America 1982

"It's rare for freshmen to come to the library part-time in the first week. It usually takes two to three weeks for freshmen to consider this place after they have a general understanding of the situation on Stanford's campus and find that there are no other part-time jobs to choose from." Stanford University Maya Gibbons, administrator of the Henry Meyer Memorial Library's Technical Support and Help Center, introduced Tommy to the library.

The Stanford University Library is a collective name that includes twenty different libraries. The Meyer Library where Tommy worked part-time at this time was completed in 1966 to commemorate Henry Meyer, an early donor to Stanford University and the founder of the Stanford Endowment Fund. This is A four-story building, the first floor is open 24 hours a day, including several study group discussion rooms, a reading hall open 24 hours a day, with a collection of 400,000 books, the second floor is the technical support center, and the third floor is Stanford Asia Library, the fourth floor is the library office area.

Tommy's job is mainly at the service desk on the first floor. When students come to inquire about a certain book, he searches the list through the computer, gives the specific location area to the other party, or helps the students use the computer to print out some study materials for a fee. live.

"Apple II?" Tommy looked at the computer he was assigned to use, a little surprised: "I thought that because of the failure of Apple III, many universities would abandon the Apple brand."

The second and third generations of Apple he mentioned were the two computers previously released by Apple. After the former became a hit, Jobs ambitiously launched the third generation. However, because the concept was too advanced, and because it affected the aesthetics of the whole machine, he ignored dissuasion and opposition. , forcibly removed the built-in radiator of the computer, which directly caused the heating effect of the three-generation computers shipped in the early stage to be comparable to that of a fireplace.

Moreover, the price of Apple III was too high, and the overall operation changes were too drastic. As a result, the market share captured by the second generation was quickly eaten up by other brands of computers. Jobs, who stubbornly made wrong market judgments, was regarded as a black sheep by shareholders, and he spent all day thinking about how to do it. Kick him out of the company.

“When Apple 3 was first released, we did purchase some, but found that VisiCalc on Apple 2 could not run on the new generation of computers, and the heat dissipation effect of the new computers was not good, so we returned them all and continued to use the previous Apple 2. After all, our library only purchased computers because of the VisiCalc software." Maya watched Tommy turn on the computer and introduced:

"The library's book collection list is made by VisiCalc, and as the collection increases, it is constantly added and entered. Compared with the previous need to look through a lot of paper records to help find books, this software makes the search efficiency much faster. Do you know about this software? ?”

VisiCalc is a dedicated spreadsheet software for Apple computers. 70% of the reason why Apple 2 is so popular is that this software developed by Soft Arts Company is loved by major schools and companies, freeing them from traditional paper forms. , and this software can only run on Apple2.

Just like the Stanford University Library at this time, the reason for purchasing an Apple computer is just because it needs to use this software.

"I understand part of it. I specially bought a computer and the same software, but I didn't fully write down many operations. It is very difficult to use." Tommy operated the keyboard, ran the software, and brought up the library's book list to show to him. Teacher Maya said.

Seeing Tommy's operation, Maya nodded with satisfaction: "This is already very good. If you have any problems with the operation, you can use it with the user manual next to it. For more complex fault problems, you can contact me or go to the second floor. Contact other management teachers and we will arrange technical personnel to handle it."

"Thank you, I have no more questions, Mrs. Gibbons." Tommy nodded to Maya, indicating that he had cleared up all the questions.

Maya smiled back at Tommy and left the workbench: "Well, I wish you a good first day at your part-time job."

However, after she took a few steps, she couldn't help but turn around and look at Tommy Hawke, who was concentrating on operating the computer. This tall, blond boy with a sunny smile was extremely conspicuous in the library. She just noticed that since he appeared in At the workbench, several girls who were reading in the hall couldn't help but cast an appraising look at him. As soon as he took a few steps away, a girl stood up and walked to the workbench, obviously preparing to consult Tommy.

This boy should not appear here. According to past experience, freshmen with such outstanding appearance will choose to work part-time in places like restaurants or stadiums to spread their charm and attract beautiful and outgoing girls. Regardless of part-time job here, Most of the students, or the students who come to look up information, wear high-grade glasses and don’t care about their dress. They are dubbed as nerds.

"Maybe more girls will like to come to this library to read because of this young man named Tommy." Maya smiled and said to herself, and then walked to her office.

…

The SSD fraternity house on Greek Avenue in Stanford, known internally as Sparta, covers an area of ​​more than 2,400 square meters and has twenty bedrooms, a large conference room, a large kitchen with its own chef, laundry room, The fraternity honors room, sacred sanctum, and other rooms filled with certificates, photos, and trophies.

The land is owned by Stanford University, and the fraternity needs to pay annual rent, which is generally paid by donations from fraternity alumni and dues collected.

While Tommy Hawke was working part-time in the library, several administrators of the Stanford University Chapter of SSD were discussing the recruitment of new members to the party on Friday in the conference hall. For the fraternity, this is the most important event every year. Because it will determine the future development of SSD.

After all, these managers today will eventually graduate, and sooner or later the fraternity will be handed over to new people. Whether SSD will continue to grow or close down depends on their vision in recruiting new parties.

