Chapter 13: Radar Acting Up? Get Me Someone!

When arriving at the Su City Research Institute, it was already night.

Zhang Wen looked in surprise at the research institute ahead, which, although it was already close to 9 p. m., was still brightly lit, and the institute bore no resemblance to the grand image he had in mind.

Instead, it appeared quite ordinary, about the size of a typical elementary school.

Aside from being remote and having a military camp nearby, there was no trace of it being a research institute.

"What's wrong? You look surprised?" Representative Wang saw Zhang Wen standing still, staring blankly at the institute.

Zhang Wen nodded and said, "Indeed, it's surprising; I didn't expect it to be so… so…"

Zhang Wen simply couldn't think of a good adjective.

"Simple?"

Representative Wang suddenly said.

"Exactly, that's it!" Zhang Wen slapped his thigh and said.

Representative Wang took a deep breath and said, "Not everyone is like Director Feng; this country also has no shortage of people who work hard and persevere."

"Of course, don't think we'd let our scientists go hungry while doing research."

"Their benefits are the best we can provide."

"It's just that Director Liu of this institute has a simple personality and doesn't like to do superficial projects."

"You'll understand once you meet him."

Representative Wang said while recalling.

"Let me take you inside."

Even with Representative Wang's pass, Zhang Wen still had to go through at least three rounds of body searches and inspections before finally entering the institute's interior.

As soon as he entered, a strong trace of Maoxiong Guo permeated the place.

"Don't look; this institute was a aid‑construction project from the 1970s‑80s."

Representative Wang led Zhang Wen on a twisting, turning path, like walking through a maze, until they reached a laboratory.

Upon entering, they saw a middle‑aged man carefully examining a radar transceiver unit.

After Zhang Wen and Representative Wang entered, they did not disturb the middle‑aged man, but instead waited tacitly for him to finish his work.

After a while, the middle‑aged man finally set down the transceiver unit in his hand.

He turned around and finally noticed the two still waiting.

"Oh dear, Representative Wang, why didn't you say you were coming?"

The middle‑aged man clearly knew Representative Wang.

"Who is this?" the middle‑aged man asked, looking at Zhang Wen.

After all, this is a research institute, and it houses various important state secrets.

"Let me introduce you; this is the young talent competing with Director Feng of Sea Dream City." Representative Wang patted Zhang Wen.

"This is the person I brought you to see—Director Liu."

"The foremost expert in domestic radar and missile technology."

"Hello, hello." The two quickly shook hands.

"Director Liu, how's your radar research going?" Representative Wang asked Director Liu.

"Not ideal; due to the technology blockade, active phased‑array technology simply isn't getting through."

"The biggest difficulty in our independent research now lies in the array and materials."

"As for processing techniques, we can wait for our factories to keep improving and expanding, but if these two key problems aren't solved, we'll ultimately fail."

Director Liu had no arrogance at all; he simply stated the current problems factually.

"I've brought you here to solve this, haven't I?" Representative Wang shoved Zhang Wen forward.

Zhang Wen could only helplessly flip Representative Wang the middle finger, and Representative Wang laughed heartily.

Zhang Wen picked up Director Liu's transceiver unit and immediately saw the problem.

"Director Liu, what material is your transceiver unit made of?"

"Part silicon, part imported gallium arsenide—what's up?" Director Liu asked immediately.

"How's the performance? How's the cost?" Zhang Wen quickly asked a few questions.

Director Liu frowned: "The performance of the silicon material is poor—only a fraction of that of gallium arsenide."

"But gallium arsenide is too expensive, and it requires using the country's precious foreign exchange, so I've been considering a breakthrough in silicon material to save costs."

"Replace it? Silicon won't do—its reflectivity and absorptivity are both too poor."

Zhang Wen said decisively.

"Do you have gallium nitride?" Zhang Wen continued asking.

"Gallium nitride? We don't have any, but if you need it, I can try to get some. After all, this rare‑earth material is available domestically. If we don't have to use foreign exchange, I won't need to file a report."

