Traveling back to 1977

Chapter 591 Key
Chen Fan sat in a chair, a cup of tea in his left hand, studying the computer manual.

After he had quickly read through the entire instruction manual, a series of hurried footsteps finally came from the courtyard outside.

I stood up and walked to the door to look. I saw Xiao Peng leading seven or eight people, walking hurriedly this way.

Chen Fan simply waited at the door, and sure enough, the group of people were brought to him shortly afterward.

Xiao Peng introduced him very seriously, "This is Director Chen of the European and American Branch of the Foreign Liaison Department of the Provincial Writers Association."

He then pointed to the middle-aged man with gray hair who looked only about fifty years old, "Director, this is Professor Huang from Jiang University."

You can tell who is close and who is distant just by their tone of voice.

However, Professor Huang was oblivious, his gaze already fixed on the several cardboard boxes in the room.

After Xiao Peng finished his introduction, he immediately came to his senses, extended his right hand to Chen Fan, and said, "Director Chen, hello, I've heard so much about you."

Chen Fan smiled and shook hands, "Hello, Professor Huang."

He turned to look at the people standing behind him and chuckled softly, "Xiao Peng has already told me about it. You want to see a personal microcomputer?"

Professor Huang rubbed his hands together sheepishly, a slightly flattering smile on his face, and said, "Well, we are staff members from the Computer Science and Electronic Engineering Department of Jiang University. Jiang University is currently preparing to establish a Department of Computer Science, which mainly focuses on teaching and research in the field of computer science."

So when Comrade Xiao Peng mentioned that you have a computer that was sent from the United States, I became very curious and wanted to see it.

He turned back to look at his colleagues behind him. "They, like me, want to see the most advanced personal computer in the United States right now. I wonder if it would be convenient for Director Chen?"

Chen Fan listened patiently to him finish speaking, then smiled and nodded, "You are teachers at Jiang University, and I am a student at Jiang University, so you can't really be considered outsiders."

As soon as he finished speaking, a troubled look appeared on his face, and he said hesitantly, "Well, we're all family, so it's no problem for you to visit and study it."

Professor Huang had lived for half a century, and since he had joined the provincial writers' association, it proved that he was not just a bookworm who only knew how to do academic research. Seeing Chen Fan's expression, he knew that there was more to come.

As soon as Chen Fan finished speaking, he immediately asked politely, "If you have any difficulties, please tell us directly, and we will do our best to help."

Chen Fan chuckled, "There aren't any difficulties, well..."

He turned around and pointed to the cardboard boxes, then turned back and said, "This computer was sent by my uncle. It's mainly for my writing. I just received it today and haven't even started using it yet."

writing?

Professor Huang blinked in confusion and asked softly, "Is it English writing?"

Surely it's not like the Americans invented a Chinese character input method, right?

Given the current relationship between the two countries, if they develop a Chinese character input method, they will definitely inform our relevant agencies.

After all, Eisenhower once boasted that he would send a Chinese typewriter to the Chinese, but there has been no news since. If a Chinese input method is actually developed, on the one hand, the United States can regain its face from the past, and on the other hand, it is also an important opportunity to show goodwill to us.

Therefore, it's impossible that they didn't know this news.

Excluding this extremely unlikely answer, there is only one conclusion: Chen Fan is proficient in English.

Chen Fan smiled and nodded, "My English is alright."

At this moment, a teacher behind him laughed and said, "Director Chen's English is more than just good. I heard that the students you personally taught are so popular that teachers from Peking University and the School of Foreign Trade are vying for them. If even your students' English is so fluent, you must be even better."

Chen Fan smiled and waved his hand, saying, "You flatter me. I can only talk and write."

Everyone stared at him, their faces slightly stiff.

Learning a foreign language is all about being able to speak and write, what more do you want?
Seeing that they were all standing in the corridor, Chen Fan suddenly said, "This isn't the place to talk. Why don't we find another spot to talk?"

He turned to look at Xiao Peng, "Are there any more meeting rooms?"

Xiao Peng nodded immediately, "Yes, the meeting room on the fourth floor is empty."

Chen Fan immediately turned around and picked up a box. "Then let's go to the fourth floor."

As soon as he finished speaking, Professor Huang waved his hand and said, "Come on, a few people, move the boxes."

Immediately, three people followed them in, two carrying each child, and carefully walked them out.

