Chapter 61 Complete Success

One month later.

Morning sunlight streamed through the laboratory windows, casting bright squares onto the floor. On the test bench, a row of brand-new pouch batteries was neatly arranged, connected to a dense web of testing wires. On the screen, data flickered incessantly.

Current cycle count: 1,207

Capacity retention rate: 81.5%

Chen Xueming stood before the test bench, staring at the number, silent for a long time.

A month ago, they had broken through 1,000 cycles. After four more rounds of optimization, they finally settled on 1,207 cycles—two hundred more than the commercial standard and triple their initial target.

Meanwhile, the energy density had stabilized at 1,520 Wh/kg, more than triple that of mainstream lithium batteries on the market.

"Dr. Chen," Li Xiao approached, "the data has all been entered. Do you want to take one last look?"

Chen Xueming shook his head. "No need. I've looked at it countless times this past month."

He turned around and looked at the others in the laboratory. Zhang Zhe was organizing separator samples, Lin Mo was writing materials in the office, and Zhao Gang stood by the window, keeping a vigilant watch outside.

These people had stayed by his side through the most difficult times.

"What are you thinking about?" Lin Mo had walked out at some point and was now standing beside him.

Chen Xueming thought for a moment and said, "I was thinking... I used to believe that scientific research was a solitary endeavor. Now I know that walking together as a group allows us to go much further."

Lin Mo smiled. "Then we'll keep walking together from now on."

Just then, a set of footsteps sounded from outside the door.

Fang Lin pushed the door open, followed by several middle-aged men in plain clothes. One of them had gray hair but stood with a straight back and sharp eyes.

"Lin Mo," Fang Lin said, "Director Zhang from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology is here to see your results."

Lin Mo went to meet him. "Hello, Director Zhang."

Director Zhang nodded, his gaze already falling on the batteries on the test bench. "So these are the Lithium-Sulfur Batteries you've made?"

"Yes." Lin Mo walked over, picked up a sample, and handed it to him. "Single-cell energy density is 1,520 Wh/kg, cycle life is 1,207 cycles, and it has passed all safety tests."

Director Zhang took the battery, weighed it in his hand, and scrutinized it for a moment. "Such a small thing can output triple the energy?"

Lin Mo smiled and gestured for Li Xiao to open the demonstration system. Detailed data curves and comparison charts immediately appeared on the screen.

"This is a comparison with the mainstream lithium batteries currently on the market. For the same weight, our battery's range can reach more than triple; for the same range, our battery weighs only a third. Moreover, we use a sulfur cathode, which means lower material costs and more abundant resources."

Director Zhang looked at the data, his brow furrowing slightly as if digesting the information.

Another middle-aged man behind him asked, "What about safety? I recall Lithium-Sulfur Batteries have always had dendrite issues, making them prone to short-circuiting."

Chen Xueming stepped forward. "We solved that problem through electrolyte optimization and separator modification. Look at this—"

He pulled up another set of data. "These are the results of our nail penetration, overcharge, and high-temperature storage tests; they've all passed national standards. Especially in the nail penetration test, the battery only heated up without catching fire or exploding."

Director Zhang stared at the screen for a long time before turning to Lin Mo.

"How long has your team been working on this?"

"It's been less than a year since the discovery of Room-Temperature Superconductivity," Lin Mo said. "But the Lithium-Sulfur Battery project officially started five months ago."

Director Zhang was silent for a few seconds before saying, "I've visited many laboratories and seen many projects. It's common to see no breakthroughs after five or ten years. In five months, you've achieved what others couldn't in five years."

He paused.

"I want to know, how did you do it?"

Lin Mo didn't answer directly. Instead, he looked at Chen Xueming, then Zhang Zhe, then Li Xiao, and finally at Zhao Gang, who had entered the room at some point.

"Because we have a group of people," he said. "Everyone is giving their all in their respective positions."

Director Zhang followed his gaze and saw Chen Xueming's bloodshot eyes, the tape on Zhang Zhe's hands, Li Xiao's hands nervously clutching the hem of her shirt, and Zhao Gang standing straight by the door.

He nodded.

"Good."

Over the next two hours, Director Zhang inspected every corner of the laboratory.

He examined every piece of equipment, asked dozens of questions, and finally sat down in the conference room to listen to Lin Mo's detailed report on the entire R&D process.

