A genius? I just love studying.

Chapter 291 I just want to do research, what the hell is this "project leader"?

The meeting room fell silent, terrified.
Liu Yong and Song Yuntao glanced at the expressions of the other elderly people in the Beijing conference room and immediately realized that this meeting was not a discussion at all, but an announcement.

The leaders had already reached a consensus.

They didn't know what kind of magic Professor Chen possessed.

They knew of Chen Hui's outstanding achievements, but after all, he was just a young man in his early twenties, barely out of his teens. To put him in charge of such an important project seemed a bit far-fetched.

Wouldn't it be better to let mathematicians do their job?
They failed to realize that if this matter had not involved their own interests, they might have reached the same conclusion as Qian Xuesen and his colleagues.

Liu Yong and Song Yuntao remained silent.

The others were even less likely to speak up. It was obvious that they were just there to make up the numbers today. Chen Hui was ultimately going to those two places. At most, he would need them to cooperate in the research and development of a certain module in the future. They wouldn't be the ones to stand out. They all sat in their chairs, eyes downcast and minding their own business.

"Liu Yong, Song Yuntao, tell me, who of you is willing to cooperate with Professor Chen to complete this project?"

This time, Qian Lao looked at Song Yuntao. In his view, this was giving them a chance. After all, if controlled nuclear fusion was finally achieved, although the main credit would go to Chen Hui, they would also benefit from it.

At the current pace, there will be no breakthrough before they step down; at the very least, building a real reactor is still a long way off.

Therefore, Chen Hui's joining should be a good thing for them.

"Mr. Qian, I think this matter should be considered carefully."

Before Song Yuntao could speak, Liu Yong spoke up again, "This is a very important matter. Perhaps we could go down and discuss it before giving the leadership a reply?"

As he spoke, he looked at Song Yuntao, indicating that the two should talk privately.

Today, the two of them can be said to be the most authoritative experts in controlled nuclear fusion research in China. As long as they reach an agreement, even Qian Xuesen and others cannot force them to do things they are unwilling to do. Otherwise, who else can China entrust with the research of controlled nuclear fusion?

他们核工业西南物理研究院完成了环流系列HL-1/HL-2A/HL-2M的研发，20年建成的HL-2M装置更是在23年实现了1.5亿℃等离子体运行，电流能力达2.5MA，跻身全球第一梯队。

They are also a member of the ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) organization, and completed the world's first full-size prototype of the ITER enhanced heat load first wall, which has been recognized by international peers.

Furthermore, it has built China's first liquid lithium-lead cladding experimental platform to verify the feasibility of tritium self-sufficiency in fusion reactors.

Each and every one of these breakthroughs represents a significant advancement in controlled nuclear fusion research.

The same was true for Song Yuntao on the other side, and because the other party was a long-established tokamak device research center, he had accumulated more honors than him.

They represent more than just the two of them.

China invests billions of dollars annually in controlled nuclear fusion, with the majority going to these two companies, leaving the rest to scraps.

As the people in charge, they have a lot of say over where the funds go. Even if it's not their money and they can't just move it around, being able to control such a large sum of money is itself a huge power.

Liu Yong didn't want to give up.

And as the person in charge, you are of course responsible if something goes wrong, but if you achieve results, the person in charge is the one who makes the greatest contribution.

If he were to succeed in the research on controlled nuclear fusion by sheer luck, he, as the person in charge, would be able to ascend to heaven in broad daylight. Such a feat would be enough to make him a force to be reckoned with in the Chinese scientific community, and he had no intention of handing such a credit over to someone else.

"Professor Qian, our Plasma Institute welcomes Professor Chen to visit and provide guidance."

Suddenly, a voice interrupted Liu Yong's reverie.

He turned his head in surprise and found that the speaker was Song Yuntao, the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, also known as the Institute of Plasma Physics.

"Is he crazy?"

They actually willingly gave up their power and handed it over to a twenty-year-old kid?

"very good!"

Mr. Qian looked very pleased.

"Yuntao is a good comrade with a sense of responsibility and commitment!"

"You can discuss the specifics once Professor Chen arrives."

Mr. Qian couldn't help but praise, then looked at the others, his gaze turning colder, "Alright, let's end the meeting here today."

He hung up the meeting without giving anyone else a chance to speak.

The moment the meeting ended, Liu Yong dialed Song Yuntao's number, "Old Song, what do you mean?"

Even if you get investment, the final results will belong to someone else.

"Have we been working on controlled nuclear fusion for so many years just to benefit others?"

