Scholars in the courtyard.

Chapter 3075 General Manager Yang

"I'm putting you in charge!"

As soon as Qing Lao finished speaking, the conference room fell silent.

Yang Xiaotao was stunned, not yet recovering from Qing Lao's words, when he heard Li Hongfeng and Lao Hong clapping.

Once he came to his senses, Yang Xiaotao immediately understood why Elder Qing had asked the three of them to come ahead of time.

He really hadn't expected this.

The nine books alone took up a lot of his energy, making reading a luxury for him.

Managing the development of high-tech industries nowadays is even more difficult, isn't it?

Moreover, this research lab holds a very high status.

Coordinating national resources and making every effort to develop high-tech industries—that sounds like a huge responsibility.

Swallowing hard, Yang Xiaotao took a deep breath and said solemnly, "Commander, isn't this decision too hasty?"

"My presence in the Ninth Department can also help develop high-tech industries, and that's what the Ninth Department has always been doing."

"There's really no need to make it this big."

The eldest uncle shook his head, "Have you three forgotten what you said earlier?"

Yang Xiaotao was somewhat at a loss, but Elder Qing smiled and said, "Don't be in such a hurry to refuse, let us finish speaking first."

Yang Xiaotao could only take a deep breath and listen quietly.

"The High-Tech Industry Research Office will still be under the jurisdiction of Lao Chen's office, and the work of the Ninth Department will still be overseen by you."

"Only when it comes to high-tech industries, you have priority in decision-making and priority in acquiring resources."

"In other words, it means that in the subsequent development, your nine departments can concentrate resources and talents, leverage our country's advantages, and drive the development of more industries and departments together."

At this moment, the eldest uncle spoke up, "What the three of you said earlier, one was 'unity of knowledge and action,' and the other was the predicament we are facing."

"I think the unity of knowledge and action is good, but it would be even better if it were promoted and more people were involved."

Li Hongfeng nodded vigorously, his eyes shining with excitement.

Then the uncle looked at Lao Hong and said, “Treating everyone equally is a good idea, but we can’t treat everyone equally right now. However, we can start with one circle and then keep expanding that circle until we can gradually expand it to everyone.”

"This process may take a long time and may be difficult, but that's what makes it meaningful for us to do it."

Old Hong took a deep breath and nodded vigorously, "Leader, I understand."

"We will definitely cooperate with Comrade Yang Xiaotao's work to develop the high-tech industry."

Li Hongfeng quickly reassured them, "Please rest assured, leaders, we have the confidence and determination to complete the tasks assigned by our superiors and win this battle."

Yang Xiaotao was speechless. What do you guys even understand?
You two agreed without me saying anything?
Just as he was about to speak, he saw General Peng looking over and said, "This time, the organization needs you to carry out this mission!"

Well, one sentence is more effective than all the previous ones.

What else can Yang Xiaotao say?
I am a cog in the machine.
After Peng finished speaking, he saw that Yang Xiaotao did not say anything, and he was very satisfied.

This kid has a pretty good overall perspective.

Qing Lao handed the document to Tang Mingyue, who then stood up and presented it to Yang Xiaotao. Deep in her eyes, there was a mixture of shock and joy!
Yang Xiaotao took the document but didn't open it immediately. Instead, he listened to Lao continue, "Your position is the head of the research lab, responsible for the economic development and layout of high-tech industries, overseeing the overall situation."

"As for the composition of this research lab, you can take a look at the announcement from this meeting. If you have any opinions, please speak up and we will discuss them."

As he spoke, Yang Xiaotao immediately opened the file.

Old Hong and Li Hongfeng also craned their necks to look.

Upon seeing the list of personnel, all three of them had their pupils shrink.

This research lab carries immense weight.

Then they looked at each other, deeply moved.

If the list is made up of people, then Yang Xiaotao, as the person in charge, is the 'head' of these people.
Wouldn't that make Elder Chen second only to the emperor...?

From now on, we should call him General Manager Yang.

Their eyes instantly focused on Yang Xiaotao's face.

