was far more satisfying than praising himself. The Deep Space Foundation was a behemoth, possessing not only massive political influence and technological power but also having vast shares in the aerospace industry and space elevators. For those capitalists, cooperating with the Foundation was a win-win situation. Of course, to achieve a win-win, they first had to catch the Foundation¡¯s eye ¡­ Anyway, they should donate a bit first. After all the awards were presented, the winners stepped onto the stage for a group photo, followed by various artistic performances and donation activities. Zhang Yuan stepped off the stage and sat quietly in his seat. Professor Wang gently patted him, giving an encouraging look. ¡°Professor Wang, I didn¡¯t say anything wrong, did I?¡± ¡°You spoke quite well!¡± Wang Zhong said with a laugh. Professor Wang Zhong watched as one after another, capitalists took the stage to donate, with deep emotion: ¡°If Mr. Qi Yuanshan could see this scene, he would certainly be gratified.¡± In the world, people pursue benefits, even if these capitalists were only in it for profit, not for ¡®ideals,¡¯ it was still a healthy cycle. It is easy to embellish the present, but offering help in desperation is as difficult as ascending to the heavens; those hard days were a story from a hundred years ago, even before Wang Zhong was born. Qi Yuanshan, known as the ¡°Einstein of Material Science,¡± was a true giant in the field. His three most outstanding achievements were ¡°High Magnetic Saturation Superconducting Material,¡± ¡°Mass Production Method of Carbon Nanotubes,¡± and third, of course, some sociological content of the New Civilization School. Why was controlled nuclear fusion difficult? There were many reasons, such as neutron radiation and the triple product, but a very important point was¡ªmagnetic field confinement was not strong enough. The magnetic field confinement had to be strong enough to hold the violent plasma in place to make the circulator¡¯s nuclear fusion reaction stable and last longer. But having a strong enough magnetic field wasn¡¯t just about increasing the current. In material science, there¡¯s a phenomenon called ¡°magnetic saturation.¡± When the external current and coil density reach a certain size, the magnetic field won¡¯t increase further. No matter what you do, the magnetic field remains the same; deal with it yourself. Reaching the limit of magnetic field confinement still wasn¡¯t strong enough to hold the plasma, which became an almost unsolvable problem. And Professor Qi Yuanshan¡¯s breakthrough ¡°High Magnetic Saturation Superconducting Material¡± straightforwardly and dramatically increased the original magnetic field strength tenfold! Tenfold! As a result, the violent plasma was obediently contained, and many problems were no longer problems. ¡°Controlled Nuclear Fusion Technology¡± finally appeared in the world, albeit late. In that era, without oil and with scarce energy, Professor Qi¡¯s reputation was like the midday sun, being called the ¡°Father of Nuclear Fusion.¡± The second major achievement was the mature production technology of carbon nanotubes, making them very cheap. This material¡¯s tensile strength was over 100 times that of steel, and its density was only 0.03 grams per cubic centimeter, making it an excellent building material. Such a scientific giant¡¯s influence extended into the modern era, admired by many scientists. However, at that time, Professor Qi¡¯s ¡°Proposal for the Construction of a Space Elevator¡± was rejected by the government. The investment was too large, too large for Xia Country, just recovering from an energy crisis, to accept¡­ ¡­ As for what happened later that ultimately caused such a significant change in government stance, Wang Zhong didn¡¯t know. He only knew that the space elevator was built on schedule and was almost complete by the time he was born. Xia Country gambled its national destiny for 20 years and finally bet on a bright future! Historical historians still frequently talk about this past event with great relish up to the present. A country¡¯s development, taking one step puts you ahead in all steps thereafter. So it is with a civilization. Without that brave step, perhaps the Earth would still have no space elevator and no beautiful present. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª- (For web readers, please rate this book, a 5-star rating wouldn¡¯t be too much!) ¡°` Chapter 36 - Chapter 36: Chapter 36 is trending! Chapter 36: Chapter 36 is trending! Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°` The venue was getting more and more lively, and all the audience could barely hold back their enthusiasm to discuss. Finally, the chairman of the organizing committee made a speech and delivered the closing remarks, ¡°I announce that the total fundraising amount this time is, $4.211 billion!¡± Thunderous applause filled the room. ¡°Here, I sincerely hope the Earth Era can withstand the scrutiny of 20 light years and successfully reach its destination, building the Second Star System for all humanity!¡± ¡°I announce the 43rd Galaxy Award Ceremony officially closed!¡± Amid the splendid cultural performance, people gradually left the venue. ¡°Whew¡­ It¡¯s finally over.¡± Zhang Yuan let out a long sigh of relief, lamenting how an entire afternoon of his life had been wasted like this. He quickly ran to the restroom, took off the suit he was wearing, and handed it to Wang Lili. ¡°Handsome guy, I didn¡¯t expect you to be quite eloquent!¡± Wang Lili took the clothes and teased with a smile, ¡°I was breaking a sweat for you just now!¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because you were going live, the biggest award in the country, plus the spaceship¡¯s launch ceremony. It attracts a lot of attention. That question was too sharp. If it were me, I would definitely be a bit nervous¡­¡± Wang Lili turned on her phone screen, waving it back and forth in front of him. ¡°If the response isn¡¯t good, you¡¯ll be trending, no, you¡¯re already trending now!¡± Zhang Yuan took Wang Lili¡¯s phone and looked closely. A black bold headline appeared right in the middle of the screen. ¡°Shocking! Son of a Scientist Donates Entire Prize, Ridiculed by Female Reporter!¡± ¡°Even if the Poor Starve, He Wouldn¡¯t Help Them!¡± The popularity was soaring! Zhang Yuan was baffled; these unscrupulous self-media were really risking everything for eyeballs. He sighed deeply, ¡°Forget it, forget it, no matter what the answer is, you¡¯ll get criticized. I had already mentally prepared for it. Donating the bonus was something I had thought of beforehand, who knew it would stir up such a¡­¡± Plus some debate about whether poverty alleviation or supporting aerospace is more important and so on. The world was still dominated by the voices of ordinary people, as if not donating money to them was a sin. Various internet trolls could always find the most comfortable posture to criticize others. They incessantly said strange comments like ¡°pretentious jerk,¡± ¡°prodigal son.¡± ¡°Thanks for the invite, on the Moon, just got off the spaceship, monthly income of a million, too many people in the circle, hard to comment, anonymous.¡± ¡°Mr. Zhang, do you have a girlfriend? He must be a big tycoon!¡± ¡°He probably does, and maybe several. Are you interested?¡± ¡°Hee-hee, aren¡¯t you interested?¡± ¡°Several is okay, just be a tycoon, so handsome!¡± Praising him for being handsome, Zhang Yuan felt inexplicably satisfied. However, he was not a tycoon. ¡°I bet this guy is going to enter the entertainment industry! It¡¯s a great packaging opportunity, creating a very good persona. (Struggle)(Struggle) The next step would be shooting TV shows or participating in variety shows, both art and sports, everyone stay tuned!¡± ¡°Spending ten million to advertise once, gaining fame, a very smart choice, what a pity. The son of a great scientist actually wants to become a celebrity.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with being a celebrity? Being a celebrity is great!¡± ¡°You know nothing!¡± Zhang Yuan felt a bit dizzy, silently admiring the people¡¯s powerful imagination. If they could imagine so well, why not become scientists? ¡°Do you want to be a big star? With some packaging, it¡¯s really possible!¡± Wang Lili said with a laugh. ¡°No, I¡¯m tone-deaf, and I can¡¯t dance.¡± There were also some busybodies wanting to dig into Zhang Yuan¡¯s life. Fortunately, he had never had a habit of posting on social media, so this group couldn¡¯t dig up anything special after a long search, only finding his alma mater and exam scores, etc. ¡°Only got into Z University, didn¡¯t even study abroad, GPA only 4.58¡­¡± ¡°What era are we in, still studying abroad? Are you an idiot? Going to a Natives¡¯ school?¡± ¡°What do you mean only 4.58 GPA? Z University¡¯s full GPA is only 5, okay? That¡¯s equivalent to an average score of 95.8, so anyone who hasn¡¯t been to university should shut up!¡± Anyway, the previous Zhang Yuan, although not the most outstanding, was indeed not bad and didn¡¯t have many black spots. Yet, there was still a group of people tirelessly searching¡ª internet real-name systems couldn¡¯t stop these idle people¡­ Of course, there was also a pile of people who supported him, many of whom were women. Zhang Yuan had a bit of a headache; he had no idea things would turn out like this. It was just a donation. Was it such a big deal? With envy comes jealousy, with jealousy comes hate. As long as you stand straight, you won¡¯t fear your shadow bending. Let them be. Listening to his various complaints, Wang Lili also opened a social app and ruthlessly commented, ¡°This guy, aside from being a bit handsome, doesn¡¯t have many advantages. Witnessed his prodigal behavior firsthand, so frustrating!¡± [Like][Like][Like] In just a few seconds, a bunch of likes poured in. ¡°You¡¯re adding insult to injury too¡­¡± Zhang Yuan shook his head helplessly. ¡°Mr. Zhang, please come over here to sign!¡± someone suddenly called him from behind. ¡°Oh, okay.¡± Zhang Yuan turned around and signed his name on a ¡°donation agreement,¡± pressing his fingerprint. What was said cannot be undone. After doing this, the ten million prize was officially donated. Since he was about to run away anyway, Zhang Yuan didn¡¯t feel distressed, just like donating Game Coin from a video game account. He didn¡¯t even blink. This feeling was strange. National-level science awards, according to policy, did not require taxes, which was equivalent to the Foundation transferring this part of the funds from its left hand to its right hand. However, the corresponding processes still needed to be done. The Deep Space Foundation, with its century-long history, had developed into such a colossal organization, it had long formed a very standardized administrative system, and most of the funds flow was transparent. Wang Lili and Xu Yunjing, the two volunteers, watched the entire scene, occasionally glancing at each other with very resentful expressions. ¡°The number one in front, so many zeros behind, when will I ever earn so much money? Probably never in this lifetime¡­¡± Xu Yunjing sighed. Wang Lili also said wistfully, ¡°Yeah, a perfectly good tall, rich, and handsome guy, recklessly squandering himself into a poor man¡­ Acting like you have a lot of money, but you only have this much money.¡± ¡°¡­Some relatives and friends I know have assets worth hundreds of millions, yet they¡¯ve never donated so much. Ten million, I so want to snatch it all to buy clothes, so many clothes!¡± Xu Yunjing nodded in agreement, ¡°Luckily, he¡¯s not my boyfriend, or I¡¯d be driven mad by him. Just want to beat him up hard¡­¡± Even though he knew they were joking, Zhang Yuan still felt quite embarrassed, unsure of what to say. Wang Lili threw out another strange question, ¡°You astronauts, can you back out temporarily? Like¡­ suddenly not wanting to go and just wanting to stay home.¡± ¡°Of course you can.¡± Zhang Yuan thought for a moment and said, ¡°But if there¡¯s no reasonable reason, backing out temporarily would be treated as desertion, which carries significant risks.¡± ¡°Desertion, you know, is like refusing military service¡­ First, you¡¯ll be fined a sum of money, probably tens of thousands for training costs, and most social benefits will be canceled, and it will appear on your social credit and so on. Lots of penalties, anyway, being a deserter, it¡¯s really hard to get a good job in the future¡­¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¨C (Thanks to the book friend ¡°Experiment Body Jun Gui¡± for the Alliance Hierarch reward, although the collection of this book is growing slowly, to have an Alliance Hierarch so early is truly a blessing, thank you!) ¡°` Chapter 37 - Chapter 37: Chapter 37: You dont know me? Chapter 37: Chapter 37: You don¡¯t know me? Editor: Henyee Translations For deserters, any country would implement exceptionally severe punishment measures. The volunteers on the Earth Era, although not soldiers, also consumed a lot of public resources for training. Initially, they eagerly signed up, but if they regretted it before leaving, they would certainly be punished. Wang Lili said again, ¡°But with that ten million, plus the inheritance your father left, you can live quite lavishly on Earth. Credit scores and such aren¡¯t a big deal anymore; no mistakes should be passed on to your descendants¡­¡± Zhang Yuan replied casually, ¡°It would affect the descendants too, wouldn¡¯t it? With me as their dad, my son and daughter¡¯s political assessments would basically be impossible to pass, affecting more than just my generation.¡± ¡°And the inheritance was donated long ago, leaving no room for regret. I never consider the things you¡¯re talking about, so it doesn¡¯t bother me.¡± Feeling mentally overshadowed, Wang Lili was very discouraged and pouted, ¡°You weird astronauts, your thinking is indeed different from ours¡­ Acting all high and mighty!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not actually high and mighty, but a kind of dumb behavior!¡± Xu Yunjing, standing beside, laughed, very much agreeing with Wang Lili¡¯s statement. ¡°Right, it¡¯s dumb!¡± ¡°How is it dumb?¡± ¡°Stupidly dumb.¡± Zhang Yuan couldn¡¯t argue back and suddenly wanted to tease these two troublemaking seniors, ¡°I have a few questions to ask you. If our answers are the same, it means our IQs are about the same.¡± Wang Lili smiled slyly, preemptively defending herself, ¡°What kind of questions? If they¡¯re too weird, I might not be able to answer. Even if I¡¯m smart, I can¡¯t answer everything.¡± ¡°Very simple, a three-year-old child knows the answers, but you must answer within a second!¡± ¡°Alright, ask away.¡± Zhang Yuan held up one finger and asked, ¡°Is there a number bigger than 1?¡± ¡°There is.¡± The two girls answered in unison, their eyes filled with skepticism. What kind of dumb question is this? He held up two fingers, ¡°Is there a number bigger than 2?¡± ¡°There is!¡± Zhang Yuan sped up, ¡°Is there a number smaller than 3?¡± Smaller than 3? Wang Lili¡¯s eyes showed more suspicion and she said again, ¡°Of course there is!¡± ¡°Is there anyone dumber than you?¡± ¡°No! Haha, I knew you were going to pull a trick. I was thinking fast¡­¡± After a few seconds of silence, Xu Yunjing, standing by, suddenly laughed so hard she almost ran out of breath. Wang Lili looked at her dubiously, still pondering over what the riddle was all about. ¡°You just said it yourself, there¡¯s no one dumber than you¡­¡± Zhang Yuan looked up at the sky, pretending to be a sage from another world, ¡°There¡¯s indeed a bit of a gap between us, an IQ gap!¡± Wang Lili suddenly realized the trap Zhang Yuan had set. She was both angry and embarrassed, ¡°You dare bully your senior! You¡¯ve turned bad!¡± She stomped her foot, ¡°I¡¯m leaving, I need to return my clothes¡­¡± ¡°Stay put if you have the guts, I¡¯ll call my boyfriend to beat you up!¡± Wang Lili and Xu Yunjing left, bickering as they ran off. ¡­ After bidding farewell to the two adorable and silly seniors, Zhang Yuan walked alone on campus. Girls would often run up to him, wanting to exchange social media information. Girls nowadays were very enthusiastic and open; knowing another ¡°celebrity¡± was good, maybe something might happen in the future? ¡°Mr. Zhang Yuan, can I have your autograph?¡± ¡°Can I take a photo with you?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s have a meal together!¡± Unable to avoid it, Zhang Yuan quickly slipped into a narrow path. ¡°Darn it, do they really think I¡¯m going to be a celebrity? No way, I¡¯d never be a celebrity, not even in death!¡± This kind of thing annoyed Zhang Yuan to no end. He actually didn¡¯t play much with these social media apps and never cared about celebrity gossip; he just wanted to be himself. Spending time browsing social media was better spent studying at home. Yes, go back and study. ¡°Work hard, keep striving, fighting!¡± Finish one paper, then work on the second, third, fourth, fifth! ¡°Zhang Yuan, Zhang Yuan!¡± At this moment, a shout came from behind, ¡°Wait for me! Wait!¡± Zhang Yuan turned around and saw a girl in a white short-sleeve shirt running towards him. He couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Who are you?¡± The girl brushed her messy bangs, sweating profusely because there was no air conditioning outside the venue, ¡°You don¡¯t recognize me? Really? Think hard, try hard.¡± Zhang Yuan felt awkward. The girl in front of him was very pretty, fair-skinned, like someone he knew, but he didn¡¯t recognize her. Who is she? He racked his brains, these features and looks really seemed familiar, like he¡¯d seen them somewhere, yet he couldn¡¯t recall. ¡°Who? Who?¡± The feeling of being on the tip of his tongue was uncomfortable. Instead, he remembered a professional term called ¡°TOT phenomenon.¡± Yes, a vivid ¡°TOT,¡± meaning a failure in retrieving brain memory. Seeing his puzzled expression, the girl said softly, ¡°Mr. Zhang, you must be quite busy, have you forgotten even your first crush?¡± First crush? How could that be? Did she have cosmetic surgery? Zhang Yuan suddenly seemed to recall something, gesturing with his hands, ¡°Oh, you¡¯re Han Jing¡¯s sister?¡± Han Ziyue blinked, ¡°You finally remembered me, so frustrating!¡± She wore a white short-sleeve shirt, and her dark hair naturally fell on her shoulders. Under the denim shorts, her legs looked fair and even. For a girl with a good figure, it was indeed quite an eye-catching combination. Zhang Yuan remembered the dark, skinny middle school girl from back then, and now she had grown so charming. Indeed, girls change a lot as they grow, becoming more and more beautiful. ¡°Meeting you at this school, what a coincidence!¡± Zhang Yuan laughed twice. ¡°I only saw you at the award ceremony. I got into Xisha University, isn¡¯t that great!¡± ¡°Yeah, great¡­ Staying here for the summer to study? So diligent?¡± Han Ziyue laughed, ¡°Not really! Just holding onto the top students, and if I can win some awards, it¡¯ll be easier to apply for postgraduate studies later.¡± Walking side by side, the two found a restaurant and ordered some small dishes. ¡°Are you treating me to a meal? Let me order, let me order. I like the Dongdong Grass here, don¡¯t worry, I don¡¯t have a big appetite, I won¡¯t eat too much¡­¡± Zhang Yuan casually asked, ¡°How¡¯s your sister? Is she doing well? Is she married?¡± Han Ziyue looked up, giving him a very ambiguous look, ¡°Huh? Are you hoping for old flames to reignite? You older folks like doing such boring things, I wouldn¡¯t ever think of reminiscing about past lovers.¡± Zhang Yuan quickly shook his head, ¡°Not really. It¡¯s been so many years, what¡¯s past is past, just a casual question¡­¡± Han Ziyue laughed, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll tell you. My sister has a boyfriend now, they¡¯ve met each other¡¯s parents, but they haven¡¯t registered yet.¡± ¡°If you want, I can help match you two up, anyway, I don¡¯t really like that prospective brother-in-law¡­ He looks kind of sleazy, not as handsome as you.¡± ¡°But you, you¡¯re actually Professor Zhang¡¯s son, we didn¡¯t know that before¡­ Professor Zhang, my idol!¡± Chapter 39 - Chapter 39: Chapter 39: What are you writing! Chapter 39: Chapter 39: What are you writing! Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°` When Wang Lili caught a glimpse of this paper for the first time, she was ecstatic. The world is so small! Could it be someone with the same name? ¡°Zhang Yuan¡± is such a common name, you could find ten thousand of them in the whole Xia Country! ¡°It probably isn¡¯t someone with the same name. A few days ago, I think I heard he was writing some kind of kinematics paper¡­¡± ¡°Haha, Horses¡¯ Fortune, you¡¯ve fallen into my hands!¡± The more Wang Lili thought about it, the more excited she became. When she recalled how her intelligence had been severely insulted that afternoon and how she couldn¡¯t find a way to save face, she held a grudge in her heart. ¡°Little Horses¡¯ Fortune, what good can come from your paper?¡± ¡°I must completely refute it, then criticize it until it¡¯s worthless, making the boss give you a good scolding!¡± Thinking of this, she quickly told her boyfriend, ¡°Sorry, I have something to do.¡± ¡°Huh? What!¡± The poor guy, after much effort, finally got his beloved girl to go out and planned to get into a little mischief. But then this happened. Go to ????????????????????.co ¡°The teacher sent over an assignment. No choice, I have to look at the paper first.¡± Yet he couldn¡¯t complain¡­ ¡°Then I¡¯ll ask you out again tomorrow¡­¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s see if I have time tomorrow.¡± And just like that, Wang Lili abandoned her boyfriend and enthusiastically threw herself into the ¡°revolutionary work¡± of reading the paper. ¡­ Two hours later, she sat dazed in front of her computer. ¡°The writing is really longwinded, constantly rambling to increase length?¡± ¡°This point does have some substance.¡± Huh? What¡¯s this? Hmm¡­ Let me think. Maybe I need to look through some other papers. Gradually, her face flushed. Her whole body experienced a strange sensation of dizziness, and the dense text seemed like a heavenly book, so much so that later on, she had no idea what was being said. Read it again! Still no good¡­ Read it again! Wang Lili felt her thoughts were so clogged, she was nearly suffocating. So frustrating! I actually couldn¡¯t understand it! ¡­ After Zhang Yuan and Han Ziyue finished dinner, they also strolled around the pedestrian street near the campus for a while. They didn¡¯t buy anything, as for women, shopping and buying things are actually two separate matters¡­ Then, bypassing the dormitory supervisor¡¯s gaze, they went to her dorm room to ¡°fix her computer.¡± The computer wasn¡¯t really broken; it just ran slowly due to aging parts. Zhang Yuan, of course, couldn¡¯t solve such a world-level problem; he just pretended to take apart the computer, cleaned out some dust, and deleted a bunch of junk software. He also got a wave of attention from the girls, with all sorts of singing and dancing, and the random questions made Zhang Yuan quite uncomfortable. If he had known earlier, he wouldn¡¯t have come. ¡°You look familiar. Have I seen you somewhere?¡± ¡°You were just on a live stream.¡± ¡°Is he your new boyfriend?¡± Han Ziyue replied, ¡°No, no, he¡¯s my sister¡¯s ex-boyfriend. He¡¯s an astronaut, the kind who¡¯s about to go to space.¡± ¡°Haha, that relationship seems quite strange.¡± ¡°¡­Doesn¡¯t every astronaut know how to fix things? If a computer chip really breaks, how should it be fixed? I heard that spaceship is going to fly for three thousand years.¡± Zhang Yuan patiently explained, ¡°The main chips on the spaceship are very traditional military silicon-based chips, low frequency, micron-level. The simpler and cruder something is, the less likely it is to break. Of course, the performance isn¡¯t that great, and they¡¯ll carry a lot of spare replacements to just swap in when one breaks.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s electronic equipment we bring ourselves, if it breaks, then it just stays broken, as it can¡¯t be fixed.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s so tragic; we better hope our phones don¡¯t break!¡± The girls couldn¡¯t imagine a miserable life without phones. Watching them chat, Han Ziyue just laughed on the side, her face slightly flushed. Zhang Yuan knew what the girl was thinking. Girls always have a bit of vanity. Zhang Yuan was now a minor celebrity too, and bringing him back to the dorm to show off certainly greatly satisfied her ¡°vanity.¡± Such things were all normal, as long as they didn¡¯t go too far. Actually, he also had a bit of vanity himself; who doesn¡¯t like being praised? In short, it was certainly a very comfortable day; he didn¡¯t use his brain, didn¡¯t study, and even enjoyed a wave of unprecedented adoration, basking in glory. Returning to his dorm, Zhang Yuan couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of guilt. Such decadence! ¡°If Ye Kaifu were still here, I might get mocked harshly!¡± He thought to himself, ¡°Anyway, I, Zhang Yuan, won¡¯t be a backup plan or a sycophant. In five days, I¡¯ll be aboard the spaceship and leaving, so how could I be afraid of you girls? If you ask me out tomorrow, I won¡¯t go; I¡¯ll just stay in the dorm and study.¡± Yes, that¡¯s the way. After reading for a while and studying for a bit, he then went to bed. He had a great habit of resting before midnight every night and then waking up at 7 AM sharp the next day. ¡°I wonder if Professor Wang has looked at my draft?¡± Groggily, he closed his eyes. He was sleeping soundly when suddenly, his phone rang. Ding-a-ling! Zhang Yuan woke with a start, looked at the time, and angrily asked, ¡°Sister Wang Lili, what are you doing? Do you know it¡¯s 2 AM¡­ you also have a boyfriend, can¡¯t you not disturb me in the middle of the night?¡± Wang Lili stuck out her tongue and asked apologetically, ¡°I have a question, do you have any recommended books for geometry group theory and topology?¡± She couldn¡¯t understand. She really couldn¡¯t understand Zhang Yuan¡¯s paper. She had studied group theory and topology, but combining the two fields of mathematics and utilizing some of the deep knowledge in them, she just couldn¡¯t grasp it. Both are profound areas of mathematics, and even if you study them a lifetime, you may not thoroughly master them. She asked a few good friends, but they couldn¡¯t understand either. She even asked a few doctoral senior students, still remaining in that foggy, in-between state of understanding and not understanding. But everyone said it was a very innovative article, needing to be studied well. She couldn¡¯t even understand it, so how could she edit the paper! She might even get criticized by the boss! At the thought of the boss¡¯s fretting, sighing, looking at her like a fool, she became very anxious. So, she could only take this roundabout way of saving herself. What books Zhang Yuan had read, she would read too. That way, she¡¯d surely understand his paper. ¡°I¡¯m such a genius! Coming up with this scheme.¡± ¡°He mustn¡¯t find out that I¡¯m modifying his paper and can¡¯t even understand it; otherwise, he¡¯ll laugh at me so cruelly, trampling me¡­¡± But in the next second, Wang Lili was disheartened. She heard Zhang Yuan say, ¡°You want to study group theory and topology, huh? These are two different branches of mathematics, and there actually isn¡¯t a particularly comprehensive textbook that explains their connection.¡± ¡°Then quickly introduce them.¡± Wang Lili almost blurted out her true intention. ¡°Oh¡­ A topology on a group, forming a topological group. A group with a topology, or a topological space with a group structure, where the focus is that the group operation must be continuous. An important subclass in topological groups is the so-called Lie Group, and within it is another important subclass called typical groups (Matrix Groups), for instance, those you might encounter in linear algebra, like GL(n), O(n), U(n), etc., all belong to this category¡­¡± ¡°If you want to learn completely, there are five books I can recommend to you, and these documents can also be referenced¡­¡± Five books, how long will it take me to finish them?! I have to hand it over tomorrow! Wang Lili almost fainted. ¡°` Chapter 39 - Chapter 39: Chapter 39: What are you writing! Chapter 39: Chapter 39: What are you writing! Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°` When Wang Lili caught a glimpse of this paper for the first time, she was ecstatic. The world is so small! Could it be someone with the same name? ¡°Zhang Yuan¡± is such a common name, you could find ten thousand of them in the whole Xia Country! ¡°It probably isn¡¯t someone with the same name. A few days ago, I think I heard he was writing some kind of kinematics paper¡­¡± ¡°Haha, Horses¡¯ Fortune, you¡¯ve fallen into my hands!¡± The more Wang Lili thought about it, the more excited she became. When she recalled how her intelligence had been severely insulted that afternoon and how she couldn¡¯t find a way to save face, she held a grudge in her heart. ¡°Little Horses¡¯ Fortune, what good can come from your paper?¡± ¡°I must completely refute it, then criticize it until it¡¯s worthless, making the boss give you a good scolding!¡± Thinking of this, she quickly told her boyfriend, ¡°Sorry, I have something to do.¡± ¡°Huh? What!¡± The poor guy, after much effort, finally got his beloved girl to go out and planned to get into a little mischief. But then this happened. Go to ????????????????????.co ¡°The teacher sent over an assignment. No choice, I have to look at the paper first.¡± Yet he couldn¡¯t complain¡­ ¡°Then I¡¯ll ask you out again tomorrow¡­¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s see if I have time tomorrow.¡± And just like that, Wang Lili abandoned her boyfriend and enthusiastically threw herself into the ¡°revolutionary work¡± of reading the paper. ¡­ Two hours later, she sat dazed in front of her computer. ¡°The writing is really longwinded, constantly rambling to increase length?¡± ¡°This point does have some substance.¡± Huh? What¡¯s this? Hmm¡­ Let me think. Maybe I need to look through some other papers. Gradually, her face flushed. Her whole body experienced a strange sensation of dizziness, and the dense text seemed like a heavenly book, so much so that later on, she had no idea what was being said. Read it again! Still no good¡­ Read it again! Wang Lili felt her thoughts were so clogged, she was nearly suffocating. So frustrating! I actually couldn¡¯t understand it! ¡­ After Zhang Yuan and Han Ziyue finished dinner, they also strolled around the pedestrian street near the campus for a while. They didn¡¯t buy anything, as for women, shopping and buying things are actually two separate matters¡­ Then, bypassing the dormitory supervisor¡¯s gaze, they went to her dorm room to ¡°fix her computer.¡± The computer wasn¡¯t really broken; it just ran slowly due to aging parts. Zhang Yuan, of course, couldn¡¯t solve such a world-level problem; he just pretended to take apart the computer, cleaned out some dust, and deleted a bunch of junk software. He also got a wave of attention from the girls, with all sorts of singing and dancing, and the random questions made Zhang Yuan quite uncomfortable. If he had known earlier, he wouldn¡¯t have come. ¡°You look familiar. Have I seen you somewhere?¡± ¡°You were just on a live stream.¡± ¡°Is he your new boyfriend?¡± Han Ziyue replied, ¡°No, no, he¡¯s my sister¡¯s ex-boyfriend. He¡¯s an astronaut, the kind who¡¯s about to go to space.¡± ¡°Haha, that relationship seems quite strange.¡± ¡°¡­Doesn¡¯t every astronaut know how to fix things? If a computer chip really breaks, how should it be fixed? I heard that spaceship is going to fly for three thousand years.¡± Zhang Yuan patiently explained, ¡°The main chips on the spaceship are very traditional military silicon-based chips, low frequency, micron-level. The simpler and cruder something is, the less likely it is to break. Of course, the performance isn¡¯t that great, and they¡¯ll carry a lot of spare replacements to just swap in when one breaks.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s electronic equipment we bring ourselves, if it breaks, then it just stays broken, as it can¡¯t be fixed.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s so tragic; we better hope our phones don¡¯t break!¡± The girls couldn¡¯t imagine a miserable life without phones. Watching them chat, Han Ziyue just laughed on the side, her face slightly flushed. Zhang Yuan knew what the girl was thinking. Girls always have a bit of vanity. Zhang Yuan was now a minor celebrity too, and bringing him back to the dorm to show off certainly greatly satisfied her ¡°vanity.¡± Such things were all normal, as long as they didn¡¯t go too far. Actually, he also had a bit of vanity himself; who doesn¡¯t like being praised? In short, it was certainly a very comfortable day; he didn¡¯t use his brain, didn¡¯t study, and even enjoyed a wave of unprecedented adoration, basking in glory. Returning to his dorm, Zhang Yuan couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of guilt. Such decadence! ¡°If Ye Kaifu were still here, I might get mocked harshly!¡± He thought to himself, ¡°Anyway, I, Zhang Yuan, won¡¯t be a backup plan or a sycophant. In five days, I¡¯ll be aboard the spaceship and leaving, so how could I be afraid of you girls? If you ask me out tomorrow, I won¡¯t go; I¡¯ll just stay in the dorm and study.¡± Yes, that¡¯s the way. After reading for a while and studying for a bit, he then went to bed. He had a great habit of resting before midnight every night and then waking up at 7 AM sharp the next day. ¡°I wonder if Professor Wang has looked at my draft?¡± Groggily, he closed his eyes. He was sleeping soundly when suddenly, his phone rang. Ding-a-ling! Zhang Yuan woke with a start, looked at the time, and angrily asked, ¡°Sister Wang Lili, what are you doing? Do you know it¡¯s 2 AM¡­ you also have a boyfriend, can¡¯t you not disturb me in the middle of the night?¡± Wang Lili stuck out her tongue and asked apologetically, ¡°I have a question, do you have any recommended books for geometry group theory and topology?¡± She couldn¡¯t understand. She really couldn¡¯t understand Zhang Yuan¡¯s paper. She had studied group theory and topology, but combining the two fields of mathematics and utilizing some of the deep knowledge in them, she just couldn¡¯t grasp it. Both are profound areas of mathematics, and even if you study them a lifetime, you may not thoroughly master them. She asked a few good friends, but they couldn¡¯t understand either. She even asked a few doctoral senior students, still remaining in that foggy, in-between state of understanding and not understanding. But everyone said it was a very innovative article, needing to be studied well. She couldn¡¯t even understand it, so how could she edit the paper! She might even get criticized by the boss! At the thought of the boss¡¯s fretting, sighing, looking at her like a fool, she became very anxious. So, she could only take this roundabout way of saving herself. What books Zhang Yuan had read, she would read too. That way, she¡¯d surely understand his paper. ¡°I¡¯m such a genius! Coming up with this scheme.¡± ¡°He mustn¡¯t find out that I¡¯m modifying his paper and can¡¯t even understand it; otherwise, he¡¯ll laugh at me so cruelly, trampling me¡­¡± But in the next second, Wang Lili was disheartened. She heard Zhang Yuan say, ¡°You want to study group theory and topology, huh? These are two different branches of mathematics, and there actually isn¡¯t a particularly comprehensive textbook that explains their connection.¡± ¡°Then quickly introduce them.¡± Wang Lili almost blurted out her true intention. ¡°Oh¡­ A topology on a group, forming a topological group. A group with a topology, or a topological space with a group structure, where the focus is that the group operation must be continuous. An important subclass in topological groups is the so-called Lie Group, and within it is another important subclass called typical groups (Matrix Groups), for instance, those you might encounter in linear algebra, like GL(n), O(n), U(n), etc., all belong to this category¡­¡± ¡°If you want to learn completely, there are five books I can recommend to you, and these documents can also be referenced¡­¡± Five books, how long will it take me to finish them?! I have to hand it over tomorrow! Wang Lili almost fainted. ¡°` Chapter 40 - Chapter 40: Chapter 40: What a Good Paper! Chapter 40: Chapter 40: What a Good Paper! Editor: Henyee Translations ¡°` Just thinking about not being able to complete the task today, Wang Lili cursed to herself, ¡°Horse¡¯s Fortune, I¡¯m done with this!¡± ¡°Senior, why is your breathing so rapid? What¡¯s wrong?¡± Zhang Yuan scratched his head awkwardly. In the middle of the night, rapid breathing, and even making a phone call, could it be she¡¯s looking for some excitement? ¡°What¡­ heavy?¡± Wang Lili finally regained her senses and snapped, ¡°Let¡¯s just leave it at that, I¡¯m hanging up!¡± Zhang Yuan felt a bit puzzled, but he couldn¡¯t be bothered to think about it more. He just closed his eyes and quickly fell asleep. After confirming that she couldn¡¯t save the day in a roundabout way, Wang Lili could only send an email to her teacher, admitting her lack of ability: ¡°I don¡¯t understand, I¡¯m sorry.¡± She also included the opinions of several senior brothers as a backup, indicating that she had already tried her best. ¡°My credibility scores are going to be completely deducted¡­¡± She sighed heavily. ¡­ The next morning, Lin Wenda arrived at his office and brewed a cup of green tea. The first thing he did every day was open his email. Go to ????????????????????.co Various miscellaneous tasks usually lasted until ten o¡¯clock. But today there were particularly few emails, only a handful. ¡°Hmm, Wang Lili didn¡¯t understand the article?¡± Lin Wenda was slightly surprised. Seeing the email was sent at two in the morning, he decided not to blame his student. ¡°It seems she really didn¡¯t understand, interesting¡­¡± Wang Lili was a student who, although not the most talented, had always been reliable in her work. Since there were fewer affairs to handle, Lin Wenda thought to himself: I might as well take a look myself. He opened the email and began reading carefully. At first, his brow was tightly furrowed, but soon enough, something caught his attention, and he continued reading intently. A fine layer of sweat gradually covered his forehead. His expression grew more and more excited, to the point where his hair stood on end. A very valuable article! ¡°The kinematics of humanoid robots are clearly described using a new method!¡± ¡°No, this is just a framework, a grand theory; many details still need to be perfected¡­¡± What did this mean? It meant countless subsequent papers, it meant related industries might further upgrade! A groundbreaking discovery! As an insider, he deeply understood the article¡¯s value. At that moment, Lin Wenda felt a temptation to claim the paper as his own. The rewards from this paper were simply too enormous, especially the fame! He could already foresee a constant stream of awards, to the point his hands would cramp from receiving them. However, he quickly restrained this desire. The paper was sent over by Professor Wang. If he dared to claim it as his own, with Old Wang¡¯s prowess, it would take only a second for him to turn into ashes¡­ the energy of an Academician was not something a regular professor could rival. Besides, it was really unethical to engage in academic misconduct, even though one heard about such shenanigans quite often in the circle. ¡°It¡¯s better to be honest, there¡¯s no need to snatch from others; writing some follow-up expansion papers by myself is already quite impressive.¡± ¡°Yes, there¡¯s a lot of follow-up work to do!¡± As he thought this through, Lin Wenda felt inspiration flowing like the Yangtze River, able to write effortlessly. As for the current projects¡­ compared to writing papers, they were nothing. These were not filler papers; they were quite valuable. ¡°Knock, knock, knock!¡± Someone stood outside, knocked on the door, and then coughed. Lin Wenda looked up, seeing it was Lu Junzhe, the dean of the Mechanical Engineering College. Professor Lu smiled and asked, ¡°Professor Lin, what are you looking at? So engrossed and even giggling. I¡¯ve been standing here for ages¡­¡± Lin Wenda instinctively wanted to hide Zhang Yuan¡¯s paper but thought better of it and took it out. ¡°Professor Lu, have a look at this paper, it¡¯s quite interesting!¡± An interesting paper? Lu Junzhe skeptically walked over and skimmed through a few lines. ¡°A novice writing their first paper, as bad as an undergraduate thesis.¡± ¡°It does look a bit like that.¡± ¡°Undergraduate theses are mass-produced garbage, but there¡¯s nothing you can do.¡± Then, as if something caught his attention, his breathing became rapid. A new method! His eyes gleamed brighter. Its value¡­ Immeasurable! After reading the entire paper, he hurriedly turned and left, urgently in a rush. ¡°Professor Lu, where are you going?¡± Lin Wenda was a bit confused. ¡°Going back to write!¡± Professor Lu hurriedly said, ¡°Inspiration is the most valuable thing; I can¡¯t waste it!¡± ¡°No, what did you come to me for?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Professor Lu remembered his initial purpose and stopped. He slapped his forehead, ¡°Actually, it¡¯s nothing much. The annual departmental evaluation is about to begin. Last year, our college didn¡¯t produce any outstanding work and might slide in rank again, so I came to talk with you all. If there¡¯s any important article, publish it quickly. We must maintain our rank; otherwise, everyone¡¯s funding will reduce by a tier.¡± There¡¯s competition among universities, and rankings among departments too. Xisha University¡¯s ¡°Mechanical Engineering¡± was a top-notch field, but it hadn¡¯t produced particularly outstanding work in recent years, always hovering around fifteenth or sixteenth nationally, much to Professor Lu¡¯s anxiety. As the dean, he was responsible. How were rankings made? Academic reputation, employer reputation, paper citations, and all sorts of index weights. Anyway, papers were certainly the top priority. Lin Wenda collected his smile: ¡°This paper was written by¡­ Zhang Yuan, Zhang Qiming¡¯s son, who¡¯s about to board the spaceship, part of the Deep Space Foundation. And it was completed independently by him, so it can¡¯t be attributed to our college.¡± ¡°Zhang Yuan? I¡¯ve heard of him.¡± Professor Lu blinked, ¡°Like father, like son, such a pity it¡¯s not our college¡¯s achievement¡­ What a shame.¡± Lin Wenda laughed heartily: ¡°Old Lu, don¡¯t be anxious. Isn¡¯t the extension of this paper good work? Based on it, we can at least write ten more highly valuable articles!¡± ¡°The paper has just come out and hasn¡¯t been published yet; no one else has seen it.¡± ¡°We saw it first, that¡¯s our opportunity. Let¡¯s seize it and fleece it for what it¡¯s worth!¡± Professor Lu¡¯s eyes shone as he slapped his thigh: ¡°Right! It¡¯s just a broad framework and can¡¯t be applied concretely yet; there are still a lot of details to discuss.¡± ¡°Just the expansion tasks are too much for the two of us¡­¡± He quickly made a call to notify his assistant, ¡°Little Yuan, quick, gather all the professors, there¡¯s a major task to distribute to everyone.¡± ¡­ ¡°` CREATORS¡¯ THOUGHTS Henyee From 18 Dec 2020, there will be only 40 chapters for Trial Read, with Chapters 20 to 40 locked. After a book is picked, Chapters 20-39 will have the locks automatically removed. Chapters 1-39 will become free to read, with Chapter 40 remaining a Premium chapter. The selected book will have a mark on the corner of the book cover in 30 days to indicate continuation. Coins spent on all books during Trial Read will all be refunded within 30 days. However, Fast Passes will not be refunded. Thank you for your understanding. Chapter 41 - Chapter 41: Chapter 41 Probably a Weakling Chapter 41: Chapter 41 Probably a Weakling After the conference ended, almost everyone was bubbling with excitement and anxious anticipation. Professor Lu quickly proposed several broad directions, and everyone chose their favorite topic to avoid overlapping ideas within the Mechanical Engineering College. If this series of papers was successfully published, it would be enough to make up a special issue, and it would be a great opportunity for the Mechanical Engineering College to break into the top ten nationwide! ¡°With higher rankings, graduates won¡¯t have to worry about finding jobs¡­ and it would also attract various high-end manufacturing enterprises.¡± Thinking about the certain improvement of various indicators, Professor Lu became more and more cheerful, and couldn¡¯t help but burst into laughter. Happiness came so fast, it was almost overwhelming. ¡°Right, Zhang Yuan¡¯s paper needs to be published as soon as possible. All our work is based on it. Without its publication, we can only hold onto our papers,¡± Professor Lu Junzhe suddenly remembered this important detail, ¡°It would be best to get it published in ¡®Modern Science¡¯ as soon as possible.¡± ¡®Modern Science¡¯ is almost the most influential journal in the country, a top-tier Q1 journal. ¡°¡­I¡¯ll personally help him edit it!¡± Lin Wenda offered. ¡°No.¡± Professor Lu Junzhe shook his head, ¡°He is not your student, better not to meddle too much. Poor editing could cause trouble. Just give some editorial recommendations; let him handle it himself.¡± ¡°Actually, they¡¯re all insignificant details, not that important. Get it approved quickly, so we can publish our papers¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Regular publications usually undergo a triple review process: initial editor review, peer review, and chief editor¡¯s final review. It can take as little as one to two months or as long as half a year to a year to review, which made Professor Lu Junzhe very anxious. Go to ????????????????????.co Such urgency, truly urgent. Because as long as Zhang Yuan¡¯s paper wasn¡¯t published, they couldn¡¯t cite their research results. Publishing without citation would be considered plagiarism, which would cause serious trouble! ¡°Alas, send him the expedited review email for the editor too, and get it published quickly.¡± As for whether it could be accepted? Such a question had naturally never crossed the minds of Professor Lu Junzhe and Lin Wenda. If that paper couldn¡¯t get through, ¡®Modern Science¡¯ might as well close down. ¡­ Half an hour later, Wang Zhong found an additional email in his inbox. ¡°An exceptionally innovative and valuable paper, it is recommended to submit directly to ¡®Modern Science¡¯¡­¡± ¡°Editorial recommendations are as follows¡­¡± Wang Zhong was delighted to see his grand-student praised, knowing that if the paper wasn¡¯t good, they wouldn¡¯t suggest submitting it to ¡®Modern Science.¡¯ He then forwarded the email to Zhang Yuan. Zhang Yuan received the email promptly and was stunned as he read it. ¡°They actually want me to submit to ¡®Modern Science¡¯!¡± Zhang Yuan pondered deeply for a while, then sighed heavily. He originally intended to submit to just any journal, but Professor Wang had even sent him the submission email. It seemed that the ¡°inspiration¡± his father left him was probably meticulously selected essence, much better than he had imagined. Without delving into these ¡°inspirations,¡± Zhang Yuan wouldn¡¯t have been able to uncover the hidden treasures within. ¡°Thanks, dad.¡± He faintly understood then the well-intentioned efforts of his father. Since the editorial recommendations suggested quick submission, he might as well make some casual changes, like modifying sentence structures; and he could cut out any overly verbose parts¡­ Yes, in his eyes, these were meaningless things. He was diligent, but never wasted his diligence on meaningless tasks. ¡°Let¡¯s leave it at that.¡± After three hours and some minor edits, Zhang Yuan felt shy about bothering the experts to review his paper again and sent it directly to the editor¡¯s email¡­ ¡­ ¡°Let¡¯s go have some fun!¡± At that moment, a female voice came from outside the door. Opening the door, he saw Han Ziyue had invited herself, smiling at him from just outside his dorm room. He wondered how she managed to sneak past the dormitory supervisor and make her way to the male dormitory. Zhang Yuan had just submitted his paper and was in a great mood, ¡°Don¡¯t you have training to do? The summer camp during the vacation is for studying, not for playing. Besides, a girl coming to a boys¡¯ dormitory could be kind of¡­¡± ¡°What could it be?¡± Zhang Yuan¡¯s eyes drifted up towards the ceiling, ¡°Could be¡­unsafe.¡± Han Ziyue boldly stepped into the room, looking around, ¡°Why are you sounding like my dad? What era do you think we¡¯re living in that you can¡¯t loosen up!¡± ¡°What? Loosen up?¡± Han Ziyue then mischievously added, ¡°Today is Saturday, you know. There¡¯s no need to keep studying all day long. As for safety¡­ do you really think you could do something to me? Weren¡¯t you always a proper person?¡± Zhang Yuan blushed, ¡°I definitely wouldn¡¯t.¡± His small room was not at all messy; on the contrary, it was very tidy and didn¡¯t have the usual smell that one finds in boys¡¯ dorms. ¡°Your place is cleaned up nicely, you must be good at household chores¡­¡± Zhang Yuan recalled his slovenly father¡ªwho else would do the chores if not him? He even knew how to cook, clean, and scrub the toilet¡­ He said, ¡°I am someone who is going to be on a spaceship, after all. If I didn¡¯t maintain personal hygiene, wouldn¡¯t I end up gassing out an entire spaceship? If there were a lot of complaints, I could lose my wakefulness rights and be put into forced hibernation.¡± Han Ziyue curiously sat on another stool, one hand propping up her chin, ¡°Haha, poor hygiene and you get forced into hibernation?¡± ¡°Exactly. And it¡¯s not just that. If you commit a crime, you¡¯d also be forced into hibernation. Anyway, you stay in hibernation until a new civilization arises, and then you¡¯re allowed to wake up for the trial, according to the law.¡± Zhang Yuan shrugged and closed some of the books that were open on his desk. ¡°That¡¯s just awful, waking up from hibernation only to go to jail?¡± Zhang Yuan nodded, ¡°That¡¯s right¡­ but normally people wouldn¡¯t commit crimes on purpose, right? What brings you here?¡± Han Ziyue invited him, ¡°Actually, it¡¯s nothing much, just thought we could go to the water park together. What do you say?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to go, I need to study!¡± Remembering the earnest pledge he had made the night before, Zhang Yuan dragged a stool and seriously sat in front of the computer, pretending to edit the paper he had already submitted. But the ¡°Learning to Distract Method¡± isn¡¯t almighty, and with a girl looking over his shoulder, Zhang Yuan always felt distracted. ¡°Ah, I remember now, you really are a studious nerd. Back in high school, you always loved doing homework. When you dated my sister, you often did her homework, and you even helped me with mine¡­¡± Han Ziyue found the memories incredibly amusing. ¡°When did I ever like doing homework? I did it because I had to¡­¡± Zhang Yuan remembered those times from about five or six years ago. Back then, Han Ziyue always loved to be the third wheel. Even kissing his girlfriend required her consent, which was incredibly annoying. And just like that, she had grown up so much. Time really does flow like water. Han Ziyue glanced at Zhang Yuan¡¯s computer screen, with a hint of admiration in her voice, ¡°This is your paper? Would you let me read it? Are you thinking of submitting it? Writing papers must be harder than winning competitions, right?¡± ¡°¡­I can¡¯t really say which is harder, I¡¯ve never won any competition prizes myself. Each has its difficulties, I guess.¡± Zhang Yuan inwardly doubted whether Miss Han, with her beauty but no brains, could understand any five consecutive words in it. From her loser vibe, it was clear¡­ she was probably a bottom-tier student. After all, she never liked doing homework and was never a top student from the start. And really, a sophomore girl¡ªno disrespect¡ªthe level is just not there. Chapter 42 - Chapter 42: Chapter 42 Sending Warmth? Chapter 42: Chapter 42 Sending Warmth? Sure enough, Han Ziyue pointed at one of the words and laughed, ¡°This¡­ what does ¡®ideal¡¯ mean here? So weird? Is that word even in academic papers?¡± ¡°Do you need ideals to write papers?¡± ¡°Could it be about the legendary New Civilization School papers?¡± Zhang Yuan covered his face, saying grumpily, ¡°¡­ a non-empty subset I of ring R, if for any two algebraic operations on R, it satisfies: for any a, b ¡Ê I, r ¡Ê R, a-b ¡Ê I, ra ¡Ê I, then I is called a left ideal of ring R. Similarly, there is a definition for right ideals.¡± ¡°A non-empty subset I of ring R, if it is both a left and right ideal, is called a bilateral ideal of R, usually simply referred as R¡¯s ideal.¡± Come on, this is the most basic concept in mathematics. Suddenly revealing her ignorance, Han Ziyue couldn¡¯t help but blush. She stuck out her tongue and said, ¡°You¡¯re no fun at all! Here I am teasing you, and you actually recite mathematical definitions.¡± ¡°No wonder you¡¯re a single guy, after being dumped by my sister, no girls like you anymore! That¡¯s not right, you know?¡± Zhang Yuan said expressionlessly, ¡°I know, but I won¡¯t change.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Han Ziyue was suddenly at a loss for words. ¡°Zhang Yuan, are you there?¡± Just at that moment, another female voice sounded outside the door, it seemed like Wang Lili. Go to ????????????????????.co Speaking of the word ¡°bad luck,¡± there might be nobody unluckier than her. Caught by her supervisor to review a paper overnight, only to find she couldn¡¯t understand anything. Not understanding was not a problem since Zhang Yuan, the person concerned, didn¡¯t know; it was just secretly embarrassing. But¡­ Her damn supervisor actually asked her to invite Zhang Yuan to some conference at the Mechanical Engineering College! There was a high chance of being exposed, and even a certain likelihood of becoming Zhang Yuan¡¯s student! Why am I so unlucky! ¡°Hey, is there another girl inside? Hahaha!¡± Wang Lili¡¯s mood improved when she saw a man and a woman alone together in the room. Got you, is this your new girlfriend? She¡¯s pretty cute, walking around teasing people, young girl, you better not fall for it! Who would have thought, this dull Zhang Yuan, turns out to be a closeted naughty guy. But it makes sense, everyone is at their most playful at this age, once on the spaceship, everyone must behave properly, no messing around anymore. ¡°Ah, sorry, sorry, carry on, carry on¡­¡± While saying ¡°carry on,¡± Wang Lili showed no intention of leaving; instead, she just stood outside laughing joyfully. ¡°Wait a minute! Carry on what¡­¡± Zhang Yuan hurriedly tried to explain, sweating profusely. ¡°This is¡­ my ex-girlfriend¡¯s younger sister.¡± Han Ziyue, ever the instigator, added, ¡°She¡¯s the younger sister of my first-love ex-girlfriend!¡± This relationship is a bit complicated, huh, all broken up and still playing with little aunties? Wang Lili¡¯s face showed a curious expression, her gossiping nature worsening. Young people today¡­ So impressive! Zhang Yuan was extremely embarrassed and quickly changed the subject, ¡°Right, what did you want me for?¡± Now that business was mentioned, Wang Lili no longer beat around the bush, ¡°My boss wants to invite you over for a face-to-face discussion.¡± She paused, pretending to be serious, ¡°I read your paper¡­ It was good.¡± ¡°You have read it, and it¡¯s good?¡± Zhang Yuan recalled the reply letter, indeed forwarded by the Mechanical Engineering College, and suddenly had a thought, ¡°You¡¯re not the one helping me revise it, are you?¡± Wang Lili¡¯s heart skipped a beat, ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it! I just took a casual look.¡± ¡°Based on that paper of yours, not only can many follow-up papers be published, but many projects can also be initiated. We forwarded the paper to several big companies, and they take it very seriously.¡± ¡°There are a lot of big company representatives coming this time¡­¡± A faculty position at the university isn¡¯t just about scientific research; it also involves outsourced projects from the community. High-tech companies, when faced with tough challenges, often contract university professors directly. Zhang Yuan was skeptical, ¡°Many corporate representatives? What¡¯s that got to do with me? Are they sharing money with me?¡± ¡°Forget it, how can they just give you money for nothing. With your paper as the framework, the professors can do a lot already¡­¡± Wang Lili explained, ¡°However, first, their understanding of that paper wouldn¡¯t be as profound as yours, they won¡¯t be as quick as you in executing projects, and for some commercial projects, time is money. Second, don¡¯t forget who dug the well when you drink the water; it wouldn¡¯t look good if these professors take all the big projects for themselves. It would be great if you could participate.¡± ¡°What do you think, will you go?¡± Zhang Yuan nodded, realizing it was a sign of goodwill from the big players, ¡°Yeah¡­ I¡¯ve got the time, let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°I¡¯m coming too!¡± Han Ziyue quickly said. The three of them walked and listened as Wang Lili rambled on. Papers, as such, cannot be patented; everyone can look at them, and anyone can cite them; aside from bringing fame, they can¡¯t provide significant financial benefits to the author. However, if Zhang Yuan¡¯s new algorithm were used to write robot control software, then the entire set of software could be protected as intellectual property rights, and anyone who wanted to use it would have to pay. Zhang Yuan had a lot of free time on the spaceship, making some contributions wasn¡¯t a bad idea. ¡°Your suite of algorithms might indeed be more advanced than the original ones!¡± ¡°High degrees of freedom in robots involve really huge stakes, the big companies can¡¯t help but be anxious.¡± Zhang Yuan kept nodding his head. Han Ziyue¡¯s eyes sparkled, ¡°Wow, Zhang Yuan, you¡¯re amazing! My sister has really poor taste, to have dumped you¡­ Maybe I should step in personally, I don¡¯t have a boyfriend!¡± *Cough cough*¡­ Zhang Yuan awkwardly scratched his head. Actually, he wasn¡¯t interested in money; even if he earned it, he¡¯d just donate it to the Foundation¡­ He immediately made a call to Professor Wang Zhong. Professor Wang always had that energetic tone, ¡°What? A big project, you say? I definitely don¡¯t object! If you plan to get into this field in the future, doing more of these projects now is a good idea. It can help you gain experience¡­¡± ¡°Right, before the spaceship reaches Jupiter, there¡¯s at least a year of wakeful time, enough for you to complete a big project.¡± ¡°What¡­ you want to donate the money you earn to the Foundation?¡± Professor Wang immediately got excited, ¡°Good, good, I¡¯ll send two people to help you right away!¡± After hanging up, Wang Zhong kept marveling; his disciple was genuinely impressive, young yet starting to show his mettle, much like he had been back in the day. ¡­ Chapter 43 - Chapter 43: Chapter 43: Heroes Dont Ask About Origins Chapter 43: Chapter 43: Heroes Don¡¯t Ask About Origins Xisha University, Mechanical Engineering Building. Several business representatives rushed to a meeting room, quietly discussing. ¡°Nowadays, are all university students this impressive? When I was in my twenties, I should have still been handing out flyers on the street¡­¡± Ma Teng joked while leaning on the chair. As the CEO of ¡°Evolver Robot¡± company, a Fortune 500 tech-originated firm, Ma Teng deeply understood the value of the thesis, even though it had not been formally published. But it not being published had turned into a good thing at this moment, becoming their opportunity to overtake their competitors. ¡°President Ma, heroes needn¡¯t ask about each other¡¯s origins, ambition isn¡¯t confined to the elderly. Real geniuses are already reaching their productive phase in their twenties,¡± said a middle-aged man sitting opposite him named Ding Peng, also the chairman of a major corporation. Ma Teng continued, ¡°Honestly, I couldn¡¯t understand what that paper was about. It¡¯s just that my team thinks it¡¯s important. Since I was free, I might as well come and see.¡± ¡°You jest, President Ma¡ªif you don¡¯t understand it, why rush over personally?¡± The discussion hadn¡¯t yet started, but there was already an invisible haze of gunpowder in the meeting room. Everyone was a competitor, fiercely rivalrous in the marketplace. What does cutting-edge robotics rely on? Technology! Especially these kinds of highly autonomous robots, the better the coordination, the more humanoid they are, the more favored they are in the market. But, it¡¯s difficult. Go to ????????????????????.co Current robotic hands always have a bit of an ¡°excavator¡± feel when they move. Plainly speaking, they are stiff. Human movements can be like this, can be like that, full of the spirituality belonging to life, but robotic hands can¡¯t do that¡ªit¡¯s actually about the motion control algorithms. This paper, one could say, had resolved the most critical ¡°control¡± part, and it was likely to be an industry upgrade! Therefore, they were all deeply concerned. Professor Lu Junzhe saw their confrontational demeanor and was inwardly delighted. Go on, just keep boosting each other¡¯s bids, the higher the better, the happier I am! ¡°¡­Professor Lu, this paper, it hasn¡¯t been sent to other companies, has it?¡± ¡°No, just to you five firms, those who have close collaboration with our university, only you were informed.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good. If it weren¡¯t for submission elsewhere, I would even consider buying the paper outright, why even bother publishing it?¡± ¡°President Ma, that wouldn¡¯t be right, intellectual property should belong to all humanity!¡± Professor Lu cleared his throat, ¡°Ahem, Chairmen, trying to recruit Zhang Yuan is basically impossible now. He belongs to the Deep Space Foundation and will be following that spaceship leaving¡­¡± Ma Teng smiled and said, ¡°Professor Lu, what you mentioned are not problems. If he¡¯s willing to stay on Earth, we have ways to exempt him from punishment¡­¡± ¡°Even if he gets punished by the government, we will still hire him.¡± At this moment, the door opened, and several young people along with two middle-aged individuals walked in. Wang Lili and Han Ziyue immediately ran to the back row. Facing so many big shots, they really didn¡¯t dare to joke around, they would rather hide if possible. Ma Teng, engrossed in high-spirited discussions, couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit of a headache, as two of the individuals were negotiation representatives from the Deep Space Foundation. Facing a twenty-something-year-old, tricking him with some phrases or getting him to sign some agreement wasn¡¯t simple? But facing these crafty old fellows, trying to make even a little money from them is not easy. ¡°This is Zhang Yuan. This one is President Ma, this one is Master Ding, and this is¡­¡± Professor Lu introduced the sitting bosses one by one. ¡°So young!¡± ¡°Truly a tiger¡¯s son indeed!¡± A round of praise made Zhang Yuan feel rather embarrassed. Professor Lu paused, smiled and said, ¡°We take your paper very seriously. Next, regarding the control of movement, could you talk about it? Of course, if it involves what you are planning to write in your next paper, you can choose not to.