There is an important reason why they can't send the old lady and their mother Wu Xiulan back to their hometown in Nanbin, like the second sister and the future second brother-in-law You Shaojun.

There is a saying in China that "New Year's Pass", and every New Year is like passing the customs.

The charter is not worried that "Huang Shiren" will come to collect debts on the 30th day of the Chinese New Year's Eve, but the group has formed a tradition of accompanying colleagues from Chinese companies such as NB electrician, NB electrical appliances, NB electrical complete sets and NB electronics to have a Chinese New Year's Eve dinner during the Spring Festival in recent years. I couldn't get away from Berlin and St. Petersburg, and now I have to continue the tradition when I come back.

In addition, Principal Gao has worked hard for the NB laboratory for more than a year, during which he has never taken more than three days off, and he has children, so he can't always enjoy the joy of family for work, so he was given 45 days of leave in a row.

At the same time, Obot, head of the Department of Basic Research, is on a three-month exchange at the Technical University of Dresden; Deputy Director Gong Qi is Chinese New Year's Eve the fourth year today, has never been married, and his tutor when he was a graduate student in China helped him introduce a younger student, which has been delayed for more than half a year, even if he doesn't go back, he will drive him back to go on a blind date.

Unit De, director of the Department of Systems Engineering, went to the United States as originally planned, because Silicon Valley is the center of scientific and technological innovation in the world, and the NB laboratory has to keep up with the pace of scientific and technological development, and it is far from enough to rely on the scientists in the group's technology department.

Whether he is the director of the Department of Systems Engineering, or the person in charge of each research project and project, including the charter himself, he needs to go once a year. Visit the venture capital firms there and ask them what they think about the future; Visit the startups there and listen to their solid or unreliable ideas.

In accordance with the previously signed agreement. Heavyweights such as Professor Alferov, Professor John Popper, Dr. Kari Mullis, and Dr. Smith. There are two months of paid leave per year. Even if you don't go back to your hometown for the Christmas vacation. They will not be left alone if they stay in Hong Kong.

However, nearly half of the Hong Kong and mainland researchers in the Division of Basic Studies have resolutely stayed in the laboratory, and the Division of Systems Engineering and the Division of Technology Application have even more. As the director of the Department of Applied Technology, the charter can only temporarily serve as the "scientific CEO" of the Hong Kong NB Laboratory for one and a half months.

At 8 o'clock in the morning, he walked into the office of the chairman of the academic committee on time as usual, took a large stack of papers from the secretary on duty, and began to deal with the endless scientific administrative affairs.

Professor Alferov had left behind a report before he left that caught his attention. After making a phone call to two professors from the Department of Physics at HKUST, he pressed the internal call button and said, "Miss Guan, please help me invite researcher Li Weifeng from the Physics Center to come over." ”

"Okay, Director Zhang, please wait."

As at NB Electric's headquarters, researchers and graduate students from China must be proficient in English, while almost all Hong Kong researchers, graduate students and staff are learning Mandarin, although there is no explicit rule in the laboratory.

Secretary Guan's Chinese was obviously learned from President Gao, and there is a strong Taiwanese flavor.

The charter released the call button, carefully looked at the two papers attached to the report, and had just finished reading the second one. There was a knock on the door outside, and I just looked up. I saw Li Weifeng walking in at the signal of Secretary Guan.

"Director Zhang, are you looking for me?"

Although the person sitting behind the desk was several years younger than himself, in Li Weifeng's mind, it was almost an almost insurmountable mountain, and he had to look up. This feeling is not the pressure of wealth, but the academic achievements of his talents, and his unique insights in many fields.

There are not many people engaged in basic research in the NB laboratory, including a few "big names" hired with high salaries, and there are only 32 people in the entire physics research center. There are even fewer doctoral students from China, and they can't even play a round of mahjong.

In addition to the three tutors, Principal Gao also helped them hire several "supernumerary tutors" from the physics departments of several universities in Hong Kong. When you encounter a problem, you can get the most authoritative guidance at any time.

"Please take a seat," the charter beckoned him to sit down, and asked in a gentle voice: "Assistant Guo, if you don't go back to the Spring Festival, your family will definitely be disappointed, right?" ”

Li Weifeng was really a little nervous, stunned for a moment, and then said calmly: "Director Zhang, didn't you go home for the New Year." ”

"I'm in a special situation, and if I have the opportunity, I will leave early."

