Courtyard House: Starting with handing over the keys, the state helps me abuse birds.

"Old Xu, are you sure?" The white-haired elderly man sitting opposite me, the deputy director of the research institute, pushed up his glasses, his voice trembling slightly. "The technological route in this manuscript... can it really be achieved?"

"It's not just achievable!" Xu Zhanqing stood up excitedly, pointing to the data on the manuscript. "Director Chen, look here—the converter bottom-blowing oxygen parameters. Our experimental group has been working on this for two years, and the optimal oxygen lance height has always been between 1.8 meters and 2.2 meters. This manuscript gives a value of 2.05 meters. I just mentally verified it; this is the theoretically optimal value!"

He turned to another page: "And there's the temperature curve for continuous casting. Look at this inflection point setting; it perfectly avoids the peritectic reaction zone, fundamentally solving the problem of surface cracks in the cast billet. This idea... this idea is brilliant!"

There were two other senior experts in the office, both of whom also looked solemn.

"If these data are true," said Zhao, the director of the materials analysis laboratory, slowly, "then this process can advance the overall level of my country's steel industry by at least fifteen years."

"Fifteen years?" Xu Zhanqing shook his head. "Engineer Zhao, you're being conservative. Just the targeted removal of impurity elements alone is a world-class breakthrough. Europe, America, and Japan are all working on it, but none of them have come up with a mature process. This manuscript... provides a complete solution."

Chen Qiming took a deep breath: "Has the source of the manuscript been verified?"

"Duan Chengyi gave it to me," Xu Zhanqing said. "He's the director of the Hongxing Police Station, an old comrade-in-arms of mine. He said he got it from an orphan of a martyr. The kid said... that it was a technical inspiration that came to his mind after punishing Yi Zhonghai."

These words created a subtle atmosphere in the office.

Engineer Zhao frowned: "This explanation is too outrageous."

"I know." Xu Zhanqing smiled wryly. "Old Duan also thinks that the child was overstimulated and has lost his mind. But the manuscript itself..." He patted the papers on the table. "This thing can't be faked. Even the top metallurgical experts would need a team to study for several years to create such a logically rigorous and data-complete process plan."

Chen Qiming remained silent for a moment, then stood up and walked to the window, looking at the dark night outside.

"The value of this manuscript is beyond the institute's authority to handle." He turned around, his expression serious. "Old Xu, you're coming with me to the ministry. Let's go now."

"Now?" Xu Zhanqing glanced at the clock on the wall—two in the morning.

"Now." Chen Qiming had already started putting on his coat. "This kind of thing can't be delayed for even a minute."

Half an hour later, a black Volga sedan drove out of the metallurgical research institute and sped off towards the west of the city.

In the car, Xu Zhanqing clutched the file bag containing the manuscript tightly, his palms sweating profusely. Chen Qiming closed his eyes to rest, but his tense jawline betrayed his inner turmoil.

At 3 a.m., only a few windows of the Ministry of Industry building were still lit.

The secretary on duty recognized Chen Qiming, but still looked hesitant when he heard they needed to make an urgent report: "Director Chen, Director Lu just went to bed less than two hours ago. He's been working non-stop these past few days..."

"This is a serious matter and must be reported immediately," Chen Qiming said firmly. "Tell him it's about a technological breakthrough that could change the landscape of my country's steel industry."

The secretary hesitated for a moment, but finally picked up the internal phone.

Ten minutes later, Xu Zhanqing and Chen Qiming were taken to an office on the third floor.

The office was simply furnished with a desk, a few chairs, and a national map and industrial production progress chart hanging on the wall. A man in his early forties, wearing a Zhongshan suit, sat behind the desk. Although his face showed signs of exhaustion from staying up all night, his eyes were sharp as an eagle's.

He is Lu Zhaoting, Director of the Technology Department of the Ministry of Industry.

"Director Chen, Engineer Xu, please have a seat." Lu Zhaoting's voice was steady and powerful. "What's the matter that's so urgent?"

Chen Qiming gestured to Xu Zhanqing. Xu Zhanqing took a deep breath and placed the document bag in front of Lu Zhaoting with both hands: "Director Lu, please take a look at this first."

Lu Zhaoting opened the file folder and took out the manuscript. At first, his expression was calm, but after reading a few pages, his brows gradually furrowed, and he turned the pages faster and faster.

The only sound in the office was the rustling of papers.

Twenty minutes later, Lu Zhaoting put down the manuscript and looked at Xu Zhanqing: "Has the technical feasibility assessment been completed?"

"The four of us worked through the night to verify the core data," Xu Zhanqing replied. "Theoretically, it's entirely feasible. But it needs to be verified through small-scale and pilot-scale trials."

"Where did the manuscript originate?"

Xu Zhanqing glanced at Chen Qiming and repeated what Duan Chengyi had told him.

When Lu Zhaoting mentioned that "technology emerged in his mind after punishing Yi Zhonghai," his expression remained unchanged; he simply tapped his fingers lightly on the table.

"What's the name of that martyr's orphan?"

"Xie Weihong."

Lu Zhaoting's eyes flickered slightly. He remembered this name—three years ago, when he was still in the Equipment Department, he had reviewed the files of a batch of military supporting enterprises, and Xie Zhijun's name appeared on the list of key technical personnel.

"Where is Duan Chengyi now?" Lu Zhaoting asked.

"He should be at home. He gave me the manuscript last night and then went home."

Lu Zhaoting glanced at his watch—3:40 AM. He pressed the pager on the table: "Xiao Wang, prepare the car; we're going to Hongxing Police Station. Also, notify the security department and ask them to send two people over."

Xu Zhanqing was shocked. The security department… this matter has escalated to this level?

"Director Lu, that child shouldn't be a spy..." he couldn't help but say.

"I know." Lu Zhaoting stood up. "But a technical manuscript of inestimable value suddenly appeared in the hands of an ordinary young man. Whatever the truth is, it must be investigated with the highest standards. This is a matter of responsibility to the country."

He looked at Xu Zhanqing and Chen Qiming: "You two come along too. I need you to make technical assessments on site."

At 4:30 a.m., three cars parked downstairs at Duan Chengyi's house.

Duan Chengyi was awakened by the knocking. When he opened the door, he was stunned to see Lu Zhaoting, Xu Zhanqing, and two middle-aged men in casual clothes but with a special demeanor standing outside.