Chapter 1514: Photolithography Machine

"How did they manage to do it?"

Li Xuewu looked at Shangguan Qi, who had appeared before him. Before he could even ask if her journey had been tiring or smooth, he posed the question that had long been buried in his heart.

Shangguan Qi smoothed the hair behind her ear and explained softly, "I only remember it being through a camera lens."

She looked into Li Xuewu's eyes and said, "You should know that even if he had only revealed this much to me, it would already be a leak."

"Anyway, he is already beyond redemption, isn't he?"

Li Xuewu looked Shangguan Qi over with amusement, raised an eyebrow, and asked softly, "He likes you, right?"

"That..." Shangguan Qi lowered her head, feeling somewhat uncomfortable, and said, "We are just friends."

"Oh—" Li Xuewu nodded in understanding and said with a smile, "Since you've come all this way, why not ask him out for a sit-down?"

"Dresden is a city where tradition and fashion are colliding; tavern culture is undergoing a generational shift."

He pursed his lips and asked, "Do you still have his contact information?"

"You mean..."

Shangguan Qi looked up, stunned, and asked, "You want me to ask him out to a tavern? Just us?"

"Who else would you want to bring?" Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow and said, "Don't tell me you think I'm in the way?"

Even though he knew Shangguan Qi had misunderstood, he insisted on adding another layer of misunderstanding; those who play with psychology are truly devious.

"If you don't bring me, I won't reimburse your expenses—"

"No, no—"

The expression on Shangguan Qi's face shifted from disappointment to surprise. Just because of Li Xuewu's one sentence, she waved her hands repeatedly and said, "I hope you will come along."

Of course, she hoped even more that Li Xuewu would accompany her, and she even hoped that it would just be the two of them going to the tavern...

Temporarily receiving the mission to go abroad on official business, Shangguan Qi was so nervous her heart was pounding. Her father and mother had been silent for a long time, not saying a single extra word.

At this moment, her fate was in her own hands, and that naturally included the fate of her family.

Executing this kind of mission, especially stepping out of the country, meant she carried a halo of light.

If she chose to discard this halo, it would mean freedom for her, but for her family, it would be a devastating disaster.

For the leaders and officials who approved her overseas mission, it would be an even greater catastrophe.

Facing the organization's call, Shangguan Qi only asked one question: who had arranged for her to execute this mission.

She did not ask about the nature of the mission, because she knew she had no choice.

But upon hearing Li Xuewu's name, along with the guarantee from the Group General Manager, her anxious heart suddenly settled.

What could compare to that name in terms of trustworthiness? She was filled with confidence and anticipation for this trip.

Which name?

If you had to ask for clarification, she would naturally say it was the General Manager who led Red Star Factory toward glory, created history, and achieved the great cause of Red Star Steel Group—the wise and brilliant Li Huai De.

After so many years of training and improvement, she was no longer a simple scientific researcher; the organization had taught her a lot.

She took the Red Star One to Hong Kong, then flew to East Germany. After landing, without a hint of fatigue or complaint, she hurried to see him.

If he had asked her to go alone to meet her former classmate, she would not have refused, because this was the organization's arrangement and expectation.

But since he decided to go together, Shangguan Qi felt her heart swell; he had not let her down, and she could not let him down either.

"However, I only have his address from six years ago."

Shangguan Qi suddenly remembered something and asked nervously, "Will it be impossible to contact him?"

"How will we know if we don't try?"

Li Xuewu shrugged and said, "You write a letter by hand, and I will arrange for someone to find him."

"Even if we can't find him there, we can follow his former workplace to find his new one. A scientific researcher's work trajectory is not complicated."

He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "Unless he has been invited to participate in a classified project."

"The management mechanism of East German research institutes might be different from those at home." Shangguan Qi also agreed with Li Xuewu's thinking and explained, "It's a bit like Britain, yet no different from other European countries."

"Management is very loose?" Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow and asked, "Doesn't that mean there are traps waiting for us?"

"Ah?" Shangguan Qi was stunned for a moment, then immediately understood what he meant, and asked with a strange look, "Are you afraid?"

"Aren't you afraid of an ambush?"

Li Xuewu chuckled as he looked her over and said, "Tight inside and loose outside management for scientific researchers must have other purposes."

"With you here, what am I afraid of?"

