Cang Wenkang blocked Fang Haosi’s path. “Jing Mingqiu just finished his college entrance exams, he isn't even a university student yet. What kind of position should we offer him to join our research institute?”
“Directly admit him with special consideration,” Fang Haosi said without hesitation. “Invite him to join our research institute as the Chief Researcher.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the second laboratory was immediately engulfed in a heated debate.
“To directly recruit him as Chief Researcher, isn't that too high a position! The previous Chief Researcher worked in the laboratory for ten years before earning that title.”
“However, he created a miniature lithography machine. Based on this alone, he is qualified to be the Chief Researcher.”
“That’s not entirely wrong, but Chief Researchers need to lead research groups. He’s just a high school student, does he truly possess that capability?”
“…”
Finally, Fang Haosi banged his gavel to interrupt everyone’s discussion. “Whether he has the ability or not, we’ll find out if we try! I will go and secure Jing Mingqiu first, to prevent him from being poached by Wei Deze. You all quickly analyze this miniature lithography machine and compile a research report.”
“Yes!”
Everyone nodded rapidly, taking out various professional instruments from the side tables and beginning a detailed scanning analysis of the lithography machine before them.
Fang Haosi, led by Cang Wenkang, sat in the back seat of an armored sedan, with bodyguards dressed in black following closely behind, occupying the front passenger seat.
Seeing the robust figures of the bodyguards, Fang Haosi’s heart trembled as he remembered a very important issue.
If the fact that a person could handcraft a lithography machine with two nanometer precision were to leak, Jing Mingqiu’s safety would be under immense threat.
According to Cang Wenkang, several people already knew about Jing Mingqiu’s ability to make lithography machines.
When a secret is known by more than two people, it ceases to be a secret.
“Driver, turn around, head to Dongyang Base!”
“Yes!”
Without a word, the driver executed a smooth U-turn and sped off in another direction…
Unknowingly, another three days passed. Jing Mingqiu received a notification from his class advisor stating that college entrance exam scores would be announced today, along with enrollment guidance.
Jing Mingqiu took off his oil-stained work clothes, changed back into his school uniform, and then rode his modified electric scooter back to his alma mater.
Jing Mingqiu first went to the office to get his college entrance exam results from his class advisor.
Chinese: 122, Mathematics: 96, English: 113, Science Comprehensive: 225, Total: 556.
In Dongyang City, this score was not considered high; it was just barely enough to meet the admission requirements for a first-tier university.
“My performance was a bit off,” Jing Mingqiu casually put the score sheet into his pocket, not taking the results to heart.
Upgrading the system required a significant amount of time and energy. Whether he would even attend university was still undecided.
Walking through the corridor, he returned to his original classroom. His classmates were already there, chatting in groups.
As Jing Mingqiu entered and sat down, about to catch up with his old classmates, the telephone on the principal’s desk suddenly rang.
Principal Ma Xingsheng picked up the receiver, and a stern voice came from the other end.
“Hello, may I speak with Principal Ma Xingsheng of Shangyang City No. 7 Middle School?”
“That’s correct, I am he. May I ask what this is regarding?”
Ma Xingsheng was a bit confused. This was the school’s public phone line, and anyone who knew this number should know his identity.
“Principal Ma, I am the person in charge of safety and security for Zhongshan Province. We have received instructions from higher authorities to seal off Shangyang City No. 7 Middle School for an anti-terrorism drill. No one is permitted to leave. Please cooperate with our operation…”
Closing down a school was no small matter. Ma Xingsheng dared not be careless. After verifying multiple passwords and communicating with his superiors, he agreed.
After ending the call, Ma Xingsheng looked out the window, overlooking the entire campus, his face filled with bewilderment. He couldn’t understand what had happened within the school to alarm the security bureau.
As Ma Xingsheng was pondering, more than a dozen large riot control vehicles entered the campus, sealing off all exits.
Witnessing this scene, Ma Xingsheng’s eyes widened like copper bells. He had assumed it was a request for the school to self-seal, but he hadn't expected special forces to be dispatched.
“Principal, Principal!” The dean of students, weighing over three hundred pounds, burst through the principal’s office door in a hurry. “Something’s happened, something big! A lot of people have arrived, and our school is surrounded!”
Before Ma Xingsheng could respond to the dean of students, several more teachers rushed in, shouting loudly.
Facing this situation, Ma Xingsheng could only compose himself and put on an air of confident control. “It’s nothing, this is just an anti-terrorism drill organized by the special security department and our school.”
Although he didn't know why an anti-terrorism drill was suddenly being held, upon confirming that the special security personnel were not targeting him, everyone collectively breathed a sigh of relief.
The anti-terrorism drill was not only happening inside the Seventh Middle School but also outside.
Ma Xingsheng stood by the large floor-to-ceiling window of the principal’s office and gazed into the distance, noticing that the streets surrounding the school were already devoid of any vehicles, with only a few helicopters circling in the air.
These armed helicopters circled the Seventh Middle School once, their cabin doors opened, and a rope was thrown down.
Then, more than ten camouflaged men in ghillie suits slid down the rope, landing on the roof.
After a quick roll and coordination, they immediately dispersed, setting up concealed observation points and sniper positions on various vantage points.
The observation points were not just the visible ones; there were also drones in the sky and ground seismic sensors. To complete the mission, the upper echelons provided an immense amount of resources to ensure that escape was impossible, whether by air or by ground.
In the information age, seeing is not necessarily believing. Be more mindful next time.
After resolving the superfluous issues, most of the personnel had left.
Only the special security department remained, setting up a massive machine.
As the machine was gradually assembled, the mobile phone signal grew weaker.
Concurrently, Jing Mingqiu, who was chatting in the classroom, was suddenly tapped on the shoulder, followed by a very grating, duck-like voice.
“Hey, isn’t this our scholar Jing? How did you do on the exam this time? Have you decided which prestigious university you’re aiming for?”
Jing Mingqiu turned and glanced, recognizing the person who tapped his shoulder as his classmate Du Jing. He shrugged indifferently. “Didn’t do very well. I probably won’t get into a top university, so I’ll just pick a second-tier one and muddle through.”
“I didn’t do too well either. However, I got a recommendation through a competition, and I’m recommended to Zhongshan Province University of Science and Technology…”
Du Jing, with a smug grin, was boasting to Jing Mingqiu when, with a creak, the classroom door was pushed open, and a group of white-bearded old men rushed in.
An old man with hair already turned white fixed his gaze intently on Jing Mingqiu.
“Jing Mingqiu! Are you willing to become my disciple? I can directly recommend you to Tsinghua University to research lithography machines!”