Break out of the courtyard

"Advisor Zhang!" A middle-aged male engineer from the Wucheng Shipyard raised his hand while Zhang Heping was drinking water and asked, "I have a question. Parts of the Yangtze River are less than 10 meters deep. We're building this aircraft carrier..."

Zhang Heping covered the teacup and handed it to the person in charge of the Wucheng Shipping Company next to him. Then he smiled at the engineer who was hesitant to speak, "It's not easy!"

"After more than a year of building the factory, someone finally asked me this question."

Zhang Heping glanced around at the engineers and technicians, seeing the awkward expressions on their faces, and continued, "Besides this issue, haven't you noticed that the higher-ups haven't placed an order for our aircraft carrier yet?"

After these words were spoken, the people around him became even more confused.

If the aircraft carrier is built but cannot be sold, Zhang Heping’s investment will be wasted!
Isn't he in a hurry?

"Aircraft carriers, large cruise ships, and large cargo ships all have very deep drafts. If they want to sail on the Yangtze River, we must not only consider dredging and deepening the waterway, but also the design and renovation of bridges on the Yangtze River."

Zhang Heping turned around and looked at the aircraft carrier, which had not even completed one-third of its progress, and stopped talking.

Whether the Yangtze River waterway will be dredged and deepened, whether the bridges on the river will make way for aircraft carriers and cruise ships, and whether these engineers will be transferred to other shipyards after building the aircraft carrier are not things that Zhang Heping needs to consider.

He was not naive enough to think that the Peace Group could really intervene in the mainland's arms production by relying on its status as a private enterprise.

Therefore, in his mind, the positioning of Wucheng Shipping Company is actually a small and medium-sized cargo ship manufacturer capable of producing aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers, frigates and other warships.

Producing aircraft carriers first is just a preliminary test.

If the aircraft carrier is built, the higher-ups are willing to allow Wucheng Shipping Company to expand and then acquire one or two coastal shipyards.

Otherwise, it would be wise to withdraw from the warship stage and just build some small and medium-sized cargo ships.

In addition, there is another important reason why Zhang Heping invested in the construction of aircraft carriers and fighter jets, which was to enhance the mainland's military deterrence and facilitate the Heping Group's foreign trade.

Speaking of trade, once the free trade agreement between the mainland and Eagle Magnesium was signed, other countries became restless and sent negotiation teams one after another, hoping to establish deeper trade relations with the mainland.

When Zhang Heping returned to Shenzhen with his family, he saw a few white and black foreigners from time to time on the way back to the college from the airport. It seemed that their negotiations went smoothly.

However, when Zhao Jianguo came back from get off work and saw bodyguards on duty outside Villa No. 1, Zhao Jianguo found Zhang Heping to complain, saying that with the arrival of those foreigners, the security pressure was getting greater day by day.

"You have no idea!" Zhao Jianguo sat on the sofa in the Zhang family's living room and said gloomily, "Whenever those foreigners lose a bracelet, we have to use our city surveillance system to help them find it. My people are complaining!"

Zhang Heping, who was also sitting on the sofa, responded with a smile, "Why don't you just delegate the access rights to the city surveillance footage to the police stations and let them access it themselves?"

Zhao Jianguo frowned and said, "Someone in our center has suggested this, but some people objected, saying that doing so would increase the risk of hackers breaking into our city management center system."

Zhang Heping shook his head and smiled, "You're using Heping computers, which have built-in security guards. As long as there's no problem within your management center, the chances of being hacked are minimal."

"Since you said that, I'll let them try." Zhao Jianguo replied with a smile. Seeing that the Zhang family restaurant was serving food, he stood up and said goodbye.

Zhang Heping said something polite and asked Zhao Jianguo to stay for dinner.

However, Zhao Jianguo had a wife and children waiting for him at home, so he did not respond.

After dinner, Zhang Heping went to the study on the second floor to review the list of Peace Prize winners and the arrangements for the venue.

Before he returned, both Shanghai and Huadu called Mr. Hua, wanting to apply to have this year's awards ceremony held in their cities.

The idea behind both sides is actually quite simple. They want to take advantage of this awards ceremony to promote their pilot free trade zones.

To this end, they also submitted an application to allow foreign journalists to enter the venue.

Zhang Heping has not yet given a response to the choice of venue, mainly due to security issues.

After all, most of the winners are top scientists, scholars, or cutting-edge research teams in the country.

"Professor Hong, I'm not kidding."

"If someone were attacked here, I would definitely use all my strength to heal him."

"I'm afraid those spies might harm you later."

When Mr. Hua and Director Wang arrived at Zhang's study, Zhang Heping was on the phone, possibly talking to an award winner.

