Who would still be a social slave when they are so rich?

Chen Yao took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, first offering one to Su Chen, then to Chen Fei, and finally slowly lit one for himself.

He took a deep breath, and the smoke slowly rose, swirling among the three of them. After that hazy moment, Chen Yao's brows gradually furrowed, and his eyes darkened.

He paused for a moment, flicked the ash from his half-burnt cigarette, and then slowly spoke in a low, deliberate voice: "The situation in the southern seas... is not optimistic!"

He paused, took another deep drag on his cigarette, and added, "No... I should say it's very pessimistic."

"If you fall behind, you'll be vulnerable to attack!" Chen Yao couldn't help but sigh.

"Even though we have been working hard to develop various military equipment and advanced strategic weapons in recent years, there is still a considerable gap compared to... Just take aircraft carriers and carrier-based aircraft as an example. In confrontation, we are far at a disadvantage. Sometimes we need five against one or even six against one to barely drive the other side out of our airspace."

"This conflict has not fully erupted yet. The two sides are currently only engaged in aerial combat. Even so, it has revealed many of our own shortcomings."

As Chen Yao spoke, he took a few more deep drags on his cigarette, a flash of anger in his eyes. He threw the nearly burnt-out cigarette on the ground and stomped on it hard!
It was as if the cigarette butt at his feet was a bald eagle on the other side of the ocean.

"Damn it, this is truly humiliating! The bald eagles are only relying on their large number of aircraft carriers and more advanced planes, right? Give them another year or two, and then we'll show those damn bald eagles what real Chinese speed is!"

But Chen Yao quickly realized he had lost his composure, so he immediately adjusted his emotions and forced a smile, saying, "Old Su, I'm sorry you had to see this!"

"As an aviation technician, seeing our own aircraft being shown off by others is incredibly bitter... If I had to put it into words, it would be heartache, shame, and resentment that I couldn't immediately develop the most advanced fighter jet!"

"Sigh~" Su Chen couldn't help but sigh softly, patted Chen Yao on the shoulder, and said, "Things will get better. As long as we master the relevant technologies, we will be able to make a breakthrough in aircraft soon!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Yao was instantly filled with fighting spirit. He naturally understood what Su Chen meant by mastering the technology, and that he had a real chance to catch up with or even surpass Bald Eagle in a short period of time.

Su Chen's gaze pierced through the wisps of smoke and landed on Chen Yao's face, which was slightly flushed with excitement. His voice was steady and carried an undeniable power: "Also... Brother Yao, what you said earlier is right, but not entirely right!"

"We acknowledge the gap. I understand your frustration!" Su Chen looked at the burnt-out cigarette in his hand, threw it away, then picked up the cigarette pack Chen Yao had placed on the table, lit another one, and continued:
"The bald eagle's aircraft carriers didn't just fall from the sky. Their technological advantage is the result of decades or even centuries of accumulation, and they even have a history of profiting from war. And what about us? How many years have we been catching up?"

"Take our only aircraft carrier for example. It took a full ten years from when it was transported back to the Darian Shipyard to when it was refitted and put into service. In these ten years, we have achieved breakthroughs from zero to one and then to two. I believe that in the next few years, we will have a second and a third aircraft carrier launched and put into service!"

"What we lack... is always time!"

Su Chen slowly exhaled a smoke ring, his eyes instantly sharpening. "What you said before, five against one, six against one, it sounds humiliating, but have you thought about it? This shows the kind of resolute courage and spirit of sacrifice our pilots possess! They are using their own flesh and blood to buy time for our development!"

"Crash! Thump!" Chen Yao suddenly stood up, and the stool he was sitting on slid backward several tens of centimeters, crashing directly into the mottled white wall.

"Old Su, you're right!" Chen Yao's expression became exceptionally resolute as he looked at Su Chen and said, "Time is life. I'm going back to the research institute to contribute my share!"

"Uh..." Su Chen didn't expect Chen Yao to suddenly pull this stunt, but he didn't say anything to stop him. He knew that Chen Yao's mind was currently focused on the research institute. "Okay~ Go ahead, drive carefully on the road!"

