Break out of the courtyard

After rounds of screening, preliminary interviews, and reviews, the number of applicants for brain-computer interface research has been reduced to less than 100, with the final number reaching Zhang Yi's interview.

Even so, Zhang Yi and his team were busy for two days before they finished the interviews.

On February 24th, the Lantern Festival, at Zhang Heping's request, Zhang Bei, Zhang Nan, and Zhang Nian went to Shenzhen Heping College in the afternoon, and also brought Director Wang and Xu Ning and a group of eight brain-computer interface researchers with them.

The reason Xu Ning and the others were also sent to Shenzhen was that their parents had only recently been gathered at the Shenzhen Peace Academy.

With the addition of 34 new members to Zhang Yi's brain-computer interface research team, it's a good opportunity for the experienced members to mentor the new ones and get them familiar with each other as soon as possible.

It was 6:30 p.m. when Zhang Heping finished his work at the library and lecture hall, and then took his mistress Chen Shuting and his second sister and her husband by boat to Shenzhen.

Zhang Heping suddenly decided to go back for three reasons: first, to reunite with his family for the Lantern Festival; second, to check on his uncle Ma Zhiyi's recovery; and third, to see the laboratory where Zhang Bei was building the biological brain server.

The first two are family matters, while the third concerns the equipment supply for Zhang Yi's brain-computer interface research team. Zhang Heping needs to go back and check whether there are any safety hazards in the laboratory.

After all, Zhang Feng and Zhang Long would be staying there for a while, and for the safety of their children, they couldn't be careless.

Zhang Heping only notified Tang Xin before returning, but when they encountered the patrolling coast guard at sea, their whereabouts were already reported to the Nanshan military camp, then to the Shenzhen Peace Academy and the hospital.

Therefore, Zhang Heping only stayed quietly at home for half an hour and ate a bowl of glutinous rice balls before Secretary Chen, Vice President Deng, Vice President Qian, President Wang and others came to his door.

The issues with the Lifespan 120 potion, the start of the academy, project research, and difficult and complicated cases at the hospital are all things Zhang Heping doesn't want to deal with lately. Filling the Dream Library with information is too mentally taxing, and he needs to take some time to rest in order to ensure he can complete the data filling task for the next day.

But this place is also called the Peace Academy, and Zhang Heping needs to make decisions on many things.

For example, many of the research projects he had previously stopped were in the approval stage. If they were delayed any longer, it would leave some experts, professors, and assistants idle.

Of course, that's not all!

Shenzhen is, after all, Zhang Heping's chosen base of operations. In addition to the Heping Academy and hospital, there are also many Heping-affiliated factories and companies here.

The company's operational problems wouldn't bother Zhang Heping, but the technical issues that had accumulated over time all came crashing down tonight, especially the various problems that had accumulated in the factory and laboratory on the Dapeng Peninsula.

Although Zhang Heping had previously taken time to hold video conferences in the evenings to answer questions or reply to some questions via email, his time was now spread across Heping Group factories and companies all over the country, leaving very little time for him to visit any single factory. This was one of the reasons why the problems accumulated.

"Dean, Secretary Chen has settled all 155 newly recruited retired professors. This is the new course schedule for next semester, as well as the new majors to be added in September and the newly applied research projects."

After Zhang Heping sat down on the stage in the large lecture hall on the first floor, Vice Dean Deng, accompanied by his secretary, brought over three folders.

Although there was a lot of information in the folder, Zhang Heping only needed to read a small portion of it carefully; he just needed to confirm and sign it.

Especially those newly applied research projects, many of which are applied for by newly recruited professors.

These retired professors gathered at Shenzhen Peace College from all over the country for various reasons: some for the Lifespan 120 drug, some for the excellent research environment, and some to comply with requirements from higher authorities.

After briefly reviewing the materials, Zhang Heping did not rush to sign them. This made the group of experts and professors who were taking their seats in the lecture hall uneasy, worried that Zhang Heping might really cut off the new project.

"Bring me the relevant teaching materials for the new timetable!" Zhang Heping said, then put the first folder aside.

"For the newly added majors, have you helped students with career planning? And what about internship opportunities?" Zhang Heping handed the second folder to the middle-aged male secretary next to him. "Add and improve them according to the existing majors."

"Bring over all the other people's project applications as well!" Zhang Heping took out the documents from the third folder, left the documents in front of him, and placed the folder in front of Vice Dean Deng on the left.

Most of the experts and professors gathered here at this time were people who had received advance notice from Vice Dean Deng and Vice Dean Qian and had come to apply for research projects from Zhang Heping.

When they heard Zhang Heping ask them to submit project applications, they all stood up excitedly.

Fortunately, the young assistants were quick-witted and acted as intermediaries for collecting the materials. With the help of the secretaries of the two vice deans, they quickly collected a large pile of application materials.

"Besides these, is there anything else?" Zhang Heping asked the two vice deans on his left and right while looking at the project application materials.

Vice Dean Deng smiled and said, "These people are here to apply for research projects. The others are waiting in the next classroom. I will notify them to come over later."

