How A Ride-Hailing Driver Comes To Dominate The World? [EN]: Chapter 415

Gao Kangfu dismissed everyone and pulled out his phone to find his old friend Liu Quan’s number.

Liu Quan is a leading expert in Dragon Country’s [China’s] physics field, and his team has researched and developed many significant scientific achievements.

In recent years, his team has been studying superconducting materials at room temperature. If this project succeeds, the results will revolutionize physics and propel humanity to a higher level of technological civilization.

With room-temperature superconductors, all electrical appliances would essentially become resistance-free, eliminating thermal resistance. The law of conservation of energy might even be challenged, potentially making the legendary perpetual motion machine a reality.

Controlled nuclear fusion, a staple of science fiction, could become a reality. Mankind would have access to inexhaustible energy, even using controlled nuclear fusion to power space travel, potentially realizing interstellar travel scenarios previously confined to science fiction movies.

In short, Liu Quan and his team possess genuine talent and vision.

However, Liu Quan has some notable ideological and personality flaws. He firmly believes in the principle of “science knows no borders.”

While it’s often said that science knows no borders, scientists certainly do. Unfortunately, Liu Quan only seems to acknowledge the first part of that statement, ignoring the second.

This often leads him to share his research results freely with foreign researchers.

If all of humanity were united, living in peace, helping each other, and free from divisions based on status, race, or other factors, Liu Quan’s behavior could be considered exemplary.

However, the reality is that fierce competition and even outright conflict exist between different countries and groups. He uses national and commercial funding for his research, yet readily shares the results with others. This behavior borders on betrayal.

Liu Quan is 72 years old this year and quite stubborn. No one can dissuade him; he insists on doing things his way.

He has even explicitly told investors that they are free to withdraw their funding, but as long as they invest, they should not interfere with his work.

Authoritative experts in physics are relatively few in Dragon Country, so all parties tend to indulge him.

As long as there are scientific research results, other concerns can be temporarily overlooked.

It is precisely because of Liu Quan’s character and mindset that individuals with ulterior motives have an opportunity to exploit him. Gao Kangfu is one of these people.

Gao Kangfu consistently uses the future of all mankind as a pretense when communicating with Liu Quan. He has been concealing his own capabilities, either claiming to have made no progress or posing difficult problems to elicit solutions and research results from Liu Quan.

Sadly, Liu Quan genuinely believes that Gao Kangfu is acting for the good of humanity and has been completely deceived.

The phone connected, and Gao Kangfu flattered Liu Quan.

Liu Quan visibly enjoyed the praise and laughed frequently.

After some pleasantries, Gao Kangfu steered the conversation toward quantum chips.

Gao Kangfu: “I’ve brought back many experts in integrated circuit semiconductors this time, and I’m planning to have a productive exchange with relevant domestic experts. Dr. Liu, you know my vision is for all mankind. I’d like experts in the industry to sit down and have a good chat, offering each other guidance so that human technology can progress. In the past, Dragon Country’s technology lagged behind due to a lack of necessary scientific research conditions. That’s why I went to the US, even if it meant being labeled a traitor. Since gaining a foothold in the US, I’ve been trying to bring scientific researchers and achievements here to exchange with domestic counterparts, Dr. Liu. You should understand my good intentions.”

Liu Quan: “Haha… I understand perfectly. I’ve told you many times that my vision is also for all mankind. Whether it’s a scientific researcher from Dragon Country or the US, I treat them equally. I greatly appreciate that you, Xiao [Little] Gao, have such an idea. I’ll take responsibility for gathering experts from Dragon Country, and we’ll hold a public scientific research exchange meeting.”

Gao Kangfu: “Haha… that’s wonderful. I heard that there’s a scientist named Yang Chen in Dragon Country who led a team to research and develop quantum chips. I hope Dr. Liu can also invite him. I especially want to communicate with him. And Professor Yang, you know I’ve always been a fan of his.”

Liu Quan: “Haha… no problem, I’ll do my best to invite them over. So, what about the time and place?”

Gao Kangfu: “Let’s hold it at 9:00 am three days later in the No. 1 banquet hall of the Bulgari Hotel. What do you think?”

