Volume One, Chapter Four: The Deputy Director's Esteemed Visit—Has He Come to Extend New Year's Greetings in Advance?
Power surged through him like a flood breaking a dam, filling every corner of his body anew. Du Yuze rose from the ground, fists clenched tightly, his knuckles cracking sharply. The exhaustion vanished completely, replaced by an unprecedented vitality. His mind raced at lightning speed, his thoughts chillingly clear.
His gaze returned to the engine prototype resting quietly on the assembly bench.
The Turbojet-7A.
A model that existed only in the memories of his past life and in the top-secret archives of the era’s most advanced research institutes.
And now, it was here—forced into existence by his hands from a heap of scrap metal.
This was only the first step.
Du Yuze’s consciousness sank deep into his mind. The intimidating “shopping list” still hovered before him, each item like an insurmountable mountain.
Funds, personnel, materials, equipment.
He had none of them.
“Open the marketplace,” he commanded silently.
The newly unlocked marketplace interface unfolded once again before his eyes—a pale blue screen shimmering with a futuristic, sci-fi aura.
[Marketplace (Basic)]
The interface was clearly divided into two categories:
[Daily Life] and [Military Industry].
The first item under [Daily Life] was the [Energy Potion (Basic)] he had just consumed, priced at 10 points. Below it were items like [Universal Toolbox], [High-Precision Calipers], ranging from tens to hundreds of points.
These were useful, but not what he needed most right now.
His finger hovered over the [Military Industry] tab.
The page switched.
For a moment, Du Yuze’s breath caught.
His pupils reflected a series of terms that would drive any military industry expert worldwide into a frenzy.
[Available Technical Documents (Locked)]
[1. Turbofan Engine (Medium Bypass Ratio) Core Design and Manufacturing Process]
Price: 5,000 Military Points
[2. "Python" Series Close-Range Air-to-Air Missile Complete Technical Documentation]
Price: 8,000 Military Points
[3. Pulse Doppler Airborne Fire Control Radar Technical Principles and Implementation Plan]
Price: 12,000 Military Points
[4. Composite Material Wing Structure Design and Manufacturing White Paper]
Price: 15,000 Military Points
[5. Supersonic Combustion Ramjet Basic Model and Feasibility Report]
Price: 20,000 Military Points
...
...
[??? (Insufficient Permissions, Unable to View)]
Price: ???
Du Yuze’s mind buzzed.
This was no longer mere technology.
This was a miracle!
Turbofan engines! Pulse Doppler radar! Composite materials!
Any one of these technologies alone could catapult the aviation industry of Long Nation forward by two decades! In his past life, the 303 Factory he worked at, along with the nation’s top research institutes and countless experts and engineers, had poured endless effort and resources into overcoming these technological barriers.
And now, they lay before him like supermarket goods, clearly priced.
As long as he had enough points,
he could buy the entire future of Long Nation’s aviation industry!
A blazing fire surged within his chest.
This life, his mission was far beyond reclaiming his name or retrieving what was rightfully his.
He would turn those technologies that once strangled Long Nation into worthless junk!
He would make the war eagles of Long Nation soar higher, fly faster—so high that no enemy would dare look up into that sky!
“Ha…” Du Yuze forcibly suppressed the tumultuous emotions and shifted his gaze away from those terrifying “items.”
He knew very well these were illusions.
He had only a pitiful 100 points, not nearly enough to pay even a fraction of the cheapest technology.
Meals had to be eaten one bite at a time, and roads walked step by step.
For now, the only thing he could do was to modify the J-5 fighter in his hands.
To deliver a tangible, visible achievement—to slap everyone in the face and shatter that damned “dismissal” notice!
With results, he could discuss projects, attract funding and personnel.
This was his only chance to break the deadlock.
Du Yuze’s eyes sharpened and grew calm once more. He turned back to the engine prototype, ready to carry out the final tuning and assembly.
At that moment—
“Creak—vroom—”
A harsh screech of car brakes shattered the workshop’s silence.
Then came the low rumble of an idling engine.
The sound came from outside the courtyard.
