Interstellar Industrial Era #1-50
Author: 牛家一郎
Date: 2025-10-24T19:38:53+00:00

Chapter 1: Qin Yi

March 11, 2020. In the Imperial Capital, the sky was clear and the air was crisp. The early spring of March still carried a hint of winter’s chill, but the earth was reawakening and all life was renewing. The campus of Huaxia University was flourishing.

Students were either sweating it out on the sports fields, singing of their youthful days under the shade of green trees, or immersing themselves in the vast ocean of knowledge in the library.

University is the most wonderful time in a person’s life, free from the crushing weight of post-graduation life and the heavy burden of high school studies.

On this verdant campus, there was only poetry and dreams.

With his backpack on, Qin Yi hurried towards the library. Although it was only seven o’clock, he knew that if he didn’t get there early, he definitely wouldn’t be able to secure a good spot.

As the top institution of higher learning in Huaxia, the most sought-after commodity at Huaxia University was not anything else, but a seat in the library. Even though Qin Yi arrived around seven every morning, there would already be hundreds of people queuing at the library entrance.

Here, there were poor students from rural families like Qin Yi, as well as wealthy scions from prominent backgrounds. But regardless of their origins, nearly everyone admitted to Huaxia University was a top student.

Though a bit of an exaggeration, the saying that a randomly thrown brick on campus could hit several top scorers was enough to illustrate the sheer number of academic prodigies gathered here.

Between these top students, there were many commonalities, with diligence being the most prominent.

After spending some time here, Qin Yi came to a clear realization: many people were not only from better backgrounds and smarter than you, but crucially, they were also more diligent.

Before the library had even opened, hundreds of people were already waiting in a neat, orderly line. The scene was devoid of any chaos, and there was hardly a sound.

No one could be seen eating. Even when acquaintances were together, they would speak in hushed tones, afraid of disturbing others. They would either read quietly or listen to music on their headphones.

Qin Yi glanced at the long line and felt a twinge of regret for not waking up earlier. It seemed getting a good spot today would be difficult.

“I’ll be a senior next semester. Soon, I’ll have to leave this place I’ve grown so attached to. It’s really hard to think about leaving.”

Qin Yi quietly took in the campus scenery. Now in the second semester of his junior year, he suddenly felt how quickly time had passed. In the blink of an eye, he was about to be a senior. The memories of his first day were still vivid in his mind, as if it had all happened just yesterday.

In a flash, almost three years had gone by. For most university students, senior year could essentially be considered post-graduation. This was especially true at Huaxia University, where many had already completed their coursework early. Their senior year was basically spent studying abroad, preparing for graduate school entrance exams, or doing internships.

Qin Yi had long since decided on his future path. He planned to pursue a master’s degree and then a doctorate. Studying abroad was unrealistic for him; his family’s financial situation simply couldn’t support it. As for government-funded programs, they were now very, very difficult to get into.

After decades of reform and opening-up, Huaxia had made leapfrog developments in every aspect. The nation was becoming more prosperous and powerful, and it was quite confident in many areas. It no longer needed to learn from the West in every field, as it had more than a hundred years ago when it was backward and vulnerable.

Moreover, government-funded study abroad programs often felt like a losing gamble—it was easy to send out meticulously nurtured talent, but once they left the country, many never returned.

Qin Yi’s major was Power Engineering and Engineering Thermophysics. This was a highly specialized discipline that demanded a great depth of knowledge, and most students in this field would continue on to master’s and doctoral studies.

“I need to study and earn money at the same time. My parents are getting older; I can’t put any more pressure on them.”

Qin Yi sighed softly. He thought back on his years in university. Though his life was full—days spent either in class, studying in the library, or tutoring to earn money for living expenses—he had never had the time or energy to enjoy the passionate romance of campus life. This was perhaps his one great regret.

To be honest, on this matter, Qin Yi felt a little insecure. On this vibrant campus, Qin Yi, who had never received any special training growing up, couldn’t sing, play the guitar or piano, or boast of any artistic talents. More importantly, his family was poor, which inevitably led to a sense of inferiority. Even when he met a girl who made his heart flutter, he never found the courage to confess his feelings.

In a blink, he was a junior, a “senior” in the eyes of the underclassmen, and would soon have to strive for his future. At this thought, Qin Yi couldn’t help but shake his head again. A regret was a regret. Perhaps leaving a few things undone would make him cherish his memories of university all the more in the future.

As time passed, the line outside the library grew longer. Soon, it was time for the doors to open. The long queue entered in a very orderly manner, still quiet and with very little noise.

Qin Yi was quite lucky; he found a spot by the window. He took out his books and began to study quietly. Qin Yi enjoyed this feeling of being immersed in knowledge, because when you were completely absorbed in something, you found that time passed very, very quickly.

In a flash, the day was over. At ten o’tclock at night, the evening was hazy, and a hint of a cold breeze made people instinctively pull their clothes tighter.

With his backpack on, Qin Yi meandered back towards his dormitory. He liked this fulfilling feeling—after a busy day, to walk slowly through the campus.

He would look at the flowers and trees, or find an empty corner to stare blankly at the night sky, or, in the summer, find a bench and quietly listen to his favorite songs.

As he walked, Qin Yi came to an empty lawn. He casually dropped his bag, lay down on the grass, and gazed up at the bright, starry sky with his hands behind his head.

The bright moon hung high, and countless stars twinkled. Huaxia’s environmental efforts over the years had clearly had an effect. In the past, this would have been the peak of smog season, a time when you could hardly see the moon, let alone the stars.

“I wonder when humanity will truly be able to leave Earth and enter the interstellar cosmos to explore this vast and boundless universe.”

“I wonder if there are really aliens beyond the starlight?”

Gazing at the star-filled sky, Qin Yi’s thoughts suddenly turned to the question of extraterrestrial life. As human technology had advanced, the scope of exploration had widened. With the help of the most advanced instruments like the Hubble Space Telescope, humans could now observe celestial bodies more than ten billion light-years away.

Yet, to this day, humanity had not discovered any alien civilizations. The existence of aliens was mostly confined to science fiction novels and movies, to the point where some even claimed that humans were the only intelligent life in the entire universe.

Of course, in the eyes of scientists, this view was akin to looking at the sky from the bottom of a well. Never mind the vastness of the universe; within the Milky Way alone, there were an estimated 100 to 400 billion planetary systems like our solar system. The solar system was just an insignificant speck in the immense Milky Way, and the Milky Way itself was but a drop in the ocean of the vast universe.

“Transportation is what truly constrains the pace of a civilization’s development, and what determines transportation is power. Perhaps only when we master more advanced propulsion technology can we truly soar among the stars and explore the worlds beyond the starlight. Maybe then, a great age of interstellar voyages will follow.”

As a student of power engineering, Qin Yi naturally shared the view of many in his field: that power was the foundation of human civilization’s progress and development.

Starting from the First Industrial Revolution with steam power, to the internal combustion engine of the Second, and then to the electric motor, the propulsion technologies mastered by humanity grew ever stronger, and the pace of civilization’s development grew ever faster.

The Earth, which once seemed vast, was now slowly becoming a global village. With the popularization of high-speed rail and airplanes, people could travel faster and farther than ever before. Transportation determined the scope of one’s activities, and propulsion technology determined transportation. In the end, it all came down to propulsion.

Of course, different people had their own views on the source of human progress. Sociologists might argue that the root of progress lay in the liberation of thought—that when humanity freed itself, a rapid boom in science and technology followed.

Educators might believe that human progress was thanks to the spread of education and the popularization of knowledge. Every individual now possessed more knowledge than at any other time in history, which led to all of today’s achievements.

Chemists might contend that human progress began when humanity mastered gunpowder, using powerful cannons to shatter the medieval world of religious knights, which in turn led to the liberation of thought, reforms in political systems, and so on.

But for Qin Yi, he believed the root of human progress and development was propulsion technology. Propulsion technology determined the kind of transportation humans used, and transportation determined the scope of human activity.

“Trying to truly enter the space age with current rocket technology is unfeasible. The cost is too high. Until we master more advanced propulsion technology, humanity will be confined to this blue planet.”

At this thought, Qin Yi couldn’t help but shake his head. Although modern rockets, jet engines, and the like were becoming increasingly powerful, their technology was, in essence, still rooted in the internal combustion engine—the technology of generating thrust by burning fuel.

It had been over a hundred years since humanity had made a substantial breakthrough in propulsion technology.

Chapter 2: The Technology Tower

Qin Yi looked up at the sky. A myriad of stars glittered, a dazzling and captivating sight. He then gazed at the bright, clear moon—the farthest place humanity had ever reached.

“For humanity to enter the interstellar age, our propulsion technology needs a revolutionary leap forward.”

“In the last century, at the peak of its power, the United States marshaled the strength of the entire nation just to send twelve astronauts to the moon. But because it relied on conventional rocket technology, the cost was simply too high. Once that frenzied era passed, even the US couldn’t sustain it. To this day, nearly half a century later, humanity has not managed to set foot on the moon again.”

“Propulsion technology is the key factor truly restricting humanity from entering the interstellar age.”

As a student of propulsion technology, Qin Yi had lost count of how many times his professor had said this.

“What luck, a shooting star.”

Just then, Qin Yi’s eyes lit up. A meteor streaked across the sky, so beautiful it made one want to close their eyes and make a wish.

However, before his happiness could last long, Qin Yi’s eyes widened in shock. He realized the meteor was shooting directly toward him.

Before Qin Yi could figure out what was happening, a flash of white light struck him between the eyebrows. His vision went black, and he collapsed, unconscious.

“Where am I? What just happened?”

In the depths of his mind, Qin Yi was clearly conscious, yet his brain felt like a complete blank. He couldn’t remember a thing.

“Why is there a tower here?”

Suddenly, Qin Yi saw an ancient, colossal tower. It stood a full nine stories high. At this moment, its great doors were open, and at the entrance stood an elderly man, smiling at him. The old man looked very much like a human, except for a single purple horn growing from his bald head.

“Who are you?”

With a mere thought, Qin Yi found himself at the tower’s entrance. He looked at the old man before him and asked.

“Hello, fortunate one.”

The old man had a kind face and a gentle voice. He smiled as he spoke to Qin Yi.

“Fortunate one?”

Qin Yi was baffled, utterly confused.

“That’s right, you are the fortunate one. You were lucky enough to be recognized by this Technology Tower and become its master.”

The old man smiled and nodded, then led Qin Yi inside.

“The Technology Tower?”

Still not understanding, Qin Yi’s face was a mask of questions.

“The Technology Tower is a supreme treasure of the universe, for it contains all the technological mysteries of the cosmos. For example, the propulsion technology you’ve always wanted to know about—the kind that would allow your Earth’s humanity to break through to the interstellar age—is merely one of the most insignificant technologies in this tower.”

The old man sounded very proud.

What a boastful claim, Qin Yi thought. Saying that the technology to take humanity into the interstellar age is insignificant here. I’d like to see it for myself.

“Hehe… you think I’m bluffing, don’t you?”

“Your Earth’s current technological level is that of a mere Level 1 Civilization. You still have a long way to go before you can even leave your home planet. In the vastness of the universe, a civilization at your level is like a drop in the ocean, too numerous to count.”

The old man seemed to know everything Qin Yi was thinking and spoke with a look of disdain.

“You know what I’m thinking?”

Qin Yi was slightly startled. The man knew his every thought, clear as day.

“Of course. I am in your mind. I know everything you think, feel, and see.”

The old man nodded. Soon, the two entered the Technology Tower. The interior was incredibly spacious, far, far larger than it appeared from the outside, like a massive library filled with all sorts of books.

“In my mind?”

Upon hearing this, Qin Yi was terrified. The human brain is a miraculous and fragile thing. Having something enter it was extremely dangerous; one wrong move could be fatal.

“Rest assured. Although the Technology Tower and I are in your mind, we will not affect you in the slightest.”

The old man immediately knew what he was worried about and offered a reassuring smile.

He then gestured to the vast area around them. “This place contains all the knowledge and technology of a Level 1 Civilization. Given your Earth civilization’s level of development, your people have already researched about eighty percent of the technology here. If you can research the remaining twenty percent, you’ll be on the cusp of entering the interstellar age and becoming a Level 2 Civilization.”

“Level 1 Civilization? Level 2 Civilization?”

“Are aliens real?”

“And how are Level 1 and Level 2 civilizations distinguished?”

Qin Yi felt like he was about to burst with a million questions. He wanted to ask about everything.

“Of course they’re real. The universe is so boundlessly vast, it has given birth to countless civilizations. Your Earth civilization is but one among them. The reason you people on Earth haven’t discovered any alien civilizations yet is because your civilization’s level is simply too low.”

“Civilizations in the universe can be divided into nine levels, from weakest to strongest. Levels 1 to 3 are called low-level civilizations, Levels 4 to 6 are intermediate interstellar civilizations, and those at Level 7 or above are advanced cosmic civilizations.”

“A Level 1 cosmic civilization refers to one that has not yet left its home planet. Take your Earth civilization, for example. You still haven’t left Earth and are unable to truly enter interstellar space on a large scale. Therefore, your civilization is classified as a Level 1 cosmic civilization.”

“If you can leave your home planet, enter interstellar space, and travel freely within your entire solar system, you would be considered to have reached Level 2.”

The old man explained very patiently, detailing the classifications of civilization levels.

“What about Level 3? And the intermediate and advanced civilizations?”

The old man had deliberately left him hanging, and Qin Yi couldn’t help but ask eagerly.

“As for a Level 3 cosmic civilization, that would be a civilization capable of freely traversing and developing throughout a galaxy like your Milky Way. As for intermediate interstellar and advanced cosmic civilizations, it’s still too early to tell you about that. If you can develop to that stage, I’ll explain it to you then.”

The old man paused for a moment before continuing with a smile.

A Level 3 cosmic civilization, capable of roaming the entire Milky Way, is still considered a low-level civilization? How powerful must the intermediate and advanced ones be?

Upon hearing this, a tempestuous wave crashed through Qin Yi’s mind. He felt like an ant looking up at a mountain, forever unable to see its true face.

“I still don’t know your name.”

Qin Yi shook his head, pushing aside these mind-boggling thoughts. Since the other party was unwilling to speak more on the matter, there was no point in pressing him.

“I have no name. I am actually the spirit of this Technology Tower. To put it in terms you would better understand, I am the tower’s intelligent program, or perhaps what you would call a ‘System’ in your novels.”

“From now on, I will be responsible for imparting the technological knowledge within the tower to you. You can ask me anything you don’t understand.”

The old man smiled and shook his head.

“Then I’ll call you Old Man from now on. You seem quite kind and approachable.”

Qin Yi immediately understood the old man’s identity. He was essentially the management program for the Technology Tower, responsible for teaching its knowledge.

“Old Man? That’s a decent name.”

The old man nodded, accepting the name.

“Old Man, I was stargazing on campus when I was hit by a meteor. That meteor was the Technology Tower, wasn’t it?”

Qin Yi seemed to remember something at that moment.

“Correct. I have been wandering the cosmos and just happened to pass by your Earth. Perhaps it was a coincidence, or as you people would say, fate. The Technology Tower recognized you as its master.”

The old man nodded as he explained his origin.

“Since this Technology Tower contains countless technologies and endless knowledge, who created it?”

Qin Yi thought of a crucial point. If the tower was this incredible, wouldn’t the person or civilization that created it be even more terrifyingly powerful?

“I don’t know my origin. Where I came from, where I am going… I know nothing. As for how long I have been in the universe, I no longer remember.”

The old man’s face was a mask of confusion, as if he had never considered the question before. He paused for a long time before answering.

The old man’s reply made Qin Yi frown. He didn’t know if the old man truly didn’t know, was hiding something from him, or if there was some other reason. But an unknown origin was always unsettling.

“You don’t need to worry or be afraid. On the contrary, you should feel fortunate. You were lucky to obtain the Technology Tower. From this day forward, the history of your Earth’s humanity will undergo a world-shaking transformation.”

The old man immediately sensed the unease in Qin Yi’s heart and said with a smile.

“That’s true. Given Earth’s current technological level, there really doesn’t seem to be anything worth coveting.”

Qin Yi thought for a moment and nodded. If it was as the Old Man said, and there were countless civilizations in the universe, then Earth, which couldn’t even leave its home planet, really had nothing that would make others envious.

Especially a civilization or individual powerful enough to create the Technology Tower; they would be so monstrously powerful that they certainly wouldn’t care about a tiny planet like Earth.

It was like a billionaire with a net worth of over one hundred million not caring about the few dollars in a poor kid’s pocket—they simply weren’t on the same level.

“Old Man, can I read any of these books?”

Qin Yi shook his head, his gaze sweeping over the vast sea of books, his eyes beginning to gleam.

“It’s not that you can, it’s that you must. As the master of the Technology Tower, your mission is to become the greatest scientist in the history of human civilization!”

Chapter 3: The Road Ahead

On a lawn in a corner of the Huaxia University campus, Qin Yi slowly opened his eyes, his entire being thrumming with excitement as he clenched his fists.

He had actually struck gold and obtained the Technology Tower. After just glancing through a few books on aerospace dynamics, Qin Yi was certain that this Technology Tower was the real deal. The Old Man definitely wasn’t exaggerating; the technology within it was real.

At the same time, Qin Yi could clearly sense a tower in his mind. With just a thought, his consciousness could enter it and roam freely through an ocean of knowledge, learning countless advanced technologies that others could only dream of.

“With the Technology Tower in hand, the world is mine!”

At this moment, Qin Yi could barely resist the urge to roar at the top of his lungs. With advanced technology, anything was possible—money, wealth, status, fame, beautiful women, and luxury cars. All the things he had once craved but found unattainable now seemed within his grasp, so close he could almost touch them.

Everyone has desires, and Qin Yi was no exception. Having come from a humble background, his yearning for these things was even stronger. He longed for immense wealth, a higher social standing, and to be surrounded by beautiful women.

“Ah—!”

Qin Yi couldn’t help but shout at the brilliant, starry sky. His voice echoed across the quiet campus, yet it drew no attention. At this top-tier institution, it seemed that aside from streaking naked across campus, nothing could truly capture anyone’s notice.

There were too many top students here, and even more talented and capable people. The pressure was immense, and it was common for students to find a secluded spot to shout and vent their inner stress.

After a long while, the storm in Qin Yi’s heart gradually calmed, and his eyes regained their composure. He couldn’t help but start rethinking his life.

His original plan had been to continue with his master’s degree, take the doctoral entrance exam, and eventually join a domestic research institute or a similar organization. He would have had a well-paying, stable, and uneventful life.

For the old Qin Yi, such a life would have been more than satisfactory. As a Huaxia University graduate, employment was never a concern, and he wouldn’t have ended up in a bad position. With his knowledge, Qin Yi could have escaped the social class of his parents.

But in today’s society, even for a graduate of Huaxia University, the pressure was enormous. Upon entering the workforce, one had to face marriage, buying a house, raising children, and so on. In a place like the Imperial Capital, the price of housing alone was enough to crush a person’s spirit.

Property prices were casually in the tens of thousands per unit of area, and a single apartment could easily cost several million. For a recent Huaxia University graduate, an initial salary was insignificant in the face of such exorbitant real estate prices.

But now, with the Technology Tower, there was no need for him to follow his originally planned path. Perhaps he could walk a completely different road.

With the Technology Tower, he essentially had a cheat code. Things he wouldn’t have dared to imagine before now seemed within reach. Anything was possible—in fact, it was inevitable.

“The matter of the Technology Tower must never be revealed to anyone—not even my parents or my future wife and children. If it gets out, I will face absolute annihilation.”

But Qin Yi’s thoughts quickly turned to a graver matter. The most crucial thing about the Technology Tower was secrecy—absolute secrecy. Not a single hint of it could ever leak.

If word got out, the temptation of a tower filled with countless advanced technologies would be too great—so great that every country on Earth would stop at nothing to get their hands on him. They would use any means necessary. When that time came, there would be no place on Earth for him to hide.

Therefore, not a whisper about the Technology Tower could be revealed. Not to his parents, not to his future wife and children, not to anyone. He could never tell a single soul.

Qin Yi’s expression shifted slightly, and the sheer excitement he had felt moments ago vanished. As he considered this, he understood the principle that a treasure invites thieves. Right now, he was like a child who had found a gold ingot. If he paraded it openly on the street, he would undoubtedly attract the觊觎 of countless people.

“I will definitely use technology to change my life. Although Huaxia University is a top institution in the country, this identity isn’t enough right now. I need a more impressive one.”

“Something like ‘the most outstanding scientist of this century,’ or ‘the most distinguished and greatest scientist in human history.’ Only with an identity like that will people not be suspicious when I start unveiling one technology after another.”

“Otherwise, as just a university student—even a student from Huaxia’s top university—if I continuously produce world-changing technologies, people will definitely suspect me. And if they ask, it would be hard for me to come up with a reason.”

With this thought, Qin Yi instantly understood what he needed to do next.

“First, I’ll set a small goal for myself: become an outstanding scientist. The bigger my reputation, the better. Ideally, I’ll become a household name, known by everyone on the planet.”

“Only by becoming the most famous scientist will people not be suspicious when I continuously release one advanced technology after another. Especially when I act like enough of a prodigy, everyone will think it’s all perfectly natural.”

“And once I’m a world-renowned scientist, things will be much easier. Many things that are difficult for ordinary people to accomplish will be easy for a famous scientist.”

“The country has always been striving to develop high technology, and the status of scientific and technical talent is rising, receiving more and more attention. Top scientists can even have a direct line to the highest authorities. The identity of a scientist is, in itself, an important protective umbrella!”

“Fame will also bring a kind of intangible influence. In the future, when I start my own high-tech company, it will be difficult to recruit top talent with money alone. Top-tier individuals don’t need to worry about money wherever they go. They often care more about what they can learn, who they work with, striving for a great ideal, and so on.”

A smile gradually returned to Qin Yi’s face. Now that he had a clear idea of what to do, he no longer felt lost, nor would he be swayed by momentary gains or losses.

“The next step is to build my reputation and strive to become a top scientist, while also slowly laying the groundwork and making preparations to start my own company in the future.”

From the very beginning, Qin Yi had thought about being his own boss. First, his family was poor, and he needed money to change his life and that of his family. No matter how grand one’s ideals, the bread on the table is what’s most real.

Second, Qin Yi knew that only with enough money in hand would he face fewer constraints in the future. Otherwise, if he were just a scientist—even a top one—the research funds allocated to him each year would be limited.

Moreover, if he wasn’t using his own money, he wouldn’t have the final say on the direction and results of his research. He would, to some extent, be subject to restrictions.

