Courtyard House: I'm an engineer, and a fairy godmother transferred me to a different position.

Director Deng's gaze followed the chalk's trajectory, then slowly returned to the young engineer's face. If anyone else had said those words, he probably would have already reprimanded them. The Model 104 computer was a national treasure, the culmination of countless efforts; its internal structure was as intricate as a maze. How could it be altered so easily? Especially not in this resource-scarce Gobi Desert.

But the person speaking was Liu Guangqi.

Working together these past few days has given Director Deng a deep understanding of this young man. He possesses genuine talent and learning, yet never flaunts it; he is calm and reserved, but principled. During his time at the institute, he never gave a second glance to core research outside his scope of responsibility, let alone asked a single question about it.

Now that Liu Guangqi has so clearly proposed a solution within his own professional field, then—

Could he really do it?

Director Deng took a deep breath, his expression becoming extremely serious. He stared at the young man before him and asked in a deep voice, "How confident are you?"

The voice wasn't loud, but it carried immense weight.

Liu Guangqi gently put down the chalk and patted his fingers, which were covered in white powder. He met Director Deng's scrutinizing gaze, his face expressionless, as calm as if he were discussing what to have for dinner.

"There's no need to talk about being certain."

He paused slightly, but his tone remained calm and composed.

"Give me the tools and materials I need. Come and inspect the results in person three days later."

After he finished speaking, the room became so quiet that you could hear someone breathing.

In the following days, Liu Guangqi, an engineer originally working in the industrial sector, became the busiest person in the entire research institute. He no longer focused solely on the CNC center's affairs, but instead rolled up his sleeves and threw himself into another task.

In the workshop of that five-axis CNC center, his focused figure could often be seen. Upon closer inspection, people would discover that he was processing and manufacturing precision parts for vacuum tube computers.

"Comrade Guangqi," a computer researcher exclaimed, dumbfounded, "you...you're really just an engineer from the industrial sector?"

Liu Guangqi didn't even look up, his hands moving without pausing for a moment: "I had some exposure to computer principles in university. Later, every time I developed CNC machine tools, I was always dealing with computing devices..."

"So I know a little bit."

Those around who heard this were all deeply moved. This was far from just "having a superficial understanding." His profound understanding of computer mechanical structures and superb hands-on skills clearly surpassed those of many engineers in the institute who specialized in this field.

Because Liu Guangqi not only carried out the physical modifications, he also provided theoretical guidance and support. Only now did everyone clearly realize this.

The people in the research institute gradually realized that Liu Guangqi's expertise in the field of computer science was far more profound than they had anticipated. This young man not only knew a lot, but he was also virtually omniscient; no matter what the question was, he could always provide a clear and accurate answer. After just a few days of interaction, the dozen or so people in the computing lab were all completely convinced of his extensive knowledge.

Gradually, no one looked down on him because of his youth, nor did anyone think that his background in industrial engineering created a barrier between him and computer science. On the contrary, when people encountered difficulties in calculations, they would naturally think of asking him for help. And each time, Liu Guangqi would always come up with a brilliant solution.

"Process the constant terms first, then process the variable terms."

Liu Guangqi stood in front of the blackboard, explaining to the researchers whose average age was much older than his. His voice was steady and clear:

"The 104-type hand-cranked calculator we are currently using causes wear to the internal gears with each crank. Therefore, if we can fix the constant term, we can reduce the number of repeated cranking operations by tens of thousands, which will save manpower and extend the life of the machine."

An elderly researcher wearing reading glasses paused for a moment, then patted his forehead:

"So that's how it is! We were so focused on pursuing computing speed that we forgot that machines also have a lifespan."

These words seemed to open a floodgate, and questions came one after another.

"Comrade Guangqi, how should we handle the carry-over delay? We've been struggling with this for a long time."

"And the logic judgment unit often makes mistakes. Do you have any solutions?"

Faced with a barrage of questions, Liu Guangqi remained calm and composed. When someone mentioned carry-over delay, he picked up the chalk and began to perform calculations fluently on the blackboard.

