150: Chapter 150 Investigation Progress

After spending a few peaceful days of reunion with his parents at home, the warm atmosphere of the Spring Festival gradually faded away.

Chen Youhua's mind had already flown back to his scientific research career.

Thinking of the Comprehensive Research Institute that was still in its infancy, he decided to personally go and inspect the progress.

He first called Academician Zheng to report in and get an update on the situation.

Academician Zheng had long expected this and quickly gave him a contact.

"This is Tang Hanyang, Director Tang, the general head of your project over at the Rabbit Construction Third Bureau. You can contact him directly; I've already spoken with him."

After thanking him, Chen Youhua dialed Tang Hanyang's number.

The background noise on the other end of the line was a bit noisy, as if he were at a construction site.

"Hello? Who is this?" a vigorous male voice came through.

The background noise was also mixed with someone shouting, "Keep the materials coming over here!"

"Hello, Director Tang, I am Chen Youhua," Chen Youhua said in a calm tone.

"I'd like to go to the construction site to see the current progress. I wonder if it's convenient?"

"Chen Youhua? Oh, oh, oh! Professor Chen!"

Tang Hanyang's tone immediately became enthusiastic and respectful.

"It's convenient! Of course it's convenient! When are you coming over? I'm available anytime!"

"I'm heading over now, should be there in about half an hour."

"Alright, alright! Just call me when you arrive, and I'll come out to meet you!"

After hanging up, Chen Youhua called his security personnel and took a car to the site of the institute located in the suburbs.

He had put a lot of thought into the initial site selection.

The location wasn't far from his home, situated on the edge of the city. The environment was relatively quiet and secluded, yet it wasn't completely out of the main urban area's reach, making it convenient for attracting talent and coordinating supplies in the future.

He had staked out a massive plot of land with a long-term vision, preparing to build a world-class, self-contained scientific research base for the future.

The half-hour drive arrived in the blink of an eye.

As the motorcade approached the destination, they saw a vast area strictly enclosed by high construction fences.

Through the gaps, one could only see the iron arms of tower cranes reaching into the clouds and the building skeletons that had already begun to take shape, a scene of bustling construction activity.

The car stopped at the main entrance.

Just as Chen Youhua got out of the car, the security guard on duty at the construction site gate stepped forward alertly and stopped the group.

"Hello, can I help you? This is a restricted construction area, no unauthorized entry," the guard said dutifully.

Chen Youhua stated his identity and purpose.

"Hello, I am Chen Youhua. I have an appointment with Director Tang to come and see the progress of the project."

The guard had clearly received notice, but the procedures could not be skipped. He said politely but firmly:

"Hello, Professor Chen. Please give Director Tang a call and have him come out to meet you; otherwise, we can't let you in. It's the regulation."

Chen Youhua nodded and was about to take out his phone when he saw a middle-aged man in a white hard hat, slightly chubby and wearing work clothes, jogging out from inside the construction site, raising his hand from a distance.

"Professor Chen! Welcome, welcome!"

The man greeted the guard to signal clearance while enthusiastically coming forward, extending both hands.

"Pardon my late welcome! I am Tang Hanyang from the Rabbit Construction Third Bureau, in charge of our project's construction.

I've heard of your great name for a long time, and I've finally met you in person today!"

Chen Youhua shook hands with him and said politely, "You've been working hard, Director Tang. Sorry to trouble you to come out and meet me in the midst of your busy schedule."

"Oh, don't say that! It's our honor that you can come to inspect!"

Tang Hanyang was all smiles, appearing to be a hearty and talkative person.

"Come, I'll take you inside to have a look and introduce the current progress to you."

Under Tang Hanyang's guidance, Chen Youhua and the security personnel put on the prepared hard hats and stepped into the noisy and massive construction site.

Standing on a temporarily built high platform and looking down, the grand planning prototype of the entire Comprehensive Research Institute was fully visible.

On this vast plot of land, the architectural layout was well-spaced and orderly.

In the outer area, several fourth-generation style high-rise residential buildings had already risen from the ground, intended as future homes for the Researchers.

