20: Chapter 20: Sorry, I've done some research on this too!

Seeing Dean Chen's reaction, a hearty smile broke out on Wei Jiancheng's face.

Excellent, it seemed he wasn't the only one who had been frightened!

This kind of subversive result was enough to cause heartfelt shock to anyone who understood its weight.

Lin Yuan sat to the side, hands on his knees, back straight as a rod, with a look of calm and confidence on his face that was just right for a genius.

"The Dean overpraises me; it's enough that I can be of help to the country."

After saying this, he didn't continue to be humble.

With an imperceptible shift in tone, he added another sentence.

"Of course, if I didn't have some confidence in my own research, I wouldn't have dared to rashly step into the field of Photolithography Machines back then."

"After all, I understand the weight of this thing."

He spoke plainly, yet with an inherent confidence that brooked no argument.

The atmosphere in the office shifted subtly because of his nonchalant words.

Chen Jingshan listened, the look of appreciation in his eyes deepening as he gave a slight nod.

This young man had talent, and he had character.

But his character was diametrically opposed to those mediocre people who had nothing but arrogance and empty heads.

Lin Yuan's pride was built upon solid theoretical results.

This kind of pride was not annoying.

Instead, it made people feel reassured.

A researcher who lacks a clear understanding of their own abilities is the most terrifying disaster.

And Lin Yuan clearly did not belong in that category.

"Alright."

Chen Jingshan nodded slightly and placed the thick validation report back on the coffee table.

The expression of combined appreciation and scrutiny faded, replaced by the pragmatic sharpness of a decision-maker.

He looked at the still-excited Wei Jiancheng, then at the composed Lin Yuan.

"Old Wei."

"You didn't come running to me today just to show me this report, did you?"

Wei Jiancheng had been waiting for these words; he immediately straightened his back and puffed out his chest.

"Of course not!"

"Old Chen, the theoretical validation has completely passed! This route is open; it's a broad highway that can one hundred percent be traversed!"

"Since the path is clear, the next step is to quickly transform this theory into engineering practice!"

He pointed at the report on the coffee table, speaking rapidly.

"There's too much to do next."

"Building the prototype for the light source system requires a brand-new Small Particle Accelerator as a basic platform; that old one in the institute simply won't do!"

"Additionally, the ultra-high precision Synchronous Magnetic Field Device has ridiculously high requirements for processing accuracy. The number of domestic suppliers who can currently take on this job can be counted on one hand."

"Then there's the matching ultra-high Vacuum System, the Liquid Tin Target Circulating Supply Device..."

He spoke faster and faster, ticking off requirements on his fingers one by one.

"Which of these things doesn't require money? Which doesn't require people?"

"Especially the modification and debugging of the High-energy Particle Accelerator—this isn't something our institute can handle alone; the higher-ups must give the final word!"

Wei Jiancheng looked up at Chen Jingshan and said with full vigor,

"Old Chen, I need the Academy's resource support! Give us the people, give us the money, give us the equipment!"

"This matter cannot be delayed!"

The office fell silent for a few seconds.

Chen Jingshan didn't immediately respond to Wei Jiancheng's request. Instead, he picked up the report again, flipped to a certain page, and focused his gaze on a line of data for a moment.

Then he closed the report and slowly leaned back into his chair.

"Old Wei, don't be in such a hurry."

"I understand how you feel."

"I also understand the weight of this report."

His finger lightly traced the tabletop as if he were calculating something.

"But before we roll this out fully, there are two questions I'd like to hear your thoughts on first."

Wei Jiancheng's mouth opened, but he held back and made a 'go ahead' gesture toward Chen Jingshan.

"First."

Chen Jingshan held up one finger.

"The success of the theoretical research is a remarkable breakthrough, I don't deny that."

"But the gap between theory and implementation isn't just a simple layer of paper."

"I want to ask, starting from today, how long do you estimate it will take to actually build the Steady-state Micro-focused Light Source prototype, get it running, and produce data?"

This question was very direct and very realistic.

As the Dean, Chen Jingshan wasn't just in charge of the Third Research Institute.

