Chapter 55 Silicon Wafers Made of Mud? No Way!

Xiaolong looked somewhat hesitant.

"Professor Ji, are you really not going to cooperate with Mr. Zhang Fan?"

"Judging by current indications, that picometer-scale lithography machine was indeed independently developed by Mr. Zhang."

"Since Mr. Zhang says he can manufacture silicon wafers out of ordinary soil, perhaps he really can do it!"

Professor Ji burst into laughter, his eyes filled with utter disdain.

"People nowadays will do anything just to make a quick buck."

"I’ve looked into this Zhang Fan character; he used to deliver food and work on construction sites. Can someone like that possibly produce a picometer-scale chip?"

"He’s merely a puppet pushed forward by the state to take the heat. Say no more, I will not waste a single moment of my time."

Xiao Li was utterly helpless.

He had no choice but to leave the laboratory in silence.

Watching his retreating back, Professor Ji sneered contemptuously.

"Young people, always so naive."

"A picometer-scale lithography machine? Could Zhang Fan have drawn up the blueprints all by himself? It’s all thanks to the state behind the scenes."

"Do they really take that brat for the Einstein of our era?"

Meanwhile, after stepping outside, Xiao Li quickly made his way to the entrance, where Zhang Fan was waiting.

His eyes were filled with disappointment as he let out a heavy sigh.

"Mr. Zhang, I am truly sorry."

"My advisor is unwilling to cooperate with you, and he suggested you go see Professor Wang of the Chemistry Department."

"He simply doesn't believe that you can make silicon wafers out of dirt."

Zhang Fan wore an expression of absolute confidence, breaking into a self-assured smile.

"He doesn't believe it? It doesn't matter; it’s your advisor's loss, not mine."

"Could you tell me where Professor Wang's laboratory is?"

Xiao Li still held a deep admiration for Zhang Fan and immediately stepped forward to guide the way.

Before long, they arrived at the laboratory of the aforementioned Professor Wang.

Expecting someone who had attained the rank of professor to be at least in their forties or fifties, Zhang Fan was taken aback.

To his utter surprise, the moment the door opened, he found himself face-to-face with a stunning young woman who looked to be about his own age.

Completely taken aback, Zhang Fan stared at the woman in the white lab coat with unconcealed astonishment.

"Hello there, Professor Wang."

"I am Zhang Fan, and I've specifically come to seek your cooperation regarding the production of silicon wafers."

Wang Qing'er was busy processing her experimental report.

Presumably failing to catch the full meaning of Zhang Fan's words, she didn't even raise her head as she replied, "Whatever it is, wait until I finish what I'm doing."

"I am very busy and do not wish to waste time."

Zhang Fan chuckled softly and nodded slightly to Xiao Li.

Still harboring a deep sense of regret, Xiao Li turned and left, looking back every few steps.

As for Zhang Fan, he simply sat down nearby and quietly observed the striking beauty before him.

Though she wore a white lab coat, it could hardly conceal her breathtaking curves.

Especially her chest, which threatened to burst through the fabric at any moment.

It was almost hard to imagine—wasn't it uncomfortable to walk around carrying such magnificent burdens?

Wang Qing'er quickly wrapped up the paperwork at hand, turned to look at Zhang Fan, and as she was about to speak, her mouth fell wide open.

"Am—am I seeing things?"

"Mr. Zhang Fan! It's actually Mr. Zhang Fan?!"

The breathtaking beauty, who had appeared so cold and aloof just moments before, leapt straight out of her chair and hurried over to Zhang Fan in a state of intense excitement.

She was momentarily flustered, not knowing quite how to act.

Right now, Zhang Fan was the absolute sensation of the entire Chinese internet, and indeed, the entire global scientific community!

At the very least, among all the high-ranking figures Wang Qing'er knew, not a single one had been involved in the research and development of the picometer-scale lithography machine.

This meant that the man standing before her was very likely as great as Einstein or Newton.

He had elevated China's entire scientific and technological capability by leaps and bounds.

Flustered, Wang Qing'er hurriedly introduced herself and reached out to shake Zhang Fan's hand.

Yet, she kept her hand in his for a long, lingering moment without letting go.

Zhang Fan smiled faintly and gave a light cough.

