I started with a ship full of max-level veterans, and I'm just a complete noob.

Banquet hall of Guangzhou Guesthouse.

A bright red banner was stretched across the center, reading "Warmly welcome overseas students to return to China and participate in socialist construction."

Several large round tables were set in the hall, laden with dishes that would be considered lavish for that era. The braised pork glistened with tempting oil, and the steamed fish was piping hot.

Jiang Ming carried the worn-out suitcase to his room first, then followed Chen Zhiyuan into the banquet hall.

His mind was filled with the ghost-like look in Director Wang's eyes, and he was feeling extremely uneasy.

"Brother Jiang, over here!" Chen Zhiyuan pulled Jiang Ming toward a table in the corner.

Young people with less experience naturally gravitated towards the side tables.

Not far away, Xu Chongwen was surrounded by several scholars. He had changed into a brand new suit, and his hair was combed so neatly that even a fly would have to do the splits if it stood on it.

"Dr. Xu, I heard that the higher-ups attach great importance to aerodynamics. You're sure to be given a very important position now that you're back," someone complimented.

Xu Chongwen's lips curled into a wide smile, and he waved his hand in a show of modesty.

"Not at all, it's all about contributing to the country. But when it comes to scientific research, it ultimately comes down to real talent and ability. Some people who get on board by luck will eventually be exposed for what they really are."

As Xu Chongwen spoke, he glanced sideways at Jiang Ming with a look of disdain.

Jiang Ming rolled her eyes, not even bothering to acknowledge him. (￣ー￣)

This guy is a complete idiot; he's been slapped so hard he's still jumping around.

At this moment, several local leaders dressed in Zhongshan suits accompanied Qian Xuesen into the banquet hall.

The once noisy hall instantly fell silent.

The leader walked to the main table at the front, holding a list in his hand, and looked around the room with a smile.

"Comrades, you've had a long journey! Tonight's dinner is both a welcome back feast and a celebration of our victory! Before we take our seats, let me announce the arrangements at the head table."

Everyone perked up their ears.

Those who can sit at the main table are the absolute backbone and core members.

"Comrade Qian Xuesen, please take a seat." The leader respectfully extended his hand.

Qian Xuesen smiled and nodded, then sat down in the main seat.

Then, the leader read out the names of several veteran experts.

Xu Chongwen straightened his tie, puffed out his chest slightly, and looked on with anticipation. He felt that with his academic background and reputation in the field of fluid mechanics, he was sure to have a seat at the head table.

"The last one." The leader glanced at the list, his voice suddenly rising, "Comrade Jiang Ming! Please take a seat at the head table!"

hum!

The entire banquet hall fell silent instantly; you could hear a pin drop.

Everyone turned around at once, their eyes all falling on Jiang Ming, who was huddled in the corner.

Jiang Ming was completely dumbfounded. (°Д°)

He pointed to his nose, looking completely bewildered.

"Boss, you must have the wrong address. Me? The head table?"

Xu Chongwen jumped up from his chair, his eyes practically bulging out of their sockets.

"Boss! This isn't the right thing to do! He's a mechanical engineering student who barely passed, why should he sit at the head table!" Xu Chongwen's voice cracked with anxiety.

The leader's face darkened, and he gave Xu Chongwen a stern look.

"Why? Because this afternoon we received a special thank-you telegram from the captain of the USS President Cleveland, sent via international radio!"

The leader held up a document in his hand, his voice echoing in the hall.

"The telegram clearly stated that when the ship encountered a storm in the Pacific, the engine room's propulsion system faced a total collapse. It was Comrade Jiang Ming who stepped forward and used a brilliant physical compensation plan to save the entire cruise ship, as well as all the talented individuals returning to China on board!"

The leader strode up to Jiang Ming, grasped Jiang Ming's hands tightly, and shook them vigorously.

"Comrade Jiang Ming, you are not only a genius, but also a hero! You truly deserve to sit at the head table!"

boom!

Thunderous applause erupted in the hall.

Chen Zhiyuan clapped enthusiastically from the side, his palms turning red, and he kept shouting excitedly.

"Brother Jiang is awesome! I knew you were hiding your true abilities!"

Jiang Ming was stunned by this sudden official endorsement. He was smugly pulled to the main table by his superiors and placed directly next to Qian Xuesen.

(✧◡✧) Awesome!

An officially recognized genius—now let's see who dares to bring up his past as a poor student!

He turned his head and glanced at Xu Chongwen at the side table.

