Chapter 78 $500,000 Sponsorship Fee

Zhao Qing had an expression like she'd seen a ghost; her mouth hung open wide enough to fit an egg, and the beaker in her hand slipped, nearly shattering in this serious setting.

Although she didn't understand the complex algorithmic logic that followed, she could read Elder Xu's micro-expressions.

This Service Center manager, whom she had dismissed as someone who "repaired shoes and patched pots," could actually sit and discuss theories with a titan of the domestic rare earth industry, even making Elder Xu nod repeatedly as if he had found a priceless treasure?

Was this scientific? Was this even logical?

"Little Lin," Elder Xu's voice was raspy, carrying a hint of confusion,

"these non-linear compensation parameters, and this 'fuzzy PID control' concept..."

He paused, his gaze sharp: "Did you really come up with these yourself?"

Lin Xi was well-prepared, calmly shifting the credit across the ocean:

"Elder Xu, as you know, our Red Star has recently been cooperating with Lighthouse Country's Sears Department Store."

"I have an old friend named Harrison, who is the purchasing director there."

"I'm a studious person, so I often have him send me some foreign academic journals to pass the time."

"The information in those journals is quite diverse, and I like to piece things together when I'm free..."

"Combined with the 'brainstorming' of our Launch Base's R&D personnel, that's how these immature ideas came about."

Lin Xi pointed to his temple, talking nonsense with a straight face.

In his field of vision, a wave of translucent bullet chat comments instantly floated by:

[What the hell do you mean by brainstorming! I count as 'R&D personnel'? I'm just a screw-turner!]

[Harrison: I'm just sitting at home, and the blame falls from the sky! It wasn't me, I didn't do it, don't talk nonsense!]

[Is this a legendary external member of the 'Strategic Foolery Bureau'? With that mouth, he can lie through his teeth without blinking.]

[The Streamer's move is absolutely brilliant! This is the ultimate evolved version of 'learning from the barbarians to control them'—'fabricating from the barbarians'!]

Elder Xu nodded thoughtfully.

In this era of information isolation, the other side of the ocean indeed represented mystery and advancement.

If it was the inspiration of "collective wisdom" plus "foreign journals," then it made sense—it even seemed quite reasonable.

"We... are indeed lagging too far behind."

Elder Xu sighed and then turned around.

His originally gentle gaze instantly became stern as he scanned the group of students.

"Did you all hear that?"

"Read more foreign journals from now on; even if you don't understand them, you'd better gnaw through them word by word with a dictionary!"

"Don't spend all day thinking you're the chosen ones; look at Little Lin!"

"He's managed to make such a big name for himself while working in logistics; aren't you ashamed?"

Zhao Qing lowered her head in shame, wishing she could find a hole to crawl into, her hand gripping the beaker tightly.

After scolding the students, Elder Xu turned back around. Looking at the near-perfect proposal in his hand, the light in his eyes gradually dimmed.

"But..."

Elder Xu's enthusiasm suddenly cooled. Looking at the near-perfect proposal in his hand, he gave a bitter laugh,

"Comrade Lin, your theory is impeccable."

"But this system..."

"It requires fully automated centrifugal extraction equipment and high-precision online testing instruments."

"You've seen it too."

Elder Xu pointed to the dilapidated surroundings,

"We don't even have a good chromatograph; everything is done with makeshift methods."

"To turn your theory into reality, it's impossible without an equipment investment of several hundred thousand USD."

"Even if we sold our laboratory, we couldn't scrape together that much money."

The air seemed to become thick and heavy at that moment.

This was the deepest helplessness and sorrow of researchers in that era.

Their minds were filled with the stars and the sea, but their hands held only fire sticks and junk. It was the ultimate case of being unable to cook a meal without rice.

[Tears in my eyes. This is the 'sudden wealth of the poor' paradox of that era—having the technology but no equipment.]

[Streamer! Show your talent! Don't hold back!]

[Throw money at it! Smash it with cash! This money is well spent!]

Lin Xi said nothing, only turning to look at Zhang Zhengguo, who had been silently drinking tea nearby.

