Chapter 17: A Hero Emerges in Youth!

The primary credit goes to him alone!

What a massive achievement!

A flicker of shock flashed in Xu Dongguo's eyes.

The phrase "primary credit goes to him alone" from Sun Yongguo instantly defined Su Dingping's contribution.

The implication was crystal clear: "Operation 951" was a success, and all the credit belonged to Su Dingping! None of it belonged to them!

For such a major key research project to allow a young person to participate was, in itself, an incredible feat! Not to mention, such a young person had claimed the primary credit all by himself!

It wasn't that Xu Dongguo was unwilling to believe it; it was simply that he had never heard of such a thing.

Yet, Sun Yongguo's tone was so firm, without a hint of ambiguity.

He didn't believe Sun Yongguo would deceive him on such a momentous matter.

"When did this young comrade participate in 'Operation 951'?"

"Chief, Comrade Su Dingping did not participate in 'Operation 951'?"

Xu Dongguo frowned slightly.

If he didn't participate in "Operation 951," how could he have the primary credit?

Sun Yongguo explained.

"Chief, according to the information provided by Comrade Zhang Gongnong, Comrade Su Dingping participated in this third-year graduate thesis review five months ago, at the specific request of Comrade Zhang Gongnong..."

After hearing Sun Yongguo's words, Xu Dongguo's heart surged with emotion.

"Chief," Colonel Zhang also added, "Before you arrived, several of us checked, and there are no issues! The core technology of the 956E has been almost entirely conquered by Comrade Su Dingping!"

The others chimed in one after another.

"Chief, this is the 956E model that Su Dingping reconstructed almost perfectly based on images and related information."

"Chief, these are the designs, theories, and parameter drawings related to the core technology of the 956E."

...

Listening to this, Xu Dongguo understood.

It turned out that Su Dingping and the 335 Research Institute had been working independently! No wonder Sun Yongguo said Su Dingping held the primary credit alone!

At this moment, even though Su Dingping hadn't said a single word, he had suddenly become the center of attention.

Xu Dongguo looked at Su Dingping again, his gaze instantly changing.

If it weren't for Zhang Gongnong specifically requesting Su Dingping's participation and trusting him enough to even give him the office keys to freely consult materials, wouldn't they have missed out on a talent for nothing?

Relying solely on a single image, he had independently researched related materials and used various methods like reverse and forward engineering to conquer the core technology of the 956E!

If this news got out, it would definitely cause a massive sensation!

Whether it was the Bear Nation, the Beautiful Nation, the Eastern Nation, or other Western countries, they would undoubtedly try every possible way to take Su Dingping away! And if they couldn't take him, they would certainly try every possible way to destroy him!

A talent!

A great talent for our Navy!

Thinking of this, Xu Dongguo was filled with profound emotion.

Just a few hours ago, he was still hesitating over the high price of 1.8 billion USD. Now, he was looking at the future hope of the Navy.

"Young comrade, you have worked hard these past five months."

Xu Dongguo patted Su Dingping on the shoulder, speaking with genuine concern.

He didn't ask how Su Dingping had overcome the many difficulties to achieve this; asking about hardships was meaningless.

"Young comrade, our Navy has always rewarded merit! Just say what kind of reward you want; as long as it is within my authority, everything is negotiable!"

"Report, Chief, I did not research the 956E for the sake of rewards," Su Dingping said solemnly. "I felt that if Westerners can do it, we Chinese people don't have any fewer brains than they do; we can do it too! So, I just went ahead and did it!"

Xu Dongguo was visibly stunned.

"What spirit! A hero emerges from youth!"

"But rest assured, you won't miss a single bit of the commendation you deserve!"

As he spoke, he looked at Sun Yongguo: "Comrade Sun Yongguo, when you get back, draft a military merit application immediately. I will approve it at the first opportunity!"

"Also, all the expenses required for this research must be reported without losing a single cent! Reimburse the young comrade for everything!"

Upon hearing this, Sun Yongguo suddenly felt a bit awkward.

"What is it, Comrade Sun Yongguo? Are you encountering difficulties? Don't worry about the costs being too high; I will do everything in my power to provide for the young comrade."

"Chief, it's not like that."

Sun Yongguo gave a wry smile. "Comrade Su Dingping has not asked our Research Institute for a single cent, nor has he applied to the university for a single cent of research funding."

Even the usually composed Xu Dongguo couldn't help but undergo a drastic change in expression.

He didn't apply for funding?

Who conducts scientific research without applying for funding?

Research is a bottomless pit; could he really be paying out of his own pocket? What kind of family fortune could withstand such spending? Even if his father were a billionaire, he couldn't sustain that!

Xu Dongguo pulled Su Dingping to the side, his tone becoming much more intimate.

"Comrade Dingping, tell me the situation. Was your funding application rejected? Whoever is blocking you, just say the name, and I will settle it for you today!"

"Speak boldly, I've got your back!"

After a long pause, Su Dingping said.

"Report, Chief, all the manuscript paper I used—about three tons of it—was applied for through Professor Zhang's name in the university. I didn't spend any money."

"The instruments were from our lab; oh, and I also borrowed some equipment from several other labs. The data was searched on Professor Zhang's computer and in the university library. I still didn't spend any money..."

Seeing Su Dingping listing things off like a precious inventory, Professor Li and the others looked at each other, so embarrassed they wished they could dig a hole to hide in.

"Now that I think about it, I did spend some money. Making these molds cost a bit."

He spent money!

Finally, he spent money!

Xu Dongguo breathed a sigh of relief.

The expressions of Professor Li and the others also relaxed slightly.

"It was a small amount. But I've received quite a lot of scholarships from the university over the last few years, plus the prize money from every competition I've won, so it was roughly enough."

"After all, I only made a model, so it's normal for it to cost less! If we were to go to the factory for mass production, it would definitely cost a fortune!"

Professor Li and the others, who had just breathed a sigh of relief, suddenly turned bright red with embarrassment, feeling like they could cry.

Zhang Gongnong felt both proud and awkward.

For a moment, Xu Dongguo didn't know what to say.

If Su Dingping had spent hundreds of millions, he wouldn't have even blinked and would have approved it immediately.

How much could these scholarships even be?

To refuse to reimburse him would seem a bit petty.

Xu Dongguo never dreamed that in the past, he was always bothered by expenses being too high, and today, he was bothered because the expenses were too low.

After thinking it over, he decided to consider this matter carefully upon his return.

However, he also realized one thing: Su Dingping was not just a talent, he was a treasure!

Such a treasure was far too important for a Navy that was always strapped for military funds!

He must be kept!

"Chief, once we master these technologies, we will definitely be able to create our own modern warships!"

Sun Yongguo's words hit Xu Dongguo right in the heart.

This meant that the 1.8 billion USD could be saved, and they would no longer have to endure the indignity of the Bear Nation's representatives.

The Western nations did not want China to conquer the core technologies of modern warships, but now, the deadlock had been broken!