Break out of the courtyard

Chairman He entered the banquet hall with his first wife and eldest son. He happened to see Zhang Heping standing up and walking out from the crowd. He stepped forward and said, half jokingly, half complainingly:

"Mr. Zhang, you're so mean! You didn't even inform us of any happy family events!"

"Luckily, we got the news from Team Leader Zhang, so we had the nerve to follow her here and ask for a glass of wedding wine!"

Zhang Heping noticed that Chairman He's family was followed by Chairman Guo, Baochuan Wang, Zhang Pandi, and others. He said with a smile, "You can't blame me for this. It was my eldest sister who sent out your invitations."

While chatting and laughing, Zhang Heping brought several Hong Kong businessmen to his elder sister Zhang Zhaodi's colleagues, and asked these foreign trade and economics people to help entertain them, since it was their counterpart business after all.

The situation today is very different from when my nephew Zhang Yi got married three years ago.

The spring breeze has been blowing south for more than a year. Making money has become the primary goal of all walks of life, and the status of businessmen has also risen accordingly.

Therefore, many people no longer care about Zhang Heping's identity as a big capitalist, and coupled with the qualification to test the Shouyuan 120 potion, the number of people gathered here is quite large.

When Elder Hua and Elder Yang arrived together, the atmosphere at the banquet was quiet for a moment, but then became more and more lively.

Normally, the Zhang family had a happy event today, so Old Yang and the others shouldn't have asked Zhang Heping to go to the meeting, after all, there were so many relatives and friends who needed to be entertained.

But who made Zhang Heping make such harsh remarks and threaten to emigrate?
So, after lunch, Zhang Heping was asked to go out and attend the afternoon communication meeting.

At the meeting, someone suggested that Zhang Heping return to China to develop, which would mean giving up his Hong Kong identity, but Zhang Heping rejected it on the spot.

Putting aside the issue of monogamy in the mainland, just based on the mainland's policy of favoring distant places over nearby ones, he would never give up the advantages of Hong Kong Island.

What's more, coming back to develop means being under someone else's control and being controlled by certain people. Zhang Heping is used to freedom and can't tolerate that.

Zhang Heping glanced at the time on his wristwatch, then said to Elder Hua, Elder Li, and the others, "There's no need for those probing questions. It's fine if you don't grant me access to the Sanxingdui underground base. After all, my time and energy are limited, and I can't research everything."

Old Yang looked around and, seeing that Old Hua, Old Li, and Old Lady Zheng were all silent, he turned to another old man.

"Advisor Zhang, we heard from Elder Hua that you are willing to exchange technology with us on an equal footing." Elder Liu, who had been prompted to speak by Elder Yang's gaze, slowly asked, "May I ask what kind of equal footing you mean?"

Zhang Heping didn't answer but asked, "What technology do you want to change now?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the old men and women attending the meeting couldn't help but look at each other.

Seeing that Mr. Yang was still looking at him, Mr. Liu, who had just asked the question, continued, "How do I exchange the complete set of technology for your micro-brain-computer?"

"A complete set of techniques?" Zhang Heping smiled and said jokingly, "This set of techniques contains quite a lot of content. If I were to use all of it, I could establish a professional discipline comparable to mathematics, physics, and chemistry. What can you offer me in exchange?"

Old Liu really wanted to ask back, "What do you want?", but the problem was that they had never given the other party the access to the Sanxingdui underground base that they wanted.

Old Liu couldn't answer and looked at Old Yang who was frowning and silent, but didn't get any instructions.

"I heard that Consultant Zhang developed this brain-computer interface to develop virtual dream games." A thin old man next to Old Liu said, "It's probably difficult for you to do it alone. Why don't you share your technology and we can develop it together?"

"By then, your Peace Group will have the exclusive operating rights to the virtual dream game. What do you think?"

"I still say the same thing as before, what can you give me in exchange?" Zhang Heping was unmoved, because even if he didn't give up his technology, he still had the exclusive operating rights.

On the contrary, once he comes up with the technology, it will no longer be his exclusive property, and who knows what kind of trouble it will cause!

After all, it was a virtual dream game, a second world that could theoretically occupy one-third of human lifespan, and the interests involved were enormous!
"Can you license the technology?" Lao Liu said again: "We can pay the technology fee!"

"Humph!" Zhang Heping sneered, "Can the research materials and items from the Sanxingdui underground base be sold? Are you willing to sell them for 5 billion magnesium yuan?"

The 5 billion magnesium yuan that Zhang Heping blurted out was not a random statement, but the cash flow that Heping Group could transfer immediately!

What has constrained the development of the Peace Group in recent years is not technical problems or obstruction from other countries, but the fact that the speed at which they spend money cannot keep up with the speed at which they make money each year.

Especially when OMG implemented preferential policies targeted at the Peace Group.