Zhang Zhengguo put down his teacup, patted away non-existent dust from his pant legs, and slowly stood up.

At that moment, a daunting aura erupted from this Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Launch Base.

"Elder Xu, we didn't come here today just to talk."

Zhang Zhengguo held up five fingers, his tone calm:

"Red Star Labor Service Agency is willing to provide 500,000 USD as special research and development funding."

"Clang!"

This time, the beaker in Zhao Qing's hand really couldn't be saved.

The crisp sound of shattering was exceptionally piercing in the dead-silent laboratory, like a clap of thunder.

But no one cared about the beaker.

All of them suspected their auditory systems had malfunctioned.

"How... how much?" Elder Xu doubted his hearing, even digging at his ear.

"500,000. USD."

Zhang Zhengguo emphasized his words and pointed at Lin Xi. "Manager Lin will provide this money."

Everyone in the laboratory gasped, looking at Lin Xi as if he were a monster.

"And the conditions?" Elder Xu was, after all, someone who had seen great storms; he suppressed the shock in his heart and quickly regained his composure,

"With such a large sum of money, what do you want?"

Lin Xi stood up and walked to the rows of cloudy test tubes, his gaze becoming deep:

"Two conditions."

"First, this money must be used not only to purchase the most advanced mass spectrometers and centrifuges from Europe and America but also to establish a full-process pilot production line."

"We want to produce single rare earths with a purity of 5N (99.999%) in this laboratory."

"Second, Red Star Service Cooperative will have the usage rights to all laboratory results, but they cannot be sub-licensed."

"Furthermore, you must help us train a group of first-line engineers who understand the processes."

Lin Xi turned around, his eyes blazing as he looked directly at Elder Xu:

"Elder Xu, I want to ensure that if foreigners want to buy rare earths in the future, they can only buy our finished products."

"As for the price... that will be up to us."

"I want them to know that while there is earth under their feet, the word 'rare' is held in our hands."

These words were powerful and resonant, leaking dominance!

Elder Xu stared at Lin Xi for a full half-minute.

Tears gradually welled up in those cloudy eyes.

His greatest dream in life was to transform China from a "rare earth giant" into a "rare earth power."

To no longer watch those strategic resources, more precious than gold, being sold abroad as cheaply as cabbages!

"Good!"

Elder Xu nodded heavily, his voice even cracking slightly from excitement:

"As long as we have this equipment, give me half a year..."

"No, three months!"

"I'll stake my reputation on it; I guarantee I'll get that entire set of separation processes working for you!"

"Manager Lin..."

With things settled, Zhao Qing, who had been shrinking in the corner like an ostrich, walked over, her face as red as a ripe tomato.

She lowered her head, twisting the corner of her shirt with her fingers, and murmured:

"I'm... I'm sorry. Just now, I..."

Lin Xi waved his hand, interrupting her apology.

"Student Zhao, there's no need to apologize."

Lin Xi smiled and pointed to the old centrifuge:

"However, once the new equipment arrives, I hope you'll memorize the manuals."

"After all, those are machines exchanged for 500,000 USD; they are very precious."

Zhao Qing looked up abruptly, her eyes filled with gratitude and shame, and she nodded heavily as if accepting a military order.

...

When they walked out of the red brick building, it was nearly dusk.

The setting sun was like blood, dyeing the entire research institute in golden red.

Zhang Zhengguo looked back at the still brightly lit laboratory and couldn't help but sigh:

"Lin Xi, kid, your move was way too big."

"500,000 USD... were we a bit impulsive just now?"

"Impulsive?"

Lin Xi looked at the sliver of setting sun on the horizon, a cold curve appearing at the corner of his mouth.

"General Manager Zhang, this 500,000 USD isn't an expense; it's bait."

"With Elder Xu's technology, I can turn that pile of mixed rare earth concentrates into seventeen glittering elements."

"When that time comes, our hundredfold price increase..."

Lin Xi paused and said softly:

"I'm afraid it will only be a starting price."

...