90: Chapter 90 Another Nuclear-Powered Bull and Horse Arrive

By the time Zhao Yang returned to the Third Institute, the leaves in the Imperial Capital had long since fallen. The northwest wind had picked up, whistling past like tiny blades.

He had intended to check in with Director Gao first to ask about recent work arrangements, but to his surprise, Director Gao strolled over to his office himself. He sat down on the sofa and looked at him with a smile.

"Little Zhao, a new recruit has arrived. She's here for advanced training, sent from Haizhou—a female comrade, arrived yesterday. They specifically requested that you be the one to guide her."

As soon as Zhao Yang heard this, he understood—they were after his technology.

Seeing him drift off, Director Gao gave a meaningful smile. "Little Zhao, have you been up to something good outside these past few days? Director Zhang personally filed the report, specifying that this core member must work with you. I think this young lady is quite impressive, and she seems very keen on you."

Zhao Yang sighed. "Director Gao, I finally understand the teachings of the Old Ancestor."

"What teachings?"

"When away from home, one shouldn't reveal one's wealth."

Director Gao's expression turned strange. He knew Zhao Yang was wealthy, but the young lady didn't seem like a vain person. His expression became a bit more serious. "Little Zhao, you're still young; you need to maintain self-control in certain matters."

Zhao Yang was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but laugh. "Director Gao, where is your mind at? She's interested in my unique skills. An old leader in Jinghai asked me to help Haizhou with a small favor, and since I couldn't refuse, I just helped out."

Director Gao's heart skipped a beat as he immediately recalled some internal news—Haizhou had just cracked a sensational case, dismantling a high-tech drug trafficking ring that possessed advanced manufacturing techniques. He lowered his voice. "Are you talking about the case involving Haizhou Pharmaceuticals?"

Zhao Yang nodded. "I helped with a 'tiny' bit."

"A 'tiny' bit?" Director Gao looked completely unconvinced.

"Not the 'tiny' as in one, two, three. I mean the 'tiny' as in hundreds of millions." Zhao Yang shrugged. "I'm not really at liberty to discuss the specifics; perhaps you should ask Director Zhang."

Director Gao's expression shifted. After digesting this for a good while, he stood up, patted Zhao Yang's shoulder firmly, and squeezed out one word: "Deserved."

After saying that, he shook his head and walked out with a measured, steady gait.

Just after Director Gao left, Lu Xiaofei arrived.

Her short hair reached her ears, and her back was straight as a rod. Her office lady uniform outlined a sharp figure, paired with flesh-colored stockings and black high heels. Zhao Yang marveled inwardly; she certainly had a distinct charm. It was no wonder that guy Guo Xiaopeng in the show lost his basic judgment.

Lu Xiaofei saluted. "Director Zhao, I'm here to report for duty."

Zhao Yang curled his lips into a smile. "Officer Lu, it's only been a few days, and you've already chased me all the way to the Imperial Capital?"

Lu Xiaofei blushed. "I'm here for advanced training. Director Zhang told me to make sure I learn everything I'm supposed to."

"What do you want to learn?"

"Those hacking skills of yours."

Zhao Yang gave a teasing smile. "Didn't you say those methods were illegal?"

Lu Xiaofei looked a bit embarrassed and pursed her lips. "Technical methods are just tools; the key lies in whose hands they are held."

Zhao Yang didn't say anything more. He took the prepared materials out of his briefcase and pushed them toward Lu Xiaofei. "I have a general idea about you; your Computer Science foundation is barely passable. I'll give you one week to digest all of this. Flip through it first to establish a basic concept, and ask me immediately if you don't understand anything."

Lu Xiaofei took it and flipped through, stunned.

This wasn't a hacking tutorial; it was a complete set of software design documentation—architecture diagrams, algorithm descriptions, interface definitions, all packed densely. If that person surnamed Zhou from the future saw this, he would probably sue Zhao Yang for plagiarism on the spot. That's right, this was a certain 360, except all those messy peripheral features had been stripped away; it was very clean.

This was exactly the thing Zhao Yang had told Huang Yimei would cut off people's source of income.