“Alright, that’s settled. I’ll build up my reputation and find a way to make some money to prepare for starting a company later.”

Chapter 4: The Elusive First Pot of Gold

“With the technology from the Technology Tower, making money shouldn’t be hard. The real difficulty is that I’m practically penniless right now. Where am I supposed to get the initial startup capital?”

The thought of starting his own company to make money immediately became a source of worry for Qin Yi. He’d saved up ten-thousand-odd yuan from tutoring to cover his living expenses, but in this day and age, that amount was no different from being penniless. Especially for starting a company—people would laugh their heads off if they heard he was trying to do it with so little.

Asking his family was even more unrealistic. Qin Yi knew their situation perfectly well. Both his parents were farmers. Thanks to the improving times, their lives were getting better, but they still had to support him and his younger sister through college by farming and doing odd jobs. They barely had any savings.

“Sigh, that elusive first pot of gold. Without any startup capital, all this power I have can’t be put to use.”

At that moment, Qin Yi truly understood the power of money. Even a hero can be defeated by a lack of money. That was no empty saying.

There were plenty of tropes in web novels where a powerful AI was told to transfer funds from off-the-books bank accounts, but that was just too naive.

From a technical standpoint, with the Old Man’s powerful capabilities as the Technology Tower’s intelligent program, transferring some funds from international banks was certainly possible. The moment the Technology Tower had landed on Earth, the Old Man had instantly connected to the planet’s internet, quickly assessing Earth’s level of civilizational development. Asking it to do such a thing would be child’s play.

However, the reason the idea was naive was that bank funds were the most strictly regulated assets in existence. This was especially true for accounts with large sums of money, which were monitored even more closely, with every single transaction meticulously verified.

If a large sum of money suddenly appeared in an account, the bank would monitor it. If your account balance suddenly ballooned, a quick check would reveal the unknown origin of the funds, and you could expect to be invited for a “chat” with the authorities.

Thinking of the Old Man, Qin Yi’s eyes suddenly lit up.

The Old Man was an intelligent program, a god-like existence on Earth’s internet. With its help, earning some money should be an easy task.

“Old Man, look up the most profitable ventures on the internet right now.”

Qin Yi gave the command in his mind.

“According to the latest statistics, the most profitable sectors in the internet industry are e-commerce, gaming, software development, advertising, and online marketing. I think e-commerce and gaming would be the most suitable for you.”

“The initial investment in e-commerce and gaming is small. Plus, with me giving your traffic a little boost behind the scenes, you’ll definitely be able to earn your first pot of gold.”

The Old Man’s voice quickly echoed in his mind. As expected of the Technology Tower’s intelligent program, his speed was almost unimaginable. Not only did he provide data, but he also offered professional analysis.

“So you’re saying I should focus on e-commerce and gaming?”

Qin Yi’s eyes lit up at the suggestion.

He took out his phone. With the popularization of 4G and the upcoming 5G network, along with ubiquitous Wi-Fi, people’s favorite pastime after a meal was to scroll through Douyin, watch live streams, and play games.

An untold number of internet celebrities, game commentators, and streamers in the country had built their careers around Douyin, live streaming, and gaming. Each of them was raking it in thanks to these new forms of entertainment.

Take the hottest platform right now, Douyin. Many people spent a fortune to get in, setting up professional teams to create videos and do live streams every day. Their goal was to get famous, to become the next big influencer. There were, of course, benefits to being an influencer. Putting everything else aside, just selling things on Douyin was enough for them to live high on the hog.

And then there was gaming. The most profitable projects of the trillion-yuan-market-cap Penguin Group were all related to games. League of Legends, Dungeon Fighter Online, Honor of Kings—which one of them wasn’t a cash cow? A single skin for Little Luban could sell for over a billion yuan. It sounded unbelievable, but it was true.

“That’s right. Focus on e-commerce and gaming. The initial investment is very low, and if I help you silently boost your traffic, earning some seed money won’t be a problem.”

The Old Man nodded, looking resigned. He was supposed to be imparting knowledge, but now he had to help Qin Yi with a side hustle to earn some petty cash.

“I’ve got it! I’ll create a video series on Douyin talking about things in the universe. You have plenty of that stuff anyway. I’ll pick some out every day, edit it a little, and post it on all the major websites. Then, at the end, I’ll advertise my Taobao store.”

“As for gaming, creating and developing my own game is definitely unrealistic. I don’t have a team, and even if you have the ability, Old Man, I wouldn’t dare release it. But making game cheats seems like a good choice.”

Qin Yi’s mind raced, and he quickly came up with a way to earn his first pot of gold.

He had seen a lot of videos in the Technology Tower, all filmed by the Old Man during his travels across the universe. There were fascinating alien civilizations, magnificent cosmic wonders, and grand-scale space wars. Taking just a small fraction of that and turning it into videos to post online would surely attract countless viewers.

Making game cheats was even simpler. With the Old Man’s powerful abilities, creating a cheat was ridiculously easy. As long as the cheats didn’t completely ruin the game’s balance—like those absurd ones with six pot lids blocking bullets or getting headshots from hundreds of miles away with every shot—they probably wouldn’t incur universal wrath.

He could just create some minor cheats for auto-farming and leveling, position warnings, or auto-locking. Those shouldn’t be enough to make people want to smash their keyboards.

With that thought, Qin Yi’s tightly furrowed brow slowly relaxed, and a smile appeared on his face. Making money didn’t seem as hard as he had imagined. With a cheat like the Technology Tower, money would become nothing more than a string of numbers in the future.

Qin Yi was a man of action. Having made his decision, he immediately stood up from the lawn, grabbed his backpack, and headed back to his dorm.

He was humming a tune, so elated that he was practically walking with the swagger of someone who owned the world.

Soon, Qin Yi was back in his dorm room. The four-person room was empty; his three roommates had not yet returned. Some were busy studying in the library, some were with their girlfriends, and others were at school club activities. Everyone was busy, with no time to waste their youth.

Qin Yi took out his laptop and phone and got to work. He left the matter of the game cheats entirely to the Old Man, who took only a few seconds to create a set of cheats for over ten of the most popular games.

With the cheats ready, the next step was to sell them. Here again, Qin Yi couldn’t help but marvel at the Old Man’s power and ingenuity.

The powerful intelligent program automatically filtered through the entire internet to find gamers who had previously purchased cheats. Then, it began sending messages to these players, promoting his new products.

The method was simple and crude, requiring no effort from Qin Yi at all. All he had to do was wait patiently for buyers to contact him, negotiate prices, and collect the money.

What truly kept Qin Yi busy was selecting products to open his online store. It might sound strange, but many items in online stores are actually purchased online and then resold online.

Since he planned to sell things through his videos, Qin Yi had to carefully consider his merchandise. He couldn’t just sell random things. He was going to make videos about the cosmos and interstellar topics, so his products had to be related.

It was like scrolling through Douyin and always coming across videos of people using makeup to create a dramatic transformation. The creators of those videos were almost always selling cosmetics, clothes, or shoes, not keyboards and mice.

Gaming streamers, on the other hand, usually sold gaming mice, headsets, keyboards, clothes, and shoes, but not makeup.

“Clothes and shoes are quite mainstream and are high-consumption products. Selling shoes, clothes, and snacks would be a good choice.”

After some research, Qin Yi found that as long as he had enough traffic and popularity, selling clothes, shoes, and snacks was a solid option.

“Maybe I can add some snacks, and perhaps some astronomical telescopes and science fiction books as well.”

Qin Yi took out a notebook and started jotting things down. When selling things online, it was best to choose products with broad appeal—things that everyone needed and could use, that weren’t too expensive, and were of decent quality.

Having chosen his products, Qin Yi began to search for relevant supplier information online. This was the convenience of the internet; almost everything could be handled online.

For most products, he could find the manufacturers’ contact information directly online and place orders with them. Of course, ordering from a factory usually came with minimum quantity or order value requirements; a factory wouldn’t bother with a ten or twenty yuan order.

Qin Yi sat in front of his computer, a pen and notebook in hand, and busied himself with the task. This was something the Old Man couldn’t help with. He was only an intelligent program, not a truly omnipotent god who could handle everything.

“I’ve chosen the products and found the manufacturers’ contact information. The next step is to start making the videos and posting them on major websites. If the traffic is high and a lot of people are buying, I can start negotiating prices with the factories.”

Chapter 5: Custom-Made Cheats

Qin Yi stretched and rolled his neck. He glanced at the time—it was almost midnight. It seemed his roommates weren’t coming back tonight either.

Wang Zhixuan was a second-generation rich kid, the type whose family owned a mine. However, he was very low-key, always complaining about being broke and looking like he was about to start eating dirt. But he was generous to his friends; if you had financial troubles and went to him, he would help you out without a second thought.

Lü Ziyi wasn’t the son of an official or a tycoon, but his parents were high-level intellectuals—both were professors at a renowned university in the Imperial Capital, and scientists involved in research.

All three of his roommates came from excellent backgrounds and were outstanding individuals themselves. They had all left the ranks of the single dogs long ago. Now in their junior year, the three of them were living with their girlfriends off-campus, returning to the dorm less and less often.

After washing up, Qin Yi lay down in bed and pulled out his phone to scroll through Douyin. Although he had registered an account before, he rarely had time to browse it, let alone post any videos.

“Old Man, is the video ready?” Qin Yi asked in his mind.

“Is that even a question? You don’t have to worry about a thing. Just leave the rest to me.”

The Old Man sounded very confident.

“Alright then, I’ll leave it to you. I’m going to browse Douyin for a bit.”

With a clear answer, Qin Yi stopped worrying about it and started scrolling through Douyin. Of course, he wasn’t just killing time; he was browsing with a goal in mind.

For every popular Douyin video he came across, Qin Yi would check the items in the creator’s shop and have the Old Man check the backend sales data.

“No wonder everyone wants to be an internet celebrity. These sales volumes are terrifying. Selling over a thousand catties of a product in one day, with sales reaching several hundred thousand. Even with a ten percent profit margin, that’s tens of thousands earned in a single day.”

“Look at these internet celebrities desperate for fame—some pretend to be farmers, dressed in rags, while others deliberately act pitiful. They come in all strange and bizarre varieties, all looking poor and miserable. But looking at their product sales data, every single one of them is definitely rich.”

As he scrolled, Qin Yi couldn’t help but shake his head. Many videos on Douyin proved that old saying: what you see is only the surface; you can’t see even a hint of the reality behind it.

As some people say, I’ll never believe in so-called beauties again. In the face of the Three Great Evil Arts of Asia, even a sow can be turned into a great beauty.

“It seems making videos and selling things online to make money shouldn’t be too hard.”

This gave Qin Yi even more confidence in his plan to make videos and sell products online. The Technology Tower contained countless amazing videos. Just by playing some of them, and with the Old Man silently helping to boost traffic in the background, he probably couldn’t expect to make a fortune, but earning some startup capital would certainly be no problem.

He checked the time. It was already midnight. Turning off his phone, Qin Yi quickly drifted off to sleep.

…

98K Sniper God was a game streamer. He primarily streamed the most popular chicken dinner game right now. Although streaming was a high-income profession, with famous streamers worth tens of millions, some even hundreds of millions, his line of work was different.

Unlike other types of streamers, a game streamer not only needed to be cute, joke around, and talk nonsense, but also had to have a certain level of skill at the game. A noob trying to be a game streamer would never attract a following, unless they were an exceptionally silver-tongued talker.

What captivated 98K Sniper God’s audience the most was his god-like skill with sniper rifles. Sweeping the wilderness with a 98K, he was almost a myth. The moment he raised his scope, a gunshot would ring out, and an enemy would be downed in an instant, almost without aiming.

Everyone who had watched the Sniper God’s videos was shocked by his divine marksmanship. At the same time, it was only natural that many suspected him of using cheats. Otherwise, how could anyone possess such terrifying skill?

Although 98K Sniper God would never admit to using cheats and always branded himself as a pioneer against them, advocating for “clean gaming, starting with me,” the truth was different.

His skill with the chicken dinner game was genuinely high, and he had reached a certain level of proficiency with the 98K. But to achieve that divine marksmanship and those unbelievably powerful plays, he was, in fact, using cheats behind the scenes.

“Sigh, after this update, the old cheat doesn’t work anymore.”

In a room somewhere, 98K Sniper God was frowning. His stream was about to start, but after the latest game update patched some old loopholes and bugs, the cheat he used was now useless, and a new one hadn’t been developed yet.

“Looks like I’ll have to change my routine this time. I’ll make up an excuse and not use a sniper for this stream.”

Just as 98K Sniper God was thinking about a new strategy, he received an email in his QQ mailbox.

Super Custom-Made Cheats. Whatever you need, we can create an exclusive cheat for you right away. Try before you buy. If interested, contact QQ 12789.

“Super Custom-Made Cheats?”

Seeing this email, 98K Sniper God’s eyes lit up. He immediately opened QQ and contacted the seller.

“You there?”

“Here. Just state your requirements. Pay only after you’re satisfied.”

“Uh, I’d like to order a custom-made cheat for a chicken dinner game. When I use a sniper rifle and open the scope, I want it to automatically lock onto the target’s head. As long as there are no obstacles, it should be a one-shot headshot.”

“Absolutely no problem. Any other requirements?”

“I want this cheat to leave absolutely no trace on my phone or computer. It should be as if I’m not using a cheat at all.”

“No problem, that can be done.”

“How much does it cost?”

“The cheat you’re requesting is technically quite difficult, so the price will be a bit higher. It’ll be 1000 yuan a month.”

“Deal. Please send the cheat to my email.”

98K Sniper God readily agreed to the price. It was try-before-you-buy anyway. Besides, for him, 1000 yuan a month for a cheat was nothing. If it was really useful, he was more than happy to spend that little bit of money.

Ding-dong.

Just a few seconds later, another email arrived in his inbox.

Your order has arrived. To use it on a PC, open and install it on your PC. To use it on a phone, open and install it via your phone’s QQ. After installation, just log into the game.

The instructions were very simple, with an attachment at the end of the email.

“That was fast. Could it be a scammer? The kind that uses viruses to transfer funds from bank accounts?”

98K Sniper God was startled by the seller’s speed. He had just ended the conversation a few seconds ago, and they had already finished making the cheat he needed. It was unbelievable.

“Well, the phone I use for gaming isn’t linked to anything anyway. I’d like to see what you’re really up to.”

A slight smile appeared on his lips as he picked up his dedicated gaming Fruit phone. He skillfully opened QQ on his phone, clicked the email, and installed the cheat.

Everything was normal. There were no signs of a virus, like the phone freezing or the screen going black. He launched the chicken dinner game, and that too worked without a hitch. No anomalies at all.

“Could there really be a tech god like this out there?”

With a hint of doubt, he started matchmaking.

BANG!

In the game, he aimed his scope at an enemy. The 98K let out its characteristic crisp report, and the screen immediately showed that he had downed one person.

“Holy crap, it really works! I didn’t even fire just now. The cheat must have fired automatically. Haha, with this cheat, I’ll have nothing to worry about from now on.”

A smile spread across 98K Sniper God’s face. He couldn’t believe it actually worked. What followed was a god-like performance. Whenever he saw someone, he would just raise his scope, and without him needing to do anything, the cheat would automatically lock on and fire. One shot, one enemy. Soon enough, he successfully got a chicken dinner with a terrifying kill count of twenty-three.

“1000 yuan a month, this cheat is totally worth it!”

After an easy win, 98K Sniper God picked up his other phone, contacted the seller again, asked for their payment details, and swiftly transferred the 1000 yuan.

While Qin Yi was sound asleep, the Technology Tower’s intelligent program, the Old Man, was busy. The cheats it created were now selling like hotcakes.

Because they were custom-made, aside from Qin Yi’s restrictions against things like “six wok lids blocking bullets” or “headshots from eight hundred li away,” the Old Man could easily create any cheat a customer demanded.

No matter the game, whether it was for grinding levels and farming loot, or for displaying a unique, exclusive message after killing an enemy, the Old Man could quickly fulfill all requests, guaranteeing one hundred percent customer satisfaction.

Coupled with the “try before you buy” model, many people were initially skeptical and just wanted to test it out in-game before committing. But the cheats made by the powerful Old Man were so effective that testers were invariably impressed and eagerly paid up.

Of course, the most crucial part was that the Old Man had searched the internet for everyone with a history of buying cheats and marketed to them directly. With his entire target audience in the bag, it was hard not to make money.

The figure in Qin Yi’s bank account began to soar. His initial savings of just over ten thousand yuan quickly became twenty thousand, then thirty thousand. In less than five hours, the balance in his bank account broke the one hundred thousand yuan mark and continued to climb towards a million.

Chapter 6: A Job That Earns Hundreds of Millions a Year Is Actually…

While Qin Yi slept soundly, the Old Man, the intelligent program of the Technology Tower in his mind, was working tirelessly.

On one hand, he was negotiating the sale of game cheats with buyers. On the other, he was designing a series of personalized cheats according to customer requests.

Because these were custom-made cheats, the service was essentially one-on-one. Many gamers who bought cheats weren’t always looking for an unfair gameplay advantage; sometimes, they just wanted to show off their individuality.

For example, one player requested that after killing an enemy in a shooter game, a unique balloon would rise from the spot, all for the sake of looking cool.

Another player, trying to woo a girl in a game, specifically requested the ability to trigger a pre-set confession or a fireworks display by using an item or performing an action.

Still others wanted to make their game characters more distinctive and unique, demanding special outfits, mounts, and so on.

The personalized requests were endless and varied. Of course, many still bought cheats for an unfair advantage, or to grind for experience, farm monsters, or hunt for treasures.

Just how many gamers were there in all of Huaxia? According to a survey, as of 2014, Huaxia had three hundred fourteen million game users. In terms of global gaming industry revenue, Huaxia dominated in 2017 with 27.5 billion US dollars.

With such a massive user base, composed mostly of young people with strong spending power in the virtual world, the industry was incredibly profitable. The Penguin Empire’s mega-hit, Honor of Kings, had a skin for the hero Zhao Yun called “Heart of the Engine,” which raked in a staggering one hundred fifty million on its first day of release. This alone showed just how lucrative the gaming industry was.

To get a better gaming experience, many players resorted to using cheats. Of course, on a global scale, Huaxia had the most severe cheating problem.

This might have something to do with a long-standing tradition in Huaxia. Whenever people encounter a problem, their first thought isn’t that they are less skilled, nor is it to seek or protect their interests through normal, legal, and reasonable channels.

The habitual mindset is to first use connections to find someone, to go through the back door. They use this method to gain an unfair competitive edge, to the point where even for simple matters, they feel uneasy if they don’t use a connection or go through the back door.

Research data indicated that in Huaxia, nearly ten out of every one hundred gamers had purchased cheat software. A ten percent ratio, combined with Huaxia’s several hundred million gamers, meant that tens of millions of players had bought cheats. It was no wonder that many cheat sellers were living high on the hog.

At this moment, it was still the dead of night, but the number of players active in various virtual online games was still enormous. The powerful Old Man, like a god in the world of the internet, easily sifted through these people.

“The personalized confession cheat you requested has been sent to your game. If you are satisfied, please transfer payment to XXXXXXX!”

“Our cheats can be tried before you buy. No satisfaction, no charge~”

“You want to wipe out all the players on the server with one move? No, that won’t work. It’s not that I can’t do it, but what’s the point if you’re the only one left after annihilating the entire server?”

The Old Man’s business was booming. He was constantly negotiating with buyers while creating custom-made cheats based on personal requests. Even for a super-powerful intelligence, he was swamped.

Besides selling cheats, the Old Man also had to help Qin Yi produce videos about the cosmos. Although his storage contained countless videos of the interstellar universe, he still had to pick out some of the most captivating ones.

Furthermore, he had to add text, narration, and other explanations to these videos. Otherwise, even the most spectacular footage would be confusing and meaningless to viewers if it was just an empty video.

He’s sleeping so soundly. Starting tomorrow, your easy days are over. You’ll have to thoroughly learn the contents of at least one hundred books a day for me.

Inside Qin Yi’s mind, the Old Man sensed how peacefully Qin Yi was sleeping and spoke with a malicious tone.

…

The next day, at 6:30 in the morning, Qin Yi’s phone alarm woke him up right on time.

Qin Yi stretched his back. The feeling of sleeping soundly until morning was truly wonderful. He looked around the empty dormitory, smiled, and shook his head. As was his habit, he got up, washed his face, brushed his teeth, put on his jogging clothes, and prepared to go for his morning run to exercise.

However, when Qin Yi saw the notes on his desk, he finally remembered that he had had a miraculous encounter the previous night and had obtained something called the Technology Tower.

“Old Man~”

Qin Yi’s consciousness arrived at the Technology Tower in his mind, and he immediately saw the Old Man, who was sporting a pair of dark circles under his eyes.

“Aren’t you an intelligent program? You get tired too?”

Qin Yi looked at the Old Man with some amazement. He was a powerful intelligent program, yet he was so tired he had dark circles. If word got out, it would be an embarrassment to the entire army of intelligent programs.

“Take a look at the money in your bank card, and you’ll know why I have dark circles. Intelligent programs need rest too, you know. I haven’t had a moment’s rest since last night. You tell me if I’d get dark circles.”

The Old Man shot Qin Yi a look. He was incredibly lifelike, just like a real person; you couldn’t tell at all that he was an artificial intelligence.

Hearing the Old Man’s words, Qin Yi felt a surge of joy. He immediately took out his phone, logged into his mobile bank, and opened his account to check the balance.

“Holy crap~ I’m rich!”

When he saw the string of numbers in his bank account balance, Qin Yi couldn’t help but cry out in excitement.

“Ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, ten thousands, hundred thousands~ I actually earned one hundred thirty thousand in one night!”

“Old Man, you’re amazing~”

Qin Yi carefully counted the digits on his bank account. It showed a balance of over one hundred forty thousand. He originally had a little over ten thousand, so in just one night—in fact, in just over six hours—he had gained more than one hundred thirty thousand. The speed at which he was making money was truly a bit frightening.

“Of course~ Don’t you know who I am? Look at you, getting so worked up over such a small amount of money. It’s just a string of numbers. Is it necessary to be this excited?”

The Old Man naturally sensed Qin Yi’s excitement and elation and shook his head with a sense of helplessness. He really couldn’t understand why humans were so obsessed with and excited by money. It was just a string of numbers. If he wanted to, he could add many more zeros to the end of that number at any time.

“That’s what you don’t get. Money isn’t everything, but you can’t do anything without it.”