Shangguan Qi shook her shoulders with pride and said, "As long as you aren't afraid, even if it's a dragon's den or a tiger's lair, I dare to accompany you to break through."

"Then I really must go this time?" Li Xuewu smiled, put down the teacup in his hand, and said, "Good, go write the letter and hand it to Comrade Sha Qizhi. I will arrange the rest."

"You must guarantee that my friend will not be harmed."

Just before leaving, Shangguan Qi looked into his eyes and asked with a not-very-strong demand, even with a tone of slight pleading.

Li Xuewu looked up at her and asked, "You want my guarantee?"

Seeing Shangguan Qi lower her head timidly, just like when they first met, pitiful and helpless.

"Do you believe..."

"I believe—"

"... my guarantee?" Before Li Xuewu could finish his sentence, Shangguan Qi gave her answer, rendering the second half of his sentence useless. "You trust me that much?"

"I trust you completely."

Shangguan Qi looked up, looked firmly into his eyes, and said, "You will definitely be able to fulfill your promise to me."

Li Xuewu looked her over for a full half-minute before nodding slightly and saying, "Good, I guarantee he will not be harmed."

"Thank you, thank you—"

Shangguan Qi bowed to him gratefully and left the room with a light step, as if she had received some incredible promise.

Li Xuewu shook his head with amusement as he watched her back.

At this moment, Sha Qizhi walked in and reported softly, "Ms. Selena has arrived and is waiting for you in the reception hall."

This time coming to East Germany, Red Star Steel Group had spared no expense. For key operations, they not only used official aircraft without reservation but even rented an entire floor of a hotel in key cities like East Berlin for office use.

East Berlin, Leipzig, and Dresden were the key industrial technology observation targets Li Xuewu had marked out, so the logistical work was naturally very thorough.

The staff recruited from Hong Kong and the mainland formed a powerful commercial research and work team, far exceeding the scale of the work teams of other commercial members of the visiting delegation.

Let's put it this way: if the preparations made by Red Star Steel Group this time were exposed, it would absolutely leave the other members of the visiting delegation dumbfounded.

Never mind the family fortune; just on the point of daring to spend money, Old Li had been trained by Li Xuewu into a habitual way of thinking.

Spending money to smash infrastructure, spending money to smash medical development, spending money to smash educational development, spending money to smash scientific research development, spending money to smash technical reform, spending money to smash channel expansion, spending money to smash management reform, spending money to smash enterprise revitalization...

Every single item was a big move; picking out just one would be enough to make other industrial enterprises in the same system suffer.

But relying on the method of ants eating an elephant, Li Huai De boldly delegated power to Li Xuewu, and Red Star Factory achieved miraculous changes in management, economy, infrastructure, and many other aspects.

Precisely because he saw hope and actual results, when Li Xuewu submitted the financial plan for this action plan, Li Huai De signed it as the Group General Manager without even looking at it.

What did this mean?

It meant that without the need for discussion by other members of the leadership team, according to the special work handling procedure, the financial aspect would be executed unconditionally.

Of course, this meant that if any problems arose, they would be borne by Group General Manager Li Huai De; this trust and risk were of equal status.

There was another small reason: Old Li had listened to Li Xuewu's brief report and knew that the cost of this operation was not small. He didn't dare look at the specific budget for fear of his heart aching to the point of tears.

When did he want to see it?

After the results of this operation were out, after the economic and technical negotiations were completely finished and landed, then, comparing the eye-catching fruitful results, looking at the expenses, he would definitely be glad for his initial decision.

Someone might ask, did Old Li trust Li Xuewu that much, believing he would definitely be able to bring back the technology and cooperation that Red Star Steel Group wanted?

Let's put it this way: what Old Li believed and trusted was not simply Li Xuewu the person, but Li Xuewu's style of doing things.

He had seen with his own eyes Li Xuewu take six emergency plans out of his briefcase, all aimed at this East German visit operation.

This did not even include the economic and technical investigation and cooperation plans for this time; he truly achieved systematic classification, preparing three plans for one factory.

May I ask, which enterprise in the visiting delegation could achieve such thorough preliminary investigation and make such sufficient preparation plans?

Just for this preparation, even if this operation failed, Old Li would not blame Li Xuewu; this could not possibly be Li Xuewu's fault.

Furthermore, was Li Xuewu only good at writing articles?

