Rebirth 08: Equipment God

Chapter 409 That kid wouldn't think like that.
Originally, Zhai Da planned to focus on his studies in the morning. He was exempt from most classes, but he hadn't been paying much attention to the ones that weren't exempt lately.

However, after talking with Lu Wei on his way to school, Zhai Dahe decided to go find Principal Wang.

There are many things I'd like to discuss with the principal.

After confirming by phone that the principal was in his office, Zhai Da knocked on the door and entered, breaking his promise by not even offering him tea.

Let's focus on the "six" specifically regarding the campus supermarket.

Zhai Da stayed inside for an unusually long time, a full three hours, so much so that Principal Wang had to cancel a meeting.

When he came out again, Zhai Da had a complicated expression on his face.

Somewhat sad.

After standing blankly at the door for more than ten seconds, Zhai Da took out his phone and sent several messages.

All first- and second-level members of π, as well as some third-level members, were summoned for a meeting at the research institute that evening.

On the first floor of the research institute, Qi Lin, who was training his "hands-on skills" under the guidance of Xu Xuejun, took out his phone and glanced at it.

At first I was a little confused, but then I realized what was going on.

Looking at Xu Xuejun, who was sitting with his legs crossed and looking completely at ease, I was worried that the old man didn't use his phone often, so I casually mentioned, "Master Xu, the chairman said that 'π' is going to hold a meeting tonight."

Xu Xuejun opened one eye halfway: "Go ahead and open it~ Do you think I'd stop you?"

"You're a member of 'π' too?"

Xu Xuejun:
I almost forgot about that.

After joining the silicon carbide project team, Zhai Da hoped that the old man would also join "π". In fact, judging from the "uncertain pocket watch" and some information from back then, it is not difficult to judge that Xu Xuejun was also very talented when he was young, but he wasted half his life due to alcohol poisoning and self-punishment.

Of course, even without considering these factors, Xu Xuejun's accumulated knowledge and skills are enough to join "π". He may not have fully realized his talent, but he has persisted for decades.

It's even said that his skill level far surpasses Qi Lin's. If Zhai Da hadn't intentionally given Qi Lin a chance to grow, Xu Xuejun could have finished designing the main body of the motor while smoking a cigarette.

This old man has dedicated himself to learning technology for decades, and while his work is complex, it is far from superficial.

That crowded tin workshop could confine a self-exiled old man, but it couldn't confine a heart that truly loved technology.

If we apply this to a game statistic, Qi Lin is equivalent to having 90 points of talent, but he is too young and his combat power is only 50. Xu Xuejun, on the other hand, once had 90 points of talent, but due to unforeseen circumstances, he only has 60 points, although he has cultivated for many years.

Its combat power is as high as 250.

Xu Xuejun himself didn't pay much attention to this kind of youth organization. He just joined, and the old man simply used the simple name "Technician" as his code name.

"Go ahead and turn it on. It's probably about the motor."

Qi Lin shook his head: "It's all the members, including the wooden man, the painter, the hunter, and others who have nothing to do with the generator. I think there's something else going on. Something very important."

Smoking is not allowed in the factory; this is a rule set by Xu Xuejun himself. The old man would have a lollipop in his mouth to satisfy his craving, otherwise he would have to go out more than ten times a day, which would affect his work.

Pointing at Qi Lin with the deformed white stick he'd bitten, he said, "What else could it be? Just chatting with you guys?"

Qi Lin smiled and said, "Maybe this counts as chatting about everyday things."

He tried to articulate his analysis:
"I'm a senior this year, Tingting is a junior, Cheng Mo is a junior, and Senior Ge is a graduate student. I won't even mention Cheng Mo, who's only a freshman. This team is too young. Of course, I have confidence in everyone. No one is bound by age. But as the project progresses, studies will gradually start to conflict with work. These days, the students below senior year have been coming less often, and the progress has slowed down a bit."

"Most importantly, I heard that the president will be able to complete his credits this year, so everyone will definitely follow his lead. I guess the president called us here to have a collective talk about our studies."

