Break out of the courtyard

On the morning of October 25, after bidding farewell to his family at the airport, Zhang Heping took a private plane to Western Sichuan.

Because it was a secret operation, it did not alert the people in Chengdu and Guangzhou.

After leaving Guangcheng, Zhang Heping sat in a black sedan, looking at the fields outside the left window, and laughed, "Fourteen years ago when I came here, I had to hide my eyes and go in at night. Can I drive straight through now?"

The base staff member sitting on the right replied with a smile, "Thanks to Advisor Zhang, three sets of Pigeon Eye air defense systems have been built here, and the armored vehicles in front and behind have also been equipped with the God's Eye defense system."

"With the addition of a space-based early warning system in outer space, the defense of this base has been greatly enhanced, and we no longer need to hide as carefully as before!"

Looking back, when Zhang Heping first came here, it was Zhao Jianguo, the sixth brother, who led him into the underground base.

However, that encounter was not pleasant.

Not only was Zhang Heping tricked into coming here, but he was also looked down upon by the people at the base. They treated him with illusions as soon as he arrived, and he didn't even get to see the person in charge of the base before he left.

This time, before Zhang Heping even reached the base entrance, he saw a group of people waiting outside.

……

After Zhang Heping entered the Sanxingdui underground base, Hua Lao introduced Chen Shuting to a business deal: disposing of the bankrupt assets of mainland state-owned enterprises in cooperation with companies such as CITIC and China Resources.

Peace Group registered Peace Asset Management Company last year, originally intended to address bank bad debts caused by the Haicheng real estate bubble, and now it comes in handy.

However, this time a lot of state-owned enterprises were being optimized, involving 18 cities, and Peace Asset Management didn't have enough manpower.

Because Chen Shuting only had eyes for the land owned by state-owned enterprises, she later brought in Heping Real Estate as well, which gave Tang Xin something to do so that she wouldn't just sit there daydreaming after dropping her child off at school.

Before they knew it, it was early November. Since Tang Xin wasn't going back to Hong Kong Island, the group of wealthy women from Peace Properties arranged a gathering at the Peace Hotel in Shenzhen.

As Peace Hospital reopened to the general public, business at the Peace Hotel gradually picked up.

The only drawback is that outside vehicles are not allowed to enter the intersection of the college road.

The gathering in early November didn't seem like anything special to these wealthy women on Hong Kong Island.

But when it was early December and these wealthy women gathered again at the Peace Hotel in Shenzhen, they clearly noticed Tang Xin's unusual behavior.

It was only through the concern of acquaintances like Mrs. He, Mrs. Guo, and Mrs. Bao that they learned Zhang Heping hadn't been home for over a month.

When asked about Zhang Heping's whereabouts, Tang Xin did not reveal anything and just kept shaking her head.

The news of Zhang Heping's disappearance quickly spread to the outside world, arousing much speculation.

In the past, Zhang Heping's research was always traceable and within the acceptable range of countries like Europe and the United States.

However, after Zhang Heping disappeared without a word for more than a month, European and American countries couldn't help but speculate wildly about his whereabouts and whether he was involved in the latest weapons research on the mainland.

Not to mention the foreigners, even the Zhang family members themselves were a little unsure, because Zhang Heping hadn't made a single phone call home since leaving, let alone a video call.

After repeated questioning from Ma Xiuzhen and Tang Xin, and after Hua Lao's repeated explanations proved fruitless, he simply sent someone to take Zhang Hu to the Sanxingdui underground base.

Because of the confidentiality agreement, Zhang Hu did not reveal what he had seen and heard in Western Sichuan after returning from there. He only said that his father was busy with research.

The outside world was unaware of this, only knowing that after the virtual learning dream experience exhibition in Suzhou ended, Zhang Bei brought the regenerative brain server back to Shenzhen.

Not long after, Zhangbei set up a virtual learning dream experience exhibition on the first floor of the Shenzhen Library, with a maximum of 1 people participating in each session.