Of course not. This Group Secretary-General had absolute management ability and an ultra-long-distance perspective, especially in the economic and technical fields, possessing a sense of smell that exceeded ordinary people and conventions.

In terms of work ability and negotiation ability, there was no one in the entire group who could surpass him. If he wasn't capable, then no one in the group was.

Think about it: for such an important activity as visiting with the delegation, why did no one dare to stand up and compete with Li Xuewu for this spot?

The reason was simple: they couldn't convince themselves, so how could they stand up and let Li Xuewu slap them in the face? Therefore, Li Xuewu had to be responsible for this operation.

Watching Li Xuewu create new achievements and accumulate more capital for progress, weren't they jealous?

Take Su Weide, for example—could he not have calculations in his heart?

But this was not something that could be done just by thinking about it. What Li Xuewu could achieve, they could not, and they were a hundred thousand miles behind—how could they compare?

Therefore, what belonged to Li Xuewu, no one could snatch away; they could only default to the result that the Secretary-General was soaring into the sky and could no longer be suppressed.

In fact, this had long been an indisputable fact. When Yang Fengshan and Yang Yuansong joined forces, they hadn't been able to suppress Li Xuewu's progress; at this time, wanting to step on the brakes for Li Xuewu's progress—how could it be in time?

In terms of business, if Li Xuewu said he needed 100 yuan, Old Li dared to sign a note for 300 yuan for him to use, and if it wasn't enough, he could give more—that was just how straightforward he was.

Therefore, when Li Xuewu said he needed Shangguan Qi, the Red Star One could send Shangguan Qi to him; when Li Xuewu said he needed a safe office environment, the best hotel in Dresden had an entire floor rented out.

High-end rooms and conference rooms were all available.

The work group's security strictly controlled the entire floor, ensuring the safety and confidentiality of the personnel and information working here.

Of course, if you want to ask if the budget for this operation was only this much?

Not at all; there were also the team expenses hidden behind it.

Just the few semi-transparent service teams that Sha Qizhi knew about, plus the two work groups of Catherine and Selena.

Catherine went to the Ludwigsfelde factory to plot for the engine technology Li Xuewu wanted.

Her competitors were other members of the visiting delegation; Red Star Steel Group not showing up to compete did not mean they had no interest in Leipzig's industry.

So where did Selena go?

"The environment at Strausberg Prison is not bad." Selena walked in wearing high-end fur and black silk stockings, stepping in high heels like a little wild cat.

"Are you cold, or are you hot?"

Li Xuewu pointed to the fur she was wrapped in on her upper body and the slender long legs she had bare on her lower body, his eyes full of curiosity.

This kind of curiosity without color made Selena smile, and she raised an eyebrow and said, "Haven't you heard a saying? Fresh milk needs to be kept warm, and ham needs to be refrigerated."

"You really are a talent—"

Li Xuewu pointed to the diagonal opposite with amusement, signaling her to sit down and talk. "Seeing that you have time to go shopping, it shows that this trip went very smoothly."

"You don't need to prompt me; I spent the money, but I also got the job done." The little flower, covered in collagen, looked at Li Xuewu with pride and said, "Want to know?"

"I only want to know how the matter was handled." Li Xuewu leaned forward slightly and looked into her eyes as he said, "As for how much money you spent, I don't care."

"If only I could work under you forever." Selena held her pretty face with both hands and said with emotion, "I would be willing to be a cow or a horse for you."

"Is it the cow or horse in my understanding?"

Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow; this sentence was a bit meaningful. Everyone knew that cows and horses were meant to be ridden.

Selena raised an eyebrow and giggled, "You should take some actual action; don't just use your mouth."

"I'll add another bonus for you, alright."

Li Xuewu surrendered. A married woman was completely open; he couldn't afford to provoke her, really couldn't.

Selena rolled her eyes at him with amusement and scolded, "Coward—"

Was he a coward? Was Li Xuewu a coward?

He had a master for his dry rations that he couldn't touch, and wouldn't touch, unless the other party didn't cherish it; only then would he water the flowers.

"I saw Fritz Fleischer at Strausberg Prison, a decrepit old man."

She knew Li Xuewu's patience was limited and didn't dare to tease her boss too much; she still wanted another bonus.

"Fritz Fleischer was born on..." Li Xuewu glanced at the information at hand and continued, "Born on December 21, 1903, in Gera, right."

