I started with a ship full of max-level veterans, and I'm just a complete noob.

Jiang Ming laid the signature sheet flat on the empty space on the experimental table. The title of the paper read "Adaptive Temperature Control Scheme for Regional Purification Furnace and Achievements in Silicon Double Diffusion Process". Below it were the names of the Semiconductor Group of the Institute of Physics, the 502 Research Laboratory of the Third Electronics Factory, and the personnel who participated in the testing.

After reading the first page, he turned to the author list, his gaze moving down a string of familiar names, finally landing on the empty first author position.

"Teacher Wang, this order needs to be adjusted."

"Materials fundamentals are in the semiconductor group, and surface treatment and diffusion records are also the result of your long-term accumulation. 502 is responsible for equipment modification and engineering control. The results should be listed in groups according to actual contributions, and I should not be placed alone at the top."

Wang Shouwu raised his hand to press down on the paper, picked up the pen with his other hand, and gently scraped away the excess ink at the edge of the ink bottle. Then, skipping over the names of several experts in the semiconductor group, he wrote the three words "Jiang Ming" in the first author column.

The handwriting is neat and upright, with each stroke displaying the steady strength developed from years of writing experimental records.

Jiang Ming reached for the form, but Wang Shouwu held down the corner of the paper, blocking his movement with the back of his hand.

"Teacher Wang, the technical solution was developed collaboratively."

"Completing something together does not mean making the same contribution."

Wang Shouwu capped his pen and pointed to the adaptive temperature control loop, diffusion furnace hot zone migration correction, and high-frequency device process card in the report. "You changed the furnace from a device that could only obey commands into a system that can correct itself according to changes in heat load. You also connected the materials, devices, and receiver front-end to an engineering line. All of this is written in the report, so everyone can see it."

Upon hearing these words, Jiang Ming's gaze returned to the author's section.

In this era, being listed as an author is not as simple as a piece of paper in a laboratory. A name will be included in the unit's archives, achievement registration, and the basis for allocation by superiors. It will also become the most easily retrieved evidence when applying for equipment, time, and staffing in the future. Being listed first means taking responsibility for the results, and it also means that every number will be scrutinized by more people.

What he was really worried about was not his reputation, but the source of the technology, the boundaries of his institution, and the pressure that might follow. The 502 Research Laboratory and the Institute of Physics had just established a joint research relationship. If he took the lead in accepting the results, some people might see it as the Third Electronics Factory reaching out to the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and it might also subject other participants to additional scrutiny in the subsequent division of labor.

"Putting joint research results under the joint authorship of the organization makes subsequent progress smoother."

Jiang Ming still tried to persuade him, "I did the engineering corrections. The materials and device routes were led by you and Professor Xie. The first author wrote the semiconductor group report, and the control part of 502 was listed separately in the report. The responsibilities and contributions are clear."

Wang Shouwu looked at him, his palm pressed on the report cover, revealing a section of the 800 MHz test curve at the bottom of the page.

"You're still trying to find a way out for everyone."

His tone wasn't harsh, but it made Jiang Ming stop his hand on the table. "Technical attribution can be written according to the rules, and contributions must also be written according to the facts. Whoever took the key risks and whoever solved the key problems should be placed in the corresponding position in the report."

The researchers nearby gradually put down their notes, and no one interrupted.

Jiang Ming saw Xie Xide lower his eyes to examine the form, the tip of his pencil tracing a short line back and forth along the edge of the paper. She knew what the author order meant, but left the decision to Wang Shouwu to avoid turning the discussion into a dispute between the units.

Old Sun walked to the door with a cigarette in his mouth, but didn't light it for a long time. He stared at Jiang Ming for a few moments, then tucked the cigarette behind his ear.

"Engineer Jiang, don't back away."

Old Sun said, "You led us in modifying the furnace. The silicon tubes can reach 800 megawatts. Teacher Wang also took responsibility. Who should step forward? Let's talk about skills."

After those words were spoken, the laboratory quieted down a bit. Jiang Ming looked at Wang Shouwu and saw that his bloodshot eyes were filled only with the confirmation of data; there was no room for calculations of fame and fortune on that face.

Wang Shouwu reached out and picked up the report, then slapped the cover twice.

"You're not helping us make semiconductors, you're helping China make semiconductors. I'll remember that."

Jiang Ming felt a jolt in his chest from those words, and his mind flashed back to the furnace of the Third Electronics Factory, the quartz boat of the Institute of Physics, the waveform diagram sent by the Aksai military line, and the black track that crossed the safety boundary in the conference room of the Fifth Academy.

These tasks originally belonged to different units, different equipment, and different tasks. What truly connected them was the modification on each process card, the review on each record sheet, and the trust that everyone had in entrusting their part to others for inspection.

Wang Shouwu reached out and grabbed his wrist, stopping him from continuing to search for revisions.

"I made this decision and will take responsibility for the explanations regarding my attribution."

"Then I will take responsibility for the technical aspects of the report."

Jiang Ming finally withdrew his hand and held the pen in front of him. "But the work of the semiconductor group must be listed in full. Professor Xie was responsible for surface state control, Da Liu was responsible for high-frequency testing, and Fang Xudong was responsible for numbering and packaging. All of these should be included as major contributions."

"We'll do it your way."

Wang Shouwu handed him another contribution statement, saying, "Your name can be listed first, but your contributions cannot be erased."

Jiang Ming took the pen and filled in the contribution column one by one. Xie Xide reported the photoconductivity spectrum processing, Da Liu reported the fixture modification and resonant cavity calibration, and Lao Sun added the standby time for the backup power filter cleaning and furnace temperature stabilization stage.

As the young lab technician passed by the table with a water cup, he heard Jiang Ming accept the signature. The enamel cup in his hand bumped against the corner of the table, and water spilled out along the rim, with a few drops falling to the ground. He immediately raised the report to protect the pages before squatting down to wipe the water away.

Wang Shouwu glanced at him and said, "Give the report to Engineer Jiang first, and have someone clean up the ground."

The young man readily agreed and handed the report to Jiang Ming.

Jiang Ming took the report, pressed his fingertip against the cover, and could feel the paper hardening from the heat. The shadows from Wang Shouwu's sleepless nights fell on the edge of the cover, like a reminder not to take this trust for granted.

"Teacher Wang, I'll accept this report."

He said, "For the subsequent impact aging and parameter extraction, I proceeded according to common standards. If any tube has a problem, I first check the process and testing conditions before discussing responsibility."

Wang Shouwu nodded, took his hand, and their palms overlapped next to the lab bench. Everyone around them was busy organizing data. No one applauded or made a fuss. Only Old Sun finally lit his cigarette, and the smoke slowly drifted out from the doorway.

Jiang Ming put the report into his inner pocket, the pages close to his chest, and he could still feel the warmth from his body through his work clothes.

Just as Wang Shouwu released his grip, he heard a short buzzing sound. The oscilloscope in the laboratory was still running, and everyone around him was busy sealing samples, with no one looking up.

A notification, unique to Jiang Ming, lit up deep within his consciousness.

[High level of genuine trust detected.]

The criteria for including Wang Shouwu's name card have been met.

[Name card slots are now open. Current usage: five.]

Jiang Ming pressed his fingers against the edge of the inner pocket, his face still showing the restraint he had when he received the report, but he knew in his heart that what Wang Shouwu had just handed over was not a signed arrangement.