He needed to coordinate all the resources of the entire Xia Academy of Sciences. For every penny allocated, he had to see the production cycle and expected return.

He wouldn't dare throw money into it just because someone said it was good.

Investment without a time frame is a bottomless pit.

The fever on Wei Jiancheng's face cooled slightly as he quickly calculated in his head, not daring to give a random number.

"Based on the current degree of theoretical completion... if manpower and materials can keep up, conservatively speaking, building the prototype and preliminary debugging will take at least eight to ten months."

He paused, his voice deepening.

"And that's in an ideal state."

"If any link goes wrong in the middle, it could be delayed for another half a year."

Chen Jingshan nodded, neither satisfied nor surprised by this answer.

Then he held up a second finger.

"Second question."

His speech slowed down, enunciating every word clearly.

"Old Wei, I understand the value of the Steady-state Micro-focused Light Source better than you do, but I have to remind you of one thing."

"The light source is only one of the three core components of a Photolithography Machine."

As these words fell, the excitement on Wei Jiancheng's face took a hit.

Because he understood the meaning of those words all too well.

The three core components of a Photolithography Machine, known in the industry as the 'Big Three'—

The light source system, the Objective Lens System, and the Dual-workpiece Stage System.

These three things are indispensable; each one, taken individually, is a mountain that needs to be climbed.

The light source system solves the problem of 'what light to use.'

The Objective Lens System solves the problem of 'how the light is focused and projected.'

The Dual-workpiece Stage System solves the problem of 'how the wafer moves and is aligned.'

Only when the three work together can circuit patterns be etched onto silicon wafers with nanometer-level precision.

Now, this theoretical data allowed them to see the dawn of overtaking on a curve in the light source system.

But what about the objective lens and the workpiece stage?

Chen Jingshan looked at Wei Jiancheng and laid it all out.

"No matter how strong the light source is, without a matching Objective Lens System and workpiece stage, what you build will be nothing more than an expensive laser emitter, not a Photolithography Machine that can actually produce results."

"Under the premise that the other two major components haven't achieved breakthroughs of the same level, if I were to pour massive resources into the light source alone..."

He paused and looked at Wei Jiancheng.

"Old Wei, put yourself in my position and think—how should this account be calculated?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Wei Jiancheng's fiery momentum cooled down visibly.

His lips quivered twice, but in the end, no words came out.

He wanted to argue, but his reason told him that every word Chen Jingshan said was correct.

This was a holistic problem that someone in charge of the big picture had to consider.

Scientific research resources are limited.

If you put all your eggs in one basket and the other two major components fail to achieve a breakthrough for a long time, then no matter how beautiful the light source is, it will be nothing more than an expensive ornament.

A single pillar cannot support a house.

Wei Jiancheng understood these words better than anyone.

His lips thinned; most of the overwhelming momentum from before had been extinguished.

This was also the cruelty of scientific research.

It's not that having a breakthrough in one direction means you can rest easy.

Systematic engineering is about the 'barrel effect.' The shortest plank determines the capacity of the entire barrel.

The office fell silent again.

Wei Jiancheng didn't speak, and Chen Jingshan didn't rush him.

The report lay quietly on the coffee table.

At this delicate juncture,

Lin Yuan put down his teacup.

The porcelain cup lightly touched the surface of the coffee table, making a crisp 'clack'.

The sound wasn't loud, but it caused two pairs of eyes to look over simultaneously.

Meeting their gazes, the corners of Lin Yuan's mouth turned up slightly.

"The question Dean Chen raised is indeed the key."

"The light source is only one-third of the Photolithography Machine, and a single-point breakthrough is far from enough. I understand this principle as well."

He paused for a beat.

Wei Jiancheng turned his head to look at him, the knot in his brow still not loosened.

Chen Jingshan's finger rested on the table, motionless.

"It's just that..."

Lin Yuan's tone was steady, yet it caused the anxious air in the office to freeze.

"Besides the light source theory..."

"Regarding the Objective Lens System and the dual-workpiece stage..."

"I personally have also researched the theories of these other two major components of the Photolithography Machine a bit."