Courtyard House: Starting in a Ceramics Factory

He might have some reputation in the mechanical field, but he didn't have much recognition in the computer industry, so the first thing Li Feng needed to do was to integrate the team.

His calm gaze slowly swept over everyone, finally landing on Professor Wang, who had been the first to raise a question.

At this moment, he did not rush to defend himself, nor did he invoke the names of Minister Jiang or Director Zheng to intimidate others. Instead, he strode forward and walked straight toward the several server racks being assembled in the center of the hall.

All eyes followed his figure, and the once noisy hall became eerily quiet, with only the slight hum of the server rack fans remaining.

Li Feng walked up to a semi-finished server rack and stopped.

The back panel of the server rack had been opened, revealing a dense array of wires and electronic components. Several young researchers were working on wiring, sweating profusely, while holding blueprints.

Li Feng glanced at it, and his brows furrowed involuntarily.

He pointed to a bundle of cables of mixed colors and asked, "Who is responsible for this part of the line?"

His voice wasn't loud, but it sounded exceptionally clear in the quiet environment.

A young researcher in his thirties, wearing black-rimmed glasses, hesitated for a moment, then raised his hand and said softly, "It's...it's me, Chief Engineer Li...is there a problem?"

He was clearly not used to the new title yet, and his words carried a hint of nervousness and resentment.

Li Feng didn't look at him, his gaze remaining fixed on the complex lines, and said in a calm tone, "There's a big problem."

"First, the high-voltage and low-voltage signal cables are not physically isolated, and are even bundled together in the same cable tray. Don't you know that the electromagnetic field generated by the high-voltage current will cause serious interference to the low-voltage signal? When the computer runs, data errors are a minor issue; it may even burn out the core logic unit."

"Second, look here," Li Feng then pointed to another spot, "The signal bus routing, for the sake of convenience, makes direct 90-degree right-angle turns. When the bus is transmitting data at high speed, right-angle turns will cause signal reflection and impedance changes, leading to signal attenuation and distortion. The correct approach should be to use obtuse angles greater than 120 degrees, or to use smooth arcs for routing."

"Third, heat dissipation. You've oriented the cooling fans of the power module and the computing unit in the same direction, creating hot air convection. This isn't heat dissipation at all; it's just heating each other up. The core components of a computer are extremely sensitive to temperature. Running at high temperatures for extended periods will significantly shorten their lifespan and may even cause permanent damage."

Li Feng pointed out three fatal, yet extremely basic, mistakes in one breath.

With each word he spoke, the young researcher in charge of the switchboard paled a little more, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

Meanwhile, the expressions on the faces of the experts and scholars who had initially been watching the spectacle with amusement gradually changed.

What began as disdain and contempt gradually turned into surprise, and then into solemnity.

They are all experts. They are not unaware of the problems Li Feng mentioned, but they have overlooked them in practice due to a lack of experience or because the drawings themselves are flawed.

Professor Wang, in particular, adjusted his reading glasses, leaned closer to take a closer look, and his expression immediately changed.

He hadn't noticed a single one of these problems when he inspected the work before!

This is not just negligence, it's an absolute crushing defeat in terms of professional competence!

After Li Feng finished speaking, he turned around and looked at the young researcher whose face was already flushed and who wished he could disappear into the ground. His tone softened a bit: "Remove all the wiring in this section and rewire it according to the method I just described. All signal lines must use shielded cables and run in separate cable trays. There must be at least a 10-centimeter gap between the power and data cable trays."

"Yes, yes! I'll change it right away!" The young researcher nodded repeatedly, feeling as if he had been granted a pardon. His eyes now held a hint of awe as he looked at Li Feng.

Li Feng nodded and didn't say anything more.

He knew that simply showing off this skill wouldn't be enough to completely convince these proud and arrogant experts.

He looked around at the various expressions on everyone's faces, and slowly spoke. His voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears.

"I will check the hardware assembly issues every day from now on. Now I want to talk about the software issues."

He paused, his gaze sharpening.

"I know that many of the comrades present are experts in the fields of mathematics and physics, with a very solid theoretical foundation."

"However, computer programming is a completely new discipline with its own unique logic and way of thinking."

"Starting tomorrow, I will personally provide everyone with basic programming training. If you have any questions about computer programming in the future, you can come and ask me."

