95: Chapter 95 You're a nuclear-powered ox or a fusion-powered beast.

The meeting adjourned, but Zhao Yang remained seated, not moving.

Director Gao walked over and looked down at his complexion: "Little Zhao, what's wrong? Have you been too tired lately? You don't look well."

Zhao Yang pulled back his thoughts and steadied himself.

He naturally couldn't tell Director Gao about the health crisis, so he casually found an excuse: "It's nothing. It's just that we're about to receive the chips, and I'm a bit worried about the quality. We pushed the performance to the limit during the design phase. If the tape-out doesn't pass, we can't guarantee the System performance."

Director Gao laughed heartily: "You can rest assured about that. I've already had the Ministry of Public Security reach out. The manufacturer has signed a military-style pledge to ensure quality with all their might."

Zhao Yang smiled: "That's good."

Director Gao patted him on the shoulder, looked around, and lowered his voice: "Be prepared. By the second half of this year at the latest, the Third Institute is going to increase your responsibilities."

Zhao Yang was startled: "This... isn't that too fast?"

Director Gao couldn't help but laugh: "Little Zhao, in all my years of working, this is the first time I've met someone who thinks a promotion is coming too quickly."

Zhao Yang gave a wry smile: "But by the second half of the year, I'll only be twenty-three."

"If it weren't for waiting for you to reach the right age, we would have increased your responsibilities in the first half of the year," Director Gao said with a teasing expression. "You don't actually not know how much of a shock that matter you helped Haizhou handle caused for the higher-ups, do you?"

"Huh? I didn't know," Zhao Yang said with an innocent face. "At the time, I just thought it was troublesome, so I casually helped them get some evidence—no, wait, it should be clues."

"Stop being so modest. What the higher-ups value isn't just your technical skills, but your awareness, perspective, and vigilance." Director Gao stopped smiling, his tone becoming more serious. "Although there's one thing that hasn't been finalized yet, there will definitely be results after the New Year. The relevant leaders at the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Information Industry attach great importance to your report on information security. Soon, a laboratory focused on information security will be added within the framework of the Third Institute. The name hasn't been decided yet, but the core objective is to solve the problems addressed in your report."

"I remember our country already has relevant institutions. Why set up another one?"

"Different departments and units have different research focuses, and their scopes of coverage differ as well," Director Gao explained. "The angle you proposed coincides perfectly with the state's new institution!"

"Director Gao, our Joint Laboratory of Intelligent Investigation has just gotten on the right track; I can't possibly run off to that side."

Director Gao smiled faintly: "Don't worry. That institution will have a higher Rank, and they won't ask you to be the person in charge. If anyone goes, it will be me."

"Hehe, then congratulations in advance on your promotion, Director Gao."

Director Gao smiled like an old fox: "When the time comes, we'll work as a team. You will take on a deputy position and continue to lead all the scientific research work."

"What? Didn't I say I wasn't going over there?"

"One person, two positions. Here at the Joint Laboratory of Intelligent Investigation, your 'Deputy' title will be removed, and the 'Deputy' title will be attached to the new institution."

Zhao Yang was stunned for a long while: "Director Gao, I am a human, not a workhorse. Even if I were a workhorse, I wouldn't be a nuclear-powered one."

Director Gao smiled meaningfully: "Little Zhao, stop being modest. In my eyes, you are nuclear-powered, and a fusion one at that."

Zhao Yang covered his forehead, and a sentence involuntarily popped into his mind—as long as you are willing to work, you will have endless work to do.

Returning to his office, Zhao Yang flipped through the calendar and carefully recalled the events of that timeline, gradually clearing up some of his thoughts. Regardless, he had to start preparing what needed to be prepared.

He dialed A Sheng's number: "A Sheng, what stage is the cooperation between our Hongdou Technology and the Bai family at?"

"Very smoothly; it's already been completed ahead of schedule. Young Miss Bai's laboratory has passed inspection and can be operational immediately. The patent application is also going smoothly, and the pharmaceutical factory is currently being negotiated. We expect to start small-scale production by the middle of this year. Things are going so smoothly because Uncle Bai played a huge role in it."

"Hmm, I'll find time to thank him." Zhao Yang paused, "Since we've moved in the direction of medicine, we can't just focus on one product. What do you think?"

"Yes, Brother Yang, I think so too. I was just planning to expand into medical devices and mature traditional Chinese medicine products, but I haven't formed a complete plan yet."

Zhao Yang couldn't help but nod in satisfaction. Gao Qisheng had a flexible mind and was a talent. "A Sheng, I have the technology for a portable infrared thermometer device here; I'll send it to you later. Although it doesn't meet medical standards, it's sufficient for home use; it's no problem for simply judging whether body temperature is elevated."

"That's great, Brother Yang, this thing has a great market."

"Hmm, there's also technology for high-level protective clothing. The required Materials might need to be imported. Later, discuss with the Bai family whether to import or go for domestic substitutes—walking on two legs is fine too—and get the items into mass production as soon as possible. Also—ask Bai Xiaohe if they have technology for mass-producing hypochlorous acid disinfectant. If they do, go for it directly; if not, call me again. Right, mature traditional Chinese medicines like Ban Lan Gen can also be worked on."

...

Hanging up the phone, Zhao Yang leaned back in his chair.

Medical devices and medicines are the fallback plan. To go further, he had to start with America.

The things appearing in the second half of next year are too unnatural!

Those with this capability are either that great Empire in the north that once existed, or America. The one in the north has already disintegrated ten years ago, so the biggest suspect is only one. However, if he wants to get the highest reward from the System, he has to plan carefully.

While he was pondering, Lu Xiaofei knocked on the office door, holding a stack of Materials: "Director, I don't quite understand the algorithm in this part. Can you help me sort out the relationship between these five variables?"

For the 360-analog project, Zhao Yang had already decided to rely on collective strength to complete it. He had handed the project lead to Lu Xiaofei, and he was only responsible for providing guidance from the sidelines. He looked up and began to explain.

Just after sending Lu Xiaofei away, Lu Yike came running to ask questions... For the whole day, one after another, the door to his office never closed.

Zhao Yang gradually transformed from a lone wolf into the role of an organizer and mentor. This transformation was noticed by Director Gao, reached the desk of Institute Director Ma Tiankui, and through some other channels, also reached the ears of General Feng and other leaders.

In the blink of an eye, Lunar New Year's Eve was approaching, and the festive atmosphere grew stronger by the day.

Yet, Zhao Yang was pondering where to spend Lunar New Year's Eve.

Gao Qilan was at a critical moment in her sniper operation against Nasdaq and couldn't come back; even Gao Qiqiang had been called over by her to help. Zhao Yang didn't want to go over and distract her, and given his identity, going abroad was very troublesome.

Gao Qisheng was a newlywed, so he would definitely be revolving around Su Gengsheng for this New Year, and Zhao Yang didn't want to go to Jinghai to be a third wheel.

Huang Yimei was filming in Hucheng. The entire crew was rushing to meet their schedule and not taking a holiday. Her parents were also staying there, and with Huang Zhenhua, the whole family was spending Lunar New Year's Eve in Hucheng. Even if Zhao Yang went, he wouldn't be able to stay for long.

While he was pondering, Bai Erru's call came in.

"Little Zhao, do you have any plans for Lunar New Year's Eve? If not, come to our house for the reunion dinner."