Eunuch, do you really know these martial arts?

"Dear host, this system is an advanced AI and does not have a mother."

Sensing Jiang Nian's thoughts at that moment, the system timidly uttered this sentence.

Jiang Nian choked on a mouthful of blood, nearly choking to death.

"What are you doing here? Hurry up and tell me, don't waste my time!"

Jiang Nian roared in annoyance.

He didn't want to communicate with the system anymore, otherwise he would be the one who got so angry he died first.

"Return to host, system task issued."

The system has returned to normal and is now issuing tasks.

"This mission: to conduct a comprehensive inspection of the new tank that is still under development."

"Task deadline: Within three days."

"Mission Reward: Blueprints for the latest main battle tank."

"Mission Penalty: If the mission fails, all skills previously acquired by the host will be revoked."

"Keep it up, host! I believe you can complete this mission!"

After the system finished speaking, it immediately shut down the communication, remaining absolutely silent no matter how many times Jiang Nian called.

Jiang Nian's lips twitched incessantly.

He knew that when the system suddenly appeared and issued a task, it was definitely not a good thing.

Sure enough, after repairing the tanks, they'll be going to research and design new tanks.

To this, Jiang Nian could only curse: Damn it!

This damn system is definitely an undercover agent, and one sent by Yang Hongkang at that. Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence that it issued a mission at this critical juncture?
Jiang Nian's gaze towards Yang Hongkang was tinged with resentment.

Yang Hongkang was still pondering how to persuade Jiang Nian to return to the research lab with him—judging from Jiang Nian's attitude, she seemed rather difficult to talk to. Perhaps he should act even more pitiful?
Lost in his thoughts, he was completely oblivious to the resentful look Jiang Nian was giving him.

"Brother Yang, don't worry about it. I promise you, I'll go to the research lab with you. But let me make this clear first, I'm just going to take a look. I can't guarantee whether I can actually help."

Seeing Yang Hongkang's conflicted expression, Jiang Nian couldn't help but speak up. He was also helpless, but the system task had already been issued, and it seemed that there was no other choice but to complete it.

Yang Hongkang was stunned, staring blankly at Jiang Nian for a long time—he couldn't believe what he had just heard. After all, Jiang Nian's attitude before was a clear refusal, so how could he suddenly change his mind and agree to go back to the research lab with him?
However, Yang Hongkang's shock lasted only a moment. After realizing he wasn't dreaming, he burst into laughter.

Yang Hongkang's reaction left Jiang Nian utterly speechless. He should have known better than to agree so readily.

It's all that damn system's fault. It always pops up at times like these, doing absolutely nothing!

“Host, I want to say something: This system is not a person, so the things it does are certainly not ‘human affairs’.”

The system's weak voice echoed in Jiang Nian's mind. Jiang Nian completely shut down.

I found a system that's constantly working against me, and the worst part is I can't do anything about it—it really proves the saying: you have to suffer the consequences of your own actions, even if you have to kneel down!
"Um... Comrade Jiang Nian, it's alright! As long as you're willing to come and take a look at our research lab, whether it's just for a stroll or whatever you want to do, no one will dare to bother you!"

Seeing Jiang Nian's exasperated expression, Yang Hongkang finally realized that his overjoyed look was indeed too exaggerated. So he stopped laughing, waved his hand, and made a very generous promise.

He was fine when he didn't speak, but as soon as he opened his mouth, Jiang Nian's lips started twitching again.

Touching his chin, Jiang Nian wondered: Do I really look like I'm destined for a life of hard work? This is nothing yet, and Yang Hongkang is already acting like this. Jiang Nian pondered, if the system really did give him a reward, and he presented the blueprint, would Yang Hongkang faint with joy?
Probably not. After all, they've seen it all; they wouldn't faint over something so trivial.

After all, Zeng Maozhe remained quite calm when he saw the blueprints for the J-20 carrier-based aircraft.

Jiang Nian seemed to have forgotten how shocking his actions had been to a great extent. Fortunately, everyone had grown accustomed to his "abnormality" and remained remarkably calm in the face of anything too outrageous.

Having already decided to visit Yang Hongkang's research lab, and given the time limit given by the system, Jiang Nian didn't delay any longer.

After tidying up briefly, Yang Hongkang left Dong Dadong and the other four to continue observing the tank's progress before leaving with Jiang Nian.

Yang Hongkang's research lab wasn't far from the Southern Military Region Research Institute, and Jiang Nian was indeed very familiar with the area.

