Chapter 304: then translation of title

Nowadays, a market economy is becoming popular in society; soon, there will be people who find making atomic bombs less profitable than selling tea‑leaf eggs, society will become restless, and we scientific personnel will easily lose our direction.

Qin Miao continued: "However, as long as we work at Ha Gong Da, this problem will definitely not happen! Our scientific personnel's treatment must improve! With the formal tape‑out of Dragon Core No. 1 and the upcoming New Year, everyone can receive two months' salary as a year‑end bonus!"

Director Zhou felt uneasy.

The Computing Institute had hardly any projects; everyone was barely getting by on basic salaries, while those who had jumped to Ha Gong Da already enjoyed high base pay plus various benefits—bonuses flowed like water—and now, despite having achieved results, they actually wanted to take an extra two months' salary as a bonus!

This…

After this, can the Computing Institute still retain talent? Those with ability will surely choose Ha Gong Da's Microelectronics Center first!

"Long live!" someone shouted.

"Cough cough, don't shout randomly; the era of shouting slogans is long past—we also look at individual contribution! As the saying goes, knowledge is power; here, too, knowledge is wealth! Come, cheers!"

Maotai filled the glasses; each person lifted their head, tilted back their neck, and downed a cup of liquor—rich, mellow, warming the stomach.

This Maotai is truly delicious!

After setting down their cups, everyone was very excited.

"Today, the tape‑out of Dragon Core No. 1 is just a beginning; moving forward, we must press on, researching Dragon Core No. 2 and Dragon Core No. 3. Since we have entered the microprocessor field, we must achieve world‑leading status and maintain it."

"Exactly!"

"Come, let's drink to our upcoming projects!"

After the second round, some were already getting drunk—after all, everyone usually abstains from tobacco and alcohol.

Director Zhou raised his cup: "Ha Gong Da achieving this is beyond our expectations; today, I'll use flowers to offer a toast—here's a drink to all of you!"

"Director Zhou, you're being modest; in this field, Ha Gong Da alone isn't enough. Right now we can only make processors, but a computer needs many other components—your Computing Institute could provide matching parts, such as 64K memory chips; if you could develop them, they'd perfectly complement our Dragon Core No. 1."

A faint embarrassment appeared on Director Zhou's face.

"What, the Computing Institute isn't going to work on this? You just want to be an assembly plant? If I recall correctly, in '78 we already produced 4K chips."

The memory chip was first invented by IBM, but being big attracts trouble—in 1968, shortly after these patents were registered, the U. S. Department of Justice launched an antitrust investigation.

As a result, other companies got there first—namely Intel.

Correct, Intel made memory chips, but later the island nation's semiconductor industry forced them into a corner, so they abandoned that business and focused on processors.

In 1969, Intel first produced a 64‑bit memory chip; in 1970, it upgraded to 1K.

In our East, however, it was not until 1975 that the semiconductor group of the Physics Department at Capital University produced the first 1K memory chip in Factory 109—five years behind the U. S. —but three years later, the CAS Semiconductor Institute made a 4K chip, and by 1980, a 16K chip.

At this rate, by 1983 we could surely produce 64K chips, putting us in sync with the world and catching up to advanced levels in this field.

But…

Entering the 1980s, reduced investment in microelectronics caused these projects to fall quickly behind the West, compounded by the prevailing attitude that it's better to buy than to make…

Director Zhou remained silent; beside him, Liu Zhonglie spoke up.

"Many American firms produce memory chips, especially Intel, which is the leader in this field; let professionals handle professional matters—we just need to do our own work! Comrade Qin Miao, could we entrust the Computing Institute with full authority to sell Dragon Core?"

"Is that so? That's right—technology knows no borders."

"Exactly, exactly, exactly!" Liu Zhonglie, as if he had found a kindred spirit, broke into a smile, his cheeks puffing out like a little lapdog.

"Engineer Liu, do you know the second half of the saying 'technology knows no borders'?"

"What?"

"Scientists have their own motherland!"

Taking quotes out of context—these people have become very adept at it!

It's like loving to read but not seeking deep understanding—what does that mean? Do we not need to read thoroughly? The emphasis is on the latter part: "when you grasp the meaning, you forget to eat in delight," meaning you don't have to understand everything; grasping just part of it is enough to make you happy.

"Technology knows no borders" carries the same meaning; it certainly does not mean that technology flows freely worldwide regardless of nation. The stress is on the second half: "Scientists have their own motherland!" Unfortunately, later generations have had these traitorous Han‑jian spouting the first half everywhere, feeling smug about it.

What Qin Miao hates most in life is exactly this sort of person.

"We must remember that we are Chinese first, and only then workers in any profession; we work to realize our ideals and ambitions, and we must also know that without a country, there would be no achievements of ours."

Just like some people who go abroad on government funds, stay overseas after graduation, and then say proudly, "I'm a government‑sponsored overseas student; studying abroad is also for realizing my life ideals—what's wrong with that?"

Such extremely selfish people never consider that without a nation, where would their achievements come from?

"Exactly, San Shui, you're right! For that remark I'll drink a cup with you!" Engineer said, raising his cup.

Qin Miao's taste suits him perfectly!

"Engineer, I salute you—Dragon Core No. 1 came out this quickly thanks to you and Engineer Huang as the chief contributors!"

Engineer Huang also raised his cup: "In that case, I'll join in too!"

Qin Miao's feelings were mixed; Engineer Huang's wish was to prostrate himself on the ground and wipe away the nation's shame, and now, with the tape‑out of Dragon Core No. 1, Engineer Huang has fulfilled his former dream.

As for the others—Director Zhou and Liu Zhonglie, for example—their faces looked grim; Qin Miao's remarks were clearly aimed at them, mocking their lack of patriotism.

They could accept all that, but their purpose in coming here was utterly unfulfilled.

If the Computing Institute's company lacks suitable projects, it cannot keep operating! Yet they now try to rely on the old methods, which no longer work, and this place will not open any convenient doors for them.

What should we do next?

Director Zhou was somewhat worried, while Liu Zhonglie's gaze remained fixed on Engineer and Engineer Huang.