Building a Sci-Fi Empire: Starting with Cold Nuclear Fusion

In the afternoon, Chen Yuan went to the security department for training.

Strangely enough, he barely saw Zhen Yuhan in the past two days.

Including yesterday when we had arranged to meet at the cafeteria for lunch.

Even later, during the off-get off work hours, he didn't see the other person return to the office.

Of course, Chen Yuan was just a little confused, but he didn't care much. What others did was none of his business.

The training lasted for an afternoon.

He returned to his office around the time he was about to leave work.

Right now, most people are either in the lab or in the workshop; it's empty, not a soul in sight.

Chen Yuan went to his desk to tidy up, thinking about timing his departure right before leaving get off work.

Suddenly, footsteps sounded behind them.

Chen Yuan turned his head to look.

Zhen Yuhan walked in from outside the door.

As soon as he saw Chen Yuan, he smiled and said, "Didn't you go to the lab?"

Chen Yuan smiled. "I didn't go. I just had safety training at the security department. How about you?"

Zhen Yuhan walked over, sat down next to me, and said with a cheerful voice, "It's nothing special. These past few days, Engineer Zhu has been teaching me in the lab. He promised me that as long as I know how to operate the equipment and instruments, he will let me fill out the 'Safety Room Access Application Form.' Once I get the access pass, I won't have to follow him around and register every day like I do now before I can go in."

His words seemed to carry a hint of boasting.

Chen Yuan wasn't stupid; he could naturally understand the implication.

He vaguely realized that what Engineer Qin had said before might all be true.

Zhen Yuhan appears enthusiastic on the surface, but in reality, she only sees herself as a tool.

Alternatively, Chen Yuan might think that Zhen Yuhan wants to see if he has any use, and if so, he will take him in as a "little brother". In that case, he will naturally fulfill his promise and have her uncle find him a mentor who is willing to take him into the laboratory.

If you have no value to others, then the promise is probably just a piece of paper.

Chen Yuan wasn't sure what kind of person Zhen Yuhan was, so he didn't show any emotion and simply said sincerely, "Congratulations."

Zhen Yuhan smiled and said, "You don't need to envy me. It's okay. Just hang in there for now, and I'll figure something out for you later."

Chen Yuan said, "No need, I'm fine with Engineer Qin."

……

In the following days, Chen Yuan's project team made rapid progress on the 1175Ah battery cell.

First, the design drawings passed the detailed review, and then the process of making a prototype model was quickly initiated.

Before you know it, a week has passed in the blink of an eye.

And just yesterday, the first test and verification were also passed.

After a few more rounds of testing, we can basically move on to small-batch trial production.

Although further testing is planned, such as cyclic testing, the fact that all core data was fine during the first test means that even if problems are discovered later, they will be minor issues that can be easily resolved with minimal intervention and will not affect subsequent progress.

In short, the project team's research and development of the 1175Ah battery cell was a great success.

In addition, Chen Yuan received his laboratory access permit yesterday afternoon.

That morning, he arrived at the company early, thinking he would go to the lab soon.

Chen Yuan thought he had arrived very early.

Unexpectedly, several colleagues had arrived before him and were now sitting there chatting.

"You'll get paid tomorrow, right?"

"Another month has passed in the blink of an eye."

"The minister said he has something important to announce today. What do you think it could be?"

"I don't know."

Colleagues from the other project teams spoke freely.

Chen Yuan calculated the time; today was already the 4th, and tomorrow was indeed the company's payday.

He worked six or seven days last month, so he probably didn't earn much.

As for Zhao Peng's announcement today, Chen Yuan had a general idea; it was simply that the 1175Ah battery cell project had been a great success.

Just then, a long-lost voice reached my ears, "Xiao Chen, how have you been lately?"

Chen Yuan turned his head and saw that it was Zhen Yuhan, whom he hadn't seen for several days.

He replied with a smile, "I'm alright. I haven't seen you for several days. Where have you been?"

He hadn't seen Zhen Yuhan for several days since that day when they met near the end of the workday.

Zhen Yuhan chuckled and said, "Where else could I go? Haven't I been studying with my master in Lab 3? You're in the office all day, so it's normal that you haven't seen me."

