Actually, if it were just a matter of money, Gu Dong would have a way to get it. He found many pieces of jewelry in the technological city, some of which were clearly gemstones and diamond rings, so selling them would surely fetch a lot of money. Moreover, Gu Dong was almost certain that these items were real.
However, the most important problem now was that he couldn't reasonably possess these things. Claiming he found them? That was unlikely!
After thinking about it carefully, Gu Dong felt he had to find another way. For example, he could use the method of making high-quality graphene as an excuse to ask Dad for some funds. Dad was an electrician and knew the function of batteries very well.
Making high-quality graphene was not actually high-tech; it all came down to oxidizing graphite, with only slight variations in the steps. Oxidizing graphite required some small equipment, most of which Gu Dong could make himself. Although the graphene he made himself would definitely not be as good as that made by the miniature Spider-Man, this excuse was sufficient.
He just wanted to find a reason to ask for a little money. Thinking this, Gu Dong made up his mind. He still had some savings, about two thousand yuan.
He immediately spent it all online, buying some instruments and having them delivered to his doorstep. Táng Xiù seemed to have some money too, so Gu Dong thought about it and directly asked her for a loan of one thousand yuan... Speaking of borrowing money, it was quite funny.
That day, Gu Dong was frowning, pondering what to do when Táng Xiù directly came to his door. When Gu Dong told her, the young girl was immediately startled and asked with slight surprise, "You want to borrow a thousand yuan?" Gu Dong nodded and said, "Yes, do you have it?
If not, then forget it!" Although their families were not poor, a thousand yuan was a significant amount of money for high school students like them. If it weren't for the lucky money saved during the Lunar New Year, they wouldn't have had that much.
Táng Xiù seemed amused, staring at him with her bright eyes and asking in surprise, "Brother Dongzi, what do you need so much money for?" Gu Dong smiled, "I naturally have a use for this much money. I need to buy some instruments!"
"Buy instruments?" Táng Xiù continued, surprised. "Yes!"
Gu Dong didn't hide it from her, nodding and explaining, "Isn't it that I'm researching that battery? Recently, I feel like I'm almost there and can make it, but now I need some instruments to assist. If you have the money, lend it to me first.
Later, when I make money, I'll return double the amount to you!" Táng Xiù asked again, "Is it the lithium battery you're researching?" "It's not a lithium battery, it's something else!"
Gu Dong smiled, "I feel like I'm about to research it out!" "Brother Dongzi, you're amazing!" Táng Xiù smiled, took her schoolbag, rummaged through it, and then looked up at him, "My money is at home; I need to go home to get it.
Brother Dongzi, I have three thousand yuan!" "Three thousand yuan?" Gu Dong was surprised.
Táng Xiù nodded, smiling proudly, "Yes, I've saved for a long time. It's leftovers from before. If Brother Dongzi wants it, I can give it all to you."
Gu Dong was also pleased and, after thinking for a moment, smiled, "If you have three thousand yuan, that would be even better. Xiùxiu, don't worry, when I make money, I'll return double to you!" Táng Xiù immediately chuckled, "Okay, it's settled then.
You'll have to return nine thousand yuan to me later!" Huh! Gu Dong was taken aback and looked at her, "Isn't double six thousand yuan?
How did it become nine thousand?" Táng Xiù playfully winked, full of slyness, and giggled, "Of course, it's nine thousand yuan, plus interest! Six thousand yuan is too little.
Brother Dongzi is so good to me, so I naturally have to ask for more!" Gu Dong was amused and exasperated. In reality, Táng Xiù was just joking.
This girl was quite generous when she wanted to be. After thinking for a moment, he could only smile, "Alright! Nine thousand it is!
I didn't expect you, a little girl, to be so cunning. I won't borrow money from you anymore!" "Ha, of course!"
Táng Xiù winked, smiling playfully, "I won't be polite with Brother Dongzi. Brother Dongzi, have you really figured out your lithium battery?" Gu Dong smiled, "I already said it's not a lithium battery, but something else.
It's almost there. I feel like I can make some things. I was originally thinking about where to get some money, and then our Xiùxiu delivered it to me.
Haha, Xiùxiu, you might be my lucky star. If I make a fortune in the future, you'll definitely not be forgotten!" Hearing him say that, Táng Xiù felt as if she had eaten honey, sweet and fragrant, and immediately smiled, "You're so grateful?
Then okay, I want to go with Brother Dongzi to see how you research it!" "Deal!" With money, things became easier.
Three thousand plus two thousand, a total of five thousand, was enough, at least to buy equipment for making graphene. He didn't need anything too fancy initially; as long as he could make it, that would be enough. With this excuse, more money would come in continuously.
The five thousand yuan was quickly spent, and various equipment and instruments were delivered to his doorstep one after another. Although Dad had been laid off, he had been looking for a new job these past few days and was mostly not at home, which gave Gu Dong some space to move some equipment into his room and assemble it himself. The parts needed for oxidizing graphite were not many; they were all simple equipment and instruments.
Once the equipment and instruments were assembled, Gu Dong immediately chose a time when both his parents were out to take some graphite for oxidation. Táng Xiù was very curious about what he was doing, so she came to take a look. Since the graphene was originally intended for others to see, Gu Dong didn't hide it from her.
When she saw Gu Dong skillfully operating several chemical instruments, her expression became slightly surprised. In a glass cup, a light yellow liquid appeared, and on the surface of the liquid, a layer of light yellow needle-like crystals emerged. "This isn't a battery?"
she asked in surprise. "No!" Gu Dong smiled, "But it's something better than a battery."
"Then what is it?" Táng Xiù asked. "It's called Graphene nanoribbon!"
Gu Dong smiled mysteriously, looking very satisfied with his work. Táng Xiù seemed not to have heard of graphene and asked with slight surprise, "Graphene nanoribbon? What is that?"
Gu Dong glanced at her and smiled, "It's something that can make a lot of money. Xiùxiu, this thing is said to be able to change the world!" "Uh!"
Táng Xiù heard this and felt rather amused and exasperated, saying, "Really? Then as long as Brother Dongzi is happy. So, Brother Dongzi has spent all the money on all this equipment?"
"Almost!" Gu Dong smiled, "But this equipment is confidential for now. Without my permission, you're not allowed to tell outsiders.
There's still room for improvement with this thing!" "Hehe, I definitely won't tell outsiders!" Táng Xiù laughed, "I thought Brother Dongzi was researching something.
So it was this!" Gu Dong smiled. Although the graphene made now was of poor quality, it was indeed graphene, a two-dimensional crystal composed of a single layer of carbon atoms.
With only five thousand yuan, most of which was used to buy equipment, Gu Dong hadn't made much yet, only a tiny bit. But it had indeed worked. The process was also very simple.