Appearance in Chapter 303

At the same time.

On the other side.

A white Coaster minibus with special license plates was driving steadily and unhurriedly.

The atmosphere inside the cabin was so gloomy it felt as if one could wring water out of it.

Elder Qian, Qian Zhengming, was sitting in a window seat.

His weather-beaten face was filled with exhaustion and ill-concealed disappointment.

Not long ago, he and the Industrial Census team he led, which gathered the country's top Experts, had just finished a field inspection of a Fishing Rod factory near Baishui City.

The result was still disappointing.

Let alone reaching the ultra-high strength required for next-generation fighter jets, the carbon fiber tubing produced by that factory didn't even meet the most basic high-end civilian standards.

The craftsmanship was crude, and the equipment was outdated.

This was already the dozens of companies they had visited in a row with no results.

Elder Qian took off his reading glasses and gently rubbed the dry corners of his eyes with his fingers.

He turned his head, looked at the city streetscape flying past outside the window, and let out a deep sigh.

He no longer held much hope in his heart.

'Miracles, how can they happen so easily?'

'Expecting to find a treasure that can solve national strategic problems in these small private factories producing cultural and sporting goods is indeed wishful thinking.'

Such a thought surfaced in his mind.

The MIIT leaders and materials science Experts sitting behind him were also leaning back in their seats, listless.

The continuous travel and constant crushing of hope had greatly exhausted the team's spirit.

Everyone felt that this "Industrial Census" would probably end in a farcical failure.

The vehicle turned a corner at an intersection and drove into a recently developed industrial park.

Before long.

The Coaster minibus slowed down gradually and finally stopped smoothly in front of a brand-new factory gate.

The car door opened with a "hiss."

Director Zhang got off first, then stood respectfully by the door, helping Elder Qian slowly step down from the vehicle.

As soon as Elder Qian got out of the car, his gaze instinctively turned toward the factory gate.

Just then, he caught sight of Old Zhang, the security guard, standing at the door of the guardroom, peeking out.

Elder Qian blinked, a hint of doubt flashing in his cloudy yet still sharp eyes.

He felt that this old man in the security uniform looked a bit familiar.

Elder Qian's brain worked quickly; although he processed countless data and drawings every day, his memory for people he had met was quite good.

He remembered.

When he went to the old site of the Li Family Toy Factory to inspect the sky rocket project, he seemed to have seen this elderly security guard.

'Why is he here too?'

Elder Qian was a bit puzzled, but he didn't pay much attention to it, assuming it was just a routine personnel transfer.

...

At this moment.

Old Zhang, the security guard standing at the guardroom door, was stunned when he clearly saw the old man getting off the minibus.

He was completely dumbfounded.

Although Old Zhang was just a gatekeeper with a low level of education.

He had a hobby: he especially loved watching the Xinwen Lianbo and various documentaries on the Science and Education Channels.

For those pillars of the nation who often appeared on television screens, sat on rostrums, or were grandly introduced.

He recognized them!

He recognized this national treasure-level scientist!

This was Elder Qian!

Moreover, he had seen him before at the old factory site.

Old Zhang stood there in a daze, his mouth slightly open, the stainless steel thermos in his hand tilting so that the wolfberry water inside almost spilled out.

He felt as if his heart had been suddenly gripped by something.

Immediately after, a warm current spread from his chest.

He felt an immense sense of relief in his heart.

'Oh my goodness...'

'What kind of auspicious day is it today?'

'First, a murderous Minister Liu arrives, and right after, even a national treasure-level big shot only seen on TV pays a personal visit!'

'Fortunately... fortunately, I already took the quick-acting heart-saving pills beforehand when Liu Jianguo brought people and barged in!'

Old Zhang marveled frantically in his heart.

The medicine was now steadily protecting his heart.

Otherwise, with the roller-Coaster-like excitement of today's visitor levels, his old bones would have been finished.

After a brief moment of shock.

Old Zhang quickly snapped out of it.

He put the thermos on the table, quickly adjusted his security cap, and brushed the dust off his uniform.

Then.

Old Zhang's attitude did a complete 180-degree turn.

When Liu Jianguo came earlier, his face was full of terror, helplessness, and mourning.

But now, his old face blossomed with a smile as bright and sincere as an autumn daisy.

He hurried forward to greet them.

His enthusiasm and the spring in his step were more than a notch higher than when he had dealt with Liu Jianguo.

This was because Old Zhang's childhood dream was to become a respected great scientist!

Although life eventually led him to pick up a thermos and become a gatekeeper, this yearning for science had always been buried deep in his heart.

And Elder Qian was the greatest idol in his heart!

"Oh my! Welcome! A warm welcome to all the leaders for visiting our small factory to guide our work!"

Old Zhang reached out both hands from afar and greeted them with overflowing enthusiasm.

Elder Qian looked at the overly enthusiastic gatekeeper and nodded with a smile: "Old comrade, thank you for your hard work. Is your Factory Director Li here?"

"Yes, yes, yes! The director is in the office building up ahead!"

Old Zhang nodded repeatedly and took the initiative to act as a guide:

"Please follow me, I'll lead the way!"

After saying that, Old Zhang walked at the front of the group, chest out and head held high.

He felt that being able to lead the way for Elder Qian was simply the most glorious moment of his gatekeeping career.

At this moment, please call him Old Zhang the Guide.

...

The group walked through the factory roads.

Old Zhang, walking in front, began to slow down.

As he led Elder Qian and his party near the small building where the protagonist's office was located.

Old Zhang suddenly stopped.

He turned around, looking at Elder Qian who was only two steps away, and became a bit ill at ease.

His lips moved as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.

He rubbed his hands hard on his uniform trousers, appearing very nervous.

Elder Qian was a very easygoing person; seeing Old Zhang like this, he stopped and looked at him gently.

Seeing this, Elder Qian asked him what he wanted to say:

"Old comrade, what's wrong? Is there something you need to tell us?"

Director Zhang and the other MIIT leaders following Elder Qian also stopped, looking at the gatekeeper with some curiosity.

Hearing Elder Qian's inquiry.

Old Zhang seemed to have made a monumental decision.

He rubbed his hands vigorously, his weather-beaten face flushing red with excitement.

He looked at Elder Qian, his eyes shining, and shouted excitedly:

"Elder Qian!"

"I've been watching you do experiments since I was a kid. I'm a ten-year fan of yours."

"Could you... could you give me an autograph?"

...

The air went silent in that instant.

A summer afternoon breeze blew through, swirling a few fallen leaves.

Hearing this.

Elder Qian's expression froze instantly.

The MIIT leaders standing behind him, who had been maintaining a serious posture, also stared blankly at Old Zhang.

A few seconds later.

The corners of the mouths of Elder Qian and the MIIT leaders behind him couldn't help but twitch.

They could hardly believe their ears.

Everyone was speechless, even feeling an urge to complain on the spot.

What did he mean by "watching you do experiments since I was a kid"?

Your hair is mostly white, and looking at the wrinkles on your face, you must be at least sixty, right?

Although Elder Qian is old, your use of "since I was a kid" is just too ridiculous!

Also.

You're using these catchphrases way too skillfully!

Anyone who didn't know better would think a scientist like Elder Qian, who works on top-secret national aerospace projects, was doing a live stream during his experiments!

What kind of "ten-year fan" is that!

How can a gatekeeping old man spout fan-circle slogans so easily?

Everyone was speechless to the extreme, and seeing Old Zhang's incredibly sincere and fanatical gaze, they really couldn't bear to poke holes in his logic.

At this moment, the stage for showing off was set, and the heavyweight audience had arrived.