Chapter 171: This is friendship, this is great friendship

At the entrance to the materials lab.

Several people exchanged glances, each seeing worry in the other's eyes.

Our Ha Gong Da certainly needs to make money, but at the same time we must keep our word; deliberately making promises we can't fulfill just to get someone's big investment would ruin our reputation.

We can be broke, but we absolutely cannot lose our reputation!

Tao Director spoke softly: "No, I can't watch San Shui make a mistake……

Having said that, he stepped forward, intending to open the door and then admit that our side couldn't do it……

Just then, a hand reached from behind and patted his shoulder.

"Old Tao, don't rush; Qin Miao is from your four departments—don't you know him? He would never promise something he can't deliver," said San Shui.

Tao Director blinked. Right, every promise Qin Miao makes is something he can actually keep—including tricking some Sha person into paying for equipment for the Yi Tuo……

But… developing a professional armed helicopter within a year is still impossible!

Just then, Fahad's voice sounded again from inside: "Hmm, we're really looking forward to this aircraft… By the way, we came here to see the desalination equipment, didn't we?"

Chu Miaomiao's voice rang out: "Everyone, it's not convenient here; let's go to the meeting room, where our materials department's senior professor can give you an introduction—how about that?"

"Good!"

Qin Miao walked ahead, was the first to push the door open, saw the crowd gathered at the entrance, froze for a moment, then realized what was happening.

"Your Highness Sultan, come, let me introduce you—these are all our Ha Gong Da leaders; this elderly gentleman is our Ha Gong Da president……

Everyone shook hands in turn, exchanged pleasantries, and then proceeded to the meeting room.

Senior Professor Ding Fantao took the main seat, opened the projector, and began his presentation.

"Water is the source of life, and fresh water is a necessity for human survival; arid coastal nations, or navy warships, have a strong demand for desalination equipment. Our Ha Gong Da Materials Department has researched this for years and believes reverse‑osmosis membrane technology is the most suitable route for desalination……

Qin Miao glanced curiously at Chu Miaomiao, who was still acting as interpreter, wondering if she could persuade Professor Ding to lie.

That's definitely impossible; such senior professors are rigorous scholars. So… it means our Ha Gong Da Materials Department has indeed been researching this area all these years, but due to lack of funding we haven't done large‑scale work—we've only been able to study it theoretically.

When the slides went up, sure enough… a string of formulas. Although Qin Miao is also well‑read, as they say, expertise doesn't transfer across fields—he truly couldn't understand the specialized material data.

As for that Sha person… he'd understand even less, but it doesn't matter if they don't get it; as long as they know Ha Gong Da has done preliminary research in this field, that's enough!

"Hmm, not bad." Sultan nodded: "It seems Ha Gong Da already has deep research in this area; we also hope Ha Gong Da can complete this project soon, and we're willing to provide funding……

"No, no, Your Highness Sultan, you've already supported two of Ha Gong Da's projects with four hundred million dollars—that's plenty. You may have money, but it doesn't blow in on the wind; we can't keep taking more. Rest assured, we can develop it without your funding.

Qin Miao doesn't want money?

Wait, what did Qin Miao say? Two projects, four hundred million dollars? What's the other one? Is it as much as the armed helicopter investment? This is the 1980s, when the dollar was still very valuable!

Sultan smiled: "Qin, are we friends?"

"Precisely because we are friends, we can't just keep taking……

"How could that be taking?" Sultan was very pleased with Qin Miao's performance—this is what a true friend is! Many friends are only after Sha person's money, but not our Eastern friends!

But he must give this money, not for any other reason—just for that gifted mushroom bomb!

"How about this: once your technology matures, our Sha side will adopt it and build a desalination plant producing one million tons of fresh water per day, with an estimated investment of five hundred million dollars. We'll first give you fifty million dollars as a down payment……

"Since you insist, we'll have to accept the down payment for now. Rest assured, Ha Gong Da will do everything possible to finish the R&D quickly and then design and build that desalination plant for you……

"Good!"

"Your Highness, you've had a tiring day; let's rest." Qin Miao said, "How about we show you around campus tomorrow?"

"Alright, tomorrow we'll go check out your campus‑run factory."

It seems Sultan knows a lot about our Ha Gong Da!

Qin Miao relaxed; it looks like today is ending. He and his wife have been apart for several days—do you know how hard that is for a vigorous young man?

"Your Highness, Ha Gong Da has already arranged a hotel for you; we're about to take you there." President Liu said, "After we've dinner together, everyone can rest. San Shui, come along with us!"

Qin Miao was speechless—he hadn't managed to avoid it either!

Night, ten thirty.

Qin Miao yawned, sitting in the car, seeing the school gate already within reach.

"President Liu, see you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow? What's there to see? The matter isn't over yet—come on, let's go up and hold a meeting!"

"What?"

"With so many projects, we must get them arranged and implemented as soon as possible!"

"But I……

"If you're tired, you can go back, but Chu Miaomiao has to attend the meeting with us."

That's obvious—you just want to go back and roll in the sheets with your wife? No way! We'd rather have you stay for the meeting than leave you alone in an empty room.

"Alright."

In the meeting room, Qin Miao yawned nonstop: "Leaders, let's keep it short—I'm really sleepy; I'm afraid I'll doze off here, which would be disrespectful to you."

"You little brat… your tail's practically pointing to the sky… you can't keep your mouth shut, and you think we can finish developing an armed helicopter in a year? Is that possible?" Tao Director spoke first.

"We couldn't do it ourselves, but we've got the French, right?"

Everyone widened their eyes: "What did you say?"

That Sha person gave us two hundred million; we only need to take out one hundred million—no, fifty million—and the French will come running to cooperate on R&D, eager as can be; of course the R&D will be based with us, and all the technology must be handed over to us.

Qin Miao went on: "Besides, we also have our own ace—like the inertial navigation system we developed, which can be tweaked to become the helicopter's most crucial targeting device……