Chapter 228: Quantum Simulator Acquired – Jia Xu

Zhao Jianguo puts the lunchbox on the table, steam still rising. He doesn't hurry to eat, first walks to the desk, opens the drawer, takes out the communicator and checks the signal status. The screen is quiet, no abnormal alerts. He sighs in relief, returns to the table, sits down, grabs a piece of potato and puts it in his mouth.

Outside, the sky is already bright, the courtyard echoes with sweeping sounds, and some child's voice calling "Grandpa." He finishes the last bite of vegetables, closes the lunchbox lid, gets up to wash the dishes.

Just as he twists the faucet, the system suddenly pops up a notice: 【Check-in Successful, obtained "Quantum Computing Simulator」】.

He freezes for a moment, water droplets run down his fingers. He had seen the concept of this device in the data before, but never handled the actual thing. He turns off the faucet, dries his hand, and immediately returns to the room to connect the communicator to the Laboratory Terminal.

The device data quickly uploads to the system, the interface spawns a 3‑D model, complex structure, operation logic annotated with multiple layers of encryption protocols. He tries to pull up basic parameters, finds the computing power dozens of times beyond current mainstream computers.

He picks up the phone and dials Jia Dongxu's number.

"Come over," he says, "I have something new."

Jia Dongxu arrives in less than half an hour. He wears old work pants, his hair a bit messy, and the first thing he says upon entering is: "Did we mess up another thing we can't understand?"

Zhao Jianguo says nothing, turns the screen toward him.

Jia Dongxu leans in for a few seconds, his eyes slowly widen. "Is this… a simulator? Does it really work?"

"I don't know," Zhao Jianguo says, "You try it."

Jia Dongxu takes off his coat, rolls up his sleeves, and sits directly at the Operation Console. He first checks the input port, then tests response latency, typing while muttering: "This isn't a ordinary algorithm framework; we have to run a bottom‑up verification."

Zhao Jianguo pours him a cup of tea and places it on the nearby table.

On the first day, Jia Dongxu only figured out the boot process. After the device starts, it automatically generates a continuous random code stream with no discernible pattern. He records it and plays it back repeatedly, trying to find repeating motifs, to no avail.

The next day, he changes tactics, breaks the code along the timeline, splits it into short segments for the analysis module. He discovers some fragments have faint correlations, like hidden instruction sequences. He notes the coordinates, preparing to trace them deeper.

On the third night, he stays in the Laboratory until two a. m. He leans against the chair, eyes burning, brain swollen. He drinks a sip of Cool Tea, about to shut down and rest, when he suddenly notices a data anomaly—two originally independent code strings become completely synchronized in their fluctuations at a specific moment.

He jerks upright.

This isn't coincidence.

He pulls up all the records again, focusing on these synchronized events. The more he watches, the clearer it gets: each time synchronization occurs, the subsequent code arrangement becomes more ordered, even showing a predictable trend.

He stares at the screen, heart pounding.

On the fourth morning, just as dawn lightens, Jia Dongxu bursts out of the Laboratory. He walks fast, his shoe soles thumping "pa‑pa" on the ground. Reaching the Zhao Family gate, he raises his hand and knocks, the sound sharp and urgent.

The door opens.

"I've figured it out!" he pants, "Quantum entanglement can optimize lithography precision!"

Zhao Jianguo stands in the doorway, watching his red‑eyed but excited face, says nothing, steps aside to let him in.

Jia Dongxu walks in, plops onto the sofa, and speaks at breakneck speed: "The code stream output by that simulator is essentially a manifestation of quantum‑state entanglement. Two particles, even when separated, can have their states sync in real time. If we apply this principle to a lithography machine's positioning system, we can eliminate errors caused by mechanical vibration. Previously it was impossible because measurement itself perturbs the result. Now we can skip measuring and let the two points 'know' where the other is."