Chen Yao nodded, didn't say anything more, gave Su Chen and Chen Fei a look, indicating that he would go first, and then opened the door of the private room and left.

Chen Fei was still a little confused as he watched the door to the private room close. Why did he suddenly leave when they were chatting all day? Even if he was in a hurry, there was no need to rush.

Before he could even ask why, Su Chen's voice rang out, carrying a hint of understanding and heaviness: "Why is Brother Yao like this?"

Su Chen did not turn to look at Chen Fei beside him. His gaze remained fixed on the door that had just closed, as if his eyes could penetrate the door and see Chen Yao's hurried departure.

He took a deep drag on the nearly burnt cigarette in his hand, and only when he felt a slight burning sensation from the filter did he stub it out on his plate.

“He… isn’t in a hurry!” Su Chen withdrew his gaze, the relaxed expression on his face had long since vanished, leaving only a deep sigh and a sense of empathy and oppression. “He was being overwhelmed by that feeling of powerlessness, making it hard for him to breathe.”

Su Chen understood that the situation in the southern seas that Chen Yao had told him was not as simple as he had described. It seemed that a lot of important information was hidden, and this information was the thorn in Chen Yao's heart!
"Sir, you mean the situation in the southern seas..." Chen Fei used to go out on missions frequently and understood what kind of situations would make someone feel helpless.

"I hope I'm just overthinking it!" A worried look appeared on Su Chen's face, but he quickly put on a resolute expression: "Afei, when we get back to the hotel, I'll call Professor Wu directly and ask him to urge the Baidi project to speed things up. I want to see it take off as soon as possible!"

"Yes, sir!" Chen Fei immediately straightened his back and replied.

"We've eaten enough, let's go back to the hotel!" Su Chen had lost interest and stood up to walk outside.

Upon seeing this, Chen Fei quickly picked up Su Chen's encrypted communicator and hurried after him.

Just as I stepped out of the private room, I ran into the proprietress, Sister Yu, after taking only a couple of steps. Sister Yu greeted me with a smile, "Have you two finished eating?"

"Hmm~ Your cooking is really good, I'll definitely come again if I have the chance!" Looking at the enthusiastic proprietress, Su Chen smiled and nodded in response, "By the way, proprietress, how much is our table?"

"Your table, that Xiao Chen already paid when he left."

Su Chen was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, then shook his head helplessly and muttered to himself, "You promised to treat me, but you ended up paying the bill yourself."

"Okay~ Sister Yu, we'll be going now, you go ahead!" With that, Su Chen prepared to leave, but stopped after taking just one step. Thinking of his earlier guess, wasn't this the perfect opportunity to find out more?

He immediately turned around and saw the proprietress who was about to go into the private room to pack her things. He quickly called out, "Sister Yu, wait a minute, I have something I want to ask you." Sister Yu stopped immediately upon hearing this, looked at Su Chen curiously, and smiled, "Brother, what do you want to ask? As long as I know it, I promise I'll tell you everything I know!"

Upon hearing this, Su Chen's lips curled up slightly. He immediately took two steps towards the proprietress, Sister Yu, and asked in a low voice, "Sister Yu, to be honest, I came here from out of town for a visit and to have dinner with an old friend. But I suddenly noticed that my old friend is acting a bit strange; it feels like he's dating someone..."

Su Chen didn't continue speaking, knowing that the proprietress, Sister Yu, would understand what he meant.

As expected, Sister Yu chuckled and said meaningfully, "Brother, you have a really good eye. Your friend, Xiao Chen, often brings a very beautiful girl to my place. When you came before, I was wondering why Xiao Chen didn't bring her along today."

Upon hearing this, Su Chen's eyes lit up instantly. It seemed that his previous guess was correct, and his smile widened.

After all... what could be more exciting than knowing your best buddy's little secret?

"Thanks, Sister Yu! You can't tell my friends about what I asked you today, okay? I was thinking of giving them a good 'torture'!" Su Chen said with a smile.

"Don't worry, your sister Yu is very tight-lipped!" The proprietress gave Su Chen a "I understand you" look and then made a zipping motion near her mouth.

