CHAPTER 226: CHAPTER 224: UNINTENTIONAL WILLOW PLANTING

Under the escort of two armed police armored vehicles, Chen Xin’s car finally entered a branch in the underground tunnel and parked in a parking lot after passing through two gates with sentry posts.

"This is a national research unit in Santown responsible for computer research. There is a large computer here capable of processing the data you brought back. Moreover, it is currently still connected with other places in the country that can access the network, including the National Space Administration. Once the data is uploaded here, it can be directly shared with the National Space Administration," the staff of the provincial government of Hubei introduced the facility to Chen Xin and the three astronauts after they got off the car.

As the staff member was doing the introduction, the people from this research unit came out to greet them and led them inside.

After entering the research unit, Zhang Chengguang wasted no time and went with the people from the research unit to upload the data that had been reloaded into a briefcase-sized data storage device, while Chen Xin, accompanied by the provincial government personnel of Hubei, toured the national-level research unit with the other two astronauts.

The entire research unit has now moved underground, as most of the above-ground facilities were severely damaged by the disaster from the previous meteor impact. Even the remaining intact areas can no longer be used as research laboratories.

The above-ground buildings are now largely used as dormitories and office areas for some staff after clean-up and repairs, with important research facilities placed underground.

Despite this, the research atmosphere of the entire unit has not been affected. In fact, you might say that the researchers are even more dedicated and enthusiastic about their work due to the disaster.

"Many originally planned research projects have been reduced due to the apocalyptic impact. Our main research direction now is how to restore the network system and reconnect various regions across the country. We are currently focusing on wireless transmission signals, planning to use signal stations established in different cities as relay and transceiver terminals," a researcher in a white coat introduced their ongoing research projects to Chen Xin and the two astronauts.

It was apparent that the introduction was primarily for the two astronauts, with Chen Xin just accompanying them, though this arrangement didn’t surprise or bother Chen Xin. After all, it was a free tour, and he was just there to listen.

Regarding the technical challenges and project research they talked about, Chen Xin didn’t feel much. To him, it was just a matter of a system upgrade with a click.

Whether or not it could be done depended entirely on whether Chen Xin had the idea in his head and if he had enough survival points.

Of course, Chen Xin had great admiration and respect for the spirit of the researchers who worked so hard. He was just an ordinary person with a cheat system, unlike those who truly changed the world through their efforts.

Out of respect for these researchers and a desire to improve the current situation in Flame Country, and primarily the hope to restore the network, Chen Xin took the initiative to ask, "Have you made any progress? I heard that you still have network connections with other places here. Is it achieved through the equipment you are researching?"

Chen Xin’s inquiry sparked an interest in the researcher, who nodded with a smile, "Yes, this was originally a military project we were researching. It was meant to maintain network communications for the army in field operations. Previously, this project transmitted signals via base stations and satellites, but now that we can’t connect to satellites, we can only use base stations for signal transmission to create a simple transmission network."

Upon hearing this, Chen Xin chimed in, "So, if there are base stations, it’s still possible to restore a region’s wireless network signal?"

"That’s correct. However, without our access equipment, one cannot connect to this network, and all signals must be relayed through base stations. Considering the current base station bandwidth, it’s still not feasible for civilian use," the researcher naturally understood what Chen Xin meant by restoring a region’s wireless network signal but was not optimistic about its civilian application.

Accompanied by Chen Xin, the two astronauts, and the provincial government personnel, the researcher led them into a demonstration room where a set of wireless network access equipment and a small base station were placed on the table.

"This is the product we’ve developed," the researcher showed the equipment on the table, which looked like two large boxes, to Chen Xin and the two astronauts. "This set with the large antenna is the base station. When deployed, it can cover an area with a radius of fifty kilometers. Within this area, anyone using this access equipment can connect to the network and transmit signals. If this base station can connect to satellites or larger base stations, it can expand signal transmission to more regions and devices."

Chen Xin looked at these two pieces of equipment, outwardly maintaining an interested facade, but internally he had already called up the system interface.

