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

Wu Shuang waved her hand, "I'm not going in. The logistical supplies have been handed over, and I have other tasks to handle. I came here today just to see you." She paused briefly, then continued, "If you have any messages you'd like to give to Xiaoyun, you can write a letter and let me pass it on. I've already spoken to your commander-in-chief, so it doesn't violate any confidentiality regulations."

A complex mix of emotions welled up in Liu Guangqi's heart. This mother-in-law had taken the concept of "protecting one's own" to the extreme, and always managed to break the mold in unexpected ways. The entire base was heavily guarded, yet she managed to drive a jeep right up to the research institute's gate.

But he maintained a gentle yet firm smile, politely declining the offer: "Mom, there's no need. Now that I'm here, I should strictly abide by the rules. Don't worry, things are progressing smoothly here, and I'll be able to go back soon."

Wu Shuang was slightly taken aback, then smiled with relief. She knew the rules of a classified unit well, and she also knew her son-in-law's temperament—minor matters could be tolerated, but matters of principle would never be compromised. She gently patted Liu Guangqi's hand: "It was Mom's oversight. You did the right thing; that's the kind of awareness one should have in a classified unit. I'll reassure Xiaoyun and tell her that everything is fine, so she can rest assured."

The north wind suddenly intensified, howling across the open field. Wu Shuang's military overcoat billowed in the wind, making her appear even more imposing. The bodyguard beside the jeep whispered a reminder, "Sir, it's time."

She glanced at her watch, her brow furrowing almost imperceptibly.

"Guangqi, it's time for Mom to go."

Liu Guangqi nodded and accompanied her to the military green jeep. The soldier in the driver's seat started the engine, and the deep roar was particularly clear in the silence.

Wu Shuang opened the car door, but turned back before getting in. At that moment, the sternness on her face had completely vanished, leaving only pure affection.

"Work hard," her voice was gentle yet firm. "Your family is so proud of you." She paused for a moment, then added, "Take good care of yourself here all by yourself, and don't worry us."

At this moment, she was no longer that powerful and influential figure, but simply an ordinary mother who cared for her children. Her simple words resonated deeply with Liu Guangqi.

He had to admit that he was lucky to have such a mother-in-law. If he ever encountered any difficulties, she would definitely do everything in her power to protect him.

"I will, Mom," Liu Guangqi replied with a smile, warmth welling up in her eyes.

The jeep slowly drove away, disappearing into the dust and smoke until it vanished at the end of the road. Liu Guangqi stood there, watching the vehicle until it was out of sight, before turning and walking towards the research institute.

Director Deng and Team Leader Yu stood a few steps away, their faces like a vivid stage. They stood there on either side of Liu Guangqi, their gazes fixed on him like nails, their expressions a mixture of surprise, inquiry, and a subtle, indescribable feeling.

Director Deng finally couldn't hold back and blurted out, "Comrade Guangqi, you really... gave us quite a shock." His words still carried the lingering fear, clearly indicating that the scene just now had a significant impact on him.

Liu Guangqi understood perfectly well what had stunned them. Now that they had seen everything clearly, any further hesitation or attempt to hide anything would only make them seem cowardly. He put on his usual gentle smile and casually took over the conversation: "Director Deng, Team Leader Yu, please excuse my rudeness. This is my mother-in-law. She happened to be in the area on some business and stopped by to see me."

Director Deng and Team Leader Yu shook their heads in unison. With such a background, genuine skills, and such humble and courteous manners, these two veterans couldn't help but feel a complex mix of emotions. Are all young people these days so remarkable?

In the days that followed, the academic atmosphere within the Institute of Nuclear Theory became so thick it was almost palpable. A seminar called the "Speech Meeting" became an unwavering tradition between the Atomic Energy Group and the Nuclear Theory Group. Both sides took turns on stage, with a clear and consistent goal: to further solidify the theoretical foundation of all researchers.

Director Deng and Team Leader Yu, these pillars of the institute, also rolled up their sleeves and stepped forward to give reports to the young researchers, explaining difficult questions in detail. The institute's conference room became the most bustling corner of the entire base. Before dawn, it was already packed. The seats around the long wooden table were all taken, and those who arrived later simply brought their own small stools and lined up densely along the wall. Those who couldn't find a space blocked the doorway, craning their necks to peer inside.

Everyone held a notebook in their hand, pen tip hovering above the paper, eyes fixed intently on the huge blackboard in front of them, afraid of missing even a single crucial number or symbol. The blackboard on the wall was divided into several sections by chalk marks: the left side was densely covered with calculations of the implosion mechanism, several key parameters heavily circled in red chalk, glaringly bright; the middle section contained calculations of the hydrogen bomb configuration, layers upon layers of symbols resembling cryptic writing; the original blank space on the right side was also filled with questions, even the wooden blackboard frame was not spared.

"There's something wrong with this neutron flux parameter!"

"Old Qin, double-check the data from last night; it's off by 0.01 orders of magnitude!"

"No mistake! That's the exact number! I guarantee it with my integrity!"

"Your personality score is on the order of 0.01? Quickly, bring me your notebook, I'll calculate it for you right here!"

The arguments in the meeting room grew louder and louder, yet there wasn't a trace of anger. One moment they were arguing heatedly over a parameter, their necks red and veins bulging; the next, one would proactively push over their own calculation drafts, pointing to a certain line: "Look at this step of my derivation, the logic is here, where do you think the problem is?"

Someone was engrossed in writing when their pen suddenly ran out of ink, causing them to frantically shake the pen. A new pen, fully saturated with ink, was silently handed to them from the side, the person handing it over without even looking up.

