148: Chapter 148 War on Terror! Is this courtyard house yours?!

The USA.

Director Joseph, who paid close attention to Dragon Country's movements, naturally noticed the happenings on Dragon Country's internet.

Since his informants had been rooted out one after another by Dragon Country's relevant departments, he had learned to be smarter.

He shifted his offline informants to the online space.

He felt that cultivating an 'online elite' was far more cost-effective than training an intelligence agent to go deep into the heart of Dragon Country.

Through these 'online elites', he scouted for all internal information regarding Dragon Country on various social media platforms.

“What on earth is Dragon Country up to now?!”

Looking at the online intelligence regarding Dragon Country in his hand, Director Joseph frowned deeply.

The report stated that an unknown model of aircraft had landed at Longdu International Airport.

According to the analysis of Dragon Country's military bloggers, this aircraft was very likely Dragon Country's 6th Generation Stealth Bomber.

This caused Director Joseph's heart to tighten instantly.

“Dragon Country has developed the 6th Generation Stealth Bomber?!”

Director Joseph was astonished.

After thinking for a moment, he immediately dismissed this conjecture.

How could that be possible!!

It was absolutely impossible for Dragon Country's military to break through the stealth technology for long-range strategic bombers in just over a decade.

This technology could only belong exclusively to the USA.

“That damned Dragon Country Strategic Terror Bureau, they must be behind this!!”

Director Joseph gritted his teeth.

Through Dragon Country's 'online elites', he knew that Dragon Country not only had the Strategic Deception Bureau, which specialized in fooling foreign citizens.

But also a group called the Strategic Terror Bureau, which specialized in photoshopping military images and creating CG animations.

The purpose of this civilian online organization was to intimidate foreign masses with fake, powerful weaponry and equipment.

Director Joseph felt that the events described in this intelligence were definitely the intentional work of this Strategic Terror Bureau.

He would rather believe that Captain USA had planted the Statue of Liberty upside down than believe that Dragon Country could build a 6th Generation Stealth Bomber.

“Heh... the people of Dragon Country are simply daydreaming!”

Director Joseph chuckled and shook his head, then stopped paying attention to this piece of intelligence.

...

Longdu.

The Hongqi L5 motorcade carried Xu Hao and the others directly to a quiet courtyard house.

Hearing the sound of the cars, Professor Zhou Xuemin personally walked out from the courtyard house.

Xu Hao got out of the car.

Seeing this, Professor Zhou Xuemin walked up to greet him warmly.

“Xiao Hao, I've finally been looking forward to your arrival!”

Professor Zhou Xuemin warmly shook hands with Xu Hao.

With a face full of smiles, Xu Hao greeted Professor Zhou Xuemin:

“Elder Zhou, it's been a long time. You still look as healthy and vigorous as ever!”

Xu Hao's words weren't intentional flattery; he was stating the truth.

Over these years, although Professor Zhou Xuemin still engaged in some scientific research tasks, they were much fewer compared to before.

Since his work wasn't as busy, he appeared hale and hearty.

His primary work currently was cultivating talent.

Therefore.

That was why he repeatedly wanted Xu Hao to join the Dragon Academy of Sciences.

“Hahaha...”

“Seeing you today, I feel a few years younger again.”

Professor Zhou Xuemin laughed heartily, clearly very happy with Xu Hao's words, and even joked with him.

The two exchanged pleasantries for a few moments and then walked into the courtyard house together.

Xu Hao took a deep look at this courtyard house.

There was nothing particularly outstanding about it; it looked just like the Longdu courtyard houses seen in TV dramas.

However, in terms of decoration, it was surely perfect in every way.

Inside was a courtyard surrounded by rooms, and walking further in, there was another garden with mountains, water, flowers, and grass. The environment was exceptionally quiet and pleasant.

It was a fine place to live.

In the arid and dry Longdu, being able to have such a serene courtyard house was not something that could be settled simply with money.

There was a saying that circulated among the people.

