Siheyuan, Shazhu: I have both parents in this life

Chapter 382 The Battlefield of the Future

He Ningxue greeted the three girls with a smile and chatted for a few more minutes.

Seeing that He Yaozong's sister was present, Xu Qing and the others decided not to linger and agreed to talk again next time before waving goodbye.

Watching them walk away, He Ningxue nudged her brother with her elbow: "Brother, you have good taste. That Xu Qing is quite generous."

He Yaozong shook his head helplessly and took the lunchbox from his sister's hand: "Don't talk nonsense. I only met you today, just like you. We're just ordinary classmates. By the way, what delicious food did Dad make today?"

"Twice-cooked pork, Mapo soy milk, and braised pork are all your favorites."

"You go back, I'm going back to my dorm," He Yaozong said.

"No, there's a portion in here too, otherwise do you think I would have brought it to you?" He Ningxue snatched the lunchbox away.

"Um, you didn't eat at home?"

"Hmph, it's mealtime. If I go back, there will only be leftovers, so I asked Dad to make a little extra. You go upstairs, I'll wait for you here."

"Okay." After saying that, He Yaozong quickly ran towards the dormitory. After going inside, he went upstairs to put the books and fruit back in the dormitory and hurried downstairs.

By this time, quite a few people had started pointing and whispering about He Ningxue, and some even wanted to come up and chat with her.

"Come on, come on, hurry up, this is a pack of wolves." He Yaozong pulled He Ningxue, and the two siblings walked towards the cafeteria.

He Ningxue directly linked arms with He Yaozong, who said helplessly, "You're just making me a target of hatred."

"What are you afraid of? You're my brother, even though you're only a few minutes older than me."

"But others don't know that!"

"Then I don't care."

"Let go, let go, it's bad for your image, you might run into a teacher on the way."

"Okay, this is boring. It would be so much more interesting if someone challenged you to a duel."

"Alright, you're not happy unless you cause me some trouble, are you?"

"you are right."

Once they arrived at the cafeteria, the brother and sister found a spot, opened their lunchboxes, and started eating. Every now and then, people would pass by their table, either looking at He Ningxue or peering into their lunchboxes.

This made He Yaozong feel embarrassed.

"Dude, is the food at your school really that bad?"

"You think everyone is looking at our food, but more than half of the people are looking at yours."

"I'm so charming, aren't I?"

“I’m asking you what you’ve learned from those big-nosed people these past few months. No, I’m going to tell my parents when I get home.”

"cut."

"Are you going to eat or not? If not, I've already finished eating."

"No, half of this is mine!" The brother and sister started fighting over the food, attracting frequent glances from the students nearby.

"I know, you busy person." He Ningxue pouted. "By the way, is Fifth Aunt about to give birth? Mom said that after Fifth Aunt gives birth, she might go to Huacheng to visit her."

After the meal, He Yaozong washed the lunchboxes because the sink area was full of men, and he didn't want his sister to squeeze in.

"Second brother, I'm going back. Mom told you not to spend all your weekends at the library and theater, but to come home and visit, okay?"

"understood."

"Also, my fifth uncle called a couple of days ago and said that my fifth aunt is going to give birth in the next few days."

"I can't help you."

"Did I tell you? Mom is going to Huacheng for a while, and Dad is probably going to visit his old comrades-in-arms too. In the meantime, if you're craving something, you'll have to go home and ask Grandpa to help you with your meals."

"You're not going too, are you?"

"Of course, there are projects in Huacheng too, I'll go take a look."

"Alright, go and help Mom out as much as you can."

"Okay, I'm leaving."

He Ningxue carried the lunchbox and walked away with small, quick steps.

He Yaozong was surrounded as soon as he returned to his dormitory.

"Yaozong, that's not fair of you. Who came today? Your girlfriend? How come none of us knew?"

"Yeah, are we still good brothers?"

"You ate Sichuan food today, the aroma of chili and meat is wonderful. Don't be so stingy next time, let us have a treat too."

He Yaozong sighed; he knew he couldn't escape this calamity.

“That’s my sister, my own sister, my twin.”

"Really? You don't look like it."

"No, no, he looks about five or six points like him, except his sister is much prettier than him."

"Could you introduce me to your sister?"

"Stop, stop, stop! My head is about to explode!" He Yaozong shouted hurriedly.

"What do you say."

"Don't even think about my sister. Her personality... well, I don't think most people could handle her. Besides, you guys don't have the taste for her." He Yaozong glanced at his roommates.