Liu Quan: “Okay! I’ll send them an invitation letter immediately. We’ll meet at the Bulgari Hotel at 9:00 am in three days.”

Hanging up the phone, Gao Kangfu revealed a sly smile.

“This kind of person is so easily deceived. You can easily trick him into being used as a tool. Yang Chen is just a liberal arts student; how could he have researched and developed quantum chips? He’s clearly taking credit for someone else’s research. As long as his reputation is ruined, and then I join forces with Dragon Country’s scientific research experts to denounce him, he’ll definitely be forced to leave the country. Then I’ll extend an olive branch to him, and I’ll definitely be able to win him over,” Gao Kangfu said triumphantly.

Early in the morning, Yang Chen received a call from Liu Quan.

Before this, Yang Chen had no contact with Liu Quan.

So, he was very curious about how Liu Quan got his number.

Yang Chen: “Hello, Dr. Liu. How did you get my number?”

Liu Quan: “Haha… I have a student who is a researcher at Longxin International, and he helped me find out your number.”

Yang Chen: “Oh, I see. So, what can I do for you, Dr. Liu?”

Liu Quan: “It’s like this, there will be an exchange event for experts in the physics field from Dragon Country and the US in three days. I hope Mr. Yang can participate. As the leader of quantum chip research, everyone would like to hear your insights in the quantum field. This is a great opportunity to promote the development of human technology. I hope Mr. Yang will make time to come.”

Yang Chen has no prior relationship with Liu Quan, so he doesn’t know much about his personality or background.

However, based on their brief conversation, Yang Chen felt that Liu Quan wasn’t particularly astute.

Currently, countries all over the world are trying to buy quantum chips from Dragon Country or obtain technology licenses.

The country has been cautious about this matter and has not yet sold the technology or products related to quantum chips.

What does this imply?

It means maintaining secrecy.

As a leading expert in the physics field of Dragon Country and a visiting professor at Tsinghua University, how could Liu Quan engage in this kind of exchange with scientists from the US?

He even wants Yang Chen to share his insights in the quantum field. Why not just ask Yang Chen to reveal the quantum chip technology outright?

Is this old man perhaps a bit out of touch from spending too much time on scientific research?

Yang Chen said with a smile: “Dr. Liu, you’re joking. How could I possibly be qualified to show off my skills in front of you experts? You guys can have your exchange; I won’t be attending.”

Liu Quan: “Mr. Yang, this is a significant opportunity to promote scientific progress for all mankind. I sincerely hope you can come. If Mr. Yang has any ideas, you can share them with us, and we can discuss them.”

Since he was being so insistent, Yang Chen decided to be frank.

“When I handed over the quantum chip technology to the country, I signed a confidentiality agreement, and I’m not allowed to disclose relevant technologies or scientific principles on any occasion. Dr. Liu is asking me to exchange quantum field insights with foreigners, which would essentially be asking me to violate the confidentiality agreement. I hope Dr. Liu won’t put me in such an awkward position and will be more considerate,” Yang Chen explained.

Liu Quan: “It’s just an exchange of quantum insights; I’m not asking you to disclose the technical principles of quantum chips. Mr. Yang, don’t worry so much; just come and participate.”

Yang Chen: “I really don’t want to go. I’m driving, so let’s end the conversation here. Let’s talk face to face when we have the opportunity. Goodbye.”

Before Liu Quan could respond, Yang Chen quickly hung up the phone.

Liu Quan was stunned. He never imagined that Yang Chen would refuse to participate in this exchange meeting.

If the leader of quantum chip research and development cannot participate in this exchange meeting between experts in the physics field from Dragon Country and the US, it would indeed be a pity, and the exchange meeting would lose much of its impact.

Liu Quan quickly asked someone to investigate whether Yang Chen had indeed signed a confidentiality agreement.

He then learned that Yang Chen was in charge of a scientific research team, and the main scientific research work was done by this team. Yang Chen himself only provided solutions to a few key problems.

The person in charge of this team, Huang Guangxiu, was Liu Quan’s student back then, and the two had worked on projects together.