This statement was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly creating ripples.

If everyone was only shocked by Li Feng's professional skills when he pointed out the hardware problem, then now, his words can only be described in two words—arrogance!
Too embarrassing!

How can a young man in his early twenties be asked to be a programming teacher for a team whose average age is over forty and who includes many of the country's top scholars?

Who does he think he is? John von Neumann, the father of the computer?
"Humph, what a loud tone!"

A cold snort rang out from the crowd.

It was Professor Wang who stepped forward, pushing aside the people around him, his eyes behind his glasses gleaming with scrutiny and questioning.

"Chief Engineer Li, since you're so confident, then this old man would like to ask you a few questions. Is that alright?"

"Professor Wang, please speak." Li Feng remained calm and met his gaze.

Deputy Director Zheng stood aside, his palms sweating. Although he had confidence in Li Feng, he couldn't help but feel nervous in the face of this situation. Although Professor Wang was not a big name in the field of computer science, he was an authority in the field of applied mathematics in China. He was known for his bad temper and stubbornness, and was not easy to deal with.

Professor Wang saw that Li Feng agreed so readily, and a cold smile flashed in his eyes. He thought to himself that he would make this arrogant young man lose face today.

He cleared his throat and asked loudly, "First question. We know that computers use binary arithmetic internally, but in practical applications, we input and output decimal numbers. Given the extremely limited memory and computing power of the Ural computer, how do you design a highly efficient binary-to-decimal conversion algorithm that can handle large numbers of arbitrary length?"

When this question was raised, many people around nodded in agreement.

This problem seems basic, but it's actually quite tricky. It tests not only programming knowledge, but also a deep understanding of the underlying logic of computers and their algorithm optimization capabilities. In early computers where memory and computing power were extremely scarce, an efficient algorithm was as valuable as a new machine.

After listening, Li Feng didn't even hesitate. He walked directly to a small blackboard, picked up a piece of chalk, and wrote as he spoke: "The core of this problem lies in avoiding high-precision multiplication and division. We can use variations of the 'divide by ten and take the remainder' method and the 'multiply by ten and add' method. For decimal to binary conversion, we can avoid the traditional short division method and instead use the 'double method' based on addition and shift operations..."

His chalk moved swiftly across the blackboard, and lines of concise and elegant code were clearly presented to everyone.

His thinking was frighteningly clear. From the algorithm principles to the implementation details and performance optimization, he explained things in a simple and easy-to-understand way, with each part closely linked to the next.

Professor Wang's expression gradually changed from confidence to surprise and doubt. Finally, his mouth opened slightly, and his eyes were filled with disbelief.

The algorithm proposed by Li Feng is several times simpler and more efficient than any solution his team has discussed so far!
"...In this way, we can transform a large number of multiplication operations into addition and bit shift operations, which are the most efficient for computers to execute, thereby maximizing performance under limited hardware conditions."

After writing the last line of code, Li Feng put down the chalk, turned to look at the dumbfounded Professor Wang, and asked, "Professor Wang, are you satisfied with this answer?"

Professor Wang opened his mouth, but his throat felt like it was stuffed with cotton, and he couldn't utter a single word. He strode to the blackboard, adjusted his glasses, and carefully studied the code, muttering to himself, "...Brilliant, truly brilliant! I never knew it could be done like this... How come I never thought of that..."

Before the crowd could recover from their shock, another researcher stepped forward, adjusted his glasses, and asked, "Chief Engineer Li, I'd like to ask you a question about logic circuits. How can you implement the function of an XOR gate using only NAND gates? Please draw the logic circuit diagram."

This is another classic problem that tests fundamental skills. The NAND gate is the most versatile logic gate, theoretically capable of implementing any logic function, but how to build an XOR gate with the fewest possible gate circuits is a true test of the designer's skill.

Li Feng glanced at the questioner, nodded, and picked up the chalk again.

Without the slightest hesitation, he began to draw on the other side of the blackboard.

"This is very simple, it requires four NAND gates."

With a flick of his wrist, several standard logic gate symbols and connecting lines instantly appeared on the blackboard.

"Input A and B. The first gate performs a NAND operation on A and B, resulting in C. The second gate performs a NAND operation on A and C, resulting in D. The third gate performs a NAND operation on B and C, resulting in E. Finally, the fourth gate performs a NAND operation on D and E, outputting the result F. This F is the XOR result of A and B."