Director Liu said immediately.

"Give it a try; also, bring over your array design drawings so I can take a look."

Zhang Wen said immediately.

"Sure, you look first." Director Liu unhesitatingly pulled out a whole stack of drawings from the safe.

After placing them in front of Zhang Wen, he immediately went to the office to call the factory that processes rare earths.

Zhang Wen, meanwhile, quickly went to the table and looked at the drawings.

After Zhang Wen glanced through them, he confirmed that this array was relatively primitive.

It simply couldn't compare to the phased array mounted on the 052 given by the system.

Zhang Wen hastily grabbed pen and paper, constantly scribbling and drawing based on the system's data.

After hanging up, Director Liu was stopped by Representative Wang as he returned, who looked at Zhang Wen.

After a moment, Zhang Wen, sweating profusely on his forehead, finally stopped his pen.

He let out a long breath and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Director Liu rushed over and looked at the drawings on the table.

After just a few glances, he felt something was off.

"Did you make this?"

Director Liu looked at Zhang Wen in surprise.

Zhang Wen nodded.

Director Liu kept stroking the drawings.

He kept muttering: "Amazing, amazing, today's young people are truly amazing."

Continuing to look, he seemed to have discovered something amazing.

"Are you interested in coming to work with me? I'll give you the deputy director position!"

Director Liu suddenly lunged up to Zhang Wen, grabbed his hand, and said.

"Don't worry, I will never shortchange you. I can say I am the top expert in this field domestically. If you come work with me, for ten years, I guarantee you will definitely become an academician within ten years."

Director Liu's grip was extremely strong; Zhang Wen didn't know how his frail body could burst forth with such power.

Zhang Wen dared not use too much force, fearing he might injure Director Liu.

Representative Wang also noticed Zhang Wen's situation. He stepped forward and said: "Director Liu, he is currently the factory director of a military-industrial enterprise."

"He still has the task of testing the warship; how could he come with you? Let go quickly."

After hearing this, Director Liu finally released his tight grip on Zhang Wen's hand.

He sighed.

Zhang Wen hurriedly checked his wrist; it was bruised from being pinched.

"Zhang Wen, Director Liu is just eager for talent; please don't take it to heart."

Representative Wang said jokingly.

"Don't worry, I understand; Director Liu is also a strong-willed person." Hahaha, Zhang Wen laughed.

"What nonsense about character. Aren't you just afraid I'll run away?" Director Liu said somewhat angrily.

"Over these years, I've seen many talented students whom I wanted to bring back, but they just wouldn't come back."

"It's all for money, but some things cannot be bought back with money."

"Alas, what a pity."

Director Liu said regretfully.

Seeing the atmosphere turn awkward, Zhang Wen quickly changed the subject.

"Director Liu, do you have a new type of missile here?"

"Could you give me the data to look at? What I'm building happens to be a missile boat."

"Missile boat? Putting missiles on a boat?" Director Liu seemed to be hearing this for the first time.

He said somewhat unexpectedly: "Our Sea Wave Three missile under development here happens to have that possibility."

"It's wave-resistant, stable, and uses inertial guidance; the accuracy is just a bit off, after all we don't have Eagle Country's GPS positioning system."

"That would be great!"

"Do you have the data? Can I take a look?" Zhang Wen hurriedly asked.

"Yes, it's over there; you can look yourself."

Director Liu pointed to a spot.

Zhang Wen hurried over to look.

After seeing Zhang Wen turn away, Director Liu then looked toward Representative Wang.

"How did this young person get found?"

Representative Wang laughed and said: "Is he a student of Cui Zhuren?"

Upon hearing Cui Zhuren's name, Director Liu's heart was completely put at ease.

"Then that's good."

"By the way, Director Liu, you're not at all like Director Feng—he wishes this kid didn't exist, so why are you so happy?" Representative Wang said jokingly.

"I'm not like him; he spends his life scheming and fighting for money." Director Liu said contemptuously.

"I see that if this young person grows up, our burden could be somewhat lighter, and we could take on heavier projects."