novelAbuy Chapter 829 Berkeley volunteers to join Lawrence's team, reuniting with his wife and children.
Chapter 829 Berkeley volunteers to join Lawrence's team, reuniting with his wife and children.
Fang Wen drove his car away from San Francisco Airport, heading east along the coastal highway towards Berkeley.
In 1941, Berkeley enjoyed a tranquility undisturbed by the war. Tall sycamore trees lined the streets, their branches spreading out to block out the summer heat.
The buildings along the road are mostly low red brick buildings with walls covered in lush green vines, and occasionally you can see a few cafes and bookstores with wooden signs.
Groups of young people dressed casually strolled leisurely along the sidewalk. Most of them were students from the University of California, Berkeley, their faces still bearing the naivety of youth. The war that was breaking out in the world had nothing to do with them.
Fang Wen couldn't help but sigh that the United States was incredibly lucky to have escaped two world wars due to geopolitical reasons and ultimately become the world's leading power.
After driving for about half an hour, the car arrived outside the campus of the University of California, Berkeley.
As soon as the car came to a stop, a burly man in a dark suit and his men quickly approached, a fierce face bearing a deliberate smile.
He was the head of a local San Francisco gang and one of Tarzan Amusement Park's partners on the West Coast.
Fang Wen and Zhao Jiu got out of the car, and Zhao Jiu introduced, "This is Anthony from the San Francisco Mafia."
Fang Wen shook hands with him.
Anthony said, "Mr. Fang, Manager Zhao, the accommodation has been arranged. It's a hotel near the campus, a quiet place, and we've booked an entire floor. Would you like to go to the hotel first?"
“Let’s go to the school first. I want to talk to Professor Lawrence today,” Fang Wen replied.
"Okay, please follow me."
Anthony led Fang Wen and Zhao Jiu toward the school gate.
Their attire clearly indicated that they were neither teachers or staff members of the school, nor could they be students.
The school security guards tried to stop them, but were blocked by several people who walked over from the side.
Those guys were clearly from a local Berkeley gang, and they were quite well-known in the area, which scared the school security so much that they didn't dare to take any further action.
And so, Fang Wen followed Anthony on foot into the school.
Founded in 1868, the earliest three-story red brick buildings stand deep within the campus, while the cast iron downpipes on the exterior walls of the school buildings are covered in rust.
Although the buildings on campus still retain the characteristics of the last century, there are many students, chatting and laughing in twos and threes along the way.
At this time, the campus had not yet strengthened security due to the progress of the S-1 project. There were no armed guards, no strict identity verification, and even the security guards at the school gate were arranged by the school itself.
This gave Fang Wen the opportunity to get close to Lawrence.
"Do you know where Lawrence is?" Fang Wen asked.
Anthony replied in a low voice, "I've already found out. Professor Lawrence is in the physics department's lab building right now. He has no plans to go out today. He's just stubborn and doesn't usually see outsiders."
Fang Wen glanced at the passing students and said softly, "Thank you for your hard work."
The gang leader beamed with delight. Building a good relationship with the big boss of Taishan Amusement Park would be very profitable for him. He then led Fang Wen and Zhao Jiu through the tree-lined path and headed straight for the Physics Department's laboratory building.
The laboratory building was a slightly old red brick building. Several wooden boxes containing experimental equipment were scattered at the entrance. Occasionally, researchers in white coats would hurry in and out, looking focused, and they did not pay much attention to these outsiders.
They entered the laboratory building without any obstacles, no one asked for their identity, and there was no security check.
The gang leader stopped in front of his office on the third floor of the laboratory building and knocked gently on the door.
"Professor Lawrence, a gentleman wishes to see you."
A slightly impatient voice came from inside the office: "No, I'm very busy right now. Don't bother me if you're not interested."
A ruthless glint flashed across the gang leader's face as he approached the doorway and said, "Professor, I think you'd be willing to see us—Miss Elsie, your wife's sister, seems to have done something rather illegal recently, and I happen to have some evidence of it here."
The office fell silent for a moment. After about ten seconds, the door clicked open, and a middle-aged man in a white lab coat with slightly curly hair stood in the doorway. It was Ernest Lawrence.
His face was grim, his brows furrowed, and his gaze swept over Daniel and Fang Wen and the others behind him. His tone was icy, filled with undisguised anger and resistance: "Who are you? I warn you, don't try to blackmail me with my family. I will never yield to you."
Although Fang Wen didn't know about this beforehand, he did understand the connection between the name Daniel mentioned and the other party.
Lawrence's wife, Mary Blumer, comes from a prominent family, and her sister, Elsie Blumer, is the wife of McMillan, a key member of Lawrence's team. The gang leader's incriminating evidence struck a nerve with Lawrence. He cherishes his family and would never allow them to get into trouble.
