On the day of the press conference.
The No. 1 conference hall of the Jinling launch site was crowded with people.
Reporters of all skin colors stood there, almost filling up the originally spacious conference hall.
In order to leave enough space for the interviewees, all the cameras, whether automatic or manual, were arranged on both sides of the conference hall, leaving the middle of the conference hall empty.
"Do you think Academician Lu can handle such a big event?"
A young man in a formal suit stood next to Director Li. He looked around with a slightly surprised expression and muttered to himself.
As the secretary of the director of the State Administration for National Defense, he was supposed to be the spokesperson for this press conference. However, since Lu Zhou agreed to attend by himself, he became a substitute.
Director Li laughed when he heard his secretary's words.
"Can he handle it? Are you kidding me? I'm afraid that guy has seen more big scenes than me. He's seen a lot of livelier scenes than this. Let's not worry about such a small scene. "
The hour hand of the clock on the wall was on time.
Under everyone's expectations, Lu Zhou, who was dressed in a formal suit, walked onto the stage.
Lu Zhou cleared his throat and spoke in a calm voice.
"Good afternoon, everyone, I am Lu Zhou, the chief designer of the Mars landing office.
"Originally, in our arrangement, the second batch of scientific researchers to go to the Mars scientific research base would set off with the supplies to Mars at the end of the year. However, because we found traces of suspected extraterrestrial civilization near the coordinates of 15 ° south latitude and 128.1 ° west longitude, we modified the original launch plan and reconfigured the personnel and equipment for the second batch of Mars landing plan.
"Below is the adjusted route map of the Mars landing plan, as well as the specific work arrangements for the 'second contact' … Please look at the big screen."
He gave a general introduction to the entire Mars landing plan in concise and comprehensive terms. When Lu Zhou showed the PowerPoint, he gave the reporters enough time to take photos.
Soon after, the PowerPoint presentation ended.
Lu Zhou nodded to the staff next to him, indicating that the first round of questioning could begin.
Considering the content that needed to be announced, the news disclosure at the press conference was divided into two parts. The first half was about the specific details of the plan, and the second half was about the list of the "human delegation" for the second contact with the extraterrestrial civilization. At the same time, there was a brief introduction of the identities of the representatives.
In order to facilitate the reporters' questions, the Q&A session was divided into two parts.
"Hello, Academician Lu Zhou, I'm a reporter from Everyone Daily. I want to ask what are the highlights of the manned Mars landing plan."
The reporter from was the first to ask a question. She extended the microphone in her hand.
Lu Zhou smiled at her and nodded.
"I think there are two things worth paying attention to."
"One is the transportation aspect, and the other is the lifestyle aspect."
"In terms of transportation, the all-terrain rover we deployed on Mars this time has strengthened the communication module and made many special designs for the sandstorm environment on Mars. Another aspect is that this time there are not only scientific researchers going to Mars, but there are also functional colonial capsules.
"Through these independent colonial capsules, as well as the pipelines connecting the core colonial capsule and the functional colonial capsule, we will expand the scientific research base on the surface of Mars. In the future, we will be able to accommodate more scholars to carry out scientific research activities on Mars."
After the reporter from Everyone Daily finished asking questions, another foreign reporter stood up.
"Hello, I'm a reporter from the Washington Post. We noticed that when you mentioned the term extraterrestrial civilization, you used the word 'suspected'. I would like to ask if this means that there are still unresolved controversies, or about the extraterrestrial civilization … The Mars landing office has made other new discoveries? "
Lu Zhou: "I'm just being cautious, please don't interpret it any other way."
As the Q&A session continued, the reporters raised questions one after another, and Lu Zhou answered them one by one.
Overall, the atmosphere of the press conference was quite good.
Although some of the questions were a bit tricky, they were all within a reasonable range, like questions that a normal person would ask. However, when it came to the reporter from The New York Times, the atmosphere at the press conference suddenly became strange.
The person who asked the question was a white man.
He handed out the microphone in his hand and asked a question that had little to do with the Mars landing plan itself, "Have you heard of Xu Jing?"
Xu Jing?
Lu Zhou frowned. He felt like he had heard this name before, but he couldn't remember for a while, so he looked at him and said yes.
"No, what's wrong?"
"Nothing, I'm just a little surprised that you don't know her." The reporter looked at Lu Zhou with some surprise. He continued, "Then let me briefly introduce her. She is a reporter who once wrote a column for our newspaper. She is now active in the media as a freelance journalist. She is quite famous on the Internet."
