The letter from the foreign journal was like a stone thrown into a still lake, creating ripples that lingered for a long time. After the initial excitement subsided, a more complex emotion settled in Liu Li's heart. That letter, along with several translated documents on foreign technological developments that Fu Jingchen subsequently found, opened another window for her, allowing her to see a new world that was both alluring and incredibly challenging.

Taking advantage of the lull in the promotion of technological upgrades, she began to ask Fu Jingchen for help, consciously collecting and translating some foreign technical documents in related fields. The more she read, the more pronounced the heavy feeling in her heart became.

She observed that several years ago, other countries had already begun researching and applying more advanced active vibration control technologies, some of which had already incorporated digital signal processors (DSPs) and employed more complex and intelligent control algorithms. While their prized fuzzy logic-based "homemade" method was ingenious and practical, it clearly lagged behind in terms of theoretical sophistication and the ultimate performance limits of control.

She saw that others had already developed mature series of products in basic components such as micro sensors and precision actuators, with accuracy and reliability far exceeding their "makeshift probes" that required manual winding and careful debugging. They were forced onto this self-reliant "dirt road" because of blockades and lack of resources, while others seemed to have always been on a wider and more advanced "sunny road".

She observed that academic research and engineering applications abroad were closely integrated, with papers containing not only impressive theories but also a wealth of detailed experimental data and successful industrial application cases. This made her reflect that while their technology had solved practical problems domestically, there was still a long way to go before it could form systematic theoretical achievements and internationally competitive products.

This gap is not limited to a single point, but is comprehensive and systemic. It is reflected in basic materials, core components, theoretical depth, technological level, and even the grasp of the direction of technological development.

Once, while discussing a control algorithm optimization problem with Fu Jingchen, she couldn't help but sigh: "Back in the factory, I thought that being able to reduce the scrap rate and fix the equipment was a huge achievement. Later, when I worked on a project at the ministry level, I thought that being able to overcome national-level problems was already a great accomplishment. But now, looking at the outside world... our achievements are just like splashing around happily in our own backyard. If we put them into the big rivers and lakes, we're still far from being a match."

Fu Jingchen understood her feelings and comforted her, saying, "You have to eat one bite at a time, and walk one step at a time. The fact that we were able to solve our own problems from scratch is a huge step forward in itself. Seeing the gap is a good thing; it means we know the direction to move forward. It's much better than working in isolation and being arrogant."

Liu Li nodded, but her gaze became even more determined: "Yes, if we saw it, we can't pretend we didn't. Our 'homemade cannon' may have fired, but we can't be satisfied with that. We have to find a way to make it shoot farther and more accurately."

This clear-headed understanding did not discourage her; instead, it ignited a stronger sense of urgency and mission within her. She was no longer content with merely solving the problems within the Red Star Factory; she began to think about how to ensure that her technology, and any other technologies that might emerge in the future, could keep pace with, or even catch up with, the world's progress.

She selected the parts of the translated materials that could inspire their current work and shared and discussed them with everyone at the technical department's internal study sessions. She encouraged the young technicians to pay more attention to external technological developments, think more, and ask more questions while completing their daily modification tasks.

“We can’t just keep our heads down and pull the cart; we also need to look up and see where we’re going,” she told her colleagues. “Knowing how high the sky is will help us know where to focus our efforts.”

A new perspective brought a clear understanding of the gap, as well as more ambitious goals and stronger motivation. Liu Li knew that she and her team, and even the entire industrial technology of China, were standing at a new starting point. The road ahead was long, and only by continuing to be down-to-earth while looking up at the stars could they gradually narrow the seemingly huge gap.