Chapter 117: Lian Po Is Not Old, Still Able to Eat

Wearing a Zhongshan suit, Zhou Shi held a large briefcase in his hand, followed by two people wearing clothes even older than Zhou Shi's, and both of them were pulling a large suitcase.

"So this is Hanxi provincial capital!"

After getting off the Hanxi provincial capital airport, Zhang Shiying, who was following Zhou Shi, couldn't help but say. The 45th Research Institute wasn't far from Xiyuan City, and some experimental equipment before was also transported through Hanxi provincial capital. But they had never left the location of the 45th Research Institute, and this was their first time coming here.

"Dongling High-Tech's people should have arrived, right?!" Another engineer, Wang Xia, looked at his watch and said to Zhou Shi and Zhang Shiying.

Zhou Shi, Zhang Shiying, and Wang Xia were the main R&D personnel and engineers of the 45th Research Institute's photolithography machine project team. This time, they were also invited to Hanxi provincial capital.

These three engineers were all middle-aged, but for more than ten years, they had been in the research institute. Suddenly coming here, even Zhou Shi, who served as the chief engineer of the 45th Research Institute's photolithography machine, was slightly at a loss.

"Chief Cheng Shi Zhou!"

At this time, an Audi appeared in front of Zhou Shi and the others. A young man with a crew cut stepped out of the car and prepared to take the briefcase from Zhou Shi's hand, but Zhou Shi took the bag behind him.

Stunned, the young man with a crew cut said to Zhou Shi, "Chief Cheng Shi Zhou, I am a member of Dongling High-Tech's security department. This is my ID. From now on, I will be responsible for your travel and that of Zhang Gong and Cheng Shi Wang. If you have anything, just tell me!"

After seeing the ID, Zhou Shi finally felt relieved. As people who built the Third Front in the past, Zhou Shi and these engineers had very high vigilance and awareness of confidentiality.

Although he felt relieved, Zhou Shi still held the briefcase firmly in his hand.

After getting in the car, Zhang Shiying remembered what the young man with a crew cut just said, "What do you mean by being responsible for our travel from now on?!"

"This car will be a dedicated car for Chief Cheng Shi Zhou, Zhang Gong, and Cheng Shi Wang from now on. I am your full-time driver and security. If you have anything, you can tell me to do it!" The young man with a crew cut who was turning the car around said to Zhou Shi and the others.

Hearing this, Zhou Shi and the three were stunned. You have to know that when they were at the 45th Research Institute of the Ministry of Machinery and Electronics, let alone these engineers not having cars and full-time drivers, even the director of the research institute didn't have that treatment.

This Audi was worth at least several hundred thousand now. The treatment Dongling High-Tech gave them somewhat exceeded Zhou Shi's imagination. The entire 45th Research Institute only had 800,000 yuan left in its account now, and hundreds of young people in the research institute didn't have salaries, and some even relied on setting up stalls, selling vegetables, and opening small restaurants to make a living. This contrast made Zhou Shi and the others feel a mix of five flavors in their hearts.

"Chief Cheng Shi Zhou, do you want to rest first or eat? Li Zong told me to take good care of Chief Cheng Shi Zhou and the others today…"

"Go see your Li Zong!"

"Go now?!" The driver asked in surprise, "You haven't eaten yet…"

"If we don't see Li Zong, we can't eat this meal!" Zhou Shi said, and Zhang Shiying and Wang Xia nodded repeatedly.

Zhou Shi and the others were called to the provincial capital after receiving calls from the Ministry of Machinery and Electronics and the Electronic Department. Dongling High-Tech contacted the Ministry of Machinery and Electronics, the Yanjing Electronic Department, and the 45th Research Institute through the relationships of Pingyang Municipal and Hanxi Provincial Industrial Department.

The 45th Research Institute's photolithography machine project might be restarted. This was the main reason Zhou Shi and the others rushed over. If they didn't really want to develop a photolithography machine and didn't want to develop their own photolithography machine for the country, they couldn't have gritted their teeth for R&D in the past few years when funding was so difficult. Now that there was a turning point, if they didn't hear a definite answer, they couldn't eat any meal.

Li Dongling was also surprised to hear that Zhou Shi and the others rushed over so quickly, and asked the assistant to the side, "When will Academician Ni's plane arrive in the provincial capital?"

"Expected tomorrow morning!"

Li Dongling nodded, then instructed, "Let the kitchen prepare a table of food and dishes, and serve them whenever Chief Cheng Shi Zhou and the others arrive!"

"Chief Cheng Shi Zhou, Zhang Gong, Cheng Shi Wang!"

Li Dongling personally welcomed Zhou Shi and the others downstairs at the Dongxin Semiconductor office building.

Looking at Li Dongling in front of him, Zhou Shi felt that Li Dongling was much younger than he imagined. The apprentices he brought in the research institute were all a few years older than Li Dongling.

But right now, Li Dongling was the only one who could possibly save the 45th Research Institute's photolithography machine project. Regardless of Li Dongling's age, he had to try. The research institute couldn't make money by itself, and the Ministry of Machinery and Electronics was also in difficulty, having to allocate funds to a large pile of research institutes. Among private companies domestically, besides Dongling High-Tech, there was no second one willing to develop this thing.

The 45th Research Institute's photolithography machine project had been delayed for nine years. If it continued to be delayed, there would really be no hope of picking it up and developing it again. Zhou Shi and their ages were also almost at the limit.