Shen Ge has been in a bad mood lately.

She realized that she seemed to have fallen for someone.

Her heart would race whenever she thought of that person. Touching her cheeks, which were slightly flushed from missing him, Shen Ge decided to go to the research institute again.

In fact, the number of times Shen Ge has visited the research institute recently is almost equal to the total number of times she has visited in the past few years.

If it weren't for that person, she, as a chief of staff, wouldn't need to keep going to the research institute.

"Little Shen, you're here to inspect our research institute again?"

As soon as Shen Ge entered the research institute, Zeng Maozhe looked at her with a smile and teased her.

As luck would have it, Zeng Maozhe had just returned to the research institute when he received a call from Yang Hongkang, who said that Jiang Nian had agreed to visit his lab.

Upon hearing this news, Zeng Maozhe understood that Jiang Nian probably had many ideas about tank development as well.

Thinking about this, Zeng Maozhe felt deeply that every time Jiang Nian, this junior, appeared, it was to teach them, the seniors, a lesson, to leave them, the "older generation," deeply slapped on the beach, leaving them with a feeling that they could never get up.

However, Zeng Maozhe did not feel jealous; he was just happy for Yang Hongkang—at least, with Jiang Nian's involvement in the development of the new tank, the results would likely be achieved more quickly.

That's why Zeng Maozhe ran into Shen Ge – he had just left his office and was rushing to Yang Hongkang's research lab.

Zeng Maozhe and others with experience understood Shen Ge's ulterior motives very well. However, Jiang Nian did not seem to show any particular attention to Shen Ge.

With a sigh, Zeng Maozhe shook his head—he felt that he was too old, and that matters of the heart should be left to the younger generation to handle.

Even if the flowers are willing but the water is indifferent, at least the two young people need to make things clear themselves.

"Director Zeng, I had nothing to do today, so I thought I'd come and see you all."

Faced with Zeng Maozhe's teasing, Shen Ge naturally felt very shy. Everyone seemed to have noticed her feelings, but that one person was oblivious, and besides, that person hadn't been here for a long time. Shen Ge felt a deep sense of disappointment.

She already knew that Jiang Nian's identity was now under top-secret protection. Even though he was from the Southeast Military Region, he had been staying in various research institutes.

Even Shen Ge, as the chief of staff, can only rely on luck to see Jiang Nian now.

She felt that she might be having bad luck lately—because she hadn't run into Jiang Nian even once at the research institute.

"Hehe, Xiao Shen, you came to the research institute with ulterior motives. The person you want to see isn't here right now. But I'm going to see him anyway, do you want to come along?"

Shen Ge was a promising junior colleague. Seeing her standing with Jiang Nian, Zeng Maozhe inexplicably felt that they were a perfect match and that they were a good couple. So he also intended to bring them together.

Shen Ge works in the military region and holds a high position, making her a suitable match for Jiang Nian. After all, Jiang Nian's identity is special, and his marriage requires rigorous vetting. It would be ideal if someone he knows well could stay with Jiang Nian until the end.

Originally, Shen Ge thought she was going to make another wasted trip today.

Faced with Zeng Maozhe's teasing, she even considered going back first, but unexpectedly, things took an unexpected turn for the better.

"I'll go! Director Zeng, I'll go with you!"

Shen Ge never expected that her visit to the research institute would bring such a pleasant surprise. Almost at a loss, she told Zeng Maozhe that she wanted to come along.

Girls should certainly be reserved, but in the face of love, being too reserved might cause their chance to slip away unnoticed.

Shen Ge hadn't forgotten that in the Southeast Military Region, there was also a girl who was very fond of Jiang Nian.

Zeng Maozhe smiled as he looked at Shen Ge's anxious appearance, as if she was afraid of leaving him behind. He shook his head helplessly, but he was also a little envious of the young people's courage to love and pursue.

"Let's go. I just calculated the time. If we set off now, Jiang Nian and the others should arrive around the same time."

Understanding Shen Ge's eagerness to see Jiang Nian, Zeng Maozhe said with a smile.

Shen Ge's cheeks flushed, but she didn't deny anything. She just followed Zeng Maozhe closely, afraid of being left behind.

Jiang Nian was naturally unaware that Shen Ge was coming to Yang Hongkang's research lab.

After getting into the car, he immediately closed his eyes to rest.