¡± In fact, this was also a test of Zhang Yuan¡¯s strength. Although he had written that critical paper, no one really knew how strong he actually was. Just by talking face to face for a while, these old-timers could quickly discern a person¡¯s real caliber. ¡°My paper just roughly outlined a framework, there are still seven directions in total for the subsequent part¡­¡± Seven directions? Professor Lu was slightly startled; they had only discussed five yesterday. ¡°The first direction is like this¡­¡± Zhang Yuan eloquently spoke, first paraphrasing his own paper in plain language, then he began to describe these extensions. There were really too many details, and due to the immense amount of engineering involved, it¡¯s not something Zhang Yuan could complete alone. So, he spoke openly about it. He was under no pressure to write the paper, but these professors were; during the discussion, bringing all these ideas out was beneficial to everyone. He wasn¡¯t planning to write further about it anyway. For more than two hours he discussed the seven directions, occasionally interrupted by questions. Professor Lu¡¯s eyebrows were furrowed and relaxed at times as he posed some questions. There were some particularly tricky questions that Zhang Yuan couldn¡¯t answer right away, but he could easily answer the vast majority of them. ¡°¡­Senior, did you understand?¡± Han Ziyue couldn¡¯t make sense of a single word, aimlessly playing with her phone below when she suddenly asked a master¡¯s student next to her. The senior blushed and remained silent for a while. ¡°Sister, what about you?¡± She then asked Wang Lili. ¡°What? Of course¡­I understood.¡± Wang Lili lied, a bit flushed, continuously shifting the topic. Luckily, Han Ziyue didn¡¯t ask very professional questions, ¡°What are they talking about? Can this project make money?¡± Wang Lili pursed her lips, ¡°There are two Fortune 500 companies here, do you think they can make money? By the way, are you really his girlfriend?¡± Han Ziyue blinked provocatively, ¡°I¡¯ve known him for much longer than you have!¡± Wang Lili laughed, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I already have a boyfriend. I was just gossiping. Is that right?¡± ¡°Of course¡­not! I just feel his earnest demeanor is quite handsome. Although he might look awkward when he messes up, when he¡¯s smart, he¡¯s really attractive!¡± ¡°Handsome? What does that mean?¡± ¡°An ancient Xia language, it means a bit handsome.¡± ¡°Okay¡­¡± Wang Lili felt she was a bit out of touch with the times, ¡°He¡¯s not staying on Earth just because of you, right?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, I just want to have fun with him during his last few days, not necessarily to be his girlfriend¡­ Isn¡¯t it okay to just be friends?¡± Chapter 44 - Chapter 44: Chapter 44 Dust Settles Chapter 44: Chapter 44 Dust Settles At that moment, the meeting room suddenly fell silent. Ma Teng stood up and patted his back, ¡°Sorry, I need to use the restroom.¡± ¡°Excuse me, I do too.¡± Several people hurried out. In the restroom, Ma Teng let out a sigh, ¡°Alas, it¡¯s been too long since I¡¯ve been out of academia, these cutting-edge topics, I listen and listen and then I just can¡¯t understand anymore. But judging by the looks of those old professors, there shouldn¡¯t be any problems¡­ Xisha University has been collaborating with us for a long time, and their credibility has always been good.¡± ¡°Little Guo, what do you think of Zhang Yuan?¡± The assistant known as Little Guo thought for a moment and said earnestly, ¡°President Ma, if you can recruit him, you absolutely must. I reckon, with him, we could shorten the timeframe by at least a third. A project that normally takes 12 months could be finished in 8¡­¡± The door to the restroom opened again, and Chairman Ding walked in. As soon as he entered, he spoke loudly, ¡°President Ma, could I ask you a personal favor?¡± The circle is so small; although the two were rivals, they were also friends in private. Ma Teng burst into laughter as if he knew what was coming, ¡°No way, I won¡¯t accept it! Even if it¡¯s on a personal basis, I absolutely refuse!¡± ¡°Master Ding, are you really planning to compete with me for this person?¡± Ding Peng also started laughing, ¡°Then let¡¯s both lift the palanquin, shall we? Raise the price all the way to the Moon?¡± Go to ????????????????????.co ¡°I¡¯m not that foolish. I think we can do it this way¡­¡± When the group returned, Ma Teng¡¯s first words were, ¡°Mr. Zhang, have you considered staying on Earth and joining our company?¡± He put up two fingers, making a gesture, ¡°I offer you an annual salary of two million. If the government penalizes you for anything, we¡¯ll take care of it!¡± Facing such brazen poaching, the expressions on the representatives of the Deep Space Foundation turned green, but they didn¡¯t know what to say. Zhang Yuan immediately shook his head, ¡°Sorry, President Ma¡­ this has been my dream since childhood.¡± The two representatives breathed a sigh of relief. Ma Teng said meaningfully, ¡°Two million is not a small amount. To set up a high-paying position like this, I¡¯m going to have to do quite a bit of talking at the board meeting¡­ Every penny in the company is budgeted.¡± ¡°You have to know, we¡¯ve only been acquainted for two hours, and because I know you¡¯re highly capable, we offered this price¡­¡± ¡°But academic ability doesn¡¯t necessarily mean work capability. I¡¯ve seen too many people who can talk a good game, but can¡¯t deliver¡­ If you do produce results later, the price is definitely not an issue!¡± Ding Peng laughed loudly, ¡°Boss Ma, you¡¯re too stingy. I offer an annual salary of three million, and I¡¯ll take another million out of my own pocket! As long as you¡¯re willing to stay here.¡± Zhang Yuan hurriedly responded, ¡°I¡¯m flattered by your generous offers. But it¡¯s not about the money, not even two hundred million would suffice. President Ma, Master Ding, I think, being in your positions, you should be able to understand that life isn¡¯t just about money, there are many things far more important than money.¡± ¡°I can complete the project on the spaceship too. There¡¯s a communication device inside, so remote communication isn¡¯t difficult.¡± Ma Teng was taken aback, then nodded, showing he understood, and quietly sat down. The meeting room was silent for a while. After a long pause, he said with an admiring tone, ¡°I really envy you young people, abandoning everything, starting anew on an unfamiliar planet. Sometimes, I also feel that impulse.¡± ¡°New civilization, it¡¯s a grand concept. In our fantasies, it¡¯s like paradise, always filled with infinite possibilities.¡± ¡°¡­ As beneficiaries of Earth Civilization that has developed to this point, I often think that many things are not right, but I don¡¯t know how they should be corrected.¡± ¡°Or maybe, I¡¯m well aware that many things are wrong, yet I oppose correcting them, because they would affect my personal interests. That might just be the case of interests dictating thoughts¡­¡± ¡°I hope that your new civilization becomes even better.¡± ¡°Thank you, President Ma,¡± Zhang Yuan said with a smile. ¡°You see, he won¡¯t stay here!¡± Wang Lili whispered her discussion below. Han Ziyue smiled and said, ¡°I know. If he really stayed, I wouldn¡¯t bother with him¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you think he looked really cool rejecting them earlier? Boss Ma was dumbstruck! Even two hundred million couldn¡¯t do it¡­¡± Wang Lili felt a bit helpless, ¡°Fine, I really don¡¯t understand you artsy girls, making life uncomfortable for yourselves. What friendship? I don¡¯t want to be friends with him at all.¡± ¡­ And so, the entire negotiation for the collaboration took three days, a tortuous process of stock allocation and various clauses that exhausted Zhang Yuan. Even the usually gentle Professor Lu and Professor Lin had to get involved, indicating they could take on some of the work. After it was done, at a small restaurant, Zhang Yuan was treating the two girls to dinner. ¡°I finally understand why those big companies are so rich, they¡¯re completely ¡®no rabbit, no eagle¡¯ types. They¡¯ve made their fortunes by saving every penny!¡± Zhang Yuan couldn¡¯t help but complain. The five big enterprises haggled back and forth and, in the end, only invested twenty million. It was truly unexpected. They planned to register a small company, called ¡°Genesis Technology Co., Ltd.¡± As one of the providers of technology, Zhang Yuan owned 10% of the shares. Of course, for this 10% of the company¡¯s shares, the two million annual salary was gone. ¡°They even want to save on a two million salary, I am really impressed.¡± But though he said this, his mood was still pretty good. Although donating felt like acting as a rich dog, that was money left by his father, whereas now, he was earning his own money, which felt distinctly different. Han Ziyue laughed and said, ¡°This round of investment is called ¡®seed round.¡¯ The project has only a concept, there is only an idea but no concrete products or services, also known as ¡®face-recognition investing¡¯¡­ that is, investing money in you based on your reputation.¡± ¡°They are able to invest twenty million, which is already showing a huge respect to you and the university! After all, there¡¯s nothing concrete, can a concept alone make someone invest tens of billions? That¡¯s impossible.¡± Zhang Yuan nodded, it really was that way. Seeing potential is one thing, whether it can produce results is another. Han Ziyue continued, ¡°Didn¡¯t they retain the right of first refusal for follow-on investment in the cooperation agreement? If it really succeeds, these big companies will definitely swarm in with money, and with subsequent Series A, B, and C rounds, it can quickly grow into a big company.¡± ¡°Alright, I know that. Investing a small amount now, it¡¯s just a form of risk control. But they really are cunning.¡± Zhang Yuan said, ¡°Moreover, in a few years, the big company will be none of my concern.¡± How the company develops in the future doesn¡¯t matter to him, he won¡¯t be on Earth to enjoy the sense of achievement. The Foundation¡¯s people also helped him gain quite significant benefits. According to the company¡¯s articles of association, Zhang Yuan¡¯s 10% shareholding would be fixed. Even if the company raised capital for expansion in the future, it would still be 10%, not diluted. ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for the fixed shares, I might as well take the salary and donate it to the Foundation.¡± This kind of distribution was really tricky; a fixed ten percent stake that didn¡¯t require additional investment to maintain one¡¯s share ratio was quite a windfall for Zhang Yuan. The key was whether the project could actually take off, otherwise it would be just a mirage. Afterwards, several chairmen invited him and the professors for a meal, but Zhang Yuan politely declined. It was better to avoid such socializing, as everyone would understand. ¡°I¡¯d rather have dinner with you guys!¡± ¡°Why?¡± Zhang Yuan hesitantly said, ¡°Because it saves time.¡± ¡°Dining with them, who knows how long it would take, and all the mutual flattery, annoying.¡± The room filled with laughter and joviality for a moment. With this matter settled, Zhang Yuan felt at peace. This was probably the last big thing before his departure. Glancing at the date, there was only one day left, and Zhang Yuan couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit of sorrow. Tomorrow would be his last day on Earth. And that day was finally approaching. Chapter 45 - Chapter 45: Chapter 45: One Mans Doomsday Chapter 45: Chapter 45: One Man¡¯s Doomsday Holiday balance: 1 day. Zhang Yuan finally experienced the feeling of restlessness that Ye Kaifu had before leaving. His heart felt hollow, nothing he did seemed to have a spark, he didn¡¯t want to study, didn¡¯t want to think, and didn¡¯t want to play games. He even tossed and turned in bed, losing a whole night¡¯s sleep. This feeling was as if the end of the world was approaching. If tomorrow were the end of the world, what should he do today to make it meaningful? This topic had always been popular on the internet, if the apocalypse arrived and the world was in chaos, some people would choose to indulge, to fall; some would choose to go home and stay with their parents; others would confess their love, do things they normally wouldn¡¯t do, to make up for any regrets in life¡­ After all, humans are emotional creatures; living long in one place, no matter how many shortcomings it has and despite numerous complaints, the over-familiarity and habit makes it hard to leave. This place was his mother star¡ªEarth. Looking again at the crowds on the street, where everything was in order, it appeared to be just his own personal apocalypse. Zhang Yuan sighed deeply, shook off the wild thoughts in his mind, and hastened his steps forward. He went to Professor Wang Zhong¡¯s office, prepared to donate his shares in ¡°Genesis Technology Co., Ltd,¡± though the company was still in the process of registration. ¡°Zhang Yuan, it¡¯s good that you have this intention,¡± Professor Wang Zhong said amiably after taking a sip of water. ¡°I think, for now, you should hold on to the shares; don¡¯t donate them to the Foundation.¡± Go to ????????????????????.co ¡°Why?¡± Zhang Yuan couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Isn¡¯t the Foundation short of funds?¡± Professor Wang waved his hand and sighed, ¡°Even if they are short of funds, they don¡¯t need your few million.¡± ¡°The Foundation has grown over a hundred years into a true behemoth. Its industries have increased, some obviously came into success because of fortunate misfortunes, such as the Space Elevator and some shares in Space City, and others were through investments.¡± Professor Wang made a gesture, ¡°The longer the reach, the greater the influence on the entire world.¡± ¡°You mean¡­¡± Zhang Yuan was a bit unclear. Professor Wang sighed, ¡°What¡¯s the purpose of the Deep Space Foundation? To support the development of aerospace, not to obtain massive profits; it¡¯s not a capitalist entity that needs to make profits in the long term.¡± ¡°Today, the size of the Foundation has become somewhat bloated. Where there is power, there will be corruption. A large organization, regardless of how well-regulated it is, with more people and over time, will inevitably form chaos and have all kinds of dark sides.¡± ¡°So, hold on to your shares. Many companies managed by the Foundation are not doing well.¡± Zhang Yuan pondered thoughtfully. Professor Wang smiled and said, ¡°Flowers don¡¯t bloom for a hundred days, and people don¡¯t stay good for a thousand days; the Foundation can¡¯t keep growing stronger. Especially when our generation is gone, the next generation may not have that vigor, and it will gradually weaken.¡± ¡°If you are truly concerned, come and offer help in three hundred years¡ªif the Foundation still exists by then.¡± Zhang Yuan expressed surprise, ¡°Professor Wang, three hundred years later, my company might have already collapsed. After all, I¡¯m just a minor shareholder, not involved in management, and I don¡¯t even look after it¡­¡± Professor Wang spoke indifferently, ¡°Who can predict the final outcome? I still suggest you keep the shares and simply donate the dividends to the Foundation. The Foundation doesn¡¯t lack assets, just future security.¡± ¡°I say the same to other asset donors.¡± The two talked for a long time. A person with no forethought will surely have immediate worries. Professor Wang indeed made sense; their generation had risen from ruins and destitution, and the consciousness of hardships differed from those behind them. Days without sufficient energy allowed everyone to feel the bitterness of life and the taste of downfall, deeply influencing even the mindset of the ruling class. ¡°To develop, to endlessly develop!¡± Professor Wang pointed at his head, ¡°That¡¯s the idea imprinted in my mind from our era.¡± ¡°But for many kids who grew up in the new era, that kind of thinking is gone. Life is too affluent, so why bother developing?¡± Going from frugality to luxury is easy, but going back is hard. That¡¯s why Professor Qi Yuanshan believes that humans had only a couple hundred years to step out of the Solar System¡ªit¡¯s just this reasoning. ¡°He predicted a long time ago that, in a few hundred years, humans would likely revert to the old ways of the past era, with all sorts of contradictions emerging¡­ The warmth brought by nuclear fusion is just too wonderful, far better than oil. Plus, with the Solar System being vast enough to accommodate trillions of people, who then would have the will to develop a second civilization?¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t a problem of technology, but of spiritual will.¡± ¡­ When Zhang Yuan stepped out of his office, his mind was tirelessly pondering. He could understand these social predictions, yet found them hard to truly grasp, perhaps. Zhang Yuan casually found a corner in the university campus to sit down, gazed at the azure sky, and aimlessly scrolled through his social media feed. ¡°Person in Xisha, just got off the high-speed train, boarding a spaceship tomorrow. Any ladies willing to accompany me on my last day?¡± [Selfie] [Selfie] [Selfie] It was his close friend Li Zhendong showing off in his social media feed, and the responses below were a heap of blessings and likes. Everyone was quite friendly toward the astronaut who was about to leave. Zhang Yuan replied, ¡°I¡¯m right here at Xisha University, come over.¡± Li Zhendong responded, ¡°Scram, you¡¯re not a lady!¡± ¡°I have lots of ladies here!¡± Li Zhendong immediately replied, ¡°Coming, coming, wait up, I¡¯m going to report to the Aviation Planning Bureau first.¡± About half an hour later, Li Zhendong sneaked up at the entrance of the university, looking nothing like a student, and even had his ID checked by the security guard. The moment they met, he asked, ¡°Where are the girls? I knew you were tricking me, you idiot!¡± ¡°What¡¯s the hurry? They¡¯ll be here in a bit.¡± ¡°Ha-ha.¡± Li Zhendong shrugged, clearly unconvinced, ¡°How about we go play games? Last day, how about pulling an all-nighter gaming? LoL8 has just come out, I¡¯ve got two beta accounts¡­¡± Zhang Yuan shook his head, ¡°That¡¯s all you ever think about. We¡¯re not going to an internet cafe. Just wait five minutes!¡± A few minutes later, Han Ziyue indeed appeared, her voice carrying from afar, ¡°Zhang Yuan, come on out and play!¡± Li Zhondong¡¯s eyes nearly popped out, and his mouth hung open wide enough to fit a pear! He glanced back at Zhang Yuan and cursed inwardly: This guy was actually hitting on girls, and such a beautiful girl at that! I¡¯m so dumb! To think I bitterly studied books at home for a whole month! As the girl approached, Li Zhendong stuttered, ¡°Hello, beautiful girl, nice to meet you. My name is Li Zhendong, I am friendly and honest. I¡¯m good at mechanical and information sciences, love surfing the internet and playing online games. I also like playing basketball. I once dreamed of being an athlete. I love watching the seagulls fly freely over the sea, which is why I often go to the beach in summer. White is my favorite color because I think it symbolizes purity¡­¡± It was like he was reciting a textbook. Chapter 46 - Chapter 46: Chapter 46 Wishing You Smooth Sailing Chapter 46: Chapter 46 Wishing You Smooth Sailing ¡°???¡± Han Ziyue stood there dumbfounded, as if staring at an idiot, then looked up at Zhang Yuan. Her eyes were full of confusion, as if to say, why is there an idiot standing here? Zhang Yuan said irritably, ¡°This guy is just like this, he¡¯s actually just pretending to be stupid, what ¡®flirting playbook¡¯¡­ Monkey steals heart? Pretend to be pure? Pretend to be dumb? Puppy love mode?¡± ¡°Pretending to be stupid is one of them. He¡¯s trying to flirt with you!¡± Han Ziyue giggled, her face turning a bit red. Li Zhendong, having his true intentions revealed, jumped up angrily, ¡°What, you say I¡¯m pretending to be stupid? Where did I pretend, I¡¯m telling the truth!¡± ¡°I just like white, I think white is a symbol of purity¡­¡± ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Zhang Yuan felt like he was about to throw up. Amidst the bantering, his mood slowly improved. After all, it wasn¡¯t just him hitting the road, there were so many buddies around, what was there to fear? Since he was bored anyway, Zhang Yuan called Wang Lili and Xu Yunjing, two senior girls, to go to the waterpark together. The last day was here, really couldn¡¯t study any more. ¡°Hey, Wang Lili?¡± Go to ????????????????????.co ¡°I¡¯m with my boyfriend, on the way to a movie¡­¡± Wang Lili said awkwardly. Zhang Yuan didn¡¯t mind, ¡°Stop watching the movie, we¡¯re leaving tomorrow.¡± ¡°Alright then, should my boyfriend come too?¡± ¡°Bring him along too, no problem!¡± ¡°Just don¡¯t make it all couples,¡± Li Zhendong quickly said, ¡°What about me? Am I to be the third wheel? Bring more girls, so I can feel surrounded by beauty.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll call a few girlfriends, whether you can charm them is up to you,¡± Han Ziyue said with a smile. ¡°Thank you so much, beautiful lady,¡± Li Zhendong said with an exaggerated tone. Before long, a group of ten people arrived at Xisha City¡¯s waterpark. Actually, ¡°federal coins¡± are properly called ¡°Xia Coin,¡± which is also Xia Country¡¯s national currency. Since Xia Country had become a major energy exporting country a century ago, electricity prices and the national currency were directly linked, and eventually, ¡°Huaxia Coin¡± became the common currency of the East Asia region. ¡°Federal coins¡± is a term fabricated by the media of some foreign countries, trying to instigate mischievous political intentions to disrupt the peace of East Asian countries. But this intention not only failed to materialize, over time, it actually became ¡°federal coins.¡± So, it still had considerable purchasing power, and the tickets weren¡¯t expensive either, just 40 Yuan each. The girls quickly changed into their swimsuits, revealing large swathes of fair skin, and then started applying sunscreen on each other. Li Zhendong pretended to be indifferent but was actually sneaking peeks, only to be hit by Zhang Yuan. ¡°What are you doing, haven¡¯t seen a woman before? That¡¯s just sleazy.¡± ¡°Your girl¡­ she¡¯s pretty hot, where did you find her? Awesome! Go help her apply sunscreen,¡± he said, giving a thumbs up. Zhang Yuan was very embarrassed, ¡°What do you mean ¡®my girl¡¯? She¡¯s my ex-girlfriend¡¯s sister, I already knew her, just bumped into her here, don¡¯t think too much.¡± ¡°No wonder she looked familiar,¡± Li Zhendong rolled his eyes, thinking: Ex-girlfriend¡¯s sister? If you don¡¯t think too much about that, that would be weird. Next up, the Giant Python Slide, Sky High Twister, Rainbow Slides, and various other water attractions caused screams among the men and women. For safety reasons, many of the attractions required pairing up in twos. He wasn¡¯t a blockhead, how could he not understand what Han Ziyue was thinking? Besides, the days they spent together were quite pleasant. But thinking about it now, perhaps it was best to let it be, no need to cause any more trouble. ¡°Only at times like this do you seem like a normal person. If you¡¯re scared, you can scream louder, just like me, ah¡ª¡± Han Ziyue wiped the water off her body with a towel. Her figure was impressive, curves in all the right places without any excess fat. Zhang Yuan¡¯s eyes gazed at the sky, ¡°I¡¯m not scared, just screaming to fit in with you guys. Otherwise, it seems like I¡¯m not part of the group¡­¡± ¡°Is that so? Are you deliberately trying to blend in? Ah, the sunlight will probably darken me a lot again. The water washed away, and the sunscreen really isn¡¯t very effective.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Zhang Yuan didn¡¯t know what to reply. At night, Zhang Yuan was reluctantly dragged to another dinner. He saw Li Zhendong already immersed in joy, unable to extricate himself. From his blissful expression, it was clear: every cell in his body was yearning for the company of girls. Why? Perhaps because he had been deceived by a pretty photo recently and now wanted to compensate for it as much as possible? Or perhaps because he was about to leave. Whenever he paused, he couldn¡¯t help but think about that one thing, generating an increasingly intense sense of loss. The end of the world was approaching, and his friends seemed to be drifting further and further away. ¡°Can you men do something other than just eat? Especially you, classmate Zhang Yuan!¡± Wang Lili¡¯s voice woke him from his thoughts. Here, you had to barbecue the meat yourself, which was kind of a special restaurant. Zhang Yuan focused solely on eating, ¡°No way, no way, I need to enjoy the care of my seniors a bit more. Once I¡¯m on the spaceship, there won¡¯t be anyone to take care of me.¡± The girls laughed again. ¡°How about we go to a K-bar and sing!¡± After dinner, Zhang Yuan was dragged by the girls into a weird building. He felt like he had never been so decadent in his life, as if in one day, he had experienced a lifetime of joy. Inside the K-bar, couples abounded, and Zhang Yuan couldn¡¯t help feeling astonished by how liberal this international city was. Not only were there high school and university students, but there were also many middle schoolers! They were far more liberated than the people of his generation¡­ A couple was even passionately kissing in a corner, and though it was just a corner, it was still a public place! Could they please be a bit more mindful! ¡°Come on, cheers! I wish you a smooth journey to your destination!¡± ¡°Cheers! Cheers, a 3000-year journey, sounds so cool! We¡¯ll all be long gone.¡± ¡°Cheers!¡± Li Zhendong casually said, ¡°What¡¯s so cool about that, waking up from hibernation sounds pretty cruel¡­¡± He stopped mid-sentence, as if realizing something, and said no more. Wang Lili, who was good at lightening the mood, quickly said, ¡°Let me sing a song first¡­ an old song from the past, rearranged.¡± ¡°The men who pilot spaceships, so mighty and strong!¡± ¡°The rushing spaceship, fast like the wind¡­¡± ¡°The boundless starry sky¡­ accompanies you as you wander¡­¡± ¡°My heart is as vast as the universe!¡± A moment filled with laughter and chatter, men and women all mixed together. After singing, everyone seriously said to Zhang Yuan and Li Zhendong, ¡°We wish you smooth sailing!¡± Zhang Yuan and his friends clinked their glasses and he took a sip of beer, ¡°And I wish you all a bright future!¡± Chapter 47 - Chapter 47: Chapter 47 Ive Had Talks Too Chapter 47: Chapter 47 I¡¯ve Had Talks Too Immediately following, the karaoke kings began to belt out songs, while others started to play the ancient yet thrilling game of Truth or Dare. ¡°Sometimes, a person wants to be alone and even desires to run up to the skies to gaze at the boundless starry expanse. Surely, there must exist something far greater than human civilization.¡± ¡°Quiet is right here!¡± ¡°Please don¡¯t call me ¡®Quiet;¡¯ otherwise, millions of people will miss me every day.¡± It wasn¡¯t until after drinking that a person¡¯s true nature was exposed. Normally demure, senior Xu Yunjing actually ended up kissing her boyfriend to the point of breathlessness during a daring challenge, to Zhang Yuan¡¯s utter shock. The surrounding girls couldn¡¯t stop clapping and cheering for them. Li Zhendong, appearing rather tipsy, sang a song that was quite relevant. ¡°In the vast sea of people, which one am I? Among the surging waves, which one am I? In the army conquering the universe, I am the one silently contributing. Go to ????????????????????.co In the glorious river of careers, I am the one eternally surging. You don¡¯t need to recognize me, you don¡¯t long to know me¡­¡± Indeed, one girl was moved to tears out of nowhere and gave him a sweet kiss¡­ even though they had known each other for less than a day. It seemed that in this closed-off little room, everyone became more lively and open. ¡°¡­Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go, hurry and come with me to buy some stuff!¡± Han Ziyue¡¯s eyes twinkled as she grabbed Zhang Yuan¡¯s hand, pulling him forcefully towards the outside. ¡°Why can¡¯t you go buy whatever you want by yourself? Why drag me along?¡± Zhang Yuan felt her hand was hot, slick with sweat. He instinctively sensed a feeling of danger. ¡°I want to buy some snacks! The ones here are too expensive, not worth it. Aren¡¯t you a gentleman? I¡¯ve had a bit too much to drink, how can I walk the streets at night alone?¡± Zhang Yuan rolled his eyes secretly. This girl had clearly only drunk two bottles of beer, and with so many people coming and going around them, could there really be a safety incident? But after thinking about it a bit more, it seemed¡­ better to follow her after all. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go.¡± Han Ziyue happily linked his arm, as if they were a couple. Zhang Yuan jerked slightly but found himself unable to move away. He gave up, figuring it was the last day anyway; might as well let her have her way. They roamed aimlessly inside the karaoke bar, passing many vending machines without buying anything. Zhang Yuan couldn¡¯t help but get a bit impatient, ¡°What do you want to buy?¡± Han Ziyue suddenly seemed to make up her mind and asked, ¡°Never mind, we don¡¯t have to buy anything¡­ I have a question for you.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± She pointed at a sign and asked, ¡°What does the English on that sign mean?¡± Zhang Yuan looked at the sign and then glanced into the room, ¡°STAFF-ONLY, means it¡¯s a place for employees only, probably a storage room.¡± ¡°Means there¡¯s no one there?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Hehe!¡± In an instant, Zhang Yuan was pulled in by her and pushed forcefully, cornered against the wall. ¡°What are you doing?!¡± Seeing her gleaming eyes, Zhang Yuan felt an inexplicable panic rising, and the hairs on his body stood on end. Han Ziyue said with a mischievous smile, ¡°You¡¯re about to leave, so I¡¯ll give you a little gift, hurry up and close your eyes.¡± ¡°What¡­ gift?¡± ¡°Hurry and close your eyes! Are you afraid I¡¯m going to eat you or something?¡± Zhang Yuan thought to himself, ¡°I really am afraid you¡¯d eat me up. Looking at that expression of yours, you definitely have ulterior motives.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know, I¡¯ve been in love before, all right?¡± Before he could react, Han Ziyue had already tiptoed up and kissed him on the lips. ¡°Ah!¡± Zhang Yuan was so nervous he almost jumped. ¡°¡­Are you drunk? Let¡¯s head back quickly!¡± Han Ziyue¡¯s face had already turned red with shyness, ¡°Head back what? I¡¯m not heading back! You¡¯re so much older than me, yet you¡¯re acting like a child¡­ My gift isn¡¯t fully given yet.¡± ¡°I¡¯m no longer that middle schooler from before, and I have the right to pursue someone I like, don¡¯t I?¡± Zhang Yuan looked at her hot figure, her short-sleeved top revealing her navel, her miniskirt, and knee socks, couldn¡¯t be bolder. He stuttered, ¡°This¡­ isn¡¯t right¡­ I can¡¯t stay.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that? I know you won¡¯t stay, but ¡®it¡¯ just can¡¯t help wanting to go further, can it?¡± ¡°¡­Go further?¡± ¡°Men are always so contradictory, claiming they don¡¯t want it, but their bodies are always so honest¡­¡± ¡°Or rather, their bodies are not honest at all!¡± Zhang Yuan felt his head swell with blood, almost crying out, ¡°This isn¡¯t right, this really isn¡¯t right¡­ This is a public place, someone could come in. If we get caught, the impact would be terrible.¡± After being rejected several times, Han Ziyue started to get a little angry. She messed up her hair and popped open another button on her chest, slyly saying, ¡°If I run out crying, accusing you of assaulting me, then you wouldn¡¯t be able to get on the spaceship, would you?¡± Well¡­ Although he was 80% sure she was joking, for safety¡¯s sake, Zhang Yuan still sighed silently. He said very cautiously, ¡°I get it, I get it, just put your clothes on first. This gift of yours is really too shocking.¡± ¡°Yay! Let¡¯s go then!¡± Han Ziyue gave a victory sign with her fingers, brimming with happiness. ¡­ Amy Hotel. Han Ziyue held onto Zhang Yuan¡¯s hand tightly, not letting him escape amidst the chaos. She said unapologetically, ¡°What, you want me to do the talking to book a room?¡± With a stiff upper lip and no idea what to say, Zhang Yuan asked the receptionist, ¡°Um¡­ do you have any twin rooms?¡± ¡°Yes, 398 yuan per night.¡± ¡°We want a lovers¡¯ double room, not a twin room!¡± ¡°It¡¯s also 398.¡± To such young couples, the staff member was already used to it, wondering to himself why this young man was blushing. But a handsome man and a beautiful woman, they matched well. He disliked those pairings of ugly men with beautiful women, or ugly women with handsome men¡­ ¡°Do you do this with my sister?¡± Along the way, Han Ziyue kept teasing Zhang Yuan¡¯s sensitive nerves, ¡°Do you think I¡¯m cute or is she cuter?¡± Zhang Yuan didn¡¯t know whether to say ¡°yes¡± or ¡°no¡±, whatever he said would be embarrassing; he just wanted to run away. ¡°I don¡¯t know, I¡¯ve forgotten.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll just assume it never happened!¡± Swiping the card, the room was quite large; through the window, one could even see the distant lighthouse. The long sea-crossing bridge sometimes had trains passing over it. Han Ziyue smiled and said, ¡°Go take a shower quickly, you can go first, or we can go together. It¡¯s not that I can¡¯t shower together with you, but I¡¯m a little shy¡­¡± ¡°No, I¡¯ll go first!¡± Zhang Yuan said quickly. From behind the frosted glass, he could still make out the figure on the other side, and Zhang Yuan cursed inwardly at this damn hotel for such an installation. He showered, while¡­ Saying there was nothing¡­ would be abnormal. But, indeed, this was against his morals and reason was continuously struggling. ¡­ Chapter 48 - Chapter 48: Chapter 48: I Hope You Can Remember Me No content Chapter 49 - Chapter 49: Chapter 49 Goodbye, Hometown. No content Chapter 50 - Chapter 50: Chapter 50: Space Journey No content Chapter 51 - Chapter 51: Chapter 51: Youth, Its Wonderful No content Chapter 52 - Chapter 52: Chapter 52 We Must Know No content Chapter 53 - Chapter 53: Chapter 53 Our Spaceship! No content Chapter 54 - Chapter 54: Chapter 54: The Super-Large "Balloon Chapter 54: Chapter 54: The Super-Large ¡°Balloon The Transport Ship circled the Moon a total of four large loops before slowly adjusting its orbital position to dock officially with the Space Port. This technical feat wasn¡¯t too difficult, resembling the docking process with a space station and involving four stages: long-range guidance, short-range guidance, final approach, and docking. After so many years of development, the technology had become quite mature. ¡°Astronauts, please pay attention, the spaceship is about to dock. Please put on your space suits, enter the vacuum chamber, and queue up to exit the spaceship.¡± Zhang Yuan exhaled and donned his heavy anti-radiation suit made of nano-silver ions, akin to a thick cotton-padded coat. With a thick glass cover on his head, he checked everything and then ¡°floated¡± into the vacuum chamber before squeezing into an orbit train. ¡°I¡¯m floating up here, give me a hand!¡± Because there was no air, even the action of ¡°swimming¡± was impossible. The only option was to grab onto the handrails and move forward. Without anything to leverage against in the surroundings, and without help, one could end up floating indefinitely in mid-air. Such a terrifying accident had occurred before, where an unfortunate individual ended up floating in space, unable to push against anything. The nearest handrail was just a meter away, yet he was unable to move even the slightest bit. When the rescue team arrived, the person had completely broken down. Thus, nowadays space suits are equipped with a very small jet device that can expel jets of air to avoid such incidents. Of course, this function is better unused if possible; in the universe, any bit of matter is precious. Zhang Yuan grabbed the handrail and gently pulled the man down. The guy even said, ¡°Thanks a bunch.¡± This was ¡°Dragon Gate 7,¡± humanity¡¯s largest Space Port, where all astronauts would pass along the central axis of ¡°Earth Era¡± and enter the massive Circular Living Area powered by centrifugal force. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï It wasn¡¯t just air that could carry sound. Any material could transmit sound. The roaring noise of the orbit train, conveyed through the handrail to their ears, had a solid, rumbling quality. ¡°Earth Era Time¡± was the Wild Wolf Design Bureau¡¯s proudest creation. Zhang Yuan¡¯s father had also once been one of the Bureau¡¯s main designers. Fundamentally, it could be viewed as a super-sized ¡°balloon.¡± Apart from vital structures like the spaceship¡¯s central axis and engine room, which used high-strength metal, most other parts, including the ship¡¯s walls and the Light Sail, were made from extremely light, flexible nanomaterials. The universe is nearly a vacuum with almost zero atmospheric pressure, while inside the spaceship, the air is pressurized to a standard atmospheric pressure of 1.01¡Á10^5 Pa. The difference in pressure between inside and outside was equivalent to each square meter of the spaceship bearing a weight of ten tons under Earth¡¯s gravity, causing the entire ship to expand naturally to maintain its designed shape. The advantage of this was that the spaceship was very, very lightweight while fully utilizing the extraordinary tensile strength of the nanomaterials. Despite the spaceship¡¯s colossal volume, akin to a mountain, its own weight was less than 800,000 tons. Ahead, two girls were whispering to each other over their headsets, but they inadvertently opened a small public channel. ¡°It¡¯s said that the spaceship¡¯s nanomaterial walls are only 4 millimeters thick¡­ It looks so unsafe. What if it suddenly breaks?¡± ¡°How could it break? That¡¯s nanomaterial. Originally, 1 millimeter was considered enough, but for safety¡¯s sake, they increased it to four times that thickness.¡± Listening to their conversation, they apparently hadn¡¯t interned in Space City and were newcomers. Li Zhendong turned around, smiling as he explained, ¡°The spaceship¡¯s walls are a composite structure of nanomaterial and aerogel. Just like reinforced concrete, the nanomaterials may only be 4 millimeters thick, but there¡¯s also aerogel, lighter than air, acting as a structural support; so the total thickness is more than that.¡± ¡°Also, the spaceship¡¯s structure isn¡¯t what you imagine. There is no gravity or atmosphere in the zero-gravity areas, which hold various material resources. Only the Circular Living Areas have atmosphere, designed as a honeycomb structure divided into many small rooms, and the outermost areas are uninhabited.¡± ¡°Every room has an air pressure sensor. If there really was an accident on the exterior, it would be difficult for it to immediately affect the interior. Rest assured, we¡¯ll go and repair it right away!¡± ¡°Are you a spaceship maintenance crew member?¡± The girl¡¯s eyes widened as she turned her head. She introduced herself very enthusiastically: ¡°Hello, my name is Li Yiyi, I¡¯m a kindergarten teacher, and also a¡­haha, a painter.¡± ¡°My name is Li Zhendong, everyone has the last name Li, we must have the same ancestor!¡± ¡°Really? Haha!¡± ¡°We are all descendants of Laozi.¡± ¡°Laozi?¡± ¡°Li Er!¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Watching Li Zhendong flirting with the girl and discussing such a boring topic, Zhang Yuan instinctively felt a bit embarrassed for him. Can¡¯t you talk about something more normal, making it seem like it¡¯s culturally significant? As for being a spaceship maintenance personnel, that¡¯s wishful thinking¡­ Ye Kaifu, a craftsman with superb skills, he¡¯s the real spaceship maintenance personnel. They, although they have some skills, still can¡¯t handle real problems when they arise. ¡°You are¡­ Zhang Yuan! You¡¯re an astronaut too!¡± Zhang Yuan, with a bandaged head, thought, Ah, am I already that famous? What¡¯s going on¡­ A bunch of girls started chattering around Zhang Yuan again. Li Zhendong spread his hands, his limelight stolen, appearing somewhat helpless. The reason for the existence of the ¡°kindergarten teacher¡± profession is because, with 500,000 young people, accidents are bound to happen. Inside the spaceship, passion is encouraged along with proper contraception measures, but abortion is not enforced; if someone gets pregnant, they¡¯ll have to give birth. In short, with the help of various high-tech systems, the first basic goal of this small society is self-sufficiency, to sustain the entire social structure; the second goal is development. As they chatted, the orbital train rounded a bend and slowly came to a halt. Everyone entered into a large elevator once again. This elevator would take them from the central axis of the spaceship to the bottom of the centrifuge, while also imparting a lateral tangential speed to all the passengers. ¡°Earth Era¡± uses centrifugal force to simulate gravity¡ªit doesn¡¯t have a high rotational speed, meaning that the Coriolis force is very small, making it very comfortable for human habitation. ¡°Ding,¡± finally the elevator doors opened, and everyone entered a small room, taking off their space suits. The air temperature was 24 degrees Celsius, with 50% humidity. Zhang Yuan excitedly stamped on the floor, feeling its texture similar to a carpet, yet firm. Moreover, this place had gravity similar to Earth¡¯s, making movement very convenient. It was just that, after being in a weightless state for the past few days, their bodies felt a bit dispersed, and walking seemed to require some effort. Chapter 55 - Chapter 55: Chapter 55 Please take safety precautions Chapter 55: Chapter 55 Please take safety precautions ¡°¡­Hello to all astronauts in Section C,¡± ¡°I am your supervising liaison officer, Lin Xuan.¡± Shortly thereafter, a professionally dressed lady greeted the new group of astronauts and began to explain the spaceship¡¯s systems. ¡°I have three points I¡¯d like to discuss with you all, first, the population management model of the spaceship, second, the economic system; third, work position assignments¡­¡± ¡°Let¡¯s start with the first point, population management. The spaceship has a total of 26 districts, named from A to Z. A is the administrative district, Z is the entertainment district, and each of the other districts houses twenty thousand people¡­¡± ¡°To ensure mental health, we encourage you all to find a life partner. A life partner can be a good friend, or your wife, husband, or boyfriend or girlfriend. Life partners can choose larger double rooms and have the right to awaken from hibernation simultaneously.¡± A buzz immediately arose among the crowd. Zhang Yuan just caught words like ¡°single dogs are sinful.¡± Continuing, Ms. Lin Xuan said, ¡°However, due to the limited material resources, we discourage procreation aboard the ship.¡± ¡°¡­Please take appropriate contraceptive measures when passions run high. Given the limited productive capacity of the ship, we cannot produce contraceptive tools and medications on a large scale. Therefore, our medical bay offers free sterilization services. Rest assured, this latest sterilization technology is minimally invasive, with minimal pain and side effects, and it is reversible, allowing easy restoration of reproductive capacity.¡± A video started playing on the central screen, detailing the entire painless sterilization process and various surgical precautions. With the current medical technology, the procedure was indeed as simple and easy as a circumcision. The noise among the crowd grew louder. Well, suggesting sterilization right from the start did sound a bit odd. But having children without adequate nurturing conditions is irresponsible. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã0 Everyone present was an intellectual, selected through rigorous screening, free of the deep-rooted ideology that one must pass on family lineage at all costs, so the initial commotion quickly settled. Zhang Yuan was already aware of these matters, but he listened attentively once more. In addition to population policy, there were various management policies. There were about 4,000 soldiers on the ship, operating under a semi-military management. Unless under special circumstances, the working hours for one¡¯s own position were from 8 AM to 11 AM, with the rest of the time being free. For a second-level position like Zhang Yuan¡¯s, the job was basically to patrol a designated area daily, checking for damaged instruments, potential material leaks, testing oxygen levels, carbon dioxide concentration, air humidity, and so on, then performing some simple manual maintenance. And finally, cleaning the cabins. A significant part of the dust in the air came from human skin flakes. These accumulated within the spaceship, proliferating and fostering various bacteria. These dust particles could be cleaned up with a vacuum cleaner. In summary, as the technical content was low, it was just a second-level position. Even without this job, it would be fine. Robots could also handle this work. After speaking for an hour, Lin Xuan said, ¡°¡­Alright, does anyone have any questions?¡± Immediately, someone asked, ¡°We only work for three hours in the morning, is it really that relaxed and free? Aren¡¯t there any planned tasks?¡± The liaison officer replied, ¡°After reaching our final destination, Gliese 581, there may be planned work, but not at present. Right now, the work is indeed easy because there are too few resources on the ship to create a plethora of positions. Most lower-level positions are dispensable, but there are still many high-level positions vacant.¡± ¡°Please exercise initiative and create more social value!¡± ¡°Of course, we also hope that in your free time, you learn more, and don¡¯t waste precious time. Play fewer games, spend more time enriching yourself.¡± ¡°After reaching Jupiter, the social and academic value created will be converted into points, to allocate future work positions. As for the right to wake from hibernation, you already know, so I won¡¯t say more¡­¡± ¡°If there are any emergencies, I will notify everyone through communication devices.¡± ¡°If you have more administrative questions, you can contact me directly or go to the administrative office in Section A. Please carry your communicator at all times.¡± Zhang Yuan received a communicator resembling a wristwatch and solemnly put it on his wrist. Upon closer inspection, the device actually had a black-and-white screen! How quaint! Its functions were incredibly simple, with just a few buttons, only capable of receiving information on specific frequencies. But its greatest advantage was durability, water and fire resistance, and it wouldn¡¯t be damaged by being dropped repeatedly; it would still function in extremely adverse environments. [Identity Number: 00311124560, Zhang Yuan, Current Time: 2264-8-9-12:23.] [Your Current Unread Messages: 0] ¡°Beep beep beep,¡± he pressed a few buttons and found that it had only basic communication functions and an emergency distress signal. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s all for today. You can rest for a few days, and we will start official work on the third day. Meeting adjourned.¡± The crowd quickly dispersed. ¡°Which room are you in?¡± Li Zhendong asked. ¡°C-11846.¡± ¡°Alright, not on the same floor. I¡¯m off to sleep, I¡¯m dead tired, I feel completely worn out.¡± A while later, someone behind him called out to him. ¡°Zhang Yuan, right?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Zhang Yuan turned around. In front of him stood a man about thirty years old, named Wang Xin, the team leader of their work group. In total, there were eight people in the group. After exchanging contact details, Wang Xin smiled amicably, ¡°You must be tired after several days on the spaceship, go rest. Work starts in three days. Your rooms are over there.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Zhang Yuan quickly found his small room. He estimated it to be about eight square meters. There was a single bed, a cabinet, and a desk ¨C the furnishings were simple but sufficient. If it was a shared room, it would be much larger, but for a bachelor like him, this was what he got. This was likely to be his den for a significant time to come. After settling his luggage, Zhang Yuan lay on the bed with mixed feelings, feeling a little uneasy but also calm. He felt incredibly weak; after several days without gravity, just walking a few steps caused backaches and leg cramps, and he lay on the bed panting heavily. Now that he was actually here, his whole soul gradually calmed down. After all, everything he had left behind or chosen to keep was in the past. One must always look forward, right? Thinking this, and due to several nights of poor sleep, Zhang Yuan drifted into a deep slumber. ¡­ Chapter 57 - Chapter 57: Chapter 57 Intellectual Plagiarism Chapter 57: Chapter 57 Intellectual Plagiarism Earth, imperial capital. Blue skies and white clouds, the weather was perfect. As one of the editors of ¡°Modern Science¡± journal, Mo Jianhua held immense power over life and death decisions. The feeling of being able to reject others was absolutely fantastic! What? Want to submit to another journal? Feel free, since ¡°Modern Science¡± is the domestic journal with the highest impact factor anyway, love it or leave it. ¡°What paper, and it was sent to the expedited mailbox?¡± ¡°Zhang Yuan? Never heard of him.¡± If it wasn¡¯t for his good mood, Mo Jianhua wouldn¡¯t even bother to click on it and would have just passed the paper for someone else to review. Kinematics¡­ The title was quite impressive. Mo Jianhua symbolically clicked on it and immediately spotted numerous beginners¡¯ mistakes. ¡°Pah, doesn¡¯t even know how to write a paper!¡± After all, a scientific paper is the new era¡¯s version of the eight-legged essay; only those who write them frequently can master their essence and have that qualified ¡°eight-legged flavor.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï This is not a pejorative term; ¡°eight-legged essay¡± simply helps one grasp the key points quickly, saving review time. However, as crappy as it was, this paper seemed to have a kind of wonderful power, attracting him to keep reading. Finally, he let out a long breath. Great article! Very innovative! In theory, such a ¡°heavyweight¡± paper should be sent for review immediately, then published as quickly as possible. ¡°Modern Science¡± is a weekly publication, with a new issue every week. ¡°When is the next issue due? Hmm, it¡¯s already set to print; the manuscript for the following issue is also sufficient¡­ But if I wanted to queue-jump, it wouldn¡¯t be impossible.¡± Mo Jianhua became somewhat restive; he understood the importance of this paper profoundly. Its impact was significant and could potentially affect an entire industry! With his many years of reviewing experience, even without any modifications, it was very likely ready for direct publication! Impressive papers had privileges, and some had even formatted their papers in the style of martial arts novels, a hodgepodge of concepts, and still gotten published, hadn¡¯t they? But¡­ the author of this paper seemed a bit strange. In the signature field, there was just the solitary name, Zhang Yuan, followed by an email and the corresponding contact details. No co-author, no corresponding author¡ªit likely represented an independently developed idea. Judging from various details in the paper, there didn¡¯t seem to be the guidance of a savvy advisor. Which meant, this guy probably didn¡¯t have any powerful backing! Ordinarily, when submitting a paper, people add their institution¡¯s name behind their own, like ¡°XX University¡± or ¡°XX Research Institute,¡± etc. But this person had none¡ªthat probably meant he was not working in a research institution. ¡°Could he be a real amateur? Or perhaps¡­ an amateur scientist?¡± Amateur scientist refers to self-taught scientists not working within academic institutions, mostly used in a derogatory sense. But indeed, a small number of amateur scientists have true talent and knowledge. For example, many amateur scientists idolize the renowned Einstein. Before becoming famous, Einstein was not working professionally in universities or research institutions; he was merely a patent office clerk who developed the theory of relativity in his spare time. [1] Thinking of this, Mo Jianhua¡¯s heart raced, and his thoughts flashed urgently. Gradually, an evil idea crept into his mind. ¡°What if, I were to publish this paper first?¡± This article was purely theoretical, with no experimental data¡­ copying it should be quite straightforward. This temptation was simply too great, he felt as if he could already foresee countless praises and numerous awards. All sorts of fame and halos bestowed upon him, that feeling¡­ was unforgettable. ¡°It¡¯s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!¡± When Mo Jianhua was young, he had been a genius, carving out a name for himself with his own abilities. However, in every circle, there are unwritten rules. Once the victim, he had climbed his way up step by step and had become the beneficiary. Even now, as he grew older, he remained a prolific author of academic papers in the industry, capable of publishing over thirty articles a year¡­ which made his students utterly miserable. After all, those within the circle knew exactly how those thirty papers were produced. How could one person have so much energy? Did they really think that writing papers was as easy as hens laying eggs? But with reputation at stake, he must maintain it with a wealth of academic achievements. This is how a person¡¯s bottom line is gradually breached, and he had long been trapped in the pit of fame and would not stop. ¡°Two or three dozen papers are nothing compared to this one!¡± With this thought, Mo Jianhua¡¯s breathing became heavier. A quick online search for ¡°Zhang Yuan¡± turned up too many people with the same name, but not a single renowned scholar. Instead, a plethora of terms like ¡°big star¡± and ¡°advancing entertainment zone¡± popped up. Mo Jianhua had always been too lazy to read such news. ¡°Anyway, the guy¡¯s just a nobody, an amateur scientist at best,¡± he gradually reassured himself. The other party had left a contact number, but he was certain not to reach out, lest he inadvertently alert them. Plagiarism is a craft in itself, and it¡¯s not just about copying something exactly. There¡¯s a better, more subtle way, known as ¡°ideological plagiarism.¡± Ideas, after all, can sometimes overlap by accident. Nevertheless, as far as Mo Jianhua was concerned, could a nobody really outdo him? Since the article hadn¡¯t been published, it holds no authority. As long as my article gets published before yours, who would bother to gossip? History only remembers the victors. Without further ado, Mo Jianhua put aside his current work and prepared to rush out his draft overnight, aiming to get it published in the latest issue of the journal. Meanwhile, he also planned to delay Zhang Yuan¡¯s manuscript. He would publish his paper first, and then reject the latter on the ground of ¡°conceptual similarity¡±. ¡ª Zhang Yuan waited another week. The population on ¡°Earth Era¡± was increasing, with batches of astronauts gradually ascending, waiting for all 500,000 to be ready before beginning their long journey. During this period, he wasn¡¯t idle either; he quickly adjusted to the serious academic atmosphere inside the spaceship. There were eight people in his work group, with the leader being Wang Xin, thirty years old, who had once been an entrepreneur. Perhaps due to failing in business, this guy had almost given up everything, and with his wife, ran off to ¡°Earth Era¡±. ¡°¡­In any case, I will teach you some simple technical tasks, even cleaning must be done with earnest care. Pairs will supervise each other; don¡¯t slack off!¡± Wang Xin maintained a severe demeanor every day, giving orders here and there. One of the boys shouted out, ¡°Brother Wang, there are so many of us doing so little work, can¡¯t we take turns resting, so everyone gets more time off¡­¡± Wang Xin frowned, ¡°No, it has to be pairs.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already submitted a report suggesting that the committee, when scheduling work, should arrange for as many people in a group as possible for mutual supervision.¡± ¡°Especially later on when there are fewer people, we must maintain the spaceship diligently, with zero negligence.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ps: (Why do I get so much support after changing the name?) (Is it because everyone really likes the new title? Ha-ha-ha-ha, no need to be polite if you think it¡¯s good!) (And what¡¯s this explosive update competition?? I¡¯m totally clueless, I had no idea about it.) Note[1]: It is not meant to imply that Einstein is an amateur scientist, do not take it seriously. Chapter 57 - Chapter 57: Chapter 57 Intellectual Plagiarism Chapter 57: Chapter 57 Intellectual Plagiarism Earth, imperial capital. Blue skies and white clouds, the weather was perfect. As one of the editors of ¡°Modern Science¡± journal, Mo Jianhua held immense power over life and death decisions. The feeling of being able to reject others was absolutely fantastic! What? Want to submit to another journal? Feel free, since ¡°Modern Science¡± is the domestic journal with the highest impact factor anyway, love it or leave it. ¡°What paper, and it was sent to the expedited mailbox?¡± ¡°Zhang Yuan? Never heard of him.¡± If it wasn¡¯t for his good mood, Mo Jianhua wouldn¡¯t even bother to click on it and would have just passed the paper for someone else to review. Kinematics¡­ The title was quite impressive. Mo Jianhua symbolically clicked on it and immediately spotted numerous beginners¡¯ mistakes. ¡°Pah, doesn¡¯t even know how to write a paper!¡± After all, a scientific paper is the new era¡¯s version of the eight-legged essay; only those who write them frequently can master their essence and have that qualified ¡°eight-legged flavor.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï This is not a pejorative term; ¡°eight-legged essay¡± simply helps one grasp the key points quickly, saving review time. However, as crappy as it was, this paper seemed to have a kind of wonderful power, attracting him to keep reading. Finally, he let out a long breath. Great article! Very innovative! In theory, such a ¡°heavyweight¡± paper should be sent for review immediately, then published as quickly as possible. ¡°Modern Science¡± is a weekly publication, with a new issue every week. ¡°When is the next issue due? Hmm, it¡¯s already set to print; the manuscript for the following issue is also sufficient¡­ But if I wanted to queue-jump, it wouldn¡¯t be impossible.¡± Mo Jianhua became somewhat restive; he understood the importance of this paper profoundly. Its impact was significant and could potentially affect an entire industry! With his many years of reviewing experience, even without any modifications, it was very likely ready for direct publication! Impressive papers had privileges, and some had even formatted their papers in the style of martial arts novels, a hodgepodge of concepts, and still gotten published, hadn¡¯t they? But¡­ the author of this paper seemed a bit strange. In the signature field, there was just the solitary name, Zhang Yuan, followed by an email and the corresponding contact details. No co-author, no corresponding author¡ªit likely represented an independently developed idea. Judging from various details in the paper, there didn¡¯t seem to be the guidance of a savvy advisor. Which meant, this guy probably didn¡¯t have any powerful backing! Ordinarily, when submitting a paper, people add their institution¡¯s name behind their own, like ¡°XX University¡± or ¡°XX Research Institute,¡± etc. But this person had none¡ªthat probably meant he was not working in a research institution. ¡°Could he be a real amateur? Or perhaps¡­ an amateur scientist?¡± Amateur scientist refers to self-taught scientists not working within academic institutions, mostly used in a derogatory sense. But indeed, a small number of amateur scientists have true talent and knowledge. For example, many amateur scientists idolize the renowned Einstein. Before becoming famous, Einstein was not working professionally in universities or research institutions; he was merely a patent office clerk who developed the theory of relativity in his spare time. [1] Thinking of this, Mo Jianhua¡¯s heart raced, and his thoughts flashed urgently. Gradually, an evil idea crept into his mind. ¡°What if, I were to publish this paper first?¡± This article was purely theoretical, with no experimental data¡­ copying it should be quite straightforward. This temptation was simply too great, he felt as if he could already foresee countless praises and numerous awards. All sorts of fame and halos bestowed upon him, that feeling¡­ was unforgettable. ¡°It¡¯s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!¡± When Mo Jianhua was young, he had been a genius, carving out a name for himself with his own abilities. However, in every circle, there are unwritten rules. Once the victim, he had climbed his way up step by step and had become the beneficiary. Even now, as he grew older, he remained a prolific author of academic papers in the industry, capable of publishing over thirty articles a year¡­ which made his students utterly miserable. After all, those within the circle knew exactly how those thirty papers were produced. How could one person have so much energy? Did they really think that writing papers was as easy as hens laying eggs? But with reputation at stake, he must maintain it with a wealth of academic achievements. This is how a person¡¯s bottom line is gradually breached, and he had long been trapped in the pit of fame and would not stop. ¡°Two or three dozen papers are nothing compared to this one!¡± With this thought, Mo Jianhua¡¯s breathing became heavier. A quick online search for ¡°Zhang Yuan¡± turned up too many people with the same name, but not a single renowned scholar. Instead, a plethora of terms like ¡°big star¡± and ¡°advancing entertainment zone¡± popped up. Mo Jianhua had always been too lazy to read such news. ¡°Anyway, the guy¡¯s just a nobody, an amateur scientist at best,¡± he gradually reassured himself. The other party had left a contact number, but he was certain not to reach out, lest he inadvertently alert them. Plagiarism is a craft in itself, and it¡¯s not just about copying something exactly. There¡¯s a better, more subtle way, known as ¡°ideological plagiarism.¡± Ideas, after all, can sometimes overlap by accident. Nevertheless, as far as Mo Jianhua was concerned, could a nobody really outdo him? Since the article hadn¡¯t been published, it holds no authority. As long as my article gets published before yours, who would bother to gossip? History only remembers the victors. Without further ado, Mo Jianhua put aside his current work and prepared to rush out his draft overnight, aiming to get it published in the latest issue of the journal. Meanwhile, he also planned to delay Zhang Yuan¡¯s manuscript. He would publish his paper first, and then reject the latter on the ground of ¡°conceptual similarity¡±. ¡ª Zhang Yuan waited another week. The population on ¡°Earth Era¡± was increasing, with batches of astronauts gradually ascending, waiting for all 500,000 to be ready before beginning their long journey. During this period, he wasn¡¯t idle either; he quickly adjusted to the serious academic atmosphere inside the spaceship. There were eight people in his work group, with the leader being Wang Xin, thirty years old, who had once been an entrepreneur. Perhaps due to failing in business, this guy had almost given up everything, and with his wife, ran off to ¡°Earth Era¡±. ¡°¡­In any case, I will teach you some simple technical tasks, even cleaning must be done with earnest care. Pairs will supervise each other; don¡¯t slack off!