He smiled and raised the paper in his hand to get straight to the point, "Assistant Li, you can elaborate on the microscopic mechanical process of the macroscopic 'carbon nanotube' structure when it is stressed through in-situ Raman spectroscopy, and predict the mechanical properties of the macroscopic 'carbon nanotube' thin films and fibers with the help of spectroscopic information, which is a very remarkable innovation and very valuable." ”

Since the discovery of "carbon nanotubes" by Dr. Cai Yangzhi and Dr. Chen Wushou, because their axial mechanical properties are close to the theoretical value of perfect graphite flakes, which is the highest among known materials, if they can be used as reinforcement materials to prepare polymer composites, then their very excellent mechanical properties will inevitably be able to change the world.

It is in this tantalizing landscape that thousands of scientists from universities and research institutes around the world have been heavily studied, and it is very popular. Even some companies followed the hype, and for a while, nano shirts and nano insoles ...... Everything is nano.

Entering the NB Laboratory, where "carbon nanotubes" were discovered, and being close to the "Nanotechnology and Device Research Laboratory" of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Li Weifeng, like those young scientists who are committed to changing the world, naturally caught up with the fashion.

He plunged into the field of condensed matter physics and took "carbon nanotubes" as his main research direction.

Such a spirit should be encouraged, whether it is his mentor Oberman, or anyone else, there is only support but support. However, his first paper in the Department of Basic Studies of the NB Laboratory was rejected by Professor Alferov, who was temporarily supervised by Dr. Oberman, and was not published in the academic journal of the laboratory like several other doctoral students.

Seeing that he wanted to speak and stopped, he asked in a low voice: "Do you feel strange that such a valuable thesis did not pass the defense?" ”

Li Weifeng nodded. With a puzzled face, he said, "Director Zhang." Six of the seven instructors who participated in the defense thought it was okay. I really can't figure it out. ”

The charter sighed secretly and handed him the second paper under the report, "This is an American professor's masterpiece half a year ago, I believe you must have read it and benefited a lot." Professor Alferov was in a hurry and didn't have time to explain it to you, so I pointed out the problem on his behalf and took a closer look. Draw the red-line part. ”

Li Weifeng understood as if he had been empowered, and suddenly got up and said, "Director Zhang, I really didn't pay attention to a short discussion. ”

"Not a little bit, and you should pay attention."

It's normal to quote some other people's theories in China, and Li Weifeng was anxious: "Just because of this, you sent my paper back?" ”

The charter stared into his eyes and confirmed with great seriousness, "Yes, because this kind of behavior has another name, called plagiarism." Claim the achievements of others as your own. It is not even indicated below the paper. ”

Li Weifeng realized the seriousness of the problem, and once the academic committee determined that the paper was plagiarized. He would be the first Ph.D. student to be swept away by the NB lab for "academic misconduct".

Thinking that he might be nailed to the frame of shame, he excitedly pointed to his paper on his desk and said: "Director Zhang, you are very knowledgeable, you have read my paper, you should know very well that it is just a few sentences, not an entire paragraph, and it cannot be denied the results I have made in the study of the structural mechanical properties of macroscopic 'carbon nanotubes'." ”

"That's why Professor Alferov commissioned me to suggest that you work on your English a little more."

The charter glanced at his paper and said earnestly: "Assistant Li, I am also Chinese, and I know very well how difficult it is for a Chinese born in China, raised in China, and educated in China to express his meaning in the language of another country. I know this is your unintentional fault, and in fact Professor Alferov knows it.

But as a rigorous physicist, as a member of the academic committee, as a teacher who has mentored you, he has to be accountable to science, to the laboratory, and to you. Because once this paper is published and discovered by peers who have read the American professor's masterpiece, the academic attitude of our NB laboratory will inevitably be questioned. ”

As the charter says, the reason for this situation is entirely due to the fact that when I wrote it, I didn't know how to describe it, so I naturally quoted a few words from others. I didn't expect such a small flaw to be discovered by Professor Alferov, who looked very arrogant.