These days, antivirus software companies were living quite comfortably because there were so many inexplicable computer viruses, making the purchase of antivirus software a common choice for many. As for the source of those viruses, the news would always say it was hackers or hobbyists. In reality, how could there be so many people with nothing better to do? It was actually the same logic as laying nails on the road and then setting up a tire repair stall next to it.

Lu Xiaofei read a few pages and suddenly looked up. "Director Zhao, is this a software architecture?"

"Yes. I plan to establish a research group for a network security protection System. You will lead it and bring it to fruition."

"But... I came here to learn hacking skills."

Zhao Yang smiled slightly. "Do you know what a hacker is?"

"Invading Systems, finding vulnerabilities, just like you did before..."

"Your perspective is too narrow." Zhao Yang's tone was indifferent. "A true hacker knows how to get in, but more importantly, knows how to keep others out. Once you understand how to defend, you naturally understand how to attack. Do you understand?"

Lu Xiaofei pondered for a moment, her eyes lighting up. "I think I understand."

Afterward, Lu Xiaofei lowered her head to study the materials, occasionally asking a few questions. Two hours later, she left the office.

Watching her back, Zhao Yang smiled slightly—she was teachable; truly worthy of being a candidate for a nuclear-powered workhorse.

After Lu Xiaofei left, Zhao Yang picked up the phone and dialed Professor Lin.

"Professor Lin, it's Zhao Yang. I'd like to ask you for five graduate students from the Department of Computer Science, ones with solid foundations who can start working immediately. I have a project here that needs manpower."

"What is the direction of the project?"

"Network security. I'm short on hands. Haven't you always said that students at Shuimu lack practical experience? This is practical experience, and I will lead them personally."

There was silence on the other end for a few seconds, then Professor Lin laughed. "Alright, five. You kid, you're better at arranging things than I am. I'll have them confirmed for you in the next couple of days."

After hanging up, Zhao Yang opened his computer and began typing up a report.

Title: "Proposal for Establishing a Special Project Group for Network Security."

From the domestic and international situation to technological autonomy and control, from technical routes to expected outcomes, in total, it printed out to over twenty pages.

Two hours later, he took it and knocked on Director Gao's door.

Director Gao was looking at documents, and seeing Zhao Yang enter, he put down what he was holding.

Zhao Yang placed the report in front of him.

Director Gao lowered his head and glanced at the cover, his eyebrows twitching, and then he flipped through it page by page. Zhao Yang didn't rush him, holding his teacup and sipping slowly.

After a while, Director Gao closed the report and looked up. "Little Zhao, I just finished talking with Huada University and wanted to take a break, and now you've cooked up a new project for me. This is the first time I've seen someone like you, assigning work to their leader."

Zhao Yang put down his teacup. "Director Gao, if you're too busy, I can ask my advisor, Professor Lin, if he has time. Shuimu should be able to approve the project as well."

Director Gao's eye twitched. "You brat, are you threatening me?"

"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare. I'm just being considerate of you, not wanting you to work too hard."

Director Gao stared at him for a good while, sighed, and slapped the report onto the table. "The project is a good project, but where are we going to find so many people in our laboratory?"

Zhao Yang smiled. "I just asked for five graduate students from Shuimu; plus Officer Lu, that's six people. We can start."

"Good kid, you've got it all arranged." Director Gao nodded. "Then I have no problem with this matter. We'll place it under your project name as a sub-project for now, and once we have more manpower, we'll make it independent."

"Alright, Director Gao's arrangements are always the most appropriate."

After Zhao Yang left, Director Gao opened his report again. Seeing halfway through, he suddenly stood up with a start and slapped the table hard.

"Damn it! I was almost tricked by this kid! The Third Institute can't handle this project alone; I have to report it to the Ministry immediately. No—even the Ministry of Public Security can't handle this alone; it has to be done in conjunction with the Ministry of Information Industry. This Zhao Yang, he really knows how to stir up trouble!"

...

At this moment, Zhao Yang was answering the phone with a dark expression. The voice coming from the phone was General Feng's, his tone furious. "You brat! Your wings have hardened, haven't they? If you don't give me a reasonable explanation today, we aren't done with this!"

Zhao Yang was a bit puzzled as he listened. Did this old man eat gunpowder? Why is he so angry? Is it because of the establishment of the network security project? But he couldn't possibly know about it this quickly. What could it be about?