290: Chapter 290 He's definitely not an ordinary academician!

Hearing Vice Mayor Zhang's words, Zhao Yang nodded and didn't rush to speak.

Vice Mayor Zhang continued, "The city has drafted a preliminary plan. We can offer a 'three years exempt, two years half' tax incentive policy. Industrial electricity prices will be ten percent lower than similar parks in the province, and park dormitories and sewage treatment plants will be prioritized for construction."

"As for the specific location, there is a plot of land in the suburbs near the Chang River, less than three kilometers from the highway exit. Both transportation and water sources are very convenient. If you need it, we can also provide a matching industrial fund; we can discuss the specific amount and conditions in detail later."

Zhao Yang leaned back on the sofa and remained silent for a moment. Several leaders in the living room were waiting for his answer; the atmosphere was quiet but not awkward. Zhao Yang ran some numbers through his head. Spark Technology's current cash flow was very abundant, and sales of the spark stimulant were still growing every month, with the overseas market being particularly strong. Several expanded production lines were expected to be fully operational in the second half of this year. Funding was not a bottleneck for starting a new project. What really needed consideration were industrial chain support and talent reserves. A wafer fab required a large number of engineering and technical personnel, and such people were not easy to recruit in a third-tier city like Changcheng.

Zhao Yang looked up and finally spoke.

"Mayor Zhang, Changcheng's conditions are indeed quite good. But I need to clarify one point beforehand. The initial investment for a wafer fab is enormous; a single production line requires over a billion in startup capital, and that's not even counting subsequent equipment upgrades and maintenance costs. Talent is also a major issue. Local universities in Changcheng don't have microelectronics-related majors, so core technical personnel must be brought in from elsewhere. Whether these engineers are willing to put down roots here is a very practical problem."

Vice Mayor Zhang nodded. "We have considered all the issues Dr. Zhao mentioned. Regarding talent recruitment, the city can provide talent apartments and housing subsidies, with priority placement for children's schooling. The city's vocational colleges can also collaborate with you to set up specialized training classes to cultivate grassroots technical workers. As long as the project is established, we can implement these measures one by one."

After listening, Zhao Yang was quiet for a few more seconds.

"I cannot determine a specific timetable and scale right now," Zhao Yang said bluntly. "But I can give the city a promise. In the second half of this year, Spark Technology will initiate the project planning for the chip project. Regarding the location, I will give priority to Changcheng."

A visible smile appeared on Vice Mayor Zhang's face. He exchanged a look with the Director of the Investment Promotion Bureau beside him, then stood up to shake hands with Zhao Yang, his grip significantly firmer than when he had first entered.

"That's enough, coming from Dr. Zhao! The city will definitely cooperate fully. If you need anything, feel free to contact me anytime; you have my number."

After the leaders left, the living room suddenly felt empty. Father Zhao took the half-finished teacups from the table into the kitchen, talking to Zhao Yang through the door as he washed them.

"You're going to work on chips now? Isn't Spark Technology a pharmaceutical company? Why are you suddenly doing chips?"

"The company has its own plans," Zhao Yang said.

Father Zhao didn't ask further. Mother Zhao walked over and sat on the sofa, starting to clear away the melon seed shells and fruit peels from the coffee table.

"Did you note down the talent apartments and housing subsidies Mayor Zhang mentioned just now? Since the leader came in person, you have to show him some respect," Mother Zhao said.

"I've noted it. I'll arrange for someone to handle the coordination."

That evening, while Zhao Yang was taking a walk with his parents downstairs in the residential area, he brought something up.

"Dad, Mom. I bought a villa in Yanjing. It's quite large, with a yard and a basement. Would you like to move to Yanjing and live with me?"

Hearing this, Father Zhao immediately waved his hand without even a second thought.

"I'm not going. I can't get used to a place like Yanjing. You get stuck in traffic for ages just going out, and even buying groceries is inconvenient. Besides, where is your villa? Is it near the Third Ring Road? I heard the house prices there are terrifyingly expensive."

"Near the Fourth Ring Road. The prices were okay."

Zhao Yang said with a smile. He didn't mention the specific price. After all, buying the villa cost two to three hundred million, and with the basement expansion, renovation, and laboratory equipment, it cost nearly a billion in total!

This price was too terrifying. Although his parents' jobs in the small county town were decent, they simply didn't have that kind of perspective, and there was no need for Zhao Yang to say it and scare them.

"Still not going."

Father Zhao's tone was very firm.

"I've lived in Changcheng for half my life and know all the neighbors. Old Zhang downstairs drags me to play chess every day, and Old Wang, who sells fish at the market, saves the freshest grass carp for me. If I go to Yanjing, all of that will be gone. Are you going to have me and your mother stare blankly at an empty yard in a villa?"

Zhao Yang turned to look at Mother Zhao. She also shook her head.

"Your dad is right. We're used to it here. You don't need to worry about us; just take good care of yourself."

Zhao Yang was silent for a while, then proposed a second option.

"If it's inconvenient to come to Yanjing, I can also buy a villa in Changcheng. You can live there; the environment will be better, and there will be more space."

Father Zhao waved his hand again.

"This house your mother and I live in might not be large, but we've lived here for nearly twenty years. I remember the height of every single step on the stairs. I wouldn't be able to sleep in a new house." He paused, his tone softening slightly. "That money is what you earned yourself, so spend it on yourself. Don't worry about us. Your mother and I are in good health; during the last physical at work, my blood pressure and lipids were all normal."

Mother Zhao nodded beside him. Zhao Yang knew that further persuasion would be fruitless. The lifestyle and values of his parents' generation had been built up over decades; they weren't something that could be changed with just a few words.

"Alright," Zhao Yang stopped trying to persuade them. "Then just tell me if you need anything."

He had the company deposit a sum of money into his parents' account every month; there was nothing more to say about that, and Zhao Yang didn't bring up the matter of money.

Father Zhao gave a hum of acknowledgment, put his hands behind his back, and walked slowly forward. In winter, it got dark early, and the streetlights in the residential area were all lit.

Zhao Yang followed behind, watching the backs of his parents walking side-by-side not far ahead. Neither of them walked fast, but their steps were steady. Mother Zhao said something, and Father Zhao turned his head to respond; they weren't laughing, just exchanging ordinary domestic words.

Zhao Yang didn't stay home for long; many people came to visit during the Lunar New Year period.

Many officials from Changcheng and even Gan Province came to visit.

After all, Zhao Yang was now the most formidable genius scholar in all of Dragon Country and had been heavily reported on by official media multiple times. Based on the characterizations in major newspapers and journals, Zhao Yang was already almost the role model for all young scholars in Dragon Country.

An Academician position in the future was a certainty, and he definitely wouldn't be an ordinary Academician.

He would likely be an Academician on the level of Elder Yuan, and might even have the chance to reach the level of Elder Qian!

Therefore, anyone with even a bit of political sensitivity would choose this time to build a relationship with Zhao Yang.