Chapter 155

The Sultan's family was also in the city centre, right near the palace; the car arrived quickly, they got out and entered the other's home, and Chu Miaomiao looked in astonishment at the huge courtyard—this was definitely a big garden!

Wait, in the centre of the courtyard a bonfire was burning, with a huge animal roasted on it; smelling that aroma, it must be…… roasted camel?

Qin, Chu, you probably haven't finished your meal yet, so I had the household prepare dinner in advance; now the camel is almost done roasting, we can have dinner together.

Your Highness Sultan, why not let my wife dine together with your ladies?

Here the system is strict, women have strict restrictions, but foreigners are treated much more leniently; Chu Miaomiao is his wife or his translator, so she could follow him all along, but at mealtime…… it's better to stay separate.

Good, my wives have prepared everything in the inner courtyard; Miss Chu, please go to the inner courtyard to dine.

Sure enough, they had everything ready!

Chu Miaomiao glanced at Qin Miao, originally wanting to say, 'Don't drink too much,' but then she thought, this country doesn't drink alcohol, so there's really nothing to worry about, and so she followed the servant into the inner courtyard.

The daytime heat gradually subsided, the night turned cool, Qin Miao and the Sultan's twenty-plus sons sat in a circle around the roasted camel, eating camel meat, drinking juice, chatting; after eating and drinking their fill, it was already past midnight.

In the bedroom, Chu Miaomiao looked at Qin Miao, his belly bulging but his mind still clear, and she went up smiling: 'How much did you eat to end up like this?'

Ah, everyone took a meat knife, cut a piece of meat for me, I couldn't not eat it…… I was still walking outside, nibbling……

I'll keep you company.

No need, you're tired, just rest first.

Not tired.

The two walked side by side around the house.

Brother San Shui, when we go back, can we convince the relevant departments?

Yes!

Chu Miaomiao stopped in her tracks: 'You're that sure?'

Hmm, rest assured, we won't undertake anything we're not sure of……

East, Capital, Space Institute, conference room.

Leaders, our dual-star positioning system has completed all theoretical verification; next we can move into development…… Yang Chan finished introducing the last slide, then looked at the assembled experts.

Although when she first met these people she was so nervous she couldn't speak, only able to have Qin Miao speak for her; but as an intern at the Space Institute, Yang Chan had worked here for several months, and as her contact with these experts deepened she gradually became familiar and no longer so afraid; now she can even express her views normally in front of them.

Hmm, not bad, I never expected the development progress of your Ha Gong Da to be so fast! At this moment, Elder Sun felt a myriad of emotions.

Yeah, it's time to build the satellite, but……

Ren Lao spoke with some difficulty: 'This project, the state never planned to fund it; originally the plan was Qin Miao said to sell the Red Flag-2, use the missile sale money to fund this project, but now…… we don't know how things stand.'

It's not a big problem, he said if he can sell it he can sell it, but…… Liang Lao said: "Even if we build the satellite, we can't launch it; our Long March Three rocket hasn't been successfully developed……"

The big guy's voice was somewhat low.

In 1975, the communications satellite project was launched, code number 331; the satellite therein was named East Red-2; at the same time, as a geosynchronous satellite, its launch rocket also needed to be specially developed.

Ordinary satellites, upon leaving the atmosphere and reaching first cosmic velocity, are considered successful; generally an altitude over two hundred kilometres suffices, but for a geosynchronous satellite the orbital height is fixed: thirty-six thousand kilometres!

The original rocket couldn't reach that height, and redeveloping wouldn't be cost-effective, so the experts at the Space Institute planned to add a third stage using hydrogen-oxygen engines to the base of the Long March Two C rocket.

Previous rockets used unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide; the fuel performance was decent, but they were highly toxic, and after combustion the engine interiors suffered severe coking, so a clean hydrogen-oxygen engine had to be used, given that this third stage in space needs multiple ignitions to push the satellite into the thirty-six-thousand-kilometre orbit.

This project officially started in 1978; the original timeline wasn't long to begin with, and with the national economic restructuring, funding for the space system was greatly reduced, causing the Long March Three project to progress slowly; maybe by the time the Northern Dipper satellite is built, this Long March Three still won't be mature…… that would be awkward!

Ah, after all, it's just that our space sector lacks money! Can the money Qin Miao got from selling the Red Flag-2 support our Long March Three……

That won't do, Old Tu; Qin Miao isn't having it easy either—he went to the Middle East to sell the Red Flag-2, that's a godforsaken place; using the money from modifying Red Flag-2 missiles to support Northern Dipper navigation is already pretty good; after all, it's our Space Institute that's shortchanging them, and moreover they first gave the satellites to the military, only now promoting them; as for other items…… if we really brought it up, where would we put our face?

Elder Huang firmly opposed.

You can't keep milking a single sheep to death!

Thump thump thump…… outside, hurried footsteps sounded.

Leaders, Comrade Qin Miao has returned!

Where is he?

At the door!

Quick, quick, ask him to come in!

This business trip was short; it's still before the tenth day of the first lunar month, Qin Miao had already returned to the motherland; after getting off the plane, he had Chu Miaomiao go home, while he himself went straight to the Space Institute.

Then…… he received a warm welcome.

Comrade Qin Miao, you've finally come back!

Comrade Qin Miao, how did this sales trip go? Were the missiles sold?

How much money was made?

Hey, you all have a little ambition! First let Comrade Qin Miao have a drink of water!" Old Liang held a water cup, handed it to Qin Miao, and opened cautiously: "Our Space Institute is really poor, you……

Although Qin Miao didn't know the details, seeing Yang Chan there he knew it was about Northern Dipper navigation; the Space Institute, short on funds, has all its technologies progressing slowly, to the point that even a rocket can't be rushed out.

Leaders, on this trip I've landed a big deal; if this deal goes through, within ten years the Space Institute won't have to worry about funding for any project it undertakes. It all depends on whether the big shots have enough guts!

Speak up!

Well, as long as we can make money, any business can be done!

We've got plenty of guts!

Looking at the expectant gazes of those present, Qin Miao said calmly: 'Sell the East Wind-3……'

What?