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

Chapter 76 Diplomacy is No Small Matter

East, Chang'an, Northwestern Polytechnical University, school gate.

As one Hongqi sedan after another drove by, the gatekeeper walked over.

"Stop the car! What are you doing here?"

“We are from the American AEROSPACE magazine. We came here a month ago. This time, we want to find Professor Liu from your aircraft engineering department to fulfill our promise.”

"Hold on!"

In this day and age, a car is a symbol of status. In most workplaces, a car is simply allowed to pass, but at Northwestern Polytechnical University, that's not the case, because they are working on a national-level project!

Jingle Bell!
Inside the fifth department's computer lab, Professor Sha picked up the phone: "Hello... what is it?"

*Snap!* He slammed down the phone and looked at the others: "Oh no! The foreigners are here!"

"Foreigner?"

"That's right. Liangzi promised them a result every month, and this is already three to five days over... The foreigners didn't wait, but they actually came in person!"

At this, everyone else's expression changed: "Yes, what should we do?"

Qin Liang was the one who fooled people in the first place, so naturally he should be the one to clean up the mess. But now... Qin Liang isn't even at Northwestern Polytechnical University, or even in China! What to do, what to do?
Just as everyone was surprised, the sound of rapid typing rang out. Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and were immediately stunned.

"Old Liu, what are you doing?"

"There's definitely not enough time to process the data, so we can only make up some data on the spot..."

In university, you need to conduct various research projects and obtain a lot of data. Due to issues with experimental principles, methods, and equipment, some data may not be what you want. What should you do then?
Some rigorous scholars will look for problems, constantly improve, and finally obtain more accurate results. If they are still different from what they imagined, they may have a breakdown of their moral compass. For example, Yang Dong in The Three-Body Problem found that the experimental results always had errors with the theory, and the factors that interfered could not be eliminated. As a result, physics no longer existed!
This is simply because she's too meticulous; for Luo Ji, it wouldn't be a problem at all! For those incompetent people, if the experimental data is problematic, they'll just fabricate it to make it look better!
Professor Liu held data manipulation in utter contempt and was ashamed to associate with such people, but now... Professor Liu's fingers were still flying across the keyboard. After Qin Liang left, everyone took over these three computers and could already use them to handle a lot of work, which was convenient and fast.

Compiling data? So easy!

Crunch!

The Hongqi sedan stopped at the entrance of the Fifth Department Teaching Building.

In the back seat, Stephen looked at the quaint little building and said to the two people beside him, "Mr. Benjamin, Mr. Dennis, we've arrived."

In the passenger seat, translator Zhang Chongyang quickly got out of the car and opened the back door: "Gentlemen, please!"

Benjamin Robert Ritchie got out of the car, stepping on the fallen leaves as he walked towards the small building. Behind him, Dennis Overholzer murmured, "I'm really excited to meet the stealth aircraft expert from the East."

As they were talking, Director Luo led Professor Sha and the others out of the building with great strides.

"Everyone, welcome, welcome! Mr. Stephen, and who are these two?"

After introductions, Director Luo and the others shook hands with each other, then looked up at the sky and said, "It's getting late. Come on, let me take you to the Northwestern Polytechnical University cafeteria for something to eat!"

Zhang Chongyang, standing nearby, spoke up: "Director Luo, what good food can you possibly have in the Northwestern Polytechnical University cafeteria? If you want to treat us, let's go out to a restaurant!" "Okay, okay, let's go out to a restaurant." Director Luo nodded.

"Let's go to the May Day Hotel!"

Director Luo finally frowned. That was a high-end restaurant, which the Fifth Department couldn't afford. Moreover, Director Luo didn't intend to use public funds; he wanted to pay out of his own pocket. An ordinary restaurant was fine, but the May Day Hotel?

Seeing Director Luo hesitate, Zhang Chongyang spoke again: "Director Luo, your Northwestern Polytechnical University's aircraft department is rolling in money. Your research projects have received large grants, and you even got consulting fees from IBM—ten thousand US dollars! You can't even afford to treat them to a meal?"

Director Luo realized: In the past, when the Americans came, they always came alone. This time, the relevant departments actually provided them with a translator. This guy is here to cause trouble! Is he upset that we haven't paid our $100,000 consulting fee?

"No, project funds are meant to be used on the project. Misappropriation will get you in big trouble. As for the $100,000 consulting fee, Northwestern Polytechnical University has already commissioned AVIC to procure the important equipment!"

Using project funding for wining and dining? How dare you even mention that! The $100,000 was earned by Qin Liang and has already been spent. Anyway, CATIC has already applied for a separate foreign exchange slush fund, so everything is perfectly reasonable!
"Director Luo, aren't you guys being too stingy? These are foreign friends who have come here. Northwestern Polytechnical University should show the hospitality of the East!" Zhang Chongyang continued, "Let me tell you, there are no small matters in diplomacy. You must remember that you are representing the face of the East!"

“That’s right. Diplomacy is no small matter. Every one of us must stand tall in front of foreigners so as not to disgrace the East! What’s wrong with foreigners? Are they superior to us?” Just then, a voice came from behind.

Everyone looked over and saw a young man striding towards them, dressed in a suit and tie, looking quite imposing.

Qin Liang? Qin Liang is back!

Zhang Chongyang's expression changed, and he looked at the person who spoke: "You are... Qin Liang?"

Qin Liang ignored Zhang Chongyang and looked at Stephen and the two people next to him.

The old man was in his fifties, with a thin face and wearing large-framed glasses. He was looking at Qin Liang with a bright and energetic gaze.

The other one was in his thirties, not very tall, and had very noticeable dark circles under his eyes.

These two people...

Qin Liang searched his memory carefully and then recognized him. The old man was Ben Rich, the second head of Skunk Works. After taking over Kelly Johnson's responsibilities, he began to develop stealth aircraft. The F-117 and F-22 are his masterpieces!

The younger one, Dennis Overholzer, a mathematician and radar expert, was the one who found the old Russian paper and provided the theoretical basis for the development of the F-117.

Skunk Works only became known to the outside world after the Cold War ended. Now, even ordinary Americans don't know about Skunk Works, let alone the outside world. This is probably why the two dared to brazenly impersonate magazine editors and come to the East!
I thought that getting three computers would be enough with the bait I used last time, but I didn't expect to catch such a big fish!

"Are you Professor Liu's top student?" Ben Richie asked.

"Okay, everyone, let's go to our cafeteria, I'll treat you to the most authentic mutton stew!"

Zhang Chongyang's face flushed red and then turned pale: "Qin Liang, foreigners are visiting our East, we should treat them well, how can we only serve them a bowl of mutton soup? That's too impolite!"

"If you're going to pay, we'll go out to eat. If you're not going to spend money, then don't be so generous with the resources of Northwestern Polytechnical University!" Qin Liang looked at Professor Liu beside him: "Director Luo, teachers, let's go to the cafeteria together!"

Watching everyone leave, Zhang Chongyang's expression changed, but in the end he gritted his teeth and followed them.

(End of this chapter)