Chen Xueming added technical details, Zhang Zhe introduced the separator solution, Li Xiao demonstrated the database system, and Zhao Gang explained the security measures. The four of them coordinated perfectly; whoever needed to speak stepped forward, and when it wasn't their turn, they stood quietly aside.

When the report ended, Director Zhang remained silent for a long time.

Then he asked a question:

"How do you plan to use this technology?"

Lin Mo was prepared. "Our idea is to take a two-pronged approach. One is the civilian market—electric vehicles and energy storage equipment—which will take time to build the supporting industrial chain. The other is military and high-end equipment, where implementation can be much faster."

Director Zhang nodded. "Why prioritize the military?"

"Because the need is urgent," Lin Mo said. "Our drones, individual soldier equipment, and submarines all require high-energy-density power sources. Currently limited by battery technology, the endurance of many pieces of equipment falls short of the ideal state. If our batteries are used, the range can be doubled or even tripled."

He paused.

"Furthermore, the military sector has high requirements for confidentiality and security. We can build small-scale production lines within the base to meet urgent needs first. Once the technology matures, we can promote it to the civilian market."

After listening, Director Zhang turned to his entourage. "What do you think?"

One of them said, "The technical indicators indeed far exceed current levels. If mass production is possible, it would be a revolutionary improvement for military equipment."

Another said, "The key is that the supply chain must be autonomous and controllable. For the raw materials of Lithium-Sulfur Batteries, sulfur is fine, but some additives in the electrolyte still need to be imported."

Chen Xueming immediately chimed in, "We're already working on that. For the most expensive additive, FDEC, we are collaborating with domestic chemical companies to develop a low-cost synthesis process. We expect the cost to drop to one-tenth of the original within six months."

Director Zhang asked a few more questions and then stood up.

"Alright. I'll write a report as soon as I get back. In principle, I support your prioritization of the military sector. As for the specific operations, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the military will jointly establish a special task force to coordinate with you."

He walked up to Lin Mo and extended his hand.

"Comrade Xiao Lin, you've done very well. The country needs this kind of innovation."

Lin Mo shook his hand. "Thank you, Director Zhang."

Director Zhang then looked at the others.

"Xiao Chen, Xiao Zhang, Xiao Li, and the comrade at the door—you've all worked hard. Scientific research is not easy, but you've succeeded, and that is truly remarkable."

Chen Xueming was stunned—Xiao Chen? It had been years since anyone had called him that. He opened his mouth to say something but ended up just nodding vigorously.

Director Zhang left.

The conference room was quiet for a few seconds before Li Xiao was the first to jump up. "We did it! We really did it!"

She grabbed Chen Xueming's arm and shook it hard. "Dr. Chen! Did you hear that? The people from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said our technology is revolutionary!"

Chen Xueming was being shaken so much he could hardly stand, but his face was all smiles. "I heard, I heard. Stop shaking me..."

Zhang Zhe stood nearby, the corners of his mouth turning up in a rare, obvious smile.

Zhao Gang walked over and patted Lin Mo's shoulder. "You did it, kid."

Lin Mo laughed. "It wasn't me; it was everyone."

In the afternoon, Fang Lin returned.

She brought news: the joint task force between the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the military had been established, and they would meet next Monday to discuss the specific application plans for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries in the military sector.

"Get ready," she said. "You'll probably need to go into more detail, especially regarding mass production feasibility and the timeline."

Lin Mo nodded. "Understood."

Fang Lin looked at the busy people in the laboratory and suddenly asked, "Lin Mo, do you know what your greatest advantage is?"

Lin Mo thought for a moment. "Technological leadership?"

Fang Lin shook her head. "Technological leadership is one part of it. But more importantly, it's this team. A team capable of fighting a battle is rarer than the technology to win one."

She glanced at Chen Xueming—the former troublemaker who used to be full of thorns was now discussing something with Zhang Zhe, his tone calm and his gaze focused.

"Chen Xueming," she said, "I've looked into his background. Four years of hitting walls, moving through three different places, and no one could keep him. But here with you, he's taken root."

Lin Mo didn't say anything.

"Zhang Zhe is introverted and not good at socializing; he was marginalized at his former unit. But here, he's become the pillar of the separator research."

