In 1978, I was admitted to Harbin Institute of Technology

Chapter 237 The Tank Research List That Made Principal Li Change His Expression

The following day, the two sides signed a contract at the school for the purchase of rocket launchers and sniper grenades. Xie Wei even agreed to prioritize supplying some rocket launchers and sniper grenades to Pakistan for their troops' testing, while supplying the first batch of rocket launchers and sniper grenades to Thailand.

Zhang Mingqiu initially wanted to object.

Remembering Liu Debao's warning to him the night before, he decisively chose to keep quiet.

Regarding the tank project cooperation, the two sides only signed a memorandum of understanding and did not have a substantive contract, but a contract for sending students abroad was signed.

The first batch of 80 international students will arrive at the school before August 7th. After arriving, they will first undergo language training, and the first semester will also focus on language learning.

Whether the other side can keep up is not something the school needs to consider.

Just like students at Harbin Institute of Technology, if you can't pass the graduation exam, you definitely won't get your diploma.

Drop out of school?
There is currently no such regulation.

Those who get into university now study hard, which is completely different from the learning atmosphere of decades later, where high school students study hard and then just coast through university.

That afternoon, the Pakistani representatives left the school.

"Principal Zhang, Secretary Liu, I'll have to trouble you with these preparations. Especially regarding assigning them counselors, you need to consider that they won't be familiar with the language or the campus at first..."

“Our school has also been offering English courses for the past two years. How about we arrange for some students who are good at English to receive one-on-one tutoring?”

Liu Debao immediately brought it up.

Study buddy system?

This is not possible!

If we don't stop it from the beginning, it might gradually go astray and damage the school's reputation.

"What? Is there something wrong?"

Seeing Xie Wei's expression change drastically, Liu Debao asked Xie Wei in confusion.

“We can select Party members or members of the Communist Youth League with good character from among the students and provide them with appropriate help and support so that they can better adapt to studying and living in China.”

"In the 1960s, the Soviet Union created this model, and it worked quite well..."

Zhang Mingqiu also didn't understand where Xie Wei's worries came from.

Xie Wei never expected that the infamous study buddy system was actually created by the Soviet Union.

Through Zhang Mingqiu's introduction, he learned that after World War II, when the world entered the Cold War, wealthy Americans provided direct economic aid to win over third-world countries such as Africa and Latin America; the Soviet Union, on the other hand, sent experts to help with infrastructure construction and allowed these countries to send students to study in the Soviet Union.

By the end of 1960, there were over 4000 African students in the Soviet Union. These students were mostly children of high-ranking officials or descendants of chiefs from various African countries, and the majority were unambitious and incompetent. They frequented upscale places with their high stipends, spending their days either flirting with female students or causing trouble in the streets while drunk…

Later, as preferential treatment continued to increase, some students even demanded that the Soviet government provide them with higher allowances, better housing, and even allow them to travel and vacation in Western countries at public expense.

Finally, the demands from African students became increasingly outrageous, even leading to a siege of Red Square during a demonstration.

Later, the Soviet government changed its policy, assigning Komsomol members to supervise and assist African students, which was the earliest origin of the student-run system.

"now what?"

Xie Wei never imagined that the origins of the student affairs system were like this. The Communist Youth League members assigned to international students by the Soviet Union were certainly not so innocent.

"do not know……"

Both of them shook their heads.

"That's why I oppose schools providing free training and even various subsidies to them. They are no more noble than our classmates! As a pilot institution, schools need to carefully consider any policies they introduce, otherwise it will be difficult to manage the situation later."

"It's not that serious, is it?"

The two felt that Xie Wei was exaggerating.

"Many of our students still live in basements. If we were to provide each international student with a single room according to their demands, what would our students think?"

"They gave them money..."

"If we pay, how much are the tuition and living expenses in Western countries for a year? Moreover, will these majors related to national defense and security be open to international students? Even if they are, will it be easy for students to return? Our students will use their studies to build our own national defense, but what about them?"

"Also, if the person helping the foreign students is of the opposite sex, after prolonged contact..."

Xie Wei didn't continue speaking.

The expressions of the two people suddenly changed.

If that were to actually happen, it would be a terrible situation!

Although the college entrance examination had just been reinstated, many of those who passed the exam were already married. As the educated youth who had taken the exam were mostly screened out, recent graduates gradually joined the exam, and the college entrance examination policy continued to tighten.

These days, dating is not allowed in universities!
Not to mention the possibility of anything happening between a man and a woman.

