171: Chapter 171 The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier project is now in your hands!

Inside the courtyard, the three of them took their seats.

"Engineer Xu, these are the certificates and medals. Please keep them safe!"

Minister Yan Cheng handed a stack of certificates and medals to Xu Hao with both hands.

He then added:

"The prize money for these awards will be deposited into your private account in due course."

Xu Hao nodded. "Thank you. I appreciate the trouble, Minister Yan."

"Haha, you're too kind, Engineer Xu. You've made such a great contribution to the country; it is we who should be thanking you."

Minister Yan Cheng said with a smile.

As the three of them chatted, the conversation gradually turned to the military-themed movie Director Guo Fan had mentioned.

"Engineer Xu, I heard from Director Guo Fan that you'll be providing props for this movie?"

Minister Yan Cheng asked.

"Yes, that's right. Guo Fan mentioned it to me yesterday."

"You know about it too, Minister Yan?"

Xu Hao asked curiously.

Minister Yan Cheng nodded. "This film is being produced under the lead of our Publicity Department."

Xu Hao realized; no wonder Minister Yan knew.

"Minister Yan, it seems the higher-ups place great importance on this movie?"

Xu Hao asked.

"Indeed. The higher-ups held a major meeting and gave important instructions regarding publicity work over the past few decades."

Minister Yan Cheng nodded, his smile appearing somewhat forced.

It seemed the meeting hadn't been as pleasant as one might imagine.

Xu Hao understood without needing it spelled out.

Minister Yan Cheng expressed his gratitude:

"Engineer Xu, thank you for agreeing to produce the props for this movie."

He hadn't expected at all that Xu Hao would actually make props for a movie.

He had been quite surprised when Guo Fan told him the news.

So, his visit today was partly to deliver the medals and certificates, and partly a special trip to give his thanks.

"There's no need for such formalities, Minister Yan." Xu Hao smiled and then asked, "Do you have any specific requirements for the props?"

Hearing this, Professor Zhou Xuemin teased:

"What's this, Xiao Hao? If there are requirements, are you going to turn the props into the real thing again? Hahaha..."

Professor Zhou Xuemin hadn't forgotten how Xu Hao had made props for The Wandering Earth.

He ended up making the real deal, which had given them quite a fright.

"Hahaha... That's right, Engineer Xu. If I make a request, you won't give me the real thing again, will you?"

Minister Yan Cheng clearly knew about that incident as well and laughed along.

Xu Hao rubbed his nose, feeling slightly embarrassed.

Actually, he was just asking to be polite. Regardless of what Minister Yan or Guo Fan requested, he intended to produce the real thing anyway.

Don't you believe I can do it?

Just try not to be too surprised when the time comes.

For now, Xu Hao didn't plan on telling them.

After all, he had just finished the blueprints for the Nuclear-powered Aircraft Carrier. If he were to suddenly produce blueprints for the J-35A carrier-based fighter as well...

He would probably be treated like an alien and sliced up for research.

If they actually figured something out, wouldn't thousands of Xu Haos appear?

Minister Yan Cheng said:

"Engineer Xu, there aren't many requirements for the props in this movie, just make them look authentic."

"I'll have the airbase send over a few decommissioned J-8s. You can just touch them up a bit."

"There will be artistic processing in post-production. The main thing is to avoid errors in the details, unlike that aerial combat movie released recently..."

At this point, Minister Yan Cheng's expression soured.

Clearly, he felt somewhat helpless regarding the various unrealistic issues that had plagued that movie.

Sigh... some of these convoluted matters involve too much.

Even if he wanted to change things, one person's voice was ultimately too small.

Xu Hao saw the helplessness in Minister Yan Cheng's eyes and was smart enough not to press the issue.

One must look after oneself to live well.

As for those other matters, someone would deal with them when the time was right.

After chatting for a few dozen minutes, Minister Yan Cheng left first because his department was busy.

"Engineer Xu, take this opportunity to enjoy yourself in Longdu for a few days."

Minister Yan Cheng extended an invitation before departing.

"Thank you, Minister Yan. I will. Sorry for the trouble today, making you come all this way yourself!"

"Let's catch up properly another time!"

From their conversation, Xu Hao realized that Minister Yan Cheng was a leader who actually got things done.

However, he might be limited by certain factors, preventing him from fully exercising his capabilities.

Especially that undisguised helplessness in his eyes just now—that doesn't lie.

It was only because it was just him and Professor Zhou Xuemin; otherwise, someone who had spent years in officialdom wouldn't have revealed such an expression so easily.

"Sigh..."

Watching Yan Cheng walk away, Xu Hao couldn't help but sigh softly.

Seeing this, Professor Zhou Xuemin had an odd expression and couldn't resist teasing him.

"What, are you acting like the ancients, lamenting the present through the past?"

Xu Hao turned back. "Elder Zhou, stop making fun of me. How could you not know what's going on with Minister Yan Cheng?"

Xu Hao gave Professor Zhou Xuemin a resentful look and then returned to the inner courtyard.

Professor Zhou Xuemin laughed, his cloudy eyes looking in the direction Yan Cheng had left, and he also let out a slight sigh.

"Alas... 'The noble bells are cast aside while earthen pots thunder.' He is of low standing and holds little power!"

Shaking his head, Professor Zhou Xuemin followed Xu Hao back into the inner courtyard.

These matters were beyond their control.

Back in the inner courtyard, Professor Zhou Xuemin pushed those thoughts aside and pulled a document from his briefcase.

"This is the personnel list for the construction of the Nuclear-powered Aircraft Carrier. Take a look."

Professor Zhou Xuemin handed the list to Xu Hao.

Xu Hao took it and looked.

Good heavens, dozens of pages, with hundreds of names on each page.

"So many?"

Xu Hao said in surprise.

He took a quick look; the headcount was estimated to be around ten thousand.

Did building one aircraft carrier really require that many people?

Professor Zhou Xuemin: "About ten thousand in total, including three thousand researchers and seven thousand workers."

"The reason so many people were assigned is that the higher-ups want to build the Nuclear-powered Aircraft Carrier as quickly as possible."

"So, Xiao Hao, your task is a heavy one!"

Professor Zhou Xuemin looked at Xu Hao with a serious gaze.

The standard staffing for building an aircraft carrier is usually around three to four thousand people.

By assigning so many personnel to Xu Hao at once, the higher-ups' intention was very clear.

They wanted to build a Nuclear-powered Aircraft Carrier belonging to Dragon Country at maximum speed.

"Xiao Hao, any problems? If there are, I can report them to the higher-ups."

Professor Zhou Xuemin frowned.

In truth, he was also somewhat displeased with this approach from above.

Even Elder Long had a few words to say when he saw it.

But that person didn't seem willing to budge...

Xu Hao shook his head. "No problem, as long as these personnel have the necessary expertise and professional quality, and the required materials can be supplied on time."

"The construction task won't be an issue!"

Xu Hao guaranteed.

To be honest, Xu Hao was actually quite happy to have so many people assigned to him.

There's strength in numbers.

The more, the better, especially since these were top-tier researchers and experienced workers.

As long as the division of labor was appropriate, the construction of the aircraft carrier could proceed in an orderly fashion.

"In that case, the task of building the aircraft carrier is entrusted to you!"

Professor Zhou Xuemin instructed.

Xu Hao nodded.

"Don't worry!"

Although the burden on his shoulders was heavy, Xu Hao loved challenging himself.

With such an excellent research team now, he would strive for perfection and give it his all.

Leading over ten thousand workers, he would build Dragon Country's Nuclear-powered Aircraft Carrier with the greatest speed and the best quality!