“Forget it, talking about this with an artificial intelligence is pointless. You wouldn’t understand. Let me calculate… one hundred thirty thousand in six hours, that’s five hundred twenty thousand in twenty-four hours. Let’s say five hundred thousand. In a month of thirty days, that’s fifteen million~”

He hadn’t realized it until he did the math, but the result was shocking. He never thought making game cheats could be so profitable. Earning tens of millions a month meant a profit of over a hundred million a year, which was more profitable than 35% of the companies listed on Huaxia’s A-share market.

“Over a hundred million a year? I, the Old Man, am the intelligence of the Technology Tower, after all. Isn’t this labor a bit too cheap?”

Hearing this figure, the Old Man pursed his lips. It seemed he was indeed only suited for teaching and nurturing; he really wasn’t good at making money.

“I’ve earned money for you, so you should focus on your studies. Your Earth’s civilization is only Level 1, unable to even leave its home planet. No matter how much money you have on Earth, if you one day encounter a powerful alien civilization, your fate will be tragic.”

“You don’t have to tell me, I’ll study hard. My short-term goal is to become a world-renowned scientist, a household name. How can I do that without studying?”

Qin Yi said with a smile in his mind. Since the Old Man was busy with the money-making side of things, he could completely free up his time to focus on studying. He could quit his part-time jobs like tutoring and food delivery.

“That’s more like it~”

“Your goal for today is to finish reading ten volumes of Detailed Explanation of Level 1 Civilization Physics, ten volumes of Detailed Explanation of Level 1 Civilization Chemistry, ten volumes of Detailed Explanation of Level 1 Civilization Mathematics…”

The Old Man nodded in satisfaction. Then, books began to fly out from within the Technology Tower, quickly forming towering stacks.

“Wait a minute~”

“Old Man, even if I were a prodigy, my learning ability couldn’t possibly be this terrifying, right? You want me to read ten books of each subject in a day? I couldn’t even flip through them that fast.”

In his mind, Qin Yi saw the sky-high piles of books, and his eyes widened in disbelief. He immediately protested to the Old Man.

“This is already a very small request. Just a few books a day, and they’re all from a Level 1 Universal Civilization, very simple. You can’t even accomplish this?”

The Old Man was slightly taken aback, not at all expecting Qin Yi to look so immensely pressured.

“I really can’t. Not unless the content of these books is very little. Otherwise, based on the volume of a book in our library, even with a photographic memory and speed-reading ten lines at a glance, I wouldn’t be able to finish so many books even if I spent all day flipping through them.”

Qin Yi shook his head like a pellet drum. He truly felt the immense pressure. Every task involved ten books at a time.

“Oh~ I see. You people from a Level 1 Universal Civilization must not have invented the technology to develop the body and brain yet. The evolution of your bodies and brains is still very primitive and basic, so your learning ability and physical speed are very poor. That explains it.”

Seeing Qin Yi’s expression, the Old Man frowned. Then, as if he remembered something, a look of sudden realization dawned on his face.

“Technology to develop the body and brain? The body and brain can be developed with technology?”

Hearing this, Qin Yi was stunned. It seemed the Old Man had a lot of good stuff.

Chapter 7: Gene Optimization Fluid

“But of course.”

The Old Man nodded as if it were a matter of fact.

“Look at the history of your human development. As the level of civilization and technology has steadily improved, the lifespan of you humans on Earth has begun to increase dramatically.”

“Take your Huaxia, for example. In ancient times, the average human lifespan didn’t exceed thirty-five years. But by the twenty-first century, the average life expectancy in Huaxia reached seventy-six years, and the country with the highest average global life expectancy, Japan, reached eighty-four years.”

“Lifespan is also an important indicator for measuring the developmental level of a civilization!”

Hearing this, Qin Yi nodded. The United Nations Development Programme releases a Global Development Index every year, which includes many indicators. The economy, average level of education, and average life expectancy are among the most important.

Generally speaking, countries and regions with higher average life expectancies have higher development indices, and vice versa. Developed countries in Europe and America are basically at the forefront, while African countries are usually at the bottom. The average life expectancy in these regions is very low; in a few places, it’s even less than fifty years.

“The average lifespan of a civilization’s people directly determines the heights and limits that civilization can reach. You have to understand, the further technology develops, the more intricate and complex it becomes. If your lifespan is too short, it’s very likely you’ll have one foot in the grave before you’ve even finished learning what your predecessors researched.”

“Take your current Huaxia, for example. With an average lifespan of seventy-six years, you spend the first twenty years before even graduating from university. Add a master’s and a doctorate, and you’re basically thirty. This is when you’re in your absolute prime, your golden years. Until you’re around sixty, you have about thirty of your best years.”

“But once you reach sixty, your physical condition declines sharply. Coupled with an aging brain, you can contribute less and less to high-intensity scientific research.”

“And this is just at the Level 1 Civilization stage. Once you enter the Level 2 Civilization stage, technology and knowledge will explode once again. You’ll need to spend even more time learning. If the average lifespan doesn’t increase, it means that this golden period will be drastically shortened.”

“At that point, the time required to develop from a Level 2 Civilization to a Level 3 Civilization will be longer and more difficult. Even if you manage to reach Level 3, advancing to Level 4 would be basically impossible.”

The Old Man seemed to have transformed into a teacher, speaking eloquently on the subject as if he were standing on the shoulders of giants, seeing the path of civilization’s development with perfect clarity.

After hearing this and pondering for a long while, Qin Yi had to nod in agreement with the Old Man’s view. Modern technology was becoming increasingly specialized and detailed. A significant reason for this was the explosion of knowledge and technology. A single person has limited energy, making it difficult to make outstanding contributions in multiple fields.

Therefore, rather than choosing to research multiple disciplines, it was better to specialize in one narrow field, constantly expanding and deepening one’s knowledge within it.

Of course, there has never been a shortage of geniuses since ancient times. Some brilliant individuals are outstanding in multiple fields, but such people are, after all, a minority. The gap between most people is actually very small.

“Another factor that limits the development of a civilization is the degree to which the brain is developed. Take you Earth humans, for example. The number of neurons in the brain is somewhere between 86 billion and 100 billion, but the proportion that is actually developed and used is only in the single digits, probably between six to eight percent.”

“One of the greatest scientists of the last century, Einstein, only developed about fifteen percent of his brain, yet he developed the theory of relativity and made vital contributions to the development of modern physics.”

“From this, we should understand the importance of brain development. It’s said that Einstein’s learning ability was terrifying. A photographic memory was nothing to him. He was extremely sensitive to numbers and possessed an incredibly powerful and frightening mental calculation ability.”

“In the interstellar universe, average lifespan and average brain development are both important indicators for measuring the developmental level of a civilization. A civilization with a longer average lifespan and a higher degree of brain development will certainly not be lacking in its level of progress.”

The Old Man then shifted the topic to brain development.

“So, does that mean the citizens of advanced civilizations in the universe are all a bunch of old fossils who never die?”

Hearing this, Qin Yi couldn’t help but purse his lips. The Old Man seemed to look down on Earthlings a little.

“Old fossils? You’ll find out in the future.”

The Old Man smiled and spoke noncommittally.

“With a high degree of brain development comes a powerful learning ability. The same knowledge and content might be fully understood by one person after a single read, while others might spend many days and nights studying it and still struggle to comprehend it.”

“As civilization and technology advance, the body of knowledge becomes larger and more difficult. Although there are geniuses, they are an extremely small minority. The progress of civilization and technology can’t always rely on geniuses to push it forward. That would be far too slow. What’s more, even geniuses can fade into obscurity as they grow.”

“For a civilization to develop, the overall level must be raised. Therefore, ways must be found to increase the average lifespan and brain development of the general citizenry.”

“Thus, after research by countless scientists from countless civilizations, the civilizations of the universe slowly developed technologies to enhance the body and brain. One of the most important products is the Gene Optimization Fluid.”

“Gene Optimization Fluid?”

As soon as Qin Yi heard this, his eyes lit up. The name alone sounded sophisticated and impressive.

“The Gene Optimization Fluid can slowly improve the body’s physical condition and gradually develop the brain, thereby achieving the goals of increasing average lifespan and raising the average degree of brain development.”

“Of course, with the current level of your human civilization on Earth, you couldn’t possibly create this Gene Optimization Fluid. To manufacture it, even the lowest-grade version, your biotechnology would need to be at a Level 2 Civilization standard.”

“Isn’t that the same as saying nothing useful? I thought you had something great like that on you.”

Qin Yi pursed his lips. This Old Man was spouting all sorts of far-fetched things. Earth’s civilization was only at Level 1. Who knew how long it would take to reach Level 2? By then, he might already be a pile of dust.

“Haha! Of course, I have Gene Optimization Fluid. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have brought it up. I have a lot of good stuff on hand. If you want to get your hands on my treasures, you’d better study hard and continuously raise your civilization’s level.”

Seeing Qin Yi’s expression, the Old Man laughed cheerfully. With a flick of his hand, a test tube-like object appeared, filled with a flowing, amber-green liquid.

“Really?”

Qin Yi’s eyes were glued to the test tube, staring intently at the green liquid inside.

“Wait a minute. The Technology Tower is in my brain. How can you take this out?”

Then, as if remembering something, Qin Yi frowned again.

“Hehe! The Technology Tower is a being that transcends your imagination. The technology involved is completely beyond your current scope of understanding. Later, you just need to think the thought, and I’ll bring this Gene Optimization Fluid out for you.”

“This is to lay a foundation for you, so consider it a freebie. If you want more good things in the future, you’ll have to study hard and master more technology and knowledge.”

The Old Man said with a smile.

After listening, Qin Yi’s consciousness returned to reality. He thought of the Gene Optimization Fluid.

In an instant, a test tube appeared in Qin Yi’s right hand. It materialized without any fluctuation or warning, so abruptly that if Qin Yi hadn’t been prepared, he would have been startled and might have instinctively thrown it away.

Qin Yi picked up the Gene Optimization Fluid and examined it carefully. It was like the finest, glass-like jade, emitting a captivating green light. Vaguely, he could feel every cell in his body grow restless, as if desperately wanting to devour it.

“Old Man, how do I use this Gene Optimization Fluid?”

Holding the fluid, Qin Yi didn’t hesitate at all. Besides, at that moment, every cell in his body was sending him a strong signal to use the fluid immediately.

“It’s simple. Point one end of the Gene Optimization Fluid at one of your arms, and it will automatically inject itself into your body.”

The Old Man’s voice echoed in his mind. At the same time, a video appeared in Qin Yi’s thoughts, as if he were watching someone demonstrate how to use the Gene Optimization Fluid.

Qin Yi held the Gene Optimization Fluid in his right hand and pointed one end at his left arm.

A needle slowly emerged from the previously test-tube-like container. The needle gently inserted itself into Qin Yi’s arm and then began to slowly inject the Gene Optimization Fluid into him.

“Ah~”

Qin Yi didn’t feel the slightest bit of pain. On the contrary, as the fluid was slowly injected into his body, he felt a wave of unparalleled comfort wash over him. It was so relaxing and pleasant that he couldn’t help but let out a contented sigh.

His body felt like land that had been parched for a long time, and the Gene Optimization Fluid was like a great downpour. As the rain fell, every cell in his body began to greedily absorb the substances within the fluid. Even the mitochondria deep within his cells began to slowly change.

“This feels amazing~”

After a long while, the Gene Optimization Fluid had completely entered Qin Yi’s body. The test tube-like container was just as abruptly taken back by the Old Man, leaving no trace behind. Qin Yi felt that his body was incredibly light and comfortable. His mind was exceptionally clear, and even the world around him seemed to have become sharper.

Chapter 8: The Importance of Literature and Philosophy

Here on the Huaxia University campus, although it was only half past six in the morning, most of the nation’s best and brightest were already up. They were either exercising on the athletic field or had found a quiet corner to silently memorize English vocabulary. Every student who made it to this top Huaxia institution cherished each and every day here.

On the athletic field, a faint chill still hung in the air, making one long for the warmth of their bed. Yet, the rubber track was already dotted with figures moving to and fro. Steam rose from their vibrant, youthful bodies as they ran, drenched in sweat, without stopping.

Many people were out for a morning run, and Qin Yi, jogging among them, was hardly conspicuous. His pace wasn’t fast, but it was exceptionally rhythmic. He ran with an unhurried ease, a sense of leisurely calm about him.

By now, Qin Yi had already completed three or four laps, yet his face wasn’t red, and he wasn’t out of breath. His speed showed no signs of slowing. In the past, he was like most ordinary people—his breathing would grow heavy after running a few hundred meters, and he’d be gasping for air after a lap or two.

After another lap or two, he would have had to stop and walk slowly to rest for a while. It would have been impossible for him to run as effortlessly as he was now. After four laps, he felt as if he had just started.

“This Gene Optimization Fluid is truly incredible. I feel like my body is brimming with strength. I could probably run another eight or ten laps without feeling the slightest bit tired.”

As he ran, Qin Yi marveled at the miraculous power of the Gene Optimization Fluid. He had only injected it a short while ago, yet he could clearly feel his physical fitness continuously improving.

Besides not feeling tired while running, Qin Yi’s vision had also become sharper. He used to wear a pair of thick glasses for his nearsightedness, but now, running without them, he found that he could see perfectly. Before, when he looked at people, all he could make out was a blurry face; he couldn’t see their features clearly at all.

But now, it was as if his myopia had been cured in an instant. He could see everyone with perfect clarity. There were many girls running nearby. In the past, he thought every girl looked like a beauty, a goddess. Now that he could see clearly, he realized beautiful women were indeed a scarce resource; most people were rather average.

“It’ll be harder to find a girlfriend in the future. Sometimes, seeing things too clearly isn’t such a good thing~”

Qin Yi smiled and shook his head, then picked up his pace, continuing to run on the track as if his feet could fly.

From half past six to seven o’clock, for a full thirty minutes, Qin Yi ran without stopping once to rest. He had lost count of how many laps he’d run, but even on the final one, he still felt relaxed, as if he could keep going.

Grumble~ Grumble~

Patting the stomach that had long been protesting, Qin Yi ended his morning run. He returned to his dorm for a shower, feeling refreshed all over.

“Auntie, five more steamed buns and two meat buns, please~”

In the cafeteria, Qin Yi went back to the counter, his face flushed. His appetite today was unusually large. This was already his fifth time getting more food.

“Old Man, is this Gene Optimization Fluid some kind of shoddy, unlicensed product? The side effects are insane. If I keep eating at this rate, I’m going to eat myself into poverty.”

As Qin Yi devoured a steamed bun in large bites, he complained to the Old Man in his mind. It was obvious the Gene Optimization Fluid was some kind of back-alley junk; otherwise, why would he feel like a reincarnated hungry ghost today?

So far, Qin Yi had already eaten more than twenty steamed buns, over a dozen large meat buns, several big bowls of congee, more than ten shumai, three bowls of rice noodles, and five eggs…

His appetite was so monstrous that he had to move to a different spot in the cafeteria each time he got food, afraid of being stared at like a freak. Not even those professional eaters on livestreams could eat this much.

“Don’t you dare repay my kindness with malice. You don’t recognize a good thing when you see it! The Gene Optimization Fluid I gave you is the absolute highest grade. It’s one thing not to appreciate it, but to call it an unlicensed product?”

Inside the Technology Tower, the Old Man stood with his arms crossed, looking thoroughly exasperated.

“Then tell me, why do I feel hungry no matter how much I eat? Why can’t I ever feel full?”

Qin Yi pouted, now seriously suspecting that the Old Man and the Technology Tower itself were unlicensed products. What kind of thing doesn’t even know who created it? A fraud!

“You’re making a mountain out of a molehill. The Gene Optimization Fluid optimizes your genes, enhances your physical speed, and develops your brain, but all of that requires energy! Where does that energy come from? Of course it comes from you constantly eating to replenish it.”

The Old Man shook his head helplessly, and then the door to the Technology Tower slammed shut. He really didn’t want to deal with Qin Yi anymore. The boy had struck gold but was still complaining. Not recognizing its value was one thing, but calling the Technology Tower an unlicensed product? This was intolerable!

“So that’s how it is~”

After hearing the explanation, Qin Yi nodded. He then started to tear into a large steamed bun with a vengeance. In just a few bites, the fist-sized bun vanished. He took a sip of congee and picked up another bun…

“Finally full. This one breakfast cost me over a hundred yuan. Good thing the cheat the Old Man made is still earning me money, or I really would eat myself into poverty. If I eat like this for every meal, sooner or later I won’t even be able to afford food.”

Half an hour later, Qin Yi rubbed his perfectly round belly and let out a small burp. He mentally calculated the cost of his meal and instantly worried that he might not be able to afford to eat in the future.

…

“I spent too much time on breakfast. All the good spots are gone~”

By the time Qin Yi arrived at the library, it was already packed with people. It took him a long while to find a seat. Seats in the Huaxia University library were in extremely high demand. In the past, he could always grab a good spot by arriving early, but since he was a little late today, all the prime locations were taken.

He skillfully took out his notebook computer, turned it on, and connected to the library’s network. Then, he laid out his notepad, books, and other materials. After a trip to the water dispenser to fill his thermos with hot water, another day of diligent struggle in the library began.

“Old Man~ Where should I start my studies?” Qin Yi asked the Old Man in the Technology Tower through his thoughts.

“My suggestion is that you start by studying the technology here on your Earth. First, master all of Earth’s science and technology thoroughly. Then you can come to me to continue your learning.”

“This way, I will have a rough idea of your level and where your planet’s technological development stands. When I teach you, I can be more targeted.”

“Furthermore, studying Earth’s current technology will allow you to better integrate it with the knowledge I have here. You can also expand upon Earth’s existing technology, publish some papers, and so on. That way, your reputation will grow quickly.”

The Old Man pondered for a moment before speaking.

“I was thinking the same thing. I’ll master Earth’s knowledge and technology first, then come to you to learn.”

Qin Yi nodded. That had been his plan all along.

“I suggest you start with the fundamentals. Although you’re supposedly a top student from Huaxia’s premier institution, and your grades have always been decent, I still recommend you relearn everything from the very basics.”

“Mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, literature, philosophy, music…”

The Old Man looked at Qin Yi with the expression of a master who had found a teachable student. He thought for a moment and continued to offer advice, but he was cut off before he could finish.

“Wait~ I understand math, physics, chemistry, and biology. They are crucial for technological development. But literature, philosophy, and music? I don’t really get it. How will studying those subjects help improve my scientific knowledge?”

Qin Yi was baffled when he heard literature and music. Did he really need to become a polymath? It’s not like he was planning to win a Nobel Prize in Literature or Music—wait, there was no Nobel Prize for music. He felt there was no need to waste time studying these things.

“Literature and philosophy are the crystallized wisdom born from a sentient species’ self-reflection. Many of their concepts transcend technology, even time and space. They are the priceless treasures of a civilization’s intellect.”

“A civilization, a people, or a nation can only be said to truly possess a soul when it has produced countless philosophers and writers. The same is true for music.”

“Studying literature, philosophy, and music may not seem to directly help your scientific pursuits, but by learning them, you will learn how to think and develop a richer imagination. And those two things are absolutely indispensable for any outstanding scientist.”

“Many of the distinguished scientists your Earth has produced serve as proof. Newton was fond of philosophy and music. Einstein’s theories are deeply imbued with philosophical thought, and he had a profound understanding of philosophy. Galileo, Descartes, Bacon, Kant, and Leibniz were not only great scientists but also great philosophers.”

“When Einstein, Planck, and Hahn were together, they could form a high-level chamber music trio: Einstein played the violin, Planck played the piano, and Hahn sang along. Kepler was an astronomer, a musician, and a poet.”

“Pasteur was a biologist and a painter. Nobel was a chemist, a poet, and a novelist. Da Vinci was a famous scientist and painter of the Renaissance. Russia’s Lomonosov was a scientist and a poet.”

“Morse, who invented the Morse code, was originally a professional landscape painter and physiologist. Richet, the 1913 Nobel laureate in Physiology or Medicine, wrote poetry, plays, and novels. His love poems were breathtaking, his plays were frequently performed across Europe, and his novels, which drew upon his research in psychology, were all gripping.”

The Old Man knew everything about Earth. When he spoke of these things, the examples he could cite were endless.

“Stop, stop! I get it. I understand their importance now. I’ll study them all~”

Chapter 9: How to Calculate the Mass of the Earth

“They’re all a bunch of people who don’t stick to their proper business, yet they’re so damn brilliant you can’t say a word against them.”

Qin Yi shook his head helplessly and started looking for books.

The library at Huaxia University had an incredibly rich collection. Across all of Huaxia, the only one that could possibly surpass it was likely the Imperial Capital University.

The entire massive library housed everything from the most basic texts to books on specialized fields. Every book was cataloged, and its exact location could be found through the internal library network, making searches extremely convenient.

A little over ten minutes later, Qin Yi returned to his seat with a pile of books. There were more than a dozen of them, on subjects as varied as mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, and even literature, art, and music. It was a motley collection, but as the Old Man used to say, one should alternate subjects while reading. It was less tiring and made it easier to absorb the information.

“A Comprehensive Guide to High School Mathematics~”

Qin Yi picked up a book and began to read it seriously. Although he was starting from the basics, he couldn’t very well go back to elementary or middle school content. High school was the logical starting point.

Qin Yi had been very good at high school math, nearly scoring full marks on his college entrance exam. So, reviewing “A Comprehensive Guide to High School Mathematics” was a breeze, with no difficulty whatsoever.

“My memory has improved so much. I can pretty much remember everything I read.”

Soon, Qin Yi noticed the immense change in himself. While he had studied high school math for three years and had done countless problems, solidifying his memory of many concepts, he was now a junior in college. It had been a few years since he’d last touched this material. Yet now, he was reading at an incredible speed, practically taking in ten lines at a glance, and still remembering the book’s contents with perfect clarity. With a nearly photographic memory, he combined this with his past learning experiences and quickly grasped everything.

“Looks like the Old Man wasn’t bluffing. This Gene Optimization Fluid is truly miraculous. It can actually develop the brain. My physical fitness has improved a lot, too.”

Qin Yi marveled at the wonders of the Gene Optimization Fluid as he read.

“Bluffing? Do I need to bluff?~”

Inside the Technology Tower in his mind, the Old Man huffed, his beard practically bristling.

In less than ten minutes, Qin Yi finished the thick “A Comprehensive Guide to High School Mathematics.”

“One can acquire new knowledge by reviewing the old. The ancients really had a point. Going over high school math from the beginning has deepened my understanding of the subject.”

“Many people think mathematics isn’t useful, but in reality, it’s the true foundation of modern science. Without breakthroughs in mathematics, scientists would be unable to make any deep progress in other fields.”

