Chapter 96
When Yi Yan got home, he was still in a daze.
Seeing him like this, Qi Yi became even more certain of her suspicions: her husband had been fired...
She suppressed the bitterness in her heart, went over and gave him a hug. It was precisely at times like these that she needed the understanding and support of her family.
"Xiao Yi..." Yi Yan's voice was also dazed.
"I am here."
"Let's move before the Lunar New Year."
“Okay!” Qi Yi didn’t say anything more. Yi Yan might not stay in this city in the future, and even if he did, the mortgage of more than 2.8 million yuan was a heavy burden. Selling the house was the most appropriate choice at the moment.
Yi Yan then noticed that his wife's mood was a bit off: "Why don't you ask where we're moving to?"
Qi Yi smiled and said, "As long as the family is together, it doesn't matter where we move to."
Yi Yan finally realized that Qi Yi had misunderstood. He smiled and explained, "It's not what you think. We're moving to Four Seasons Cloud Top!"
ha?
Meanwhile, Lin Yujing had just arrived home. Upon entering and finding her cousin there, she couldn't help but roll her eyes inwardly. Here she goes again, playing matchmaker…
Sure enough, as soon as she took off her shoes, her aunt couldn't wait to pull her aside and start introducing them.
“Let me tell you, you won’t find a match like this even with a lantern,” my aunt said, clicking her tongue in amazement. “The man already has a son, and he said he doesn’t need you to have any more children, just someone who can tutor the kid up to college. And you just happen to not want any more kids…”
Lin Yujing was speechless. She had a double PhD in mathematics and physics and a million-dollar annual salary. Just because her cousin said she was "over thirty" and "female PhDs have a hard time getting married," she was considered an old maid who should be sold off at a fire sale. What was she still being picky about? She was lucky if anyone wanted her.
She even suspected that her aunt was using her as a favor, otherwise why would she introduce such bizarre men?
“Xiaojing, you have to think about your parents too. Your brother is getting married next year. What’s the point of you, his sister-in-law, just standing around at home like this…”
Lin Yujing looked up at her parents, but they avoided her gaze.
They loved her for being able to support her through her doctoral studies, but... they loved her brother even more.
My aunt was still going on and on: "The man is very sincere. He sold his old house and bought a bigger new one. All you have to do is pay for the renovations, and you can move in right away after you get married..."
Lin Yujing interrupted her aunt with a cold laugh: "We still have to share the mortgage payments, right? No need, I have my own place, I'm moving in today!"
As one of the premier luxury residences in the province, Four Seasons Cloud Top naturally boasts numerous advantages. Besides its excellent environment, the surrounding area includes top-tier hospitals, private clinics, top-notch public primary and secondary schools and kindergartens, private schools, large shopping malls, stadiums, libraries, gyms, large parks, and more, effectively fulfilling a family's needs for living, education, healthcare, and leisure.
So, after receiving the fully furnished apartments allocated by the research institute, everyone decided to move. Plus, it was closer to the institute.
Ji Zhixing's words were quite a shot in the arm, and everyone suggested skipping the spring break and immediately returning to work to continue the experiments. But Ji Zhixing felt that he didn't have any new ideas at the moment, so it was better to rest for a while. Besides, moving was such a troublesome and tedious thing, and he couldn't leave it all to his family.
So everyone rushed to move into their new homes before the New Year, keeping themselves very busy.
Ji Zhixing also chose an apartment for himself, but he preferred to stay at the research institute, which felt more like home. Now that he wasn't conducting experiments, he spent most of his time studying in the system space. It had been a long time since he had been able to absorb knowledge so peacefully, and Ji Zhixing was quite content.
However, with the Lunar New Year approaching, his solitary figure made him appear rather lonely to outsiders.
From Yan Anjin, Gao Xiao, and Zhu Ren, to Xu Dongyang, Lin Lang, and then to Yi Yan, Yu Zhuli, and others, they all invited him to spend the New Year together, but Ji Zhixing declined them all. The New Year is a time for family reunion, and having a few outsiders would definitely make him feel very uncomfortable.
