Basement, beyond pests and rodents, harbors dreams.
Chapter 01
Behind a rusty iron door, a dim incandescent light hangs desolately. A shadow flits back and forth across the yellowed walls, occasionally bending over to add a few strokes to a paper with sketches, then glancing back at the scattered parts spread on the floor, closing their eyes in deep thought.......Enclosed Space Exclusive Some powdery fermentation carries a hint of dampness, and cracks in the corner of the wall occasionally let pests out for a breath of air. Sometimes, when their eyes meet, his nerves relax a bit. He's long grown accustomed to their company, and each encounter brings a familiar smile as if they were old friends."Little brother, we're all striving for a better life!"
The dim light cast a yellow glow on his face, revealing his exhaustion all too clearly. The corners of his eyes seemed to have a few more fine lines than last week, and his temples began to stick together."Snowflake." The four walls were windowless, no view of the sky's changing sun and moon, no sight of the many people hurrying home on the streets. He lifted his hand, checked the time—it was 2 AM, time to head home. He put down the paper and pen, arranged the items on the desk neatly, turned off the dim incandescent light, and the rusty iron door creaked as if saying goodbye to his "little friends." Back home, his wife was already asleep. The house was as quiet as his "studio." He tiptoed to wash off the fatigue and the damp dust smell from his body. After bathing and brushing his teeth, he finally got to pull the covers back and drift off to sleep. In his dreams, his nitrogen generator for water-free gas chromatography was in mass production.
Next day7He couldn't hit the snooze button; he woke up before the alarm went off. Indeed, it's not the alarm that wakes him up every day—it's his dreams! He quietly got out of bed, afraid of waking his sleeping wife. He was preparing to go to work, but actually, his...MainA professional is an ordinary employee at a Hangzhou meteorological research institute.
After graduation, he entered the field as an ordinary operator. His unit was at the forefront domestically at the time. Our company has introduced a new instrument.—— Gas Chromatography Analyzers, at the time, were produced by only a few manufacturers, with a very limited number of users. Since the instrument requires hydrogen, nitrogen, air, and other inert gases as auxiliary gas sources, and commonly, gas cylinders were used to supply these gases, the maintenance process was cumbersome and required timely replacement. As the product matured and its application scope expanded, high-end researchers also recognized this drawback.20At the turn of the century, domestically developed hydrogen... Gas generators and nitrogen generators. At that time, scientific research institutions and research centers began to experiment with gas generators as an alternative to cylinder gas sources. However, due to the high requirements for using water-based nitrogen generators, over time, the chromatographic columns of gas chromatographic analyzers became contaminated, even leading to the scrapping of the entire instrument. At the time, most of these gas chromatographic analyzers were imported from abroad, at a very high cost, and the water-based nitrogen generators caused significant losses to the entire industry. Researchers in this field..."Nitrogen generator" has almost become a term that strikes fear into people. When others discussed it with him, he said, "Hydrogen generators are usable, but nitrogen generators..."No Chinese content provided.Use cylinders.”
Indeed, nitrogen generators with added water are only suitable for low-concentration, low-demand instruments and equipment. They are highly unsuitable for research institutions, universities, and colleges where there is a high demand for accuracy in experimental analysis. With an increasing number of domestic manufacturers仿制 nitrogen generators, the high-end and precision field still lacks such devices. So, how should this gap be filled?
Chapter 02 Dreams bloom in the basement.
As a frontline operator, he is deeply distressed by the damaged high-end equipment. How can we overcome the drawbacks of the nitrogen generator that requires water? Can it work without adding water?Ah.He has a certain understanding of the principles of gas chromatography analysis, knowing that there is a concept called the two-phase partition principle, which can analyze components on the chromatogram. But how can one extract a segment of material from the components?04In that year, he began to research relevant materials, running between Xinhua Bookstore, libraries, and the reading rooms of his workplace. Utilizing the then-uncommon internet, he searched for all available information on the professional knowledge in this field.—— He refers to these texts as "Silent Teachers." With no reference products available domestically or internationally at the time, driven by his passion for the industry and his own thirst for knowledge, a seed of dreams began to take root.
