Break out of the courtyard

Although school hasn't started yet and it's not the eighth day of the Lunar New Year for work, the administrative building, library, and laboratory building at Shenzhen Peace College are already brightly lit, and there are clearly many people busy inside.

In contrast, on the southern mountain behind the academy, where thousands of guards are stationed, not a single light shines out.

However, the incident that occurred tonight at the Neurosurgery Department of Peace Hospital on Hong Kong Island was first learned by the guards on duty on the mountain, and then passed down through the ranks to the college down the mountain, and even to the capital.

Director Wang, Secretary Chen, and others were discussing the Nanjing Museum inspection team. Before the team went to Hong Kong Island, they did not inform the Shenzhen Peace Academy. It wasn't until they arrived in Hong Kong Island and dozens of people couldn't find accommodation and contacted Zhang Zhaodi for help that the Shenzhen side received the news.

Saying they went to Hong Kong Island to meet with Zhang Heping on their own seems inappropriate, since those people were there on business trips with visas.

Furthermore, it's none of the Shenzhen Peace Academy's business who wants to see Zhang Heping, or who Zhang Heping wants to see.

The main purpose of this meeting tonight is to discuss who is behind the Nanjing Museum and who wants to interfere with Zhang Heping's brain-computer interface research!

Unexpectedly, halfway through the meeting, news came from Hong Kong Island that brain-computer interface technology was being used to solve the case.

"According to intelligence, even Consultant Zhang cannot guarantee the accuracy of the criminal dreams recorded by the biological brain server," Secretary Chen and most of the others said slowly after reading the page of intelligence.

"However, Dr. Xue, the head of the neurology department at Hong Kong Island Peace Hospital, mentioned that the dreams deep in the brains of the vegetative patients they recently studied were basically related to their experiences before death, so the authenticity of that crime dream was very high."

“None of that matters!” Vice Dean Qian put down his pen, looked at the key points he had written down, and said, “The Nanjing Fallen Dream in the Virtual Dream Lecture Hall and the Virtual Learning Dream in the Library are both demonstrating the value of brain-computer interface technology to the world!”

"Therefore, the key to solving cases with brain-computer interfaces is not the case itself, but the fact that the biological brain server recorded the dreams of a person in a vegetative state. That is the crucial point!"

Vice Dean Qian glanced at Vice Dean Deng on his left, then looked around from left to right, waiting for the others to digest the key points he had just made.

A computer expert at the academy frowned and said, "The fact that the biological brain server can record the dreams of people in a vegetative state means that it has copying and duplication functions, just like a computer!"

"If a biological brain server could replicate human memories and paste those memories into another person's brain, knowledge transfer would become incredibly simple and efficient!"

A biology expert responded, "The idea is good, but there must be many problems with it, otherwise Dean Zhang wouldn't have needed to build the virtual learning dream."

The brain-computer interface experts in Shenzhen remained silent. Firstly, they hadn't even fully understood the first and second generation brain-computer interfaces. Secondly, Zhang Heping's brain-computer interface development was progressing too rapidly, to the point that they were starting to doubt their own suitability for brain-computer interface research!
"Comrade Zhang Bei will bring brain-computer interface equipment tomorrow!" Vice Dean Deng looked at the brain-computer interface experts attending the meeting and said slowly, "If you have any questions for him, it's best to discuss them beforehand, what to ask first and what to ask later."

"People's patience is limited, especially since Comrade Zhang Bei is still a young man."

As soon as these words were spoken, the head of the brain-computer interface expert group stood up and handed over a brown paper bag. "Professor Deng, we have compiled the questions we want to ask. Please take a look!"

“I haven’t studied brain-computer interfaces before, please have Professor Qian take a look!” Vice Dean Deng said, handing the brown paper bag to Vice Dean Qian on his right.

After receiving the brown paper bag, Qian did not open it immediately. Instead, he said to the brain-computer interface experts, "Let's discuss this in my office later."

"We can put the Nanjing Museum's inspection team on hold for now," Vice President Deng continued. "If they can all join President Zhang's brain-computer interface research, then we certainly can too."

"The most urgent task is to recruit members for Comrade Zhang Yi's brain-computer interface research team. If the newly recruited members can receive indirect guidance from Dean Zhang, the brain-computer interface expert group can also benefit from it."

