After breaking up with my boyfriend, I made a fortune and rose rapidly in my career.

Zhou Weiguo's words made Chen Pingfang fall into deep thought.

Sun Heming, Department of Science and Technology.

Chen Ping leaned back in the car seat, his fingertips unconsciously tapping lightly on his knees.

He had long anticipated that the Corefire Project would attract unwanted attention. He just hadn't expected Sun Heming to be the first to step forward.

The Science and Technology Department and the Industry and Information Technology Department have overlapping functions. The Science and Technology Department is responsible for cutting-edge technology research and development and project approval, while the Industry and Information Technology Department is responsible for industrialization and industry standards. The Chip Spark Program is caught in the middle, and whoever has the right to review the technology will have a say in this strategic planning for the next few decades.

Sun Heming is trying to fundamentally seize control of the project.

Chen Ping's phone vibrated; it was a text message from a secretary in the provincial government office.

The details were simple: at 7 p.m., there would be a business dinner in the Peony Hall of the Nanzhou Hotel, which would be attended by several provincial leaders in charge of industry and science and technology, and he was invited to attend.

Looking at the sender's name and recalling the information Zhou Weiguo had just revealed, everything became clear to Chen Pingfang.

This was clearly a trap set for him by Sun Heming.

That's good, it saves him the trouble of finding time separately. We can solve the problem once and for all tonight.

Chen Ping replied with two words.

receive.

~

7 p.m., Peony Hall, Nanzhou Hotel.

A number of people were already seated around the huge round table made of rosewood. Among them were the heads of several large state-owned enterprises in the province, the vice governor in charge of finance, and the heads of several departments and bureaus.

The atmosphere was lively, with everyone chatting and laughing, but each person maintained a just-right distance from the others.

When Chen Ping pushed open the door and entered, all the conversations paused for a moment.

He was dressed casually today, in a dark jacket of unknown brand, and looked very young, which made him stand out from the other cadres who were mostly over fifty.

"Director Pingfang is here, please have a seat." Sun Heming, the director of the Science and Technology Department, who was sitting next to the head of the table, was the first to stand up, with a warm smile on his face.

Sun Heming was in his fifties, with his hair neatly combed and wearing gold-rimmed glasses. He looked refined and had the air of an old-fashioned intellectual.

"Director Sun, esteemed leaders, I'm late. I'll punish myself with a drink." Chen Ping picked up the Moutai on the table, poured himself a full glass, and then drank it all in one gulp, his movements swift and decisive.

The atmosphere at the table instantly became lively again.

After several rounds of pleasantries and a few drinks, Sun Heming finally steered the conversation onto the right track.

He put down his wine glass, cleared his throat, and began to speak in an academic tone.

"Director Ping Fang is young and promising. This time, he brought back a great talent like Professor Gu Weizhen from the United States, which has made great contributions to the semiconductor industry in our Nanzhou Province. Our colleagues in the Science and Technology Department admire him very much."

These words sounded like a compliment, but Chen Ping knew that the real issue was about to be addressed.

Sure enough, Sun Heming changed the subject.

"However, the semiconductor industry is really too special. Technology iterates rapidly and the professional barriers are high. Take EDA for example, the intricacies of it are beyond the understanding of even most professors, let alone those of us in administration. The future Chip Spark Program, project review, and oversight of technical routes will all require a top-notch team of experts to steer it."

He looked around and finally fixed his gaze on Chen Pingfang, offering his seemingly sincere advice.

"Our Science and Technology Department has been dealing with top research institutions at home and abroad for many years, and we have accumulated a considerable pool of experts. My idea is that, in order to ensure the professionalism and scientific rigor of the Chip Spark Program, it would be more prudent for our Science and Technology Department to take the lead in organizing an expert committee to be responsible for the technical review. Our colleagues in the Industry and Information Technology Department can then focus more on industrial implementation and policy support. We can divide the work and cooperate, each giving full play to our strengths."

