Chapter 781: Want to Play Uniform Temptation?

In the lab, Zheng Xu and the other researchers were speechless as they watched Xu Qingzhou bow his head to check the data.

That was the National Highest Science and Technology Award, the highest honor in Xia’s scientific community.

Is it normal to be this calm?

Why do you sound like you’re talking about some trivial little thing?

Xu Qingzhou looked up, saw the strange expressions on Zheng Xu and the others, and smiled: “Winning the award is one thing, but we can’t stop the experiments.”

“That’s true.”

Zheng Xu nodded with a chuckle; it made sense—he remembered how Xu Qingzhou had been guiding their experiments even while going to collect the Nobel Prize.

“Re-test this section again.”

Xu Qingzhou pointed to page five of the second report, which primarily verified helium bubble damage—specifically, the synergistic effect of fusion byproduct helium and trapped hydrogen forming clusters of bubbles inside the material, accelerating structural failure.

The helium bubble phenomenon was still very evident; he wanted to gather more data to study adjustment methods.

“Got it.”

Zheng Xu nodded.

Xu Qingzhou didn’t stay long; he took the results of this test back to his office.

“I’ll keep an eye on this—you all go eat first.”

Zheng Xu turned to the four researchers behind him.

“Professor, you go eat first—we’ll stay.”

“No need. I’m not hungry yet—I’ll just review some data.”

Zheng Xu shook his head; everyone had been working hard lately, especially the young researchers, who nearly lived in the lab.

“Alright.”

“No wonder Xu Professor is so calm—even after winning such a huge award. If it were me, I’d already be calling friends to celebrate.” One researcher sighed.

“Your vision’s too narrow—you’re not Xu Professor, are you?”

“Let’s go eat.”

As the two stepped out of the lab, they noticed banners had already been hung around the institute.

【Warmly Congratulating Professor Xu Qingzhou on Winning the National Highest Science and Technology Award】

“Wow—the institute moved fast! The banners are already printed.”

“This is one of the most prestigious awards in Xia’s scientific community.”

“True.”

Xu Qingzhou remained calm; back in his office, after taking calls from Xu Shouyun and Song Shisong, he began analyzing the data he’d just collected.

The issue of hydrogen isotope retention in the Qiankun Demonstration Reactor was critical.

Tritium is the core fusion fuel, but it’s expensive and radioactive; retention causes tritium to become trapped inside materials, reducing fuel utilization by 30%–50%, requiring additional tritium replenishment and drastically increasing costs.

And as previously mentioned, hydrogen isotope retention easily shortens the service life of internal materials in the demonstration reactor.

The Qiankun No. 1 Experimental Reactor achieves fuel self-sufficiency—no external tritium replenishment needed—but the demonstration reactor faces different conditions: its operating power far exceeds that of the experimental reactor, leading to extreme-environment adaptation issues.

Even with the experimental reactor’s design, a 12% retention rate still occurred; if the Qiankun Demonstration Reactor’s tritium retention exceeds 10%, it cannot achieve net energy gain—retention level determines whether the fuel cycle can close.

Zheng Xu and his team are depositing erbium oxide coatings on graphite tile surfaces, expected to reduce retention by another 16% or so.

“Let’s get to work.”

Xu Qingzhou sipped his coffee, spun the pen in his hand, and his mind began racing.

The daytime passed; Xu Qingzhou left work early today, arriving home at 6 p.m.

Song Yao was busy in the kitchen; the aroma of food was already filling the air.

“I’m back.”

Hearing Xu Qingzhou’s voice, Song Yao poked her head out of the kitchen, noticing his casual clothes: “Where’s your suit?”

“At the institute—I can tell you’re a little disappointed.”

“I’m not.”

“Hah, you are—I see right through you.”

This girl wanted to play the uniform seduction game.

Saying this, Xu Qingzhou washed his hands and walked into the kitchen, unable to resist pinching a piece of hui guo rou and popping it into his mouth.