Xu Chongwen's face was ashen, his lips trembled, and he clenched his fists tightly. He couldn't understand how he, a PhD from an Ivy League university, could be so thoroughly crushed by a nobody who had even failed his basic courses.

His Daoist heart was utterly shattered.

Jiang Ming felt completely comfortable during the meal.

Sitting at the main table, he was toasted by leaders and experts around him, all praising his young talent.

Qian Xuesen would occasionally turn his head and quietly test him on a few basic concepts of fluid mechanics.

Jiang Ming, relying on the "Starting from Zero" lecture notes he had memorized a few days ago, plus his common sense from later generations, managed to answer fluently, which made Qian Lao nod frequently.

After the dinner, everyone went back to their rooms to rest.

Tomorrow I will be officially assigned to a work unit.

Jiang Ming had just reached the second-floor corridor when he heard familiar footsteps behind him.

"Jiang Ming, wait a minute."

Jiang Ming turned around and saw Qian Xuesen walking towards him.

Mr. Qian had already changed into a dark woolen overcoat and was carrying a somewhat worn briefcase, looking like he was going out that very night.

"Teacher, where are you going?" Jiang Ming quickly went to greet him.

"They're pressing me hard in Beijing; there's an urgent mission. I'm taking a special train north tonight to report for duty." Qian Xuesen looked at Jiang Ming, his eyes revealing a fatherly gentleness and expectation.

Jiang Ming felt a sudden emptiness in his heart. (Ｔ▽Ｔ)

Are we really going to break up?

His biggest backer, the super-powerful guy he worked so hard to befriend, is about to fly away.

Before Jiang Ming could feel sad, Qian Xuesen took a thick kraft paper envelope from his briefcase and handed it to Jiang Ming.

"Your foundation is weak, but your intuition is sharp. No matter which unit you go to at tomorrow's assignment meeting, even if it's the lowest level factory, you absolutely cannot abandon the basics of mechanics and mathematics."

Mr. Qian's tone became serious.

"This envelope contains my mailing address in Beijing. No matter where you are, you must write to me every month to report on your learning progress. If you encounter any problems you can't solve or engineering bottlenecks you can't understand, include them in the letter and send them to me. Understand?"

Jiang Ming took the envelope with both hands, feeling as if the thin piece of paper was as heavy as a thousand pounds.

This is not an envelope.

This is the private tutoring hotline of the father of China's space program!

This is a top-tier resource that countless people would kill for!

"I understand! Don't worry, teacher, I will never slack off!" Jiang Ming's eyes were a little sore, but he stood up straight and answered loudly.

Qian Xuesen smiled with satisfaction and patted Jiang Ming's shoulder heavily.

"Go ahead and get some rest. See you in Beijing."

After saying that, Mr. Qian turned around and strode towards the stairwell, his figure quickly disappearing into the night.

Jiang Ming clutched the envelope, took a deep breath, and turned to walk back to his room.

Lock the door from the inside.

He walked to his desk and turned on the dim desk lamp.

He hadn't looked closely because the light was dim in the corridor.

Now, in the glow of the lamp, he realized that the kraft paper envelope was much thicker than he had imagined.

There was definitely more than one slip of paper with an address inside.

Jiang Ming carefully tore open the seal on the envelope.

(≧▽≦) What kind of newbie gift pack did the big boss give out before leaving?

He turned the envelope upside down and tapped it gently.

A card with the address of a top-secret mailbox in Beijing slid out.

Immediately afterwards, another neatly folded letter paper floated out.

Jiang Ming picked up the letter and slowly unfolded it.

The paper is of very good quality, and it bears Qian Xuesen's powerful and vigorous penmanship.

But what truly shocked Jiang Mingtong was not the content on the paper.

Instead, a bright red personal seal was prominently displayed in the bottom right corner of the letter.

[Qian Xuesen's Seal]

This is a blank recommendation letter that's already been stamped!

Jiang Ming's breathing became rapid instantly.

In this era that values ​​lineage and seniority, having this letter stamped with Qian Lao's personal seal is like having a powerful sword that can pierce through any institutional barrier!

But why didn't Qian Lao just write down the recommending unit directly?

Why leave a blank one for him?

Jiang Ming stared intently at the bright red seal, and suddenly the image of the national cadre allocation conference to be held tomorrow flashed through his mind.

The corners of his mouth slowly curled up.

"Teacher, are you testing me to see if I dare to choose the wildest path?"

Jiang Ming carefully tucked the letter away from his body, his eyes brightening.

The conference tomorrow.

He's going to pull off a big heist!