Actually, the research institute wasn't unmanned; Fang Shou and other security personnel were still there. They had arranged their own shifts, taking turns on duty and taking turns on leave, so there were always at least five or six people at the research institute at any given time.
On the morning of New Year's Eve, Deng Yi suddenly appeared at the research institute and started shouting as soon as he entered.
"Boss, let me spend the New Year with you!"
Ji Zhixing didn't object, but Deng Yi's fleeing appearance...
What's wrong with you?
"Sigh, don't even mention it. For a whole month, the first thing I did when I opened my eyes was to urge me to go on blind dates." Deng threw down his luggage and slumped on the sofa. At the tender age of 28, he was already considered an old man who was getting married late in his mother's eyes, and she had to hurry up and get married.
Ji Zhixing had never experienced the hardship of being forced into marriage, so he couldn't really empathize with her. He even advised her, "At least wait until after the New Year's Eve dinner before you run away." After all, it was the most important time for the family to reunite.
"I ran away just for the New Year's Eve dinner." Deng struggled to get up from the sofa. "You know what! I overheard my mom talking to the other girl's mom on the phone, saying that both families' New Year's Eve dinners were arranged at a restaurant, and the dinner would be a blind date! I could tell from their voices that the girl wasn't really interested, but the two of them were having a great time discussing it, so I just ran away."
Ji Zhixing didn't say anything more; this approach was indeed a bit unreasonable.
Deng had just rested for a while when his phone rang. He went out to answer it with a bitter look on his face, but came back with a smile.
"I told him I had some urgent work to do, please don't find out." Although his mother scolded him on the phone, at least he had a legitimate reason, and he got through this ordeal for the time being.
Lunch was ordered by Ji Zhixing from Shiyueju, and everyone who stayed at the research institute got a share.
While eating, Deng was scrolling through his phone. When he saw a news article, he cursed, "Damn it! They're adding to the festivities during the New Year!"
Ji Zhixing swallowed his food and casually asked, "What's wrong?"
"Look!" Deng Zhi turned the phone over and handed it to Ji Zhixing.
Ji Zhixing immediately spotted the headline: "The Bald Eagle Nation Achieves Historic Breakthrough in Controlled Nuclear Fusion Experiment, Surreal Energy Lasts for One Millionth of a Second!"
Ah! Controlled nuclear fusion...
After realizing that traditional fossil fuels would cause serious damage to the Earth, humanity has been searching for clean, pollution-free energy sources, and nuclear fusion energy, which mimics the workings of the sun, is considered the ultimate solution to the energy problem.
A few grams of nuclear fusion reactants can produce one trillion joules of energy, which is roughly the total energy needed by an average person in their lifetime.
Energy is everything, energy is fundamental. Controlled nuclear fusion technology signifies future global dominance and absolute control over humanity's journey to the stars. However, if a hegemonic nation like the United States is the first to master this technology, then those that don't may only have two paths—to live on their knees or to die standing!
The news caused a huge uproar online, with various derivative reports filled with sensational phrases such as "a cheat code for the development of human civilization" and "a ticket to interstellar colonization." Anti-China elements were even happier than during the Lunar New Year.
"Truly a beacon of human civilization! What is true greatness and righteousness? Controlled nuclear fusion is the greatest and most glorious thing ever!"
"Hahaha! Compared to humans who have mastered controlled nuclear fusion, what's the difference between humans who only burn oil and monkeys?"
"The space race is about to begin. Who can keep up this time? Hahaha!"
"You're talking like you've already succeeded. Can't you see the words 'lasting for one millionth of a second'?"
"Stop being stubborn. Being able to sustain it for 'one millionth of a second' means you've found the right technological direction, and you'll soon be able to sustain it for much longer."
"Why the United States of America of all places? I have a feeling this world is about to descend into chaos."
"Yes! Given the nature of the United States, once they fully master controlled nuclear fusion technology, it's almost impossible for them not to use it to conquer other countries. At that point, if all the other countries in the world unite, I'm afraid..."
