A few days after Chen Xiao arrived at the Sanbo Research Institute.

In front of the gates of Sanbo Research Institute, several black sedans came to a steady stop, and as the car doors opened, Yang Ping quickly stepped forward to greet them.

Accompanied by Professor Su Qingyun, Dean Xia Changjiang, and others, two spirited elderly gentlemen stepped out.

One was Professor Liang from Peking Union Medical College Hospital who had come from Beijing, and the other was none other than Academician Xiang from Nandu Medical University.

The two academicians gathered today with one purpose only—to witness the breakthrough achievements of Yang Ping's team firsthand.

Academician Xiang looked at the new research institute building in front of him with mixed emotions. A few months ago, he was in that old study, invigorated by a piece of information, leading to a crucial phone call overnight. Now, he stands on the front lines of this cutting-edge battle.

"Academician Xiang, Academician Liang, welcome. It's been a long journey." Yang Ping stepped forward, shook hands with them, and respectfully supported the oldest Academician Xiang.

"Not hard at all." Academician Xiang waved his hand, his voice loud and clear, carrying the decisiveness of an old-school intellectual. "I heard you have some major developments here. We, these old folks, couldn't wait to come and see for ourselves. Previously, you were so busy like you were in a battle, we didn't dare to disturb you. Now that I hear you've made a breakthrough, we couldn't resist coming to satisfy our hearts."

Xiang Wangshan said nothing, but firmly patted Yang Ping's arm, the gesture spoke volumes.

Without much chit-chat, the group headed straight to the laboratory, changed into lab coats, and after going through the air shower, the two older gentlemen instinctively slowed their pace as they entered the laboratory.

The laboratory was orderly, and the soft humming of functioning machines filled the background. Researchers attended to their tasks diligently, and upon seeing the academicians enter, they paused to give respectful greetings. Academician Liang and Academician Xiang smiled and nodded in response, but their eyes were immediately drawn to the equipment running steadily.

Their vision was caught by the clear domestic logos like "Ruixing Medical," "Jieteng Technology," and "Zhongke Instrument." Yang Ping walked slightly ahead, taking on the role of the guide. His voice was steady, devoid of boasting, clearly stating the facts.

"Academician Xiang, Academician Liang, this is our high-throughput gene editing verification platform." Yang Ping pointed to a row of automated liquid handling workstations and fluorescence analyzers produced by Ruixing Medical. "It adopts domestically made high-precision servo motors and optical detection modules. The throughput has reached mainstream international levels, but the cost has been reduced by sixty percent. Importantly, all software interfaces and databases are fully independent, ensuring data security and control."

Academician Liang leaned in to study the real-time updating data on cell transfection efficiency on the screen, nodding without a word, continuing forward.

"Here is the core cell function analysis area," Yang Ping led them to some compactly designed equipment. "This is the deconvolution microscope jointly developed with Jieteng Technology, featuring entirely domestic core optical lenses and CCDs. Next to it is the latest prototype of a single-cell sequencer from Zhongke Instrument. Our team participated in testing some of its application scenarios."

Academician Xiang Wangshan stopped in front of a single-cell sequencer running smoothly. His hand reached out with a slight tremor, fingers brushing lightly over the frosted texture of the domestic logo on the instrument's side. He remembered vividly how his lab spent significant foreign exchange and underwent complicated approval processes decades ago just to buy an imported single-cell sequencer, and yet received a version with some functionalities cut off.

Now, here stands a machine made by Chinese hands, supporting cutting-edge research globally.

"How about the precision... the stability?" Academician Xiang's voice carried a rasp.

"After continuous extreme stress testing over three months, key indicators such as sequencing read length, effective cell capture rate, and background noise control have all met or even surpassed those of top international products. Particularly in noise control, our algorithms and reagent formulations have unique advantages, improving the data signal-to-noise ratio by about eight percent," Yang Ping answered clearly and confidently.

Academician Xiang nodded slowly, moved his hand from the logo, and clenched it behind his back.

Yang Ping continued to lead them on a deeper tour, showcasing the team's critical data achieved on the "vaccine enhancer" project using these domestic devices. The large electronic screen displayed a vividly clear dynamic structure change map of the genome of vaccines and enhancers, as well as quantitative analysis results of target gene expression regulation post-precise editing.

"Based on the complete set of domestic platforms we've established, we've successfully recombined X-2 and integrated it with the vaccine." Yang Ping unveiled a series of animal experiment data, "Currently, the data from primate trials are very promising, showing significantly enhanced immune response compared to the control group, with lower side effects."

Data is cold, yet it is powerful.

Professor Liang put on reading glasses, almost pressing himself to the screen, scrutinizing the complex data charts line by line. He was extremely meticulous, occasionally posing highly professional and incisive questions, targeting the core of the experimental design and data interpretation. Yang Ping answered each one, with a tight logical sequence and ample data support.