Lu Zhou finally remembered who the person was. It turned out to be the author of the popular article on WeChat.
With a faint smile, Lu Zhou continued with a playful expression.
"Do you have anything you want to ask on behalf of your former employee?"
"Of course! However, I'm not asking such a question because of her identity as a former employee. It's just that the question she asked is also what we are all thinking about. "
The reporter stared at Lu Zhou and continued to speak quickly.
"As we all know, China has made excellent achievements in the field of space, and it intends to expand its existing achievements to the distant Mars. However, this space race has brought us nothing but a waste of resources and empty glory. It doesn't seem to have settled much. "
"Ms. Xu pointed out in her article that there are still many people living below the poverty line in your country. Many people have never even taken a plane. Do you think it really makes sense to develop space technology in China — "
Interrupting the reporter's speech, Lu Zhou answered his question in a rhetorical tone.
"Have you been to Los Angeles?"
Reporter: "… Of course, it's one of the largest cities on the West Coast. Of course I've been there, why?"
Lu Zhou: "I've also been there, and I was lucky enough to take the subway there. When you sent the astronauts to space, did you ever consider that there are still many homeless people out there? Not to mention taking a plane, even living is a kind of torture. "
A trace of embarrassment appeared on the reporter's face.
He realized what Lu Zhou might say next, so he quickly changed the topic.
"Of course … Our country also has our own problems. As a reporter, of course, I will reveal them honestly. But aren't we talking about China?
"There is no doubt that you are the most influential scholar in China and the world. You have also made world-renowned achievements in your field of expertise! But just like Ms. Xu's soul interrogation in the article, have you ever considered the social problems that your research may bring, such as poverty and unemployment? "
"Or could it be that in your eyes, the three examples mentioned in her article do not deserve happiness or even the right to live?"
Lu Zhou looked at the sharp eyes of the white reporter in the audience. He knew in his heart that this guy probably planned this.
However, even though he knew this, Lu Zhou wasn't surprised or nervous.
It was a tradition for American journalists to ask ridiculous questions during press conferences.
Lu Zhou looked at him with a smirk on his face and gave his answer in a nonchalant tone.
"To be honest, I haven't thought about it, and I don't care."
There was a commotion at the press conference.
Even the Caucasian reporter's eyes widened. He didn't expect Lu Zhou to be so direct. Lu Zhou walked right into the trap he set in the question.
He looked at the uproar at the press conference and even thought about the headline of tomorrow's New York Times.
Director Li saw that the situation was getting out of control, and he was anxious. He winked at Lu Zhou on the stage while pulling the secretary next to him. He wanted him to save the situation and get Academician Lu off the stage.
However, Lu Zhou acted like he didn't see it at all. He ignored Director Li's winks.
After pausing for a moment, he continued.
"Just like now, you guys are expecting me to be a great man.
"I'll solve all your troubles, prepare buns and bread for you when you're hungry, and cut them into slices and bake them when you're too lazy to do it. It's best if I can stuff them into your mouth and watch you eat them …"
Lu Zhou looked at the reporter's face and continued bluntly.
"But that's impossible.
"Technology is only a tool to create wealth, and only a tool to create wealth.
"Someone else has to research new sociological theories, delve into new production relations and resource allocation methods, and lay a theoretical foundation for a new system. Because our social scientists know how to distribute wealth. This is the best way to solve the problem of inequality.
"However, no matter how we divide the cake, if we want everyone to have enough to eat, productivity is the prerequisite."
"The development of technology will inevitably eliminate outdated production capacity, and jobs will change, but job opportunities will never disappear. They will only reappear in a more dignified and creative form. Our society will protect those who lose their jobs because of the industrial transformation. We will provide them with free training and unemployment benefits. We will guide them to find their place in this society.
"If you can't understand what a decent job is, you might as well flip through your history textbooks and compare North America in the 18th century with North America after the millennium. I believe you will find the answer you want from history. And if you think that the birth of lithium-sulfur batteries, controllable fusion, quantum computers, and space shuttles is just taking away people's jobs and is meaningless to the utopia in your mind, then I can only express my regret for your stupidity.
"So, why do I say that I don't care about the problems you mentioned?
"First of all, that's not the direction of my research.
"Second, I am full of confidence in the future people to solve these problems.
"As for whether I am brave or not, it's not up to you or her to question."
Lu Zhou paused for a second and continued.
"This trip to Mars …
"I will personally lead the team."
The moment he said that, it wasn't just the reporter who asked the question that was shocked.
The entire No. 1 conference hall was blown up by the clamor …
(End of chapter)
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