Top Student at Their Peak
Chapter 319 - 124: Is Mathematics Just Going in Circles?!

Chapter 319: Chapter 124: Is Mathematics Just Going in Circles?!

As they walked and chatted, the two soon arrived at the research group’s laboratory. In the office area, Qiao Yu also met everyone in the group, including the other three senior brothers.

"Come, let me introduce everyone. This is Qiao Yu, the student sent by the International Math Research Center to help us optimize our model. I know you may have doubts about Qiao, but don’t ask any questions. At least not until the model optimization is finished."

Upon entering the office area, Liu Hao clapped his hands and said to everyone.

It was clear that Liu Hao had quite a bit of authority within the team. After he spoke, although the others looked at Qiao Yu with some curiosity, they still respectfully started clapping in welcome.

Qiao Yu suspected that this Brother Liu might also be fulfilling the role of assistant director.

Senior Brother Xue had told him before that prominent advisors who often receive project opportunities generally don’t have much time to mentor students. They might entrust a deputy professor or assistant professor at the university as an assistant director, or someone familiar and trusted as an assistant director.

Some mentors might also directly have their most outstanding doctoral students take on part of the assistant director’s duties.

"Alright." Liu Hao raised his hand, signaled, and the applause stopped. Qiao Yu, let me introduce you. This is Luo Cheng, Zhang Haoyuan, and Qin Zhongliang. There is also a senior sister in our group who is absent today due to illness."

After speaking, Liu Hao glanced around the office and asked, "Where is Chen Jiang?"

"He went to clean some bottles," Zhang Haoyuan answered.

"Oh," Liu Hao responded, then turned to Qiao Yu and said, "Everyone’s here. So, should I show you some materials first, or...?"

Qiao Yu thought for a moment and asked, "Can you first take me to see your experimental area? Then perhaps give me an overview of your experimental procedures?"

Liu Hao nodded and said, "Sure."

He then turned around, beckoned to Zhang Haoyuan, and said, "Xiao Zhang, take Qiao Yu over to see the experimental area. I’ll sort out the data first."

...

The laboratory Brother Liu was in charge of was right next to the office area.

Contrary to Qiao Yu’s imagination, university chemistry laboratories were indeed more advanced than those in middle school, and no longer just test tubes and beakers.

"This is..."

"This is a reaction kettle, uh, a high-pressure reactor. Many experimental reactions require specific temperature and pressure, so we need this. We have the most advanced model, which allows direct setting of temperature, pressure, and stir rate to ensure a uniform reaction," Zhang Haoyuan diligently explained.

"Oh!" Qiao Yu nodded, pleased with Senior Brother Zhang’s thorough explanations.

"This is new equipment we installed for this project, the most advanced hydrogenation fixed-bed reactor. It was donated to our group by a company across from us, and it can not only convert carbon dioxide into methanol but also produce liquid hydrocarbon dyes through carbon dioxide hydrogenation," Zhang Haoyuan continued, patting a large piece of equipment nearby.

Qiao Yu could only keep nodding like a primary school student.

Indeed, different professions feel like separate worlds. Yu Zhen had never seen these instruments before.

Judging from Senior Brother Zhang’s proud expression, this equipment must be quite expensive, unaffordable for others.

"And this is the gas feeding system. Hydrogen and carbon dioxide are input through this system, which consists of gas cylinders, flow controllers, and gas filters. By setting them here, we can accurately control the gas flow and ratio, which is the most advanced in the country."

"We also have our own gas chromatograph, so there’s no need to compete for space in the testing lab with other research groups. You see, it is also the most advanced model... this is our data collection and control system."

The data Brother Liu is organizing all come from here. I’m telling you, there aren’t many laboratories that have realized automation and data recording systems. You’re in the right place to visit our lab..."

Zhang Haoyuan enthusiastically introduced everything. Qiao Yu could see that Senior Brother Zhang was genuinely proud of their lab.

Unfortunately, regarding chemistry, Qiao Yu was an absolute layperson...

He only managed a perfect score in middle school chemistry exams by cramming for a few days and never took high school chemistry.

"So, Senior Brother Zhang, is this set of equipment very expensive?" Qiao Yu casually asked after Zhang Haoyuan had finished his introduction.

"Equipment? Uh... yes, haha, this equipment is indeed expensive. But for our boss, it’s not a big deal. To be honest, our boss has two companies outside, with an annual turnover of tens of millions."

After hearing this, Qiao Yu roughly understood why graduate students like to call their advisors "boss."

This is a real boss!

In comparison, Director Tian at home might be a bit lacking since he hadn’t heard about owning companies outside.

Curiously, Qiao Yu asked, "Can professors also start companies outside the university?"

Zhang Haoyuan glanced at Qiao Yu and replied, "Why not? Companies that engage in questionable trades certainly can’t, but those that focus on specialized innovative fields are encouraged. As long as they meet the minimum requirements for patent invention, they can start a company. Our boss holds several major patents and has even won the National Science and Technology Progress Second Prize."

Qiao Yu blinked, confirming that pursuing applied sciences was indeed profitable.

With an annual turnover of tens of millions, he wondered what the net profit would be. If it’s purely from patent licensing, it might still be quite lucrative, right?

So Qiao Yu asked a soul-piercing question: "Senior Brother Zhang, how much do you earn per month now?"

"Well... with scholarship, position allowance, research subsidy, and other scattered sources, it’s an average of seven to eight thousand a month, given by the university and the research department. If the project goes well, sometimes the boss will privately give special research subsidies. With some effort, breaking ten thousand a month isn’t hard.