Zhao Jianguo listens, turns into the study, opens the system interface, just as he types a keyword, a new prompt pops up: 【Detected high‑level physics application concept, activating "Quantum Mechanics Intro" skill】.

Information floods his mind instantly. His grasp of the technology becomes immediately clear.

He steps out and says to Jia Dongxu, "Can you write this line of thinking into a paper?"

"Write?" Jia Dongxu blinks, "I thought it was just an idea."

"It's more than an idea," Zhao Jianguo says, "We need to turn it into something people can understand. We can't mention quantum, entanglement—those words attract trouble. We have to rephrase."

Jia Dongxu nods: "Got it. Call it a new type of interference calibration method? Using dual‑path feedback to boost stability?"

"Fine." Zhao Jianguo pulls open a drawer, takes out paper and pen, "I'll draft the framework; you handle the technical part."

The two sit at opposite ends of the desk, each with a pen. Zhao Jianguo first writes the title: "Based on Quantum Computing Nano Lithography Technology".

Jia Dongxu glances, frowns: "That name's too blunt."

"Change it." Zhao Jianguo strikes through, rewrites: "'Research on Multi‑Path Interference Enhancement Method in Precision Manufacturing'".

"That's good." Jia Dongxu smiles, "Sounds like serious research."

They begin dividing work. Zhao Jianguo lists the chapter outline: Background, Problem, Method, Experimental Design, Expected Results. Jia Dongxu starts drawing diagrams, performing data extrapolations, turning abstract principles into charts and formulas.

At noon no one eats. Su Qing sends two bowls of noodles through a messenger, they set them aside, and only remember to eat them after they cool.

At three p. m., Jia Dongxu gets stuck on a step. The calibration model he designed needs verification of synchronization efficiency but lacks real‑run data. He looks up and asks: "Can we let the simulator run a real‑world scenario?"

Zhao Jianguo nods, connects the device.

The screen lights up, code flows again. This time they set an observation target, specifically to capture the stable interval of entangled states. Ten minutes later a set of highly correlated data is generated, error rate unbelievably low.

"It's done," Jia Dongxu whispers.

They keep writing. At dusk the shift changes; San Daye passes by, knocks and asks if they need help buying groceries, gets turned down. At nine at night, Li Nainai delivers two thick garments, saying it's chilly, don't freeze. They thank her, drape them over their shoulders.

Outside the window is quiet, only the sound of pen tips scratching paper. Occasionally someone walks through the courtyard, footsteps fading from distant to near and then disappearing.

At midnight twelve, the paper is one‑third complete. The core theory section is basically formed; the remaining work is detail polishing and language refinement.

Jia Dongxu stretches lazily, his neck cracks. He rubs his temples, looks at Zhao Jianguo: "If we keep writing like this, will people say it's nonsense?"

Zhao Jianguo stops writing: "As long as the data are real and the method sound, nobody can fault it. Besides, nobody understands this yet, so it's safe."

"True enough." Jia Dongxu chuckles, "I'm no longer afraid of being ridiculed. Back then fixing a radio got me called unprofessional; now doing this, at worst they'll laugh at me once more."

The two keep writing.

At three a. m., Zhao Jianguo proposes a new suggestion: add a simplified operation procedure set in the appendix, to help future technicians take over. "We can't leave only theory; we must make it usable."

Jia Dongxu agrees and immediately starts supplementing.

Five o'clock, the east lightens. A faint fragrance drifts in, it's the locust tree in bloom. A petal floats onto the windowsill, trembling lightly.

The lights inside are still on.

They are revising the technical illustration in Chapter 3. Jia Dongxu points to a wiring connection and says: "If we switch this to a dual‑channel receiver, anti‑interference capability improves."

Zhao Jianguo nods, takes the pen and amends the annotation.

Jia Dongxu looks up at him: "Do you think we'll really be able to build such a machine someday?"

Zhao Jianguo pauses a second, says: "Every word we write now is the first step."