I painted an aircraft carrier on the courtyard house for Dongda University.

These words left Zhou Weiguo completely bewildered, and he looked at Natasha with a strange expression.

Natasha said with a hint of grievance, "Your Director Wang is going too far! He insists I go to Shougang to work on the oxygen top-blown converter, but I'm not going! Although building that thing doesn't take too long, I just don't want to leave you."

Zhou Weiguo then understood why the two sides couldn't reach an agreement and pressed further, "If you don't go to Shougang and instead build a 30-ton oxygen top-blown converter here, how long would it take you?"

Natasha frowned, counting on her fingers as she analyzed, "I originally wanted to build a small one first, which would save a lot of time on technical breakthroughs. Problems like industrial oxygen production and refractory materials can be solved with some effort if we only build an experimental furnace. But if we go straight for a 30-ton converter, we have to overcome these two hurdles first."

Zhou Weiguo listened with growing concern and asked anxiously, "Can you solve these problems?"

Natasha gave a sly smile and said coquettishly, "Little master~ If I solve it, how are you going to reward me?"

Zhou Weiguo said helplessly, "You can think of any reward yourself. I only have one request: tell me first, how long will it take to build?"

Natasha chuckled confidently, saying, "Refractory materials are easy to handle; I've memorized the formulas. The industrial oxygen generator is a bit more complicated. However, with support from higher-ups, the furnace body, oxygen generator, and refractory materials can be developed simultaneously. If all goes well, a 30-ton converter can be built in three months! And designed according to your country's actual conditions, the output won't be lower than comparable converters abroad. Of course, foreign converters have a higher level of automation; after all, China still lags behind in this area."

Hearing this, Zhou Weiguo felt reassured and quickly walked towards the door.

Outside the door, when Old Qin and Director Wang saw Zhou Weiguo come out, they immediately rushed forward to greet him.

Old Qin patted Zhou Weiguo on the shoulder forcefully, his face full of admiration: "Good lad! I've heard about what happened to you, not bad, not bad at all!"

Zhou Weiguo smiled modestly: "This is what I should do."

Director Wang, growing increasingly anxious, finally spoke up, "Old Qin, please! Wait until later to catch up with Weiguo; let me ask about the situation first, okay?"

Old Qin laughed heartily and nodded in agreement: "Alright, alright! Anyway, I don't have anything to do today, I have plenty of time, so I might as well take a look at the oxygen top-blown converter you've been talking about."

Seeing this, Zhou Weiguo quickly added, "Director Wang, Natasha isn't against building the converter; she just doesn't want to go to Shougang. If the project could be approved at the steel rolling mill, she probably wouldn't refuse. And according to her, as long as the higher-ups fully support it, the converter can be built in three or four months."

Director Wang looked at Zhou Weiguo in shock, confirming incredulously, "Weiguo, you're not mistaken, are you? It really is three months, not three years?"

After receiving Zhou Weiguo's affirmative reply, Director Wang excitedly pumped his fist in gratitude: "Weiguo, Uncle Wang really has to thank you properly this time!"

Zhou Weiguo smiled and shook his head: "You've thanked the wrong person. You should be thanking Natasha."

Director Wang looked at Zhou Weiguo with a teasing smile and joked, "Li Huaide told me that your relationship with Natasha is extraordinary! If it weren't for you, why would Comrade Natasha have come to the steel mill? Thank you, no problem!"

These words made Zhou Weiguo curse Li Huaide a hundred and eighty times in his heart. He thought to himself that he would have to find an opportunity to deal with this guy later: Damn it, why did you drag me into this when you were flattering me? I really don't know what this guy said. Did he tell me everything that happened that day?

But she still protested, "Uncle Wang, please don't misunderstand! Natasha and I are completely innocent. She's just staying at my house temporarily, nothing happened!"

Director Wang's eyes lit up, and he said, half-jokingly and half-seriously, "Since you're living together, it's normal for something to happen, especially since neither of you is married. If this can help retain such a talented engineer, even if you have to 'sacrifice' a little, it'll be worth it!"

Old Qin laughed along, "That's right, that's right, what Young Wang said makes sense!"

Seeing Zhou Weiguo's embarrassed expression, the two stopped joking around.

Director Wang's expression suddenly turned serious, and he lowered his voice, saying, "For the sake of the country, and considering our friendship, I'll be frank. The higher-ups clearly instructed at the special meeting that as long as Comrade Natasha is confirmed to lead the oxygen top-blown converter project, a special research and development project should be immediately established. The organization has appointed me as acting vice minister of the Ministry of Metallurgical Industry, with full authority to coordinate the project. The higher-ups require Shougang and all surrounding enterprises to cooperate unconditionally. They also plan to list this project as a key national project for the year!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Weiguo quickly congratulated him, saying, "Uncle Wang, from now on we can't call you Director Wang anymore, we have to call you Minister Wang? Congratulations, congratulations!"

Uncle Wang replied with a smile, "It's just an agent's job. If the oxygen top-blowing converter is completed this time, then I estimate we'll be almost done. I still have to thank you and Comrade Natasha for this."

Before Zhou Weiguo could speak, Old Qin frowned and said, "Hey, hey, aren't we getting down to business? Enough with the pleasantries!"

The two then awkwardly stopped exchanging pleasantries and walked into the meeting room.

The three entered the conference room, and Zhou Weiguo saw Natasha sitting listlessly in a chair, scribbling on paper and pen.

Upon closer inspection, there appeared to be a stack of papers on the table, the first of which was densely covered with writing and symbols.

Seeing the three of them enter, Natasha looked up and asked, "Have you made up your mind?"

Director Wang immediately said politely, "Comrade Natasha, thank you again for your selfless assistance to Xia Kingdom. I have just finished communicating with Wei Guo, and we are preparing to develop a 30-ton oxygen top-blown converter at the steel rolling mill. Please believe that Xia Kingdom will definitely give you and this project the greatest support with the full strength of the nation."

Natasha said bluntly, "Director Wang, you don't need to be so polite. The main reason I came to Beijing to help you is because of my brother, who is serving the country. You don't need to be so formal. How about this, I think we need to discuss this: are you going to have me lead the team to develop the Goose oxygen top blown converter, or the Austrian oxygen top blown converter?"

Upon hearing this, Director Wang's eyes trembled, and he looked at Natasha with astonishment, asking, "Comrade Natasha, you also know about Austria's oxygen top-blown converter?"

Natasha answered matter-of-factly, "Of course I know. I did my postgraduate studies in Austria, and I also worked for Austria's largest steel company before returning to Goose."

Director Wang, barely suppressing his excitement, asked, "Comrade Natasha, which country's technology do you think is more suitable for our country to develop?"

Natasha looked up and pondered for a moment, then said, "To be honest, the oxygen top-blown converter from the Great Goose is indeed inferior to that from Austria due to some issues. After all, Austria was the first country to develop this technology. Given Xia's current technological reserves, I think it would be best to adopt Austria's underlying architecture, which would also facilitate future upgrades."