Chapter 123: Scientists Must Have Imagination (Please Subscribe)

In Yuanjiang Town, within the industrial park of Fuyun Materials Technology Co., Ltd., Li Fu was currently leading a large group of researchers in white coats to study new materials. With the completion of the materials industrial park and the normal operation of its various equipment and instruments, Fuyun Materials Technology Co., Ltd. had officially opened for business.

Along with this, the Materials Research Institute had also begun its operations. As this was a massive investment of significant importance, Li Fu made it a point to visit frequently, training the newly recruited researchers. By combining experimental practice with theoretical knowledge, he aimed to help these newcomers become independent as quickly as possible.

Of course, Li Fu was also preparing to produce one or two high-value new materials first. Given such a colossal investment, he naturally needed to find a flagship product to sustain operations—not necessarily to break even immediately, but at least to get the business running and ensure the production lines did not grind to a halt.

"Our company’s attitude toward scientific research has always been clear: we invest without regard for cost. Everyone should feel free to experiment; if you have good ideas or concepts, please put them forward. Our company is composed primarily of young people, especially here at the institute, where most of you have only recently left campus."

"You are all starting from the same baseline; nothing is impossible if you work hard. Chen Bin, Yu Liang, Cao Haitao, Yang Yiping, and Yan Zhang are all your age, yet last year, thanks to their outstanding scientific achievements, they became part of the company's senior management. I think you have all heard something about their year-end bonuses."

"Chen Bin, Yu Liang, Cao Haitao, and Yang Yiping have all been awarded the title of Academician of China, and Yan Zhang is even a top contender for the Nobel Prize this year. At Fuyun Technology Group, nothing is impossible."

"Our company—especially this institute—has never operated based on seniority. We look only at ability and effort. Furthermore, the company fully supports your exploration in research. Anything is possible."

Looking at the many researchers beside him, Li Fu knew that for new employees, he had to paint a promising future to inspire them to work hard. Of course, Li Fu was not just making empty promises; there was no exaggeration in a single word he spoke.

At the Fuyun Group Research Institute, there really was no such thing as seniority because everyone was similar—all young, all fresh out of school. As long as someone had a good idea or approach, they could quickly become the lead on a research project.

Hearing this, the newcomers were naturally thrilled. Although they had heard many things about Fuyun Group, hearing it directly from Li Fu was entirely different. Each of them was secretly encouraging themselves, ready to roll up their sleeves and get to work.

It should be noted that this batch of new employees consisted primarily of graduates from prestigious domestic universities. Many had come specifically for Li Fu’s reputation and Fuyun Group’s philosophy of hiring talent regardless of background. Many were proud and ambitious, and naturally, none were willing to fall behind.

"The idea just proposed by Li Qianyu is excellent: using 3D printing technology to print atoms one by one, constructing new materials from an atomic perspective."

"Although it may seem like a fantasy to build materials at the atomic level right now, technology is constantly advancing. A hundred years ago, could our ancestors have imagined our current life? Could they have imagined that every one of us would carry a virtual machine and be able to connect to the Internet directly with our brains?"

"Therefore, do not let your thinking be constrained by the present. Liberate your minds, think boldly, act boldly, and explore boldly."

Following Li Fu’s words, everyone’s gaze turned to Li Qianyu, who stood beside him. She was an exceptionally rare beauty, tall and graceful; even through her oversized white lab coat, one could see her elegant curves and impressive figure. In the field of scientific research, women are rare, and beautiful women are even rarer.

Do not think of Li Qianyu as just a pretty face; she was a true genius. She was a top graduate of Yanhuang University and a famous "straight-A" student. Li Fu had even heard of her when he was in school—she was the legendary goddess of wisdom and beauty at Yanhuang University.

A famous story circulated at Yanhuang University about Li Qianyu. It was said that she had so many suitors that no matter where she went, people followed her. Tired of the constant attention, Li Qianyu finally issued a math problem, claiming that whoever could solve it would be her boyfriend.

However, even after Li Qianyu graduated, no one had been able to solve it, including students majoring in mathematics. Because of this, Li Qianyu became famous throughout the entire university. The problem circulated widely on the internal forums, and even those who didn't want to be her boyfriend tried to solve it, yet it remained unsolved.

"Also, the idea just proposed by Yao Tianyi—using super-strong magnetic fields to influence the distribution structure of iron element molecules to create new materials—is also very good."

Yao Tianyi, who came from a background similar to Li Fu’s—a son of farmers and a top graduate of the prestigious Imperial University—looked honest and simple. Upon hearing Li Fu’s words, he couldn't help but scratch his head and smile sheepishly.

"I was just thinking out loud, just talking nonsense."

"Although scientific research must be done step by step, in a down-to-earth manner, the most important quality for a scientist is imagination. A scientist without imagination does not deserve to be called a scientist. As technology advances, many basic tasks can be replaced by machines; if we lack imagination, how are we different from research equipment?"

Li Fu shook his head solemnly. When Newton was hit on the head by an apple, he wondered if the apple would still hit him if the tree grew as high as the moon. He eventually explored the Law of Universal Gravitation, becoming one of the greatest scientists in human history.

Countless people have been hit on the head by objects, but only Newton had the imagination to explore the law of gravity. This sufficiently illustrates the importance of imagination for a scientist.

"So, everyone must use their imagination. On the existing foundation, dare to think and dare to act. Our company doesn't have so many rigid rules or boxes. We strongly support all kinds of research; whatever you need, we provide. It doesn't matter if you fail; after all, in scientific exploration, most attempts end in failure."

Li Fu looked at the faces before him. They were all very young—college students just out of school. This age is the most energetic, motivated, and imaginative.

As long as he could successfully ignite their imagination and drive, the power that these young people could unleash would be beyond imagination.

Li Fu knew his task was simple: provide a platform—a fair, just, and open platform—and let these people exert themselves. Do not restrain them; how high they fly depends on their own abilities. Everything is possible.

Of course, Li Fu also understood that young people, especially those graduating from the Chinese education system, still needed significant training and guidance.

Therefore, Li Fu had been visiting the Materials Research Institute every day during this period to train and guide these youths, using the methods of the super-civilization "Dahan Technology Empire" to cultivate them, hoping to groom outstanding scientists capable of taking on great responsibilities.

Li Fu was also very clear that for material science, in the initial stages of civilization—the stage they were currently in—the most important thing was the willingness to invest, to constantly experiment, to accumulate massive amounts of data, and to master the manufacturing methods of various high-performance materials. The technological threshold wasn't necessarily high; many things required gradual accumulation.

However, as material science continues to develop and the civilization level rises, the materials needed in the interstellar and cosmic eras will be truly cutting-edge technology—such as degenerate matter materials built from an atomic perspective, neutron materials built from an electronic perspective, and quark materials.

The best way to train these people now is to invest heavily, let them experiment freely, and slowly cultivate them into qualified materials scientists.

However, Li Fu was not satisfied with merely training them into scientists of a primary civilization. He hoped to cultivate from among them top-tier scientists who could contribute to future interstellar and cosmic material science.

That was why Li Fu emphasized that scientists must have rich imaginations. Everything was laying a foundation for the future. Basic material formulas and the like were countless within the "Seed of Civilization" of the Dahan Technology Empire—to Li Fu, they were meaningless.

The most important thing was the future, and preparing for the research of cutting-edge material technology.