Technology invades the modern world

Chapter 10: Tricking Li Xiaoman

Outside the window, snowflakes rustled against the glass on the third floor of the villa. Lin Ran's breath condensed into white mist between the heater and the cup. His mind was full of the Fabian Society's badge embossed with a sheep and a turtle.

Before Li Xiaoman could react, Lin Ran quickly said:
“Although the whole plan sounds incredible, it is indeed what I will do next.

And I am fully confident that I can do it.

The whole grand plan begins with just a small favor from you."

Li Xiaoman suddenly interrupted: "Today is Crazy Thursday, V you 50?"

January 2020, 1 happens to be a Thursday.

Li Xiaoman has known Lin Ran for almost two years, and he is very familiar with this hot topic in China.

Seeing this, Lin Ran knew that Li Xiaoman at least did not feel angry because he had been fooled. This was very important:
"If you want to V me 50, that's fine.

But now I just need you to do me a small favor, and I will prove that what I said is true later.

All I need now is your Fabian Society badge and your Corolla. I'm going to look through some historical archives, come up with a preliminary plan, and then go find Blue Origin."

Although she was very tired and Lin Ran's request was so simple, Li Xiaoman's rigorous personality determined that she had to get to the bottom of it.

The look she gave Lin Ran became even sharper:
“It doesn’t make sense. The Fabian Society is an organization in the humanities and social sciences. I don’t understand the connection between the two.

What is needed to restart the moon landing is rocket engineers, not the Frankfurt School who criticize instrumental rationality!

Even if you could really find a way from historical data to enable America to replicate the Apollo moon landing today, what you need to do is look for NASA's collection of materials, rather than using the Fabian Society to find scholars from the Frankfurt School.

Are you planning to sell the badge to Moritz?"

Lin Ran rolled his eyes: "Think about it, if I sell your things to your cousin, will he pay?

He must feel that this is his by right, right? "

Moritz, the son of Li Xiaoman's uncle and her cousin, works at Citibank in New York.

The Fabian Society's badge can be of great value to those who know the subject. It is a cultural relic or a keepsake, depending on who holds it.

When Lin Ran found the badge, Li Xiaoman was so happy not only because it was a family relic, but also because with the badge, it could become a bridge for her to utilize the resources of the Frankfurt School.

The most direct example is to get a letter of recommendation from a big shot of the Frankfurt School and go directly to a top law firm for an internship. This is proof of being a descendant of a famous family. Even if the family has fallen on hard times, it is still a famous family.

America places much more emphasis on family inheritance than China.

Similarly, what is valuable to Li Xiaoman is also of great value to her cousin Li Mozeng (English name: Moritz). We are all members of the Li family, and I can also get in touch with the Frankfurt School.

That's why Li Xiaoman had such doubts.

Fortunately, Lin Ran knew Li Xiaoman very well, so he was prepared for her questions:

“Of course, the technical data from 60 years ago has been made public on NASA’s official website. What I need to look for is not the technical data, but to go to the archives of various universities to find out who participated in this project back then.

I need to find a few key people and ask them some questions in person to determine some key technical details.

This is the puzzle piece that will restart the entire Apollo moon landing. Of course, I'm not sure all of these puzzle pieces are still there to complete the entire Apollo program."

After Lin Ran finished speaking, Li Xiaoman was skeptical.

Lin Ran continued, "Two months! I only need two months to come up with a plan that will impress Blue Origin!"

According to the time flow rate of 60 to 1, 2 months in the 1960s, that is, 120 months, 10 years, is more than enough. Lin Ran reserved sufficient redundant time for himself.

"Okay, I'll trust you this time.

Even if you do convince Blue Origin that you can do it, there are still some problems to solve.

First, let me confirm: after graduation, do you plan to return to your country or stay here? "

Lin Ran said resolutely: "Return to China!
I will return to China after making my first pot of gold from Blue Origin. You know I like aerospace rather than computers, and what I want to do is also aerospace. Now that I have the opportunity to obtain initial funding in America, I naturally want to return to China to develop.

Being Chinese is still too sensitive in America. If you want to work in aerospace in America, you're only busy dealing with investigations, and you don't have time to do your real work."

Lin Ran came to America to study for a PhD in computer science in order to make money, but after having the golden finger to go to 1960, he can have both money and ideals. He really can't think of a reason not to go back.

He has no interest in helping outsiders build America.

Li Xiaoman lowered her eyes, looking somewhat disappointed. She was not ready to go to China, but she quickly cheered up.

"Okay, I'm assuming you can actually do it, but there are still a few challenges to overcome.

The first was how to contact Blue Origin executives and get them to give us a chance.

Given America's current manufacturing and costs, if we want Blue Origin to invest resources, we must at least contact executives above the vice president level.

The second factor is your identity. If you, as a Chinese, lead the effort to return to the moon, it might not only not be a source of honor for America, but could even be a source of shame. By then, you'll face all sorts of accusations, most notably technology theft, and you might never have the chance to return home.

Finally, your visa is an F-1 visa, which doesn't allow you to work for a company, meaning you can't work for Blue Origin. Secondly, you can register a company with this visa, but this is limited to the early planning phase and not actual operations. You also can't receive compensation or income from the company.

This last problem is small but very fatal.

You have to know how big a piece of cake you are moving.

Blue Origin successfully returned to the moon, so should NASA still do it? If not, $260 billion will be wasted.

If you continue with this, Blue Origin will get NASA's order to return to the moon by virtue of returning to the moon, and you will indirectly offend your competitors.

Let me put it this way, if there is a mistake in any link in the process, you will face a very difficult situation. The lightest thing is that you will not be able to return to China for a long time.

Working illegally is the most direct crime that leads to conviction.”

Lin Ran said calmly: "Yes, I know everything you said, so this is cooperation.

You help me solve these problems, and I will take care of the technical difficulties.

Sister Xiaoman, you are not deliberately setting a trap for me just to make me stay in America, right? "

(End of this chapter)