Chapter 129: Four Top Technical Experts Join Forces! Who Dares to Call Them Actors?

"What did you say? Say it again!" Li Jianqiang's voice was like winter's cold wind, biting to the bone. He slowly set down the tool in his hand, stepped toward Zhao Lao San, his expression as if he were about to eat a person.

Zhao Lao San was stunned by the aura, instinctively stepped back two paces, yet forced out, "I—I'm telling the truth! You all are actors hired by Lu Qingshan with money!"

"Actor?" Li Jianqiang sneered, "Fine, since you call me an actor, tell me why the core temperature‑control curve of this Food Preservation Technology is divided into three sections. What is the scientific principle of each section?"

Zhao Lao San opened his mouth, only to find he couldn't utter a single word. Temperature‑control curve? Scientific principle? Those terms were, to him, like a celestial script.

"What? Can't answer?" Li Jianqiang pressed on, "Since you claim I'm fake, you must know what the real technology looks like, right? Come, tell the expert comrades: what is the denaturation temperature of protein molecules during meat dehydration? Why does low‑temperature baking at 45 °C lock the meat fibers?"

The expert in the group who works in the food industry couldn't help but nod; these questions were indeed the core points of the technology, and without solid theoretical foundation and practical experience, one could not possibly answer them.

Sweat began to bead on Zhao Lao San's forehead; he anxiously glanced at Zhao Lao Wu beside him, hoping for support, but Zhao Lao Wu was likewise in a hopeless bind.

At that moment, Yao Bai'nian set down the herbs in his hand and sneered, "Kid, you say we're fake? Fine, then come over."

He casually snatched a handful of unremarkable grass roots from the herb pile and waved them before Zhao Lao San, "What herb is this? What ailment does it treat after processing? What dosage? What contraindications?"

Zhao Lao San stared for a long moment; to him these were just ordinary grass roots, incapable of yielding any notable description.

"Can't answer?" Yao Bai'nian's voice grew colder, "This is Cang Zhu, warm in nature and bitter in taste, treating damp obstruction in the middle burner and disharmony of spleen and stomach. Raw use dries dampness and strengthens the spleen; fried use warms the middle and stops diarrhea. Dosage three to nine grams; pregnant women should be cautious. To not know such basic Chinese‑medicine knowledge and still blather here?"

The agricultural expert in the group silently praised; Yao Bai'nian's move indeed displayed deep Chinese‑medicine foundation, far beyond what an ordinary person could master.

Seeing this, Qian Jin also lost his temper and grabbed the slicer blueprint, "Since you call me fake, tell me the angle of this spiral blade. Why is it designed that way? Can you explain the working principle of the pressure‑regulating device?"

"The blade angle is 13 degrees, optimal for cutting meat fibers. Do you know the elastic coefficient of this spring? Why is the gear ratio designed as 3:1?" Qian Jin fired a rapid‑fire barrage of questions at Zhao Lao San.

Zhao Lao San's face was already ashen; these technical questions were, to him, complete alien language.

Wang Ming was not to be outdone; he lifted the freshly mixed natural preservative and waved it before Zhao Lao San's nose, "There are seven ingredients here; can you smell how many? What is each one's function? What happens if the proportions are wrong?"

The complex aroma pierced his nostrils, and Zhao Lao San felt dizzy and disoriented; he couldn't even tell what it was, let alone distinguish the components.

"Licorice, clove, cinnamon, fennel, Sichuan pepper, aged orange peel, white atractylodes."

Wang Ming recited like a familiar tale, "Licorice harmonizes the formulas, clove prevents decay and kills bacteria, cinnamon warms the middle and dispels cold; each ingredient's proportion has strict scientific basis. A slight mis‑ratio halves the effect; a severe one may cause toxic side effects. You, who can't even recognize basic herbs, have what right to question our professional techniques?"

The entire factory fell silent; everyone's gaze fixed on the sweating, pallid Zhao Lao San. The experts exchanged stunned looks, eyes full of shock.

Group Leader Sun adjusted his glasses, his voice solemn, "Masters, could you present your identification? This level of technology is far beyond what ordinary people can master!"

Li Jianqiang pulled a slightly yellowed work badge from his pocket, "Changchun First Machinery Factory, Senior Engineer Li Jianqiang. I've carried this badge for over twenty years; it even bears the plant director's seal."

Yao Bai'nian calmly produced his credential, "Jilin Provincial Chinese Medicine Hospital, Chief Physician Yao Bai'nian. Here is also my medical practice license; you experts may examine them carefully."

Qian Jin and Wang Ming subsequently presented their IDs, each a genuine technical expert with deep mastery in their respective fields.

The experts examined the documents, their expressions shifting from doubt to astonishment, then to disbelief. These individuals' credentials and technical prowess far exceeded their expectations.

"This—this can't be!" Zhao Lao San shouted hysterically, "How could Shanwan Village afford so many technical experts? They must be fake! The documents are fake too!"

As the words fell, a cold voice rang from the doorway, "Zhao Lao San, you say our documents are fake?"

The crowd turned; a middle‑aged man in a Zhongshan suit strode in, followed by several staff members. The newcomer was County Committee Secretary Zhang Xincheng.

"Secretary Zhang!" Lu Qingshan hurried forward to greet him, silently marveling at why Zhang Xincheng appeared at this moment.

Zhang Xincheng nodded, his gaze sweeping the room before settling on the expert group, "You are experts from the province, right? I am Jiangyuan County's County Committee Secretary Zhang Xincheng. I heard outside that someone questioned these technical experts' identities, and I thought a clarification was necessary."

He retrieved several documents from his briefcase, "Comrade Li Jianqiang, Section Chief of the Technology Department at Changchun First Machinery Factory, three‑time recipient of the provincial technology improvement award, and our specially invited technical consultant. Comrade Yao Bai'nian, renowned expert at the Provincial Chinese Medicine Hospital, with unique expertise in herbal processing. Comrade Qian Jin, master of mechanical design, holder of multiple technical patents. Comrade Wang Ming, chemistry background, experienced in material proportioning."

Each of Zhang Xincheng's sentences struck Zhao Lao San's heart like a heavy hammer, making his complexion grow ever more sallow.

"These comrades being able to come to Shanwan Village to provide guidance is an honor for our Jiangyuan County."

Zhang Xincheng continued, "If anyone dares to further question their identities or technical level, they are questioning the work of our County Committee, and I will not be lenient!"

His words rang out forcefully, leaving Zhao Lao San utterly stunned. With the County Committee Secretary personally endorsing them, what more could be doubted about their identities?

Group Leader Sun rose and extended his hand to Zhang Xincheng, "Secretary Zhang, hello! It seems we indeed misunderstood Comrade Lu and Shanwan Village. The level of these technical experts truly impresses us."

Lu Qingshan watched the scene, feeling the weight in his heart finally lift. This crisis not only resolved but became an excellent opportunity to showcase Shanwan Village's strength.

He glanced at the ashen‑faced Zhao Lao San and Zhao Lao Wu, a cold smile curling his lips. These two clownish jump‑the‑beam jokers were thoroughly defeated this time.

Yet the matter was not over; a greater surprise still awaited them…