The others nodded in agreement, feeling that there was no need to hold the meeting that night.

Seeing this, Secretary Chen had no choice but to give up.

The main concern of Secretary Chen differed from that of Vice President Deng and his team, who were primarily focused on research. Secretary Chen was more concerned with the people behind the Nanjing Museum inspection team and their ultimate goal.

"Professor Qian!" Seeing everyone leaving the meeting, Director Wang hurriedly called out to Vice Dean Qian, "It's good that Cao Jian loves to study, but his long hours of staying up late are not good for his physical development. Could you please reduce the amount of material he's shown?"

As Mr. Qian walked out, he said to Director Wang, who had followed him, "Compared to making Cao Jian gain weight, I think it would be better for him to take the initiative to inquire about the genius training camp at the Hong Kong Island Library and actively follow up on his studies there!"

"Besides, Dean Zhang's virtual learning dream is not finished yet. Even if you fatten Cao Jian up, Dean Zhang can't immediately turn a library into a library for Su Cheng."

Seeing that Director Wang remained silent, as if he had been persuaded, Qian Lao led a group of brain-computer interface experts from Shenzhen to his office.

……

The next morning, Zhang Heping went to the academy at the foot of the mountain to work on his regenerative brain server.

Although Chen Shuting was attending the Chinese Businessmen's Annual Meeting today, she was not in a hurry to leave.

She waited until Zhang Bei and Zhang Yi finished getting ready before setting off together.

Zhang Yi and Luo Yi, along with six team members, the four sets of brain-computer interface devices from yesterday, and a team of bodyguards, went to the Peace Hospital at the foot of the mountain.

Zhang Bei then took eight other members of Zhang Yi's brain-computer interface research team, along with a group of bodyguards carrying a set of brain-computer interface equipment, to Shenzhen.

It wasn't that Zhang Heping wouldn't let him bring more brain-computer interfaces, but rather that the laboratory at the Shenzhen Peace Academy had a considerable amount of biological brain and regenerative brain materials.

In addition to the brain-computer interface shell, server components, etc., which were all 3D printed by Shenzhen Peace Academy, Zhang Bei brought some miniature gold brain-computer interfaces with him, intending to make several sets of brain-computer interface devices in Shenzhen for use.

Zhang Bei, Zhang Feng, and Zhang Long have all worked on brain-computer interface technology, but they haven't had much success building dream-based biological brain servers, and the same goes for more powerful regenerative brain servers.

Zhang Bei is going to Shenzhen, and he only brought a team of bodyguards with him!
From the moment he left home, cameras along the way and satellites in the sky kept a close eye on his convoy, not to mention the bodyguards and security guards hiding in the shadows.

As more and more people learn about virtual dream games and the brain-computer interface that supports the entire game, their enormous commercial value is naturally being recognized by more and more people.

Especially at times like these, we must be wary of the unconventional methods used by spies.

Sure enough, as soon as Chen Shuting arrived at the annual meeting, she was blocked by several unknown small businessmen.

What these small business owners didn't expect was that the venue, bodyguards, and security personnel hired by the Chinese Businessmen's Annual Meeting were all from the Heping Group.

Even though Chen Shuting was only followed by two female bodyguards, that was not a reason for these men to dare to block her way in public.

Moreover, there were so many businessmen trying to curry favor with the Peace Group, and the bodyguards didn't even have to lift a finger. Those few small businessmen who blocked the way only left behind a couple of polite opening remarks before being pulled aside by the others.

"I heard that some Chinese businessmen have been persuaded by the Japanese and want to convince me to become a traitor today!" Chen Shuting looked at the people being dragged away and smiled, "Perhaps it's one of them!"

"Mr. Chen is joking!" Chairman He laughed from the side. "Today is our global Chinese business conference. Anyone who dares to say a single word in support of the Japanese at the conference is making an enemy of our global Chinese business community. Don't you all agree?"

"Chairman He is right!" Chairman Guo echoed, "Anyone who dares to act recklessly today will be sent out lying down!"

The shipping magnate laughed and chimed in, "We're all shrewd businessmen. If we make a mistake at the annual meeting, we might go bankrupt!"

As one Hong Kong businessman after another made their statements, Chinese businessmen from other regions followed suit, resorting to threats and intimidation, silencing those with ulterior motives for fear of revealing that they had met the Japanese.

