The night before the college entrance exam results were released, I redeemed my Peking University ad

Old Wang was completely stunned on the other end of the phone.

His hand holding the phone was shaking even more than when he had just received the call from Director Li.

Council of Councilors!

He served as the principal for twenty years, but he had never even seen what the documents of the Senate looked like; he had only heard the name in the news.

Today, the Senate has allocated 50 million yuan specifically to Ji Bai!

Adding the 40 million yuan raised by the province, city, and district, plus Academician Wang's 10 million yuan, that's 100 million yuan!

A full 100 million!

Ji Bai raised 100 million in a single day!

He suddenly remembered that he had been advising Ji Bai not to have unrealistic ideas that morning, but in less than 24 hours, Ji Bai had raised 100 million.

This efficiency is unprecedented, not just in Fucheng, but in the entire Liao Province.

Old Wang took a deep breath and said in a solemn tone, like someone narrating a documentary, "The 100 million yuan budget is secured! Now, it's your time to shine!"

After hanging up the phone, Ji Bai leaned back on the sofa, lost in thought for a long time.

He was stunned at first, then a warm current spread from his heart, making his nose feel a little sore.

He didn't take it to heart when academic cliques ganged up on him or when industry authorities mocked him; he would just retaliate if necessary.

But now the Senate has directly allocated funds, which is equivalent to the state endorsing him and providing a safety net for him!

It turns out he wasn't charging forward alone.

The country has not forgotten him, this ordinary boy with no connections!

Ji Bai sniffed, his eyes stinging. He raised his hand to rub them, muttering, "Damn, I almost lost my little pearl."

He's someone who's going to change the world; he can't cry, it's too shameful.

However, before he could process his emotions, the phone rang again.

It's still Wang Jianguo.

As soon as the call connected, Lao Wang's voice boomed out, even more excited than before.

"Ji Bai! More money has come in! Another sum has been approved from above!"

"What?"

"The State Administration of Education, Science and Technology of Beijing! A notice just arrived at the provincial level allocating 60 million yuan specifically for you!"

"It's said to be used to support the scientific research and innovation of young top talents. This is a special case, with no specific restrictions on its use; you have complete control over it!"

Ji Bai was completely dumbfounded. He sat on the sofa for a full half minute, his mind blank.

He could understand the Senate approving 50 million, but why did the Education Bureau also get involved?

And he spent 60 million in one go, which is 10 million more than the Senate?

He originally wanted to raise 80 million in start-up capital, but after a lot of effort, the local government raised 40 million. He was still worried about how to fill the remaining gap.

That's great. The two departments directly invested 110 million yuan, plus 40 million yuan from the local government, and 10 million yuan that Academician Wang promised to squeeze out. The available funds are now approaching 200 million yuan.

Ji Bai scratched his head, completely baffled.

But one thing is for sure: the funding is more than enough, and there's even a surplus.

Ji Bai leaned back slowly on the sofa, looking up at the yellowish water stains on the ceiling.

He suddenly realized that the water stain didn't look like a map anymore, but rather like a rotating superconducting coil.

Then he laughed.

Everything is ready, all that's left is to get started!

Ji Bai put his phone on the coffee table, stood up, walked to the window, and looked down at the old ladies chatting by the flower bed.

Then, with a very dramatic, over-the-top gesture:

"Come out, room-temperature superconductivity!"

……

The next day.

Ji Bai got up very early, which was unusual for him.

[Ding! Daily selection has been activated. Do you wish to enable it?]

"Save them!"

Having collected all the room-temperature superconducting fragments, Ji Bai decided to save them up first.

Putting everything else aside, he was genuinely envious of that virtual experimental space that appeared last time.

If we could get a virtual experimental space and then deploy the industrial machine tool, why would we need to beg and plead for funding like this?

Superconducting samples can be made directly in virtual space, without even needing to build a cleanroom or buy target materials!

Also, I'm going to the U.S. for the ICM conference at the end of the month, which is U.S. territory, so who knows what might happen.