Since then, the atmosphere of the entire research institute has subtly changed. Liu Guangqi acted like a magnet, naturally attracting those around him. The way people looked at him gradually shifted from initial politeness and reservation to genuine respect among colleagues. No one mentioned his age anymore, nor did they care about his original major—here, the ability to solve problems was the most important thing.

Sometimes, the scene was even a bit too lively. In the cafeteria, as soon as Liu Guangqi picked up his lunchbox and sat down, several people quickly gathered around him.

"Comrade Guangqi, could you please take a look at this problem?"

A researcher moved his lunchbox aside and handed him a notebook.

"Wait a minute, let me do this one first! I've been stuck on this calculation for two days."

In no time at all, before Liu Guangqi had even finished his steamed bun, several notebooks were already laid out in front of him, leaving him somewhat overwhelmed, yet he couldn't help but smile.

Of course, these issues do not involve any classified projects and are limited to academic discussions.

On the other side, Director Deng, holding an enamel teacup, looked at Liu Guangqi, who was surrounded by a crowd, his eyes revealing an undisguised smile. He said to his assistant beside him:

"See? I wasn't wrong, was I? This young man is a rare gem."

The deputy couldn't help but smile. Who would have thought that the nuclear weapons theory research institute would welcome such a person?

In this atmosphere, three days passed in the blink of an eye. The Type 104B machine, modified by Liu Guangqi, was officially put into use. The expected noisy commotion did not occur; instead, a series of crisp and continuous clicking sounds, as brisk as the ticking of a clock, filled the air.

"Um?"

An elderly researcher paused, his hands unconsciously quickening their pace. He could clearly feel the crank turning was quieter, and the numbers on the dial were jumping rapidly. Calculations that used to take a whole day could now be completed in at least six hours. Moreover, the probability of the computer malfunctioning had been reduced by half.

Most importantly, just as Liu Guangqi had promised, the upgraded 104B machine achieved a floating-point operation speed of 30,000 times per second—a two-fold increase compared to the original efficiency of 10,000 times per second.

It's worth noting that the second-generation transistor computer, the 109B, developed later, only achieved a floating-point operation speed of 60,000 operations per second. For this modified first-generation vacuum tube computer to reach such a level was truly remarkable.

For a moment, the entire computing room fell silent, with only the whirring of the machines, as if silently narrating this silent transformation.

Inside the computing room, the research team members stood around the modified 104B computer, their faces beaming with barely suppressed excitement and joy. Director Deng patted Liu Guangqi firmly on the shoulder, his voice filled with emotion:

"Comrade Guangqi, you are truly omnipotent! You are proficient in machine tools and have a deep understanding of computer technology. No wonder even the Institute of Computing Technology cannot do without your technical support."

Faced with the praise from this distinguished elder in the field of scientific research, Liu Guangqi merely raised the corners of his mouth slightly, his heart not stirred by much emotion. This experience with the transformation mission made him more acutely aware of the current weakness of China's scientific research foundation.

In his previous understanding, computer technology had already entered the era of ultra-large-scale integrated circuits, with a peak computing speed of 257 trillion operations per second. What a huge difference that is!

Even under such rudimentary conditions—using only hand-cranked calculators, abacuses, and pen and paper—the nation's researchers still managed to complete the theoretical design of the mushroom bomb step by step. They silently forged a weapon for the country, upholding the backbone of the nation.

Thinking of all this, Liu Guangqi felt nothing but admiration. True glory belongs to these researchers who persevere day and night.

The winds of the Gobi Desert, carrying sand and cold, felt like knives cutting into his face. Before he knew it, Liu Guangqi had spent nearly a month and a half at the Jinyintan base. The day of his return had arrived.

After repeatedly checking the five-axis CNC center and confirming that everything was operating correctly, he decided to set off. In fact, if he had requested a postponement, the Ministry of Machine Building would never have refused—forging swords for the country was a matter of paramount importance; who would dare to stop him?

