Live Stream 1980: Netizens Teach Me How to Make a Rocket by Hand

Zhao Qing looked like she'd seen a ghost, her mouth agape as if she could fit an egg in it, and the beaker in her hand slipped from her palm, almost making a sound in this serious setting.

Although she couldn't understand the complex algorithmic logic behind it, she could read Xu Lao's micro-expressions.

The manager of the service shop, whom she regarded as a "shoe repairman," was actually able to sit down and discuss with a leading figure in the domestic rare earth industry, and even made Mr. Xu nod repeatedly, as if he had found a treasure.

Is this scientific? Is this reasonable?

"Xiao Lin," Old Xu's voice was hoarse, tinged with confusion.

"These nonlinear compensation parameters, and the idea behind 'fuzzy PID control'..."

He paused, his eyes sharp: "Did you really come up with that?"

Lin Xi was prepared and calmly shifted the blame to the other side of the ocean:

"Mr. Xu, as you know, our Red Star recently has a collaboration with Sears department store in the United States."

"I have an old friend named Harrison, who is the purchasing director there."

"I love learning, so I asked him to send me foreign academic journals often to pass the time."

"The information in those journals is quite varied, and I like to piece it together when I have nothing else to do."

"With the collective wisdom of our R&D staff at the launch site, this immature idea came about."

Lin Xi pointed to his temple and spoke nonsense with a straight face.

A flurry of semi-transparent bullet comments instantly appeared in the field of vision:

[What the hell is this brainstorming?! I'm considered a 'research and development staff member'? I'm just someone who tightens screws!]

Harrison: I was just sitting at home when this happened! I didn't do it, I didn't, don't talk nonsense!

[Is this the legendary "Strategic Deception Bureau" unofficial staff? That mouth of his could fool a ghost without batting an eye.]

[This streamer's move was absolutely brilliant! This is the ultimate evolution of "learning from the barbarians to subdue them"—"incorporating the barbarians' strengths"!]

Old Xu nodded thoughtfully.

In this age of limited information, the other side of the ocean truly represents mystery and progress.

If it's a combination of "collective wisdom" and inspiration from "foreign journals," then this explanation makes sense, and even seems quite reasonable.

"We...we really are far behind."

Old Xu sighed and then turned around.

His previously gentle gaze instantly turned stern as he swept his eyes over the group of students.

"Did you all hear that?"

"From now on, read more foreign journals. Even if you don't understand them, look them up in the dictionary and study them word by word!"

"Stop thinking you're some kind of chosen one, look at Xiao Lin!"

"You've managed to make such a name for yourselves in logistics, aren't you ashamed?"

Zhao Qing lowered her head in shame, wishing she could disappear into a crack in the ground, gripping the beaker tightly in her hand.

After reprimanding the students, Old Xu turned around and looked at the almost perfect plan in his hand, but the light in his eyes gradually dimmed.

"but……"

Old Xu's enthusiasm suddenly cooled. Looking at the near-perfect plan in his hand, he gave a wry smile.

"Comrade Lin, your theory is impeccable."

"But this system..."

"Fully automated centrifugal extraction equipment is needed, as well as high-precision online detection instruments."

"You saw it too."

Old Xu pointed to the dilapidated surroundings.

"We don't even have a good chromatograph; we're using makeshift methods."

"To turn your theory into reality, it's simply impossible without an investment of hundreds of thousands of dollars in equipment."

"Even if we sell our lab, we still can't raise that much money."

The air seemed to become thick and heavy at that moment.

This was the deepest helplessness and sorrow of researchers in that era.

His mind was filled with the stars and the sea, but his hands were only filled with firewood and scraps. Even a skilled cook can't cook without rice; this is a perfect example.

[This brought tears to my eyes. This is the paradox of "how the poor can get rich" in that era—having the technology but lacking the equipment.]

[Host! Show us your talent! Don't hold back!]

[Spend money! Spend it big! This money is well spent!]

