Reborn in 2012, building a new energy empire

Chapter 136 Prototype Testing Successful

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"Ra value 0.78 micrometers." His voice was a little hoarse.

Gu Qiushi immediately measured the thickness: "The average thickness is 180 micrometers, with a deviation of plus or minus 3 micrometers, which meets the standard."

"TTV (Total Thickness Change)?" Jiang Haoran asked.

"8 micrometers, which is better than the design standard of 10 micrometers."

Wang Qiming had already picked up the exhausted roll of diamond wire, weighed it on a precision balance, and calculated the wire consumption. "The wire consumption is 35% lower than in the first test, reaching the initial expected lifespan."

Everyone looked at Jiang Haoran.

He walked to the console and retrieved all the running data for this test.

The curve is stable, and the parameters are all within the set range. Clicking on the comparison chart with previous tests clearly shows the improvement trend.

"Data archiving, generate test report." He turned around, his gaze sweeping over every tired yet bright face in the lab. "December 29th, 6:17 PM. Kirin Technology's first-generation diamond wire cutting prototype, full-process cutting test, successful."

There were no cheers, no applause.

They simply looked at each other, then simultaneously let out a long sigh of relief. Some rubbed their aching necks, while others slumped into their chairs.

Gu Qiushi took off his glasses, rubbed the bridge of his nose, and smiled: "Finally—I can hand in a decent report card before the Spring Festival."

Outside the window, dusk was settling in. In the distance, the faint sound of firecrackers could be heard—the New Year was almost here.

Jiang Haoran walked to the window and looked at the city lights gradually coming on. Then he turned around and saw faces full of weariness but still focused under the dim light of the laboratory.

In the lab, the team began packing up the equipment, discussing their plans for the Spring Festival in hushed tones. The intense pressure of the past week was slowly dissipating.

He cleared his throat, his voice ringing out clearly in the quiet laboratory.

"Everyone, please stop what you're doing for a moment."

Everyone looked up at him.

"Everyone has seen the data just now." Jiang Haoran walked to the center of the laboratory, his gaze calmly sweeping over every pair of eyes.

"This is not a fluke; it is the result of everyone working here every day for the past few months, debugging, failing, and debugging again and again, and building it up with real sweat."

He paused, then spoke in a calm but firm tone: "We've taken the most arduous yet solid path. From steel wire substrate treatment to diamond coating, and now to whole-machine cutting, every bit of progress is the result of everyone's hard work."

"So, before the holiday, there are a few things to do," Jiang Haoran said. "First, I've already arranged things with the finance department. Everyone's salary for this month, plus a special bonus for one month's salary, will be deposited into their accounts first thing tomorrow morning."

After he finished speaking, the laboratory fell silent for a moment, followed by several suppressed gasps. At this moment, this money was the most direct recognition of their almost burning dedication over the past few months.

"President Jiang, this—" a young engineer said instinctively.

Jiang Haoran raised his hand to stop him and continued, "Secondly, no one is allowed to touch the equipment tonight. I've already had the office staff reserve a private room at Jiangnan Zao, and the food has been ordered. Let's go over now and have a proper meal."

He glanced at his watch. "The car is downstairs."

"Jiangnan Zao" is a famous local restaurant in Nanjing, but it is quite expensive and is not a place that team gatherings would normally choose.

The young people's eyes lit up, and they exchanged glances.

"Third," Jiang Haoran took out a stack of envelopes from the file bag, walked up to each person, and handed them over personally.

"Here are your return tickets. High-speed rail and plane tickets are available, with departures scheduled for the next two days. Window or aisle seats have been chosen as much as possible. The destinations have been verified based on the addresses you submitted earlier."

He distributed the envelopes slowly, and with each envelope handed out, he would accurately say the recipient's name.

"Mr. Gu, your ticket is for tomorrow afternoon at 3:20, from Nanjing South to Xi'an North, second class. Knowing that you don't like flying, I specially chose the high-speed rail."

"Xiao Wang, your flight is at 10 AM tomorrow, a direct flight to Chengdu. Remember to let the project team know you've landed safely."

"Engineer Li, your hometown is nearby, so I bought you an intercity train ticket for tomorrow morning. It only takes half an hour."

Everyone's expression was somewhat complicated as they received the envelope.

Surprise, being touched, and then a warm feeling of being carefully cared for.

They didn't expect that during such intense days of hard work, Jiang Haoran would remember even their respective modes of transportation home and their seat preferences so clearly.

Wang Qiming held the high-speed rail ticket back to Suzhou in his hand, remaining silent for a long while before whispering, "President Jiang, actually, this wasn't necessary—"

"Of course." Jiang Haoran patted him on the shoulder. "Over the past few months, everyone has treated the lab like home. Now that the test is successful and the Spring Festival is here, it's time to go back to our real homes and have a proper New Year."

After he finished speaking, he took a step back and looked at the exhausted team in front of him, whose eyes had regained their light.

"Finally, let me say a few more words." His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears: "Today's success is a breakthrough from zero, a ticket to the game."

"But when we return after the New Year, we will face pilot-scale production, mass production processes, cost control, and even more brutal market testing."

"The challenges will only be greater then, and the pressure will only be heavier."

He paused, his gaze sharpening and becoming resolute: "So, this Spring Festival, I want you all to completely relax, clear your minds, spend quality time with your families, eat well, and sleep well. Reclaim all the energy and spirit you've drained over the past few months."

He emphasized, enunciating each word clearly: "For the battle after the New Year, I need each and every one of you to come back and fight in the best possible condition."

The laboratory fell completely silent, with only the low hum of the ventilation system.

But in that quiet, there was no weariness or despondency, but rather a solid, resilient calm.

"Alright." Jiang Haoran broke the silence first, his tone returning to its usual conciseness. "Pack your personal belongings and come downstairs in five minutes."

The car won't wait.

As soon as he finished speaking, the laboratory came alive.

Some were shutting down their computers, others were packing up their tools, and the hushed conversation was light and cheerful.

Gu Qiushi carefully placed the last batch of silicon wafer samples into the safe, and Wang Qiming checked the instrument power supply one last time.

Jiang Haoran stood at the door, watching them. Outside the window, fireworks rose and exploded intermittently, illuminating the night sky with flickering light.

Five minutes later, everyone gathered at the entrance of the laboratory building.

Four black minivans were already waiting there. Jiang Haoran watched everyone get into the cars one by one before finally getting into the same car as Wang Qiming and Gu Qiushi.

The carriage was quiet at first, but soon people started talking quietly about the New Year customs of their hometown, the funny stories about being urged to get married by their families, and the dish that must be eaten for the New Year's Eve dinner.

Laughter gradually increased.

Jiang Haoran leaned back in his seat, listening to this idle chatter that had nothing to do with cutting parameters or roughness Ra value, while watching the lights flowing outside the window.

He knew that this string, which had been stretched for too long, could finally, and had to, be temporarily loosened.

The car drove smoothly toward the brightly lit restaurant.

In the distance, another cluster of fireworks rose and exploded into a sky full of colorful brilliance.