“The true effect of mathematics isn’t reflected in exam-oriented education, but in the development of one’s future mental and cognitive abilities. Learning math is a process of training the mind, moving from the simple to the complex. Many feel that the mathematical knowledge they learn will be useless in the future, and it’s true that you won’t use much of it unless you work in a related academic field.”

“But on the other hand, people who are good at math often have clearer thought processes and more coherent logic when handling various matters, giving them an edge in terms of subjective initiative. Problems that many people solve with clumsy methods, they can often cut straight to the heart of with their own thinking. They are also adept at various forms of reverse and transformative thinking, which becomes incredibly useful as their accumulated knowledge grows.”

Qin Yi closed his eyes, replaying the concepts of high school math in his mind. He then thought back to his high school classmates. Those who excelled at math often had good grades across all the sciences. This was because the sciences required one to constantly think and reason; they became simple once understood, but remained difficult if not.

Conversely, those who were poor at math often chose to study the arts and humanities. Much of that field involved rote memorization and mechanical application, a stark contrast to the dynamic nature of the sciences.

“It seems I’ll have to study more mathematics in the future to train my way of thinking. I used to think that once you got to advanced mathematics, it was basically detached from any real-world needs. Now I see how shallow my understanding was.”

Qin Yi gently set the math book down and picked up an in-depth guide to high school physics. He had also been quite good at physics in high school, scoring very high on that part of the college entrance exam.

Revisiting his high school physics knowledge, Qin Yi learned just as quickly. Taking in ten lines at a glance, he flipped a page every few seconds. Soon, the entire thick book was finished.

“Qin Yi, did you learn anything after reading that?”

In his mind, the Old Man, a little bored, struck up a conversation. Now that Qin Yi had finished reviewing high school physics, the Old Man naturally had a clear picture of the level of civilization’s development on Earth.

“The takeaways were decent.”

Qin Yi smiled and nodded.

“Then let me test you. Do you know how to calculate the mass of the Earth?” the Old Man asked with a twinkle in his eye.

“What’s so hard about that? According to the Law of Universal Gravitation, F=GMm/R^2, where G=6.6710^(-11), M is the mass of the Earth, m is the mass of an object, and R is the Earth’s radius. We also know that F=mV^2/R. Simplifying this gives M_earth = V^2*R/G. V is the rotational velocity of the Earth, which can be found if you know the radius. Just plug in the data, and you can calculate the mass of the Earth.”

Qin Yi said it casually. Calculating a planet’s mass required the Law of Universal Gravitation. As long as you knew that, it was easy to figure out the Earth’s mass. This was no challenge for him at all.

“Don’t just memorize what you read. You remember these formulas and numbers well enough, but if I gave you this tool, could you use it to measure the Earth’s mass?”

The Old Man didn’t seem satisfied with Qin Yi’s answer. As he spoke with a smile, an image appeared in Qin Yi’s mind. In the image, a thin thread suspended a long, slender magnetic needle from its center. On either side of the needle, not far away, were two lead spheres.

“This thing can measure the Earth’s mass?”

Qin Yi was completely mystified when he saw it.

“Of course, it can. This was invented by one of your own Earth scientists to measure the planet’s mass. It’s called a ‘torsion balance.’ In the 18th century, a scientist on your planet named Cavendish used this very device to calculate the mass of the Earth.”

The Old Man nodded with certainty and began to explain the origin and function of the torsion balance.

The basic principle of a torsion balance is that two identical masses are attached to the ends of a rigid rod. The rod is then suspended from its center by a torsion wire. The rod can rotate freely around the wire. When the gravitational field is not uniform, the gravitational forces on the two masses are not parallel. This slight difference in direction creates small horizontal components of force on the masses, which in turn produces a torque that causes the suspended system to rotate until it is balanced by the restoring torque of the wire.

In the 18th century, scientists on Earth had long been wrestling with the problem of how to calculate the planet’s mass. Finally, in 1798, Cavendish used the torsion balance to successfully calculate the Earth’s mass to be approximately six sextillion tons.

Because the mass of the Earth had been measured, scientists were soon able to calculate its density. Not long after, they used the same method to measure the even more immense mass of the Sun, finding it to be three hundred thousand times that of the Earth, at 2 x 10^30 kilograms.

Following that, the masses of the other planets in the Solar System were also measured one by one. The seemingly simple torsion balance was able to calculate the mass of enormous celestial bodies, all based on the fundamental principle of the Law of Universal Gravitation.

“So that’s how it is. But why didn’t we learn about any of this in high school?”

After listening to the Old Man’s explanation, Qin Yi had a sudden epiphany, then frowned in thought. Based on high school physics knowledge, it shouldn’t have been a problem for him to calculate the Earth’s mass himself. After all, scientists had figured out a way to do it back in the 18th century.

But he had never even thought about the problem in that way. He had only memorized facts and formulas, endlessly grinding through practice problems. He knew a lot of things, but when it came to actually calculating the Earth’s mass, he was completely in the dark.

“In my opinion, your Huaxia’s current education system has quite a few problems. The most serious one is its exam-oriented nature. It only cares about test scores, and nothing else.”

“You might be very good at taking exams, but when it comes to actual scientific research and exploration, you need to cultivate your hands-on and critical thinking abilities.”

“Only then can you produce truly great scientists, not just bookworms who are only good at solving problems on paper.”

The Old Man mused for a long time. It had long since connected to Earth’s global network and was well aware of the education systems in various countries and regions. It had quickly identified many issues with Huaxia’s model.

Today, a single test of Qin Yi had immediately exposed many of these problems. For a student from a top institution like Huaxia University, his hands-on ability was one thing, but his lack of independent thought and exploratory skills was deeply disappointing.

“That’s definitely true~”

After hearing the Old Man’s words, Qin Yi thought for a long time and had no choice but to nod in agreement. Although he could come up with many arguments to refute the point, his own experiences left him speechless.

In high school, the academic pressure was intense. If something wasn’t on the exam, the teachers would often just skip it. For classes that weren’t tested, like music or physical education, it was customary for other teachers to “borrow” that time for their own subjects. All of this was more than enough to prove that the current system was an exam-oriented education.

This was not to say such an education had no benefits or advantages, but its drawbacks were something that had to be faced. They were impossible to avoid, and their impact was far-reaching.

Chapter 10: What’s Wrong with This Guy?

The library at Huaxia University was utterly silent, with everyone immersed in the ocean of knowledge.

At his seat, Qin Yi finished the last page of a book, stretched lazily, and put down Introduction to and Appreciation of Traditional Chinese Painting. Beside him, dozens of books were piled high—these were just the ones he had finished in a single morning.

The Gene Optimization Fluid was incredibly potent. Qin Yi’s brain had been developed to the point where his reading ability and memory were simply off the charts. He could read ten lines at a glance and possessed a photographic memory, allowing him to finish a book in just a few minutes. And that was even while deliberately taking time to summarize and recall the knowledge in his mind.

If he were merely memorizing the content, his reading speed would be even faster. But of course, he was here to gain knowledge, not to compete with someone in a book-flipping contest.

“It’s almost twelve o’clock already. Hmm, time to get lunch. I should take a few books back to read during my break.”

Qin Yi checked the time. The entire morning had flown by in a flash. Time really does fly when you’re truly engrossed in something.

Picking up the books from his desk, Qin Yi began returning them to the shelves while also looking for new ones to borrow.

“A two-hour lunch break… I’ll nap for half an hour and eat for half an hour, which leaves an hour in between. At my reading speed, I’ll need to borrow at least five books.”

As Qin Yi meticulously planned in his mind, he failed to notice that, right beside him, a beautiful girl was watching him with a puzzled expression.

“What’s wrong with this guy?”

“He’s just been flipping through books all morning. Dozens of them.”

Wen Xueying stared at Qin Yi as if he were some kind of freak. Glancing at the tall stack of books on his desk, she realized this was the first time she had ever encountered such an odd person.

“Who comes to the library not to read, but just to flip through books for fun? How bored must he be? High School Mathematics, High School Physics, High School Chemistry… and even Introduction to and Appreciation of Oil Painting.”

Her seat was right next to Qin Yi’s. At first, she hadn’t paid him any mind, but when she took a break and saw him flipping through pages, he had caught her attention.

After looking closely at the books he was skimming, she became even more certain: this guy next to her really had a problem, and a serious one at that. To come to the library just to play with books… he was a lost cause.

“I’m going to test him in a bit. People like him should be thrown out of the library. Hogging resources just to flip through books for fun. Does he think he’s a toddler who just learned to babble?”

Wen Xueying watched as Qin Yi, carrying a stack of books, walked away to return them. She picked up one of the books from his desk: Advanced Mathematics: Detailed Explanation of Functions and Limits.

She quickly copied down a problem from it, planning to ask Qin Yi for the solution later. She was determined to embarrass him, to make sure this guy who was wasting library resources would never dare to come back.

“Hmph. If I hadn’t seen it, I would’ve let it go. But since I happened to run into you, I have to teach you a lesson. You can’t just treat this place like a kindergarten.”

Wen Xueying took a closer look at the problem she had just copied and paused. She couldn’t solve it herself on the spot.

“This won’t do. I have to solve it first. Otherwise, if he asks me about it, I won’t be able to answer.”

“It’s a problem on functions and limits… I’ve forgotten how to solve it. I think I’ve seen this question before when I was doing past postgraduate entrance exam questions.”

Wen Xueying’s brows furrowed instantly. She picked up her pen and began scribbling calculations on a piece of scratch paper. The more she calculated, the deeper her frown became, because she just couldn’t get the answer.

Soon, Qin Yi returned with a few books. He set down the new ones and picked up another stack he had finished, ready to return them.

“Excuse me, classmate~”

Wen Xueying said softly to Qin Yi.

“Hello, can I help you?”

Qin Yi turned and was met with a breathtakingly beautiful face that was a feast for the eyes. True to her name, Wen Xueying’s skin was as fair as snow, so delicate it seemed a puff of air could break it.

He had been so focused on his books that he hadn’t noticed such a beauty sitting beside him. He was slightly taken aback that she was talking to him.

“I saw you were looking at the book on advanced math, functions and limits. I happen to have a problem I’m stuck on. I was wondering if you could enlighten me?”

Wen Xueying said, holding out the problem she had written down.

“Sure, let me see~”

Qin Yi nodded and took the paper to look at the problem.

If as x→0, (1-ax2)1/4 - 1 and x*sin(x) are equivalent infinitesimals, what is the value of a?

“That’s simple. a equals -4.”

The moment Qin Yi saw the problem, he instantly calculated the answer. It came to him without a second thought, and he blurted it out.

“How do you know it’s -4? Show me your calculation process.”

Wen Xueying was stunned for a moment, then spoke with a hint of disbelief.

Qin Yi smiled, picked up a pen, and swiftly wrote out the solution on the scratch paper.

(1-ax2)1/4 - 1 = 1 - 1/4 * ax^2 + o(x^2) - 1 = -1/4 * ax^2 + o(x^2); therefore, x*sin(x) = x^2 + o(x^2), so: a = -4.

Without any pause, Qin Yi quickly wrote down the entire process.

“See? It equals -4. This is a very typical functions and limits problem. It’s quite simple,” Qin Yi said with a smile as he pushed the scratch paper toward Wen Xueying.

Wen Xueying carefully examined the derivation on the paper and immediately understood. The problem wasn’t hard; anyone who had taken advanced math could solve it. She had just momentarily forgotten some of the concepts, which was why she couldn’t solve it. Now, after one look at Qin Yi’s work, it all came back to her.

“It really is -4. It seems I misjudged you.”

After looking it over, Wen Xueying’s face flushed slightly as she spoke with some embarrassment.

“Misjudged? I believe this is the first time we’ve met.”

Qin Yi was utterly confused by her words.

“Well, I was sitting next to you all morning and saw you constantly flipping through books. I thought you were just here to play around,” Wen Xueying said with an apologetic smile. She had originally wanted to say she thought he was crazy, but she rephrased it.

“Oh, is that so? I didn’t disturb you, did I?”

Qin Yi gave an awkward laugh, worried that his constant page-turning had affected her studies.

“No, not at all! I was just a little curious. Reading so quickly, can you actually remember the knowledge and content in the books?” Wen Xueying quickly shook her head and asked with curiosity.

“I can remember most of it. I just read a bit faster than most,” Qin Yi replied with a modest nod.

“Do you have a photographic memory?”

Hearing his answer, Wen Xueying seemed to recall something and asked excitedly, her eyes filled with admiration.

“I suppose you could say that,” Qin Yi said, scratching the back of his head in embarrassment.

“Wow! So people like you really exist! I’ve only ever heard about people with photographic memories but never met one. To actually meet one today… you’re incredible!”

Seeing Qin Yi nod, Wen Xueying’s eyes widened. She scrutinized him—this ordinary-looking, slightly shy guy actually had a photographic memory. She couldn’t help but give him a thumbs-up.

“You’re too kind. My memory is just a bit better than average, that’s all.”

Being praised with a thumbs-up by a beautiful girl was a first for Qin Yi, and he felt even more sheepish, replying with great humility.

“A photographic memory… that’s amazing! So such people really do exist. No wonder you read so fast. You aren’t even reading, you’re just flipping through the pages!”

Wen Xueying had turned into a complete fangirl, looking as if she wanted to ask for his autograph. The way she looked at him had completely changed.

“Haha, it’s pretty much like flipping through them,” Qin Yi laughed.

“My name is Wen Xueying. I’m in the School of Economics and Management, Finance, Class of 1701. And you?” Wen Xueying extended her right hand graciously as she introduced herself.

“I’m Qin Yi. College of Science and Engineering, Power Engineering and Engineering Thermophysics, Class of 1801,” Qin Yi said with a smile, introducing himself as he gently shook her hand.

“Class of ’18? Looks like you’re my junior,” Wen Xueying said with a smile.

“Uh, hello, senior~” Qin Yi replied with a surprised smile.

“Let’s add each other on WeChat. I might have to ask you for help if I run into any more problems I don’t understand,” Wen Xueying said, taking out her phone with a smile.

“We can learn from each other~”

Since she was being so straightforward, Qin Yi wasn’t foolish enough to refuse. He took out his own phone, and they added each other as WeChat friends.

“I have something to do, so I’ll get going. Will you be back here to read this afternoon?”

Wen Xueying edited Qin Yi’s contact name, adding a note behind it: Book-flipping Freak. She couldn’t help but smile to herself, but her expression remained normal as she asked about his afternoon plans.

“I’ll be here this afternoon and this evening.”

“Great! Then I’ll see you this afternoon.”

“Okay, see you this afternoon~”

Qin Yi watched Wen Xueying leave, then smiled to himself. He continued his work, picking up another stack of books to return them one by one to their original places while searching for new ones to read during his lunch break.

After returning the old books and borrowing new ones, Qin Yi left two books at his seat to save it. The library had been crowded in the morning, but it would be even more packed in the afternoon and evening. If he didn’t save his spot, he might as well not come back, because he would definitely not find another one.

The same was true for Wen Xueying’s seat next to him; she had already left a few books there. Although seats in the Huaxia University library were in high demand, as long as you left even a single sheet of paper, no one would ever take your spot.

Chapter 11: Gone Viral

After lunch, Qin Yi returned to his dorm. With some time to spare, he took out his phone and opened Douyin to check on the few videos the Old Man had created and posted for him.

He skillfully opened the app, and his notifications had exploded. His follower count had shot up by several million, his likes numbered in the tens of millions, and his comments and @mentions had also completely blown up. For a moment, even the Huawei phone in Qin Yi’s hand started to lag; there were simply too many notifications.

“Old Man, just how much traffic did you boost for me?”

Qin Yi casually scrolled through. The new followers were all strangers, and most of the comments were nonsensical, like “6666,” “I’m not cultured enough, so I can only shout, holy crap, that’s so awesome!,” or “Amazing! Bumping this up!”—comments with no real substance.

“Everyone who browsed Douyin today was able to see the videos on your account. Of course, having traffic doesn’t guarantee you’ll go viral. The real reason you’re a hit is because the videos I made are absolutely captivating.”

The Old Man’s voice sounded slightly smug in his mind. He had posted ten videos to Qin Yi’s Douyin account in one go. In today’s terms, each one was a special effects video that would cost millions of US dollars per second to produce.

Of course, from the perspective of people on Earth, these all looked like they were computer-generated. But the truth was, these videos were just an insignificant fraction of the countless video recordings the Technology Tower had casually captured during its travels across the universe.

After hearing this, Qin Yi quickly tapped on “My Works.” Ten videos were there, each related to space and the cosmos. He randomly tapped on one.

In the vast, boundless cosmos, an enormous space fleet advanced majestically through the void, turning a patch of empty space into an ocean of steel.

Each warship was immense, like a massive planet. As the camera slowly zoomed in, the closer it got to the ships, the smaller one felt. The energy weapons on the warships, the docking bays for space fighters, and other details were all incredibly clear, as if it were real footage.

When the view entered one of the warships, aliens with blue skin, smooth and hairless bodies, and pointed ears appeared. They were dressed in neat, uniform space combat suits, their expressions solemn, as if they were about to engage in a deadly battle with the enemy.

The video came to an abrupt halt there. Qin Yi’s account couldn’t post long videos yet, only fifteen-second clips. But despite its brevity, it still managed to convey the tense atmosphere right before a great interstellar war.

Watching the video, Qin Yi couldn’t help but give it a like and a follow. He was completely captivated by it. Even though it was only fifteen seconds long, the content it showcased was simply breathtaking.

Talent has always been found in the comment sections, so Qin Yi didn’t hesitate to open the comments.

“The cost of making Douyin videos is getting higher and higher. A fifteen-second video like this would be impossible to make without at least tens of millions of US dollars.”

“Look at how smooth the visuals are—the warships, the starry sky, everything about the aliens… I have a feeling this video is real footage, not something made with computers.”

“The person who made this video must be filthy rich. It’s so lifelike, it makes you feel like you’re really there.”

“It’s more realistic and clearer than scenes from sci-fi movies, to the point where I suspect this was actually filmed in some corner of the universe, not CGI at all.”

Unsurprisingly, the most-liked comments were all marveling at the video’s realism. Everyone believed that a lot of money had been spent to make it, that some rich person had poured a fortune into hiring someone to produce it.

“The vast cosmos is just so, so big. Our Earth, even the Solar System and the Milky Way Galaxy, are nothing but specks of dust in the boundless universe. Just because we haven’t encountered aliens yet doesn’t mean they don’t exist.”

“If aliens invade Earth one day, what would we do?”

“A battleship as large as a planet… Look at the main cannon on that thing. I have no doubt it could blow up the Earth with a single shot.”

“You’re all worrying for nothing. I’m just a broke nobody, still trying to decide whether to have a steamed bun for lunch or… another steamed bun. Let’s leave these life-and-death matters of humanity for others to worry about.”

Qin Yi scrolled through the comments one by one. Many of them were just fluff, but of course, the video had also sparked many people’s longing for and speculation about the cosmos. Some envisioned a beautiful future, while others worried about a future alien invasion. In short, the comments were a mixed bag.

There were far too many comments, so Qin Yi only gave them a cursory glance before moving on to the next video, which was completely different from the last.

This video chronicled the birth, death, and evolution of a star, complete with text and explanations. Although the Old Man had edited the video together, every stage of the star’s life shown was actual footage captured by the Technology Tower, including the final few seconds of the star’s supernova.

Like the previous one, this video’s likes and comments also exploded, with several million likes and hundreds of thousands of comments, attracting a huge number of followers.

Qin Yi continued to watch the videos one by one. Each one was dedicated to a specific topic about the cosmos, complete with text and narration. They expanded people’s knowledge of space and greatly piqued their interest. There were tons of follows, likes, and comments.

“I guess I’ve really gone viral.”

After watching them all, Qin Yi came to a conclusion. Of course, it was only his Douyin account that had gone viral. There was a fundamental difference between him and other internet celebrities, because he hadn’t shown his face from start to finish. So, in a way, he couldn’t be considered famous.

“Of course you’re viral. In just one day, with the help of my traffic-boosting, your Douyin account now has over five million followers, and it’s still growing every second. More and more people will follow you.”

The Old Man sounded as if it were a matter of course in his mind. To him, creating some videos and secretly boosting the traffic was a piece of cake.

I think using Douyin videos to promote space and the cosmos is actually a great idea. We know too little about space right now, and ordinary people don’t really care about it.

But the future will be completely different. We might be entering the space age very soon. Through this Douyin account, I can make some videos to showcase the charm of the cosmos. Maybe in the future, it could attract more people to venture into space, whether to seek fortune or pursue their dreams. That would also greatly promote the progress of civilization.

Qin Yi didn’t dwell on the issue of being famous or not. His original intention for having the Old Man make the videos was simply to get popular so he could sell products and earn money, accumulating his initial startup capital.

But now, the game cheats the Old Man was making were also very profitable. He had just checked; in just one morning, a little over four hours, his bank account had increased by over 300,000. Apparently, more gamers played during the day than at night, and more people were buying game cheats.

At this rate, just by selling the cheat software from the Old Man, Qin Yi could earn several hundred thousand a day. It wouldn’t be difficult to easily earn over a hundred million in initial startup capital within a year.

This frightening earning power and speed were far beyond Qin Yi’s initial expectations. He had originally thought that while selling cheats was profitable, he never would have dared to imagine he could earn over a hundred million a year from that alone.

So, Qin Yi began to reconsider his plans. Since his initial startup capital was now secured, he no longer needed to bother with setting up an online store or anything of that sort.

Although Qin Yi knew that with millions of followers, he could easily make a fortune. Even with the simplest method—selling things like clothes and shoes—he could make an enormous profit.

But on one hand, his startup capital was already secured. On the other, if he were to open an online store and sell merchandise, he wouldn’t have any time to settle down and study properly.

In his future plans, starting a company and making money was important, but before that, Qin Yi felt it was even more important to build a greater reputation and status for himself.

Only after he had acquired many titles and a great reputation could someone like him, from a poor background, better carry out his plans.

Otherwise, even if he had the money to start a company now, it would be fine for some trivial technologies. But once he brought out epoch-making technology, putting aside the issue of jealous people trying to swallow him whole, a simple investigation from the authorities would be enough to raise questions about the source of his technology.

Therefore, for the current Qin Yi, earning startup capital was not the most pressing matter. Reputation was. Qin Yi had no reputation to speak of, so he had to build one up as quickly as possible.

To become famous, especially in the field of technology, Qin Yi would naturally have to maintain the appearance of a dedicated student. At the same time, he would also have to gradually reveal himself to be a peerless genius in technology—the kind that appears only once in a century.