These words were perfectly worded, both elevating himself and projecting an image of being considerate of the bigger picture.

Everyone else present fell silent, watching Chen Pingfang in suspense, wondering how he would handle this difficult situation.

Sun Heming's move was an open conspiracy.

He attacked the weaknesses of the Industry and Information Technology Department by using technical issues. No matter how capable Chen Pingfang is in personnel matters, his lack of technical expertise is a fatal flaw. Relinquishing the technical review authority is perfectly reasonable.

Once the technical review authority is taken away, the semiconductor office of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology will become a mere decoration, only able to manage logistics and issue subsidies, and will be reduced to a subordinate position.

Chen Ping's face didn't show any extra expression; he even nodded in agreement.

"Director Sun is absolutely right. Professional matters should indeed be handled by professionals."

Sun Heming's lips curled up slightly, almost imperceptibly. He thought Chen Pingfang had given in.

However, Chen Ping's next words instantly silenced the entire private room.

"However, what we are going to discuss now may have gone beyond the purely technical scope."

Chen Ping took a thin document out of his briefcase and gently placed it on the turntable on the table.

"This is a briefing that Professor Gu put together overnight after he returned. It mentions a concept called a hardware backdoor."

His voice was calm, yet it reached everyone's ears clearly.

"Simply put, some foreign chip design companies can implant a logic unit that we cannot detect using any technical means in the very early stages of chip design. This backdoor is normally dormant, but can be remotely activated at critical moments through specific commands."

Chen Ping tapped his knuckles lightly on the table.

"What can it do after activation? It can instantly paralyze our financial system, plunge the entire city's power grid into darkness, and even turn our national defense early warning system into a pile of scrap metal."

He looked up and scanned everyone present; the smiles on their faces froze.

"Distinguished leaders, this is no longer a question of whether the project will succeed or whether the technical specifications will be met."

"This concerns whether our country's industry, finance, and even national defense security are in our own hands or in the hands of others."

Chen Pingfang's gaze finally landed on Sun Heming, whose face had turned somewhat pale.

"So, Director Sun, do you think it would be more prudent for a risk of this level to be reviewed by a purely technical expert committee, or should it be elevated to the level of our province's strategic security, with the Provincial Party Committee directly leading the effort, and our Department of Industry and Information Technology, as the industry's competent authority, taking responsibility for implementation and supervision?"

All of Sun Heming's prepared remarks about technical approaches and expert qualifications seem insignificant, even laughable, in the face of national security.

He opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.

How could he refute this? Was he saying that national security wasn't important? Or that his university professors knew more about hardware backdoors than Gu Weizhen, who had returned from the core of Company M?

The private room was completely silent.

The vice governor, who hadn't said much, slowly picked up the briefing on the table. After reading only the first page, a fine layer of sweat appeared on his forehead.

He slammed the document shut and said solemnly to Chen Pingfang.

"Comrade Pingfang, I will immediately report this material to Governor Liu and Secretary Deshan personally. This matter is extremely serious."

A trap set for Chen Pingfang was thus easily averted by him.

This is no longer a resolution, but a complete crushing defeat.

The dinner ended unhappily.

Chen Ping walked out of the restaurant, the evening breeze blowing on his face, carrying a slight chill.

Just as he was about to get into the car, a middle-aged man in a tailored suit, with a refined demeanor and a humble smile on his face, quickly walked up.

"Director Chen, please wait."

Chen Ping stopped and looked at the stranger.

"Hello, I do some international investment business." The man's self-introduction was vague. He took out a card from his pocket and handed it over with both hands. "Director Chen is truly admirable for his dedication to the country and its people. This is just a small token of my appreciation, nothing more, I just want to make friends with Director Chen."

Chen Ping lowered his eyes to look.

It was a pure black card, without any markings or text, except for a very inconspicuous emblem in the lower right corner, a stylized version of the letter M.