Courtyard House: Initial Donation of 50 Million

In the midsummer of 1958, at the western end of the Hexi Corridor, where the Qilian Mountains meet the Gobi Desert, deep within a base codenamed "Yumen" that was kept strictly secret.

A profound, powerful, and almost limitless energy is flowing, converging, and transforming in an unprecedentedly stable manner within the core of an underground fortress several meters thick, constructed of special concrete and lead plates. There is no deafening roar of boilers, no shrill whistling of high-speed turbines, and no billowing smoke from chimneys. Only a low, almost buzzing, futuristic "hum" pulses steadily, like a powerful yet tranquil mechanical heart beating deep within the earth.

The arc reactor started successfully on the first attempt!

Inside the control room, under the bright lights, the pointers on countless instrument panels steadily pointed to the green safety zone. On the massive main control screen, the curve representing energy output smoothly and steadily climbed upwards, eventually stabilizing at a dazzling value. All the core technical personnel, physicists, engineers, and PLA officers and soldiers responsible for security present held their breath, staring intently at the data, until the chief engineer, an elderly man with gray hair but piercing eyes, announced in a slightly trembling but resolute voice:

"All systems are operating normally! Output power has reached 100% of the design value! Qiming-1 is officially connected to the network!"

After a brief silence, the control room erupted in a long-suppressed, volcanic cheer! Many embraced each other, patting each other's shoulders, while many more were moved to tears. For this day, they had worked anonymously deep in the desolate Gobi Desert, enduring wind and sand, working with blueprints and data, overcoming countless challenges related to materials, processes, control, and safety. Among them were returning students, locally trained talents, experienced masters, and the most outstanding young people selected from across the country. They had only one goal: to turn the miraculous blueprint—the "Ark Reactor"—from overseas, delivered to the nation by Wang Huanbo, into reality.

This blueprint, originating from Stark Industries technology in the Marvel Universe in 1945, might have been a product of an "old era" for that world, but for China in 1958, it was nothing short of a game-changer. It offered a clean, efficient, and nearly limitless energy possibility that transcended its time. However, a blueprint is ultimately just a blueprint; the transition from drawing to reality is fraught with chasms, including materials science, precision machining, control theory, and systems engineering. It was Wang Huanbo who, with his cross-generational technological vision and profound understanding of industrial systems, provided crucial technical interpretations, process route guidance, and system integration strategies. He acted as a skilled translator and decoder, transforming the "heavenly book" of another world into a "construction manual" that engineers in this world could understand and implement.

More importantly, he pointed to the most crucial and elusive "key"—palladium, the core catalytic and stabilizing material of the Ark Reactor. In China at that time, palladium was a strategic resource even rarer and more unfamiliar than gold, with virtually no geological data available.

"Find it! Even if you have to turn the whole country upside down, find the palladium deposit!" The top leadership's instruction was concise and powerful. Special exploration teams, composed of top geologists and geophysical experts, carrying data on potential metallogenic belts provided by Wang Huanbo based on future knowledge, traversed the Changbai Mountains, the Gobi Desert, the grasslands, and the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. Enduring wind and rain, trekking through mountains and rivers, they meticulously examined the land of their motherland inch by inch with the most primitive tools and the utmost patience.

Hope and despair intertwined. Just as resources were dwindling and the flame of hope was fading, in Jinchuan, Gansu, an exploration team discovered an unusual elemental signal while analyzing a peculiar ore sample near an inconspicuous fault zone. The news reached Beijing, where top-level retesting confirmed it was palladium! And its grade far exceeded expectations!

Before the initial elation had subsided, an even greater surprise followed. In-depth exploration in the Jinchuan area revealed that it was not merely a palladium deposit, but a super-large polymetallic sulfide deposit dominated by nickel, with associated copper, cobalt, platinum, palladium, gold, silver, and more than twenty other valuable elements! Preliminary estimates of its nickel reserves are staggering, enough to completely shatter the Western notion that China is nickel-poor! And palladium, as an important associated element in nickel-copper sulfide deposits, is equally abundant, fully capable of meeting the needs of the "Qiming Project" and even longer into the future!

The report was delivered to Haizi Li late at night. But the news acted like a potent stimulant, keeping all the leaders in the know wide awake.

"Excellent! Excellent! Excellent Jinchuan! This is not only a key to 'Qiming,' but also a treasure trove and a strategic pillar for our country's industry, especially heavy industry and defense industry!" An old marshal excitedly tapped the small dot on the map.

"Nickel! The nickel we lack most! It will no longer be a shackle holding us back!" The leader in charge of industry had tears in his eyes. He knew all too well how many defense projects had been forced to be postponed, how many special steels could not be produced, and how many negotiations had been held hostage because of the nickel shortage.

