Once We Lived in Nanjing

The conversation takes two turns.

On the other side, at the Reverse the Future, Save the World, Amateur Radio and Super Space-Time Communications Emergency Command—this name was coined by Bai Zhen; the headquarters' office location was set up in Room 804, Building 11, Zhongqin Garden, Meihua Villa, which happens to be his living room. It sounds like a monumental organization, but in fact, it's just a four-person team, a very grassroots one at that, with even my mom dragged into it unwillingly. She had no clue what kind of mischief they were up to and was of no help. Dad just said, then you can take charge of the administrative work, I'll appoint you as the Director of Administration!

Mom asked what administrative work meant.

Dad said it means serving tea and water, cleaning up, purchasing office supplies, and taking minutes for meetings.

Mom pointed and said, go sweep the floor for me.

Dad said alrighty!

And thus, the Reverse the Future, Save the World, Amateur Radio and Super Space-Time Communications Emergency Command was established, abbreviated as Reverse the future, Save the world, Amateur Radio and Hyperspace communications Emergency command, with the acronym RSAHE, also named by Old Bai.

This old youngster, Bai Zhen, had long since wanted to do this.

Who hasn't had the adolescent dream of building a secret base when they were young?

Wang Ning stared at this lengthy English name for quite a while before asking Old Bai, have you passed the CET-4?

Bai Zhen asked, what's CET-4?

It's been two days since Zhao Bowen left. During these two days, he made twenty-four phone calls back home, averaging twelve calls a day, nearly one call every two hours, even at 11:30 at night Bai Yang could receive Uncle Zhao's calls. Sometimes he was asked to photograph his ID card, other times to photograph the radio station, and the most absurd request was to take a photo of a slap.

The night before last, at half-past ten, just as Bai Yang returned home and set down his backpack, he received a WeChat call from Uncle Zhao.

On the other end, Zhao Bowen excitedly said that he just had a three-hour-long meeting, and with his silver tongue and solid slaps, he finally convinced all the attendees.

Bai Yang exclaimed in surprise, what kind of meeting is decided by the sound of a slap? A nationwide technical exchange meeting of booboo gatherings?

Old Zhao said, in that kind of situation, it's really about who slaps the table the loudest.

If your table slap drowns out everyone else's noise, then you're the boss.

Bai Yang said I thought everyone at those gatherings would sit like Gendou Ikari, all with glasses reflecting light.

Old Zhao said, these days, there aren't many middle-aged adolescents with a second-year syndrome anymore.

Bai Yang said alright Uncle Zhao, what do you need from me this time? What photo should I take? What materials should I print?

Old Zhao said no need for any of that, just give me a round of applause!

Bai Yang was taken aback.

Old Zhao said I finally overcame a huge hurdle after countless hardships! I'm currently sitting on a high-speed train to Hangzhou, getting ready to tackle another tough issue. I really want to stand up like the train vendor and shout to a carriage full of passengers - Look at me! I've solved a big problem! Everyone, clap for me! But I'd probably end up being handed over to the police if I did that, so I had to call you, Yangyang, give me a round of applause!

Bai Yang placed the phone on the table and clapped his hands steadily.

Zhao Bowen hung up the phone, quite satisfied.

Bai Yang stared at his phone, dumbfounded—this man really just called for applause.

According to roadside society reports, on the evening of October 22nd, the Reverse the Future, Save the World, Amateur Radio and Super Space-Time Communications Emergency Command held its third regular meeting in Nanjing City's Meihua Villa. Attendees Bai Zhen, Wang Ning, and Bai Yang conducted an in-depth discussion on the technical plan for data transmission using the Icom725 amateur radio station, exchanged views and opinions on the operational feasibility of various technical approaches, and reached a consensus.

"...Theoretically, if you're able to make contact, it proves there is a communication link. If she can receive the signals you emit with a sharp twist and turn, you should also be able to receive the signals she sends, even though we don't know how it's done." Wang Ning hadn't finished speaking when his phone in his pocket suddenly started buzzing.

