Official title: Refused to stay at the university, started his career in a rural town.

When Sun Jiapei pushed the door open and came in, Yang Fan quickly stood at attention.

Sun Jiapei is under 60 years old, tall and thin, with gray hair and wearing silver-rimmed glasses.

Although this person didn't hold any official positions at the university other than a professorship, he was still a highly regarded guest of the military and the communications department.

He was always elusive, and Yang Fan only saw him three times during his time at school.

"Old Su, what's the rush?"

Su Huaishan pointed at Yang Fan. "This kid said last time that there was a problem with steel slag concrete, and guess what—Old Wang went to the lab himself, and the conclusion was even more serious than what he said. Now he's got his eyes on communications, saying that PHS (Personal Handyphone System) has potential. I thought I should let you hear about this."

Sun Jiapei sat down on the sofa and looked up at him. "You're Yang Fan? The one from Ninghe County? Sit down and talk!"

"Yes."

"I heard about your steel slag concrete project. The Provincial Construction Department even forwarded Professor Wang's report to our college." Sun Jiapei leaned back on the sofa. "Tell me, what's the potential of using mobile phones?"

Yang Fan explained the current state of PHS technology, patent barriers, pain points for operators, and Ninghe County's idea of ​​building an electronics industrial park from beginning to end. After listening, Sun Jiapei didn't speak immediately. He took off his glasses and wiped the lenses with the corner of his clothes.

"I know a bit about the technical approach you mentioned. Japan has put a lot of effort into PHS, but the core patents aren't completely locked up yet. If we can start with the protocol stack and base station control, we can theoretically bypass some of them. But the problem is—" He put his glasses back on.

"Telecommunications is not like building materials! When there's a problem with building materials, the process of sampling, testing, and issuing reports is rigid. But in telecommunications, you need to do research and development, which requires recruiting people, initiating projects, and securing funding. It's not something that one or two people can accomplish."

"That's why I came back to ask you professors for help. Getting this kind of thing moving forward is no small matter. In fact, if it is really developed, we can accept it even if it is not placed with us."

Yang Fan relaxed slightly and said, "If the university can take the lead and connect with telecommunications companies like Huaqi and Zhongqi to conduct joint research and development, share technology, and allocate patents, then when the PHS market really takes off, the university will be able to hold onto its own technology and avoid being held back by foreign countries."

The door was pushed open.

Principal Wang Jianmin stood at the door, holding a glass of water, his gaze sweeping across the room above the top of his reading glasses. "Old Su, it's quite lively here today! What, preparing a get-together without inviting me?"

Yang Fan quickly stood up. "Principal, I didn't expect to bother you!"

Wang Jianmin waved his hand, walked in, and sat down in the chair that Su Huaishan had given up.

"I heard downstairs that Lao Sun had been summoned, and I knew something was up. Who is Lao Sun? He's the pillar of the School of Communications. A lot of people are watching his every move." He looked up at Yang Fan.

"You little rascal, are you planning to come back and freeload off the professors again?"

Su Huaishan briefly summarized what Yang Fan had just said—the PHS (Personal Handyphone System), the PHS patent, the industrial trends across the Han River, Ninghe's plan to build an electronics industrial park, and the idea of ​​having the university take the lead in joint research and development.

After listening, Wang Jianmin remained silent. He picked up his water glass, blew away the tea leaves, took a sip, and then looked up at Sun Jiapei.

"Old Sun, tell me."

Sun Jiapei briefly reiterated what he had just told Yang Fan, and added at the end: "It is technically feasible. But whether the patent can be bypassed requires time for evaluation, which cannot be decided in a day or two—it requires recruiting people, initiating projects, and securing funding."

Wang Jianmin nodded and remained silent for a few seconds.

"That kid, during those years in Qingping, he helped the school connect with so many projects—orchards, tea gardens, mountain delicacies cooperatives—which one wasn't set up by him running around doing all the work? Now he's got his eyes on communications." He glanced at Yang Fan. "Although he's a bit of a rascal, always trying to take advantage of professors, his eye for talent is actually pretty good."