His words sounded normal, as if he was just explaining why no one was around, but in reality he was still showing off that he could go to the lab while Chen Yuan could only stay in the office. Otherwise, he wouldn't have deliberately mentioned the words "Laboratory Number Three".

Chen Yuan was not sure if Zhen Yuhan was as Lao Qin said before, but now he can basically conclude that she is indeed that kind of person.

He blinked and said, "I haven't been in the office much these past few days. I thought you'd been in the office the whole time."

Zhen Yuhan asked in surprise, "You weren't in the office, so where did you go? Oh, right, you told me before that you were in security training. Oh, I forgot to ask that day, what kind of training were you doing at the security department?"

He didn't care about Chen Yuan at all, let alone fulfill his promise, so naturally he wouldn't have noticed what the other party had been up to these past few days.

Just as Chen Yuan was about to speak, Zhao Peng's hearty laughter came from the corridor outside, and he seemed to be in a good mood.

A group of people all stood up and looked towards the main entrance.

A moment later, Zhao Peng, Wang Kai, and other mid-to-senior level managers from the department walked in.

Seeing that everyone was there, Zhao Peng immediately had everyone stand up and start the morning meeting.

Chen Yuan, Zhen Yuhan, Lao Qin, Xiao Yun, and the others all stood still, their eyes fixed on Zhao Peng, Wang Kai, and the others standing in front of them.

"I won't waste everyone's time today. I'll just tell you some good news and then we'll all be dismissed."

Zhao Peng stated directly, "Our 1175Ah battery cell R&D project, thanks to the concerted efforts of Qin Shoucheng, Chen Yuan, Ding Yang, and the rest of the project team, has finally yielded satisfactory results. The first battery cell developed passed testing and verification yesterday and is basically problem-free. After a few more tests, we can proceed with small-batch trial production. The board of directors held a meeting last night and concluded that the project is very successful. Therefore, they specifically asked me to inform you that the project team responsible for this project has received their bonus. In addition to the originally promised one million, the board of directors, after discussion, has added an extra 500,000 in bonuses. Let's give the 1175Ah battery cell project team a round of applause!"

*Clap, clap clap clap*

The audience erupted in enthusiastic applause.

Chen Yuan, Lao Qin, Xiao Yun, and others applauded their own projects, just like everyone else.

On the contrary, Zhen Yuhan was a step behind.

He glanced at Chen Yuan with a slightly questioning look.

Because Chen Yuan was one of the three people Zhao Peng mentioned earlier.

Logically, such praise and naming should only mention those who have made significant contributions to the project.

How could Chen Yuan, a new employee, possibly be singled out for praise?

Zhen Yuhan was really confused and didn't know what was going on.

He secretly wondered, "Could it be that Chen Yuan made a significant contribution to the development of the 1175Ah battery cell?"

Just as he was secretly speculating, Zhao Peng gestured for everyone to be quiet, and then announced: "The board of directors asked me to announce that the battery cell project will distribute different amounts of bonuses based on the degree of contribution. Qin Shoucheng, as the project leader, has made an unquestionable contribution, so his bonus is 80,000 yuan. Chen Yuan, although a new employee, has also made a significant contribution, so his bonus is also 80,000 yuan. Ding Yang is next, so his bonus is 50,000 yuan. The remaining 48 people in the project team will split the remaining bonus equally, which means each person will receive 26,875 yuan. Originally, the bonuses would be calculated and distributed separately, but tomorrow is not payday. I discussed it with the higher-ups, and we finally decided that this money will be distributed along with the salary. In other words, you will receive the money tomorrow. And the day after tomorrow is Saturday, so you can go and have some fun, hehe."

"Yay!"

"Thank you, Minister!"

"Long live the board of directors!"

Chen Yuan's project team all cheered.

Zhen Yuhan stared blankly into space.

He never expected that Chen Yuan's bonus would be the same as that of the project manager, Lao Qin.

What does this mean?

This means that Chen Yuan is very likely the person who made the biggest contribution to this project.

To save face for the project manager, the company gave Lao Qin and Chen Yuan the same bonus.

Zhen Yuhan found it increasingly unbelievable, and she really couldn't understand how Chen Yuan, who was also a new employee, could have made such a significant contribution to the project.

In contrast, Chen Yuan was overjoyed to learn that he would receive a bonus of 80,000 yuan in less than two weeks since joining the company.