Everyone at the table focused their attention on his phone.

"It must be Old Zhao," said Wang Ning, picking up the phone and glancing at the screen. An unfamiliar number.

He accepted the call.

A few seconds later his expression changed, he put down the phone and covered the microphone, saying softly to the few people in front of him: It's from Nanjing University.

Wang Ning jogged out to take the call, and Bai Yang could hear his voice slipping in from the doorway: "Yes, yes… I am Wang Ning… Hello, hello…"

Ten minutes later, Wang Ning ended the call and came back, plopping down on the sofa.

"The folks from Nanjing University, they've notified us, saying they want to find a time to come over… Let's continue, since a communication link exists, then technically it's possible to transmit other data, it's just a matter of modulation."

"What data?" Bai Yang asked.

"Any data," Bai Zhen said, "Modern communication engineering can hide anything in the carrier wave, just like when you use your mobile phone, browsing videos online, tweeting - the data exchange with the router is done through frequencies over 2GHZ, which are UHF, but the shortwave used by Reverse the future, Save the world, is HF."

"That's a digital signal," Bai Yang said, "Reverse the future, Save the world, uses an analog signal."

"Yes, that's a digital signal," Bai Zhen nodded, "As I've said, it's just a difference in modulation methods. At the most fundamental technical logic level, both involve your radio's crystal oscillator emitting high-frequency vibrational energy, which is received by the other party's radio through an antenna, causing it to vibrate at a high frequency. It's no different from the way you hear me speaking, one is an electromagnetic wave, and the other a mechanical wave. Back in my youth, large areas in the country still used analog signal TV, and back then we would use Yagi Antennas to receive signals, there was no problem with analog signals…"

Bai Zhen hadn't finished speaking when the mobile phone on the sofa started to vibrate.

"This must be from old Zhao," he said.

Bai Zhen glanced at the phone screen, unfamiliar number.

He accepted the call.

A few seconds later his face changed, he covered the microphone of the phone, and whispered to the others: It's from the City Committee.

Bai Zhen jogged out to take the call, and Bai Yang could hear his voice slipping in from the door: "Ah yes yes yes, I am Bai Zhen… Hello, hello…"

Ten minutes later, Bai Zhen ended the call and came back, plopping down on the sofa.

"The City Committee also said they want to find a time to come over, let's continue. Analog signals are not a problem; shortwave radios can transmit voice and even images."

"Under the right conditions, images can be transmitted," Wang Ning nodded, "Yangyang, do you know ARISS? That's the International Space Station. There's also an amateur radio station on the ISS, call sign NA1SS, usually active around 145.800MHZ. Besides interacting with schools, they also…"

Before he could finish, the phone rang again.

This time Bai Yang's phone rang.

Bai Yang answered the call: "Hello? Uncle Zhao?"

"Yangyang, they're all with you, right?" Zhao Bowen said on the phone, "Turn on the speakerphone, put it on loud! Turn up the volume to the max."

Bai Yang hit the speakerphone button and placed the phone on the coffee table.

"I've dealt with another bunch of people! Damn it, these guys are a pain in the ass!" Zhao Bowen shouted on the other end, "But so damn tiring! Where's my applause? Give me applause!"

Applause thundered throughout the room.

Zhao Bowen hung up the phone, satisfied.

He just wanted applause.

Old Wang always wants applause; it's a shame Zhao doesn't go and brainwash with Brother Xiao.

"Besides interacting with schools, ARISS also occasionally sends down a few pictures," Wang Ning continued, "You can receive them even with the most basic equipment, anyone can."

"Even walkie-talkies can receive them," Bai Zhen said, "As long as you have the right antenna."

"This is a very basic technique, Yangyang, you've definitely heard of it," Wang Ning said, "Slow-scan television, we usually call it…"

"SSTV," Bai Zhen said.

"Think about it, maybe we can make it happen?" Wang Ning looked up at Bai Yang with a grin, "Let you see each other face to face."