Tech startup: I really do make mobile phones!

Chapter 50 "Expert" Investigation
At the entrance of Yuantu New Energy Company, a red banner was hung that read "Welcome experts from BTD to visit our company." A red carpet was also laid out at the entrance, and colorful flowers were placed on both sides.

The core team members, dressed in uniform, stood straight, like two rows of soldiers waiting for inspection.

Xu Mingyuan loosened his tie, beads of sweat forming on his forehead, his gaze occasionally sweeping towards the distant intersection.

The numbers in the company's accounts these past two days have been like a countdown bomb; there are only two weeks left.

This collaboration with BTD is his only lifeline.

Suddenly, the sound of engines came from afar, and a convoy of black minivans slowly drove up.

Xu Mingyuan's eyes lit up, and he quickly stepped forward to meet him.

The passenger window in the lead car opened, and Professor Jiang's expression was slightly gloomy. His usual amiable demeanor on the phone was gone, replaced by a cold gaze.

Professor Jiang is a rather idealistic scientific researcher who is not good at hiding his emotions.

Xu Mingyuan's heart skipped a beat, but he still forced a smile, stepped forward to open the passenger door for the other person, and helped him out of the car.

"Teacher Jiang! You've finally arrived!"

However, Professor Jiang simply nodded slightly and walked straight to the back seat of the vehicle behind.

As the car doors opened one by one, Xu Mingyuan's smile gradually froze.

The group of people who stepped off the bus walked briskly, had sharp eyes, and exuded an indescribable air of authority, which was quite different from the image of experts and scholars he had imagined.

Professor Jiang only began to introduce himself after a middle-aged man with gold-rimmed glasses and a refined demeanor got off the back seat of the lead car.

"This is Deputy Team Leader Qi from the inspection team." Xu Mingyuan quickly extended his hand and said with a smile, "Team Leader Qi! Welcome, welcome!"

Deputy Team Leader Qi shook hands casually, indicating that there was no need for formalities and that the investigation could begin.

As a technician, he was better at handling technical issues.

However, Director Huang, as the main person in charge of the gaseous lithium battery project, had to keep an eye on those "crazy" expert group members to prevent them from ruining all ten prototypes.

Of the ten battery prototypes that Chen Mo submitted for testing, five have already been sent to Beijing, while the other five are at the National Key Laboratory of New Energy in Shenzhen, where Director Huang is overseeing the research of the experts in the inspection team.

Director Huang may not understand the technology, but at least he is calm enough to suppress these restless experts who wanted to disassemble the battery prototype before the testing was even finished!
As the technical assistant, Qi's involvement in the cleanup work was somewhat of a forced assignment.

If he had a choice, he would also like to stay in the lab and study that battery prototype, which was like cutting-edge technology!
What a pity! To put it nicely, Expert Qi is in his prime, but to put it bluntly, he is too inexperienced. Most of the older gentlemen in the expert group on this trip don't respect this junior.

Therefore, Deputy Team Leader Qi could only take charge of the follow-up work on Xu Mingyuan's side, which was far away.

The group followed the route carefully designed by Xu Mingyuan. When visiting the battery factory on the first floor, the warehouse on the second floor, and the office area on the third floor, they just glanced around casually.

Upon arriving at the battery laboratory on the fourth floor, the atmosphere suddenly became serious, and these BTD "experts" began to seriously "examine" the equipment.

Deputy Team Leader Qi stared at the brand-new puncture needle in the safety testing laboratory, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.

"Has Mr. Xu been testing the new battery prototype these past few days?"

Xu Mingyuan's Adam's apple bobbed as he recalled the two figures who had been damaging his lab equipment a couple of days ago, and the broken old puncture needle that he had only discovered this morning and replaced in time.

But at this moment, he could only nod reluctantly: "Expert Qi has a good eye!"

Xu Mingyuan noticed out of the corner of his eye that Professor Jiang's expression was growing increasingly grim, and a sense of unease welled up within him. However, the BTD cooperation was his last lifeline, so he didn't have time to think further. After the site visit, Deputy Team Leader Qi invited everyone to the conference room.

Xu Mingyuan was overjoyed, thinking that the cooperation had finally made progress, and quickly led the way.

In the conference room, Xiao Zhang was diligently pouring water for everyone when Deputy Team Leader Qi suddenly asked, seemingly casually, "Young lady! Was that document the one you sent to Elder Jiang?"

Xiao Zhang was taken aback for a moment, then nodded: "Expert Qi! Mr. Xu wasn't there at the time, so I sent it on his behalf!"

This little incident was quickly forgotten by both sides.

After Xiao Zhang was asked to leave the meeting room, low voices of conversation could be heard from inside from time to time.

In the break room, the core team members were excitedly discussing the collaboration, all feeling that it was a sure thing.

However, not long after, the meeting room door suddenly opened, and Deputy Team Leader Qi, as if liberated, left in a hurry with a relaxed smile and a group of "experts".

The logical loop of the matter has been resolved, and the source of Xu Mingyuan's gaseous battery data has been confirmed as Chen Mo.

After a while, the meeting room door opened again.

Xu Mingyuan saw Professor Jiang off, looking dejected. The latter patted him on the shoulder and comforted him, "Mingyuan! Don't be discouraged. I also bear some responsibility for this blunder. I'll definitely find a way!"

After forcing himself to see everyone off, Xu Mingyuan returned to his office, where he could no longer hold back and swept the documents and water glass off the table.

When he saw the "Solid-State Battery Cathode Material Verification Report" lying on the ground, he finally realized that Xiao Zhang had indeed sent the wrong document that day.

People in the outer office area heard the noise from inside the office gradually subside. They looked at each other, worried that something had happened to General Manager Xu, so they pushed Secretary Zhang to go and check.

A knock sounded at the door, and Xiao Zhang cautiously peeked in: "Mr. Xu, are you alright?"

Xu Mingyuan took a deep breath and handed her the battery information from Yuantu Company: "Send it to Professor Jiang!"

Watching Xiao Zhang's retreating figure, he slumped into his chair, looked at the mess on the floor, and smiled bitterly.

Xu Mingyuan used to think that Chen Mo, who was "ruining" his battery lab, was a clown, but now he realizes that he himself is the clown.

After this blunder, the future of Yuantu Company remains shrouded in mystery, causing Xu Mingyuan deep concern.

When Deputy Team Leader Qi and Professor Jiang rushed into the laboratory, Director Huang was clutching various test application forms for gaseous lithium batteries, looking both amused and exasperated.

Amid the roar of the ventilation ducts, the arguing voices of a dozen experts seeped out through the cracks in the door. Some slammed their fists on the table, causing water glasses to tip over, while others jumped up and down, holding up the test reports.

"My team just solved the grain boundary problem in solid electrolytes. Gas batteries are derived from solid-state batteries, so this part must be mine! Can you guys figure it out?"

"Has it been confirmed yet?" Deputy Team Leader Qi loosened his tie, a small leaf still clinging to his forehead from the journey.

Professor Jiang pushed aside the researcher blocking his way, and the hem of his white coat swept across the test sample data on the lab table.

He's also interested in the parameters of this gaseous lithium battery!

It's worth noting that Professor Jiang was one of the first people to come into contact with information on gaseous lithium batteries. He had already conducted some verification experiments inspired by some of the technical directions in that information.

(End of this chapter)