No. 390 Qinghe Road, Shanghai, where several slightly old office buildings are located.
The nameplate at the door says "Longguo Academy of Sciences, Magic City Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics."
In one of the offices, Li Ru, dressed in a laboratory coat and with gray hair on his temples, sat blankly on a chair.
As soon as he came out of the laboratory, he received a call from his old friend Chu Xiangqi.
I was originally thinking that this old friend should ask him to help report to the superiors again, hoping that the superiors could rehire him back to work, right?
As an old friend who has worked together for many years, Li Ru knows Chu Xiangqi very well.
As long as there is a call from above, he will definitely return to the forefront of scientific research as soon as possible.
But this old friend's health was not good and he had undergone major surgery.
Whether it was his employer or his superiors, it was precisely because of this reason that his application was suppressed.
At this moment, this old friend said to me, someone wants to donate a 3-nanometer photolithography machine?
Li Ru only felt that his old friend's joke was a bit too big.
He picked up the mobile phone from the ground. It was okay and not broken.
"Old Chu, this joke is not funny at all."
Li Ru shook his head.
"A 3-nanometer lithography machine is not expensive, but it only costs a few hundred million dollars."
"I believe there are many patriotic entrepreneurs with strong funds and the ability to purchase this equipment."
“But want to ship it back to China?”
"You can't hide it from the beautiful country's spies."
"It's not like you don't know the structure of an extreme ultraviolet lithography machine."
"The whole machine weighs over 180 tons and is as big as a bus."
"To dismantle and ship the more than 100,000 parts would require at least 20 trucks or three fully loaded Boeing 747 aircraft."
"Whether you transport the whole machine or secretly disassemble it and store it in a secret warehouse."
"I'm afraid I'll be stopped before I even get on the road."
Why didn't Chu Xiangqi understand what Li Ru said?
When he received the call from Teacher Xu, he had the same thought as Li Ru.
Extreme UV lithography machines are not expensive.
There are many countries or companies around the world that can purchase this equipment.
Why not let Long Guo buy it?
Needless to say?
It can be said that every extreme ultraviolet lithography machine is under the surveillance of the US intelligence agency.
Want to buy and smuggle it back to Dragon Kingdom?
It is as difficult as climbing to heaven.
But out of his trust in Teacher Xu, Mr. Chu Xiangqi felt that he must at least give Teacher Xu a chance to prove himself.
After all, according to Teacher Xu, this advanced photolithography machine is already in the Dragon Kingdom.
No matter what, take someone to check it out for yourself. Isn’t everything clear?
"Lao Li, I'm not kidding you."
On the phone, Chu Xiangqi said extremely seriously:
"I know this matter is of great importance, so I called you."
"If it's true or false, we'll find out when we go to the scene."
"If it's true, everyone is happy."
"If it is false, I, Chu Xiangqi, will bear the responsibility for lying about military information."
Li Ru in the office was shocked when he heard his old friend's words.
The weight of these words is a bit heavy.
How could Li Ru not know what his old friend was like?
If it weren't for his poor health, his position should belong to an old friend.
Even the superior of the Magic City Microelectronics Laboratory, the Semiconductor Research Institute of the Long Academy of Science and Technology, once left a place for an old friend.
For him to be so serious, is it possible that what his old friend said is true?
In a flash of thought, Li Ru made a decision.
"Old Chu, you are right."
"You can tell if it's true or false at a glance."
"I will contact the Imperial Capital right away and send someone over to find out the truth with you."
"As for the responsibility, it's not your turn as a retired old man to shoulder the responsibility."
"Do you think we are all cowards?"
The two agreed on a time and place and hung up the phone.
Mr. Chu Xiangqi packed up his things and headed to the Magic City from Zhongnan.
"Grandpa, are you going on a long trip?"
Chu Mo, who was studying in his room, heard the noise outside and walked out.
"Um."
"I'm going to the Magic City."
Chu Xiangqi smiled and touched Chu Mo's head.
Hearing this, Chu Mo smiled and said, "Then I'll go with grandpa."
Grandpa's health is not very good. Chu Mo is worried that the long journey will make grandpa too tired.
Chu Xiangqi thought for a moment, smiled and nodded.
"Okay, let's go together."
"Maybe we can see your dad and the others this time."
Chu Mo perked up, "Really?"
"That's great!"
After saying that, he immediately went back to the room to pack his things.
…
Overseas islands, hot wind blows.
Du Yan and Lu Junwu were holding assault rifles at the outdoor shooting range as if they had just received their beloved toys, and continued shooting training.
During the break, they all understood very well when they heard that Teacher Xu was going back again.
"Teacher Xu, go and do your work, don't worry about us, we will train consciously." Du Yan smiled while stroking the assault rifle.
"We won't be lazy." Army Takeru grinned.
Physical fitness, will, fighting, firearms...
They have become accustomed to all kinds of training.
Even if Teacher Xu is away, Du Yan and Lu Junwu will be strict with themselves and never be lazy.
Opportunities are always reserved for those who are prepared.
If they don't know how to take advantage of such a good special training opportunity, it would be a waste of resources.
Xu Jie smiled and nodded, feeling a little helpless.
He was not surprised that Sun Woo-sung won the competition.
But at this time, he was rewarded with a fragment and allowed him to synthesize a 3-nanometer photolithography machine?
This is an unexpected situation.
This cutting-edge equipment can be put to use sooner if it is handed over to scientific researchers.
No delay.
Xu Jie arranged everything on the island and flew back to the Magic City without stopping.
…
At night in the Magic City, the lights are bright.
In a business car heading to the airport, Li Ru was chatting with another man.
"Yunhai, you didn't tell your dad about the breakthrough you made there?"
This man's name is Chu Yunhai, and he is Chu Mo's father.
There is a very conspicuous scar on his face, located between his chin and ear.
"Uncle Li, it's just a small breakthrough. We won't be complacent."
Chu Yunhai smiled and replied:
"Besides, there is an order from above, so I can't just say it casually."
"After all, my dad has retired a long time ago. It's not appropriate for him to pay attention to these things in real time."
"Currently, in the field of materials science, I heard that other brother units are also making gratifying progress."
"I hope it won't be long before we can achieve a technological breakthrough in the laboratory."
"But there is still a long way to go from laboratory to military and commercial use."
Having said this, Chu Yunhai showed a look of surprise again.
"Uncle Li, my dad really bought a 3-nanometer photolithography machine?"
He is not working in the microelectronics laboratory, but in another unit.
Chu Yunhai was very surprised when there was an order from above to follow Li Ru to verify a piece of equipment.
"Yunhai, let alone you, I can't believe it."
Li Ru smiled and replied:
"When I reported it to my superiors, the leaders in the imperial capital were also confused."
"I heard that the dean of the Semiconductor Research Institute of Longke Academy came here in person this time."