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

Chapter 90, rounded up, ten million!

Three 288s, that's over eight million! Even if it's not in US dollars, that's still an astronomical sum!
The students in Class 5381 all looked at Qin Liang with envy. They were all human, so how could there be such a big difference? They couldn't catch up in their studies, and they couldn't catch up in business dealings... But his vision, his courage, his demeanor...

Engineer Huang's expression was complicated: "Professor Gu, Northwestern Polytechnical University has gone too far. They're treating us like easy prey, we..."

“We agree!” Old Gu nodded. “These modifications will improve the performance of our aircraft by a level, which is of great significance to the J-8. However… we also have one condition.”

"Please say!"

"Qin Liang has to go to Shenyang."

"What? What for?" Qin Liang frowned subconsciously. It would be more appropriate to go in the summer to escape the heat, but in the middle of winter, are we going to Shenyang to see ice lanterns?
“Our J-8 still has some technical issues. Although you haven’t handled our aircraft before, you have a lot of ideas and might be able to come up with some solutions,” said Old Gu.

"Professor Gu, what can he do? He's just a student who's only just started working in the aviation industry. Our J-8 is already the most advanced aircraft in the country!" Engineer Huang said, "If it weren't for these computers..."

This guy actually dared to doubt me!
Qin Liang gave a faint smile: "Yes, I'm just a college student, I don't have much technical expertise. Mr. Gu, you overestimate me! I really don't understand the problems with the J-8, but I'm more familiar with the J-7, for example, the overheating issue of the rear fuselage..."

Old Gu's eyes lit up instantly: "Can you solve the problem of overheating in the rear fuselage of the fighter jet?"

Engineer Huang was also taken aback. Could this kid really be that skilled?

"The overheating of the rear fuselage is actually caused by a design problem, and it's not a big deal. It can be solved by modifying the design," Qin Liang said. "Of course, my abilities are limited. I've only been involved in the aviation industry for a short time, so I can only modify the J-7."

"No, no, the J-8 is just a twin-engine enlarged version of the J-7. If you can modify the J-7, you can modify the J-8."

"No, definitely not. Engineer Huang just said that."

Huang Gong's face flushed red. He had heard before that Qin Liang was a guy who wouldn't suffer a loss. Anyone who dared to underestimate him would soon be proven wrong. He used to think it was just a legend and didn't believe it. But now... he was proven wrong!
If it were just teachers from Northwestern Polytechnical University, that would be fine, but there are so many students watching over us! What should we do?
"Qin Liang, don't be angry. Old Huang is just a straightforward person who doesn't think before he speaks. I apologize on his behalf," said Old Gu.

"No, no, please, Mr. Gu. You are the head of the Northern Institute and the chief designer of the J-8 fighter jet. How can I accept your apology?"

Engineer Huang took a deep breath: "Qin Liang, it's all my fault..."

The students of Class 5381 were filled with admiration. It was incredible that a college student could make a veteran engineer with many years of experience apologize, and this scene was happening right before their eyes!

If we could all be as outstanding as Qin Liang after we graduate and start working... just thinking about it would be so exciting!
"Engineer Huang, there's no need to be so polite. Let's get down to business," Qin Liang said. "I haven't gotten my hands on the design drawings for the J-8, so I don't know what the J-8 looks like. But we have the J-7. The biggest problem with this design is that the engine nozzles are not exposed."

Early jet designers were still thinking like propeller planes, with the engine located in the rear fuselage, some distance from the tail. This meant that the hot exhaust flames were directly sprayed onto the rear fuselage, causing the temperature to be excessively high.

When the J-7 entered service, complaints frequently arose about high rear fuselage temperatures. As a twin-engine variant of the J-7, the J-8 inherited this problem, with high rear fuselage temperatures becoming a major flaw that delayed its final design. In severe cases, the rear aluminum frame would burn out, and the entire rear fuselage would become limp!

Faced with this defect, the designers' idea was to install a cooling vent on the underside of the fuselage below the right-side air intake, introducing cool air from the air during flight to cool the engine. They never considered removing the engine cover. In the 1990s, leveraging its good relationship with the Russians, the Northern Institute asked for their help. The Russians promptly and efficiently removed the engine cover from the J-8, leaving the nozzle without any resistance. This not only completely solved the overheating problem but also increased thrust by about one percent.

"How can the engine nozzle be exposed like this..." Engineer Huang stopped midway through his sentence. He suddenly remembered that almost all third-generation fighter jets had their engines exposed at the rear! Our side was indeed outdated!
"Engineer Huang, you said it can't be exposed?"

"Ahem, well... Liangzi, you tell us what to do, and we'll do as you say!"

"The engine compartment will be redesigned, and it will be made into a push-in type, or a cave type. This will greatly reduce the maintenance time of the engine, and the troops will definitely welcome it."

The J-8's design heavily referenced the J-7; removing the engine required disassembling the rear fuselage. If it had been designed like the Western style, the military would certainly have welcomed it, but no one had designed it before, and no one dared to attempt it. Now…

"Alright, then this improvement will be left to Northwestern Polytechnical University!" Professor Gu nodded.

"In that case, we'll need more design funding. It would be a bit embarrassing to charge you another 288. Let's round it up and charge you ten million for all the modification projects! Send us the blueprints for the J-8 airframe's main structure, and we'll use the winter break to draw up the improved designs..."

Okay, the price has finally risen to ten million!

"You guys are really greedy!" Huang blurted out, then realized it was inappropriate and quickly covered his mouth.

Director Luo and the others were also a little nervous. "Liangzi, we need so much money, won't we offend the Northern Institute?" "We at Northwestern Polytechnical University aren't afraid. You'll definitely be working in the aviation industry system in the future!"

"It's not dark at all, it's still bright outside!"

Old Gu took a deep breath: "Alright, I'll coordinate the funding for you, and I'll send you the blueprints. But the schedule can't be delayed; the design specifications must be met..."

"Of course, when has Qin Liang ever failed to keep a promise?"

"Okay, then let's go coordinate it!"

Before Engineer Huang could say anything more, Old Gu had already turned and walked back. Director Luo and the others warmly saw him off, leaving only Qin Liang and the others in the computer room.

"Liangzi, you're amazing! Ten million!"

"That's right, this much money is equivalent to ten years of operating expenses for Northwestern Polytechnical University!"

"Liangzi, we need so much money, won't that cause problems?"

Qin Liang smiled and said, "What do you know? This amount of money is unattainable for us, but it's nothing to the Northern Institute!"

　PS: The image above shows a J-8 fighter jet with its engine enclosed; the image below shows a third-generation fighter jet with its engine nozzles exposed. Thanks to reader "Kitchen Plus Fat Cat" for the donation!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)