At this thought, Qin Yi gave up on the idea of using his viral Douyin account to make money. Instead, he thought that using it to promote things related to the cosmos—showcasing its beauty, vastness, and so on—might be a good idea.

Maybe in the future, I can have the Old Man make some videos promoting the opportunities and riches of the space age. Since ancient times, wealth has always been the greatest motivator. Where there is profit, there is drive. Wasn’t it the pursuit of wealth that led Europeans to slowly usher in the Age of Discovery several centuries ago?

Chapter 12: Papers with Huaxia Characteristics

Inside the Huaxia University library, Wen Xueying watched Qin Yi, who was continuously flipping through books beside her. His expression was incredibly focused, his eyes bright and full of spirit. Qin Yi finished flipping through a thick book in less than ten minutes.

“Reading ten lines at a glance, a photographic memory… If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I would never have believed someone like this could actually exist.”

After watching for a while, Wen Xueying couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy. With such a powerful ability, learning anything would be incredibly fast. Material that took others a long time to learn, Qin Yi could finish in a flash.

“What a freakish Book-flipping Freak… What’s the use of reading fast? Knowledge still needs to be thoroughly understood and integrated.”

Wen Xueying pouted slightly. Filled with envy, jealousy, and hate, this was the only excuse she could use to comfort herself. I may not learn as fast as you, but I fully integrate my knowledge.

At her side, Qin Yi didn’t notice Wen Xueying’s expression at all. While reading, he was communicating with the Old Man in his mind.

“Old Man, which field do you think I should start with?”

With the Technology Tower, Qin Yi had already clarified the path he would take. For his initial startup capital, he had the Old Man as a cheat, continuously earning funds for him. He could make several hundred thousand a day. With such a terrifying earning speed, startup capital was naturally no longer a concern.

What troubled Qin Yi now was his lack of reputation. He was just an ordinary, unremarkable person. In the world of science and technology, no one knew his name.

Besides, fame wasn’t like money. Even with the advanced technologies from the Technology Tower in his possession, he would still have to build his reputation step by step.

“Your major is Power Engineering and Engineering Thermophysics. I suggest you start from this field. First, publish some papers in internationally renowned scientific journals to build your reputation. It would be best if you could win some influential scientific awards. Your fame will naturally follow.”

The Old Man replied without a second thought.

“Publish research papers?”

Qin Yi nodded slightly upon hearing this.

Major universities in Huaxia require their faculty and professors to publish a certain number of academic papers. The more papers published, the greater the influence, and naturally, the greater their reputation grows.

Of course, publishing papers in Huaxia has its own unique “Huaxia characteristics.” Because domestic universities, national research institutions, and the like all have requirements for the number of published papers, researchers in the country are very fond of publishing them.

In terms of the sheer number of papers published, Huaxia had ranked among the world’s top for several years, and in recent years, it has become the country that publishes the most papers globally.

In 2018, according to statistics from the American National Science Foundation (NSF), the total number of papers published by Huaxia scientific researchers in famous international scientific magazines and journals had surpassed that of the United States, claiming the top spot in the world.

However, a country’s scientific research strength cannot be measured by quantity alone. The internationally authoritative Nature Index stated, “Although Huaxia produces the most scientific papers, their quality is hardly commendable.”

The quality of Huaxia’s papers is difficult to summarize in a single sentence, but the citation rate of a document is an indicator of its importance and influence, which can, to some extent, reflect the state of a country’s academic quality.

If one were to simply count the numbers, Huaxia’s scientific development would seem quite impressive. But if one used citation rates to filter out unimportant and uninfluential papers, the reality is that Huaxia wouldn’t even make it into the international top ten.

Many so-called experts, scholars, and professors from domestic diploma mills can publish hundreds of academic papers a year in various journals.

It’s enough to make anyone who hears it laugh their head off. Those who don’t know better might think it’s like a web novelist on Qidian writing a story—just a flash of inspiration is all it takes.

A genuinely academic research paper, concluded from one’s own serious research, takes a very long time to publish. Generally speaking, it’s normal for a scientist or scholar to publish two or three academic papers in a year; four or five would be considered highly productive.

Publishing hundreds of academic research papers in a single year is truly laughable.

Of course, the journals where these people publish their papers are usually domestic ones or obscure international journals.

The truly high-quality and influential ones are still the American magazine Science and the British magazine Nature. Yet, even in these two most authoritative scientific journals, papers from Huaxia have been appearing frequently in recent years.

On one hand, this is naturally due to the fact that Huaxia’s domestic scientific and technological development is indeed thriving. The environment for scientific research in the country is improving daily, and the state places great importance on technology, providing strong support for its development. As a result, Huaxia’s technology is constantly advancing.

On the other hand, it’s because the culture of publishing academic research papers in Huaxia is simply too prevalent. Researchers’ promotions, title evaluations, and performance are linked to the number of papers they publish, even becoming a rigid requirement. Furthermore, applications for master’s and doctoral programs, as well as the rankings of research institutions, also include this in their assessments. Even medical personnel are no exception.

Under such a pervasive culture, many people who haven’t actually done any real research themselves are incredibly skilled at plagiarizing and piecing things together, even managing to get published in authoritative international journals.

This has led to a situation where Huaxia is both the country that publishes the most papers and the country with the most retracted papers. Whenever some major international journals receive a paper from Huaxia, they must conduct careful and repeated reviews. To protect their own authority, some have even begun to refuse to review academic research papers from Huaxia.

“The submission requirements for authoritative international journals are very high. I have no intention of publishing my papers in these domestic journals.”

Qin Yi had no choice. On the matter of publishing papers, he was very protective of his own reputation. Being in a top institution like Huaxia University, he knew that a few exceptionally brilliant students emerged every year who could publish their papers in major international journals while they were still undergraduates. That’s why the professors at Huaxia University often warned their students to aim for international standards when publishing papers and to avoid submitting to domestic journals. Doing so would not only fail to gain them any fame but might even tarnish their reputation.

“What’s there to be afraid of? The higher the requirements, the better. That’s how you can significantly boost your reputation.”

The Old Man was unconcerned. The Technology Tower was filled with technology that surpassed Earth’s. Taking out any little bit would be more than enough to skyrocket Qin Yi’s fame.

“That’s true. Otherwise, the professors at the university wouldn’t be thinking about getting their papers published in Science or Nature every single day.”

Qin Yi nodded, then thought for a moment and asked, “If I’m starting from my major, what kind of technology should I produce?”

“Anti-gravity technology!”

Inside the Technology Tower, the Old Man made a gesture with his hand, and a book from the vast sea of bookshelves flew into Qin Yi’s hands.

“Anti-gravity technology?”

Qin Yi’s interest was immediately piqued. As a student of Power Engineering and Engineering Thermophysics, he was no stranger to this technology, which still existed only in theory and science fiction.

The basic principle of anti-gravity technology is to rely on a reverse gravitational field generated by the machine itself to offset or block the gravitational field of the external environment, thereby obtaining thrust.

The first scientist to propose anti-gravity was the renowned Albert Einstein of the last century. In his General Theory of Relativity, he predicted the possible existence of gravitational waves from accelerating masses, which led to the inference of the possibility of anti-gravity.

Of course, what truly familiarized people with anti-gravity technology were the flying saucers of aliens in science fiction novels and movies. These saucer-shaped spacecraft could often ignore universal gravitation, effortlessly hovering in the air or breaking through a planet’s atmosphere at unimaginable speeds to quickly enter outer space.

In reality, however, although anti-gravity technology was proposed by scientists long ago, and many research institutions and companies around the world are studying this epoch-making technology, it remains in the realm of theory.

For instance, the American company Boeing established a project called ‘Gravity Research for Advanced Space Propulsion,’ into which a massive amount of funding is invested annually.

Other countries and companies around the world also place great importance on research in anti-gravity technology, having established related laboratories or research institutions.

If anti-gravity technology could be developed, it could genuinely change the entire human world. Cars, trains, ships, planes—every transportation system you can imagine would undergo earth-shattering transformations.

However, at present, anti-gravity technology is purely theoretical and hasn’t even reached the experimental stage. Although many people claim to have made major breakthroughs in anti-gravity research every year, the technology still only exists in science fiction novels and movies.

Now, holding a book detailing anti-gravity technology, Qin Yi was incredibly excited. He stared at the book, wishing he could devour it in one go and immediately learn the knowledge within, mastering this technology that was capable of changing human history.

“Look at you, so easily impressed. It’s just anti-gravity technology. What’s the big deal?”

The Old Man gave Qin Yi a disdainful look. What a country bumpkin, so unworldly. What will he do later when he learns about controllable nuclear fusion, warp drive technology, or spatial wormhole technology? Will his eyes pop out of his head?

“Calm down, calm down~”

“It’s just anti-gravity technology.”

Qin Yi smiled, took a deep breath, and gently opened the book.

Chapter 13: Anti-gravity Technology

The books inside the Technology Tower were different from the textbooks one would normally use for studying. Although they appeared in the form of books within the Tower, the methods and forms of knowledge transmission were actually incredibly diverse.

For example, take the simple calculation of a triangle’s area. We all know the formula is half the base times the height. As for how this formula is derived, many of us have never given it much thought.

In the Technology Tower, when it teaches you how to calculate the area of a triangle, it presents a dynamic animation. It continuously alters a triangle, giving you an intuitive understanding that as long as the base length and height remain the same, the triangle’s area will not change no matter how its shape is altered.

The books in the Technology Tower impart knowledge not just through text, but also through voice, images, and even videos. They include the derivation process and connect the knowledge point to its practical applications.

While one might have to absorb a lot more content during the learning process, it leaves a much deeper impression. The breadth and depth of the knowledge are expanded, and it also cultivates a way of thinking through reverse deduction, connecting theory with practice to apply what is learned.

The book on anti-gravity technology that Qin Yi was currently looking through was just like that. It presented itself directly in Qin Yi’s mind in the form of videos, diagrams, and text, making it easier to learn and understand the principles of anti-gravity.

Before understanding anti-gravity, one first had to understand what gravity is.

The force an object experiences due to Earth’s attraction is called gravity. According to Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation, all objects with mass have gravity; the greater the mass, the greater the gravity. The gravity on Earth is the planet’s gravitational pull.

Of course, this was merely our understanding of gravity based on Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation. In reality, there were many natural phenomena that Newton’s law could not explain.

One of the most significant was the contradiction between the accelerating expansion of the universe and the Law of Universal Gravitation. According to the traditional Big Bang theory, the universe is constantly expanding due to the explosion, but this expansion should gradually slow down because of the gravitational pull between galaxies.

However, in 1998, scientists discovered through observation that the universe’s expansion was not decelerating but accelerating. This was deduced primarily from the redshift between galaxies.

Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation cannot explain this phenomenon. Consequently, scientists proposed the concepts of dark matter and dark energy, believing them to be widespread and to constitute the majority of the universe’s total mass.

Besides being unable to explain the accelerating expansion of the universe, there are also gravitational anomalies on Earth. The same object will register different weights at the same altitude and latitude but in different locations—this is the phenomenon of weight anomaly.

Furthermore, some peculiar places exist on Earth. For example, there is a river in Taiwan where a section appears to flow uphill. In some places on Earth, gravity is abnormally strong; in certain regions, trees all lean in the same direction, and people cannot stand up straight.

In fact, we only know about universal gravitation and gravity, but if we think deeply, what exactly is gravity?

It’s like light. After in-depth study, we know that it is composed of photons and that it propagates in the form of light waves.

By the same token, what exactly is gravity? What is it composed of? And in what form does it propagate or move?

Of course, scientists on Earth had long pondered and researched this. They proposed the concept of an ‘electric field force.’ At the center of the Earth, under 3.6 million atmospheres of pressure and a temperature of 6000K, the Earth’s ‘solid core’ is certainly not a solid substance as we know it at normal temperatures. Physical laws suggest it is a giant, positively charged body.

Bohr’s theory and quantum mechanics indicate that electrons orbiting a nucleus will jump to outer shells after absorbing energy (heat), and will be emitted if the energy is great enough (thermionic emission). The principle of nuclear fusion proves that when atoms are subjected to immense heat and pressure, most of their orbital electrons will escape.

Under the immense pressure and heat of the Earth’s core, the escaped electrons, under the influence of the core’s macroscopic positive electric field and Ampere’s force within the magnetic field, will form a negatively charged layer in the mantle, creating a capacitor with the core’s positive field, with internal and external poles.

Due to the cancellation of electric potential between the inner and outer electric fields and the great insulating layer of the ‘crust, which is dozens of kilometers thick,’ the Earth’s surface generally appears neutral. The gravitational pull of the negatively charged mantle layer attracts the entire crust and everything on its surface, creating gravity.

However, this viewpoint did not gain the consensus of scientists, as there were many things it failed to explain. At this moment, all the knowledge about gravity was being presented in Qin Yi’s mind.

The book’s explanation for gravity was remarkably simple. Mass is a fundamental property of matter, and matter with mass generates a mass field.

The stable state of an object is a form of existence where its center of mass is in a state of symmetry with the mass field. Once asymmetry occurs between them, the object will inevitably exhibit a state of motion.

This is a natural phenomenon caused by the fundamental properties of matter, unrelated to the object’s physical, chemical, or energetic properties. When two objects exist simultaneously, the center of mass of each object is certainly in an asymmetrical state with the mass field of the other. Therefore, they will ‘naturally’ exhibit a state of motion, which is freefall.

“So that’s how it is. I only knew about gravity before, but I never stopped to think about its true nature.”

Reading this, Qin Yi had a sudden realization. He recalled learning about gravity back then, only remembering Newton being hit on the head by an apple and the gravity formula, but never delving into the fundamental nature of gravity.

“The movement of light is light waves, the movement of sound is sound waves, and the movement of electromagnetism is electromagnetic waves. I never thought the movement of gravity would also be a wave—a gravitational wave. Einstein was truly a genius to have clearly recognized the nature of gravity’s movement so long ago.”

After seeing the form of gravity’s movement and propagation, Qin Yi couldn’t help but admire Einstein all over again. A great mind is a great mind; he had recognized the nature of gravity’s movement and propagation long ago.

Having understood gravity, knowledge about anti-gravity quickly appeared in Qin Yi’s mind.

Engels pointed out, “Attraction and repulsion are as inseparable as positive and negative,” and “a theory of matter based solely on attraction is false, insufficient, and one-sided.”

Gravitational force and repulsive force are a unity of opposites. They coexist within matter and between objects. This is a fundamental law of the structure of matter and should also be the fundamental law of the structure between macroscopic celestial bodies.

Microscopic particles exhibit the motion of negative electrons orbiting a positive nucleus and their own spin. The revolution and rotation of macroscopic celestial bodies should also be the result of electromagnetic interactions. The physical properties of macroscopic and microscopic matter should be the same.

Anti-gravity is actually a force opposite to gravity.

“I see. Gravity is what manifests most directly before us, while anti-gravity feels somewhat hidden. The reason the moon doesn’t fall to Earth, besides its distance, is more importantly due to the existence of anti-gravity, or in other words, a repulsive force.”

Soon, Qin Yi felt a sense of sudden enlightenment, as if a great mystery had been solved. According to the book, gravity and anti-gravity were like yin and yang, one existing in the light and the other in the dark. We mostly feel the existence of gravity but not anti-gravity, precisely because anti-gravity manifests in the ‘shadows’.

“The principle of anti-gravity technology is to fully utilize the anti-gravity hidden in the ‘shadows’ to achieve flight by escaping Earth’s gravitational pull.”

At this point, Qin Yi couldn’t help but smile. This anti-gravity technology seemed quite simple in principle, easy to understand. Find the anti-gravity hidden in the ‘shadows’ and then make use of it—that was anti-gravity technology.

But how to find the anti-gravity hidden in the ‘shadows’, and once found, how to utilize it—that was the real difficulty and the crux of this technology.

“No wonder the Old Man told me to use anti-gravity technology to build my reputation right from the start. This technology sounds simple, but it’s incredibly difficult to actually implement. Just finding the hidden anti-gravity based on theory is no easy task, let alone putting it to use.”

“Even if I publish some papers on anti-gravity first, I don’t have to worry about someone else developing the technology before me. There are three key points: one is the anti-gravity theory, the second is the search for anti-gravity, and the last is the energy source to support it.”

“Only by solving all three of these problems can one truly say that anti-gravity technology has been put into practice. Lacking any one of these conditions, anti-gravity technology will always remain confined to the laboratory, existing only on paper. Building a flying saucer like those in sci-fi movies or novels is definitely not that easy.”

After carefully reading everything from beginning to end, Qin Yi finally understood why the Old Man had chosen anti-gravity technology. He had initially worried that for the sake of fame, he might give away such a high-end technology, benefiting other countries around the world, which would be a great loss.

Now, he was completely at ease. Anti-gravity technology was an extremely complex and massive undertaking. Even with knowledge of the theory, there was still a very, very long road to putting it into practice. He had the Technology Tower as his cheat; otherwise, he would be in the same boat as everyone else.

“Hmph! Without anti-gravity technology, who knows when your Earth, at its current level, will be able to rapidly enter the space age.”

The Old Man sensed Qin Yi’s thoughts and spoke with a hint of smugness, his arms crossed.

Chapter 14: What’s Your Name, Student?

Although he was a little unhappy with the Old Man’s attitude of looking down on Earthlings, Qin Yi had to admit he had a point. With Earth’s current technology, the cost of space travel was simply exorbitant.

According to the latest data, sending one kilogram of material into space currently costs about three thousand US dollars.

Some might not think three thousand dollars sounds that expensive, but if you do the math, sending a person into space—assuming they weigh seventy kilograms—would cost two hundred and ten thousand US dollars just for the launch.

Once in space, a person needs to eat and drink, and requires a massive life support system. They also need to do something up there. All things considered, the total cost of sending just one person into space would be in the tens of millions of US dollars.

Furthermore, considering the success rate and safety of rocket launches, this cost would skyrocket. The key issue is that a rocket is an incredibly complex high-tech system. Its reliability might seem high, as global rocket launches are numerous each year with very few failures, but if we were to rely on rockets for tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of round trips to space every day, its safety would become a fatal flaw.

But with anti-gravity technology, it would be a completely different story. Compared to traditional rocket technology, anti-gravity technology is an epoch-making technology, representing a quantum leap in every aspect. It is the key propulsion technology for truly entering the space age.

Qin Yi carefully read through the entire text on anti-gravity technology, and then his mind began to ponder.

“Anti-gravity technology is far too advanced compared to Earth’s current technological level. But if everything is truly as described in the book, it would be the very thing that marks humanity’s entry into the space age.”

“How should I go about realizing this technology step by step?”

“Perhaps I can do it in several steps. First, propose the theory of anti-gravity to gain some renown. Next, solve the critical energy problem for the technology. Finally, when the time is right, I can truly bring anti-gravity technology to fruition.”

Soon, a plan took shape in Qin Yi’s mind. As a student of dynamics and thermophysics, publishing papers in this field would certainly not be a problem.

“However, this anti-gravity technology is completely different from traditional propulsion technologies; it’s closely linked to the field of electromagnetism. In the coming days, I should read more books on electromagnetism and then conduct some experiments in the university’s electromagnetic lab. To publish a paper in a renowned international scientific journal, it’s impossible without rigorous experimental procedures and relevant data.”

At this thought, Qin Yi couldn’t help but smile. He thought for a moment and said to the Old Man, “Old Man, find all the books related to electromagnetism. I want to read them.”

“You got it~”

Seeing Qin Yi’s expression, the Old Man chuckled. With a wave of his hand, books related to electromagnetism from the vast sea of knowledge in the Technology Tower appeared in Qin Yi’s mind.

Back in reality, in the library, Qin Yi was still reading ten lines at a glance, flipping through books at an incredible speed. He finished one book after another, and by the end of the afternoon, he had already read more than a dozen.

“The Book-flipping Freak~ Just reading is one thing, but he even smiles. Smiling while reading these technical books… that’s really strange. He must be enjoying his studies~”

Beside Qin Yi, Wen Xueying had been observing him, unable to understand why someone could smile while reading technical books. In the end, she could only conclude that Qin Yi was enjoying the pleasure of learning.

Busy days always fly by. Qin Yi’s schedule was packed every day: reading in the library in the morning, conducting experiments in the university lab in the afternoon, and then back to the library to read at night. Each day was incredibly fulfilling.

In the blink of an eye, more than two months had passed, and it was now May 2020.

Inside a room in Huaxia University’s electromagnetic laboratory, Qin Yi was carefully arranging some strange-looking equipment, inspecting each piece meticulously. He was about to begin a thrilling experiment.

After more than two months of study, research, and experimentation, Qin Yi was now more or less able to find the anti-gravity hiding in the shadows. He was going to conduct an experiment to prove the existence of anti-gravity. Once this experiment succeeded, human history would turn a new page.

Here, it’s worth mentioning again Huaxia University’s open spirit in education. As a top-tier institution, Huaxia University is very open in its teaching philosophy.

This openness isn’t just ideological; it’s reflected in many aspects, including one of the university’s most important resources: its laboratories.

Huaxia University’s labs are basically open to students free of charge. The university has a vast number of laboratories, and aside from a few important ones with strict management, ordinary labs are available for students to tinker in as they please.

You just have to apply in advance. As long as the experiment isn’t too costly or dangerous, the university will almost always approve it. In fact, if you are truly outstanding, the university might even help you apply for research funding.

When it comes to combining theory with practice, Huaxia University is very generous. After all, top-tier talent can’t be cultivated just by reading textbooks. They must also learn to take the initiative to explore, and developing hands-on skills is crucial.

Of course, this is also related to Huaxia University being wealthy and willful. Every year, not only does it receive huge government grants, but the support from its distinguished alumni is also immense. The sheer number of various scholarships is dazzling.

So many laboratories, teaching buildings, and more have been established with the help of alumni that there’s no more space to build. With all sorts of donations pouring in, the university can afford to let its students experiment freely.

At an ordinary university with limited resources and funding, it would be impossible to let students mess around so freely. What if there was an accident in the lab? What would they do if precious equipment was damaged?

A top-tier institution possesses far, far more resources than ordinary schools.

“Everything’s been checked. No problems. I’ll definitely succeed this time.”

Qin Yi looked toward the center of the lab, full of confidence. After all, he had studied anti-gravity technology with the Old Man for two months and had also learned all of Earth’s current electromagnetic-related technologies. If he couldn’t even perform an experiment to prove the existence of anti-gravity, Qin Yi might as well go bang his head against a block of tofu and end it all.

Qin Yi’s attention was so focused on the impending experiment that he didn’t even notice someone outside the lab watching him.

“Interesting. Judging by this student’s setup, he must be doing an experiment in the field of electromagnetism.”

