The Self-Cultivation of a Reborn Massage Therapist

Chapter 436 Who is it?
"You mean... that massage parlor that's always trending on social media?!" Wang Lei suddenly stood up, his voice trembling.

Lin Han was completely dumbfounded, his mind unable to process what was happening. A massage parlor investing in chip research and development?
Deputy Director Zhao nodded, seeing the shocked expressions on their faces.
"That's right, that's it. Now you should understand why the rules are different this time, right?"

Understand what?
not understand!
I don't understand how a massage parlor managed to outmaneuver Jinling and Ugly Donkey.

I don't understand why a massage parlor has the right to sanction those international giants that sanction Chinese cotton.

It's baffling that a massage parlor is frequently trending on social media, even being linked to metaphysics, yet no one seems to be taking action.

I don't understand why a massage parlor would dare to have people use their buttocks as collateral.

Although it's hard to understand why a massage parlor would invest so much money in chip manufacturing, even someone like Wang Lei, who's usually oblivious to the outside world, knows about the "Relaxed and Slow" brand through short videos – "Brother Hammer is a tough guy who doesn't talk much."

Regardless of who's behind them, this company is really daring to stand up to the challenge!
"Director Zhao, what's the project timeline?"

Lin Han suddenly asked.

Deputy Director Zhao looked at him sharply: "Project duration: two years."

Lin Han and Wang Lei exchanged a glance and nodded emphatically.

“Director Zhao,” Lin Han took a deep breath, his eyes filled with a do-or-die determination, “I’ve already submitted my resignation. But if you dare to vouch for this project… I, Lin Han, will stay! Brother Wang and I are confident we can pull it off!”

"That's right!" Wang Lei slapped his thigh, his voice ringing out. "The fact that top institutes like Tsinghua University and the Institute of Microelectronics are willing to take on this means there's potential! If Zhengzhou University's physics department can develop the new coating ahead of schedule, we still have the confidence to strive for global leadership."

This time, Deputy Director Zhao remained silent for a long time.

He understood the technology, and he knew even better the true abilities of Wang Lei and Lin Han, this duo. His gaze swept back and forth across their faces several times before he finally nodded slowly.

"Okay. You all go back first and wait for news."

Hearing this, Lin Han felt a chill in his heart. It was the same standard line again; he was sick of hearing it. It seemed hopeless. He turned to go back to the lab to pack his things and leave.

Before it was time to leave work, an urgent notice was sent to his and Wang Lei's phones: the original back-illuminated CCD project team was to be immediately cancelled!

Immediately afterwards, all the top experts in the relevant fields were summoned to the large conference room. On the projection screen in the conference room, several large characters were prominently displayed: "Institute 45 - Back-illuminated CCD Photosensitive Chip Breakthrough Project Team".

Deputy Director Zhao stood on the stage, his expression serious, but his voice carried a hint of barely suppressed excitement:
"Comrades, just five minutes ago, a special R&D fund was fully transferred to the dedicated account under my supervision. This money is for its designated purpose only, without any intermediaries!"

Ten minutes later, when the project team announced the new compensation package and the additional R&D allowance promised by the "easy and slow" approach, the entire conference room erupted in cheers!
Lin Han silently withdrew his resignation letter. In the brand-new laboratory, where no idle people were gossiping or joking around, he took a deep breath and threw himself back into his work.

……

The chubby receptionist had once told Zhao Xiaochui that he could squander that money however he wanted. He could spend it on consumption, travel, or chasing women—whatever he wanted.

Even if he spent his whole life lavishly, he still wouldn't be able to spend the remainder of any one of his twelve cards.

However, there is one condition: if you are making investments, the funds must never flow overseas.

Although Zhao Xiaochui's "household registration book elimination game" style scared off many people who were eager to try it, the money was temporarily safe.

But if he goes too far and incurs dissatisfaction, causing those who have been supporting him to leave... the consequences will be unimaginable.

Ultimately, the reason that astronomical sum of money could sit safely in his hands wasn't because no one was envious, but because of the "capabilities" he possessed that made anyone with ill intentions think twice about the consequences. After traveling around North and South America, Zhao Xiaochui had indeed become a unique figure in China.

But no matter how special the circumstances, this money shouldn't be spent recklessly as he pleases. However, everyone wholeheartedly supports this kind of spending spree aimed at achieving complete domestic substitution!

Of course, this kind of crazy, money-spending spree is bound to attract the attention of some people.

Further investigation into the main businesses of the institutions that received the investment reveals who it was targeting.

The sensor capable of performing stable image analysis over long periods in textile environments is from the Swiss company Baumer Group and Contrinex.

So, exactly 24 hours after the Huaxia Cotton incident escalated, and also 24 hours after Qingsong Manxing released its tough membership announcement, a counterattack against Qingsong Manxing began.

2020年12月19日，21:30.
Official statement from the Swiss Good Cotton Development Association (BCI)

Given that its member company Ease & Stride continues to purchase and use its "Huaxia Cotton," it has seriously violated the association's explicit guidelines on suspending certification in a certain region and avoiding the use of cotton involving forced labor.

By resolution of the BCI Council, it is hereby announced that:
Immediately suspend Easy Slow Travel's BCI membership (which it acquired from the former member, Jin Dayang Group).

Revoke all of its "Good Cotton" certification authorizations;
It is prohibited from continuing to use any BCI logos or promotional language.

BCI urges EasySlow to immediately adjust its supply chain policies. Reinstatement will only be considered if EasySlow can provide independent, verifiable evidence that its supply chain fully complies with the association's standards.

Five minutes after the statement was released and circulated on the Chinese internet, the accounts of two Swiss members who had just won the bid in the Easy Slow Travel international reservation system were instantly frozen, and their reservation qualifications were invalidated. The time slot was then released back into the bidding pool, and the price was driven up even higher.

Ten minutes later, the official Easy Travel mini-program pushed a strongly worded internal announcement to its members:

Easy Slow Travel's Strong Response to BCI's False Statements and Follow-up Measures
Today, the Good Cotton Development Institute (BCI) unilaterally suspended our membership and made inappropriate remarks based on false information and prejudice. Our company's response is as follows:

Easy Slow Travel consistently adheres to the highest standards of business ethics. The "Huaxia Cotton" we source is of exceptional quality, with transparent and open sourcing, fully compliant with sustainable development and human rights standards. BCI's accusations are completely baseless and we firmly deny them.

Given that BCI is headquartered in Switzerland and its decision clearly reflects unfair regional bias, our company has decided:
Effective immediately, Easy Travel will no longer accept registrations or reservations from any Swiss citizens through any of its channels (including the reservation system).

All registered Swiss memberships are terminated immediately, and related services are cancelled.

For other BCI member companies and their core stakeholders, Easy Slow will take a cautious approach and reassess their membership and partnerships.

We firmly believe that quality and service are the foundation of a business. Relax and Slow Travel will continue to provide our valued members worldwide with the ultimate health experience…

Relax and slow in the studio.

Zhao Xiaochui frowned, scrolling through announcements with an expression like an "old man on the subway looking at his phone," then turned to ask Pan Xiaoli:
"What kind of announcement is this? It's so flowery! Rewrite it!"

Pan Xiaoli smiled wryly and quickly called Ou Xiaokui.

Rewriting is impossible. In no time, a bolded and pinned personal statement appeared at the bottom of the official member announcement.

Zhao Xiaochui, the relaxed and slow-paced boss and chief technician:

Who does BCI think it is?

(End of this chapter)