As soon as Gao Zhijun left, Bai Jiu gathered the two children and began organizing the house.
"Zhengyang, do you need anything else for your room?" she asked, always democratic in her parenting.
"Mom, I want one! I want a big cabinet for snacks so I can just get up and eat when I’m hungry at night!" Before her brother could answer, Xiuxiu threw her little hand in the air.
Bai Jiu was left speechless. However, she felt relieved when she remembered that many people liked to store valuables in the cabinets on their heated brick beds. Here, the most precious things were those that could be eaten. After all, the famine years had been incredibly tragic, leaving everyone deeply scarred and fearful.
"Can’t you think about anything else? If you keep eating, you’ll get fat," Bai Jiu said helplessly.
"Being a little chubby is good. It means I’m blessed!" The little girl, Xiuxiu, had grown quite sharp-tongued.
What else could Bai Jiu possibly say to that?
Meanwhile.
After being called away, Gao Zhijun went straight to an emergency meeting. The agenda was succinct. New technology had emerged in the Free Country, and it was far more advanced than what Blue Country possessed. Blue Country had only just achieved self-sufficiency in piston engines, but the other side was already producing turbine engines with over ten times the performance of those currently used in Blue Country.
The higher-ups had contacted the Free Country, but they refused to share their experimental technology. It was understandable, but Blue Country had suffered the consequences of falling behind for far too long. They didn’t want to lag behind anymore. Hence, this meeting.
"Let’s hear everyone’s thoughts. What do we do now?" The man leading the meeting was a white-haired elder. He was also the head of the research institute.
Seated below him were numerous management personnel involved in engine research. Only people of their caliber were qualified to sit in this room. Gao Zhijun sat behind Professor Mu. Although Professor Mu didn’t specialize in engines, he was a leading figure in mathematics and physics, granting him the authority to initiate projects.
After the higher-up spoke, there was pin-drop silence in the room. They all knew that they couldn’t surpass—or rather, couldn’t replicate—the engines currently being produced in the Free Country.
Though an engine was small, its applications were vast. Whether for civilian or military use, it was indispensable. If they couldn’t keep pace with the times... The consequences would be unacceptable to Blue Country.
Seeing that no one was speaking up, the elder sighed.
"The leadership wants to send people abroad for further studies. I wonder who is willing to go," the elder said, revealing the arrangement from the higher-ups. Even though he knew this decision would unsettle people, it would be worth it even if only one out of ten returned. "Don’t worry about the expenses. The state will cover everything."
At this, the crowd finally stirred. People began whispering to one another.
Professor Mu glanced back at his student. He hoped Gao Zhijun would go, yet he also didn’t want him to. He feared human nature. Brain drain happened every year, but he didn’t want the student he highly regarded to encounter any mishaps. Furthermore, while studying abroad was a great opportunity, it also came with high risks.
"Professor, I won’t go," Gao Zhijun replied without hesitation, reading his mentor’s gaze.
It simply wasn’t an option because he had no desire to leave. Although he was absolutely willing to serve his country, he owed his family far too much over the years. Just this once, he wanted to be selfish. The professor not wanting him to go and him not wanting to go were two entirely different matters.
Professor Mu felt a slight lump in his throat. "Worried about your family?" he asked.
"Yes." Gao Zhijun saw no need to hide it.
"If you don’t want to go, then don’t. I didn’t say you had to, anyway," Professor Mu said with a soft sigh.
The higher-ups hadn’t demanded immediate departures either. They had merely dropped a bombshell; when it would detonate remained unknown.
"Alright, if anyone wants to go, come and sign up." The meeting was merely to serve as an announcement.
After the meeting adjourned, Gao Zhijun followed Professor Mu back to his office.
"Is everything settled at home? Ready to get back to work?" Professor Mu asked with a smile as he sat down.
Gao Zhijun shook his head. "My leave isn’t over yet." He didn’t want to end his vacation so soon. He hadn’t spent enough time with his wife and children yet.