But he still chose to leave. It wasn't out of fear of the hardships here—in fact, the days spent living and working alongside these researchers, dedicating himself to national defense, were spiritually fulfilling and heartwarming. It was just that the industrial front was too vast, and much of the work still required his return to coordinate.

After explaining his intention to leave to Director Deng, his application was quickly approved. His mission was originally scheduled for two months, including travel time, with the core objective being to ensure the assembly and stable operation of the CNC center. Now that the goal had been achieved, Director Deng did not try to keep him, and quickly issued him a certificate and arranged a return convoy.

When the news spread, many people from the institute spontaneously came to see him off. Some members of several research groups were unable to attend due to their geographically dispersed work locations, but their goodwill was deeply conveyed.

As they parted, Director Deng held Liu Guangqi's hand tightly at the gate, his voice lingering with affection:

"Time flies. Comrade Guangqi, you've helped us solve many problems and brought many new ideas this time. On behalf of the entire institute, I thank you."

As he spoke, he took a fountain pen from his jacket pocket. The pen wasn't brand new, but it had been carefully preserved.

"This pen has been with me for many years. I've written reports with it and signed liability agreements with it. I'm giving it to you today as a small token of my appreciation for what I've done for you all this time."

Liu Guangqi was taken aback for a moment, then quickly declined, "Director, this is too much! We're all learning from each other; I was just doing my job."

He knew the significance of this pen—it had accompanied Director Deng through countless challenging moments, and was no longer just a writing tool, but a witness to history and a spiritual sustenance.

"Take this," Director Deng said, placing the pen into his hand. His tone was gentle but brooked no refusal. "Consider it a parting gift from an elder."

Liu Guangqi stopped refusing, gripped his pen tightly, and his eyes welled up slightly. He then handed a stack of neatly organized documents to Director Deng.

"These are the improved drawings, technical points, and equipment maintenance manual for the 104B machine that I compiled in my spare time. I'm leaving them for the institute's reference. If the machine encounters any problems in the future, we can handle them according to the manual."

At this moment, other researchers stepped forward and handed him a copy of "Fundamentals of Nuclear Physics" covered in signatures:

"Comrade Guangqi, please accept this!"

His colleagues at the research institute handed him a book covered in signatures.

"This was written by everyone together, just to leave you a memento."

Liu Guangqi took the book, his fingertips tracing the dense signatures on the title page. Some of the handwriting was neat, some was messy, but they all conveyed the same warmth. He looked at it quietly, a warm feeling welling up inside him.

The low hum of a car engine came from outside the door. Director Deng approached, patted his arm, and looked at him with approval.

"I know there's a lot of work waiting for you in the ministry." The director's voice was gentle but firm. "National defense is a matter of utmost importance, but the machines you've developed can genuinely improve people's lives, and that's equally remarkable. As researchers, we must not only shoulder the heavy responsibilities of the nation but also be grounded in the realities of everyday life—you've managed to balance both perfectly."

He escorted Liu Guangqi to the car, but as he was about to open the door, he leaned down slightly and lowered his voice, as if to say something private:

"Don't worry about the academician position. I've already spoken with the senior colleagues in the institute." Director Deng smiled, his tone full of confidence. "Your abilities are more than enough to warrant this title."

The jeep drove away from the research institute, leaving a thin trail of dust in the Gobi Desert.

Liu Guangqi glanced in the rearview mirror. The building, hidden deep in the desert, gradually shrank from a clear outline into a blurry gray dot, eventually melting into the horizon where heaven and earth meet. He turned his gaze back, his mind churning with thoughts.

During his trip to Northwest China, he repaired machine tools and improved computers, but his achievements went far beyond that. He met a group of truly admirable colleagues and, more importantly, quietly sowed a seed for the future of industry on this land of industrial forging.

The return journey was still long and bumpy. At each checkpoint, the driver had to get out and repeatedly verify documents, a tedious process that was exhausting. But Liu Guangqi's mindset was already different.