Lin Xi didn't speak, but turned to look at Zhang Zhengguo, who had been quietly drinking tea beside her.

Zhang Zhengguo put down his teacup, patted off non-existent dust from his trousers, and slowly stood up.

At that moment, a compelling aura emanated from the deputy chief commander of the launch site.

"Old Xu, we're not here to waste our breath with empty words."

Zhang Zhengguo held up five fingers, speaking calmly:

"Red Star Labor Service Center is willing to contribute US$50 as special research and development funds."

"Clang!"

This time, Zhao Qing really couldn't keep the beaker in her hand.

The crisp cracking sound was particularly jarring in the deathly silent laboratory, like a thunderclap.

But nobody paid any attention to the beaker.

Everyone suspected that their hearing system was malfunctioning.

"How much...?" Old Xu wondered if he had misheard, and even picked at his ear.

"50 US dollars."

Zhang Zhengguo emphasized his words and pointed at Lin Xi, "Manager Lin will pay for this."

Everyone in the lab gasped, staring at Lin Xi as if she were a monster.

"What are the conditions?" Old Xu, after all, was a man who had seen many storms. He suppressed the shock in his heart and quickly regained his composure.

"What do you want with such a large sum of money?"

Lin Xi stood up, walked to the rows of murky test tubes, and her gaze deepened:

"Two conditions."

"First, this money will not only be used to purchase the most advanced mass spectrometers and centrifuges from Europe and the United States, but also to establish a full-process pilot production line."

"We want to produce a single rare earth element with a purity of 5N (99.999%) in this laboratory."

"Secondly, Red Star Service Center has the right to use all the laboratory's results, but may not sublicense them."

"Furthermore, you need to help us train a group of front-line engineers who understand the process."

Lin Xi turned around, his gaze sharp, and looked directly at Old Xu:

"Mr. Xu, I want to make it so that in the future, foreigners who want to buy rare earth elements can only buy our finished products."

"As for the price... that's up to us."

"I want them to know that although there is soil beneath their feet, the word 'scarcity' is in our hands."

These words were powerful and assertive, exuding an air of dominance!

Old Xu stared at Lin Xi for a full half minute.

Gradually, tears welled up in those cloudy eyes.

His biggest dream in life is to transform China from a "rare earth superpower" into a "rare earth power".

We will no longer watch those strategic resources, which are more precious than gold, be sold off cheaply abroad like cabbages!

"good!"

Old Xu nodded emphatically, his voice even cracking slightly with excitement:

"Give me six months if you have this equipment..."

"No, three months!"

"I swear on my life, I'll get that entire separation process running smoothly for you!"

"Manager Lin..."

Once the matter was settled, Zhao Qing, who had been hiding in the corner like an ostrich, came over, her face as red as a ripe tomato.

She lowered her head, twisting the hem of her clothes with her fingers, and murmured:

"I'm...I'm sorry. I just..."

Lin Xi waved her hand, interrupting her apology.

"Zhao, there's no need to apologize."

Lin Xi smiled and pointed to the old centrifuge:

"However, once the new equipment arrives, I hope you can memorize the instruction manual."

"After all, it cost $50 to acquire, so it's very valuable."

Zhao Qing looked up abruptly, his eyes filled with gratitude and shame, and nodded heavily, as if accepting a military order.

……

When I walked out of the red brick building, it was almost dusk.

The setting sun, like blood, dyed the entire research institute a golden-red hue.

Zhang Zhengguo glanced back at the still brightly lit laboratory and couldn't help but sigh:

"Lin Xi, you've really gone too far with this."

"50 US dollars... Did we act a little impulsively just now?"

"impulse?"

Lin looked at the last rays of the setting sun on the horizon, a cold smile curving his lips.

"Mr. Zhang, this $50 is not for expenses, it's bait."

"With Mr. Xu's technology, I can turn that pile of mixed rare earth concentrate into seventeen golden elements."

"By then, our prices will have increased a hundredfold..."

Lin Xi paused, then said softly:

"I'm afraid this is just the starting price."

......