Chen Fan's lips twitched slightly. Just as he was about to leave, two more people came in and took the box from his hands.

One person was still saying, "Slow down, slow down, don't fall."

He looked at these university professors, who seemed even more dedicated than porters carrying heavy loads, and couldn't help but click his tongue in admiration.

They've never seen anything good before.

The group went up to the fourth floor, where Xiao Peng turned on the ceiling fan and brought over a few bottles of hot water before quietly leaving.

Professor Huang rubbed his nose, took out a cigarette, sniffed it, but didn't light it. Instead, he held it behind his ear and looked at Chen Fan. "Director Chen, you weren't finished speaking, were you?"

Chen Fan glanced at the cigarette on his ear, a hint of confusion in his eyes.

Professor Huang noticed his look and immediately chuckled, "Isn't there a computer here? I'm just worried about cigarette ash blowing in."

Chen Fan pursed his lips and continued the previous topic, saying, "What I meant was that this computer actually doesn't have many functions, nor is it very powerful. It can only be used for the most basic word and spreadsheet processing, so it's not very useful for research units that frequently use computers."

As he spoke, he unpacked the cardboard box on the table and began to assemble it, saying, "Microcomputers, also known as Personal Computers in the United States, are personal computers."

The word "individual" indicates the target user group and scope of application for this type of computer.

Professor Huang nodded slightly. "I know that. Some time ago, we managed to buy a batch of computer magazines from the United States, including one about personal computers. But we've never seen one before, so we came here today to see it for ourselves."

Chen Fan skillfully assembled the computer, then plugged in the power supply using an adapter and turned it on.

Once the system started up, he took two steps back and gestured for them to begin.

Professor Huang's face immediately lit up with excitement. He first thanked Chen Fan, then greeted the others, and they all gathered around him.

Chen Fan walked to the door, pulled up a chair, sat down, lit a cigarette, and sat quietly waiting.

Professor Huang and his colleagues gathered around the computer, holding instruction manuals, and discussed the matter together.

Time passed slowly. After asking them if they had eaten lunch, Chen Fan went to the cafeteria for a quick bite and then returned to the conference room to continue watching.

After studying the entire machine and consulting Chen Fan, they disassembled the outer casing to study its internal structure.

The study of the computer was temporarily concluded near dusk. The computer was put back into operation, restarted once to confirm it was undamaged, and then shut down and repacked.

After finishing, the teachers looked as if they had just fought a major battle, panting heavily as they went outside to the corridor to smoke.

Professor Huang also pulled up a chair and sat next to Chen Fan, but outside the door.

He first handed a cigarette to Chen Fan, then lit one for himself with a contented look, exhaled a long puff of smoke, and said with a smile, "Haven't moved in a long time, almost exhausted."

However, he looked very excited. "Computer miniaturization is a research direction in the computer industry, and this computer today has given us a lot of inspiration. By discarding some unnecessary functions and keeping the most essential ones, we can achieve the effect of computer miniaturization. This is the same idea as when we sent the first satellite into space."

At this point, he abruptly changed the subject, "However, it is undeniable that the United States has far surpassed us in the field of computers. The most crucial part of this computer is its central processing unit, which is something that cannot be seen with the naked eye."

What we can see is that they can achieve performance comparable to domestic computers using devices many times smaller than ours.

Professor Huang took a drag of his cigarette, this time exhaling a sigh of frustration. "The task ahead is arduous and the road is long."

Chen Fan smiled and said, "I'm not afraid of having a gap, I'm afraid of not being able to see the gap. As long as we have a goal and strive to catch up, there is hope of catching up."

Professor Huang nodded vigorously in deep agreement, "Indeed."

He paused for a moment, then turned to look at Chen Fan and said seriously, "Director Chen, you are not a computer researcher, so you don't know the shame we feel."

Chen Fan raised an eyebrow, about to ask a question, when he heard Professor Huang continue, "At the end of 76, outgoing US President Ford signed an export agreement for two Cyber172 supercomputers to China."

Doesn't it feel great?

Chen Fan blinked and remained silent.

Professor Huang continued with a dark expression, "However, the US tampered with these two computers, and their computing performance is far from the actual level. Moreover, the US also requires that the computers can only be used for geological exploration and not for other purposes."

