The Star Sky Hotel was located in the most central area of Tiangong City. It was the most luxurious business hotel in the entire Tiangong City. It was also the preferred venue for various important academic conferences.
Speaking of this hotel, it actually had a lot to do with Star Sky Technology, which only had one brand left. When Tiangong City was first established, Star Sky Technology once invested a lot of money here to develop infrastructure. Unfortunately, due to poor management, this giant did not survive until then.
The ownership of this hotel was also sold to a local real estate company in the 1950s. Although it was easy for Lu Zhou to buy it back with his current financial resources, he had no interest in running a hotel.
What's more, Star Sky Technology was now an empty shell. Even if he bought it back, he would have a headache about how to operate it. It was better to keep it as it was.
Early the next morning, on the way downstairs to eat, Lu Zhou met a scholar who was also from Earth. Perhaps it was because he was too famous on Earth, the young man saw him from afar and waved at him excitedly.
Thinking that this guy was quite interesting, Lu Zhou invited him to sit together and enjoy breakfast. During the breakfast chat, Lu Zhou learned that this young man's name was Wu Qinglai. He was a professor at the Pan-Asian Academy of Engineering Space Station Research Institute, and he had just become a full member two years ago.
After listening to the young man's self-introduction, Lu Zhou looked around curiously. After he found that they were all unfamiliar faces, he asked with interest.
"May I ask if the other academicians of your institute are here? I mean, how did Tiangong City find you? "
Although he didn't rule out the existence of young and promising people, he really had no impression of the young man in front of him. He didn't feel familiar with this name at all.
Generally speaking, if he was really an outstanding scholar, he should have heard of his name at academic conferences, at least his papers.
As if seeing through Lu Zhou's thoughts, the professor, who claimed to be Little Wu, shrugged his shoulders and spoke rather helplessly.
"I know what you're thinking. It's nothing. Logically speaking, a nobody like me shouldn't be sent to such an important meeting, but you might not know this. Although it's only a five-minute time difference, the academic community on Mars and the academic community on Earth are basically two independent existences. To put it bluntly, they don't particularly look up to us. "
Lu Zhou paused for a second and looked at him with an inexplicable expression.
"Why would they think that?"
"Historical reasons." Wu Qinglai shrugged. "If you want to explain the allusions one by one, I'm afraid it won't be enough even if you say you'll go tomorrow morning. In short, since they clearly don't value our opinions, why should we send our best experts? Interplanetary travel is a tough job. If I could, I wouldn't want to come here. "
At present, only the Qinling was equipped with a warp speed engine. Most of the flights to and from Earth were accelerated by traditional working medium. Although from the perspective of a 21st-century citizen, reaching Mars from Earth in three days was quite fast, for people in the 22nd century, they, who had never experienced the voyage time of half a month in the past, couldn't understand the beauty of this.
Lu Zhou shook his head and spoke.
"The essence of academia is communication. This kind of presupposition approach is not good."
Wu Qinglai said with a wry smile, "We all know this is not good, but what can we do? Compared to Earth, this is a large local area network. Even if I want to reply to an email, I have to pay credits per byte. Coming here means that I have to be completely out of touch with the academic community on Earth for at least half a month or even a month. "
Although he was very interested in the history of the time he was away, this did not seem to be a suitable place to discuss this issue. The topic of the two quickly turned to the local customs of Tiangong City.
Perhaps it was because he wasn't particularly valued by the Academy of Engineering, this wasn't the first time Comrade Wu had been sent here as a tool. He was so familiar with this place that it was like his second home.
After eating, the two walked in the direction of the elevator together.
At this moment, a man in his early forties walked over from the main entrance of the hotel surrounded by a group of people.
Judging from the man's clothes and the attitude of the people around him, this guy's status should not be low. The man seemed to have noticed Lu Zhou. He was slightly taken aback, then frowned slightly, and walked over here.
"You are Lu Zhou?"
Although he felt that this guy's tone seemed a little off, Lu Zhou was not the kind of narrow-minded man, so he didn't take his attitude to heart. He spoke in a gentle tone.
"Yes, what's the matter?"
"Nice to meet you." The man didn't show too much joy on his face. He reached out his right hand, shook hands with Lu Zhou, and quickly took it back. "Welcome to Tiangong City. I hope this city can leave a deep impression on you. In a while, we will discuss the technical feasibility and specific implementation plans of the Europa development plan. We look forward to hearing interesting opinions from you, and I hope Academician Lu will not be stingy with your advice. "
Lu Zhou smiled and nodded.