¡± Wang Xin maintained a severe demeanor every day, giving orders here and there. One of the boys shouted out, ¡°Brother Wang, there are so many of us doing so little work, can¡¯t we take turns resting, so everyone gets more time off¡­¡± Wang Xin frowned, ¡°No, it has to be pairs.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already submitted a report suggesting that the committee, when scheduling work, should arrange for as many people in a group as possible for mutual supervision.¡± ¡°Especially later on when there are fewer people, we must maintain the spaceship diligently, with zero negligence.¡± ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ps: (Why do I get so much support after changing the name?) (Is it because everyone really likes the new title? Ha-ha-ha-ha, no need to be polite if you think it¡¯s good!) (And what¡¯s this explosive update competition?? I¡¯m totally clueless, I had no idea about it.) Note[1]: It is not meant to imply that Einstein is an amateur scientist, do not take it seriously. Chapter 58 - Chapter 58: Chapter 58: Zhang Yuan, something big has happened! Chapter 58: Chapter 58: Zhang Yuan, something big has happened! Zhang Yuan quietly noted the humidity, oxygen levels, and air pressure of these rooms, then manually inspected all devices, comparing data with his companion. Even though various Artificial Intelligences had already recorded this data. The reason behind this was for ¡°safety¡±. Working in groups not only ensured data security but also safeguarded against a multitude of other messy situations. In the 21st century, the International Space Station once experienced a ¡°leak¡± incident. There was a small hole on the space station, and judging by the damage to the hole, it was likely made by a human¡ªwith some kind of tool! A leak on the space station is life-threatening, what to do? They could only seal it with tape. To this day, the cause of this hole remains a mystery; no one knows the truth, nor who caused the damage¡­ ¡°So, to avoid some lunatics who no longer wish to live and sabotage things in secret, I still recommend working in pairs,¡± team leader Wang Xin said eerily, ¡°The most unpredictable thing is the human heart, especially those with depression, schizophrenia¡­¡± Not many knew this story, and Zhang Yuan couldn¡¯t help but exchange a glance with his companion. ¡°Brother Wang, is that true?¡± a female student couldn¡¯t help but ask. Wang Xin just chuckled and did not answer. After checking the entire cabin, he gestured grandly: ¡°Alright, that¡¯s it for today¡¯s work, everyone is dismissed!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?0 What followed was free time. For Zhang Yuan, this free time was almost entirely allocated to studying. He was truly weary of this current insignificant work. He had already been interning on the spaceship for a year; to keep studying the same things now was simply a waste of life! Zhang Yuan wished he could immediately switch to a more high-end profession. But job assignments required impressive achievements. Right after lunch, Zhang Yuan received several new messages. First, ¡°Genesis Technology Co., Ltd.¡± had finally been established, and he could begin working on a portion of the robotics control program. Zhang Yuan had made several calls to his Earth-based assistants, each with a Master¡¯s or Ph.D. degree, which made him quite embarrassed. But no matter, for the smooth progress of this work, he had prepared for a long time. Second, his paper was formally accepted by the ¡°Scientific Pioneer¡± journal. The editor of ¡°Scientific Pioneer¡± even stated that such a fine article could be rushed into the latest issue of the journal. ¡°To have a work of my own, finally shedding my status as a low-level member of society, feels wonderful!¡± He was delighted at heart; although the inspiration for the paper was provided by his father, turning that inspiration into words was also significant work. For him personally, it was a huge encouragement. He was about to make a phone call to report this good news to Professor Wang Zhong on Earth when his phone suddenly rang. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Zhang Yuan, something terrible has happened!¡± It was a call from Ye Kaifu. Ye Kaifu had been assigned to Zone J and did not live with Zhang Yuan; his position as a technician in the production area was much more high-end than Zhang Yuan¡¯s. ¡°What happened, is there trouble again?¡± Ye Kaifu said urgently, ¡°In ¡®Scientific Pioneer¡¯ and ¡®Modern Science¡¯, there are two articles that clash! It¡¯s unclear who plagiarized whom, but I¡¯ve read both papers, and the viewpoints are nearly identical.¡± Zhang Yuan was somewhat puzzled, feeling that this guy¡¯s tone was taking pleasure in the misfortune. ¡°Could it be my paper?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± A picture was sent to the screen¡ªon the cover of ¡°Scientific Pioneer,¡± a few large characters read: ¡°An Analysis of High Degree of Freedom in Robotics Kinematics Based on Geometric Group Theory and Topology.¡± A thought struck Zhang Yuan¡ªwasn¡¯t that his paper? The cover wasn¡¯t bad, featuring an anthropomorphic robot, quite imposing. On the other hand, the cover of ¡°Modern Science¡± also had a similar title: ¡°Robot Kinematics under Geometric Group Theory and Topological Methods.¡± Zhang Yuan frowned, considering: that shouldn¡¯t be right, ¡°Modern Science¡± had rejected the paper, hadn¡¯t they? Could it have been published after all? I wasn¡¯t notified. Thinking about the consequences of submitting the same manuscript to multiple journals and getting blacklisted by all editors, Zhang Yuan broke out in a cold sweat¡­ Please, I never submitted the same manuscript multiple times; it was your decision to reject it! ¡°What exactly is going on?¡± Hearing his panicked tone, Ye Kaifu nearly burst out laughing, ¡°Buddy, the paper in ¡®Modern Science¡¯ isn¡¯t under your name. Either someone really had the same idea, or, could it be you¡¯ve plagiarized from somewhere?¡± Zhang Yuan cursed irritably, ¡°Plagiarize my ass! I typed out every single word myself, and you saw it with your own eyes in the dorm!¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. So, who is this Mo Jianhua? Did he plagiarize from you?¡± Zhang Yuan snapped back to reality, his face flushing red! He was absolutely furious and hurried back to his dorm to try contacting someone on Earth. ¡­ ¡°Professor Mo, congratulations!¡± ¡°Your paper is truly outstanding!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not often we see papers with direct applications.¡± ¡°You might even win Paper of the Year.¡± ¡°Thank you, thank you so much!¡± Mo Jianhua accepted the congratulations of his peers with a beaming smile, feeling completely deserving of the accolades. Getting published in ¡®Modern Science,¡¯ a top-tier journal, is no easy feat. Now that his paper was featured on the cover story, it was the most significant paper in the issue. With this paper, a little maneuvering might secure him the Paper of the Year award. And with that award, his status as a ¡°Quasi Academician¡± could be upgraded to a full Academician! Academician¡ªthe title alone could bring in so much money! Thinking of the lucrative future, Mo Jianhua felt his heart might leap out of his chest. He had never been so close to his goal before. Despite maintaining a serious expression, the flush on his face betrayed his excitement. Hold on, there¡¯s still the issue of the original author to deal with. But what¡¯s done is done; what could Zhang Yuan possibly do? ¡°Just give him some money! If that¡¯s not enough, give him a little more.¡± Mo Jianhua pondered in smug satisfaction, starting to look for Zhang Yuan¡¯s contact information. ¡°At worst, he could become my student¡­ A student of an Academician isn¡¯t something money can buy; the connections alone are worth millions. How could he refuse?¡± ¡°Teacher, teacher, it¡¯s terrible!¡± Suddenly, an alarmed shout jolted him from his reverie. He was about to scold the student when the young man placed two journals in front of him. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Mo Jianhua asked, frowning unhappily. ¡°Teacher, take a look at this journal quickly!¡± Mo Jianhua flipped through ¡®Scientific Pioneer¡¯ with a puzzled look. This¡­ He broke out in a cold sweat. He completely missed the schadenfreude on the student¡¯s face. Damn you, Zhang Yuan! To think you were too lazy to revise and submitted such an important paper to a second-rate journal! Now, they both were wearing the same ¡°shirt.¡± Facing the impending massive maelstrom, Mo Jianhua felt faint¡­ ¡­ Chapter 59 - Chapter 59: Chapter 59 Clarification Statement Chapter 59: Chapter 59 Clarification Statement Xisha University, Mechanical Engineering College, meeting room, an emergency meeting was called with even the principal, Guo Pansen, in attendance. Professor Wang Zhong, known for his explosive temper, was nearly fuming. The language of the two papers differed, yet their core ideas were nearly identical. Thus, it was highly likely that one paper plagiarized the other. It wasn¡¯t possible that two people came up with the same idea simultaneously, right? Thinking back, Zhang Yuan had once submitted his manuscript to ¡°Modern Science¡± only to have it rejected, and the answer seemed ready to emerge. During the meeting, Principal Guo sipped some water and said, ¡°Professor Wang, we still haven¡¯t determined who is in the right and who is in the wrong. Shouldn¡¯t we first figure out¡­¡± ¡°Principal Guo!¡± Wang Zhong raised his voice. If he couldn¡¯t even protect his own student, he would have no face to continue in this circle. ¡°¡­Does Zhang Yuan even know Mo Jianhua? Not at all! One is in Xisha, and the other in the imperial capital, thousands of miles apart! Tell me, what magical means could Zhang Yuan have used to plagiarize someone else?¡± ¡°Hacking? Stealing papers? Ask yourself if you believe that!¡± Principal Guo frowned, slightly embarrassed, ¡°But there¡¯s no solid evidence¡­ Will they admit defeat? They won¡¯t!¡± Many professors were holding back their anger. Even if there were records of Zhang Yuan¡¯s emails, it was still hardly conclusive evidence. As long as one was shameless enough, they could forcefully claim that they had already come up with the idea before you sent it. What could anyone else do about that? ¡°They really have no shame, living like dogs despite their age!¡± Wang Zhong swore loudly. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï One of the professors mentioned, ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve also heard that at M University, the exploitation of students by professors is severe, with doctoral extensions and suicides all coming from there.¡± ¡°There have also been accusations of plagiarizing papers, but such voices are weak and hardly anyone pays attention¡­¡± ¡°Having them investigate their own people isn¡¯t going to uncover anything.¡± ¡°Actually, these professors have long lost their edge; they only have big names and high positions, so no one can really do anything¡­¡± Some universities had already entered the so-called ¡°Academic Gatekeeper era.¡± Where there are people, there are social circles, and where there are social circles, there are factions. Some maladapted individuals in academic and research work form ¡°Academic Gatekeepers,¡± creating barriers between research funds and academic resources, becoming the exploitative class of the academic community. ¡°¡­So it is. These academic cancers, mediocrities¡­ They only want to make money!¡± A few more professors chimed in. However, as much as they cursed, the issue was indeed difficult to handle. Academic Gatekeepers, similar to warlords, protected each other, and uprooting them would involve too many interests. Professor Lu from the Mechanical Engineering College pondered for a moment, cleared his throat, and said, ¡°At any rate, no matter what, we must support Zhang Yuan. What¡¯s true can¡¯t be faked, and what¡¯s fake can¡¯t become true¡­¡± ¡°Otherwise, letting their M University papers become the pioneers would make our subsequent work mere followers. Such a significant project, are we just supposed to give up?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right!¡± Everyone spoke up. Principal Guo¡¯s expression was not very good. He remained silent for half a minute before speaking, ¡°In any case, we need to clarify to all sectors of society that Zhang Yuan completed his paper here at our university. It has been reviewed by many professors and there is no suspicion of plagiarism!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s contact ¡®Scientific Pioneer¡¯ again. Retracting the paper is absolutely out of the question!¡± ¡°Right, we also need to contact Zhang Yuan¡¯s alma mater, Z University. We must prove he is a good student both in morals and academics¡­¡± Principal Guo was very troubled, wondering if such clarifications would even be useful. He could almost predict what would come next: the other party definitely wouldn¡¯t admit their mistake, which would be a direct blow to their reputation. Of course, his side couldn¡¯t admit any wrongdoing either. Next would be mutual accusations, followed by online trolls attacking each other. The situation would escalate further and further. It¡¯s really difficult to completely overthrow the other side, as they are a group, and to overthrow them means taking down a big swath, not just an individual. But the fight must go on; it¡¯s clear that we have the moral high ground, and if we concede now, the entire team¡¯s morale will shatter. If all the professors jump ship, then my position as the principal will be doomed too. Xisha University quickly issued a clarification statement, starting to strongly support Zhang Yuan, stating that the article was completed under the ¡°witness¡± of many professors. There was a bit of exaggeration though. This ¡°witness¡± was merely a witness to the final results, but at least it was a form of public support. Various overwhelming comments soon followed, with many people who didn¡¯t understand the paper starting to voice their opinions and critiques. ¡°Can a bachelor¡¯s student really write such an article? Are you kidding me? Why can I understand each word but not a single sentence?¡± ¡°LOL, you¡¯re saying it¡¯s a lie just because you don¡¯t understand? I guess all the high-tech products in the world must be invented by ghosts.¡± ¡°Let me just say that Xisha University¡¯s ranking isn¡¯t as good as M University¡­¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this the Zhang Yuan who donated all his money? Academic God is amazing; he regards money as dirt! (dog emoji) (dog emoji)¡± ¡°I¡¯m on the moon, just got off the spaceship, making over a billion a month, well-connected in the industry, I¡¯m out. But let me add, the last name Mo surely isn¡¯t anything good¡­ seems like he kicked the iron plate with a big backing this time! Hahaha!¡± ¡°Mo old dog£¤@¡­%&p;#!¡± After browsing various online information, Zhang Yuan felt his head was about to explode. However, in this round of public squabble, he was the underdog and won the natural sympathy of the masses. Sympathy for the underdog is human nature; what the truth really is seems not so important. Anyway, as long as the powerful are thwarted, the public enjoys it. Moreover, it seems Mo Jianhua has some dark history, with a few ¡°natural trolls¡± making a big fuss; all sorts of messy things got dug up. ¡°(Real name report) Give me back my youth, postgraduate complaining about Professor Mo¡¯s malpractices, delaying graduation for three years!¡± ¡°The northern schools exploiting students has become an unspoken rule, average doctoral delays are two years!¡± Things like delayed graduation, unpaid labor, the more exceptional and honest you are, the longer the delays, etc¡­ ¡°So, this guy has all these awful sides!¡± He was pleased internally. But in one second, Zhang Yuan was engrossed; the next second, he refreshed the page, and the post was deleted. The next second, even the trending topics were removed. It turned out that M University had issued a ¡°clarification statement.¡± There weren¡¯t many words above, but a statement was released stating that the paper was ¡°independently written¡± by Professor Mo. There were even a few professors who acted as witnesses, saying they had discussed the related ideas with Professor Mo, ruling out the possibility of idea theft. Following that, there¡¯s a list of achievements obtained by Mo Jianhua, including a plethora of papers, but the most important point: ¡°Academician Candidate of the Academy!¡± Academician! ¡­Although only a candidate. Chapter 60 - Chapter 60: Chapter 60 The World of Selling Personas Chapter 60: Chapter 60 The World of Selling Personas ¡°Anyway, the whole clarification statement means, whether you believe in ¡®Academician Candidate¡¯ or just a little ¡®undergraduate¡¯ after all¡­¡± ¡°Shameless! Truly shameless! And there are even witnesses? It¡¯s unbelievable!¡± Ye Kaifu seemed even more anxious than Zhang Yuan himself, shouting loudly, ¡°I can be your witness too, even though I didn¡¯t understand what you were talking about then¡­ but I was probably discussing issues with you, right?¡± Zhang Yuan looked at him with disdain. ¡°What good is a witness as insignificant as you?¡± Ye Kaifu retorted anxiously, ¡°How is it useless? I can¡­ help you spray him!¡± The Washing party quickly appeared to whitewash for people. ¡°I¡¯m telling you, it¡¯s all slander. That Zhang Yuan is really good at hyping things up, to be famous, he even dares to touch an Academician Candidate, two words¡­ awesome!¡± ¡°Having looked carefully at the two papers, Professor Mo¡¯s style is very mature, clearly that of a true master. Zhang Yuan¡¯s paper, on the other hand, gives off a novice vibe. It¡¯s hard to imagine how a novice wrote this paper.¡± ¡°Poor loyalist, he has made so many contributions to human civilization, and now he¡¯s being schemed against like this. Are we really going to repeat the historical folly of dying of entertainment?¡± Repeating the historical folly of dying of entertainment? This big hat is way too huge. It¡¯s just freaking chaos! ¡°Those who spread rumors should go to jail!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.?¦Ï ¡°Discussing Xia Country¡¯s academic community from the plagiarism scandal¡­¡± ¡°Academics lack due respect, Xia Country¡¯s major country status is bound to be compromised!¡± However, Zhang Yuan was relieved that there were a few natural allies still tirelessly debating for him. ¡°¡­Thinking back a bit, how could an undergraduate possibly steal a university professor¡¯s manuscript and then plagiarize? Hacking technology? Please, if such technology really existed, would he need this? He¡¯d have been recruited by Baribaba long ago, with an annual salary of a billion!¡± ¡°The existence of Academic Gatekeepers is severely endangering the sustainability of higher education!¡± ¡°What about Academicians? Don¡¯t even mention just a candidate, if the character is bad, he¡¯s still a dog!¡± Various confrontations began to intensify. The onlookers were enjoying the drama immensely. ¡°¡­There should be an application for the relevant departments to deeply intervene and investigate, letting them investigate themselves, which they probably could never do thoroughly in their lifetime.¡± Zhang Yuan came to himself, his head a bit in a whirl, not wanting to join the fray directly. Actually engaging in a verbal battle wasn¡¯t very useful. ¡°Beep!¡± The watch on his hand suddenly vibrated. It displayed a message, ¡°Mr. Zhang Yuan, please come to the Captain¡¯s office in area A-1 immediately.¡± He gathered his things, and hurried towards area A1. Even the people in the Earth Era knew about this. But for this group of astronauts about to leave, it was merely gossip news, not causing much of a sensation, and the order within the spaceship remained very good. When he entered, he found a very familiar middle-aged man sitting inside. He seemed to have seen him somewhere but couldn¡¯t quite remember. ¡°Let me introduce myself first, my name is Ma Tao, currently the Captain of the Earth Era.¡± ¡°Captain Ma, hello.¡± Zhang Yuan felt a movement in his heart. Ma Tao waved his hand and said with a smile, ¡°Don¡¯t be so formal. Professor Wang Zhong was my mentor thirty years ago, and your father was my senior.¡± ¡°Do you know why I called you here?¡± Zhang Yuan, slightly nervous, hesitated, then said, ¡°Regarding that paper¡­¡± Ma Tao nodded slightly, smiling, ¡°Your matter actually involves conflicts between academic schools. Professor Wang is already handling it, and he wants to seize this opportunity to root out some academic corruption¡­¡± ¡°Overall, we will definitely give you a satisfactory answer.¡± Zhang Yuan asked, ¡°Then you called me here, is there something I need to do?¡± ¡°Right now, the most important things are two points.¡± Ma Tao held up one finger, ¡°First, is self-strengthening. Or rather, using more academic achievements to prove your strength!¡± He looked up at Zhang Yuan and said with a smile, ¡°Do you know how many people Newton, Lord Niu, knocked down in his lifetime?¡± As one of the greatest scientists in human history, Newton¡¯s character wasn¡¯t that great; he made countless enemies throughout his life. In the matter of the discovery of gravity, Newton tore into Hook, and the two fought for 30 years, resulting in most of Hook¡¯s research being destroyed after his death, disappearing into the depths of history. In proving gravity, Newton plagiarized Flamsteed¡¯s data. In the history of calculus, Newton also had a rivalry with Leibniz. ¡°¡­But, everyone just treats this story as an interesting anecdote about Lord Niu and it never affects his greatness.¡± Ma Tao continued with a smile, ¡°As long as you are strong enough, the scientific community will naturally lean towards you.¡± Zhang Yuan nodded, holding back frustration. He lowered his head and silently pondered, planning to quickly complete all the various procedures and patents to prove his copyright. Secondly, to publish more heavyweight papers as soon as possible. Ma Tao held out a second finger, continuing, ¡°Another point is to rely on the widespread public opinion campaign.¡± ¡°Public opinion, in fact, is quite easy to manipulate.¡± ¡°Since Mo Jianhua is selling the persona of ¡®Quasi Academician¡¯, then you can sell ¡®super-genius¡¯ plus ¡®astronaut¡¯ personas, see who sells better! Don¡¯t worry, from what we can see so far, your character definitely passes muster¡­¡± Zhang Yuan felt a bit embarrassed being praised like this. ¡°They may have a big influence within the academic circles, but how could they possibly compete with the Deep Space Foundation elsewhere? We will fully support you, and soon some reporters from the moon news will come to interview you.¡± ¡°Reporters?¡± Zhang Yuan suddenly became nervous. ¡°Don¡¯t be too nervous, just chat casually. Just act as a representative of the advanced figures of Area C, anyway, we consider that paper yours already. What do you think?¡± Zhang Yuan knew deep down that this was not only encouragement but also an invisible push. Once on the newspaper, he must maintain his ¡°persona¡± of outstanding genius without wavering. This maintenance wasn¡¯t for a month or two, but for life! He must always be better than others. Otherwise, his whole persona would completely collapse! But, with real knowledge inside, what is there to fear? Even if he had used up his father¡¯s intellectual legacy, couldn¡¯t he continue to explore and discover on his own? ¡°Okay!¡± he thought carefully and replied. ¡­ Chapter 61 - Chapter 61: Chapter 61: People on the Moon, Insiders Chapter 61: Chapter 61: People on the Moon, Insiders The two reporters from the news agency were very pretty, quietly waiting at the door of the Captain¡¯s Room. ¡°Hello, Mr. Zhang Yuan,¡± said the reporter whose surname was Lin, called Lin Xuanyuan, ¡°may we begin now?¡± She looked at him with a bright, cheerful smile, her fair skin adding to her beauty. ¡°Ready.¡± Reporter Lin paused momentarily, then asked in a clear, crisp voice, ¡°Firstly, I¡¯d like to know, it¡¯s very difficult for the traditional field of mechanics to produce articles with high impact factors now, most of the publishable work is in interdisciplinary studies. Yet, your paper caused quite a stir within the industry. What is special about your paper?¡± Zhang Yuan replied seriously, ¡°Let me correct that first, my paper mainly deals with the control theory of complex robots and is not a traditional mechanical direction. The paper presents a big framework, with this theory, we can solve many previous difficulties, such as bipedal robot¡¯s stable walking in unknown environments, and so on¡­¡± ¡°Its practical value is likely to be quite high, so it made a significant impact.¡± The young lady reporter only understood the last sentence but didn¡¯t mind. She went on to ask, ¡°As an outstanding youth from Zone C, are you confident in facing more challenges in the future?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Will you continue to strive to produce more scientific results in the future?¡± Isn¡¯t that obvious? Zhang Yuan confidently said, ¡°Of course!¡± Click! Click! Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï Click! He posed for a few photos until his face nearly stiffened from smiling. ¡°Is that all?¡± ¡°Yes, we need to interview others too. Did you want to keep being interviewed?¡± Reporter Lin smiled at him and then turned to leave. After the interview with the few young ladies ended, Zhang Yuan finally breathed a long sigh of relief. Full of excitement in his head. These administrative people¡­ are too damn cunning, it¡¯s like killing without seeing blood. He could already imagine what would happen in the future. Reflecting for a moment, if he were just a nobody, that damn Mo Jianhua might really have succeeded. Many things can¡¯t be clearly explained by just talking, and even if explained, no one might believe it. Earth, truly is a bit crude. He hoped the new civilization in the future wouldn¡¯t be like this. Next, he turned on his phone and wrote a lengthy blog post. ¡°Hello everyone, I¡¯m Zhang Yuan. I¡¯m on the Moon, part of the inner circle, my monthly income is 1100 New Coins. I should keep a low profile, but unfortunately, I¡¯ve hit the trending searches again.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m the one who donated ten million half a month ago¡­¡± ¡°In fact, it was not only ten million, but I also donated all my property on Earth, such as houses, adding up to maybe fifteen million¡­ Basically, I¡¯m penniless now.¡± ¡°Lovely ladies need not flirt with me, I can¡¯t afford anyone.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that my thoughts are particularly noble, but because I¡¯m about to leave Earth. Those properties are useless to me¡­¡± ¡°Where do you think I am now?¡± [Picture of the Earth Era] [Picture of the Moon Base] ¡°¡­As for my paper, I personally wrote it at Xisha University, there is no way I committed any fraud. I study over 10 hours a day and have never socialized with Professor Mo Jianhua.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t understand why this situation has occurred.¡± ¡°I once submitted to ¡®Modern Science¡¯ but got rejected.¡± ¡°So I submitted to ¡®Scientific Pioneer¡¯ instead and am very honored to have been appreciated by the editors.¡± [Screenshot of the submission letter] ¡°¡­It¡¯s possible Professor Mo really did have similar ideas as mine, or maybe something else happened that I¡¯m unaware of.¡± ¡°Justice lies in the hearts of people, anyway, I believe the academic committee will give a fair and objective solution¡­¡± ¡°Thank you for your attention. If there¡¯s any progression, I will post an update immediately.¡± Having written this far, the cause and process were already very clear. Moreover, he had ¡°unintentionally¡± created an image of himself as an excellent, upright, and ambitious young man. Astronauts are already bonus points in the hearts of the general public. Who, coveting wealth and glory, would be willing to go to a desolate place to restart civilization? So why don¡¯t you donate all your prize money, abandon everything, and join me at Gliese 581g? Yes, that¡¯s it! Zhang Yuan felt a bit embarrassed. He wasn¡¯t someone who enjoyed being high-profile, and he hardly ever engaged with social media. But when you¡¯re in the world, you often have no choice but to act with the world. There are some things you must fight for. He clicked the ¡°Post¡± button. ¡°Friends, it¡¯s your turn to join the fray. Hurry up!¡± Zhang Yuan urged, his face flushing with heat. Ye Kaifu grumbled and commented irritably, ¡°Insider here, not hiding anymore. 10 hours of study a day is a lie; this guy studies 14-16 hours every day! Smiling on the outside, cursing on the inside, wish I could avoid him more, lest he keels over dead in bed one day¡­¡± Li Zhendong also cursed discontentedly, ¡°Why should I be helping this show-off? By that measure, am I not also virtuous? I¡¯m an astronaut, too.¡± ¡°Yes, you¡¯re virtuous too, virtuous enough to have a bunch of girls throwing themselves at you.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Li Zhendong rolled his eyes and wrote, ¡°Can you believe there¡¯s someone who amuses themselves with calculus problems? Anyway, he¡¯s better at calculus than Mathematica100¡­¡± Watching the comments from various support groups pile up, including support from his old university teachers, was a warm feeling. Good character is truly a good thing. In others¡¯ eyes, Zhang Yuan really was quite a nice guy. The number of shares rose quickly. Then came two surprise bombshells that Zhang Yuan hadn¡¯t expected. Entrepreneur Ma Teng commented, ¡°I once chatted with young Zhang for a while, found him quite talented. Offered him an annual salary of two million to stay on Earth, but got rejected. Raised it to three million, still rejected.¡± ¡°Do you know what he said?¡± ¡°Even if you offer two billion, you still can¡¯t buy my heart!¡± Below was a comment from Chairman Ding: ¡°Haha, the entire project has now officially started, hope it all goes smoothly. Suddenly, I think the investment I made was too little. I¡¯m investing three billion of my own money to buy out everyone else¡¯s shares, wondering if everyone agrees¡­¡± Ma Teng responded urgently, ¡°Master Ding, you better not break the rules, we¡¯re not selling our shares, and we won¡¯t let you monopolize!¡± These well-known entrepreneurs brought with them huge numbers of followers, and given the topic already had substance, it quickly ignited massive attention. The comments grew more numerous, quickly turning in a one-sided wave of criticism. One hour later, Zhang Yuan realized¡­ The web seemed to have crashed. ¡­ Chapter 62 - Chapter 62: Chapter 62 Doomed! Chapter 62: Chapter 62 Doomed! Mo Jianhua was in a particularly good mood. He had not easily obtained various titles for himself, and they indeed served as a protective umbrella, turning him into a radiant figure, unharmed by all poisons. He even pulled some strings to delete a slew of unfavorable comments online. A few dropouts spent all day trying to smear him, an utterly tiresome nuisance. These rambling fools, just shut them up directly. ¡°Worthless! What can you do to me? If you have the guts, kill yourself!¡± Regarding the academic committee, that had been taken care of long ago, an investigation of one¡¯s own people by their own, could anything really come of it? ¡°I didn¡¯t expect that kid to have connections with Xisha University, a bit of a background. It¡¯s my fault for not investigating in advance.¡± ¡°However, Xisha University can¡¯t compare with M University, no matter what.¡± With that thought, he felt quite relaxed. Next, as long as he could persuade Zhang Yuan to retract his paper, that would be enough. Once the paper was retracted, the storm would pass, and his reputation would remain untarnished. ¡°It¡¯s just a matter of how much money it will cost, one or two million should be enough, right?!¡± The thought of this budget made Mo Jianhua a bit reluctant to part with his money. Well, never mind, money is something you can always make more of. It made him feel as if he were at a loss. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï However, he would have to be more careful in the future. There¡¯s a saying, ¡®Three times and you¡¯re out¡¯; if another scandal broke out, even a fool would see a pattern. Thus, Mo Jianhua was contemplating retiring from this line of work after being evaluated for Academician of the Academy¡­ he would have achieved success and fame, no need to keep mixing in these circles¡­ ¡°Professor Mo, representatives from several large companies would like to discuss a project with you!¡± Suddenly, his assistant called. ¡°Good, have them wait for me in the conference room,¡± Mo Jianhua said with a pleased expression. He was very satisfied with the response of these company representatives. Everybody acts out of self-interest; the project brought by this paper was out of the ordinary, and this time, he might earn tens or even hundreds of millions! ¡°Professor Mo, nice to meet you.¡± ¡°President Wang, good to see you.¡± Ten minutes later, Professor Mo had shaken hands with several company managers. ¡°Let me first introduce this new theory¡­¡± In negotiations, he had long mastered the art of probing, silence, and mediation to gain the maximum benefit. In some ways, he could be considered talented. ¡°Professor Mo, this project sounds quite challenging¡­¡± ¡°President Wang, no problem, I have an entire professional team behind me! I¡¯m confident that it will be completed within a year¡­¡± ¡°Heh, we have great faith in Professor Mo¡¯s ability. So, about the contract issues¡­¡± Mo Jianhua nodded in satisfaction. Anyway, most of the work would be done by the students below him. Otherwise, what was he keeping them for? This was training! Students working for their professor was perfectly natural! During this short time, a basic agreement on cooperation was reached between the two parties. They had collaborated many times before and had few reservations. For capitalists, whether a mentor exploits his students or not, it doesn¡¯t matter to them as long as the project can succeed¡­ Suddenly, the phone of President Wang, which was sitting on the table, started ringing. ¡°Excuse me, Professor Mo.¡± President Wang hurriedly stepped out to take the call, then returned with a peculiar expression on his face. ¡°Professor Mo, I have an important meeting this afternoon. Could we perhaps discuss the collaboration further in a couple of days?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Professor Mo¡¯s expression changed. ¡°That¡¯s fine.¡± After seeing off President Wang and his entourage, Mo Jianhua was left feeling befuddled; it had all seemed so urgent a moment ago, and now they had just left. At that moment, a news alert popped up on his phone. ¡°New Era, New Fashion, Recording the Youth Who Chase Their Dreams!¡± The news article spoke about the cultivation of the academic environment in the ¡°Earth Era,¡± with rather trite and vacuous wording. But it listed several young geniuses, One of whom was Zhang Yuan, and his representative paper was mentioned too, yes, the one that caused the controversy. A wave of annoyance surged in Mo Jianhua; the media outlet was ¡°Moon News Press,¡± affiliated with the Deep Space Planning Bureau, and beyond his reach to influence. However, a sense of impending crisis began to gnaw at him. He was a man with a keen political sensibility, and the official media had tacitly recognized Zhang Yuan as the copyright holder of the paper. He wondered what that implied. Then, he noticed various chaotic comments on the internet. ¡°Young Genius Persona¡± VS ¡°Prospective Academician of the Academy Persona.¡± ¡°The ¡®genius youth¡¯ had the clear upper hand!¡± Because even when you call someone an ¡®almost Academician¡¯, there¡¯s still the word ¡®almost¡¯. There¡¯s a difference between having ¡®almost¡¯ in front of your title and not having it at all. And Zhang Yuan¡¯s blog post was too real, terrifyingly so. An astronaut about to leave Earth, would he really need to plagiarize someone else? Even a few big shots from the circles publicly supported him. ¡°People without shame are invincible. Don¡¯t let one rotten apple spoil the whole barrel.¡± ¡°Stomping out academic pests is everyone¡¯s duty. (Solid proof inside!)¡± ¡°Support! (Fist) (Fist)¡± The self-media love to fabricate sensational news to attract attention ¨C how do they do it? Obviously, by flipping the narrative, blindly praising the ¡®genius youth¡¯ while viciously attacking the ¡®famous figure¡¯! Mo Jianhua felt a cold sweat trickle down his back. This overwhelming wave of criticism felt as if the issue had become a confirmed fact. Suddenly, he realized he might have encountered a real tough nut, not the kind of putty you could mold at will¡­ The only solution to this immense public pressure was to contact the relevant departments to have the unsavory comments deleted. Yes, delete them all! He quickly picked up the phone, ¡°Hello, is this Xiao Zhang?¡± ¡°Professor Mo, I no longer have the authority to delete those,¡± came the reply. ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°The higher-ups have ordered¡­¡± ¡°Which higher-ups?¡± ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know. Just the higher-ups.¡± After hanging up, Mo Jianhua felt inexplicably panicked and paced anxiously around his office. When it rains, it pours. Shortly after, Professor Yang, the chief editor of Modern Science, placed a call. ¡°Hello, Professor Mo, I¡¯d like to consult you on something.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Editor Yang hesitated, then said, ¡°About your paper¡­ could you consider retracting it?¡± ¡°What¡­ Retract it, how could that be possible?!¡± His voice unintentionally grew louder. A retraction was like concrete evidence of his own guilt. To retract would be to admit defeat, triggering further investigations ¨C it was out of the question! ¡°Professor Mo¡­ there might be an investigation from above.¡± ¡°¡­Investigation? Who would investigate?¡± Mo Jianhua felt startled. If a bunch of politicians were to investigate, he was not afraid. Those political types didn¡¯t have a clue; could they even understand a single sentence of his paper? If they couldn¡¯t understand, what would they investigate? Nothing. That¡¯s what. He raged internally, with his thoughts in turmoil and sweat breaking out on his back for no reason. ¡°Just a few hours ago, the Ministry of Education established a new committee to review academic misconduct. Do you know who the president is?¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Wang Zhong, Professor Wang!¡± Mo Jianhua was stunned. This famous mathematician, known for his fiery temper and numerous prestigious awards in his youth, was definitely someone he was aware of. Editor Yang continued, ¡°Do you know¡­ who Zhang Yuan is?¡± ¡°Who?¡± Mo Jianhua¡¯s premonition worsened. ¡°He¡¯s Professor Wang¡¯s direct descendant!¡± Mo Jianhua was shocked, his body covered in goosebumps. It was like falling from heaven to hell in an instant ¨C his opponent even had a stronger backer! He was finished! He collapsed onto the floor. ¡­ (PS: Since so many people are criticizing me, I¡¯ve decided to take a day off during the May Day holiday to adjust my thoughts.) (This content has already been written and can¡¯t be changed now; it has to be published. Consider this chapter my way of making up for the leave.) Chapter 63 - Chapter 63: Chapter 63 A Busy Day Chapter 63: Chapter 63 A Busy Day ¡°¡­To put it simply, that¡¯s the situation. This person has had a lot of dark history even before, and we plan to slowly gather evidence and dig it all out. If we can implicate more scandals along the way, that would be even better!¡± In the video, Professor Wang laughed heartily, ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to you that we found a good breakthrough, making them unknowingly walk into our trap. After this ordeal, the academic atmosphere in Xia Country will improve significantly.¡± After hearing Professor Wang Zhong describe it that way, Zhang Yuan felt exhilarated, experiencing a deeply satisfying sense of avenging a great wrong. The knowledge was an important legacy bestowed upon him by his father, and having it stolen like that would make anyone angry. But now, it finally belonged to him again. He said very sincerely, ¡°Thank you, Professor Wang!¡± Professor Wang smiled, seeming to see the real thoughts in Zhang Yuan¡¯s heart. He sent over a picture¡ªit was a real-time photograph of Earth. ¡°This should be the view of Earth that you¡¯re seeing. I haven¡¯t been to space in decades, and might not have the chance to go again¡­¡± Zhang Yuan nodded, ¡°Yes.¡± From the Moon¡¯s perspective, Earth was 14 times larger than when seen from the Earth looking at the Moon. It was beautiful, shimmering like a sapphire with a charming halo. Wang Zhong expressed his emotions, ¡°Look, everything including the grudges and arguments you see online, are just minor stories happening on a small planet. In fact, they are just one in a billion of such stories¡­¡± ¡°Even if you are right at the epicenter of the planet, where a storm is currently raging¡­¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? In the center of the screen, a tropical air mass was swirling. It was the season prone to form typhoons, and it had a certain probability of developing into a major tropical storm. ¡°Even if it turns into a real typhoon¡­ so what? It can only last for a few days, it will soon dissipate, and from the perspective of the universe, no one will remember that a storm ever occurred there.¡± ¡°Earth is just so small.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about those unimportant things.¡± Zhang Yuan was stunned for a moment, realizing that since this incident occurred, he had been restless, wasting a lot of his time. ¡°You¡¯re right¡­¡± Being at the eye of the storm inevitably meant getting carried away by the wind, perhaps this was due to not being strong enough. Wang Zhong said with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s okay, after all you are still young¡ªit¡¯s good to be aware of this. If I had endured such things at your age, I would have grabbed a knife and taken the high-speed train to deal with my enemy!¡± Zhang Yuan also laughed, as he knew about Professor Wang¡¯s quick temper. But Professor Wang had gained fame at a young age and came from a prestigious background, unlike him, just a nobody¡ªhow could anyone dare plagiarize his papers? Professor Wang sighed, ¡°That¡¯s why I can¡¯t get rid of this bad habit; I¡¯m just at this level, not considered a top-notch scholar¡­¡± ¡°Being generous is enough to gather people, self-discipline is enough to lead people, broad-mindedness is enough to win people, leading by example is enough to guide people. If you can¡¯t get past the three hurdles of wealth, lust and fame, you¡¯re just mediocre. Although you are not interested in wealth, you haven¡¯t completely passed the hurdle of fame¡­ I hope you will stick to your own path and keep walking.¡± Zhang Yuan thought about various comments on social networks and asked, ¡°Professor Wang, if I were an ordinary person with no strong background and truly faced such situation, how should I deal with it?¡± Professor Wang Zhong laughed heartily. After a while, he shook his head and whispered, ¡°There might not be any good solutions. If you are more assertive, you will cause a series of troubles for the other party, but it would just be troubles unless you are willing to perish together with them. If you are more timid, you might just be settled by the other party. This is the harsh reality.¡± ¡°Our technology may be much more powerful than in ancient times, but our social system and culture are not necessarily more advanced.¡± Professor Wang sighed, ¡°Human history is essentially repeating itself. Even if ¡®science¡¯ is added as a variable, it merely prolongs the process of repetition. The history of the past five thousand years is a continuous process of overthrowing ruling classes. But once a ruling class is overthrown, a new ruling class emerges, and hence they become the targets of overthrow¡­¡± ¡°Think about it, when Mo Jianhua became a reviewer, did he think about engaging in academic corruption right away? Certainly not. When young, who doesn¡¯t have grand ambitions? It¡¯s just environmental factors, combined with the convenience of his position, that led him to such thoughts. Human corruption is spontaneous.¡± Zhang Yuan bowed his head, sighing in his heart. ¡°The complexity of Earth Civilization is striking. The entrenched history has already had a profound impact on the present. Some issues are clearly right or wrong, but when they involve deep-rooted vested interests, they cannot be corrected swiftly¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s why we need to build a brand-new, more vibrant civilization!¡± Zhang Yuan looked at Professor Wang¡¯s solemn expression, but he harbored a significant doubt in his heart¡ªhow could he establish a better, more powerful civilization? The ruling class would still exist in this new civilization. How can this situation be avoided? Could it be¡­ without a ruling class? Impossible, without one, the entire civilization would just be a mess, becoming even worse. He couldn¡¯t grasp the solution to this problem yet. He believed that the history of the next three thousand years would definitely offer better insights. ¡­ After the video call ended and all controversies had been resolved, Zhang Yuan no longer paid attention to external developments and immersed himself back into his hectic work. He had many tasks to attend to, including his duties on the spaceship, preparing for graduate entrance exams, and projects on Earth. As they say, ¡°You only realize the importance of a book when you need it.¡± After finishing his duties in the morning, he spent almost all his remaining time immersed in the library. The Earth Era¡¯s library had not a single paper book; all books were in electronic format. It merely provided everyone a very quiet place to study. Every time he entered, he saw many people studiously learning¡ªthis atmosphere felt great and slightly pressured. ¡°Is your matter resolved?¡± Li Zhendong¡¯s first question was this. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s resolved¡­ Is the transfer of the e-book database done? All the books and papers should be downloadable now.¡± ¡°Almost, the Foundation must have spent a lot of money to buy the rights to these books. We¡¯re leaving anyway, why can¡¯t they provide them to us for free?¡± Zhang Yuan curled his lip, ¡°That¡¯s impossible¡­ Even if you walked into a grave, the capitalists would still be desperate to suck more blood.¡± Li Zhendong laughed, ¡°Don¡¯t think so poorly of others. The Foundation has also collected a lot of patents, which we can read for free and even use!¡± Zhang Yuan was speechless, ¡°Patents are supposed to be public¡­ As for their use, of course, it should be free. Do they expect to charge us 20 light-years away?¡± Li Zhendong was stunned, ¡°Seems like¡­ yes.¡± During this conversation, Zhang Yuan carefully selected and downloaded two books, and began reading them earnestly¡­ Chapter 64 - Chapter 64: Chapter 64 Setting Sail Chapter 64: Chapter 64 Setting Sail He was reading ¡°Assembly Language (Third Edition).¡± The lower the layer of hardware, the higher the difficulty factor. There weren¡¯t any particularly appetizing books here, all of them merely having a referential value, and not immediately applicable. Zhang Yuan suddenly felt that his annual salary of two million seemed a bit cheap. Fortunately, there was no rush on time; he had at least a year to complete this task. And it wasn¡¯t just him, but a large team¡ªthe United Government on Earth had many other people allocated for this. Li Zhendong noticed his worried look and subconsciously glanced at the page Zhang Yuan had open. ¡°ADD2MACROOPTR1, OPTR2, RESULT¡± ¡°MOV AX, OPTR1¡± ¡°ADD AX, OPTR2¡± ¡°MOV RESULT, AX¡± ¡°ENDM¡± ¡°¡­¡± What¡¯s the situation? Was this guy already studying assembly language? Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í¨À¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Times change, and programming languages are constantly being updated. But assembly, this most basic language, seems like it will never be outdated. ¡°Is it simple?¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright, not hard to understand, just a lot to remember.¡± Li Zhendong quickly adjusted his posture, striving to be more attentive. No matter what, he couldn¡¯t be left too far behind. ¡­ And so, days passed one after another. Zhang Yuan¡¯s small worry was soon overshadowed by even bigger headlines. On August 23, 2264, the much-anticipated departure day of the Earth Era finally arrived. ¡°Zhang, what are you doing, cooped up all day! Today is an important day.¡± Group Leader Wang Xin pushed open the door to find Zhang Yuan sitting seriously in front of the computer, with two large dark circles under his eyes, seemingly pondering a problem. Wang Xin was puzzled. He found this guy to be getting more bizarre by the day. The last time he came, Zhang Yuan was in this pose; the time before that, he was still in this pose! And the time before that¡­ was a week ago! What are those on the table, exactly? Pulled out hair? ¡°Could it be¡­ baldness makes you stronger?¡± Wang Xin couldn¡¯t help pulling out a strand of hair himself. Damn, so stupid! ¡°Can you stop studying all day? You¡¯re going to¡­¡± he trailed off. ¡°Going to what?¡± Zhang Yuan asked, puzzled. Wang Xin opened his mouth, ¡°¡­you¡¯ll become a weirdo, develop a psychological disorder.¡± ¡°Not at all, I¡¯m quite happy, happy all day long.¡± It seemed like Group Leader Wang considered it his duty to maintain the safety of the spaceship, ¡°Actually, you know, your last newspaper article was nothing, no one¡¯s continuously watching you. How about I introduce you to a girl? How does that sound? Hibernating together, waking up together¡­ it¡¯d be more interesting.¡± Anyway, in his opinion, having someone to care about in your heart reduces the chances of psychological abnormalities. Zhang Yuan had already been marked as a high-risk candidate for mental illness. Zhang Yuan said awkwardly, ¡°Group Leader Wang, what industry did you work in before?¡± ¡°Surveillance. Many of the surveillance systems on the spaceship were installed by me!¡± No wonder¡­ A rational analysis suggested this was a man severely lacking in security, and it was a mystery as to why he would come on board the spaceship. ¡°My wife is a psychologist here on the spaceship, if you have any problems you can talk to her.¡± He was also under the thumb of his wife. ¡°Hurry up, let¡¯s go!¡± ¡°Oh.¡± After tidying up his desk, Zhang Yuan leapt up from his seat and quickly ran outside. Today was the day the spaceship was set to depart. Apart from some key project leaders who were stationed at their respective posts, all other astronauts were required to stay at designated locations and were not allowed to wander about. There were also military personnel maintaining order at key transportation hubs. Area C¡¯s playing field had long been swarming with people, and in front of the field was a giant screen broadcasting the speech of the highest leader of Earth Civilization to the entire world. ¡°Hurry up; I saved you a spot!¡± Their work group consisted of eight people, three men and five women. Because the girls were of high quality, Li Zhendong, the shameless fellow, would always come over, claiming he wanted to make more friends. After spending some time together, everyone had come to know that Zhang Yuan was a workaholic. Top scholars were in demand in this new society, and the girls giggled as they made room for him to sit down. Zhang Yuan took his seat, thanked them, and then closed his eyes, ready to take the chance to catch up on some sleep. However, at this crucial moment, there¡¯s always a bit of restlessness. On the video, a middle-aged man, the leader of the United Government, was making a proclamation: ¡°¡­I sincerely wish you well and believe that you will always maintain such vitality, to create a greater, more harmonious, and more perfect civilization. This is the value of your lives.¡± ¡°Be proud of yourselves; we are proud of you as well.¡± ¡°We hope that you can use your wisdom to solve the problem of ¡®mediocrity¡¯ that plagues human civilization and even the entire universe. We will use our history to light the way before you¡­¡± ¡°Earth will forever be your mother. The million-year history of humankind, with all its hardships, has fought to this point, taking a new step at last¡­ We will bloom a magnificent flower of migration in the vast Milky Way.¡± ¡°Here, I declare, the Earth Era spaceship has officially embarked on its journey!¡± Suddenly, the entire square fell silent. All the noise and frolic came to a halt. This was a solemn moment. Very solemn. Everyone stared at the big screen, which was broadcasting a live feed from the Moon Space Port. Zhang Yuan felt something and opened his eyes. Time ticked away, minute by minute, as the massive gantry crane moved slowly. All the fixed supports were being orderly dismantled. The moment to inspect the final results had arrived; all the staff had worked hard for nearly 40 years for this day. It had been over 100 years since Professor Qi Yuanshan proposed the ¡°Deep Space Project.¡± At this moment, the dream of a new civilization had truly been realized. Suddenly, a bright white light flickered from the engine section in the center of the spaceship¡ªthis was the sign of the nuclear fusion engine starting up. More than twenty auxiliary engines also ejected bright plasma flames. These engines would provide the spaceship with an acceleration of one two-thousandths of a meter per second squared. This number was small but reliable over time. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t there be any problems?¡± ¡°There won¡¯t be any problems; all this technology is quite mature.¡± Whispers began to rise in the hall. Zhang Yuan activated his phone, connecting to the internal network, which displayed various real-time parameters. The spaceship, powered by the nuclear fusion engine, slowly detached from the Space Port. According to the plan, it would orbit the Moon fifteen times before gradually breaking free of the Moon¡¯s gravity. Satellite imagery revealed that in the boundless universe, a speck of dust was slowly leaving these two warm little rocks. Zhang Yuan felt a deep sense of oppression in his heart. The blue Earth, the vast Moon, the warm Sun¡ªthere may not be such a cozy haven elsewhere in the universe. Despite its flaws, Earth Civilization had provided the maximum support and tolerance for this ¡°infant.¡± On social networks, almost everyone in the world was sending sincere wishes to the spaceship. People were astonished to discover a tiny star dot appearing around the Moon. It was clearly visible through astrological observation methods¡ªit was the ion flame from the Earth Era spaceship. ¡°We will eventually become legends!¡± Li Zhendong, watching the spaceship drift away from the Space Port bit by bit, suddenly rubbed his eyes. ¡°No,¡± Zhang Yuan shook his head, ¡°we¡¯ve already become legends!¡± ¡­ Chapter 65 - Chapter 65: Chapter 65 Basic Ability Level Test Chapter 65: Chapter 65 Basic Ability Level Test One week later. The Earth Era had already deployed a huge light sail, and it had officially escaped the Moon¡¯s gravity, heading towards the Jupiter Industrial Base. The laser system at the Moon Base, along with the sunlight from the Sun, would provide it with a continuous source of power. For the small society inside, whether the spaceship was stationary or in motion didn¡¯t make much difference. A massive ¡°Basic Ability Level Test¡± was about to be staged in various regions. The ¡°Star University¡± and ¡°Deep Space University¡± inside the spaceship had officially begun enrolling students. Of course, they were currently enrolling mostly graduate students and accepted only a very few undergraduates, though it was feasible for someone to restart their university education if they really wanted. ¡°¡­Have you all decided what majors you want to apply for?¡± ¡°If someone scores well, they can officially transfer from this low-level position, no need to sweep the floor with me anymore. Coming together is fate, and for the student in our group who ranks first, I will even give a branded pen brought from Earth!¡± Wang Xin took out a glittering pen and spoke to a group of group members. The other seven members had just graduated from university, whereas he was already in his early thirties. ¡°Brother Wang, you¡¯re definitely biased. With Zhang Yuan here, you might as well just give it to him directly!¡± A girl shouted. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? ¡°Yes, yes.¡± Zhang Yuan was slightly embarrassed; after all, everyone was a top student, and none were slackers. However, after a long period of striving, he had evolved into an ¡°Academic God,¡± not only intelligent but also diligent, something beyond comparison with others. He quickly changed the subject: ¡°Brother Wang, aren¡¯t you planning to take the exams?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve graduated so many years ago, I¡¯ve long forgotten all that knowledge, why would I take any exams.¡± Wang Xin laughed: ¡°I¡¯ll just do some administrative work in the future, and going into hibernation a bit earlier doesn¡¯t matter. After all, my wife is also here, and I have no attachments left on Earth. Every place needs talents, not just scientific talents, right?¡± Zhang Yuan nodded. In fact, many experts and scholars had brought their families onto the spaceship. Of course, their family members were generally equally excellent. ¡°What about you guys, what areas do you want to research?¡± ¡°Space plant cultivation!¡± ¡°Spaceship environmental science!¡± ¡°Ah, for me, just being a programmer is enough¡­¡± ¡­ ¡°Zhang Yuan, how about you?¡± Zhang Yuan was somewhat perplexed; he actually liked mathematics quite a bit, such as ¡°Far Abel Geometry¡± studied by Professor Wang Zhong, or symplectic geometry, but such subjects were epic academic traps, and currently, there were no particularly strong pure mathematicians on the spaceship. After some thought, his only option was to pursue ¡°Space Mechanics,¡± a rather broad field. Several well-known professors could be found in these fields, and he had even met and discussed with them in advance. As they talked, the bell rang, and Zhang Yuan walked into the examination hall with everyone. The ¡°Basic Ability Level Test¡± was an important criterion for applying to graduate school, and although he had already been noticed by some professors, he still needed to take the exams to avoid people¡¯s criticisms. He had four exams to take, the first being ¡°Advanced Mathematics,¡± which was a foundational course that virtually every candidate had to take. The other three subjects were Information Science, Basic Algorithms, and Political History. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, please note that the examination subject in this venue is Advanced Mathematics, lasting three hours. Please turn off your communication devices.¡± The proctor said with a sly smile: ¡°¡­There are too many people on the spaceship now, it¡¯s a bit crowded. Any cheating will be recorded in the archives and will lead to enforced hibernation.¡± Suddenly, all the candidates became nervous, making a spattering noise. A few more handed over their cell phones. The test papers were distributed. Zhang Yuan glanced at the problem. 1. Let b=(¡Ì5-1)/2, and define the sequence an: when [b*n] is odd, an=1; when [b*n] is even, an=-1, where [x] is the floor function, question: Is Sn=¡Æan bounded? Oh, there weren¡¯t any multiple-choice questions? Zhang Yuan thought for a moment and couldn¡¯t come up with a solution right away. He realized that this kind of exam was no longer the kind from university that pursued a pass rate, but one that pursued a ¡°filtering rate.¡± It had a bit of difficulty. He became more interested and perked up. These were all contents covered in Mathematical Analysis, and no matter how difficult, there was a limit to it. For Zhang Yuan, a problem that had an answer was just a paper tiger. In the process, he really encountered a very strong paper tiger. The last question was rather tricky and took him¡­10 minutes. After working for about an hour, Zhang Yuan had completed all the problems. After carefully checking, he found no major errors. Having published several research papers, completing these mathematical problems didn¡¯t give him much of a sense of achievement. He yawned widely. He thought there was no need to turn in the papers early, and lay down on his spot to take a nap. He had developed a very ¡°bad¡± habit. In his own dorm, he always wanted to work enthusiastically, frequently pulling all-nighters, unable to stop. He had tried to keep regular hours, but often time slipped away unexpectedly, and before he knew it, it was midnight. This also led to him always feeling sleepy when he was out and wanting to sleep. After all, in Zhang Yuan¡¯s subconscious, participating in various activities was a necessity. Sleeping and resting during the unavoidable times was simply¡­ too profitable! ¡­ In the corridor, several professors from Star University and Deep Space University were inspecting the examination discipline. In a new civilization, a university, as the highest academic institution, was definitely necessary, and it was a major focus of the entire civilization. As for¡­ having such a small population yet dividing it into two universities, it was to promote positive competition between them. Without competition, there¡¯s no motivation. ¡°Old Guo, the mathematics questions you set are a bit difficult. There were a few questions even I was stuck on for a moment.¡± A Professor surnamed Fang said with a smile. ¡°Difficult, so there¡¯s a clear distinction!¡± Professor Guo shook his head: ¡°I only want to teach genius students now, really don¡¯t want to waste time on mediocrity. You know, even the graduate students recruited by P University are mostly just getting degrees.¡± ¡°P University can¡¯t satisfy you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the same even in the best universities, mostly fools.¡± Guo Fan was a young professor from P University, working in condensed matter physics, including but not limited to ¡°Light Stagnation Technology,¡± ¡°Topological superconductors,¡± ¡°Topological semimetals,¡± etc. Jumping ship from one of Earth¡¯s top universities, naturally, he had his own pride. The two chatted as they walked forward, inspecting each examination room. Chapter 66 - Chapter 66: Chapter 66: The Teacher Who Sets Questions Freely Chapter 66: Chapter 66: The Teacher Who Sets Questions Freely First up was a genius from Zone D named Wei Dongyi who liked to submit his exam papers early in order to disdain the intelligence of his classmates and the instructors. ¡°That clueless guy thinks he¡¯s amazing just because he can solve a few problems! Today, I¡¯m going to stump him for sure!