Rebirth in 1960, My Industrial Age

Chapter 415 They Started Arguing
China has already obtained a lot of intelligence from the Russians, including crucial information about the aircraft carrier.

There's an opportunity to acquire an aircraft carrier, but they need the Zhou brothers, Xianzhe and Xianrui, to help them pull some strings so they can then find another private businessman to purchase it.

There's a half-finished aircraft carrier over there; construction has been halted for three years. It would cost hundreds of millions of dollars to complete, but given the state of the Russians, nobody's willing to pay that amount.

Not only can they not continue building, but they also have to pay a lot of costs for maintenance, so they are now spreading rumors that they want to sell.

Moreover, it wasn't the Russian central government that decided to sell the aircraft carrier; it was the Ulan local government that decided to sell it. In the end, the money from the sale of the aircraft carrier will probably go to them.

There aren't many countries that can take over this aircraft carrier right now. Western countries don't need it; they have plenty of other purchasing channels, so there's no need for them to buy it from Russia.

Only China can take over, and they desperately need a semi-finished aircraft carrier.

By learning while continuing to complete the project, one can accumulate experience and quickly acquire their own aircraft carrier.

"That's the situation, Xianzhe and Xianrui. You two need to set off immediately and establish connections through these channels. You two are more suitable than the people chosen by the higher-ups; they are too inflexible in their approach."

Guo Jinhuai shook his head and said that his two nephews-in-law seemed to have a real talent for social interactions.

The people they sent out tried their best to win over a few high-ranking Russian officials, but their two nephews-in-law easily became honored guests of the Russian high command.

This might be because her talent lies entirely in interpersonal relationships.

Zhou Xianzhe and Zhou Xianrui exchanged a glance after hearing this. Having grown up together, they could understand each other's intentions with just a look. After their eye contact, Zhou Xianzhe spoke.
"Second Uncle, we've agreed to this, but should we set off immediately?"

"The sooner the better, but you'll have to come with me to meet someone first. We'll need them to tell you the specific procedures."

Guo Jinhuai pulled the two aside and said that he was only there to persuade them. The higher-ups were worried that Zhou Xianzhe and Zhou Xianrui would be unwilling, so they sent him. As for how to proceed, a special person was needed to coordinate.

"Don't worry, this deal is done. Your second uncle will definitely apply for a substantial reward for you, at least a medal of merit."

"We don't care about that."

The two brothers waved their hands and said that if they were really given the money, they wouldn't refuse.

After meeting the person at the guesthouse, the two sides had a detailed conversation, and the Zhou brothers quickly learned what to do and what to do.

Although a general direction has been given, the specifics of how to proceed are up to the Zhou brothers to decide.

After all, they couldn't openly support bribery; at most, they would tacitly approve of it. Moreover, they would give the two brothers the green light to earn back the money spent.

They were supposed to set off immediately, but Zhou Xianzhe and Zhou Xianrui still had several trainloads of goods that hadn't been properly secured, so they were given another ten days.

They were in a hurry. Zhou Xianzhe and Zhou Xianrui calculated the time and realized that even ten days wouldn't be enough for them to arrange everything properly.

So they had no choice but to call Zhou Xianyang and ask him to come and help them; they didn't have time to find someone right now, so they entrusted the task of finding someone to Zhou Xianyang as well.

Zhou Xianyang was in a neighboring city at the moment. He had just finished dealing with his business there, and both factories had resumed normal operations, when he was called over by his two cousins.

After receiving the call, Zhou Xianyang didn't hesitate much. He made some arrangements on his end and then set off. However, he also asked Hong Sanqiang to come with him.

Hong Sanqiang hasn't been idle all these years. He's been receiving a salary while studying, and he's doing quite well in school. After a few years, he's reached a high school level, but he hasn't graduated.

He originally planned to use his savings to open a shop in Beijing and then gradually expand it.

However, Zhou Xianyang called and asked if he would be willing to become the deputy factory director; this time, unlike the factory director of Feiyang Electric Factory, this position would be one where he would have real power and could learn something.

Besides Hong Sanqiang, Zhou Xianyang also planned to find two other people. However, he couldn't completely trust outsiders, since even introductions from his own relatives weren't very reliable in this era. Otherwise, Zhou Xianyang wouldn't have sent the relatives introduced by his maternal grandparents.

At this point, perhaps only people from Hongjia Village would dare not engage in corruption behind their backs.

