King of Technology: A Fresh Start in 1983

Lin Yidan paused for a moment, then continued, "Your subject matter might have been acceptable ten years ago, but it's not fresh anymore."

"Especially after the Southern Tour, the whole country was filled with the sound of thumping feet..."

"What was that sound? Thump?" Zhang Wei asked, puzzled.

"Diving...going into the sea. Is starting a company these days still news?"

"Even our newspaper has lost several chief editors all at once."

"These days, news is about people who aren't tempted to go into business and instead diligently and conscientiously do their jobs."

Upon hearing Lin Yidan's words, Zhang Wei was speechless.

The two sat silently, making slurping sounds as they drank their cola.

After a while, Lin Yidan continued, as if talking to herself, "This is really hard to write."

"However, since Zhan Yiling has given the instructions, I can't just abandon her, right? But I need to find out more about it."

"Then you are welcome to visit our company. We hope you can have a direct conversation with our General Manager Chen, which may be helpful to your thinking."

Zhang Wei then asked, "Would you like to order something else?"

Lin Yidan shook his head: "I'm full. You're a grown man, you can't compare to me. If you're not full, order some for yourself."

Zhang Wei immediately held out his hand: "Where's the invoice from earlier?"

"An invoice? Oh! I don't need one. Why would I need an invoice for such a small amount of money?"

Lin Yidan looked surprised!

"Let me treat you to dinner today. Besides, we've known each other for a long time. Thanks for making the special trip over."

After Lin Yidan finished speaking, she seemed to remember something, picked up the detailed list on the plate, and handed it to Zhang Wei.

"Here, if you really want an invoice, take this to the counter."

"But you don't need to give me the money, I won't take it."

Zhang Wei's face immediately darkened, and he said unhappily, "Since you're treating, why should I issue a receipt?"

"Do you think I ate the burger you treated me to and then went back to get reimbursed and make a profit? You don't know me at all!"

Lin Yidan didn't even lift her eyelids, muttering through a straw, "Of course I don't understand you!"

"That's why I need to know more. How about this, I'll make another appointment with you in a while."

...

One morning a week later, Zhang Wei had just arrived at the company when he received a call from Lin Yidan, who said she wanted to visit Tiangong.

Zhang Wei was overjoyed and quickly said, "Take a taxi."

Lin Yidan said, "No need. I want to walk the same route you took last time in the opposite direction. That way, we'll be equal, and neither of us will owe the other anything."

Although Zhang Wei couldn't figure out where equality came from, he didn't press the issue and said, "Okay, I'll come pick you up at the station."

Zhang Wei waited at the station for quite a while, holding his bicycle, during which two cars passed by.

When the third bus arrived, Lin Yidan got off and pushed her cart to greet her.

Lin Yidan quickly apologized, "I'm so sorry, have I kept you waiting for so long?"

"This old tram's power cord came loose halfway through the journey, and the driver had a lot of trouble getting it back on the wires. Weren't you waiting impatiently?"

No, no.

Zhang Wei patted the back seat of his bicycle as he spoke, "I'll give you a ride there on my bicycle, you don't mind, do you?"

Lin Yidan glanced at Zhang Wei: "However, I seem to remember that not just anyone can sit on the back of a boy's bicycle, right?"

Zhang Wei immediately looked embarrassed: "I was just worried you'd think it was too far."

"The weather is just right, neither too hot nor too cold, it's nice for a walk. By the way, is Mr. Chen's schedule okay?"

"No problem, he just returned to Beijing from Shenzhen last week and has been here all day."

After Zhang Wei finished speaking, he pushed the cart and led the way towards Tsinghua University.

As Lin Yidan walked, she kept rubbing her left shoulder with her right hand, a pained expression on her face.

Zhang Wei asked with concern, "What happened to your shoulder?"

Lin Yidan said through gritted teeth, "That ticket seller is a real jerk! She put a brick inside the door to deliberately prevent it from opening completely."

"I was afraid you'd be getting impatient, so I jumped out of the car as soon as the door opened."

"Who would have thought the car door would stop a little over halfway open, hitting me squarely on the shoulder, it hurt like hell..."

"Are they doing this on purpose?! It's already crowded when getting on and off the bus, and they deliberately don't let the doors open fully. Isn't that crazy?!"

Zhang Wei smiled slightly and then patiently explained, "The opening and closing of a bus door relies on a crank-connecting rod-slider mechanism, with the slider connected to a cylinder mounted on the door."

"There's a button on the driver's side that controls the cylinder. When the cylinder moves, the slider moves along the groove on the door."

"Each side of the car door consists of two folding doors, and the point where you were hit was probably the connection between the two doors."

...

"There is a problem with this mechanism: when the lever arm of the connecting rod relative to the crank is zero, the torque is also zero, and the mechanism cannot move and is locked."

...

"If you put a brick behind the car door so that it can't be fully opened and won't reach the dead end, it will be easier to close the door."

...

Zhang Wei was walking and talking when he suddenly froze!

He then realized that it was quiet all around him...

I stopped and turned around to look, only to find that there was no one around.

He quickly turned around and saw Lin Yidan standing a dozen meters away, glaring angrily at him.

Zhang Wei quickly pushed the bike back and asked with concern, "Are you tired? I'm so sorry, I walked too fast. You should get in the bike."

Upon hearing Zhang Wei's words, Lin Yidan laughed in exasperation: "Am I tired? I'm angry because of you!"

"Hey, it's me who needs your understanding and sympathy, not the driver and ticket seller!"

"I told you my shoulder hurt from being bumped because I wanted you to comfort me."

"I don't want to hear you talk about all sorts of organizations and movements."

Zhang Wei blushed and said, "Sorry, my occupational hazard has kicked in again."

"But you really should report this to the relevant authorities. You're a journalist; these folding doors are a real safety hazard..."

"Hey, what's wrong with you? You still haven't said a single word to comfort me?"

"Now I finally understand what kind of person you are."

"Oh? What kind of person am I?"

"You, you are a typical STEM guy, with absolutely high IQ but low EQ."

Lin Yidan is really angry.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Wei laughed instead: "You're wronging me. Not only is my emotional intelligence low, but my IQ isn't high either."

"Is this what you call wronging you? Is this what you call flattering me?" Lin Yidan was so angry that she laughed again.

She seemed to remember something and suddenly burst into laughter: "Haha, I remember now! Looks like you really do have a special connection with toilets!"

"You!" Zhang Wei frowned!

Why is she bringing up that embarrassing incident on the plane again?

Lin Yidan continued, "You've been rambling on about the principle behind folding doors on buses, but isn't it just the same as the door to an airplane toilet...?"