Chapter 10: First-Class Individual Merit!

Zhao Haikuo and the others stood in the back, craning their necks for a long time, but they didn't see a thing. Not daring to crowd around the chief examiners, they were all itching with curiosity.

"Haikuo, did I just hear Professor Li say that the junior apprentice brother managed to get the 956E working?"

"Really? No way! That’s the 956E we’re talking about; even our mentor is having a headache over it!"

"Why don't you go ask?"

The group looked at each other, but no one dared to bring it up.

Huang Wei, who had only received a score of 60 on his review, shook his head like a rattle.

"At the model stage, it’s already quite impressive. When we were developing nuclear submarines, we started with models too," Professor Huang said, looking at the all-wood model. "May we go in and take a look?"

Standing at the doorway, he asked very politely. If this were anywhere else, he would have already rushed in. He was still thinking about recruiting Su Dingping to the National Defense Armaments Department, so he was naturally much more courteous.

Professor Li had been unable to hold back from going inside for a while, but just then, he heard the whispering from Zhao Haikuo and the others behind him, and his footsteps faltered.

"Senior Colonel Zhang, I’m afraid I have to trouble you with the matter here. The news must absolutely not be leaked!"

"Understood! Leave this to me!"

Senior Colonel Zhang pulled out his phone and made a call.

Before long, an officer walked in.

"Reporting, Senior Colonel, please give your orders!"

"Immediately take your men and surround this laboratory. Without my authorization, no one is allowed in or out! Also, send another team to..."

Senior Colonel Zhang gestured toward Zhao Haikuo and the others.

"Implement high-level security measures!"

"Yes, Senior Colonel, I will arrange it right away."

After giving the orders, Senior Colonel Zhang followed them into the office and closed the door behind him.

Zhao Haikuo and the others were completely stunned and could only turn to their instructor for help.

"Teacher, what’s going on? Did we see something we weren't supposed to?"

"Huang Wei, shut up! Teacher, I swear, I didn't see anything! I didn't hear anything!"

The instructor was also dumbfounded.

He had just come over to watch the excitement; how did he get tangled up in a national secret?

What on earth did this kid come up with for his graduation project? The security level is so high!

"Students, don't panic. This is standard procedure. You all follow me to the lounge and wait!"

"Stay in your seats, don't move around, don't ask questions, just wait quietly."

Upon arriving at the lounge, the instructor sat right next to Zhao Haikuo and the others, staring blankly at the five large crates in the distance.

He was extremely curious about what was inside, but he didn't dare touch them.

He was afraid he wouldn't be able to bear the consequences if something went wrong.

Inside the office, Professor Li and the other two circled the 956E model again and again.

"It’s exactly the same as in my memory! Dingping, how did you do it? This is incredible!"

Professor Li’s face was filled with fervor; he wanted to pack everything up and take it back to the 335 Research Institute, not leaving even a single scrap of draft paper behind.

"Old Li, come look at this."

Hearing Professor Huang call him, he hurried over.

After staring at a certain structure for a long time, he suddenly slapped his thigh in excitement.

"Brilliant! Why didn't I think of that!"

Just as the two were discussing it, Senior Colonel Zhang pulled Su Dingping aside.

"Student Dingping, you’ve made a huge contribution this time!"

"With what’s in this room, once I report it up, a First-Class Individual Merit is guaranteed for you!"

A First-Class Individual Merit?

Su Dingping felt a surge of excitement.

He knew very well how difficult it was to obtain a First-Class Merit in peacetime.

Yet now, it was beckoning to him.

"Thank you, Senior Colonel Zhang."

"Calling me Senior Colonel Zhang is so formal, isn't it? Just call me Uncle!"

"Uncle."

"Hey!"

The usually stern Senior Colonel Zhang was grinning from ear to ear.

"Dingping, have you thought about where you want to go after graduation? My Naval Equipment Demonstration and Research Center is responsible for coordinating..."

Before Senior Colonel Zhang could finish, Professor Li’s voice rang out from the side.

"What is this, Senior Colonel Zhang? Poaching talent right in front of me? He is Zhang Gongnong’s student; he should naturally come to my 335 Research Institute!"

"Old Li, I don't like the sound of that," Professor Huang quickly interjected. "What, is my National Defense Armaments Department not better than your 335 Research Institute?"

Seeing the three of them about to start arguing, Su Dingping quickly said

"The three chief examiners, I haven't decided where I'm going yet."

"Yes, yes, yes, no rush! You must think it over carefully!"

As they spoke, Professor Li pulled out his phone, ready to call for backup.

Professor Huang looked vigilant: "Old Li, what are you doing?"

"Zhang Gongnong must be scratching his head at the institute right now; I have to tell him this good news!"

...

On the other side, at the 335 Research Institute.

"The data is wrong again! Damn it! Those people from the Bear Country are really good at anti-reverse engineering!" Professor Zhang cursed.

Walking out of the lab, he headed straight for the Dean’s office. Funds were burning up, but progress was slow; he felt that things couldn't go on like this.

Just as he approached the Dean’s office, he suddenly saw an old acquaintance.

"Turgenev?"

The other man turned his head, looked him over for a long time, and said excitedly: "Zhang Gongnong!"

"Old classmate, it really is you!"

"Zhang Gongnong, it’s been 25 years since we parted in the Bear Country!"

This man was a classmate of Zhang Gongnong’s when he studied abroad in the Bear Country, and the two had a very good relationship.

"When did you come to China? You didn't even tell me!"

As they spoke, Zhang Gongnong led Turgenev straight to the reception room.

"I learned some Chinese from you back then. Our delegation came to China to discuss cooperation, so I tagged along. I didn't expect to run into you here."

Cooperation?

Zhang Gongnong raised an eyebrow.

He had been working day and night in the lab lately and had no idea what was happening in the outside world.

"What happened?"

"Your Navy intends to continue purchasing two more 956Es. Perhaps the price is a bit hard to accept, so both sides are currently in discussions."

Zhang Gongnong was shocked.

He knew nothing about this.

"How much?"

"We are asking for 1.8 billion US dollars!"

*Hiss—*

Zhang Gongnong gasped.

The first two cost less than 900 million US dollars; the next two had doubled in price!

"Old classmate, you should change your name to 'Butcher'!"

"The 956E is worth that price! Your Navy needs it now, and very urgently, don't they?" Turgenev said casually. "How is the research progress on the 956E going?"

Zhang Gongnong looked vigilant.

"Don't mind me. Actually, when you bought the two 956Es back then, I knew you would definitely study them. But it seems progress isn't going smoothly."

"Turgenev, what are you trying to say?"

Zhang Gongnong’s expression changed instantly, and even the way he addressed him changed.

"We are old classmates, so I’ll give you the bottom line," Turgenev said. "The 956E technology is very complex, especially the ones sold to you! You know that technological development is a gradual process, and you have a gap in the field of warship technology!"

"You have an old saying in China: 'Those who understand the times are heroes.' Don't waste your efforts. It’s only 1.8 billion US dollars; it’s really not expensive."

Zhang Gongnong understood.

Old classmates, years of not seeing each other—it was all complete nonsense! The other party had been preaching for so long just for this final sentence!

He looked at Turgenev and said, word for word

"We will never give up! It was the same with the atomic bomb back then, and it is the same today!"

With that, he flicked his sleeves and walked away quickly, leaving Turgenev standing there with an embarrassed look on his face.

(End of chapter)