They all understood that, given Qian Xuesen's attitude, once Chen Hui officially joined the research, the country's relevant scientific research funding would definitely be significantly tilted towards the institute where Chen Hui worked. This was also the reason why he had previously believed that he could win over Song Yuntao.

He believed that they did not want Chen Hui to seize power, nor did they want Chen Hui to take away their funds.

Unexpectedly, a traitor emerged from among them.

"Old Liu, I've had contact with Professor Chen."

After Liu Yong finished venting his anger, Song Yuntao calmly said, "If there is anyone in this world who can accomplish this feat, it can only be him!"

"You and I both know the benefits that completing controlled nuclear fusion research will bring to the country and to the entire Chinese nation."

Liu Yong scoffed, "You'd better really think that way."

"We've worked in this field for decades and haven't succeeded, but that little guy can succeed just by coming here?"

"joke!"

Song Yuntao didn't say anything more to Liu Yong. He hung up the phone and returned to the lab to continue his research, as if Chen Hui's matter had no effect on him whatsoever. Whether Chen Hui came or not, he would do what he had to do.

Chengdu, a suburb of Leshan
Liu Yong looked at the disconnected phone, snorted coldly, narrowed his eyes, and came up with a plan.

Their research institute recently made a new discovery, and they were originally planning to report the good news.

But it seems we can wait a little longer, until that guy takes office, and then report it to the leaders so they know that if we want to achieve controlled nuclear fusion, we still have to rely on these old guys!

He couldn't believe that an old man who had studied controlled nuclear fusion for decades was inferior to a twenty-year-old.

"Let's have a competition and see who finishes it first!"

Liu Yong snorted coldly and returned to the laboratory to discuss the application of the latest results with the engineers and scientists. He was burning with anger.

……

In Chengdu, Chen Hui was unaware of the immense changes his decision would bring to China's research on controlled nuclear fusion. He had already arrived in Li Hai's hometown, Zhuhai County.

Tomorrow is July 19th, and he couldn't help but feel a little dazed. His high school deskmate was getting married tomorrow.

And according to Li Hai, they had already registered their marriage on their 22nd birthdays.

"You guys think it's outrageous too, right?"

In the hotel lounge, Liang Peixuan didn't hold back in complaining that it had only been two years since they graduated, and the memories of high school were still fresh in their minds. They were all still young, and many classmates had come to celebrate such a grand event.

If a few years pass and everyone gets married and has children, not only will the relationship fade, but it won't be so easy to go wherever we want like we do now.

"This is nothing. When I graduated from high school, I went to my junior high school reunion, and some people brought their children with them."

Liang Peixuan's deskmate, Liu Yang, said with a wry smile.

"How did they have the child? Were they of legal marriage age?" "How should I know? Of course, my worldview is about to be shattered."

"Guess what? Next year you'll see Li Hai bringing his child to the class reunion."

"Li Hai is a beast too!"

When the classmates got together, especially those who were close to Li Hai, they didn't let him off the hook at all.

"I think you're just jealous."

"You son of a bitch Liu Yang, don't think I don't know. You started dating in high school. You probably had more girlfriends than you can count on two hands during those three years."

Li Hai pushed open the door, walked into the lounge, punched Liu Yang hard in the chest, then looked around, scanning the lounge. "Where's Chen Hui?"

"I knew you were a busy man and you still had time to come see your old classmate. Turns out you came to see Chen Shen."

Liu Yang pursed his lips.

"That son of a bitch, he promised to be my best man, but he didn't even show up a few days early," Li Hai said viciously, then took out his phone to call Chen Hui.

"Being a best man isn't like being the groom, why should I be in such a hurry?"

Chen Hui arrived late, smiling as he spoke, then nodded to Lao Liang beside him.

He finally managed to come back, and spent a few more days at home with Rui Rui and Qing Shan before rushing over today. As soon as he came in, he heard Li Hai talking badly about him.

As soon as Chen Hui walked in, the lounge fell silent. Everyone looked at him as if they were looking at a celebrity, and even showed a bit more awe.

"Come on, come on, follow me quickly, we still need to rehearse for tomorrow's ceremony."

Without saying a word, Li Hai grabbed Chen Hui and pulled him outside, then tossed Chen Hui's luggage to Liang Peixuan, saying, "Old Liang, can you put Chen Hui's luggage away?"

Because his wife was pregnant, their wedding wouldn't be a big affair, so they only invited one best man and one maid of honor. With Chen Hui there, Liang Peixuan naturally had to postpone his wedding.

"What kind of trouble do you think Chen Shen will cause this time he's back?"

"Proof of the Millennium Problem, Chen Shen said before that he would prove the Riemann Hypothesis."