Yang Xiaotao also felt his cheeks getting hot.

Now, Xiao Jiu has become Lao Jiu (oldest).

Just as Yang Xiaotao and the other two were being called inside by Elder Qing, people began to arrive outside the Great Hall of the People.

"Old Huang, you're here pretty early."

Old Qin walked up to Old Huang with a smile and greeted him. Behind him were two other people, one of whom was familiar with Liu Huaimin and was Xiao Feng.

When Huang saw Qin coming over, he stood up from his chair, with Xia and Liu Huaimin by his side.

"You're not late!"

After shaking hands, the two found a place to sit down.

At this moment, Old Qin looked around and then asked curiously, "What do you think we'll be talking about at this meeting?"

Old Huang shook his head, "This matter concerns the leaders; how would we know about it!"

"However, it should be about the same as last year!"

Hearing what Old Huang said, Old Qin shook his head and sighed, "We didn't do a good job last year, I guess I have to say something."

"That thick skin of his is going to suffer!"

Old Huang smiled but didn't say anything more.

Although their First Ministry of Machine Building did not meet its target last year, it was not far off.

Moreover, due to the West-East Gas Pipeline project, the First Ministry of Machine Building made a significant contribution to domestic construction.

As for the logistics department, they haven't even achieved half of the goals they set last time, so I guess this time...
Seeing that Elder Huang remained silent, Elder Qin turned his gaze to Elder Xia and asked, "Elder Xia, how's your West-East Gas Pipeline project going?"

"When will it be ready? We're still waiting!"

Old Xia looked up at the ceiling and said irritably, "It's hard to say, it's hard to say."

When Qin Lao saw Xia Lao's expression, he immediately became interested. "What's wrong, Xia Lao? What's the matter?"

"If you need any help, just say so. We have a relationship, so I have to help you."

Hearing what Elder Qin said, Elder Xia sighed helplessly, "There are indeed many things to do, but you really can't help."

Upon hearing Xia Lao's words, Huang Lao, who was standing nearby, was the first to laugh.

Seeing this, Old Qin became even more interested. "Tell us first, so we can see for ourselves."

"What if it can help?"

Old Xia shrugged. "Then let's talk about something simple."

"We're using a tunnel boring machine to clear a road in Cixian County, preparing to connect it to the pipeline in the central region." "The route has been chosen, everything is ready, manpower and resources are in place, all materials are ready to be transported, and then the tunnel boring machine will start excavating."

"And guess what? After digging for about ten meters, they found a coffin."

Old Qin's eyes widened. "What kind of coffin is it?"

"How would I know anything about coffins?"

Old Xia was speechless. "Then the local cultural relics department got involved and said it was a tomb complex from the Northern and Southern Dynasties period. It should belong to a noble family. There are many things inside, and they have great cultural value."

"and then?"

Old Qin had already laughed. Although the "Provisional Regulations on the Management of Cultural Relics Protection" were issued a few years ago, there were no detailed and clear provisions on how to manage them.

Therefore, when such situations occur, relevant departments usually need to intervene and investigate.

But this research is really hard to say.

If things go smoothly, it can be done in one or two months, but if it's a large tomb or a high-standard burial complex, it can take years.

Those people with little shovels can really dig for you, shovel by shovel.

"And then what? That's ridiculous."

"When I saw this, I realized, 'This won't do. If we keep dragging this out, how will the project ever get done?'"

"Then we redesigned it. Fortunately, the connectors above hadn't been buried yet, so there was still time to replace them."

Old Xia spoke again, but then slapped his thigh. Old Huang and Liu Huaimin covered their mouths and laughed, while Old Qin and Xiao Feng behind him were curious.

"So we moved more than a thousand meters to the south to avoid it."

"Damn it, we'd just started digging and all that time and effort, and then we'd dug right up to the main entrance! The tomb passage was already open! Can you believe how infuriating that is?"

Old Xia's face was full of helplessness as he spoke, while Old Qin laughed heartily, filling the room outside the conference room with laughter.

"Old Xia, whose is it this time?"

