Chapter 275 - 169: Getting on the Right Track, Unburdened and Carefree

Chapter 275: Chapter 169: Getting on the Right Track, Unburdened and Carefree

After all, it was still unknown how long it would take to develop the 10-nanometer chip manufacturing technology. If any problems arose because they couldn’t contact him, cleaning up the mess would be difficult.

Su Chen then discussed compensation with the two of them. His offer was extremely generous; experts of Professor Wu’s and Professor Chen’s caliber would receive an annual salary of one million, with bonuses calculated separately.

As for the other researchers, their salaries would be determined by their rank, but even the most junior researcher would earn over three hundred thousand a year.

You could count the number of research institutes in the entire country offering this kind of compensation on one hand.

With that out of the way, it was time to get down to business.

When Su Chen picked up the briefcase beside him, the eyes of both Professor Wu and Professor Chen were glued to it.

Just as he was about to take the files out, Su Chen paused. He turned to look at them and said, "Let’s do this one at a time. Who wants to go first?"

The two men were momentarily stunned but quickly understood. ’He’s trying to keep the information compartmentalized.’

Professor Chen stood up. "When you get old, even a little tea is hard to hold. I’ll go use the restroom first."

With that, he walked out briskly, his energetic stride showing no signs of a weak bladder.

Su Chen, of course, knew this was just an excuse from the old professor and shook his head with a smile.

Once Professor Chen had closed the door, Su Chen took two sets of documents from his briefcase and handed them directly to Professor Wu.

"These are the manufacturing technologies for the 10nm chip, as well as the lithography and etching machines. I’m handing them all over to you. You know the required security protocols better than I do!"

As Professor Wu reached out to take the documents, his hands trembled.

He never imagined Su Chen would trust him so completely. He’d just handed over the 10nm chip manufacturing technology—the entire set, not just a piece to work on before getting the rest.

This trust alone made Professor Wu feel the weight on his shoulders grow even heavier.

Professor Wu casually flipped open a couple of pages, intending to get a general idea of the documents. To his surprise, after just two or three pages, he was completely captivated by the contents.

And so he stood there, flipping through the two thick stacks of documents, completely oblivious to Su Chen and... Professor Chen, who was still waiting outside.

Seeing Professor Wu so engrossed, Su Chen couldn’t help but clear his throat. "AHEM— Professor Wu... perhaps you should wait until you’re back at the institute to study these."

Hearing Su Chen call his name, Professor Wu snapped out of it, looking a bit embarrassed. He closed the documents and placed them in a file folder he had prepared earlier.

"Mr. Su, if there’s nothing else, I’ll head back and start studying these materials," Professor Wu said, already starting to get up and leave.

Su Chen quickly waved his hand, signaling him not to be in such a hurry. "I’m not finished yet! What’s the rush?"

"Oh? What else is there?" Professor Wu stopped mid-stride.

"It’s about the equipment we purchased earlier. I wanted to see if you think anything is missing."

At the mention of this, the smile on Professor Wu’s face grew even wider. He had already toured the research institute after arriving, and he was more than satisfied. It was, he could say, one of the best-equipped institutes he had ever seen.

All the equipment was top-of-the-line for the country, perfectly sufficient for their current needs.

"Not at the moment. As for any advanced equipment we might need later..." Professor Wu raised the folder in his hand and patted it. "I’ll know once I’ve thoroughly studied this."

Su Chen nodded and didn’t stop Professor Wu from leaving this time.

Actually, when they mentioned earlier that two senior engineers were also joining them, Su Chen had considered giving them the manufacturing technology for ultra-high-end CNC machine tools as well.

A breakthrough in ultra-high-end CNC machine tool technology would be an enormous help in researching and manufacturing the chips.

But the research institute barely had a dozen people—a real skeleton crew. Where would they find the manpower to research CNC machine tools?

’You have to eat your meals one bite at a time; you can’t get full from a single mouthful.’

So Su Chen decided to wait until they had mastered the nanometer chip, lithography, and etching machine technologies before introducing the plans for the ultra-high-end industrial "mother machines."

The moment Professor Wu walked out, Professor Chen darted back in. He sat down across from Su Chen, his face a mask of eager anticipation.

Seeing the old professor’s expression, Su Chen didn’t waste any time. He pulled a small stack of documents from the briefcase and handed it over.

He had only extended his arm halfway before Professor Chen snatched the papers away.

Su Chen was about to chide him but stopped when he heard the old professor muttering excitedly as he flipped through the documents, "Do you have any idea what this past half-month has been like for me? I’ve been waiting and waiting for this!"

Seeing Professor Chen looking almost possessed, Su Chen wisely kept quiet, simply watching him.

’Our country’s path in nuclear engineering has been too difficult,’ he thought, ’paved by the sacrifices of countless people’s youth.’

Professor Chen had lived through that era; of course, he knew just how monumentally important controlled nuclear fusion was.

"Huh? Why does this say it’s the civilian version?" Professor Chen asked abruptly, looking up from the documents.

Su Chen rolled his eyes. "What, were you planning on building a ’big toy’ for fun?"

"Are you afraid my life is too easy? Trying to get me into trouble?"

Professor Chen caught his meaning. He realized that if this wasn’t civilian-grade technology, this meeting probably wouldn’t even be happening.

He also knew that even though it was labeled ’civilian,’ the underlying principles were the same. Once they mastered controlled nuclear fusion, it could be applied to anything.