Chapter 39: Trending Once More, the Nation Stunned!

Zhang Fan sat in a relaxed and composed manner, offering a faint smile to the senior officials of Haishi.

"I see you all on the news quite often," he said. "Come, please, have a seat. Let’s talk this over properly."

More than a dozen high-ranking officials from Haishi exchanged bewildered glances. They looked at one another, unable to fathom where Zhang Fan’s confidence originated. Wang Zhongguo, the Mayor of Haishi, furrowed his brows as well. Seeing Zhang Fan’s utter calmness, he sat down slowly and asked tentatively, "What exactly are you thinking? The entire internet is claiming you intend to produce a picometer-scale lithography machine within a month. Do you truly believe you can achieve this?"

As soon as he asked, Wang Zhongguo regretted it. The civil service system in China is unique; every person who reaches a high position has worked their way up from the grassroots. One must first prove the capability to govern a town, a county, a city, and a provincial capital before further promotion is even possible, regardless of one's connections. Wang Zhongguo was such a man—smart, capable, and methodical. While he didn't know much about lithography machines, he understood their significance in the modern world. The Netherlands, for instance, generates immense wealth solely through lithography machines, even without other chip-related technologies.

If Zhang Fan could produce a picometer-scale lithography machine, wouldn't that mean stripping away all the chip technology currently held by the Western world? There would be no need to break through the so-called technological barriers; it would be like smashing them to pieces and establishing China’s own technological dominance. Simply put, if Zhang Fan could build such a machine, it could solve the employment issues for at least twenty million people domestically. It was a staggering figure.

Zhang Fan nodded with a smile. "Since I have said it, I can do it. Furthermore, we don't need any outside investment; our company alone can produce it."

Wang Zhongguo’s expression darkened; he clearly did not believe him. He stood up and looked coldly at Zhang Fan. "I am not here representing myself. I carry the pressure and mandates from those above me. Your actions against Logan have severely damaged China’s interests. If you cannot provide evidence, I will have no choice but to ask you to come with us."

Zhang Fan remained unperturbed. "Did you bring the technical experts with you?"

Wang Zhongguo frowned. "Of course I did. Why? Do you intend to show them the technology?"

Zhang Fan waved his hand and pulled a large, intricately detailed blueprint from his pocket. It was over a meter long. It contained detailed specifications on how to manufacture a picometer-scale lithography machine.

Wang Zhongguo gestured to another man. "Xiao Zhao, take a look."

Xiao Zhao was an expert in the field of lithography. Though addressed as "Xiao" by the mayor, he was already in his fifties. He couldn't be bothered to look, staring at Zhang Fan with disdain. "Mayor Wang, wasting time with a person like this is meaningless. In my opinion, we should take him to apologize to Mr. Logan immediately. Chips are of vital importance; there is no room for failure. To think that he, all by himself, could produce a blueprint for a picometer-scale lithography machine? I would sooner believe that pigs can fly."

Wang Zhongguo sighed, feeling that Xiao Zhao’s words were reasonable. Just as he was about to make a decision, Zhang Fan glared at Xiao Zhao. "I told you to look, so look. Enough with the nonsense. Since you are an expert, come over here, open your eyes, and take a good look!"

Xiao Zhao was incensed. To be treated so arrogantly by a mere youngster who had no achievements in the chip industry was intolerable. He decided then and there to put him in his place. He walked to the table and looked down, already prepared to mock him, but after a closer inspection, his eyes widened, and he found himself unable to utter a single word.

"This... this?!" Overwhelmed by shock, Xiao Zhao’s breath nearly hitched. "How is this possible?"

The others present, including Wang Zhongguo, were shrewd individuals. Seeing the look on Xiao Zhao’s face, they immediately guessed the truth. Wang Zhongguo grew agitated, grabbing Xiao Zhao’s arm. "What happened? Speak! Tell me! Don't just stand there in shock—give us your assessment, quickly!"

Xiao Zhao could not form a complete sentence. He stared blankly at the blueprint, utterly stunned. A lithography machine could not be built by one person; even if Newton or Einstein were reborn, they couldn't do it alone. The reason was simple: it involved almost every field of basic science. How could even Einstein master all of them? This machine was the result of countless scientists accumulating decades of precious experience, finally exploding into reality at a technological singularity.

Yet, here it was. As a technical expert, Xiao Zhao recognized at a glance that this was indeed a lithography machine blueprint. And if built according to these specifications, it would absolutely achieve picometer-scale precision! This was a technology that would shock the entire world.

Under Wang Zhongguo’s urging, Xiao Zhao said, trembling with terror, "Mayor... Mayor Wang, this truly is a blueprint for a lithography machine, and it does indeed reach the picometer scale. But how is this possible? A design that the entire nation of China could not produce has been completed by Zhang Fan alone!"

Wang Zhongguo felt a chill run down his spine. He remembered a question once posted on a popular forum: What kind of treatment would someone receive if they could develop the world’s leading lithography machine and the world’s best chip? He realized then that Zhang Fan would undoubtedly go down in history; he would certainly have a significant chapter in the history of 21st-century China.

Zhang Fan shrugged, still appearing perfectly calm. After all, the system had provided the blueprint; he deserved none of the credit. "Do you understand now? I can hand this blueprint over to you, but I have one condition."

Wang Zhongguo was extremely exhilarated, his face flushing red. "Speak! Say it now! Never mind one condition—even if it were ten or a hundred, I would agree to them! As long as your blueprint is genuine, we will never treat you unfairly!"

Zhang Fan nodded and produced a contract, clearly prepared. "After I hand over the blueprints, I require an investment of ten billion. The excess funds will be used for chip production. I will not file for patents, but only state-owned enterprises may participate in the investment. No private company is allowed to invest or manufacture, and all sales of the chips must be handled by the Zhang Group."

Wang Zhongguo nodded repeatedly. Such critical technology could certainly not be left to private firms; it had to be managed by state-owned enterprises—specifically those with deep, unshakeable ties to the Chinese government.

"No problem, absolutely no problem!" Wang Zhongguo declared. "I will take these blueprints to the capital immediately to meet with the top scientists in the field. Once they confirm it works, you will be a hero of China!"

He hurried away. Xiao Zhao, seeing the others depart, stood before Zhang Fan, stuttering and unable to speak. Zhang Fan simply laughed and waved it off. "Forget it, no need to apologize. We are both working for the good of the country; who doesn't want to see our nation grow stronger?"

Xiao Zhao felt profound shame. Having just treated Zhang Fan with such disdain, he was humbled by the man's immense character. He bowed deeply to Zhang Fan.

Late that night, a piece of exhilarating news once again propelled Zhang Fan to the top of the trending lists across all platforms.