Yin Shouping watched Qin Yi with great interest. As a top electromagnetic scientist renowned both nationally and globally, he could tell the purpose of Qin Yi’s experimental design at a glance.

“His design is quite complex. Why haven’t I seen this student before?”

“No, wait. His setup isn’t for an electromagnetism experiment. But if not that, then what kind of experiment is it?”

Soon, Yin Shouping’s interest deepened, because for a moment, he actually couldn’t figure out the purpose of Qin Yi’s experiment.

“Activate~”

Inside the lab, Qin Yi gently pressed the start button. An electric current flowed toward the center of the lab, where an iron ring with a diameter of one meter and a thickness of a few centimeters was placed.

An incredible scene unfolded before Yin Shouping’s eyes. The iron ring, as if it had lost its gravity, slowly began to float. The Law of Universal Gravitation had apparently ceased to function. Newton must be turning violently in his grave.

“This… This is impossible~”

Yin Shouping rubbed his eyes, unable to believe what he was seeing. But the fact was right there before him: the iron ring was truly suspended in the lab, rotating slowly.

“Yes~ I did it!”

On the other side, seeing the iron ring slowly levitate, Qin Yi clenched his fists and shouted in excitement.

After two months of study and countless experiments, Qin Yi had finally managed to find anti-gravity based on the knowledge from the Technology Tower and successfully manifested it.

The iron ring in the center of the lab looked unassuming, but it was actually quite heavy, weighing tens of kilograms. Yet, with the proper application of anti-gravity, even something so heavy could escape Earth’s gravity and float in the air.

“Haha~ Again!”

After a moment of celebration, Qin Yi quickly calmed down. He switched off the power, and the iron ring fell heavily onto a mat he had prepared below.

Then, he quickly repositioned the ring, this time attaching some wooden planks and sticks to it.

He pressed the start button again. As expected, the iron ring floated up once more. Newton’s coffin was once again rattling uncontrollably.

“The experiment was a complete success, enough to prove the existence of anti-gravity. However, there’s still a very long road ahead before it can be truly applied.”

A broad smile covered Qin Yi’s face as he meticulously recorded the experimental data. This was crucial; he would need it to publish his paper. Successfully proving the existence of anti-gravity by himself wasn’t enough. Other scientists had to be able to replicate the proof for his work to be recognized.

“Time to pack up~”

Soon, Qin Yi had finished recording the detailed data and began to pack up his things to leave.

“What’s your name, student?”

At that moment, Yin Shouping, who had been watching the experiment from outside the whole time, could no longer contain himself. He walked in and spoke to Qin Yi.

Chapter 15: A Little Excited

Hearing the voice, Qin Yi paused for a moment before turning around. Yin Shouping stood before him, a man of about fifty, dressed like a typical senior intellectual. His clothes were simple, he wore a pair of glasses, his hair was slightly graying, and he had a scholarly air about him.

“Hello, Professor Yin. My name is Qin Yi.”

Qin Yi immediately recognized the famous Professor Yin Shouping. For the past two months, Qin Yi had been studying electromagnetism, so naturally, he knew of this titan in the domestic field. He had even secretly attended a few of Professor Yin’s lectures.

“Qin Yi?”

“Why haven’t I seen you before?”

Yin Shouping studied Qin Yi carefully, searching his memory. He was certain he had never heard of or met this student before.

“I’m not an electromagnetism major. I’m studying Power and Thermophysics, so it’s no surprise you haven’t seen me, Professor,” Qin Yi replied with a smile.

“What experiment were you just conducting? How did that iron ring levitate?”

Yin Shouping quickly brought the topic back to Qin Yi’s experiment. He walked to the center of the lab and carefully examined the setup Qin Yi had designed. It wasn’t complex, and many of the components were easy to understand at a glance, but when put together, he couldn’t make sense of it.

“I’m conducting an experiment on anti-gravity.”

Qin Yi paused to think for a moment. His mind raced. Now that Professor Yin had seen it, it was impossible to keep it a secret. Besides, he was already planning to write a paper to publicize his findings on anti-gravity, so he didn’t try to hide it.

“Anti-gravity?”

Yin Shouping’s eyes lit up. He thought for a moment, then asked, “From the looks of your experiment just now, it seems you’ve already succeeded?”

Qin Yi smiled and shook his head. “I’m still very, very far from success. Just now, I merely proved the existence of anti-gravity.”

“What did you say? You proved the existence of anti-gravity?”

Hearing this confirmation, Yin Shouping became incredibly agitated, his eyes fixed on Qin Yi. Anti-gravity technology was a research subject for many countries and scientific institutions, yet there had been no news of any breakthroughs. And here was this young man, claiming to have proven its existence.

“Actually, it started as just a wild guess of mine. Everything is dualistic. Since gravity exists, there must be an anti-gravity. Following that line of thought, I did some research and designed this experiment. I never expected to actually prove the existence of anti-gravity.”

Qin Yi thought for a moment and came up with a plausible story. He certainly couldn’t reveal that his knowledge of anti-gravity came from the Technology Tower.

“Everything is dualistic. If there is gravity, there must be anti-gravity.”

After hearing this, Yin Shouping mulled it over carefully. Still finding it hard to believe, he said, “Start it up again.”

Qin Yi nodded and pressed the start button again. Soon, the iron ring was levitating once more. Curious, Yin Shouping approached the ring and swept his hands above and below it, checking to see if anything was holding it up.

Finding nothing, he grasped the iron ring and tried to pull it down. He could clearly feel a force pulling the ring upward, much like the sensation of pushing a balloon into water.

“Incredible! To think that anti-gravity truly exists!”

Yin Shouping exclaimed in amazement again and again. The concept of anti-gravity had been proposed long ago, and in science fiction movies and novels, alien anti-gravity spaceships came and went as they pleased. But seeing it with his own eyes, Yin Shouping couldn’t remain calm.

“This is an absolutely epoch-making discovery! A discovery that will change the course of human history!”

After a long pause, Yin Shouping gave it an exceptionally high evaluation. This praise was as lofty as it could get; an epoch-making discovery, a change to human history—neither of these accolades could be applied to just any scientific finding.

“You’re too kind, Professor Yin.”

Qin Yi smiled and shook his head humbly.

“No, no! It’s not an overstatement at all. Qin Yi, you are truly remarkable. You’ve managed to research anti-gravity, something countless others have failed to do.”

Yin Shouping couldn’t help but size up Qin Yi again. The young man before him, still with a touch of youthful innocence, was neither arrogant nor rash, but humble and polite. He possessed all the qualities a scientist should have. The more Yin Shouping looked at him, the more he liked him.

“I wonder, would you be interested in transferring to my electromagnetism department? I can handle the arrangements for you. Then we can exchange ideas and learn from each other.”

At this point, Yin Shouping was treating Qin Yi as a peer. To “exchange ideas and learn” was something one did with an equal; he no longer saw Qin Yi as a mere student.

“Thank you for your kind offer, Professor Yin, but I have no plans to change my major. The reason I researched anti-gravity is that I believe it’s very difficult for humanity to truly leave Earth and enter the space age with our current propulsion technology.”

“We need a brand new technology, a propulsion technology that can take us away from Earth.”

Qin Yi unhesitatingly declined the professor’s offer.

“So be it. I wonder if it would be convenient for you to tell me about your current research—the theories behind anti-gravity, and the experiment you’ve designed?”

Though rejected, Yin Shouping wasn’t the least bit angry. His gaze shifted back to the laboratory equipment, his expression filled with intense interest.

“Of course. The idea for anti-gravity actually came to me from watching movies and reading novels. When I saw the alien flying saucers, I started thinking about the technical principles behind them…”

Qin Yi nodded happily and began to talk endlessly with Yin Shouping about his research on anti-gravity. He seemed a little excited, just like any other scientist who, upon making a discovery or breakthrough, can’t help but find someone to discuss their research and findings with.

This was exactly how Qin Yi appeared at that moment—having discovered the existence of anti-gravity, he grew more and more animated as he spoke, brimming with excitement.

Yin Shouping listened intently to Qin Yi’s explanation of his anti-gravity findings, occasionally glancing at him. Seeing the expression on Qin Yi’s face, a smile appeared on his own.

A scientist ought to have such passion. In quiet times, they could immerse themselves in tedious research day and night for years on end. But when they achieved results and made discoveries, they would also become incredibly excited, expressing it directly. That was the mark of a true, pure scientist.

Qin Yi spoke on and on, while Yin Shouping listened attentively. When he encountered something he didn’t understand, he would raise his own questions. The two were like old friends reunited after many years, their conversation growing deeper and more spirited as they talked.

Without realizing it, night fell upon the land, and the world outside grew darker and darker. But inside the lab, the two men continued their discussion and exchange, occasionally starting up Qin Yi’s experiment again to study and debate it. They seemed to have lost all track of time.

In the blink of an eye, it was already ten o’clock at night, yet the two in the lab were still deep in discussion, their excited expressions showing just how thrilled they were.

Grumble… grumble…

Qin Yi’s stomach began to protest. He had skipped dinner. After injecting the Gene Optimization Fluid, his appetite had grown substantially. His body was slowly evolving and required a great deal more energy, so missing a single meal made him ravenous.

“Pardon me.”

Qin Yi rubbed his stomach in embarrassment and apologized to Yin Shouping.

“Ah! It’s already ten o’clock. Time really flies.”

Yin Shouping looked at his watch, then at the pitch-black night outside, and couldn’t help but sigh.

“Come on, let’s go grab a bite. I feel like there are still several things I don’t understand, and I’d like to ask you about them.”

“Perhaps another time. It’s getting late, and I still have a few things to do.”

Qin Yi smiled and declined. Are you kidding me? If I ate with Professor Yin, my unseemly table manners would certainly leave a lasting impression.

Besides, Qin Yi was so hungry he felt he could eat a whole cow. If he went to eat with the professor, it would surely be at a relatively upscale place, and he could forget about ever eating his fill there.

“Alright then. I think you should write your paper on anti-gravity as soon as possible. I can’t wait to see the tremendous uproar it will cause once published. It’s bound to send shockwaves through the scientific community. Just thinking about it is incredibly exciting.”

Seeing Qin Yi refuse, Yin Shouping didn’t insist. He thought for a moment, then urged Qin Yi about publishing the paper.

“I’ve already started preparing. It shouldn’t take more than a few days to finish.”

Qin Yi thought for a moment and nodded. He had originally planned to find a well-known professor or advisor to help guide him, but now that was unnecessary. Yin Shouping had made it clear he was more than willing to help. With Yin Shouping’s reputation, both nationally and internationally, there would certainly be no problems if he offered his guidance.

“When you publish your paper, be careful. You should hold back some of the key details. This anti-gravity discovery is of epoch-making significance for humanity’s technological development. If we can maintain a global lead in this field, our country can lead the world in the future.”

“Science may have no borders, but we scientists do. You must always remember that. It was our country that nurtured us, and we should repay our motherland with our knowledge.”

Yin Shouping nodded in satisfaction, then added another word of caution. He was afraid that Qin Yi was too young and might reveal all of his findings at once. While that would be good for humanity as a whole, it might not necessarily be good for their own country.

“Don’t worry, I know.”

Hearing this, Qin Yi couldn’t help but smile to himself. He was holding back a great deal. What he had revealed so far was merely a drop in the ocean, completely insignificant.

Chapter 16: Choosing a Location for the Company

For the next few days, Qin Yi began writing his thesis. Since he had figured everything out through his own slow exploration, the writing process was swift. In just one day, he had already completed the first draft.

However, recalling Yin Shouping’s final words of advice, he once again examined his paper with great care. There were many key points that needed to be concealed; he couldn’t just write everything out in one go.

All he needed was fame—enough to prove the existence of anti-gravity. He didn’t need to publish all the useful, critical details.

Moreover, although Qin Yi knew every key aspect of anti-gravity technology by heart, he now had to act like someone who had just discovered it. And if he had just discovered it, there would surely be errors and flawed perspectives in some areas. It was impossible for everything to be correct.

“Alright, I’ll set some traps in it. If scientists from other countries fall into them, they’ll never get out.”

“Professor Yin was right, scientists have national allegiances. A technology monumental enough to lead the next great technological revolution is safer in my own hands. I’ll create some traps and let others slowly walk into them.”

Thinking of this, Qin Yi couldn’t help but reveal a mischievous smile. Then, as he recalled the international technology blockade against Huaxia, any sense of guilt he might have had vanished.

“You started it; I’ll be ten times worse. Anti-gravity technology has many pitfalls. Once you fall in, you’ll be stuck there for a long, long time.”

Qin Yi’s mind began to review the details of anti-gravity technology. The path from its discovery to its development was long and arduous. All he needed to do was provide a few misleading hints, and he could certainly lead a great many people astray.

Putting thought into action, Qin Yi quickly began to revise the paper he had written. The first draft was completely free of errors, and his explanation of anti-gravity was detailed and clear, which was why he had written it so quickly.

However, deliberately creating errors and proposing misleading perspectives was considerably more taxing and time-consuming. It took Qin Yi several whole days to finish digging all the pits.

“I’ll send it to Professor Yin to have a look.”

Qin Yi first sent the completed paper to Yin Shouping for his review.

Since it was going to be published in a renowned international scientific journal, there were many things to be mindful of. Professor Yin was an expert in this area. With him looking it over, there certainly wouldn’t be any problems.

“With a massive discovery like anti-gravity, I think that should be enough to elevate my reputation. Once I have a name for myself, many things will become much easier. Next, I should get my company started.”

Setting the paper aside for the moment, Qin Yi began to check the funds in his account.

In just over two months, by selling cheats, Qin Yi had amassed around thirty million. It was a colossal sum that he would never have dared to dream of before.

Even for someone with an annual income of one million, earning thirty million would take thirty years. More to the point, people have to eat and drink. For a person earning a million a year to accumulate a vast fortune of thirty million would likely take a lifetime.

“I guess I’m a fat cat now, huh?”

Qin Yi smiled, his mindset now very calm. Thirty million seemed like a lot, but in today’s society, it was really quite average. In the Imperial Capital, an apartment inside the Third Ring Road could easily cost over one hundred thousand per square meter. People who owned a few properties were easily worth more than him.

You could say that in the Imperial Capital, if you tossed a brick randomly, you’d most likely hit a multimillionaire. Thirty million was truly nothing, not to mention that this amount of capital was a mere drop in the bucket for Qin Yi’s subsequent plans.

“If I’m going to register a company, I first need a killer product to get it off the ground and build a solid foundation.”

“Although the Imperial Capital has excellent conditions in many respects, with numerous universities and talented people, making it the ideal place to develop high-tech, everything here is just too expensive. With the little capital I have, trying to get into manufacturing here would be a quick death.”

“It would be fine if I were in the internet industry, but manufacturing requires a lot of land, factory buildings, a large workforce, and so on.”

“The environmental regulations in the Imperial Capital are also very strict, and there are already many high-tech enterprises. My new company certainly wouldn’t receive much attention, and policy support would be minimal. It would be a different story in another place. Many smaller places would be thirsty for talent, giving me whatever policies and land I asked for.”

“Yes, I need to choose a new location. Also, I need to think of a product with broad market prospects. I’ll use the technology I have to get my foot in the door, set up the company first, and then slowly expand into other businesses later.”

Quickly, Qin Yi sorted out his two current key points and began to ponder with a frown.

“My first product will be batteries. The most crucial core of future anti-gravity technology is actually energy. I must have sufficiently powerful batteries to provide enough electrical power.”

“Current battery technology is still very primitive, and the energy storage is too small. The failure of new energy vehicles and electric vehicles to gain widespread adoption has always hinged on one critical component: the battery.”

Suddenly, Qin Yi’s eyes lit up as he thought of electric vehicles and their core component, the battery.

Despite significant government subsidies for new energy and electric vehicles, people still rarely considered buying them. There was no other reason than their pitifully short range.

Even the most popular Tesla electric car had a range of less than five hundred kilometers, and that was only under ideal conditions. If the temperature was too high or too low, its range would drop so abysmally it was infuriating. Wherever you went, you first had to carefully calculate if you had enough charge. Basically, it could only be used for commuting within the city.

Another fatal flaw was battery life. A domestic electric car might only cost one hundred thousand, but after driving it for two or three years, not only would the range drop significantly, but you would soon have to replace the entire battery pack, which would cost tens of thousands more.

These two critical flaws had always been the key points limiting the development of electric vehicles. Other issues like inconvenient charging and too few charging stations were not insurmountable problems; once electric vehicles became popular, these issues would be easily resolved.

The core issue was still the battery!

“I’ll make batteries. The magnetic field matrix battery, lithium-sulfur battery, lithium-air battery, atomic battery, and other technologies in the Technology Tower—any one of them could completely dominate the current battery technology on Earth.”

“Good batteries will certainly have no trouble finding buyers. The new energy vehicle market alone is enough to let me feast. As long as this core battery problem is solved, new energy vehicles are guaranteed to rise.”

With this in mind, Qin Yi decided his first venture would be in the battery industry. Although current battery companies seemed to be just scraping by, the battery market was actually a very large cake. The annual output value of domestic battery companies alone was several hundred billion, and the global output was over a trillion. It was an absolutely massive cake.

“The product’s decided. Next is to pick an auspicious location to start the business.”

Thinking of this, a map of the entire country appeared in Qin Yi’s mind, with the distribution of the domestic battery industry marked on it.

“Funds are limited, so I won’t consider big cities.”

“My company will definitely be a high-tech enterprise, and it will require a very large amount of land. It would be best to choose a place with cheap land and beautiful scenery.”

“For the land to be cheap, it naturally has to be far from first and second-tier cities. Beautiful scenery implies that it’s not heavily industrialized, so I’ll have to choose a relatively underdeveloped area.”

“I’ll choose my hometown, Ning County.”

Soon, Qin Yi’s gaze fell on a small county in the south—Ning County. Ning County was located in the southern part of Hongdu Province, an old revolutionary base area in a hilly region.

Its development had always been very slow, primarily focused on agriculture with almost no industry. Most of the people from Ning County worked elsewhere.

Qin Yi’s choice of Ning County was naturally driven in part by a desire to give back to his hometown. Every time he went home and saw its backward state, then looked at the prosperity of the Imperial Capital, he always felt he should do something for his hometown’s development.

Before, he had no ability; even if he had the heart, he couldn’t help his hometown. But now things were different. If he located his company in Ning County, with a series of advanced technologies capable of changing the world, he could surely drive his hometown’s development.

Furthermore, with the country’s major infrastructure projects in recent years, although Ning County was a poor county, its transportation had gradually improved. A railway was about to be completed, and there were several highways, making transportation quite convenient.

The state’s efforts to develop the central and western regions in recent years were not just empty slogans; the investment in infrastructure was enormous, making transportation in all areas increasingly convenient.

Considering that it was an underdeveloped region, they would surely welcome the high-tech enterprise he planned to open with open arms. He would receive all sorts of favorable policies, and land would be readily available for his use. All things considered, it was a pretty good choice.

“Ning County it is. It’s good to go back home. It’s just that, at the very beginning, when the company has no reputation, it will be very difficult to attract talent.”

As he thought of this, Qin Yi couldn’t help but feel a little worried. The appeal of a small place was far less than that of a big city.

Chapter 17: Let’s Study It Together

The next morning, just as Qin Yi was getting out of bed, he received a call from Professor Yin Shouping.

“I’ve read your paper. There are no major issues, but a few parts are different from what you told me. Did you revise them?”

Yin Shouping took Qin Yi’s paper very seriously. After receiving it yesterday, he had spent half the day meticulously reviewing and studying it, working late into the night.

He called Qin Yi first thing in the morning, eager to discuss the paper. This showed how important it was to him, and how excited he was. He truly couldn’t wait to see the immense waves this paper would create in the international scientific community.

“Yes, I revised several key points. Without the data and research from these key points, anyone trying to develop anti-gravity technology will have to grope their way forward slowly.”

Qin Yi didn’t hide this. Of course, he didn’t mention that he had intentionally left out crucial details. This anti-gravity technology was of great significance and would become the killer product of his own future company, so it was better to keep it firmly in his own hands. He naturally wouldn’t tell Yin Shouping about the pitfalls he had created.

“I was worried you had forgotten my advice. The revisions are good. The paper is fine now. You can go ahead and submit it yourself. By the way, remember to send the review fee along with it.”

Receiving Qin Yi’s confirmation, Yin Shouping felt relieved.

“A review fee? Don’t they pay me an author’s fee?”

Hearing about a review fee, Qin Yi was slightly taken aback and asked.

“What did you think? When you publish in a famous international journal, not only do you not get any author’s fee, but you also have to pay a review fee. For such a specialized paper, these journals need to find professional professors and scientists to review it, and that fee isn’t cheap. If you have trouble with it, I can help you out.”

Yin Shouping said with a smile. Thinking that Qin Yi was still a student, he offered to help him.

“Thank you, Professor Yin, but I can afford the review fee.”

“Good. Get the paper published as soon as possible. Also, don’t put my name on it.”

“How could I do that? Without your guidance…”

Before Qin Yi could finish, Yin Shouping cut him off from the other end of the line, saying, “We just discussed it together a bit. I made no contribution in this area. I still have to show my old face in public.”

“If it were an ordinary paper, it wouldn’t matter. But once this paper of yours is published, it will undoubtedly cause a huge sensation in the scientific world. It would be even more shameless for me to attach my name to it. Remember, you absolutely must not write my name.”

Yin Shouping repeatedly insisted. Although he knew this was a golden opportunity for fame, he was a pure scientist who strictly adhered to the professional ethics a scientist should have. He would take credit for what was his, but would never touch what wasn’t.

“Alright~”

Qin Yi listened and nodded solemnly. He couldn’t help but admire Professor Yin Shouping even more. Few people could resist the temptation of such immense fame and recognition; every one of them was worthy of great respect.

“That’s settled then. Also, drop by for a visit when you have time. There are a few points about anti-gravity that I still don’t quite understand, and I’d like to ask for your guidance.”

“Professor Yin, you’re flattering me. How could I dare to guide you? At most, we can just discuss it together.”

“The proficient one is the teacher, and when three people walk together, one of them is bound to be my teacher. You know more about anti-gravity than I do, so what’s wrong with me asking for your guidance?”

“Professor, let’s just stick to ‘discussing’ it in the future. If you put it like that, I won’t dare to come.”

“Haha~ Alright, let’s leave it at that. But be sure to look for me when you come.”

After hanging up with Professor Yin, Qin Yi opened the website for Science magazine, began filling in his author information and email address, and spent over ten minutes getting all the miscellaneous details sorted out. Finally, he reached the last step: uploading the paper.

