Super God-Level Top Student

...

In the small bedroom next door, three people sat down around a small round table.

This had been arranged in advance by Liu Chenfeng at the request of Xu Dajiang before Qiao Ze had returned.

After all, they couldn't waste the time of Qiao Ze and the two Academician big shots.

Once the three were seated, Chen Yiwen brought over three cups of tea, placed them on the table, and left. Then, Academician Zhang Zhijian asked with a beaming smile, "Qiao Ze, as we get older, our memory isn't what it used to be. Is it okay if we record our conversation?"

As he spoke, the elderly Academician took out a sleek recording pen from his pocket and gestured to Qiao Ze.

Qiao had no objections and nodded indifferently, he truly wasn't very concerned.

"Thank you," Zhang Zhijian said politely, then turned on the recording pen, placed it on the table, and glanced at Sheng Xuening beside him.

Sheng Xuening nodded slightly and then, dropping his smile, asked earnestly, "Qiao Ze, the paper you wrote about the photolithography machine, is it really derived entirely through theoretical derivation as you've described in your paper?"

Their statuses, after all, were different.

Before coming to Xilin University of Technology, they had confirmed through various channels that there were absolutely no research institutions in the country currently involved in research related to the content of Qiao Ze's paper.

Not even commercial companies.

After all, Qiao's concepts were grand, and putting them into practice would be hard to conceal from the industry insiders with access to much of the confidential content related to high-precision research and development.

Qiao Ze nodded again, this time finally uttering one word: "Yes."

Sheng Xuening and Zhang Zhijian exchanged glances once more.

"So, the data inside is also derived?"

"Yes."

"So what was your purpose in publishing this paper?"

"Youwei Group is a partner in the Group Wisdom project."

"Uh..." Continue reading at empire

There was no more detailed explanation, but the two Academicians probably understood.

Only, they felt even more astonished.

"How did you derive these data?"

"Models and formulas."

"This..."

"Let's not talk about that for now, let's discuss this paper, I don't quite understand, this auxiliary device you've added at the position of the circular ring notch, what is it for?"

Sheng Xuening opened his notebook,

"In concept, it's used to perform a secondary calibration on the high-energy beams to improve accuracy."

"Is it controlled through this protruding signal source here?"

"Right."

"You didn't seem to write about it this detailed in your paper?"

"Only the image without related discussion, letting the other party think, can better show that actually, I'm not that familiar with this system."

The two Academicians glanced at each other once again.

"That... if we really want to make this device, have you considered the structural diagrams of these critical components?"

"No, it's too complicated."

"Okay, can we talk about why this optical path uses a double-ring design? You didn't seem to mention it in your paper."

"To maximize the simplicity and rationality of the optical path. There are two schemes, but the other one requires adding two mirrors at points B and C, which demands higher precision. The information I have suggests that domestically, we are currently unable to produce such high-precision mirrors, so we had no choice but to resort to using a double-pass loop excitation.

Although it makes the device larger, it reduces the precision requirements for the manufacturing process."

"Oh... I see... And what about this part..."

Sheng Xuening was clearly thoroughly intrigued and began to incessantly question Qiao Ze about the design diagrams in his paper.

Qiao Ze was very cooperative in providing answers.

It was all material he had gone over several times in his head, especially the data-related reasoning which required careful consideration of each pathway and each component's function to ensure that the derived data could pass the supercomputer's checks within the margin of error.

What the supercomputer could accept as an error were the specific shapes, structures, and high-precision sizes and materials of the individual components.

These details didn't need to be spelled out in his paper, otherwise it wouldn't be a paper but an instruction manual for production.

The discussion went on for over an hour.

It was only when Zhang Zhijian coughed twice beside them that Sheng Xuening still seemed reluctant to end the conversation.

"Qiao Ze, if our Optoelectronics Institute wants to try to build your design, would you be willing to get involved?" Sheng Xuening looked at Zhang Zhijian, then eagerly turned to Qiao Ze to ask.

To their surprise, Qiao Ze decisively shook his head.

"Ah? Why not?"

"This is just the general direction; it involves designing more than six thousand components and testing materials suitable for these parts, which will take a very long time. I have more important things to do. Plus, I did all this just to be able to buy the most advanced lithography machine directly from the other party.

Even if this were built, I estimate that its performance could at most be on par with ASML's current products."

"This..." Sheng Xuening stared blankly at Qiao Ze.

An eighteen-year-old kid, telling him he didn't have time to work on such an extensive and practically meaningful project?

What on earth do today's kids consider more important?

"Cough cough..." Zhang Zhijian cleared his throat and took over the conversation.

"Qiao Ze, you're looking at it too simply. I admit that in the short term, your idea indeed has a chance of success, but if we do nothing, the lie will eventually be exposed. Even if we obtained the latest lithography machines, what would we do if we didn't master the maintenance technology and high precision equipment broke down?

What if the other party realizes we actually don't have that ability and uses remote lockdowns or other means to restrict production? Some technologies, if not in our own hands, are worrisome."

Qiao Ze tilted his head slightly, thought for a moment, and said, "But research in our country will not stop."

"Exactly!"

Zhang Zhijian slapped his thigh and said, "Qiao Ze, actually it's not as complicated as you think. What Huaxia doesn't lack is the ability to concentrate resources to accomplish great tasks. More than six thousand components is indeed a lot, but we can organize tens of thousands of engineers to work on it. Material testing?

Just at your Xilin College of Materials Science I know there are several strong teams, not to mention the many universities and scientific research institutes across the country. Before we talk about whether we can do it, should we not first make a rough prototype? That way, it would be less likely to give us away in the future, right?"

Qiao Ze nodded slightly and said, "That makes sense."

However, before Zhang Zhijian could show a satisfied smile, Qiao Ze added, "But you don't need me."

Sheng Xuening blinked and suddenly said, "Qiao Ze is right, but I think even if it's just for show, we need to put on a convincing act. For example, Qiao Ze, you've been to the newest lithography machine labs; it's not suitable for you to continue your research here, as the security level doesn't match up. It would be better if you went to a more official place in the school.

And you need a few more professional assistants around to help with auxiliary research tasks; that's still correct, isn't it?"

Qiao Ze thought for a moment, then nodded again and said, "Okay, if you encounter problems and I happen to have time, I could help you think of solutions. Then have the contact person you arrange get back to me. In exchange, when my mentor, Li Jian Gao, is eligible for the academicians' selection, you'll nominate him."

"Ah?" Both men froze.

After all, the trade was quite blunt.

"Li Jian Gao?" Sheng Xuening was somewhat puzzled.

"Right, my mentor. He has made contributions to the Qunzhi System second only to mine. He will also contribute to solving a very difficult global mathematical problem in the future; shouldn't he become an academician?" Qiao Ze said earnestly.

Sheng Xuening wanted to say something else, but Zhang Zhijian gave him a look and he promptly closed his mouth.

"Haha, these are trivial matters. Although we are academicians of the engineering academy and generally don't write recommendation letters across disciplines, it doesn't matter—I have several old friends who are from the School of Mathematics. As long as Professor Li achieves results, nominating him won't be an issue."

Qiao Ze raised an eyebrow, looked seriously at Zhang Zhijian, and said, "The youngest academician is thirty-eight years old; my mentor is thirty-four this year, so I choose to believe you."

Zhang Zhijian was stunned, then smiled wryly and said, "Qiao Ze... never mind... you're definitely not wrong to trust me."