After waiting a while, Hua Lao saw Zhang Heping put down the landline receiver before saying, "I have relayed your concerns to the higher-ups."

"They suggested that this year's Peace Prize ceremony could be held at the Liuhua Exhibition Hall in Huadu, with Huadu taking full responsibility for security."

"Huadu has also assured me that they will deploy additional personnel and coordinate with vehicles and hotels to ensure safety."

"Also, considering they wanted to invite foreign journalists, some experts and professors were unable to show up and had to send their assistants to receive the awards."

When Zhang Heping heard that Huadu was fully responsible, he agreed in his heart, because they had experience in organizing many Canton Fairs, not to mention that they had experts and professors who sent assistants to receive awards on their behalf.

"I just looked at the new papers on the World Internet Forum. Countries like Yingfa have released a lot of technologies recently, so I added some foreign winners." Zhang Heping stood up, stretched, and said:
"They want to increase international academic exchanges, and I can't stop them. Just don't mess up the awards ceremony."

Seeing Zhang Heping about to leave, Old Hua took the lead and walked towards the door. "It's not a disaster. Huadu is, after all, the provincial capital. If they can't even handle this basic security, then they're the ones who should be in trouble!"

"By the way, will you also award a lifespan potion advance card for this Peace Prize?"

"Hmm!" Zhang Heping, having finished his chores, said to Elder Hua and Director Wang as he walked out, "Has anyone taken the advance card to the hospital to apply for the Lifespan 120 medication?"

"560 people have already used their Lifespan Medication Advance Cards to apply for and use 100 Lifespan Medications," Old Hua said, frowning.
"Another 23 people have used prepaid cards to apply for the 120-day life potion, and a queue has been set up for them."

Zhang Heping smiled and said, "Are you worried that I'll give out too many and take up other people's spots?"

Elder Hua did not deny it, but said seriously, "The production of the Lifespan 120 potion is still too small. I am worried that if those winners are allowed to cut in line, it will cause some unnecessary trouble!"

When Zhang Heping heard this, he suddenly didn't want to talk anymore.

When Director Wang saw that Zhang Heping had fallen silent, he knew that the young man had something to say, but he couldn't say it out loud because of Elder Hua's presence.

“Heping, just say what you have to say!” Director Wang Sumei advised, “You’ve known Professor Hua for so many years, doesn’t he know your temperament?” Professor Hua, holding onto the stair railing, turned to look at Zhang Heping behind him and smiled, “If you have any opinions, just say them to my face, so as not to delay your research.”

“I don’t have any objections. I’m just wondering what trouble Elder Hua is talking about?” Zhang Heping said slowly. “If the trouble is caused by the free trial of the Lifespan 120 drug, we can simply stop the free trial and start selling it at a fixed price. Let’s see who can afford it.”

"You!" Old Hua patted Zhang Heping on the shoulder as he stepped forward, "If only you were a little more tactful..."

"Forget it. If you are really worldly-wise, there will be no place for us retired old men and women."

"Keep handing out your life potion advance cards. I can handle the hassle of queuing up!"

"It's not the scarcity of wealth that's worrying, but the inequality of it; it's not poverty that's worrying, but insecurity." Zhang Heping said calmly, "I didn't want to promote the 120-year lifespan potion because I was afraid of causing trouble."

"Otherwise, I wouldn't be in such a hurry to research the potion that increases lifespan by 200 years."

Elder Hua did not respond, clearly intending to shoulder the pressure from the Longevity Elixir alone.

After the three of them left Villa No. 1, they walked around the artificial lake twice and talked about some other things.

The next day, the news that the 5th Peace Prize Award Ceremony would be held at the Liuhua Exhibition Hall in Huadu was widely publicized in Huadu.

Huadu was very bold. Even though they knew that there were nearly 3000 winners this year, they still invited other professors, scholars, and some celebrities from home and abroad to participate.

The number of participants who reported to Zhang Heping on July 7th exceeded 5.

However, when Zhang Heping saw that they had divided the more than 8 people into departments according to aerospace, aviation, physics, chemistry, biology, medical care, machinery, and intelligence, he felt relieved.

They will make arrangements and organize the exchange meetings that the winners have always wanted to hold.

What puzzled Zhang Heping was that he had no role in the exchange meeting from July 7th to 6th, nor in the award ceremony on the evening of July 7th.

what is this?
Depriving the great scientist Zhang of the opportunity to show himself?
"Don't you need me to go over there?" Zhang Heping looked through all the information in his hand, but didn't see his itinerary.