After drawing the circuit diagram, he even listed the truth table next to it, and deduced and verified it step by step. The whole process was smooth and seamless, without any delay.

The audience was silent.

If the first question only demonstrated his talent in algorithms, then the second question completely proved his profound expertise in the underlying logic of computer hardware.

This is no longer a matter of understanding or not understanding; it's about mastery, about having it thoroughly memorized!
"I...I have another question..."

"Chief Engineer Li, regarding the instruction set design..."

Then, as if a switch had been flipped, one question after another was thrown out from the crowd.

It covers everything from hardware to software, from theory to application, from algorithm design to system architecture.

Li Feng, however, remained calm and composed in front of the small blackboard, answering questions fluently and confidently.

No matter how tricky or obscure the question, he could always provide the most accurate and insightful answer immediately, and even draw inferences from it to derive more knowledge points. Gradually, fewer and fewer questions were asked, and the way the onlookers looked at Li Feng had completely changed.

That look in their eyes was no longer one of doubt or incomprehension, but rather one of pure admiration and respect.

It's like a primary school student looking up at a university professor.

No, it's even more than that. Because the breadth and depth of knowledge that Li Feng demonstrated far exceeded their cognitive scope.

Finally, after the last question was perfectly answered, the entire hall fell into a long silence.

I don't know who it was, but the first person to start clapping was someone else.

"Snapped!"

A burst of applause broke the silence.

Then, "slap slap slap slap..."

The applause rose like a tide, growing louder and louder, and lasting for a long time.

Professor Wang, who was the first to stand up and question, was now blushing. He walked up to Li Feng, bowed deeply, and his voice trembled with guilt.

"Chief Engineer Li, I... I, Old Wang, am convinced! I was blind and short-sighted! You just said you'd give us programming training, I'll be the first to sign up! No, I'm not signing up, I'm here to be your student!"

"Professor Wang, you flatter me." Li Feng quickly helped him up and said sincerely, "We're all working for the project and for the country, so it's normal to have questions. From now on, we're comrades-in-arms in the same team, and we'll need more guidance from experienced experts like you."

His words were neither humble nor arrogant; they gave the old professor a way out while also making his own stance clear.

Looking into Li Feng's clear and sincere eyes, Professor Wang was filled with emotion. At such a young age, to possess such knowledge and magnanimity—this boy's future is limitless!

He nodded emphatically: "Okay! From now on, we'll all listen to Chief Engineer Li!"

"Yes! We'll do as Chief Engineer Li says!"

"Chief Engineer Li, just tell us how to do it, and we guarantee we'll complete the task!"

Amidst the crowd, voices of agreement rose and fell.

At this point, the last trace of doubt in everyone's hearts vanished.

This 21-year-old chief executive officer, with his vast and profound knowledge, completely won over this group of unruly experts.

Standing to the side, Deputy Director Zheng watched this dramatic scene unfold, and the huge weight that had been hanging over his heart finally lifted.

He let out a long sigh of relief, and a genuine, radiant smile spread across his face.

He knew that he made the right bet!
Li Feng, the young man he promoted despite opposition, not only stabilized the situation but also established absolute authority for himself in a near-perfect way!
This project is a success!
……

That afternoon, Deputy Director Zheng returned to the Ministry of Light Industry in high spirits.

He didn't even go back to his office; he went straight to knocking on Minister Jiang's office door.

"Minister, Minister!"

Minister Jiang was reviewing documents when he saw Zheng Guowei's flushed face and put down his pen. He asked with a smile, "Guowei, what's making you so happy? You seem to be in such a rush. Is the project handover not going smoothly?"

"Smooth sailing! Everything went so smoothly!" Deputy Director Zheng plopped down on the sofa, picked up the teacup on the table, and took a big gulp. Then, panting heavily, he excitedly recounted to Minister Jiang everything that had happened at the project site that afternoon.

From Li Feng spotting the three fatal errors in the hardware assembly at a glance, to his debate with a group of scholars, single-handedly leaving dozens of experts and scholars speechless and ultimately convinced of his superiority, he recounted the entire process vividly and captivatingly.

Minister Jiang listened quietly, his expression shifting from initial calm to slight surprise, and finally to approval and satisfaction.

