Annihilation of the solar system

Shen Manling was surprised at Liu Chaowen's sudden question at first, and soon the corner of her mouth raised an eye-catching smile. Such a question was not unexpected for her, because Chaowen had also asked her a lot about astronomical observation and cosmology before. , Zhou Cheng and Cao Rui were a little surprised.

Her gentle eyes slowly swept over the people on the table:

"We also organized astronomical observations when Oumuamua reached perihelion. The Near-Earth Object Observation Center of the National Astronomical Observatory took photos. The relevant information is still in my office. You can pick it up at school tomorrow."

Cao Rui took out a few cigarettes from the cigarette case on the table and handed them to Lao Liu and Zhou Cheng:

"The matter was still very hot at the time, and some folk astronomy enthusiasts insisted that it was an alien spacecraft. To be honest, the pictures on the news did look quite similar."

Shen Manling shook her head, with a gentle smile still on her face:

"Those pictures and videos on the news are all post-production model animations, not real sky survey photos. The photos taken by the National Astronomical Observatory actually look like taking a mobile phone to take a picture of a car one kilometer away. When you zoom in, it looks like a bunch of Pixels, it’s impossible for news photos to be as detailed.”

Everyone stopped what they were doing and listened intently to Shen Manling's description.

"From the perspective of our astronomy profession, it is a very ordinary comet. Just because it is cigar-shaped, it gives many astronomy enthusiasts room to imagine.

They imagined the portholes of the spacecraft and the structure of the engine based on the animated model. This is actually very ridiculous in our opinion. However, Oumuamua still has astronomical significance. It is the first planet to be used by humans. The detection has confirmed that comets came from outside the solar system, but there is nothing more special about it.”

Liu Chaowen lost all his shyness. As if he was a different person, he asked Shen Manling:

"Teacher Shen, I want to see Oumuamua now with my own eyes, is that okay?"

The gentle smile on Shen Manying's face was replaced by doubts and confusion, and she frowned slightly:

"Um...you mean you want to observe the current orbital position of 'Oumuamua through a near-Earth object telescope?"

Liu Chaowen nodded and answered firmly:

"Um!"

Shen Manling used her slender fingers to brush the dark curly hair that fell out of her exquisite hairstyle, and then smoothed it behind her ears:

"Oumuamua should have passed the orbit of Mars now. It has changed its orbit after orbiting the sun, and my research team no longer tracks it. The astronomical telescope of the National Astronomical Observatory should still be able to capture traces of 'Oumuamua. .”

Shen Manling's face returned to its previous smile

"It just looks like a small black dot. I have a few students who happen to be doing a sky survey project at the National Astronomical Observatory. I can ask her to scan that sky area tomorrow to see if she can find any trace of 'Oumuamua, and then put it there Send me the photos."

Liu Chaowen frowned slightly after hearing this. He did not look at Shen Manling or anyone at the table, as if he was deep in thought. Seeing Liu Chaowen's state, Zhou Cheng spoke first:

"Madam, you still don't understand what Chaowen means. Don't you have a student at the National Astronomical Observatory? Just give her a call and ask Chaowen to go over and see what he wants to see through the telescope as big as a house. .”

Zhou Cheng took the wine glass and turned to look at Lao Liu

"He has been tinkering with the blackboard, formulas, and experimental instruments buried underground for so many years. He wants to see the stars and the sea. How romantic it is. He needs to rest. Isn't this just right? Chaowen, is this what you mean? Bar!"

Liu Chaowen nodded without saying a word, and his face gradually returned to its previous shyness.

Shen Manling suddenly realized it, raised her eyebrows slightly, and said with a smile:

"Hahaha! Chaowen, your teacher still knows you. That's no problem. I'll call Xia Lan in a moment. You can go at any time. Just tell me before you go and I'll ask her to pick you up over there. "

Old Liu looked a little uneasy:

"This won't be too much trouble, Professor Shen."

Before Shen Manling could answer, Zhou Cheng spoke first:

"Ask Manling to say hello to the teacher of the project team and add Chaowen's name to the team list. As long as the team is still at the National Astronomical Observatory, he can stay wherever he wants. While those old guys are still researching During this period of writing the paper, Chaowen can take a good rest. Once the paper is widely recognized, he will start to get busy again."

Old Liu raised his wine glass with both hands and nodded repeatedly:

"Then thank you Professor Zhou and Professor He Shen. I am just a technical worker with no education and no understanding of anything. You are Chaowen's reborn parents, so I will listen to you."

Lao Zhou picked up the wine glass and swallowed the juice in one gulp, then waved his hand:

"Old Liu, didn't you tell me, just call me Lao Zhou, don't be so polite. My parents can't afford it anymore. The child Chaowen is too good in his own right, but he came to Jinghua with me when he was underage. I thought he was half It's okay to be a parent, just treat us as a family."

Hearing such approachable words from this top professor at a top university, Lao Liu was moved in his heart, but he couldn't organize a decent language to express it, so he could only hold up his wine glass and express his heartfelt gratitude in the simplest words. .Zhou Cheng finished his drink and continued:

"To be honest, this is the first time in the past five years that I have seen Chaowen interested in things other than theoretical physics and mathematics. I was afraid that he would be overwhelmed. I have also been to the National Astronomical Observatory once. The scenery is beautiful and the air is fresh. It’s a great place to go and relax.”

Cao Rui took out a crumpled piece of paper from the back pocket of his pants and handed it to Liu Chao's tattoo with a smile:

"Since we are all one family, it won't be a problem for my uncle to consult my half-nephew on minor issues."