Lunchtime arrived, and the cooks had brought in large bamboo baskets of barley buns, piled on the corner of the table, steaming hot, but no one paid them any attention. Then Director Deng picked up his enamel mug and banged it on the table: "Eat first! Even if the sky falls, we need to fill our stomachs first! We'll continue the debate this afternoon!"

Everyone burst into laughter and grabbed their steamed buns to devour them. Liu Guangqi watched this scene in silence, feeling a surge of emotion: such a pure and passionate scene, where everyone eagerly throws themselves into their research, could probably only be witnessed in these special times.

However, every profession has its own secrets. Nuclear physics, fluid mechanics, optical measurement, radiochemistry... these fields were like languages ​​from another world to him. He was well aware of his limitations and didn't linger in that bustling conference room.

His base of operations was in the computer room next door.

"Buzz—Buzz—"

The massive server rack emitted a continuous, deep, rhythmic hum, while rows of indicator lights blinked and flickered like breathing. Liu Guangqi's figure was almost always immersed in this mechanical rhythm. Amidst the background noise of the computers running, his clear and calm voice always provided explanations. Now, everyone in the research institute's computer group respected him—whether it was program optimization, hardware troubleshooting, or operational tips, Liu Guangqi could always provide the most direct, concise, and effective solutions. With such abilities, it's no wonder he was able to overcome industry barriers and be invited to serve as a technical consultant.

The academic discussion between the two projectile theory groups had just ended, and the machines in the computer room were still humming softly. As Liu Guangqi verified the instrument data, he heard the people in the mushroom cloud nuclear theory group next door marveling at the convenience brought by the second-generation transistor computer—those complex calculations and verifications were now much easier.

"Check complete, everything is normal."

He raised his hand and gently patted the chassis, causing a slight ripple of dust in the beam of light.

"The electronic components produced in-house are indeed reliable. Even after running continuously for so long, the temperature and parameters remain stable."

At this point, his tone became slightly somber, adding a touch of seriousness.

"However, I must remind Team Leader Yu: after each use, it is best to wait an hour before starting it again. Allow the machine to cool down completely and let the components breathe—even the sturdiest lump of iron can't withstand continuous operation."

Before the words were even finished, a calm yet powerful voice came from behind:

"I have taken Comrade Guangqi's suggestion to heart."

Team Leader Yu had been standing by the door for some time now, a smile on his face, but his eyes revealed deep contemplation. This mind, hailed as "faster than a computer," had been listening to the report at the meeting, but his attention was constantly diverted to this—the second-generation computer in the research institute was currently crucial to the step-by-step advancement of hydrogen bomb theory, and no detail could be overlooked.

"I'll arrange the shift system immediately." He nodded, then looked at Liu Guangqi with a burning gaze. "But what I really want to ask is: Comrade Guangqi, can this machine... go any faster?"

He rubbed his palms together, his expression a mixture of a child seeing a new and exciting toy and a general scrutinizing a blade yet to be drawn. He understood this principle better than anyone: with every increase in computing power, theory could advance tenfold.

"Could you build a computer that's ten or a hundred times faster than the ones we have now?"

As expected of Team Leader Yu. Even though he is not an expert in this field, he has keenly grasped the most crucial thread in practical application—the insatiable thirst for computing power.

"able."

Liu Guangqi didn't beat around the bush and answered directly.

His tone was calm, yet each word fell like a stone into a deep pool.

"But this requires a breakthrough in another area: small-scale integrated circuits. Once the technology matures, the computing speed of the next generation of computers will no longer be tens of thousands of operations per second—"

He paused briefly, then clearly uttered the following words:

"It's millions of times per second."

"A million times?"

Team Leader Yu's smile froze instantly, replaced by a solemn expression tinged with astonishment and deep thought. He wasn't inexperienced in weathering storms, but the number "million" was like a boulder suddenly plunged into still water, stirring up ripples in his mind. 110,000 times per second was already like opening a new window; what about a million times? What kind of world would that be?

If such a machine truly existed, all the complex models and massive calculations of the future would perhaps be rendered insignificant by it—time would no longer be an enemy to be chased, but rather quicksand that could be grasped in the palm of one's hand.

Team Leader Yu took a deep breath, strode forward, and firmly grasped Liu Guangqi's right hand with both of his. The palm was rough and warm, and the grip was solid.

"Comrade Guangqi! I'm begging you!"

This scientific giant, who would later be recorded in history, revealed a rare tremor in his voice at this moment.

"For the sake of the research at hand, and for the sake of our country—please, please, Institute of Computing Technology…you must build such a machine!"

Looking at the sincerity in the eyes of this pillar of the nation, whose heart was devoted to his country, Liu Guangqi felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He grasped the other man's hand in return and nodded solemnly.

"Rest assured, Team Leader Yu. This isn't just your expectation, it's also my direction. As long as the Institute of Computing Technology still needs me in the research and development of third-generation computers—"

His gaze was calm and resolute.

"Within three years at most, I will ensure you have access to a domestically produced computer capable of operating at a million calculations per second."

Liu Guangqi silently added a sentence in his heart:

Without his intervention, this journey might have taken until 1973.

But now that he is here, he should personally fold a new crease in the blueprint of history—just as the second-generation computer was born three years ahead of schedule, he will surely push it forward at breakneck speed in the next stage.

Under such favorable conditions, it is not difficult to develop a computer using third-generation small-scale integrated circuits within three years.

Once this level of computer is available, Liu Guangqi will be able to use it to promote the development of photolithography and the entire semiconductor industry chain, showcasing to the world the amazing power of this Eastern dragon on the road to industrialization.

After a brief exchange with Team Leader Yu on future technological plans, Liu Guangqi took his leave. He was not an expert in nuclear weapons, and staying might hinder the intellectual exchange among these research elites.