"Act immediately!" The top decision was quickly made: "Concentrate our efforts on developing Jinchuan! Provide funds, personnel, and equipment... Find a way! Spare no expense, and at the fastest speed, extract palladium, nickel, and all our treasures from underground and use them where the country needs them most!"

However, with everything in ruins and the country impoverished, where would the equipment come from? Especially large-scale mining, beneficiation, and smelting equipment—the domestic market was almost entirely lacking. Just as the relevant departments were racking their brains, Wang Huanbo's secure, red-coded phone rang again. Without much small talk, he reported directly to the higher-ups: "Our family's overseas channels have urgently procured a batch of key equipment needed for mining and initial smelting, including large excavators, heavy trucks, crushers, and flotation machines. They are being assembled and loaded onto ships, and will be transported to Tianjin Port via a secret route. We are also working closely with the advanced equipment needed for subsequent smelting and purification."

This was a timely act of kindness, a true act of compassion. High-level coordination was immediately implemented, a special train was on standby, and security was maintained along the route. When those massive construction machines, bearing foreign markings and considered "giants" in China for that era, camouflaged and under heavy military escort, roared off cargo ships, onto special trains, and finally arrived in the still desolate Jinchuan, everyone involved in the construction was thrilled. These steel behemoths would greatly accelerate the pace of mining area construction.

Thus, under the slogan "Cheering for 'Qiming' and laying the foundation for a strong nation," an unprecedented construction campaign was launched on the ancient and barren land of Jinchuan. Builders, engineers, geologists, and skilled workers from all over the country gathered here. Without housing, they pitched tents and dug dugouts; lacking water and electricity, they carried materials on their shoulders and backs, using the most primitive methods to solve the problem. But the people were full of fighting spirit, because they knew that every chisel stroke they took, every truckload of ore they transported, was connected to that "sun" on the Gobi Desert that concerned the fate of the nation, connected to a future where the motherland would no longer be subject to others.

The process of extracting palladium is extremely complex, especially when experience is lacking. However, guided by the advanced ideas provided by Wang Huanbo, which originated from future hydrometallurgy and precious metal separation, and with the collective efforts of domestic chemists and metallurgical experts, after countless failures, the first strand of high-purity metallic palladium, shimmering with a silvery-white luster, was finally extracted in a simple laboratory crucible! The sample was transported to the Yumen base under the highest level of security, escorted by fully armed guards, day and night.

When this precious final piece of the puzzle, crucial to the success or failure of "Enlightenment," was embedded in the core of the reactor, the hearts of everyone involved were in their throats. The ignition command was given, the control panel indicator lights lit up one by one, and a deep hum came from underground, becoming more and more stable and powerful... until the chief engineer announced the success.

Almost simultaneously, a specially made high-voltage cable, as thick as a bowl, which had just been erected and extended from the Yumen base, instantly transmitted a surge of current, as powerful as a river, in two directions:

First, they headed west, deeper into the desolate Lop Nur region, to the "576" atomic bomb research and development base, a source of national pride. The massive power shortage was instantly filled, and the sophisticated instruments, computing devices, and experimental apparatuses that had been operating intermittently due to power deficiency could finally run at full capacity, day and night. Countless scientists and engineers, gazing at the stable, bright lights in the laboratories, clenched their fists in excitement. They knew that an unprecedentedly powerful force had been injected into this monumental undertaking, a matter of life and death for the nation.

Secondly, eastward, along the newly planned high-voltage lines, electricity surged to cities and factories in the Hexi Corridor that had long suffered from power shortages and even frequent darkness due to support for the development of China's nuclear weapons program. In Wuwei, Zhangye, Jiuquan… at night, thousands of lights suddenly illuminated the city; in factories, machines that had been idle for so long began to roar again. Housewives were delighted to find they could use electric lights anytime, instead of relying on kerosene lamps; children excitedly did their homework under the bright lights; factory managers rushed into the workshops, and seeing the production lines running normally again, shouted excitedly, "We have electricity! We have electricity again! Full production!"

The telegram sent from the Yumen base was transmitted back to Beijing in the shortest possible coded message, reaching the courtyard in Haizi.

"...Qiming-1 has been operating stably and continuously, achieving its power target, and has been successfully connected to the grid. The energy bottleneck in the west has been broken, and the power supply to the Yumen base is secure. The Jinchuan palladium source is stable, and the associated nickel, copper, and other resources are of great value. The first phase objective has been successfully achieved."

