94: From Technological Warfare to Space Empire

After leaving the compound, Lin Yu didn't rush to begin his operation.

He knew that once the notes he had just sent out were verified, the entire era was destined to embark on the fast track to unleaded gasoline.

He needs to wait for a result.

He'll wait and see how they respond. That will determine what he does next.

With his manuscript, state-owned enterprises would immediately understand how to produce unleaded gasoline.

The reason why ethyl gasoline was used in this era instead of ethanol gasoline was mainly because people in the past simply concealed the fact that tetraethyl lead was the lead in it, calling it ethyl.

This makes people think that this thing is harmless.

So I got too lazy to look for other things that could increase the octane rating.

Ethanol gasoline is not technically difficult to produce.

It's just that nobody thought of doing it in this direction.

Now, straw and other materials from grain depots all over the country can be fermented to make ethanol.

All we need to do is expand a few production lines.

This matter is almost a done deal.

The only challenge is the counterattack from those who cling to their remnants and deficiencies.

Ethanol gasoline…

The price is destined to be a few percentage points higher than ethyl gasoline, and it will also lead to a large amount of their inventory being replaced.

What Lin Yu wanted to do was to let these greedy people know that some things are more important than money.

No matter how much they struggle, he will simply be crushed by the wheels of history.

There are 4 days left until March 315th, Consumer Rights Day.

Back in the basement of Beiyang, he began drafting his detailed feasibility report and public notice.

Zhang Guoqiang and another team stayed close to Lin Yu, never leaving his side.

Not long after, Lin Yu received a directive from Chief Hou expressing his full support.

This finally allowed him to breathe a sigh of relief.

He would have done it even without support. But if he had support, who wouldn't want it?

The next day, after writing everything down, he had Zhang Guoqiang drive him to the Guangming Daily office.

Song Shu was already waiting at the door.

Lin Yu got out of the car and handed over a thick stack of manuscript paper.

The two nodded to each other, and Song Shu turned around and went inside with the manuscript paper. When she came back, her eyes were a little red.

"It's been taken in... Ah Yu, my teacher received it personally."

He said that once you publish this article, there's no going back.

Lin Yu smiled, reached out to adjust her scarf, and then said nothing.

Turning back? Once he realized that what these people did had nothing to do with the historical context, he never thought about turning back.

As the two were talking, a middle-aged man wearing glasses walked out of the newspaper office.

He is Song Shu's teacher, Zhou Mingcheng, the deputy editor-in-chief of Guangming Daily.

He held Lin Yu's manuscript in his hand, his expression complex, his gaze towards Lin Yu carrying both respect and pity.

"Comrade Lin Yu, I have finished reading the manuscript."

Zhou Mingcheng's voice was deep; he hadn't quite processed what had happened yet.

"We've received some leads about lead poisoning before, but no one dared to investigate further. Your article... it's like tearing a hole in the sky."

"It seems your personal safety will have to be sacrificed."

Lin Yu looked directly at him:

"Teacher Zhou, if we don't address this problem, those wicked people will probably continue to make their ill-gotten gains and live a life of luxury until they're old."

"I can't rest easy if I don't expose it."

Zhou Mingcheng looked into Lin Yu's bright, dark eyes, remained silent for a few seconds, and then smiled.

Yes, that's the meaning of a journalist's existence.

This is the true meaning of technological progress.

"Okay, send it!"

He paused.

"Not just publish it, I'll give you the front page headline."

"Furthermore, I will discuss with others the possibility of launching a joint initiative under the name of our newspaper, inviting all media outlets across the country to pay attention to the dangers of this thing."

"I'd like to see whether those tabloids are more powerful, or whether our official newspapers have more effective advertising!"

Lin Yu was stunned.

He had only hoped that the Guangming Daily would publish a page to let the truth out. He never expected Zhou Mingcheng to go all in.

"Teacher Zhou, this...?"

If that's the case, Zhou Mingcheng will also face enormous pressure. He's just a scholar, teacher, and editor-in-chief, unlike Lin Yu who relies on hard technical skills.

Compared to those who sabotage others in the shadows, his status doesn't offer him much protection.

"Don't call me teacher." Zhou Mingcheng waved his hand, looking a little agitated.

"We're all comrades. I'm your senior, and you're my junior. Now that the junior wants to do something important, there's no reason for the senior not to support him."

He turned and walked back, but after taking two steps, he turned back again.

"It'll be in the papers tomorrow. Get your people ready, a storm is coming!"

Lin Yu nodded and returned to the factory area, giving all the workers a few days off.

They also allowed workers with elderly family members to live in the factory dormitory with their families.

This time, he wanted to see if anyone could cause trouble here!

The next day, March 13, 1994, it was the headline on the front page of the newspaper.

In the entire article, Lin Yu explained in detail what octane rating is and also talked about the dangers of excessive use of additives that increase octane rating.

The presentation proceeded eloquently from a professional perspective, ultimately outlining the symptoms of poisoning.

Many people are familiar with the name Lin Yu, apart from the recent rumors circulating in various tabloids.

They remembered that just a month earlier, it was also a front-page headline in the Guangming Daily—on the harm caused by invasive alien species.

After reading that report, many farmers found some reasons for the decline in yields on their own farms.

The newspaper's printing press ran from dawn till daybreak, printing three more copies. Although many people tried to clean up the mess, it didn't stop the newspaper from selling out completely.

As newspaper sales soared, the matter even caught the attention of the radio station.

The radio station broadcast the full text directly that morning.

The news then spread rapidly and widely.

Countless drivers who listened to the radio while driving broke out in a cold sweat, as they matched many of the symptoms.

Especially those drivers who transported goods for Wu Xiangrong, and even those who used Wu Xiangrong's gasoline.

Many people planned to go to Wu Xiangrong to demand an explanation, but under the influence of this article, they dared not go to Wu Xiangrong's factory at all.

If they didn't know, that would be one thing, but now that they do, they're really scared of this toxic factory.

Wu Xiangrong and his group of private factory owners, who were having a party at the oil refinery, never dared to imagine that Lin Yu would do something so ruthless.

They didn't do anything particularly outrageous.

So what if a few people were injured and some rumors were spread in the newspaper?

They all pulled strings to give you a chance to sit down and talk, but you didn't come on your own.

Why go to such extremes?!

Wu Xiangrong gritted his teeth and yelled at his subordinate who was looking at him with evasive eyes:

"Get out! Go contact the others!"

"Is this just for our family?!"

"Lin Yu is overestimating himself, like a mantis trying to stop a chariot. Fine...fine!!"

"Does having powerful connections really guarantee victory?"

"Go contact everyone who accepted bribes from us! We're going to expand this!"

"Isn't he trying to stir up trouble with lead content? I'd like to see who's clean!"

"Take the blame and let's see if he can't take it or I can't!"

"I'll make all of Afton's channels public, telling everyone I have cheap Afton telcos, and see if they'll add me or not!"