Not only because of retirement, but the ability to receive new things and new technologies also weakened after a certain age. Ten years later, even if they were given top-notch experimental equipment and sufficient materials and funding, they wouldn't have the energy and ability to develop it.

Although he was anxious in his heart, after entering Dongxin Semiconductor, Zhou Shi and the others first viewed the design, processing, coating, testing, and other laboratories of Dongxin Semiconductor, as well as a group of experimental equipment. Dongxin Semiconductor's experimental equipment couldn't be considered top-notch, but compared to the 45th Research Institute, which still stayed with those equipment from a few years ago, it was indeed much better. Each laboratory was equipped with IBM and Apple office computer equipment, not to mention the laboratory environment.

After viewing it with unfulfilled wishes, suppressing the urge to operate it, Zhou Shi signaled Zhang Shiying to take out something packed in a box from the suitcase.

"Li Zong, this is a gift from the 45th Research Institute to you and Dongling High-Tech. I hope you like it!"

After untying the box, Li Dongling saw that it was actually a photolithography machine model carved out of wood, "Is this the photolithography machine model developed by the 45th Research Institute?!"

"Yes!"

Zhou Shi looked at this wooden model, "This is a model carved according to the photolithography machine of the 45th Research Institute in proportion!"

Mentioning that photolithography machine, Zhou Shi couldn't help but carry excitement and some pride in his words. Being in a research institute that built the Third Front, being able to develop a photolithography machine that was considered the first echelon in the world at that time was already something worth being proud of in their professional career as research engineers.

"I represent Dongling High-Tech and Dongxin Semiconductor in thanking the 45th Research Institute for this gift."

After Li Dongling accepted this gift, he asked the thing he cared about most, "What is the gap between the photolithography machine of the 45th Research Institute now and Nikon's photolithography machine?!"

Nikon photolithography machine was the hegemon of the global photolithography machine industry, followed by Canon, one of the Japanese photolithography machine twins, and then the Silicon Valley photolithography machine group that emerged in America. Nine years were enough for semiconductors to innovate several generations.

Hearing Li Dongling's words, Zhou Shi's face turned red, full of embarrassment. Finally, he sighed and said, "The one at the 45th Research Institute is a 1000nm photolithography machine. The most advanced photolithography machine on the market now has reached 250nm!"

Hearing this, Li Dongling wasn't disappointed. In nearly ten years, the photolithography machine industry had been turned upside down. Nikon and Canon became photolithography machine giants, spending so much R&D funding. If they didn't play any tricks, wouldn't the money be spent in vain!

Seeing Li Dongling thoughtful, Zhou Shi, Zhang Shiying, and Wang Xia were all anxious. Nine years, they finally waited for a photolithography machine project. How could they be willing to give up just like that?

"Li Zong," Zhou Shi said, "In these years, although we didn't develop photolithography machines because of funding reasons, we have always been developing projects like pattern generators, four-head precision reduction cameras, projection exposure machines, etc. Old Zhang and Old Wang are both experts in the optical industry, and they are also counted in the country."

"The most important thing for a photolithography machine is the optical lens. As long as there is funding, we are confident in pushing the photolithography machine to within 450nm!"

Zhou Shi said, panting, his expression somewhat excited as he said to Li Dongling, "I am willing to set up a military order. If the R&D is not successful, I…"

At this time, Zhou Shi suddenly remembered that he didn't seem to have anything to bet. His salary now was only a few hundred yuan, and the research institute hadn't paid salaries for a while. To invest in a photolithography machine, he had to invest real money. If the R&D wasn't successful, he seemed to have only one old life left. Gritting his teeth, just as Zhou Shi was about to say he would bet his old life to set up a military order, Li Dongling stopped him.

"I believe in you, Chief Cheng Shi Zhou, and the strength of Zhang Gong, Cheng Shi Wang, and the 45th Research Institute, otherwise I wouldn't have invited you here this time!"

Li Dongling looked at Zhou Shi and the others, "Dongling High-Tech established Dongxin Semiconductor to develop chips and photolithography machines. Dongling High-Tech doesn't want to be controlled by others forever. I think this is also the long-cherished wish of you engineers of this generation, Chief Cheng Shi Zhou!"

Hearing Li Dongling's words, Zhou Shi and the three couldn't help but show joy on their faces, but before they could be happy, they heard Li Dongling say again.

"However, how Dongxin Semiconductor and the 45th Research Institute, as well as you, Chief Cheng Shi Zhou, cooperate, I'm afraid it needs to be made clear. I don't want Dongxin Semiconductor and the 45th Research Institute to have unpleasant things in the future. And for the sake of R&D safety and confidentiality, the measures that need to be taken must be taken in advance!"

Hearing this, Zhou Shi, Zhang Shiying, and Wang Xia looked at each other, not knowing what Li Dongling meant, "Li Zong, I don't know what you mean by this?!"

"Dongling High-Tech wants to cooperate with the 45th Research Institute, but it is led by Dongxin Semiconductor. Dongxin Semiconductor can spend 6 million yuan to buy out all the photolithography machine technology and equipment of the 45th Research Institute!

The premise is that Chief Cheng Shi Zhou and the engineers of the 45th Research Institute's photolithography machine project team must resign from the 45th Research Institute and join Dongxin Semiconductor!"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 118 =====