Hearing this, Professor Mu glared at him in exasperation. "You brat, I bet your heart hasn’t even returned to work yet."
He knew his student well. It seemed that wife of his really had him hooked. Back when Gao Zhijun got married, the professor had been angry for a long time. He hadn’t expected...
"That’s not true," Gao Zhijun said, rubbing his nose. In truth, his heart felt practically glued to her, making it quite hard to pull away.
"Don’t you go forgetting your real duties. You can’t neglect the greater good for your small family. The country is in dire need of talent right now, so don’t you dare drop the ball on me." Professor Mu immediately gave him a stern warning upon seeing his demeanor. After all, he didn’t want to lose such a promising protégé. He still intended for Gao Zhijun to take over his position one day.
"Don’t worry, Professor. I love this career, and I won’t embarrass you or myself. However, I’ll have to pass on this trip abroad. I really can’t stop worrying about my family.
"The kids are still young, and she doesn’t have a job or any acquaintances here. If I’m not around either, what is she supposed to do?" He knew Bai Jiu was a strong, independent woman, but that didn’t stop him from worrying.
Professor Mu pondered for a long while before sighing. "You make a fair point." Back in the day, he had neglected his own family for the sake of academia, which was why he now had no one by his side in his old age. He didn’t want his student to suffer the same hardships he had endured.
"If you don’t want to go, then don’t. We’ll find someone else. I just hope that however many people we send out, the same number comes back."
The country sent talents abroad practically every year, but they were lucky if even one out of ten returned. The vast majority ended up settling down overseas. After all, the current living conditions in Blue Country truly couldn’t compare to those abroad.
Naturally, Gao Zhijun was well aware of this reality.
"Pick people who have ties keeping them here," he suggested.
Professor Mu rolled his eyes at him. "Do you think you’re the only smart one?"
Of course, the country had already thought of that. But human nature was impossible to predict. The stricter the constraints, the more it bred a rebellious mentality. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be so many spies and defectors.
"Enough, let’s not talk about this. What was the new project you mentioned last time? Have you written the proposal?" He would let the higher-ups worry about the study abroad issue.
Getting down to business, Gao Zhijun’s expression turned serious.
"Professor, I’d like to review the research papers published by the Free Country along with their technical master plans." Master plans were typically available during patent registration, though they weren’t something ordinary people could access.
Hearing his request, Professor Mu clearly had his suspicions. "You aren’t thinking of..." But how could that be possible?
There was no telling how long the other side had been researching, but the fact that they had invented it first proved their technology was already mature. Even if they managed to develop it themselves now, there would still be a significant gap between their version and the original. Moreover, Gao Zhijun hadn’t been studying the field for very long. If he hadn’t personally handled the entire process last time, he never would have been allowed to lead the previous project.
"The concept is similar, but my proposed approach is different." He had fully digested the technology from Bear Country, and it had given him some inspiration. So, he wanted to give it a try.
"What’s your plan?" Professor Mu asked seriously.
"I’ll build a prototype first. If it works, then we’ll run large-scale experimental data."
Later that night.
Gao Zhijun had left the house in the morning and didn’t return until evening, completely missing dinner.
"Why are you back so late?" Hearing the door open, Bai Jiu walked out of the room. "Have you eaten?"
"Sorry, did I wake you? I’ll be quieter from now on." He hadn’t expected the professor to question him in such detail.
However, there was good news—the professor had agreed to let him build the prototype first. If he achieved results, the project could be officially approved. Then, he would be able to secure a bright future for his wife and children.
"No, I was already awake. You haven’t eaten yet, right? I’ll boil some noodles for you." She hadn’t gone out today, mainly because she had missed the bus and had chores to do around the house. The groceries were still the ones she had bought with him last time. However, there wasn’t much food left, so she would have to go shopping soon.
"No need, I’ve already eaten," he replied. And he truly had.