Chapter 369: The Cornerstone of Modern Civilisation

'A more powerful engine can be achieved in other ways, right?' Lin Wei: 'Well, yes, we are improving the old engine to achieve higher power and fuel economy, but it has not yet been finalised. The development of the eight-cylinder engine has already yielded initial results, but it will take at least another year before it can be mass-produced.'

'You call the Fuxing L6 engine an old engine?'

'What else?'

Han Songlin was momentarily speechless. This is really old; how long has this engine been researched? It's already considered old.

The pace of the times is too fast, have I lost touch with it?

'Wait, you mean you're still developing an eight-cylinder engine? We can build it?' Han Songlin remembered that last time, Lin Wei had also said that she had turned to researching four-cylinder gasoline engines because she couldn't build an eight-cylinder engine with the current technology.

Lin Wei was beaming with a smile, in a good mood: "This is all thanks to you, boss!'

'What do you mean, thanks to me?" Han Songlin remembered that he hadn't done anything.

Lin Wei was at a loss for words when she was confronted with Han Songlin's argument. Could it be that the development of Fuxing Power was only possible because of the achievements made under the leadership of Rong Hongshun?

If Rong Hongshun was so amazing, the Internal Combustion Engine Factory would not have been struggling in the past. No, the reason that Xinghai Group was able to achieve such quick results after acquiring the Internal Combustion Engine Factory was because of the good foundation laid by the Internal Combustion Engine Factory before.

Therefore, Rong Hongshun was very amazing, but he was just born at the wrong time.

Usually, Han Songlin doesn't really care about Fuxing Power, but it is precisely because of Han Songlin's hands-off approach and full support that Fuxing Power has developed so rapidly.

This is especially true of the improvement in technology.

Fuxing Power is currently investing heavily in the research and development of new technologies; and the members of the research and development team are able to receive a 3% profit share for the technologies they develop, so naturally they are full of enthusiasm.

In particular, the new young research and development personnel are quite enthusiastic about the research and development of new technologies after joining the research and development team.

They are really motivated by the older members of the team, who casually earn tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of yuan a year. This is really intimidating.

Not to mention people like Lin Wei, who makes millions of yuan a year and doesn't even want to talk about it.

'Because you are willing to invest money, everyone's morale is very high, and there has been extraordinary progress in technology! Now, in terms of technology, an eight-cylinder engine is not a problem. We are already working on the technical justification for ten-cylinder and even twelve-cylinder engines.'

Han Songlin was a little confused: 'Isn't this a bit too fast? And is it really necessary for us to research ten-cylinder and even twelve-cylinder engines?'

As far as Han Songlin knew, twelve-cylinder diesel engines simply had no use.

Unless they were on tanks.

Anyway, Fuxing Power did not involve the military sector.

Lin Wei wondered, 'Can't we conduct research?'

'It's not that we can't research it, it's just that there doesn't seem to be much use for it!'

'If it's useless, we can use it as a technology reserve. As you said, there is no such thing as useless technology in the world!' Lin Wei said this with a clear conscience.

Han Songlin opened his mouth, but really couldn't find anything to argue with.

Because before, in order to encourage the researchers to be bold and innovative in their research, he had actually said this.

Indeed, there is no such thing as useless technology in the world, it just depends on whether the technology can be used reasonably.

There is no shortage of R&D talent in domestic universities, but the commercial transformation rate of technology is extremely low. To put it bluntly, there is a lack of people who can turn technology into products.

The industry-university-research system has been called for a long time, but this system has still not been fully established.

There is a serious disconnect between schools and the market.

If someone else were in Lin Wei's shoes, they might be furious; spending money on researching useless technology, as if money grows on trees?

But for Han Songlin, he really doesn't care.

Pursuing the ultimate progress of technology is also quite an interesting thing to do.

Especially now, every once in a while, it will continue to bring you surprises. It is a great sense of satisfaction to be able to see the strength of technology increasing every day.

It's like playing a game, seeing that the game number has new equipment or attributes, and it's increasing every day, isn't that a special satisfaction in your heart.

'It's also pretty good to do technical research!'

After a long time, Lin Wei bit her lip and glanced at Han Songlin.

This hesitant gesture really scared Han Songlin a bit; in Han Songlin's impression, Lin Wei was the standard straightforward girl, saying whatever came to her mind.

'Just say whatever it is you want to say, I can take it!' After Han Songlin had built up some mental strength, he still wanted to know what Lin Wei was going to say.

Liu Yuyan also looked at Lin Wei curiously, wondering what it was that had made Lin Wei so hesitant.

'Boss, what do you think is the most fundamental technology behind the progress of human technology?'

'The most fundamental technology?' This really caught Han Songlin off guard.

'Theoretical technology?' Han Songlin felt that theoretical research was very important; it had always guided the progress of human civilisation.

Lin Wei shook her head. Seeing that Han Songlin couldn't say it, she didn't expect him to say it: 'It's material technology!'

'Materials?' Han Songlin seemed to remember that there was indeed such a saying: 'Materials are the cornerstone of human civilization!'

Lin Wei was a little surprised. It turned out that Han Songlin knew!

Moreover, the summary was quite accurate.

'Indeed, materials are the cornerstone of the development of our human civilization. Humans have experienced the Stone Age, the Bronze Age, and the Iron Age. These are all the continuous application of materials in the natural world. In the era of industrial civilisation, we were able to use more and more natural materials, and developed various synthetic and artificial materials. The emergence of new materials has also allowed human civilisation and technology to continue to advance.'

Han Songlin looked at Lin Wei blankly. It was rare for Lin Wei to be able to say so much.

Materials are important, but now Xinghai Group doesn't research materials either!

The main research is the application of materials, right?

'Well, after all this, just tell me what you really want me to do!'

Lin Wei stirred her fingers, feeling that what she was doing was a bit inappropriate!

Was it considered to be using a fake public issue to serve personal interests?

'We must pay attention to the research and development of new materials!'

Han Songlin felt that there was nothing wrong with this: 'Well, we should do that!'

The research and development of new materials does indeed need to be taken seriously; China has not invested enough in this area.

We lag behind Western countries not only in terms of design and even technology, but also, fundamentally, in terms of materials.

I remember reading an article when I was at school about the early years of the People's Republic, when returning scientists had a lot of advanced designs, but after designing them, they couldn't build them.

The materials weren't good enough, and neither were the equipment.

Equipment is more easily remedied; if there isn't enough equipment, people can make do, and although the efficiency is lower, it may be possible to build it.

But if the materials aren't good enough, it really won't work.