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

Shen Yun was very nervous.

Yu Xu and Zhang Qian secretly watched Chen Yuan's reaction.

Vice Presidents Jin Sheng and Xu Gang had their hearts pounding.

Everyone was well aware of Chen Yuan's value; he was the "benefactor" who could make them famous throughout history.

If the other party quits due to R&D funding issues, they won't even have time to cry.

They could have raised the promised 50 billion yuan in R&D funding, but because of Mr. Lu's words, all their fundraising methods became unusable. Now they have to worry about Chen Yuan getting angry and refusing to continue. They are really frustrated.

Chen Yuan seemed somewhat incredulous and asked, "Three billion?"

Finished!

This is a sign that anger is turning into laughter!

Shen Yun, Yu Xu, Zhang Qian, and the others felt a chill run down their spines, thinking that Chen Yuan was about to explode.

Shen Yun quickly explained, "It's 3 billion, but this is the first phase of funding. The second phase will be much larger, as long as we..."

Chen Yuan interrupted, "Teacher Yu, what happened? I believe you weren't just bragging when you promised 50 billion, otherwise you wouldn't have written it into the contract."

Everyone looked at Yu Xu, knowing that only he knew the specifics of the situation.

Yu Xu said helplessly, "There are some things I can't explain too clearly, but since you asked, I'll reveal a little bit."

Chen Yuan nodded and said, "Please speak."

Yu Xu organized his thoughts and said, "Originally, we promised you 50 billion yuan and planned to raise it through several methods, such as applying for matching funds from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project, and provincial funds. We also planned to conduct financing bidding. It wouldn't be difficult to raise the funds. However, due to certain reasons, your upcoming 'hydrogen bomb Dyson sphere' project must be kept secret. The above fundraising methods have been cut by more than half. As for applying for funds... well, you should know what I mean. The higher-ups mean to give us 3 billion yuan first, and the funds will naturally come in after we achieve results."

Oh!

Understood!

So, in the end, the higher-ups still lacked confidence in the Dyson sphere project for the hydrogen bomb.

Chen Yuan smiled.

This sight made Shen Yun, Yu Xu, Zhang Qian, and the others tense up, thinking that Chen Yuan was extremely angry to have such an unusual smile.

"Results?" Chen Yuan stood up and said, "Okay, let's produce some results tomorrow."

what?

Achieve some results by tomorrow?

Shen Yun, Yu Xu, Zhang Qian, and the others were stunned.

This is a large-scale semi-controlled nuclear fusion project. How can we expect to see results in just one day?

……

The next day, in the morning.

Institute of Plasma Physics.

Fusion Reactor Physics Design and Advanced Magnetic Confinement Device Research Laboratory.

"I've found out. I've found out about Xiao Chen's background."

A young man in his late twenties walked excitedly toward the crowd.

Ma Weixing, who holds a senior professional title, is a man in his late thirties.

He and his colleagues looked over and asked, "Xiao Su, what's his background?"

"yes."

"Was this genius poached from some research institute?"

The others pressed for answers.

"No." Xiao Su shook her head and said, "I heard from HR that Xiao Chen graduated with a bachelor's degree in applied physics. He doesn't even have an assistant engineer qualification. He worked at Suzhou Xinghe Company for less than a month before, and then for some reason, he came here."

Upon hearing this, Ma Weixing said speechlessly, "Isn't this ridiculous? They don't even have assistant engineer qualifications, how can they be hired?"

Standing to the side was Chiang Wei-kuo, who was in his forties and held an associate professor title.

He frowned and said, "Yes, his major does meet our recruitment requirements, but the minimum educational level in our fourth department is a master's degree. Moreover, recently we are not even hiring master's degree holders anymore. We are only recruiting PhDs who are no more than 35 years old and have obtained their degrees in recent years."

Everyone else was puzzled. Chen Yuan didn't meet the recruitment qualifications at all, so how was he recruited?

Xiao Su continued to reveal more: "Hey, you definitely won't believe it, but our research institute even gave him the treatment of a specially appointed associate researcher."

"what?"

"Specially appointed associate professor?"

"What's this kid's background? How can he enjoy this kind of treatment?"

Everyone was surprised to hear this.

