The literary era since 1979

After talking with Ni Guangnan, Fang Yan learned that he had returned to China only the year before last.

In 1981, he was invited by the National Research Council of Canada to be a visiting researcher. The annual salary offered was 4.3 Canadian dollars, which was 2 to times higher than the salary in China. Even so, he resigned after only two years in Canada.

He resolutely gave up the sky-high salary, excellent working environment, etc. In fact, if he had not saved money to buy foreign core equipment and circuit chips to develop the first domestically produced Chinese character microcomputer, Ni Guangnan would probably have returned to China after staying for a year.

This first type of associative Chinese card is his masterpiece, and five or six models have been updated.

Looking at the energetic Ni Guangnan, Fang Yan was immediately in awe.

"Teacher Fang, to be honest, I also really like reading your novels, especially "The Ring" and "Artificial Intelligence."

Ni Guangnan said with a kind look.

"It's really my honor, but I didn't expect that Chief Engineer Ni liked these two novels."

Fangyan was very surprised. "I thought they would be other literary works. Could it be because they are science fiction?"

Ni Guangnan nodded and said that compared to "Artificial Intelligence", a science fiction theme that explores the boundary between technology and human nature, he prefers "The Ring". It's not because of the horror elements in it, but because the science fiction settings such as "virus", "spiritual realm", "mobile phone", "Internet", "new energy vehicles", "brain-computer interface", etc. are so imaginative that people can't help but imagine.

“To be honest, many of the settings and elements here were not originally thought up by me.”

Fang Yan said: "I am just standing on the shoulders of giants such as Clarke, Heinlein and Asimov."

"But anyway, at least in China, I haven't seen any science fiction novels of the same quality as yours."

Ni Guangnan said with a hint of regret: "It's a pity that Mr. Fang hasn't published any new science fiction works for a long time."

As soon as these words were spoken, the researchers in the small bungalow immediately became agitated, and everyone urged Fangyan to write a book.

Stop wandering around and hurry up and write "Month 2", no, hurry up and write a science fiction novel! Everyone is feeling really uncomfortable!

"I see that Science Fiction World has published a lot of works by newcomers. Is there no one that can catch your eye?"

Fangyan looked around.

"There is a writer named Liu Cixin, whose writing style is immature but full of wonderful ideas."

Ni Guangnan said: "It's just that it's not as amazing, so unique, and so beyond imagination as what you wrote, Teacher Fang."

Faced with the ferocious eyes of the crowd, Fang Yan neither objected on the spot nor agreed immediately, but just laughed it off.

Ni Guangnan did not press the issue and told his assistant to bring the Chinese card, tool box and other necessities. Then he turned to Fang Yan and said:
"Since the computer that Teacher Fang wants to install is at home, let's go to his house now. What do you think?"

"That's naturally the best thing."

Fang Yan led the way and led Ni Guangnan and others to the Citroen parked on the side of the road.

When they saw this car, everyone in the research institute's eyes lit up instantly, and they couldn't help but sigh in their hearts that perhaps only someone with strong financial resources like Fangyan could afford a computer worth tens of thousands of yuan, coupled with a Chinese card worth tens of thousands of yuan.

But when Ni Guangnan came to Nanluoguxiang and saw the Macintosh computer and the latest IBM computer with his own eyes, he was immediately deeply attracted, especially the Excel and PPT equipped on the Macintosh computer, which are not available on today's Chinese cards.

In fact, Excel was only launched this year and is only suitable for Apple's Mac system.

And PPT, which was not called "PPT" at that time, was originally written by Microsoft in 1983 for IBM computers running DOS, and then Apple's Macintosh computer was installed with an upgraded version.

"Chief Engineer Ni, how is it?"

Seeing his serious expression, Fangyan raised his eyebrows, mistakenly thinking that the Chinese card and the computer were not compatible and could not be installed properly.

But the fact is, Ni Guangnan lamented that he had only been back to China for two years, and he did not expect that foreign technology had advanced to this level.

“Technology is changing so fast.”