Li Weifeng was embarrassed, and was silent for a while before he said, "Zhang...... Chapter...... Director Zhang, I'm sorry, I'm ...... I...... I misunderstood the professor, and when he came back from vacation, I ...... I, I want to apologize to him in person. ”

The charter picked up the pen and quickly drew more than a dozen circles on the paper, then looked up and smiled: "He doesn't want you to apologize, just a flawless paper." Condensed matter physics is not an area that I am familiar with, so I can't give you constructive advice, but I may have a better command of English than you, and these are a few things that can be considered. ”

Li Weifeng was moved, took the paper and said incoherently: "Director Zhang, I ...... I...... Please rest assured, I will definitely make up for my English and will never disgrace you again in the future. ”

The charter stretched out his right hand and said with a smile: "Assistant Li, you didn't embarrass me, nor did you lose your own face. If the Center for Physics conducts a selection, then your breakthrough in the study of the mechanical properties of macroscopic 'carbon nanotubes' structures can definitely be regarded as the most valuable of all the achievements of this year. ”

Li Weifeng didn't dare to be arrogant, and immediately shook his head again and again: "Director Zhang, I have only made a little bit of small achievements on the basis of Dr. Cai and Dr. Chen, and the value is really not enough. ”

"Grades are achievements, don't be presumptuous."

The charter raised his arm and glanced at the time on his watch, walked around the desk and said meaningfully: "Assistant Li, being able to pass five levels and enter the NB laboratory is inseparable from your previous efforts. At the same time, the opportunity to be mentored by so many masters is not easy to come by. You must cherish this opportunity, because not everyone has such an opportunity, including people who are smarter and better than you and me. ”

"I know."

Li Weifeng nodded his head and said sincerely: "Director Zhang, without you, there would be no NB Laboratory. For the sake of NB Labs, you almost broke the bank. It gave us such a great opportunity. With such good research conditions, if I don't cherish it and can't produce decent results, then I feel sorry for myself, let alone sorry for you. ”

"Almost all Hong Kong taxpayers have funded the lab, and I'm just one of them."

Charter patted him on the arm, opened the door and smiled secretly, "Don't talk about that." Besides, I'm embarrassed, let's go, come with me to the computer center. A group of fat sheep came today, Dr. Tong and Dr. Jiang are sharpening their knives, and I don't want to miss this good show. ”

Li Weifeng didn't know why, and subconsciously asked: "Fat sheep?" ”

"You'll find out when you go."

I said hello to Secretary Guan, and when I took the elevator to the floor of the computer application center, the corridor was already full of people. Two of them were wearing police uniforms, and when they looked at the flowers on their shoulders, they knew that they were senior officers of the Hong Kong Police Force. To Li Weifeng's secret horror, they could only stand behind a group of men and women in suits and leather shoes.

"Mr. Zhang, I asked you just now. I didn't expect you to come so soon. As soon as they stepped out of the elevator, the high-nosed, blue-eyed British official at the front enthusiastically stretched out his right hand.

"Mr. McGaulle. It's your first time to come to NB Laboratory, as the director of the Department of Laboratory Technology Application, how dare I not accompany you? ”

As soon as he finished speaking, the guests greeted him one after another. Li Weifeng was about to step aside, when Liu Guangquan, a Chinese researcher at the computer center, leaned into his ear and asked, "Lao Li, why are you with Director Zhang?" ”

"Director Zhang asked me to come and see the world together, what are they doing?"

"Visited."

Liu Guangquan stood on his heels and glanced at Dr. Tong Jiaming and Dr. Jiang Meimei, who were greeting Hong Kong government officials, and introduced with a fluttering eyebrow: "That foreigner is the Financial Secretary, the one next to him is the tax commissioner, and the old man in the police uniform is even more powerful, the head of the Hong Kong police, the Commissioner of Police, seems to be surnamed Li." ”

The Financial Secretary, the Commissioner of Police, and the Commissioner of Taxation all came, and Li Weifeng was taken aback and couldn't help asking, "What about the few who carried briefcases?" ”

"There are observatories, there are Kai Tak airports, they are all big shots anyway."

"What are they doing here?"

Liu Guangquan smiled proudly: "Invite them, invite them to see the 'Aurora', and if you are satisfied, then obediently pay for it." For this day, Director Tong and Director Jiang have been preparing for more than three months. ”

"Lasers?"

"The aurora, the pole of the North Pole, is not the laser that Professor Alferov, the director of your physics center, is studying."

