Another Invitation

During this time, Han Yang had never stopped attending classes. Twenty university lecturers, twenty courses in total, twenty classes every day—he had not missed a single day.

Although the lecturers were currently teaching relatively elementary courses that would not be of much help to Han Yang's immediate task, he still felt the benefits of systematically studying a discipline.

Systematic learning taught a general approach and methodology for solving problems. It concerned the essence of a series of similar problems. Once one grasped that essence, one could devise solutions independently when faced with problems that varied endlessly in form but shared the same underlying nature.

Han Yang's questions to Professor Zhang Dong and the other advisory group members were like asking a teacher what "22*36" equaled before learning multiplication. The advisory group members would simply provide the answer.

Systematic learning, however, meant learning the skill of multiplication itself. Once he had learned it, whether the problem was "22*36" or "15*56," he could solve it himself.

This changed his way of thinking logically. It did not speed up Han Yang's current manufacturing process, but it improved his ability to solve problems.

Whenever he encountered a problem, Han Yang tried to use the knowledge he had learned to think through it and experiment on his own, achieving better results than before.

Otherwise, his manufacturing progress might have been even slower than it was now.

"Zhi Xue Web needs to keep expanding. We need to invite teachers from more fields and in greater numbers to give lectures."

Han Yang silently made up his mind.

At this point, after two long months of relentless work, the manufacturing of the new-generation CPU was nearing its end and had entered its final stage.

Although the final stage was the most difficult and complex step, at least the first light of hope had appeared.

Having reached this stage, Han Yang began considering other matters.

Once the new-generation CPU was completed and his computing power increased again, the underground base should begin construction according to the previous plan.

Because it had to remain hidden, and because he had to personally handle every part of the project, Han Yang needed to master the relevant technologies before he could begin.

"Hmm. Building an underground base involves engineering, architecture, geology, water supply and drainage, electrical circuits, heat dissipation..."

With a rough estimate, Han Yang listed more than twenty disciplines.

Yunshan University had corresponding programs as well. Since there was no need to trouble two different people with the same matter, Han Yang simply entrusted it to Zhang Dong again, asking him to contact teachers in the relevant fields and begin the lectures.

Zhang Dong readily agreed and repeatedly thanked Han Yang.

During this period, among all the professors and lecturers at Yunshan University, who had not heard of Zhi Xue Web? Its name had even spread beyond Yunshan University, and teachers at other institutions had heard of it too.

Who did not know that Zhi Xue Web paid promptly, paid well, involved little work, and let people work close to home? No—not close to home. They could do it directly from home.

An extra income of over ten thousand yuan every month was enough to make anyone envious.

Unfortunately, Zhi Xue Web currently operated by invitation only. Ordinary teachers had no way to sell their knowledge for a good price.

Over this period, countless teachers had approached Zhang Dong, probing indirectly or plainly expressing their desire to teach on Zhi Xue Web. But Zhang Dong could do nothing but politely refuse them.

Now, were invitations finally going to open again?

Looking through the list of teachers who had approached him and expressed interest over this period, Zhang Dong began to think.

"Unfortunately, this time they're only inviting teachers in geology, architecture, and engineering. Old Zhou and Old Sun won't qualify. What a pity. Lao Wang, though, could work. His research in interior design is pretty good."

After thinking it over, Zhang Dong directly called Lao Wang. "Lao Wang, it's Zhang Dong. Here's the situation: Zhi Xue Web is opening a new round of invitations, and I think your specialty is a good fit. Want to give it a try? All right, then. Wait for my notice."

That evening, Lao Wang brought his wife and gifts to Zhang Dong's home.

"Lao Wang, what are you doing? We've known each other for more than ten years. There's no need, no need..."

Looking at what her husband had become, seeing his colleagues at the university treat him with such respect, Zhang Dong's wife smiled so broadly her face nearly blossomed. Her resolve to support her husband's work grew even firmer.

She knew perfectly well who had given them all this. There could not be the slightest carelessness where Manager Han's affairs were concerned. They had to be handled properly.

Zhang Dong had thought that once he had dealt with Lao Wang, the matter would be over. But he had not expected it to be only the beginning.

The next day, Zhang Dong was quite surprised to receive a notice from the department chair, asking him to come to his office.

When he arrived, the usually stern department chair personally poured Zhang Dong tea and chatted warmly with him for a long while. Only then did he casually ask, "I heard Zhi Xue Web is inviting another batch of teachers to join recently? Do you think I'd qualify?"

At that moment, the department chair looked like a job applicant, full of anticipation and unease, even somewhat nervous.

For a moment, Zhang Dong was slightly dazed.

Word of this had gotten out after all.

"You... you're the department chair..."

The department chair sighed.

"Times are different now... Back then, university students were the favored sons of heaven, and university teachers like us went without saying—we were respected wherever we went.

"But now... You understand even if I don't say it. Knowledge isn't worth much anymore, and university teachers like us are no longer valued either. I may look like a department chair, some kind of leader, but it's all surface shine. I get a fixed salary of seven thousand yuan a month, and it isn't even enough to support my family.

"Your sister-in-law made a fuss with me a few days ago. We have to pinch pennies just to buy the kid a computer. Sigh."

The department chair's face was full of desolation.

Zhang Dong sighed as well.

No matter how much knowledge Earthlings had, could they compare with the Ita? Research? What future was there in research? The Ita could casually produce a single technology more advanced than the results of thousands of scientists laboring for decades.

In this era, research had no future. Winning over the Ita and obtaining new technology from them was the true path. Earthlings only needed to learn how to operate and use it.

Had no one noticed how university programs in physics, mathematics, computer fundamentals, hardware development, and the like had all declined in recent years, while all kinds of applied majors had become wildly popular?

There was no other reason. Once people learned to operate the Ita's various technological creations, they could find jobs after graduation.

And Yunshan University happened to be an institution that placed relatively greater emphasis on fundamental principles.

Thinking of the department chair's character and how he had looked after ordinary teachers like them in the past, Zhang Dong sighed. "Director, it's not that I'm unwilling to make an exception. It's just that I'm only recruiting people for Zhi Xue Web. They decide the fields themselves. This time, they aren't looking for teachers in computer-related subjects, so there's nothing I can do..."