However, doing so would also significantly lower Lawrence's opinion of him, potentially affecting future collaborations.
Fang Wen stepped forward and gestured for the gang leader to step aside: "Professor Lawrence, I apologize for bothering you in this way. I will have them return the evidence to you and will not harass you again. I am not a member of the gang. I am here to discuss a matter concerning scientific research with you."
Lawrence scrutinized Fang Wen, his eyes still wary. After a moment of silence, he finally stepped aside to let Fang Wen in: "Come in. I want to see what you're up to."
The office was small, with simple yet cluttered furnishings. A large desk was placed by the window, piled high with lab reports, papers, and hand-drawn equipment diagrams, while a small experimental instrument sat in the corner.
Lawrence walked behind his desk and sat down, placing his hands on the table and staring at Fang Wen with an unfriendly expression: "Speak, what do you want from me? If you want my research results, or to do something illegal for you, you'd better give up the idea now."
Fang Wen pulled up a chair and sat down, his gaze falling on the experimental reports on the desk. He got straight to the point: "Professor, I know you are researching electromagnetic separation methods for heavy isotope separation. I hope to join your research team and help you."
"Impossible." Lawrence refused without hesitation, his tone resolute. "My team consists of top scientists and researchers who have undergone rigorous screening. I will not accept a stranger of unknown origin to join, especially since you were brought here by the gang." In his view, Fang Wen's background was suspicious, and he had ties to the gang. He could not possibly be someone who genuinely wanted to do research, let alone provide assistance to his project.
Fang Wen had anticipated that the usual methods wouldn't work if he wanted to join a mature research team.
He didn't intend to use the conventional method either.
Fang Wen looked at Lawrence and said calmly, "Professor, I know you don't believe me, but I have the ability to help you solve the problems you are currently encountering in your research, especially the problems of unstable ion beams and insufficient precision in magnetic field control."
Lawrence scoffed, his eyes full of disdain: "Young man, the research on electromagnetic separation is a cutting-edge field of nuclear physics, not something that can be solved with a few big words. The control of ion beams and magnetic fields is a bottleneck that physicists around the world are struggling to overcome. What makes you, a stranger, think you can help me?"
In response, Fang Wen stood up. Lawrence, thinking Fang Wen was about to threaten him, was startled and leaned back.
Unexpectedly, Fang Wen simply raised his right hand, which was adorned with a Viking rune ring.
The faith energy within his body flowed continuously into the Viking rune ring.
In the past, he had only occasionally used a small amount of energy to activate the ring, never charging it with such high intensity. As energy was injected, a faint blue light gradually appeared on the surface of the ring. The blue light grew stronger and stronger, eventually condensing into a dazzling light screen. Within the light screen, a mythical figure slowly emerged: a lightning hammer surrounded by crackling lightning, majestic and sacred, as if it had traveled from ancient times.
In the ancient Norse civilization, legend has it that Thor, son of Odin, possessed a divine weapon capable of controlling lightning: Mjolnir. It seems this is how it was presented to the ancients.
Although its power is not as great as modern weapons, the supernatural sensory stimulation it brings is far more shocking than gunpowder weapons.
Even Fang Wen himself felt like he was a god.
Lawrence, on the other hand, looked completely dumbfounded.
But the presentation wasn't over yet.
Fang Wen twitched his fingertips slightly, and the electrical energy released by the ring gradually condensed into a thin current that flowed around his fingertips. Then, he raised his hand and waved it, and the current traced a smooth arc in the air. The experimental equipment in the corner of the office suddenly lit up, and the originally chaotic magnetic field gradually became stable and uniform under his control. Even the metal pen on the desk was lifted up by an invisible electromagnetic force, suspended in the air, and slowly rotated.
Lawrence abruptly stood up from his chair, his body trembling slightly. His gaze was fixed on the lightning rings swirling around Fang Wen's fingertips, the pen suspended in the air, and the stable magnetic field. He muttered to himself, "This...this is impossible...how can someone have such an ability? Electromagnetic force...can be controlled so precisely?"
He had studied electromagnetic separation methods for many years, exhausting his efforts to control magnetic fields and ion beams, but he could never solve the problem of stability. Yet this unfamiliar Easterner in front of him could easily manipulate electromagnetic forces all by himself.
This was beyond his understanding of physics; it was like a myth coming to life.
Fang Wen slowly withdrew his faith energy, the blue light on the ring gradually faded, the phantom of the lightning hammer also dissipated, the suspended pen gently landed on the desk, and the magnetic field of the experimental instrument returned to normal.