The telegram circulated among the top leaders. There were no cheers, no clamor, but the light shining in everyone's eyes was brighter than any words. They walked to the window, gazing at the shimmering waters of Zhongnanhai, as if they could travel through time and space to see the silent "sun" working deep in the Gobi Desert of Northwest China, to see the accelerating progress in Lop Nur, to see the bustling construction scene in the Jinchuan mining area, and to see the lights shining again in the Hexi Corridor.

"Excellent..." After a long silence, a leader let out a long sigh of relief, his voice filled with indescribable emotion and satisfaction. "This 'sun' has finally been lit in our own hands. Comrade Wang Huanbo has made a tremendous contribution! All comrades of the Enlightenment Project have made a lasting contribution!"

Soon, awards and honors poured in from the Yumen base and the Jinchuan mining area. The project teams involved in the Qiming Project and Wang Huanbo's team at the Hongxing Factory were collectively awarded major merits. Wang Huanbo himself was again awarded a special merit and received the highest honor of "National Outstanding Scientist," with his bonuses, benefits, and security level all upgraded. But for him, the most important reward was the heartfelt satisfaction of seeing the nation, through his and countless others' joint efforts, gradually breaking free from its shackles and moving towards prosperity.

However, the brighter the light, the more scarlet the eyes in the shadows appear.

Although the success of "Project Enlightenment" was classified as top secret, such a large-scale change in power output, the sudden abundance of energy in the Northwest region, and the unprecedented construction efforts and material mobilization in the Jinchuan area could not have been completely hidden from the eyes of the sky and the ears of the lurking forces.

On a remote island, at Yangmingshan, a secret service outpost. In a dimly lit room filled with smoke, several men with sinister expressions were studying fragmented intelligence reports.

"In the Northwest, in the Yumen region, electricity output has surged abnormally, far exceeding the combined output of its known hydroelectric and thermal power plants."

"In Jinchuan, Gansu, a previously barren land, a large number of construction teams and heavy machinery have suddenly gathered, indicating a very high level of alert. It is suspected that a major mineral deposit has been discovered."

"Our undercover agent, 'Swallow,' sent back a vague message mentioning that coded language such as 'the sun is lit up' and 'energy revolution' is circulating among the top leadership in Beijing."

"The CIA received intelligence that its high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft discovered an unusual complex of buildings in the northwestern Gobi Desert. The heat source signal was unique and unlike any known power plant pattern, leading to suspicion that it was... some kind of new energy device."

As the fragments are pieced together, a chilling outline gradually becomes clear: the mainland, in the northwest, may have developed a brand-new and powerful energy technology! And the source of all the clues vaguely points to one name—Wang Huanbo.

"It's him again!" A balding middle-aged man angrily stubbed out his cigarette, his eyes flashing with resentment and fear. "From special steel to new firearms, and now... 'artificial sun'? This man can't be allowed to live any longer! He must be eliminated as soon as possible!"

"But his security is extremely tight, and the Red Star factory is an impenetrable fortress. Previous operations have all failed," another bespectacled man said worriedly.

"It's easy to dodge a spear in the open, but hard to guard against an arrow in the dark. He always has family, always has weaknesses," the bald man said coldly. "According to intelligence, his wife, Lou Xiao'e, is pregnant. Pregnant women are always the most vulnerable. And then there's his family overseas... The Americans probably don't want to see the mainland acquire this technology even more than we do, right? Perhaps we can use someone else to do our dirty work, or... cooperate."

A new, more meticulous, and vicious assassination plot was quietly brewing in the shadows. Target: Wang Huanbo and his immediate family. Method: At all costs, across multiple fronts. They knew that the longer they dragged things out, the greater the unpredictability brought about by that man.

Almost simultaneously, across the Pacific Ocean, in Langley, the atmosphere was equally tense in the CIA's Far East Analysis Division conference room. Large satellite photographs (though blurry) and intelligence analysis reports were spread out on the table.

"Gentlemen, we may have seriously underestimated the technological potential of Red China, especially this man named Wang Huanbo." The head of the analysis department pointed to the unusual heat source in the Yumen area of ​​the photograph. "Our physicists believe that this is definitely not a traditional fission reactor. Its energy output curve is too stable, its thermal efficiency is unusually high, and there are almost no signs of radioactive leakage. This could be... a completely new, cleaner, and more efficient form of nuclear energy, or even some early application of fusion technology?"

A collective gasp filled the conference room. If this were true, its strategic significance would be revolutionary.

