Chapter 196 - 190 Willful_1

"The laser laboratory is doing very well."

Lin Ju gave an honest assessment of Zhao Xiaowen’s achievements. Although the cost was extremely high, laser technology, especially high-power laser technology, was clearly a key direction for the future.

Under the influence of a B+ level laser expert at the research institute, progress was pleasing. What about the core propulsion team with even more resources invested?

Seeing his boss’s gaze turn to him, Cheng Nankai quickly reported on the progress:

"The system documentation is very complete, and the technology from NAPE is all ready to use in theory. However, since we cannot currently meet or have not been involved with many of the supporting materials and processes, we need time to conquer these challenges.

"I am now confident enough to start constructing the small-volume sodium-cooled fast neutron reactor; we are just waiting for the nuclear base to be finalized. We have to wait for some of the equipment."

Lin Ju knew this was true. The nuclear base was not something like their B-level Base that could be rapidly constructed by the system; a considerable amount of equipment and materials depended on the state.

It wasn’t so much that they couldn’t make many of these things themselves, but that they were not allowed to. New Yuan didn’t have the qualifications of those top enterprises. If discovered, any unauthorized production would be illegal and beyond any plea for leniency.

But indeed, both the electric power corporation and Guangnuc had been doing their best, assisting at the highest speed to finish building the nuclear base.

Lin Ju: "The H2M project has been delayed by about two months or so, but I still hope the A100 is completed on schedule. This model of engine might encounter some difficulties in application."

The A100 nuclear thermal engine, although suitable for deep space, was essentially a nuclear component. It would probably need a lengthy period of checks before launch, multiple inspections.

Moreover, because it involved a nuclear reactor, the A100 couldn’t be activated or crash in the atmosphere like NAPE with its specially designed low radiation level. Otherwise, the pollution would be too severe, a significant blow to New Yuan’s reputation.

The second batch of H2 (nuclear-powered) spacecraft would commence after the first batch of H2M (methane-engine standard version) took its maiden flight. Since there was no competition from rockets for production capacity, the process would be much faster. Up to three could be manufactured at the same time, each taking only four months.

The A100 was originally scheduled to produce its official version around April 2017. This timeline was somewhat tight, it would be best if it were in February or March at the latest.

"What about the others? Are there any delays in the NAPE project?"

Cheng Nankai: "No, we are just reproducing someone else’s success. As long as we keep up with production, there won’t be any delays. In 48 months, perhaps you, boss, could be going to the Moon, traveling aboard the XN90 spaceship."

Lin Ju took this compliment in stride; his ambitions were not limited to low Earth orbit. The Moon, Mars, he would visit them all!

By now, the film had ended, and the three left the meeting room, but Lin Ju couldn’t sleep.

Even as a System Engineer with an external advantage bound to him, having forcefully introduced the highly influential New Yuan Company into the timeline and sent dozens of people into space, his own life hadn’t changed much.

He had no time for pleasure-seeking or world travel to enjoy the beautiful scenery. It was either flight training or shuttling back and forth to the Capital, attending meetings with people generations his senior.

Monotonous~

At that moment, Lin Ju suddenly empathized with the feelings of Ma Yun. He realized that the happiest time of his life might have been an unremarkable evening in college, sitting at a roadside food stall, inhaling the complex odor of fried oil mixed with sewage, eating fried rice noodles heaped with any side dish for just 10 yuan a serving.

After brooding alone in the crisp night air for a long while, the discontent Factory Manager Lin went to his garage, took out the hand-crafted, gold-plated sports car given to him by the Crown Prince Hamand, and with a heavy press on the gas pedal, sped out of the base’s gate.

Meanwhile, among the hundreds of plainclothes individuals outside the base, a middle-aged man sat in a car with a "Rookie," parked like an ordinary tourist vehicle at a concealed corner.

The "old hand" was coldly savoring the fried rice noodles that Factory Manager Lin longed for, clearly not finding it particularly tasty; he was simply replenishing necessary nutrients.

The Rookie, looking shaky in the passenger seat, was surrounded by a heavy odor of smoke.

Through the headset, a voice transmitted, "All units, be aware, target number three has left the premises in a vehicle. Please follow the plan, maintain surveillance, and ensure safety. Over!"

The "old hand" rolled down the window in dissatisfaction and tossed out the remaining half of the stir-fried river noodles without waking the "Rookie". Shifting into second gear, he zoomed off, nearly causing the unbuckled Rookie to crash into the windshield.

The Rookie instinctively wanted to curse but then heard the old hand’s complaint:

"Damn it, a big boss is a big boss, fancy taking a joyride late at night."

...

"Small town streets shocked by the appearance of a global limited edition sports car, reportedly owned by Factory Manager Lin"

"Driving a custom-built luxury sports car worth over a hundred million to buy river noodles with extra meat and eggs, the pleasures of the rich are indeed plain and simple"

"Vendor: I’ve never encountered such an impressive customer in my life"

"New Yuan City traffic police seize the world’s most expensive sports car"

"Factory Manager Lin caught, and the reason is this"

...

Late at night, an emotional Lin Ju ultimately paid the price for his whims. After buying the stir-fried river noodles, he was intercepted by the traffic police, who had been alerted by the public about his fast driving.

Then, they confiscated his car for not having third-party liability insurance, over-staying his entry for more than three months without reporting...

A witness at the time recalled that due to the car’s low chassis, it had to be lifted onto the tow truck instead of being driven up directly.

After making a record at the traffic police station and paying the fine late at night, Factory Manager Lin was finally able to leave with his river noodles, picked up by the System Engineer.

Of course, Lin Ju could have simply used his smartphone to call for his modified CS75 with the full SC09 package, but he was afraid that the driverless car would be seized upon arrival, so he chose to play it safe.

Nevertheless, his fame once again surged to the top of the trending searches, with the whole internet discussing Factory Manager Lin’s sports car being confiscated for buying river noodles and also praising the traffic police for their impartial law enforcement, unafraid of the powerful.

However, the reality was: when Lin Ju went to retrieve his car the next day and have it towed back for paperwork, he found that yesterday’s tow truck hadn’t even unloaded the car. A few people were just sitting there, watching, while eating their breakfast.

Seeing Lin Ju come to collect the car, they processed the paperwork almost as if tossing away a hot potato, quickly releasing the straps securing the sports car and then took off.

After all, when they had written the ticket, they also looked up the car’s price online. Without realizing it at first, they were taken aback once they saw it: globally limited, handcrafted, all carbon fiber, and gold-plated parts.

Even a single scratch would require air shipment back to Italy for original factory repair and custom component production, with repair costs starting at eight figures.

They couldn’t afford to mess with that, so the team recorded the entire process on video to keep the evidence, just in case they got falsely accused. That would be quite troublesome.

At the same time, they also grumbled inwardly: With that much money, why even come out to buy river noodles? You could have the state banquet chef at your door 24/7, ready to stir-fry on demand.

The canteen chef also wasn’t happy. He was deeply questioning his cooking skills. The canteen also provided late-night snacks. Could it be that his cooking was no longer tasty, or had the Factory Manager developed a dietary restriction, preferring not to eat at the base?