"Okay, let's do it your way. They'll manage everything from now on..."

Neither Zhang Mingqiu nor Liu Debao objected anymore.

Xie Wei breathed a sigh of relief.

He knew very well that as long as the study buddy system was maintained, problems would arise over time, just like in his own time, when, in order to attract international students, each international student was actually assigned three opposite-sex study buddies...

Harbin Institute of Technology is the cradle of defense engineers and cultivates technical talents. It does not need to attract international students to expand its reputation.

"By the way, Principal Zhang, Secretary Liu, if you can get in touch with Principal Li, could you please ask him to come back? There are some contract-related matters that need his attention. Otherwise, given the school's capabilities, we won't be able to cooperate with Pakistan. Even if they offer 8000 million dollars, our school can't afford it..."

After Xie Wei saw that the two had stopped arguing about how to treat Pakistani students well, he spoke to them seriously.

Li Rui was the one who facilitated the connection.

Xie Wei didn't care about the relationships he used.

However, if Pakistan approves the cooperation plan and provides the funds, problems will arise given the school's current lack of infrastructure.

It's still a very big problem!

Hearing Xie Wei's words and seeing his serious expression, Liu Debao and Zhang Mingqiu exchanged a glance and nodded to each other silently.

They knew that Shevy's words were key.

Even if Principal Li hadn't returned, and the other party had agreed to the tank project, there would still have been major problems.

Harbin Institute of Technology does have the WZ-122 tank project, but the problem is that there are practically no people researching it now.

Even if Xie Wei didn't bring it up, they would still have to talk to Principal Li.

Why did Principal Li insist on assigning this matter to Xie Wei?

The school has secured relations with Pakistan, with Principal Li in charge of the higher-level leadership.

"Don't worry, we will contact Principal Li."

After receiving the reply, Xie Wei did not linger and went straight back to the Civil Engineering Building.

His main focus is still on the program-controlled switchboard, a project related to chips and other related projects, which he cannot afford to ignore.

Why do you look so tired?

Mo Lingyu was surprised to see Xie Wei, who looked haggard, enter the office.

It's still afternoon.

"I didn't get to rest at noon, but it's okay, I'll be fine after a short rest. By the way, is there any news from the Fuzhou Post and Telecommunications Bureau?"

Xie Wei promptly changed the subject.

"No."

Mo Lingyu shook her head. "I guess they're still thinking of importing it from abroad."

Importing from abroad is a given, but Fuzhou wants to go all out and convert the entire telephone switching network into a program-controlled exchange.

Large-capacity switches imported from abroad are installed in the head office's computer room, while each branch office uses domestically produced small switches.

No contract was signed at the time. "Tell Wang Zheng to let me know as soon as possible if there is any news."

"it is good."

Mo Lingyu nodded in agreement and was about to say something else when she noticed that Xie Wei had started working again, so she simply stopped talking.

Xie Wei wasn't worried about whether Li Rui would come back.

Although the old man doesn't have a specific job assignment at the moment, Xie Wei keenly sensed from their last contact that Li Rui's future job assignment would not be in the Ministry of Machinery Industry.

Based on the analysis of various events over this period, the most likely scenario for Li Rui's work arrangement is the establishment of the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense, which will not be established until next year!
Seeking international cooperation for the school's technology is definitely a good thing.

Several days passed, and Xie Wei continued to follow his routine without paying any attention to the school's situation.

It wasn't until June that Zhang Mingqiu appeared in Xie Wei's office.

"Principal Li is back."

Zhang Mingqiu looked at Xie Wei with a complicated expression. He really didn't understand why Xie Wei had only mentioned that Principal Li, who had become mysterious, had put aside his busy work to come back specifically for this reason.

"Northern Building?"

Xie Wei asked.

"No, at Du Guowang's house."

"..."

Xie Wei looked at Zhang Mingqiu speechlessly.

This old man's behavior is a bit too informal.

They actually invited me to meet them at Du Guowang's house?

Fortunately, Liang Hongling is away on a business trip and hasn't returned yet. Du Guowang, the director of the Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Department, spends most of his time at the school and rarely goes home at night.

It's like they're having an underground party meeting.

Even so, Xie Wei still had to go see Li Rui.

There was no way to proceed with the project. They had managed to persuade the Pakistani side to cooperate on the tank project, but given that the school only had one WZ-122 tank prototype and didn't even have a project manager, the project couldn't go on.

"Mo Lingyu, are you busy later?"