¡± Seeing Wei Dongyi still pondering at his desk, Guo Fan couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. He had once taught university physics to Wei Dongyi¡¯s class, but the kid slept through every lecture and hardly ever attended a full class. In the end, he still scored high on the test! That incident really infuriated Guo Fan, and he finally seized an opportunity to embarrass his opponent. ¡°Don¡¯t say that, he¡¯s actually a pretty good seedling. If your Deep Space University doesn¡¯t take him, we won¡¯t be polite about it.¡± Professor Guo promptly said, ¡°That¡­ still depends on his own choice. You can¡¯t just snatch someone away!¡± Next up was a well-known genius from Zone B, named Fujino Junko, a girl from Mu Country who was a two-time gold medalist at the International Mathematical Olympiad. Junko had a peculiar habit of spinning her pen and staring at the ceiling during her free time, as if her thoughts had entered a distant void. Fujino Junko was already sitting at her desk, idly spinning her pen like a statue. For her, these mathematical problems were as simple as ¡°1+1.¡± From this angle, she seemed even stronger than Wei Dongyi from Zone A. ¡°Junko is a student who took the pure mathematics track. It seems there¡¯s no teacher who can teach her. Why come to the spaceship? Aren¡¯t there good teachers left on Earth¡­¡± Professor Guo was quite puzzled. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?? Both professors were worried; two mighty universities could not find an outstanding mathematician. ¡°¡­She says she wants to witness mathematics three thousand years from now.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. All of us boarding the spaceship want to witness human science and technology three thousand years into the future.¡± Professor Guo could only shake his head: ¡°Which university she applies to, let her decide.¡± Then there was the genius from Zone C¡­ First was Li Cheng¡¯s son, Li Zhendong, who was deep in thought at his desk. However, compared to the accomplishments of the previous two geniuses, Li Zhendong was slightly less extraordinary, and there were only a few true students in the world. ¡°If we really can¡¯t recruit students, Li Zhendong is also an option. His foundational knowledge is very solid. He has potential.¡± And then there was Zhang Yuan, the son of Zhang Qiming, whose level was unknown; he had never been heard of before. Since he came highly recommended by Professor Wang Zhong, one might as well take a look¡­ Damn, he¡¯s actually asleep! Professor Guo was slightly dissatisfied. He walked over and glanced at the test paper filled with writing. Then, he casually walked away. ¡°Zhang Yuan, like Junko, managed to solve the difficult problems¡­ but Junko comes from a mathematics competition background, right?¡± ¡°Are all these geniuses so idiosyncratic?¡± ¡°I know why. This guy spends all his day studying robotics kinematics, so now is a good time to catch up on sleep. An ordinary teacher might not be able to handle him¡­¡± They seemed to recall their own youthful days, when they were slightly smarter than average people and possessed a kind of arrogant and haughty air, and the professors found themselves understanding once again. ¡°It¡¯s okay to be a little arrogant now. When they really stumble over tough problems, they will simmer down.¡± After making the rounds, both professors were extremely satisfied with the pool of students and began to divide up the geniuses. But as they divided them, they started arguing again. ¡°I¡¯ll take Zhang Yuan, and you can have Junko.¡± ¡°Junko is no use to me! Zhang Yuan is mine!¡± ¡°Li Zhendong is yours! Zhang Yuan is mine!¡± ¡°¡­ ¡± Right when Guo Fan was about to agree, a jolt struck his heart: ¡°Zhang Yuan and Junko are yours, the rest are all mine.¡± ¡°No way, absolutely not.¡± They were just indulging in lip service, as graduate students and advisors go for a mutual selection, and one person¡¯s word did not count. ¡­ After taking three exams in the morning, afternoon, and evening, and sleeping three times, Zhang Yuan felt refreshed. It was like the more he tested, the more spirited he became. He was unaware that a proctor had passed by his side. The next day, the last exam was on politics and history, not a science subject, so he couldn¡¯t just sleep through it. The test papers were handed out. The questions at the front were regular political ones, nothing unusual. But the questions towards the end became increasingly bizarre. [The Phoenix Lights incident: On the night of March 13, 1997, about 700 people saw five white glowing spots arranged in a V-shape over the mountains south of Phoenix.] [The five white glowing spots were set up like a carpenter¡¯s square, and spanned a width of 460 meters. They flew slowly at low altitude, and when they passed in front of the moon, the moonlight could still shine through the flying object, showing that it was semi-transparent and silent.] [If this event was true in history, what is your opinion?] Zhang Yuan felt a jolt in his heart. What was this, a historical secret? Or was it to say that aliens had really visited Earth? He was somewhat perplexed by what the exam creator was thinking. As for his opinion¡­ ¡°Aliens exist, and they are more badass than humans.¡± ¡°There is no dark forest.¡± ¡°Superluminal interstellar travel technology might exist.¡± ¡°The aliens may have anti-gravity technology?¡± ¡°Aliens regard humans as if they were low-intelligence monkeys¡­¡± A plethora of ideas jumped out of his mind. First, skip over, write later. Next question. [For science, oftentimes, ethics and morals are like shackles binding our steps. On the edge between technology and ethics, certain controversial experiments garner significant attention.] [If the development of science is truly constrained by ethics, how would you choose?] What¡¯s this, having left Earth Civilization, the exam creators let their self-will fly? Zhang Yuan wrote in bold characters: ¡°Scientific research must uphold the spirit of science and the baseline of ethical morals!¡± But after some thought, he was not satisfied with this answer and sighed: ¡°We should discuss it based on the situation. Survival is a key element for civilization; when the existence of civilization is affected, perhaps one can disregard the interests of the few¡­¡± Next question. [What should be the ultimate goal of a civilization? How do you build a better civilization? And what is the definition of ¡®better¡¯?] Zhang Yuan sighed. What on Earth was all this? He wrote boldly on the paper: ¡°According to the New Civilization School¡¯s view, a civilization can be considered a high-dimensional life form stretching across the four-dimensional axis of time, with each individual civilization being akin to a cell. Because cells have individual wills, the entire civilization has not produced a self will.¡± ¡°The ¡®good¡¯ and ¡®bad¡¯ of civilization can be defined by the physical concept of ¡®entropy.¡¯ This includes the minimum existence of entropy law, entropy proportionate to complexity law, entropy increase law, system chaos law¡­¡± ¡­ Chapter 67 - Chapter 67: Chapter 67 New Civilization History Chapter 67: Chapter 67 New Civilization History ¡°Is this question too bold?¡± In the central meeting room, a group of high-ranking officials aboard the spaceship were discussing the current enrollment plan. The university, as an institution for talent cultivation and scientific research, is the crux of a civilization. Without technology and talent, it¡¯s impossible to restart a civilization. Moreover, the universities on the spaceship have considerable authority, such as priority in allocating labs, distributing resources, and so forth, a large part of training this batch of graduate students must be directed toward the administrative layer of the spaceship. After all, this spaceship is too large; once most people enter hibernation, every awake graduate student must be capable of standing on their own. ¡°What must be known will eventually have to be known¡­ However, some things still need to be done step by step.¡± ¡°I, on the other hand, think it could be done like this¡­¡± Listening to everyone¡¯s discussion, Captain Ma sighed and said in a deep voice, ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, let¡¯s not be confined to conventional thinking¡­¡± ¡°We are already a new civilization; we must produce some new changes rather than follow the old ways and become a civilization like Earth¡­ Otherwise, what¡¯s the point of our journey through the stars?¡± Professor Lin, what¡¯s your opinion?¡± Next to Captain Ma sat a middle-aged man named Lin Fangzheng, who had been a mathematician three years prior and now was a scholar of New Civilization History. It was somewhat incredible for a mathematician to be in the decision-making echelon of a civilization, perhaps in any country. A mathematician would at most have a say in economic matters, but here, within the new civilization, it had easily occurred. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã? The New Civilization School has an important tenet: past experiences profoundly influence future ideologies, so they stand at a critical historical juncture. If they make a mistake now, it will be much harder to correct in the future. Therefore, New Civilization History is a brand-new field of management science, trying to predict the direction of civilization through mathematical modeling. Professor Lin Fangzheng sighed and said, ¡°The Captain is right, we have only this small population, at a civilization¡¯s infant stage, and making significant changes becomes much easier. Before the course of the entire civilization solidifies, everyone should think more and assume more responsibility.¡± Another person around asked, ¡°What do the calculations predict?¡± Lin Fangzheng thought for a moment and said, ¡°This exam has a relatively high probability of being a positive event, consistent with prior experience.¡± But, New Civilization History is still too incomplete to deduce complex historical trajectories; we can only estimate a few high-probability possibilities.¡± ¡°We need more sample information to perfect this brand-new discipline as much as possible. Moreover, the current mathematical models are too crude; I feel they are far from being refined enough. We also need more talent to join in¡­¡± Everyone fell into deep thought. This interstellar migration represents a completely new social experiment, different from the previous capitalist or socialist management systems; the entire civilization will take a completely different path. The New Civilization School, founded by Professor Qi Yuanshan, known as the ¡°Father of Nuclear Fusion,¡± has been around for over a hundred years, its core idea being to use New Civilization History or ¡°calculations¡± to deduce and plan the future direction of the entire civilization. Therefore, the Scientific Council holds the highest authority aboard the entire spaceship. Of course, with our current computational power being far from sufficient, some of the past¡¯s political wisdom is still necessary to manage the spaceship effectively. For a civilization, Science is akin to External Power, while internal institutions and cultural systems form the more important Inner Strength. So the task for this batch of administrators is heavy, with much to rebuild. There are even many ultimate goals quite different from the current Earth Civilization, and for now, we are feeling our way across the river by probing the stones beneath, unsure how to proceed. Captain Ma sighed softly. This first batch of administrators will have less hibernation time and are likely to wither away within this vast Star Domain, never seeing the future Mother Star. Therefore, training successors is also a consideration. If the higher echelons become corrupt in such a small society, this cultural phenomenon will spread rapidly to the lower levels, making it impossible to correct. So, successor training is crucial and must be approached with caution. He looked out the dim window, feeling uncertain about what lay at the end of the road, unknown. How to transition from the current system to a more perfect system was also unknown. ¡°Let¡¯s leave it at that for now; thank you all for your hard work on the recruitment process. The meeting is dismissed!¡± Everyone stood up and left the meeting room. Before leaving, Captain Ma reorganized the various materials on the table, including some of the examination papers. The legends about Aliens, the ¡°Phoenix Light Event¡± ¨C the truth had long been scattered in the whirlpool of history. He didn¡¯t know whether the entire event was real or fake; it was merely a possibility. Whether an Alien Civilization had ever visited Earth was quite significant; it¡¯s treated as an essential proposition in Cosmic Sociology. If the event were false, naturally, there¡¯s not much to say ¨C it would be nothing more than a rumor. But if the event were true¡­ In the vast Universe, an Alien Spaceship had traveled hundreds or thousands of light years to Earth, causing hardly any ripples before departing again. Leaving only human eyewitnesses and various rumors behind. What does it signify? The process is somewhat similar to humans driving cars across the African savanna. For the lions on the African savanna, who saw the cars and pointed them out, humans do not care and pay no attention, even though these lions are the strongest on the savanna. The Universe lacks not for matter; the advance of Science will inevitably become more challenging, so what is lacking is information. Thus, if Alien Spaceships truly came to Earth, why did they not communicate with humans? Because it was unnecessary. The humans of the 20th century hadn¡¯t even achieved Controlled Nuclear Fusion, possessing no technology to speak of. Nuclear bombs? Aircraft carriers? Supersonic fighter jets? Please, what a joke. For a spaceship capable of traversing light years, these were mere toys. Therefore, to an Alien Civilization, the Human Civilization of that time might have seemed like nothing more than an Ordinary Civilization, devoid of any significance in communication. No matter how powerful, a lion is just one of many animals on the savanna, no different in essence from elephants, baboons, hyenas, or the ants on the ground. With that thought, Captain Ma shifted his gaze out the window. 300 years have passed, and humans have become many times stronger than before, even having overcome the threat of energy, but they might still be regarded as an Ordinary Civilization. An Ordinary Civilization that is just a bit more powerful. Regarding another question on the exam, regarding Science and Ethics¡­ He smiled slightly. If the ethics of the past are not thoroughly overturned, how can a stronger civilization emerge? Chapter 68 - Chapter 68: Chapter 68: Is there a fraction among them? Chapter 68: Chapter 68: Is there a fraction among them? Soft music played as the first graduate admission exam for the new civilization finally concluded. Regardless of any regrets, everyone stopped what they were doing and walked out of the examination room. Zhang Yuan exhaled the frustrated air from his lungs, finding the last exam quite tricky. Voices chattered around him, ¡°How did you do?¡± ¡°It was so hard, the questions were tough, I don¡¯t think I can pass¡­¡± ¡°Ah, I think I only did well in Politics and History.¡± ¡°Really? How did you answer the last few questions?¡± ¡°I just wrote some random thoughts about alien diplomacy, respecting their customs and so on¡­ For civilizations without corresponding ethical etiquette, their ideologies might greatly differ from humans¡¯, and we should be cautious when interacting with such civilizations¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good answer. I had no idea what to write and just blundered something¡­¡± ¡°I guess it depends on the teacher¡¯s mood for scoring.¡± In terms of alien diplomacy, there are many conjectures. The first fact is that a civilization capable of crossing light years to interact with humans is probably far superior to humans. Zhang Yuan eavesdropped from the side and thought this classmate¡¯s answer was still a bit naive¡­ Soon, in the crowd, he spotted a familiar figure. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï Li Zhendong was animatedly discussing answers with his peers, probably because he did well, his face expressive with excitement, ¡°¡­This math problem wasn¡¯t hard. You start by organizing the entire equation, then apply the Lagrange Mean Value Theorem, and it solves right away.¡± ¡°Let me tell you another trick for solving problems. In the given conditions, if there¡¯s a function f(x) continuous on [a, b], derivable on (a, b), and f(a)=0 or f(b)=0 or f(a)=f(b)=0, just apply the Lagrange Mean Value Theorem without thinking twice¡­¡± For a good student, discussing answers is sheer pleasure. Especially in front of the less knowledgeable ones, seeing their surprised and shocked expressions just adds to the joy! However, the whole process isn¡¯t friendly to those less knowledgeable. They feel incredibly conflicted, wanting to know how many questions they got right and what scores they could achieve but not wanting to face the grim reality. A few girls turned pale, realizing how many mistakes they had made. Hearing Li Zhendong saying that the problems were simple and already covered in their studies made them wonder why they couldn¡¯t think of the answers during the exam. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell us earlier? There¡¯s no use saying it now. The exam is over, and we can¡¯t retake it!¡± one girl said, slightly irritated. ¡°If I don¡¯t get into graduate school, I might have to hibernate early¡­¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± ¡°You must be bragging. In a year, everyone will be hibernating except you, and you can enjoy your consciousness alone!¡± In university, these girls were probably top students, but now, in front of greater talent, they had turned into underachievers and were struggling to accept this change in status. Each wore a disgruntled expression. Zhang Yuan had to suppress a laugh, thinking to himself that this guy was showing off a bit too much. So, this attempt at impressing the girls was likely to fail. Thinking of Li Zhendong failing and then sulking about it in front of him, wasting a lot of time, he couldn¡¯t help but cough lightly. Li Zhendong realized he might have been a bit too smug and, seeing his emergency rescuer coming, quickly changed the subject, ¡°Let me introduce her, this is Zhang Chenchen, my¡­ good friend¡­ and these two are her besties.¡± Good friend? Zhang Yuan was puzzled. ¡°This is my university classmate, named Zhang Yuan, a super scholar, probably did even better than me! If you have any questions, feel free to ask him!¡± As a representative of the advanced youth in Area C, combined with a few major incidents, many had a slight memory of him. ¡°This handsome guy, why does he look a bit familiar?¡± This girl, named Zhang Chenchen, about one meter sixty tall, with fair and beautiful features, bit her lip hard as she tried to recall. Zhang Yuan secretly admired his friend¡¯s taste; the girl he had chosen was quite impressive. Li Zhendong laughed and said, ¡°He¡¯s the one who publicly quarreled with Professor Mo from Earth¡­¡± Zhang Yuan¡¯s face stiffened. What do you mean publicly quarreled¡­ Wasn¡¯t it the other party that provoked me first? People plagiarize my paper, and it¡¯s my fault?! ¡°Oh! I remember now!¡± ¡°Mr. Zhang, hello.¡± The girls immediately tensed up, fearing they might say something wrong. To quarrel with a famous professor, his combat ability alone was worth their admiration. Seeing their restrained demeanor, Zhang Yuan awkwardly said, ¡°Just call me Zhang Yuan, we¡¯re all about the same age. I just graduated from university, no need to be nervous.¡± One girl asked, ¡°Mr. Zhang, this kind of exam must not be difficult for you, right?¡± ¡°Indeed¡­ not difficult,¡± Zhang Yuan still told the truth. But for the girls, it was more acceptable; after all, quarreling with a famous professor and finding the exam easy was quite normal, right? ¡°Is the exam influenced more by innate intelligence, or by external factors?¡± ¡°Both are factors¡­¡± Zhang Yuan paused for a moment before answering. What he said, of course, was a lie. Such a difficult paper, innate intelligence mattered more. If it were the old him, he could get a decent score, but he would never be as relaxed and easy-going as now, with over half the time free to sleep. Actually, telling a little white lie wasn¡¯t bad either. There was no need to hurt others when there was no feud between them. He planned to give Li Zhendong some face in front of the girls. ¡°Actually, Li Zhendong is also very smart¡­ probably did well, right?¡± Zhang Yuan continued. ¡°Not bad,¡± Li Zhendong hesitated and, in front of Zhang Yuan, didn¡¯t dare to boast or discuss answers. Should there be a mistake pointed out in a question, the embarrassment would be immense. Zhang Chenchen smiled, ¡°Besides showing off, what special talents does Li Zhendong have?¡± ¡°Smart! If Li Zhendong studied over 13 hours a day, he might be smarter and stronger than me.¡± Li Zhendong ruffled his hair, wondering if this was a hidden compliment. It seemed like it¡­ Yet it also seemed like a critique on his lack of diligence. ¡°13 hours?¡± The girls were a bit skeptical. Zhang Yuan flashed a sunny smile, ¡°I study at least 14 hours a day. He¡¯s a bit smarter than me; 13 hours should be enough for him to catch up with me.¡± After a while, everyone fell silent. Everyone looked at Li Zhendong. Did this guy really study diligently for 13 hours a day? Or was there a decimal point missing, like maybe just 3 hours? Embarrassed to death, Li Zhendong quickly pulled Zhang Chenchen, ¡°Let¡¯s go, I can¡¯t stand this kind of freak.¡± ¡­ Chapter 69 - Chapter 69: Chapter 69, 3rd place Chapter 69: Chapter 69, 3rd place Five days quickly passed, and the final written exam results were released. Some were joyful, some were sorrowful. The two universities together were only recruiting six thousand graduate students, which, for the total of three hundred thousand undergraduates on the spaceship, meant a recruitment ratio of just one in fifty. With a trace of nervousness, Zhang Yuan clicked to view his own exam score report. He was now somewhat regretful for sleeping during the exam¡­ But quickly, the moment he saw his scores, that bit of regret dissipated like mist, his scores for the three professional courses were ¡°149, 148, 147,¡± arranged in an arithmetic sequence. As for where he lost those few points, he had no idea. ¡°Maybe it was for the presentation of the paper?¡± There was also that last subject ¡°Politics and History,¡± scored out of 100, which he really hadn¡¯t prepared seriously for, merely flipping through the syllabus hastily before the exam, so he only scored 81. ¡°Adding up the total, I wonder what rank I could get¡­¡± Continuing down to the next line of small print, he saw, [Space Mechanics Major Ranking: 3]. Zhang Yuan was delighted. Third place was a better result than expected, he wondered who the top two ranked individuals could be. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï With such professional scores, plus the bonus from his paper, in theory, he could now choose a very excellent mentor. For the upcoming interview, he naturally felt confident. He immediately made a call to report to Professor Wang Zhong on Earth. Currently, as the spaceship had just taken off, the signal delay was within a few seconds, which was still acceptable. ¡°Very good, you did well!¡± In the video, Professor Wang Zhong was unusually happy, even more delighted than if he had won an award himself. Following that, his expression became grave, ¡°Do you wish to continue specializing in Space Mechanics? Have you made up your mind?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Zhang Yuan nodded. Professor Wang nodded back, ¡°Then, you will need to learn more about Physics in the future, including mechanics, information science, and integrated circuits. There are many fine professors aboard the spaceship, but if we are to choose, we should choose the best!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll see who is available¡­¡± Wang Zhong began looking at a list. ¡°How about Academician Ding Zhaodong from the Wild Wolf Design Bureau, one of the chief designers of the ¡®Earth Era,¡¯ what do you think?¡± Zhang Yuan was startled, he had interacted with several professors before, but none of them were on Academician Ding¡¯s level. Okay, just the title of chief designer of the ¡®Earth Era¡¯ could crush someone to death, not to mention his other numerous academic achievements¡­ Furthermore, Ding Zhaodong was one of the few Academicians aboard the spaceship. Academicians here were not like those on Earth; they truly held status and power. Zhang Yuan hesitated, ¡°That would be great, but Academician Ding probably isn¡¯t taking on students, right? He¡¯s very busy every day, I¡¯ve never met him in person, nor have I had any interaction with him.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid.¡± Professor Wang saw through his thoughts and waved his hand, ¡°Everyone has been young before, who dares assert that your future achievements will be less than his, Ding Zhaodong¡¯s? So there¡¯s nothing to be overly modest about.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll greet him first; as for the specific interview, you¡¯ll have to handle yourself. If someone else outperforms you, you can only blame yourself!¡± Zhang Yuan nodded with a smile, ¡°Okay, then I¡¯ll trouble Professor Wang.¡± He turned off the video, walked out of the main door, and deeply inhaled the fresh air. Looking up, he saw the group leader Wang Xin hurrying over. ¡°How did the test go? Judging by the expressions on everyone else¡¯s faces, it¡¯s unlikely anyone did better than you¡­ so, here¡¯s a little gift for you.¡± A 2% acceptance rate meant that it was perfectly normal for all the others to have failed to secure a spot. Zhang Yuan had thought Wang Xin was just talking casually when he handed over the pen, but on closer inspection, it was gold-plated. He handed it back, ¡°Brother Wang, this gift is too valuable, I can¡¯t accept it.¡± ¡°Valuable? Once we¡¯re on a spaceship, do you think gold is still currency? It¡¯s just a small memento,¡± Wang Xin said with a laugh, ¡°So, what place did you come in? Tell me!¡± ¡°Third, with two formidable figures above me.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to be so downhearted. As long as you hit the cut-off score, you can still make a comeback in the interview,¡± Wang Xin said, nodding to himself. ¡°Wait, third?¡± After a while, when Wang Xin finally caught on, he sucked in a breath of cold air. Space Mechanics was a major subject with many applicants. Securing the third place was no easy feat! He quickly shifted his tone, ¡°Little brother, you¡¯ve got a bright future ahead. I¡¯ve got a secret tome here that, once mastered, can slaughter a multitude of difficult problems¡ª¡¯P-adic Teichm¨¹ller Theory,¡¯ authored by Wangyue Xinyi, and it¡¯s a paper copy. Do you want to buy it? Just for five hundred New Coins, I¡¯ll sell it to you.¡± A bunch of question marks popped up in Zhang Yuan¡¯s head. Why did Brother Wang have such a book, and why a paperback at that? Everyone was limited in what they could bring, and here he was wasting it. ¡°It¡¯s for arguing with¡­¡± Perceiving his confusion, Wang Xin whispered conspiratorially, ¡°Whenever my wife tries to look down on me with her high education, I just pick up this book and spit out some terms¡­¡± ¡°As long as I mention things like ¡®Far Abel Geometry,¡¯ ¡®Grothendieck-universe,¡¯ ¡®perfectoid spaces,¡¯ she shuts right up.¡± Zhang Yuan was momentarily speechless. So, that was another way to use it. The 500 New Coin paper book wasn¡¯t expensive since Earth Era no longer produced such items, but his current level in Mathematics might not be up to digesting its content. ¡°Buy, buy, buy, it¡¯s not about the money! Just 500 bucks.¡± The two made their way to the canteen where the other six members of their group were already waiting. When they heard he ranked third, they all looked on with envy. ¡°Ah, Zhang Yuan, you¡¯ve been accepted for postgraduate study, you can finally escape your life as a janitor. The rest of us are doomed to another year of sweeping floors before going into hibernation,¡± one of the companions said. Wang Xin chimed in, ¡°Sweeping is also a job, just as doing research and management is. Is there really any difference in value? Although sweeping isn¡¯t important and can be left to robots, still¡­¡± He trailed off, unable to conclude his thought. The overall mood wasn¡¯t great. Many of the students had worked hard for a long time, only to find out in the end that their chosen path was a dead-end. Life¡¯s disappointments were many, and switching environments didn¡¯t promise any change. ¡°Alright, today, I¡¯m treating. Everyone can eat whatever they want!¡± Zhang Yuan quickly tried to lighten the mood. ¡°What can we even eat in a place like this?¡± muttered Wang Xin with a wry smile. As they spent a long while choosing dishes, nothing particularly appetizing was available. The vegetables were decent, but the meat dishes were all synthetic. Plus, to reduce kitchen pollution, the robots mainly used steaming and boiling as cooking methods, with no frying or saut¨¦ing, which meant the dishes lacked flavor and even the usual smells of cooking oil. ¡°Now that we have 3D organ printing, why don¡¯t we clone some chicken legs to eat?¡± One of the girls threw care aside regarding her exam performance and tried to crack a smile. ¡°3D organ printing? A single chicken leg at the cost of one hundred thousand? I could only afford one leg with all my fortune,¡± Zhang Yuan joked. ¡°Jing Xuan, if you ever sneak into a Biological lab, you could steal a few for us to try.¡± ¡°Formaldehyde-soaked ones you want?!¡± The girl named Jing laughed. ¡°How could that be? Biological organs are cultivated in sterile rooms, the purest of the pure!¡± ¡°Ah, I miss the chicken legs my mother used to cook!¡± ¡°Is that why you want to become a Biologist?¡± Everyone burst into laughter. Chapter 70 - Chapter 70: Chapter 70: Top Students, Academic God, God, and the God above Gods Chapter 70: Chapter 70: Top Students, Academic God, God, and the God above Gods Life was like that, going with the flow. Having come this far, it was alright to live simply and ordinarily. Who could guarantee that they would maintain exceptional foresight throughout their entire life? At the crossroads of life, in addition to graduate school entrance exams, there actually were many other choices, and not everyone was suited for scientific research. In a spaceship, every profession needed to be represented: teachers, doctors, nurses, maintenance workers, and so on. The atmosphere at the dinner table gradually improved, and many things felt better once one could let them go. The current society was still dominated by young people, and classes hadn¡¯t yet solidified. The social structure didn¡¯t require considering too much about ¡°money,¡± so the pressure wasn¡¯t that great. ¡°Utilizing knowledge to achieve class mobility is actually the healthiest operation of human civilization. Even if one doesn¡¯t get admitted to graduate school, they can be like me, right? As long as you work hard, there are many ways to realize your own value.¡± Finally, Big Brother Wang Xin issued another talk on his views about life. After dining with friends, Zhang Yuan returned to his dormitory and began learning new knowledge. The content to study in Space Mechanics was indeed vast. A spaceship, whether large or small, involved numerous disciplines such as physics, biology, materials, chemistry, and so on. He self-studied for a long time every day. Especially with an even more challenging interview coming up, even last-minute cramming was worthwhile. ¡°¡­Let¡¯s start with integrated circuits.¡± Zhang Yuan opened ¡°Specialized Integrated Circuit Design,¡± a classic book that primarily covered the basic process of digital integrated circuit and dedicated integrated circuit design, along with the main design methods, across eight chapters. He had been exposed to related knowledge during his university years, though not in-depth. Actually¡­ it wasn¡¯t too difficult. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? The nature of silicon-based chips was easy to understand: on the same semiconductor substrate, the PN junction had unidirectional conductivity. Connect wires to the ends of the PN junction and you have a diode. With diodes, it was simple to design ¡°AND gate circuits¡± and ¡°NOT gate circuits,¡± which could then be used for logic calculations. The Soviets once developed ternary circuits, which were slightly different from binary circuits, with two more resistors in the ¡°AND gate¡± and ¡°NOT gate¡± circuits. These slight differences made manufacturing more troublesome, increased costs, and resulted in much lower chip yields. Due to various drawbacks, they were gradually phased out. It sounded so simple in principle, yet it baffled 99.9% of humans! Zhang Yuan felt that without a computer, even if he spent a month on it, he wouldn¡¯t be able to design a circuit with computing power that compared to a six-year-old child¡­ Without any exaggeration, the more he learned, the more he understood the grandeur of nature. Chip studies, a discipline that had developed for several hundred years, from the old diodes and integrated circuits to the latest photon chips, had ¡°band theory¡± as their foundation, which was just an approximation theory. Humans knew it wasn¡¯t entirely correct but were unable to rectify it. Because the behavior of electrons couldn¡¯t be calculated with precision. On a larger scale, despite the complexity of various disciplines, most were just playing with electrons. Once you mastered the various properties of electrons, it was easier to draw analogies to other disciplines. After reading for six hours straight, he stopped to take a breather. His rapidly working brain was slightly overheated and needed some time to absorb the newly learned content. ¡°Better to change my way of thinking, take a break.¡± He went out to eat dinner, taking half an hour. He opened his computer again and found a pile of unprocessed messages in his inbox which he began clicking open and replying to one by one. The work projects on Earth were a good training opportunity, and he needed to keep going. His main focus was on algorithmic frameworks, and he was progressing a bit faster than the teams on Earth, with four or five hours a day being sufficient. So, over ten hours of studying every day was no exaggeration. The above day was a very routine one for Zhang Yuan. Sometimes he felt tired, but most of the time he was fulfilled by the knowledge he gained. He didn¡¯t play video games, watch soap operas, or pursue romantic relationships; he forced himself to grow stronger. Zhang Yuan mused, ¡°If Li Zhendong worked this hard every day, even if he wasn¡¯t as good as me, he would still be at least halfway there¡­¡± But he knew deeply that what he was learning was just the tip of the iceberg. There were definitely many people in the world who were far more capable than him. The academic elite of the world can be divided into five levels. The first level consists of those who, during a long journey, overhear a stranger¡ªauntie boasting about her child¡¯s remarkable achievements, such as getting into the city¡¯s key middle and high schools, ranking first or second in the class, and so on. This should be considered the lowest tier of academic overachievers. After all, it¡¯s just high school. I don¡¯t know what there is to brag about¡­ The second level includes people who also attend distinguished universities, go to classes, self-study, and somehow end up with high grades at the end of the semester. As time goes on, one gradually realizes, no matter how hard they try, it seems impossible to surpass these individuals. With the same amount of study time, they are always more effective than the average person. These talented individuals are often referred to as ¡°true academic overachievers.¡± The third level, of course, is the legendary ¡°Academic God.¡± Unlike academic overachievers, Academic Gods don¡¯t study much but still score highly. They are the most dangerous people in universities, and many clueless weaklings mingle with them. They stay up all night surfing the internet and gaming, but while fooling around, they end up failing several classes. When you look back, that same laid-back person also casually took part in some contests, secured scholarships¡­ The weaklings failed and had to repeat years, while the ¡°Academic God¡± went abroad. The fourth level has already begun the march towards the superhuman, known as the real ¡°God.¡± In terms of personal character, ¡°Gods¡± are without a single flaw. They are both Academic Gods and academic overachievers; however, the most dominating aspect of these ¡°Gods¡± is their stamina and sustainability. To them, studying is an extremely pleasurable activity, much like chewing gum that they simply can¡¯t stop. Ordinary people can only feel inadequate and ashamed in the presence of ¡°Gods,¡± without a trace of envy. Academic Gods cannot compare to the real ¡°Gods.¡± Because the abilities of the Academic Gods are limited to the knowledge found in textbooks, whereas the real ¡°Gods¡± have long transcended the realm of academia. Zhang Yuan confidently estimated that he was marching towards this direction¡­ There is even a fifth level, which is, of course, the ¡°God of Gods¡±! This level is only witnessed in the world¡¯s most exceptional geniuses. Take, for example, Academician Ding, my intended mentor. He completed his undergraduate degree at Peking University¡¯s Department of Mathematics, with 20 perfect scores of 100 and six scores of 99 in his mathematics major courses! But he never boasts about trivial things like scoring full marks in exams. For these ¡°God of Gods,¡± exams, competitions, and scholarships are as childish as kindergarten games. In his first year at university, Ding Zhaodong covered the entire four-year university curriculum, and even out of boredom, he dabbled in the neighboring Physics Department¡¯s classes¡­ However, these are trivial; only the exploration of the infinite Nature is the joy of life for the ¡°God of Gods.¡± There are people even stronger than Ding Zhaodong! For instance¡­ Professor Wang Zhong! Professor Wang gained renown at a young age, making waves in the mathematical community with his major work at the age of 22¡ª¡±Homological Functions in Nuclear Space.¡± Zhang Yuan still cannot understand this paper in the field of Algebraic Geometry. According to Professor Wang, the most brilliant minds in the world should be dedicated to studying Mathematics. He has utter disdain for conversations with those engineering professors who lack sentimentality and an appreciation for aesthetics¡­ Even these individuals, who study day in and day out, year after year, accruing knowledge steadily over decades, have created a gap between people that is actually greater than the one between humans and dogs. Given this, what right does he have to complain incessantly? ¡­ (I¡¯d like to recommend a book from a buddy of mine, ¡°Elf: Early Login.¡± For friends who enjoy the second dimension, give it a look.) Chapter 71 - Chapter 71: Chapter 71: Interview Chapter 71: Chapter 71: Interview This day, a major event suddenly took place inside the spaceship: Academician Ding from the Wild Wolf Design Bureau, released an announcement to recruit one graduate student from among the undergraduate graduates, causing a sensation among all the candidates! Academician Ding has always cultivated Ph.D. students, but this time he decided to recruit a master¡¯s student, a rare opportunity. Everyone clearly knew that getting in touch with these top experts early on could have a significant impact on their future academic careers. Due to the large number of applicants, it was impossible to interview them all. The staff had to impose stricter eligibility requirements to reduce the number of candidates to fewer than fifty. Zhang Yuan opened the registration interface, saw that he met the hard conditions and the exam results, and finally breathed a sigh of relief. At this moment, Professor Wang Zhong sent a video. ¡°¡­That old fellow has already been convinced by me¡ªnow it¡¯s all up to you. If someone more suitable than you comes along, and you are out-competed, don¡¯t blame others. Are you confident about being selected from fifty experts?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°That¡¯s good, I¡¯m waiting for your good news!¡± ¡­ After brief preparations, the day of the interview finally arrived. There were five interviewers; two of whom were former colleagues of his father, and seemed quite familiar, as they gave him kind looks. Sitting in the center was Professor Ding Zhaodong, and on the far left was Captain Ma Tao, who also looked at Zhang Yuan kindly. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï ¡°Young man, don¡¯t be nervous.¡± Captain Ma glanced at the materials on the table and was the first to ask, ¡°You are Old Zhang¡¯s son, as we all know, so no need for an extended self-introduction. I have one question, what is the most important thing you have learned from him?¡± Nervous but confident, Zhang Yuan didn¡¯t feel nervous at all. Zhang Yuan quickly replied, ¡°His humble personal character, excellent studying habits, a lifestyle not confined by material possessions, and lofty goals and ideals!¡± ¡°Stop!¡± Noticing the slightly amused smiles of the surrounding professors, Captain Ma asked, ¡°Now tell me one of his faults. What is something about him that you cannot tolerate?¡± Zhang Yuan was stunned¡ªdid this captain have some old grudge against his father? Or, was he just making a joke to ease the tense and serious atmosphere? Possibly. Zhang Yuan thought for a moment and said, ¡°He always demands too much of others based on his own intelligence, which I think is hard for ordinary people to tolerate. There are many things he finds simple, so he casually instructs others to do them, but the tasks he deems simple often take others half a day, or they might not be able to do them at all¡­ That¡¯s why he often gets inexplicably angry.¡± Everyone smiled slightly. Zhang Yuan couldn¡¯t quite tell if his answer was good or bad. Next came the serious questioning session, which obviously was not going to be ordinary questions. One professor asked point-blank, ¡°I once read your robotics kinematics paper, which is indeed an excellent article. However, have you considered the constraint computation problem of robots with fewer degrees of freedom?¡± ¡°In reality, many industrial robots don¡¯t need large degrees of freedom, and the algorithms are different too¡­ Do you have any knowledge about the 2-RPS-2-SPS four-degree-of-freedom parallel robot? Just share one idea, no need for a lengthy explanation.¡± Zhang Yuan thought for a few seconds; actually, this question was relatively basic, ¡°Parallel robots, in terms of structural complexity and production costs, fully symmetrical parallel mechanisms have a huge advantage¡­ The motion support matrices for four degrees of freedom motion are 3T1R, 2T//2R, 2T¡Í2R, 1T3R, 3T2R, 2T3R, 3T3R.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s first discuss the mechanical primitives of these seven motion connections in single open-chain forms¡­¡± Although he was told not to be verbose, he still spoke for over ten minutes. The professor squinted his eyes, nodded, and said, ¡°Not a bad answer.¡± Just having that amount of clarity in such a short time was no small feat, showing that Zhang Yuan¡¯s foundational knowledge was solid, and he was quick-thinking and sharp-minded. ¡°¡­Do you have any research on the latest optical chips? Why not vigorously develop more powerful quantum chips?¡± Zhang Yuan thought for a few seconds and replied, ¡°¡­Photon chips are based on photon circuit computing architectures, essentially using countless micro-optical switches on the chip, similar in function to the logic gates in semiconductor chips¡­ Photon chips utilize combinations of light of different wavelengths, phases, and intensities, processed in complex arrays made of mirrors, filters, and prisms.¡± ¡°¡­Like microelectronics, they are based on semiconductor architectures using silicon materials, so they are essentially an extension of traditional chips. Their computing power is over ten thousand times that of ordinary silicon-based chips, and with current technology, there is still room for further development.¡± ¡°Although quantum computers can achieve computing power a million to a trillion times that of silicon-based chips, they require a related number of quantum entangled states. 40-50 entangled states is the current technological limit, and it is very difficult to increase. But the computing power of this number of entangled states is still less than traditional silicon-based chips¡­¡± ¡°Thus, although quantum chips are advantageous, without a major theoretical breakthrough, it¡¯s difficult to further develop them, so they are not the current mainstream research focus.¡± ¡°Very good, quite accurate.¡± The professor nodded slightly. This response not only tested theoretical knowledge but also breadth of knowledge. Many professors posed quite a few questions, and Zhang Yuan responded to each one calmly and confidently. ¡°I have a question too.¡± Academician Ding suddenly spoke. ¡°Please ask.¡± Academician Ding Zhaodong spoke slowly, ¡°What are your views on the industrial production of a new civilization? What do you think is the biggest factor restricting the development of a new civilization?¡± Is this question that big? Zhang Yuan cleared his throat and answered, ¡°Indeed, we do have some decent industrial foundations, such as carrying the most advanced photolithography machine inside the spaceship, production facilities for certain nanomaterials, and some industrial mother machines, etc. We can produce some components, but many upstream industry chains are completely disconnected.¡± ¡°For example, basic chemical raw materials like trichloromethane, caprolactam, and acrylic acid¡ªwe only have small stockpiles, and once they are used up, we cannot produce them anymore. If we use BIOSYNTHESIS, the cost would be prohibitively high.¡± ¡°If we successfully reach the target planet and obtain an abundance of material resources, we must start from the development of basic raw materials. In my opinion, the biggest factor restricting the development of civilization is actually¡­ population. Too few people hinder the development of the entire industrial system.¡± ¡°I once read a report that the minimum population required to sustain Earth¡¯s industry is 1.6 billion. Although the quality of our population is high enough, the number is only five hundred thousand, which is far from sufficient.¡± ¡°That makes sense; it¡¯s also a concern we share¡­¡± Before Academician Ding could reply, a professor quickly nodded in agreement. Chapter 72 - Chapter 72: 72 Chapters: Human Relations, Best Academic?! Chapter 72: 72 Chapters: Human Relations, Best Academic?! One of the professors suddenly said, ¡°If in the next three thousand years, Earth Civilization¡¯s technology could make another major breakthrough with stronger Artificial Intelligence and automated production lines, perhaps the industrial population needed for building a new civilization could be greatly reduced.¡± Ding Zhaodong slightly shook his head, ¡°We should not pin our hopes on Earth Civilization. Even if technology advances further, a population of five hundred thousand is still too few.¡± Another professor also said, ¡°Actually, it¡¯s not necessarily the case, the history of Earth in the next three thousand years is a good reference.¡± The group of professors quietly discussed amongst themselves for a while. Academician Ding turned his head and asked, ¡°Then, regarding the issue of a low population, would you accept the use of artificial wombs to massively incubate human babies? They would have no parents, existing just for the continuity of the new civilization.¡± Zhang Yuan said, ¡°As far as I know, the technology of artificial wombs is not yet fully mature.¡± ¡°What if, in the future, such artificial womb technology does indeed exist, what do you think?¡± Is this¡­ a political question? It¡¯s difficult. Zhang Yuan thought for a long time but couldn¡¯t find a very tactful and moderate answer. He honestly said, ¡°I accept. If reality demands that we must do this, we have no other choice.¡± ¡°Humans are not like livestock; their reproductive capacity is extremely limited. With a high population growth rate of 2%, in 100 years we could only increase sevenfold, to 3.5 million people, which is too few.¡± ¡°Due to long-term resource scarcity, coupled with the aging and dying of our first generation of high-quality population, it could cause a significant decline in the overall quality of our civilization¡¯s population. Even if unethical issues arise from artificially incubated infants, we have no other choice.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?? ¡°The cosmos is vast, yet the time left for us is limited. Once the equipment carried on the spaceship ages and we have not developed replacements, coupled with a significant decline in population quality, our new civilization would go extinct on an Alien Planet.¡± Captain Ma nodded and smiled oddly. The room became very quiet for a while. Everyone was thinking about something. Academician Ding said indifferently, ¡°All right, there¡¯s nothing more to ask. You can leave now.¡± ¡°Wait until we have interviewed everyone, then we will notify you with the final results.¡± ¡°Thank you all,¡± said Zhang Yuan, bowing politely as he left the room, involuntarily wiping the sweat from his brow. There were many challenging questions that were hard to tackle. No wonder in the selection of students by academicians, the difficulty¡­ is considerable! After Zhang Yuan left, the room was quiet for a while. Captain Ma suddenly asked with a smile, ¡°Old Ding, this nephew of mine isn¡¯t bad, right? If you don¡¯t take him, I will find another Academician to accept him.¡± Ding Zhaodong also smiled, ¡°He is indeed good, both in terms of skills and ideology, a very pragmatic person. However, let¡¯s wait and see if there is a more suitable candidate, as I won¡¯t show favoritism because of personal feelings.¡± ¡°Ha, do you really think such a talent is common as Pu Pu Grass, easily found everywhere?¡± ¡°Then, let us invite the next interviewee.¡± ¡­ Two days later, the interview results were announced. 98 points, not knowing where the two points were deducted, perhaps due to a poorly answered question. However, with 98 points, theoretically, it was already quite a high score. The interview score accounted for 40% of the total grade, and based on that, Zhang Yuan estimated that he had securely ranked first in the ¡°Space Machinery Engineering¡± program. Being accepted by Academician Ding was practically a foregone conclusion. Even influenced by this event, several other well-known academicians from different fields also whimsically wanted to recruit a wave of graduate students. This news spread among the group of candidates, causing a small stir. ¡°Congratulations, congratulations!¡± ¡°Boss treats!¡± Zhang Yuan, in a good mood, waved his hand generously, ¡°Eat whatever you want, everyone.¡± ¡°Big chicken legs! Big chicken legs!¡± Cunning Li Zhendong wanted to eat the biological 3D-printed chicken legs that cost one hundred thousand yuan each, which scared Zhang Yuan green. He hurriedly said, ¡°If you can steal the chicken legs from the lab, I¡¯ll pay the fine.¡± The companions chimed in, ¡°Actually, this is pretty normal. Other people¡¯s interviews were over in ten minutes. Zhang Yuan had an hour-long interview, whom else would they choose if not him?¡± ¡°¡­ What kind of questions did they ask? I¡¯m going for an interview soon too, although it¡¯s just for an ordinary professor position.¡± ¡°The questions¡­ were actually quite difficult.¡± Zhang Yuan was busy sharing his interview experience, including some academic questions that were quite profound. Even a master¡¯s graduate might not be able to answer them, along with various miscellaneous questions about culture and politics. A few girls listened with their tongues sticking out. ¡°Isn¡¯t this recruiting Ph.D. candidates rather than master¡¯s students?!¡± ¡°I guess other academicians¡¯ interviews are this twisted too. We might not even qualify for an interview; we can only watch the excitement¡­¡± ¡°Fortunately, I¡¯m only interviewing with an ordinary teacher¡­¡± Just then, Ye Kaifu rushed over from Area J, his face beaming with joy. ¡°Hahaha, Zhang Yuan, I have both good news and bad news for you. Which do you want to hear first?¡± Not the bad news again! Zhang Yuan grimaced, ¡°The good news.¡± ¡°Your interview went well, and you ranked first in your major, very likely to be selected by Academician Ding.¡± ¡°Pfft¡­¡± Everyone let out a bored sigh, indicating the news was already outdated. You must be from Zhiyuan Star, huh? Zhang Yuan rolled his eyes and continued, ¡°What¡¯s the bad news?¡± Ye Kaifu, looking like he was enjoying the disaster, said, ¡°Someone is challenging your interview score!¡± What? Challenging? Zhang Yuan was nonchalant. If no one envies you, you¡¯re mediocre. Just do what you believe in and let others talk. ¡°This isn¡¯t something small, you can¡¯t just ignore it.¡± Zhang Yuan took Ye Kaifu¡¯s phone, and saw a post titled ¡°Nepotism academics, ¡®best¡¯ academics?!¡± A student named Cai Kun, in his post, openly questioned the fairness of the entire interview process. His written exam score was the highest in the ¡°Space Machinery¡± major, but he only got 60 points in the interview¡­ ¡°Zhang Yuan¡¯s written exam score was 2 points lower than mine, but he scored 98 points in the interview, a whole 38 points higher than me! The other interviewees generally scored only in the sixties or seventies. Doesn¡¯t everyone think this is unreasonable?¡± ¡°Later, I came to a possible conclusion: Zhang Yuan¡¯s father, Professor Zhang Qiming, used to be a colleague of Academician Ding. Perhaps it was because of old times¡¯ sake that he scored high.¡± ¡°¡­ I left Earth because I despise all these unreasonable worldly manners. I hoped to live in a more perfect, more just civilization. But I didn¡¯t expect that even in such a critical matter as student recruitment, personal connections would still exist!¡± ¡°Let the capable ones lead, the mediocre ones step down, the equal ones give way. This is the most suitable human resource choice! If even this can¡¯t be done, how can we establish a stronger civilization?!¡± ¡°Especially since Deep Space University and Star University have just been established. They should really work on cultivating a good academic environment! They shouldn¡¯t develop this bad habit of nepotism.¡± Zhang Yuan¡¯s brows furrowed as he read. Chapter 73 - Chapter 73: Chapter 73: The Malice of Spectators Chapter 73: Chapter 73: The Malice of Spectators There were still a bunch of messy comments following. People on the spaceship were generally more rational than Earth people, not easily swayed by trends, so Zhang Yuan wasn¡¯t overwhelmingly criticized. [¡­there might be some trickery involved, I suggest the relevant departments clear up the facts, otherwise it will dishearten all the aspiring students!] [Considering past achievements, Zhang Yuan is pretty awesome. What makes you, Cai Kun, think you are better? Just because your scores in politics and history are a few points higher?] [Buddy, I was in the same exam room with him, that guy spent half of the exam time sleeping! You scored two points higher than him, is that really something?] [Grabbing popcorn, watching the show. (watermelon) (watermelon)] [If that¡¯s really the case, I might as well go back to Earth.] [Where is the iron fist of justice?] The issue wasn¡¯t really that big, but it wasn¡¯t small either. On a smaller scale, it was just some young people not satisfied with their interview results venting online; on a larger scale, if not handled properly, it could affect the government¡¯s credibility and shake the political foundation. The new civilization was so small; it couldn¡¯t withstand any sand, any bad habits had to be immediately snuffed out. Ye Kaifu was somewhat gloating at first, but seeing Zhang Yuan¡¯s stoic face, he vaguely started to worry. He began offering reckless suggestions: ¡°Old Zhang, what are we going to do? Are you really angry? Should we write something in response?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï ¡°Write what? That I swear I didn¡¯t cheat? They will never believe it!¡± ¡°So, we just stay silent? The quieter you are, the more they persist!¡± Zhang Yuan sighed, ¡°Mediocrity never incites envy. I even find his points fairly reasonable. Given my various backgrounds, I indeed fall under suspicion¡­¡± ¡°¡­Sigh, actually, Academician Ding does favor some personal connections when selecting students; he wouldn¡¯t have taken any graduate students otherwise. It was Professor Wang Zhong from Earth who convinced him to recruit.¡± For a while, they couldn¡¯t think of a particularly good rebuttal. Suddenly, Li Zhendong said, ¡°I have a suggestion, you should immediately publish a significant research paper, that will shut everyone up.¡± Zhang Yuan scratched his head. ¡°That¡¯s not possible, mate! Writing a paper isn¡¯t like laying eggs; I¡¯d honestly need a proper setup, one step at a time, from writing to publishing. Even in the fastest scenario, it would take a month or two. By then, this issue would have long passed, and would be cold news. ¡°So, you haven¡¯t been writing any papers recently¡­¡± Li Zhendong suddenly breathed a sigh of relief. ¡­ Where there are people, there are societal circles, and where there are societal circles, there are disputes. Although the spaceship was under semi-militaristic management, freedom of speech was relatively still preserved. Only when some comments seriously affected the unity of civilization and the safety of the spaceship, would one be invited for tea. Such skepticism was actually still within reasonable bounds. This was a real test for the rulers¡¯ managerial skills, they needed to foster cohesion in everyone, but could not be too controlling. High-quality talents aren¡¯t soldiers; they need more freedom to be productive. An hour later, Zhang Yuan was still fretting over what to do when Captain Ma called. He didn¡¯t say much, only dropping a sentence: ¡°Come to the Central Conference Hall in Zone A immediately, I need to see you.¡± Zhang Yuan didn¡¯t dare delay and hurried over. He found the Central Conference Hall packed with people, as if a conference was being held. Many onlookers who heard something also squeezed in. ¡°Mr. Zhang, this way please.¡± He was pulled up by a pretty young lady. ¡°What¡­ what are you looking for me for?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll know in a moment,¡± the young lady cryptically added. As Zhang Yuan took to the stage, a round of warm applause broke out. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce to you, this is Zhang Yuan, Classmate Zhang. And this is Cai Kun, Classmate Cai.¡± The host smiled and continued, ¡°Following Captain Ma¡¯s instructions, I am hosting this public interview. Actually, the spirit of questioning like Classmate Cai¡¯s is very much needed for a civilization!¡± ¡°This statement is very correct, the capable rise, the mediocre fall, and the middling give way¡ªwe need to be fair in recognition, not showing favoritism, yet also acknowledging the talented despite personal feuds.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t need the doctrine of the mean, which waters down everything. You deserve what you score.¡± ¡°Now, let¡¯s have these two classmates have an on-site interview, look, they didn¡¯t even have time to dress up, let alone prepare answers. Classmate Cai, how do you feel?¡± Classmate Cai seemed a bit nerdy, this number one scorer of the written test, under the gaze of more than a thousand pairs of eyes, suddenly couldn¡¯t speak due to nervousness. After a while, he finally said, ¡°I think this method of handling is very good. If Zhang Yuan can truly convince me¡­¡± ¡°Zhang Yuan, how about you?¡± ¡°I¡­you are asking for a re-interview?¡± Zhang Yuan was still dazed. A wave of laughter echoed from below. Suddenly called up to the stage, in front of so many people, Zhang Yuan felt humiliated. Due to cramming the night before, he also sported two huge dark circles, utterly embarrassing himself. ¡°Yes, a re-interview. Questions will be random.¡± Zhang Yuan took a deep breath and glanced at Classmate Cai, who was also sizing him up, showing no discernible emotions. ¡°Alright, ask whatever questions you have.¡± This solution seemed quite good, though a bit sudden. Anyway, as long as the other party doesn¡¯t cheat, bring it on! However, to ensure fairness and justice, the interview questions were not asked by the host but chosen randomly from the audience. The host randomly drew a number. ¡°233.¡± Zhang Yuan and Cai Kun immediately felt the massive ill will from the onlookers. A male student in the seats stood up: ¡°Hello, I am studying the field of recursive neural networks.¡± ¡°¡­ For instance, Hopfield neural networks are a type of discrete neural network and also feedback neural networks, where the output of each node is the input of others. When establishing a neural network, we must consider its stability.¡± ¡°Do you have any good suggestions on this? Regarding the stability of neural networks¡­¡± Zhang Yuan was taken aback. Neural network stability, this guy basically just brought up his own research project and asked for help in solving it. What is this, asking for help in writing his paper? If I provide a good direction, should I add an author¡¯s name? Classmate Cai on the stage also looked baffled. He had not expected the first question to be so tricky. Recursive neural networks? What the hell, he had never studied that! Though he had undertaken some research projects and achieved some results during his undergraduate studies, it had nothing to do with neural networks, how should he answer? He was a top student, but only held an undergraduate level¡­ Chapter 74 - Chapter 74: Chapter 74: You Have Met a True Pervert Chapter 74: Chapter 74: You Have Met a True Pervert ¡°Please take 3 minutes to think,¡± said the moderator. Soon, 3 minutes later, the host handed the microphone to Cai Kun. ¡°Next, please let Classmate Cai answer.¡± His face turned red as he stumbled over his words for a long time, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I have not studied this field in depth¡­ A recursive neural network is an artificial neural network that has a tree-like hierarchical structure and recursively processes input information according to the sequence of its connections. It is one of the deep learning algorithms.¡± Having reluctantly recited a few definitions and struggling to convince the audience, Classmate Cai said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I don¡¯t have any particularly good ideas at the moment.¡± A round of jeers came from below, but Classmate Cai, despite his flushed face, still bravely stood on the stage. He looked up at Zhang Yuan. Let¡¯s see what you can answer. If you can¡¯t answer anything, how can you score higher than me in the interview? ¡°Next, please let Classmate Zhang answer.¡± ¡°I have a question,¡± Zhang Yuan raised his hand. ¡°I¡¯ve heard about Hopfield networks, but what is network stability?