It's normal to catch the wrong person, and it's normal to suspect that a company is "endangering national security" and finally confirm that the previous suspicion was wrong. But it is all speculation without any basis to accuse a company or research institute of making outstanding contributions to the development of science and the planet's environment.

Overnight, almost even primary school students knew what an "array processor" was and what was the use of that processor, and the 27-year-old mathematician of Hong Kong's NB Laboratory used four pages to solve the mathematical problem "soul conjecture" is even more well-known.

Before Congressman Cox, who initiated the investigation, resigned, he and his committee became the targets of the investigation.

In order to save the image of the House of Representatives, and in order to give an account to the public and NB Electric, the House of Representatives set up a special investigation committee. Henry Pearce, president of NB Electric Americas, who was the representative of the victim of the oolong incident, was a witness that the committee had to paging and had to report on Capitol Hill on time, as he had done the other day.

Those who are fighting lawsuits have to prepare litigation materials, and those who assist in the investigation have to go to Capitol Hill to testify, and everyone is very busy, and the charter naturally cannot be idle.

In order to keep the $3 million a year in consulting fees in vain, he had to be at the mercy of two PR consulting firms, giving endless interviews like a public figure, appearing on various TV shows, and even wearing makeup like a star, even what clothes to wear, what kind of hairstyle to wear, and how fast to speak...... All are guided by an image consultant.

"Half an hour later, I went to CNN's studio in Washington for a talk show, and Brouwer, who hosted the show, was very cunning and would ask questions you wouldn't expect. So these materials must be seen. Otherwise, it is easy to be grabbed by him; The guest, James Allen, is a veteran political commentator. He will bring the topic to politics, such as China, and he must pay attention to it, and he must not be fooled. ”

The hairstylist stood beside him and applied hairspray, and Powell, a super lobbyist from Livingstone PR, sat opposite and chattered, looking at his fiancée's appearance of smiling or not, he sighed secretly and asked with a bitter face: "Mr. Powell." What about after attending the CNN interview? ”

"That's the focus today."

Powell took out an envelope with the Bald Eagle logo from his briefcase, and said with a fluttering eyebrow: "Mr. President's invitation, if it is unexpected, he will award you a Presidential Medal of Freedom." If the conversation is speculative, he will even invite you to dinner. ”

How to deal with Congress, the White House, and the State Department, all of them are responsible for it, and accept their arrangements.

Giving interviews to the press, participating in television programs, that is expected, going to the White House in the afternoon to meet the President of the United States. This took the charter by surprise and hurriedly asked, "Mr. Powell." What will the president say, will he make some demands that make me very embarrassed? ”

"It's just a gesture, he won't talk to you about anything of substance."

Powell smiled and continued: "Mr. Churchill once said that for a man there are three dilemmas: the first is to climb a forward wall, the second is to kiss a woman leaning back, and the third is to give an attractive after-dinner speech. Mr. Zhang, I think it is necessary for you to prepare a few jokes, otherwise it will be easy to get cold.

Also, get used to American humor, if Mr. President tells a joke and everyone laughs, but you don't, it will be very embarrassing. But don't worry, I've got three for you that you can use to liven up the atmosphere when it's critical. ”

"What about the Medal of Freedom?"

"Talk show hosts, tennis stars, scientists, bishops, bankers...... He can even award it to a beggar if he wants to, which is also a gesture that has nothing to do with the congressional investigation and the subsequent lawsuit, and you don't have to worry about it at all. ”

"And what else do I have to pay attention to?"

"It's like talking to a friend, let it go, don't be too inhibited, you can't really understand his jokes that are really not funny, and you can find a way to bring the topic to science, because his scientific advisor, Kip Thorne, will definitely be there."

The charter reacted, raised his head and asked with a smile: "Mr. President invited a young scientist, not the largest shareholder of NB Electric?" ”

Powell put down the envelope and said with a smile: "Although everyone understands that this has a lot to do with the oolong incident, and although it has become the laughing stock of the whole world, he will not admit it, at least not publicly, because he is the president of the United States." ”

Isn't it just Bush Sr., who will step down next year, and has been dealing with politicians a lot over the years, and there is really nothing to be nervous about, so he opened the envelope and looked at it, and said casually: "Okay, I'll try not to make a fool of myself." ”

Powell's professionalism is amazing, and his face suddenly turned correct: "It's not forgiveness, but it must not, the White House press conference will cover the whole process, and your every move, every word and word represents the image of NB Electric and NB Laboratory." ”

Ralph Alfie, a super lobbyist for Barton Boggs, confirmed with all seriousness: "Mr. Zhang, you, your company and the lab you work in have made Congress and federal law enforcement the laughing stock of the world, and there are many people who want to see your jokes." Impression scores are important and can even influence the final verdict of a grand jury, so you can't go wrong. ”

If it weren't for the sake of solving the troubles once and for all, who would want to show up, the charter sighed secretly, nodded and said, "Xie Lu Xie, I will pay attention." ”

CNN's studio in Washington, D.C., is not far away, two blocks from the Capitol Hotel, and it was only six minutes before the two lobbyists had carefully prepared the materials.

