Building a Sci-Fi Empire: Starting with Cold Nuclear Fusion

On the way to the research lab.

Chen Yuan and Chu Yingying were talking about work.

Suddenly, a young woman's voice came from beside her, "Hello, Associate Researcher Chen."

Chen Yuan turned his head and saw a strange young woman. He replied with a bewildered look, "Hello."

The other person smiled, said nothing, and left.

Chen Yuan looked to the side, puzzled. "Xiao Chu, who is she?"

Chu Yingying introduced her, saying, "She is Zhang Meimei, the associate researcher in Research Lab No. 7."

Chen Yuan thought for a moment, then said uncertainly, "I don't think I know her. Why did she greet me?"

Chu Yingying showed none of the "shrew" demeanor she had online. Instead, she smiled and explained, "When you were in the control hall of the Oriental Super-Circuit yesterday, I guess she was there too. Those who saw you display your prowess naturally knew you were capable and would take the initiative to greet you."

Oh, I see.

Chen Yuan hadn't initially made that connection.

He laughed and said, "You mean, I've become a 'celebrity' within the research institute?"

Chu Yingying nodded and said, "Yes, but only those who were there yesterday. Others may not know about your deeds."

Everyone present yesterday signed a confidentiality agreement, so they definitely won't reveal anything.

Although the details are not publicly disclosed, there were hundreds of researchers present at the time.

The two walked and talked.

"Good morning, Associate Researcher Chen."

"Hello there."

"Associate Researcher Chen, are you heading to the research lab?"

"right."

Although everyone was busy in the lab at this time, about half of the people Chen Yuan and Chu Yingying encountered along the way greeted him.

Just as Chu Yingying said, Chen Yuan was quite well-known within the research institute, and he attracted attention wherever he went.

……

A day passed quickly.

On Friday morning, Chen Yuan and Chu Yingying were preparing to return to the administration building from the research lab.

Achoo!

"Associate Researcher Chen, do you have a cold?"

"It seems a little, but it's nothing serious. Thank you for your concern, Mr. Ma."

At the door, researcher Ma Weixing said with a big smile, "We're colleagues, it's only right that we care about each other. When you have some free time, I'll ask you for some advice."

Chen Yuan humbly replied, "We're just discussing nuclear fusion technology together. It's not really asking for advice, not at all."

He chatted with Ma Weixing for a few minutes, then left with Chu Yingying.

Once everyone had left, a young researcher surnamed Yu approached and asked, puzzled, "Hey, Engineer Ma, you need to ask Associate Researcher Chen for advice on nuclear fusion technology? What exactly happened in the control room the day before yesterday?"

Ma Weixing rolled his eyes and said, "I already said I can't tell you, why are you still asking? Although I can't tell you the specifics of what happened, I do need to consult Associate Researcher Chen on nuclear fusion research. I truly admire his high level of technical expertise."

Jiang Guowei, standing to the side, agreed wholeheartedly, saying, "Yes, when I first heard that Associate Researcher Chen was invited back by the research institute to lead a major scientific research project, I guessed that he might be very capable. But I never knew exactly how capable he was until I witnessed some things with my own eyes the day before yesterday. That's when I realized why the research institute invited him back to lead a major scientific research project. He's really amazing, incredibly amazing."

Xiao Su sighed, "He's so young, yet so capable. Compared to him, I feel like a piece of trash."

The seven or eight people who went to the control hall the day before yesterday were all very moved.

This made a large group of people who were unaware of the situation even more curious.

They desperately wanted to know what had happened the day before yesterday, but unfortunately, Xiao Su, Ma Weixing, Jiang Guowei, and others had signed a confidentiality agreement and refused to reveal anything.

Nevertheless, those who were unaware of the situation could still tell from the attitudes of Ma Weixing, Jiang Guowei, and others towards Chen Yuan that Chen Yuan must have demonstrated a very advanced nuclear fusion technology; otherwise, Ma Weixing and Jiang Guowei would not have been so convinced.

……

Achoo!

"Boss, you seem to be sneezing quite a lot. Perhaps you should take some medicine?"

"It's okay, just drink more hot water."

Chen Yuan and Chu Yingying walked and talked.

Soon, the two arrived at the bottom of the administration building.

Chen Yuan saw a familiar face.

The day before yesterday, I met the old, ugly scientist Andrei in the control hall of the EEG Superconducting Tokamak.

As soon as Andrei saw Chen Yuan, he immediately stepped forward with a smile and greeted him, "Hello, Mr. Chen."

Chen Yuan shook hands with the other party and said, "Hello, Mr. Andrei."

Andrei glanced at Chu Yingying, then turned his gaze to Chen Yuan's face. "Can we talk privately?"

Chen Yuan was puzzled, but he still told Chu Yingying to go upstairs to her office first.

Once only the two of them remained, Andrei extended an invitation: "Mr. Chen, would you be interested in working at our Old Ugly Fusion Lab? If you are willing, I will contact the head of the fusion lab immediately and offer you the best possible compensation."

Oh!