"No way, what happened to us?"

"What else? Don't you guys look in the mirror before you go out?"

"That's the kid, daring to mock us. Let's go, guys, let him eat the good food without us, let him eat with the pretty girls."

The dormitory immediately descended into chaos.

He Yuzhu's family and Chen Lanxiang set off for Huacheng, and the huge No. 95 courtyard suddenly became quiet.

He Daqing didn't feel lonely at all.

Every morning, as usual, he would take his birdcage to the park for a stroll. When he returned, Old Zhao and Old Fang would usually have already brewed tea and set up a chessboard under the crabapple tree in the yard.

"Checkmate! Old Zhao, you're out of pieces?" Old Fang said smugly, tapping the chess pieces.

"Hey! That was too sneaky of you. No way, you'll regret it..." Old Zhao reached out to take back the car that had just left.

He Daqing put down the birdcage and went over to watch the game: "Old Zhao, you're a true gentleman who never regrets his moves! I think your game is in trouble."

The three old men could argue for half a day over a single move, until He Daqing was sent to cook and that's when things finally calmed down.

We'd have a small glass of wine for lunch, and take a short nap in the afternoon. If the weather was nice, we'd move a small stool to the courtyard gate, watch the passersby in the alley, chat about old times, and comment on whose son bought a new motorcycle, or how there were more cars on the road.

If you didn't know better, you'd think they were just three ordinary old men.

In Huacheng, Zhou Baige gave birth to a healthy baby boy, named He Yaoyang.

He Yuyan held her son, beaming from ear to ear.

Chen Lanxiang and Xiaoman were busy taking care of the new mother and child, while He Ningxue went with He Yuxin to inspect the project.

He Yuzhu took some time to visit his old comrade-in-arms.

"You promised to come drink with us, but you only come once a year," Wu Qianli said with a punch to He Yuzhu.

"Here we are, so tell me how much to drink today. I'll keep you company to the very end."

“You think it’s the same as before? We can’t afford to drink heavily now,” Xiong Jie said.

“I don’t usually drink,” He Yuzhu said with a smile.

"Really?" Xiong Jie asked.

Why would I lie to you? We only have a couple of drinks during holidays.

"Then consider your visit a holiday celebration, and be sure to have a few drinks with us."

"No problem. By the way, where are Wanli and Lao Yu?"

"They've gone to receive the equipment," Xiong Jie said.

"You changed your clothes?" He Yuzhu asked.

"No, just some new items."

"Oh." He Yuzhu didn't ask any further questions.

He didn't ask, but Wu Qianli did.

"Zhu Zi, since you know so much about the outside world, can you tell us where we're lacking?"

"Yeah, tell me, I'm just killing time anyway."

Are you guys very free?

"I'm free!" the two said in unison. "Fine, even if you're not free, you have to say you're free, right?"

"Okay, hurry up and tell me."

"Alright then, I'll ramble on a bit, but don't get discouraged."

"Tch, we're not afraid of planes and tanks with our rifles on the peninsula, so how could we possibly get hit?" Xiong Jie said.

He Yuzhu picked up his teacup, moistened his throat, and then slowly began to speak: "Let's start with what flies in the sky. Their armed helicopters nowadays can carry more than just rockets. They have advanced anti-tank missiles that can launch attacks from outside the range of our air defense firepower, and the hit rate is frighteningly high. Helicopters attacking the ground are like an eagle catching chicks."

Wu Qianli and Xiong Jie exchanged a glance, their expressions turning serious.

Their division also has helicopters, but they are mainly used for transport and reconnaissance, and their weapons loadout is incomplete.

"Your helicopters aren't good either?" Wu Qianli asked.

"It's decent among general-purpose helicopters, but as for attack helicopters, we can't compare. After all, I'm just a businessman, you know!"

"So you mean you have a solution?"

“Wait, let me tell you something else first, then we’ll talk about the tanks on the ground,” He Yuzhu continued. “The new main battle tanks have cannons that can fire far and accurately, and have extremely strong armor-piercing capabilities. More importantly, their fire control systems are advanced, allowing them to fire accurately even at night and in bad weather. Many of our tanks are basically blind at night.”

Xiong Jie couldn't help but interject: "What about our infantry's anti-tank capabilities?"

“Rocket launchers? They’re okay against old tanks.” He Yuzhu shook his head. “The new generation of man-portable anti-tank missiles internationally have a longer range, and some are even ‘fire-and-forget,’ meaning the gunner can move on after firing, greatly enhancing their survivability. Our soldiers often have to rely on courage and sacrifice to get close and engage.”

