Back in 1978, I was admitted to Northwestern Polytechnical University.

Chapter 167 Want to go abroad? Take the exam!
Aviation Building, Class 5381.

The exams are over, but the results haven't come out yet. This is a rare free time for college students, but... Class 5381 is still packed with people.

At one o'clock in the afternoon, the students reluctantly left the classroom with their books and headed to the cafeteria.

"Xiaoxia, Xiaoxia!"

Zhao Xiaoxia turned her head and saw a familiar face.

"Sister?"

The senior from the Foreign Languages ​​Department, who was in the same dormitory, used to teach the 5381 class early morning reading sessions and guide them in learning English. However... after only half a year, the senior from the Foreign Languages ​​Department was no longer useful. The prodigies in the 5381 class had already surpassed the foreign language proficiency of those majoring in English!

"Hmm, Xiaoxia, I heard that your Class 5381 is going on a study tour abroad as a whole?"

No! How come I didn't know that?

"Don't you know yet? Qin Liang asked for a hundred spots, and your entire Class 5381 will definitely be going. Senior, please help me out..."

"Tell me, senior sister. As long as it's within my power, I will definitely help you."

"A relative of mine wants a large foreign color TV. Could you buy one for him when you go abroad this time?"

After saying that, she glanced at the one hanging in the classroom: "Just make one like the one in your classroom."

Zhao Xiaoxia was stunned: "This requires foreign exchange!"

"Foreign exchange... You must have foreign exchange when you go abroad. Senior sister, you have to help me with this..."

Zhao Xiaoxia shook her head repeatedly: "No, we don't have that authority. Even if we go out, the foreign exchange won't be in our hands. Besides, we might not even be able to go out. Senior sister, I'm going to get some food first."

"Hey, Xiaoxia, Xiaoxia!"

When Zhao Xiaoxia arrived at the cafeteria, she saw that the students of Class 5381 were surrounded by people from other classes, who were actually trying to help buy things from abroad.
We can't open this door! Even if we can actually go abroad, we must use our precious foreign exchange to buy valuable things! Things that can promote the development of the country's industry and technology! Things that satisfy our desires for enjoyment? Absolutely not!

Looks like we'll have to have a class meeting this afternoon!

Thinking of this, Zhao Xiaoxia said, "Squad Leader Tang, let's all eat quickly, and then go to the office building to find our class teacher!"

The Fifth Department Office Building.

When the group arrived at Yu Zhi's office, they heard a conversation coming from inside.

"Professor Yu, this trip abroad has a total of one hundred slots, which is the largest overseas visit since the founding of Northwestern Polytechnical University. Your Class 5381 has twenty-eight slots. Isn't that a bit too many? We don't need more. We just need you to spare five slots for us so that more students from our Department 2 can go abroad. We'll be satisfied!"

"Teacher Zhao, the quota hasn't been finalized yet, and I don't know how many students will be able to go. Besides, this quota was originally Qin Liang's, so it's only natural that all the students from our Class 5381 go!"

"It's not scarcity that's worrisome, but inequality..."

"Bullshit! We live in a market economy now, where competition is everything. It's not the old days of the egalitarian system anymore!"

Teacher Yu, who is usually gentle and refined, actually swore!
The group exchanged bewildered glances. Just then, the phone rang. "Hello, this is Yu Zhi. What? The list of candidates selected to study abroad? Great, great, I, Yu Zhi, wholeheartedly support it!"

Outside, a few people looked at each other. Since it was an exam selection, there was no need to worry. Every student in our Class 5381 was a top student and wouldn't be afraid of the exam!
That afternoon, the whole school was in an uproar.

Exams! Good grades mean you can study abroad—you have to seize this opportunity! Oh, and find out the exam questions! Time to start preparing!
School conference room.

"Mayor Liu called and said that this opportunity to go abroad is precious and should be given to the teachers and students of Northwestern Polytechnical University. We must organize the exams well and select the most outstanding talents!" President Ji said with a smile.

"Principal Ji, we have objections to the exam subjects! Why is English required? Most of our students study Russian; this is unfair!"

"If we go to the Soviet Union next time, we'll definitely have to take a Russian test. But if we're going to the United States for research now, we'll need to know English. Students from Northwestern Polytechnical University must be able to communicate fluently with foreigners when they go abroad. Are we supposed to bring crutches? Wouldn't that be embarrassing?"

Qin Liang glanced at the speaker: "Everyone, not only students, but also our twenty teachers should ideally be able to speak English. This way, we can showcase the strength of Northwestern Polytechnical University! And we won't need relevant departments to take up our spots and provide us with translators!"

Is English useful? Absolutely! Western technology is the strongest, and English is an international language. Without learning English, how can you communicate fluently? Translation? Haha. Even translators can't handle specialized vocabulary! In fact, many professional communications must be conducted in English because Chinese lacks precise equivalents!

On the surface, Qin Liang's actions seemed fair and reasonable, but in reality, he was trying to secure the greatest benefit for the Fifth Department, since the English proficiency of the teachers and students in the Fifth Department was the strongest!

Principal Ji nodded: "I agree! Teachers don't need to take the exam; they can just register directly. But the prerequisite is that they must be able to speak English! If the number exceeds twenty, we'll hold another meeting to discuss it! Don't complain; at least the other three subjects will still have Chinese test questions!"

The exam for Class 5381 was already entirely in English. If the remaining three subjects were also all in English this time…

Shanghai Aircraft Factory.

Four Y-10 transport aircraft, a contract worth 100 million!
When the news came, the entire Shanghai aircraft factory was in an uproar!
After the initial excitement, it was time for intensive production!
The materials for the third Y-10 were originally intended to be riveted by McDonnell Douglas. Now, these materials have been moved from the warehouse to the production workshop and are being assembled at a rapid pace!
Flight testing is still ongoing, but production cannot be delayed!

If modifications are needed during test flights later, we can always fix them!

"Old Cheng, Old Cheng!" In the midst of the busy work site, Cheng, the deputy chief designer of the Y-10, heard the call and turned around to see Ma, who was in charge of the test flight mission.

"Old Ma, what's up?"

“A telegram has been sent from the capital, asking you to go there to report on the progress of our Y-10 project, and also… to assess you and appoint you to a new position. You must remember to say this when you get there…” Old Ma’s face was extremely serious.

"How to say?"

"Our Y-10 is a product of reform and opening up, and it's completely different from the past! Our heart is the Spey, we hold high the red flag of support for reform and opening up, and our brain is a new brain that responds to the call of the times..."

Old Cheng's expression also turned serious: "Why do you say that?"

"Qin Liang taught us this. In short, we have to say it this way, because it concerns the future of our Y-10!"

"Okay, I remember it!"

"Furthermore, our aircraft will break with the past. We will hire Northwestern Polytechnical University to recalculate the stress on our Y-10 aircraft. We will reduce its weight by at least five tons and completely shed the burden of history!"

"Good!" At this moment, Old Cheng understood the core meaning of these words.

(End of this chapter)