Chapter 2: A Scholar's Affair: Can It Be Called Stealing?

Li Mingyuan hurriedly stuffed the firearms manual into his suitcase, then went to open the door.

Standing outside the door was a Long Country international student wearing glasses, who looked a few years older than him.

"Senior Zhang?" Relying on the original owner's memories, Li Mingyuan recognized this fellow countryman.

"Mingyuan, have you heard the broadcast? The motherland is calling on us to go back and build the country!" Senior Zhang said excitedly, his eyes gleaming, "I've already started the paperwork, and I can set off next week. Do you want to come along? We can travel together."

Li Mingyuan felt a surge of joy; this was exactly what he wanted: "Of course I want to go back! I'm already packing my things."

"Alright, then I'll go handle the paperwork first; you hurry up and pack. Meet at the school gate at eight tomorrow morning, and we'll go process our return to the country together." Senior Zhang patted Li Mingyuan on the shoulder and turned to leave.

"Wait, Senior Student." Li Mingyuan called him back, "I want to go to the library first; can we go handle the paperwork a bit later?"

Senior Zhang frowned, "You still want to read books at a time like this? The country has already called for us to return."

Li Mingyuan scratched his head and revealed an awkward smile,

"There are a few materials on machinery I want to look at again; they might come in handy after I return to the country."

"Fine, be careful. The school has been strict lately, and it seems like there are people keeping watch over the library." Senior Zhang lowered his voice, "I'm going now, don't delay too long."

Li Mingyuan nodded, and after watching Senior Zhang leave, he quickly pulled out a canvas bag.

He wasn't really going to read books; he was going to "pack up" knowledge!

To put it plainly, he was going to the library to steal some books and pack them away.

Oh, no, that's not called stealing; this is called a "Knowledge Relocation Project."

Can things done by a scholar be called stealing?

After packing his things, Li Mingyuan walked quickly toward the library.

Along the way, he noticed that the campus atmosphere was a bit off.

Several people in plain clothes but with stiff gaits were patrolling every corner; one look and it was clear they were plainclothes agents.

"They've already started keeping watch?" Li Mingyuan thought to himself, while outwardly pretending to be nonchalant.

When he reached the library entrance, a strange man was checking the identification of those entering.

Li Mingyuan took out his student ID, and the other party only let him pass after a careful inspection.

"Comrade, there are special management requirements for the library recently; please sign the registration form." The staff member handed him a form.

Li Mingyuan wrote his name and the purpose of his visit on the form: Reviewing basic knowledge of mechanical engineering.

After entering the library, he found that there were already quite a few people inside, yet it was unusually quiet.

Several people in plain clothes sat in the corners, their gazes sweeping over every reader from time to time.

"Go to the machinery section first." Li Mingyuan pretended to walk casually between the bookshelves, but his eyes were scanning the titles of every book rapidly.

"Advanced Mechanical Manufacturing Manual," "Principles and Maintenance of Internal Combustion Engines," "Military Vehicle Maintenance Guide"... these books were all treasures in this era!

He pulled out a copy of "Aircraft Engine Design" at random, pretended to read it seriously, and simultaneously activated the system quietly.

【Technical data detected, store in System Space?】

"Store!"

That thick book vanished into thin air, giving Li Mingyuan a start, and he hurriedly looked around.

Fortunately, no one noticed this scene.

For the next two hours, he deliberately walked through different areas of the library, occasionally picking up a book to pretend to read, while actually quietly storing one precious piece of technical data after another into the System Space.

"Tank Structure and Principles," "Radio Communication Basics," "Introduction to Radar Technology," "Chemical Industry Manual," "Aviation Structure Design"... he was like a hungry sponge of knowledge, greedily absorbing all kinds of military and industrial data.

During this time, he tried to take a look, and as expected, it still couldn't be triggered for the time being.

【Warning! Host's current Insight Value is insufficient; technical data cannot be learned at this time.】

"It doesn't matter, store it first, and I'll learn it when my Insight Value goes up." Li Mingyuan was satisfied; this trip had been quite a harvest.

Just as he was preparing to leave, a tall man suddenly blocked his path, "Comrade, please come with me."

Li Mingyuan's heart tightened, but he remained calm on the surface, "Is there something the matter?"