Zhang Bei and his group returned because Zhang Hu relayed his father's message: Zhang Bei needed to come back to oversee the recruitment plan for the second Genius Training Camp in January of next year.

Therefore, Zhang Bei discussed with Zhang Yi the possibility of using Zhang Yi's spare gaming helmets and parts to upgrade the three virtual dream experience venues: Nanjing Fall, Project Night Cherry Blossom, and the Korean War. The number of experience slots would be increased to 1000, 1000, and 1200 respectively, to facilitate testing for gifted young people from mainland China and abroad.

Including the virtual learning dream experience exhibition in Shenzhen, there are now 4 test slots available in mainland China.

Overseas, there are only 600 old seats in the Virtual Dream Lecture Hall at the Hong Kong Peace College, and 600 new seats newly arranged in the adjacent classroom.

With the opening of the virtual reality experience of the Korean War to the public on Hong Kong Island, the first assessment of the second Genius Training Camp recruitment program has begun.

Before January 10th, gifted teenagers from both mainland China and abroad will have three chances to try.

After January 10th, the formal assessment will begin, and each registered student will only have one chance to take the exam.

Whether it's the first three attempts or the last exam, as long as you can persist for 24 hours in a virtual dream with 10x sensory acceleration even once, you'll pass.

After the assessment rules were announced, some foreigners actually tried to cheat. After failing three times in Hong Kong, they went to Nanjing and Harbin to try three more times.

Unfortunately, the online reservation tests in Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Nanjing, and Harbin were all supported by the smart technology company under the Peace Group. How could they possibly leave such a loophole for foreigners to exploit?

Of course, if foreigners do not make an appointment to try it in Hong Kong Island, they can make an appointment to try the virtual dream experience in mainland China.

Time passed silently through 1994, and New Year's Day 1995 arrived.

The news that Zhang Heping had not returned home still spread among those who had come to celebrate his birthday but had not seen him or received any hospitality.

Gradually, foreign media began to speculate wildly about Zhang Heping's whereabouts, such as whether he was involved in biological and chemical weapons research in mainland China, or some kind of high-powered weapon research.

Some foreign media outlets have also cited the past history of mainland China, claiming with certainty that Zhang Heping is under house arrest and that the Heping Group is about to be nationalized by the mainland.

These chaotic external reports, based on wild speculation, forced mainland media and the Peace Group to clarify where Zhang Heping went and what he was doing.

Foreign media outlets spent several days investigating, only to receive a simple clarification from the Peace Group's official website:
Mr. Zhang is currently researching a new brain-computer interface device, so please rest assured.

Zhang Heping has been missing for more than two months. How could a simple clarification announcement possibly dispel the suspicions of external forces?

Two days later, this conflict was transferred to the first assessment of the second talent training camp recruitment plan.

The three virtual dream experience venues in mainland China are doing well. Most of the visitors are parents bringing their children or students organized by schools to make appointments to try the first assessment. No one dares to cause trouble.

On Hong Kong Island, instigated by certain forces, some teenagers attempted to damage the game helmets after failing for the third time.

The virtual dream lecture hall was guarded by bodyguards with stun guns, so they naturally wouldn't give them a chance to run wild. Without hesitation, they pulled the trigger on the troublemaker, knocking him unconscious on the spot.

The bodyguards' assertive attitude made many foreigners realize that Zhang Heping was not under house arrest and would return.

Just as those foreigners were worried about what technical problems Zhang Heping was helping the mainland research, January 10th arrived, and the first assessment of the second Genius Training Camp recruitment program officially began.

Virtual dream experiences in Hong Kong Island, Shenzhen, Nanjing, and Harbin have been suspended to accommodate a week-long recruitment and assessment process for a talent training camp.

At the same time, the Peace Group's official website published the list of those who passed the first assessment.

Of these, 5 are from mainland China and 0 are from overseas!
On the evening of the 10th, the Peace Group held a press conference, where the public relations manager explained the key points of the first assessment and the significance of such an assessment, which attracted many media outlets to stake it out.