"He's over sixty; isn't he just a decrepit old man." Selena introduced while hugging her arms, "But he is also a daring fellow."

"Do you know what he said to me?"

Selena leaned close to Li Xuewu and said softly, "He said he hoped I would help him break out of prison, whether it was jailbreaking or digging a tunnel, anything would do."

"He hasn't gone stupid inside, has he?"

Li Xuewu sneered and said, "What is he thinking?"

"No matter what he is thinking, I agreed to it." Selena shook her shoulders and said, "I told him that as long as the deal is reached, I will help him get out of prison."

"And guarantee he leaves East Germany, safely reaching any country in the world."

"And then?" Li Xuewu looked at the black silk stockings dangling before him, politely folded his right leg, straightened his body, and asked, "Did he agree to your conditions?"

"How could that be—"

Selena sat up straight with amusement and no longer used her headlights to shake her boss; she also knew when to stop.

"If an agreement could be reached so easily, I wouldn't believe he was Fritz Fleischer."

"An old thing who experienced World War II, who single-handedly created the only private bus manufacturer in East Germany that produced buses in large quantities—how could he just surrender like that."

Selena shrugged, the fur that had slipped off her fragrant shoulders rested on the crook of her arm, emitting a human temptation.

"After difficult negotiations, he still insisted on walking out of prison before selling the Gerabo and Fritz-Fleischer car factory; this was his condition."

"But he has no choice—"

Li Xuewu said indifferently, "Does he not even know why he was sent to prison?"

"If I don't tell him, how could he accept this fact." Selena smiled faintly and said confidently, "I let him listen to the recording of the conversation with the local prosecutor. Do you know how depressed his expression was?"

"So? He didn't surrender?"

Li Xuewu smiled and looked at her as he asked, "How did you convince him?"

"I didn't convince him; he convinced himself." Selena raised an eyebrow and said, "He is already tired of the days of one piece of bread and one potato."

"How much longer can he live."

Li Xuewu tilted his body and said, "Enjoying his old age is the best choice."

"You are right; perhaps that is how he thought it through, so the next step depends on us."

Selena spread her hands and said, "I have to return his family to him first; only then can we continue to cooperate."

What the hell did he think through himself!

Li Xuewu looked Selena over; this woman really wasn't a good silver!

Holding someone's family to negotiate—this was what he thought through himself?

It was truly hellish!

"Send them to Hong Kong?" Li Xuewu had already thought of how she was going to do it and nodded, saying, "Red Star One is at Frankfurt Airport; you can use it at any time."

"Seriously, I wish I could work under you forever." Selena received support from him and said confidently, "I can complete any mission."

"The matter isn't settled yet, so don't open champagne to celebrate." Li Xuewu said with a light laugh, "It's unlucky."

"So you believe in this too."

Selena stood up and said, "Give me a week, and I can handle this matter."

"But I need 1.5 million; not a cent less."

"No problem, that's not much."

Li Xuewu took the fountain pen from his chest, wrote a note on his notebook, tore it off, and handed it over.

"1.8 million?" Selena only glanced at the note in her hand and then exclaimed in surprise.

"Don't set the budget too tight, otherwise it's hard to get things done." Li Xuewu smiled faintly, put away his fountain pen, looked at her, and said, "I don't care how much money you ultimately spent; I only want you to pack the Fritz Fleischer KG Gera as a whole and send it onto the ship. Do you understand?"

"Understood, dear boss—"

Selena wanted to come over and kiss him in surprise, but was rejected by his raised hand; she could only settle for second best and kiss the note in her hand.

If she had known Li Xuewu was so generous, she would have played for real just now; 300,000 at a time, her lover would also be willing.

How could she not understand Li Xuewu's meaning? Words couldn't be said too thoroughly.

She said 1.5 million could handle this matter, and Li Xuewu gave her 1.8 million. What was the extra 300,000?

It counted as a security deposit; it was her guarantee that this matter would be handled completely and perfectly, without a single slip-up.

This 300,000 seemed easy to take, but in reality, she had also bet her life on it.

She didn't dare to love a person like Li Xuewu, because people who were willing to use money to get things done often looked down on female beauty, or even life; to put it plainly, it was ruthlessness.

You listen to what she said, it was also very clear: this kind of person was most suitable to be a boss, and the superior-subordinate relationship was the safest and most appropriate.