"Is it... that serious?"
"For example, the most direct form of military conquest is war. The core of warfare is energy level. A firepower ship with the energy of a nuclear fusion reactor can be compared to a conventional offensive weapon with a displacement of tens of times. This gap is devastating for conventional warfare."
"It may not be that bad. Aren't many countries also researching controlled nuclear fusion?"
"However, in this high-tech field, the first-mover advantage is almost infinite. Taking the lead basically means leading the whole way, unless a miracle of overtaking on a curve occurs."
"Speaking of 'overtaking on a curve,' I suddenly thought of Ji Zhixing. Isn't he also researching energy? Any news?"
"I heard that Zhixing Research Institute is taking a month off for the Spring Festival, so... the situation is probably not very optimistic."
"Still hoping for 'vacuum energy'? Professor Bayer has spoken up!"
Professor Bayer, spokesperson for the US controlled nuclear fusion project, bluntly criticized other energy forms at a press conference today and responded to a Chinese reporter's question in a nearly rude manner:
“You can quote me like this: Vacuum energy is a naive fantasy, and Ji Zhixing’s research is not only wrong, but also foolish!”
Deng Ji started cursing after seeing that sentence.
Ji Zhixing sighed heavily. He wasn't swayed by Professor Bayer's words about the existence of vacuum energy; such a public denial was more akin to psychological suppression and intimidation. However, the breakthrough in the controlled nuclear fusion experiment by the United States had indeed brought him unprecedented pressure.
No, I can't rush things. The more anxious I am, the more likely I am to reach a dead end, Ji Zhixing told himself. Besides, without new ideas, no matter how anxious I am, I can't possibly get the researchers out of their homes on New Year's Eve.
After adjusting his mindset, he comforted Deng Yi, saying, "Maybe there will be progress after the New Year."
Deng Xiaoping didn't want to get entangled with those anti-China people online during the Lunar New Year: "Let's go fishing, and add a dish to the evening, for abundance every year!"
Ji Zhixing agreed, saying that going out for a walk would help him relax.
The research institute was located in the suburbs, and there was a small, fairly clear stream not far away. The two of them didn't even have fishing rods. Deng broke off a piece of dry bamboo, tied a line to it, broke off a paperclip to make a hook, dug up an earthworm for bait, and that's how they started fishing.
Ji Zhixing wasn't very interested in fishing, so he lay down on the ground nearby and looked at the sky.
When will they be able to "capture" vacuum energy? The most definitive experimental progress so far is the "sight" of the vortex structure of vacuum energy. No physical system is isolated; macroscopic galaxies, quasars, and black holes, as well as microscopic particle spins, the helical structure of DNA, and superconductors, all exhibit vortex phenomena. What insights do these vortex phenomena at various levels of nature hold?
Deng heard him muttering to himself and caught the word "black hole." He was a bit of an astronomy enthusiast: "A supermassive black hole exploded a while ago."
Ji Zhixing didn't take it to heart and casually asked, "When did this happen?"
"Just two or three months ago."
Ji Zhixing paused for a moment, something suddenly flashed through his mind, but upon closer examination, no thought came to mind.
Deng fished from midday until sunset, losing seven or eight earthworms in the process, but their New Year's Eve dinner's grand finale dish was still in the stream.
The moon had already risen, but Deng Yi still insisted, "Just wait a little longer, we'll definitely make it in time for the New Year's Eve dinner!"
A fish leaped out of the water and then fell back in, seemingly mocking his persistence. With the fish's leaps, ripples appeared on the once calm surface of the water.
Ji Zhixing stared at the ripples on the water's surface, then suddenly sat up, enveloped by a profound and mysterious enlightenment. A thousand pieces of information and countless thoughts swirled in his mind like a vortex...
"Got it!" Deng Yi suddenly shouted, excitedly and quickly cast his line, pulling a fish out of the stream and throwing it on the ground.
"Gotcha!" Ji Zhixing turned around and sprinted towards the research institute at top speed.
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