King of Technology: A Fresh Start in 1983

Filled with thoughts of business maneuvering, Chen Jianghe returned to the research institute.

As soon as I stepped through the gate, Old Liu from the gatehouse poked his head out: "Little Chen, there's a package for you!"

"The shipping address is listed as 'Zhongguancun Technical Service Department.' I've checked it; they're all electronic parts."

Chen Jianghe took the heavy cardboard box with a puzzled look.

Upon opening it, I found a complete Z80 microcontroller development board inside.

It includes a CPU, RAM, EPROM socket, simple I/O interface, and several blank EPROM chips.

There was also a poorly printed and bound booklet with the title "8086/8088 Computational Language Programming Crash Course" on the cover!

No signature.

But a line of small text was written in red marker in the corner of the development board—

"Let the technology speak for itself."

It's Su Wanqing again!

Chen Jianghe's heart skipped a beat!

Only she knew that she urgently needed a hardware platform to build the second phase of the "Spark" project's practical verification compression engine architecture!

Only she knew that for a "self-taught person who was a factory worker", compiling language was the only way to overcome this tough challenge!

That phrase, "Let the technology speak for itself," is the deepest imprint she left in Chen Jianghe's mind!

What she is doing is...

I'm going to play dumb to the very end!

Holding the cardboard box, Chen Jianghe couldn't help but feel a sense of clarity, as if he had been instantly pulled back from the commercial mire to the pure land of technology!

As I walked into the office building, I saw a large group of people gathered in front of the bulletin board downstairs, whispering among themselves…

"What's going on? It's a notice from the institute!"

"I heard the computer department held an internal meeting yesterday!"

"Sun Yuanchao will be publicly punished! He's completely finished now!"

...

Chen Jianghe squeezed through and saw the disciplinary decision stamped with the research institute's official seal posted on the blackboard:

"Comrade Sun Yuanchao was found guilty of seriously violating work discipline, repeatedly fabricating facts to defame others, and interfering with key national scientific research projects."

The facts have been verified, and the nature of the offense is egregious! He is hereby given a one-year probationary period.

He was transferred from the computer unit to work in the boiler room of the logistics department.

Disciplinary action!? Transfer!? Boiler room!?

"This is tantamount to a death sentence for Sun Yuanchao's career in all national-level research institutions!"

"That's it! He'll never touch technology again in his life!"

...

It seems that Zhou Qidong quickly turned against Sun Yuanchao, dealing with this hot potato and completely severing ties with him.

Give Su Wanqing, the institute, and Department D an explanation!

The onlookers were abuzz with discussion; some cheered, while others felt sorry for Sun Yuanchao.

Some people also glanced at Chen Jianghe, who had just squeezed in, with complicated expressions.

Chen Jianghe stared blankly at the announcement, but his heart was in turmoil.

Sun Yuanchao brought this upon himself; he shot himself in the foot.

However, the possibility that certain individuals were behind this decision cannot be ruled out…

What Chen Jianghe couldn't understand was why Sun Yuanchao had been targeting him from the very beginning...

Could it be because I am technically superior to him?

Or is it for some other reason?

Chen Jianghe silently left the crowd and walked towards the dormitory building.

As soon as he arrived at the dormitory entrance, he saw Zhao Xiaobo, a new college student in the computer group and his roommate, sitting pale-faced on the lower bunk of Chen Jianghe.

He was clutching a piece of paper in his hand, his eyes unfocused.

"What's wrong, Xiao Bo?" Chen Jianghe asked.

Zhao Xiaobo suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with fear, his voice trembling: "Brother Jianghe...you have to help me!"

"Sun... Sun Yuanchao gave me this before he was punished..."

He handed the paper to Chen Jianghe.

Chen Jianghe took it and looked at it; his pupils suddenly contracted!

It turned out to be a loan receipt from Sun Yuanchao!

The loan amount is exactly eight hundred yuan!

The loan was signed on the day Chen Jianghe was officially transferred from the circuit board workshop to Su Wanqing's laboratory!

The borrower's signature is Sun Yuanchao!

The borrowing entity is [Chaohui Electronics Service Department], and the signature is A Yuan!

"What is Sun Yuanchao trying to do? Why did he give you this IOU?"

Zhao Xiaobo shook his head vigorously: "I don't understand either!"

A chill instantly shot from the soles of Chen Jianghe's feet straight to the top of his head!

It seems that Zhong Chaohui and Sun Yuanchao were already familiar with each other!

And there's also a financial connection!

In that instant, Chen Jianghe felt a pang of regret regarding his ten thousand yuan…

It seemed to be covered in sticky, sinful substances…

Chen Jianghe clutched the note tightly and looked out the window.

I couldn't help but recall that night after returning from the Eagle's Nest, the flickering cigarette butt under the distant shadows of the trees...

Is it possible that Zhong Chaohui's focus is not limited to the Chinese character card market?

"Xiao Bo, don't worry, leave this note to me, I'll handle it for you."

"Also, I suggest you ask for leave for Engineer Li and let him go home for a few days to avoid trouble."

...

The announcement regarding the handling of Sun Yuanchao's case was like a pebble thrown into a deep pool in the research institute, creating ripples that continued to spread.

Some applauded it, while many others remained wary.

The way the people in the computer lab, including Engineer Li and Engineer Wang, looked at Chen Jianghe changed.

It was mixed with incomprehension, estrangement, and a hint of barely perceptible awe.

Chen Jianghe went to the "Spark" project team and gained the attention of the institute's leaders. Now his position in the institute is not to be underestimated.

The once arrogant Sun Yuanchao was kicked into the boiler room.

This in itself sends an elusive signal.

Chen Jianghe did not pay any attention to this.

That IOU for eight hundred yuan is what he cares about most right now.

Why did Sun Yuanchao give the IOU to Zhao Xiaobo at this time?

Could it be that someone wanted to convey some message through Zhao Xiaobo?

But logically speaking, it doesn't seem to hold water...

That money was very likely the leverage that Zhong Chaohui used to coerce Sun Yuanchao!

What was Chung Chiu-fai's purpose in doing this?

The matter of Sun Yuanchao must be thoroughly investigated!

This is not just about settling the score between the two.

It was also to see Chung Chiu-fai's true colors!

The next evening, as dusk fell, Chen Jianghe arrived at the boiler room of the logistics department, located in a secluded corner of the research institute.

The coal-fired boiler emitted a heavy roar.

The air was filled with the smell of coal dust and scalding hot steam.

In the dim light, several hunched figures were laboriously shoveling coal.

One of the figures looked particularly disheveled; it was Sun Yuanchao.

The once arrogant core members of the microcomputer team are now wearing oil-stained work clothes.

His hair was stained gray with coal ash, his face was covered in black grime, and his back was hunched over.

The huge gap between the microcomputer unit and the boiler room almost broke him.

"Sun Yuanchao."

Chen Jianghe shouted amidst the machine noise.

Sun Yuanchao numbly shoveled coal, without reacting.

Chen Jianghe raised his voice: "Sun Yuanchao!"

Sun Yuanchao suddenly turned around and saw Chen Jianghe in the shadows. His eyes instantly flashed with extreme panic and resentment!

He dropped the shovel and took a step back!

"What...what do you want to do?!"

His voice was hoarse and filled with despair.

"Sun Yuanchao, I just want to know what's going on with this eight hundred yuan?"

Chen Jianghe showed the receipt, took a few steps forward, and stared intently at Sun Yuanchao. "How do you know Zhong Chaohui? Why did you borrow money from him?"