It was just that the boss didn't want her, and she also enjoyed this feeling of being respected; both confidence and pressure had come up.

One.

"Fritz Fleischer KG Gera..." Sha Qizhi learned the translator's accent and said this sentence with difficulty.

"A private bus manufacturer."

Li Xuewu sat on the sofa, looked at the information in his hand, and explained to Sha Qizhi, "It is very worthy of attention."

"It is truly rare, under the economic system of East Germany." Sha Qizhi looked at the information in his hand and also said with emotion, "How did he manage to do it?"

"Money can make ghosts push the mill." Li Xuewu sneered and said, "Money can also make the mill push ghosts."

"Hehehe—" Sha Qizhi felt that what the leader said was funny and couldn't help but chuckle.

The secretary and translator in the room also followed suit and laughed.

"Peter Gweit has already been contacted."

Sha Qizhi looked up and reported, "He is indeed not in his original unit, but the distance of the transfer is not far."

He handed a briefing to Li Xuewu's side and reported, "We have already made an appointment with him according to the note."

"It seems Comrade Shangguan's charm is very great—"

Li Xuewu shook his head with a light laugh and said, "No wonder there has been a saying since ancient times: heroes have a hard time passing the beauty pass."

"The report below says he is a very simple person."

Sha Qizhi introduced, "We investigated his residence and life; it looks very simple."

"Scientific researchers don't like trouble."

Li Xuewu nodded and explained, "Especially regarding life, the simpler, the better."

He looked up at Sha Qizhi and asked, "It didn't attract anyone's attention, did it?"

"It shouldn't have; there are no secret lines around him."

Sha Qizhi thought for a moment and said, "Of course, I can't guarantee that his unit doesn't have this kind of precaution."

"There definitely will be; this is East Germany."

Li Xuewu pointed at him and said, "Get ready; we are being watched."

"Why... how did you know?"

Sha Qizhi was shocked; because of his own work error, if it brought trouble to the organization, he would be hard-pressed to shirk responsibility.

"Do you think our office here is hidden enough?"

Li Xuewu raised his eyes and said, "Dozens of people rented an entire floor of a hotel—is this normal?"

"Furthermore, look at this news."

He pushed a newspaper over and signaled the translator to read it to him.

"... A major traffic accident occurred at the Fishman Hotel in Rostock Port, resulting in the death of a female student from Dresden University of Technology..."

"It's that Yulia!"

Upon hearing the translator read the newspaper, Sha Qizhi was so surprised he almost jumped up—how could she be dead?

Yes, how could she be dead?

Li Xuewu looked indifferently at the document in his hand, thinking about the preparations for meeting Peter Gweit tonight.

"Isn't it just the hotel consumption and the farm's cow transportation fees—"

Sha Qizhi said with some guilt, "Is it worth it?"

"Of course it's worth it—"

Li Xuewu put down the document in his hand, looked up at him, and said, "This isn't a matter of money."

"The organization behind Yulia cannot explain this behavior to East Germany, and even less can it come forward to help her out of the siege."

He said indifferently, "I just want to force them to show themselves, and at the same time pull East Germany in; it's a pity."

"It seems a Yulia is really not worth the other party paying such a high price—"

"This is also... too vicious!"

Sha Qizhi still couldn't accept this fact and frowned, saying, "Just because the mission failed?"

"This is the solution with the least loss." Li Xuewu looked him over and asked, "Isn't it?"

"The person is dead, the hotel money doesn't need to be paid, and the farm money doesn't need to be paid either." He shook his head slightly and said, "Even East Germany's reply doesn't need to be explained; it's just that vicious."

"You haven't experienced this kind of work, so it's normal that you can't figure it out; look at the present."

Li Xuewu appeared very indifferent; he didn't think too much about Yulia's death.

He didn't kill her; what did it have to do with him?

"Presently..." Sha Qizhi hesitated for a moment, seemed to think of something, and frowned, "Will the other party come for revenge?"

"The person was killed by them; what revenge are they coming for? It should be retaliation." Li Xuewu raised his eyelids and said, "Wait; tonight won't be peaceful."

"Then let's not go—"

Sha Qizhi suggested, "Or meet here?"

"We have to go; here won't work either." Li Xuewu narrowed his eyes slightly and said, "If we don't go, that Peter is dead for sure; coming here is just inviting fire to burn ourselves."