……

After Zhang Yi and Luo Yi arrived at Hong Kong Island Peace Hospital with their team members, they were supposed to follow Zhang Bei's instructions: after the doctor and family finished treating one vegetative patient, they would move the brain-computer interface device to the head of another vegetative patient.

However, after finishing their business, a team member asked Zhang Yi if he was curious about what the dreams of a person in a vegetative state were like.

In plain language, this means I'm very curious!

Zhang Yi was naturally curious as well, but Zhang Heping and Zhang Bei had both explained to them that vegetative patients were physically weak and not suitable for prolonged use of brain-computer interfaces, which was why each vegetative patient could only receive one short-term brain-computer interface treatment per day! However, the doctor next to them perked up after hearing what that member said and suggested, "If you teachers aren't in a hurry to go back, we can go to the next ward and enter the dreams of those vegetative patients who haven't yet joined the clinical treatment trials."

"See the dreams of other people in a vegetative state?" Zhang Yi frowned, unsure if this was feasible.

Seeing this, the other doctors came out to persuade them, hoping to take up Zhang Yi and his team's precious time to use brain-computer interface screening to see if other vegetative state patients could be treated with brain-computer interface.

Normally, Zhang Bei would have packed up and left after treating the last patient; he wouldn't have listened to these doctors' urging.

"Don't worry, doctor!" a young male doctor stepped forward and said, "Before we use brain-computer interfaces to examine those vegetative patients, we will have the family sign a waiver, so we will definitely not cause you any trouble."

"Didn't the teacher just ask what dreams are like for people in a vegetative state?" a young female doctor said. "Actually, we can't judge that accurately either."

“Like the worker in bed 313 who fell from the construction site and fell into a coma. At first, we all thought his dreams might be a recurring experience of falling from the building.”

"When we checked with a brain-computer interface, we found that in his dream he was surrounded by women and living the life of a wealthy man that he thought he was living."

“Even when we brought his wife and children to the dream hospital to persuade him, he refused to wake up and remained immersed in his own fantasy.”

"Director Zhang!" Director Xue from the neurology department stepped forward and said to Zhang Yi, "Let's go to the hospital cafeteria for lunch first, and then we can discuss the brain-computer interface screening. What do you think?"

Director Xue was able to immediately recognize Zhang Yi's current identity, which clearly showed that he had done his homework; otherwise, he would have just followed the other doctors and called him "teacher."

Zhang Yi glanced at the bodyguards silently watching everything behind him, frowned and thought for a moment, then said, "Director Xue, I can't make the decision about screening other vegetative patients. I'll ask them when I get back and give you an answer tomorrow."

Director Xue also knew what was important and what was urgent. At least Zhang Yi and the others showed enough curiosity, unlike Zhang Bei who was not interested in the dreams of those people in a vegetative state.

Besides, there are Zhang family bodyguards guarding the area, just as Zhang Yi said, we really need to go back and ask.

The other members of the brain-computer interface research team were somewhat disappointed, but they also knew that there were some things they couldn't just do recklessly.

If I were kicked out of the brain-computer interface research team because of this, it would be a huge loss.

However, what Zhang Yi needed to consider carefully was a trivial matter for Zhang Bei.

To put it bluntly, it's just a matter of how close or distant you are!
If Zhang Yi had grown up with his third uncle Zhang Heping since childhood, he would know whether or not he could do it as soon as Director Xue and the others opened their mouths.

When Zhang Bei arrived at Shenzhen Peace Hospital, the neurosurgeons there suggested using brain-computer interface (BCI) screening first. Zhang Bei then had Xu Ning, Li Tong, and the other eight members of the BCI research team take turns entering the dreams of each vegetative patient with the doctors.

Zhang Bei wasn't interested in the dreams of those vegetative patients. Firstly, they weren't as interesting as virtual dream games, and secondly, the resentment and obsessions in those dreams were too heavy, which would affect his ability to improve his mental strength.

The biological brain servers that the siblings usually use are all very simple dreams.

The key point is that the improvement effect is most obvious in a single dream!

Before training his mental strength, Zhang Bei could at most use his mental strength to change the trajectory of a piece of paper falling from the air; he couldn't even catch that light piece of paper.