After a long while, Professor Liang straightened up, removed his reading glasses, and rubbed his somewhat sore eyes. He did not look at Yang Ping, but turned to Xiang Wangshan beside him.

"Old Xiang," Old Liang's voice wasn't loud, yet carried a heavy penetrating force, "Do you see it? The three-dimensional genome structure... Back in our day, we couldn't even dare to imagine it."

Academician Xiang Wangshan did not immediately respond. His gaze slowly moved from the data on the screen to the busy, youthful faces in the laboratory, to the quietly operating equipment bearing domestic insignia, finally resting on Yang Ping's confident and determined face.

He saw Chen Xiao, the young man he personally named and had Li Mingda bring, currently focused on recording data in front of another piece of equipment, eyes full of light.

In an instant, countless fragments of memory surged into his mind: The embarrassment and humiliation of being unable to access core instruments due to nationality while a visiting scholar in foreign laboratories; the helplessness of filing report after report and asking for help just to secure a second-hand imported centrifuge; countless late nights, gathering around blueprints with colleagues, attempting to replicate but always failing at the last hurdle due to basic industrial gaps...

Their generation fought all their lives, struggled all their lives, yet never fully broke free from the kind of situation where they were "controlled by others". That feeling of having core technologies in others' hands, the lifeline gripped by another, was like a thorn in the heart, silently aching for decades.

But today, here, in this laboratory built by Chinese people, with equipment manufactured by Chinese people, and led by Chinese thought, he could see that thorn being brutally extracted!

A vaccine enhancer that could potentially benefit millions, from theory to tool, to eventual practice, was completely, firmly in Chinese hands.

Academician Xiang Wangshan's lips began to tremble slightly. He wanted to say something, to comment on this remarkable achievement, to encourage these excellent young people, but something seemed to clog his throat, preventing any sound. His eyes, which had witnessed nearly a century of ups and downs and once muddled, were now exceptionally clear, quickly gathered moisture, and then, hot tears flowed down unexpectedly along the deep wrinkles on his face.

He didn't wipe them away, letting the tears flow. They weren't tears of sadness, but tears of anticipation, unwillingness, humiliation, and struggle that had built up for decades, finally released and relieved at this moment; tears of seeing his unfinished business, the nation's dreams, becoming reality in the hands of the younger generation, an incomparably gratifying and exciting tear.

Professor Liang, seeing his old friend's tears, immediately had his eyes reddened as well. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his turbulent emotions, extending his age-spotted hand, heavily gripping Xiang Wangshan's slightly trembling arm.

"Wangshan..." Old Liang's voice was also choked, "What we...we couldn't accomplish, the kids... they did it!"

This sentence seemed to drain all the strength from Academician Xiang's body; he nodded heavily, tears flowing even more vigorously. The two white-haired old men supported each other in the center of the laboratory, allowing the hot tears to flow freely.

All the surrounding researchers gathered around, forming a circle, including Yang Ping, Professor Su Qingyun, and Dean Xia, all stood quietly in their places, no one making a noise to disturb. Everyone understood the feelings of these two old men at that moment, those tears weighed a thousand pounds.

After a while, Academician Xiang Wangshan finally used his sleeve to wipe away the tear marks on his face forcefully. He broke free from Professor Liang's support, straightening his slightly stooped spine, and walked to Yang Ping.

He said nothing; he merely raised his hand, adjusted Yang Ping's already tidy white gown collar, slowly and solemnly.

Then he took a step back, facing Yang Ping, and all the young researchers behind him, bowed, slowly but with all his strength.

"Children... thank you!" The old man's voice was hoarse but filled with deep emotion, "You have supported the backbone of our country's research, you are wonderful!"

Yang Ping's eyes instantly red, he hurriedly stepped forward to support Elder Xiang: "Elder Xiang, you overpraise! This is what we should do; standing on the shoulders of you predecessors is the only reason we can see further."

Professor Liang also stepped forward, his gaze sweeping across the room, voice returning to calm: "Yang Ping, Elder Xiang is right. What you've accomplished is not just a breakthrough in technology but a spiritual independence. From now on, in this field, no one can choke us anymore. This autonomous path you've walked, keep walking it, go wider, go further!"

"Rest assured, you two elders!" Yang Ping's voice was incredibly firm, "'Breaking Wall' is not the end, but just the beginning, we will certainly do our best."

In the laboratory, someone unknown started to applaud. At first, it was sporadic, then thunderous applause filled the entire space, lasting for a long time. This applause was for the achievements made, for the fulfillment of the old generation's wishes, and more so for this path of innovation that, although full of thorns, will undoubtedly become broader and wider.

"Chen Xiao, come over." Academician Xiang beckoned, calling Chen Xiao from the crowd.

"Is this? Chen Xiao?" Professor Liang was quite surprised, "Returned?"

"This is Professor Liang." Academician Xiang introduced his beloved student to Professor Liang.

Professor Liang looked at Chen Xiao, and Zhang Chunquan's image floated into his mind…

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