The road is long and winding, and he seeks answers in the basement. Besides completing his daily tasks, he...Primary ProfessionIn addition to his work, he must endure the sarcastic remarks of others and the lack of understanding from his family. As he toils alone in the basement at night, the cracks in the wall come alive with activity. The only familiar sight is the moon's glow at dawn, hanging coldly in the sky, over silent streets where a few cars speed by. Each night, a voice whispers to him,"Give it up, aren't you having a rough time already? Why all the hassle?" But the next day, after dinner, he walked into the dim hallway, descended the stairs, and with a "squeak," opened the rusted iron door.
He's far from being smart; his poor memory has caused him a world of trouble. What others can remember in one or two attempts, he has to repeat over and over again just to avoid forgetting. He has to put in twice or even more effort to achieve results comparable to his peers. It is precisely because of this that he has always faced his shortcomings head-on, knowing that..."Don't bite off more than you can chew." He knew he was just an analytical chemist for gas chromatography, with no knowledge of equipment manufacturing. However, his playful nature and hands-on preference drove him from theory to practice, from circuit and chassis design to the construction of products down to every screw and wire. He was willing to invest time, effort, and dedication into nurturing his products. Just as a seed must grow from a sprout to a towering tree, every drop of water and every turn of soil are indispensable, and the waiting time is lengthy. He continuously improved his nitrogen generator, ensuring it not only looked elegant but also had a robust build, able to withstand storms and withstand the test of time.
Through countless delicate refinements and careful improvements, his product has finally taken shape. Using a gas chromatograph, he monitored the data from his newly developed instrument and the original nitrogen generator without water. To his astonishment, he found that not only could the instrument be used for actual gas chromatography analysis, but the drawbacks of the previous nitrogen generator that required water were no longer present. As he gazed at the green wavy lines on the chromatograph, the fine lines on the corners of his eyes, which crept up at night, seemed to etch into his face like a carving tool on wood, distinct and clear. His sunken eyes began to moisten, twinkling faintly under the dim yellow light. At this moment, his heart was pounding with emotion. He wanted to tell his family, his colleagues, and the whole world that he, Zhang Guoxin, had succeeded!
The product has been developed, but the nitrogen generator label has already been tarnished with a bad reputation. How to make people accept the rebranded nitrogen generator, which has a new look? This has become a new problem that troubles him.
Chapter 03
At that time, he was not yet retired.Primary OccupationOccupying most of his time with his profession, he found himself stretched thin when it came to the production and promotion of the product. However, the thought of his meticulously developed device, far superior to what is available on the market, being shelved filled him with immense sorrow. He couldn't bear to see his promising invention languish.The "child" thus perished. He brainstormed, thinking of how to make others understand his own child. Perhaps, he could entrust another company to co-manufacture this equipment.
Hope it rises in his heart, and in his spare time, he starts searching for suitable manufacturers in the field, running around and introducing this product to people, highlighting its unique features and future prospects. He speaks endlessly, just like someone trying to find a match for their own child. He always believed that as long as the product is strong, nothing is a problem. But a question posed by the manufacturers hits him like a bolt out of the blue."Got a customer order contract?" "An order? Where do orders come from for me?"
In the context of the time, manufacturers and research institutes alike suffered greatly from the traditional water-added nitrogen generator. The shadow was hard to erase, and trust-building required time. Moreover, with the trade climate focusing on short-term gains, no one was willing to cast a long line to catch the big fish. Therefore, without orders, he was left at the door with his dreams, once again plummeting to rock bottom.
Return to the basement, he squatted by this rejected product.His gaze was dull in front of the "treasure," his white hair no longer just a few scattered strands as months ago, but like an old TV set receiving no signal—disorderly and jarring. He reached out to stroke the smooth case, feeling the cold that came with being shut out. After a while, a glimmer of determination flickered in his dim eyes, and disregarding the numbness in his legs from crouching too long, he straightened up, his dry mouth slightly parting as he sighed, "Better to rely on oneself than others!"
The next day, he hurried to the local industrial and commercial bureau, shyly asking:"Can I register a company while employed?" He received an unexpected answer: "Sure, you can." His mind was no longer at ease, but a very realistic question was in front of him. He had previously learned that the starting cost for registering a company was around 300,000 to 400,000 yuan. How could a regular employee afford that? So, he inquired about this matter with the staff member.
He could no longer contain himself, from the Industrial and Commercial Bureau to his way home, he couldn't care less about the 100% head-turns he garnered due to his smile, which radiated like he had won a million-dollar prize.Now, the reform has been implemented, and registering a company only requires...3Ten thousand yuan......”