The information was well prepared, and the questions raised by the moderator and senior political commentators were sly, and the professionals of the two PR agencies guessed everything.

The charter coped with ease, and there was no scandal in front of the TV audience in the first half.

In the second half, Brouwer, the host of the show, simply changed his strategy and asked personal questions that had nothing to do with the Oolong incident, but were at the same time extremely sensitive and able to attract TV viewers.

"Mr. Zhang, as far as I know, after you and your colleagues discovered the 'giant magnetoresistance effect', you were invited by ten universities and research institutes, can you tell us what prompted you to finally choose to go to the former East German Academy of Sciences. Instead of accepting an invitation from another university or research institute? ”

Seemingly casual question. Directed at his political position.

The charter replied crisply. "Because Dr. Klinsmann, former director of the Center for Physical Chemistry at the East German Academy of Sciences, was the first to send out the invitation, and I wanted to learn German at that time, so I gladly accepted the invitation." ”

"Do you like German?"

"I like German culture, exactly."

The United States was only a few hundred years old and had no cultural heritage at all, and Brouwer would not be stupid enough to talk to him about Martin Luther or John Sebastian Bach, but instead turned the corner: "The fall of the Berlin Wall is undoubtedly the most politically representative event at the end of the century, Mr. Zhang." Were you in Berlin when the Berlin Wall was torn down? ”

"Yes, and I saw it with my own eyes."

"How did you feel at the time?"

Again, the charter secretly scolded the cunning old fox, and said with a smile: "I was very excited and happy at the time, I have not experienced it myself, you can't imagine how happy East Germany and West Germany were, whether they knew each other or not, they all hugged and kissed passionately, it was really a sea of joy, no matter who was there, they would be infected." ”

Brouwer nodded slightly. And he asked: "Do you sympathize with the East Germans?" ”

The next question is his opinion on those two political systems, and he doesn't want to be led by him. "I don't like the word sympathy, and neither do my East German friends and colleagues, and I'm glad they made their choice." In addition, in that event, I was not only a witness and a bystander, but also participated in it to a certain extent.

In order to get to West Germany, many people risked being shot and climbed over the Berlin Wall. As you know, I had a lot of East German friends, and I didn't want to see anything happen to them, so as soon as the Berlin Wall was torn down, I realized that I couldn't let it be erected again. So I asked Mr. Daniel, the president of BNB News Network, who was the president of NB Electric Europe at the time, to find a few cranes and a dozen trucks to remove all the toppled walls near Checkpoint Charlie.

It seems redundant now, but it wasn't an easy decision to make at the time. It is worth mentioning that a large part of the torn down Berlin Wall was later pulled to pave the way, and that risky decision made me the largest and most complete collector of the Berlin Wall. ”

Having done such a thing, who can question his political position?

As a young scientist who doesn't even care much about his own company, is devoted to research, and has already achieved results, who can force him to take a political stand?

Brouwer had to consider the feelings of the audience, and did not dwell on this issue any longer, "Mr. Zhang, what you have done in Berlin, I believe that the audience in front of the TV is as moved as I am. But this topic is too heavy, let's change it, when you spoke at Georgetown University, you talked about how you felt when you first came to the United States, can you tell us what kind of country the United States is in your mind? ”

"That's a really hard question to answer."

The charter pondered for a moment, and said solemnly: "If it hadn't happened, I would have liked this country very much, I liked Coca-Cola, I liked Hollywood movies, and occasionally chewed a piece of gum, and my favorite was Isaac Asimov's science fiction novels."

I believe that there will be many scientists like me who have been inspired by reading a book, an article, or a short story by Mr. Asimov, and I believe that there will be many citizens who have a deep affection for the cause of science for the same reason.

When I heard the news of his passing, I regretted that I had not been able to visit him when I had the opportunity, but I was not worried about him, but for the rest of us, because there was no longer Asimov around us to inspire young people to study and devote themselves to science. ”

There is no doubt that his remarks will win the favor of a large number of American scientists and American readers who like Asimov's science fiction novels.

Sincere, and impeccable, even Brouwer, who was known for his sharp views, did not want to embarrass him anymore, so he asked the last question: "Mr. Zhang, what about now?" What do you think of the United States now? ”

"I still like Coca-Cola, I still like Hollywood movies, and I'm sure I'll chew a few pieces of gum once in a while when I'm doing experiments in the future, but the harsh reality makes me have to worry about the staff at NB Electric in the United States, and my colleagues in NB Lab in the United States. Because they could face a series of serious charges at any time, as everything that happened last week has confirmed this, there is not even the slightest sense of security. ”

Putting forward so many serious accusations without any basis, in other words, no one felt uncomfortable, Brouwer stretched out his right hand again and said with a sincere face: "Mr. Zhang, I deeply regret the unfair treatment of you, your company, and the laboratory you work in the United States. At the same time, please be assured that the U.S. Congress and the U.S. government will explain this and establish a transparent, secure, and credible mechanism for employees working in multinational enterprises to be treated fairly. (To be continued......)