When Minister Jiang heard that Professor Wang had bowed and admitted his mistake on the spot, he couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"Hahaha, good! Well done, Li Feng! Truly, a hero emerges from among the young!"

He pointed at Zheng Guowei and said with a laugh, "You, Zheng Guowei, have been hiding such a gem, and you're only handing it over to me now!"

"It was such a waste that he was a painter in the ceramics factory before. Since you promoted him, the projects he has led have been excellent!"

Deputy Director Zheng chuckled and scratched his head: "Minister, I was just worried that he was too young and wouldn't be able to handle things. Now it seems that my worries were completely unnecessary!"

"Hmm." Minister Jiang nodded, his smile slowly fading and turning serious. "This young man has real talent and ability, and even more so, a sense of responsibility and magnanimity. He is a capable leader who can shoulder great responsibilities. Now that he has integrated the team, our logistical support must keep up and we absolutely cannot hold him back."

He pondered for a moment, then instructed Zheng Guowei: "Go to the finance department and the materials department again right now, and tell them that I said all the equipment, personnel, and funds needed for the computer automation project must be allocated with the highest priority and at the fastest speed! Anyone who tries to obstruct us, tell them to come directly to me!"

"Yes, Minister!" Deputy Director Zheng stood up abruptly, straightened his chest, and answered loudly.

Minister Jiang looked at him and nodded with satisfaction. Finally, he picked up his teacup, gently blew on the steam, and smiled meaningfully, "Guowei, you have made a great contribution by discovering and recommending such a talent for the country. Keep up the good work, I have high hopes for you."

Deputy Director Zheng felt a surge of warmth in his heart, and his eyes even welled up with tears.

He knew how weighty Minister Jiang's words, "I have high hopes for you," were.

He nodded emphatically: "Please rest assured, Minister, I will fully cooperate with Comrade Li Feng's work and serve as his logistics minister!"

……

In the following days, the entire project site entered an unprecedented state of high-speed operation.

Thanks to Deputy Director Zheng's tireless coordination and Minister Jiang's swift and efficient intervention, various resources that were previously in the application process poured into this small courtyard in the western suburbs like a floodgate being opened.

Truckloads of brand-new instruments and equipment were brought in, ranging from high-precision oscilloscopes and signal generators to the most advanced soldering irons and multimeters in China at the time, and even several ultra-precision instruments imported from East Germany.

Dozens of young technicians and support staff, drawn from various universities and factories, also came to report for duty, injecting fresh blood into the project team, which was already short-staffed.

Most importantly, a huge amount of special funds was also directly allocated to the project's independent account, which was under Li Feng's full control.

People, funds, and materials were all in place within just three days!
With unprecedented power and resources at his disposal, Li Feng made no delays.

After thoroughly understanding the technical background and strengths of all personnel, he quickly convened the first general mobilization meeting.

At the conference, he didn't speak any empty words or platitudes, but instead presented a thick overall project plan and personnel division scheme that he had personally drafted.

He reorganized the originally vague hardware and software groups into five combat teams with clearly defined functions and divisions of labor.

"The first group, the core computing and control unit group, is led by Professor Wang. They are responsible for the assembly, debugging, and optimization of the CPU logic circuit."

"The second group, the storage system group, is led by Associate Professor Liu from Peking University. They are responsible for the installation and testing of magnetic core memory and magnetic drum memory."

"The third group, the external device interface group..."

"Group Four, System Software and Compilation Group..."

"Group Five, Power Supply and Environmental Protection Group..."

"Professor Fei Wei will serve as the chief advisor for all groups!"

Li Feng stood at the front of the stage, calmly and clearly announcing each appointment and task.

His arrangements were precise for every individual and meticulous for every step. The tasks, timelines, and technical targets for each group were all clearly defined and understood.

All the researchers in the audience listened attentively, their pens scratching away in their notebooks.

At this moment, no one questioned this young leader anymore.

Every decision he made demonstrated a level of professionalism and strategic vision far exceeding that of ordinary people.

The entire team, like a precision machine with its parts scattered, was quickly and efficiently assembled in his hands, with each gear finding its place and beginning to work together.

A surge of high morale and unprecedented cohesion quietly rose in this small courtyard.

Everyone knows that a crucial battle concerning the future of the nation's industry has officially begun. (End of Chapter)