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

Research Lab No. 4

Chen Yuan and Xu Gang walked in, chatting and laughing.

Chu Yingying followed behind; her official position was "research assistant".

Research assistants typically serve a research team and are primarily responsible for assisting in the smooth operation of research projects. Their work covers multiple aspects such as research assistance, laboratory management, and administrative affairs, and they do not independently undertake leading research work.

Chu Yingying's situation is different; she only needs to serve Chen Yuan well.

The Institute of Plasma Physics has high requirements for recruiting research assistants, with at least a master's degree.

Special research assistants like Chu Yingying are required to be postdoctoral fellows.

At her age, she'd normally be a graduate student, how could she possibly be a postdoctoral researcher?

Chu Yingying is indeed a postdoctoral fellow, and she is a genius among a group of geniuses.

Chen Yuan and Chu Yingying are close in age, and both have only graduated from university.

This shows how vast the gap would be between the two without the quantum realm of the mind.

"Director Xu."

"Associate Researcher Chen."

"You've arrived?"

Xiao Su, Ma Weixing, Jiang Guowei, and Lü Yunming greeted him.

As they spoke, they gave Chu Yingying a strange look.

In general, researchers and associate researchers are referred to as "Researcher X" or "Associate Researcher X" in everyday conversation within research institutes, while in formal settings they are addressed as "Researcher X" or "Associate Researcher X".

Of course, this is under the premise of not being familiar with it.

When you have a good relationship, you'll use more colloquial honorifics.

For example, a certain worker, an old man, or even a certain teacher.

Chen Yuan is younger than everyone else, so calling him Teacher Chen is inappropriate, while Engineer Chen or Little Chen seems too casual. Therefore, everyone calls him Associate Researcher Chen.

This form of address is more respectful than "Xiao Chen" and suggests a closer relationship than "Mr. Chen".

The way they addressed each other showed that the researchers in the fourth research group regarded Chen Yuan as one of their own, someone who deserved respect.

Respect comes from two aspects.

First, as everyone knows, Chen Yuan is not an incompetent person, but someone invited by the research institute to lead major projects.

Capable people will be respected everywhere.

Clearly, people believe that Chen Yuanneng is capable of leading major projects and deserves the respect he deserves.

The second is that Chen Yuan will lead everyone to work on projects, and these are major projects.

Once they achieve results, they can gain both fame and fortune.

Under these circumstances, who would disrespect Chen Yuan?

Chen Yuan and Xu Gang responded to the crowd respectively.

Xu Gang asked, "Director Zhou isn't here?"

Ma Weixing said, "The director was summoned by Dean Yu."

Xu Gang nodded and joked, "Yeah, I came with Xiao Chen to supervise the work, so you guys better not slack off."

Everyone knows that Xu Gang is in charge of administration and generally does not participate in scientific research; this statement is purely a joke.

Ma Weixing laughed and said, "With you and Associate Researcher Chen here, how could we dare to slack off?"

Everyone smiled knowingly.

Jiang Guowei asked with concern, "Associate Researcher Chen, how's the funding situation?"

"It can't be that fast."

"The items were just shipped by air."

"that is."

Xiao Su, Lü Yunming, and the others were both amused and exasperated, thinking that Jiang Guowei was being too hasty.

Chen Yuan casually mentioned before that the reason for making the super stellarator model was because of problems with applying for research funding.

Although they didn't know what kind of project the funding was for or how much it amounted to, they knew that if they could secure this research funding and the project was established, they would definitely be able to participate, so they were naturally very interested.

Chen Yuan casually shared the news he had just received, "It seems to be resolved. Don't talk about it outside."

"Huh?" Jiang Guowei was somewhat surprised. "So fast?"

Ma Weixing rolled his eyes and said, "How could it not be fast? Don't you think about what kind of model Deputy Researcher Chen made? It's a model of a gravity confinement nuclear fusion device. If I were the leader, I would want to personally deliver the money."

His words were purely flattery. After all, what he sent was just a concept model, but the other party had indeed solved the funding problem. If he didn't flatter them, would he have to disagree?

At this point, he asked curiously, "Associate Researcher Chen, how much is this research funding?"

"Ahem." Xu Gang coughed and reminded, "Don't ask questions you shouldn't. You'll know when the project is established."

Just then, his phone rang.

Xu Gang greeted Chen Yuan and went outside to answer the phone.

Chen Yuan chatted with Ma Weixing, Jiang Guowei and others for a while.

A few minutes later, Xu Gang returned from outside and called out, "Xiao Chen, let's go."

