Chapter 646: Future Tasks—Outstanding Youth!

With Ji Xiang having booked first class, Lin Jiuze gradually realized that when he and Ji Xiang chatted about money earlier, Ji Xiang's way of putting it probably wasn't just posturing; he really didn't seem to lack money.

In fact, Lin Jiuze had an "illusion" that Ji Xiang was even wealthier than he had imagined.

As the plane took off, Lin Jiuze tentatively asked, "Doctor Ji Xiang, what are the drawbacks of private jets in the country?"

"Oh, it's like this." Ji Xiang sat comfortably and said in a low voice, "The first time I took a private jet in the country, it left a particularly bad impression on me, a very bad one."

"That time was in winter. I thought it would be like in Europe or America, where you take a car directly to the plane, and the plane is warm and has everything I want."

"But there is a gap between imagination and reality, a gap of at least one light-year."

"My father and I were sent to a nearly abandoned terminal. How should I put it? It was just a terminal from before the airport expansion. In the middle of winter, there wasn't even any heating there."

"!!!" Lin Jiuze listened silently, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

The information contained in this passage from Ji Xiang was very rich, crashing into Lin Jiuze's brain like ocean waves.

"The building was drafty, and although there was hot water, it was definitely not comfortable. Plus, private jets are often asked to delay takeoff; there's no helping that."

"Delayed?! My god, why!" Lin Jiuze found this quite incomprehensible.

"This is the country, not a capitalist country in Europe or America," Ji Xiang said, uttering a "hollow and grand" remark.

Lin Jiuze was lost in thought.

"My father and I waited until past one in the morning that day. It made my father so angry that he sold the plane right after," Ji Xiang said.

"!!!"

"I've said too much. We waited until past one, then went through security to board. A beat-up van came to pick us up, and it was even colder inside the van than in the terminal; ice even formed on my eyelashes."

"And I thought it would take two or three minutes to get there, but the little van drove for half an hour. For a moment or two, I was dazed and thought I was being driven to Shanghai."

"So, based on these experiences, I rarely take private jets since then. I generally prefer to fly first class. It costs less, is basically on time, and the temperature is suitable," Ji Xiang smiled. (Note)

"So that's how it is," Lin Jiuze murmured, "The plane arranged by the show's behind-the-scenes financier shouldn't be bad, right?"

"Oh, you mean Feng Yuqing? She doesn't have a private jet. The little money she has is barely enough to spend every year, let alone keeping a private jet. At most, she keeps two or three small yachts in a few coastal cities; she definitely doesn't have more money than that."

"..." Lin Jiuze was speechless.

Keeping yachts is much more expensive than buying them; the cost of cleaning the hull two or three times a year is not insignificant. If one were to keep two or three of them...

"If Feng Yuqing's father said he arranged a private jet, I might consider it, but there's a high probability I wouldn't take it. If it's Feng Yuqing, I'd definitely rather take a commercial flight."

Lin Jiuze felt that Ji Xiang was humble-bragging, but when he looked closely at Ji Xiang, he felt that this young man was just stating a fact and had no intention of humble-bragging at all.

This feeling was particularly strange.

Lin Jiuze subsequently tried to fish for information, wanting to continue asking about Ji Xiang's family situation, but was smoothly brushed off by Ji Xiang, who didn't give him the opportunity at all.

A few hours later, the plane landed safely, and Ji Xiang and Lin Jiuze walked off the plane.

After exiting the terminal, they saw from afar that Bai Chuzhang, Liu Zhuren, and Deng Chaohong had come to pick them up.

"Bai Chuzhang, Teacher Liu, Teacher Deng, thank you for your hard work," Ji Xiang said politely, while Lin Jiuze was ignored, as if he were just someone carrying bags and didn't exist at all.

"Xiao Ji, well done!" Liu Zhuren punched Ji Xiang in the chest.

"Heh, just good luck," Ji Xiang smiled.

"Xiao Ji, how come you really came back? Why not stay at Hang Yi Da Yi Fu Yuan? That place is so good, what a pity," Deng Chaohong said with some regret.

"I still have research projects here, I really can't get away."

Deng Chaohong did not approve of Ji Xiang's explanation; if he had had such a good opportunity when he was young, he would absolutely not have come back.

"Xiao Ji, it's good that you're back," Bai Chuzhang patted Ji Xiang on the shoulder, "Let me tell you in advance, your task next year will be very heavy."

"Task?"

"I've thought about it and communicated with the Dean; the hospital is very supportive," Bai Chuzhang said a few things that seemed like filler, "The hospital is prepared to support you in applying for the Outstanding Youth."

"Outstanding Youth? Is that the abbreviation for the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars?" Lin Jiuze asked.

Bai Chuzhang's hand stiffened slightly; he had come to pick up Ji Xiang and hadn't noticed at all that there was someone carrying bags next to Ji Xiang.

After looking him up and down a few times, Bai Chuzhang became even more confused.

His gaze would always involuntarily slide off this young man and fall onto the ground beside him.

After just a few glances, Bai Chuzhang felt dizzy.

Bai Chuzhang frowned slightly.

"Yes, Outstanding Youth refers to the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars. May I ask who you are..."

"Bai Chuzhang, this is Doctor Lin Jiuze, who appeared on the TV show. He said he wanted to come to our hospital for advanced studies. Look at me, I forgot to introduce him, I'm sorry," Ji Xiang said apologetically.

Lin Jiuze!

He was Lin Jiuze!

Bai Chuzhang became even more confused.

When watching the variety show, he and Liu Zhi had both regarded Lin Jiuze as Ji Xiang's great rival.

Not to mention why Ji Xiang brought Lin Jiuze back and even wanted him to do advanced studies, the fact that he had looked at him several times and hadn't recognized him was enough to surprise Bai Chuzhang.

However, Bai Chuzhang was a veteran of many battles and did not show the surprise in his heart. He smiled slightly, "There are many requirements for applying for the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, Xiao Ji, you must work hard."

"I have studied the specific requirements. Having a senior professional technical position, title, or a doctoral degree is very difficult for me."

"It's just a doctorate, it doesn't matter," Bai Chuzhang waved his hand, "Actually, most of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars grants are given to returnees; it's also a means of attracting talent. From our perspective, it is indeed a bit unfair, but there's no way around it. This is the most difficult part."

"As for the doctorate, Professor Deng is a Doctoral Supervisor; he can just let you graduate in a year or two, right Professor Deng?"

Deng Chaohong was still in the midst of the surprise of ignoring Lin Jiuze and nodded blankly.

"You just got back, I'm giving you a heads-up. As for the specific execution, we aren't in a hurry. Three years, I estimate you can do it within three years," Bai Chuzhang said.

"Oh, thank you Bai Chuzhang, thank you hospital leadership," Ji Xiang said calmly.

Bai Chuzhang revealed a smile, like an old fox who had stolen a chicken.

……

……

Note: This passage comes from an interview with Luo Yonghao; I have never sat in one, and hearing it from Old Luo, I am also rather hesitant to believe it, but I found it interesting so I wrote it down.

(End of chapter)