The truly high-ranking officials and noble elites of Longdu were not in skyscrapers or luxury villas, but in these slightly quiet courtyard houses tucked away in a corner.

Any person walking out of these courtyards was likely someone who frequently appeared on television.

Professor Zhou Xuemin had specifically arranged for Xu Hao to stay here, which showed how much importance he placed on him.

Watching Xu Hao look around the courtyard, Professor Zhou Xuemin took the opportunity to ask:

“How is it? Is this courtyard alright?”

Xu Hao nodded. “It's hard to imagine that in a place as expensive as Longdu, there could be such a large courtyard!”

A single wall separated two different worlds.

Outside the wall was a bustling metropolis with heavy traffic and flashing neon lights.

Inside the wall was a quiet, comfortable courtyard house with scenery of mountains and water.

This made Xu Hao think of a phrase from the internet:

Everyone hates the powerful and the rich, yet everyone wants to be powerful and rich.

Because the happiness of the powerful and the wealthy is something you simply cannot imagine.

After hearing Xu Hao's words, Professor Zhou Xuemin said,

“As long as you like it. This courtyard is yours now.”

“You'll inevitably come to Longdu often in the future; it won't do without a place to stay.”

“Although this courtyard isn't large, it's located in a serene and quiet area. This place is also safe and convenient enough.”

Professor Zhou Xuemin's tone was relaxed, as if he were speaking of something trivial.

But these words fell on Xu Hao's ears with a shock.

What?!

This courtyard house was his?

He had just arrived in Longdu and was being given a courtyard house?!

Snapping back to his senses, Xu Hao quickly refused.

“Elder Zhou, I can't accept this, I really can't. This gift is far too heavy!!”

Not to mention the deep meaning the courtyard house represented; its market value alone was enough to make one look up in awe and hesitate to step forward.

“What do you mean you can't accept it?” Professor Zhou Xuemin immediately became displeased.

“If you don't want this courtyard house, that's fine. Tomorrow, come with me to take over the position of President of the Dragon Academy of Sciences.”

“I've long been unwilling to hold this President position. Since you've come to Longdu, you can just take my place!”

Professor Zhou Xuemin spoke with a half-smile, acting shamelessly like a mischievous old grandfather.

“This...”

Xu Hao didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

He hadn't expected Professor Zhou Xuemin to have such a side.

Helpless, he could only agree.

“Then I shall respectfully obey.”

Xu Hao didn't even know what to say. He hadn't even sat down after entering the door, and he had already gained a courtyard house.

Who would believe this if it were told?!

However, it was just as Elder Zhou said.

He would inevitably have to come to Longdu often in the future, and without a residence, it would be quite inconvenient.

Seeing Xu Hao agree, Professor Zhou Xuemin immediately beamed with joy.

“That's the way!” Professor Zhou Xuemin laughed.

“When you come to Longdu in the future, you can come with Secretary Wang. This courtyard is very large, so Secretary Wang can help you organize your domestic affairs. It'll be convenient.”

Professor Zhou Xuemin looked at Wang Qian standing behind Xu Hao and gave her a smile.

Wang Qian hadn't expected the conversation to turn to her.

Her pretty face froze for a moment, then she nodded blankly. “Ah? Uh... right, exactly!”

Then she secretly glanced at Xu Hao, watching his reaction.

Seeing that he didn't refuse, she felt a slight sigh of relief in her heart.

Professor Zhou Xuemin didn't stay in the courtyard house for long. After chatting with Xu Hao for a few moments, he stopped bothering them.

Exhausted from the long journey, Professor Zhou Xuemin told Xu Hao to have a good rest for a day and that he would take him on a proper tour of the Dragon Academy of Sciences tomorrow.

Xu Hao agreed.

Only Xu Hao and Wang Qian remained in the courtyard house.

Of course.

Later, there would be some staff responsible for Xu Hao's daily life, food, clothing, housing, and transportation.

All of these were specifically arranged by the people Professor Zhou Xuemin had instructed.

Xu Hao had no way to refuse, so he could only accept it calmly.