60: Chapter 60 A Gathering!

"Hello, Old Shen!"

"Where did you run off to at such a critical moment?"

"Are we still researching the Exoskeleton Mecha or not?!"

Professor He Jianhua's voice came through the phone, his tone sounding rather displeased.

They had been upgrading the Exoskeleton Mecha at the Research Institute and had agreed to continue working after lunch.

Unexpectedly, after returning to the Research Institute following their meal, Professor Shen Hongcai was nowhere to be found.

They assumed he had gone to rest and would return shortly.

But it was nearly 2:30 PM, and they still hadn't seen a trace of him.

That was why they called.

Listening to Professor He Jianhua's near-roaring voice, Professor Shen Hongcai hurriedly moved the phone away from his ear.

After he finished speaking, Professor Shen Hongcai retorted indignantly:

"Exoskeleton Mecha? Heh..."

Professor Shen Hongcai let out a cold laugh.

"Researching the Exoskeleton Mecha... Research my foot!!"

Recalling everything he had learned in these last few short hours, Professor Shen Hongcai suddenly blurted out a profanity.

This couldn't be blamed on him!

With the mecha production line and mecha modules right in front of his eyes, why would he still research the Exoskeleton Mecha?

Isn't a surreal, sci-fi mecha much better?!

"Huh? Old Shen, has your brain turned to mush? What are you talking about?"

Professor He Jianhua was stunned, then exchanged glances with Professor Cao Gang, who was standing beside him, completely bewildered.

How could Old Shen be talking nonsense after just one lunch break?

"Sigh..." On the other end of the phone, Professor Shen Hongcai sighed softly.

"Old He, Old Cao, that production line Xu Hao is working on is for researching a mecha!"

"A mecha! A mecha!"

Professor Shen Hongcai repeated the word "mecha" several times with emphasis.

His face was full of excitement and regret; his expression was truly expressive.

"What? A mecha?!"

Professor He Jianhua was dumbfounded.

Professor Cao Gang was also stunned. He leaned in, snatched the phone, turned up the volume, and asked again:

"Old Shen, the volume was too low just now. Can you repeat what you just said?!"

Professor Cao Gang gripped the phone tightly and pressed his ear against it, afraid of mishearing anything.

Professor Shen Hongcai, who was walking out of the workshop, had no choice but to explain the matter of Xu Hao building the mecha to them over the phone, highlighting the key points.

After listening, there was a long silence on the other end of the phone, followed immediately by Professor He Jianhua's exclamation:

"Holy crap! A mecha?!"

"Old Shen, tell us clearly, is it the kind of mecha we're thinking of?"

Professor He Jianhua swallowed hard, his skin trembling slightly, whether from nervousness or excitement, he didn't know.

"Could that be fake? It's a surreal, sci-fi mecha! It integrates attack and defense, and its agility and maneuverability surpass all current mechas in the world. It's in a league of its own!!"

Professor Shen Hongcai said.

"Whew..." Professor He Jianhua and Professor Cao Gang both involuntarily took a deep breath, trying to digest this explosive news brought by Professor Shen Hongcai.

Their eyes were filled with shock!

Xu Hao had actually managed to build a mecha without them even realizing it.

So... the new production line opened last time was for building the mecha?

Thinking of this, Professor Cao Gang immediately got angry.

"Wait, Old Shen, didn't you say that Xu Hao couldn't come up with anything new and could only work on excavators, fighter jets, and the like?"

"Now you're telling me that Xu Hao has built a mecha?"

Professor Cao Gang demanded.

"Old man, shut up! Don't frame me; I didn't say that! It was Old He who said it!!"

Professor Shen Hongcai retorted over the phone.

Professor Cao Gang immediately turned his gaze toward Professor He Jianhua.

"Old Shen, don't try to shift the blame to me. It was clearly you who said it!!"

Professor He Jianhua wasn't having it either and began arguing with Professor Shen Hongcai.

The three Old Professors were arguing until their faces were red, separated only by the phone screen, all because of Xu Hao.

If anyone else saw this, they would likely be shocked.

Are these the arrogant, unapproachable professors from the Dragon Academy of Sciences you spoke of?

After arguing for several minutes, Professor Shen Hongcai ended the topic first and said bluntly:

"Stop arguing, both of you. Drop what you're doing immediately; we're going to find Xu Hao to talk."

"The mecha research is of great importance; we need to discuss it properly!"

"What about the Exoskeleton Mecha?" Professor Cao Gang asked.

"That's right... we can't just shelve it halfway through." Professor He Jianhua also chimed in.

Professor Shen Hongcai thought for a moment before saying:

"Find another... never mind, just find a few researchers and let them take over!"

"Get over here as soon as possible!"

With that, Professor Shen Hongcai hung up the phone.

Professor He Jianhua and Professor Cao Gang hurriedly gathered a few researchers to take over their work.

The two took off their lab coats and left in a hurry.

...

Xu's Heavy Industry, Chairman's office.

Xu Hao and President Tang Minghui of Tangs Heavy Industry were conversing in a friendly manner.

Xu Hao had some understanding of Tangs Heavy Industry.

Although both were heavy industry groups, Tangs Heavy Industry's business was mainly in the Northwest region.

It wasn't really competition; one could only say they didn't have much interaction.

Now that Tangs Heavy Industry was taking the initiative to show goodwill, Xu Hao was willing to reciprocate.

After all, business is a long-term endeavor.

"Chairman Xu, Xu's Heavy Industry is truly thriving now."

President Tang Minghui said with a smile, a faint look of flattery on his face.

Now that Xu's Heavy Industry had transformed from a crow into a phoenix and become a state-owned enterprise.

He hoped to build a good relationship with Xu Hao and develop more cooperation in the future.

Xu Hao raised an eyebrow, a smile on his lips, and just as he was about to answer him, the phone in his pocket rang.

He took out his phone to check, and the caller ID was Director Guo Fan.

Xu Hao nodded in apology and then said:

"President Tang, please wait a moment, I need to take a call."

President Tang Minghui nodded with a smile, indicating for Xu Hao to go ahead.

"Hello, Director Guo, what is it?" Xu Hao answered the phone and asked.

"Chairman Xu, do you have a moment? I'm at the entrance of your factory area, but I can't get in..."

Director Guo Fan asked.

After Xu's Heavy Industry became a state-owned enterprise, the security checks at the entrance had become much stricter.

Previously, they could come and go as they pleased, but now, without the documents provided by Xu Hao, they weren't allowed in.

"Huh? You're here too?"

Xu Hao was stunned.

Why had Director Guo Fan come too?

Was this just a coincidence, that they all decided to come at the same time?

Xu Hao shook his head and smiled helplessly.

However, since they were already here, he couldn't just chase them away.

"Wait there, I'll come out and pick you up right away!"

Xu Hao replied and then hung up the phone.

He turned back, a trace of apology on his face, and then said to President Tang Minghui:

"President Tang, a friend of mine is coming, and I need to go out and meet him. Please sit for a moment; I'll be right back."

"It's fine, it's fine. Chairman Xu, please attend to your business; don't worry about me!"

President Tang Minghui waved his hands repeatedly, saying he didn't mind at all.

Xu Hao nodded and walked toward the door. Before leaving, he said to President Tang Minghui again:

"President Tang, if anyone looks for me, please help me let them know."

"Though, at this time, there shouldn't be anyone else coming."

"Please rest a while and have some tea. This tea was a gift from an old friend of mine, who said it was a special supply."

"Since you like tea, President Tang, help me taste and critique it!"

After saying this, Xu Hao left the office.