"Alright, that's enough with what you said, Sister Yu. We'll be going now!" Su Chen waved with a smile, feeling much lighter, and left the lively little restaurant with Chen Fei.

We got into the car parked by the roadside and went straight back to the Ritz-Carlton Hotel on the banks of the Songhua River.

"Mr. Su~" Just as he stepped out of the hotel elevator, he bumped into Sasha, the butler of the presidential suite.

"You've come at the right time. I have something to ask you." Seeing Sasha reminded Su Chen of the things his second uncle had told him when he left Volga Manor.

"You should cancel the reservation for that other presidential suite, pack up your luggage, and send it directly to my suite."

Upon hearing this, Sasha's heart skipped a beat. If she had to cancel her reservation, wouldn't her earnings be reduced?

Although she felt a little upset, she still maintained a smile on her face, thinking of trying to persuade the presidential suite to stay. She bowed slightly and asked respectfully, "Mr. Su, I wonder... if there's anything we haven't done well enough? If so, please point it out so we can make the necessary adjustments!"

Su Chen waved his hand dismissively and explained, "No, your service was excellent. The reason I checked out is because my family went to Volga Manor and they plan to stay there for one night."

Upon hearing this, Sasha's last shred of hope vanished completely, and she immediately replied, "Okay, Mr. Su, I'll arrange for staff to bring your family's luggage over right away."

Su Chen nodded, without responding to Sasha's words, and led Chen Fei straight towards his presidential suite.

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel was very efficient. Less than ten minutes after Su Chen returned to his room, Sasha and several staff members brought over all his luggage.

After everyone left, Su Chen gave Chen Fei a look, indicating that he could call Professor Wu.

Upon seeing this, Chen Fei immediately took out his phone, found Professor Wu's number, and dialed it directly.

The phone rang for about ten or twenty seconds. Just as Chen Fei thought Professor Wu was too busy to check his phone and was about to hang up, a slightly tired voice came from the other end of the line.

"Ah Fei, does the boss have any instructions?"

Professor Wu wasn't stupid. Who else could Chen Fei contact him directly besides his own all-powerful and influential boss?
"Old Wu, the boss asked me to ask you how the Baidi project is progressing. How soon can it be launched from the warehouse?" Chen Fei didn't mince words and went straight to the point.

Professor Wu on the other end of the phone tensed up. Judging from Chen Fei's words... it seemed that the boss was particularly interested in the Baidi project!
Could it be that something has happened in the southern seas that made the boss specifically arrange for Chen Fei to call and urge them to speed up their progress?

He hadn't forgotten that the Baidi Project was launched because of the issues in the southern seas.

They put aside their random thoughts and began to think seriously. They now had complete technical data, and it was safe to say that as long as they followed the steps outlined in the data, they would be able to complete the Baidi Project successfully in a short period of time.

However, for researchers like them, it's a bit of a hasty approach. Just like the Varyag aircraft carrier, it took ten years to complete its refit. The reason it took so long was that experts like Professor Wu wanted to thoroughly understand and master the technology, and lay the foundation for mass production later.

Chen Fei didn't urge him, but waited quietly for Professor Wu's reply.

After waiting for about three minutes, Professor Wu's voice came through the phone again, "Afei, at the earliest it will take a month, and we expect to have a prototype by the middle of next month!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Fei did not reply immediately, but instead looked at Su Chen beside him. As soon as the call was connected, he turned on the speakerphone, so Su Chen naturally heard what Professor Wu said.

"Sure, I look forward to giving me a surprise next month!" Su Chen glanced at Chen Fei and said casually, "By the way, how's the Xinghai Shipyard project going? Has construction started yet?"

Su Chen hadn't forgotten his "civilian aircraft carrier"; he'd always been thinking about it.

Professor Wu, on the other end of the phone, became much more serious upon hearing Su Chen's voice: "Work has started. Luo Yufan called me a couple of days ago and said that Xinghai Shipyard has officially begun operations!"

"Okay!" Su Chen nodded slightly. "Professor Wu, thank you for your hard work during this time. Please keep an eye on the situation at the research base."

The two then discussed the Zhengdao Industrial Park and research base for about twenty minutes. After explaining everything, Su Chen hung up the phone. (End of Chapter)