Xu Xuejun waved his hand dismissively: "Study, study. 'Studying is one's profession,' but it can also be 'learning through one's profession.' You learn much more efficiently here than at school. What's wrong? Do you want to quit and go back to class?"

Qi Lin quickly said, "No, I didn't, don't talk nonsense!"

He is not crazy yet.

For an ordinary child from a predominantly impoverished family, going to school is about securing better employment and improving one's life—that's the most basic idea. Even if he hadn't joined "π," and while he had shown some talent, it would have taken him several years to develop his skills; by now, he'd probably be frantically sending out resumes in the job market.

With the research institute developing so rapidly, the president offering such excellent benefits, and Cheng Mo's success standing tall like a billboard, he wouldn't leave even if he were tied to a high-speed train.

She even suggested learning a craft from Xu Xuejun, partly out of a desire to deepen her "inner connection" with the chairman.

Others may not be as pragmatic, but their sense of belonging to the research institute and "π" is no less than his; it's just that their feelings are mixed with "emotion," "ambition," and "gratitude for being recognized."

"I wonder how the chairman plans to deal with this. By the way, Master Xu, you and the chairman are from the same hometown. Do you have any inside information? Is the research institute planning to relocate?"

Xu Xuejun raised an eyebrow: "No, you're moving? How come I didn't know?"

He has always been someone who doesn't like to think about trivial matters.

Qi Lin breathed a sigh of relief. If even Grandpa Xu didn't know, then the relocation was probably still a long way off.

Xu Xuejun pondered the matter: "Isn't this place pretty good? Although it's a bit crowded, Harbin doesn't have any more industrial parks in the city center."

"I'm afraid they'll move out of Harbin, or more accurately, out of the three northeastern provinces."

"You traveled this far in one trip?"

Qi Lin pursed his lips: "Unless the business is inherently integrated with the local area, like in the service industry, don't companies have to expand to big cities? Everyone does it this way; if things aren't going well, they stay; if they are, they leave. This place can't retain tech companies."

“I’m also from Northeast China, but this is the truth. People and companies are the same; everyone wants a better environment and opportunities. There’s nothing to say about it. This place is just like this; it’s not suitable in any way. I estimate that I’ll go to places like Beijing, Shanghai, Yanghe, or Shenzhen next. There’s no reason for a large tech company to stay here unless it can’t get out.”

Xu Xuejun stared at Qi Lin for a while, then shook his head and said, "Although I don't know if the relocation is even happening, I know one thing: you're definitely wrong."

"Which point?"

"That kid wouldn't think about things that way."

The old man pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, seemingly preparing to light one: "If he were only pursuing 'better environment and opportunities,' he wouldn't have come to Harbin Institute of Technology at all. Do you know that Tsinghua University and Peking University waited for him in Dongyang for half a month? The admissions officers even chatted with me. At that time, they were working on the education system, and the two admissions offices almost got into a fight."

“From his ancestors onwards, he only did the right thing, not the convenient thing. Maybe the final answer is the same, but the process is definitely different.”

The old man waved his hand and walked towards the side gate of the factory, his lighter already ready to go.

"Young man, you're smart, but not very smart. As a local, you shouldn't say these things to an outsider like me. Every place has its bad times and difficulties. What kind of good place do you think I come from? But you should be more careful when you're out in the world."

"The last time I heard something similar was from an older woman from our factory who was sent abroad to study illegally. That's how she talked about us, about everyone here. She talks about this to foreigners, and she talks about it to her own people when she comes back. She's like a broken record. Can you believe it? It's the same tune. I don't want to listen to this."

Qi Lin watched Xu Xuejun's departing figure, unconsciously pursing his lips.

After a while, he couldn't help but chase after them.

"Master Xu, I'll have one with you."

"Just say you want to steal my cigarettes, I'll even give you one. I've never seen you smoke them before."

The old man and the young man gradually drifted away.

"so I."

"You just feel embarrassed?"

"Um"

"Don't just learn how that kid does things, learn how he treats people."

"I see."

(End of this chapter)