249: Chapter 249 Breaking News!

On the other end of the phone, there was a dead silence that lasted for over ten seconds.

During this brief silence, a category twelve hurricane was raging in Zhou Ping's mind, frantically deducing the terrifying weight of what Lin Yuan had just said.

Communications, water services, transportation...

If all these massive sectors concerning the national economy and people's livelihoods were truly bundled together, riding the momentum of Controlled Nuclear Fusion being integrated into the power grid to implement a ruthless, unprecedented, and comprehensive price reduction...

How could this be called a simple "icing on the cake"?

This was taking the dividends of infinite energy, starting from a single power line, and pumping them along the capillaries of the state-owned economy directly into the daily expenses of every ordinary person.

"Whew—"

Zhou Ping let out a long, heavy breath of turbid air.

After a brief loss for words, he suddenly snapped back to his senses.

"Academician Lin..."

Zhou Ping let out a soft chuckle, his voice carrying an irrepressible sense of emotion.

He shook his head across the phone line, his tone revealing deep admiration.

"I originally thought you were entirely focused on those pillars of the nation, with your eyes set solely on the stars, the sea, and the global power struggle."

"After all, isn't every single thing you casually create a lethal weapon capable of overturning the current global order and leaving those The Other Side of the Ocean unable to sleep at night?"

"But I never imagined that at this critical juncture, your heart would truly and unreservedly hold the most ordinary people at its very center."

"This level of vision..." Zhou Ping paused, emphasizing each word, "I, Old Zhou, am thoroughly impressed."

Listening to Zhou Ping's heartfelt praise, the smile in Lin Yuan's eyes became warm and gentle.

"Director Zhou overpraises me; it's not as grand as you say."

Lin Yuan's tone was relaxed, conveying a simple and extreme sincerity, speaking in a gentle and matter-of-fact way.

"It's just because I am also an ordinary person."

I am also an ordinary person.

Six simple words, without any flowery language or high-flown self-importance.

On the other end of the line, Zhou Ping's heart jolted upon hearing this.

"Good! 'I am also an ordinary person'—well said!"

Zhou Ping laughed heartily from the bottom of his heart, his voice loud and filled with endless heroic spirit.

"Academician Lin, this suggestion of yours is excellent!"

"Taking the dividends of infinite energy, starting with electricity prices, and pushing it all the way through to communications, water, and transportation in a comprehensive package of benefits."

"This is a truly magnificent plan to put the benefits of technological progress and national development directly into the pockets of the common people!"

As his laughter subsided, Zhou Ping's expression turned solemn, and his tone shifted, becoming more rigorous than ever before.

"However, Academician Lin, I have to be honest with you."

"A nationwide simultaneous price reduction involving multiple massive state-owned systems like communications, water, and transportation involves too wide a scope and too much volume."

"This requires joint coordination between several departments like the NDRC, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and the Ministry of Transport."

"On my end, I can't make the final call directly."

Hearing this, Lin Yuan's expression didn't change.

He was naturally aware that such a national-level strategic adjustment, where pulling one hair moves the whole body, was not something any single department could decide.

But in the next second, Zhou Ping's voice suddenly rose, crisp and decisive, without any hesitation.

"But!"

"I will immediately compile this suggestion into an emergency report and send it to the desks of those at the top!"

"As for the rest, we'll wait for the final decision from above."

After listening, a calm smile played across Lin Yuan's lips.

"Then I'll have to trouble Director Zhou."

Lin Yuan responded with a smile, "On behalf of the 1.4 billion people across the country, I thank Director Zhou in advance for his hard work tonight."

Zhou Ping heard the confident certainty in Lin Yuan's voice and couldn't help but tease him with a laugh:

"You kid, are you really that sure this plan will be implemented?"

"With something this big, the higher-ups have many aspects to consider."

"If by any chance it doesn't pass, I wouldn't dare accept your thanks."

Lin Yuan smiled but said nothing.

The certainty contained in that silence was more powerful than any words.

Zhou Ping waited for two seconds, and when no answer came, his heart was instead warmed by that silent confidence.

He shook his head and stopped asking.

"Alright, enough talk. Just wait for my news with peace of mind!"

Zhou Ping dropped those words briskly and then hung up the phone with characteristic efficiency.

Listening to the busy signal from his phone, Lin Yuan casually tossed it onto the coffee table, rested his hands lazily behind his head, and looked at the ceiling with a faint, expectant smile on his face.

...

The next morning.

The rising winter sun pierced through the thin morning mist, pouring in through the floor-to-ceiling windows and spreading a layer of dazzling gold across the soft carpet.

Lin Yuan had just finished washing up and was casually drying his damp hair with a towel as he walked out of the bathroom.

"Sir, there is an incoming message with the highest level of encryption."

Inside the room, the emotionless mechanical voice of the Artificial Intelligence 'Xiao Long' spoke steadily.

Lin Yuan's movements paused slightly, and he casually draped the towel over his shoulder.

"Buzz—"

The specially encrypted phone on the bedside table vibrated in sync, its screen lighting up.

Lin Yuan walked over and picked up the phone.

He opened the message and his eyes swept over the few short lines of text.

There was no long-winded official jargon or any tedious pleasantries, only the most direct and decisive response, radiating national-level boldness.

After clearly seeing the brief content of the reply in the message,

An irrepressible, heartfelt smile rippled in the depths of Lin Yuan's eyes.

"This level of execution..."

Lin Yuan murmured softly, the curve of his lips unable to stop rising.

An unprecedented proposal involving multiple massive state-owned systems and the vital interests of 1.4 billion people had been completely finalized by the higher-ups in just a single night.

"It seems everyone will truly be able to have a good New Year this year."

Lin Yuan chuckled, tucked his phone into his pocket, and turned to walk toward the walk-in closet with a light step.

...

That afternoon.

The cold outdoor wind continued to howl, but on Xia Nation's vast internet, the atmosphere was as fervent as if it had entered a midsummer carnival ahead of schedule.

As the Spring Festival drew closer, netizens on various forums, Tieba, social platforms, and short video apps were heatedly discussing topics like "New Year's goods," "snatching tickets," and the most popular one, "Tony appearing on the Spring Festival Gala."

However, at the very instant the clock struck exactly three in the afternoon,

Without any warning,

An extremely eye-catching red pop-up window appeared on everyone's phone screens simultaneously.

Immediately following it, a line of bolded, red-colored headline, like a heavy nuclear bomb, crashed directly into the sight of 1.4 billion people across the country—

"Joint Announcement Regarding the Comprehensive Integration of Controlled Nuclear Fusion into the Grid and a Package of Price Reductions for National Basic Livelihood Expenses"!