The Grandmother in the Siheyuan

Chapter 460 I'm indebted to someone so much
Looking at the dozens of unfamiliar machines in the workshop, Lao Ren could tell that only a few were in production, while other workers were still installing them.

"Professor Liu, I don't see that production here is very busy, so why are you still installing machines?"

Liu Hua explained, "If you want to do something well, you must first have the right tools. Our chip business has been expanding steadily. If we don't install the equipment early on, it will be too late when we're in a hurry."

"This isn't a lithography machine, but can these things really produce chips?"

“Of course.” Liu Hua opened an unused printer: “This is a 3D printer that my students and I jointly developed. It’s specifically designed to produce chips and doesn’t require silicon wafers.”

Old Ren was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter: "So that's why you asked for such a low price back then. You couldn't even spread your costs, yet you still wanted such a low price. Turns out your costs were actually low to begin with."

"This is the power of science."

Ren took these materials back to his research team to study, and the more he studied them, the more he felt something was wrong.

"Professor Liu's technical information solved the problem, but I feel it's somewhat inconsistent with our direction. Does this mean we have to overturn our research foundation?"

The chief engineer under the old man studied it for a long time, then scratched his head and said, "No, that's not what I meant. Professor Liu has given us a different approach. Although this technical route is more complicated than our original one, it avoids many patent barriers, and we will have far fewer disputes with other companies in the future."

"Isn't this just like all our previous research going down the drain?"

The chief engineer nodded: "Although it's a waste of money, it's worth it. With Professor Liu's guidance, we can achieve a brand-new technology that is better than before with very little money, and we can build our own technological barrier."

Old Ren said awkwardly, "I owe this person a huge favor. How am I going to repay it?"

Originally, Liu Hua owed him a favor, and he was going to repay the favor by improving the technology. But Liu Hua ended up making a fortune, and now he was the one who owed the favor. How was he going to repay it?

The chief engineer smiled and said, "If we can't pay it back, then we won't. I don't believe that you, Lao Ren, are so useless that Professor Liu will definitely not need your help in the future."

"That's true." Old Ren nodded. "Wait a minute, what do you mean I'm that useless?"

"You're focusing on the wrong thing. They'll definitely need your help someday."

Old Ren quickly asked the chief engineer to assign tasks. If they did well this time, their Huawei Company could turn its fortunes around.

Ma Shan has been feeling down lately. His respected Academician Liu has ignored his advice, and more than three months have passed without any project being approved.

Don't they know the hardships of their air force? The air force longs for new aircraft like a parched land yearns for rain.

Ma Shan personally visited Liu Hua's laboratory to urge him on: "Academician Liu, have you been a bit lax lately? You haven't even started a project in over three months?"

What project should we initiate?

"The engine project for the new fighter jet."

Liu Hua nodded: "Didn't I tell you? I have some work to do right now. I'll finish what I'm doing before I do this."

"You've been busy for three months now. Just how much work do you have on your plate?"

"Quite a lot," Liu Hua said proudly. "You know, as an academician who spans multiple fields, how could I not have a lot of work on my hands? My newly established Hetu Rune company needs to be operated stably, so I went to negotiate deals with people. The other party doesn't quite trust the new company, so I could only propose a trade: help them optimize the technology." Ma Shan slammed his fist on the table: "Who is it? They dare not trust Academician Liu's new company? But speaking of which, what is your Hetu Rune company for?"

"To produce chips."

Ma Shan was stunned, and it took him a while to react: "No, there's still no news about your steel company, and now you're starting that chip manufacturing company. Can you handle all that?"

"So, that's why I'm busy," Liu Hua said with a smile. "As a chip company, I'm just planning ahead and laying the groundwork for the future. I've already drawn up the blueprints for the steel plant; we just need to build according to the blueprints."

"How is the quality of the chips you produce? What are the costs?"

Liu Hua stared at Ma Shan, making Ma Shan feel uneasy.

Why are you staring at me like that?

Liu Hua crossed his arms: "If I didn't have entirely new technology, and more importantly, if I couldn't deliver a disruptive blow to existing chip manufacturing processes, would I have started a new company?"

"You didn't even tell us you were starting this company. Our country's chip technology has never been the most advanced. Now that we have advanced technology, you should share it. This should be widely publicized to boost the morale of the entire nation."

Liu Hua smiled and said, "That's exactly what I'm afraid of."

"What are you afraid of?"

"I'm afraid you'll tell everyone." Liu Hua shook his head: "Do you think I don't know how to cheer myself up? The thing is, sometimes some things should be kept secret."

"why?"

"Internet semiconductors are the hottest technology right now. Where in the world is the most advanced technology? The US." Liu Hua shook his head: "This stuff is a piece of fat meat in their bowl. They won't let anyone else get involved. If we get involved in chip production now, guess what the US will do?"

"Let's produce, even if we don't produce now, we will produce in the future."

Liu Hua nodded: "You're right about that. Even if we don't produce them now, we will in the future. The problem is that you don't understand what it means for us to produce chips. It means digging up the root of America's technological hegemony. How can they not take action against us?"

"But the Americans will take action sooner or later."

“You’re right. They’ll make their move sooner or later, but it’s better to make it later than sooner,” Liu Hua said seriously. “With our current economic strength, if the big US attacks us, we won’t be able to withstand it.”

"I was too narrow-minded," Ma Shan said apologetically. "He is indeed a national hero; his thinking is much more far-sighted than mine."

“That’s not the reason,” Liu Hua said with a smile. “It should be said that I’m a bit timid and afraid of going head-to-head with the Americans. You soldiers are braver than us and are not afraid to face their threats and inducements.”

“I should be proud of the praise.” Ma Shan shook his head: “But I feel like a reckless brute, without any strategy, just blindly charging in.”

"Aren't you overthinking it?"

Ma Shan shook his head, trying to shake off this preconceived notion, and then said, "What's so special about your chip manufacturing technology? If it's really that good, we can order chips from you. You know, the demand for military chips is also huge."

(End of this chapter)