"The other party is just trying to push us into the fire pit to stir up this visit work; we can't be stupid."

He thought for a moment and said, "Tonight's plan remains the same; I really do want to meet the other party and see what kind of background they have."

"Keep an eye on the FFK car matter."

Li Xuewu decided on tonight's matter and turned to Sha Qizhi to instruct, "Don't overly rely on or trust Selena; she is not one of our people."

"I understand." Sha Qizhi replied cautiously, "People who take money to do things are unreliable."

"Especially women; they are more emotional."

Li Xuewu pointed at him and reminded him, "Focus on keeping an eye on Fritz Fleischer's family."

"I know; I'll go do it now."

Sha Qizhi had just received an education from the Yulia affair, and his heart had hardened a little.

The leader said to keep an eye on it; in reality, it was adding an insurance policy for Selena.

If Selena couldn't do it, or couldn't complete the mission, then Selena would become part of the mission.

Don't blame Li Xuewu for being ruthless; this was the rule of the game—take money to do things, so don't talk about sentiment.

The FFK company was absolutely not about hitting rabbits while raking grass, but a long-premeditated action.

Starting from 1960, East Germany determined not to produce buses anymore; all new buses had to be realized by repairing or refitting old buses.

Because according to the decision of the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance, buses could only be purchased from Hungary.

However, the IKARUS body and the Budapest factory delivered about 700 fewer buses per year than East Germany needed, and about 1,000 fewer vehicles per year than ordered.

Private transport companies and state-owned transport companies could not purchase new buses from import channels, so FFK became the only way to purchase buses.

Li Xuewu had already read the information; FFK could be considered keeping pace with the times, as the buses already had comfortable facilities like sleeping seats, toilets, and televisions.

This was even while development work and production work were often carried out under unfavorable conditions.

For example: insufficient material supply, the legal person being imprisoned, etc.

At this time, the legal person of FFK company, and also the General Manager, Fritz Fleischer himself, had been imprisoned for several months.

His chief designer had run away, and the bus production line had been in a semi-paralyzed state for the past few years.

But even under such an environment, FFK still survived tenaciously, and could even produce 200 X-ray trains using SIL chassis for the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance, as well as manufacturing caravans, service vehicles, and other consumer goods for the East German racing team, such as exquisite garden furniture to match cars.

If FFK company could be moved back to the country from East Germany, then Steel Auto would have the ability, and also the qualification, to independently establish a car manufacturing factory with buses and special vehicles as products.

Now Steel Auto had an independent bus production line, as well as other special vehicle production lines.

But compared to a complete factory with advanced production technology, this production scale was still far behind.

The key was that with this factory, Red Star Steel Group could completely carry out financing and cooperation in other aspects.

After publicity, the products of this factory would have the ability to be promoted to the entire Southeast Asia through Hong Kong.

I believe the Santa Ya Group would not miss this business.

Under the situation where channels and markets were fully hopeful, bringing this factory back—wouldn't it earn more than the W50?

Therefore, it wasn't that Li Xuewu didn't want to compete for the automotive industry, but that he wasn't willing to compete head-on with the visiting delegation.

Just when the members of the visiting delegation were swarming toward East German star enterprises, Red Star Steel Group already had gains, and even blossomed in multiple points.

Getting FFK company was equivalent to getting the complete set of car production processes in East Germany; the meaning represented here was more, and it was more valuable.

Red Star Steel Group didn't need the workers and technical personnel, and Li Xuewu also knew he couldn't take these people away.

Don't have wishful thinking; buying equipment and introducing talent were two different things; one couldn't be too anxious.

Furthermore, once this equipment returned to the country, Red Star Steel Group had plenty of tricks to make it run.

Even if it was bumpy, it would be successful.

Wanting to eat a fat man in one breath required a mouth that could swallow the sky; at least for now, Red Star Steel Group didn't have one.

"Put on makeup?"

Before going out, Li Xuewu specially changed into a newly bought woolen overcoat, the kind with very East German characteristics.

The overcoats bought at home were still too conservative, and the styles were a bit old-fashioned; it was better in East Germany, which was most severely eroded by Western culture, and more fashionable.

It could be seen that Shangguan Qi also had considerations in this regard; she was wearing a khaki trench coat, pretty without losing style.