¡± The questioner smiled and explained, ¡°If certain weights within the network can converge to an equilibrium point, which is called weight convergence, then the output can also approximate the desired output, which is called system stability. Hence, convergence pertains to variables, while stability relates to the system.¡± ¡°The system¡¯s stability is not guaranteed, the control system is unstable, and the network¡¯s convergence loses its foundation.¡± Zhang Yuan thought for a moment and said, ¡°I have not studied your research field in depth either, only read some papers. But I have some basic ideas you might be interested in hearing.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.?¦Ï ¡°¡­Firstly, the issue of monotonicity, the Hopfield network model in discrete time with continuous states depends on whether neurons¡¯ activation functions are monotonic, or at least locally monotonic.¡± ¡°Secondly, by studying the condition under which the energy function becomes a convex function, the operation of the Hopfield network can be viewed as a constrained convex optimization problem solution, thereby attempting to prove the sufficient condition for a globally unique minimum point¡­¡± ¡°Convex optimization, you are correct! Convex optimization is exactly the direction I¡¯m working on. I have another question¡­¡± This time, the question resonated deeply with the questioner, who then asked a few more questions related to convex optimization, sparking a mathematical discussion on the spot. Finally, at the host¡¯s cue, Zhang Yuan reluctantly said, ¡°Regarding knowledge about convex optimization, if needed, you can discuss with me backstage later; I¡¯d prefer not to go into detail here¡­¡± Much of what he said was just blabbering based on his usual accumulation of knowledge; if he could spontaneously write a paper on the spot, he wouldn¡¯t need to be on stage; he might as well be hailed as a ¡°paper God.¡± A burst of applause rose from below. In such a short time, the outcome was clear. Cai Kun wished he could vanish into thin air. All he could do was redden his face, quietly encouraging himself, perhaps due to the limited sample leading to variance¡ªhe just happened to face a topic he was unprepared for but his opponent knew. The host then asked, ¡°Contestant number 666, please state your question.¡± The questioner was a girl and her question was more practical, not so obscure, ¡°I want to ask about caching in servers.¡± ¡°Caching is divided into two phases: the first phase is the data placement phase, where communication resources are used in non-peak demand times to place data in each user¡¯s cache. The second phase is data delivery, assuming that during peak demand times, each user randomly requests a complete file, and the server justly distributes complete data to meet all users¡¯ needs.¡± ¡°My question is, how can we scientifically design the caching scheme?¡± The questioner even projected a PPT onto the screen. It was a specialized question, but everyone understood what was being asked. The host said, ¡°Alright, please think about it for 3 minutes.¡± The microphone was handed to Zhang Yuan. Smiling, he said, ¡°I think¡­ let¡¯s give the chance to Classmate Cai first. I¡¯m afraid if I speak now, he¡¯ll have nothing left to say.¡± Laughter erupted from below, and even some whistling sounds. Some believed him, others did not. Cai Kun was startled; this time, he did have some ideas, whereas Zhang Yuan seemed at a loss, needing more time to think. ¡°¡­I have this idea, each user caches a portion M/N of each file, and during the data delivery phase, the server releases the missing (1-M/N) portion for each user individually, making the transmission rate R=K(1-M/N)¡­¡± ¡°Has anyone heard of a scheme called ¡®coded caching¡¯? The specific algorithm is like this¡­¡± ¡°You make a good point.¡± Although the questioner courteously responded, there was a slight hint of disappointment. Coded caching was a quite mundane idea with established algorithms already, bearing no research significance. Bringing such a worn-out idea for a project would likely get one slapped by their supervisor. It was Zhang Yuan¡¯s turn next and he cleared his throat. ¡°Classmate Cai¡¯s idea is good. In the distribution phase, by utilizing the relationships among existing cache information, it is feasible to design certain coded combinations that enable multiple users to decode the needed information from a single broadcast, thus achieving global caching gains.¡± ¡°However, a primary limitation is the need to split each file into segments exponentially growing with the number of users, K. As we know, slicing at an exponential scale is daunting to execute in algorithms¡­¡± ¡°May I use your digital pen and the big screen?¡± The host paused, ¡°Sure.¡± Zhang Yuan drew several diagrams on the screen. ¡°¡­Essentially, this is a combinatorial graph theory problem. What we want to achieve is a caching scheme where F is a polynomial level of K and R is at a constant level or prove whether such a scheme exists or not.¡± ¡°Obviously, whether file segmentation can be converted into polynomial levels, i.e., to an industrially usable scale, relies entirely on whether one can construct a hypergraph problem that satisfies certain properties, which are as follows¡­¡± ¡°I think after converting it into a mathematical problem, it might make a decent paper. As for the solution, I certainly cannot provide it now; it¡¯s just an idea for now. How to tackle this graph theory problem is something this classmate ought to ponder on his own.¡± Whispers filled the room. Among the audience, many of whom were professionals, whether what was said made sense was naturally discernible to them. Applause broke out! A few minutes later, the questioner led the applause. Thunderous applause cascaded down. Cai Kun could no longer face staying any longer; his face entirely flushed, and he quickly nodded in concession. He finally realized that although both scored 100 points on an exam, his were from ability, whereas others scored the same because the paper only awarded up to 100 points. ¡°Old Cai, you encountered a real freak!¡± ¡°Yeah¡­¡± ¡°It seems like a fair loss.¡± Chapter 75 - Chapter 75: Chapter 75 Genetic Matching Chapter 75: Chapter 75 Genetic Matching A farcical situation had finally come to an end. The government¡¯s credibility was restored, and even taken up a notch. Classmate Cai still proved to be a straightforward person, and after he returned, the first thing he did was update his own post. ¡°Don¡¯t reply to this post anymore! Got utterly humiliated at the on-site interview¡­ Just two words: Respect!¡± ¡°There are mountains beyond mountains, people beyond people, I will definitely maintain a humble and rigorous attitude from now on¡­¡± A whole bunch of rambles with a slightly juvenile tone won some¡­ scoldings. ¡°I told you, with the integrity of those Academics, they wouldn¡¯t engage in nepotism. If they wanted to enjoy themselves, they might as well stay on Earth.¡± ¡°Do you think postgraduates still chase after scores?¡± ¡°They just scored a few points lower in politics, their theory scores are better than yours, alright¡­¡± Zhang Yuan replied later, ¡°Everyone stop scolding Cai Kun, I am not even angry, I don¡¯t know what you all are clamoring about¡­¡± ¡°Actually, this kind of skepticism is nothing; for our new civilization, it is a necessary spirit.¡± He received over a thousand likes and countless messages from star-struck fans, all asking to become his ¡°life partner¡±¡­ Zhang Yuan had no idea what to say, so he just ignored them. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï ¡­ Round after round of recruitment interviews soon ended, and Zhang Yuan couldn¡¯t help much with the final results of his peers; he could only share some of his experience and insights. Li Zhendong and Ye Kaifu did fairly well, but as for the others, there was nothing to be done if they failed. After all, everyone has their own fate, just wish for the best¡­ A week later, a massive recruitment fair was happening in the central hall of Area A. Zhang Yuan was dragged out of his dormitory, and he was not pleased. ¡°Why do I have to attend this kind of event? I¡¯ve already got a work project and still need to study for my master¡¯s; I¡¯m really busy.¡± This recruitment fair was organized to help those who did not pass their postgraduate exams and did not have any part-time work projects. ¡°You¡¯re not doing it right, you¡¯ll end up with a mental illness if this goes on. Studying for such long periods is unhealthy!¡± Li Zhendong said quite ¡°seriously.¡± ¡°No way, I¡¯m happy every day.¡± ¡°Being happy doesn¡¯t mean you are healthy. You need to find a life partner, to hibernate together and wake up together, or else you might go insane in the future.¡± Zhang Yuan frowned, feeling this matter was quite troublesome. The presence of the ¡°life partner¡± policy was to prevent mental illnesses under certain special circumstances. A life partner could be male or female. However, usually, it tended to be a romantic partner. Consider this: waking up from hibernation centuries later to find everything on Earth gone, only a few hundred people around you, cold and desolate, the only thing you can rely on is your so-called ¡°life partner.¡± He casually asked, ¡°Did you and Zhang Chenchen make it official?¡± As they touched on this subject, Li Zhendong¡¯s face showed off a smug expression, ¡°Of course, it¡¯s just Zhang Chenchen we are talking about, my charm is so high, was it not an easy catch? Want me to hook you up?¡± ¡°Great, I¡¯ve recorded that last statement.¡± Zhang Yuan nodded in satisfaction and played back a recording from his phone: ¡°¡­of course, it¡¯s just Zhang Chenchen, my charm is so high, was it not an easy catch?¡± Li Zhendong immediately cowered, ¡°Don¡¯t, bro, please delete it!¡± ¡°No way, this is evidence!¡± Seeing Zhang Chenchen was running over, Li Zhendong pleaded with a bitter face, ¡°Please don¡¯t, it took me ages to woo a girl¡­ Let¡¯s talk this over, I¡¯ll treat you to a big chicken leg.¡± ¡°That¡¯s your promise.¡± After some persuasion, Zhang Yuan finally agreed to delete the recording. ¡°Mr. Zhang, hello!¡± Zhang Chenchen approached and greeted. ¡°Hello.¡± Thinking it over, he decided to wander around the venue. It wouldn¡¯t hurt to greet some future seniors early and make some acquaintances. Plus, he was headed into the industrial sector in the future, and it was crucial to know which flagship projects were available on the spaceship. The recruitment fair was bustling with people, the atmosphere very lively, very similar to the campus clubs¡¯ recruitment drives. Due to modest material conditions, a few cobbled-together posters counted as a small stage. Every large area had many projects recruiting people. Some roles were ¡°Spaceship Technical Maintenance,¡± aimed at training ¡°real astronauts.¡± These individuals needed to learn more about spaceship maintenance so that, when most of the crew entered hibernation and the population was minimal, they could still maintain the spaceship¡¯s operations. For example, engineers responsible for spacewalks and other technicians responsible for ¡°extravehicular activities,¡± the difficulty was higher, and only those with excellent psychological quality could qualify. There were also part-time project training courses. The last category, of course, was routine projects aimed at providing revenue for the Deep Space Foundation, solving the problem of funding shortages, and also to foster the crew members¡¯ capacity for innovative thinking. ¡°A genetic matching app?¡± Zhang Yuan stopped in front of a poster, a key project recommended by Zone C, and took an extra moment to look. A short-haired girl greeted him enthusiastically, ¡°Hey, handsome, do you know Mathematics? We only need people good at Mathematics; Biology works too¡­ there are far too many programmers right now, not needed temporarily.¡± ¡°How does this genetic matching work?¡± Zhang Yuan asked curiously. The girl explained, ¡°Each person¡¯s genes contain a few hundred defects. If both parents have the same defective gene, their offspring might suffer from genetic diseases.¡± ¡°By ¡®genetic matching,¡¯ the partners found would significantly reduce the chances of congenital genetic diseases in their children.¡± ¡°Is that it?¡± Zhang Yuan looked around and noticed a lot of interest in the project, and he skeptically asked, ¡°Isn¡¯t this a 200-year-old concept? A marriage health check could spot the probability of genetic diseases¡­ What¡¯s the point of developing this further?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just that!¡± the girl replied with a laugh, ¡°Checking for genetic diseases is just a small part. We¡¯ve discovered through big data that a person¡¯s aesthetics are also influenced by genetics. The greater the genetic difference between a man and a woman, the more likely they are to attract each other¡­¡± ¡°Why does love at first sight happen? It¡¯s essentially determined by genetics, including appearances, body odor, language, demeanor, and so on. Notably, the MHC genes on the human chromosome six are a key gene that affects animals, also known as the major histocompatibility complex¡­¡± After a long explanation, Zhang Yuan finally understood. Using this app combined with DNA testing data, the matched partners are highly likely to fall in love at first sight offline! At least, that was the technology they aimed to achieve. After matching, there¡¯s a high probability of mutual attraction, would beauties even fall for less attractive guys? Is it really that impressive¡­ Chapter 76 - Chapter 76: Chapter 76 Meeting Academician Ding Chapter 76: Chapter 76 Meeting Academician Ding Zhang Yuan fundamentally did not believe. He had thought of a good solution, however, that only handsome men and beautiful women could register for the app, which would make it easy to accomplish ¡°love at first sight.¡± Yet, he voiced doubts, ¡°Can you decode genetic codes, decode the language of proteins? Is human technology capable of reaching this level?¡± The short-haired beauty shook her head. ¡°Through biological methods, we are still exploring. Currently, we plan to use big data mining. We can collect large amounts of existing data, especially the genetic data of those in happy marriages, and then perform data analysis. I think there will be some linearly correlated results¡­¡± ¡°Of course, the related algorithms are still under research¡­ The initiator is Dr. Yu, a biologist, and there has been some progress.¡± In fact, Zhang Yuan wanted to say that this big data mining might not be easy. However, he had a good habit of not commenting recklessly when he was not a professional. Overall, this project was really good. If it could be implemented, wouldn¡¯t making money on Earth be a breeze? As long as the matching success rate was high enough, wouldn¡¯t a 1000-yuan VIP membership still be hot-selling? So many young people on Earth who couldn¡¯t find partners, who would definitely adore this app, and if they didn¡¯t buy it, their parents would buy it for them. At this registration point, many people were interested, and various screening processes were also being carried out methodically. Zhang Yuan was somewhat interested, but he had no time, so he had to give up. Then, he visited section D¡¯s star project, ¡°VR Intergalactic Travel Experience,¡± which aimed to turn some content from ¡°Earth Era¡± into a VR game. It also included chaotic and thrilling segments such as alien invasions of spaceships and riots. It really was something. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? This project, however, was rather ordinary, as VR games were already very mature, and this type wasn¡¯t rare. But games win through realism, and the influence of ¡°Earth Era¡± was evident. By being a super IP, as long as it wasn¡¯t poorly made, Earth people would certainly pay for it. Project E was also a VR game called ¡°VR-LIFE,¡± conceptualized by who knows. The character named ¡°Lan Lan¡± was a somewhat self-conscious girl born in a single-parent family. Zhang Yuan pinched his nose; this was just a game selling sex appeal¡­ Looking at the surrounding crowd, he could somewhat understand. Physical needs are very basic needs. Even if the people aboard the spaceship were of high quality, they couldn¡¯t escape these needs, and Earth people were even more so, given that the spending power of singles was limitless. He glanced and showed disinterest in this stuff. Casually strolling around, most of the recruitment projects still involved software engineering. Thinking about it wasn¡¯t surprising; resources on the spaceship were too scarce. Being able to provide food and good sleep was already enough. There were no excess resources for everyone to start a business. ¡°Software¡± was boundless and didn¡¯t need resources. Everyone carried a high-performance personal computer when boarding the spaceship, so tools in this field were definitely not lacking. ¡°Arrow Tower Auto Chess is hiring!¡± Li Zhendong suddenly shouted, grabbing Zhang Yuan¡¯s arm. ¡°We already have top players joining, and cute girls in the team!¡± Zhang Yuan snapped back to reality and realized he¡¯d become a free promoter. He quickly wanted to leave but heard Li Zhendong whisper in his ear, ¡°Help me, big brother, I can¡¯t recruit anyone for this project. Just lending your fame, not asking you to code!¡± ¡°Alright¡­¡± After a while, Li Zhendong¡¯s ¡°life partner,¡± Zhang Chenchen, also ran over from afar, smiling broadly, ¡°Zhang Yuan really joined, huh? It seems this project is reliable, so I¡¯ll join too!¡± Fame really does have its uses. Many more girls came over, learning about the entire game project and asking if Zhang Yuan had a ¡°life partner,¡± making him very uncomfortable. ¡°Sorry, I currently don¡¯t have time for dating, nor do I have any plans for it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a life partner, not dating. You could be my guy friend.¡± Guy friend¡­ Zhang Yuan was terrified. There was also a group of boys attracted by various ¡°butterflies,¡± their eyes nearly dripping with envy. Zhang Yuan felt anxious. It was too unproductive to argue with these women here; he¡¯d rather go home and read. If he¡¯d known, he would have deliberately lost to Cai Kun during the interview and let that guy enjoy this treatment. Suddenly, his eyes brightened, he saw a familiar face, and quickly took the opportunity to escape the crowd. ¡°Senior Brother Zhao!¡± Zhao Qingfeng would be his direct supervisor in the future. Academician Ding was too busy to devote much attention to Zhang Yuan, so he had appointed a senior brother to guide him. Senior Brother Zhao was already a Ph.D. student, a standout among those accepted by Academician Ding, a genius among geniuses. His abilities naturally went without saying, and he was also an employee of Wild Wolf Design Bureau, having interned for several years. ¡°Zhang Yuan, if you already have part-time work, don¡¯t get involved in multiple projects; human energy is limited. I heard you already have a job on Earth, right?¡± Zhao Qingfeng quickly said this earnestly upon seeing ¡°Arrow Tower Auto Chess.¡± If this talented junior went astray and became engrossed in unproductive game development, he¡¯d likely get a scolding from the teacher. ¡°No, I¡¯m just helping them recruit a few people,¡± Zhang Yuan quickly replied. ¡°I don¡¯t have time to play games.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good then.¡± Zhao Qingfeng breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°The admission notice will be out in a few days; why don¡¯t you come over to my place first? It wouldn¡¯t hurt to communicate with the teacher in advance.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± He turned back and bid farewell to Li Zhendong. After all, he had already lured people in; whether they stayed would depend on their own abilities. ¡­ Section A of the Circular Living Area was the core area of the entire spaceship, including the Captain¡¯s Room, Wild Wolf Design Bureau, Central Conference Hall, ship control area, Hospital, and the two universities, along with various comprehensive service functions. All were located in this area. Heading to the office building of Deep Space University, Zhang Yuan completed his enrollment reporting. Even though the admission notice had not yet been issued,.reporting early was not a problem for someone with his special talents. Academician Ding just happened to be available and took the opportunity to explain the whole school¡¯s rules and regulations to Zhang Yuan, while also assessing his situation. ¡°From the master¡¯s level, we cultivate independent research capabilities. 99% of the world¡¯s people are actually not suited for research; they just want to earn a degree to make life a bit smoother. There¡¯s nothing wrong with that thinking¡­¡± ¡°But here, it¡¯s different; if it turns out to be unsuitable during the process, exiting early is also a blessing.¡± This was indeed a harsh truth. Both Deep Space University and Star University were newly established, adhering to the principle of ¡°strict entry, strict exit.¡± Unsuitable people would be eliminated. Chapter 77 - Chapter 77: Chapter 77: Zero Gravity Zone Chapter 77: Chapter 77: Zero Gravity Zone Academician Ding continued, ¡°In my dictionary, there are no words for ¡®endurance¡¯ or ¡®discipline,¡¯ only ¡®interest¡¯ and ¡®sense of achievement.¡¯ Therefore, I do not restrict your daily working hours or the number of working days per week. The pressure and motivation for learning come from your own inner drive¡­ If you have any questions, you can ask me directly or ask your Senior Brother.¡± After a pause, he asked, ¡°By the way, which area of research do you want to pursue? The Space Industry is a broad field, with many specialized sub-fields. It¡¯s impossible to learn everything.¡± Zhang Yuan thought seriously for a while, feeling a bit lost momentarily, as he was quite interested in every direction. As he pondered, Senior Brother Zhao suddenly said, ¡°If you don¡¯t yet have a comprehensive understanding of the entire Space Industry, you could start by getting some experience on a spaceship and then consider your direction. Building a solid foundation is always right.¡± ¡°Moreover, the current lab conditions are quite poor, with limited resources. Any experiment requires waiting in line. I still recommend that you learn some fundamental knowledge, unless you have a particularly good idea for a project. You could also conduct some simulated experiments on a computer; I can help you arrange that¡­¡± The gravity now is simulated by centrifugal force, which, for some delicate experiments, any bit of Coriolis force is a nightmarish presence. Academician Ding nodded, ¡°Zhao Qingfeng, when you have time, take him to the zero gravity zone outside. Hmm¡­ better yet, have him intern in the nuclear fusion engine room for a while.¡± ¡°The nuclear fusion engine is the most complex engineering project to date. If you can figure out the whole workflow, you could basically graduate.¡± Zhang Yuan was excited by the thought of interning in the zero gravity zone outside. Earth Era¡¯s nuclear fusion engine was cutting-edge technology. ¡°By the way,¡± Academician Ding added, ¡°if you want to officially graduate, you need to publish at least one article in a Zone One journal on Earth. Our new civilization¡¯s paper evaluation system isn¡¯t established yet, so we have to follow Earth¡¯s standards, or get widespread recognition from industry experts.¡± Just one paper, huh¡­ Noticing Zhang Yuan¡¯s puzzled look, Academician Ding laughed and said, ¡°Don¡¯t think it¡¯s that simple. If it weren¡¯t for the poor lab conditions here, my requirements would be even higher.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? Zhang Yuan, struck by a sudden thought, asked, ¡°What if I can¡¯t get a paper published?¡± Academician Ding laughed heartily, ¡°Either apply to withdraw from school or just keep delaying graduation, becoming one of the first to die in the stars!¡± ¡­ Academician Ding was actually very busy. Though ¡°Earth Era¡± had undergone lengthy testing, there were still many minor issues exposed during the journey that needed temporary adjustments, so these big shots were rarely seen. In the following time, Zhang Yuan interacted more with his Senior Brother Zhao Qingfeng. Zhao Qingfeng was at Level 18, responsible for maintaining the material recycling system; he was busy too but his level of busyness was certainly lower than that of Academician Ding, allowing visibility every day. ¡°So it seems, the work level and the degree of busyness are directly proportional. My previous Second Level position was literally just sweeping. It allowed me to miss work anytime, unlike yours.¡± Zhao Qingfeng laughed and said, ¡°Not really, I don¡¯t need to monitor it all day. It¡¯s just that it¡¯s the beginning of the voyage, so there are more temporary adjustments.¡± ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go take a look!¡± Personnel below Level 10 need to report to their superiors if they want to leave the residential area and also require company from others. ¡°Verification passed, please be careful!¡± One of the nurses suddenly said with a smile, ¡°Mr. Zhang Yuan, please make sure your outings do not exceed 10 hours each time. Otherwise, you will lose too much calcium, which can lead to osteoporosis. You can buy some calcium tablets at the hospital.¡± ¡°Okay, thanks for the reminder.¡± Another nurse joked, ¡°Wang Shuo, why are you being so nice today? Did you take a liking to him?¡± ¡°Where is that? I¡¯m always nice¡­¡± Zhang Yuan¡¯s scalp tingled, and he quickly scooted off. The two donned their space suits and entered the elevator. The elevator ascended slowly. As the linear speed decreased, Zhang Yuan felt the ¡°gravity¡± lessening. It also induced a dizziness similar to standing in a spinning washing machine drum. Finally, when the elevator reached the central axis of the spaceship, all semblance of dizziness disappeared, and the two were in a state of weightlessness. They ¡°swam¡± into a railcar with their hands and headed to the airlock. Several soldiers guarded these airlocks and, after checking their identities, gave them a salute. ¡°Beep~ Please be cautious!¡± Beyond lay the vacuum zone. The railcar moved slowly along the central axis toward the first airlock. Hiss! A suction noise. After the air was completely evacuated from the small room, they moved to the next airlock. The entire air evacuation process took place three times before the car successfully reached the outer vacuum zone. The most precious thing in the universe is matter. Humans cannot create a perfect vacuum, so each time they enter or exit, a small amount of matter is inevitably lost. However, as long as the lost material is within an acceptable range, it is fine. Along the way, Zhao Qingfeng endlessly introduced various facilities and equipment in the zero gravity zone. ¡°Do you know why the zero gravity zone has no air?¡± Zhang Yuan thought for a moment, ¡°Mainly to reduce the mass of the spaceship.¡± Senior Brother Zhao nodded, ¡°Exactly, although the air density is low, the total adds up to be a massive number¡­ If the spaceship¡¯s mass reached billions of tons, it couldn¡¯t possibly accelerate to seven-thousandths of the speed of light. Think about it, the mass of our 500,000 people combined is only 30,000 tons, a huge order of magnitude difference.¡± The cabin interior was spacious, illuminated by dim lights. Senior Brother Zhao¡¯s finger pointed outside the window, ¡°Regarding those complex pipes, they are actually part of the spaceship¡¯s heat dissipation system. The heat generated in the residential areas is carried outside through these condensing devices, and then circulated by the spaceship¡¯s outer radiative sails for cooling.¡± Despite the average temperature in space being below minus two hundred degrees, without material exchange, cooling is ridiculously slow, only possible through radiation. Cooling, as an important aspect of the ecosystem, is crucial to the operation of the spaceship. Senior Brother Zhao sluggishly said, ¡°Actually, our spaceship¡¯s current capacity isn¡¯t enough to support 500,000 people.¡± Zhang Yuan was taken aback; weren¡¯t their 500,000 people living just fine? Chapter 78 - Chapter 78: Chapter 78: Core Industries Chapter 78: Chapter 78: Core Industries Senior Brother Zhao smiled, ¡°Our heat dissipation capacity isn¡¯t enough, leading to insufficient wastewater treatment capacity. Do you know how much water each of us has on average?¡± Zhang Yuan shook his head. Zhao Qingfeng held out his hand: ¡°5 tons, the entire spaceship only has a little over two million tons of water, which averages out to only 5 tons per person. And how much does an average person on Earth have? 0.13 cubic kilometers, that is to say, 130 million tons.¡± ¡°One person has fifty times the total amount we have!¡± ¡°Just think, with so little water, our self-purification capacity is almost zero. The water we use has to be processed across several levels, including drinking water, industrial water, domestic wastewater, and so on. Among these, drinking water needs to be distilled again¡ªdo you know how much energy that requires?¡± ¡°Energy isn¡¯t the problem as there¡¯s plenty from nuclear fusion, but the heat generated from these industrial processes¡ªif not dissipated in time¡ªleads to heat accumulation issues¡­ to the point where our heat dissipation capacity is completely inadequate.¡± ¡°Sigh, that¡¯s true,¡± Zhang Yuan nodded; he understood that the spaceship¡¯s industry was a series of interconnected processes. A wastewater treatment unit on its own isn¡¯t complex, but when linked with other systems, it becomes quite troublesome. A mistake in any link could lead to the collapse of the entire system. And a spaceship must maintain a pretty high fault tolerance. He said, ¡°So, the extra heat we currently can¡¯t handle, we¡¯re simply ejecting into space through material discharge?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, we¡¯ll replenish our supplies when we reach Jupiter¡¯s moon¡­ but after arriving at Jupiter, there will be no more resources to resupply, everyone will need to hibernate then. Populations will sharply decline, and our heat dissipation capacity will be completely adequate.¡± As they chatted, the orbital car reached its first station, the core industrial zone. This was a vacuum zone; with no gravity and not being able to borrow any external force, moving around is exceptionally troublesome. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï To facilitate movement for astronauts, there were electromagnetic generators placed on the floor. Once targeted by the infrared probe on the space suit, emitting a signal, it would generate a certain electromagnetic force to pull one over. Zhang Yuan was no stranger to these devices and quickly mastered their tricks, gracefully soaring through the corridors. Through a thin sheet of glass, many workers inside the production room were busy at work. Zhang Yuan saw an old acquaintance¡ªYe Kaifu was intently focused on an electronic screen, but Zhang Yuan didn¡¯t run over to say hello. Actually, there wasn¡¯t a need for so many people in the production room, but in order to increase everyone¡¯s proficiency, the management still decided to train through saturation work. In any case, it¡¯s never wrong to train. A brief tour of the whole industrial process, and not many machines were running. The industrial production in space had its advantages and disadvantages. First, the disadvantages: the very conventional process of ¡°extraction¡± couldn¡¯t be directly implemented. For example, if water and oil are put into a bottle and shaken violently, using the different solubilities of solutes in water and oil to separate and extract them, this process is called ¡°extraction.¡± It is very simple on Earth, but in space, it¡¯s troublesome; in microgravity, water and oil cannot separate. Similarly, chemical engineering processes like distillation, absorption, sedimentation, and bubbling cannot be straightforwardly implemented in a zero-gravity zone. However, precisely because of the lack of gravity, centrifuges shine. Using a centrifuge equates to creating artificial gravity, allowing for distillation, absorption, sedimentation, and bubbling to proceed. Moreover, in space, centrifuges are not affected by gravity, can be made larger, and can separate substances more purely. Senior Brother Zhao asked, ¡°This supergravity distillation machine can generate 500 g of gravitational acceleration. How many times faster is the separation speed than that of distillation towers on Earth? Do you know the formula?¡± Zhang Yuan frowned, thinking for a minute. What was that packed tower association formula? ¡°7.9 times faster!¡± Zhao Qingfeng was slightly surprised; he didn¡¯t expect the youngster to know such an obscure formula. But the surprise was only brief, as geniuses naturally come with expectations. ¡°Very good, the speed of distillation is directly proportional to the cube root of the acceleration. The faster the rotation, the faster the chemical purification speed.¡± ¡°On our Moon, there¡¯s a very complete silicon purification industry, a pity you can¡¯t see it now. Through repeated acidification and distillation, pure silicon ingots of extremely high purity can be refined, about 99.9999¡­%, roughly 15 nines, while Earth¡¯s industry can only refine 11-12 nines. And then due to oxygen and other reasons, it¡¯s very difficult to go further.¡± Pure silicon ingots are the foundation of chips. The higher the purity, the higher the chip yield naturally. Thus, the Moon has become the center of cutting-edge manufacturing. The two continued moving forward. If he remembered correctly, the machine ahead was the famous YS-3D photolithography machine. It was about as tall as a building and looked a bit like a large oven. However, it was temporarily being neglected, since ¡°Earth Era¡± couldn¡¯t produce any chips at all. What exquisite structures it contained inside, Zhang Yuan couldn¡¯t see. ¡°Will it be broken after 3000 years?¡± ¡°No, do you think it¡¯s like a TV set at home that¡¯ll break if left unused for a long time?¡± Zhao Qingfeng laughed and said, ¡°We¡¯ve already specially processed it in advance. This is the universe space, after all, without oxygen to cause oxidation corrosion. Though there may be some quantum movement, preservation for several thousand years is not a problem.¡± That also makes sense, vacuum environment plus ultra-low temperatures allows almost anything to be preserved for a very long time. Even the bodies of humans and animals can be long preserved. As the space industry developed, more than fifty thousand human bodies were drifting in the Solar System; some returned safely, some death unseen, quietly hidden in some corner of the Solar System. A few years ago, Zhang Yuan personally witnessed a drone bring back the body of an astronaut. He was as dry as a mummy, surrounded by frost. The still-evident terror on his face spoke of his last moments. This was a worker who died during the construction of the Space Elevator a hundred years ago, named ¡°Carter Brandenward.¡± A hundred years later, he finally returned home, to the embrace of Mother Earth. In the past, people looked up to the Milky Way, tracing heroes among the constellations. And now, we still look up, but the heroes are driven by coldness. A civilization seeking to progress will inevitably come with sacrifices; Zhang Yuan just hopes for peaceful times, and that in the future, humanity may experience fewer such disasters¡­ Chapter 79 - Chapter 79: Chapter 79 Observatory Chapter 79: Chapter 79 Observatory The machine right in front of us is the legendary industrial mother machine, the core of industry. The mother machine is used to manufacture other machines and machine tools, typically used to produce various high-precision machine tools; it is of paramount importance for restarting civilization. However, this equipment is also sealed and under normal circumstances, it is not activated. The next machine over is a heavy metal 3D printer, also the only currently functioning super-sized machine; it can be used to produce some not too complex parts. 3D printing is a rapid prototyping technology that, based on digital model files, uses powder-like metal or ceramics and other bondable materials to construct objects by printing layer by layer. That is to say, once the equipment is designed on the computer, it will automatically churn out various parts that can be assembled into a completed product. ¡°Hey, you can look but don¡¯t touch, and definitely don¡¯t mess with anything. If you break it, you can¡¯t afford to compensate!¡± One of the staff members, seeing Zhang Yuan looking around curiously, hurriedly issued a warning. They were not fond of visitors like Zhang Yuan. Flying around in this place, if something really got bumped into, although it wouldn¡¯t be a big deal, as the industrial area¡¯s safety protections were very well established, they still found it quite annoying. Senior Brother Zhao joked, ¡°Old Li, what¡¯s with you? This is my junior brother, show some respect!¡± ¡°Hello, Senior Brother Li,¡± Zhang Yuan promptly greeted. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Every spot in this production area is an important position, dense with knowledge, technology, and talent, with the minimum qualification being a PhD, so calling someone ¡®senior brother¡¯ is nothing out of the ordinary. Old Li, who wouldn¡¯t hit a smiling face, gave Zhang Yuan a look and said, ¡°These are all top-notch toys. If you want to study them, you can ask me, just don¡¯t sneak in here and mess things up on your own!¡± ¡°Some foreign interns actually sneaked into the warehouse and almost started the industrial mother machine. That really enraged me.¡± Senior Brother Zhao asked with a smile, ¡°And then what happened?¡± Senior Brother Li snorted, ¡°I was going to call the police and have them put into forced hibernation, but seeing them cry and wail, I went soft and let them go¡­¡± Turning his head, Senior Brother Zhao joked, ¡°Old Li is a soft-hearted guy. If you look pitiful enough and shed tears of pain, maybe he¡¯ll let you use the 3D printer to make a real machine for you. It¡¯s not impossible¡­¡± Zhang Yuan widened his eyes and pretended for a while, but realized he couldn¡¯t pull off a very pitiable look. It seems that he couldn¡¯t rely on acting to get by. From now on, he would have to prevail through real ability. The tour of the entire first-floor factory was almost over; there were still the second, third, fourth floors, and so on, with mineral smelting, light industrial production factories that could be visited later. Zhang Yuan, not wanting to disturb others at work, promptly left with Senior Brother Zhao¡­ ¡°After seeing all this, what are your thoughts?¡± Senior Brother Zhao immediately inquired. Zhang Yuan sighed, ¡°It¡¯s magnificent! These machines can be said to be the crystallization of countless people¡¯s intelligence, and they¡¯re even more important than our lives!¡± ¡°But it¡¯s also quite embarrassing. It feels like having energy with nowhere to use it. The vast majority of machines are idle, and the production lines are scattered.¡± Senior Brother Zhao nodded, ¡°Ah, I feel the same way. If we successfully reach our destination and acquire a large amount of resources, then there will be a place for us to shine¡­¡± After the tour, Zhang Yuan had a general understanding of the entire industrial system. The two of them continued on their way, passing by the Astronomical Observatory, where some astronomers were conducting observations. With no lighthouses or satellite signals in the universe, one can only determine their location by observing the stars in the sky. But the entire Milky Way is far from stationary; it is constantly moving and rotating. With space navigation, a tiny deviation can lead to a huge mistake. If the direction is off by just a few microseconds, it could mean having to travel an extra several billion kilometers. Hence, a large amount of calculation and observation are needed for a relatively accurate determination. An idea struck Zhang Yuan, ¡°According to the date, our spaceship should be in the orbit of Mars by now, right?¡± Zhao Qingfeng nodded, ¡°About right, it¡¯s been over a month, want to go in and take a look?¡± Zhang Yuan couldn¡¯t help but marvel at the grandeur of ¡®Earth Era¡¯. Being inside, one could feel completely unaware of being in the universe. There was always a strange illusion that one was still living on Earth. That was actually a good thing. If one were constantly reminded that they were in the universe surrounded by deadly dangers, the psychological pressure would sharply increase. If depression were to spread on a large scale, it would be troublesome. In Mars orbit, the communication delay with Earth is about 4 minutes. Messages sent out take 4 minutes to reach Earth, and replies from Earth take another 4 minutes, so one round of communication takes a total of 8 minutes. When Zhang Yuan communicated with Earth, he usually used the form of short videos. ¡°Let¡¯s go into the Observatory.¡± Zhang Yuan cautiously flew up to the Astronomical Observatory. A sparkling starry sky was right above their heads. Here, one could make the closest contact with the grand universe. Inside the Observatory it was very quiet, or rather, every place in the zero-gravity area was quiet. It was just that sometimes, a rustling sound could be heard through the earphones. Under the light of the age-old stars, witnessing the splendor of the entire Milky Way gave rise to a sense of unique tranquility. This kind of tranquility could immerse a restless soul. Observing Earth with the naked eye, one would find that Earth had become a very ordinary little star, reflecting a pale blue light at a certain angle from the Sun. From some points of view, it was somewhat similar to Sirius. Mars, about 60 million kilometers from the spacecraft, appeared slightly larger than Earth, its reflected sunlight displaying a shade of orange. Through the telescope, one could even see the Space City ¡®Mars 3¡¯ hovering above Mars! ¡®Mars 3¡¯, once the prototype of the ¡®Earth Era¡¯ spacecraft, is a movable space city. Its volume is only a third of the Earth Era, but for the technicians inside, it is sufficiently spacious. Future space cities will all be designed with the concept of being ¡®movable¡¯ in mind. Looking at the entire Solar System, one realizes how commonplace the planet Mars is; it doesn¡¯t hold much value for development from humanity¡¯s current perspective. From the angle of space industry, Mars can¡¯t compare to the Moon. The Moon is close enough to Earth, convenient for travel, with low gravity, no atmosphere, and abundant resources. From the perspective of exploitable resources, Mars falls short when compared to Jupiter¡¯s moon and Saturn¡¯s moon Titan. Nearby Jupiter¡¯s moon and Titan, there are large gaseous planets, naturally providing infinite repositories of nuclear fuel. Moreover, Titan is rich in hydrocarbons; if we could exploit this moon, it would be like having a vast oil supply. A large amount of easily extractable organic matter still holds significant value. Chapter 80 - Chapter 80: Chapter 80 "Energy Level Desert" Conjecture Chapter 80: Chapter 80 ¡°Energy Level Desert¡± Conjecture So, Mars was not a major point of interest for humanity, with only one solitary Space City above it, serving mostly as a scientific research and transit station. Mars enthusiasts were contemplating melting two levels of carbon dioxide to improve the Martian atmosphere, aiming to make it inhabitable in the future. ¡°Only if there¡¯s a population explosion in the future and Earth, as well as the Moon, can no longer accommodate people, might Mars be developed¡­ Compared to other planets, this one is quite suitable for habitation. We haven¡¯t found any extraterrestrial microorganisms yet, so it¡¯s still relatively safe,¡± Senior Brother Zhao suddenly commented. Zhang Yuan replied, ¡°I think that, for the foreseeable future, it doesn¡¯t seem likely because the growth rate of civilized populations isn¡¯t high.¡± Within the limits allowed by natural resources, social systems, and productivity, the more people, the better, especially high-quality populations. But capitalism is a contraceptive for population growth. In the old times, limited by resource constraints, the population of Earth had been stagnant at 70¨C80 billion for a long time. After experiencing the Fourth World War and the ¡°light of nuclear fusion,¡± civilization had once witnessed a baby boom. However, now, the growth rate had started to slow down again, with an annual increase of less than 1%. From the current population of ten billion, growing to a hundred billion or even a trillion is very challenging. For many families, having a second child is already a painful matter. As for the low-quality populations in certain countries, more of them aren¡¯t very useful. Zhang Yuan had a sudden thought, ¡°In the future, if artificial wombs and robotic parenting are developed, do you think it would change this situation?¡± Senior Brother Zhao shook his head, ¡°Artificial womb technology has liberated women; it¡¯s a major technology that affects the course of the whole world. With artificial womb technology, the feminist movements can finally stop.¡± ¡°¡­But I still think it wouldn¡¯t fundamentally change the population growth. Because what¡¯s important for children is nurturing, not the birthing process. Nurturing consumes much more energy than giving birth!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï ¡°As for robotic parenting, such strong artificial intelligence is needed! Moreover, ethical issues might need to be discussed for a long time¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m more worried about the womb revolution strategies of certain small countries; a large influx of foreign immigrants could reduce the influence of the native populations. Ideological and cultural conflicts might very well lead to the inferior driving out the superior, which has happened many times in history already.¡± Zhang Yuan sighed, ¡°Indeed, that¡¯s true.¡± After idly chatting for a while and visiting the observatory, Zhang Yuan suddenly discovered an electronic reading room hidden here, called the ¡°Star Library,¡± with just a few people inside reading books. He thought to himself that those capable of enjoying solitude in such a place must be top experts, perhaps he could also try it out later¡­ After casually touring around, they turned back and re-entered the orbiting vehicle. Their final stop was the tail wing of the Mother Ship, where the nuclear fusion engine was located. The nuclear fusion engine, with its largest ring diameter exceeding four hundred meters, was just the tip of the iceberg, enough to be awe-inspiring. Witnessing this colossal object, Zhang Yuan felt his heart start to heat up. Working here long-term, the joy and sense of accomplishment would definitely be much more intense than cleaning the cabin. On the nearest detection screen, a blue-white plasma was discharging electricity, with various parameters changing nearby. Zhang Yuan squinted his eyes; he saw a temperature indicated on it of about 750 million degrees! ¡°You came!¡± ¡°Professor Ding.¡± Seeing a figure emerging from a room ahead, Zhang Yuan quickly greeted him. Academician Ding was here understanding the changes in various parameters, happenstance meeting them. ¡°Zhang Yuan, it seems you really like it here. To fully understand this big gadget, you might need to learn some mechanical engineering, nuclear physics, and plasma physics¡ªthere¡¯s a lot to learn.¡± Zhang Yuan was naturally quite proactive, ¡°What work can I do now?¡± ¡°First, read some papers. If you don¡¯t understand something, you can ask your senior brother or monitor the trajectory of plasma turbulence here, and at the same time study the entire structure of the engine like the helium cold solid-clad thermodynamic numerals, the impact of periodic shocks on the low-temperature helium expansion turbines, etc. Choose your own topic; I will grant you certain database permissions.¡± ¡°If you fully understand the working principle of the entire engine, the rest of space engineering will be a trivial matter for you.¡± Zhang Yuan acknowledged and found his seat. He eagerly secured himself into the seat, trying to find some papers to read in the database. Here, he could even read various mechanical control codes! Of course, he only had read access, with no permission to modify anything. Zhang Yuan was thrilled to discover that many tasks in the control engineering of the nuclear fusion were done by his father, which naturally made him even more curious and eager to try. He thought to himself, ¡°Working on nuclear fusion sounds prestigious. If Li Zhendong ever comes across it, I wonder how long he could boast¡­¡± Nuclear physics, similar to high energy physics, is a discipline researching profound microscopic theories. Nuclear physics leans toward horizontal applications, whereas high energy physics is aimed more at profound microscopic theories. But in this era, high energy physics was gradually fading. The primary reason was that what could be fundamentally understood had already been so, and what couldn¡¯t be understood remained so. In the 23rd century, Xia Country Academy of Sciences once spent huge sums to build an even larger collider, but the end result was that it failed to produce any kind of particles beyond expectations, turning the project into a classic white elephant. The standard model built on non-Abelian gauge fields seemed to have become the upper limit of humanity¡¯s understanding of nature. According to some scientists¡¯ estimates, to verify higher-level theories and discover some unexpected physical phenomena, a Solar System Ring Accelerator would be needed, meaning that this collider would have to encompass the entire Solar System. For humans, it was an unachievable task. This hypothesis was called the ¡°Energy Level Desert¡± hypothesis. In nature, substances under different accelerator energy levels produced completely different properties. At 10 electron volts, people could witness atoms bursting open, splitting into atomic nuclei and electrons. In the range of 10^6 to 10^7 electron volts, people could observe atomic nuclei further disintegrating into neutrons and protons. At 10^11 electron volts, electroweak particles could be observed, proving the electroweak unification theory. The LHC in Europe once reached an energy level of 10^13 electron volts and discovered the Higgs boson. Xia Country¡¯s collider, which used hundreds of billions in funds, raised the energy level again to 10^15 electron volts. And then? There was no further discovery; at 10^15 electron volts, no new physics was observed. However, the ¡°Energy Level Desert¡± hypothesis suggested that at 10^24 electron volts, no new physical phenomena would occur. According to current theories, to continue researching high energy physics, please increase the energy level by a billion times! This was also the origin of the Solar System Ring Accelerator, which would require a collider with a circumference of 1000 billion kilometers to achieve this feat. 1000 billion kilometers! But this isn¡¯t all of high energy physics. A 1000 billion kilometer accelerator could likely only observe the unification of strong force, electromagnetic force, and weak force, still excluding gravity. To thoroughly research quantum gravity or the legendary All Things Theory, please build a Galactic Ring Accelerator spanning 1000 light-years! Chapter 81 - Chapter 81: Chapter 81 5 Months Chapter 81: Chapter 81 5 Months Due to the vastness of the gap in energy levels, this hypothesis is called the ¡°Big Desert.¡± The vast majority of civilizations die of thirst midway, unable to see the next step. Thinking of this, Zhang Yuan sighed to himself, ¡°The Universe is so vast, I wonder if there are any super civilizations willing to undertake god-like projects such as the Galactic Ring Accelerator¡­¡± However, on second thoughts, colliders are not necessarily the only way. As early as the 20th century, scientists had proposed that to continue exploring nature, one must rely on another method, instead of brutishly probing with proton colliders. For instance, cryophysics might just yield an unheard-of new particle when solving the conditions at absolute zero. Unfortunately, to date, countless geniuses, in their dedicated work, still have not found a new breakthrough. This is a very sad thing, the impasse in high-energy physics has forced people to explore other fields, not knowing whether they will find a way out. But, let these cutting-edge problems worry the bigwigs, Zhang Yuan doesn¡¯t think he alone can change anything. He has one great advantage, that is self-awareness, and does not bother with some inexplicably troubling issues. Currently, the most mainstream direction in physics research is condensed matter physics, a discipline more vibrant than high-energy physics and of greater practical value. It provides strong theoretical support for the development of new materials, new technologies, and new processes. After reflecting for a short while, Zhang Yuan remembered the task at hand and began to search for ¡°nuclear fusion¡± on his computer, the subject he was to study in the future. Good heavens, nearly a million papers appeared! A million papers! Even if he absorbed new knowledge quickly, it was impossible to read them all. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã0 He complained to himself, these folks were too good at watering down their work, hardly leaving any room for future generations. Seeing his dumbfounded look, Senior Brother Zhao said with a smile, ¡°No need to rush, study more, make more contacts. Humanity has explored nuclear fusion for three hundred years, a million papers aren¡¯t too many, just selectively read a few.¡± ¡°I¡¯m currently making a diagnostic analysis tool by hand. Although there are already excellent finished products for this stuff, making one by myself certainly leads to a different understanding.¡± ¡°I suggest that you first conduct some research on triple product aspects. The study in this area has been profound already, but researching it on your own, after all, is somewhat different.¡± And so, time passed day by day, and with the assistance of the notable Senior Brother Zhao, Zhang Yuan¡¯s progress was swift. In the fifth month after starting his work¡­ Everyone in the laboratory had distinctive characteristics. Senior Brother Zhao had a very peculiar habit; whenever he was thinking about a problem, his neck seemed to lose support, his head drooped onto his shoulder, and he didn¡¯t like to be confined to a chair. Since there was no gravity in the laboratory, his whole body would sway freely, like a tumbler. The two female seniors were like aunties, always overly concerned with him, relentlessly thinking about introducing a ¡°life partner¡± to him, to the point of annoyance. And Zhang Yuan¡¯s main characteristic was that he thrived on overnight shifts; the more he pulled all-nighters, the happier he became. He wasn¡¯t tired at all; on the contrary, he became ever more cautious. This characteristic gave everyone in the lab goosebumps wave after wave. He felt he was still a newbie, and writing something decent was still too difficult, how could he catch up without pulling all-nighters. The more Zhang Yuan studied the discipline of nuclear fusion, the more he understood its complexity and intricacy, like the impacts of periodic impulses and on any aspect, there were excellent papers already. However, on this day, Zhang Yuan finally completed the first table of his life¡ª¡±Helium-3 Fusion Rates Under Different Triple Product Conditions.¡± It was just a minor task. Even a standard answer was already available. But, when one¡¯s hard work matched up with the standard answer, there was always a profound sense of joy. Truth could be replicated; the ancients did not deceive me. He shook his heavy head, took a long breath, and fogged up the glass helmet on his head with his breath. ¡°Ah, now I finally understand how those million papers came to be. It¡¯s really tough.¡± The project covered such a broad range of topics, yet there was seldom any overlap between them¨Dthey were all isolated from each other. Take for instance the experimental fusion devices and their auxiliary facilities, plasma heating and current drive, plasma engineering and control, diagnostics, data collection and remote participation, magnets and power supply, vacuum chambers, in-chamber engineering and remote manipulators, Science Material and so on¨Dany of these topics alone could keep someone busy for a lifetime. Even a genius like him couldn¡¯t master them all¡­ ¡°Your chart here is quite good, very precise. Only five months, eh?¡± Senior Brother Zhao said with a slightly odd look on his face, ¡°I have a question, how do you stay focused for so long each day?¡± He witnessed firsthand Zhang Yuan¡¯s insane hard work and his almost divine rate of progress. Without enough mental preparation, he was nearly scared to death. How long did it take him to draft this diagram back in the day? ¡­ It seemed to have taken a full 10 months, and to make matters worse, he was a Ph.D. student! Zhang Yuan patted his glass helmet and said, ¡°Focused? I don¡¯t know. Senior Brother Zhao, are you ill, unable to focus? Maybe you should take a break. Spending too much time studying every day is bad for your health.¡± Zhao Qingfeng blinked and felt a bit amused. Please, shouldn¡¯t that be what I¡¯m saying to you? ¡°¡­ It¡¯s not that I can¡¯t focus, but after a while, there¡¯s a sense of fatigue. Humans aren¡¯t robots, after all; it¡¯s natural to get tired. I see you can concentrate for a long time, glued to the screen all day long. Is it because of an innate talent?¡± Zhang Yuan thought for a moment and said with a smile, ¡°As long as you think of controlled fusion technology as a super cool and aloof girl, even the most mundane and boring times become interesting.¡± ¡°Because magnetic confinement, this loser, has been trying to charm the cool girl for hundreds of years and only succeeded after such a long time. All the different methods used could pretty much make up a romance novel. Doesn¡¯t that sound interesting?¡± ¡°That does make a bit of sense! Keep going.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a universal truth in the cosmos: boys never know why they¡¯ve annoyed a girl. If they can¡¯t win her over, it¡¯s the boys¡¯ fault, and they should strive to make amends, to correct their errors. These million papers are like humanity correcting its mistakes, writing letters of penance, being the dutiful servile followers. Think of it that way, and it might be slightly more entertaining.¡± ¡°Okay¡­¡± Zhao Qingfeng fell silent for a moment, then burst into laughter. Could maintaining singlehood be a necessary condition for high combat power? Wait a second, what does being a dutiful follower mean, groveling to Nature? He made a joke, ¡°That method doesn¡¯t seem to work, though. If being a dutiful follower meant the Natural Goddess would reveal her charm, then scientists from ages past would have already pinned her down and licked her clean¡­¡± Zhang Yuan responded with a laugh, ¡°That¡¯s because she gets bored with the old and is always craving the new. If you keep using the same old methods, she¡¯ll grow tired of you and ignore you. If you try new methods, she¡¯ll give you a little reward. That¡¯s why we have to keep innovating, continuously coming up with new ways.¡± Senior Brother Zhao laughed heartily. Chapter 82 - Chapter 82: Chapter 83: Job Grade Evaluation Chapter 82: Chapter 83: Job Grade Evaluation The girls working together in the room couldn¡¯t hear their conversation since it was a private channel on their headphones. They did cast curious glances over at Senior Brother Zhao¡¯s actions though, wondering, ¡°What are you talking about that¡¯s so animated and on a private channel?¡± ¡°Nothing, really nothing. Just complaining about how tough life is for us research dogs¡­¡± Zhang Yuan hurriedly said. ¡°Is that so¡­ Zhang Yuan, you¡¯ve only been at it for five months and you think it¡¯s tough already?¡± Anna, a blonde-haired, blue-eyed foreigner, asked. Of course, nationalities aren¡¯t much of an issue now, as long as one doesn¡¯t have strong religious beliefs; the race you were born into isn¡¯t too important. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t think that way. Maybe you should consider taking a couple of days off to adjust your attitude instead of spending all day in the lab.¡± Zhang Yuan quickly laughed it off, indicating that he was just not well-rested and wasn¡¯t tired of studying. After a while, the room quieted down again. Senior Brother Zhao quietly asked, ¡°Do you have a girlfriend yet?¡± ¡°Not yet. No time.¡± ¡°No wonder, I already have a wife, so I can¡¯t really use the method you¡¯re suggesting. You should treat men and women equally¡ªit¡¯s not good to have such thoughts. Just being subservient won¡¯t get you the girl; you should pursue them with sincerity. The countless sycophants out there are proof that they end up with nothing.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not it¡­ I was just giving an example. The Natural Goddess isn¡¯t any ordinary goddess,¡± Zhang Yuan inwardly rolled his eyes. Did he need to chase girls? Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 No. He was the one being pursued. Senior Brother Zhao said solemnly, ¡°Actually, Anna and the others¡¯ concern is not unreasonable. Although you can hibernate later, I suggest you start looking for a life partner sooner because most people will hibernate on time. When that time comes and they¡¯re in hibernation, you¡¯ll have no choices left. The office girls here are all taken¡­ You don¡¯t stand a chance.¡± Zhang Yuan let out a sigh, ¡°Senior Brother, I really don¡¯t have time for that, and finding a partner relies on fate anyway. If it doesn¡¯t work out, being without a life partner is also okay. I can handle it¡­¡± Zhao Qingfeng shook his head and stopped meddling in others¡¯ private affairs. ¡°By the way, there¡¯s something to remind you of. In two days, the spaceship will change course, and the main engine will be shut down. If you¡¯re interested, you can visit the control site for the side engines.¡± ¡­ After finishing a day¡¯s work, Zhang Yuan returned to the living area, exercised for about half an hour, then took a shower. Due to water scarcity, the shower emitted a misty vapor, which was very conservative, only providing a wash at the end. If you exceeded the water usage limit, the price would skyrocket. After leaving the communal bathroom, he washed and dried his clothes. Zhang Yuan had gradually gotten used to life on the spaceship. Busy, but fulfilling. In the past few months, although material life was scarce, people¡¯s spiritual lives had undergone an earth-shaking transformation. Entertainment venues like basketball courts, ping-pong halls, cinemas, and gyms had been opened one after another, and life was becoming more enjoyable. Next, he checked his inbox and continued working on ¡°robot programs¡± from Earth. He was working with a doctoral student named Guo Hao, who updated him daily on project progress and any issues encountered. Zhang Yuan answered them one by one and sent the files back. After such a long struggle, the entire program¡¯s framework was almost complete, with just some patchwork left. The daily workload wasn¡¯t as massive as before; three or four hours were enough to get it done. Many software-related tasks could now be finished within five months, making people¡¯s leisure time richer¡ªexcluding Zhang Yuan, who didn¡¯t play games or seek virtual girlfriends, only occasionally playing ping-pong. ¡°Ah, hey, burning the midnight oil again? Come on out!