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nTranslator: Legge Editor: Legge

nThe next day.

nDawn had just broke.

nA loud propeller could be heard in the sky above the research institute, along with the constant buzzing of engines arriving. It was so noisy that many of the researchers who were still deep asleep got woken up.

n“What’s with all that noise?”

n“What is happening?”

n“What time is it?”

n“What is Professor Zhang up to this time?”

n“It doesn’t feel like it’s Professor Zhang today!”

n“Listen to that? Isn’t that the sound of a helicopter?”

n“Ah? Wake up, quick!”

n“I’ve not had a good night’s sleep yet this new year.”

nNo one knew what was going on. Everyone came out of their rooms grumbling about the commotion.

nAt this moment, they heard Zhang Ye being woken up as well. His window opened and they saw Zhang Ye shouting out of it with drooping eyes, “Who is that! Are you driving an excavator or something? It’s so early in the morning and you’re not letting people sleep! Can you be any more inconsiderate than this! People these days, why are they so rude and classless!”

nAfter shouting all that, he closed the window with a loud bang and probably went back to bed.

nThe researchers were floored at his words!

nJust how much more shameless can you get?

nYou’re the most unqualified person here to say those words!

nYou’re saying that they’re inconsiderate? Aren’t you the one who’s always opening your windows every morning and singing “Tears Behind Prison Bars”? Weren’t you the one who made so much noise early yesterday morning and then woke everyone up again late at night? It’s not like the commotion that you’ve been causing every day is any less than what is going here! And you dare to criticize other people?

nFellow Chi and the others also came out at this time.

nFellow Zhou asked, “Old Chi, what’s going on?”

nFellow Chi also wondered and said, “I don’t know.”

nTwo helicopters came.

nAnd seven or eight vehicles.

nUpdates were being reported back bit by bit as well. When everyone heard who had come, they were all confused by what was going on.

nThe military?

nThe Chinese Academy of Sciences?

nThe Chinese Aeronautical Establishment 1 ?

nThe Chinese Aero Engine Control System Institute 2 ?

nThese four groups of people had arrived at the research institute out of the blue?

nChi Xue said nervously, “Dad, could something have happened?”

nFellow Chi looked very serious. “Something must have definitely happened!”

n“And it must be something major too!” Fellow Zhou added.

nThen they saw several groups of people striding towards them from afar. When they saw the person leading the groups, everyone from the research institute froze.

nPresident Fu?

nThe president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences?

nWhy had President Fu come down here personally?

nFellow Chi and the others hurriedly went up to welcome him. “Old Fu, what’s the situation?”

nPrivately, the relationship among them was very good, with both Fellow Chi and Fellow Zhou being long-time veterans of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. So there wasn’t really a distinction based on their ranks, and they would often address the academy’s president as Old Fu.

nPresident Fu walked over with a great big smile and pointed at them. “Good on you, Old Chi! And you too, Old Zhou! You guys have kept the secret well!”

nFellow Zhou stared blankly. “What did we keep a secret?”

nPresident Fu belly laughed. “Go on, keep pretending!”

nFellow Chi and Fellow Zhou looked at each other, completely confused at what was going on.

nAll of the others at the research institute also did not know what it meant.

nFrom the other side, a military leader said loudly, “If this project has been completed, you will all have rendered a great merit. A great merit for us! And a great merit to benefit the future generations!”

nFellow Chi said, “Old Li, what do you mean by us rendering a great merit to benefit the future generations?”

nGeneral Li said excitedly, “Aiyo, Fellow Chi, don’t pretend anymore!”

nPresident Fu also laughed and said, “Old Chi, you’ve really done our Chinese Academy of Sciences proud this time. In these recent years, we had thought that no one would dare get involved with this project, but who would’ve thought that you all had yet to give up on it and even managed to come up with such great results. Bravo! Well done! We researchers need to have a strong mind like you all to not give up so easily. You guys have really taught me a lesson this time. You’ve taught all of the scientific research institutions in China a very valuable lesson this time!”