Having more options means having more cards to play.

If all else fails, just offer a thousand-dollar option on the spot, pull out some cutting-edge technology, and scare them to tears!

After tidying up and having breakfast, Ji Bai rode his old, rattling bicycle—a rickety old bike that rattled everywhere except for the bell—and leisurely made his way to the Municipal Education Commission.

It's obvious that instructions have already been given from above.

From entering the door to getting things done, everything was done smoothly without having to wait in line or take a number. The staff were incredibly polite.

Actually, some very few comrades had different opinions about the 20 million yuan approved for Ji Bai by the city and district governments.

Some people even slammed their fists on the table.

But when the Council of State and the State Administration of Science, Technology and Education transferred 110 million yuan yesterday afternoon, their opinions became unified.

The dissenting voices disappeared, and the person who slammed the table changed their tune.

Even the Senate has approved it, so what are you still questioning?

All the procedures were completed in less than an hour.

Ji Bai looked at the dedicated account with 160 million yuan lying in his mobile banking app and couldn't help but whistle.

One day they were scratching their heads over an 80 million shortfall, and the next day the funding has doubled. Who wouldn't be confused by this treatment?

After leaving the Education and Science Commission building, Ji Bai immediately dialed Academician Wang's number.

"Mr. Wang, there's one more thing I need to trouble you with."

Old Wang, who was reading documents on the other end of the phone, chuckled and teased, "What are your orders, Your Highness?"

"..."

Ji Bai hesitated for a moment, then went along with it: "Then could you please trouble the Supreme Elder to help me purchase a batch of experimental equipment and raw materials? I'll send you the list."

"Speak."

Old Wang was decisive; he had already approved ten million, and he couldn't just watch the money go down the drain. He was determined to help with the procurement to the end.

Help someone to the very end, and see them through to the end!

Ji Bai began to repeat each item on the list in his mind.

The experimental equipment mentioned earlier was in good working order, including high-precision thin film deposition equipment, physical property measurement system, X-ray diffractometer, atomic force microscope, and cleanroom equipment.

Although the unit price is ridiculously high, they are all standard equipment in materials science laboratories.

As he listened, Old Wang took notes on paper, thinking to himself that this kid's laboratory was even more advanced than the materials science departments of most universities.

But I didn't think much of it. After all, they have over 100 million yuan in funding right now, so it's normal for them to buy some good equipment.

But when Ji Bai read out the raw materials, Old Wang's expression changed.

High-purity lanthanum oxide, high-purity yttrium oxide, high-purity thorium oxide, strontium titanate single crystal substrates...

When these materials are combined, in the mind of a scholar of Wang's caliber, it's like drawing a circle on the periodic table of elements, with two words written inside the circle.

Superconductivity!

"Ji Bai, are you trying to...get superconductivity?"

Ji Bai chuckled, "As expected of our sect's Supreme Elder! Your insight is truly sharp! You guessed it right away!"

Old Wang: "..."

He almost dropped the pen in his hand.

Why didn't you say so yesterday?!

"I told you yesterday, can you still readily approve ten million for me?" Ji Bai said confidently.

Old Wang was speechless for a moment, then gave a bitter laugh, and a layer of cold sweat broke out on his back.

If materials science is a funding black hole, then superconductivity research is a black hole within a black hole!

The world has spent decades and hundreds of billions of dollars on this, but still hasn't gotten close to practical application. Countless top teams have failed without even making a splash.

He had previously approved ten million, thinking it was just a young man doing some research in a different field, and that even if he lost money, it wouldn't be a big deal.

Now look what's happened! This kid is heading straight for room-temperature superconductivity. This isn't scientific research; it's like throwing ten million dollars into the Pacific Ocean!

Several senior professors in the institute already had reservations about him privately allocating funds to Ji Bai. If they found out that the money was spent on the superconducting project, wouldn't they be in an uproar?

It seems my time as dean of the School of Mathematical Sciences is numbered.