After the paper was uploaded, he also had to wire a review fee to the bank account they provided. The fee was truly not cheap, amounting to several thousand US dollars, which was over ten thousand yuan.

“That’s pretty expensive~”

Qin Yi felt a slight pang of pain. Although this amount of money was nothing to the current Qin Yi, he was, after all, from a poor family. He knew that back in the day, it would have taken him a long time of working part-time to save up over ten thousand yuan.

With the paper submitted, all that was left was a long wait. As the most authoritative international journal, Science’s review process was extremely rigorous, and the number of submissions was also very large. Coupled with the shorter working hours in the West, it would be a long time before the paper could be published.

“The paper is done. I’ve spent over two months swimming in the sea of books in the library, and I’ve pretty much covered all the existing scientific theories on Earth. From now on, I’ll need to learn more in the Technology Tower. This is a good time to go set up my company.”

Qin Yi carefully considered his next steps.

“I’ll book a ticket back to Ning County. First, I’ll go home and get the company established. At the very least, I need to get the corporate framework set up. Then there’s building the battery factory and so on.”

With this in mind, Qin Yi quickly took action. He picked up his phone to book a ticket, began to pack his luggage simply, and thought about bringing some of the Imperial Capital’s local specialties home for his parents.

Since it was the second semester of his junior year, everyone had already finished most of their required courses. Furthermore, for students at Huaxia University, many had already self-studied what they needed to learn long ago, so the management of class attendance was very flexible.

The next day, Qin Yi returned to his hometown of Ning County with his suitcase, embarking on the journey to start his own business.

Meanwhile, ever since seeing Qin Yi’s anti-gravity experiment, Professor Yin Shouping had been relentlessly studying anti-gravity. He was completely immersed in this brand-new field.

In the same old lab, Yin Shouping carefully studied the experimental apparatus Qin Yi had left behind, examining every step and detail of the experiment. Every so often, he would pull out Qin Yi’s paper to study it carefully.

“Old Yin, what are you researching? I haven’t seen you around these past few days.”

Fan Ke was also a top expert in the field of electromagnetism. He and Yin Shouping were hailed as the Twin Stars of Huaxia in the field of electromagnetism. Having not seen Yin Shouping recently, he asked around and found out that Yin had been cooped up in a lab for days, seemingly researching something new.

Driven by curiosity, he came to the lab and saw Yin Shouping looking troubled, as if he had encountered an unsolvable problem, and asked with a smile.

“Old Fan, you’re just in time. Come over and let’s study this together.”

Seeing it was Fan Ke, Yin Shouping immediately waved him over, handed him Qin Yi’s paper, and began to explain briefly.

“Anti-gravity? Heavens~ Old Yin, you’re trying to defy the laws of nature! You actually discovered the existence of anti-gravity? Tell me the details, quickly. How did you discover it? And this experiment you designed.”

Fan Ke took the paper, skimmed through it rapidly, and then, unable to contain his excitement, spoke to Yin Shouping.

“I didn’t discover it. A student from our university did. I just happened to see him doing this experiment a few days ago, and that’s how I knew he had discovered anti-gravity.”

“I’ve discussed some things related to anti-gravity with him, but there are still several parts I can’t figure out. Help me analyze it.”

Yin Shouping’s old face flushed, but he told the truth.

“A student from our university discovered anti-gravity? How is that possible?”

Fan Ke found it hard to believe. Like Yin Shouping, he already sensed that the discovery of anti-gravity would cause a massive stir in the scientific community. This was definitely an epoch-making scientific discovery, and to think it was discovered by a student was simply incredible.

“His name is Qin Yi. He’s only a junior, and the key thing is, he’s a Power and Thermophysics major.”

Yin Shouping was not at all surprised by Fan Ke’s reaction. He smiled and mentioned Qin Yi.

“A junior? And a Power and Thermophysics major?”

Fan Ke was dumbfounded. He had thought that even if it were a student, it would at least be a graduate or doctoral student. He never expected it to be an undergraduate, and what was even more frustrating was that he wasn’t even an electromagnetism major.

“Let’s put that aside for now. Come and help me study this. When I look at the individual parts of this anti-gravity experiment he designed, I can understand each one. But when they’re put together, I’m completely lost.”

“This is clearly related to our field of electromagnetism, so why does it become anti-gravity? Let’s study it together.”

Yin Shouping pulled Fan Ke over, and they plunged back into their research. Once they started, they couldn’t stop.

The more the two of them researched, the more questions they had. At the same time, the research team, which had originally consisted of just two people, grew to several members in a few days.

A few days later, as news of the anti-gravity discovery spread throughout Huaxia University, more and more professors joined the research team. In just a matter of days, it had become a huge, interdisciplinary, cross-departmental team.

A few more days passed, and the news began to spread throughout the entire Huaxia scientific community. Before Qin Yi’s paper was even published in an international journal, it began to circulate within Huaxia’s scientific circles.

More and more scientists joined the massive effort to study anti-gravity. Soon, another scientist re-verified the existence of anti-gravity, designing his own experiment based on Qin Yi’s work to suspend an object weighing over fifty kilograms in the air using anti-gravity.

Qin Yi’s name was brought up constantly. Because the field of anti-gravity was so vast and entirely new, many scientists wanted to find Qin Yi to discuss the problems they had encountered in their research. However, by this time, Qin Yi had already returned to his hometown, Ning County.

Chapter 18: Fame Makes All the Difference

Qin Yi returned to his hometown, Ning County.

He strolled casually through Xiashan Village in Huangjing Town. The village, home to several dozen households, was eerily quiet.

All the young people had left to find work elsewhere, leaving only the elderly. There were very few children, as young couples now preferred to take their kids with them to the cities, where the education was naturally much better than in this backward village.

During the New Year, the village was so lively that there was nowhere to park. But now, you couldn’t hear a single voice. For Qin Yi, who was used to the hustle and bustle of the Imperial Capital, it felt like he had stepped into another world.

“The houses are getting prettier and prettier, and they’ve even paved the roads with cement,” Qin Yi mused. “But the village will never be as lively as it was when I was a kid.”

Qin Yi looked at the brand-new, beautiful villas that dotted the village and the cement roads that ran right up to their doors. Fewer and fewer of the old houses from his childhood memories remained. So much had changed. Familiar faces had become strangers, and some were gone forever.

“Grandma Li passed away. She was the kindest person; she’d always give me peanuts when I was a kid. Her son tore down the old house.”

“I heard Grandpa Zhang can’t walk anymore. He was always so strong-willed and hardworking. Being unable to even walk… life must be very hard for him now.”

Qin Yi walked slowly through the village. Every now and then, he would see a familiar old face and would naturally stop to exchange pleasantries. Through these small chats, he learned about the situations of the village elders, which made him sigh with emotion.

“I originally thought that setting up my company in my hometown would be inconvenient, but now, I’m more determined than ever.”

“My hometown is too underdeveloped. If this continues, it will eventually become deserted. Once these old folks are gone, who will have any attachment to this place? Maybe in the future, no one will even come back for the New Year.”

Looking at the adult-height weeds growing in front of one beautiful farmhouse villa after another, Qin Yi’s resolve to establish his company in his hometown solidified.

“If everyone could find a decent job in their own hometown, who would want to leave their home and family behind?”

Qin Yi knew full well why his hometown was so underdeveloped. It was a mountainous region, not near the coast or a major river. In the past, transportation was a problem, and there were no preferential policies. Development was naturally very, very slow, and even now, the economy was still primarily based on agriculture.

The young people went out to work while the older generation farmed the land. As the older generation aged, even the fields in the countryside were being left untended. Much of what was once fertile farmland was gradually turning wild, though the ecological environment had improved as a result.

A place like this, having missed the opportunities of a developing era, was destined to slowly fade into a desolate countryside.

His mind made up, Qin Yi got to work. He took out his phone and started looking at a map of Ning County, feeling once again grateful for the country’s massive infrastructure projects over the years.

Huangjing Town alone had two expressways passing through it. The expressway exit was only a few kilometers from Xiashan Village, making transportation extremely convenient for anyone with a car.

Ning County’s railway was also about to open. It was a direct line to the coast, which meant that transporting raw materials and finished products would not be an issue.

Aside from not having an airport or river and sea transport, Ning County’s transportation infrastructure was actually not bad at all. It was definitely feasible to start a business there.

“I’ll set it up in Huangjing Town. First, I’ll go talk to the town government and see if I can get some preferential policies. There’s a large, flat piece of land near the expressway exit. It’s a great spot, in a prime location next to a decent-sized mountain. It would be perfect for the company headquarters in the future, and it’s close to home.”

Qin Yi hopped on his family’s small electric scooter and headed toward Huangjing Town. Xiashan Village was close to the town, less than five kilometers away. With a direct paved road, it took him less than ten minutes to arrive at the town government building.

“What? You want to invest and build a factory in Huangjing Town?”

Su Qian looked in disbelief at the young man, who seemed to be about her age. Having just passed the civil service exam last year to join the ranks of Huangjing Town’s government employees, she was still new.

Su Qian was a native of Ning County, so she knew exactly what kind of place Huangjing Town was. She would have believed someone if they said they were coming to quarry stone or mine ore, but to say they were investing in a factory? She felt like the sun must have risen from the west today.

She glanced at the small electric scooter Qin Yi had parked at the entrance of the government building. She had seen him ride up on it with her own eyes.

Would someone coming to invest in a factory ride a small electric scooter? Never mind a BMW or a Mercedes, he should at least be driving something with four wheels.

Could this guy be a scammer? she thought. Trying to get government subsidies under the guise of investing in a factory? But Huangjing Town is dirt poor. If he wanted to scam someone, he should go to a rich area.

And he doesn’t look like a scammer or a bad person. But with that little scooter and the way he’s dressed, he just doesn’t look like someone who has money to invest in a factory…

Su Qian sized Qin Yi up carefully. No matter how she looked at him, he didn’t seem rich, but she didn’t get the feeling that he was a bad person either.

“What is it? Is there something on my face?”

Qin Yi touched his own face to check if a flower had sprouted on it, or if he had suddenly become more handsome. The woman in front of him wasn’t a great beauty, but she was easy on the eyes. Why was she staring at him?

“Are you sure you’re here to invest in a factory? You’re not joking, are you?”

Su Qian asked again for confirmation. This Qin Yi looked like he was still a student, just like her. He hadn’t lost his youthful look and, at most, had only recently entered the workforce.

“Of course. I’m not joking. My name is Qin Yi. I’m a native of Huangjing Town. Is there a problem with wanting to invest and start a business in my own hometown?”

Qin Yi nodded seriously. He was completely confused now.

In his mind, he had imagined that the moment he mentioned investing, the town government would be thrilled, excited, and would treat it with the utmost importance. All the leaders, big and small, would rush over, offering policies and land. But the reality was completely different.

“Your name is Qin Yi? Are you the Qin Yi from the class of 2015 at Ning County No. 1 High School who got into Huaxia University?”

The moment Su Qian heard his name, her expression changed completely. She looked at him with a hint of excitement, her eyes sparkling with admiration.

“Um, yes, I was in the class of 2015. I didn’t realize you were also from Ning County No. 1 High School, Senior.”

Qin Yi smiled and nodded.

“I’m two years ahead of you. When I was a senior in high school, you were a freshman. I’d heard your name back then, but I never expected to meet you in person today.”

“My name is Su Qian. I’m currently a junior clerk here in Huangjing Town.”

Su Qian happily extended her right hand.

Qin Yi shook her hand, then rubbed his nose. His name was still quite well-known in Ning County, especially in Huangjing Town. In a place where even getting into any university was big news, a student admitted to Huaxia University was a legend.

When Qin Yi got into Huaxia University, the entire town was incredibly proud. When talking to outsiders, they would always mention, “We even have a Qin Yi from our Huangjing Town who got into Huaxia University.”

“You should still be in your junior year, right? Why are you thinking about starting a business already?”

After the introductions, Qin Yi could clearly feel that the atmosphere between them had become warmer, without the defensiveness one felt with strangers.

“I developed a new technology at school, so I thought I’d be my own boss and start a business,” Qin Yi explained with a smile.

“As expected of someone from Huaxia University! So impressive, developing new technology while you’re still a student. Being your own boss is a good idea. You don’t have to work for others, and all the money you make is yours. That’s the right way to think.”

Hearing Qin Yi’s words, Su Qian couldn’t help but give him a thumbs-up.

“Actually, Huaxia University is much like any other university. In the end, it all comes down to the individual. You can’t go wrong with working hard.”

Qin Yi smiled humbly.

“Why did you choose to invest and build a factory here in Huangjing Town? There are so many better places all over the country. What do we have here? We’re poor and have nothing.”

After all, Su Qian hadn’t been out of school for long. She sounded as if she was almost trying to turn away the investment that had landed on her doorstep.

“No matter how much better other places in the country are, this is my home. A child doesn’t despise his mother for being ugly, and a dog doesn’t despise its master for being poor. It’s precisely because our hometown has nothing and is so underdeveloped that we young people should come back and do something for its development.”

“Besides, while my hometown is a bit underdeveloped, the transportation is decent. And being underdeveloped has its advantages. At least the land and labor are cheap.”

Qin Yi smiled and shook his head as he explained his thoughts.

“As expected of someone from Huaxia University. Your way of thinking puts me to shame.”

Su Qian’s face flushed slightly upon hearing his words.

“Aren’t you doing the same, Senior? Coming back to your hometown to work and contribute to its development.”

“How could I compare to you? I’m nowhere near your level.”

Su Qian’s smile widened at Qin Yi’s words. People were all the same; they liked to hear praise. Then, as if remembering something, she took out her phone and began contacting the mayor and the Party Secretary of Huangjing Town, briefly explaining Qin Yi’s situation.

“I’ve reported the situation to the Party Secretary and the mayor. They were very happy to hear the news and are on their way back. Please wait here for a moment.”

“It’s no problem at all. Sorry to trouble you, Senior.”

“It’s no trouble. It’s what I should do. You’re the first person to come and invest in a factory in Huangjing Town. If you really succeed, the future development of our town will be just around the corner.”

“I also hope my investment can help spur our hometown’s development. It’s just too underdeveloped.”

Chapter 19: Star River Technology

Qin Yi didn’t have to wait long. Just over ten minutes later, the top official and second-in-command of Huangjing Town both rushed over. The two men were very young, not yet thirty. At this age, they were still very dedicated to their political careers. Hearing that Qin Yi wanted to invest in a factory, they were naturally both surprised and astonished.

It was difficult for a backward town like Huangjing to produce any notable political achievements, so climbing the career ladder was naturally not an easy task. If someone were to come and invest in a factory, that would be a different story.

Once it was truly up and running, regardless of the investment size or the factory’s profitability, it would more or less stimulate economic development. With a little embellishment, it could be considered a decent highlight for their careers.

Huangjing Town’s top official was named Wu Jiangxiong, and the second-in-command was Zhu Lei. Both wore glasses and looked very young, almost like recent college graduates.

In the town government’s reception hall, Wu Jiangxiong and Zhu Lei chatted cordially with Qin Yi. After carefully inquiring, they soon understood the whole situation and confirmed that Qin Yi wasn’t there to pull their legs. The smiles on their faces naturally grew wider.

“We absolutely welcome Mr. Qin’s return to his hometown to start a business. Compared to the developed coastal regions, our Huangjing Town is far too backward. We need more young and promising entrepreneurs like Mr. Qin to come back and drive our hometown’s development.”

“May I ask how much Mr. Qin plans to invest in Huangjing Town? And what industry will the factory be in?”

Wu Jiangxiong was all smiles, expressing a warm welcome to Qin Yi. However, he also wanted to understand Qin Yi’s plans more clearly. Only with a clear picture could he better report to the leadership of Ning County and apply for policies and resources.

“The preliminary estimate for the investment will be no less than one hundred million. The industry will be high-tech products, starting with high-energy batteries for now,” Qin Yi said after a moment of thought.

“One hundred million?”

As soon as Qin Yi finished speaking, Wu Jiangxiong, Zhu Lei, and Su Qian, who was accompanying them, couldn’t help but cry out.

In a big city, one hundred million might not be much, with countless companies of that scale. But in a place like Ning County, there didn’t seem to be a single enterprise with an investment of over a hundred million. The three of them suddenly felt as if a pie had fallen from the sky and hit them square in the head.

“One hundred million…”

Zhu Lei’s mind raced with calculations. With an investment of one hundred million, setting aside everything else, just the construction of factory buildings and office blocks would be enough to stimulate Huangjing Town’s economy.

Moreover, once the factory began operations, it would need to hire workers. There would also be supporting industries and other derivative businesses. The entire economy of Huangjing Town could take flight because of this.

But soon, Zhu Lei frowned as if he had thought of something. “Mr. Qin,” he said, “you’re investing in battery manufacturing. Will there be significant pollution?”

“Rest assured, the battery I’m making is called the Atomic Matrix Battery. It utilizes the principle that the closer an electron is to the atom, the more energy it carries. This battery is completely different from traditional lead-acid batteries and has no pollution whatsoever. It was because I developed this technology that I decided to enter the battery industry,” Qin Yi said with a smile.

He understood Zhu Lei’s concern. Many highly polluting enterprises in the developed coastal regions would relocate to the backward areas of central and western China when they could no longer operate due to environmental issues.

Labor was cheap in these areas, and more importantly, environmental regulations were very lax. Many heavily polluting companies would choose backward places like Huangjing Town.

Once such a heavily polluting enterprise set up shop, it would inevitably have a devastating long-term impact on the local ecosystem. Some places even saw the emergence of “cancer villages” or “lung cancer villages.”

The battery industry was, in fact, considered a heavily polluting sector, as most batteries on the market were lead-acid, alkaline-manganese, or zinc-manganese batteries. The names alone suggested how severe the pollution could be.

“That’s good, that’s good.”

Zhu Lei was instantly relieved. In truth, he was just asking. For a place like Huangjing Town, even if the enterprise was polluting, they would still welcome it with open arms as long as it was willing to invest.

At the same time, he couldn’t help but take a closer look at Qin Yi. To be able to develop a new battery technology while still in college, this Qin Yi was quite remarkable. He couldn’t help but sigh inwardly, thinking that as expected of a student from Huaxia University, he was truly impressive.

“So, the enterprise you’re founding is a high-tech company?” Wu Jiangxiong, however, keenly identified a key point, looking at Qin Yi with excitement.

“It should be considered high-tech, and the future focus will also be on high-tech. That’s why I have a few small requests. I wonder if they can be met.”

Qin Yi nodded with a smile, preparing to state his requirements.

“Please speak freely, Mr. Qin. Whatever we can decide on, we will do our best to accommodate. For anything beyond our authority, we will report it to our superiors.”

Wu Jiangxiong knew the crucial part was coming. Investors like this usually had many demands, typically related to policies, loans, and tax incentives.

“I’ve taken a liking to the area around Liujiang Village, near the town’s highway exit. This area has flat, open terrain and is large enough. In the future, after my company expands, I will need this entire area. So I hope this land can be reserved for me, not approved for others or used for other purposes.”

Qin Yi took a pen and drew a large circle on the map of Huangjing Town, enclosing a vast area. This was arguably the best piece of land in the entire town.

“Mr. Qin has a good eye. The Liujiang Village area is indeed the best location in our town. I can agree to this request on my own authority. However, before your company is formally established and expands, we will not expropriate this land from the farmers. It will remain as farmland. When you have expansion needs, we can then proceed with the expropriation.”

Wu Jiangxiong breathed a slight sigh of relief. It was just a request for land. This wasn’t a big city; land was plentiful. The requested area was a bit large, but that didn’t matter. If Qin Yi could truly succeed, it wouldn’t be a problem to re-plan the entire town for him.

“Thank you for your support. Also, regarding water, electricity, and road access, I hope you can help resolve these as soon as possible.”

Qin Yi smiled and expressed his thanks. The blueprint in his mind was massive, and he needed a lot of land. The plot he had circled was only the beginning. Of course, saying too much now would sound like bragging.

“You can rest assured about the utilities and road access. This is what we are supposed to do. There will be no problem. We definitely won’t be a drag on your company’s production and operation.”

Wu Jiangxiong almost thumped his chest in assurance. Basic infrastructure was hardly a demand; it was a necessary配套 facility. This was only an issue in the countryside; in a city, it wouldn’t even need to be mentioned.

“That’s good. I have no other requests.”

“Really, nothing else? We can also help you fight for preferential treatment on taxes and loans.”

Wu Jiangxiong was slightly taken aback. Every business revolved around taxes and loans. Yet, Qin Yi hadn’t even brought them up.

“Haha, I’m building a high-tech enterprise. I’m confident that funding won’t be an issue. As for tax incentives, it would be best to have them, but it’s fine if not.”

Qin Yi smiled and shook his head. With the Technology Tower in hand, he refused to believe he couldn’t build a world-renowned high-tech company. As long as the company was running and a steady stream of high-tech products flowed out, why would he worry about money?

Of course, this was just Qin Yi’s thought process. Only someone with no business experience would think this way. In reality, every enterprise tried its best to secure as many bank loans as possible. The more abundant the capital on hand, the more secure the company’s operations.

Furthermore, the interest on bank loans was much, much lower than that from other financing channels—the lowest of all, in fact. Who wouldn’t want to borrow more from the bank?

…

With the support of the Huangjing town government, things moved much more smoothly for Qin Yi. A few days later, he rented a building in town and hung up a sign for “Star River Technology.” The company registration process, with the government giving it the green light all the way, was completed quickly.

As Star River Technology’s sign went up in Huangjing Town, everyone in town soon knew: Qin Yi, the boy who had gotten into Huaxia University, had returned to his hometown to start a high-tech business with an investment of over one hundred million.

It quickly became a topic of avid discussion. People from Xiashan Village, in particular, couldn’t help but boast whenever they met people from other villages, saying things like, “Even when he was a child, I could tell that boy Qin Yi was a literary star descended from the heavens, a true dragon among men.”

As for Qin Yi’s parents, who had been honest farmers working the land their whole lives, they were now enjoying a great deal of prestige. Everywhere they went, people would ask, “Your son Qin Yi is a multi-millionaire now, you’ll have endless blessings to enjoy in the future.”

Or they would inquire with Qin Yi’s parents whether he had a girlfriend, then immediately start introducing their nieces or grand-nieces.

Of course, there were also those who hoped to use their connection with Qin Yi’s parents to find opportunities to get rich. After all, with an investment of over one hundred million, one could earn a lot just by contracting the construction of a few factory buildings or offices.