"Ahem, well, you see, I'm a married man."

"If someone were to take a picture of this, it might not look too good."

Hearing this, Wang Qing'er suddenly realized that she had been holding his hand and hadn't let go. She jerked her hand back as if she had been electrocuted.

"I—I'm so sorry!"

"It's just such an overwhelming thrill to meet someone like you."

"May I ask what you need from me?"

Without beating around the bush, Zhang Fan handed the book given to him by the system over to Wang Qing'er.

"Open it and take a look at the first page."

"I intend to invest in building hundreds of factories dedicated exclusively to the production of silicon wafers."

"And the raw material for making these silicon wafers is everywhere; it is simply the soil described on the very first page."

Soil?

Manufacturing silicon wafers using ordinary dirt?

It was utterly unheard of.

Wang Qing'er furrowed her delicate brows, a flicker of doubt crossing her mind.

However, the moment her eyes swept across the formula on the first page, her pupils dilated sharply in shock.

As a genius who had attained a professorship at such a young age, Wang Qing'er possessed no formal background in materials science; yet, at a single glance, she could tell that the formula written on the first page was flawlessly correct and unimaginably profound.

Not a single flaw could be found!

"This—this is?!"

Utterly shaken to her core, Wang Qing'er raised her head and stared fixedly at Zhang Fan.

"Did you research and develop this as well?"

"If we can truly manufacture chips from ordinary soil, it will represent a monumental leap for human civilization in the field of materials science!"

"Its significance is no less than humanity leaving its first footprint on the moon. You must know, materials science hasn't seen a breakthrough in many years."

After all, the available raw materials on Earth were limited.

Some of the scarcer raw materials still required expeditions into deep space.

Zhang Fan nodded calmly.

"Indeed, you could say I researched and developed it."

"You must be aware of the joint sanctions and embargoes levied against China's silicon wafer industry by the Rothschild family and the United States."

"I intend to use soil to manufacture silicon wafers, initiate a price war, and completely crush the technological blockade imposed upon us by Western capital."

Wang Qing'er's heart received yet another violent shock.

As expected, he truly is Mr. Zhang Fan!

Someone like herself was already a genius selected from among millions.

Attaining a professorship at Peking University at such a young age, her level of intelligence was nothing short of astonishing.

In the past, Wang Qing'er had taken an IQ test, scoring a staggering one hundred and ninety.

To her, the thoughts and actions of ordinary people were no different from those of dogs.

Yet, even with her towering intellect, she had made virtually no breakthrough in her own field over the past few years.

And yet!

Not only had Zhang Fan independently developed a picometer-scale lithography machine, but now, with a mere sequence of formulas, he had outlined a method for manufacturing silicon wafers out of mud.

Filled with boundless awe and admiration, Wang Qing'er quickly said, "Please wait a moment!"

"Xiao Li, could you help me dig up some soil from outside?"

Before long, a basin of fresh earth was placed upon the laboratory table.

After meticulously picking out the tiny pebbles from the mixture, Wang Qing'er hastily followed the formula detailed on the first page and began utilizing the laboratory equipment to process the silicon wafers.

The entire production process proceeded with astonishing smoothness!

In no time at all, a glistening, radiant silicon wafer was successfully manufactured.

Although the equipment in the laboratory was somewhat crude, resulting in a somewhat rough silicon wafer,

If they could acquire superior equipment, they would be able to mass-produce premium-quality silicon wafers on an industrial scale!

"Oh my god!"

Wang Qing'er stared at the uncut, polygonal silicon wafer, struck dumb with disbelief.

Even with Zhang Fan standing right beside her watching, she couldn't help but let out a gasp of awe.

Professor Ji happened to be passing by just then. Hearing the commotion, he looked over with a puzzled expression.

"Xiao Wang, Xiao Li, what are you shouting about?"

Mid-sentence, upon catching sight of Zhang Fan, a mocking curl touched his lips as his tone turned thoroughly condescending.

"Don't tell me this Mr. Zhang Fan actually managed to turn dirt into silicon wafers? Hahaha."

Wang Qing'er was far too excited to detect the biting sarcasm in Professor Ji's voice, and she cried out ecstatically, "Professor Ji, come take a look at this!"

"Hurry over here!"