Secretary Chen, who had delivered the materials, looked at Zhang Heping at the dining table and said with a smile, "The event in Huadu was so big that many experts were urgently called back and their assistants were present in their place."

"After discussion, we decided that you and the experts could connect to the conference hall via video conferencing and communicate with the experts and scholars on site."

“It’s just that this way, you’ll have more videos than others.”

Zhang Heping returned the information to Secretary Chen. "I have a feeling you guys discussed this beforehand and don't want me to go."

"It's better not to go!" The eldest wife, Tang Xin, interrupted, "I heard that Huadu has hired a lot of foreigners. It's safer not to go."

Zhang Heping glanced at his wife and children and said with a smile, "Are you trying to keep me like a virgin, never leaving the house?"

"Don't forget, we have to return to Hong Kong Island in two days to attend the Governor's changing of office ceremony."

The concubine, Chen Shuting, was clearly on the same side as Tang Xin. She muttered, "In Hong Kong Island, our bodyguards can enter and exit the Governor's Residence fully armed. It's not like here, where they can't even be equipped with pistols."

Zhang Heping looked helplessly at Secretary Chen who was about to leave, "Are you sure you came here after eating? Don't let outsiders say I don't know etiquette!"

"I wouldn't dare lie to Consultant Zhang. I really ate in the cafeteria." Secretary Chen said with a smile, "You were busy, so you ate a little later than the rest of us."

“Alright! I’ll wait for your video conference arrangements.” Zhang Heping replied with a smile. “Also, Elder Hua and the others have only recently started using the Lifespan 120 potion, so you should remind them to get some rest early, no later than 11 p.m.

"Okay, I will definitely carry out Consultant Zhang's medical instructions." Secretary Chen replied with a smile and said goodbye.

As soon as the outsiders left, Zhang Heping put away his smile and said to Chen Shuting, "Don't talk about guns in the future. Our Hong Kong Island identity is special. If we don't touch guns here, we will avoid a lot of trouble."

"Ask Xiaolong and Xiaohu if they encountered any more trouble in the underground base laboratory after they attacked the Japanese islanders' cars with drones on the night of the 29th."

Chen Shuting was stunned for a moment and looked at Zhang Long and Zhang Hu in confusion.

Xiaowu Zhang Long nodded and said, "Now there are two more guards following us. Taking things out of the lab is not as free as before."

Xiaoliu Zhanghu echoed, "They've even assigned us some extra assistants, saying they're there to help us, but they're actually there to monitor us."

"It's not really surveillance," Zhang Long said fairly. "It's just recording our daily experimental operations, as well as the incoming and outgoing supplies and items."

Seeing Chen Shuting remain silent, Zhang Heping spoke again, "Don't overestimate our family's power. In the face of conspiracy and intrigue, we are all ordinary people. We are not invulnerable or impeccable, and we are certainly not above the law."

"So, be polite when you're with others. You never know when you might need help."

"How dare you say that about Shu Ting!" Ma Xiuzhen, who was sitting at the top, saw her daughter-in-law being bullied and immediately got angry. She complained, "Were you polite when you were angry with Director Wang?"

"Mom, you don't understand!" Zhang Heping shamelessly explained, trying to maintain his dignity in front of the children, "I was just using rhetoric to convey my dissatisfaction to the higher-ups through Director Wang."

"I don't understand? Every time Director Wang talks about how you made her angry, she cries out of grievance!" Just like Zhang Heping said just now, Ma Xiuzhen was also expressing her protection to Chen Shuting through words.

"Really?" Zhang Heping said stubbornly, "I don't think I've said anything angry to her recently!"

Seeing this, Tang Xin, Chen Shuting, Zhang Nan and others all smiled secretly.

In this family, only Ma Xiuzhen can control Zhang Heping, not even Zhang Bing next to her can.

"By the way, you asked me last time how long it would take to treat your father's leg?" Ma Xiuzhen changed the subject when she saw the smile on her young wife's face.

"It's almost done!" Zhang Heping said casually, "There are only three sets of plant experiments left in the space capsule. Once the experiments are completed, we will recover the spacecraft."

"As long as the culture materials in the spacecraft are delivered, we can start preparing the regeneration and repair fluid. After we conduct a few animal experiments to confirm its efficacy, we can use my dad as an experiment, hehe!"

When Zhang Bing heard this, a look of anticipation appeared on his face, and he suppressed his previous urge to return to the capital.

That night, Secretary Chen came to Zhang's house again and confirmed the time of the video conference with Zhang Heping.

Starting at 8 a.m. the next morning, Zhang Heping was in his study on the second floor of his house, connecting with the exchange meeting in Huadu, chatting with experts from all over the world about current technology and their vision for future technologies... (End of this chapter)