nFuck, why is this talk getting so serious?

nWhat project are you talking about?

nWho did we give a lesson to?

nChi Xue froze up. She tugged at her father aside. “Dad, could it be that project?”

nFellow Chi was startled. “Surely not, right?”

nFellow Zhou was also dumbfounded. He just remembered the incident which happened last night. “Old Chi, Old Li, is this about the information we sent out last night?”

nPresident Fu smiled and said, “You were the ones who sent it over. Why are you asking me about it?”

nHuh?

nSo it’s really that?

nFellow Chi said, “That project isn’t feasible, right?”

nPresident Fu rolled his eyes. “Why is it not feasible? Aiyo, we’re already at this juncture, so why are you all still trying to keep a low profile? What’s there to be humble about? Don’t you know how large of a stride you’ve made? This is virtually unprecedented! It’s a step no one has managed to take in several decades to close to a century! We’ve already seen the material that you sent over. At two in the morning, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Chinese Aeronautical Establishment, the Chinese Aero Engine Control System Institute, and many other departments all called for emergency meetings in the dead of night. Hundreds of doctors, professors, scholars, and researchers studied them all night and finally managed to verify the material and proposal that you sent over as feasible! This will be a brand-new page in the history of Chinese aircraft engines! You’ve all scored a great merit! I’m proud of every one of you! So that’s why I brought the team here today. I wanted to see for myself what our heroic researchers looked like!”

nSurely not, right?

nThat had actually worked out?

nEveryone at the research institute was dumbfounded by what they heard!

nChi Xue was stunned while Fellow Chi had a shocked look on his face.

nPresident Fu looked at them with a smile. “Old Chi, was it you who came up with the proposal?”

nFellow Chi waved it off. “I’m not that capable.”

nPresident Fu laughed and pointed to Fellow Zhou. “Then it must be you, Old Zhou!”

nFellow Zhou gave a wry smile. “Me? It wasn’t me.”

n“Hmm?” President Fu was taken aback. Then he looked at someone else. “Dr. Chen, is it you then?”

nDoctor Chen wiped off his sweat. “It wasn’t me, it wasn’t me.”

nPresident Fu said in anticipation, “Then which heroic researcher was it? Old Chi, Old Zhou, quickly get that person to step forward so that we can see who it is!”

nThe people from the Chinese Aeronautical Establishment were looking around.

nThe people from the military were also looking around.

nOnly those from the research institute were looking at one another.

nFinally, Chi Xue raised her head and shouted upwards at the building beside them. “Professor Zhang, the leaders are looking for you. Get your ass down here!”

nA shout responded from the window, “I’m sleeping!”

nEveryone looked up.

nPresident Fu was a little stunned as well.

nFellow Zhou hurriedly said, “What are you still sleeping for! Get down here!”

nThe male voice said impatiently, “Who’s looking for me?”

nFellow Zhou shouted, “Get up already! We’re all waiting for you!”

n“Alright, alright.”

nAfter shouting all that, Fellow Zhou quickly explained, “Professor Zhang has been very busy lately. He’s been—he’s been working on this research deep into the night. That’s why he still isn’t up yet. He usually wakes up very early.”

nPresident Fu laughed and said, “It’s all for the project, so that’s very understandable!”

nGeneral Li asked, “Which Professor Zhang is it? Professor Zhang Yi?”

nFellow Zhou said anxiously, “No.”

nPresident Fu guessed again. “Professor Zhang Hanlei?”

nFellow Zhou still did not know how to put it. “It’s not him either.”

nFellow Chi sighed. “You all will know when he gets here.”

nPresident Fu was pleasantly surprised. “You mean we all know him?”

nFellow Chi nodded. “Yes, all of you should know him.”

nEveryone turned to look at the stairway exit of the building.

nUnder the anticipating and excited gazes of countless people, the figure of a young man appeared.

nThen, everyone was dumbfounded!

n“What?”

n“Eh?”

n“Zh-Zhang Ye?”

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