Chapter 162 The Old Man's Gift

Late at night after the annual meeting, the Commander-in-Chief's office was brightly lit.

Lin Xi was kept behind alone by Elder Qian and Zhang Zhengguo.

Elder Qian took out a seemingly ordinary dark brown faux-leather notebook from a locked drawer.

The notebook's style was very old-fashioned, without any extra packaging.

He handed it to Lin Xi with both hands, his movements even more solemn than when he had just presented the National First-Class Award.

“That person asked me to bring this to you.”

Elder Qian's voice was very low, yet every word carried immense weight.

“He said you are a fine seedling on the industrial front.”

“Keep your back straight and stride forward boldly.”

Lin Xi's heart skipped a beat.

He took the notebook, his fingertips touching the gold-stamped five-pointed star on the cover, feeling as if he'd been struck by an electric current.

Opening the flyleaf, the fountain pen handwriting was vigorous and powerful, pressing through the paper.

There were only four words written there—

Industrial Pioneer.

The signature was a household name.

Lin Xi's pupils contracted sharply, and his breathing froze for an instant.

He took a deep breath, feeling the notebook in his hand weigh more than a thousand catties.

This was not just a gift, but also a protective talisman and a heavy expectation.

In the stream, sharp-eyed viewers had already recognized that familiar brushwork, and the bullet chat instantly flooded the screen:

【Everyone stand up!!!】

【Holy crap! It's that Elder's personal inscription! This isn't just a talisman anymore; it's an Imperial Sword!】

【Now this is prestige! The Streamer has truly reached the heavens this time!】

【Spam 'Keep your back straight' in the chat! This is so inspiring!】

He didn't say a word.

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He simply closed the notebook solemnly and placed it into his satchel.

He fastened the copper buckle and pressed it firmly.

Seeing Lin Xi put the item away, the previously tense Zhang Zhengguo finally let out a sigh of relief.

He picked up a chipped enamel mug, blew away the foam, and took a sip of strong tea.

“Tell me then.”

“The year has turned, and the award has been won.”

“In 1982, how do you plan to stir things up, kid?”

Although Zhang Zhengguo's tone was relaxed, there was a scrutinizing look in his eyes.

Elder Qian beside him didn't speak, just quietly watched Lin Xi.

Lin Xi sat up straight and held up two fingers.

“First, leveraging the momentum of this training and the joint campaign, we will establish the 'China Machine Tool Industry Alliance'.”

“We can no longer have local warlords ruling their own territories.”

“We need to twist the eighteen major factories into a single rope.”

“Unified systems, unified standards, and unified international quotes.”

Lin Xi's gaze was sharp.

“Since the m1 kit has already become the de facto standard.”

“Let's make this standard the national standard, or even... the industry standard.”

Zhang Zhengguo nodded slightly.

This move was brilliant—using the 'Emperor' to command the lords.

Although Red Star Technology's scale was small, by controlling the core technology, they could become the alliance leader.

“Second, I previously made a formal pledge at the First Ministry of Machine Building Industry.”

Lin Xi's words were shocking.

“This year, Red Star Technology, in collaboration with eighteen machine tool factories, will aim for a machine tool export value of 50 million US dollars.”

Zhang Zhengguo was about to drink tea, but his wrist froze in mid-air upon hearing this.

50 million US dollars?

And for high-value-added products like machine tools?

This was almost equivalent to half the export value of the entire machinery system!

“You kid, you really dare to boast...”

Although Zhang Zhengguo said this, the smile lines at the corners of his eyes betrayed him.

If it could really be done, the Seventh Ministry of Machine Building Industry's back would be so stiff they could smash the table at the joint ministry meetings.

“These two points, though difficult, I believe you have a way.”

Zhang Zhengguo set down his mug and leaned forward, his presence overwhelming.

“But I don't believe your appetite, Lin Xi, is only this small.”

“What about the third point?”

Lin Xi fell silent for a moment.

He looked up, his eyes burning with intensity:

“Third, I want to enter the fields of chemical engineering and materials science to tackle carbon fiber head-on.”

The office instantly fell silent.

Elder Qian's originally half-closed eyes snapped open, a sharp light flashing within them.

“carbon fiber?”

Zhang Zhengguo frowned, his tone turning serious.

“Xiao Lin, I know that stuff is good.”

“Who among us working on missiles doesn't know about it?”

“Even a weight reduction of one kilogram can increase the range significantly.”

“But...”

Zhang Zhengguo sighed and said earnestly:

“Several domestic research institutes are working on it, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences is also at it.”

“But that's a bottomless pit!”

“The process is too difficult, and the yield rate is terrifyingly low.”

“You're a machinery guy.”

“Throwing the money you've earned into that sinkhole... you won't even hear a splash.”

This was an extremely realistic problem.

Making machine tools could earn money and show immediate results.

Developing materials was a money-burning endeavor, a decade of hard work to sharpen a single sword, with the risk of losing everything.

In an era where people had only just managed to fill their stomachs.

Going after a gold-consuming beast like carbon fiber seemed insane to anyone.

“Director Zhang, the wings of future fighter jets will be made of it;”

“The casings of future rockets will be made of it.”

Lin Xi's voice wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally firm.

“T300, T700—these grades are currently at the very top of the COCOM embargo list.”

“If we don't do it.”

“Ten years later, twenty years later, we will still be held by the throat by others.”

“Last April, the Lighthouse Country's space shuttle made its successful maiden flight.”

“While we are still struggling to send a few tons of satellite up.”

“The Lighthouse Country people are already flying 100-ton planes into space and back.”

“I know this research project is hard to get approved.”

“Even if we go through Red Star Technology for approval, with such a large investment and long cycle.”

“It wouldn't be approved for a year or more.”

“But I can't wait.”

“I'm not asking the state for money.”

Lin Xi gave a bashful smile, like a child who had just done something mischievous.

He pulled a HSBC bank draft from his pocket and placed it gently on the table.

“The book I wrote in America, 'the secret of qi', sold quite well.”

“This is the manuscript fee and royalties the publisher just settled—1.2 million... US dollars.”

Zhang Zhengguo was about to strike a match, but his hand trembled, and the match fell directly to the floor.

“How much?!”

“1.2 million US dollars.”

Lin Xi scratched his head.

“This money is my personal property.”

“I plan to use it all for carbon fiber research and development.”

“I'll do it myself. If it fails, it's on me; if it succeeds, it belongs to the country.”

The stream's bullet chat was flying at this point:

【Oh my god! 1.2 million USD all for carbon fiber? I hesitate for ages just to spend 648 on a game!】

【This is what you call vision! The Streamer is using this money to buy the country's future.】

【Back then Hans gave the Streamer 1 million USD for the tech; now it looks like he was just tossing pennies to a beggar!】

【Although 1.2 million USD in 1982 is a lot, it's definitely not enough for carbon fiber research!】

【The Streamer must have his own plan. We just need to coordinate with him when the time comes!】

A deathly silence fell over the office.

Zhang Zhengguo's mouth hung open as he looked at the scholarly young man before him.

1.2 million US dollars.

It could buy countless courtyard houses.

It could allow Lin Xi to live the life of a top-tier tycoon in any country.

And this kid didn't even blink before throwing it all in?

This could no longer be explained simply by 'awareness'.

This was a purity that bordered on madness.

“Why?”

The previously silent Elder Qian suddenly spoke.