Their first reaction wasn't that Chen Yuan was capable of enjoying the special appointment of associate professor, but rather that he had connections.

It's no wonder they think that way. How could someone with such talent only have a bachelor's degree and remain unknown in the industry?

The group reacted relatively well, only questioning Chen Yuan's background.

Upon hearing this, Chiang Wei-kuo immediately felt a pang of jealousy. "I started as a research intern and then spent several years being selected as an assistant researcher before finally becoming an associate researcher. He, on the other hand, was directly appointed. It's true that having connections makes a difference."

"Exactly." Another associate professor, Lü Yunming, was equally envious. "Although a specially appointed associate professor is not a formal associate professor, judging from the leaders' attitude, if they pull some strings for this kid, he'll most likely be able to get a permanent position. Sigh, this kind of thing is really unfair to us hardworking technical people."

The others remained silent, but their eyes were filled with helplessness and dissatisfaction.

Just then, a large group of people entered.

As everyone looked over, they saw Dean Shen Yun, Executive Vice Dean Zhang Qian, Yu Xu, two other vice deans, as well as Zhou Shangqin and Chen Yuan walking in from outside.

Everyone, shut up and look at them with strange eyes.

They were extremely jealous of Chen Yuan's specially appointed associate professor status!

As soon as Zhou Shangqin entered, he immediately gathered everyone to stand at attention for the morning meeting. "I'll just say a few words. From now on, when I'm not in the Fourth Division, everything will be dictated by Chen Yuan. Do whatever he tells you to do, understand?"

"Um?"

"Were the rumors from the leadership true?"

"He's not just a specially appointed associate professor, he's going to be our leader too?"

Ma Weixing, Jiang Weiguo, Lü Yunming, Xiao Su, and all the other members of the Fourth Division were increasingly dissatisfied with this.

This doesn't mean they have any issues with Chen Yuan, but rather that they are unhappy about the "injustice."

Everyone was very dissatisfied, and responded with scattered and listless "I know" replies.

Zhou Shangqin frowned and glanced at everyone's lazy appearance, but did not reprimand them. He continued, "Now let Chen Yuan say a few words to you."

After saying that, he gave up his seat.

Chen Yuan stepped forward and said in a fairly amicable tone, "I should have gotten to know everyone since I'm new here, but I have a mission to complete, so I can't chat with you for now. Please forgive me."

Their attitude was good, which somewhat comforted everyone's dissatisfaction.

To everyone's surprise, Chen Yuangang immediately changed the subject after his initial pleasantries, "I have a very important task today that requires everyone's cooperation. We might be working late. If anyone has any objections, please stand up and leave the fourth research lab now. I've spoken with the dean, and those who have objections will be transferred to other research labs!"

I rely on!

Wow, what an arrogant official you are!

Everyone's faces turned ashen; they truly hadn't expected that Chen Yuan's first act of his new leadership would come so quickly.

Chiang Wei-kuo was displeased upon hearing this and was about to stand up and express his dissatisfaction, but he ultimately held back.

This wasn't to say he was swallowing his anger, but rather that he wanted to see where Chen Yuan got his confidence from being so arrogant.

Seeing that no one reacted, Chen Yuan announced directly, "Alright, let's get busy now. Please cooperate with me to finish the hand-crafted super stellarator model today!"

Ok?

Super stellarator model, what is this thing?

Ma Weixing, Jiang Weiguo, Xiao Su, and others couldn't help but look at each other in bewilderment.

Zhou Shangqin, the director of the fourth office, also showed a look of doubt.

Not to mention them, even Shen Yun, Zhang Qian, Yu Xu and others who had previously communicated with Chen Yuan were puzzled when they heard the words "super star-simulating device".

Everyone knows what a stellarator is; it's a type of magnetic confinement device.

So what exactly is this super stellarator?

Zhou Shangqin, Ma Weixing, and the staff of the four offices, including Jiang Weiguo, were simply curious and puzzled.

Shen Yun, Yu Xu, and Xu Gang, knowing Chen Yuan's abilities, felt a sudden jolt in their hearts, realizing that he might be about to demonstrate some cutting-edge nuclear fusion technology, and their hearts were suddenly filled with anticipation!