Chapter 93 Deepening Friendship
Early the next morning, Chen Xueming stood at the entrance of the Prefabricated Building, holding a thermos cup in his hand, staring blankly at the device in the distance.
The sun had just risen, and the Gobi Desert was dyed golden red.
The device, which had been running for a full month, gleamed with a metallic luster in the morning light, like a sleeping giant beast.
Lin Mo came out from another Prefabricated Building, saw him, and nodded.
"Morning."
"Morning."
The two stood side by side, neither speaking.
This silence was comfortable.
It wasn't like the polite distance of the past, but rather a tacit understanding that didn't need to be filled with words.
After a long while, Chen Xueming suddenly spoke up.
"Lin Mo, I have an idea."
Lin Mo turned his head to look at him.
Chen Xueming didn't look at him, his gaze still fixed on the device in the distance.
"I spent over a decade overseas and got to know quite a few people," he said.
"They are from all sorts of countries—academia, industry, and even some institutions with government backgrounds."
Lin Mo nodded, waiting for him to continue.
"I used to think these connections were my personal resources, used for publishing papers, arranging collaborations, and boosting my own influence," Chen Xueming paused.
"Now I think, perhaps they can be used elsewhere."
Lin Mo looked at him, his eyes filled with inquiry.
Chen Xueming finally turned his head to meet his gaze.
"George's affair made me think a lot," he said.
"This bunch is pervasive; we can guard against them for a while, but not forever.
And it's not just George; there might be others in the future, infiltrating in other ways."
Lin Mo nodded.
"Among the people I know overseas, some are genuine scholars, while others are something else wearing the guise of scholars," Chen Xueming said.
"I didn't want to offend anyone before, so I pretended not to know when someone was problematic.
Now I want to organize the information on these people and hand it over to Fang Lin and her team—it might help identify some potential spies and con artists."
Lin Mo was stunned.
He looked at Chen Xueming's serious face and remained silent for a few seconds.
"Teacher Chen, do you know what this means?"
Chen Xueming nodded.
"It means I might offend quite a few people," he said.
"Some are old friends.
Some have taken me out to dinner, given me gifts, and helped me publish papers."
Lin Mo didn't speak.
"But I've thought it through," Chen Xueming said.
"If those connections are used for personal gain, there's no point in keeping them.
If they are used to protect this team, then they have value."
He paused, his voice dropping lower.
"I thought a lot last night.
Twenty years, I've published so many papers, met so many people, and in the end, what truly makes me feel at ease is this Gobi Desert, is this device, and is all of you."
Lin Mo looked at him, his eyes feeling a bit hot.
"Teacher Chen..."
Chen Xueming waved his hand, interrupting him.
"Don't get sentimental.
I just feel that since you all treat me as one of your own, I have to contribute something too."
He smiled.
"I'm not good at much else, but I have some experience in identifying people.
Over these years, I can guess seven or eight times out of ten who is a real scholar, who is a fraud, and who has ulterior motives just by looking at them."
Lin Mo took a deep breath and nodded.
"Then let's go find Fang Lin."
Fang Lin received the call and arrived at the base two hours later.
She sat in the Prefabricated Building and, after listening to Chen Xueming, wore an expression of surprise on her face.
"Professor Chen, are you sure?"
Chen Xueming nodded.
"I've compiled a list."
He took a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it over.
"On this are the people I think are problematic.
Some are openly anti-China, some have connections to intelligence agencies, and others are 'academic exchangers' with suspicious identities."
Fang Lin took it and looked at it carefully.
There were over twenty names on the list, and behind each name were notes on their country, institution, suspicious points, and some even noted possible related events.
"This person came to our university for a visit three years ago," Chen Xueming pointed to one of the names.
"At the time, he said he was here for academic exchange, but all the questions he asked were about military industrial materials.
I felt something was wrong back then, but I didn't take it to heart."
Fang Lin looked up at Chen Xueming, her eyes complex.
"Professor Chen, this list is too important," she said.
"We are already monitoring some of these people, but there are others we haven't tracked yet."
Chen Xueming nodded.
"Also," he took out another piece of paper.
"These are some genuine scholars I know, the kind you can trust.
If international cooperation or third-party verification is needed in the future, these people can be used."
Fang Lin took it, glanced at it, then stood up and looked at Chen Xueming solemnly.
"Professor Chen, on behalf of the Science and Technology Security Bureau, I thank you."
Chen Xueming waved his hand, a bit embarrassed.
"What is there to thank? This is my home."
Fang Lin was stunned for a moment, then smiled.
"Yes, this is your home."
Lin Mo stood to the side, watching this scene, the corners of his mouth slightly raised.
After Fang Lin left, Chen Xueming stood at the entrance of the Prefabricated Building, watching her car disappear at the edge of the Gobi Desert.
Lin Mo walked over and handed him a cup of tea.
"Teacher Chen, have some tea."
Chen Xueming took it and took a sip.
"Lin Mo, do you think I'm too old to start doing these things?"
Lin Mo shook his head.
"Not too early, not too late, just right."
Chen Xueming looked at him, silent for a few seconds, then smiled.
"You kid, you only know how to say nice things."
Lin Mo also smiled.
The two stood on the Gobi Desert, looking at the device operating in the distance.
The sun had risen to mid-air, baking the sandy ground until it was scorching hot.
The wind turbine blades turned slowly, and the photovoltaic panels shimmered with a deep blue light.
"Teacher Chen." Lin Mo spoke up suddenly.
"Hm?"
"Thank you."
Chen Xueming turned to look at him.
Lin Mo didn't look at him, his gaze fixed on the distance.
"You were willing to bring these things out because you treat us as family.
I understand."
Chen Xueming was stunned for a moment, then reached out and patted his shoulder.
"You are the same."
Neither of them spoke again.
But that feeling that didn't require words was more solid than any language.
In the distance, Li Xiao poked her head out from the Prefabricated Building: "Teacher Chen, Teacher Lin, it's time for lunch!"
Chen Xueming turned back and shouted: "Coming!"
The two walked back side by side.
The Gobi wind blew over, kicking up a gust of yellow sand.
But they walked very steadily.