Chapter 265: I

The Chemical Research Institute is in the west of Haicheng, some distance from the military factory.

Qin Heng glanced at Lu Lu Qiao and noticed that the girl seemed even more radiant than before.

He curled the corners of his mouth and said to Lu Lu Qiao, "Director Zhong called me. The plastic packaging for the instant noodles and seasoning packets you needed has been developed. Let's go see how it turned out..."

Lu Lu Qiao was delighted. "So fast? Director Zhong and his team are truly amazing."

Qin Heng smiled calmly. "In many fields, our country's talent is no weaker than those abroad. We have many technologies today that are at a world-leading level..."

Lu Lu Qiao hadn't been very clear about this history before, having heard more about what happened after the Reform and Opening-up. Now that she was living in this era, she realized that even in the 1970s, the country had achieved world-leading results in military affairs, synthetic biology, hybrid rice (which would be promoted nationwide next year), medicine, and infrastructure—all accomplished independently under Western technological blockades.

Lu Lu Qiao felt that protecting and fostering this development was crucial.

She turned to look at Qin Heng and said meaningfully, "When everyone adds wood to the fire, the flames rise high!"

She understood that principle all too well.

Qin Heng nodded, a flicker of contemplation well-hidden in his eyes.

At the factory meeting yesterday, someone had brought up Lu Lu Qiao from the food factory right in front of him.

They said that while Lu Lu Qiao's individual ability was indeed outstanding, she needed to focus more on ideological work.

They emphasized collective spirit and team consciousness.

They said she shouldn't indulge in individual heroism.

He had been at the meeting, but before he could speak, Factory Manager Hao had bluntly refuted them.

He understood Lu Lu Qiao. Although they hadn't been together for long, he felt as if he had known her for a very long time.

Lu Lu Qiao was such a smart person; she had ability, but had she ever dumped all the work onto her own shoulders?

Thinking about it, it was nothing more than petty, targeted resentment.

The person who said it wasn't anyone else—it was Deputy Factory Manager Lin Lin Junfeng.

He felt this man had been acting strangely lately, so he had investigated him secretly.

Currently, Elder Lin was at a hotel, busy with matters, and his wife, Yu Rui, was staying at Lin Lin Junfeng's home.

She had no choice but to move in.

Because Lin Lin Junfeng's current wife, Wei Wei Sixin, the deputy director of the Cultural Palace, had taken their child to the hotel lobby to make a scene.

She had acted as if she had nothing left to lose.

To avoid unnecessary trouble, Yu Rui had to follow her back.

Deputy Factory Manager Lin lived in a small residential area specifically for factory leaders. They were all high-ranking cadres with treatment far beyond that of ordinary workers. It was a quiet place where everyone was supposed to be respectable, so there were rarely conflicts. The Lin household was very quiet, and while it was unclear if the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were arguing, it was obvious from Lin Lin Junfeng's behavior that there were problems at home.

And so, he had vented his anger on Lu Lu Qiao?

What a piece of work!

After the meeting, Qin Heng had stopped Lin Lin Junfeng as he was leaving and said sharply, "Deputy Factory Manager Lin, my partner helped your family find a brother who had been missing for years, yet you are clearly unhappy about it. You even have the suspicion of abusing your power for personal vendettas. Is it because your brother's return means one more person to split the family assets or one more person to share your parents' affection?"

Lin Lin Junfeng was naturally stung by the shame and anger.

But Qin Heng didn't give him a chance to speak.

"I was also involved in your brother's case. Why aren't you targeting me? Is it because you're a bully who fears the strong? Deputy Factory Manager Lin, this is my final warning: keep yourself in check and don't reach your hands out too far!"

That was Qin Heng's warning to Lin Lin Junfeng.

Qin Heng recounted the meeting to Lu Lu Qiao.

Lu Lu Qiao widened her eyes, a "just as I thought" expression on her face. "Look, look, I told you he had a problem. That day, when he was talking to his brother, he was belittling me.

That Lin Junfeng, I analyze that he is suffering right now. On one hand, he doesn't want his brother staying at the military factory and being an eyesore; on the other, he doesn't want his brother to go back to North Capital with their parents. You tell me, what kind of person is that? Too selfish. What, does he want Elder Lin and Lin Junan to be homeless? That man's thinking is the one with the real problem.

I heard that Brother Lin Lin Junan still hasn't been to his house. Think about it: if he really treated Lin Lin Junan like a real brother, how could Lin Lin Junan not go to his house?

Zhou Li told me that Wei Wei Sixin had visited her and her husband. She was all smiles, looking very affectionate, but her expression carried a sense of superiority, as if she were saying, 'Heh, Zhou Li, you just got lucky and married the right man, and now you're flying up the branch to become a phoenix.'

Let me put it this way: if my little brother were lost and found now, my older brother would be hugging him and bawling his eyes out. I saw Elder Lin cry, but I never heard that he cried.

So you tell me, with that kind of cold, dismissive attitude, could someone as sensitive as Brother Lin not see it?

I also heard from Zhou Li that Lin Junan is busy with work at the craft factory and doesn't plan to go back to North Capital with his parents, and his three older sisters are coming to see him..."

After a pause, Lu Lu Qiao asked, "What are his three sisters like?"

Qin Heng shook his head. "I haven't had any contact with them; I don't know."

Then, he said every word clearly: "Lu Qiao, just go ahead and do what you want to do. You have enough freedom and enough space. Even if you don't need me, I will always be your safety net and your backing."

Lu Lu Qiao's eyes curved into crescents.

This feeling of being unconditionally protected really was quite good.

She said softly, "Okay!"

Qin Heng's expression softened even further.

They soon arrived at the Chemical Research Institute.

Director Zhong was clearly familiar with Qin Heng, but he was a very serious old man who didn't discuss personal matters while working.

He led them directly to the laboratory.

Sure enough, the packaging bags for the sauce and seasoning packets had been made according to Lu Lu Qiao's requirements. Their equipment was complete, and they even had a heat-sealing machine.

By current standards, this was already ahead of the curve.

In reality, research institutes were quite impoverished, but if they could turn their results into money, their lives would be much easier.

Their hard work had paid off.

But that wasn't how it should be phrased; some old scientists were truly content with poverty.

They enjoyed the richness of their spiritual world, so Lu Lu Qiao didn't mention money—mentioning money was vulgar. Her guarantee that the product could earn foreign exchange was the greatest reward.

However, there was still a lot of work to be done before a bag of instant noodles could be released.

But if the entire system gave its full support, it would be easy to handle.

Lu Lu Qiao and Qin Heng left the research institute.

There was still plenty of time, and Lu Lu Qiao was relatively free now.

So Qin Heng said, "I've ordered a wooden sign. It says 'Mobei Pilot Work Preparation Office.' Mobei is a collective term for the Northern and Mongolian lines, where our military factory has a base, but I removed the water radical from 'Mo' (Desert) to make it 'Mo' (Ink/Silent), which also implies that the work needs to be kept confidential. Let's get the sign hung up first, and then we'll head to the street office in the north of the city..."

(End of chapter)