Wang Minhua continued, "The old principal is right. Last time, Yang Fan was able to keenly sense from a minor accident abroad that there might be a problem with the steel slag concrete. I personally went to the lab to conduct tests on three sets of samples, and the conclusion was undeniable. I have faith in that kid's judgment."

Su Huaishan leaned back in his chair, a slight smile playing on his lips.

Wang Jianmin placed the enamel mug on the table and looked at Sun Jiapei. "Old Sun, since it's technically feasible, you should take the lead in getting it done."

"If we succeed, it will be a source of pride for our Han University—a technological breakthrough in the field of communications, which not every school is qualified to take the lead in. If we fail, we can consider it as gaining experience and cultivating talent for the School of Communication. If we can train a few professionals and summarize a few key points during this process, it won't be a loss."

He paused. "Besides, mobile phones are getting smaller and smaller these days; sooner or later, everyone will have one."

"The PHS phone is an opportunity. If we seize it, our school will have a foothold if it wants to enter the mobile communications industry in the future."

Sun Jiapei leaned back in his chair, tapped his fingers twice on his knee, and then stood up. "Okay. I'll go back and organize my thoughts, and then submit a report to the institute in a few days."

Wang Jianmin nodded.

Su Huaishan glanced at Yang Fan, then turned back to Wang Jianmin and said, "This kid has taken advantage of the school again."

Wang Jianmin laughed heartily. "That's right! We old guys, our hair's all gray, are still being bossed around by a young guy. Old Sun, at your age, can your back take all night in the lab?"

Sun Jiapei waved his hand. "I'm used to it. It happens year after year. Anyway, I have to mentor students, so I have to find them some research topics."

Wang Minhua laughed too. "Yang Fan, you're really treating us old bones like those... what you call... nuclear-powered donkeys! You use one after another."

Yang Fan rubbed his hands together, a smile spreading across his face. "Professors, you are all valuable assets to the country. You will surely live to be a hundred. You are still young, it's the time to strive, so please do as much as you can for the country!"

The elderly men exchanged glances and burst into laughter.

Just as they were laughing, there was a knock on the door. Principal's secretary, Li Yang, poked half his body in and said in a low voice, "Principal, Secretary Gao Yuliang is here. He's outside."

The laughter inside gradually subsided.

The professors exchanged glances and straightened their posture. Su Huaishan put down his teacup and leaned back in his chair. Wang Jianmin paused, then picked up his water glass again.

"Please let him in." Wang Jianmin said, glancing at Yang Fan. "You don't have much contact with Professor Gao Yuliang, but he recently left the political and legal system and was promoted to Standing Committee Member of the Lüzhou Municipal Party Committee and Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission. He's riding high!"

At Su Huaishan's prompting, Yang Fan stood up and walked towards the door.

Gao Yuliang had already arrived at the door—his hair was neatly parted, he wore gold-rimmed glasses, a dark gray Zhongshan suit, and his leather shoes were polished to a shine. Behind him followed a young man in his thirties, carrying a briefcase.

"Principal Wang, Principal Su, professors," Gao Yuliang bowed slightly, his gaze sweeping over Yang Fan before returning to his seat. "I hope I haven't disturbed you all?"

"Comrade Yuliang is here, please have a seat." Wang Jianmin raised his hand.

Gao Yuliang sat down on the sofa, his posture upright. Yang Fan returned to his seat and sat down as well. Gao Yuliang's gaze fell on him again, this time lingering.

"This is... Yang Fan, right?"

Gao Yuliang pondered for a moment, then said with certainty.

Clearly, although they only met a few times during their time at the university, Gao Yuliang still had a deep impression of this precious student of the old professors.

"It's Yang Fan, from our economics department. He's now a member of the Standing Committee of the Ninghe County Party Committee and the Executive Deputy County Head," Su Huaishan interjected. "Haven't you seen each other for a few years?"