Chapter 57: Losing Composure
Kyoto Optical Instrument Research Institute.
Although Ke Fengyun, who had an internal work badge, was accompanying him when Fan Ren arrived, he was still kept in the outer reception room.
Ke Fengyun had a face full of apology, but he was also helpless. Their institute had a very high secrecy level, and some regulations were so strict that even his master Yan Wentai, as director, couldn’t make exceptions.
Fan Ren was very understanding. During university, he had also visited several research institutes to participate in competition preparations.
At that time, he already knew that this kind of national research institute wasn’t something ordinary people could just casually enter.
He didn’t have to wait long. About five minutes later, a middle-aged man pushed the door and entered.
“General Manager Fan, right? Really sorry to keep you waiting.”
Saying this, the middle-aged man quickly stepped forward and shook hands with Fan Ren, then continued: “Let me introduce myself. I’m the deputy director here. My surname is Zhang. Your relevant materials have all been filed. Please follow me. Director Yan is waiting for you in the office.”
Saying this, without waiting for Fan Ren to exchange pleasantries, he quickly led Fan Ren into the building.
Perhaps because of Director Yan Wentai, everyone in the entire institute followed suit in their work style. When the deputy director passed by, they didn’t even have the interest to glance more.
Fan Ren actually quite liked this concise style of doing things deep down.
“Director Yan is waiting for you inside. Little Ke, come with me.”
Deputy Director Zhang’s words were extremely straightforward. He brought him to the office door and then smoothly took away the dusty Ke Fengyun.
Fan Ren smiled and watched Ke Fengyun’s reluctant expression, then pushed open the office door and walked in.
“Hello, General Manager Fan, right? I’ve heard of your great name for a long time. Please have a seat.”
Yan Wentai came forward to greet him. Fan Ren sat down accordingly, his gaze sweeping around the office: bookshelves piled full of books, and the desk stacked with thick stacks of draft paper documents.
“It’s a bit messy and I haven’t had time to clean up. I hope General Manager Fan can forgive me.”
Fan Ren quickly shook his head to indicate he didn’t mind.
He knew that for these people, with so many things to handle, many documents were placed wherever convenient, and cleaning staff weren’t allowed to come in and tidy up arbitrarily.
Yan Wentai looked to be in his sixties, with half a head of white hair, wearing a pair of thick-framed glasses with yellowed edges. He was dressed in a very ordinary gray shirt that had been washed to a fade, clearly quite old.
Fan Ren immediately felt a surge of respect and said: “Director Yan, no need to be polite. I’ve imposed on you quite a bit this time.”
The two didn’t exchange more pleasantries, and Fan Ren spoke directly.
“Before coming, I chatted with Doctor Ke for a long time. It’s clear that your proud disciple has specifically looked into my high-voltage radio technology. To be honest, some of my ideas came about only after Doctor Ke’s reminders.”
Hearing his praise for his beloved disciple, Yan Wentai showed a kindly smile on his face and waved his hand: “Not worth mentioning. There are many areas where we still need to learn from young talents like General Manager Fan.”
“It’s like this. The conditions I mentioned to you yesterday were after deep consideration. You said it wasn’t convenient over the phone then. May I ask, Director Yan, what exactly is the issue? To be honest, our company is fully prepared now; we’re just short one lithography machine.”
There was some helplessness in Fan Ren’s words.
Yan Wentai nodded and took over: “General Manager Fan, why don’t you tell me how Xinghai Technology suddenly turned to semiconductors? Sorry, because for the upcoming conversation, I need to understand the relevant reasons. I hope you can understand.”
Hearing this, Fan Ren didn’t think much of it. Xinghai procuring a lithography machine was no longer a secret; it had even made the White Alliance’s high technology equipment embargo list. As a national research unit, it was a form of review for them to understand the relevant information beforehand.
He immediately said: “Xinghai Technology’s current research and development project is indeed in the semiconductor area. Not to laugh at us, but we don’t even know how we suddenly got targeted. That project has always been highly confidential internally at our company, and the participating researchers all signed confidentiality agreements.”
There was a hint of helplessness in his words as he continued: “It’s like this, Director Yan. Your disciple signed a confidentiality agreement with us yesterday. So I’ll be straightforward with you. I hope you can keep the following confidential for us.”
Yan Wentai didn’t take it to heart. In his eyes, commercial companies making a fuss about this commercial secret or that commercial secret paled in comparison to their institute’s truly highly confidential projects.
Seeing this, Fan Ren didn’t mind and told him about Xinghai’s completed graphene purification and carbon nanotube research results.
At this point, this secret couldn’t be kept much longer anyway, since the related patent applications had already been obtained.
Anyone interested could just search his name in the patent database to find out.
It wasn’t like when Xinghai was just starting out and Fan Ren was an insignificant little figure no one cared about.
He believed it wouldn’t be long before this patent would be exposed by someone.
After he finished speaking, Yan Wentai was completely stunned.
“Mass production? Carbon nanotubes can be mass-produced?”
He hadn’t misheard, had he?
Fan Ren nodded, a bit of pride unavoidably showing on his face. No matter what, although the chip research hadn’t truly started yet.
Just with this technology alone, even if Xinghai stopped now, relying on this mass-produced carbon nanotube technology, they could make a fortune.
But his goal was very clear: always chip technology.
Yan Wentai couldn’t care about losing composure anymore. He said “wait a moment” and hurriedly walked out.
Fan Ren, left alone in the office, couldn’t help but chuckle wryly. He knew this office had a certain level of secrecy. Turning his head to look, sure enough, there were cameras in two corners.
He didn’t dare make any moves and could only sit obediently in place waiting.
Over there, Yan Wentai went straight out and ran to Deputy Director Zhang’s office.
Ke Fengyun sat there with a displeased face. He had been called over on his master’s prior instructions to Deputy Director Zhang, told just to wait here, nothing else.
“Master?”
Seeing Yan Wentai push the door in with an urgent expression, he immediately felt a bit panicked inside.
The talk didn’t go well?
Seeing only Ke Fengyun in the office, Yan Wentai immediately walked close and said: “General Manager Fan developed carbon nanotubes?”
At this, Ke Fengyun couldn’t care about his master’s faux pas either, but thinking of the signed confidentiality agreement, he immediately covered his mouth, his face full of suppressed discomfort.
“Hey, not bad, kid.”
Seeing his disciple like this, Yan Wentai immediately understood and turned to head back to his own office.
“Master!”
A slightly urgent shout from Ke Fengyun came from behind. Yan Wentai knew what his disciple meant.
He knew how deeply his disciple loved technology. The purpose of calling him was nothing other than hoping for the cooperation to succeed.
Yan Wentai waved his hand toward behind.
“Stay here and wait patiently.”