It was just that she had style but lost temperature; she actually learned from Selena and put on silk stockings.

Perhaps because she was looked at by him, Shangguan Qi blushed a little and explained softly, "It's just simple light makeup."

"Hmm, this is a kind of respect."

Li Xuewu nodded with a smile, extended his arm, and signaled, "Do you need me to be a gentleman?"

"That would be best—"

Shangguan Qi didn't avoid the eyes of the crowd and smiled as she took his arm.

In fact, the country wasn't too strictly conservative; there were also such intimate interactions between comrades.

Old Li still insisted on dancing; who could say he was a lecherous person, an old man without dignity.

Why did Li Xuewu say he was a gentleman? Because the other party was wearing high heels, and taking his arm would make her walk more steadily.

Everyone in the hotel watched them leave; security and advance personnel had long been in place to deal with the situation tonight.

Sha Qizhi was extremely nervous and had long instructed the security supervisor to protect the leader's safety.

The security supervisor was also under great pressure; without handy weapons, he could only fight for his life.

In front of a high-end sedan downstairs, Li Xuewu held an umbrella for Shangguan Qi, and the two got into the car one after another.

The driver was one of their own, and the front passenger was security.

There was a car in front and behind; this was security that Li Xuewu couldn't persuade to leave. He also knew he was being watched; he couldn't hide, so he could only face it head-on.

What did the other party want to do?

Li Xuewu believed that the other party absolutely had the heart to kill him, because Yulia was not only a key member carefully cultivated by the other party but also represented the other party's face.

Face—this thing is important if you say it is, and unimportant if you say it isn't; it depends on how you look at it.

Anyway, Li Xuewu valued face quite a bit; he couldn't bow his head in front of the other party, so he had to stand and face it.

The location agreed upon with Peter Gweit was a newly opened beer hall; this was a German specialty.

But guests like Li Xuewu and Shangguan Qi were rarely seen by the bartender.

Riding in a luxury car with so many security personnel protecting them—was this coming to put pressure on their tavern?

Where did these big shots come from?

Li Xuewu and his group not only attracted the bartender's attention, but even the guests in the tavern looked over one after another.

"Lily—" A voice came from the booth direction; someone was greeting them in surprise.

"It really is you—"

Just as Sha Qizhi said, this Peter was a bit too simple; he could ignore them in this kind of atmosphere.

It seemed Shangguan Qi's charm could attract his attention even more.

"Lily is my English name."

Shangguan Qi explained to Li Xuewu with embarrassment and smiled as she waved to her old classmate.

Other guests in the tavern went "Oh," as if they had read the scene.

But they also paid more attention to this group of people, with eyes like they were watching a TV series.

Li Xuewu didn't care and signaled Shangguan Qi to go over first, while he ordered drinks and snacks from the bartender.

This was thanks to the translator's help; he really didn't understand German. He could understand a little simple German, but it wasn't enough for daily use.

With the translator's help, Li Xuewu ordered some drinks and snacks and came to the booth side.

"... You don't know how surprised I am..."

Peter was expressing his excitement incessantly, but suddenly discovered a man sitting beside his object of affection, and his head seemed to have been poured with a basin of cold water.

"He... who is he?"

"Let's get to know each other; my surname is Li."

Li Xuewu smiled, extended his hand, nodded, and said, "Lily's friend."

"Oh—" Peter looked at Shangguan Qi hesitantly, but still reached out and shook hands with Li Xuewu.

He really was a simple person; with a love rival right in front of him, he could still shake hands—how simple must he be?

"Don't misunderstand; just friends."

Li Xuewu smiled, signaled to Shangguan Qi beside him, and said, "Lily and I are colleagues."

"Is that so, hehehe—"

The silly boy-like Peter smiled with embarrassment, grabbed his own hair, and looked at Shangguan Qi.

It could be seen that he must have attached great importance to this meeting; it was just that his hairstyle was too new, but his clothes were too old.

This set of clothes should have been unworn for a long time; perhaps there was no such occasion that required this set of clothes.

He sat there somewhat awkwardly, his body feeling uncomfortable.

Because Lily didn't show enough distance regarding the words of this Mr. Li just now.

Peter wasn't a fool; he just wasn't good at expressing himself, but he could see what Lily's emotions were.

It was just that after understanding, his heart was also in chaos.