"Didn't you see the online analysis? Chen Shen is just misleading those foreigners. The Riemann Hypothesis is a smokescreen. Chen Shen must be cooperating with the authorities, otherwise why would they send a seventh-generation fighter jet to pick him up?"

"What you said makes sense. I wonder if everyone has noticed that China's technology has developed too fast in recent years. For example, the lithography machine cooperation agreement with ASML, and the promising fifth-generation semiconductors, seventh-generation aircraft... Do you think Chen Shen is involved in one of these projects?"

"Don't be ridiculous. Chen Shen studies theoretical mathematics. Applied mathematics and theoretical mathematics are not completely unrelated, but they are completely unrelated. You might as well say that they are all related to Chen Shen."

"Then how do you explain why the authorities sent a seventh-generation fighter jet to pick up Chen Shen? If Chen Shen is just a theorist, is it necessary to make such a big fuss about rescuing him? It doesn't matter where you do your theorizing, right?"

"How would I know? All I know is that theoretical mathematics and applied mathematics are completely different things, don't you think, Lao Liang?"

After Chen Hui arrived and left, the topic of discussion in the lounge suddenly shifted from Li Hai to him, and everyone was very interested and enjoyed it.

"I know nothing, I didn't study math."

Liang Peixuan vaguely knew something, but he didn't say much, nor would he.

On the other side, Chen Hui, led by Li Hai, arrived at the hall where the ceremony would be held the next day and changed into a best man's suit.

"Damn, you look even more respectable in a suit. Remember to keep your head down tomorrow, don't steal my thunder."

Li Hai looked at Chen Hui, his eyes red with jealousy.

At this moment, Chen Hui finally met Li Hai's wife, Lin Lin.

"Chen Shen, I often hear Li Hai talk about you, but he never said you were this handsome."

Lin Lin greeted Chen Hui with a smile.

"Hey, hey, hey, being handsome is useless, he practices virginity-keeping and doesn't get close to women."

Li Hai immediately adopted a protective stance, standing between his wife and Chen Hui. The awkward atmosphere of strangers meeting was instantly dispelled by a joke, and amidst the laughter, everyone felt as if they had become much more familiar with each other.

"Chen Shen, I'm your fan, could you sign an autograph for me?"

At this moment, the bridesmaid standing behind Lin Lin shyly took out the card and pen she had prepared in advance, blushing and looking at Chen Hui with a hopeful expression.

"of course can!"

Chen Hui readily accepted the card and pen.

"How about we have you as our godfather after our child is born?"

After signing, Lin Lin suddenly spoke.

"what?"

Chen Hui looked at Li Hai, "Does the concept of a 'godfather' still exist?"

He understood Lin Lin's meaning, of course, but given his relationship with Li Hai, it was unnecessary. However, he still nodded immediately and said with a smile, "This is quite novel. You must invite me to the full moon celebration."

Lin Lin and Li Hai both smiled happily.

……

July 19th, Pear Garden,

The hall was filled with distinguished guests, and the atmosphere was festive.
Because it was in his hometown, most of the people attending the wedding were relatives and elders. Many of them had either watched Li Hai grow up or grew up with him, so the atmosphere was quite lively. In the end, all the ceremonies were completed amidst the hustle and bustle.

Accompanied by Li Hai and his wife, Chen Hui and Liang Peixuan visited the Hundred-Mile Bamboo Forest and spent a few days sightseeing in the surrounding area before leaving.

Instead of returning to Chengdu, Chen Hui boarded a plane directly to Hefei.

Even before Li Hai's wedding, Qian Lao had informed him that everything was settled and he could report to the Plasma Institute at any time.

Chen Hui has quite a connection with the Plasma Institute. It was there that he visited the institute and was captivated by the wonders of controlled nuclear fusion, which planted the seed in his mind.

After getting off the plane, Song Yuntao personally came to pick him up.

Upon arriving at the Science Island and entering the research institute, all the researchers gathered in the conference room for Chen Hui's welcome party. However, the way they looked at Chen Hui was somewhat strange; clearly, they already knew about the appointment of the person in charge.

"Why make such a big fuss?"

Chen Hui looked at Song Yuntao and said, "Just tell me the arrangements for the next step."

Song Yuntao looked at Chen Hui with a strange expression. "From now on, we should follow your instructions."

"what?"

Chen Hui was completely confused.

Didn't Mr. Qian tell you?

Song Yuntao then realized that Chen Hui really didn't know. "From now on, you will be the head of this research institute. From now on, you will be in charge of everything here."

"?"

Chen Hui was both amused and exasperated. "I just want to do research. What the hell is this 'person in charge' thing?"

(End of this chapter)