"Manager Bao, is the reason you set such a high level of difficulty in the assessment because you don't want to issue too many Lifespan Potion Advance Cards?"

"How many gifted young people does the Peace Group plan to recruit this time?"

"Will the second Genius Training Camp still involve those gifted teenagers learning to make robots in a virtual dream world?" "Everyone, please be quiet!" Bao Jiajun, the public relations manager of the Peace Group, gestured for the reporters and photographers to quiet down before continuing, "The questions will come later; please listen to me first!"

"First, let me explain the first assessment of the second Genius Training Camp recruitment plan. Why is it necessary to be online continuously for 24 hours under 10 times perception acceleration?"

"This assessment aims to select gifted teenagers with brainpower superior to that of ordinary people; these gifted teenagers who pass the assessment are expected to join Mr. Zhang's brain-computer interface research and development team."

Join the brain-computer interface research!

This bombshell news immediately excited the reporters present.

A reporter from a news website immediately took out his phone and sent this breaking news to the editor above.

Before the reporters could get excited, Manager Bao from the public relations department continued, "Next, let me tell you the secret to passing the first test."

"Virtual dreams require very little mental effort. If the teenager can replenish his nutrition without leaving the virtual dream, he can successfully last for 24 hours."

"Alright, now you can raise your hand to ask other questions!"

……

Governor's House, Central, Hong Kong Island.

Because none of Omega's teenagers passed the first assessment of the talent training camp recruitment program, team leaders from more than ten countries gathered in this conference room.

While these people were struggling with the first assessment, many of them received a text message on their phones containing what the public relations manager of the Peace Group had just said: passing the assessment could lead to joining brain-computer interface research and that they could stay awake for 24 hours by simply supplementing their nutrition.

As more people looked down at their phones, the blonde female secretary of the Governor's Office entered the meeting and leaned close to the Governor's ear to whisper the remarks that Manager Bao had just made.

A moment later, the Governor of Hong Kong chuckled and said, "It seems that everyone has received the message just released by the Peace Group."

The leader of the Holland team laughed and said, "Is the Peace Group deliberately revealing the secrets to passing the test because they found that too few people passed, in order to recruit more people?"

"How can they distract themselves from their studies?" the German team leader asked, frowning. "Our students only have one chance to take the exam; they can't afford to make mistakes!"

“If they had said so earlier, we could have arranged for others to try!” As soon as the team leader from Xidao said this, the others couldn’t help but think that Xidao only had three teenagers who came to take the test.

But the next second, everyone realized another layer of meaning in the middle-aged man from the West Island's words: he wanted teenagers from other countries to explore the way!
After discussing for a while, the group eventually brought up the topic of sending a boy ahead to scout out how to distract himself from eating and replenishing his nutrition, so that the boys behind him could successfully pass the first test.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" the Governor of Hong Kong spoke again, "I need not elaborate on the value of virtual reality brain-computer interfaces."

"Regardless of whether Mr. Zhang really wants to recruit some gifted young people to help him develop brain-computer interfaces, we have to give it our all!"

"I suggest we sign a cooperation agreement. Let's work together to send some teenagers to the second Genius Training Camp, and then share all the techniques these teenagers learn from Mr. Zhang!"

Alex, the head of the US Embassy in Hong Kong, chuckled and chimed in, “Although three of our Americans passed the assessment last year, only one went on to participate in the genius training program. He was eventually eliminated because no one was there to help him complete the training.”

"Therefore, I strongly recommend cooperation, because only through cooperation can we persevere until the end of the genius training camp and obtain the graduation reward!"

……

Shenzhen Peace College, Villa No. 1.

During dinner at the Zhang family's house, just as the atmosphere was becoming somewhat subdued, Zhang Nan broke the silence, "Stepmother, the WTO has been operating for 10 days now. Has your trade been affected?"

"It will have some impact, but it's not a big problem!" Chen Shuting said with a smile. "The Peace Group gave up so many shares in various companies, not so that outsiders could follow us and pick up the money."

"If they cannot resolve the local political and business relations, we can buy back their shares at the original price, in accordance with the agreement!"

