Zhang Zhipeng nodded and said, "That's what he said. Is there a problem?"

Zhang Zhilin smiled and said, "Professor Zheng's graduate program is one of the hardest to get into! He has extremely strict requirements for his students. I didn't expect that you could actually catch his eye."

She then turned to her father and said, "Dad, you've always said that Zhipeng is unambitious and will never amount to much. But look at him now—he's taken everyone by surprise!"

"He was directly admitted by Professor Zheng as a master's student, so there's no need for him to take the adult education bachelor's degree anymore!"

Zhang Qingmin sighed with emotion, "This must be the ancestors watching over us!"

"Zhipeng, you have to work hard! Try to achieve something! Don't be like me, wasting my life away and accomplishing nothing!"

He was so happy and emotional that he almost shed tears.

Wang Yuqin wiped her eyes with a smile, her voice choking up, "This is such a happy occasion, why am I crying?"

"Alright, it's getting late. I think we should all go to bed early. We still have work tomorrow."

"Zhilin, you'll sleep with me tonight, and your dad will sleep on the sofa..."

"Oh, Zhipeng, did you have dinner tonight? If not, I can make you some noodles. I got so excited that I forgot to ask."

Zhang Zhipeng waved his hand and said, "Mom, I ate at the school cafeteria."

"Don't make Dad sleep on the sofa. He can share the bed with me for the night."

Wang Yuqin shook her head, "No, your dad's snoring is too loud—it'll keep you up."

Zhang Zhipeng said, "How about I sleep on the sofa then? Dad is getting older, and it's easy to catch a cold sleeping on the sofa. That's not good for his health."

Zhang Qingmin said, "Stop arguing, all of you. What's the point of arguing?"

"I actually find the sofa more comfortable than the bed! You all go back to your rooms and sleep; I'm so tired I can hardly keep my eyes open. I'm planning to exercise in the park tomorrow morning, so I can't stay up late!"

The night passed without incident, and the next morning, even though Zhang Zhipeng had gone to bed late, he still woke up promptly at 6:30.

Outside, the hallway of the apartment building was already bustling with noise, and some households were already cooking.

Outside the window, birds were chirping in the trees, and the shouts of street vendors drifted in through the open window.

Zhang Zhipeng got up and first sat at the desk to organize his thoughts.

He wrote down his goals for the day on a piece of paper.

The most important task for him today was to disassemble the computer's CPU and carefully study its design to see if, with the help of the system, he could master CPU design skills.

In addition to that, he needed to thoroughly understand the current project that Zheng Jingzhi's team was working on.

Zheng Jingzhi hoped that Zhang Zhipeng could write a more efficient program for the current avionics system.

However, writing such a program was no simple task.

First, he had to thoroughly study every part of the avionics system.

This wasn't something that could be accomplished overnight.

After organizing his thoughts, it was already 7:00 AM.

There was a knock on the door.

It was Zhang Zhilin.

As she knocked, she called out, "Zhipeng, it's 7:00 AM. Time to get up."

Zhang Zhipeng got up, opened the door, and came out with a smile, saying, "I've been awake for a while. I was just in the room making a plan for today's work."

Zhang Zhilin was very pleased with this, "That's more like it!"

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"I hope you can soon become a real scientist!"

After washing up, he sat down to have some breakfast.

Zhang Zhilin and Zhang Zhipeng headed to school together.

The walk from the family quarters to the school took just over ten minutes.

Neither of them rode a bike; they walked and chatted as they went.

They walked at a brisk pace, and with autumn approaching, the morning air was already a bit chilly.

"Brother, what direction do you plan to focus on?"

"Right now, your expertise seems to be in computer software."

"But Professor Zheng is an expert in flight control."

"You really need to think it through."

Zhang Zhipeng smiled and said, "Why do I have to limit myself to one field?"

"Can't I make achievements and develop in all the fields I'm interested in?"

Zhang Zhilin gently shook her head and said, "A person's energy is limited."

"Remember, you must focus all your energy on your area of strength. Only then can you achieve success."

