125: Chapter 125 Conversation: Xu Hao's Decision!

The law enforcement officers from the Security Department placed the mobile phone found under the pillow into a sealed bag and handed it to Zhu Deze.

When Zhao Jun saw the mobile phone in the sealed bag, he immediately understood what it meant.

His already terrified face turned deathly pale in an instant.

His eyes were filled with panic and unease, and his body trembled slightly.

"No, it's not, this... this is just something I use to send messages to others. I didn't use it for anything bad..."

Zhao Jun kept shaking his head in defense, but seeing the expressionless face of the soldier in front of him, all his excuses seemed meaningless.

Zhu Deze didn't say another word and immediately ordered: "Take him away!"

"Yes!"

Two law enforcement officers grabbed Zhao Jun and walked towards the door.

The researchers living nearby had already woken up upon hearing the commotion and turned on their lights.

Seeing the fully armed soldiers with live ammunition outside, they were so scared they didn't dare to breathe.

They hid by the windows, watching the situation in the corridor.

When they saw Zhao Jun being dragged away by several law enforcement officers, their expressions changed drastically.

"Zhao... Zhao Jun, he was actually taken away? Could it be..."

At the same time.

The Jiangbei City Security Department branch, the Armed Police detachment, and other relevant departments took unified action.

They successfully arrested Ma Huaqiang at his villa.

The operation went smoothly without any accidents or casualties.

The next day.

Xu Hao arrived at the Security Department interrogation room.

Having experienced such a major upheaval, Zhao Jun hadn't slept all night, and his complexion was terrible.

His eyes were lifeless, and he appeared somewhat dull.

Xu Hao stood outside the iron bars, looking at Zhao Jun with an unreadable expression on his face.

After a long while, he finally spoke.

"Zhao Jun, is there anything you want to say?"

Hearing the familiar voice, Zhao Jun slowly raised his head, looking at Xu Hao with bloodshot eyes.

"Engineer... Engineer Xu."

"I... I didn't know this was illegal. Ma Huaqiang told me it was just to collect some map data for map updates, and I believed him."

"But I didn't know he was transmitting this data to people abroad."

"If I had known, I wouldn't have agreed to it in the first place."

"Engineer Xu, please save me!"

Zhao Jun frantically crawled to the iron bars, knelt on the ground, and kept pleading his case.

However... he was still lying!

At the beginning, he truly didn't know.

But later on, he had already noticed some clues, but unfortunately, he was blinded by money and could no longer control the greed in his heart.

Now that he saw Xu Hao, the person he respected so much, he hoped that Engineer Xu would plead for him for the sake of the Sixth-Generation Fighter Project.

Xu Hao sighed. Looking at the now almost hysterical Zhao Jun, he felt only endless regret.

Such a young researcher had ruined his entire career just because of a few words of incitement from others.

It shouldn't have happened!

Xu Hao ignored Zhao Jun's plea and, with a stern face, continued to ask:

"I know you had difficulties, but you had so many other ways to seek help. Why did you choose the worst one?"

"You are also a person who has received higher education. Can you not even distinguish between basic right and wrong?"

By the end of the question, Xu Hao's voice was somewhat stern.

Confidentiality awareness campaigns have been going on for decades. Even ordinary people know that leaking secrets leads to arrest, and getting caught leads to execution.

As a researcher, could Zhao Jun not even understand this?

Zhao Jun gave a bitter laugh and sat powerlessly on the cold floor.

"I am naturally aware of state secrets."

"Engineer Xu, please believe me, at first I really didn't know that this was what Ma Huaqiang was doing."

"It wasn't until later, when he said he needed more detailed information about Xu's Heavy Industry, that I finally realized what was going on."

"But it was too late. I had no way back..."

Zhao Jun's face was filled with bitterness, and a stream of hot tears flowed from his reddened eyes.

He raised his head, his lips trembling slightly.

"Engineer Xu, you ask me why I didn't seek other help..."

He paused for a moment and said helplessly and desolately:

"Engineer Xu, I am, after all, just an ordinary researcher. Who would be willing to help a researcher pay hundreds of thousands in medical bills?"

"Even if the state were willing, by the time the application was approved and stamped, I'm afraid my father would already be gone."

"Those people in the hospitals in remote areas only care about money; they don't care who you are. As long as you don't pay, they wouldn't hesitate to stop the surgery!"

Zhao Jun roared, pouring out the grievances and helplessness in his heart.

A man does not easily shed tears, unless he has reached a point of deep sorrow.

During his most difficult time, only Ma Huaqiang extended a helping hand.

Although he had bad intentions from the start, the 500,000 in medical expenses were indeed paid by him.

Looking at Zhao Jun, Xu Hao didn't know what to say at this moment.

He let out a long sigh, feeling a myriad of emotions in his heart.

"Zhao Jun! Sunlight may not reach every corner of the world."

"But if you push aside the clouds, you will eventually see the light!"

"But now, this step you've taken is an abyss. When you decided to do this, didn't you think about your parents?"

"Admittedly, they hoped you would succeed and have a decent, well-paying job. But for them, having their children safe and healthy, visiting home often, and living a simple, happy life together is also happiness."

"Now, what are they supposed to do?"

After Xu Hao finished speaking, his expression was very complex; he shook his head and turned to leave.

After hearing Xu Hao's words, Zhao Jun immediately became dejected, his mind filled with thoughts of his parents.

Back in the office, Xu Hao remained silent for a long time, his heart unable to calm down.

Zhao Jun's words, and the helplessness and bitterness on his face, replayed in his mind like a movie, over and over again.

"In the end, the treatment for grassroots researchers is just too low, and their families lack financial security."

Xu Hao thought.

Top-tier researchers naturally have guaranteed compensation, but grassroots researchers, especially those who have just graduated or have little work experience, have very average salaries.

They are thousands of miles away from home, rooted in projects every day, and often don't have much contact with their families.

Not only that, but their salaries are also just average.

When effort is not proportional to the outcome, there is naturally a gap, and it's hard to resist other temptations, just like Zhao Jun...

"But the issue of researcher compensation cannot be solved with just a few words!"

This problem requires many aspects, such as the state's comprehensive national strength, financial resources, and medical security.

It cannot be solved just by the slogan 'improve researcher compensation.'

Xu Hao let out a long sigh.

He had sighed more today than usual.

It was all because of Zhao Jun's matter, which made him think a lot and consider many aspects.

He suddenly felt a sense of powerlessness.

Xu Hao rubbed his temples and squinted his eyes, trying to calm his slightly restless heart.

After a while, he opened his eyes, a look of determination surfacing on his face.

"Next time I go to Longdu, I'll have a good talk with the higher-ups!"

Elder Zhou had invited him to Longdu many times.

Once the Sixth-Generation Fighter Project ends, it's time to find a moment to go!