Lao Liu was retorted again, because he also knew that the Heping Group was very rich, and the magnesium cash in its account was more than the country's foreign exchange reserves!

"Counselor Zhang, are you really not considering collaborating on research and development?"

The thin old man spoke again, but received no response from Zhang Heping and was simply ignored.

Everyone present was of different statuses, and not everyone could make Zhang Heping fear or respect them.

"Peace!" Seeing that the person opposite him was silent, Elder Hua spoke up to ease the tension, "What do you want to exchange your technology for?"

"I don't have anything I want to change!" Zhang Heping said calmly, "I know better than anyone here what technology the country has on the surface."

"If it weren't for the sake of Elder Hua and Elder Li, I wouldn't have proposed an equal exchange."

"Actually, there's no need for an exchange. After I open a major in mental power and brain-computer interaction at Hong Kong Peace College, mainland students can also be sent to study there."

Elder Yang couldn't help but frown and asked, "Are you going to disclose this technology?"

"Why not?" Zhang Heping said casually, "Once I develop a method to defend against mental power, I'll be close to commercializing a brain-computer interface!"

"So, you can wait a little longer."

Wait?
How long will this take?
Everyone immediately realized that Zhang Heping was probably stalling for time by saying this.

To put it bluntly, I just don’t want to change.

Hua Lao speculated that Zhang Heping was using a strategic retreat to advance, so he didn't say anything more, which seemed to be an implicit acceptance of Zhang Heping's suggestion to send students to the Hong Kong Peace Academy for further study later.

The key point is that Hua Lao knew that before the meeting began, Yang Lao and the others had discussed various possible scenarios and made preparations in advance.

When Zhang Heping didn't say what he wanted to exchange, Elder Yang was silent for a moment before asking again, "How about I give you a copy of the Ruomu brain-computer research data?"

Zhang Heping replied calmly, "That kind of incomplete information can only be exchanged for information on the principle of brainwave conversion into mental power."

Although everyone didn't know what the brain-computer technology data contained, they had all heard of the paper on the principle of converting brain waves into mental power on the World Internet Forum.

However, the paper online was very superficial and did not even mention that mental power could control objects.

It is obvious that the principle of converting brain waves into mental power that Zhang Heping is willing to exchange must be more detailed than the paper on the Internet.

"Consultant Zhang, you may not know what that Ruomu brain-computer file contains!" Elder Yang tried to exchange for an extra copy of the file. "That's the research result accumulated by our researchers over decades!"

Zhang Heping retorted, "They've been researching for so long, can they really build a brain-computer interface?" The reality is, no!

If they could really build a brain-computer interface, they wouldn't be here arguing with Zhang Heping.

Elder Yang was silent for a few seconds, then looked at the other participants and asked, "What do you think of the research data on the Ruomu brain-computer interface and the principle of converting brain waves into mental power?"

This replacement method was proposed by Zhang Heping, and naturally, Hua Lao and Li Lao did not object.

The thin old man, who had just asked about cooperation but received no response, asked, "What's the difference between the principle of brainwave conversion into mental power that Consultant Zhang used in exchange and the principle analysis that you previously uploaded online?"

"That principle online talks about simple knowledge like 1+1=2," Zhang Heping explained calmly. "The principle of converting brainwaves into mental power that I agreed to exchange for is a textbook I wrote for my own children."

One is for outsiders to see, and the other is a teaching material for teaching one's own children. You can tell which one is better by listening.

"Advisor Zhang!" an old man in a white shirt and green military pants asked, "Do you want to replace your second-generation micro-brain computer?"

Zhang Heping did not answer in a hurry. He took out a piece of cloth from his trouser pocket, and then picked up the gold-coated quartz piece the size of a fingernail from the unfolded glasses cloth.

"What do you want in exchange?"

As Zhang Heping spoke, he placed the second-generation micro brain-computer interface between his eyebrows.

Then, everyone saw the teacup on Zhang Heping's right hand side fly up and hover in front of Zhang Heping.

The next second, the lid of the cup was opened by an invisible force and hovered next to the teacup.

Zhang Heping wanted to empty the tea into his mouth, but unfortunately he failed.

Finally, the teacup flew to Zhang Heping's right hand and the cup lid flew to his left hand. Under the gaze of everyone, Zhang Heping took a sip of the tea in the cup.

This set of actions undoubtedly adds value to this second-generation micro brain-computer interface.

Just as Zhang Heping slowly wrapped the second-generation micro-computer in the glasses cloth and put it back into his trouser pocket, Yang Lao proposed another exchange, "How about exchanging it with a Ruomu computer?"

Zhang Heping was secretly delighted. If he had a complete golden mask, he was confident that he could use his mental power to study it thoroughly inside and out.

"Okay!" Zhang Heping said calmly.

"Don't worry, I have a prerequisite!" Elder Yang said with a half-smile: "This Ruomu brain can only be placed in the underground base of Shencheng for your research. You can't..."