"Wireless Signal Access Equipment/Transmission Base Station"

"Upgrade Plan 1: Increase transmission base station coverage, enhance access device signal strength, increase signal transmission stability, cost 1500 survival points."

"Upgrade Plan 2: Reduce size of access devices/transmission base stations, increase battery capacity, reduce energy consumption, enhance confidentiality, cost 1100 survival points."

Seeing that the system could still be used on these two devices, Chen Xin smiled, a hint of joy appearing in his heart, and he looked up at the researcher, "Can I take a look at these devices? Were they developed for military use?"

"Yes, this is a military prototype. We are still improving it and haven’t finalized it yet. As for how we are able to establish signal connections with other places, it’s because we have a large base station and a transmitting antenna above us that can transmit signals... What are you doing!" The researcher was explaining the situation when he was suddenly startled by Chen Xin’s actions and quickly shouted to stop him.

In the eyes of the researcher and others in the room, after Chen Xin placed his hand on the equipment, he disassembled and started fiddling with it.

After being stopped by the researcher, Chen Xin’s hand left the equipment, but the equipment he had touched was noticeably different.

"Just got a sudden impulse, thought it could be improved, so I went hands-on, sorry!" Chen Xin apologized to the researcher, not knowing what they saw he had done, and explained, "I adjusted the signal transmission strength of the equipment and the coverage area of the base station. Their performance should have improved. Unfortunately, the materials weren’t handy; otherwise, I could have reduced their size, increased battery life, and enhanced signal confidentiality."

Upon hearing Chen Xin’s words, the researcher’s first reaction was disbelief. However, seeing Chen Xin’s confident demeanor, he hesitated for a moment and then had someone come to test the two devices.

Naturally, Chen Xin and the three astronauts couldn’t continue the tour and were instead invited to a room to wait temporarily.

"Comrade Xiao Chen, did you really enhance the equipment’s performance with just a little fiddling?" Zhang Yao asked softly, still somewhat in disbelief.

Chen Xin nodded, his expression full of unwavering confidence, though it was not in his technical skills but in the system’s upgrade function.

Seeing Chen Xin’s demeanor, Zhang Yao didn’t say much more, and after exchanging a glance with Zhao Wu, they quietly settled down.

This matter was neither too big nor too small. After all, the equipment was for demonstration, and if it got damaged, it wouldn’t be a big problem. This was an equipment development place, so if it was broken, it could be fixed.

Moreover, if the equipment got damaged with just a little fiddling, it only proved that the equipment quality was poor.

So overall, it wasn’t a really big deal.

However, the issue was not minor either, because Chen Xin’s tinkering enhanced the equipment’s performance, which undoubtedly was no small matter for these researchers.

They were working day and night to enhance the equipment’s performance, and what many researchers struggled to improve bit by bit, Chen Xin achieved with a mere gesture, which was undoubtedly hard to accept.

Of course, compared to the performance enhancement itself, whether researchers could accept this matter became insignificant. After all, improving the equipment’s performance was the most important, and how Chen Xin achieved it was the real focus.

"How did you do it?" The researcher returned with a test report, his expression both enthusiastic and puzzled, "The base station coverage increased by 30%, signal transmission strength by 40%, and stability improved significantly. How did you do it? I didn’t see you do anything!"

"Just a little trick; as long as the performance is improved, it’s fine. You can compare the adjusted equipment with the original and adjust the original based on the differences," Chen Xin could only dodge the question as he couldn’t specify what he had adjusted.

However, the researchers clearly could not accept this vague explanation. For them, a problem needed to be understood thoroughly, especially since Chen Xin gave an answer without showing the process, which was the most frustrating and intolerable for researchers.

But since Chen Xin himself didn’t know how to answer, no matter how much the researchers pressed, Chen Xin evaded their questions.

While they were entangled, Zhang Chengguang finally completed the data transfer and came back to join them, allowing Chen Xin to escape the persistent researcher and leaving the research unit somewhat embarrassed with the three astronauts.