He took a deep breath, shook his head slightly, and looked up at the distant sky. "That's not the most shameful thing. The most shameful thing is that both computers are housed in a special glass server room, but the keys are controlled by the Americans, and each use requires American approval."

After our personnel complete the operation, the US side will immediately seal the glass room, and the operation log will be submitted to the US side for review periodically.

(Computer in a glass room)

He turned to look at Chen Fan, his voice soft but his words heavy, “This is the ‘shame of the glass house’ in our computer industry.”

Chen Fan pursed his lips and nodded vigorously, "One day, we will definitely surpass them."

Professor Huang clenched his fist. "Yes, I believe that as long as we all work together, we will definitely catch up with and surpass them one day."

Chen Fan took a deep breath, raised his fist high, and shouted, "Go for it!"

Professor Huang smiled at him, nodded with satisfaction, paused for two seconds, coughed lightly, and said with a smile, "Director Chen, I'd like to discuss something with you."

Chen Fan smiled slightly, took out a cigarette, handed it to him, and said with a smile, "Professor Huang, is that so? Actually, my uncle sent me three computers in total."

Professor Huang's eyes immediately lit up. "Really? So that means..."

Before he could finish speaking, Chen Fan waved his hand and continued, "These three computers are because my uncle was worried that if there was only one computer, it would easily break down, so he specially gave me two extra as backups."

So, actually, one machine is enough for me, and I can take out the other two.

I also know that this kind of microcomputer, which has never appeared in China before, has certain reference value for those engaged in computer research.

He then interrupted Professor Huang, saying, "But, as you know, the situation in China is like this. I have quite a few friends, and if you take one from me today, I might have to give away a dozen more."

"If I give it to you but don't give it to him, people will think I'm stingy..."

This time it was Professor Huang's turn to interrupt him, "No, no, no, we can explain this. If anyone causes you trouble, let them come to me. Besides, we don't want it, we just want to borrow it temporarily, or we can buy it directly."

He chuckled and said, "Of course, we don't have foreign exchange quotas, so we can only pay in RMB."

Chen Fan leaned back in his chair, crossed his legs, and looked at him with a half-smile, but simply didn't say anything.

First, he provoked me by using the glass room, then he made all sorts of promises about borrowing or buying things, and even told others to come to him.

Do you think I'm a child?

Professor Huang felt a little uncomfortable under his gaze. After a few seconds of hesitation, he chuckled awkwardly and said, "Then, what do you suggest we do?"

Chen Fan then changed his posture and said with a smile, "I will hand over those two computers to the Writers' Association. I can't worry about what happens after that."

In any case, his current employer is the Writers' Association. How can they give good stuff directly to outsiders instead of their own employer?

The reason we didn't give them to the Jiangnan Writers Association was to avoid causing trouble for He Qingsheng and his group. Did they really think these two computers were so easy to take?

He Qingsheng couldn't handle this situation.

But it's different if you give it to Buffett.

First, Mr. Ba can directly represent the Writers' Association to handle the matter, preventing other branches from having any thoughts or opinions. Second, Mr. Ba has a wider network of contacts and can handle this matter from a higher level.

If all else fails, he can always get those big shots from the headquarters to help him.

Besides, the matter of these two computers is not insignificant, but it's not a huge deal either.

After all, it's only a little over a thousand dollars a unit, and importing ten units would only cost a little over ten thousand dollars.

The key is who can first recognize the importance of personal computers and write a well-reasoned report for the higher authorities. As long as the higher authorities approve the application, large-scale imports are possible.

These two computers were the keys to writing the report.

This is the most important thing!
Professor Huang and his team discussed the issue of personal computers and supercomputers during their research earlier, and Chen Fan, who was sitting at the door, heard it all clearly.

Supercomputers remain a steadfast research focus for major research institutions and universities, but the role of personal computers should not be overlooked.

Besides its practicality, developing personal computers can also somewhat compensate for the slow pace of supercomputer development.

Everyone needs to produce results to get by. Right now, no organization in China is researching personal computers. Whoever gets the first taste of this will be ahead of the game!
Professor Huang took a drag of his cigarette, feeling frustrated. After hearing Chen Fan put it this far, he could only nod slightly and say, "Alright, I'll think of something later."

Being able to know the news in advance is also a kind of advantage.

After returning the computer to the room, Chen Fan watched them leave and then turned and went downstairs.

Lili should be home by now, right?

(End of this chapter)