¡± Zhang Yuan suddenly heard a knock on the door. He stood up and opened the door. Li Zhendong was rallying people to test his game Arrow Tower Auto Chess, greeting everyone and forcefully giving an invitation code to Zhang Yuan. ¡°It¡¯s finally playable¡­ though there¡¯s still a mountain of bugs to fix, it¡¯s playable at least.¡± Li Zhendong looked relieved, ¡°I¡¯ve been doing this while pursuing my graduate studies; it hasn¡¯t been easy!¡± ¡°Come help test it out.¡± ¡°Pssh, I¡¯m the one who did the design work for you, okay? Look at Zhang Yuan here, his workload is way more than yours! He works until eleven each night!¡± Zhang Chenchen followed Li Zhendong, constantly complaining. In truth, she knew everyone was really busy, really busy, and this denigration was just a habit. Zhang Yuan smiled, opened his phone; there was no need to download an app, he simply tapped and entered the game screen directly. ¡°Huh? The graphics look pretty good. In a few months, there¡¯ll be a job performance review, then they¡¯ll redistribute work levels based on the results, right?¡± The upcoming job performance review was critical. Those with higher levels would be seen as natural leaders. Moreover, during the 3,000 years of hibernation, work levels were unlikely to change much. Li Zhendong frowned and said, ¡°I¡¯m not too worried because I¡¯m already a grad student, even at worst I¡¯d be level five or six. But if the game isn¡¯t done well, it screws over a bunch of friends, and they won¡¯t get good results. The graphics are good because I used the newest 3Ddog engine¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re using cloud gaming loading technology? Why go with that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s trendy! Plus it shows off the tech, like writing a paper, you have to incorporate something popular, right?¡± Cloud gaming is a novel information processing technology, where all games run on a super server. When users want to play, they just connect to this super server, and game visuals and player inputs can interact with ultra-low latency due to the super-fast internet speeds. In plain words, it lets users stream their gaming. Thanks to this, users don¡¯t need to download a client or install anything; just click the icon, and they¡¯re playing. However, clearly, there isn¡¯t super high-speed internet on the spaceship, so it looks choppy. ¡°With how trendy it is, remember that on the spaceship, all data is expensive¡ªit¡¯s not as cheap as on Earth. If you want to be popular, I suggest making a client. The game itself isn¡¯t movie-level visuals, doesn¡¯t require high specs, so why make it like this.¡± Zhang Yuan wasn¡¯t too interested in playing games. To him, any video game was just about pursuing the optimal solution in terms of numbers. But, out of consideration for his friend, he played a few rounds of chess and gave some nonchalant suggestions. ¡°Hey, I didn¡¯t make this game for people on the spaceship; the main players are still Earth people.¡± ¡°That makes sense¡­¡± Chapter 83 - Chapter 83: Chapter 84 Mr. Billion Chapter 83: Chapter 84 Mr. Billion As the conversation reached this point, Li Zhendong sighed and said, ¡°Being fun is useless, you¡¯ve got to be on the Falls list to really succeed!¡± ¡°What list are you talking about?¡± Zhang Yuan asked in surprise. ¡°The Falls list, you¡¯re really out of the loop.¡± Li Zhendong lifted his head and said, ¡°It¡¯s something a guy named Falls came up with, ranking the wealth we young people have created on Earth. It¡¯s basically a private list that evaluates the value of our work¡­ and it has a certain predictive effect on future job rankings.¡± ¡°For example, if my game is valued at one hundred million, according to the equity distribution, I¡¯d have a personal worth of twenty million.¡± Zhang Chenchen spoke irritably, ¡°Dream on, one hundred million? You couldn¡¯t even sell it for a million! We¡¯ve all been working for nothing these past few months, thanks to you duping us to come onboard¡­ and to think I¡¯m still a Level 1 staff member in the end.¡± Li Zhendong furrowed his brows in retort, ¡°Who said it¡¯s worth nothing, it can¡¯t possibly not sell for even a single Mao!¡± Zhang Yuan couldn¡¯t be bothered with their bickering and curiously opened the so-called ¡°Falls list¡± on his phone. He discovered that the list had two different categories, the first being ¡°academic influence,¡± and the second ¡°wealth creation.¡± ¡°Why are there only people under thirty years old?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that obvious?¡± Li Zhendong rolled his eyes, ¡°Do you really want to compare influence with those Academicians? Besides, Falls can¡¯t dig up the confidential information of those big shots.¡± ¡°Alright then¡­¡± As he scrolled through the Falls list, Zhang Yuan finally spotted his name. Academic influence: ¡°1134.1¡±, ranked 66th, which was about what he expected. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã¦Ï Although Zhang Yuan had only published one paper on robot dynamics, the value of the paper was quite significant. It was just that the impact factor of the journal ¡°Scientific Pioneer¡± wasn¡¯t high enough, slightly dragging down his ranking. Net worth ¡°2 million¡±, ranking at number 1733. Zhang Yuan was startled, wondering where Falls had unearthed his personal data. And being ranked 1733 was far below his expectations. It seemed that the Earth Era indeed boasted many capable individuals. In just a short half-year, his net worth of 2 million could only rank in the seventeen hundreds. Can everyone really make money so easily? In such a short time, there are already so many new millionaires? Knowledge can truly change fate! Zhang Yuan finally understood why Li Zhendong was so anxious; with such a low net worth, he couldn¡¯t show off anymore! Haha! But in an instant, Zhang Yuan¡¯s mood lifted again. A ranking in the seventeen hundreds was definitely a good thing. He was indifferent to money. He could finally walk down the street without the possibility of being recognized! He liked keeping a low profile, enjoyed staying in on his own! He didn¡¯t like being in the spotlight, nor did he covet the feeling of being on stage. Thinking about how he had become low-profile again, Zhang Yuan felt oddly pleased and forced himself not to laugh out loud. ¡°All those star projects got financing, all with high valuations!¡± Li Zhendong said with a troubled expression, ¡°Like that gene-matching app, it was given a valuation of ten billion right off the bat, creating how many millionaires? Even the programmers have a net worth of several million!¡± ¡°The gene-matching app was successful?¡± Zhang Yuan showed some interest. ¡°Not completely successful yet, but it¡¯s already in trial use¡­ and it¡¯s very popular. You could give it a try.¡± ¡°And there¡¯s the VR-LIFE game, which also got valued at several billion, suddenly giving the startup team a very high net worth.¡± ¡°Big teams have the advantages of big teams, they can easily find venture capital on Earth and operating teams due to their connections, but it¡¯s somewhat harder for small teams¡­ They need to ask the Deep Space Foundation for help, fill out lots of paperwork, and go through multiple rounds of vetting.¡± Zhang Yuan finally understood what this guy was thinking. It seems they wanted to partner with me to leverage connections on Earth. He coughed, ¡°I only know Professor Wang on Earth. How can I help you? You¡¯re not thinking of cutting in line to pass the review, are you? That¡¯s impossible.¡± Li Zhendong was a bit embarrassed, ¡°¡­ you also know Chairman Ma and Chairman Wang, don¡¯t you? Isn¡¯t this kind of thing easy for you? Please help, please, if I had any other choice I wouldn¡¯t come to you! My damned father couldn¡¯t care less about me¡­¡± Okay, Zhang Yuan was stupefied for a moment, it seemed that was indeed the case, he had almost forgotten about it. It was just a small favor, after all. ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll send out a message right away, but it may take a while for the other party to respond. Whether it will work out or not is still up to you to negotiate, after all, nobody¡¯s money comes from the wind, they need to earn a profit to cooperate¡­ ¡®Remember old friends when you come into a fortune,¡¯ right?¡± ¡°Of course, that¡¯s a must! How many shares do you want?¡± ¡°Ha-ha, just kidding, how could I¡­?¡± Zhang Yuan edited some messages and sent them out. After probably half an hour, his phone rang. Chairman Ma had replied, ¡°Zhang Yuan, I have received your message. The concept of ¡®Arrow Tower Auto Chess¡¯ is pretty good, though it has quite a few flaws¡­¡± ¡°Here, I am recommending a Manager Guo who specializes in operating games. Please discuss the specifics of the partnership with him¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got some terrific news! Regarding our collaborative project, the first phase has been successfully completed, and we are very satisfied with the true-to-life testing results. We have increased the investment, don¡¯t worry, your stake is still at 10%. According to this, we really made a big loss!¡± ¡°I offer 1.2 billion to buy your shares, what do you think?¡± From the elated tone of Chairman Ma, it wasn¡¯t hard to hear that despite his words of loss, he actually made a profit. This project might have more potential than Zhang Yuan had imagined. ¡°Ha, really made a deal? Send me the contact info quickly.¡± Li Zhendong, upon hearing the operator¡¯s message, anxiously urged Zhang Yuan. Standing behind him, Zhang Chenchen had her mouth wide open, staring at a number on the phone in a daze. An incredulous look. The Falls list, Zhang Yuan, wealth creation 100000000, one followed by eight zeroes, ranking first¡­ First?! ¡­ It was the first time on the Falls list that someone broke into nine-digit wealth, quickly causing a huge sensation. ¡°Wow, Mr. Billion has appeared!¡± ¡°Zhang Yuan, I think I¡¯ve seen that name somewhere.¡± ¡°Hey, that¡¯s him, he¡¯s sitting right in front of us reading a book. Should we get a picture with him?¡± Half a billion in half a year, definitely not an easy feat. Do they really think everyone is like real estate tycoon Wang Jianxiong, for whom earning a billion is just a minor goal? Oh my, can you please stop discussing this in the library? It¡¯s pretty awkward¡­ Zhang Yuan put down the book in his hands and perked up his ears, overhearing lots of whispers. He realized that he just couldn¡¯t stay in the library any longer. This feeling of being too sharp was just too uncomfortable. Who can escape the ways of the world? Why did I become famous again?! My head really hurts! Before long, a group of reporter sisters found Zhang Yuan¡¯s trail and dragged him out of the library. Chapter 84 - Chapter 84: Chapter 85 Live Broadcast Accident Chapter 84: Chapter 85 Live Broadcast Accident ¡°Classmate Zhang, we meet again. Can I take a few minutes to ask you a few questions?¡± Standing in the front, Reporter Lin Xuanyuan, who was an old acquaintance of his. Fame brings trouble as surely as strength draws challenges, and although Zhang Yuan wanted to say ¡°I¡¯m not taking any interviews,¡± the microphone was already in his face. Seeing their ¡°if you don¡¯t take the interview, you¡¯re dead¡± stares, Zhang Yuan got a jolt of fear and quickly swallowed the words he was about to say. ¡°Hi, Reporter Lin, hello¡­¡± This group of lovely young ladies specialized in collecting all sorts of news from the time period of the Earth Era. With a sense of smell keener than a hunting dog¡¯s, once they targeted someone, no corner could hide them. Even big shots like Academician Ding could only comply obediently with interviews. After all, many people on Earth were still following this spaceship, and writing news from time to time helped maintain the influence of the ¡°Earth Era,¡± which was beneficial for the entire aerospace industry and future deep-space plans. This was politically correct! Just kidding, Zhang Yuan didn¡¯t dare confront them head-on. Reporter Lin beamed satisfactorily and signaled the photographer behind her to adjust the camera lens properly. She cleared her throat and asked, ¡°Mr. Zhang Yuan, you¡¯re halfway through your journey to Jupiter. As the first person on the Falls wealth list to break nine digits, do you have any special thoughts?¡± Zhang Yuan took the microphone, hesitated for a few seconds, ¡°Not too many thoughts¡­ just a billion, too much money is also pointless.¡± Reporter Lin glared at him, how could he say something like that? Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? Zhang Yuan quickly shifted his tone, ¡°Actually, the list fluctuates a lot. The billion I own represents the valuation of equity, not cash in hand. Valuation and actual cash are two different concepts¡­¡± Reporter Lin laughed and said, ¡°Classmate Zhang is really modest. I heard someone has already offered over a billion to buy all your shares. So, cashing out must be quite easy, isn¡¯t it? Have you ever thought about selling your shares into cash?¡± Zhang Yuan just wanted to end the interview quickly, and responded bluntly, ¡°I¡¯ve never thought about it!¡± ¡°Do you think the company still has room to appreciate, so you choose not to sell these shares?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Reporter Lin¡¯s professional smile bloomed again, ¡°Another question here, why has the value of the shares you hold skyrocketed? In half a year, it¡¯s gone from two million to a hundred million, increasing fifty times!¡± Zhang Yuan thought about it and said, ¡°Because during the financing, the whole company was re-evaluated.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s put it this way, it started as a small startup with no results, venture capital of twenty million, I held 10%, so a net worth of two million. Later, the project was successful, obtained copyrights and patents, plus the simulation effects were good, and those big companies swarmed to invest ten billion¡­¡± ¡°Ten billion isn¡¯t much for hardware development because the subsequent R&D costs are very high, simulation experiments in supercomputers can¡¯t replace the real reality, and if we want to industrialize, we still need to make various molds for real testing, and a mold could cost millions¡­¡± ¡°If the R&D fails and there¡¯s no new investment, my net worth will quickly return to zero. Well, that¡¯s about it.¡± The young lady nodded earnestly, understanding this basic knowledge. Zhang Yuan continued, ¡°I¡¯m not very clear about the specific development process, you can ask Mr. Guo Hao, who is my contact on Earth. Anyway, I only handle some theoretical stuff, I¡¯m not responsible for subsequent tests¡­¡± She then asked, ¡°So, do you take part in managing the company¡¯s operations? If a real crisis happens, what would you do from so far away?¡± Zhang Yuan was getting a bit impatient, with so many questions, one after another, she could probably go on forever. And the crowd of onlookers had already gathered around, their eyes making his scalp tingle. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, I¡¯m just a minor shareholder, I don¡¯t get involved in internal operations, nor have much say. Currently, I¡¯m only involved in some technical development. Whether the company goes bankrupt or operates normally, well, I still hope they operate normally¡­¡± ¡°If it goes bankrupt, it¡¯s just mismanagement, but I believe with the support of so many big companies, it won¡¯t come to that.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Reporter Lin saw his nonchalant and absent-minded demeanor and felt quite annoyed. After all, it¡¯s a billion, big news, and you¡¯re acting like this! But still maintaining professional etiquette, she showed her six teeth and smiled, asking, ¡°Then, with this billion, do you regret leaving Earth? A billion is like reaching the pinnacle of life, and after arriving at Jupiter Base, you still have one chance to return to Earth¡­¡± ¡°Regret? I have no regrets,¡± Zhang Yuan stated plainly. ¡°It feels like I¡¯ve just earned a bit of a Game Coin, a little thrill, but not much excitement.¡± ¡°A billion amounts to what? It¡¯s like 300 kilograms of gold. With the vastness of the stars, would you get extremely excited for 300 kilograms of gold? I sure wouldn¡¯t.¡± Hearing him say this, the whole crowd of onlookers burst into laughter. ¡°I¡­¡± The lady reporter¡¯s forehead veins twitched, wanting to say ¡°I would,¡± while also wishing she could punch him. She finally managed to get a few words out, ¡°It seems our Classmate Zhang truly has an exceptionally noble spirit¡­¡± ¡°Any last words for everyone?¡± These words were practically the concluding remarks of the interview segment, and Zhang Yuan finally recited the prepared closing remarks, showcasing a sunny smile. ¡°In the coming period, I will continue to strive, overcome shortcomings, promote strengths, study diligently, work hard, unite with colleagues, focus on communication, and duly perform my job responsibilities, assisting¡­¡± Reporter Lin couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes, biting her lip hard to keep from completely losing her temper. ¡°Cut it, cut it, cut this whole segment! Zhang Yuan, listen well, you can¡¯t say that, we need to redo the interview!¡± ¡°Reporter Lin, it can¡¯t be cut! It¡¯s been broadcast live!¡± ¡°What?!¡± The interview, which started strong but finished weak, thus ended, including a broadcasting accident. [66666] [¡­Earned a billion, feels like just a bit of Game Coin, slightly thrilled!] [Remember everyone, a billion is just 300 kilograms of gold!] [¡­Look at that cute reporter lady, her face was like a red balloon, about to explode with anger. The two of them have a scandal, they look quite compatible!] [Academic God is awesome, worship! Orz] [When can I own 300 kilograms of gold, even 30 kilograms would be good, or 3 kilograms, no, even 300 grams would do¡­ The universe is so vast, yet I don¡¯t even have 300 grams of gold, poor enough to make the aliens laugh at me.] Chapter 85 - Chapter 85: Chapter 86: When Youre Popular, Theres More Controversy Chapter 85: Chapter 86: When You¡¯re Popular, There¡¯s More Controversy An hour later, Earth had sent a tremendous amount of feedback, overwhelming Zhang Yuan with all sorts of comments. Even within the spaceship¡¯s internal network, the topic of the very young ¡°Mr. Billion¡± was buzzing. Zhang Yuan felt inexplicably uneasy and hastily apologized to the reporter Lin Xuanyuan on social media. Honestly, he had no mental preparation for his sudden surge in popularity. Wasn¡¯t it just making some money that he couldn¡¯t even spend? Indeed, he couldn¡¯t. He had thought that since everyone had left Earth, money would be less significant to them and rankings like ¡°Wealth List¡± would mostly be taken as a joke. Yet, he hadn¡¯t anticipated it would blow up like this. Perhaps, from certain perspectives, money still stood as a benchmark for success¡­ Having lived on Earth for so many years, many of his thoughts had naturally turned into habits. Wealth meant success; that¡¯s what everyone believed. The people on the spaceship hadn¡¯t completely shifted their thinking. Or maybe it was for some other reason. Zhang Yuan sighed deeply, feeling quite helpless¡­ After thinking for a while, he made a call to Li Zhendong, who was busy negotiating partnership details with Earth-based operators. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï ¡°How¡¯s it going? Have you discussed it with Earth?¡± ¡°The other party is interested, but still negotiating the terms. Everyone wants to make money. Although our project only earns money for the Foundation, we can¡¯t just undersell our hard work¡­¡± The current signal delay had reached 2000 seconds! Conversations were becoming less convenient, each exchange taking 40 minutes, so most communication was shifted to emails. Perhaps because the negotiation was progressing quickly, Li Zhendong was in a good mood: ¡°Hey, you helped in brokering this; do you need some shares? How much gold would you want¡­ is 300 grams enough?¡± Zhang Yuan retorted irritably, ¡°Your stuff doesn¡¯t interest me. My current pursuit is not gold anymore but three hundred kilograms of antimatter!¡± ¡°Antimatter? That stuff is very expensive! You¡¯d have to go to the Galaxy Center to mine it.¡± The wealth in the universe is virtually infinite. Located to the east of Gemini and west of Leo in the Cancer Seat, there is a planet filled with gold internally made of manganese, and its surface is golden, with at least a trillion tons of gold, millions of times more than the total gold found on Earth. There is also a planet known as 55 Cancrie, a Diamond Planet, likely one-third of which is diamond. As for antimatter, it exists too. About 3500 light-years above the Milky Way is a source emitting antimatter, forming a 2940 light-year high ¡°Antimatter Fountain.¡± The specific reasons are unknown, and it¡¯s entirely impossible for humans to travel so far to mine antimatter. Anyway, there are still many mysteries in the universe. ¡°Alright, keep negotiating; I can¡¯t help with anything else. Bye.¡± After ending the call, it was already late. Might as well go to sleep. ¡­ The next day, Zhang Yuan fully experienced the trouble of ¡°being famous brings many disputes.¡± Various talks about ¡°300 kilograms of gold¡± had bizarrely become a popular meme. The Falls List had been updated again, recalculating everyone¡¯s net worth in terms of the quality of gold, further spiking Zhang Yuan¡¯s popularity. Take his first place, for example, valued at 301.11 kilograms of gold, followed by the second place at 233.33 kilograms. Using this unit for valuation made the entire wealth list quite humorous. The wealth each person possessed was just a tiny bit really¡­ In the lab, his senior lab mates gave him a nickname, ¡°300,¡± and directly omitted the word ¡°gold,¡± making it sound like he weighed three hundred kilograms¡­ Due to various teases, Zhang Yuan spent a morning in the lab, finding it increasingly hard to stay. As a result, when he returned to the living area, it became even more unbearable, as a few young women kept following him, requesting to exchange contact information. Perhaps they had dug up that until now, he hadn¡¯t had a ¡°life partner,¡± and these single girls started to pursue him actively. ¡°Classmate Zhang, can we exchange QQ information?¡± ¡°Okay¡­¡± Zhang Yuan reluctantly agreed. ¡°Can I ask you about mathematics problems in the future?¡± one girl suddenly asked. Mathematics? ¡°Depends on the type of math¡­ I¡¯m not all-knowing.¡± Zhang Yuan felt disdain internally, analyzing randomly. Could you really ask anything of value? True talents shouldn¡¯t need to dress up so well¡­ Or that¡¯s not right either, looking good or not doesn¡¯t relate logically to academic performance. Staying single was the best way to keep up combat efficiency, after all, to court the Natural Goddess, there was temporarily no capacity to court other girls. As he walked, he arrived at the safety checkpoint for the zero-gravity area. Zhang Yuan quickly slipped in, leaving the girls behind. ¡°I have to go work now; let¡¯s talk another time.¡± Ordinary people couldn¡¯t pass this security check. He sighed heavily, feeling troubled. With such a vast spaceship, it seemed there were no places left for him! He wasn¡¯t a celebrity; he didn¡¯t need fangirls. Could it be because he was handsome?! Donning his space suit and passing the safety check, Zhang Yuan revisited the zero-gravity area. Thinking it over, there was nowhere to go, so he might as well return to the lab. ¡­ The journey from Earth to Jupiter was half over, and the process of turning around was about to begin. That is, the entire spaceship was to rotate 180 degrees, realigning the Light Sail originally facing the Sun and the Moon toward Jupiter¡¯s moon. The artificial light from Jupiter¡¯s moon shining on the Light Sail would create light pressure that decelerates the spaceship. The whole rotation process was also simple. Just discharge some plasma pulses sidewards to provide a rotational momentum. ¡°You¡¯re back?¡± ¡°Senior Brother Zhao, stop making fun of me, this nickname is really ugly!¡± Zhang Yuan said discontentedly, ¡°And it¡¯s so annoying!¡± Zhao Qingfeng smiled, ¡°Ah, you shouldn¡¯t overthink it. Everyone¡¯s just bored and looking for some fun. There¡¯s no malice.¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t you noticed? As the communication delay with Earth increases, the atmosphere inside the spaceship is becoming gradually more oppressive, even with more entertainment options available, it¡¯s hard to lift this oppressive trend. Everyone¡¯s life pace is fast, with an average working time exceeding ten hours¡­¡± ¡°Everyone is just seeking a bit of psychological comfort, it will pass in a few days.¡± Chapter 86 - Chapter 86: Chapter 87: Unease Chapter 86: Chapter 87: Unease Zhang Yuan nodded, acknowledging he understood. Even Li Zhendong, a notoriously lazy person, became hurried in his actions during this period, eager to achieve something. When they first boarded the spaceship, although there was the pain of departure, there was also a sense of anticipation for the future and a novelty. But now, that anticipation had slowly faded, the pace of life inside the spaceship had accelerated, and there were visibly fewer people chatting by the roadside. Because everyone was acutely aware that in the vast and desolate universe, this Mother Ship was all they had. This sense of security was severely lacking. ¡°Earth Era Time¡± was indeed gigantic and warm and comfortable, yet it still couldn¡¯t compare with Earth, a planet that had stood in the universe for 4.6 billion years. A meteorite of moderate size, if it were to collide with it, could completely annihilate the spaceship, leaving no survivors. Humans, tiny and fragile creatures. An average person, without a space suit, exposed to the universe, would not survive more than 90 seconds, their lung¡¯s air would escape their body within a few seconds, and the remaining oxygen in their blood could sustain them for about 15 seconds. After the next 15 seconds passed, one would fall into a coma, and whether they would survive was simply a matter of fate. Because everyone was clear about these facts, as they drifted further from their Mother Star, an intense unease was inevitably produced. Even Zhang Yuan himself felt this unease. He often jerked awake from his dreams, only to find it had been a nightmare before falling back into a deep, heavy sleep. Hence, little entertainment and gossip like Zhang Yuan¡¯s became a lifesaver, discussed with relish. People wanted to deliberately create a relaxed environment similar to Earth during their tense work, to comfort their fearful subconscious. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Such subconscious changes were normal; some psychologists aboard the spaceship specialized in this field. Large group activities were often organized within each community, not only to foster a sense of community but also with the hint of treating cosmic phobia. However, even so, several dozen cases of depression had emerged over six months. ¡°That¡¯s why, ah, you need to find a life partner, preferably a beautiful girlfriend you can complain with. Alone, one can only struggle on. Unless you have exceptionally strong mental resilience¡­¡± There it was again, the same old tune. Zhang Yuan quickly turned his head away, pretending he hadn¡¯t heard. ¡°By the way, after the spaceship completes its maneuver, the nuclear engine will shut down and won¡¯t restart until six months later. If you have any observational experiments, you¡¯ve only got today¡­ Or, you could go visit the lateral engines.¡± Zhang Yuan nodded. Senior Brother Zhao was indeed an excellent mentor. Even under the very limited experimental conditions, he always came up with timely and apt suggestions. In this respect, he was far better than Academician Ding. Up to now, apart from the monthly meetings at the beginning of each month, Zhang Yuan had rarely seen Ding Zhaodong¡­ and even when he did, they hardly exchanged more than a few words. For the next few minutes, he made his way unhurriedly to the lateral engine observation room, where bright screens displayed a flurry of activity with many workers focused on the changing parameters. From one of the screens, one could see long streams of plasma flames shooting out from the sides, causing the whole spaceship to slowly rotate. The angular velocity of the ship¡¯s rotation was very low, completing a 180-degree turn in over twenty hours, so most people barely noticed it. Looking at the second screen, it showed the plasma turbulence inside the reactor. Despite being specially treated, the extremely bright screen was still somewhat dazzling. This infrared spectrum was like a complex whirlpool of water, with plasma transport across magnetic fields primarily driven by low-frequency drift wave turbulence. ¡°Hey, Zhang Yuan!¡± ¡°Hello,¡± he greeted a few colleagues, but no one paid him much attention. Zhang Yuan continued his study in front of the screens. The high temperatures generated by nuclear fusion vaporized the metallic sodium lining the reactor walls, and these scorching vapors generated electrical energy. At the same time, the plasma was ejected by the magnetic field as a working fluid, providing kinetic energy to the spaceship. The principle was simple, but this nuclear engine device was the pinnacle of human intellect. It was so complex that every single part, even including the welding techniques, could be the subject of an entire paper! It was also the second generation of nuclear fusion engines. After the fusion of a Helium-3 nucleus and a deuterium nucleus, a Helium-4 atom, a proton, and an enormous amount of energy were produced. Since it didn¡¯t produce neutrons, it was cleaner and more stable than deuterium-tritium fusion, with lower maintenance costs. However, mining Helium-3 on the Moon was actually a huge bluff in the space engineering field. Helium-3¡¯s abundance in the lunar soil was so low that the cost of extraction was too great. Upon calculation, one would find that using Helium-3 for fusion was not as cost-effective as using the first generation¡¯s deuterium-tritium fusion. But establishing a space base on the Moon wasn¡¯t without its uses, as the Moon was the most suitable natural base for Space Industry production. Even without considering Helium-3, the Moon still held great development value. Only after the development of the Jupiter Base did Helium-3 fusion from the second generation of nuclear engineering truly become widespread. ¡°What you¡¯re seeing now is the fluid motion of the plasma turbulence, how beautiful it is! The control software was designed by your father thirty years ago using a general wavelet transform method, and it¡¯s still the best algorithm mankind has.¡± In the observation room, a colleague named John Wilson struck up a conversation. ¡°Really? The general wavelet transform method¡­¡± Hearing his father¡¯s name made Zhang Yuan very proud. ¡°But essentially, the problem of plasma turbulence has not been completely solved.¡± John Wilson was a high-tech talent specializing in plasma physics who often lamented that human technology was too inferior and immature. However, he was actually a very straightforward person. ¡°It¡¯s pretty well-contained now, isn¡¯t it? The current method is quite stable, and theoretically, it shouldn¡¯t have any accidents for decades or even a century.¡± Hearing John question his father¡¯s achievement, Zhang Yuan was slightly defiant. ¡°Yes, it is quite stable. But as your ancients used to say in Summer language, ¡®rough methods bring miracles,¡¯ the way they constrain these plasmas is just too crude and far from elegant!¡± John Wilson affirmed with certainty, ¡°If we only use a 10T magnetic field to constrain it, I guarantee that the high-temperature plasmas would still splatter against the reactor walls, causing the entire device to shut down!¡± Humans now used a magnetic field intensity of 100T, ten times stronger. Furthermore, with supercomputers constantly monitoring these plasma turbulences, using immense computing power to maintain the balance of the turbulence, it was no wonder this method was a classic example of achieving miracles through brute force. Chapter 87 - Chapter 87: Chapter 89: 100000 Unsolved Mysteries Chapter 87: Chapter 89: 100000 Unsolved Mysteries John continued, ¡°Your father¡¯s algorithm, indeed, is one of humanity¡¯s most outstanding works, but it is still far from powerful enough. Therefore, we can¡¯t make the fusion devices any smaller; each reactor is like a mountain, it¡¯s simply too brute.¡± Zhang Yuan looked at these turbulences, some bright, some dim, and others spinning, and he fell into deep thought. Whether he liked it or not, John¡¯s complaint was indeed correct. A small ambition began to form in his heart, sprouting like a seed. ¡°Perhaps¡­ the problems my father once tackled, I too could tackle?!¡± The turbulence problem, the last great mountain in classical physics. About 400 years ago, the Navier-Stokes equations had already theoretically described the physics of fluids. These equations generally do not have precise solutions, so scientists usually resort to simplified theoretical models or numerical simulations to predict fluid movements. But using simplified models to simulate plasma turbulence is far too imprecise. If these plasmas aren¡¯t properly contained, they could cause massive damage to the fusion engines. The booming development of Information Science had loosened the turbulence problem somewhat, but only just; it allowed for more accurate simulations but did not lead to a deeper understanding of its true nature. John sighed, ¡°We may never find a precise mathematical solution to the turbulence problem. Perhaps the complete precision lies in the more microscopic probability superposition states, beyond our capabilities as we are completely unaware of them.¡± John Wilson was a typical representative of the pessimists. He believed that the upper limits of human technology might have already been reached, and with human intelligence, we could only go round and round within a tiny circle. Although there were still some minor issues to be polished, a radical transformation was ultimately unlikely. Thus, this group of pessimistic scientists wanted to board a spaceship, to see what the world would be like three thousand years later. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? This theory wasn¡¯t without reason; a turbulence problem, unresolved for four hundred years. In cutting-edge physics, other than condensed matter which still retained vigor, other areas had gradually declined. High-energy physics was plagued by the ¡°Energy Level Desert,¡± and other disciplines, such as chemistry and semiconductors, relied on some approximate theories, which admittedly did resolve some problems. As for mathematics, it was also gradually declining. The Riemann Hypothesis, untoppled for 400 years; the Goldbach Conjecture, for 600 years. The ¡°Great Unification of Mathematics¡± project was still just a framework, billions of light-years away from completion. The New Civilization School believed that the current 23rd century, along with the 24th and 25th centuries, might likely be humanity¡¯s final golden age. Beyond that, human intelligence might not continue to develop. Once technological advancement halts, human civilization might likely undergo the same kind of historical cycles as ancient Xia Country did. In academic terms, this is falling into the ¡°trap of mediocrity,¡± making significant historical progress difficult. Zhang Yuan actually agreed with some of the New Civilization School¡¯s views, but regarding this issue, he was neither pessimistic nor optimistic. He didn¡¯t quite believe that humanity would be foolish enough to fall into foreseeable traps, and it was hard to imagine what the future world would be like; perhaps some technology to enhance intelligence might emerge. Moreover, his work leaned more towards engineering, more towards technology. There is a significant difference between technology and science, and there is still much room for improvement in human application technology. ¡°Zhang, you¡¯re too optimistic.¡± John shrugged his shoulders and said helplessly, ¡°In history, there have been many phenomena, such as Latin Americanization, middle-income traps, and so on. Even if some countries are aware of them, they still cannot overcome them because many things in a country cannot be achieved just by the leaders realizing them. It depends on the collective strength.¡± ¡°But the collective strength of humanity is not as strong as you imagine.¡± ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right,¡± Zhang Yuan said. ¡°But we have to remain optimistic, don¡¯t we? Pessimism won¡¯t solve any problems.¡± After bidding farewell to the sullen Senior Brother John, Zhang Yuan returned to his lab seat and continued to review the literature. By chance, he flipped through a book. ¡°100,000 Unsolved Mysteries¡±¡­ From astronomy to geography, from mathematics to physics, there were too many challenging problems that could not be solved. For example, the ¡°3x+1¡± conjecture, happy ending problem, Gaussian circle problem, Erdos-Graham ternary problem¡­casually mentioning any one of them, the difficulty was comparable to the Riemann hypothesis. For some reason, looking at the numerous challenges, a faint irritation always stirred in Zhang Yuan¡¯s heart. Perhaps, as a member of the scientific research community, he was innately frustrated by his inability to completely penetrate the essence of nature. Zhang Yuan secretly clenched his fists. In that moment, he finally made up his mind to tackle a world-renowned difficult problem. It didn¡¯t matter what he gained or lost, he was merely following his own heart. ¡°Turbulence problem!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s give it a try!¡± It required a lot of courage. He might spend a lot of time, perhaps not produce any results at all, and face huge sunk costs. Only someone young like him, driven by passion, could march forward boldly. After making up his mind, Zhang Yuan took a deep breath and slowly focused his thoughts. From a purely mathematical perspective, there was hardly any possibility. Zhang Yuan didn¡¯t believe that with his current capabilities, he could write an equation more precise and effective than the N-S equation. ¡°Perhaps, I can devise some methods from information science to solve this problem.¡± The first approach was the famous ¡°spectral method of wavelet transformation¡± used by his father, which was currently the best algorithm in engineering applications. It successfully solved the problem of multi-scale turbulent simulation of flow inside engines in both time and space. Fundamentally, it mimicked the process of signal transmission in neurons to describe the bursting mechanism of turbulence in pipes. The second approach was the direct numerical solution method. It simulated isotropic turbulence in a three-dimensional periodic cube by solving the incompressible ¡°N-S equation.¡± However, this method demanded high computational power and was suitable for simulating simple turbulent movements at lower Reynolds numbers, such as in channel or pipe turbulence. Of course, there were also a third ¡°RNG¦Ê-¦Å model,¡± a fourth ¡°Spalart¡ªAllmaras turbulence model,¡± a fifth ¡°inner and outer iteration method,¡± and so on. Human creativity is limitless, but truly meaningful, applicable algorithms were few and far between. ¡°Are you looking into the turbulence problem? That thing is unusually complex!¡± Zhao Qingfeng glanced at his screen and said with interest, ¡°I¡¯ve also researched this area before, the core issue is the problem itself¡ªtoo difficult, strong non-linearity, infinite-dimensional systems, chaotic systems¡ªcurrently, there aren¡¯t very suitable mathematical tools for these issues.¡± ¡°So if you want to work on it, I don¡¯t really have any good advice for you.¡± ¡°I know, just casually looking,¡± Zhang Yuan hurriedly replied. Senior Brother Zhao smiled, reflecting on how great it was to be young. If it were him, he would definitely stay far away from such problems. However, he didn¡¯t pay too much attention. There were many things that, once understood, made one step back from the challenge. Chapter 88 - Chapter 88: Chapter 90 Turbulence Problems Chapter 88: Chapter 90 Turbulence Problems Senior Brother Zhao asked with a hint of interest, ¡°Have you come up with any good ideas?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have any yet, just trying to understand more about it.¡± Zhang Yuan didn¡¯t dare say he wanted to take on this century¡¯s tough problem outright, for fear of being laughed at¡­ Although generally speaking, Senior Brother Zhao wouldn¡¯t laugh at him, he¡¯d just suggest that Zhang not tackle such a difficult problem. Time quickly passed, and two days silently slipped away¡­ The spaceship had successfully turned, the main engine roared to a stop, entering a brief maintenance state. A man-made light source from Jupiter¡¯s moon shone on the Light Sail, causing the entire Mother Ship to enter a slow deceleration. The light path, an incredible technology. Because of this technology, small spaceships didn¡¯t need to carry a large amount of fuel, and they could quickly travel back and forth between the Moon and Jupiter. Formerly, space travel from the Moon to Jupiter required at least half of the payload for fuel. But not anymore; a small spaceship weighing several hundred to several thousand tons could now reach Jupiter from the Moon in just a month¡¯s time¡ªa significant advancement. Zhang Yuan witnessed the main engine slowly extinguishing. It was as if a pot of boiling water had been extinguished, without sufficient temperature, the bright plasma slowly died out, and the nuclear fusion reaction automatically stopped. From this angle, the nuclear fusion engine was quite safe. It wouldn¡¯t explode, but would only automatically shut down when reaction conditions were insufficient. Inside the engine room of the Earth Era, only a secondary engine and two Molten Salt Reactors remained, providing basic electrical power. The Molten Salt Reactor was a type of nuclear fission breeder reactor that had helped humanity through the long ¡°Gray Era.¡± The technology was quite mature, so it was usually used as a backup power source. For the crucial safety of a spaceship, one couldn¡¯t rely solely on fusion power. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? For the following period, maintenance staff would perform a series of services on the entire engine. The internship in the engine room was temporarily over¡­ Zhang Yuan returned to the living quarters somewhat aimlessly. He had a few days off to rest, and he had to work at a nuclear power station next. Since there wasn¡¯t much else happening, he planned to stay at home and read papers. Well, regarding the turbulence problem, despite several days of reading literature, he had no ideas at all. After all, it was a world-class challenge¡­ At six o¡¯clock in the evening, a small dinner was underway at the ¡°Big Food Barrel Restaurant¡± in Zone A. Academician Ding, no matter how busy, would make some time to have a meal with everyone at the beginning of each month and casually check in on the condition of his students. ¡°Are you trying to tackle the turbulence problem?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just trying to understand it¡­¡± Facing his mentor, Zhang Yuan honestly confessed. Ding Zhaodong smiled, perhaps reminded of his own reckless youth, and he didn¡¯t discourage his young disciple. ¡°Indeed, it is a very difficult problem. Many people have researched for more than a decade and still can¡¯t produce particularly good papers, simply wasting their time. If you want to work on this, you have to be mentally prepared.¡± ¡°If you have any questions about mathematics, feel free to ask Senior Brother Luo Wenhao, or you can come directly to me.¡± Senior Brother Luo, sitting on the side, was already close to forty years old. He had long graduated with his doctorate and was usually busy with his work, seldom attending such gatherings. This was the first time Zhang Yuan had met him. Senior Brother Luo was a big shot, involved in information field research. However, his focus tended towards mathematics and he was quite famous for his research on positive curvature, having solved two famous Hopf Conjectures. Why two? Because Hopf Conjecture itself contains multiple conjectures, one being ¡°There is no metric of positive sectional curvature on S^2XS^2,¡± and another: ¡°The Euler characteristic of even-dimensional positive curvature manifolds is positive.¡± ¡°` Two conjectures could have scored two big awards, but he swept them all up in one fell swoop. Zhang Yuan felt a sudden surge of respect and a desire to cling to someone greater. ¡°Senior Brother Luo!¡± ¡°Turbulence problems, ha ha, ambitious! I really like making friends with young people who have ideals. I¡¯ve studied that area before.¡± His wife was sitting nearby, a Lan Country mathematician in her thirties, dressed exquisitely with a special Victorian flair. ¡°Hello. Are you the Zhang Yuan who owns 300 kilograms of gold?¡± Zhang Yuan replied with a smile, ¡°Ms. Mo, you jest, but honestly, I¡¯d prefer having 300 kilograms of antimatter for experiments.¡± ¡°Really? Antimatter is quite expensive¡­ Your reputation is high among the girls in our District F! Want me to introduce you to some?¡± Zhang Yuan couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit embarrassed, ¡°Girls from Lan Country, eh? My contacts list already has several options to choose from¡­¡± Everyone burst out laughing. The atmosphere around the dinner table was relaxed, with the group first discussing recent personal development, followed by some academic gossip, all of which was quite interesting. This included someone proving a difficult mathematical problem; new breakthroughs in condensed matter physics; the renowned ¡°Modern Science¡± journal, which had taken a hit in influence due to academic corruption scandals, and more. ¡°More and more people are suffering from depression. If diagnosed, they disembark at Jupiter¡¯s moon and return to Earth.¡± ¡°I see¡­¡± ¡°¡®Modern Science¡¯ has temporarily suspended publication. Several of the peer-review editors are under investigation. I used to submit there too¡­ I didn¡¯t expect this to happen.¡± ¡°Academic corruption can happen anywhere and is hard to completely avoid¡­ It mainly relies on the cultural environment for restraint, I suppose.¡± Zhang Yuan was startled, wondering if the journal¡¯s plummeting influence had anything to do with the incident that happened to him? However, finding that the discussion did not focus on him, he gradually let go of his concern. After the meal ended, Zhang Yuan had another brief discussion with the newly acquainted Senior Brother Luo. ¡°Turbulence problems mainly need to focus on non-uniform turbulence. After reading the paper, my first thought was Fourier analysis and related integral transformations. But then I realized that wasn¡¯t quite right¡­¡± This was his intuitive thought. ¡°Fourier analysis is too mundane,¡± Senior Brother Luo laughed. ¡°I thought of that too, but later found it only worked for uniform turbulence. Even if it worked, the fitting wouldn¡¯t be very good, not very meaningful.¡± Zhang Yuan agreed, ¡°It would be good for a question on an exam paper though.¡± Senior Brother Luo smacked his forehead as if he had an idea, ¡°Purely mathematical methods are hard, but for direct numerical calculations, I¡¯ve seen a good idea involving the use of LES and wall functions for both non-equilibrium and equilibrium¡­¡± ¡°Considering the impact of different wall parameters under three types of grid division and comparing it with the corresponding DNS results¡­ it¡¯s an innovative algorithm in the last few years, but in practice, it¡¯s still not quite as good as your father¡¯s.¡± An idea suddenly flashed through Zhang Yuan¡¯s mind, as if he grasped something, ¡°Grid division?¡± ¡°Then, can we classify the entire observation results into some sort of community division, first breaking down the big problem into smaller ones¡­¡± ¡°Communities?¡± Senior Brother Luo was taken aback, ¡°But in the end, you still have to bring the whole problem back together, otherwise, all the data is meaningless. What are the methods for division and recombination?¡± ¡°That¡­ I haven¡¯t figured that out yet.¡± ¡°` Chapter 89 - Chapter 89: Chapter 91: The Geniuses Among Peers Chapter 89: Chapter 91: The Geniuses Among Peers After the banquet ended, Zhang Yuan hurriedly returned to his own room and opened his personal tablet computer. On it was an idea left to him by his dad¡ª¡±A New Algorithm for Community Detection.¡± The ideas left by his dad were all highly innovative. After pondering for half an hour, Zhang Yuan was surprised to find that this community detection algorithm could be very fittingly applied to the turbulence problem! ¡°Is it possible to use it?¡± A burning flame of enthusiasm rose from within his heart! Community detection is a very classic problem in graph theory, especially the detection of community structure in complex networks, which is a major research focus in information science. The nodes in a network can be divided into groups, with relatively dense connections between nodes within a group, and these dense groups of nodes are referred to as a community structure. According to Zhang Yuan¡¯s intuitive idea, a turbulent flow could be seen as a complete community structure. Analyzing individual communities would significantly reduce the difficulty. ¡°But, after analyzing individual communities, how do we merge the data together?¡± Without being able to analyze the system as a whole, the value of the algorithm isn¡¯t considered very significant. This issue was particularly puzzling, and the difficulty of solving it was unknown. Zhang Yuan furrowed his brow tightly, and for the moment, he had no good ideas. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? Now, two paths lay before Zhang Yuan. First, to copy his father¡¯s inspiration and sort out this ¡°Community Detection Algorithm in Complex Networks¡± into a decent paper. According to his current understanding, publishing this paper in a top-tier journal would be no problem and would be more than enough for a graduation thesis. The second direction was to continue solving the turbulence problem and integrate this ¡°Community Detection Algorithm¡± into it as a small part of the thesis. However, if the subsequent parts were poorly handled, this promising idea would be wasted. ¡°How should I choose?¡± Zhang Yuan contemplated for a moment, his expression changing. Finally, he let out a long sigh. He realized deep down that he still wanted to choose the second path. It really lacked integrity to plagiarize his father¡¯s idea again¡ªalthough all of those were willingly given to him by his father. Money? Fame? He did not need these things now. Zhang Yuan opened his father¡¯s photo again, and memories of the past, purified by the passage of time, seemed to be coated with a layer of brilliant gold. Zhang Yuan said softly, ¡°Father, thank you.¡± ¡­ Time flowed like water, passing day and night without distinction. As the communication delay increased, communication with Earth became more and more difficult, and the atmosphere within the spaceship slowly became oppressive. Those chatting by the roadside, exercising in the gym, were noticeably fewer. After eating, everyone worked, and after work, they went to sleep as if only busyness could help forget the worries. Regardless of whether they were willing or not, people had to adapt to the universe. Zhang Yuan¡¯s moment of high interest had finally passed, and Falls¡¯s wealth ranking was once again converted to federal coins. A few newcomers emerged on the list, but they did not stir up much attention. Everyone was only interested in the first Mr. Billion, with little interest in the second or third. Earth¡¯s money isn¡¯t the kind you can use on a spaceship. It¡¯s just a number, and after you see it enough, it doesn¡¯t feel all that significant. The competition in the academic rankings, however, is extremely fierce, with the first place changing many times. The truths of the universe, in this small society, begin to attract even more attention. ¡°Extra, extra! Star University¡¯s ranking has officially entered the top 500 of all humanity!¡± ¡°Our Deep Space University has been totally outclassed. We can¡¯t even make it into the top 1000!¡± Ye Kaifu, the guy who¡¯s always on top of things, greeted me with these words. With a troubled expression, he said, ¡°Young Master Zhang, as a leading graduate student at Deep Space University, you really need to step up. My teacher is constantly pestering me to publish papers, and it¡¯s so annoying.¡± Zhang Yuan was startled. ¡°You can¡¯t blame Deep Space University¡¯s ranking on me¡­ What about the professors?¡± ¡°The professors are busy tuning the spaceship, where do they have the time to write papers? Such a huge ship!¡± ¡°Hold on, Star University has made some more impressive achievements? What, are they popping pills or something, to be this awesome?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll forward it to you.¡± A guy named Zhang Yingbo wrote an innovative paper on ¡°Light Stagnation Technology,¡± which caused quite a stir. Light Stagnation is a hot research topic at the moment, where the principle is to interweave light waves together to make them stop in their intrinsic orbits. This technique relies on adjusting the waves so they meet at what¡¯s called the ¡°exception point.¡± With this principle, people can use lasers to send and store information. Zhang Yuan read the paper with keen interest and was amazed at its innovativeness. He couldn¡¯t quite figure out how this Zhang Yingbo managed to write such a paper under conditions of such limited experimental resources. There was also a recent paper by a guy named Xiao Weixing on ¡°Light Catalysts¡± that was so full of specialized terminology and so out of my field of expertise that I couldn¡¯t understand it and, consequently, had no way to judge its quality. Anyway, it received a positive response from the industry. Right, this guy¡¯s also from Star University. There was another paper on ¡°genetic matching¡± by a student named Jina, who had dug into the mutual selection between genes from a big data perspective, and the mathematical model was quite impressive. This guy is from Star University too! Being in their twenties is the best age for having brilliant and inventive thoughts, and the fierce competition also led to Zhang Yuan¡¯s ranking gradually declining, slipping all the way down to just over 100. ¡°Zhang, the academic tycoon, aren¡¯t you working on the turbulence problem? A single breakthrough in turbulence could wipe them all out!¡± Ye Kaifu said with no good intentions. Zhang Yuan replied with a grimace, ¡°Go on, you think it¡¯s that easy to tackle this problem?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you the top student in terms of academic performance? I¡¯m just a weakling here. In these eight months, I¡¯ve managed to publish just one paper¡­ ranked at 233.¡± Suddenly, Zhang Yuan realized what Ye Kaifu was doing: he was trying to stir up envy. Ye Kaifu was catching up to him, who hadn¡¯t published anything in so long. Zhang Yuan felt a bit annoyed, but he knew that he had to stick with the topic he had chosen no matter what, ¡°You¡¯re so sure I can¡¯t do it? Listen, come closer¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ve grasped the true essence of the turbulence problem and have created an equation, called Ye¡¯s Equation. Its vector form is given by: =-?p+¦ÑF+¦Ì¦¤v¡­¡± ¡°Really? No way!¡± After swallowing hard, Ye Kaifu felt his heartbeat skip a beat. Even though he didn¡¯t quite understand, he deeply recognized the significance of the turbulence problem. Besides, not understanding meant he couldn¡¯t refute if the other person was talking nonsense! ¡°Hold on, why is it called Ye¡¯s Equation?¡± ¡°Ye Kaifu¡¯s Equation, because your provocation gave me the drive to keep going and the conviction to continue. If I really make a breakthrough, I¡¯ll name it after you, the Ye Kaifu Equation.¡± Ye Kaifu had an epiphany, and with a smile, said, ¡°Alright then! To show my gratitude, from now on, all devices I fix, including the phones that girls give me to repair, I¡¯ll secretly etch your name, Zhang Yuan, on them. How does that sound?¡± ¡°You wouldn¡¯t dare!¡± Chapter 90 - Chapter 90: Chapter 92: Seeking Inspiration from the Unknown Chapter 90: Chapter 92: Seeking Inspiration from the Unknown After Ye Kaifu left, Zhang Yuan¡¯s restless heart gradually calmed down. Actually, it didn¡¯t matter. It would be foolish to let a ranking of entertainment nature disturb one¡¯s mind. Academic research relied on coincidence, talent, luck, and diligence. Not producing results in half a year or even a year was completely normal. Ye Kaifu was just joking; there was no real malice. However, doing research was a truly painful task. The moment one achieved results, they shone brightly, attracting the attention of the world with various honors as if spotlighted. But what about when results weren¡¯t achieved? One could only sit quietly, daydream, or read other people¡¯s papers, searching for that elusive glimmer of inspiration. It was Zhang Yuan¡¯s first time experiencing such anguish, seeing others achieve while he gained nothing, which inevitably led to some envy and self-doubt about his chosen path. He had pondered for many months, had discussed several times with Academician Ding, only to find his ideas too ordinary and promptly rejected. He had plenty of energy, but didn¡¯t know which direction to channel it toward, or what lay ahead on the path, so he remained idle. Three months were not enough; it could likely take three years, or perhaps thirty. The pain involved, only those who had experienced it could truly understand. ¡­ Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï In his spare time, Zhang Yuan grew fond of the hidden Star Library at the Observatory. He finally understood why a library was situated in such a remote corner. It lacked any superfluous noise, the lighting exceptionally dim, offering the enjoyment of pure solitude. ¡°¡­ Mr. Zhang, I have a question. In Euclidean Space, is a local homeomorphism, a continuous surjection, always an injection?¡± ¡°This is a challenging question. Broadly speaking, it should not be.¡± Zhang Yuan reflected for a while. ¡°Let me give a simple counterexample. Suppose the function F(z) is entire, and its derivative is F''(z)=e^(z^2), hence F is locally a homeomorphism. On the other hand, F(0)=0, F(-z)=-F(z); assume z0¡Ù0 is not in the range of F, then -z0 is not included either, which violates Picard¡¯s little theorem¡­ So, the major proposition is incorrect.¡± ¡°I see, thank you for your guidance.¡± The young man named Yamamoto Ichiro habitually wanted to bow. However, due to the lack of gravity, he accidentally floated upward. He struggled for a while, then aimed an infrared probe at an electromagnet, and pulled himself back down. Inside the Star Library, many researchers gathered, sympathizing with Zhang Yuan¡¯s plight. They wanted to solve certain problems, but suffered from lack of inspiration and direction, forced to think hard and endure the torment of their struggles. These individuals quickly became more familiar with each other. Sighing, Yamamoto Ichiro said, ¡°Mr. Zhang, such a strong person like you, with such solid mathematical foundations, also can¡¯t solve the turbulence problem?¡± ¡°It¡¯s very challenging, I still don¡¯t have any good ideas. Such issues, it¡¯s normal not to solve them.¡± Zhang Yuan responded, ¡°Mr. Yamamoto, you seem anxious.¡± Yamamoto sighed, ¡°Because I simply can¡¯t seem to achieve any results¡­¡± Yamamoto Ichiro was studying the field of bionic electronic eyes, aiming to research techniques that could restore sight to the blind. According to current theories, making electronic eyes wasn¡¯t difficult, but translating electronic eye signals into biological signals the brain could recognize was a globally challenging problem. Yamamoto said with a wry smile, ¡°After boarding the spaceship, we don¡¯t even have lab rats for biological experiments anymore, so I don¡¯t know how to proceed with my research. Hence, I might as well learn more mathematics during this opportunity; after all, good knowledge of mathematics won¡¯t be a wasted effort¡­¡± Though he said so, the anxiety on his face could hardly be concealed. ¡°Persisting in our heavily invested yet unyielding pursuits is actually a kind of sunk cost fallacy. I don¡¯t want it to be this way, yet I don¡¯t want to give up¡­¡± Zhang Yuan considered his words, not being good at comforting others, he could only offer what others often told him, ¡°Perhaps, you could take a break, find a life partner.¡± There was a sudden calm. Coming from Zhang Yuan himself, the suggestion seemed less persuasive. ¡°Thank you, I already have a girlfriend.¡± Yamamoto chuckled bitterly. ¡°She¡¯s a doctor, very kind, takes great care of me in daily life, so you don¡¯t have to worry about me. However, she still struggles to understand the anxiety I feel, and doesn¡¯t know how to comfort me.¡± ¡°Yes, different professions, indeed difficult to comprehend.¡± ¡°Mr. Zhang Yuan, do you think being idle all day long could be seen as laziness?¡± Zhang Yuan paused, ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be seen that way. You don¡¯t need to think like that.¡± Since the Fourth World War, relations between Xia Country and Mu Country had grown increasingly friendly. However, with their economic scales differing by more than tenfold, there naturally arose suspicions of dependency. Perhaps due to the deep influence of their own culture, people from Mu Country on these ships always sensed a vague inferiority complex. They even subconsciously believed that the spaceship belonged to people from Xia Country, and useless foreigners would be thrown out¡­ Yamamoto then asked, ¡°So, how should one define the boundary for laziness among scientific researchers? Is it up to personal conscience, or should we follow Earth Civilization¡¯s old methods, judging by the number of papers one writes?¡± ¡°Actually, one or two years are not enough to solve a world-class problem, yet being overly eager for quick success may drive people towards easier, less valuable areas for research, squandering plenty of intelligent minds.¡± A professor under the traditional system would find it difficult to decide to tackle such major challenges, because investing three to five years, or even ten, might end up fruitless, ultimately unable to meet the assessments. The more renowned a person, the more they guarded their reputation; possessing great capabilities, yet they dared not tackle significant issues, essentially a vicious cycle. Zhang Yuan shook his head, ¡°The phenomenon you mentioned, I don¡¯t know how it should be resolved. If you have good ideas about this, you could even write a decent paper on it!¡± ¡°That might be¡­ one of the key considerations in building the New Civilization.¡± ¡°Yes, I really want to engage in this line of work!¡± At the crucial moment, Yamamoto impulsively jumped from the ground and floated in midair again. ¡°Perhaps, I could join the New Civilization School, instead of remaining idle like this¡­ Being unproductive now, I feel I¡¯m truly letting society down.¡± Zhang Yuan couldn¡¯t help but raise an eyebrow, silently thinking, ¡°Another one¡¯s gone mad.¡± He kindly suggested, ¡°There aren¡¯t many public works from the New Civilization School; you could finish them in a few days. It¡¯s just an idealistic school¡­ If the pressure is too much, you could also take a break, no need to force yourself to achieve results.