Du Yuze froze.
In this godforsaken place, no one came except the old gatekeeper Pang and another mechanic named Lao Li. Even if there was business at the factory, it was usually just a mailman on a bicycle delivering a letter.
A car?
And judging by the sound, it was not a common Liberation truck, but a “Volga” sedan reserved only for factory leadership!
Du Yuze’s brow furrowed deeply.
He hurried to the grimy window, peering through a hole in the glass.
Amid the overgrown weeds in the yard, a black Volga sedan gleamed, its polished body starkly out of place in the dilapidated surroundings.
The car door opened.
A slightly overweight middle-aged man in a Zhongshan suit with slicked-back hair stepped out of the back seat. He was about fifty, with a moderately protruding belly and an air of long-entrenched arrogance on his face.
Du Yuze’s pupils contracted slightly.
Tian Weijun.
Deputy Director of the 303 General Factory, in charge of production and personnel.
In his past life, this was the man who, at a full factory meeting, read the order transferring Du Yuze to Workshop 207. This man had looked at him with disdain, as if he were trash, when Du Yuze submitted his transfer report, sneering: “Young man, don’t take the organization’s nurturing as your pride. Without the unit, you are nothing.”
He hadn’t expected to meet again so soon this life.
After stepping out, Tian Weijun glanced disdainfully at the muddy ground beneath his feet, frowning deeply.
A young man wearing a dacron shirt and gold-rimmed glasses immediately got out of the front passenger seat, clutching a briefcase, jogging after Tian Weijun with the air of a secretary.
Two burly men in blue work uniforms also stepped out; they looked less like workers and more like security personnel.
The group of four headed straight toward the factory building with clear intent.
Pang Qingquan appeared from somewhere, hunched over and hurrying to meet them.
“Director Tian… what brings you here?” Pang forced a servile smile, his tone full of meekness and anxiety.
Tian Weijun didn’t even glance at him, snorting through his nose with the tone of inspecting a filthy restroom.
“This is… Workshop 207?”
“Yes, yes, this is it,” Pang nodded repeatedly, bowing.
“Hmph, looks like a garbage dump,” Tian Weijun waved his hand in disgust, as if trying to sweep away the dust in the air. “Alright, open the door. We’re going in to inspect the inventory of all sealed assets. Once the records are done, this place will be leveled next month to build dormitories.”
His voice was low, but each word pierced through the hole in the window, clear as a needle in Du Yuze’s ears.
Leveled next month?
The flame in Du Yuze’s heart, which he had just suppressed, surged up again with a roar.
Tian Weijun! So ruthless and decisive!
The dismissal notice hadn’t even been formally issued, yet the bulldozers were already ready!
They were giving no breathing room, not for him, nor for Workshop 207!
“Director Tian, this…” Pang’s face changed; he wanted to say something but was cut off impatiently.
“Open the door when told, no more nonsense! Or are you hiding something shameful inside?” Tian Weijun narrowed his eyes suspiciously at Pang.
“N-no…” Pang trembled, too scared to speak further, fumbling for his keys.
But after a long search, he suddenly remembered.
The keys had been handed to that crazy kid Du Yuze yesterday!
“Where are the keys?” Tian Weijun’s tone hardened.
“In… in the hands of that new technician inside…” Pang stammered.
“Technician?” Tian Weijun paused, then laughed scornfully as if hearing a priceless joke. “Sending a technician to a place about to close? Ridiculous! Get that person out here to open the door!”
The two burly men behind him caught on immediately and stepped forward. One raised his foot, about to kick the heavy factory door.
At that moment—
“Squeak—”
The tightly shut iron door was slowly pulled open from the inside.
A beam of light spilled in.
Revealing those inside to everyone’s gaze.
Du Yuze stood calmly at the doorway.
His work clothes were stained with oil and metal shavings, his hair disheveled, his face smudged with black grease.
He stood there like a silent statue.
His appearance stunned everyone.
Tian Weijun looked at the “wild man” before him, frowning even deeper.
“So, you’re the new technician, Du Yuze?”