Chapter 1134 The Brookhaven National Laboratory
Those from the physics community weren’t the only ones who cheered for the completion of the collider. Many other organizations involved in the construction of the collider were also ecstatic.
Not only because this was a huge step forward for humanity, but this was an engineering miracle!
This multi-billion dollar project was finally finished.
Whether it was the project leader or the engineers, everyone could finally rest and sleep peacefully.
Beijing.
China Railway Group headquarters.
Director Li from the State Administration for National Defense came to visit here. He met up with Academician Li Qingquan, chief engineer of the China Railway Group. Director Li expressed his gratefulness to him.
“… The collider construction was extremely successful! The China Railway Group has made a huge contribution to our country’s physics community!”
“Director Li, you’re too kind.” Academician Li Qingquan smiled and said, “We don’t deserve all of the credit. Without the technology from the China Aeros.p.a.ce Science and Technology Corporation, as well as the Jinling Inst.i.tute for Advanced Study, none of this would have been possible.”
Construction in a low-gravity environment required special engineering equipment. These pieces of equipment were jointly developed by the China Aeros.p.a.ce Science and Technology Corporation and the Jinling Inst.i.tute for Advanced Study. The China Railway Group was mainly responsible for proposing specific construction plans and implementing the engineering equipment.
In the beginning, they encountered many difficulties due to their lack of experience in outer s.p.a.ce construction.
Fortunately, they received help from the engineers at the China Aeros.p.a.ce Science and Technology Corporation.
Both of them deserved a huge amount of credit.
Academician Li Qingquan had a huge grin on his face. It was obvious he was in a good mood. The wrinkles on his face disappeared, and it looked like he was ten years younger than before.
“Academician Li, you’re too humble. Regardless of the contribution from the other parties, the China Railway Group clearly deserves a huge amount of credit!” Director Li said emotionally. He paused for a second and said, “Speaking of which, the next project is the ma.s.s driver, right?”
Academician Li Qingquan nodded and said, “We are talking about this with the China Aeros.p.a.ce Science and Technology Corporation. If everything goes well, we can begin construction next year.”
Director Li said solemnly, “Thank you so much, guys.”
“Of course, this is our job,” Li Qingquan said. “You should be thanking Academician Lu, I’ve been paying attention to the academic community; he hasn’t taken a break over the past two years.”
“Academician Lu is special. Most people can’t compare to him.” Director Li smiled and said, “But you’re right, ever since he got back to China, he hasn’t taken a break, nor has he dated yet. When I go to Shanghai, I’ll try to convince him to take a vacation and that he should take it easy.”
The Chinese fusion power grid spread across Asia, and they were like tentacles, wrapping themselves in each country. Not to mention the Moon Palace in the sky; China’s international influence had never been stronger.
The only unfortunate thing was that Academician Lu had yet to find a spouse.
Academician Li Qingquan said, “He doesn’t have a significant other?”
Director Li said, “He’s so busy, how does he have time?”
Academician Li Qingquan rubbed his chin and said, “How about… I find someone from the China Railway Group?”
“From the China Railway Group? For what reason?” Director Li smiled and shook his head.
Forget about the railway group.
Whether it was the military or the university, there had been countless attempts at finding Academician Lu a spouse.
But at the end of the day, this was still Lu Zhou’s own decision. It wasn’t like they could force Lu Zhou to marry someone? Young folks these days didn’t want to marry or have kids, this was why the birth rate had dropped.
“He’s so selfless… Academician Lu is really a role model for the scientific research community.” Academician Li Qingquan sighed and said, “If only other young scholars can be like him.”
Director Li smiled.
If other people were like him?
Forget about landing on the moon.
We’ll be landing on other galaxies.
…
After Director Li left the China Railway Group building, he returned to his office. He told his a.s.sistant about his trip to Shanghai and planned on doing some work in his office.
However, he suddenly received a call from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“Old Li, what’s going on?”
Director Li was confused. He frowned and spoke.
“What do you mean?”
“Aren’t you responsible for the ILHCRC?”
“Yeah…” Director Li said. He realized something might have gone wrong at the ILHCRC, so he said, “Technically, I am, but I’m not actually involved. Academician Lu is mainly responsible. What is going on? Why are you calling me?”
“We received a call from the Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York. They said we did not fulfill the agreements of the joint research project.”
Director Li was stunned.
“Did we not give them a chance to negotiate?”
“… No, the meeting did happen, but Academician Lu decided to do things his own way.”
F*ck…
So there was a negotiation meeting?
Director Li thought that Lu Zhou didn’t even host a meeting and just decided to take over the project.
However, the other end of the phone continued to talk.
“… Right now, the problem isn’t just with the Brookhaven National Laboratory. The European Union also called us and complained about this. I’m not saying that Academician Lu’s actions are wrong, but I just hope he can consider things from other people’s perspectives. Otherwise, we might lose their funding.”
Director Li coughed and spoke.
“Fine, fine, I understand. Don’t worry, I’m going to Shanghai tomorrow, so I’ll ask him what is going on.”
The other end of the phone spoke.
“Perfect!”
The phone call ended.
Director Li sighed and shook his head as he placed his phone into his pocket. He didn’t really take the complaints from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs seriously.
Who cares if the Brookhaven National Laboratory complains?
They’re just one laboratory.
In his opinion, this wasn’t something the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should take seriously.
He sat down in his office and saw his a.s.sistant walking in anxiously.
“Director Li, bad news!”
Director Li frowned.
“Calm down, what is going on.”
“Look at the newspaper, the headlines from CNN and The New York Times…” the a.s.sistant said awkwardly. He handed over the newspaper and said, “Look at it yourself.”
Director Li took the newspaper from the a.s.sistant’s hands and read the headline. His eyebrows furrowed.
Jesus Christ.
How come my worries always come true?
Director Li threw the newspaper aside and stood up. He spoke in a stern tone.
“Come with me to Shanghai.”
The a.s.sistant paused for a second.
“Now?”
I thought you were going tomorrow?
I even bought the tickets…
“Yes, now, refund the tickets for tomorrow.” Director Li spoke in a serious tone, “Book a flight this afternoon, the sooner the better!”