Wu Qianli silently took out a cigarette, handed one to He Yuzhu, lit it himself, and took a deep drag: "There's a gap between the sky and the ground, but what about the electronics? I've heard that in wars these days, invisible radio waves are more powerful than guns and cannons."

"You've hit the nail on the head." He Yuzhu nodded. "Our weakness in electronic warfare is even more obvious. Their electronic reconnaissance equipment can know exactly where your troops are moving and how they are communicating. In wartime, powerful electronic jamming can paralyze your command system, render your radar blind, and force you to shout to communicate. How can you fight a war like that?"

The courtyard fell silent for a moment, with only the hissing sound of Wu Qianli smoking.

Xiong Jie slapped his thigh: "Damn it! Isn't this like an adult hitting a child?"

"The gap is an objective fact," He Yuzhu said calmly. "Only by recognizing the gap can we know where to focus our efforts. Our researchers are also working hard to catch up, but it takes time, as well as more investment and support."

Wu Qianli stubbed out his cigarette and looked sharply at He Yuzhu: "Zhuzi, you're very knowledgeable. Tell me, what's the part we most urgently need to fix?"

He Yuzhu pondered for a moment: "Information technology, or rather, how to see further, hear more clearly, strike more accurately, and maintain connectivity. A lagging individual weapon might be compensated for by tactics and courage, but if the entire system lags behind, then..."

He didn't say anything more, but Wu Qianli and Xiong Jie both understood the unspoken meaning.

The two remained silent for a long time, a sense of unprecedented urgency and crisis weighing heavily on their hearts.

Finally, Wu Qianli spoke first: "Zhu Zi, we all know you have the ability. If we asked you to do it, to what extent could you do it?"

"Me? I don't have the qualifications. Besides, if I were to work in Hong Kong, I wouldn't want to stay here anymore."

"Don't try to fool me, I'm talking about China."

“Domestic? Those are all directly affiliated enterprises. What can I do?” He Yuzhu blinked.

"If, and I mean if, you had a factory, what would you plan to do?"

“Fighter jets, bombers, reconnaissance planes,” He Yuzhu blurted out without thinking.

"What?"

He Yuzhu counted on his fingers: "Helicopters are just the entry level. If we really want to get into this, we have to go higher. What we lack most right now is all-weather strike capability, a complete system. Just having aircraft isn't enough; we also need eyes, ears, and a brain to command them."

Wu Qianli and Xiong Jie exchanged a glance, their expressions turning serious.

Wu Qianli lowered his voice: "To be honest, we have some new guys coming, and I heard they're pretty powerful."

He Yuzhu smiled, picked up his teacup and took a sip: "Is it one of those models derived from a certain Soviet-era Russian design, intended to be used for major projects?"

Wu Qianli's hand trembled, and he almost spilled the tea. His eyes widened: "Zhu Zi! You can't say things like that!" This is a strictly confidential matter.

Xiong Jie also nervously looked around.

He Yuzhu waved his hand, signaling them to calm down: "Old Wu, don't be nervous. I'm not guessing. Look at who we can do business with right now? We can count on our fingers the number of companies that can offer something that we can afford and that is even slightly advanced. As for aircraft, it's not hard to deduce a general direction based on our existing capabilities and needs. Don't worry, I don't know anything about the specifics or what stage we're at, and I don't want to know."

Wu Qianli breathed a sigh of relief and wiped his forehead: "You scared me. Your brain is really something, but you're right, that's the way to go."

“So,” He Yuzhu put down his teacup, “you have to take things one step at a time. If you want me to think about it, I’d definitely aim high, but if you’re going to do it, you have to start from the bottom. I might be upgrading the helicopters this year, so you can place an order if you’re interested!”

"Get lost! You won't stop until you've squeezed us dry. Your stuff is so expensive. We bought a bunch last time and we're in debt now."

"Nonsense, what you're carrying is bought by the government," He Yuzhu scoffed.

"So if the government buys it, it doesn't cost money?"

"Then I won't have to spend money to build it, and I won't have to spend money on research and development?" He Yuzhu argued logically.

"Alright, why are you two arguing? Let Zhu Zi continue," Xiong Jie said.

"What did you say?" He Yuzhu asked.

"You haven't finished talking about that plane yet. Don't think you can fool me just because I'm from the army. I've flown before," Xiong Jie said.