Fang Yan said: "Just like the Industrial Revolution, who would have thought it would start with a steam engine? I'm afraid this information revolution will also start with a small personal computer like this, creating a 'technological explosion'."

"Technological explosion?"

It was the first time that Ni Guangnan heard this word and he felt it was very fresh.

Fang Yan explained succinctly that the huge technological leap made by mankind in just two hundred years after entering the Industrial Revolution was incomparable to the three million years of human existence and thousands of years of civilization. Just as Marx and Engels said -

The productivity created by industrial civilization in less than a hundred years exceeds the total productivity created in all previous eras. "Teacher Fang, your idea of ​​'technological explosion' is really novel!"

Ni Guangnan became more and more interested.

"This is a sci-fi setting that I came across by chance. In the dimension of the universe, it is about a weak civilization that suddenly discovers the existence of another alien civilization that is far superior to itself and aggressive. The instinct for survival forces itself to burst out all its potential in a short period of time, so that the scientific and technological achievements that would have taken hundreds or even thousands of years to achieve are concentrated in a few decades..."

Fang Yan said: "It will eventually lead to an incredible technological explosion and a great leap forward in civilization."

“This setting is very interesting.”

Ni Guangnan pondered for a while and said, "In the history of human scientific and technological development, it seems to be verifiable."

At this moment, Fang Yan, who had been watching, spoke up: "Brother, are you planning to write a science fiction novel about 'technological explosion'?"

Fangyan waved his hand and said, "It's just a sudden thought. It's still a long way from being written down."

"If Mr. Fang finishes writing this technologically advanced novel, I will definitely buy it and read it as soon as possible!"

Ni Guangnan's words were full of anticipation.

Fangyan smiled and changed the topic to the installation of the Hanka.

"Actually, if Mr. Fang is just writing for typing, I think he should buy a typewriter."

Ni Guangnan kindly reminded that compared to the Chinese card that costs tens of thousands of yuan, a typewriter only costs a few thousand yuan, which is several times cheaper.

"It's not like I haven't thought about it, but it's not available on the market. European, American, and Japanese typewriters can't type Chinese."

Fangyan spread his hands helplessly.

"Although it is not available now, if Teacher Fang is willing to wait, it will take at least half a year, or at most a year, to get a Chinese typewriter."

Ni Guangnan said that Zhongguancun's Soitong Company is negotiating with a Japanese company to jointly develop a Chinese typewriter, led by expert Wang Jizhi.

Once reminded, Fangyan vaguely remembered that it was indeed Siton that launched the country's first Chinese electronic typewriter, called the Siton "MS-2400".

However, distant water cannot quench immediate thirst, so Ni Guangnan was asked to personally install Chinese cards on IBM and Macintosh computers.

Although these two computers were unfamiliar to Ni Guangnan, they did not pose a problem for him. He installed them in just a short while.

"Thank you for your hard work, drink some water."

Fang Yan poured water for Ni Guangnan and his assistant.

"Teacher Fang, you're too polite."

Ni Guangnan took the cup, hesitated for a while, and finally spoke: "Actually, I have an unreasonable request, I wonder if you can agree to it?"

Fangyan was surprised. "It's okay to ask. If I can help, I will try my best."

What Ni Guangnan said was not a big deal. He just wanted to use the Macintosh computer to study Excel and PPT carefully, and then find ways to develop domestically produced Excel and PPT. After all, his purpose of returning to China was to make a difference in China's computer industry.

Fangyan would naturally not refuse. As long as Ni Guangnan was willing, he could come to visit and discuss at any time.

Ni Guangnan said embarrassedly: "I just don't want to disturb you too much..."

"No, no, it's my honor to help the country's information industry. And to be honest, I have selfish motives for doing this."

Fangyan pointed at the little sister who was testing the computer and said, "She was admitted to the computer department of Shuimu University this year."

"Oh!"

Ni Guangnan held up his glasses and looked him up and down.

"I think if she could follow you while you're doing your research, even if she just watches for a while, she would definitely benefit a lot."

Fang Yan smiled. How could I miss this great teacher who came to my doorstep? (End of this chapter)