Liu Quan understood why Yang Chen refused to participate in this exchange meeting. He was worried that he wouldn’t be able to hold his own in discussions with other physics experts with genuine knowledge at the meeting and would expose the fact that he was a “fraud.”

“Hehe… making so many excuses; so that’s the reason,” Liu Quan said with a self-satisfied smile.

Yang Chen lacks real talent and knowledge and is not qualified to participate in this exchange meeting.

Liu Quan called Yang Chen again. This time, he didn’t invite Yang Chen to participate in the exchange meeting but wanted Yang Chen to allow Huang Guangxiu to participate instead.

Yang Chen was a little annoyed. Was this old man’s emotional intelligence really that low?

He had already婉拒 [politely refused] so many times; why was he still insisting?

Was there any difference between Yang Chen participating and Huang Guangxiu participating?

Wouldn’t they both have to keep relevant technologies and scientific principles secret?

Yang Chen directly refused: “No! He can’t participate either. Dr. Liu, I’ve made it clear enough; please don’t harass us anymore. Okay? You believing that science knows no borders is your business; I believe that science has borders. I will definitely not go to any exchange meeting with foreign scientists at this time. Do you understand what I mean?”

Liu Quan: “Pedantic, short-sighted! Science should be borderless; only in this way can all mankind progress. If every scientist keeps scientific research results to themselves, how can mankind progress? If it weren’t for scientific sharing, and if the main scientific research results of mankind in the past 100 years had all been made by foreigners, wouldn’t our country be excluded from modern civilization? We have enjoyed the benefits of scientific sharing, and we should make our own efforts to contribute to it. Taking without giving is not a normal person’s way of thinking. Taking and giving should coexist. Isn’t it?”

Yang Chen: “Okay, okay, you’re right. Is that okay? But I don’t accept your reasoning. Do you understand? I’m hanging up; don’t call again, or I’ll call the police.”

After speaking, Yang Chen hung up the phone.

Liu Quan was so angry that he was a little out of breath because of his age.

The student assistant next to him quickly poured him a glass of water and kept patting him on the back to help him calm down.

“Teacher Liu, don’t get excited; relax, relax,” the assistant said.

Liu Quan took a sip of water and calmed down, saying, “This Yang Chen is really short-sighted and has extremely low ideological awareness. No matter how I explain it, he just doesn’t understand.”

Assistant: “He doesn’t want to participate in the exchange meeting?”

Liu Quan: “It’s okay if he doesn’t participate himself, but he won’t let Huang Guangxiu participate either. Doesn’t he realize what a great opportunity this is? He could have a face-to-face exchange and discussion with relevant experts from the US. Without this exchange meeting, they would have no chance to communicate with experts from the US.”

Assistant: “If they don’t want to, don’t force them. They just handed over the quantum chip technology to the country. If there is any conflict with them, it won’t be good for us. You should tell the experts from the US the truth.”

Liu Quan sighed, nodded, picked up his phone, and called Gao Kangfu.

Soon, the phone connected.

Gao Kangfu was also angry after listening to Liu Quan’s account.

However, he didn’t show it and still said with a calm smile: “Not every scientific researcher has our ideological awareness; this is understandable. Let’s forget it; we have no regrets after trying our best, and we can live up to our conscience. Since ancient times, it has always been a minority of people who have promoted human progress. We can’t expect everyone to be like us. Are you right?”

Liu Quan: “Alas… you’re right. Then let’s do this. If they don’t come, they don’t come. Let’s have a good exchange.”

Gao Kangfu: “Well, let’s just say that; I still have to hold a meeting with my colleagues. I’ll hang up first.”

Hanging up the phone, Gao Kangfu’s expression gradually turned gloomy.

Gao Kangfu held this exchange meeting with great fanfare, and his purpose was to deal with Yang Chen.

If Yang Chen is unwilling to participate, then this exchange meeting will be meaningless.

“There’s no progress on Team 1’s side either; now we can only start Plan B,” Gao Kangfu said to himself.

Gao Kangfu’s Plan B is to publish a “Declaration of War against Yang” in a professional science magazine in Dragon Country to force Yang Chen to come out and have a face-to-face “quantum” dialogue with him.