"Hahaha!" He Yuzhu and Wu Qianli laughed loudly.

"What are you laughing at? Doesn't a helicopter flying count as taking off?" Xiong Jie retorted angrily.

"Okay, okay, speaking of which, Old Xiong, when did you start training? I didn't know. Aren't you afraid of heights? How come you dared to go down like that?" Wu Qianli teased.

"Bullshit, I'm directing from the sky. I'm so old, what's the point of asking for surrender? If I really surrendered, my two political commissars could chant spells to kill me."

"I knew it! How does it feel up there?"

"The visibility is undoubtedly excellent, but that's only during the day. At night, it's pitch black, and the searchlight's range is limited over a month," Xiong Jie said.

"Where's the radar?" He Yuzhu asked.

"The radar can't detect people," Xiong Jie said irritably.

"What about infrared? What about thermal imaging?"

“I know about infrared, but what is thermal imaging?” Xiong Jie asked.

“Heat detector,” He Yuzhu said.

"What?"

Seeing that Xiong Jie didn't understand, He Yuzhu explained, "It's a device that can detect the heat emitted by a human body or engine, and it can be seen clearly even at night."

Xiong Jie's eyes lit up: "There's such a good thing? Can we get our hands on it?"

Wu Qianli also became interested: "If helicopters were equipped with this, their night combat capabilities would be greatly enhanced."

He Yuzhu shook his head: "The technology exists, but the whole system is not cheap. Moreover, this is a sensitive technology, and export controls are very strict."

"I knew it wouldn't be that simple," Xiong Jie sighed. "In the end, it's still a constraint of money and technology."

"Zhu Zi, do you think we could get a set back and study it?"

Looking at Wu Qianli's eager eyes, He Yuzhu gently stroked the rim of the teacup with his fingers.

The office fan creaked and groaned, stirring up the humid and sultry air of the south.

“Old Wu,” he began slowly, “this isn’t a simple matter of getting a few pieces of equipment. Thermal imaging technology is currently mainly controlled by a few European and American companies, all of which are subject to strict export controls. If I were to negotiate directly, I’d likely get into a lot of trouble just by asking around, let alone buying anything.”

Wu Qianli frowned, and Xiong Jie also suppressed his smile; both of them understood the weight of He Yuzhu's words.

“I understand your difficulties,” Wu Qianli said in a low voice. “But there always has to be someone who takes the plunge first. We can’t just watch others have it and then worry about it ourselves. If you need our cooperation, just let me know. As for some of the rules and regulations, as long as they don’t cross the line, I’ll try to find a way to negotiate.”

He Yuzhu pondered for a moment, first shaking his head, then nodding.

"What do you mean? Why are you shaking your head and nodding at the same time?" Xiong Jie asked anxiously.

He Yuzhu exhaled and said, "Shaking your head means we definitely can't get the military version, while nodding means we might be able to try a roundabout approach."

"What roundabout way? Just tell me straight, you're driving me crazy," Xiong Jie said.

"I've sent someone to North America to look into companies that make civilian infrared detection technology, such as those used in security and fire protection equipment. Perhaps we can start by improving the performance of civilian products. Once we get the technology back, you can find ways to upgrade and replace it. Of course, this will take time, and I can't guarantee what level of technology we'll ultimately achieve."

Wu Qianli immediately realized: "Civilian use? What about the accuracy and distance?"

"I don't know about that; I'll have to find someone to look into it."

"Then you should find someone to find out right now." Wu Qianli pulled He Yuzhu directly to the telephone.

"What's the rush? It's only a little while."

"Bad? How could it not be bad? You don't know that we suffered a great loss because of this. The monkeys are very cunning; they took advantage of our lack of knowledge and understanding of this thing."

"real or fake?"

Why would I lie to you?

"Okay then, but it's inconvenient for you to make a phone call from here."

"Let's go, let's go to a place that's convenient for you." Wu Qianli pulled He Yuzhu towards the door again, while Xiong Jie also supported He Yuzhu from the other side.

"Hey Lao Wu, this is kidnapping, you know that?" He Yuzhu shouted.

"Bullshit, I'm the boss here." Wu Qianli didn't care.

He Yuzhu was half-pushed and half-helped by his two old comrades-in-arms to his temporary residence in Huacheng—an old-style villa that He Yuxin had bought earlier. As soon as they entered, Wu Qianli impatiently pointed to the telephone in the corner of the living room: "Hurry up, Zhuzi, make the call here!"

(End of this chapter)