When the day came for him to return with Li Rui, Xie Wei didn't mention it at first. It wasn't until almost time that Xie Wei asked Mo Lingyu.

no way.

Old Li usually stays away from the kitchen.

Du Guowang might not even come home, and Wang Zheng, the cook, went to another city to discuss cooperation.

Zhang Mingqiu and Liu Debao, along with the others, didn't go to see Li Rui with Xie Wei; they'll definitely go after the two of them finish their talk.

Someone needs to cook!
"It's alright!"

Mo Lingyu looked at Xie Wei with surprise, her heart racing: Could it be that Xie Wei wants to invite me out for a walk?

"Principal Li is back. For some reason, he can't show up. He's at Director Du's house... I'm going to buy some groceries in a bit. Could you please help me cook? Principal Zhang and Secretary Liu should be there tonight..."

"no problem!"

Mo Lingyu didn't hesitate at all.

So, the two left the Civil Engineering Building at around 3 PM. Xie Wei and Mo Lingyu bought some groceries together and then went to Du Guowang's house.

"Kid, if you can't convince me today, you're going to get a beating!"

When they arrived at Du Guowang's courtyard gate, Li Rui, with a dark face and an unfriendly expression, warned Xie Wei.

"Hello Principal Li, I'll go cook!"

Seeing Li Rui blocking the entrance to the courtyard, Mo Lingyu felt inexplicably flustered.

She always believed that Xie Wei only brought it up so that they could be alone together...

"Go."

Li Rui waved his hand.

Mo Lingyu took the net bag containing meat and vegetables from Xie Wei and hurriedly went into the kitchen.

"Kid, you'd better watch yourself, or else..."

"Old man, stop right there! I didn't invite you back so you could gossip!"

Despite his admiration, Xie Wei couldn't stand Li Rui's attitude.

Even disregarding his current position and status, he was once the president of one of the earliest key universities in the country. Doesn't he care about his status at all?
Li Rui did not refute, and directly pulled Xie Wei into the middle room.

On the kang table, there were two cups of tea.

Clearly, Li Rui had already prepared the tea before Xie Wei arrived.

Xie Wei touched the teacup; it was warm, not too hot.

This shows that Li Rui had been waiting for him here quite some time in advance. He personally lit the coal stove to boil water and even made him tea.

"Didn't you say you were going to sell long-range artillery? How did it turn into a tank development collaboration?"

Seeing Xie Wei pretending to be experienced, drinking tea without saying a word, Principal Li went straight to the point.

"I specifically emphasized that you were in charge, but you didn't mention the fighter jet project, nor did you mention the long-range artillery, which had performed quite well in live-fire tests..."

"The long-range fire test went well?"

Xie Wei really didn't know.

He proposed the plan, but given the current technological limitations and the lack of news from Fang Pengju's team back to the school, Xie Wei was unaware of the test results of the long-range rocket project.

"It's alright. But as you know, the military is currently in a difficult situation. Everything has to give way to economic infrastructure projects. After seeing the results, the military hasn't yet decided whether to allocate one or two battalions for troop training..."

Li Rui's expression turned serious.

Xie Wei was well aware of the fate of the domestically produced Type 83 273mm long-range rocket artillery project. Although the range was relatively long, the performance could not meet the needs of the troops, and the power was not great enough. In the end, in order to support the long-range rocket artillery project, the troops only gave orders for two battalions.

The reason is simple: it took 25 years from the project's inception to the successful development of the rocket artillery.

The school's rocket launchers surpassed the Type 83 273mm rocket launchers, boasting greater range and higher accuracy.

Ran and egg.

The army was poor.

"Pakistan only procured 600 high-explosive fragmentation rocket launchers and 300 armor-piercing rocket launchers..."

Xie Wei said calmly.

His meaning was quite clear: Pakistan simply didn't have much money, and the cooperation on the tank project was already a good thing.

"Also, I originally thought the Thai delegation would come to the school..."

"They won't be coming anytime soon, but the orders are fine."

Li Rui's words reassured Xie Wei considerably.

The school has no authority to sign import and export agency contracts; these are handled by a precision import and export company established by the ministry.

"Principal, the reason I asked you to come back is for the tank project. We must secure that $8000 million, but the project will be exposed once their people arrive... I have a list here..."

Xie Wei didn't cause Li Rui any more trouble either, and simply pulled out a list that he had already written out from his pocket.

Upon seeing this, Li Ruigang's eyes widened suddenly, and then his face turned so dark it seemed to drip water.

(End of this chapter)