Fang Lin then looked at Li Xiao and Zhao Gang.

"Li Xiao was just a young girl who had recently graduated with little experience, but you gave her a chance, and now she can hold her own. Zhao Gang, a former special forces soldier, knew nothing about scientific research, but he managed to grind through several professional books; now he even considers things like electromagnetic leakage."

She turned back to look at Lin Mo.

"Your greatest skill is being able to gather all these people together and let them use their talents to the fullest."

Lin Mo was silent for a few seconds before saying:

"It's not that I'm so skilled; it's that they were skilled to begin with. I just didn't treat them like tools."

Fang Lin smiled.

"On that point alone, you're better than many leaders."

That evening, Chen Xueming uncharacteristically suggested taking everyone out to dinner.

"My treat," he said. "There's a place nearby that makes excellent mutton."

Li Xiao was the first to raise her hand. "Me, me, me! I've been wanting to eat there for ages!"

Zhang Zhe hesitated. "I'm not much of a drinker..."

"Then we'll have tea," Chen Xueming said. "The main point is to get together."

Lin Mo naturally agreed, and Zhao Gang nodded as well.

The five of them left the base and walked to "Old Mas Mutton Restaurant" in the small town. The shop wasn't large, but it was clean and tidy, with the rich aroma of meat wafting through the air.

Chen Xueming ordered a table full of dishes: hand-grabbed mutton, roasted lamb chops, mutton skewers, mutton offal soup, and several vegetable dishes. Li Xiao's eyes widened. "Dr. Chen, you're going to spend a whole month's salary!"

Chen Xueming laughed. "If it's gone, it's gone. It's rare to be this happy."

The meat arrived, and they chatted as they ate. They talked about every little detail of the journey: from the tension at the review meeting to the stumbling blocks of their first joint experiment; from the 200-cycle bottleneck to the 1,200-cycle breakthrough.

Chen Xueming raised his glass and looked at Lin Mo.

"Teacher Lin, I'd like to propose a toast to you."

Lin Mo also raised his glass.

Chen Xueming said, "Thank you for picking me up."

Lin Mo shook his head. "It wasn't picking you up; it was inviting you. You were always meant to be here."

The two clinked glasses and drained them in one go.

Li Xiao teased from the side, "Dr. Chen, your face is red!"

Chen Xueming's face was indeed red, whether from the alcohol or the emotion. He set down his glass and looked at everyone present, his eyes feeling a bit warm.

"I used to," he said, "think of myself as a failure. Four years, and I couldn't achieve anything. When I came here, I didn't actually have much hope; I was just at the end of my rope."

He paused.

"But now I know, it wasn't that I was a failure; I just hadn't found the right place."

Zhang Zhe spoke up for once: "Found the right place, and the right people."

Zhao Gang chimed in, "Exactly. Everything was right."

Li Xiao raised her teacup. "Then let's stay together forever!"

They all laughed.

After dinner, the five of them slowly walked back.

The town's night was very quiet, with only the occasional sound of dogs barking in the distance. The starry sky overhead was brilliant, and the Milky Way was clearly visible.

Li Xiao pointed at the sky. "Look! The Big Dipper!"

The group looked up at those seven bright stars.

Lin Mo said, "The things we're doing are actually like the Big Dipper. They look like individual stars, but together, they can point the way."

Chen Xueming nodded. "Then we are the seven stars."

Zhao Gang laughed. "Which one am I?"

Li Xiao blurted out, "Uncle Zhao, you're Dubhe! The brightest one! The steadiest!"

Zhao Gang was a bit embarrassed by the praise. "The girl's just talking nonsense."

Zhang Zhe was uncharacteristically humorous. "Then I might be Mizar, with Alcor beside me."

Li Xiao pointed at Chen Xueming again. "Dr. Chen is Megrez! The one in the middle, connecting the top and bottom!"

Chen Xueming was taken aback for a moment, then laughed.

Li Xiao finally looked at Lin Mo. "Teacher Lin, you're Merak! Together with Dubhe, you point toward the North Star!"

Lin Mo asked with a smile, "And who is the North Star?"

Li Xiao thought for a moment. "It's our goal, I guess. The sea of stars."

They all fell silent, looking up at the night sky.

Those stars had been shining for billions of years.

And they were only just beginning.