Chapter 346: Temptation

He Yuzhu smiled and said, "I'm afraid that after someone sees the engine I designed is a success, they'll claim the technology was provided by them. At today's meeting, everyone opposed my proposal, and the meeting was recorded. In the future, once I succeed, they won't be able to shamelessly say this was their concept, right?"

The reason he had such concerns was because of a painful past experience. When he first started working in his previous life, his ideas regarding automobile improvements would always quietly become the credit of his direct supervisor, without even his name being left behind.

Secretary Liu didn't speak, though he actually quite admired He Yuzhu's approach.

In the Beijing Hotel, the room's curtains were drawn tight, leaving only a desk lamp on, casting a pool of dim yellow light across the dark tabletop.

The ashtray on the small round table was already half-filled with cigarette butts.

Ivan Petrovich stubbed out the cigarette in his hand. "Comrade Buleike, the computer that He Yuzhu revealed today is simply an epoch-making item. We must report to the motherland immediately. In the field of computers, we may have already fallen a generation behind China; this technology must be obtained."

Buleike was sunken into an armchair, a cynical smile hanging on the corner of his mouth: "Old Ivan, you're worrying too much. As far as I know, we already have over a dozen of our brightest minds following him and learning at Huaqing University. Isn't that enough?"

"It's not enough!" Ivan suddenly straightened up, which left half of his face in the darkness. "What he feeds those students is definitely not the most advanced stuff. That machine today—its speed and computational logic are already far ahead of us; this machine is even ahead of the United States. The invention of the computer might be a door leading to a new world..."

"Ivan," Buleike interrupted him, "we are engineers, not KGB. Don't meddle in other people's business."

"If we can obtain it, we can completely overwhelm the American imperialists on the strategic balance!" Ivan's voice couldn't help but rise.

Hearing this, Buleike pondered for a moment and said, "Since you believe this technology is so important, official channels might not work. The true core of technology has never been a few blueprints... but the person who drew the blueprints."

The room suddenly went quiet; the "ding-dang" sound of a tram passing on the street in the distance became very clear.

The gazes of Ivan and Buleike focused simultaneously on Kajia.

Kajia moved slowly, calmly meeting their stares.

"I understand what you mean... He is a... very capable young man. I... have no objections."

He Yuzhu stepped onto the podium, his gaze habitually sweeping across the entire classroom.

Suddenly, his line of sight paused—a stranger with blonde hair, blue eyes, and a tall, curvaceous figure was sitting in the back row.

"That student," He Yuzhu raised a finger and pointed, "you're new, care to introduce yourself?"

The woman stood up, poised and graceful: "My name is Kajia, from the Soviet Union. I am very interested in the computer course you are teaching, Teacher He, so I came to learn."

"Your Chinese is quite good. You may sit down! The content we are currently covering has a certain prerequisite threshold. Since you missed the classes from the past few months, remember to borrow notes from a classmate and catch up as soon as possible, otherwise you might not be able to keep up later," He Yuzhu said.

"I will, Teacher He." Kajia smiled slightly and sat down.

He Yuzhu turned around and wrote the words "Computer Design Principles" on the blackboard.

"Students, turn to page 161 of the textbook. Today, we will delve into the core design principles of the Transistor Computer." He tapped the blackboard. "Its core can be summarized as: using transistors, which are 'controllable electronic switches,' to automatically complete information processing under the 'Von Neumann' architecture through the logical rules of 'Boolean Algebra'."

The students listened to the lecture while taking notes.

He Yuzhu continued: "... The key characteristic of a transistor lies in using a tiny base current to precisely control a 'torrent' of current between the collector and emitter that is a hundred times larger..."

After lecturing incessantly for over an hour, He Yuzhu felt his throat go a bit dry, so he stopped to take a drink of water and announced: "Let's take a break. For the next hour, we will go to the Laboratory, where everyone can solder transistors with your own hands and experience the thrill of making a primary computer!"

"Great! Finally, we get to do some hands-on work!" A flurry of excited whispers and the rustling of packing up books immediately erupted in the classroom.

Kajia wove through the gradually dispersing crowd and walked to the edge of the podium.

With a perfectly measured smile on her face, her voice was soft: "Teacher He, I've missed too many classes. Could you... personally help me catch up? I can pay for it."

He Yuzhu was taken aback upon hearing this and looked up at her.

Kajia was also staring at him, her eyes shimmering, a smile on her lips.

Her face was small with distinct features, a high nose and deep-set eyes—it was that highly recognizable East European beauty.

Her figure was even more eye-catching, with a slender waist and stunning curves. Even though it was November weather, she was still wearing a slightly thin dress, revealing a pair of straight, slender calves.

"This... I'm afraid that's not very convenient." He Yuzhu withdrew his gaze, looking troubled. "Besides teaching here, I also have to attend to my work at the Northern Automobile Factory; my schedule is really too packed."

"At night... is that not possible either? As for the payment, it can really be negotiated."

Hearing this, He Yuzhu, no matter how dense he was, understood the implication. A slightly playful smile suddenly blossomed on his face. "Oh, you should have said so earlier! I'm a person who loves to earn money. Tell me, how much can you pay per month?"

Kajia was clearly stunned. She hadn't expected the other party to be so blunt, and she hesitated: "Teacher He, you... name a price? I won't haggle."

"People from the 'Big Brother' country are certainly generous!" He Yuzhu clapped his hands. "Then... one million per hour, is that okay?"

Kajia was completely bewildered; she opened her mouth, unable to speak for a moment.

"Haha, just a joke, don't take it seriously! Answering your questions occasionally is a teacher's duty; how could I take money? Actually, if you want to catch up, it's best to find the Squad Leader, student Wang Zhigang. He is the most solid learner in the class; helping you will be more than enough."

Kajia's eyes flickered, then she returned to calm and nodded: "I understand, thank you, Teacher He."

He Yuzhu returned home and saw Liu Rusi sitting under a lamp reading a book, so he walked over and asked: "Sister, when is the ship from Zhao Ying's side coming? I want to have her buy some things; the Automobile Factory is missing a few key pieces of equipment."

Liu Rusi looked up and said: "She just sent a telegram saying that the United States has expanded its embargo on advanced machine tools to Hong Kong..."

"If they push me too far, I'll make them myself!" He Yuzhu said.

"You're really capable!" Liu Rusi laughed.

He Yuzhu hugged Liu Rusi from behind and whispered, "By the way, Sister, a Soviet female student came to our class today, she's quite pretty... I feel like she's aiming for me. If you hear any rumors later, please don't take them to heart."

Liu Rusi's body stiffened slightly, then she gently pushed him away with her elbow. "If someone is really seducing you, then just take her; it's not like we'd be at a loss anyway! I've been with you for a long time, and I'm a bit tired..."

"What kind of person are you?" He Yuzhu turned and walked away.