He looked at Lawrence, who was still in shock, and said calmly, "Professor, I know this sounds incredible, but this is my ability. I can help you optimize the magnetic field control system, solve the problem of ion beam instability, and enable your electromagnetic separation research to achieve breakthroughs more quickly."
Lawrence stood frozen in place, speechless for a long time. He looked at Fang Wen with a complex expression, a mixture of shock, doubt, and barely concealed excitement.
He has been engaged in physics research for many years and has always believed in the power of science. However, the ability that Fang Wen has shown has broken his inherent understanding. If he can really use this ability to break through the current technical bottleneck, then his research may achieve a qualitative leap and even complete the core goal of the S-1 project ahead of schedule.
After a long while, Lawrence slowly came to his senses. He adjusted his glasses, and the coldness and resistance in his tone were gone, replaced by a hint of inquiry: "You...you can really help me solve the problems with the magnetic field and ion beam? What exactly is your ability?"
Fang Wen smiled slightly, knowing that he had succeeded in doing so.
He didn't explain the source of his abilities, but simply said, "Professor, you don't need to know where my abilities come from. You only need to know that I can help you achieve your goals. As for my origins, you can investigate them at your own pace. I can assure you that I have no malicious intent; I simply want to work with you to advance the development of this technology."
Lawrence fell silent. He looked at Fang Wen, then at the lab report on his desk, his mind in turmoil.
On one side are strangers of unknown origin and the shadow of gang threats; on the other side is the long-awaited technological breakthrough, an opportunity to advance human physics.
For a scientist obsessed with research, the latter temptation is undoubtedly fatal.
Therefore, he nodded in agreement: "Okay, I personally agree to you joining the research team, but this matter still needs to be discussed within the team. Do you have any contact information? I will let you know when there is a result."
Lawrence's agreement was already a success. Fang Wen left his address at a nearby hotel and then bid farewell to the professor.
Stepping out of the physics department's lab building, the California afternoon sun felt incredibly warm on my skin.
Fang Wen's tense mind finally relaxed.
At this moment, his heart was no longer on the technology and the project, but rather he longed to see his wife and children in Las Vegas.
He immediately turned to Zhao Jiu and said, "You should head back to Las Vegas right now and bring Mingzhu and the children over, the sooner the better."
Zhao Jiu immediately saw the longing hidden in his eyes, nodded in agreement, and drove away.
Fang Wen then went with Daniel to his residence to rest.
The next day at noon, before Lawrence had given any final word, there was a gentle knock on the hotel room door.
Fang Wen quickly stepped forward and opened the door.
Standing outside the door was none other than Kuang Mingzhu, whom he had been longing for day and night.
She wore a well-fitting, plain-colored dress, her features still gentle, but with a hint of weariness from her long journey.
But the moment she saw Fang Wen, all her emotions transformed into tenderness.
She held the hand of a small child in each of her left and right hands.
The boy's eyebrows and eyes looked exactly like Fang Wen's; he had a straight nose and bright eyes.
The girl was incredibly cute, but a little timid. She timidly hid beside her mother, her round eyes staring curiously at the man who opened the door.
Fang Wen had countless words in his heart, but he couldn't say them at this moment.
He could chat freely with powerful and influential people, but he didn't know how to talk to his wife and children.
Seeing her husband's embarrassment, Kuang Mingzhu smiled and said, "Why are you blocking the door? Let us in."
"Oh, right, right." Fang Wen scratched the back of his head and quickly pushed aside to let his wife and their two children in.
Zhao Jiu, who was behind him, tactfully said, "General Manager, I've put the luggage in another room. You and your family can chat at your leisure."
"Hmm." Fang Wen closed the door and looked at his wife and children.
With no outsiders around, the two children relaxed considerably, broke free from their mother's grasp, and began playing in the room, sometimes climbing onto the bed, sometimes picking up and playing with things in the room.
Fang Wen walked over, squatted down, and took his daughter's hand.
Do you know who I am?
The little girl lowered her head and dared not speak.
The little boy came over and said, "My sister is timid, so I'll speak for her. You're the father. Mom often reads the letters you wrote to us."
Fang Wen couldn't help but pick up his two children. The two children sat on his lap and didn't cry or fuss; instead, they were very well-behaved.
His wife, Kuang Mingzhu, sat beside him, leaning on his shoulder. The warmth of their family reunion could be appreciated silently without words.
After a while, Fang Wen sighed, "They were born on June 38th, 2, and they are exactly two years old today. Mingzhu, I'm sorry, I have let you down and failed to accompany you and them through their growing years."
Kuang Mingzhu closed her eyes, savoring the scent of her man: "Don't say that. I support everything you do. Besides, aren't we a family now?" (End of Chapter)