Others can run away and hide elsewhere if they are discovered, but those from Hongjia Village all have roots. If they still want these 'roots,' they will never do anything underhanded behind the Zhou family's back.

Hongjiacun Fertilizer Plant has now been officially renamed Wanwusheng Fertilizer Plant, and a branch plant has been built to produce various fertilizers.

The dividends distributed every three years can make every household rich for a lifetime. Last time, even the family that received the least dividend in the village received 300,000 yuan.

In an era when a family with 100,000 yuan was considered extremely wealthy, every household in Hongjia Village was a 100,000 yuan household. With cement roads, running water, electricity, and television signal, the village was almost no different from the city, except for the lack of heating.

The village's finances are very healthy; even the Changping County government has borrowed money from Hongjia Village.

If anyone offends the Zhou family, they might lose their chance at wealth and status.

Hong Sanqiang immediately agreed after hearing the offer; the terms were too good to pass up. Not only would he have the power of a deputy factory director, but he would also be able to learn from them and receive a monthly salary of 1,500 yuan.

His job was simply to keep an eye on the two factories and warehouses to prevent corruption from happening.

After packing his things, Hong Sanqiang bought a train ticket and headed northeast.

After Zhou Xianyang arrived, the two brothers, Zhou Xianzhe and Zhou Xianrui, who lived in Northeast China, entrusted all matters here to their cousin and then set off.

The three brothers grew up together. If it weren't for the fact that the other two were really bad at studying, the three brothers could have started a business together in college. So the two brothers trusted Zhou Xianyang a lot.

This is the atmosphere within the Zhou family. If one member encounters difficulties, another family can lend them millions or tens of millions without any problem. Their family ties have remained unchanged, even though they used to struggle to get enough to eat.

------

Four Nine Cities.

The Institute of Biological Cells was secretly established.

Although this research institute is affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Academy only has a rudimentary record of it.

There is absolutely no information about what the specific research is about or the funding for the project.

However, including Zhou Fengnian, the research institute only had 49 people in total, including 10 security personnel, which was not particularly eye-catching.

Today is the first day of the establishment of the Biological Cell Research Institute. In the research room, Zhou Fengnian looked around and said to everyone in the room: "Comrades, you all know what this research institute does, so I won't emphasize the confidentiality regulations again."

Now that we've joined, let's strive for the great goal of human evolution and the rise of China.

"I've been researching this project for a long time, and I'm now quite certain it can be done. Next, you just need to follow my experimental plan step by step to complete it."

On the first day of the institute's establishment, Zhou Fengnian spoke at length to the new members.

The cell evolution serum is not difficult to manufacture. Compared to the technologies of 'computing terminals' and 'second life mechanical bodies', it is currently the easiest to achieve. The only drawback is that the initial manufacturing process is somewhat unethical, requiring the use of experimental human subjects as culture dishes to cultivate the first batch of cells that have broken through the cellular limits. After that, the serum can be extracted and manufactured.

The trade-off is that after multiple cell divisions in a short period of time, the lifespan of the experimental subjects will be significantly shortened.

It's roughly equivalent to aging several decades. If you're lucky, you might live for another ten years or so, but if you're unlucky, you might only live for a few years.

Although the first batch of test subjects were death row inmates, after the experiment, their death sentences would be commuted to life imprisonment, and they would be sent to a special nursing home.

They actually turned misfortune into blessing; their death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment, and they were able to live for a few more years.

Moreover, all of these were done with their consent. Although the human evolution project is important, the state would not force death row inmates to participate.

"Yes, Director, we understand."

After Zhou Fengnian finished speaking, the researchers present responded one after another.

They knew what kind of project they were participating in before they came, and besides, the salary and subsidies here were quite generous, so all they had to do was lower their moral standards.

"Let's begin. Follow the experimental procedures I sent out earlier, collect the experimental data daily, and report any problems to me promptly."

Zhou Fengnian said this with a serious expression, "Even at three in the morning, I have to be woken up by security personnel to report."

"Understood, Director."

"We know"

After they all agreed, Zhou Fengnian led them to conduct experiments on creating cell evolution serum.

The first batch of serum can be cultured and extracted in just two months, which will allow other equipment to be manufactured, installed, and injected into the experimental subjects.

Zhou Fengnian is busy again now. The first batch of serum is quite important, and he may have to keep an eye on it 24 hours a day.

"Professor Zhou, forget it, forget it, it's not worth it, it's not worth it!"

