Zheng Jingzhi was curious about what kind of request Zhang Zhipeng might make.

To his surprise, it was a simple one.

"Hmm? Just this?" Zheng Jingzhi asked.

Zhang Zhipeng nodded, "That's right! Just this."

"The thing is, if I disassemble the computer, I might end up rendering it useless. So, I haven't dared to try it yet."

Without hesitation, Zheng Jingzhi replied, "Sure! It's just a computer! If it breaks, it's no big deal!"

"But why do you want to take it apart?"

He couldn’t help but voice his question.

Zhang Zhipeng smiled and said, "I want to see how their CPU is designed and manufactured."

"This is a critical technology that we're currently lagging behind in."

Zheng Jingzhi was well aware of the importance of chips.

Chips are used in so many applications: airplanes, missiles, tanks, radar—almost all defense equipment relies on them.

However, China’s chip technology was still quite underdeveloped, far behind the world’s advanced standards.

But breaking through in chip technology was not easy. Since it was still possible to import chips from abroad, the urgency within the domestic industry wasn’t that high.

The reason was simple—buying was becoming more convenient than making.

"Really? You think that by studying someone else's chip, we can create our own advanced ones?" Zheng Jingzhi asked with a frown.

Zhang Zhipeng smiled and said, "Mr. Zheng, chips are man-made, not god-made."

"We Chinese are no less intelligent than foreigners!"

"If they can make it, we can too! I firmly believe this."

"Even if we can’t figure it out right away, with time, we will achieve significant results."

Zheng Jingzhi nodded in agreement, "I agree with what you're saying!"

"I can approve one computer for you to study."

"But you must prioritize your tasks! Developing a perfect avionics system is our current mission."

Zhang Zhipeng smiled and said, "Mr. Zheng, I understand. But I must emphasize that to perfect the avionics system, we need to develop our own advanced process chips!"

"With advanced chips, we can then write better software programs that can integrate the entire avionics system."

"The two are closely linked."

Zheng Jingzhi nodded with a smile, "That makes sense! However, creating advanced process chips will likely take a long time, right? Can it be done in ten years or so?"

Many complex research projects require a long research cycle before they yield results.

Zhang Zhipeng shook his head, "It won't take that long! I'm confident I can get it done in a few months."

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At this moment, Tian Hongtao couldn’t hold back any longer, "Zhipeng, do you really understand chips?"

"Do you know how they are manufactured? The industrial chain is quite complex and extensive."

"Even a powerful country like the United States can’t build an entire chip industry chain on its own…"

Zhang Zhipeng smiled and glanced at Tian Hongtao, "Dr. Tian, of course, I understand. I have a fairly good grasp of chip technology."

"The chip production process involves several steps: chip design, wafer fabrication, packaging, and cost testing."

"Additionally, besides these processes, a variety of complex manufacturing materials are required, primarily silicon, gallium arsenide, indium selenide, as well as electrode and wire materials like aluminum, copper, and tungsten. Insulating materials such as silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide, and silicon nitride are also needed, mainly for isolation and insulation layers. Magnetic materials like iron, nickel, and cobalt are used for memory manufacturing, and finally, materials like plastic, ceramic, and metal are needed for chip packaging…"

Zhang Zhipeng continued to elaborate on the chip-related knowledge he had acquired.

He spoke for over twenty minutes straight.

These were the insights he gained while carefully disassembling the computer case, removing the CPU, and analyzing it.

At this time, without the internet, gathering information required poring over countless books in a library.

Of course, some of the information couldn’t be found in books either.

Zheng Jingzhi listened with wide eyes.

He couldn’t believe that Zhang Zhipeng had such a solid foundation in chip knowledge.

"How did you learn all of this?" Zheng Jingzhi asked in surprise.

Zhang Zhipeng smiled and said, "Mainly by reading."

Zheng Jingzhi chuckled and said, "It seems your self-learning ability is quite impressive."

"No wonder you've developed such strong programming skills just through self-study."

"I'm starting to have higher expectations of you."

"Alright then, tomorrow you can go to the department office and pick up a computer."

"I'll arrange a private office for you in the department! Before you start working, make sure to thoroughly familiarize yourself with our project, okay?"

Zhang Zhipeng nodded in agreement.

Having recruited a talented programmer, Zheng Jingzhi was in an excellent mood.

"It's getting late, you should head home and rest!"

"Tomorrow, when you come to work, stop by my office first."

And just like that, Zhang Zhipeng's fate changed.

He was transferred from being a microcomputer lab administrator to Zheng Jingzhi's national-level major project team.

When Zhang Zhipeng bid farewell to Zheng Jingzhi and walked home, it was already past 11 p.m.

But tonight was destined to be a sleepless night.

Because the Asian Games had just opened that evening, and the entire nation was filled with joy, pride, and excitement.

Zhang Zhipeng also felt a bit of happiness.

Because, starting tomorrow, he could openly participate in the mission of "forging a sword for the country."

He walked home with a spring in his step, intending to quietly open the door so as not to disturb his parents' rest.

But as he approached the door, he saw light coming through the window above it, and he heard voices.

When he opened the door, he saw that his parents and sister were all there, sitting on the sofa watching TV.

As soon as Zhang Zhipeng walked in, the three of them stood up with smiles on their faces.

"Zhipeng, I'm sorry I misjudged you before," Zhang Qingmin said with a kindly smile, nodding toward Zhang Zhipeng.

Zhang Zhipeng quickly replied with a smile, "Dad, what are you talking about! I really wasn't much of anything for quite a while."

"If it weren't for your strict discipline, I wouldn't have been able to improve so quickly."

Since Zhang Zhipeng had come to this world, he had never seen a smile on his father Zhang Qingmin's face.

So now, he was a bit taken aback by it.

Wang Yuqin then asked somewhat urgently, "Xiaopeng, how did it go?"

"I heard from your sister that Professor Zheng wanted to talk to you?"

Zhang Zhipeng smiled and said slowly, "He wants to bring me into his project team, and he’s even going to make an exception to accept me as his graduate student. He also promised that my future treatment will be at the level of a researcher."

This news left Zhang Zhipeng's sister, Zhang Zhiling, stunned. "What? Professor Zheng wants to take you on as his student?"