Thus, he registered for this single product.Please provide the Chinese content that needs to be translated into American English.A small and micro enterprise, all his own. He said goodbye to his corner friends and moved to a small house on the second floor. Besides the shift from underground to above ground, there seemed to be no real change.60In the 100 square meter space, the ground is cluttered with equipment, parts, and machines, making it difficult to step in without carefully selecting each footstep to avoid stepping on anything small.——They are all his treasures.
He dedicates most of his time outside of work to perfecting the product's appearance, quality, and performance. On the production side, he's stretched thin. Therefore, he has brought on two assistants to handle the product assembly.
The sapling continues to grow.......
Chapter 04
Two years have passed by, and the room on the second floor still remains deserted. However, during these two years, there has been a bit of online discussion about this product, and it seems that some people have started to change their original opinions, gradually recognizing it. Behind this is an almost-retired individual, wearing reading glasses and fumblingly operating the mouse and keyboard day after day, posting and replying word by word. Initially, a single reply could make him happy for a long time.—he found that the skepticism about his product far outweighed the approval in this field, which sparked his interest.
In fact, for such a company to endure for two years is a miracle in the eyes of outsiders. Someone once told him,"You have such a product, how do you support five or six technicians?" he said in amazement, "Where would I get five or six technicians? I'm the technician myself." After some inquiries, it turned out that in his eyes, such a high-tech piece of equipment would require at least five or six people to develop. He sighed with a wry smile, "Just me and my perseverance, one person fed, the whole family not hungry."
However, persistence doesn't guarantee immediate results; orders remain empty. Complaints of perseverance begin to arise.60Spreading in a Small Room by Square Meter"Boss, even after six months, not a single piece of equipment has been sold." He had indeed heard it all, and the words were spoken in truth. He could only comfort them, saying, "Don't worry, it's not easy to sell, but I promise to pay you your salary monthly. Just focus on receiving your wages, and don't rush." He may say he's not in a hurry, but can he really not be? The whole company relies on his salary and bonuses all year round. His family also needs money in every aspect. Can he not be anxious? But being anxious won't bring any results, just as he always says, "Products and companies need nurturing, and time will prove everything."
Maybe.......
After the product was developed, the bleak market allowed him a moment to pause and seriously contemplate. Where was the gap between the target customers and the product, and how could it be bridged? It was evident that the notorious traditional water-nitrogen generator was hard to overcome their psychological barrier to accept this water-free nitrogen generator. Once, during a maintenance visit to a university research institute for an air generator he had sold, he mentioned his developed nitrogen generator. Before he could delve into the details, a newly graduated girl on the side exclaimed:"Nitrogen generator breakthrough" Our instructor has emphasized this countless times in class: anything that can damage the experimental equipment is strictly prohibited.How can people truly understand this product in such an environment?
He gazed at the computer, scanning forum posts and reading strangers' comments, pondering..."Why not leverage the speed of the internet to spread what I want to share?" Thus, after researching all nitrogen generators on the market, he composed an article, "A Brief Overview of the Current Status of Several Nitrogen Generators," which has gained widespread popularity. The article, written in plain language, explains the operation principles and pros and cons of three types of nitrogen generators. It argues from various angles that the waterless nitrogen generator truly avoids all the drawbacks of the previously water-based models, as well as the high cost and inconvenience of cylinder gas sources, and is fully capable of meeting the needs of high-end experiments. This article opened up the market for his product, with major professional websites beginning to republish it, and the scientific community starting to take Dekker's waterless nitrogen generator seriously. Customers flocked in, and orders kept flowing in. Dekker's operations began to run smoothly.
In five to six years, domestically, there will be a company specializing in hydrogen...A renowned gas generator company's salesperson told him, "Boss Zhang, you're doing great! After running around research institutions for two years, your product has gained significant recognition in the field. They say that wealthy institutions can buy imports, but for those with limited funds, they need to purchase domestic products, specifically the Dekel brand." This remark caused the elderly man, who had started as an ordinary front-line operator and then ventured into research and production on his own, to burst into laughter. It seemed as if he were witnessing the once small sapling he had nurtured now branching out and casting a lush canopy.
Time flies.18As the year passes, his pursuit of dreams continues. He still remembers the incandescent bulbs in the basement, the corners of the walls...The eye-to-eye encounter of the "little buddy" and the silhouette of its busy figure reflected in the dim light on the wall.
