Ying Chen bent down and helped Elder Dong up. "Since that's the case, we are family from now on."
"Additionally, Professor Li has also joined the laboratory. You will be colleagues from now on. Of course, I understand the past grievances between you two. If you truly cannot work together, you can each lead a separate project team, without any overlap or interference."
Ying Chen introduced Professor Li to Elder Dong.
Elder Dong clearly had expected this upon seeing Professor Li arrive with him.
He did not show any signs of displeasure, merely stating, "What grievances? It was merely a difference of academic opinion! Not worth mentioning, not worth mentioning..."
Professor Li quickly stepped forward. "Exactly, exactly. Elder Dong and I purely had academic differences, no grievances to speak of. Furthermore, I believe the leadership of the Xun Feng Laboratory can be entirely entrusted to Elder Dong. I will cooperate unconditionally! After all, an elder at home is like a treasure, and Elder Dong is a genuine national treasure of our Dragon Country!"
Professor Li's words were not entirely flattery. Elder Dong was indeed a national treasure-level expert officially recognized by the Dragon Country.
In the field of archaeology, Elder Dong was truly a towering figure.
His only mistake in his lifetime was the tomb of Bai Qi.
As a result, Professor Li seized the opportunity and almost toppled Elder Dong.
Hearing Professor Li's words, Elder Dong repeatedly waved his hands. "No, no, no. I don't aspire to any leadership. I only hope that when I offer an opinion, our laboratory will seriously consider it. That's enough."
"By the way, Professor Li just mentioned that our laboratory is called Xun Feng Laboratory? That's a good name! It must have come from Mr. Ying, right?"
Elder Dong was also a shrewd man, inferring some of Ying Chen's intentions behind the name of the laboratory.
Ying Chen did not deny it and nodded. "Indeed."
"I like the name very much, but there's a problem I must remind Mr. Ying of beforehand: the archaeology industry has always been one where investment and return are disproportionate. Are you sure you are psychologically prepared? And are you sure you have prepared sufficient funds?"
Elder Dong looked at Ying Chen and said solemnly.
Ying Chen smiled, but before he could answer, Professor Li had already preempted him. "Elder Dong, you worry too much. Mr. Ying's initial investment for Xun Feng Laboratory is this number!"
Professor Li held up one finger.
Elder Dong's eyebrows twitched slightly. "Ten million? That's not much! It's barely enough to sustain operations for one to two years."
"No, guess again."
"Could it be a hundred million? That's quite a lot. Enough for us to go all out and find a large tomb and excavate it!"
To his surprise, Professor Li still said, "Still not right. Old man, why don't you take a bold guess, and make it higher!"
Elder Dong looked astonished.
If a hundred million wasn't right, could it be a billion?
No, Professor Li said to guess higher, so it wouldn't be that simple.
Elder Dong pondered for a moment and gave a figure that he himself could not believe. "Ten billion?"
"This is a figure I wouldn't dare to imagine even in my dreams! Aside from excavating the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor, it's enough for any other tomb! Any of our peers who received such funding would be so excited they wouldn't sleep for three days!"
The discovery and excavation of the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor had been going on for almost forty years.
However, many people did not know that the excavation progress of the entire Qin Mausoleum was only 1%, which was the part known as the Terracotta Army.
The core part of the Qin Mausoleum had never been excavated.
And according to the estimates of the expert group, if it were to be fully excavated, the budget would require at least 60 billion yuan!
This figure deterred countless people.
Simultaneously, due to the many uncertainties surrounding the Qin Mausoleum, in order to protect it to the greatest extent, the authorities decided to halt the excavation.
For example, during the excavation of the Terracotta Army, the entire figure was colored and lifelike just a moment before. However, the instant it was unearthed, all the color faded.
This also made the experts in charge of excavation hesitant to excavate further. What if other relics within the Qin Mausoleum were the same?
Wouldn't it be equivalent to destroying the most brilliant cultural treasures of the Dragon Country?
Only when technology advances in the future would later generations be able to excavate.
"Haha, Elder Dong, your courage is still a bit lacking. Let me tell you the answer directly. The funds provided by Mr. Ying are enough to excavate any tomb! Including the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor!" Professor Li laughed.
Elder Dong was struck as if by lightning, frozen in place.
After a long while, Elder Dong's lips trembled as he uttered the number, "One... one hundred billion?"
"Wife, pinch me quickly. I suspect I'm dreaming!"
Elder Dong looked at his wife.
Elder Dong's young wife was also in shock. Hearing Elder Dong's words, she quickly pinched him.
Elder Dong yelped, finally confirming he wasn't dreaming!
Ying Chen had truly injected an astronomical sum into the laboratory!
And this astronomical sum was enough for them to proceed with excavating any tomb they wished!
Of course, this was前提 upon receiving approval from the Dragon Country.
But Elder Dong could not think of any reason for the Dragon Country to refuse, as finding another "sucker" like Ying Chen would take an unknown amount of time!
"So Elder Dong, do you now understand why I was willing to give up my secure position at the Institute of Archaeology to join Mr. Ying's laboratory?"
"Because this is a rare opportunity in our lives. If we let it slip away, we would die with regrets!" Professor Li sighed.
Elder Dong's eyes flickered, and he seemed to have made a decision.
He suddenly said, "Breaking the cauldrons and sinking the boats, a hundred and twenty Qin passes will eventually belong to Chu! Sometimes, people truly need this kind of courage!"
"Then I cannot fall behind. I have already offended some leaders in the circle anyway. So, I will follow Brother Li's example and announce my resignation!"
Elder Dong's words were astonishing. He also wanted to throw away his secure position and cut off his own retreat, dedicating himself wholeheartedly to Xun Feng Laboratory!
"Elder Dong, you must think carefully!" Professor Li advised upon hearing this.
"Yes, Elder Dong. Your move will cause an earthquake within the circle..." Liang Yu also said.
In contrast, Elder Dong's young wife held his arm and said, "Old Dong, I support you! In life, one lives for one's spirit. What secure job compares to the comfort of eating from one's own rice bowl! When we achieve success, let those snobbish leaders regret it!"
With his wife's support, Elder Dong's gaze instantly became more resolute.
He even picked up his phone and drafted a resignation statement.
He sent it out just like that!
And the entire archaeology circle of the Dragon Country was plunged into an earthquake in the middle of the night.
Everyone stared at Elder Dong's statement in a daze, not understanding what had happened.
Why would Elder Dong, considered a pillar of the circle and a towering figure, suddenly lash out, criticize the actions of certain people within the circle, and then announce his resignation?
Most importantly, Elder Dong also stated that he would not abandon archaeology and would burn the remaining years of his life to defend his honor and value!
In two days, two prominent figures successively resigned.
This inevitably caused unease in the Dragon Country's archaeology circle, giving a sense of an impending earthquake and tsunami!
It seemed as if the sky of the archaeology circle had instantly collapsed!