Now he can not only catch the paper, but also simultaneously divide his mental energy to catch two sheets, which is a visible effect.

Of course, he enhanced his mental power not to manipulate external objects, but to construct a virtual dream game.

Zhang Bei has loved playing games since he was a child, but there weren't many games available when he was young, and they weren't very fun. So he learned programming and started developing his own games.

The fifth brother, Zhang Long, and the sixth brother, Zhang Hu, also liked playing games. Their father, Zhang Heping, not only did not stop them, but also painted a picture of the future of virtual dream games for them early on. Before they even graduated from high school, he led them onto the path of scientific research.

Zhang Bei's first thought was that he didn't want to disturb his two younger brothers' efforts to improve their spiritual power, since they were the most talented.

But reason told him that his father, Zhang Heping, had another deeper purpose in sending him to Shenzhen: to continue the brain-computer interface research here.

Therefore, before setting off, he tentatively mentioned that he would only bring one set of brain-computer interface equipment with him, and the rest would be done in the Shenzhen laboratory.

Then, his dad agreed without saying a word!
It's worth noting that before this, Zhangbei had never successfully developed a complete brain-computer interface device.

If Zhang Bei wants to create a brain-computer interface device in Shenzhen, he will inevitably need the assistance of others.

After obtaining his father Zhang Heping's consent, Zhang Bei kept thinking about how to build the most crucial biological brain server, Dream!

Can we please make sure the small clinics don't have their lights on?

Wouldn't it be too eerie to replace it with a wooden table and a burning candle to guide the way?

"Xiao Bei, I heard you brought back brain-computer interface equipment today. Did you have a smooth journey?" Zhao, the retired director of neurosurgery at Xuanwu Hospital in the capital, strode towards Zhang Bei, responding to the greetings from the others.

"Grandpa Zhao!" Zhang Bei, who had been pondering the matter of the brain-computer interface device, immediately put on a smile when he saw Director Zhao approaching and replied, "It went quite smoothly, except that the inspection was a bit strict when we passed through."

This time, because Zhang Bei brought some miniature gold brain machines, he was delayed at the checkpoint for a longer period of time.

Why is it because of those miniature gold brain-computer interfaces?

Because the bodyguards carrying stun guns were allowed to pass without incident, only Zhang Bei had to explain things a little more because of the miniature golden brain machine.

However, after Zhang Bei told Secretary Chen about what happened at the checkpoint, they were allowed to pass shortly afterward.

"Recently, many spies and their accomplices have been uncovered domestically, so border checks are stricter, especially for those carrying large amounts of cash. We must clarify the source and purpose of the funds," Director Zhao explained casually, then looked at the ward behind the glass partition and asked:
"Did you only bring back one brain-computer interface device this time?"

"I heard they brought in quite a few people in a vegetative state; I'm afraid one brain-computer interface won't be enough to keep them functioning!"

Zhang Bei took out a transparent plastic box, revealing the miniature golden brain-computer interface that had already been exposed, and said with a smile, "I plan to work on the other brain-computer interfaces at the underground base tonight."

Upon hearing this, the group of brain-computer interface experts who had been gathered around and had not yet had a chance to speak all felt their eyes light up.

"Then I'll have to get the doctors here to hurry up. I can't let you stay up all night in the underground base." After Director Zhao finished speaking, he was about to talk to a doctor when a brain-computer interface expert next to him couldn't wait any longer.

"Comrade Zhang Bei, can't we go now?" The old man who spoke wasn't wearing a white coat. Zhang Bei had previously thought he was a patient's family member who was just watching the commotion, because there were many such family members at the Peace Hospital on Hong Kong Island.

Just as Zhang Bei looked at the old man with a puzzled expression, the leader of the Shenzhen Brain-Computer Interaction Team stepped forward and asked, "Old Zhou, have you forgotten the requirements for brain-computer interface therapy clinical trials that you just reviewed?"

"To prevent the biological brain server from malfunctioning, it must be monitored by professionals!"

"Comrade Zhangbei still has important matters to attend to here; how can he leave so easily?"

After speaking, the team leader looked at Zhang Bei and asked with a smile, "Comrade Zhang Bei, what equipment or materials do you need tonight?"

"You can tell me first, and I'll have someone prepare it in advance, so as not to take up your valuable time!"

...(End of chapter)