Genius of the Rules-Style System

Chapter 818: Chapter 434: The Failing Design Ranks First_3

For example, if a method is used in 100 places and is ineffective in 95 of them, it indicates that the coverage is very low, and the probability of aiding in producing results is not high.

Conversely.

The minor issues raised by Wang Zhifang all relate to methods with low coverage.

After Wang Zhifang finished asking questions, Zhang Hongtao also asked a minor question. Then, everyone turned their gaze toward Zhao Yi because he had stated that as long as no major issues were encountered in the argumentation, the proposal should be passed directly for experimentation.

What would Zhao Yi say now?

Zhao Yi looked around at everyone and made a decision. "It seems there are no significant problems. We’ll go with Professor Li’s plan for our first experiment!"

Li Rongmao was somewhat confused; he had just been stumped by Wang Zhifang’s questioning and quickly asked, "Isn’t it necessary to revise it a bit?"

"No need, we’ll go with this plan!"

Zhao Yi confirmed resolutely. He then turned to Zhang Hongtao. "Your turn now, Brother Zhang?"

"Alright." freewēbnoveℓ.com

Zhang Hongtao didn’t continue discussing the issues with Li Rongmao’s design, because indeed, there were no major flaws in it. He approached the lectern, inserted his prepared materials, and began the auxiliary explanation using the projection screen.

"Blah blah blah..."

"Blah blah blah..."

Zhang Hongtao went on for about half an hour, nearly putting Zhao Yi to sleep.

The others seemed quite spirited, though.

After Zhang Hongtao concluded, the other three spontaneously burst into applause.

"That was brilliant!"

Li Rongmao exclaimed with astonishment, "Perfect, I didn’t detect any issues whatsoever."

"Hehe~"

Zhang Hongtao smiled bashfully.

Wang Zhifang also wore a smile, very satisfied with Zhang Hongtao’s performance and not at all surprised by the current situation. They prepared thoroughly and had argued the plan several times without finding any issues.

Presumably...

"Academician Zhao? What do you think?" Wang Zhifang asked confidently.

Zhao Yi furrowed his brows slightly and asked, "Brother Zhang, can you guarantee that this design will enhance the performance of the K03A?"

"What?"

This question stunned Zhang Hongtao. He immediately shook his head and said, "That... that... I don’t know, maybe?"

"How likely?"

"Thirty percent?" Zhang Hongtao contemplated before answering, "It should be at least twenty percent? There is a high possibility of improvement, but by how much is hard to say."

Zhao Yi continued to press, "How likely is it that the melting point can be raised to 1700 degrees?"

"Pfft—!!"

Wang Zhifang, who was just sipping water, sprayed it out.

Zhang Hongtao darkly said, "Impossible! Not entirely impossible, maybe one percent?"

"Hmm."

Zhao Yi disregarded their reactions and placed Zhang Hongtao’s document at the bottom of the pile, saying, "Let’s keep this as a backup for now."

"Backup... backup?"

Zhang Hongtao was completely stunned, not understanding why his perfect design was merely considered a backup and for a moment was speechless.

Next was Shen Binghe’s turn.

With his own design relegated to backup, Zhang Hongtao felt uncomfortable and watched Shen Binghe intently, as if they had become enemies.

"What is this guy... doing?" fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com

Shen Binghe was confused and frustrated, beginning his explanation with trepidation. His nervousness wasn’t due to Zhang Hongtao, but because the others’ designs seemed very good, and his skills were quite limited. Too embarrassed to ask Li Rongmao for help, he had written everything himself and was only certain there were no major issues.

The minor issues... were numbing!

Halfway through Shen Binghe’s explanation, Zhang Hongtao couldn’t resist preparing to ask questions. Some he managed to answer reluctantly, in some parts he simply admitted he ’couldn’t explain’.

Eventually, he blurted out, "Any method would do; I just chose one at random, without any reason. After all, it’s just a feeling."

This statement left the others unable to question further.

If the person concerned admitted the design was based on feeling, how could they find faults?

Nevertheless, Shen Binghe managed to finish, albeit disjointedly.

If the demonstration and argumentation were to be graded, Zhang Hongtao could score over ninety-five, and Li Rongmao could hit ninety marks. Both could be classed as ’high-scoring top students,’ whereas Shen Binghe was at the other extreme. From any perspective, he definitively failed, outright guessing on some ’test questions’.

But...

Zhao Yi placed Shen Binghe’s report on top, declaring, "It looks like we should start with Professor Shen’s design."

"What?"

"What? What? What?"

Four puzzled voices echoed through the room; even Shen Binghe was bewildered. He initially thought his design would surely be passed over, yet it was chosen?

Selected as the first for experimentation?

In other words...

He ranked first?

"This is nonsense!" Wang Zhifang was already very dissatisfied, feeling that Zhang Hongtao’s report was the best, but it had been relegated to ’backup.’ Li Rongmao’s had its highlights too, but the first selected for experimentation was Shen Binghe’s report, which was definitely ’failing’?

"Why?"

All four turned their gazes toward Zhao Yi.

Zhao Yi’s eyebrows slightly furrowed as he explained, "I’ve said from the beginning that the purpose of the first phase of experiments is to gather experience. We’ll do a few trials first to eliminate the incorrect methods."

"Professor Shen’s design seems fraught with issues, but we can’t definitively say it’s wrong. Maybe his design could also produce an alloy with excellent performance, right?"

"Even if it fails to do so, it would bring us experience. You have to experience failure before success can follow."

Zhao Yi continued, "On the other hand, Brother Zhang’s design is indeed very good, and I can’t find faults with it. However, in the research of alloy materials, theory plays a very small part. Your design is well supported by adequate theoretical underpinnings, which means if we can’t produce the ideal material using your design, we won’t be able to identify the problem through the process. What’s the point of doing an experiment then, if it’s as good as not doing it at all?"

"..."

"..."

Wang Zhifang and Zhang Hongtao exchanged glances, both coming to the realization that Zhao Yi made a lot of sense.

But still...

Why do they still feel something is amiss?