Sail across the sea

Chapter 519 The current task is to study hard.

"I plan to help Xiao Wu out."

Thinking of Wu Zixian, Gao Fan said to Yang Kai in a low voice.

“He needs money to do his experiments. Find him a research project and give him some money under that pretext. He’ll definitely be willing to do it,” Yang Kai suggested.

Gao Fan asked, "I not only want to give him a research topic, but I also want him to publish several good articles based on that topic, so that he can be promoted to associate professor. Do you think that's feasible?"

Yang Kai laughed and said, "You don't mean you want me to write it for him, do you?"

"How is that possible? At best, you wrote it together with him."

"Just like when you and I wrote that paper in Science?"

"I think that model is pretty good."

"I think so."

The two exchanged cryptic remarks and quickly finalized their agreement to help Wu Zixian. In Yang Kai's eyes, Wu Zixian was his junior colleague, and in this era, his ability to endure poverty and dedicate himself to scientific research was truly commendable, making him worthy of Yang Kai's help.

Many people see colleagues as competitors, and there are quite a few professors in the chemistry department who are wary of their colleagues. But Yang Kai doesn't think that way. He has achieved a lot and is already at the top of the food chain, so it's no big deal for him to lend a hand to his junior.

Gao Fan's meaning was clear: he would find a valuable topic, claim it was needed by the company, and then get Wu Zixian involved. Wu Zixian is a very loyal person; Gao Fan had helped him in the past, and now that he was asking for help, he would make time for it no matter how busy he was.

Once the research project showed some promise, Yang Kai would personally write several papers and add Wu Zixian's name to the author list, so that it could be considered Wu Zixian's achievement within the department.

The topic Gao Fan chose was definitely not mediocre, and Yang Kai was confident he could publish the paper in a high-level journal. High-quality papers are highly valued in universities; even second or third authorship carries significant weight in research evaluations.

With these papers, Wu Zixian would be able to get a senior professional title, which would improve his income and benefits, and give him a certain status in the department. At least he could focus on scientific research without having to worry about the department leaders' pickiness.

Yang Kai's role in this process wasn't simply one of giving. Based on past experience, after contributing his research topic, Gao Fan would usually also offer some highly theoretically forward-looking ideas. By following these ideas, Yang Kai could gain a wealth of research experience and also publish one or more high-level papers. As the first author, he would benefit more than Wu Zixian.

"Let's get back to the topic of poaching talent," Yang Kai said, returning to the main point. "Are you planning to go back to your department to recruit people?"

Gao Fan thought for a moment, then shook his head and said, "It's a bit inappropriate."

Yang Kai retorted irritably, "So you actually know it's inappropriate? It seems President Gao does know what propriety, righteousness, integrity, and a sense of shame are."

Gao Fan said, "This has nothing to do with propriety, morality, and a sense of shame. My main concern is that most of the teachers in the department know about the Cangtang Experimental Base, and many of them have even worked there. They are very familiar with the company. If we recruit people from the department, they will inevitably feel that they should work at the experimental base and will not be able to find their place. This will cause some trouble for Gu Kunquan and Fu Yiming."

“That’s certainly one of the reasons,” Yang Kai nodded.

What he actually said before wasn't this point, but rather that he felt Gao Fan's poaching of students from the chemistry department would easily attract criticism. He believed Gao Fan had also considered this issue. Since Gao Fan had said he wouldn't poach students from the chemistry department, he wouldn't bring it up again.

"I'm planning to visit the Chemical Engineering Design Institute under the Ministry of Chemical Industry," Gao Fan said.

"Aren't you afraid that Minister Zheng will cause you trouble if you try to poach talent from the Ministry of Chemical Industry?" Yang Kai asked.

Gao Fan said, "I don't care about that. What does it have to do with me if they can't retain their staff? It's easy for them not to want me to poach them. They can just double the engineers' salaries, and I definitely won't be able to poach them."

“You should still talk to Minister Zheng. Although he’s no longer a minister, he still has a lot of influence in the chemical industry. If he doesn’t approve of this, it will be much harder for you to poach people, and you might even get invited for tea by the relevant departments,” Yang Kai advised. Gao Fan nodded and said, “I will definitely talk to him. I might even have to ask him to recommend some people for me.”

"Isn't that a bit too optimistic? I think Minister Zheng would at most tacitly approve of you poaching people, how could he possibly recommend people for you? This is a real case of poaching."

"Facts will teach him a lesson."

"Mr. Gao, you're getting too cocky..."

"It's normal. When things are going well, even pigs can fly. What's so strange about me being a little overheated? But Lao Yang, you have to help me find out if there are any Peking University graduates at the Chemical Engineering Design Institute. I need to recruit people, and I need to focus on these alumni."

"Of course, I have a graduate student who was assigned to the Chemical Engineering Design Institute. You can contact him directly in my name."

"Write his name down for me later. I'll be busy with this for the next few months."

"No problem. I'll go to the department tomorrow to check the records and make a copy of the whereabouts of all previous students for you. You can then follow the clues."

"Thank you, Lao Yang. My brother-in-law is the best to me."

Gao Fan was genuinely flattering him.

At this moment, Gao Min, the older sister, came home from get off work. Behind her were Lin Ruoyi, who was holding a little lamb covered in sand, and Yang's mother, who was carrying the little lamb's clothes. It was unclear how these groups of people had gotten together.

Once everyone entered the house, Gao Min took the lamb to wash its face and hands and change clothes. The playful banter between mother and child during this time is another story. Yang's mother greeted Gao Fan and then went to prepare the meal. Lin Ruoyi wanted to go to the kitchen to help, but Yang's mother pushed her out, so she had no choice but to return to the living room and sit next to Gao Fan.

"When did you get back?" Lin Ruoyi asked.

"I just got back this afternoon and discussed some things with my brother-in-law," Gao Fan said.

"Have you seen your parents?"

"I saw him. His father-in-law didn't say anything. Lord Taishui was just routinely urging me to get married. I won't relay his specific instructions."

"She's pressuring you, what does that have to do with me?"

"Yes, yes, it's none of your business. I told her that your task now is to study hard."

"Are your uncle and aunt alright?"

"Everything is fine."

"Then you and your brother-in-law continue chatting, I'll go help Auntie wash the vegetables."

Watching Lin Ruoyi slip into the kitchen, and hearing her whispering with Yang's mother about some unknown topic, Gao Fan turned to Yang Kai and said with a smile, "This girl is still too informal."

Yang Kai said, "Why be so formal? We're all family. Ruoyi has a great personality, and we all like her."

(End of this chapter)