Inside the Sino-foreign exchange classroom at Tsinghua University, several people quickly pulled Zhou Fengnian out and tried to persuade him to calm down.

Although they enjoyed the debate, they still had to be mindful of the impact; three of the people who came were over sixty years old, and if they were angered to the point of illness, it would have a huge impact on the country.

"What the hell? Using their twisted logic to refute others, and then expecting me to agree? Agree with their ass? If you're so capable, then disband the Coordination Committee first. Banning thousands of products every year and still have the nerve to say technology has no borders."

Zhou Fengnian was still a little angry after he finished speaking, so he shouted it again in a foreign language into the large classroom, which made the people who were pulling him away to quickly persuade him.

They didn't dare to use force against Zhou Fengnian, so they simply blocked the classroom door to prevent him from entering.

Today was supposed to be the last exchange meeting between China and foreign countries. They had gone to great lengths to invite Zhou Fengnian to meet the wishes of the foreign exchange team, but unexpectedly, something went wrong on the last day.

However, these foreigners were not well-intentioned. They kept using sharp words to berate Zhou Fengnian, which eventually made Zhou Fengnian lose his temper and give them a good scolding.

Moreover, Zhou Fengnian used four languages ​​to expose the true nature of each country's actions, directly breaking the defenses of the two foreign researchers.

Seeing that a quarrel was about to break out in front of hundreds of people, the Tsinghua University and the reception team quickly invited Zhou Fengnian out.

"Fengnian, never mind, come to my office for some tea."

Yan Zhengzhi also came out to persuade him, and stepped forward to pull Zhou Fengnian aside.

This old partner was also over seventy years old, and Zhou Fengnian couldn't exert too much force, so Yan Zhengzhi pulled him away.

When they arrived at Yan Zhengzhi's office, he made tea and said, "Fengnian, they're about to leave, why are you arguing with them?"

After this argument, they'll definitely go back and talk badly about you.

Zhou Fengnian clicked his tongue and said, "Even if I speak nicely, they won't say nice things. These people came with ulterior motives; they're just here to find fault."

If you're trying to have a proper conversation, who would ask such a pointed question? And when I ignored him, he just got more and more arrogant.

When these foreigners started causing trouble, Zhou Fengnian could tell what they were planning. He knew that even if he swallowed his anger and gave them a proper answer, they wouldn't say anything nice when he got back, so he stopped holding back.

After taking the teacup, Zhou Fengnian asked again, "What have they been doing all this time? Have they been trying to find out secrets?"

"Well, but nobody told them that they also went to Lu City to visit the nuclear power plant under construction, and it seems they found some faults."

Yan Zhengzhi said with a smile, "However, their plans were thwarted. We treated them very well, and they couldn't find a single problem with us throughout the entire trip. It was just that you ended up arguing with them at the end."

However, most people have seen through the ulterior motives of these guys; it's not your fault.

Zhou Fengnian is not the type to swallow his anger; anyone who has worked with him knows that. The only time he ever tolerated something was when he was a level 14 technician.

I just arrived, and being all alone, I was harassed by the deputy factory director. I had no choice but to put up with it.

But after he gained merit, Zhou Fengnian never tolerated it again, and he did the same to everyone who caused trouble.

The same applies to these foreign teams today. Zhou Fengnian doesn't ask them for anything, nor does he expect to gain any benefits from them.

After chatting for a while in Yan Zhengzhi's office, Zhou Fengnian realized he still had a lot of things to do and had already turned down many offers to come here today, so he said, "Alright, Lao Yan, let's call it a day. I'm going back now."

"Oh? You're leaving already? The dean wanted you to give a lecture."

"Forget it, I don't have any classes scheduled, it would be too much trouble to suddenly start teaching, and besides, I mainly supervise graduate students now."

Zhou Fengnian said with a smile, "You're living a comfortable life, giving lectures and teaching students every day. You're much more comfortable than me."

Yan Zhengzhi blew his beard and said, "I'm over seventy years old. What kind of research do you want me to do? Are you trying to keep me working until I'm old?"

Another reason he withdrew from the project was that with Zhou Fengnian around, he didn't need to worry too much and could focus on cultivating talent.

After exchanging a few jokes, Zhou Fengnian left, asking Qian Zhi to tell the person in charge of the hospitality team before he left.

If he hadn't left early, those people might have made him back down or something for the sake of the so-called "big picture."

However, their overall perspective was too limited; from such a low vantage point, they couldn't see the broader picture that Zhou Fengnian could.

(End of this chapter)