Zhang Heping quickly glanced at the application materials and said without looking up, "Judging from the way they're applying, our classified laboratory will probably be in great need of laboratory assistants."

“We have discussed and studied these projects in advance, and some of them can be carried out in one laboratory,” Vice Dean Deng responded from the side. “Some vacancies can be temporarily arranged in the college’s laboratories.”

“That’s not how you solve the problem!” Zhang Heping placed a project application document he was reading in front of Vice Dean Deng on his left, then picked up another document to continue reviewing it. “They want to conduct particle-related research, but how can our existing laboratories meet the needs of such experiments?”

"There will definitely be follow-up research on dark matter, neutrino detection, and other physics-related fields. If we're going to do it, we should do it professionally. We should find a place to build a low-radiation research laboratory, set up the supporting facilities, and just let them know if we need funding."

Looking at the application materials in front of him, Vice Dean Deng knew perfectly well that these theoretical studies would require the construction of a new laboratory.

However, since it was unclear how long it would take for those professors to go from theoretical research to experimental research, the idea was to have them teach and conduct research at the same time.

"Would you two like to take a look at my virtual learning dream? Many experimental studies can be conducted there." Zhang Heping took out the project application form and placed it on his left. He handed the document to the secretary waiting beside him, which meant that the application had been approved.

Vice Dean Deng peeked at Zhang Heping's project application form on the left and smiled, "I should be able to apply for a visa to go there, but I'm afraid Professor Qian can't!"

Vice Dean Qian smiled and said, "It won't be too late for me to go in and take a look after Dean Zhang has set up a virtual learning dream in this library."

Qian Lao's words were actually a test, to see if Zhang Heping would set up virtual learning dream devices in China.

“Then we’ll have to wait!” Zhang Heping said slowly, distracted. “I’m still researching how to copy the dreams from one regenerative brain server to another.”

"As you all know, although the brain cells in a regenerated brain are alive, they do not exhibit brainwave activity."

"Although I can use my mental power to construct dreams for the regenerating brain and make it generate brainwave activity, I cannot make it construct dreams for another regenerating brain for the time being."

“Building that virtual learning dream system in Hong Kong has already taken up a lot of my time. If I have to build it again…” Zhang Heping shook his head slightly, without saying what would happen.

Professor Qian suggested, "You can take a look at the brain-computer interface research materials related to Ruomu sent from Xishu. Perhaps you can gain insights from them."

"Let's get through this busy period first!" Zhang Heping replied casually.

Because Zhang Bei had answered questions for the brain-computer interface experts here, Qian Xuesen did not mention anything else about brain-computer interface research to Zhang Heping, mainly because he was afraid of delaying Zhang Heping's research on brain-computer interfaces.

Zhang Heping approved most of the project research applications, and also wrote relevant suggestions for projects that needed improvement.

Of course, there were also research projects that did not pass the review. Zhang Heping's reply was simple: let them apply for visas and take some time to go to the Hong Kong Island Peace College Library to conduct relevant research in the virtual learning dream.

As for the research projects that required the construction of new laboratories, they were assigned to Vice Dean Deng.

After finishing their main tasks at Shenzhen Peace Academy, they allowed the others to come in and communicate with Zhang Heping.

Zhang Heping was busy until 1 a.m. Although there were still people waiting in line next door to ask questions, Vice Dean Deng and Vice Dean Qian advised them to go back and send their inquiries via email, as Zhang Heping also needed rest.

As Professor Qian was seeing Zhang Heping out of the teaching building, he suddenly asked, "Cao Jian's autism has improved a lot. Do you want to see him tomorrow morning?"

"Forget it!" Zhang Heping walked towards the car parked in front of the building. "I have to rush back to Hong Kong Island tomorrow morning. You guys just urge him to gain weight."

"The boys in this year's talent training camp have all lost about 10 pounds so far, as you should know. If they don't gain some weight, the kid won't be able to keep going."

After getting into the car, Zhang Heping did not go straight back to the villa, but went to the brain-computer interface research lab assigned to Zhang Bei before going back to sleep.

The next morning, when Zhang Heping left with his concubine Chen Shuting and his second sister and her husband, Secretary Chen and Vice President Deng and others came to see him off, making him feel like an outsider.

……

Once the Lantern Festival is over, the start of the new school term will be just around the corner.

The deadline for experiencing the Nanjing Fallen Virtual Dream game has been announced: 6 PM on February 28th.

The genius training camp was also scheduled to end on the 28th, but the time was moved up to 12 noon.

As he said goodbye to the young men and women, Zhang Heping gave each of them a "Heping College Library Borrowing Card".

A tall, thin boy held up his red library card and asked, "Teacher Zhang, if we bring our library cards here in the future, will we still be able to enter the virtual learning dream to finish the airplane game we didn't complete?"

"That depends on whether others will touch your unfinished products after entering the learning dream!" Zhang Heping laughed. "If you don't want others to touch your things, remember to build an intelligent defense base inside next time to protect them."