"The old man from the cultural relics bureau was overjoyed. He pointed at the epitaph and said it was from the Northern Qi Dynasty, and it seemed to be the tomb of a princess."

"It is very valuable for the study of history."

"I almost blew that tombstone up on the spot. What kind of research value is this? Who's going to reimburse me for all the money I've spent on this project?"

"So you're going to have to move again?"

Old Xia nodded, then sighed and didn't want to say anything.

Upon seeing this, Old Qin quickly asked, "You two haven't run into each other again, have you?"

Old Xia glanced at Old Qin, then nodded with an affirmative look, "You guessed right."

Now, Qin Lao and the others looked at Xia Lao with pity.

Digging this tunnel is really not easy.

"This time, we're heading north, and then... damn it."

"That place is absolutely a geomantically auspicious spot! When I'm gone, I'll be buried there!"

Old Xia grumbled for a moment, then continued, "Fortunately, this time we encountered a large landowner from the Qing Dynasty, so we were lucky."

"The local cultural relics bureau said that it will be completed before the end of the year, and they will ensure that it will not delay the subsequent construction schedule."

"But I have no idea. There are so many ancestors in this area. Who knows how many people are still alive?"

"Luckily it wasn't in the Chang'an area, otherwise..."

"I'm thinking of quitting this job."

After listening to Old Xia finish complaining, everyone couldn't help but laugh.

"Old Xia, you're just being hypocritical after getting the benefits."

"This kind of opportunity to gain knowledge and achieve good results is something that other people would love but never get to experience."

Old Qin laughed heartily, just then a group of people walked in from outside.

It was Elder Zhang, Elder Zhao, Elder Zhou, Elder Wang, and their respective groups who came over together.

"I was wondering why I didn't see you outside. Turns out you're here. You've arrived really early."

Old Zhao greeted him with a smile. Old Qin stood up, his eyebrows twitching. "Old Zhao, I can tell! You're really in high spirits when something good happens. Congratulations!"

Old Zhao was finally able to hold his head high, saying, "Old Qin, this is just a small-scale operation. We can't compare to you guys, we can't compare, we can't compare."

"Come on, you're all going to develop your careers abroad. You're ahead of us in that respect."

"Old Zhao, you can't escape this drinking session tonight."

Old Zhao didn't hesitate, "No problem, let's have a good drink this noon, or even tonight, and see who passes out first."

Old Wang, who was listening from behind, didn't want to miss out on something good, and said, "Then it's settled."

After saying that, he winked at Ran's father and Qian Lao behind him, "Let's go together. Old Zhao has made a lot of money. Let's just consider it as taking down a local tyrant."

Mr. Qian was chatting with several people from the Second Ministry of Machine Building about nuclear power plants, and he didn't refuse when he heard Mr. Wang say this.

It's nice for everyone to get together at the end of the year.

As they chatted and laughed, Dean Deng from the Academy of Agricultural Sciences arrived with Elder Tao, along with Wang Junhong from the Bureau of Metallurgy, Elder Song from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and several others.

A group of people gathered together, and then Old Xia recounted what had just happened, which immediately sparked laughter.

Old Wang, not one to shy away from making things worse, exclaimed, "Why did you do this?"

"We must treat everyone equally. We cannot discriminate against someone just because they are a large landowner and not as well as a princess or noble."

"They're all old comrades, that's not good."

Old Xia rolled his eyes. "It's easy for you to talk when you're not in the situation. The Northwest region has already completed half of the construction, and the Central region has also set up teams. My team hasn't even started yet. You're not worried, but I am."

Old Wang laughed again, "Why are you in such a hurry? Anyway, we're eating canned food from the Ninth Division, tsk tsk."

"By the way, what about that kid Yang Xiaotao?"

"Why don't we see them?"

After Old Wang's reminder, everyone looked at each other.

Sure enough, I didn't see anyone from the Ninth Division.

"I said, what if they weren't invited to participate?"

Old Zhao stroked the stubble on his chin. "Could it be that they've completed their mission and don't need to come anymore?"

Everyone was speechless upon hearing this.

(End of this chapter)