Zhang Zhipeng didn’t want to argue with Zhang Zhiling. He smiled and said, "Sis, you're right."

Zhang Zhiling was somewhat dissatisfied with her brother's casual attitude. She said, "I just want to remind you of one thing: since you're going to be Professor Zheng’s disciple, follow him and learn well. Strive to inherit his expertise. Don’t aim too high or be half-hearted, understand? Computer technology might be your strength, but your future research focus must be aligned with your mentor’s field."

Seeing the serious expression on Zhang Zhiling’s face, Zhang Zhipeng could only nod and say, "That's exactly what I’m thinking."

"Sis, I've made up my mind. In the future, I want to become someone who forges swords for the nation! I want to develop more advanced fighter jets and weapons for our country!"

"We absolutely cannot let the tragedy of being beaten due to backwardness happen again!"

Zhang Zhiling smiled, nodding approvingly, "A swordsmith for the nation, indeed!"

"Now that you’ve set your goal, work hard to achieve it. Build a solid foundation, advance step by step, and ensure success!"

"Keep at it!"

She clenched her fist towards Zhang Zhipeng in encouragement.

Zhang Zhipeng smiled and bumped fists with her.

Although his sister always spoke to him in a lecturing tone, which made him uncomfortable, she was indeed a responsible and caring sister.

When they arrived at school, the siblings parted ways. Zhang Zhipeng headed to the Department of Aeronautical Engineering and went straight to find Zheng Jingzhi.

It was a little after 7:30 in the morning.

Zheng Jingzhi was already in his office, preparing for the day's work.

Seeing Zhang Zhipeng, he smiled and invited him to sit down, even personally bringing him a cup of water.

"Zhipeng, I won’t waste your time with unnecessary words. I've arranged an office for you."

"I’ve also had a set of materials related to our project placed in your office. Take your time to familiarize yourself with them."

"As for the computer you requested, I’ve managed to get you an IBM 286. How does that sound?"

When it came to the computer, Zheng Jingzhi scratched his graying head a bit awkwardly.

He simply couldn’t bear to give Zhang Zhipeng the latest 386 computer.

Each one cost tens of thousands, and acquiring the thirty they needed had taken a lot of effort. Only now were they fully equipped.

Zhang Zhipeng smiled and nodded, "It's fine."

"Actually, I just want to take it apart to study the CPU design architecture."

"I don't necessarily need the latest computer."

"By the way, Professor Zheng, I might need some experimental equipment and materials in the future."

"When the time comes, I’ll make a list. Could you help me with that?"

Zheng Jingzhi nodded, "No problem! I’ll fully support you!"

"As long as it’s obtainable, I can get it for you!"

With Zheng Jingzhi’s assurance, Zhang Zhipeng felt relieved.

After giving a few more instructions, Zheng Jingzhi had Shi Jingnan from the department office take Zhang Zhipeng to see his office.

The office wasn’t very big, but it was quiet.

"Xiao Zhang, I honestly didn’t expect you to have your own office so quickly. That’s a privilege usually reserved for department leaders," Shi Jingnan remarked, not without a hint of envy.

Indeed, only two or three people in the department had private offices.

All the other research teams shared large offices where everyone worked together.

Zhang Zhipeng understood that Zheng Jingzhi had given him a private office to allow him to concentrate and make progress in his work as quickly as possible.

After a while, someone delivered an old 286 computer for Zhang Zhipeng to study.

The materials on the project that Zheng Jingzhi’s team was working on were also placed on Zhang Zhipeng’s desk.

After the delivery person left, Zhang Zhipeng immediately picked up his tools and started disassembling the computer’s case.

It didn’t take long before he had the entire case completely disassembled.

The main components of the computer were all integrated onto the motherboard, with the CPU housed in the center. Opening the CPU socket latch, the CPU was exposed.

At this moment, the progress bar for CPU design skills reappeared in Zhang Zhipeng's mind.

It had now reached forty-one percent.

Zhang Zhipeng removed the CPU from the socket and began using his tools to study the architecture and design of the CPU in detail.