If a group of rookies with poor self-control, poor social skills, and simple minds are recruited and the reputation of the fraternity is damaged or the fraternity simply fails to operate and closes down, then just wait to be engraved on the pillar of shame.

"There is a senator's son who joined Stanford this year. I think he deserves S-level attention. I have received news that at least five fraternities, including us, are preparing to drag him in." said the fraternity house manager. He posted the news he had received: "That senator might become the deputy secretary of state one day."

For the fraternity, although it advertises that anyone will be considered for admission, it only deceives simple-minded freshmen. The fraternity's first priority is always the children and grandchildren of senior politicians, such as absorbing the son of a Florida governor into the fraternity. , although the Stanford University chapter does not seem to enjoy many political resources, the fraternity is a national organization, and the Florida chapter will naturally receive a lot of resources and exposure.

"So you have found someone to contact him? Does he personally want to choose the Order of the Phoenix or us?" Brotherhood Chairman Charles Salmon looked at the house manager and said.

The house manager shrugged: "He is still considering it. He personally prefers the Order of the Phoenix, but his father hopes that he can choose us because the charity organization we are tied to is the Vietnam Veterans Charitable Care Foundation, and his father is more interested in this association. The charity organization of the Order of the Phoenix is ​​the Cancer Care Foundation, which is not attractive enough compared with our partners. Their care objects are just a group of miserable people waiting to die, while ours are the warriors who fought for the United States, his father Of course I know how to choose.”

"Huntsman, call the headquarters and ask the Vietnam Veterans Care Foundation to send an invitation letter to the new father's father, asking him to attend some of the association's fundraising activities and build a good relationship. We help those Vietnam War alcoholics raise hundreds of dollars every year. Ten thousand dollars cannot go without return. Then you contact him and find out what the guy is interested in, such as women, alcohol, grades, honors, etc. Make the information as detailed as possible so that I can be more relaxed when talking to him on Friday night. , next." After Charles finished speaking, he lightly tapped the table twice with his hand to indicate the next question.

"The son of the California Attorney General is also attending Stanford University this year." The social manager said at this time.

"You said the California Attorney General's son was ranked second?" Charles looked at the social manager who spoke and said dissatisfied: "Okay, go on."

"Although that guy has undoubted S-level attention, he only likes DTS. The chance of joining us or the Order of the Phoenix is ​​so low that it can be ignored. This is why I didn't say it outright right away."

"The son of the deputy secretary of state of Washington State is admitted to Stanford University this year. I suggest that B-level attention is enough because the chance of joining us is not high. He is going to join the public welfare fraternity and work hard to echo his mother's fight against racial discrimination. "

"The son of the Sheriff of Long Beach, Los Angeles, with A-level attention, a muscular idiot, has been yearning for our SSD for a long time. If you give him A-level attention, he will definitely be one of ours. He has a ninety-foot-long dog at home. Yachting, if he joins us, we can have one more activity during the summer vacation to go sailing on the yacht in Los Angeles.”

Several other people also shared the information they had collected. Charles looked at Eric, the recruitment chairman who had never spoken: "Eric, are you going to remain silent until the end of the meeting?"

"I have a country boy who is the first generation and his family is unknown, but he is very smart. He and his roommate made money by selling fake news to the freshmen, and then they held a party. The first among the freshmen to expand their social circle." Eric thought for a while, looked at Charles, and spoke of his thoughts.

Charles frowned slightly: "Eric, don't waste your time on those country rookies who are unlikely to be successful and come to college just to pick up girls. We need new blood to strengthen the fraternity, but we will not choose those who have no vision and courage. When you meet a girl from a big city, your first reaction is to be an idiot covering her crotch.”

"I think if he passes the inspection, he can help the brotherhood in social work in the future. The guy is definitely experienced in holding parties. He is not like a country bumpkin at all. How can any of you think of going out to the beach to select couples and unbutton women's bras? And then he ran away to practice his ability to pick up a bra with one hand? That guy can think of it, and I saw it with my own eyes, and he solved it really damn fast." Eric still spoke in a tone of voice when talking about what he had seen and heard in Tommy's dormitory before. Unable to hide his shock: "And I think his potential is much more than what he shows, so I want to give him A-level attention."

"A-level attention, brother, there were only nine A-level or above attentions at our recruitment party that night. Are you sure you want to waste the spot on a country boy?" Charles frowned slightly and stared at Eric to emphasize his tone.

The so-called A-level attention and above means that the nine managers of SSD spent precious time on the night of the new recruitment party to focus on and communicate with the nine freshmen one-on-one.

That's why it is necessary to determine in advance the list of nine freshmen who are A-level and above. For example, the highest S-level attention has only two positions, namely, the chairman and vice-chairman of the fraternity. Go and communicate with the freshmen in person to understand their wishes. , invite the other party to join the meeting.

Eric nodded: "Brother, I insist. That guy is definitely the material to become a bastard. By the way, that guy's information says he is good at table tennis. This is also a plus for the newcomers. After all, the other newcomers write about rugby. More."

"Very good, you are my brother at the same time, and I choose to believe in your persistence." Charles saw Eric's affirmative tone and finally nodded: "Let's see if he is the bastard we need. This year's In the rookie competition, our goal is to kill the Order of the Phoenix and DTS and regain the title of Stanford’s No. 1 Brotherhood.”