"Of course."
After a few words of greeting, the man left surrounded by a group of people.
Lu Zhou curiously looked in the direction of the man's departure. He didn't hear the man introduce himself, so he asked curiously.
"Who is that person?"
"Yang Chongping." Little Wu said in a complicated tone as he watched the man leave, "The director of the Institute of Aerospace Technology of the Tiangong Research Institute. He is also an academician of the Mars Academy of Sciences … In the field of spacecraft design, his theories can be said to be self-proclaimed, especially in the design of large starships and space stations. Even my supervisor admits that this guy does have some skills."
Lu Zhou nodded, but his focus was on something strange.
"There is an Academy of Sciences on Mars?"
"Of course … Didn't I say that the situation on Mars is more complicated?" Little Wu said with a light cough, "Because the policies of the regional alliances on Mars are handed over to the local residents for autonomous management, there is actually a trade organization similar to a tariff-free alliance between the colonial cities on Mars. In recent years, the scope of cooperation has gradually expanded to cultural, scientific research, and even political fields … You can think of the Mars Academy of Sciences as an organization similar to the Third World Academy of Sciences a century ago."
In other words, in terms of territorial ownership, Tiangong City was closer to the Pan-Asian Cooperation. But in the economic and cultural fields, the cooperation between the various colonial cities on Mars was closer.
Compared to the colonies, Lu Zhou felt that this place was more like a vassal state of the Pan-Asian Cooperation.
However, he was not very interested in these political things. After inquiring about the Mars Academy of Sciences, he brought the topic back to Academician Yang Chongping himself.
"I feel like he doesn't like me very much?"
"There is no city in this world that welcomes outsiders, especially for those native Martians. We are only slightly better than aliens." Little Wu shrugged his shoulders and said jokingly, "Of course, they do have the capital to be proud of in aerospace. After all, the heavy industry on Earth has basically been hollowed out. The most cutting-edge production bases in the entire industry are basically distributed around Tiangong City … You should know that the materials for the space elevator are basically produced here."
Lu Zhou nodded, indicating that he understood.
Of course, he knew about this.
After all, he was the largest individual shareholder of East Asia Heavy Industries. He had a rough idea of the industrial chain distribution of East Asia Heavy Industries and its cooperative suppliers.
Wu Qinglai glanced at Lu Zhou secretly. He thought that Lu Zhou had some history with Yang Chongping, so he whispered.
He whispered, "Actually, you don't have to pay attention to him. He is just jealous of your achievements."
Hearing these words, Lu Zhou was slightly taken aback. He then spoke with a light smile.
"I just think this person is very interesting. I don't mean anything else. Don't think too much about it. Tell me about the delicious food nearby. When I passed by Tiangong City last time, I didn't have time to take a good look at the city … "
"Then I recommend you to go to the central dome! It's next to the Star Sky Hotel. You can get there through the underground passage or by taking the teleporter. "Wu Qinglai continued in an excited tone," Standing on the observation deck of the central dome, it is said that you can see the outline of New Virginia City! And the revolving restaurant there is one of the must-visit attractions in Tiangong City! "
Lu Zhou smiled and said, "Really? Then I have to go and take a look when I have time. "
He was already an old man. Of course, he wouldn't make life difficult for a young man.
After going back to his room to rest for a while, Lu Zhou saw that there was still a little time before the afternoon meeting. He remembered that the scenic spot recommended by Professor Wu was not far away, so he went out for a walk.
He had to admit that the scenery there was quite shocking.
He stood on the conveyor belt leading to the next floor and took the elevator to the hall of the central dome. Lu Zhou, who walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, was immediately stunned by the scenery in front of him.
The three-dimensional transportation network spread out like layers of spider webs, dividing the barren land into a border that belonged to civilization.
"Ling."
Ling, who was standing next to him, looked at Lu Zhou and replied in a flat electronic voice.
"What's wrong, Commander?"
After a moment of silence, Lu Zhou spoke in a somewhat emotional tone.
"I'm beginning to understand the thoughts of those people."
To be able to build a city on this barren land required more than just wisdom and courage. And they, who had created such a miracle, did have the capital to be proud.
This kind of estrangement might not be caused by time and distance at all …
Ling couldn't understand the deeper meaning of Lu Zhou's words. He tilted his head with a confused expression on his face.
However, Lu Zhou didn't explain anything. He just stopped to admire the beautiful city for a while, then turned around and left …
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