They want to recruit me to work at the Old Ugly Fusion Lab.

Chen Yuan directly refused, saying, "Mr. Andre, I'm sorry, I have no intention of working abroad."

Andrei did not give up and promised, "If you are willing to work in our fusion lab, I can persuade the person in charge to offer you an annual salary of more than 20 million US dollars. If you can produce scientific research results, it is not impossible for you to earn an annual salary of hundreds of millions of US dollars in the future."

They offer $20 million even without research achievements, and over $100 million a year if they do.

Postdoctoral researchers at the Old Ugly Fusion Laboratory earn an annual salary of $60,000 to $80,000.

Even top experts or laboratory directors only earn an annual salary of three to four hundred thousand.

Now the other party is asking for 20 million right off the bat?

They even promised an annual salary of over $100 million if I achieved good results in the future?

This shows just how much Andrei values ​​Chen Yuan.

To be honest, most people would be thrilled to hear about this salary and benefits.

Chen Yuan was tempted, but the salary wasn't enough to sway him. Besides, he couldn't possibly hand over his advanced nuclear fusion technology to Lao Chou.

He firmly refused, saying, "Sorry, I'm really not interested."

"Alright." Andrei said regretfully, then continued, "Although I can't invite you to work at the Old Ugly Fusion Lab, I still hope we can be friends. Could we exchange contact information?"

This time, Chen Yuan didn't refuse and nodded, saying, "Okay."

The two exchanged phone numbers.

Afterwards, Chen Yuan went upstairs.

As soon as he went upstairs, Dean Shen Yun came looking for him.

……

in the office.

Chu Yingying was sent away.

Sitting at his desk, Chen Yuan looked across at the person opposite him and asked, "Dean, you said you had something important to discuss. What is it?"

Shen Yun appeared very excited and said, "It's a joyous occasion, a great joyous occasion, but of course, it's also a very heavy responsibility."

Chen Yuan asked, "What exactly happened?"

Shen Yun said, "It's like this. Old Yu just called and asked me and you to prepare. We might have to go to Beijing for our dissertation defense within the next two weeks."

Chen Yuan asked in confusion, "A defense? You mean the project proposal defense? We didn't pass the first round of review, why do we suddenly have to defend it?"

Generally speaking, after the project application is submitted, it will go through one round of review and two rounds of defense.

The purpose of the first round of review is to determine whether the project is feasible.

The second round of defense involves in-depth evaluation, and also allows experts to provide feedback, promoting the diversification of technical approaches and establishing a dynamic adjustment mechanism.

In addition, the second round of defense review will also involve the approval of research funding.

In addition to some technical experts, two financial experts will participate in this stage.

Chen Yuan understood all of these things.

What he didn't understand was why they were already moving on to the second round of judging when there hadn't even been a single round of evaluation.

Shen Yun smiled and explained, "Normally, according to the normal procedure, there should be a preliminary review first. But the technical documents you submitted the day before yesterday were reviewed by the leaders and confirmed to be feasible. Isn't that equivalent to a preliminary review? So, the higher-ups relaxed the restrictions and allowed us to bypass one round of review and go directly to the defense review so that the project can be approved as soon as possible."

Upon hearing this, Chen Yuan was delighted. "You mean, as long as the defense review is passed, our project approval can also be obtained in a short time, instead of waiting for half a year?"

Shen Yun nodded and said, "That's right. Speaking of which, it's all thanks to the technologies you demonstrated the day before yesterday that the higher-ups saw the potential. Otherwise, the process wouldn't have been shortened."

It turned out to be the case.

Chen Yuan was very happy.

He originally thought it would take six months to get approval, which left him feeling somewhat helpless.

Unexpectedly, things took a turn for the better, and the controlled nuclear fusion project could be put on the agenda.

Well, he didn't actually know that after Mr. Lu learned about the control hall incident, he no longer dared to let him remain idle.

Mr. Lu was afraid that Chen Yuan would reveal the controlled nuclear fusion technology to outsiders again in order to "show off," so he naturally wanted to keep him busy and prevent him from "showing off" again.

Chen Yuan said, "It would be great if the project approval time could be shortened. Okay, I'll prepare some materials soon to make sure it doesn't delay the defense and review."

Shen Yun instructed, "You need to prepare well. You may not be able to go anywhere for the next two weeks, so you need to get the materials ready with me as soon as possible to avoid problems with the defense committee."

Chen Yuan promised, "No problem. I'll come to the research institute to do preparatory work even on my days off for the next two weeks. I won't go back to Suzhou."

As long as the project is approved, the controlled nuclear fusion project can be launched. He said he would do his best and would not waste any time.

Whether or not we take a break is irrelevant; the important thing is that the project is established as soon as possible.

Chen Yuan has a lot to do. Controlled nuclear fusion can't even be considered the beginning; it's just the initial preparation for becoming the greatest inventor and engineer in history.

He also wants to develop cold nuclear fusion!

We need to develop even more futuristic technologies!

He'll bring to life the Iron Man and spaceships from science fiction movies and TV shows, creating a true science fiction empire!