"Wang Huanbo, chief engineer of Red Star United Industrial Corporation, is the key figure linked to all the unusual technological breakthroughs. His background is mysterious, and he has close ties with the overseas Wang family. This family is suspected of providing crucial equipment and technological channels to China in this incident," the director continued. "We must reassess this individual's threat level. I recommend initiating the highest level of surveillance and preparing… special measures. We cannot allow him to continue serving the Chinese regime. Simultaneously, we must put pressure on his overseas family to cut off their technological support channels."

A web of conspiracy spanning straits and oceans began to quietly tighten around Wang Huanbo and his family.

Beijing, No. 95 Nanluoguxiang, west courtyard.

Wang Huanbo stood by the study window, gazing at the silhouette of the jujube tree in the summer night breeze. He had just received, through top-secret channels, the official report that "Qiming-1" had been operating stably for a month, with excellent data in all aspects. A great weight lifted from his heart, a mixture of pride and satisfaction washing over him.

But almost instinctively, the senses within him, strengthened multiple times and subtly resonating with the energy of light, made his brow twitch slightly. A faint, unsettling feeling, like being watched by a venomous snake in the shadows, vaguely surfaced. He knew that the tallest tree in the forest catches the most wind. The light of "Enlightenment" was too bright; it would eventually sting the eyes of some. The previous minor skirmishes were probably just an appetizer; the real storm was perhaps brewing.

A cold, stern smile curved his lips. Assassination? Was he afraid? The Predator's stealth armor, Ultraman's original weaponry (a shield and energy manipulation technique he had rudimentarily developed by combining light energy), even the Decade belt (though he hadn't fully mastered its power, it already provided superhuman physical strength and reflexes)... these trump cards, ahead of their time, were the source of his confidence. Unless he was directly hit by a heavy missile or bombed by a nuclear weapon, he was fully capable of protecting himself, and even retaliating.

What he truly worried about was his Achilles' heel. His father, Wang Jinshan, his elder brother, Wang Huanfa, and his second sister, Wang Huanshuang, were far away in the United States… While they possessed a certain level of security, they were, after all, in the heart of capitalism; open attacks were easy to dodge, but hidden arrows were difficult to guard against. And what concerned him most was the person beside him—his wife, Lou Xiao'e, who was recently pregnant. In her womb lay the fruit of their love, his deepest connection to this era and this world. The thought that a potential threat might affect her sent a chilling glint of ruthlessness flashing across Wang Huanbo's calm eyes.

"Looks like I need to remind my family to step up their security. As for Xiao'e..." he pondered, "besides the overt security upgrades, perhaps I should prepare a little 'gift' for her too." He thought of using existing technology to create some concealed protective and alarm devices.

He returned to his desk, spread out a sheet of white paper, but instead of writing anything about technology or work, he began sketching simple lines—a rough sketch of a crib, with a tiny, toddler figure drawn beside it. Before his transmigration, he was a lowly laborer struggling for survival in the vast sea of ​​humanity, without any ties or expectations. Now, he was the chief engineer bearing heavy responsibilities, the hope of his family, a husband to his wife, and soon to be a father. This superposition of identities and the weight of responsibility gave him a deeper understanding of "power."

The strength of individuals and the power of technology ultimately converge into the strength of the nation. Only when a nation is truly strong, standing at the pinnacle of the world, possessing the power to deter all enemies from taking any rash actions, can everything it cherishes—family, loved ones, comrades, and the dream of hundreds of millions of compatriots on this land to live and work in peace and contentment—truly be protected.

His gaze became firm and profound, looking towards the northwest, as if it could penetrate thousands of mountains and rivers to see the "sun" burning silently deep in the Gobi Desert, the boiling lights of the Jinchuan mining area, and the figures who silently dedicate themselves in Lop Nur.

"Not enough, far from enough," he muttered to himself, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the table, the rhythm of some intricate blueprints. "The Ark Reactor is just the first step in energy; the Jinchuan Mine is the foundation of materials. Next, there are more advanced materials, more precise machine tools, more powerful engines, more intelligent controls… and those fragments hidden in my mind, fragments about the information age…"

He wanted to help this nation, which had suffered so much, stand up and straighten its spine ahead of time. He wanted those two once-proud "superstars" to one day have to speak with the awakened dragon of the East as equals, even with a touch of awe. He wanted to personally participate in building this future, for himself, for his family, and for this era and land he had become deeply involved in and loved.

Outside the window, summer insects chirped. Inside the courtyard, the lights in each household gradually went out, and everyone drifted off to sleep. But the light in the study in the west wing remained ever-burning, like a guiding star deep in the Gobi Desert, illuminating a journey destined to be extraordinary, and reflecting the undercurrents of crisis quietly surging beneath. Ahead lay both dazzling glory and thorny obstacles. But Wang Huanbo knew he had no other choice but to move forward.