As we all know, many magazines aren’t particularly authoritative. As long as you pay enough, you can publish papers.

Gao Kangfu asked a Dragon Country researcher named Zhang Yan in his team to take the prepared paper to the magazine “Future Science” and publish it.

If the person in charge of the magazine is unwilling to publish it, then use money to砸 [smash],砸 until they are willing to publish it.

Early in the morning, Yang Chen was about to go out to pick up orders when Huang Guangxiu called him.

“Mr. Yang, please read today’s “Future Science” magazine quickly. The first article is a criticism of you and quantum chips,” Huang Guangxiu said anxiously.

Yang Chen was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said:

“This old man Liu Quan is a bit much. We didn’t participate in his exchange meeting, so he’s using this method to force me to participate.”

Huang Guangxiu: “The article is signed by Zhang Yan. I know this person. He went abroad five years ago and should be an academician of the US Academy of Sciences now. It seems that they’re very angry that you didn’t participate in their exchange meeting, so they published an article overnight to criticize you.”

Yang Chen: “Hehe… I’ll buy one and take a look first. You go ahead with your work.”

Hanging up the phone, Yang Chen drove to a newsstand, ran over, and bought the latest issue of “Future Science” magazine.

Sure enough, the first article was a criticism of Yang Chen and quantum chips.

“My colleagues and I have been researching for many years, and there are still many scientific principles and technologies that cannot be broken through. I can responsibly say that these problems violate currently known physical principles. In other words, to invent quantum chip technology, we must overthrow the existing physics system. This is my theoretical basis for suspecting that Yang Chen and his team haven’t researched and developed quantum chips at all.”

“I learned that Mr. Yang Chen majored in marketing at Haicheng University of Finance and Economics and hasn’t received any higher education since graduation. Therefore, he can never understand the profound quantum technology, let alone lead a team to develop quantum chips.”

“In summary, I have two bold guesses. First, Yang Chen lied. The quantum chip technology wasn’t researched and developed by him but by other teams. He just took the credit. Second, there is no quantum chip at all. This is just fake news released to meet certain needs. After all, so far, no foreign company or individual has seen quantum chips or related technical principles.”

“To resolve my doubts, I hope Mr. Yang Chen and his team can explain it to me in person. We’ll have an exchange meeting for physics experts from Dragon Country and the US tomorrow. I hope they can participate. We can confront each other in front of authoritative experts from the two countries at the exchange meeting. If I’ve wronged Mr. Yang, I’ll apologize to him in front of all my colleagues. If there is indeed no quantum chip, I hope Yang Chen can issue a statement to apologize to the people of the world. I also hope that relevant parties won’t 炒作 [hype up] quantum chips in the future, so as not to bring you unnecessary reputation losses.”

…

From the main content of this article, they just want to force Yang Chen to participate in the exchange meeting.

To achieve this goal, they even used the statement that relevant parties shouldn’t 炒作 [hype up] quantum chips to provoke Yang Chen and relevant personnel in Dragon Country.

To put it bluntly, this is a conspiracy.

Knowing that they just want to force Yang Chen to go to participate in the exchange meeting, Yang Chen has no way to refuse.

Because if he doesn’t respond, let alone those foreigners, many people in Dragon Country will doubt the authenticity of quantum chips.

If it really brings reputation losses to relevant parties, Yang Chen will have to come forward to clean up the mess.

“玛德 [Damn it], Liu Quan and his gang are very 怀的 [malicious]! I even suspect that this old man has a problem not with his thinking but with his faith. Isn’t this a proper 50万 [500k, slang for someone paid to spread propaganda]?” Yang Chen muttered in a low voice.

According to Yang Chen’s temper, the more others force him, the less he wants to compromise, so he still doesn’t want to participate in this exchange meeting.

As for whether it will bring negative effects to relevant parties in the future, he’ll deal with that when it happens.

At this time, Liu Quan also saw this article.

After reading the article, he panicked and quickly called Gao Kangfu.

“Hey, Xiao [Little] Gao, was this article in “Future Science” attacking Yang Chen and quantum chips published by your people?” Liu Quan asked angrily.