During this period, he indeed devoted all his energy to repairing tanks and hardly got any rest.

Jiang Nian said he had truly given his all to ensure all the repaired tanks were in top condition.

Helpless, facing his comrades in the tank company whose eyes were red with tears because their tanks had been repaired, Jiang Nian suddenly felt an indescribable sense of pride welling up in his heart, mixed with a little heartache.

For a moment, Jiang Nian suddenly understood the deep feelings his comrades had for the tank.

Just like himself, he has now gotten used to carrying a toolbox with him at all times, and he feels inexplicably anxious even if it is left out of his sight for a moment.

"Jiang Nian, this is the research lab where we develop tanks. However, we've recently hit a bottleneck, and some of our tanks are about to be retired, so we're working hard to build new tanks to ensure that they can be replaced immediately when the old ones are retired."

Yang Hongkang's task was not only to develop new tanks, but also to build them to fill the gaps left by equipment that was about to be retired.

However, after witnessing Jiang Nian's tank repair skills, Yang Hongkang felt that he didn't need to be in such a hurry. He could simply have Jiang Nian stay a little longer, then have all the tanks that were about to be decommissioned sent to the research lab for Jiang Nian's repair.

Thinking about this, Yang Hongkang felt a rare pang of embarrassment. It was as if he had brought Jiang Nian over just to have her do chores. Although that was true, it still felt a little strange.

Jiang Nian nodded seriously at Yang Hongkang's introduction. "Brother Yang, you've all worked hard too."

Although Dong Dadong and his group hadn't been very friendly at first, Jiang Nian learned through their interactions that they were indeed skilled, but they were simply outmatched by him.

Five people are capable of maintaining and assembling all the tanks in the entire Southern Military District. If they didn't have some skills, they would have been transferred long ago and wouldn't be able to stay here indefinitely.

"Come on, I'll take you inside. But there's no one in the lab right now. I've given everyone a few days off so you can relax."

As Yang Hongkang led Jiang Nianchao's research lab around, he enthusiastically introduced it to him.

He saw that everyone was exhausted and unable to break through the bottleneck for the time being. Spending time in the research lab would only make them feel more depressed, so he simply gave everyone a break.

He never imagined that Jiang Nian wouldn't even stay a day longer with the tank company. In his haste to "intercept" Jiang Nian, Yang Hongkang only remembered this when they were almost at the research lab—right now, apart from the security personnel, there wasn't a single researcher in the huge research lab.

Jiang Nian remained silent. He understood Yang Hongkang's approach. When everyone was at a loss for new ideas, relaxation was indeed the best option.

"Old Yang, Jiang Nian, wait a minute!"

Just as the two were about to step into the research lab, a familiar voice suddenly came from behind them.

Yang Hongkang immediately recognized Zeng Maozhe's voice. He hadn't expected that Zeng Maozhe would come straight to the research lab so soon after he called to inform him of the matter.

Jiang Nian took a moment to realize that it was Director Zeng's voice.

Why did Director Zeng end up here with Yang Hongkang?

Jiang Nian and Yang Hongkang stopped and turned to look in the direction from which the sound came.

Zeng Maozhe hadn't expected that Jiang Nian and Yang Hongkang would already be there when he arrived, and were about to enter the research lab, so he hurriedly called out.

Shen Ge rushed over with Zeng Maozhe. Although she was mentally prepared to see Jiang Nian, the moment she actually saw him, she blushed and couldn't say a word.

Jiang Nian and Yang Hongkang didn't think much of it; their minds were focused on why Zeng Maozhe was in such a hurry to come, and they didn't even notice Shen Ge who was with Zeng Maozhe.

"Hello, Director Zeng!" Jiang Nian greeted him first.

"Haha, Jiang Nian, that's great! I was just saying before that you'd definitely be 'tricked' into coming to the lab by that guy Lao Yang. And sure enough, you actually came!"

Zeng Maozhe burst into laughter. He patted Jiang Nian on the shoulder and said earnestly, "Little Jiang, I understand now. You really are an all-rounder. You can make a difference in all kinds of weapons and equipment. Now, I'm really looking forward to your performance!"

Zeng Maozhe wasn't joking; he genuinely believed Jiang Nian had the ability.

He's now eagerly anticipating the moment when Jiang Nian will shine in various fields.

"Director Zeng is too kind. You flatter me. I'm still young and have a lot to learn. In the future, I'll have to learn from all of you senior colleagues." (End of Chapter)