"Routine inspection, please cooperate." The other party's tone was stiff and brooked no refusal.

Li Mingyuan was taken to a small room, and two people began to frisk him.

"On what grounds are you searching me?" Li Mingyuan feigned anger, "I am a legitimate international student!"

"There have been espionage activities recently, please understand, Comrade." The person searching him said in a businesslike manner.

Li Mingyuan was laughing inside, but he pretended to be indignant on the surface.

"You may go, Comrade. Please forgive our offense." Finally, they let Li Mingyuan leave.

Just as he exited the library, Li Mingyuan saw a group of Long Country international students on the school boulevard surrounding a white-haired professor, the atmosphere tense.

He walked closer and recognized that professor—Professor Gregory, their mechanical engineering mentor, and also the person the original owner mentioned in his diary as someone who "criticized papers for not being 'resonant' enough."

"Students, I understand your patriotic enthusiasm, but it is not wise to return to the country now!" Professor Gregory said loudly in stiff Long language, "Your studies are not yet finished; it will be difficult to have such learning opportunities again after you go back!"

Senior Zhang stood at the very front, his expression firm, "Professor, our motherland has just been founded and everything is waiting to be done; it needs us who have learned advanced technology to go back and build it!"

"What can you take with you if you go back now?" The professor shook his head, "What is the use of going back empty-headed? Wait another two years and finish your studies—"

"We can't wait!" another international student interrupted, "The motherland needs us, now, immediately!"

Professor Gregory's face darkened, "Don't let propaganda cloud your judgment! Do you think you can accomplish some great cause after returning? Let me tell you, you might not even have basic research conditions after you go back! The laboratory equipment here is something they won't be able to catch up to for ten years over there!"

Several international students began to argue loudly, and the atmosphere became even more tense.

Li Mingyuan walked to Senior Zhang's side and asked in a low voice: "What's going on?"

"Gregory doesn't want us to return to the country, saying it's for our own good." Senior Zhang sneered, "They just want to keep us as cheap labor!"

The professor saw Li Mingyuan and his eyes lit up, "Student Li! You are one of my most excellent students; are you also going to give up your studies and go back?"

Everyone's gaze turned to Li Mingyuan.

"Professor," Li Mingyuan took a deep breath, and historical materials he had seen in his previous life surfaced in his mind—those international students who ran about and called for the development of the country; many of them did indeed face difficult situations after returning, but it was precisely this group of people who held up the backbone of New Dragon Country's industrialization.

"I must return to my country." He said firmly, "Even if the conditions there are arduous, that is still my motherland."

Gregory's face darkened, "You will regret this! This decision will ruin your futures!"

"No, Professor," Li Mingyuan smiled slightly, "This decision is our true beginning."

The professor turned and left in a rage, leaving a group of determined Long Country students standing in the cold wind.

"Well done, Mingyuan!" Senior Student Zhang patted his shoulder, "Let's go, let's go handle the paperwork!"

Li Mingyuan nodded, though he was secretly calculating in his heart.

The System Space was already filled with dozens of precious technical documents; these were treasures for after returning to the country.

Plus, the system could help him quickly master various technologies, so the road ahead might be smoother than it was in history.

It was just a pity that the space wasn't big enough right now to hold too many books.

"Just wait and see, I will make history different," Li Mingyuan swore secretly in his heart.

The line to process the return to the country was longer than imagined, and the entrance to the embassy was packed with passionate Long Country students.

"I really didn't expect so many people to respond to the call," Senior Student Zhang sighed.

Li Mingyuan looked around, feeling an inexplicable sense of being moved.

These people, giving up comfortable conditions to choose to return to a motherland waiting to be rebuilt—what was supporting them?

Pure patriotism? A longing for the future? Or the collectivist spirit unique to that era?

While waiting in line, a young man wearing glasses walked up to Li Mingyuan, "I heard you study mechanics?"

"That's right," Li Mingyuan nodded, "And you are?"

"Wang Zheng, from the physics department," the young man reached out his hand, "I heard you were very tough in front of that old thing, Gregory."

The two shook hands, and Li Mingyuan laughed: "I just told the truth."

"By the way, what are your plans after returning to the country?" Wang Zheng asked in a lowered voice.