¡± Chapter 91 - Chapter 91: Chapter 93 The Great Artist Chapter 91: Chapter 93 The Great Artist After saying farewell to his somewhat depressed classmate Yamamoto, Zhang Yuan floated in midair, lost in thought. In the Star Library, one could look up and see the brilliant, boundless starry skies. All was silent, and one could only feel the utmost quietude. He quite enjoyed this sense of solitude. He had gradually grown accustomed to the light, weightless sensation. Due to the human body¡¯s structure, when in zero gravity, the blood pressure in the brain is higher than usual, which can lead to a strangely heightened focus. Now was a moment of pure reason, with nothing able to disturb him. Let¡¯s start. He was attempting to compare all the research papers he had read, draw out their essence, and spawn a better method. This state was like a hunter in the woods, tirelessly tracking traces of his prey over and over again. Even though the forest had been searched countless times by countless hunters, he still indefatigably looked for what had been missed. After mulling over it for four hours, he heaved a long sigh. He did think of a few improvements. But improvements were just improvements; they didn¡¯t constitute a fundamental enhancement, nor were they the significant achievements he sought. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã¦Ï After some calculations, Zhang Yuan dismissed these few plans on his own. ¡°No, it¡¯s still not good enough¡­¡± This kind of frustration that came with failure had become all too familiar in recent months. No wonder Yamamoto Ichiro wanted to become a sociologist. At least with ¡°sociology,¡± as long as one was willing to put in the effort, churning out a paper was entirely doable. Moreover, discussions on new civilizations were very popular, with countless experts on Earth feverishly churning out papers, offering various suggestions, acting as if they were the primary builders of civilization. ¡°Boundless starry skies, the sea of books is limitless. Sort through the past beside you, and don¡¯t forget the way I looked when I came¡­ Star Library welcomes you to honor us with another visit.¡± Soft music suddenly started playing through the headset. Whenever this piece of music was played, the library would close in half an hour. Zhang Yuan lifted his head and realized there were hardly any people left in the room, only him and a middle-aged man nearby. This middle-aged gentleman was named Elwin, a renowned painter whose worth was in the billions back on Earth. As it turned out, at the peak of his career, Elwin made an unconventional choice¡ªhe donated all his wealth and followed the ¡°Earth Era¡± to leave! This decision led to a resurgence of Elwin¡¯s fame. After all, artists must have some idiosyncrasies¡ªhow else could one be called an artist? Personality and moral character are also forms of art. However, from his interactions during this time, Zhang Yuan knew that this great painter was also perplexed by ¡°inspiration.¡± ¡°Mr. Elwin, do you have any new masterpiece?¡± Zhang Yuan casually asked as he entered the orbital car. ¡°Nothing with particularly good inspiration, nor any good works,¡± Elwin handed his computer over to Zhang Yuan. There was a computer-generated picture of the starry sky of Gliese 581g. Art like this requires imagination and tension; it doesn¡¯t seek to replicate reality and is entirely different from real photography. Zhang Yuan looked closely and saw a glaze-colored sky, with an orange constant star rising in the east, accompanied by two moons, one in the east and another in the west. It seemed like a world filled with hope. ¡°Is this our future Mother Star?¡± ¡°Yes, the imagined Mother Star, but personally, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve done a good job,¡± Elwin responded. Zhang Yuan contemplated it for a long while but didn¡¯t feel a strong resonance. He didn¡¯t expect the future Mother Star to have an environment as beautiful as Earth¡¯s. He was even prepared to encounter an environment like Saturn¡¯s moon Titan, with its acid rain. Of course, if such a scenario really happened, people would only be able to choose another planet for colonization. There were more than one planet in the Gliese 581 system¡ªat least six. The second image was a photographic representation of the Milky Way, its central disc like a ribbon of silver hanging in the sky. Countless stars shone brightly and vied for attention. Despite the beauty of the painting, it seemed to lack something. After looking through image after image, Zhang Yuan jokingly commented, ¡°Mr. Elwin, why do your masterpieces sell for so much? Perhaps my artistic understanding is too low, but I really can¡¯t tell what¡¯s particularly good or bad.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not wrong in your feeling. I, too, think that these works aren¡¯t great; they lack a certain starry quality,¡± Elwin shook his head and said, ¡°Why do they sell for so much? How should I know? Perhaps those who like the paintings understand art better than I do, or perhaps it¡¯s for the hype¡­ In any case, whatever I draft up, those people will automatically infuse it with meaning.¡± Zhang Yuan couldn¡¯t help but laugh heartily. Elwin then said, ¡°But before we reach Jupiter, I hope to leave behind a lasting masterpiece! A real masterpiece!¡± The pinnacle of human starry sky art was Van Gogh¡¯s ¡°Starry Night,¡± which was so stunning that it completely transcended its era. Any artist painting the Milky Way had to consider the pressure of being compared to Van Gogh. Although Elwin was a famous painter, comparing him with the illustrious Van Gogh was still challenging. ¡°Perhaps, you see the universe as too lively,¡± Zhang Yuan said with a smile. ¡°The real Universe is more like this¡­¡± With a slight tap of his finger on the edge of the black screen, a white dot suddenly appeared there. His skills were mediocre; the dot was skewed. Then there was nothing else, just complete blackness around this solitary, dim white dot, emitting just a tiny bit of light. Be it the total amount of matter in the Universe or human knowledge, this white dot was all there was, with nothing else beyond it. Among the myriad worlds, there are always lonely souls, always some problems that can¡¯t be solved. This was Zhang Yuan¡¯s revelation about Nature over the past few months; what we possess, compared to what we have never had, is far too little. Elwin inexplicably felt that pure emotion. He fell silent for a while, then said softly, ¡°I don¡¯t know why, but I feel like you¡¯re the great artist. How about¡­ you give up scientific research and learn painting with me?¡± Zhang Yuan replied boldly, ¡°Haha, every scientific researcher wants to grasp Nature¡¯s true essence. The essence is very abstract, perhaps to the ordinary person, it holds a kind of aesthetic beauty as well.¡± Elwin shook his head and said, ¡°I really want to plagiarize this idea of yours; I¡¯m almost certain it would make a fine masterpiece. Unfortunately, it belongs to you. Sometimes, simplicity doesn¡¯t mean inferiority; simplicity can also be quite extraordinary¡­¡± Zhang Yuan laughed again: ¡°Perhaps, this idea could be a gift to you. Only a white dot painted by you could fetch a truly high price! The white dot I paint could only be tossed into the trash.¡± Chapter 92 - Chapter 92: Chapter 94 Unable to Go Back Chapter 92: Chapter 94 Unable to Go Back Elwin fell silent for a while. He suddenly said in a low voice, ¡°Do you know? I regretted it the moment I got on the spaceship, regretted leaving everything on Earth behind, regretted abandoning billions in property and the superior life on Earth. During these eight or nine months, I¡¯ve been living in annoyance, so the paintings I produced are just a pile of garbage!¡± Zhang Yuan was stunned, not knowing why Elwin suddenly wanted to talk about these things, ¡°Mr. Elwin, you can choose to go back. With our industrial base on Jupiter¡¯s moon and the spaceship for the return trip¡­ you can return to Earth.¡± Elwin shook his head, his tone growing firmer, ¡°There¡¯s no going back. Once I return, I¡¯ll be spit upon forever, and I¡¯ll never sell another painting again!¡± ¡°It¡¯s impossible, I¡¯m already gone without return¡­¡± ¡°In their eyes, I¡¯m already a real dead man! Even if I have the nerve to go back, I¡¯ll be assassinated, do you know¡­ only the work of dead people can truly fetch high prices!¡± ¡°I shouldn¡¯t continue like this! Yet, I¡¯m afraid, filled with regret, regretting the loss of everything I had.¡± ¡°I miss the life on Earth, but I can¡¯t possibly go back!¡± Elwin grew more and more agitated, his pace of speech quickening. Tears and snot flowed out together because of the pain in his heart. Zhang Yuan had no words. Suddenly, as if struck by a thought, Elwin screamed wildly. ¡°I will create a real piece of art to record my cowardice, timidity, and ignorance at this moment. This is the real me; to hell with any so-called great character!¡± ¡­ After saying goodbye to the great painter, Zhang Yuan returned to the living area and called the community¡¯s senior liaison on a whim. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï ¡°Is this Ms. Lin Xuan?¡± ¡°Hello, how may I assist you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s like this. I suggest that you find a psychologist to visit the painter in Area M, Mr. Elwin. He seems a bit off¡­¡± Zhang Yuan explained the whole situation from beginning to end. ¡°Okay, I understand. Thank you for your suggestion.¡± After hanging up the phone, he breathed a sigh of relief. This was the best solution he could choose. He felt that, as they drew nearer to Jupiter¡¯s moon, everyone became a bit neurotic. It could possibly be related to the special group of people with whom he interacted or perhaps related to the increasingly oppressive atmosphere on the spaceship. Bringing himself back to reality, he continued to mull over his ¡°turbulence problem.¡± This sustained, long-duration contemplation had become a habit, and he was even able to carry it on while performing other simple activities. He could contemplate while eating, and even while talking to people, though he would seem a bit bookish then. It was even somewhat reminiscent of those scientists who bump into telephone poles while walking. Sometimes, Zhang Yuan would question himself: should he be doing some work that could produce results, rather than gnawing on this tough bone? But in the end, he decided not to. After all, he was still young. Even if he failed, what did it matter? ¡°Ding!¡± His wrist communicator suddenly pinged, and Zhang Yuan, jolted from his thoughts, shook his slightly tired brain. This communication device often announced large group events such as symposiums, dance parties, and others. [¡­Tonight, the notes of youth are leaping, and the flames of passion are burning. A mysterious dance party will be performed on the dance floor in Area Z.] [There will even be once-in-a-lifetime spicy hot pot and fried foods to eat!] A thought struck him; had the new batch of chili peppers matured? The thought alone made him salivate. Since he was free anyway, it would be good to go and enjoy the dance. Z District is an upper region of the Circular Living Area, and because it¡¯s closer to the central axis, the gravity here is about half of Earth¡¯s. In the low gravity environment, the human body becomes lighter, making originally difficult dances such as ballet much simpler. Zhang Yuan, unhurriedly, made his way to Z District and bought a ticket. It wasn¡¯t expensive, just 40 yuan. Then, he found a secluded spot to sit down and started to enjoy the buffet. Although it was called a buffet, the taste of the meat dishes was generally not great. Synthetic pork, synthetic mutton, just a bunch of meatballs. However, with a hint of spiciness from the chili, and after being deep-fried in oil, it seemed to taste a bit better. After all, he was fed up with the steamed dishes he usually ate; he was almost sick of them. Zhang Yuan missed the big chicken legs, spicy hot pot, chafing dish, seafood noodles, and Lanzhou ramen from Earth terribly¡­ While he was sweating profusely from eating, an unexpected figure sat down right across from him. It was his senior brother, Zhao Qingfeng. Zhao Qingfeng said, ¡°Your way of eating is really uncivilized. I didn¡¯t expect you to attend such a party. Aren¡¯t you going to join the dance?¡± Zhang Yuan wiped the chili from the corner of his mouth, ¡°No, I¡¯m just looking for a place to be quiet and have some spicy food.¡± A dance party? Eating chili and dancing at the same time, doesn¡¯t that seem strange? ¡°Be quiet, in this place?¡± Zhao Qingfeng said with a hint of amusement, ¡°You¡¯re already here, why keep up the pretense? Do you want me to introduce you to a very open Western girl, and we can all have some spicy hot pot together?¡± ¡°I also have a bottle of ancestral beef sauce, brought from Earth. Do you want some?¡± Unexpectedly, Senior Brother Zhao was a foodie too, using his valuable material allowance to bring food. Zhang Yuan teased, ¡°I¡¯ll try the beef sauce, but I can¡¯t handle a Western girl. As a married man, why are you here, anyway? As far as I know, this is a singles club, a kind of matchmaking event.¡± ¡°Senior Brother Zhao, adultery within marriage will get you in serious trouble¡­¡± Zhao Qingfeng pointed across the room, ¡°Isn¡¯t my wife right there? Appreciating the beauty of art together is one of life¡¯s pleasures. Whether a man or a woman, everyone likes beautiful girls; you simply have no aesthetic sense.¡± Zhang Yuan coughed awkwardly. ¡°Hi, Mr. Zhang, are you here to see my performance?¡± A girl with long golden hair casually draped over her shoulders and wearing a white ballet dress without too much adornment approached. She looked exceptionally elegant and beautiful. Zhang Yuan looked up and for a moment forgot who this girl was. He felt she was quite pretty and somehow familiar, as if he had seen her somewhere. ¡°You are¡­?¡± ¡°After spending so much time together, have you really forgotten who I am?¡± The girl furrowed her brows, a touch of dissatisfaction in her tone. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s Anna, haha¡­¡± Zhang Yuan said embarrassingly, recognizing her identity only from her voice. Actually, she was a colleague from the lab. However, once she had taken off the bulky space suit, he hardly recognized her. Zhang Yuan thought to himself, that¡¯s not really my fault, is it? How could he recognize her when she usually spoke through a layer of headset while dressed in a space suit? Nonetheless, he kept praising her, saying, ¡°I had no idea you were so beautiful, and you can dance ballet too?¡± Anna said with a smile, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m about to perform soon¡­ This gentleman, if you¡¯re considering pursuing me, I might give you a chance.¡± ¡°Then, I¡¯ll treat you to some spicy synthetic meatballs,¡± Zhang Yuan said, as if he had stumbled upon a key idea, completely unaware of what he was blurting out. ¡°¡­¡± The girl fell silent for a while, suddenly at a loss for words. Chapter 93 - Chapter 93: Chapter 95 Significant Breakthrough Chapter 93: Chapter 95 Significant Breakthrough Zhao Qingfeng saw a group of people teasing Zhang Yuan and joked, ¡°Stop giving him a hard time. Even if you rivaled Helen in beauty, he wouldn¡¯t bat an eyelid until he has real results or has formally decided to give up.¡± ¡°Helen?¡± ¡°¡­the daughter of Zeus, the chief god of Greece; her unmatched beauty ultimately triggered the Trojan War.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t compare to that kind of beauty, so it seems I won¡¯t get to have this spicy hotpot.¡± Anna giggled. She noticed that Zhang Yuan was still absent-minded, focusing the majority of his attention somewhere unknown. Being fellow researchers in the laboratory, such behavior was somewhat understandable, and the desire to tease each other momentarily intensified. ¡°Hey! I¡¯m talking to you?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°But I¡¯m a few years older than you, and have a boyfriend. Do you think you could take him?¡± ¡°Ah! What?¡± ¡°Just like a coyote, it needs a duel, you know?¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Suddenly, a ¡°boom¡± resonated in Zhang Yuan¡¯s mind. A bolt of lightning seemed to flash through his brain. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï It felt as though he had pierced the dim sky with a bamboo pole, revealing a hint of faint light! He jumped up from his chair impulsively. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Anna was quite startled. Excitement sparkled in Zhang Yuan¡¯s eyes as he ran quickly toward the main door. ¡°I¡¯ve got a good idea! Gotta go!¡± ¡°What about my spicy meatballs?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll treat you next time!¡± Anna muttered a complaint under her breath, showing a look of helplessness. Zhao Qingfeng and the others also burst into laughter. It wasn¡¯t strange at all, not strange in the least. Zhang Yuan¡¯s mind raced, completely oblivious to what the people around him were saying. The feeling of inspiration was uncanny; although there was no experimental verification, he was utterly convinced of its correctness, as if his energy meridians had been unlocked and he¡¯d established a mysterious connection with the ultimate truth of the universe. For the first time in his life, Zhang Yuan experienced this indescribable Sixth Sense, his excitement causing his body hair to stand on end. What he thought of was a method using differentiable neural networks to string together a whole series of segmented data! The idea was unique and also challenging. Reaching his room, he exhaled the stale air from his lungs. Let¡¯s begin! He tried to clarify the entire inspiration. His right hand feverishly scribbled on the tablet, and dozens of pages of the electronic manuscript were written in no time. Deep into the night, Zhang Yuan was unaware of the passage of time; he kept trying over and over to enlarge the small hole in the dark sky. As his thoughts deepened, the mysterious Sixth Sense appeared again, and the light in the sky grew brighter, slowly unveiling the truth hidden behind the fog! He was fully immersed in the pleasure of tackling a famously difficult problem in the world. That intermittent rush of joy was so intense it seemed as if the entire meaning of life was just for this moment. Then the dawn arrived¡­ He stood up, his face flushed. Overnight, the intricate problem of turbulence had been perfectly transformed into an issue of neural networks! Various groups were divided exceptionally clearly, processing these groups region by region and then integrating them in a subtle way to provide a clear description of the turbulence problem. The sense of achievement felt as if he had been injected with adrenaline, soaring through the clouds. Without caring for sleep, Zhang Yuan grabbed a quick breakfast in the restaurant and, with the results of a night¡¯s work, excitedly presented them to Academician Ding Zhaodong. ¡°You¡¯ve got some good ideas?¡± Academician Ding¡¯s brows furrowed at first glance at the diagram. ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°Yes, look, this is a transformation structure of a neural network¡­¡± But in the next ten minutes, as he listened to Zhang Yuan¡¯s explanation, Academician Ding began to get excited. His voice involuntarily grew louder, ¡°Your idea is indeed very good! But, I still feel there are some problems that haven¡¯t been resolved, including a few key points¡­¡± Zhang Yuan then asked, ¡°¡­there are indeed a few major issues, like how to extend this method to topologically complex surfaces? How to implement a global approach?¡± After a moment of thought, Academician Ding said decisively, ¡°To link analysis with topology, you may try using the Atiyah-Singer index theorem, where the harmonic differential can be seen as a smooth vector field.¡± ¡°¡­Then, while keeping the cohomology class constant, you can try to work on some problems.¡± The two of them enthusiastically discussed for six hours straight. Academician Ding was a busy man, often receiving calls, but today, he put everything aside when he became engrossed in the conversation. Because he had realized this was a very significant breakthrough. In the end, he exclaimed with great excitement, ¡°Be bold in trying! Even if the final direction is wrong, it doesn¡¯t matter. You don¡¯t need to work on anything else for now. I will apply for the experiments you need; focus on researching this problem!¡± When Zhang Yuan came out of the room, the feeling of eagerness, of eagerly rubbing his hands together, made his heart blaze with a passion like nuclear fusion. This was the first time in his life he had caught prey in the mysterious forest. Strictly speaking, his previous paper couldn¡¯t count because all the inspiration came from his father, but this time was different¡ªit was his own resolve that captured it. Zhang Yuan clenched his fist. Go for it! It took three whole months. Writing the paper was tough; even with the general direction clear, countless details still required clarification. Zhang Yuan reckoned that if he had used paper drafts instead of digital ones, the piles of discarded drafts would have weighed more than he did. Moreover, the problem of turbulence was substantial¡ªit had to be validated by real experiments to prove the value of a solution. Otherwise, no matter how eloquently one spoke, no one would believe it. But the experimental conditions atop the Earth Era weren¡¯t great, and even if Zhang Yuan¡¯s solution was excellent, it wasn¡¯t possible to use the Mother Ship¡¯s nuclear engines for the experiment. Therefore, the most critical plasma turbulence experiment couldn¡¯t be conducted for now. If plasma turbulence experiments couldn¡¯t be done, there were still various other types of turbulence to explore, like pipeline fluid experiments, which were not a problem. When the results came out, the lab burst into warm and sustained applause. The experimental outcome, in two words¡ªperfect. ¡°¡­A very good result, and even though it¡¯s not a plasma turbulence experiment, your achievement is already magnificent!¡± Professor Ding Zhaodong led the applause: ¡°Congratulations!¡± Witnessing the birth of a miracle, he couldn¡¯t help being moved, his face slightly flushed, ¡°The plasma turbulence experiment can be sent back for scientists on Earth to verify. I believe there won¡¯t be any major issues!¡± Chapter 94 - Chapter 94: Chapter 96 The Rise of a New Star Chapter 94: Chapter 96 The Rise of a New Star Academician Ding said with a somewhat profound meaning, ¡°The turbulence problem, ah, was once solved by your father thirty years ago, and once again in your heart. With the winning spirit, as swift as a horse in full gallop, one day you will witness all the flowers of Chang¡¯an¡­ I hope you never forget your original aspiration and continue to strive on this difficult path.¡± ¡°With this paper, you can now graduate early.¡± ¡°Congratulations.¡± ¡°Congratulations!¡± The several senior brothers and sisters behind him were also incessantly discussing the miracle they witnessed today. They rubbed their hands in excitement, including Senior Brother Zhao, Senior Brother Luo, and Miss Anna. In human history, the best solution to the turbulence problem, to this date, had emerged from this barren laboratory. To be captured by this genius junior brother was simply unbelievable! In fact, they had never really had high hopes that Zhang Yuan could solve this problem and had only offered a bit of assistance within their capacities. The eventual outcome far exceeded expectations. A rising new star! ¡°Having solved this problem, can you treat me to spicy hotpot?¡± Miss Anna muttered quietly. She originally wanted to tease Zhang Yuan a bit, but in front of so many master-level figures, she simply didn¡¯t dare. ¡°Thank you, I sincerely thank everyone,¡± Zhang Yuan bowed deeply. His peers had provided a lot of help during this process. Without them, his paper would not have been published so quickly. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï The sense of achievement and solidity that came after the genuine experimental results were out could not be described in words¡­ A week later, Zhang Yuan finally completed the paper in its entirety and submitted it to the academic journal founded by Deep Space University, ¡°All Things Theory.¡± ¡­ As the one-year deadline approached, Jupiter, the massive gaseous planet, was now within striking distance. With the naked eye, one could see it had grown as large as a millstone. The wooden textures, formed by temperature differences at various latitudes in the thin layers of the atmosphere, were quite beautiful. Next to Jupiter was a small terrestrial planet¡ªJupiter¡¯s moon, which also acted as humanity¡¯s farthest space base to date. Perhaps because it was close to a planet, the oppressive atmosphere inside the spaceship gradually eased. Whether they were adaptable or not, they had to adapt in any case. The final work assessment was about to start, and many had mentally prepared for a long winter hibernation, especially those without special achievements. On this day, the principal of Deep Space University, Xia Xu, and the editor-in-chief of ¡°All Things Theory,¡± Professor Zhang Xiaoyong, were sighing together. ¡°¡­ So, before hibernation, I was thinking of increasing the influence of ¡®All Things Theory¡¯¡­ You could let me publish an issue of the journal, though, with such a few papers, what can we do?¡± ¡°Once we enter hibernation, there will be no more of our journal on Earth.¡± ¡°¡­ To publish these filler papers, you might not be embarrassed, but I am!¡± The academic journal ¡°All Things Theory,¡± though originating from a year-old university like Deep Space University, naturally didn¡¯t have much influence. On Earth, it was just a poor caterpillar that couldn¡¯t crack the top 1000, with very few people aware of it beyond some universities and paper repositories that subscribed out of goodwill. Scientific researchers wouldn¡¯t think highly of you just because you are ¡°Earth Era¡±; a paper produced by a new civilization had to be based on actual quality. Trash was trash. Principal Xia spread his hands helplessly, ¡°So what do you suggest? There are a few submitted papers but mostly filler material.¡± ¡°If there are no good papers, it would be better not to publish!¡± This matter deeply troubled them. However, papers weren¡¯t something that could be rushed, nor could they be improved by administrative order. Most crucially, the academic journal from the neighboring Star University¡ª¡±Star Journal¡±¡ªwas thriving. Excellent papers on photo-catalysis, gene matching, Light Stagnation, all produced by Star University, had also received positive responses on Earth. Despite the unrefined name of ¡°Star Journal,¡± it had gained some notoriety because of those quality papers! Compared to that, Deep Space University had nothing to show, which was incredibly frustrating for both individuals. ¡°Could it be that the name ¡®All Things Theory¡¯ we chose was too grand, scaring people away from submitting?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not about the name. Look at ¡®Science¡¯ and ¡®Nature¡¯; aren¡¯t they grand names?¡± ¡°Is it that we have too few geniuses in the university? That shouldn¡¯t be the case; it was a fair distribution at the start¡­ I think it¡¯s just bad luck.¡± ¡°Old Xia, you still need to rigorously cultivate the academic atmosphere.¡± Principal Xia smiled bitterly. Cultivate the academic atmosphere? The academic atmosphere was already quite formidable, truly. These graduate and doctoral students weren¡¯t undergraduates; surely they couldn¡¯t be forced to attend mandatory night self-study sessions and have monthly tests, right? Impossible! ¡°Knock, knock, knock,¡± at this moment, the door to the meeting room sounded. Speaking of the devil, the person they least wanted to see walked in¡ªthe editor-in-chief of ¡°Star Journal,¡± Mr. Daniel. Following him were a bunch of experts and professors from Star University. Daniel, a Westerner in his fifties, had consistently outperformed Deep Space University, and his face was full of glee. The two of them stopped talking as these people entered. Although they got along well in private, they were direct competitors, and internal matters couldn¡¯t be divulged to outsiders. This foreigner didn¡¯t know the meaning of modesty, speaking bluntly as soon as he opened his mouth, ¡°¡­ Our ¡®Star Journal¡¯ editorial office received a rather good paper, however, due to limitations in professional knowledge, there was some disagreement about the content. Therefore, we invite you two authorities to take a look at this paper.¡± Principal Xia frowned slightly. What does he mean by ¡®limitations in professional knowledge¡¯? It was clearly a boastful display! This old fellow¡­ At that moment, Principal Xia was fervently hoping for the emergence of a legendary-level paper that could leave this old man speechless. Still, he had to maintain a facade of nonchalance. Principal Xia spoke indifferently, ¡°What paper? Let me see it.¡± It was a paper on new types of nanomaterials, indeed within his field of expertise. Staring at the various data and formulas on the screen, Xia Xu wanted to find something to criticize but could only come up with a few trivial points after a long search. The paper¡¯s format and grammar certainly didn¡¯t need his judgment. He could see no issues with the experimental data. While a competitor, he trusted Professor Daniel¡¯s character; the paper wouldn¡¯t have falsified data, an academically dishonest practice. After scribbling a few notes on the screen, Professor Xia asked, ¡°I have a question. Studies on the behavior of half-filled correlated insulators have been quite thorough, haven¡¯t they? The calculations in this paper show a significant discrepancy compared to current experimental results. How would you explain that? Doesn¡¯t it need to be optimized before publication?¡± Chapter 97 - Chapter 97: Chapter 99: First on the List Chapter 97: Chapter 99: First on the List Ding Zhaodong sat below, listening to Zhang Yuan¡¯s lecture, and sighed, ¡°Thirty years ago, his father, Zhang Qiming, showcased a new turbulence algorithm on a world-class stage. Since then, almost all the turbulence control parts in nuclear engines have adopted his algorithm.¡± ¡°Back then, I was Old Zhang¡¯s classmate. My teacher believed that it would take a hundred years before a better and stronger algorithm could appear. The problem seemed nearly perfected.¡± ¡°Who would have thought that in just thirty years, it would be his son¡¯s turn to tackle the same difficult problem with an even more powerful algorithm¡­ Perhaps, this is a kind of reincarnation of the world?¡± Next door, a physics professor laughed and said, ¡°Then, how long do you think this ¡®differentiable neural network¡¯ algorithm will last? The turbulence problem has still not been completely solved, it¡¯s just a numerical simulation, although well-simulated, it¡¯s not truly the mathematical essence, there is always room for surpassing it.¡± Academician Ding shook his head, ¡°Essence? That¡¯s not so easy to find. Mathematical essence that hasn¡¯t been discovered in hundreds of years may not be found in the next few hundred years either.¡± ¡°You never know, make a prediction, give us a time frame for being surpassed.¡± After pondering earnestly for a moment, Ding Zhaodong said, ¡°We can¡¯t predict the world fifty years from now, let alone a hundred or two hundred years, so let¡¯s just say a hundred years.¡± ¡°A hundred years, you¡¯re so optimistic about this algorithm?¡± ¡°Yes, I hope that future humans are smarter than we imagine and can achieve a complete breakthrough.¡± ¡°Heh, a good sleep, and we might wake up to see the results!¡± On the stage¡­ The entire big screen had been written on sixteen times. The discussion was also reaching its conclusion. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? Zhang Yuan slowly exhaled the stale air from his chest. He felt as if he saw a universe that was once dim, now filled with light. ¡°According to the above algorithm, the experimental data is as follows¡­ I believe that these data can be very easily replicated in the laboratory.¡± At that moment, he had surpassed his own father. ¡°¡­I also hope that colleagues on Earth can conduct the final testing on the plasma turbulence experiments to complete the parts unfulfilled in the experimental data.¡± ¡°I also hope that in future times, a true genius will provide a complete proof of the existence and smoothness of the solution to the N-S equations, thereby completely solving this problem. At that time, more innovative and precise algorithms will inevitably appear¡­¡± ¡°My presentation ends here, thank you all!¡± The audience below was silent, with no questions and no whispering. Everyone felt the dense light of truth. And they saw a rising new star of science. It belonged to the 23rd century, a golden age of science. Breaking the silence was a middle-aged man sitting in the front row. He must be a professor of the relevant field; he bowed slightly to Zhang Yuan and then began to lead the applause. The sound of clapping started off soft and grew thunderously, enduring like waves. Following that, the young people in the back rows began whistling, a large part of whom were Zhang Yuan¡¯s close group of friends and family. ¡°Your Falls Ranking has to be changed again! I wonder what the impact factor of this paper would be?¡± Sitting in the back rows, two young men loudly whistled and discussed. ¡°Impact factor?¡± The blond young man, none other than the creator of the Falls Ranking, Falls, spoke with an odd expression, ¡°You don¡¯t think that an ¡®impact factor¡¯ can measure the level of this paper, do you?¡± ¡°Just kidding, other papers, including those excellent ones, can be celebrated by organizing an academic conference before they¡¯ve even been formally published? The moment I assign it an impact factor, I¡¯d just be embarrassing myself, deserving to be criticized.¡± The other person asked, ¡°So, has the number one spot on your list been snatched by Deep Space University?¡± Falls chuckled, ¡°I have to admit, it¡¯s true, this achievement is kind of mind-blowing. And they have already gone to space by rocket. To catch up with the second rank, you¡¯d have to attach a spaceship-level add-on¡­¡± After the applause stopped, it was time for questions. The experts became active at last, each raising their hands to ask questions in turn. It took over an hour, and Zhang Yuan answered several technical questions, talking until he was hoarse, and finally stepped down from the stage. It¡¯s hard to forget the feeling of having this aura, winning the attention of the entire world. But at this moment, he didn¡¯t have much of a feeling, Zhang Yuan just wanted to get a good sleep. Being overstimulated for too long also has its side effects; whatever it is, it can wait until tomorrow. However, clearly, he had underestimated the enthusiasm of the crowd of fanatics. The moment he left the venue, many people had already seized the opportunity to follow him. ¡°Hey, bro!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve come up with a way to use recursive neural networks to simulate values, do you think it¡¯s feasible?¡± Zhang Yuan¡¯s face turned pale; even though they¡¯re both neural networks, they differ a lot. ¡°I¡¯ve thought of a deep neural network method, buddy, can we collaborate¡­¡± ¡°¡­How exactly do you use the Index Theorem, can you explain it again? I have an idea about a partnership in mathematics¡­¡± ¡°Handsome, let¡¯s exchange QQ codes!¡± ¡°Can I treat you to a meal? It would be good to discuss over a meal!¡± Zhang Yuan hurriedly thought about making an escape. Wait a minute, there seems to be a sleazy hand grabbing my hair, is this really necessary?! Is there anyone who can help?! Click, click, click, nothing but the sound of photos being taken, the noise was growing louder. It seemed no one heard his true inner voice. The crowd was becoming more raucous, with some enthusiastic young ladies seemingly unable to control themselves and wanting to kiss him. Although he had long lost his first kiss, Zhang Yuan was still a bit panicked. Can¡¯t you be a bit more elegant! He even saw the female reporters he had bullied before, including the young lady named Lin Xuanyuan, already blocking the escape route ahead. Another interview? What to do, waiting online. ¡°Follow me if you want to escape,¡± Reporter Lin said with a joyful laugh. Although he didn¡¯t hear her clearly, Zhang Yuan understood her expression. Even though it was a foolish act of escaping the wolf¡¯s den only to enter the tiger¡¯s den, Zhang Yuan still ran over there as if his life depended on it. ¡­ A quarter of an hour later, under the double escort of several female reporters and a cameraman, Zhang Yuan finally left the noisy Area A. At this moment, he thought Reporter Lin was pretty dominant. ¡°Ask your questions quickly.¡± Zhang Yuan tentatively said. He was very tired now, and he really wanted to sleep. Perhaps seeing that Zhang Yuan was truly exhausted, Lin Xuanyuan started to feel somewhat embarrassed. Moreover, considering the transitions in status and the completely different weight of financial and academic rankings, she even inexplicably developed a sense of admiration. Lin Xuanyuan cleared her throat, trying to offer comfort, ¡°You seem to have lost a bit of weight¡­ It¡¯s been tough, hasn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Do I?¡± Zhang Yuan glanced at her, ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s because of irregular sleep patterns¡­ Mmm, you seem to have gained a bit of weight.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Chapter 96 - Chapter 96: Chapter 98: The Grand Meeting Chapter 96: Chapter 98: The Grand Meeting Zhang Xiaoyong quickly gathered all the experts and professors at Deep Space University to focus on the study of this paper and to replicate the experiment. The conditions required for the pipe turbulence experiment were not complex, and even the procedure was already prepared, ready for immediate use. ¡°The whole algorithm seems a bit complex, I couldn¡¯t understand it in a short time, but after all, facts speak louder than words, let¡¯s look at the results first,¡± said one of the experts who specialized in plasma. ¡°Do you think the experimental data is real? It¡¯s unbelievable, truly unbelievable¡­¡± ¡°A repeat experiment this simple wouldn¡¯t involve falsified data. Just look at the smug look on Ding Zhaodong¡¯s face, and you¡¯ll know¡­¡± ¡°I still find it hard to believe.¡± Everyone stared motionless at the blank screen, which began to display a stream of data. Whispers arose, one after another, in the laboratory. The sense of anxiety grew more intense. ¡°Professor.¡± One of the younger participants spoke softly; he was also a student of an academician and had just turned 24 this year. Among peers, there¡¯s always a bit of competitive psychology. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï ¡°What would happen if this paper is entirely correct?¡± After seriously pondering for a while, the academician shook his head, ¡°Hard to say, but I think it might be one of the most outstanding achievements of the past decade. Or perhaps, the words ¡®one of¡¯ could be removed.¡± ¡°But this is just a numerical simulation method, not the true essence of mathematics!¡± Seeing his student a bit unconvinced, the academician smiled and said, ¡°Don¡¯t think that just because turbulence is a classic physics problem, it is easy. If you had delved into it, you would understand its horrifying difficulty.¡± ¡°The concept of turbulence and its applications have long surpassed the framework of classic physics, extending into various branches of modern physics research. From stellar evolution to condensed matter physics, high-energy physics, biological physics¡­¡± ¡°Therefore, this paper could have a profound impact across many different fields.¡± ¡°At the simplest, from an industrial perspective, if we can better control plasma turbulence, we could make nuclear fusion devices much smaller. Do you realize what that represents?¡± The young man nodded with a solemn expression. That comparative mindset slowly faded away¡­ Because others had already shattered the void and entered another realm. Zhang Yuan¡¯s first paper on robot control theory was quite good, but there was a possibility of surpassing it; now, however, they were not even on the same plane. Seconds and minutes passed, and the entire laboratory was quiet, filled only with the sound of tense breathing. Surprise. Amazement. Unbelievable! It fit so well! ¡°Old Zhang, what¡¯s the rush?¡± Principal Xia¡¯s voice drifted over from afar. He pushed in the door, paused, and said, ¡°Eh, everyone¡¯s here? What happened?¡± Principal Xia¡¯s voice seemed to bring everyone back to the world. Seconds later, the entire laboratory erupted into a vehement discussion with several professors unable to contain their laughter! ¡­ It was impossible to keep this a secret; rumors began to spread like wildfire within a few hours. Soon, they reached the inner workings of the Star Journal. The editors and professors at Star University felt uneasy, almost foreseeing that a single paper had outshone all of their publications. ¡°A stronger turbulence problem algorithm has emerged? Is it a rumor or something else?¡± ¡°How could it be possible? You should know how difficult this problem is.¡± ¡°Differentiable neural networks? What¡¯s that?¡± Just a paper title, no matter how much imagination one employed, couldn¡¯t conjure the specific algorithm. ¡°People from Deep Space University, frustrated by the lack of significant scientific achievements, deliberately concocted a lie to boost the university¡¯s influence?¡± How could that be possible? Rumors eventually dissipate, revealing the final truth. Surely Principal Xia was not so foolish! Unable to discern if he was curious or annoyed, Daniel tapped his fingers on the table a few times and instructed, ¡°Make a phone call to confirm.¡± The young assistant picked up the phone and dialed the editor-in-chief of the All Things Theory, Zhang Xiaoyong. ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°¡­Is this the Star Journal editorial office? Haha, we have a very powerful paper, and the peer review will be held at one o¡¯clock in the afternoon. If you¡¯re free, you¡¯re welcome to come and take a look!¡± It¡¯s not that Zhang Xiaoyong lacked restraint, but he couldn¡¯t help wanting to laugh out loud. He really couldn¡¯t help it! Daniel felt a jolt in his heart. Had there really been a sensational result?! He wanted to deliberately avoid going to minimize the embarrassment from the other party. But his strong curiosity took over. ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s see! I want to see what it really is!¡± In theory, paper reviews are not that quick, with first, second, and third reviews, etc., it would take at least half a month. But this paper was so impressive, so impressive that it could ignore the whole process! ¡­ At one o¡¯clock in the afternoon, Zhang Yuan was also invited to the venue in Area A. Well, for him, all of this was expected. Below him was a sea of heads, almost all of them were heavyweights from the spaceship industry. Without an invitation, you wouldn¡¯t even have the credentials to enter. He took a deep breath, ¡°Today, I¡¯m bringing you a completely new turbulence problem simulation algorithm. Due to the rush, I haven¡¯t prepared a PPT, I hope you¡¯ll forgive me.¡± No need for further ado; getting straight to the point is what everyone needed. He began to describe his entire algorithm step by step on the big screen. Recalling the struggles of the past six months gave him a sense of happiness that comes after enduring hardship. Six months seemed so long, truly long, and agonizing. Yet it was also fleeting, a mere six months, after all. Really, just six months to achieve remarkable results. Without a doubt, Zhang Yuan felt he was fortunate and lucky. Had it not been for that stroke of inspiration, perhaps he would have continued groping in the fog for a long time. Six years, or even sixty, would not have been surprising! The real world is that cruel, just like that Deep Space Artwork, where light is but a tiny white dot, and darkness is the mainstream. ¡°Not stumbling upon the light, that¡¯s the real norm in the Universe.¡± As he pondered, he had already fully entered the zone, trying to display the entire process of his search for the light to the audience below. In fact, he had even forgotten about the audience below; he was simply reliving the arduous journey. On the stage of truth, there¡¯s no distinction between young and old, or race or color. The only distinction lies between right and wrong, with no additional choice in between. Chapter 97 - Chapter 97: Chapter 99: First on the List Chapter 97: Chapter 99: First on the List Ding Zhaodong sat below, listening to Zhang Yuan¡¯s lecture, and sighed, ¡°Thirty years ago, his father, Zhang Qiming, showcased a new turbulence algorithm on a world-class stage. Since then, almost all the turbulence control parts in nuclear engines have adopted his algorithm.¡± ¡°Back then, I was Old Zhang¡¯s classmate. My teacher believed that it would take a hundred years before a better and stronger algorithm could appear. The problem seemed nearly perfected.¡± ¡°Who would have thought that in just thirty years, it would be his son¡¯s turn to tackle the same difficult problem with an even more powerful algorithm¡­ Perhaps, this is a kind of reincarnation of the world?¡± Next door, a physics professor laughed and said, ¡°Then, how long do you think this ¡®differentiable neural network¡¯ algorithm will last? The turbulence problem has still not been completely solved, it¡¯s just a numerical simulation, although well-simulated, it¡¯s not truly the mathematical essence, there is always room for surpassing it.¡± Academician Ding shook his head, ¡°Essence? That¡¯s not so easy to find. Mathematical essence that hasn¡¯t been discovered in hundreds of years may not be found in the next few hundred years either.¡± ¡°You never know, make a prediction, give us a time frame for being surpassed.¡± After pondering earnestly for a moment, Ding Zhaodong said, ¡°We can¡¯t predict the world fifty years from now, let alone a hundred or two hundred years, so let¡¯s just say a hundred years.¡± ¡°A hundred years, you¡¯re so optimistic about this algorithm?¡± ¡°Yes, I hope that future humans are smarter than we imagine and can achieve a complete breakthrough.¡± ¡°Heh, a good sleep, and we might wake up to see the results!¡± On the stage¡­ The entire big screen had been written on sixteen times. The discussion was also reaching its conclusion. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? Zhang Yuan slowly exhaled the stale air from his chest. He felt as if he saw a universe that was once dim, now filled with light. ¡°According to the above algorithm, the experimental data is as follows¡­ I believe that these data can be very easily replicated in the laboratory.¡± At that moment, he had surpassed his own father. ¡°¡­I also hope that colleagues on Earth can conduct the final testing on the plasma turbulence experiments to complete the parts unfulfilled in the experimental data.¡± ¡°I also hope that in future times, a true genius will provide a complete proof of the existence and smoothness of the solution to the N-S equations, thereby completely solving this problem. At that time, more innovative and precise algorithms will inevitably appear¡­¡± ¡°My presentation ends here, thank you all!¡± The audience below was silent, with no questions and no whispering. Everyone felt the dense light of truth. And they saw a rising new star of science. It belonged to the 23rd century, a golden age of science. Breaking the silence was a middle-aged man sitting in the front row. He must be a professor of the relevant field; he bowed slightly to Zhang Yuan and then began to lead the applause. The sound of clapping started off soft and grew thunderously, enduring like waves. Following that, the young people in the back rows began whistling, a large part of whom were Zhang Yuan¡¯s close group of friends and family. ¡°Your Falls Ranking has to be changed again! I wonder what the impact factor of this paper would be?¡± Sitting in the back rows, two young men loudly whistled and discussed. ¡°Impact factor?¡± The blond young man, none other than the creator of the Falls Ranking, Falls, spoke with an odd expression, ¡°You don¡¯t think that an ¡®impact factor¡¯ can measure the level of this paper, do you?¡± ¡°Just kidding, other papers, including those excellent ones, can be celebrated by organizing an academic conference before they¡¯ve even been formally published? The moment I assign it an impact factor, I¡¯d just be embarrassing myself, deserving to be criticized.¡± The other person asked, ¡°So, has the number one spot on your list been snatched by Deep Space University?¡± Falls chuckled, ¡°I have to admit, it¡¯s true, this achievement is kind of mind-blowing. And they have already gone to space by rocket. To catch up with the second rank, you¡¯d have to attach a spaceship-level add-on¡­¡± After the applause stopped, it was time for questions. The experts became active at last, each raising their hands to ask questions in turn. It took over an hour, and Zhang Yuan answered several technical questions, talking until he was hoarse, and finally stepped down from the stage. It¡¯s hard to forget the feeling of having this aura, winning the attention of the entire world. But at this moment, he didn¡¯t have much of a feeling, Zhang Yuan just wanted to get a good sleep. Being overstimulated for too long also has its side effects; whatever it is, it can wait until tomorrow. However, clearly, he had underestimated the enthusiasm of the crowd of fanatics. The moment he left the venue, many people had already seized the opportunity to follow him. ¡°Hey, bro!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve come up with a way to use recursive neural networks to simulate values, do you think it¡¯s feasible?¡± Zhang Yuan¡¯s face turned pale; even though they¡¯re both neural networks, they differ a lot. ¡°I¡¯ve thought of a deep neural network method, buddy, can we collaborate¡­¡± ¡°¡­How exactly do you use the Index Theorem, can you explain it again? I have an idea about a partnership in mathematics¡­¡± ¡°Handsome, let¡¯s exchange QQ codes!¡± ¡°Can I treat you to a meal? It would be good to discuss over a meal!¡± Zhang Yuan hurriedly thought about making an escape. Wait a minute, there seems to be a sleazy hand grabbing my hair, is this really necessary?! Is there anyone who can help?! Click, click, click, nothing but the sound of photos being taken, the noise was growing louder. It seemed no one heard his true inner voice. The crowd was becoming more raucous, with some enthusiastic young ladies seemingly unable to control themselves and wanting to kiss him. Although he had long lost his first kiss, Zhang Yuan was still a bit panicked. Can¡¯t you be a bit more elegant! He even saw the female reporters he had bullied before, including the young lady named Lin Xuanyuan, already blocking the escape route ahead. Another interview? What to do, waiting online. ¡°Follow me if you want to escape,¡± Reporter Lin said with a joyful laugh. Although he didn¡¯t hear her clearly, Zhang Yuan understood her expression. Even though it was a foolish act of escaping the wolf¡¯s den only to enter the tiger¡¯s den, Zhang Yuan still ran over there as if his life depended on it. ¡­ A quarter of an hour later, under the double escort of several female reporters and a cameraman, Zhang Yuan finally left the noisy Area A. At this moment, he thought Reporter Lin was pretty dominant. ¡°Ask your questions quickly.¡± Zhang Yuan tentatively said. He was very tired now, and he really wanted to sleep. Perhaps seeing that Zhang Yuan was truly exhausted, Lin Xuanyuan started to feel somewhat embarrassed. Moreover, considering the transitions in status and the completely different weight of financial and academic rankings, she even inexplicably developed a sense of admiration. Lin Xuanyuan cleared her throat, trying to offer comfort, ¡°You seem to have lost a bit of weight¡­ It¡¯s been tough, hasn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Do I?¡± Zhang Yuan glanced at her, ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s because of irregular sleep patterns¡­ Mmm, you seem to have gained a bit of weight.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Chapter 98 - Chapter 98: Chapter 100 Jupiters Moon Chapter 98: Chapter 100 Jupiter¡¯s Moon Lin Xuanyuan was slightly annoyed, cursing inwardly that Zhang Yuan had no discernment at all¡ªshe had clearly lost 1 jin! After a while, her heart finally calmed from the verge of bursting. She flashed a professional smile, ¡°There¡¯s no live broadcast now, let¡¯s relax and just chat casually. Hmm¡­ Is there a special method to generate inspiration?¡± Zhang Yuan coughed and replied, ¡°Inspiration? I don¡¯t know if you¡¯ve done any Olympiad math problems?¡± ¡°Of course I have.¡± ¡°Doing scientific research is similar to solving Olympiad problems; the only difference is that there are no standard answers in research, which makes it more difficult. As for that sudden moment of epiphany, honestly, I don¡¯t know how it happens.¡± ¡°When you solve Olympiad problems and suddenly have an epiphany on how to solve them, the feeling in research is similar, so there can¡¯t really be anything generalizable¡­ Anyway, you first need to accumulate knowledge. You¡¯ve got to have enough tools before you can proceed, right? Then just keep thinking, keep thinking, keep thinking, right?¡± The beautiful reporter thought hard for quite a while but genuinely had no idea what to ask next. She merely found the response somewhat amusing. She wasn¡¯t familiar with academic matters; at most, she¡¯d report on normal life, study conditions, and perhaps the future impact. ¡°So, tell me about your daily life?¡± ¡°Ah, let¡¯s not over-publicize it.¡± Zhang Yuan shook his head, ¡°For a successful person like me, I¡¯m already fortunate enough; there¡¯s no need to add more topics and fuel more popularity.¡± ¡°¡­You should pay more attention to those who haven¡¯t succeeded, giving them more encouragement. The pain and confusion of exploring through the fog is truly hard to convey to outsiders, and sometimes even we don¡¯t know how we made it through.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? Reporter Lin thought about it and said with a smile, ¡°What you said, we know. But, the way this world operates rewards the successful, not those who fail. Otherwise, who would want to strive to be successful?¡± ¡°Ah, you indeed have a point¡­¡± The entire interview took another half hour to complete. It was only after noticing Zhang Yuan had grown delirious that the attractive young lady reluctantly got up to leave. ¡­ While Zhang Yuan was soundly asleep, the entire meeting video and papers had already been sent back to Earth. Many scientists knew that a young lad on the spaceship had addressed the turbulence problem! It couldn¡¯t be said it was completely solved, but rather that the solution for the ¡°next step¡± pushed it to an unimaginably difficult level! To ¡°solve it next time,¡± one might truly need to delve into mathematical methods and discuss something ¡°smooth.¡± This issue created a huge stir within the community, with some equipped labs already beginning to undertake the most important ¡°plasma turbulence experiment.¡± Of course, it didn¡¯t stir much interest outside the community. To most people, issues like ¡°turbulence¡± were incomprehensible. Without understanding, they couldn¡¯t comment. People cared more about clothes, food, shelter, and things directly affecting them. Even if internet trolls saw the issue, they had no valid points to criticize. Otherwise, they might accidentally expose their own ignorance. ¡­ Waking up from bed the next morning, Zhang Yuan hadn¡¯t slept this soundly in a long time. He habitually checked his personal email. A pile of congratulatory messages from colleagues, including many scientists from Earth. Although it was troublesome, he still had to reply one by one, expressing ¡°heartfelt¡± thanks. There were also some reports on plasma turbulence experiments; some crazy scientists had worked overnight to complete some of the simplest tests. His heart skipped a beat as Zhang Yuan carefully read the experimental data above. Very good, everything met expectations. This meant that his algorithm was also very suitable for dealing with plasma turbulence. His heart gradually relaxed. The final part of his paper had been completed without much trouble. ¡°Zhang Yuan, congratulations on surpassing your father in this field!¡± It was a congratulatory video from Professor Wang Zhong. ¡°How does it feel to stand at the peak? Does it feel like you can look down on all the other mountains?¡± Zhang Yuan smiled. It indeed felt pretty good, but he also felt somewhat lonely. The more he knew, the more he realized he didn¡¯t know. He could now confirm that the turbulence problem could be approached with his current abilities, but it couldn¡¯t truly be solved. Professor Wang continued in the video, ¡°After the plasma turbulence experiment was validated, we held a night-long scientific symposium¡­¡± ¡°Many scientists believe that your algorithm is more effective than your father¡¯s method, with higher precision constraints. This will usher in another upgrade of the nuclear fusion industry, namely making miniaturization feasible.¡± ¡°¡­ Even the nuclear engine on the ¡®Earth Era¡¯ can be updated and replaced.¡± ¡°But after careful discussions, we still think it¡¯s unnecessary to upgrade the ¡®Earth Era¡¯ on this occasion and let it continue its journey into the distance¡­¡± ¡°Because with updates and replacements in the aerospace industry, the first priority is reliability and safety, and cost-effectiveness comes second. Your solution, although advanced, will need several years, or even decades, to be tested in long-term practice to ensure its reliability.¡± ¡°The classical engine of the ¡®Earth Era¡¯ has been time-tested and is reliable enough, while all the astronauts cannot afford to wait for decades. We hope you understand this.¡± Zhang Yuan nodded. ¡°This is another point,¡± Professor Wang said with a smile. ¡°Supervisors have sent down notices that if you want to stay on Earth, the state won¡¯t impose any penalties on you¡­¡± Zhang Yuan was slightly taken aback. ¡°However, from my personal point of view, I still hope that you will leave.¡± ¡°Young man, the worldly splendors aren¡¯t worth lingering over; look forward to everything three thousand years from now!¡± ¡­ Amid various discussions, Jupiter¡¯s moon, Europa, finally arrived. This moon was quite far from Earth, approximately 630 million kilometers away, and the signal transmission time between Earth and Jupiter was 2100 seconds. After several course corrections, the ¡®Earth Era¡¯ slowly docked at the Starry Sky Port of Europa. The spaceship itself was even slightly bigger than the port. Europa is the second largest moon of Jupiter, with a diameter of 3183 kilometers, and its gravitational acceleration is only one-eighth of Earth¡¯s. From the distant cosmos, it could be seen as a massive ice puck, with an ice cap on the planet¡¯s surface that is a hundred kilometers thick. According to scientists, beneath the thick ice layer of Europa, there could be liquid water, and possibly even extraterrestrial life. However, the ice layer over a hundred kilometers thick is ridiculously thick, and to this day, there isn¡¯t a particularly good way to drill through the ice for scientific exploration. According to speculation, even if there is extraterrestrial life, it would most likely be just microorganisms and would not affect humans. Here, the human population maintained a total of six million. They had built a complex and massive survival paradise within the thick ice cap, providing a good example for future interstellar colonization. The ¡®Earth Era¡¯ would stay here for about a month. During this month, the whole spaceship would be refueled with nuclear fuel, topped up with water resources, and undergo the final resource supplementation. Subsequently, the surplus population would enter hibernation, leaving only a small number of operational personnel to start the long interstellar voyage. The real long journey was finally about to come. Chapter 99 - Chapter 99: Chapter 101 Postcard Chapter 99: Chapter 101 Postcard As a member of the scientific expedition team, Zhang Yuan was among the first batch of people to land on Jupiter¡¯s moon. He carefully descended the Space Elevator, walking on the icy cap of Jupiter¡¯s moon. In the dim sky, only a few lights flickered. These perpetual ice layers, not having melted since their formation, had a history of at least a billion years. Simply lifting his head, he could see the vast expanse of Jupiter. It truly covered the sky, its surface area about 23.5 times that of Earth when viewing the Moon, with wooden-like stripes visible to the naked eye across Jupiter¡¯s surface. Sometimes, he could also see the famous, dark red Great Red Spot, resembling a huge eye, quietly watching over them. If it were someone who feared ghost stories, seeing this real ¡®blood moon¡¯ might literally scare them to death. Zhang Yuan took several photos with interest. They had chosen this tidally locked side for the base because it faced a smaller probability of meteorite impacts. Jupiter, being a giant, had cleared countless meteorites for the inner planets of the Solar System. With Jupiter as a shield, Earth faced a much smaller probability of meteorite strikes, providing a more favorable environment for the formation of life. However, Jupiter¡¯s moon was not so lucky, with a significantly higher probability of meteorite hits for those living there. Inside the entire base, the most powerful Helium-3 Nuclear Bomb was stocked to fend off any potential meteorite strikes. There was no choice, as Jupiter was the most crucial nuclear fuel storage. ¡°A warm welcome to Jupiter¡¯s moon industrial base to all our friends who have traveled from afar. This is the furthest outpost of human space deployment,¡± a middle-aged man in a spacesuit said, smiling at everyone at the entrance to the base. He then shook hands with the Captain. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Academician Ding turned around and said to Zhang Yuan, ¡°Let¡¯s go, this alien base might be similar to our future deployments¡­ You should take a good look around.¡± ¡°I have a few old friends I¡¯d like to visit here. Would you like to come with me, or do you prefer to go on your own?¡± Zhang Yuan thought for a moment, ¡°I have an elder I want to visit. I¡¯ll go on my own for now!¡± ¡°Then see you this afternoon.¡± The first thing Zhang Yuan did upon entering the base on Jupiter¡¯s moon was to enjoy a delicious grilled steak meal! The aroma of the grilled meat made his mouth water, and the anticipation of saliva secretion was almost akin to solving a math problem! Even though it didn¡¯t compare to the lavish meals on Earth, it was at least not synthetic meat. The base on Jupiter¡¯s moon, compared to a spaceship, was simply heaven! ¡°Not bad, really not bad! You solved the turbulence problem!¡± said the middle-aged man sitting opposite him, who was a former colleague of his father, giving a thumbs up and continually praising. ¡°Uncle Yuan, it was just luck. It was a numerical simulation method, and I haven¡¯t completely solved it¡­¡± Zhang Yuan replied modestly, smiling. ¡°Luck? It depends on skill! You think I don¡¯t understand this industry? Turbulence has many applications, from astronomy to geography. Look at Jupiter, that Great Red Spot, isn¡¯t that formed by turbulence? By the way, what time does the meeting start later?