Zhou Cheng looked at Cao Rui with confusion, not knowing what he was going to do.

"This is a postcard sent to me by a friend of mine. He said it is a commemorative postcard of the Taj Mahal and is worth a little money. I asked many people who didn't recognize the Indian script written on it. I heard Lao Zhou say that Chaowen is also very good in terms of language. You are very talented, please Chaowen, please show me what is written in Indian on this postcard."

Liu Chaowen took the postcard with the exquisite photo of the Taj Mahal from Cao Rui. When his eyes fell on the lines of strange words, his face showed the calmness he usually had when doing scientific research. It could even be said to be indifferent. But soon, the shyness returned to the big boy's face, and there was also a hint of embarrassment.

He handed the postcard back to Cao Rui, looked at Zhou Cheng and then at his father, and whispered:

"A lot of these are slang terms from Uttar Pradesh, India. I don't quite understand what some of them mean, such as giving you a royal enjoyment and letting you bathe in a gentle ocean... There are other words and phrases like this Lots of them, I think they’re postcards from a hotel called the Taj Mahal.”

Hearing this, Zhou Cheng patted Cao Rui on the shoulder and burst into laughter. Cao Rui looked embarrassed, crumpled the postcard into a ball and threw it into the trash can next to him, cursing in a low voice, filling the atmosphere with joy. filled the entire dining room.

Zhou Cheng's old wine had bottomed out, and the night was getting darker. Old Liu stood up, with a blush on his face:

"Thank you Zhou...oh no...thank Lao Zhou and sister-in-law for their hospitality today. It's time for Chaowen and I to leave. I'm leaving in a hurry, and I haven't explained anything in the workshop. I have a lot of work to do." I have to rush back tomorrow, and I’m a little drunk too, so I won’t drink today.”

Zhou Cheng also stood up:

"Yeah, that's okay! I've already arranged for someone to come and take you to the hotel. The rooms have been arranged, so you can just go directly. It's rare for you to come to Jinghua, so why not leave for a few more days!"

Old Liu put his hands together and bowed:

"This is enough trouble for you. Chaowen has been in Beijing for a long time anyway, and there are many opportunities. It is really inconvenient for me to stay longer this time."

After a few polite words to each other, Zhou Cheng, his wife and Cao Rui watched the car carrying Liu and his son drive away at the door. Zhou Cheng looked at Cao Rui and then at Shen Manling, and his wife understood what he meant:

"Do you want to chat for a while? I'll go in first and clear the table."

After saying that, he turned around and entered the room alone. Zhou Cheng took out a box of cigarettes from his pocket, handed one to Cao Rui and lit one for himself:

"How about it? Today you have met the chosen one."

Cao Rui took a deep breath of his cigarette, looked at the potted plants in the yard that were cast shadows by the moonlight on the ground, and after a long silence, he whispered:

"This father and son look too ordinary. It is strange that Liu Chaowen's ability appears in such an ordinary family. I have observed it carefully. When talking about the professional fields he is good at, his state is completely different from his usual state. .To prove my point, I specially prepared the postcard filled with Uttar Pradesh slang.”

Zhou Cheng looked Cao Rui up and down:

"You, Lao Cao, are indeed well prepared."

Cao Rui continued:

"I have seen geniuses like him who separate their life and work. But he is like a step. One second he is a shy and introverted teenager, and the next second he can immediately become a focused computer. He is completely different from the other person. I have never seen such a person."

Zhou Cheng blew out a puff of smoke and nodded vigorously:

"You're right. Chaowen has been working and studying here all these years just like you just said. It's just that I don't pay much attention to it. But when you said it, I really noticed it."

Cao Rui still stared at the reflections of those potted plants:

"If your intuition is right, then there must be a reason behind this that we can't figure out yet. The truth is completely covered by appearances. Just like the shadow on the ground, it looks like a monster with its teeth and claws. In fact, That’s a few plants.”

Zhou Cheng looked at the bright moon and fell into deep thought without speaking. Cao Rui took a deep breath and put out the cigarette butt in the trash can at the door:

"If you firmly believe that there is a reasonable explanation within the scope of our knowledge behind this child's extraordinary abilities, then we might as well avoid this question that cannot be answered for the time being. We can try to find the purpose of his having such abilities."

Zhou Cheng was startled and looked at Cao Rui with wide round eyes:

"Purpose? What purpose?. Everything he has done before has been to contribute to the development of science. If this perspective is not high enough, then I can also say that he is providing the core and strongest driving force for the progress of human civilization. .”

At this time, the door behind them opened. The person who opened the door was Shen Manling:

"Why are you standing outside? The fruits have been cut. Come in and eat and chat."

Cao Rui said with a smile:

"Thank you, sister-in-law. I want to thank you again for the good wine and food today. I have some very important work tomorrow, so I won't disturb you. I'll leave first."

Shen Manling politely tried to persuade her to stay, but Cao Rui still declined. But when he walked to the door of the courtyard, he turned around and shouted to Zhou Cheng who was about to enter:

"Maybe your angle just wasn't high enough or wide enough!"

Cao Rui's back gradually disappeared into the dim night. Cao Rui's words were swirling in Zhou Cheng's mind.

"Purpose...what is the purpose...?"

He didn't know how long he stood like this. When he looked up, he suddenly saw the stars in the sky, and remembered the strange request Liu Chaowen made just now. Zhou Cheng couldn't help but said to himself:

"Why does he want to see that star so much?"