In 1959, what's wrong with me pedaling a tricycle?

Huang Dinghua asked, "So, is this the end of it? I'll put it in my file, okay?"

Wang Xingguo waved his hand helplessly and said, "Forget it, there's nothing I can do. I can't exactly go and complain, can I? Let's just leave it at that, file it, and next time I'll find an opportunity to get some more funding from Minister Liu to make up for it."

Huang Dinghua smiled and nodded, then turned and left Wang Xingguo's office.

In fact, Huang Dinghua was already forty-seven years old. At first, he was not very able to accept a young man who suddenly became his leader.

However, after spending time with him, Huang Dinghua discovered that Wang Xingguo was a very capable person.

It's not that they have strong business skills, but rather that they have an exceptionally strong ability to ask for money!

But after Wang Xingguo successfully negotiated and secured funding time and time again, the entire department began to look at him with new respect and completely admired this director.

After all, their department was actually very poor, and it was the department with the most severe funding shortage. They had never fought a battle with such abundant ammunition before.

Since Wang Xingguo arrived, funding has been secured, and researchers have become more motivated. After all, funding is essential for research, research yields results, and results lead to promotions and recognition.

Therefore, after Wang Xingguo took office, the work in their department was carried out in a very successful manner, and the major research teams became more proactive, applying for funding to carry out research and producing more and more results.

Previously, let alone testing their new findings on the battlefield, they even had difficulty applying for funding, so naturally they had no achievements to show.

After getting lunch, Wang Xingguo ate while arranging afternoon tasks for Qiao Guodong, and also reminded him to apply for leave for tomorrow.

Having promised Li Xiuping that he would accompany her back to visit her parents, he naturally couldn't go back on his word.

Wang Xingguo is not the same as before. In the past, he rarely took leave. On stormy days, he needed to stay at his post and take care of the unit.

Things are different now. His job as director is not so busy. His main job is to plead poverty and ask for funding.

They say the squeaky wheel gets the grease, and Wang Xingguo is determined to be that squeaky wheel.

In the afternoon, a short meeting was held to hear about the progress of each project. After the meeting, Wang Xingguo started looking at the materials for various project applications until the end of the workday, when he took a car home.

As soon as they got home, Wang Yueyue ran over, handed her report card to Wang Xingguo, and said with a grin, "Dad, look how I did on the test!"

Wang Xingguo took the report card, glanced at it, nodded in satisfaction, and asked, "Not bad, not bad. What's your ranking in the grade?"

Wang Yueyue proudly said, "I'm fifth in our fourth grade, and also first in our class."

Wang Xingguo praised, "Not bad, not bad, my daughter is smart, keep up the good work!"

Wang Yueyue said happily, "Dad, you promised to reward me if I made progress in my studies. I want a pair of sneakers, which might cost you a month's salary. Will you be willing to reward me?"

Wang Xingguo said without hesitation, "Buy it! My daughter studies so hard, I will definitely keep my promise to you. Don't worry, I keep my word."

Wang Yueyue hugged Wang Xingguo's arm, overjoyed.

Grandpa Lin came home from get off work and, seeing this scene, asked cheerfully, "Yueyue, what's making you so happy?"

Wang Yueyue took the test paper to show Grandpa Lin again, and received the same words and the same affirmation.

This time, however, she wanted two pairs of jeans and two shirts, and Grandpa Lin agreed without hesitation.

Others might find these things difficult to buy, but given his rank, it's an easy thing for him to do.

When Wang Xingbang returned from get off work, Wang Yueyue approached him again. This time, she wanted a pair of sunglasses, and Wang Xingbang happily agreed as before.

Wang Xingguo said to Grandpa Lin, both amused and exasperated, "Grandpa, this girl really knows how to treat people differently! She asks for a pair of sneakers for me, two sets of clothes for you, and a pair of sunglasses for my older brother. She's just asking for rewards based on how much we earn!"

Grandpa Lin laughed heartily and said, "What's the big deal? Yueyue is very smart, and this is what you call sensible. Your savings aren't low, so it's not unreasonable for her to want a pair of sneakers. I don't care at all. It's just that Xingbang's salary is a bit low, and all she wants is a pair of sunglasses. This shows that she knows her limits. This girl will definitely amount to something in the future."

It has to be said that few of the Wang family's children are stupid; they are all incredibly clever and shrewd, and it's hard to tell who they took after.

Li Xiuping called out, "Dinner's ready!"

Everyone went to wash their hands and prepare to eat.

After dinner, Wang Xingguo and the others smoked and drank tea.

He said to Grandpa Lin, "Grandpa, things are really bad lately. It's hard to even get funding. The leaders are avoiding me, and I can't find anyone to help me get funding."

Grandpa Lin said irritably, "You deserve it! Who told you to keep causing trouble like this? I've even received complaints about you constantly pestering me for money. Funding is limited. If we give more to your department, other departments will have to cut back. How can you only think of yourself? Regular equipment isn't that important!"

Wang Xingguo curled his lip and said, "Who said conventional equipment isn't important? Look at which country doesn't value the development of conventional equipment? Our research funding is less than a fraction of theirs. How can we go on like this?"

Grandpa Lin was too lazy to argue with him. This matter had to be prioritized, and he couldn't just do everything at once, otherwise he wouldn't achieve anything.

Putting everything else aside, key scientific research projects must produce results so that more money can be obtained from the military budget, which in turn can fund other projects, thus creating a positive cycle. Otherwise, it's all just empty talk.

Wang Xingguo's decision was simply driven by his own self-interest. As the director of the Conventional Equipment Department, he naturally wanted to allocate funds to it, but the higher-ups couldn't allow it to be arranged that way.

Wang Xingguo said to Li Xiuping, "Honey, I'm on leave tomorrow. What time should we go back to see Mom and Dad?"

Li Xiuping replied, "Let's do it in the morning. My dad is retired now and doesn't need to work, so he's quite free. Let's go back early to chat with them and come back after dinner."

Wang Xingguo nodded and said, "My car can only fit one more person, including the two guards and me. Tomorrow, Yueyue, Chengxin, Chengze, and you will be going back. Grandpa will have to arrange a car, otherwise there won't be enough room for everyone."

Grandpa Lin nodded and said, "Alright, I'll have someone arrange it. But Xingguo, your company does have vehicles, can't you arrange it yourself?"

Wang Xingguo smiled and said, "It's not that we can't arrange it, but the company needs a car tomorrow. Anyway, you have a spare vehicle, so it's more convenient this way."

Wang Xingbang said, "Xingguo, since you're going back there tomorrow, could you please bring me some things and have Chengxin and Chengze take them to my father-in-law and the others?"

Wang Xingguo nodded in agreement, since it was just something that happened incidentally anyway.

Wang Niannian asked, "Dad, when you go to visit Grandpa tomorrow, please give him my regards. I'll visit you both again when I'm on summer vacation."

Because Wang Niannian and Wang Guowei are both in high school, unlike Wang Yueyue and her classmates who have their elementary school holidays starting as early, they will have to continue going to school tomorrow.