78: Bringing his wife and children to Harbin Institute of Technology

The next day, Liu Weidong also came. He was a sophomore and usually didn't interact much with Ye Bingwen, not even exchanging greetings when they met. But that day he came to the lab on his own initiative, carrying a roll of copper wire.

"I heard you work with motors. I have some materials here; take them if you need them."

Ye Bingwen took the copper wire. "Thank you."

Liu Weidong scratched his head, seemed to want to say something but didn't, then turned and left.

Chen Zhiyuan, watching this scene from the side, couldn't help but laugh. "Look at you, once you start talking, it's more effective than any words. Who paid any attention to you before? Now they're all coming."

Ye Bingwen remained silent and continued debugging the circuit.

He knew perfectly well that these people's change in attitude wasn't because they suddenly liked him, but because they realized this freshman had real talent. In academia, competence is the passport. If you have talent, others will respect you. If you don't, no amount of persuasion will help.

In the afternoon, the laboratory door was pushed open.

It was Ge Jianjun who came in.

He has already withdrawn from school and came back today to pack his things. He's incredibly thin, with sunken eyes, but his gaze is much clearer than before, no longer evasive.

"I've come to get a few books," Ge Jianjun said, his gaze falling on the motor on the table. "Did you make this?"

"Um."

Ge Jianjun walked over and bent down to take a look. The motor was not powered on; it lay quietly on the table, the coils were neatly wound, and the solder joints on the circuit board were shiny and even.

"I've been in the research group for a year and a half and haven't produced anything worthwhile." Ge Jianjun straightened up. "You've been here for less than a month and you've already produced this."

Ye Bingwen remained silent.

"I'm not here to ask for your forgiveness," Ge Jianjun said calmly. "I just want to say that you were right the other day. I have a bad attitude; I can't stand seeing others do better than me. If I don't change this flaw, I won't be able to do anything well anywhere."

He walked to the door and glanced back.

"Ye Bingwen, take care."

The door closed.

Chen Zhiyuan asked quietly from the side, "What's wrong with him?"

Ye Bingwen shook his head without explaining.

Some things, once they're over, are over. There's no need to bring them up again.

That evening, Ye Bingwen returned home and found Zheng Shuyun staring blankly at her manuscript.

The deadline for the provincial essay competition had passed, and her manuscript was ultimately returned. Section Chief Sun didn't say anything harsh; he simply placed the manuscript on her desk with a note attached: "Try again."

"Don't be discouraged." Ye Bingwen walked over. "Rejections are common. I've had my papers rejected many times."

Zheng Shuyun looked up. "When did you write a thesis?"

Ye Bingwen paused for a moment, realizing he had let something slip. "I meant in the future. In the future, my papers will definitely be rejected."

Zheng Shuyun didn't press the matter, but leaned on his shoulder. "Bingwen, am I really useless? You're so good at scientific research, and I can't even write a decent paper."

"You're not useless, you just haven't found your path yet." Ye Bingwen held her hand. "Have you forgotten? You scored 428 on the college entrance exam, better than me back then... better than many others. You have the ability, you just need time."

Zheng Shuyun sighed softly. "But what about Section Chief Sun..."

"What Section Chief Sun thinks is unimportant. What matters is what you think." Ye Bingwen looked into her eyes. "You wrote the article not to please Section Chief Sun, but to express yourself. Your writing is sincere and heartfelt, and that's enough."

Zheng Shuyun was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed. "How come you can talk so eloquently?"

"You've been reading too much," Ye Bingwen laughed.

An'an was playing with building blocks on the ground nearby. She stuffed a block into her mouth and chewed on it, getting her mouth covered in the blocks' color. Zheng Shuyun quickly went over and snatched the block away, and An'an burst into tears.

Ye Bingwen picked up An'an. The little girl hugged his neck, tears still on her face, but she had stopped crying.

"An'an, your mom is right not to let you chew on building blocks. They're not clean."

An'an couldn't understand, but she hugged him even tighter.

The next morning, Ye Bingwen went to the motor factory.

