Chapter 312: Fifty‑Thousand Bonus? No, at Least Fifty Thousand Each!

Li Jianqiang took a deep breath, the scorching heat flowing through his chest had not yet subsided.

He carefully placed the already‑filled notebook back into his jacket pocket, his movements solemn as if he were placing a priceless treasure.

"Lu Qingshan, regarding the list of R&D personnel, I have already organized it."

Li Jianqiang pulled a neatly folded sheet of paper from another pocket and handed it over with both hands.

Lu Qingshan took the list, his eyes scanning it. There were nine names, all the backbone who had been toiling day and night in the lab alongside Li Jianqiang and Wang Ming during this period. A fleeting sentiment crossed his mind: in his previous life, he had never understood how precious knowledge and talent were as wealth. In this life, he would ensure that everyone who followed him received rewards and respect far beyond their imagination.

He picked up the heroic steel pen on the desk, removed its cap, and the nib placed a steady stroke after the first name.

His wrist was as steady as a rock, but the faint "shasha" sound of the nib on the paper, in this lab quiet enough to hear a pin drop, struck like a tiny hammer, repeatedly pounding the hearts of those present. Everyone involuntarily held their breath, daring not even a sigh. An elderly researcher wearing thick lenses subconsciously adjusted his glasses, stretched his neck, his heart pounding as if trying to pierce the back of the paper with his gaze.

After writing the last name, Lu Qingshan pushed the list back in front of Li Jianqiang.

Li Jianqiang's eyes fell on the paper, seeing the "5" after the first name, and his heart instantly warmed, a wave of heat spreading through his body. He thought, "Five thousand! Lu really... wait!"

His gaze suddenly froze, his pupils shrinking to the size of a needle tip, as if an invisible giant hand had clamped his throat.

It wasn't "5000," but ""! It was a full four zeros!

Fifty thousand!

He jerked his head up, opened his mouth, but no sound came out; he only felt a dizzy whirl, his blood booming up to his head, and his ears buzzing.

"Sss—" Wang Ming leaned in curiously, glanced once, and his whole body froze, a sharp inhalation of cold air sounding especially harsh in the silence. He instinctively stepped back half a step, feeling his heartbeat miss a beat.

After each name followed a string of numbers they could hardly believe, and the smallest of them was astonishingly "Fifty thousand!"

In an era where a "ten‑thousand‑yuan household" could cause a stir across ten miles and attract newspaper reporters, this was a number that could make one's brain freeze.

"Lu, this... this..." Li Jianqiang's fingers trembled violently, the thin sheet of paper now feeling as heavy as a thousand jin, he even felt his tongue swell, "This is too much! Absolutely unacceptable! Lu, this will cause trouble!"

"Lu... Lu, did you... did you add extra zeros?" Wang Ming stammered, usually eloquent, now unable to utter a full sentence.

"Not a single zero extra," Lu Qingshan's voice was calm as water, yet carried unquestionable authority, "Knowledge is priceless; your contributions are worth this price."

He looked at the reddened, flushed capable officers before him, his tone steady: "We are a private enterprise, we don't rank by seniority. I will set the stage for you, and you perform on it. Whoever performs best gets the larger role. I said I will be the solid rear support for you; that's what the rear support should do."

After speaking, he picked up the desk's internal phone and dialed out.

"Finance Office? This is Lu Qingshan. Bring people, prepare 460,000 cash, yes, four hundred sixty thousand. Pack it in canvas bags, deliver to the plant lab within five minutes."

The call ended, and the lab fell into deathly silence.

Four hundred sixty thousand!

Everyone was again stunned by this number precise to the ten‑thousands place, meaning that what Lu had just written was all true!

In less than five minutes, a rapid footfall approached from afar; Section Chief Old Money, drenched in sweat, personally led two equally tense guards, carrying two bulging, heavy army‑green canvas bags, and hurried in. The guards gripped their batons tightly, eyes scanning the surroundings warily, as if escorting top‑secret cargo.

Old Money saw the solemn atmosphere in the lab, his calf muscles tightening. "Lu... Lu," his voice sounded a bit airy, and he couldn't help whispering, "The plant's... the plant's liquid capital is almost emptied by you..."

"Open it, distribute it," Lu Qingshan gestured toward the list, ignoring his words.

The zipper "swish" opened with a sharp, piercing sound. Then the two bags tipped, the brand‑new Great Unity spilling like two red waterfalls, accompanied by a muffled "whalala" sound, pouring entirely onto the sturdy lab bench.

The red banknotes instantly piled into a small hill, their fresh ink scent mingling with the paper's aroma, spreading dominantly and sharply stimulating everyone's nerves and eyes.

"Forbidden City." Someone, swallowing with difficulty, felt their Adam's apple throb.

"First, Engineer Zhang, fifty thousand," Li Jianqiang clutched the list, feeling his throat still smoking, his voice trembling as he read.

The elderly researcher with thick lenses swayed, nearly stumbling forward. The Section Chief inhaled deeply, began counting the cash quickly and precisely; the "shua shua" sound of his fingertips on the bill edges became the only sound. He counted out a thick stack of fifty bundles of notes and handed them over.

The old researcher extended both hands, his tremor so severe he could barely grasp. When the heavy weight landed in his hands, he hunched, almost unable to hold it. Tears sprang up without warning, sliding down the wrinkles of his face, his lips quivering: "I... I've never seen so much money in my life..."

One by one, when a young researcher's name was called, the usually silent youngster stepped forward dazedly, stared at his pile of money, his expression shifting from disbelief to ecstatic joy, then to overwhelming sorrow; he "plopped" to his knees, sobbing toward Lu Qingshan: "Lu! My mother's surgery fee... is enough! She can be saved! My mother can be saved!"

When the final payment was distributed, the lab was filled with a restrained, emotionally sobbing chorus. Some crouched on the floor hugging the money while crying; others embraced their companions and wept.

Li Jianqiang clutched the list, blue veins bulging on the back of his hand, his knuckles white from overexertion. He spun around, straightened his slightly hunched back from years of desk work, bowed deeply to Lu Qingshan, eyes reddened, his voice hoarse yet resolute: "Lu! A soldier dies for a confidant, that's all!"

"A soldier dies for a confidant!" Behind them, nine R&D staff shouted in unison, their voices merging into a torrent that made the window glass hum. Their eyes no longer showed shock; instead, a near‑fanatical flame burned—determination ignited by respect and recognition.