This Comrade Was a Steady Driver

Scheme A for Fluid Plane Membrane has been shown to have problems.

The formulation of Plan A had nothing to do with Shen Qi, who was still studying in the United States at the time.

Now is not the time to shirk responsibility or complain, and Shen Qi has no such intention.

Shen Qi was carrying out his work entirely based on the principle of solving practical problems.

There are currently two options.

First, we will optimize based on Plan A, using the same theoretical basis but improving the engineering technology. This can be understood as Plan A version 2.0. The core team that promotes this plan is the same as the original team.

Second, while both are optimizations based on Plan A, the underlying theoretical basis differs. It can be understood as Plan A + Plan B = Plan C. The core team best suited to advance Plan C is the FASTER Project Team at Shen Qi's center.

Shen Qi preferred the second option; he wanted their center's FASTER Project Team to join the "Project Starlight."

However, Shen Qi had to consider a very important and sensitive issue that was unrelated to academics.

The FASTER Project Team can be considered Shen Qi's elite force. If he summons his elite force to solve the technical problems in the "Project Starlight" with a new approach, what will others think?

Assuming Academician Han had not been hospitalized and the "Project Starlight" had been completed as scheduled and smoothly, the scientists and Engineer who participated in this monumental project would undoubtedly have received national rewards.

If this project is successfully completed, I wonder how many new academicians it will produce? Probably quite a few.

In short, when it comes to rewarding merit, the greater the contribution, the richer the reward.

Shen Qi didn't care about titles like academician, but he knew others did.

If Shen Qi's elite troops temporarily join and make great contributions, then Shen Qi's elite troops from Yanda University should rightfully get a share of the pie, which originally belonged to someone else.

To be more specific, the research team responsible for Plan A is Chief Engineer You's direct subordinates from Tsinghua University, and Academician Han also comes from Shuimu University.

If Plan C succeeds, will people say, "Yantai University's research team is still stronger?"

Shen Qi couldn't help but think of his friend, Academician Ma.

As is well known, thanks to the unremitting efforts of scientists such as Academician Ma, electromagnetic catapults have been realized on domestically built aircraft carriers.

As everyone knows, Academician Ma's team's research on electromagnetic catapults stagnated for a period of time.

This was a real problem for Old Ma. He submitted reports every day, requesting the resumption of research on electromagnetic catapults. He even raised funds himself to prolong his life, but for researching aircraft carrier technology, the funds Old Ma raised were a drop in the ocean.

Why did Lao Ma's electromagnetic catapult research project stagnate for a period of time?

Research on steam catapults cannot be stopped.

To be fair, electromagnetic catapults are superior in terms of reliability, cost, and other indicators.

If the steam catapult project is successfully completed, it will produce at least a double-digit number of new academicians, and the research on steam catapults and electromagnetic catapults is not limited to a single group of people.

Ultimately, Academician Ma's persistence paid off, and the country resumed Academician Ma team's research on electromagnetic catapults. China's domestically built aircraft carriers acquired electromagnetic catapult technology, further enhancing the overall combat capability of the Chinese Navy.

Shen Qi has encountered Academician Ma several times during meetings. Just last month, the two met and chatted for over an hour about topics such as national defense, environmental protection, education, football, and music.

As the Chief Scientist of the "Project Starlight" who succeeded Academician Han, Shen Qi considered issues comprehensively. Before bringing his core team from Yenching University into the project and adopting new approaches to solve problems, he felt it necessary to consult with his colleagues, including the Chief Designer, Chief Engineer, Ministry Special Commissioner, and Logistics Commander.

To Shen Qi's surprise, his colleagues, including Chief Engineer You, immediately expressed their opinions, which were highly unified. "Then let the FASTER Project Team join the 'Project Starlight' immediately. We all agree to proceed according to Plan C. In the face of science, right is right and wrong is wrong. Whoever can truly solve practical problems is a hero of the country. Whether it's Yenching University, Tsinghua University, or researchers and Engineer from other systems, in the face of national interests, we have only one identity—Chinese scientific researchers."

"OK." Shen Qi respected everyone's opinions. He deeply felt that this was a research team with an extremely strong sense of mission.

My colleagues are absolutely right. When it comes to national interests, we have only one identity—Chinese scientific researchers.

It was I, Shen Qi, who was being petty.

Shen Qi smiled. Since becoming the Chief Scientist, none of his suggestions had been opposed.

Shen Qi was moved by the respect and trust his colleagues had for Shen Qi.

Respect and trust come with pressure.

The more others respect and trust Shen Qi, the greater the pressure he bears.

Let's turn pressure into motivation.

After finishing the morning meeting, Shen Qi left the "Project Starlight" Capital Command Center. His driver was a soldier.

Although Level 4 and even Level 5 autonomous driving technologies are mature, manual driving mode is still required in most areas of the capital. Therefore, the government has assigned a new driver to Shen Qi.

It takes Shen Qi about fifteen minutes to drive from the command center to Yenching University.

The soldier drove very steadily; he had been driving for half an hour and still hadn't arrived at Yenching University.

"Second Lieutenant Wu, could we go a little faster?" Shen Qi had only known this soldier for a short time and didn't know him well, but he had a very good impression of soldiers because his father and father-in-law had both served in the military.

Second Lieutenant Wu didn't turn around; he kept his eyes focused on the road ahead and said, "Safety first when driving for Academician Shen."

"Alright, alright, safety first." Shen Qi shook his head and smiled. He asked, "What branch of the military is Second Lieutenant Wu in?"

Second Lieutenant Wu replied, "I served in the Rocket Force."

Why are these outstanding comrades from the Rocket Force driving so slowly?

Shen Qi then said, "Second Lieutenant Wu, I didn't mean anything by it, I was just asking casually, please don't mind. I wanted to ask you if you are satisfied with your current work arrangement?"

Shen Qi felt quite bad. The Rocket Force shoulders the important mission of defending the country and fighting the enemy. Working on the front line of the Rocket Force is obviously more promising than being a driver in the city.

Second Lieutenant Wu showed no emotion. In a soldier's characteristic tone, he said, "A soldier's duty is to obey orders. My orders are to drive for Academician Shen and to ensure his personal safety at all costs."

As expected...

Shen Qi had already guessed that the soldier assigned to him by the state was both his private driver and his private bodyguard.

"I noticed you just mentioned the phrase 'at all costs,' which means I might be in danger?" Shen Qi thought about it carefully and felt that things were not so simple.

Second Lieutenant Wu said, "Please don't be nervous, Academician Shen. You're safe. We've arrived at Yenching University. Are we heading to Shen Qi Research Center?"