¡± ¡°Around one in the afternoon,¡± Zhang Yuan replied. ¡°Then there¡¯s still a bit of time to rest.¡± They had been invited to Jupiter¡¯s moon to attend an industrial academic conference. This base housed many existing achievements, the crystallization of human intellect, worthy of reference. The large structures inside the ice cap were very sophisticated, involving various cooling, support, and waste management structures, all needing coordinated planning. Especially, the emitted heat could not exceed the ice cap¡¯s tolerance; otherwise, too much melting could lead to collapses, earthquakes, and other disastrous accidents. Jupiter¡¯s moon, as a relatively successful colonized planet, was definitely beneficial to learn something new from an on-site inspection. ¡°Uncle Yuan, when are you planning to return to Earth?¡± Zhang Yuan asked, patting his satisfied belly. ¡°In three more months, it will have been three years, and I won¡¯t come back to this godforsaken place. No way to have real-time video calls, and it¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve seen my son and daughter. My muscles are starting to atrophy too. If I don¡¯t return soon, I¡¯ll have a meadow growing on my head.¡± ¡°Where would that be possible¡­¡± Zhang Yuan hastily gave a hollow laugh. Jupiter¡¯s moon produces one of the most important resources for civilization¡ªenergy. Thus, this place is equivalent to the Middle East region of the past, with inevitably top-level salaries. The typical working period for common workers is about three years. Even the lowest-level positions can earn millions. However, due to its remoteness from the center of civilization, despite having money, one cannot enjoy it, much less take care of their families, so they must inevitably face certain risks¡­ All sorts of mishaps, earnestly earning money to return home, only to discover stories involving betrayal are far too numerous. ¡°Anything else you want to bring back to Earth? I can play courier for you,¡± Uncle Yuan said with a smile. ¡°Um¡­¡± Zhang Yuan thought for a moment, ¡°Do you have any postcards? I just want to send a few back.¡± ¡°Sure, I still have several left, I¡¯ll give them all to you.¡± After pondering for a while, Zhang Yuan wrote letters respectively to Wang Lili and Xu Yunjing, Professor Wang Zhong, his aunt¡¯s family, and Han Ziyue. They were very brief, describing his recent experiences and reflections. When he got to the letter for Han Ziyue, Zhang Yuan paused, unsure of what to write. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, is it a girl?¡± ¡°Ah, a quite lovely girl. I don¡¯t know how she¡¯s doing now.¡± ¡°I see¡­¡± Uncle Yuan chuckled, seemingly understanding. What to write? Inspired, Zhang Yuan drew his own portrait on the postcard, with a planet floating in the sky, which was Jupiter. His drawing skills were not very good, having only briefly learned from the artist Elwin. The whole portrait looked rather ugly, much uglier than he was in person. However, because of its ugliness, it also had a certain comedic charm. He signed his name at the bottom. [Zhang Yuan, 2265.8.31] I didn¡¯t have the chance to accompany you on your journey, nor an excuse to talk with you all night, and even less of an opportunity to tell you about my current life. I can only send a postcard, telling you that I¡¯m fine, remembering is better than meeting. Take care of yourself. Zhang Yuan sighed softly in his heart. Lastly, he left one postcard for himself. After deliberation, he wrote on it: [Today, we have arrived at Jupiter¡¯s moon, Humanity¡¯s outermost industrial base, where the Mother Ship will make its final resource replenishment. Jupiter¡¯s moon is not comparable to Earth, but it feels much more solid than being on a spaceship because, after all, it is a planet.] [From here, we will head towards the distant stars, not knowing when we might reach another planet.] [The long night is ahead, and the road forward is unknown. I hope in the future, we can remember this beautiful, precious day.] [2265.8.31] Done writing, he felt an inexplicable heaviness. Zhang Yuan looked up and said, ¡°I¡¯ll keep this one for myself. The rest, after you return to Earth, just drop them in a mailbox for me.¡± ¡°Alright, this little matter. Don¡¯t be a stranger!¡± Uncle Yuan carefully gathered the stack of postcards, nodding solemnly. ¡°Thank you! I¡¯ll be going now.¡± Chapter 100 - Chapter 100: Chapter 102: Establishing New Standards Chapter 100: Chapter 102: Establishing New Standards Seeing that it was getting late, Zhang Yuan hurried onto a shuttle bus, heading for the science conference hall. This investigation of Jupiter¡¯s moon was not a sightseeing tour, and there were still many tasks to accomplish. The conference room was bustling with people, and after finding Academician Ding, he sat down properly. Academician Ding transferred a document to him and instructed, ¡°We have discussed such academic conferences many times before, but for you, it¡¯s the first time. There are many major directions that we, spaceship researchers, will need to study in the future. You can choose the reports you want to listen to on your own.¡± Zhang Yuan nodded. ¡°On the fifth day of the conference, you also have a report on the turbulence problem. Are you prepared?¡± ¡°No problem, I¡¯ve been prepared for a while.¡± Zhang Yuan was brimming with confidence; he had thoroughly memorized the paper a long time ago. He could recite it backward if needed. The theme of the conference was ¡°Exploration of Future Industrial Development,¡± which included a significant amount of improvement work on the existing industrial bases of the new civilization. The Earth Civilization had developed up to now, forming a massive and complex set of industrial standards. Among these standards, many were unreasonable, but because of historical reasons, the cost of correcting them was huge, so much so that it was impossible to correct. Academician Ding took the stage and spoke eloquently. ¡°Let me give a simple example. In the field of mechanical processing, constructing globally second-order smooth spline surfaces on geometrically complex surfaces has always been a very important core issue¡­¡± ¡°In the mechanical manufacturing, automotive, and aerospace industries, we have achieved very substantial developments. Scholars and engineers have put a lot of effort into constructing smooth spline functions on manifolds. But the results have always been unsatisfactory, with splines consistently having points where smoothness deteriorates.¡± ¡°Can this problem be solved?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï ¡°The answer is, it cannot.¡± ¡°It has already been proven mathematically that it cannot.¡± A whispering buzz filled the conference room, and Zhang Yuan thought along as well. These points were new to him and quite intriguing. Academician Ding continued, ¡°Why not? Because the initial industrial system was incorrect.¡± ¡°The traditional spline construction methods, including spline theory itself, have irremediable flaws, which leads to any efforts by later generations to naturally extend traditional splines to manifolds being futile.¡± ¡°For the specific proof process, everyone can refer to the following materials¡­¡± ¡°I had previously looked through historical materials and found that the scholars initially did not pay attention to this issue. The industry was not developed enough at the time, and the parts were quite simple, not requiring much complex mathematics. The engineers, when establishing the entire standards, had no insight into the technological crises that could arise hundreds of years later¡­¡± ¡°The instability of the industrial foundation directly restricts the upper limits of the entire civilization. Our current industrial system has stabilized, and it¡¯s absolutely impossible to start over due to the unstable theoretical foundations. Think about it, how much would it cost to start everything over? All components would need to be redesigned¡ªis that realistic? It¡¯s not.¡± ¡°So, our future can only be limited to partial repairs, which is another type of sadness¡­¡± Zhang Yuan didn¡¯t know much about this area, but he still listened with interest. Their future key work should be the re-establishment of industrial standards for the new civilization. Using the current mathematical foundations to rebuild an entire industrial system would be a very meaningful endeavor. That would make the entire new civilization stronger, and the subsequent development would also be smoother. The first day of the academic conference didn¡¯t formally end until 10 p.m., utterly exhausting. Academician Ding and others had additional activities planned, but Zhang Yuan decided to wander around by himself for a bit and then head back early to rest. At the door, there was a greeter waiting with enthusiasm; she was specifically responsible for receiving Zhang Yuan. ¡°Hi, hello.¡± ¡°Hello!¡± Shrugging his shoulders, Zhang Yuan felt a bit cold; the year-round temperature here was only in the teens, not high. It might have been to ensure that the heat emission stayed within limits. He felt somewhat uncomfortable. The girl said, ¡°Inside your spaceship, it¡¯s constantly 24 degrees, but your resistance to cold isn¡¯t great. Humans as a species lose any unutilized attributes very quickly.¡± ¡°Yeah, in fact, our resistance and immunity also become weaker, making us more susceptible to illness if we return to Earth.¡± ¡°Listening to your accent¡­¡± Coincidentally, the girl welcoming Zhang Yuan was also from Xia Country, even carrying a bit of a Donghua accent. On this alien planet, countrymen meeting each other was an emotional occasion. ¡°Are you from Donghua City too? Haha, that¡¯s too coincidental!¡± The girl even offered to help Zhang Yuan with his luggage, which he promptly refused. A gentleman could not possibly let a girl carry all these things. However, in this strange place, where his body felt oddly light, he found it hard to maintain balance with the things in his hands, almost forgetting how to walk properly. ¡°Let me do it; after all, there¡¯s hardly any gravity here.¡± Having lived here for years, the girl, named Jin Meilin, had gradually adapted to the gravity of Jupiter¡¯s moon and moved very steadily. To cover his embarrassment, Zhang Yuan casually asked, ¡°The people here are generally taller, is it because of the low gravity stretching the bones¡­ How tall were you originally?¡± ¡°I was only 1.65 meters tall originally, but I was stretched to 1.70 meters! Honestly, girls don¡¯t really need to be this tall. I also have to consume a biological calcium supplement daily to combat the loss of calcium, which is quite bothersome.¡± The girl made a face and pointed at the muscles on her thighs, ¡°Like me, who has been here a year, the muscle atrophy isn¡¯t severe yet. If one stays longer, it degrades to the point of being as soft as cotton.¡± Zhang Yuan laughed, ¡°Being taller is actually great; so many guys stuck at 1.69 meters would be desperate for such a second chance!¡± ¡°As for muscle atrophy, there are many solutions, such as exercising and using centrifugal force to simulate gravity. If you return to Earth, it would recover after a while, so there¡¯s no need to worry too much.¡± Jin Meilin laughed again and said, ¡°Mr. Zhang, it¡¯s not as you imagine; exercise can only slow down muscle degradation, not prevent it entirely. Especially the decline of the chest, it¡¯s too difficult to recover. Although, ha, it¡¯s quite perky here, but after returning to Earth, it¡¯ll be like a wilted eggplant, hard to imagine¡­¡± Zhang Yuan scratched his hair, smiling awkwardly. He glanced at her chest unconsciously, which indeed was very perky. Even the buoyancy of the air here could almost match the gravitational pull of Earth, creating an almost perfect shape. However, staring for too long seemed impolite, so after a quick glance, he looked away. Perhaps because it was rare to meet someone from back home, the two quickly got acquainted. The cheerful girl showed Zhang Yuan around various facilities at the base, which might also appear on Earth in the future. Chapter 101 - Chapter 101: Chapter 103 The Meeting Concludes Chapter 101: Chapter 103 The Meeting Concludes The two strolled around the entire base and finally came to a large centrifuge. Jin Meilin smiled and said, ¡°Okay, this is your room. It will start rotating at eleven o¡¯clock at night until eight in the morning, at which point you won¡¯t be able to leave. Before that happens, you can come and find me if you need anything.¡± ¡°My room number is 8-1132, hehe¡­ if you like¡­ it¡¯s quite pleasant to spend time with a handsome guy.¡± Zhang Yuan blushed, pretending not to understand. ¡°Thank you, ha!¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll be leaving first.¡± Watching Jin Meilin¡¯s retreating figure, he privately wondered: Are the women here always so open? He was a bit confused. Upon reflection, perhaps it was due to the various changes that human organs undergo in a low-gravity environment, and those like him who had just disembarked their spaceship were relatively healthier? Stronger? Or maybe it was due to cultural changes caused by environmental factors. After all, Jupiter¡¯s moon is not Earth, and the pressure is still immense, driving people to subconsciously seek some psychological comfort. This had nothing to do with education. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.?¦Ï Zhang Yuan found it difficult to predict what changes Earth Era¡¯s environmental factors might bring to the whole of humanity¡­ Maybe it would become more like this place. But that was not for him to worry about. Casually judging others¡¯ private lives holds little significance. Even on Earth, isn¡¯t it just as open? He exhaled the stale air from his lungs and walked through the gate. The rooms here hung one by one from the transverse stems of a large centrifuge, which was hundreds of meters in width. When people entered sleep, all the rooms would begin to rotate with it. Thus, for at least nine hours of the day, people would feel an Earth-like gravity, helping to combat some of the physical degeneration caused by low gravity. Earth was truly everyone¡¯s home, whereas Jupiter¡¯s moon was just an industrial base, with no one wishing to live here long-term. If one¡¯s body completely adapted to this environment, that would be the worst-case scenario. The entire bed was cylindrical in shape, soft like a sponge. When artificial gravity was generated, one¡¯s body would involuntarily roll in the opposite direction without being flung out. After freshening up, Zhang Yuan lay quietly in bed. He recalled section A inside the Earth Era, which also seemed to have such Ferris wheel installations, albeit not currently in use. Once most people entered hibernation, these devices would start operating. Eleven o¡¯clock arrived, and as pure music began to play, suddenly, Zhang Yuan felt the world spinning. He rolled around the bed several times, and as the direction of gravity changed, what was once a wall became the floor, and the original floor became a wall. He finally understood why the toilets and all sorts of furniture here were so strangely designed. With this realization, he stopped delving into it. Exhausted, he soon drifted into a deep sleep¡­ Thus, the academic conference lasted for a total of five days. He learned many new things here and became acquainted with various technological devices of the future bases. On the fifth day, as the end neared, Zhang Yuan still had to give a special report due to the importance of the ¡°turbulence problem.¡± There were no particularly significant events during this period. Simply repeating the paper and answering some questions rounded off the task satisfactorily. A tide of flowers and praises confronted him, making Zhang Yuan a bit numb. In fact, the feeling of being admired and complimented was just so¡ªit got quite boring after a while, nowhere near as exhilarating as the moment he solved a problem. Two hours later, all the reports ended, and the closing ceremony officially began. Fewer people attended the closing ceremony. A middle-aged man looking like a leader took the stage and spoke with a cadence, ¡°¡­We are extremely grateful to the colleagues from Earth Era for traveling vast distances to join this academic exchange. We also thank the Deep Space Foundation, Yamaha Industrial Group, Big Food Bucket Food Co., Ltd., and Green Elf Technology for their sponsorships. Without these, this grand event would not have been possible.¡± The audience below chuckled and offered a round of friendly applause. ¡°¡­This conference was not only an occasion for academic exchange and mutual learning but also an opportunity for old friends to gather and new ones to meet. But however reluctant we may be to part, we must eventually say our final goodbyes.¡± ¡°¡­Especially our friends from the Earth Era, who will soon leave the rich cultural heritage and modern atmosphere of the Solar System that nurtured human civilization to embark on a journey of 20 light years.¡± ¡°My brethren, this will undoubtedly be a difficult journey.¡± ¡°And we, including our descendants, will provide silent blessings and continuous technical support from afar, in your eternal homeland¡­¡± ¡°Lastly, we sincerely wish everyone, bon voyage!¡± Amid thunderous applause, the academic conference finally drew to a close. Zhang Yuan felt he had gained much, both in terms of knowledge and perspective. Straight after enjoying a lavish dinner, everyone was ready to return to the spaceship. ¡°¡­Mr. Zhang Yuan, have you really not considered returning to Earth to engage in some scientific research? Young talents like you, even if you return, will not be punished at the state level.¡± A few officials tried to persuade Zhang Yuan to stay while at the dinner table. ¡°Thank you all for your kindness, but I am determined to go farther and see more¡­¡± he replied with a smile, ¡°This has been my heart¡¯s desire since childhood, please understand.¡± ¡°In that case, we will respect your wishes. We wish you a smooth journey.¡± The official smiled and nodded. He was only asking casually; even if Zhang Yuan was unwilling, it didn¡¯t really matter, Earth would still function without him. One more genius didn¡¯t make much difference, nor did one less. ¡°Thank you!¡± The well-meaning gentleman patted his shoulder and gave him an extra little gift, sponsored by Big Food Bucket Food Co., Ltd.¡ªtwo large boxes of vacuum-packed beef jerky! Each box weighed over one kilogram. Yes, he had two boxes, while everyone else only had one. Facing this small gift, Zhang Yuan¡¯s eyes lit up. He asked a bit anxiously, ¡°These things, I wonder if I can bring them onto the spaceship? I can¡¯t possibly eat two kilograms of meat right now.¡± Academician Ding smiled, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, gifts from the conference organizers should be allowed¡­ consider it a little favor.¡± The mood was quite somber all the way back, without the excitement they had when they first arrived. Zhang Yuan pondered at the bottom of his heart how long these foods would last. The shelf life indicated on them was 24 months. But if stored in a space environment, in a vacuum and extreme cold, could they last for hundreds of years? Chapter 102 - Chapter 102: Chapter 104: The Unknown Darkness Chapter 102: Chapter 104: The Unknown Darkness ¡°` So, should I devour it all before hibernation or wait until I wake up from hibernation to enjoy the blissful times? How to achieve the highest level of satisfaction while reducing the risk of spoilage is a tough mathematical problem. Bored out of his mind, Zhang Yuan constantly constructed ¡°satisfaction functions¡± and ¡°spoilage risk functions¡± in his mind, trying to obtain a higher degree of satisfaction at the cost of two kilograms of beef jerky. Half an hour later, with a soft ¡°rumble,¡± the elevator they were on reached the surface, and the outside temperature displayed on the instruments was minus 170 degrees Celsius. ¡°Mr. Zhang, this is as far as I can take you.¡± ¡°Maybe we¡¯ll never see each other again, could we¡­ hug?¡± The young girl who had been hosting Zhang Yuan hesitated for a moment and then whispered in his ear. Nothing much had happened over these days, yet she still felt it was a pity. Zhang Yuan was stunned for a moment, then opened his arms and embraced the girl he had known for just five days. Despite the pain of parting with his prized beef jerky, he still gave some to her. ¡°Thanks for looking after me these past few days. Please take this little gift.¡± The girl jumped up happily: ¡°Ah, you¡¯re really a good person! I haven¡¯t had Earth beef jerky for such a long time¡­ Sigh, everything here is so expensive¡­¡± From the surprised look in her eyes, it was clear that here on Jupiter¡¯s Moon, this was definitely considered a ¡°luxury item.¡± No wonder the organizers treated them like little gifts. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Jupiter¡¯s Moon had begun to farm some livestock, but in order to maintain the health of the ecosystem, the output was inevitably low. ¡°It¡¯s just some beef jerky. It¡¯s nothing.¡± Zhang Yuan felt a pang of sorrow in his heart; the astronauts like him might also face such bleak tomorrows. Perhaps even bleaker. ¡°Bon voyage!¡± With a slight nod, Zhang Yuan turned and boarded the train to leave, and in the distance, he could still see the girl waving through the glass window. The Space Elevator was hundreds of kilometers away. ¡°Goodbye!¡± Along the way, one could see various bustling construction sites. The light of nuclear fusion had already been ignited on this planet, and further development was just a matter of time. With the efforts of generations, this place would become another home for humanity. Maybe¡­ Jupiter¡¯s Moon had its flaws compared to Earth. Its surface was all ice blocks. Water resources were not lacking, but the planet was extremely short of metals, rare earth elements, and organics. Current mining companies could only develop large meteorite mines that had fallen on the surface. However, the reserves of these meteorite mines were all quite limited; once they had been mined, there was nothing left. There was another larger moon of Jupiter, Jupiter¡¯s Moon, and mining it was even more difficult. Jupiter¡¯s Moon¡¯s size was similar to that of Jupiter¡¯s Moon, another Earth-like planet, but the frequent super volcanic activity and severe earthquakes made it an extremely dangerous place. No one would invest in an unstable place, where years of investment could be ruined by a violent earthquake. From this perspective, humanity¡¯s interstellar development level still had a lot of room for improvement. If we had the capability to calm volcanoes and earthquakes, there would be many more places in the Solar System that could be inhabited¡­ ¡°Senior Brother Zhao, I noticed that perhaps due to poor maintenance, a part of the population has severely deteriorated bodies, their muscle contours are quite different from those of normal people,¡± Zhang Yuan quietly asked while riding the Space Elevator back to Earth Era. ¡°Such significant physical changes might cause some irreversible damage. Even if they eventually return to Earth, it would be hard to recover, right?¡± This question had been nagging at him, with no time to ask. Now that he asked, it felt like a weight had been lifted. Under low gravity conditions, the pressure on the intervertebral discs caused by body weight disappeared, relieving the compression of the discs, making a person taller. Usually, if the damage was not severe, an astronaut¡¯s height would return to normal after returning to Earth. But low gravity environments have a series of impacts on gene expression. For some with severe deterioration, they may never be able to adapt to Earth¡¯s environment again. ¡°Have you also noticed¡­¡± Zhao Qingfeng thought for a moment and said in a low voice, ¡°Do you think they could be Xia Country people?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem likely. I also can¡¯t understand their language.¡± ¡°Could they be American or Lan Country people?¡± Zhang Yuan shook his head, ¡°That¡¯s probably not the case either.¡± ¡°Then who do you think they are, where might they come from¡­¡± Could they be from some small countries? After pondering for a moment, realization dawned on him. Behind all the glitz, there were countless unknown nights. Here, the wages of a regular technician were extremely high, starting at a million a year. Moreover, most people had only a three-year contract and would ultimately return to Earth. Three years was actually too short compared to the development cycles spanning several decades. Frequent personnel turnover was definitely detrimental to the whole development project. Therefore, for civilization and some capitalists, there would inevitably be some more ¡°cost-saving¡± and ¡°economic¡± methods. Even though automation industry had developed considerably, in complex environments, the role of humans could not easily be replaced. Zhang Yuan quietly asked, ¡°So these people have settled here?¡± ¡°Yes, it started decades ago.¡± ¡°Why would anyone agree to this?¡± Senior Brother Zhao smiled and sighed: ¡°What you consider good or bad, willing or unwilling, is all relative. Why do people choose to live in harsh, desolate places? Why do they dwell on the loess plateaus? Why do some still live in the countryside to this day, instead of the city?¡± ¡°Compared to the hard times before, what¡¯s so bad about settling here? As long as you sell your labor, at least you won¡¯t starve to death. Life here can be quite flavorful, with much more prospects than on Earth¡­¡± Zhang Yuan fell silent, realizing he had asked a foolish question. He then asked, ¡°So, can they reproduce offspring?¡± Senior Brother Zhao glanced around and said, ¡°Allegedly, they can.¡± After a pause, he added, ¡°With current medical standards, it¡¯s still possible. There¡¯s just a bit of risk; the chances of getting pregnant aren¡¯t high.¡± The air fell into a silence as still as death. Zhang Yuan originally wanted to ask if, with such drastic environmental changes, generations upon generations of evolution could lead to reproductive isolation, forming different human races. But after thinking it over, he swallowed his words. Genetic selection would take at least tens of thousands of years, right? To ponder such a question indeed seemed like an overestimation of his own capacity. ¡°` Chapter 103 - Chapter 103: Chapter 105 New Civilization History Chapter 103: Chapter 105 New Civilization History Academician Ding turned his head when he heard their conversation. He said softly with a sigh, ¡°Do you find it somewhat ridiculous, somewhat powerless? These days, we¡¯ve been discussing how to repair the technological hidden dangers left by our predecessors. But there are even greater dangers around us, social and cultural dangers.¡± ¡°Such dangers are hidden within our civilization. Who knows how many there are. Ethnic conflicts, ideological clashes, any small issue could potentially become a big problem. Even if the decision-makers are aware, they often don¡¯t know how to resolve them¡­¡± ¡°You know, how much we¡¯ve sacrificed to develop space? We can¡¯t just stop our endeavors because of some hidden dangers.¡± It¡¯s hard to predict what the next tens of thousands of years will bring. But what can be done about it? Without these people, how much longer would the development of Jupiter¡¯s moon be delayed? Many people on Earth may never know that some people are silently making sacrifices for their peaceful days. Zhang Yuan sighed deeply and nodded. The limitation of human vision is only their own lifetimes. From an information science perspective, the vast majority of political policies are configured using a ¡°greedy algorithm,¡± that is, the locally optimal solution under current conditions. The interests of the future must make way for the benefits of the present. The idea of planning for thousands or even tens of thousands of years is well beyond the limits of human wisdom. He wouldn¡¯t become sentimental about it. Even if he himself were the decision-maker, he could only choose this way. If something exists, it must have its rationality. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?? The more complex and developed a civilization, the smaller the power of the individual appears. Even if he were the leader of the United Government, so what? In current society, various forces check and balance each other; many things can no longer be changed by one person. In the course of the discussion, Senior Brother Zhao suddenly said, ¡°Regarding the future development, in the New Civilization School, there is a profound and complex subject that remains a dream even today, called New Civilization History. Have you heard of it?¡± ¡°New Civilization History? Is it a historical subject?¡± Zhang Yuan had heard of this term before, but didn¡¯t know much about it, and his ears perked up with curiosity. Zhao Qingfeng smiled, ¡°The subject is complex. To put it in a sentence, it aims to find the global optimum for civilization, rather than the simple greedy algorithm of solving problems as they come.¡± ¡°Let me give you an example; the development of a civilization and the process of personal growth are actually quite similar.¡± In ancient times, due to a harsh living environment, any teenager with a bit of strength would be put to work. Although it met the immediate survival needs, it killed future benefits. This training method is known as the ¡°locally optimal strategy,¡± which considers only the present and not the future. Whereas, in the modern environment, a teenager receives obligatory education. Education seems to have no immediate benefit, just pure cost. However, the knowledge acquired comes into play when one matures into adulthood, manifesting greater social value. A person¡¯s life lasts only a mere century, and with a large number of samples, trying to plan and find relatively better solutions for the meaning of life is not very difficult. But what about a civilization? A civilization is the collective of all its people, inherently possessing high complexity, with a lifespan of thousands to tens of thousands of years, completely exceeding the lifespan of a single human. How to coordinate and plan? But that¡¯s exactly what New Civilization History aims to study. ¡°In the early stages of civilization development, populations were sparse, technology primitive, with constant risks of early death. It¡¯s similar to the infancy of humanity.¡± ¡°You know infants, don¡¯t you? Their worldview and values are not yet mature. So, a civilization in its early stages is also at its most malleable.¡± ¡°What about us then¡­ inheriting quite a legacy.¡± Zhang Yuan said with a smile, ¡°Are we like rich second-generation babies?¡± ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Senior Brother Zhao¡¯s expression became serious, ¡°We certainly have a deeper foundation, like the rich second-generation, but it doesn¡¯t mean we can squander it thoughtlessly.¡± ¡°What do you think is the most important thing for a civilization?¡± ¡°Technology, of course!¡± Zhang Yuan immediately replied. Senior Brother Zhao chuckled a little, as if to say ¡°I knew you would say that¡± and then shook his head, ¡°Technology is like a civilization¡¯s external power. You know about external power, right? With effort, it can be quickly mastered.¡± Zhang Yuan frowned, ¡°Quickly mastered? The development of technology is certainly not that simple¡­¡± ¡°Here, quickly mastered refers to minor achievements. Some basic technologies, if not limited by patents, wouldn¡¯t be difficult for other countries to imitate, right?¡± ¡°All right¡­¡± Zhang Yuan tentatively accepted this argument. ¡°For a civilization, what¡¯s actually more important is inner strength, including the cultural environment, political system, public ideology, and so on. These need to be cultivated slowly; there is basically no chance of quick success.¡± ¡°These inner strengths actually determine the upper limit of technological development, and that is also the focus of New Civilization History.¡± Zhang Yuan has never been much interested in politics, but influenced by various cultural courses at university, he knew a little bit. In some countries in South America and Africa, the public ideology tends towards pleasure; being satisfied so long as they are well-fed. Under this relatively lax ideology, it¡¯s natural that the whole country struggles to develop and remains just a source of raw materials. Whereas in the East Asian cultural sphere, there¡¯s a strong sense of crisis among the people, willing to strive for a better tomorrow and even endure hardship for the happiness of the next generation. Therefore, under this cultural environment, these countries advance to the forefront of the world, a historical inevitability. So, why do such radically different cultural environments emerge? ¡°The New Civilization History you speak of, it¡¯s supposed to lean towards the liberal arts, right?¡± ¡°No! You are mistaken, its ultimate essence is mathematics!¡± ¡°Ah?!¡± Zhang Yuan looked surprised, somewhat puzzled. Senior Brother Zhao smiled, ¡°According to New Civilization History, the entire inherent history of civilization is divided into a large number of critical nodes, each encompassing major historical incidents that occurred at that time. The events at one node have a certain impact on subsequent nodes and the entire network.¡± ¡°You can think of it as a neural network.¡± The concept was intuitive, and Zhang Yuan easily understood. ¡°When a civilization is in its early stages, with fewer critical nodes, the final result of the network is easy to change, meaning that an individual of great stature can have a tremendous impact on it.¡± ¡°But as the population base grows, and with the increase of information and culture, there are more and more network nodes, and the influence of an individual genius on the entire network becomes smaller and smaller.¡± Chapter 104 - Chapter 104: Chapter 106: The First Batch of Hibernators Chapter 104: Chapter 106: The First Batch of Hibernators ¡°Can you understand what I¡¯m saying?¡± Zhang Yuan was silent for a while before he nodded. Senior Brother Zhao continued, ¡°So, the fundamental purpose of New Civilization History is to use a mathematical method to find the globally optimal solution in a complex network system¡­ that is, the best direction for the development of a civilization.¡± ¡°If such a method truly exists, we could indirectly or directly predict major historical events that might occur in the future, and by changing the current nodes, we could avoid potential disasters.¡± ¡°Predict the future?¡± Zhang Yuan was dumbstruck. Was this discipline not exceedingly metaphysical? Seeing his incredulous expression, Senior Brother Zhao laughed and said, ¡°It¡¯s just theoretical, really. The whole process is incredibly difficult.¡± ¡°To use mathematics to describe ¡®historical influence¡¯ is something a bit beyond the human brain capacity¡­ After all, this discipline has only a preliminary framework so far and is far from complete.¡± ¡°However, once New Civilization History is completed, a civilization would no longer need politicians or a ruling class.¡± ¡°Mathematics will guide the direction in which the entire civilization progresses!¡± ¡°This kind of global wisdom will far surpass the current political landscape, achieving a leap in the civilizational hierarchy!¡± ¡°Therefore, the history of Earth Civilization moving forward is very, very important for the development of this discipline¡­¡± Zhang Yuan pondered for a long time, but still found it somewhat incredible. During their casual conversation, they arrived at their destination¡ªthe Earth Era Space Elevator. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï After saying goodbye to the others, Zhang Yuan hurried to his room. Returning to this familiar small area, he suddenly relaxed, feeling utterly exhausted. After washing up, Zhang Yuan lay on his bed, his thoughts in disarray. He was reflecting on everything he had seen and heard these days and the ¡°New Civilization History¡± he had just learned about. He was still immersed in the discussion he had had with Senior Brother Zhao. Using mathematical calculations to guide future political planning. Linking global history, the future, and neural networks¡ªit seemed quite interesting. It was the first time he had taken such a significant interest in this school of thought. ¡°But¡­ what should be done?¡± How could ¡°historical problems¡± be translated into mathematical models? ¡°It might fall under the category of operations research. No, using just operations research isn¡¯t enough. Psychology and economics are also needed.¡± Zhang Yuan tried hard to think it through. Unfortunately, after much contemplation, he came up with nothing. It was tougher than the legendary ¡°Mathematical Abyss.¡± He had no idea how to approach it. He sighed softly and turned over in bed, finding himself unable to sleep again. Speaking of the ¡°Mathematical Abyss,¡± it was actually ranked according to difficulty levels. According to his understanding, the first level of math was equivalent to high school level and below, including mixed operations, Cartesian coordinates, trigonometry, geometry, etc. All of these were intuitive and not difficult to comprehend. The second level of math was equivalent to university math, including calculus, finding limits, partial differential equations, Fourier series, Laplace transforms, etc. These were within the range that ordinary people could master through effort. The third level included Group Theory, topology, Algebraic Geometry, algebraic number theory¡ªsubjects that ordinary people might not master even with effort. Following that, the fourth level included Symplectic Geometry, random matrices, cohomology, etc., which only professional scientists could handle. The fifth level involved hugely influential world-famous conjectures, including the Riemann Hypothesis, P=NP, Hodge Conjecture, etc. The legendary Mathematical Abyss¡ª¡±Stock Market Prediction¡±¡ªwas at the sixth level. Yes, stock market prediction. No one knew whether the market would rise or fall tomorrow; if someone claimed to know, he must be a fraud. As for ¡°New Civilization History,¡± Zhang Yuan guessed it might be¡­ the seventh level. Trying to precisely predict future historical events made stock market prediction look trivial. Having realized this, Zhang Yuan no longer tried to challenge the super difficult problem beyond his capabilities, and he fell into a deep sleep. ¡­ Days passed by one after another. A continuous stream of materials was transported from the industrial base on Jupiter¡¯s moon to the Earth Era. The most common sight in the Space Port was a type of spaceship shaped like a ¡°beer barrel.¡± They had a very powerful propulsion system and carrying capacity, capable of approaching Jupiter and extracting the atmosphere from Jupiter¡¯s surface. Jupiter might look fierce and violent, but its boundary with the rest of the universe wasn¡¯t clearly defined. The outer atmosphere had only about one-thousandth of standard atmospheric pressure. Its atmosphere was about 90% hydrogen and 10% helium. Helium-3 could be used for fusion, while other elements could serve as propellants for ion engines. As various material resources continued to replenish, and as the time for the plan neared, ready or not, the hibernation plan had to officially start. That day, Zhang Yuan was having a ¡°farewell meal¡± with his friends in Section C. ¡°My friends, in a couple of days we¡¯ll enter hibernation, and I really wonder what the world will be like hundreds of years from now,¡± Wang Xin, the former leader of the cleaning team, was giving his pre-sleep speech. However, his expression did not seem as carefree as his words. ¡°So soon?¡± Zhang Yuan asked in surprise, ¡°Are you guys the first batch?¡± Wang Xin replied with a bitter smile, ¡°Yes, it seems those younger brothers and sisters don¡¯t want to go into hibernation early. My wife and I thought about it and decided to do a good deed by being in the first batch.¡± ¡°Giving the younger ones a bit more time is good, even if it¡¯s just for a few days.¡± The atmosphere around the table was somber, with many women¡¯s eyes turning red. In one¡¯s lifetime, you inevitably meet all kinds of people, and the total number may only be in the tens of millions. However, for most people, the encounter is just a fleeting moment that passes by on the street. The few hundred or thousand people with whom one ends up working and having conversations are precious. Some people are born socializers, like team leader Wang Xin; others are born loners, like Zhang Yuan. But undoubtedly, no one likes farewells. The day of parting, never to return, always comes, and in fact, it had arrived¡­ Wang Xin called out, ¡°Let¡¯s all have a drink! We might not be able to meet during the rotational breaks, but in three thousand years, we will surely meet again!¡± By then, it would already be the 53rd century. Such a terribly long time. ¡°Though it¡¯s just plain water, after this drink of water, I won¡¯t be able to eat much!¡± Before hibernation, a series of protective measures had to be in place¡ªit was not possible to let the food in the intestines hibernate as well. Thus, fasting before sleep was essential. ¡°Cheers!¡± ¡°Bon voyage!¡± Cheers! Clatter, clatter. ¡­ (I don¡¯t know why, but it seems like the comment section on the computer version has been blocked¡­ I didn¡¯t write anything offensive, so why was it harmonized again? It¡¯s funny, the chapter titled ¡°Leave and Science Popularization¡± was blocked the other day, and then it was immediately released¡­ ¡°Dear author, your work ¡®Deep Space Wandering Fleet,¡¯ chapter ¡®Leave and Science Popularization,¡¯ was found to be slightly in violation, but has now been amended and approved.¡± That¡¯s an article by an eminent academician! On further inspection, some of the previous chapters were blocked. Older books, including ¡®Under Deep Space,¡¯ also had many chapters blocked, truly a tough situation! Looks like I¡¯ll need to edit my work. Thankfully, this book is cleaner; they didn¡¯t execute Han Ziyue on the spot, otherwise, it surely would have been banned¡­) Chapter 105 03-25 - Chapter 105: Chapter 107 The Death of Elwin Chapter 105: Chapter 107 The Death of Elwin Zhang Yuan took a sip of water and set down his glass. Indeed, a small number of people boarded the spaceship in pursuit of their ideals, but another group merely did it for a taste of ¡°being different,¡± to showcase their uniqueness. Some made the decision on a whim after being inspired by various videos, signing up for the spaceship journey; others simply did it for fun¡­ He sighed inwardly. How could there be so many people of high moral character? It was just that the cost of regretting the decision now was far too great. But at this moment, everyone¡¯s feelings were nearly the same, like wounds ripped open by a sharp weapon, with blood oozing out. One might try to stop the flow with their hands, but the bitterness seeped through the fingers, over the skin, and poured out unreservedly. These people were already brave enough; it was not right to blame them for anything else. Not everyone was like him, with few attachments back on Earth. Even for himself, when facing certain things, he could only turn away weakly, clenching his teeth as he left. Without the courage to look back. ¡°Alas, if only I had been accepted into graduate studies,¡± one lamented, ¡°I could have delayed it by a year or two. I¡¯m going into winter sleep next Wednesday, and I¡¯m currently getting injections and taking medication.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± One of the girls couldn¡¯t help but sob quietly. Then the atmosphere spread to others at the table, a chorus of whimpers rising, even some of the boys could not help becoming sentimental. There weren¡¯t many aboard the spaceship with the privilege to stay awake, aside from Zhang Yuan; most of these friends were scheduled for winter sleep. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã? Sometimes, being the last to see them off was not a good thing. ¡°Alright, alright, let¡¯s not cry for now. I have a little gift for you all! From Earth, you know!¡± Zhang Yuan ran back to his dormitory and shared some of his cherished beef jerky with them. It was truly painful to part with! His only hope was that these snacks could divert their attention. But as they chewed on the beef jerky from home, the bitterness seemed even more pronounced¡­ ¡­ Thus, each day, about five thousand people¡ªnearly one percent of the population¡ªentered winter sleep, and the overall number of people on the spaceship began to gradually dwindle. As the winter sleep plan continued, many unnecessary facilities, including various entertainment venues and botanical gardens, began to close one after another. The entire ecosystem, like leaves on a withered tree, started to fall away piece by piece. But this was necessary, to safely endure the long and bitter winter by special means. According to the Captain¡¯s Room plans, these graduate students had the option to complete their education aboard the spaceship, a significant privilege. So, Zhang Yuan still had a year¡¯s worth of work to do on the spaceship. In theory, based on his current study progress, he could have graduated with his master¡¯s early. However, Deep Space University had no plans to enroll doctoral students at the moment, so they wouldn¡¯t make an exception just for him. Idle as he was, staying on for longer at the master¡¯s level to learn a bit more was not a bad thing. This day happened to be a rest day, and he and Li Zhendong were studying together in the library. ¡°Alas, about two thousand people chose to desert¡­ Why become deserters? Some things don¡¯t have an exit,¡± said Li Zhendong, somewhat resigned as he scrolled through his phone, coming across some rather disheartening news. ¡°At least we two have integrity!¡± ¡°My dad severely warned me¡ªhe said if I deserted, he¡¯d just leave me frozen out there.¡± It was unclear whether he was reflecting, envying, or reinforcing his own resolve. Zhang Yuan glanced at the news report: Roughly two thousand people, unable to bear the pressure, chose to leave the Earth Era ship. From the industrial base on Jupiter¡¯s moon, there were spaceships taking them back to the civilization of Earth. Various reasons¡ªmental illness, physical ailments, etc¡­ He shook his head and sighed, ¡°What else then? Their hearts are no longer here. Forcing them to stay on the spaceship? Impossible. Better to slink away.¡± Those who had a change of heart at the last minute would find themselves nailed to the pillar of shame in history. This act was even more despicable than desertion; even if they returned to Earth, their lives would be over. Whether in terms of public opinion or policy, Earth Civilization had enough means and capabilities to punish these cowards. Just then, Zhang Yuan suddenly received a phone call. ¡°Old Zhang, Old Zhang, something¡¯s gone wrong!¡± ¡°I have some very bad news to tell you¡­¡± It was Ye Kaifu¡¯s voice. For some reason, he was deliberately lowering his tone. ¡°What¡¯s wrong now?¡± Zhang Yuan¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡°¡­¡± Ye Kaifu stammered, struggling to speak. Zhang Yuan, noticing the unease in Ye Kaifu¡¯s tone and his heart picking up pace, pressed on, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Someone plagiarized my paper again?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not that¡­ I just passed by Area A when I heard some gossip.¡± ¡°The artist you know, Elwin, he¡¯s dead!¡± ¡°Dead¡­ dead?!¡± Zhang Yuan¡¯s pupils dilated slightly, and the hairs on his skin stood on end. How is that possible? ¡°He¡­ he committed suicide.¡± ¡°¡­ Why?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Zhang Yuan sat dazed in his seat. Artist Elwin wasn¡¯t a close friend, but they had some interactions, making him a friend nonetheless. How had he suddenly died? He vaguely had some guesses. The sudden bad news left him struggling to catch his breath. A person he had been chatting and laughing with just the other day, suddenly dead, never to be seen again. The feeling was very strange. After a while, a message came to his wristwatch; lowering his gaze, he saw that his superior, Lin Xuan, was summoning him to Area A. Without time to think much, Zhang Yuan stood up and rushed over hastily. ¡°Did you call me here regarding Mr. Elwin?¡± Zhang Yuan said this immediately upon seeing her. There was no smile on Lin Xuan¡¯s face as she sighed, ¡°Yes, the artist committed suicide. He left some of his personal belongings for you to have. Please come with me.¡± Zhang Yuan followed her and hurried to Area A. From a distance, he saw a white cloth; underneath, lay Elwin¡¯s body, surrounded by a group of solemn-faced soldiers. The Captain and several high-ranking officials were frowning, discussing how to handle the situation. One of the officers said to Zhang Yuan, ¡°We found your friend¡¯s body in the Star Library. The cause of death was suffocation, due to the illegal operation that opened his glass helmet, causing oxygen to leak out¡­¡± ¡°By the time we received the automatic space suit alert and rushed over, it was already too late.¡± ¡°May I see him?¡± Zhang Yuan swallowed and asked softly. ¡°If you wish,¡± was the reply. Pulling back the cloth, Zhang Yuan saw the dead artist. It was not his first encounter with death, but at that moment, his heart thudded hard nonetheless. Chapter 106 03-25 - Chapter 106: Chapter 108 "Starry Night Chapter 106: Chapter 108 ¡°Starry Night The officer continued, ¡°Mr. Zhang, this video contains Elwin¡¯s last words. Please take a look.¡± Zhang Yuan took the camcorder and pressed the button. ¡°¡­I never realized how weak I was. I¡¯m sorry, these are my final words, I have decided to end my life here,¡± Elwin said in a hoarse voice in front of the camcorder. His gaze was very dim, as if the flame of life had already vanished from his face. ¡°¡­On Earth, I was a world-renowned painter, and the elite collected my works with great pleasure. In their eyes, I was a true artist through and through. Whether they were officials or billionaires, they all treated me with great reverence and respect.¡± ¡°Perhaps this had something to do with my father, who was also a great artist. Whether they liked me or my father, who knows?¡± ¡°For me, obtaining anything was a snap, be it wealth, power, or beautiful women. I once served as the mayor of a small city in Lan Country, savoring the taste of power; I also set the record for bedding women in one night, a satisfying yet empty evening¡­¡± ¡°I have indulged in meals costing millions¡­ lived in mansions of 3000 square meters.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve climbed Mount Everest, traveled through the Mariana Trench¡­ Each performance art piece added to my price.¡± In the video, Elwin reflected on his glorious past with a satisfied smile. ¡°Do you know? Actually, life like this is pretty boring. After enjoying yourself, sometimes you feel unsatisfied, desiring even higher levels of pleasure. Ah, perhaps humans are just creatures that never know satisfaction.¡± ¡°Various desires are like a magic-filled black hole. After falling into the black hole, sometimes you want to struggle out, but seeing everyone fighting to jump into it, you don¡¯t want to leave anymore. But apart from drugs, it seems there¡¯s no greater pleasure¡­ who knows¡­ I always felt life was meaningless.¡± ¡°Suddenly one day, on a whim, an idea occurred to me¡ªto leave Earth. I wanted to find my art on an Outer Planet!¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï ¡°I signed up enthusiastically, made donations, and the expected praise came in droves!¡± ¡°That moment was just too exhilarating! Exhilarating!¡± As he said this, Elwin¡¯s eyes bulged, and his expression turned fierce: ¡°But this was probably the biggest mistake of my life.¡± He spread his hands: ¡°Everything vanished.¡± ¡°I fell from the high Cloud Top Heavenly Palace and became a mere mortal. I can no longer do as I please, and I still can¡¯t accept this change.¡± ¡°But I know, it was my only chance in life to achieve greatness¡­¡± ¡°If I stayed on Earth, I would have sunk into ultimate depravity. The black hole is called a black hole because once you leap in, there¡¯s no escape.¡± ¡°But now, staying with Earth¡¯s Time, I feel endless regret, pain, and annoyance¡­ I want women, gourmet food, luxury cars!¡± ¡°Do you understand this contradiction?!¡± Elwin paused then pointed frenetically at a painting behind him, ¡°I did it!¡± ¡°This is true art!!¡± After a while, his agitated expression calmed down: ¡°My death is my own decision, unrelated to anyone else. Just let me stay here, I don¡¯t need to witness the new Mother Star firsthand, whether it¡¯s good or bad, let it remain in my imagination.¡± ¡°¡­If possible, please scatter my ashes on the soil of Jupiter¡¯s moon, thank you, everyone.¡± ¡°Send this painting back to Earth, sell it at auction, and donate all the proceeds to the Deep Space Foundation.¡± ¡°It is the best, most outstanding work of my life!¡± ¡°And the second painting, give it to my friend, Mr. Zhang Yuan. I don¡¯t understand science, I simply hope you can become the brightest star in the Starry Night.¡± The first oil painting, a fiery red sky, with ashen grass, a solitary figure looking up at the stars. Countless stars, including the Sun directly above, glimmered and shone in the sky. The seemingly unremarkable painting evoked feelings of intense frustration, regret, and helplessness, akin to the depression and ambivalence Elwin felt before his suicide. The sky¡¯s infinite brightness still couldn¡¯t illuminate the vast darkness, including the pitch-black silhouette. This feeling of helplessness reached deep into the soul, as if capable of tearing the heart apart. The subtlety of this feeling could even be sensed by someone like Zhang Yuan, who was completely ignorant of art. It was a feeling of despair, a struggle, and a refusal to accept reality. A furious cry, a longing unfulfilled. The new Mother Star, ultimately was not the true Mother Star, but no matter what, one could never return to the past. Once a choice was made, there was no going back. It wasn¡¯t just his personal mood, it also represented the entire Earth Era. Zhang Yuan let out a long sigh. Yes, there¡¯s no turning back. From today, human civilization may have gained an artist comparable to Van Gogh. Elwin was feeble, but he was not a coward. The final masterpiece of his life, one that inspires both sighs and admiration. The second painting that followed was pure black, the only speck of brightness in the upper left corner. What set this apart was that this point of light was made up of countless tiny, dense specks. This painting was inspired by a conversation he had with Elwin at that time. Zhang Yuan finally understood why Elwin wanted to give it to him. He stood there in silence for several minutes. ¡°This has to be declared an accident for now, otherwise, it will lead to more instability¡­¡± Captain Ma said softly, ¡°Let those who need to stay, stay; those who need to leave, do so. Once everyone is determined to hibernate, we¡¯ll disclose this.¡± ¡°As for this painting, according to Elwin¡¯s will, it is given to you. I hope you cherish it.¡± ¡°It might be the first piece of art for the new civilization.¡± Zhang Yuan returned to his dormitory, slowly moving the painting to his quarters. He stood in front of it, lost in thought for a long time. Elwin was gone, had just chatted with him a few days ago. It still took his breath away. He suddenly noticed a line of small text on the back of the painting. ¡°Starry Night, 2265.9.11, Elwin.¡± Zhang Yuan looked up and turned off the light. There wasn¡¯t a trace of light in the room, the dot of white in the painting seemed to light up in his heart. Emotions burst forth in that moment, Zhang Yuan rubbed his eyes¡ªnot crying, but bidding farewell to a friend. Goodbye, my friend, farewell¡­ Chapter 107 03-25 - Chapter 107: Chapter 109 Departure Day Chapter 107: Chapter 109 Departure Day 2265.9.27, the final day of departure. Cold and empty above Jupiter¡¯s moon, the Starry Sky Port is deserted, without its usual hustle and bustle. All industrial spaceships make way for the launch of ¡°Earth Era.¡± Looking down from the astronomical observatory, one can still see various industrial indicator lights on the surface. They form a variety of regular patterns, blinking incessantly. This ancient aerospace language, undisturbed by electromagnetic radiation, is something every astronaut must learn. Watching the time tick away, Captain Ma speaks softly, ¡°I hope our future Mother Star will be a bit better than this one¡­¡± ¡°In theory, it should be,¡± a nearby assistant responds, ¡°Our Mother Star is brighter, and its gravity more suitable.¡± Gliese 581g has a mass 3.1 times that of Earth, a radius 1.4 times that of Earth, with a theoretical gravity of 1.08 times that of Earth¡ªoverall, not too bad. But with the current observational methods, it is impossible to know the exact atmospheric conditions of this planet. ¡°Within the Solar System, have the results of the astronomical observations come out?¡± Captain Ma asks again. ¡°The results are out. The risk of meteorite attacks within the Solar System is about 0.00007 percent, which has been reduced to the lowest level.¡± ¡°Then¡­ let¡¯s set off!¡± The command from the Captain¡¯s Room is quickly disseminated to all departments. ¡°Spaceship launch countdown: ten, nine, eight¡­¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? ¡°Main engine start!¡± Zhang Yuan watches the nuclear engine¡¯s slow heat-up with surging emotions. High-energy microwaves, one after another, begin to heat the device, and plasma soon emits bright light. At this time, there is little that these workers can do, at most only monitor some parameter changes. The spaceship¡¯s Artificial Intelligence can detect errors quicker than the humans. Zhang Yuan certainly doesn¡¯t hope for any accidents. Soon, the core temperature of the engine room reaches a high of five hundred million degrees. The velocity of the plasma turbulence also increases rapidly. ¡°Five, four, three, two, one¡­¡± He silently counts the countdown in his mind, eyes glued to the screen without blinking. As the last second passes, suddenly sixteen bright blue lights appear on the tail of the spaceship! These streaks of blue light signify powerful plasma pulses. The nuclear engine will start at maximum power, providing an acceleration of three-thousandths of a meter per square second to the spaceship. The entire vessel emits a very faint vibration, particularly noticeable in the engine room. Three hours later, as Earth Era draws farther away from the Space Port, it deploys its massive Light Sail. Large lasers from the surface hit the Light Sail again and again, reflecting a mirror-like brilliant golden color. Never before has such a powerful reflection been seen on the surface of Jupiter¡¯s moon, to the point where the surface workers see another small Sun rising. Massive cheers erupt from the crowd; many workers raise their hands high, their heads tilted back, witnessing the great spectacle in the sky. It¡¯s at this time that Senior Brother Zhao quietly says, ¡°A speed of one-thousandth the speed of light is a great achievement within my realm of understanding, requiring a lot of technical support. But for interstellar travel, it¡¯s still too slow.¡± ¡°It can¡¯t be helped¡­¡± Zhang Yuan replies, ¡°Without a breakthrough in fundamental theory, Curvature Navigation remains science fiction. For small-mass spaceships, using photon paths and nuclear fusion, we can accelerate to ten percent of the speed of light. Any faster and our materials can¡¯t handle it¡­¡± ¡°Do you think there will be breakthroughs in this area in the future?¡± Zhang Yuan thinks for a moment, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± After a while, he adds, ¡°Probably not.¡± Jupiter¡¯s moon has a weak gravitational pull, and within a day, the Mother Ship breaks free from it, heading toward Jupiter. The next flight trajectory is very complex. Firstly, in the initial phase, using Jupiter¡¯s gravity for a gravitational slingshot effect and redirection. The capacity to gain from the gravitational slingshot is limited, but with Jupiter¡¯s average rotation speed of 13.07 km/s and an average orbital radius of 5.2 AU, shaving a little bit off the top using the current speed of the spaceship is not an issue. Next, entering the second phase within the Solar System, orbiting in an elliptical trajectory for eight periods, fully utilizing the photon paths from Jupiter¡¯s moon, the Moon, and the Sun¡¯s own light to accelerate the spaceship. During these eight periods, the speed of the spaceship will continuously increase. Only then comes the third phase, heading straight for ¡°Gliese 581.¡± It sounds complex, but the Artificial Intelligence within the spaceship is fully capable of handling such calculations, so there¡¯s no need to worry too much. After all, Earth Era is a new spaceship, all of its designs also fully take into account the situation of long-duration spaceflight, and the probability of malfunctions in the short term is not large. ¡­ Two months later, the number of people awake has been reduced to 20,000, and it continues to decrease. This part of the awake population mainly consists of the spaceship¡¯s primary working personnel and graduate students enrolled in school. Zhang Yuan becomes increasingly busy, nothing like before when he had ample personal time. One meeting after another leaves him dizzy and disoriented. The spaceship has already started assigning planned tasks, and he needs to learn some new things. For example, the operation of the nuclear power station, mainly responsible for the normal operation of the unit and the control interface in the main control room, and the local operation of power station equipment and systems, etc. ¡°¡­Next time you wake up from hibernation, when the population is extremely sparse, you¡¯ll have to take on even greater responsibility, similar to the real leadership.¡± ¡°Graduate students are cultivated for this purpose. Everyone needs to shoulder their responsibilities.¡± After this meeting, his work level had risen to Level 16, ranking as middle to upper management on the spaceship. However, Zhang Yuan doesn¡¯t feel particularly happy. He sees Li Zhendong looking gloomy off to the side and pats his shoulder, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, feeling down? You¡¯ve reached Level 11, also a middle-level cadre.¡± Li Zhendong forces a laugh, ¡°It¡¯s not about the work level. Being a bit lower than a freak like you doesn¡¯t bother me¡­ It¡¯s just that my girlfriend is in hibernation, and it will be centuries until I see her again, which feels pretty depressing.¡± Life partners don¡¯t have the right to hibernate at the same time, only to wake up almost simultaneously. The spaceship¡¯s various production lines are shrinking; no free riders are tolerated. Zhang Yuan jokes, ¡°It¡¯s affecting your mood, huh? I always say, staying single is the best form to maintain a high fighting spirit.¡± ¡°You¡¯re just envious, jealous!¡± Li Zhendong suddenly thinks of something and puts on a teasing grin, ¡°Comrade Zhang Yuan, do you know what my biggest wish in life is?¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s that¡­before I close my eyes for the last time, you could find a wife.¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± Zhang Yuan¡¯s face reddens slightly, ¡°Is finding a wife really a big deal?¡±