“Then forget it!” Zhang Heping’s tone remained as calm as ever. “I told Elder Hua before that I would conduct all my future research related to mental power in Hong Kong.”

Faced with Zhang Heping's sudden rejection, Old Yang's brows were as deep as if water was about to be squeezed out.

At this moment, Elder Hua stepped in to smooth things over, laughing and saying, "I saw that the golden mask that Heping replicated is the first-generation brain-computer interface, which looks very similar to the Ruomu brain-computer interface."

"How about this? Heping will replace the original brain-computer together with the original one. Then, you can tell everyone that the Ruomu brain-computer is the original one you made."

"Okay!" Zhang Heping agreed again.

Next, it depends on what Mr. Yang and the others think.

They probably had not expected that Zhang Heping would refuse the underground base research. After all, the confidentiality level of the Ruomu brain was very high, and confidentiality was the prerequisite for everyone to agree to exchange it.

Elder Yang looked at the other participants, hesitated for a moment, and said, "We need to go outside to discuss this matter. Consultant Zhang, please wait a moment!"

Seeing Yang Lao stand up, Zhang Heping also stood up and said, "I'm going to the bathroom, you guys take your time to discuss this."

Seeing this, everyone did not get up and leave, but waited silently for Zhang Heping to leave the meeting room and closed the door.

"Elder Hua!" The thin old man frowned and said, "We had agreed before that we would exchange Ruomu's brain-computer interface to keep Consultant Zhang at Shenzhen Peace Academy. How could you go back on your word?"

Old Hua laughed and said, "I know Consultant Zhang's personality better than you do. If he says it's okay, then it's really okay."

"Before his first-generation brain-computer and second-generation micro-brain-computer are developed, the Ruomu brain-computer may really be attractive to him, and it may also allow him to stay at Shenzhen Peace College to study."

"But, I just suggested that he add a first-generation brain-computer and exchange it for a Ruomu brain-computer together with the second-generation micro brain-computer. He agreed without hesitation. Why do you think that is?"

Before anyone else could figure it out, Hua Lao, in order to save time, gave his own answer: "Because, in his view, the first-generation brain-computer interface and the second-generation micro-brain-computer interface are already outdated and unimportant!"

"So, I suggest that while the Ruomu brain machine is still of some use to Consultant Zhang, we give him another one to study."

"Compared to the five Ruomu brain-computer masks that were destroyed in the underground base in order to crack the internal structure of the mask, I think this is the best option to exchange one mask for the first-generation brain-computer and the second-generation micro brain-computer in Consultant Zhang's hands, as well as his subsequent cooperation."

"I agree with Elder Hua's suggestion!" Old Mrs. Zheng chimed in at this moment, "Advisor Zhang already said it's an equal exchange, you still don't understand the meaning of 'equal'."

"If you can refuse to authorize him, he can naturally refuse you. This is equality, equality of status!"

Because Elder Li hadn't used the longevity potion yet, he seemed a little slow to speak. He slowly said, "You may not have realized one thing yet!"

"Why would Consultant Zhang place his psychic research on Hong Kong Island? Isn't he afraid that Japanese, European, and American agents will raid his lab again?"

"People are all made of flesh and blood. You have repeatedly refused to let him know about the research projects under Sanxingdui and treated him as an outsider. If you were in his place, wouldn't you feel disheartened?"

Hua nodded in agreement, saying, "If it weren't for the fact that Advisor Zhang's parents and family are still in the capital, he definitely wouldn't have come to the capital to meet with us recently."

"You haven't seen him when he's doing research. He can stay at home and not see guests for a month or two."

"I wonder if you noticed today!" Old Hua said, looking at Old Li, Old Madam Zheng and the others, "Zhang Bei, Zhang Long and Zhang Hu all have a red string around their necks, and they should all be wearing the same gold-plated jade Guanyin pendant that Consultant Zhang used the other day."

"Tang Xin, Zhang Nan, and Zhang Nian also have red strings around their necks, and Zhang Feng and Zhang Nuo have bracelets on their hands. They didn't have those before."

"Mr. Hua, you mean..." Old Mrs. Zheng widened her eyes slightly, and asked uncertainly, "Consultant Zhang can mass-produce those miniature brain-computer interfaces?"

Old Yang also attended the wedding banquet today. When he heard what Old Hua said, he remembered the silver-white bracelets on the fair wrists of the Zhang sisters, Zhang Feng and Zhang Nuo, which seemed to have a touch of gold.

"You're worried that Consultant Zhang will get access to the secrets of Sanxingdui's underground, and that he might leak those advanced technologies!" Elder Li asked calmly.

"Have you ever considered whether the value demonstrated by Consultant Zhang himself far exceeds the things found underground in Sanxingdui?"

...(End of chapter)