Master Wang had already wound the stators for ten prototype machines. The coils were neatly arranged, with the same number of turns and even tension. Ye Bingwen was impressed.

"Master Wang, you can't find another person in the whole country with your skills."

Master Wang snorted, "Stop flattering me, kid. I've been in this business for twenty years. What kind of motor haven't I wound? Your fractional slot winding is indeed interesting. It's difficult to wind, but once it's done, the coil utilization rate is much higher than the traditional one."

Li Guoliang was also there. He called Ye Bingwen into his office and closed the door.

"Ye, the factory has already submitted the materials for the project application to the Provincial Department of Science and Technology. If all goes well, experts will come to conduct an on-site inspection next month."

"What do you need me to do?"

"When the experts come, you'll need to demonstrate the prototype on-site and answer their technical questions," Li Guoliang said, looking at him. "Be prepared. The experts coming are all veterans in the provincial motor industry; they won't hold back their questions."

Ye Bingwen nodded. "I understand."

"There's one more thing," Li Guoliang said, taking a piece of paper from his drawer. "This is the sales intention for the first batch of prototypes. Harbin Textile Factory wants five units, Qiqihar Paper Mill wants three, and two other small factories each want one. The contract amounts aren't large, but it shows the market accepts them."

Ye Bingwen took the paper and glanced at it. Ten prototypes had already been pre-ordered before they were even made, which showed that the motor factory's market channels were much better than he had imagined.

"Chief Engineer Li, when will the prototype be finished?"

"Before next weekend."

"Okay. I'll do the test then."

After leaving the motor factory, Ye Bingwen stood at the factory gate, watching the workers coming and going.

Some people rode past him on bicycles, their baskets filled with lunchboxes and newspapers. Others carried toolboxes, cigarettes dangling from their lips, chatting and laughing with those around them. Most people walked by with their heads down, hurrying along, and no one gave him a second glance.

Ye Bingwen suddenly had a strange feeling. These people's lives were orderly and routine, much like his own in his previous life. But he was different. In this life, he was going to walk a completely different path.

Back at school, Ye Bingwen found a person standing at the laboratory door.

It's Director Liu. The Director Liu from Institute 601.

"Comrade Ye Bingwen, we meet again." Director Liu extended his hand, his smile as gentle as the last time.

Ye Bingwen shook his hand. "Director Liu, what brings you to Harbin?"

"The chief engineer sent me." Director Liu took an envelope out of his briefcase. "This is the letter of appointment from Institute 601. It's not a formal employment, but a technical consultant position. You'll be going to the institute twice a year to provide technical guidance and offer suggestions to the expert group."

Ye Bingwen took the envelope and opened it. The letter of appointment was written in a very formal style and was stamped with the official seal of Institute 601.

"The chief engineer said that before you graduate, you should maintain contact with the institute using this identity. After graduation, you can come anytime."

Ye Bingwen carefully put away the letter of appointment. "Director Liu, please thank the chief engineer for me."

"No need to thank me. The chief engineer said you deserve it." Director Liu patted him on the shoulder. "Study hard and don't be in a hurry to show off. You'll have your chance to shine after you graduate."

After Director Liu left, Ye Bingwen stood alone in the laboratory, clutching the appointment letter in his hand.

It's already dark outside the window. Autumn in Harbin is very short; it seems like just yesterday the leaves were green, and today the ground is covered in golden leaves.

He recalled a scene from his past life. He had just been promoted to professor and sat alone in his office for a long time. Outside the window was autumn in Beijing, much like Harbin. At that moment, he felt he had finally established himself.

Now he knows that gaining a foothold is just the beginning. The real journey is yet to come.

The brushless motor on the table lay quietly, its coils gleaming with a coppery light under the lamp.

Ye Bingwen reached out and touched the cold casing.

Suddenly, the door was pushed open. Chen Zhiyuan rushed in, his face pale and panting.

"Bingwen, something's happened. Your wife got into a big argument with Section Chief Sun in the publicity department. The whole building could hear it."

Ye Bingwen's expression changed, and he grabbed his coat and ran outside.