One of the boys exclaimed, "We haven't even finished building a single car yet, how can we have so much time to build a base!"

"I understand!" a little girl raised her hand and said, "As long as we get into the Peace Academy, we'll have more time to learn how to build bases in our dreams!"

"Dear Mr. Zhang!" Pierre, a young Frenchman, stepped forward with his red library card and asked, "Can I apply to the Peace Academy?"

Zhang Heping had a good impression of the French boy who had independently completed the mecha and flight device. "The Peace Academy's official website has the admission requirements and application channels. Pierre can go online and take a look."

A French entourage member stepped forward and brazenly asked, "Mr. Zhang, could we please have a library card?"

"What do you think?" Zhang Heping's smile vanished, replaced by a cold retort.

"Finally, a couple of reminders: the library card homepage states that the library card cannot be lent out; otherwise, your borrowing privileges will be revoked. If you don't have your library card with you, or if you accidentally lose it, you can still enter the library by scanning your face."

After seeing off these gifted teenagers and their entourage, Zhang Heping conducted a comprehensive inspection of the regenerative brain server and cleaned up the junk in the learning dream, keeping only the finished and semi-finished products made by the boys and girls.

Once there is no one in the virtual learning dream, it is in a relatively static state, and the brainwave activity of the regenerating brain is reduced by 80% to 90%.

In contrast, there is the regenerated brain in the computer room next to the virtual dream tiered classroom.

After all players were cleared out at 18 PM, the brainwaves of the regenerating brain here remained highly active because the NPCs in the Nanjing Fallen Virtual Dream were still moving according to the predetermined trajectory.

Therefore, Zhang Heping spent several times longer checking this regenerative brain server than the one in the library.

Unlike the text proofreading in the Dream Library, in the Virtual Dream Lecture Hall, Zhang Heping needs to proofread the activity trajectories of all the characters in the Nanjing Fallen Virtual Dream, and discern from the slightest clues whether this regenerating brain has developed autonomous consciousness.

These two regenerative brain servers, one static and one dynamic, are Zhang Heping's experimental samples to test whether the regenerative brain can produce self-awareness.

Logically, more samples should be tested to find a more accurate answer from a large number of experimental samples.

Zhang Heping did want to, but he didn't have enough energy to construct the dream or fill in the data.

This is also why, after learning that the mainland had assigned Zhang Yi to lead a brain-computer interface research team, he agreed to let them learn mental control from Zhang Bei, Zhang Feng, and others.

Simply put, Zhang Heping has now encountered a bottleneck in AFK farming!

If he wants to shorten the time required for brain-computer interface research, he must, like the World Internet Forum, widely incorporate research data from others.

However, he is currently at the forefront of brain-computer interface research. If he continues to hoard his knowledge, he will only be able to slowly stagnate and gradually explore the research and development potential of brain-computer interfaces.

This is similar to Zhang Heping mastering the previous generations of computer technology. Even if he researched to the level of WIN98 computers, he could still let people play some simple computer games.

However, unless he releases the relevant technology to encourage others to develop new products, he will not be able to quickly release more advanced product technologies such as laptops and tablets.

Similarly, the same applies to longevity potions!
After Zhang Heping developed the Lifespan 200 potion, he discovered a bottleneck in this technological line.

March arrived quietly, and the students of Peace College returned.

After more than a month of experiencing the Nanjing Fallen virtual dream game, it's now the turn of teachers and students from Hong Kong Island and Shenzhen Peace Academy to line up and try it out.

At the same time, the virtual learning dreamscape of the Hong Kong Island Peace College Library was also opened to teachers and students from both places for experience.

Because of this, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Commission has arranged for people to take turns following up and experiencing it.

Although they didn't say it, and Zhang Heping didn't ask, both sides knew that this was to monitor whether Zhang Heping was secretly and maliciously hypnotizing the participants.

It's true that people are still very easy to fool these days.

After the US announced the levitating hammer at Area 51, Omega began to promote alien technology, and many people believed in it, including quite a few in mainland China.

For example, Japan, which has recently been ravaged by the flu.

At a time when cold medicine was in short supply, the Japanese actually believed that talisman water could cure colds!
I really don't know when the great wise teacher's medical skills were introduced to Japan.

That said, after Tingmei Trading stopped supplying Japanese distributors, many pharmaceutical companies in mainland China followed suit and stopped selling medicines to Japanese companies.

But this is not the main reason why people on the Japanese islands lack cold medicine!

Taking Shanghai as an example, when Shanghainese who had previously gone to Japan to work found out that there was a flu outbreak in Tokyo, their first reaction was to stock up on cold medicine and Banlangen (a traditional Chinese medicine).

This hoarding resulted in a business opportunity for them.

The Peace Group's efforts to boycott Japan Island, coupled with the rampant spread of influenza from New Island and Indo-Pacific Island, further increased the price of cold medicine from Japan Island.

As mainland Chinese workers continue to hoard cold medicine in Japan, and as Japanese locals and various capitalists join in the hoarding, Japan is now facing a severe shortage of cold medicine!

And of course, face masks... (End of Chapter)