Next to them, a supporting commercial street area was also planned to meet daily living needs.

The core area was separated by a considerable distance; that was the true future heart of scientific research.

Different sectors could be clearly seen:

The basic structure of the Academy of Biology's area was being built.

For the sites of the Institute of Materials and the Institute of Chemistry, the foundation work was nearing completion.

The planned plot for the Institute of Physics was even more spacious.

The Institute of Engineering and Technology was subdivided into two major areas, mechanical and electronic, with the outlines of the factory buildings already faintly visible.

These five major research institute areas were not arranged haphazardly but were cleverly designed as five fan-shaped trapezoids, together forming a giant circular structure in an orderly fashion.

Tang Hanyang pointed to the center of the circular area and introduced it.

"Professor Chen, according to the design blueprints, that will be the location of the future Supercomputing Platform, the computing core of the entire institute."

Chen Youhua nodded with satisfaction; this was exactly his vision.

With the Supercomputing Center controlled by enlightenment as the brain, it would coordinate all research directions.

In addition, a large amount of empty space was reserved within the park, and Chen Youhua briefly mentioned the future plans to Tang Hanyang.

"Those empty plots, I plan to build into an Ecological Experimental Park in the future, or consider opening a research base for an Agricultural College."

The entire park covered up to 20 square kilometers; its scale and environment were more like a small university town, but its nature and goals were far more focused than a university.

This would be a high-level scientific research temple catering only to top graduate students and senior Researchers, where all research would be guided by the ultimate goals set by Chen Youhua, with enlightenment as the core driving force.

As for which universities to establish deep cooperation with, he already had considerations in mind but had not yet made a final determination.

On the construction site, tower cranes stood like a forest, engineering vehicles shuttled back and forth, workers were busy everywhere, and the roar of concrete mixers was incessant.

"Director Tang, according to the current progress, roughly how much longer will it take for all construction work to be fully completed?" Chen Youhua asked with concern.

Thanks to the high level of importance attached by the national level and sufficient financial guarantees, the entire project was flourishing on all fronts with simultaneous construction, and progress was already quite fast.

Tang Hanyang thought for a moment and answered seriously.

"Professor Chen, overall, if subsequent materials and weather cooperate, it will take about six months to complete the topping out of all main structures.

This includes the main buildings of all research institute towers, residential buildings, and the core Supercomputing Center.

However, the interior decoration after topping out, the cleanroom engineering for special laboratories, pipeline laying, equipment installation and debugging, as well as supporting projects like park roads and landscaping, will take longer. It's estimated that it may take another four to five months for full delivery to meet operational standards."

Chen Youhua did a quick calculation in his head and nodded.

This speed had already far exceeded the construction cycle of general large-scale projects; he expressed satisfaction with this progress.

He planned that by the time this place was initially built, the prosthetic limb project should also be completed.

At that time, it would be perfect to have Wang Zhe and Li Wei lead the core team to relocate here, and using this as a foundation, recruit talents from across Rabbit Country to build a top-tier, multi-disciplinary scientific research empire centered on his will.

Currently, the internal roads of the construction site were mostly temporarily compacted dirt roads, and vehicles passing by would kick up clouds of dust.

Many details could not be examined closely; one could only get a general overview.

Accompanied by Tang Hanyang, Chen Youhua took a vehicle for a slow drive around the main roads within the park, gaining a more intuitive understanding of the entire project's scale and current progress.

After the inspection, Chen Youhua shook hands with Tang Hanyang to say goodbye.

"Director Tang, thank you and the workers for your hard work.

Quality is the primary lifeline. While progress is important, it must never come at the expense of safety and quality."

"Rest assured, Professor Chen! This is a national key project, and even more so, your project. We at the Rabbit Construction Third Bureau will definitely use the highest standards to build a solid and reliable scientific research fortress for you!" Tang Hanyang guaranteed, patting his chest.

Leaving the noisy construction site and sitting back in the car, Chen Youhua looked at the construction scene gradually receding outside the window, and he no longer felt like staying at home.

He decided that he would head to HF tomorrow to see that Artificial Sun in HF.