Chen Yuan greeted everyone, saying, "You all go ahead with your work. Xu Yuan and I have some business to attend to, so we probably won't be back today. See you tomorrow."

"OK."

"See you tomorrow, Associate Researcher Chen."

Everyone waved in greeting.

Chen Yuan, Xu Gang, and Chu Yingying left.

After the person left, everyone sighed with emotion.

Ma Weixing sighed, "Associate Researcher Chen is really capable. He can even imagine a super stellarator. Although it's very sci-fi, the concept is really great. Most importantly, he solved the funding problem with just a concept model?"

Jiang Guowei wholeheartedly agreed, saying, "That's right. At first, I thought he was just a young man with some connections who got him specially appointed and given associate professor-level treatment. But it turns out that's not the case. How could someone who was hired to lead a major project be incompetent?"

These were said in private, without any flattery, but rather genuine expressions of admiration.

……

outside.

As soon as Chen Yuan, Xu Gang, and Chu Yingying came out, they saw a tall, robust young man standing there with a serious expression.

Upon seeing the man, Xu Gang immediately introduced him: "Xiao Chen, this is Fang Wenbin, the driver I found for you."

"it is good."

Chen Yuan responded and looked over, extending his hand and saying, "Hello."

Chu Yingying was also observing, seemingly curious about Fang Wenbin.

Fang Wenbin almost instinctively raised his hand in salute, but quickly withdrew it and shook hands instead. "Mr. Chen, hello."

Ok?

This pose...

Chen Yuan wasn't stupid. He vaguely sensed that Fang Wenbin's identity was unusual. He was very likely from the military, and recently so. Otherwise, it was impossible for Fang Wenbin to instinctively salute when Chen Yuan reached out to shake his hand.

He had a pretty good idea of ​​what was going on.

I'm afraid this driver wasn't hired by Xu Gang, but rather sent by someone to protect him.

As for why they sent people to protect him, he could roughly guess that it was because the higher-ups saw the "military order" and realized something, and thought he was an important talent.

This kind of thing is normal. There have been cases in China before where top researchers were killed by unsuspecting thugs.

After that, the government significantly increased its efforts to protect talented individuals.

The fact that Chen Yuan received this treatment indicates that he was recognized by higher authorities as an important scientific researcher.

He was pretty much right. In fact, Fang Wenbin's protection of him had not started now, but had begun half a month ago, though it was done in secret at the time.

He withdrew his hand and probed calmly, "Did you serve in the military?"

Fang Wenbin glanced at Xu Gang before introducing himself: "I used to be a bodyguard in the army, but I was discharged due to injury."

Xu Gang picked up the conversation and said, "Xiao Fang is proficient in the use of various cold weapons and firearms, and he also has experience in counter-surveillance. When I saw such an excellent retired guard at the job market, I thought I would recruit him to be your driver."

The young guard's situation is unlikely to be anything other than retirement due to injury, and the two men's explanations seem plausible.

Chen Yuan did not think so.

He didn't think Fang Wenbin had suffered an injury that would force him to retire; he seemed perfectly healthy.

Therefore, he believed that Fang Wenbin was sent by his superiors to protect him.

Chen Yuan continued probing, "Dean Xu, you told me before that Xiao Fang would also be responsible for my personal safety?"

Chu Yingying was somewhat surprised, seemingly not understanding why Chen Yuan, a researcher, needed someone to protect him.

Xu Gang didn't think much of it and nodded, "Yes."

Chen Yuan looked at Fang Wenbin and jokingly asked, "Fang, if I were attacked, how would you protect me? Would you do something like in the movies, showing off your superhuman skills and taking down a bunch of thugs?"

Fang Wenbin said frankly, "If the criminals are unarmed, I can easily take down several of them by myself. If they are armed, it's hard to say, but I will definitely not let you get hurt in any way. If necessary, I can even take a bullet for you."

This is the highest level of protection in the security industry.

To put it bluntly, if Fang Wenbin could really do what he said, then Chen Yuan could be said to have an extra life if necessary.

Although Fang Wenbin was sent from above and was very likely to be in charge of supervision, Chen Yuan was still very satisfied with this "resurrection armor." He knew that with Fang Wenbin's protection, he would have a greater chance of escaping unscathed if he encountered any trouble in the future.

This made him somewhat emotional, realizing that without realizing it, he had also gained the right to have someone risk their life to protect his personal safety.

Chen Yuan knew that ordinary researchers would never enjoy such treatment. The reason he could was because, in the eyes of some people, he already held a significant position.