"What's wrong? Is your trading company having problems?"

"Some goods can't be shipped out from the mainland, so they have to be diverted to Hong Kong Island for delivery, which increases transportation costs." Zhang Nan picked up a few grains of rice with his chopsticks and put them in his mouth, frowning as he said:
"Logically, the free trade zones in Shanghai and Huadu shouldn't be subject to restrictions!"

Chen Shuting sneered, "Those foreigners are coveting your father's 120-year lifespan potion, and they've recently been putting pressure on the mainland."

Upon hearing Chen Shuting mention Zhang Heping, Tang Xin's face showed even more worry.

Zhang Hu, oblivious to the danger, chimed in, "If you ask me, we don't need to worry about those foreigners at all. We don't lack their technology."

"The longer this stalemate lasts, the more anxious the foreigners become, and in the end they will definitely be the first to compromise."

"Little Tiger!" Zhang Bei glanced at his mother, Tang Xin, seemingly casually. "When you went to Western Shu last time, did Dad really say he'd be back before the New Year?"

"Yes! What's wrong?" Zhang Hu didn't notice the expression on his mother's face at all.

“Today is the 10th, and there are only 20 days left until Lunar New Year’s Eve at the end of the month.” Zhang Bei laughed. “I’m thinking that I can easily arrange the item making for the second part of the Genius Training Camp recruitment assessment.”

"But for the third closed-book exam, we need to ask Dad's opinion to avoid selecting a bunch of mediocre talents."

"Didn't I tell you last time?" Zhang Hu asked doubtfully, "Dad asked you to come up with questions about politics, ideology, and morality. If you're unsure, you can ask Secretary Chen and the others."

"Oh! I forgot about that." Zhang Bei said with a smile, "When you saw Dad last time, did they have central air conditioning over there?"

"It's snowing in many parts of Western Sichuan recently. With Dad's strong physique, he shouldn't be afraid of the cold!"

Having listened to the two brothers talk for so long, Zhang Zhaodi had long understood what Zhang Bei was trying to tell his mother, so she interjected, "Your dad isn't afraid of the cold at all!"

"The winters in the capital are so cold. When your dad goes out for a morning run, does he ever go out wearing just a single layer of clothing?"

“There’s no central air conditioning down there!” Zhang Hu, still not understanding his older brother’s intention, said while picking up some food, “But it’s very hot down there, like a laboratory built on lava.”

"Isn't Dad researching brain-computer interfaces?" Zhang Long asked疑惑地问道, "Why is his work environment so hot?"

Zhang Hu chuckled and said, "That's another research project. I promised Dad I wouldn't tell you. If you want to know, ask Dad yourself when he gets back!"

"Little Tiger!" Looking at the lively atmosphere of this big family, Ma Zhiyi, the eldest maternal uncle, thought of his own children and grandchildren and couldn't help but ask, "Did your father say when your eldest maternal aunt and I can go back?"

Snapped!
Zhang Hu suddenly slapped himself on the forehead and laughed sheepishly, "I forgot about that!"

"I'm so sorry, Uncle! My dad said that once Aunt's skin stopped peeling in January, you can go back home for the New Year!"

"You silly child!" Ma Xiuzhen said, both amused and exasperated, "You can forget something so important!"

"It's alright! It's alright!" Ma Zhiyi hurriedly tried to dissuade her. "Your sister-in-law's skin peeled at the end of last month. Xiao Hu is talking about this month. We need to observe her for a few days before we know if she will continue to peel!"

Liu Ting, the person involved, was also there to help explain, while Zhang Hu just stood there grinning foolishly.

Zhang Feng, who had been eating quietly, put down her chopsticks, wiped her mouth with a tissue, and said to Zhang Bei after everyone quieted down, "Brother, if you and Xiao Hu experience forgetfulness, remember to drink a bottle of brain tonic."

"Dad said before that if any abnormalities occur after the implantation, you can't push yourself; you must replenish your nutrition immediately!"

...(End of chapter)