Confused, the senior officials of the Hong Kong government were invited into the locker room next door to the computer room. Li Weifeng came with Boss Zhang, and he was also fortunate to be given an anti-static suit, and after changing into it, he walked through the No. 1 computer room with everyone and came to a spacious and clean computer room.

Tong Jiaming, the "boss" of the computer center, was in high spirits, pointed to the three rows of large cabinets in the tempered glass partition, and said in a fluent English voice: "Dear Hong Kong government officials, ladies and gentlemen, what is presented in front of you is the first and only supercomputer in Hong Kong!" In honor of NB Labs' recent polar expedition, we named it 'Aurora'......"

Li Weifeng was dumbfounded, and was stunned for a while before muttering to himself: "The supercomputer has been made? ”

"It's already out, you know?"

As a participant in the project, Liu Guangquan is indeed qualified to be proud, but now is not the time for him to be proud.

“…… The computing speed is 96 million times per second, and the NB-Linux operating system is creatively adopted. Here, please allow me to express my heartfelt thanks and most sincere respect to the operating system development team of the computer center, especially Mr. Linus, the creator of the system kernel. ”

The reason why the supercomputer was not released until today is that it is necessary to conduct a series of tests, and second, it is necessary to wait for Ansoft, Shengsoft (St. Petersburg NB Software Development Company) and Mosoft (Moscow Software Company) to develop simulation, modeling and other application software.

And then there's so much that last year has already made so many achievements, there's no need to add to the cake. If it is released this year, it can be regarded as a scientific research result in 1993, so that it can give an explanation to Hong Kong taxpayers.

The "heap" of this thing fell behind as soon as it began, and in order to get more funding and "heap" faster supercomputers, the computer center and the several universities involved in the project were able to do everything.

In June last year, by trying to apply the NB-Linux operating system to supercomputers, I just got a sponsorship from IBM and other major international companies. Then he started the idea of the Hong Kong government organs, and did a lot of work and corresponding preparations.

The charter was looking forward to their performance, and stood aside with his arms folded, allowing them to play to their heart's content.

As soon as Tong Jiaming finished a brief introduction, a female official wearing glasses raised her hand and asked: "Doctor, I want to know what effect this supercomputer will have on Hong Kong institutions and millions of citizens with so much manpower and financial resources?" And as you said, it's not the fastest in the world, and it's not even in the top 50. ”

No one knows its value better than the three experts of the observatory, and without waiting for Tong Jiaming to speak, he introduced it in a number of treasures: "Mrs. Zhang, in the past, scientific research was mainly based on theoretical analysis and experimental observation, but now in the field of cutting-edge scientific research, it is increasingly necessary to use supercomputers for computational simulation.

For example, meteorology changes rapidly, there are many influencing factors, and the data collected is huge. With the supercomputer, our observatory can quickly and accurately carry out centralized data processing, quantitative analysis and modeling analysis of the reconnaissance information of ground weather stations and meteorological satellites in the sky. For medium- and long-term weather forecasts, the amount of data that needs to be calculated is even larger, and it can be said that it is completely impossible without a supercomputer. ”

Tong Jiaming nodded slightly, smiled and said, "We are willing to provide this service for the observatory, as long as we have enough funds, we can even develop a super-level breath analysis software for the observatory." As for what else can Aurora do in addition to meteorological analysis, I would like to ask Professor Chan from the Department of Computer Science, Deputy Director of the Aurora Project, to introduce it to you. ”

Amid a round of applause, Professor Chan of CUHK walked up to the crowd and said, "As we all know, one of the cores of new drug development is the discovery of pharmacologically active compounds from a large sample library of compounds. Usually, out of 10,000 compounds, less than 1 compound with pharmacological activity can be screened! This means that only by establishing a large sample library for screening can we ensure that new drugs can be continuously developed and ensure the sustainable development of new drug research and development.

International pharmaceutical companies usually have a physical sample library of tens to millions of compounds, which can provide automated drug screening. However, there is a shortage of compounds that can be used for drug screening by local pharmaceutical companies, which seriously affects the process of new drug discovery. The use of high-performance 'Aurora' for virtual drug screening will be a new way.

Design simulation, design simulation, industrial production process simulation, wind tunnel simulation ...... With Aurora, I will be able to conduct research that I have no conditions or even the ability to conduct before, which can greatly promote the development of Hong Kong's manufacturing industry." (To be continued......)