Chapter 261 They're Upset, I'm Happy

Words : 1075 Updated : Oct 9th, 2025

Professor Chen Hui had been teaching for decades, and the largest research funding he ever received had not exceeded six figures. When Zhang Menglong casually mentioned amounts in the hundreds of billions, it completely baffled him. "That's right, I remember now, you're the world's richest person!" Social networks are really just a young person's affair, Professor Chen Hui didn't recognize Zhang Menglong, but his wife had just seen him on the news not long ago. "Ah? The world's richest person? Isn't that an American?" "That's old news!" Professor Chen Hui's wife said, "If you didn't spend all your days just reading books and doing research and paid some attention to international affairs and social news, you wouldn't fail to recognize people like this!" "Come on in, Menglong, it's cold outside!" Professor Chen Hui's wife immediately invited Zhang Menglong inside. She clearly heard everything, this young man was here to invite her husband to become a chief researcher at Silicon Moonlight, which she knew to be the largest chip encapsulation and testing factory in the world. Considering her husband's stubborn nature, wouldn't the treatment be much better there than in this university? "Come, sit down, I'll go pour you some hot water!" "Madam, please don't trouble yourself, let's sit down together!" Zhang Menglong said with a smile.@@@@ Although Professor Chen's wife seemed somewhat mercenary, Zhang Menglong completely understood after seeing the family situation of Professor Chen Hui. Professor Chen Hui clearly had the capability to earn more money, but he focused all his effort on photolithography technology, engaging in thankless tasks. Even the occasional research funds he obtained were all spent on materials, renting equipment, and paying stipends to his graduate and doctoral students; he kept nothing for himself. It could be said that among the higher educated class, Professor Chen Hui's family circumstances were considered quite modest. "Let me explain my purpose for coming," Zhang Menglong said, "Professor Chen, you should also know that if we want to continue developing communication technology, besides independent research, we don't have another path to follow." Professor Chen Hui nodded, a realization he had come to long ago, but since the cost of research was too high, unless it was the power of the state, no single enterprise could afford such enormous research funds. He was just an ordinary professor after all, without the capacity to influence the nation, so he could only choose to work quietly on his own. "Now, I have in my possession 2nm chip technology, including comprehensive information on everything from Crystal Chip production to encapsulation testing, along with the principles and blueprints for a photolithography machine that surpasses the current generation by two!" "What?" Professor Chen Hui stood up abruptly. Currently, Huaxia's photolithography machine technology could only support 22nm chips, which was far behind the world's leading 5nm photolithography machine technology. Zhang Menglong was claiming to have 2nm photolithography machine technology? "We have already gathered other heads of chip production processes, and I've heard that Professor Chen is the leading photolithography technology professor in our Huaxian universities, so I would like to invite you to join our project!" "May I take a look at the blueprints?" Professor Chen Hui asked tentatively. He felt very nervous; it was akin to asking the countries that had already developed advanced photolithography machines if he could take a look at their blueprints. These were secrets! Even national-level secrets, if those secrets were leaked, other countries could soon replicate the same photolithography machines, and they would lose their leading position. "So you mean..." "I am willing to go!" Chen Hui nodded. "Professor Chen, aren't you going to ask about the salary?" Zhang Menglong laughed dryly. "Aren't you afraid I'll deceive you into working as a volunteer?" "Even as a volunteer, I am willing!" Chen Hui knew that the materials Zhang Menglong had given him were just a portion. There was much more he wanted to learn, and this was a researcher's perseverance. Even if Zhang Menglong intended to take advantage without offering anything in return, Chen Hui was absolutely willing to go just to understand those materials! "Well then, like other chief researchers, I'll offer you a yearly salary of 100 million Huaxia dollars!" Zhang Menglong said. "One hundred million?" Professor Chen's spouse almost passed out with high blood pressure. "Menglong, are you serious?" "A talent like Professor Chen certainly deserves this salary," Zhang Menglong said. "Moreover, if your graduate and doctoral students are willing to join, we'll offer 5 million a year for a PhD and 1 million a year for a master's degree!" Chen Hui and his wife were so astonished they were speechless. Was this how the world's richest person recruited people? Masters and PhDs yet to graduate earning million-dollar salaries? "Also, list any materials or equipment you need, and give it to me this evening. Within a week, I'll make sure everything is arranged for you," Zhang Menglong said. "Anything you need, we can get it for you!" "Alright, I'll make a list for you tonight!" "Professor Chen, only the best; don't worry about the cost. Even if it's supercomputers or particle colliders, I can get them for you!" "That particle collider at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology..." "I bought that one!" Chen Hui nodded and joked, "Since the boss isn't worrying about money, then I won't be frugal either. But it might be astronomically expensive—hundreds of billions of US dollars at least." "No problem, even a few trillion will do!" Zhang Menglong laughed. "Menglong, may I ask you a question?" Chen Hui asked. "Go ahead." "You are investing so much money in R&D, and even if the production line is established, returning to profitability will take a long time, is it really worth it?" "It's worth it!" Zhang Menglong laughed. "How would it feel to see our chips surpassing theirs by generations?" "Of course, they'd be green with envy!" Chen Hui answered. "If they're upset, I'm happy, and that makes it worthwhile!" "What a bold rationale!" Professor Chen Hui laughed dryly, thinking others do research for profit or for their country and people, but here you are, just to show off in front of other nations!

Chapter 261 They're Upset, I'm Happy

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