"I heard you work at an optical research institute?"

Li Xuewu didn't hold back when he came up and asked straightly, "We are here to learn technology in this regard and want to ask you for advice."

"Which university invited you?"

Peter looked at him suspiciously, then looked at Shangguan Qi and asked, "Didn't you go back to your country? Now you are in Germany..."

"No, I am still in China."

Shangguan Qi opened her mouth to explain, "We are here with a delegation for an investigation; there is technical cooperation."

"Oh, is that so?"

Peter didn't seem to understand, but still nodded.

Li Xuewu took out a document from his chest; it was issued to him by the visiting delegation after landing, with a certificate issued by the East German Economic Committee, which was enough to explain his formal identity.

However, Shangguan Qi didn't have one, but Peter didn't need her to have one. Upon seeing Li Xuewu's certificate, he waved his hand with embarrassment and said, "Of course I believe you."

This sentence was said while looking at Shangguan Qi; the meaning was also very clear: compared to Li Xuewu's certificate, he trusted Shangguan Qi more.

"... Our institute's photolithography technology is actually very average, only 3-micron precision..."

In the environment of beer and food, as well as an old classmate, Peter spoke about these things without any defense.

Of course, he was also convinced that the old classmate and her colleague in front of him were officially certified.

So there was no pressure when talking about his research and work.

Li Xuewu listened very seriously, but didn't make records, because he was guarding against subsequent blame.

"At the beginning, we used parts from modified movie projectors to assemble exposure equipment."

Peter shrugged and looked at Shangguan Qi to explain, "You should know this principle; it is contact photolithography technology, not considered advanced."

"But it has already surprised me enough."

Shangguan Qi nodded and said, "When you wrote to me, I knew your research was enough to change the world."

"That was just a joke—"

Peter lowered his head with embarrassment, but the smile on his face was sincere; after all, it was the praise of a goddess.

"We are still using this technical means now, just a bit richer."

He introduced, "If you are interested, you can go to the laboratory with me tomorrow to take a look."

Li Xuewu naturally wanted to go, but he was afraid that if he looked, he wouldn't be able to get out; the people in East Germany would go crazy.

He didn't want to become a bargaining chip for foreign affairs negotiations, because life only happens once, and if he died, he would really be gone.

"This is inappropriate." Li Xuewu spread his hands and said, "We must respect your work."

"This is nothing—"

It could be seen that Peter really wanted to show himself in front of the goddess; this was also the only thing he could take out.

After returning from the United States, he lost contact with the goddess; after the only communication was interrupted, he didn't even have a chance to confess.

After returning to East Germany, his research achieved nothing; even the photolithography technology was a collective achievement.

He was out of place here, just because he returned from the United States, even though his technology was very good.

The research institute here had a very heavy guard against him; if it weren't for the fact that he had been single for so many years, someone would have come to talk to him long ago, asking him to hurry up and have children.

Even so, the leaders of the institute often talked to him, asking about his ideological trends.

He wasn't a fool; naturally, he knew what the other party was thinking.

It was in this state of doing nothing and being full of helplessness that his goddess came.

You tell me, shouldn't he be excited?

"What capability can this photolithography technology achieve?"

Li Xuewu didn't pick up his thread, but continued to ask, "Has it already been put into production and use?"

"Civilian products like radios are no problem."

Peter said frankly, "Other aspects are not yet possible."

Li Xuewu read the caution in his eyes; the other aspects he spoke of were the military field.

It seemed East Germany's photolithography technology was indeed much worse than West Germany's. He learned from Shangguan Qi that the United States and other Western countries had already begun the research and development of photolithography technology.

Never mind anything else; chip technology had already begun to take off at this time; the future that hadn't taken off would have to make up for the homework.

Think about it: we developed so fast later, but we were bullied so badly by others in this chip area.

If it weren't for the fact that we possessed a vast market and comprehensive strength, we would have been bullied to the ground by others long ago.

This chip thing is needed more and more as time goes on; the more high-tech the technology, the more inseparable it is.

Why the Soviets are messing with vacuum tubes is a completely brainless, impulsive act of stupidity.

A product of laymen leading experts.

Li Xuewu wanted a photolithography machine; even if it was this kind of backward technology from West Germany, he wanted it.

"Leader, someone is coming—" ===== CHAPTER 1515 =====