Chapter 39: Just one phone call is enough to settle you!

Ren Xiangjun's brain stalled for a few seconds, then he reacted, his face flushing red then white, not knowing what to do next—should he be tough or give in?

Just then, a strange, sarcastic voice came from somewhere.

"Professor Yuan, why are you getting so angry? Our 202 Institute is the domestic unit specially responsible for developing artillery; we have a bunch of artillery experts there. Once our cannon design is finalized, we still need the 202 Institute's experts to serve as judges. Offending these people means Ha Gong Da won't be able to get away with it!"

Who said that?

Ren Xiangjun looked toward the doorway, where a young man had appeared—could it be…?

"Are you Qin Miao?" Engineer Zhao Minggang, who had come along with Ren Xiangjun, said: "You came at just the right time—Ha Gong Da has no one left, and they actually let a college student like you take charge. Organize a copy of your 155mm howitzer data and hand it over to us to take away; it will be useful for the review later!"

"Good, good, good—the local official is nothing compared to the person actually in charge. To develop our artillery project, Ha Gong Da has to go through you…"

"That's right, you know it's good!" Zhao Minggang said: "This towed 155mm howitzer was developed by Ha Gong Da; all the honor belongs to you. But this truck cannon—Ha Gong Da must hand over the project to our 202 Institute! All the R&D funding must also be turned over to our 202 Institute!"

"Sigh, when you're under someone else's eaves, you have to bow your head. I just don't know—did you few come here secretly, or were you sent by your institute's director?"

"Of course we came here after accepting the institute's task! This truck cannon project—Ha Gong Da can't research it; rather than waste time and effort, it's better to hand it over to our 202 Institute!"

"Good, good, good—may I ask how to address you?"

"I'm Zhao Minggang. This person beside me is the head of our 202 Institute's large-caliber howitzer project team, Ren Xiangjun. Have you heard his name? He's been in the newspapers several times…"

Professor Yuan was a bit dazed—what is Qin Miao doing?

Ren Xiangjun's head was also dazed, but now that Zhao Minggang had said that, he could only straighten his chest and say: "That's right—improving the range of the 152mm howitzer is originally our responsibility. Ha Gong Da helped make the shells for the 152mm howitzer and also made the 155mm howitzer; this meat can't all be eaten by Ha Gong Da, otherwise…"

Wait a moment!

Ren Xiangjun's gaze swept past the few people, looked behind them, and then he saw the red telephone at the doorway; his face instantly turned deathly pale. He took a few quick steps over, picked up the phone, and listened to the voice inside.

"Hello?"

"Damn it, these bastard dogs all deserve to be shot! Qin Miao, rest assured—I'll bring people over right now!"

Clang!

The phone fell onto the table, Ren Xiangjun trembled all over—done, completely done. This voice he knew well: it was Old Yuan of the 23rd Army! This old leader, who can't tolerate any sand in his eyes, came to the 202 Institute last year, sat down and started cursing—even the institute director got scolded!

Now, he heard about this matter again!

Professor Yuan looked at the phone, and only then did he realize what was happening.

After he kicked the door open and came in ready to fight, the automobile factory workers could only try to mediate, the scene became chaotic, and Qin Miao sneaked in, first calling the 23rd Army, then he set the handset aside so they could listen to the situation here, walked back to the doorway, and began his performance!

If they were only facing Ha Gong Da's teachers, the 202 Institute would indeed be high and mighty, able to come here and show off their might. But now their words have all been heard by the leadership of the 23rd Army—especially, this fool even gave his own name! Letting the other side know who they are, there's no way they can escape now!

The automobile factory workers were also stunned, staring at the fiery red telephone as if looking at a devil—Qin Miao's skill in playing tricks surpasses everyone there at the factory.

Fortunately, they hadn't just spoken nonsense, and they kept a low profile—otherwise… this young guy in front of them would have played them to death!

"Ren Engineer, what's going on, what's going on?" Zhao Minggang also panicked, losing all his earlier aggressive confidence.

Thud!

Ren Xiangjun dropped to his knees!

He didn't know whether it was because his legs went weak or because he had no way out.

"Qin Miao, please let us off—we few just felt we'd lost face and wanted to come here to regain it. We now know we were wrong; please be magnanimous…"

"No way." Qin Miao quickly darted to the side: "This isn't trying to shorten my lifespan, is it! You 202 Institute are the domestic unit specially responsible for developing artillery; you have a bunch of experts there. Offend you, and Ha Gong Da won't be able to get away with it—we won't even pass the review!"

"No, no, our 202 Institute has always been fair. The senior artillery experts there praise Ha Gong Da's achievements endlessly; they'd never put obstacles in your way. It's just us few trying to scare you, saying this on purpose—the institute itself knows nothing about it!"

Ren Xiangjun knew that to settle today's matter, he could only plead with Qin Miao—as long as Qin Miao says a few good words to the troops, big things become small, small things disappear, and if it doesn't get back to the 202 Institute, that counts as escaping disaster.

The few of them, responsible for the 152mm howitzer project, had made little progress; watching Ha Gong Da keep pulling off upsets made them anxious. When they heard about the truck cannon project, they could no longer hold back—several of them took leave from the 202 Institute and came by train.

They wanted to bring the truck cannon project back—this would also give them face! As long as they use the 202 Institute's name to pressure the people here, they'll surely submit!

After arriving, seeing the automobile factory workers there, they decided even more to win them over—many hands make light work, together they'd pressure Ha Gong Da. They never expected that Qin Miao would settle them with just one phone call!

"Professor Yuan, Professor Yuan, please spare us this once—we'll never dare again!"

Seeing Qin Miao unmoved, Ren Xiangjun could only try to work through Professor Yuan—this type of person is obviously one who yields to softness, not hardness.

"Hmph, people like you shouldn't stay in research institutions—you lack talent, only envy others' achievements, and use your authority to threaten others!" Professor Yuan gritted his teeth: "How to deal with you is not up to me; we'll wait for the troops and the people in your institute to decide!"

Done, totally done!

"Professor Yuan, don't go too far—you're trying to drive us to death. I—I'll just crash myself to death here!" Zhao Minggang gritted his teeth.

"Fine, go ahead and crash—but first calculate the skull's strength…" Qin Miao actually calculated how many steps of a run would be needed to kill him with a head‑on collision!

"Anyway, our futures are ruined—I'm going to kill you, kill you!" Zhao Minggang said, snatching up a carving knife and charging at Qin Miao.

Whoosh! Qin Miao bolted away, shouting at the top of his lungs: "Murder! Murder!"