Although Qin Yi’s parents didn’t understand why their son chose to return to his hometown to start a business, nor did they know when he had acquired so much money, it was ultimately a good thing. The smiles never left their faces, and they spent their days helping Qin Yi with company matters.

After all, the future globally-renowned “Star River Technology” was currently just a one-man army. Qin Yi was a general without troops, having to do everything himself, and he was incredibly busy.

Chapter 20: Not Attending to Proper Duties

Inside the Star River Technology office building in Huangjing Town, Qin Yi looked at the dozen or so people in the conference room and couldn’t help but sigh. His team was truly a motley crew.

These dozen-plus individuals were the first batch of employees Qin Yi had recruited through advertisements over the past few days. Every single one was from Ning County, and most were even from Huangjing Town.

The man Qin Yi had temporarily appointed as manager was named Zhang Guomin, a close friend of his father. According to Qin Yi’s father, he was a capable man who had been a big boss in his youth, running his own factory and a large business. Later, however, he lost his entire fortune to gambling and fell on hard times. But even in his downfall, he remained a well-connected figure in Huangjing Town and throughout Ning County, with a vast network of acquaintances.

In his father’s view, Qin Yi was still a greenhorn with no experience and needed a seasoned hand to help him. Thus, he had taken Qin Yi and, with the spirit of Liu Bei making three visits to the thatched cottage, made several earnest appeals before finally persuading Zhang Guomin to temporarily serve as Star River Technology’s manager, responsible for daily administrative management.

The finance manager was Chen Li, Qin Yi’s maternal aunt’s daughter. Chen Li had just graduated from a third-tier university with a degree in financial accounting. She was still unemployed when Qin Yi’s mother called her over. In his mother’s words, the company was just starting out and everything was still informal, so it was safer to have a family member manage the finances.

Although Qin Yi was a thousand times against it in his heart, his mother’s word was law. Besides, it seemed difficult for Star River Technology to attract any real talent at the moment. He could only make do for now and slowly professionalize the business once the company made a name for itself.

For administration, he had managed to hire a proper university graduate named Yang Chenghao. However, he was also from an ordinary university and had previously worked for a small company in Ning County. When that company went bankrupt, he was about to look for work elsewhere but was lured over by the salary Qin Yi offered.

Besides the manager, finance, and administration, the company had also hired ten workers, all around his father’s age. Each one of them was an honest, simple man, and they all sat in the conference room looking constrained and uneasy, clearly unaccustomed to attending formal meetings.

Looking at the crowd in the room, Qin Yi had initially prepared a long, inspiring speech full of eloquent words. But on second thought, he swallowed them all back down.

If his classmates and professors found out about this team, they would probably laugh themselves to death. Since when did a Huaxia University graduate’s startup have such a shabby team? In terms of education level, the average was likely around a middle school education.

“Everyone, work hard. Let’s try to get our company’s factory and office building constructed as soon as possible. Once the company starts making money, everyone’s salaries will continue to rise.”

In the end, Qin Yi completed his first speech as the boss in a very plain and simple way. He had no choice. Talking to this group about ideals and dreams was clearly unrealistic; it was better to talk about wages. That was the only way to ignite their passion for work.

The salaries Qin Yi offered were not low. In a small town like Huangjing, he offered ordinary workers a salary of four thousand. The manager, Zhang Guomin, was offered an annual salary of one hundred and fifty thousand, while the finance manager and administrator, Yang Chenghao, each received an annual salary of one hundred thousand. In a place like Huangjing Town, these were definitely considered high-paying positions.

So, upon hearing that Qin Yi would raise their wages further, the smiles on everyone’s faces broadened.

After hastily ending the meeting, Qin Yi was relieved. The company’s main task at present was the construction of the factory and office building, and with Zhang Guomin in charge of that, Qin Yi felt quite at ease.

As soon as he took up his post, Zhang Guomin launched into action with great vigor. With a few phone calls, he arranged for the construction crew, materials, and everything else, and they began working with fiery enthusiasm at the site Qin Yi had chosen.

“Sigh~”

When everyone had left and Qin Yi was alone in the conference room, he couldn’t help but slump into his chair. He had been exhausted from handling everything by himself these past few days. Now he had a team, even if it was worlds apart from his ideal one.

But at least someone was working for him now. He had become a capitalist who could sit in his office and exploit the surplus value of his workers.

“I wonder if choosing to start here in my hometown was the right or wrong decision. I have the money, but I can’t find a qualified professional manager. In the city, as long as the salary is high enough, there would be droves of people willing to come and work.”

Thinking of this, Qin Yi felt a bit helpless. When he first started recruiting, he had offered very competitive salaries. Many people called after seeing the online job postings, but as soon as they heard the job was in a place like Huangjing Town, they hung up instantly. Some even cussed him out, calling him a scammer.

“Once my Atomic Matrix Battery makes a name for itself, I refuse to believe I won’t be able to find talented people. For now, this is the only way.”

Qin Yi sighed. He really had no other choice. He couldn’t find anyone. It was only because this was Ning County, and people had heard that Qin Yi, the one who got into Huaxia University, had returned home to start a business, that he had some name recognition. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have even been able to hire Yang Chenghao, the university-educated administrative manager.

“I should get a good night’s sleep. These past few days have been too tiring. It’s time for a break.”

Just as Qin Yi was about to get some much-needed rest, his phone inconsiderately rang. He picked it up and saw that it was none other than Professor Yin Shouping.

“Professor Yin.”

“Qin Yi, where are you? Get over here right away. I have some very important people here. They are extremely interested in your anti-gravity theory and want to discuss it with you in depth.”

Professor Yin’s voice was filled with excitement. As Qin Yi’s anti-gravity theory spread through Huaxia’s scientific community, more and more scientists were beginning to pay attention to the field and conduct their own in-depth research. Many had even come directly to Huaxia University, hoping to study anti-gravity with Qin Yi personally.

“I’m not in the Imperial Capital. I’ve returned to my hometown.”

Qin Yi was slightly taken aback. For Professor Yin to call them “very important people,” they must be extraordinary, likely some of the top scientists in the country. He hadn’t expected his discovery about anti-gravity to garner such serious attention so quickly.

“You went back home? What are you doing back home at a time like this?”

On the other end of the line, Yin Shouping was also stunned for a moment before asking.

“I came home to start a business. I’m planning to open a company.”

Qin Yi didn’t hide anything.

“You’re really not attending to your proper duties! Why are you starting a company instead of focusing on your scientific research? And if you had to start a company, why did you have to run back to your hometown? Can’t you start one in the Imperial Capital?”

Hearing this, Yin Shouping couldn’t help but leap to his feet. He had originally thought that Qin Yi was an excellent student, possessing all the fine qualities a scientific researcher should have.

He never imagined that Qin Yi would turn around and have his eyes only for money, even running back to his hometown to start a business. This was simply a case of neglecting one’s true calling.

With Qin Yi’s talent for science, as long as he continued to explore down the scientific path, he was destined to become an outstanding scientist. After all, Qin Yi had already discovered anti-gravity as a junior—his future achievements were limitless.

Instead of walking the bright path ahead of him, Qin Yi had turned around to start a company, completely captivated by money. At this moment, Yin Shouping felt deeply pained and disappointed. Such a talented young man—what a waste.

“Qin Yi, just drop that company of yours and come back quickly. As for money, once you reach a certain level, it will naturally come to you.”

“You are still very young, and your future holds infinite possibilities. You should focus your mind on things that are truly beneficial to humanity and to our country.”

“If you’re really short on money, I have a few million here you can use. Why start a company? Even if you become a billionaire like Jack Ma, it won’t mean much to our country.”

“What our country needs are great scientists like Einstein, not some enviable billionaires. Do you understand what I mean?”

Yin Shouping was deeply pained, feeling that he had failed as a teacher. He painstakingly tried to persuade Qin Yi to turn back from his errant ways and return to the bright path ahead of him, and to stop neglecting his duties by starting some company.

“Don’t worry, Professor. I know exactly what I’m doing. Even though I’m starting a company, I will absolutely not give up my exploration on the path of science.”

After listening, Qin Yi had no choice but to pat his chest and assure Yin Shouping that starting a company was just a side project; his main profession was still scientific research.

“That’s good to hear. Settle your affairs there and come back as soon as you can. I suspect your anti-gravity theory will receive a great deal of attention from the higher-ups. A related research project will likely be established, and your participation will be indispensable.”

Reassured by Qin Yi’s promise, Yin Shouping relaxed slightly. A side project wasn’t a big deal, as long as he continued to pursue scientific research.

“Has my anti-gravity paper been published already?”

Qin Yi was surprised. It seemed he was already a little famous.

“Your paper hasn’t been published in Science yet, but Old Fan saw it while I was researching anti-gravity. Then word got around, and now it has spread throughout the scientific community in Huaxia. Everyone is studying your anti-gravity theory.”

“And based on your theory, everyone has now been able to prove the existence of anti-gravity. The entire scientific community in Huaxia is incredibly excited and thrilled. Many people have come to our university looking for you, wanting to research anti-gravity together. That’s why I called to urge you to come back soon. You’re now considered the founder of the field of anti-gravity, so you’re sure to be highly valued.”

Chapter 21: The Hardships of Industry

“I probably won’t be able to come back anytime soon. I’ll return to the Imperial Capital once this busy period at my company is over.”

Hearing Yin Shouping’s words, Qin Yi had a general idea of what was going on. The proposition of the anti-gravity theory was undoubtedly an earthquake for the current scientific community. Once it spread, more and more people would naturally begin to research this new field.

As the first person to propose and discover anti-gravity, his fame would naturally rise with the tide. In the future, if there were any related anti-gravity projects, Qin Yi would certainly be involved.

“Why don’t you understand? Starting a company is neglecting your true calling. You should come back early and focus on scientific research. You’re throwing away a great future to start some company.”

“It’s all my fault for not teaching you properly~”

Yin Shouping seemed a little angry, feeling he wasn’t a qualified teacher. He hadn’t guided Qin Yi well, allowing him to go astray and become obsessed with money.

“Uh~”

“This has nothing to do with you. Starting a company has always been part of my own plan. Besides, the company I’m starting is a high-tech one. It shouldn’t bring any disgrace.”

Qin Yi hadn’t expected Yin Shouping to have such a strong reaction to him starting a company. Of course, Qin Yi didn’t know that in Yin Shouping’s heart, he was like a piece of gold that had just begun to shine, destined to become a rising star in Huaxia’s scientific community.

“A high-tech company? What area are you focusing on?”

“Mainly batteries. High-energy batteries.”

“High-energy batteries?”

“Yes. Have you heard of the Atomic Matrix Battery?”

“Atomic Matrix Battery? You mean the one based on the principle that the closer an electron is to an atom, the more energy it contains?”

As a top scientist in the field of electromagnetism, Yin Shouping immediately understood the principle behind the Atomic Matrix Battery Qin Yi mentioned. The concept and theory for it had been proposed long ago, but no one had ever been able to master the technology.

“Yes, that’s the technology.”

Qin Yi nodded in acknowledgment. The Atomic Matrix Battery technology wasn’t excessively difficult for Earth’s current level of science. As long as a few key points were understood, it was entirely possible to manufacture it with the planet’s existing technological capabilities.

This was why Qin Yi had chosen to enter the battery industry first. The market was large, it was in the new energy sector with vast future prospects, and most importantly, the technology was compatible with Earth’s current science, making it easier to start with.

“Qin Yi, I think you’ve definitely chosen the wrong major. Please reconsider transferring to our electromagnetism department.”

“If you had studied in our electromagnetism department since your freshman year, I believe your achievements would be even more extraordinary by now. You’ve even mastered the Atomic Matrix Battery technology.”

“It seems our university needs to reform its major selection process in the future. We can’t rigidly assign majors based on college entrance exam scores. So many of the provincial Top Scorers go into finance. It’s an absolute waste of talent.”

“Professor Yin, I’m already a junior. I’m about to graduate soon. Besides, my grades in the power and thermal physics department have always been good.”

Qin Yi was momentarily speechless. This was the second time Yin Shouping had asked him to switch majors.

“Forget it, let’s not talk about this anymore. Finish up your company’s business as soon as you can. My advice is to make good use of professional managers. Let them manage the company for you. Your main focus should still be on scientific research.”

Yin Shouping sighed. It was impossible to get Qin Yi back to the Imperial Capital in the short term. He could only suggest that Qin Yi hand over the company’s affairs to professional managers so he could return sooner.

“I have plans for that as well, but the company is just starting out, so I have no choice but to be hands-on for now.”

“Alright then. That’s all.”

Qin Yi hung up the phone with Yin Shouping and couldn’t help but slump into his chair. The work at the company wasn’t even finished yet, and it seemed like a host of new things would soon demand his attention.

Qin Yi could already foresee that as his anti-gravity theory spread, his fame would grow, and the higher-ups would certainly start paying attention to him. Anti-gravity technology was so important that they would undoubtedly place great value on him. He wouldn’t have to worry about fame then, but a corresponding host of issues would surely follow.

In the days that followed, although the company’s framework was established and various tasks were proceeding in an orderly manner, Qin Yi was still incredibly busy.

After all, the Atomic Matrix Battery technology was vastly different from conventional battery technology. Qin Yi had to rely on the existing industrial base to design and manufacture the necessary equipment.

Of course, the Technology Tower already contained very mature design blueprints and technical plans. What Qin Yi needed to do was break down the entire Atomic Matrix Battery production line into countless small parts and modules, then find corresponding manufacturers for each of them to place production orders.

This task seemed easy, especially with the help of the Technology Tower’s intelligent program, the Old Man. It had a clear understanding of the industrial manufacturing capabilities of major domestic and international enterprises. All he had to do was match the design blueprints and processing requirements of the parts and modules to each company’s capabilities and send them out for custom manufacturing.

But things weren’t as simple as they seemed. On one hand, the Atomic Matrix Battery technology needed to be kept secret, so Qin Yi had to break down the parts into very small, discrete components, making it difficult for anyone to reverse-engineer the final product.

On the other hand, for some critical components, Qin Yi decided to manufacture the key parts and modules himself. This meant he had to purchase his own machine tools, processing equipment, and so on.

Therefore, even after delegating the company’s daily affairs, Qin Yi remained extremely busy, swamped with work every day, all while trying to keep up with his studies of new knowledge within the Technology Tower.

Liujiang Village in Huangjing Town was originally just a very ordinary small village in the mountains. Like countless other villages, the young people had gone to work elsewhere, leaving only the elderly and children behind. Although there were rows of beautiful houses, they were invariably locked up, making the village exceptionally quiet and peaceful.

However, with Star River Technology choosing the area near Liujiang Village for its factory and office building, the place transformed into a bustling construction site. Vehicles came and went, constantly transporting materials, while hundreds of workers toiled day and night, pouring out their sweat.

The changes here were visible to the naked eye. What was a barren wasteland yesterday had its foundations dug today. In a few more days, the outline of a large building would be faintly visible.

In just over half a month, the cranes grew taller and taller. Buildings shot up from the ground like bamboo shoots after a spring rain. The outline of a massive factory building could also be seen, and the main gate of the Star River Technology Industrial Park was beginning to be erected…

The construction speed here fully reflected the pace of Huaxia’s current development and showcased the allure of money. As long as the payment was sufficient, speed and quality were not an issue. With enough money, any and all demands could be met.

Qin Yi would take a stroll around the construction site every day, carefully observing everything. As the starting point of his enterprise, he was very attentive.

Fearing he would be swindled or that the construction company wouldn’t follow his requirements, and because he couldn’t understand the work himself, Qin Yi had recently picked up books on engineering and construction. Combining that knowledge with on-site observations, he was quite satisfied with the quality of his company’s industrial park.

Of course, satisfaction came at a price. Demanding both quality and speed meant the money was spent just as fast. The first thirty million in funds that Qin Yi had transferred to the company was also decreasing at a visibly rapid rate.

The investment in industry is enormous. Building factories, purchasing machinery, then debugging and installing it all—it would take at least six months to a year before a product could even be released.

To recoup the initial investment, one had to pray that the product would be competitive in the market. Otherwise, everything invested upfront would go down the drain.

In contrast, the internet, finance, and real estate industries were completely different. Their initial costs were relatively much smaller, capital turnover was high, and most importantly, the rate of return was also very high.

This was perhaps why domestic capital in Huaxia increasingly favored the internet, finance, and real estate sectors, while shying away from industry more and more.

“After the factory and office building are constructed, they still need to be renovated. When the machinery arrives, it needs to be assembled, installed, and debugged. The Atomic Matrix Battery probably won’t be ready until after October at the earliest. I don’t know if my funds will last until then.”

Qin Yi looked at his empty pockets, did a quick calculation, and couldn’t help but feel a headache coming on.

He had originally thought that the money from selling the cheat software came in fast enough and would be sufficient to support his initial venture. Now, it seemed it was barely enough. He was lucky to have chosen a rural area like his hometown.

This time, the Huangjing town government had directly approved over ten thousand mu of land for Star River Technology, charging only a nominal fee. If this had been in the Imperial Capital, the land would have been prohibitively expensive, and he would never have been approved for such a large area. He wouldn’t even be able to dream of it; this amount of money wouldn’t even be enough for the plaster.

“The countryside is better after all. At least the land is cheap~”

Looking at the frame of his company’s office building, Qin Yi felt grateful for his earlier decision. He had absolutely no experience starting a company, hadn’t even made a budget, and had just forged ahead with the idea. Thinking back on it now, he realized he had been too naive.

“I’d better keep the renovations simple later on. I can’t keep spending money so lavishly. If the capital chain breaks, I’ll really have something to cry about.”

Chapter 22: The Anti-Gravity Project Team

Time flew by, and soon it was July 2020. As Qin Yi’s paper on anti-gravity theory spread wider and wider throughout Huaxia’s scientific community, more and more scientists confirmed the existence of anti-gravity through experiments and theoretical validation, proving the correctness of Qin Yi’s theory.

A wave of anti-gravity research began to sweep through Huaxia’s scientific community, as nearly every scientist sensed the future importance of this technology.

If anti-gravity technology could be successfully developed, it would undoubtedly be an epoch-making technology, sparking a new technological revolution and opening a new chapter in human history.

In a quiet courtyard in the heart of the Imperial Capital, inside a conference room large enough to hold dozens of people, several elderly men, often seen on the news, were listening intently to a scientist’s presentation.

Besides these elderly men, all the attendees of this meeting were Huaxia’s most renowned scientists, individuals who were also famous internationally—invaluable, national-treasure-level talents.

“After verification by our numerous scientific research institutions and laboratories, we can now confirm Qin Yi’s anti-gravity theory. Anti-gravity does indeed exist and can be harnessed by us.”

“Through our unanimous discussions, we believe that anti-gravity technology will open a new chapter in human history and bring revolutionary changes to our scientific and technological development.”

“Once anti-gravity technology transitions from theory to practical application, allowing for the creation of anti-gravity aircraft, humanity will break free from Earth’s shackles and truly enter the space age.”

“After a vote, we have unanimously concluded that our country must place the highest importance on anti-gravity technology. We must go all out to seize the high ground, take the initiative in this brand-new field, leapfrog ahead of the competition, and lay the foundation for the fierce space race of the future.”

On the stage, a completely white-haired old man spoke with a voice full of passion, loud and powerful. The more he spoke, the more animated he seemed to become, visibly excited. At the thought of the vast prospects of anti-gravity technology, and the fact that its theory was proposed by a Huaxian, he could barely hold back tears of joy.

He was over seventy years old, born around the time the new Huaxia was founded. He had lived through Huaxia’s most difficult periods and witnessed its step-by-step journey from weakness to strength, its process of rising again.

But he felt it wasn’t nearly enough. Since ancient times, Huaxia had been the most powerful nation on Earth, and the Chinese people were the most diligent, kind, and intelligent race. There was no reason they couldn’t restore their former status. He wanted to see Huaxia become the world’s most powerful country; then he could depart this life with no regrets.

However, as a scientific researcher, he was also keenly aware of the gap between Huaxia and the world’s most powerful nations. Leaving other things aside, the technological gap was still very apparent; aircraft engines alone were enough to illustrate the disparity.

So this time, when the theory of anti-gravity emerged, and from a Huaxian no less, he was incredibly excited and had people meticulously study the theory. He felt as if he could see a future where Huaxia, banking on anti-gravity technology, would surpass the West and once again become the most powerful nation on the planet.

As the old man’s words fell, thunderous applause filled the conference room. The several elderly men below exchanged glances and then nodded slightly.

It had been a long time since such a high-level science and technology conference had been held, especially one discussing a technology with such epoch-making and transformative potential for the future. Therefore, it was taken very seriously. The elderly leaders had all attended, listening carefully to the research report from the Huaxian Academy of Sciences on anti-gravity technology.

“We must give the highest priority to the research of anti-gravity technology and spare no effort. No matter the difficulties, we must find a way to overcome them.”

“A new era is dawning. Centuries ago, we missed the opportunity of the Age of Discovery, which led to us being left behind and beaten for over a hundred years. Even now, we have not truly returned to the center of the world.”

“For this revolutionary and epoch-making technology, we must summon the spirit of the ‘Two Bombs, One Satellite’ project. We must concentrate our strength to accomplish great things, seize this critical moment in a new era of development, and grasp the future destiny of our country and people, so that our descendants will not repeat the mistakes of history!”

At the end of the meeting, the old man’s speech was sonorous and forceful, demonstrating immense resolve and determination, and painting a beautiful blueprint for Huaxia’s future for everyone present.

…

“Book-flipping Freak, where have you been lately? Why haven’t you been coming to the library?”

Qin Yi opened his WeChat and was left speechless by the message from Wen Xueying. He had no idea when he’d suddenly gotten that nickname.

“I went home~”

“Our school hasn’t started summer break yet, has it? Why did you go back so early?”

“I’ve run into a few math problems I can’t solve. Could you help me take a look?”

“Sure, send me a picture of the problems.”

Qin Yi looked at the questions Wen Xueying sent over, took out a pen, and started calculating on a draft paper. In just a few minutes, he had the solutions and sent a photo back to her.

“Did you understand it?”

“Mmm~ I got it. Thank you, Book-flipping Freak! I’ve discovered you seem to know everything. Math, physics, computer science… A photographic memory is really amazing. Your learning ability is terrifying.”

“I just read a bit faster, so I’ve read a little bit of everything!”

Qin Yi and Wen Xueying chatted on. Qin Yi quite enjoyed having a pretty girl actively start a conversation with him. In any case, he’d never had this kind of treatment before.

As they were chatting, Yin Shouping called again.

“Qin Yi, put your company’s affairs aside for now and get back to the Imperial Capital immediately.”

Before Qin Yi could even speak, Yin Shouping’s excited and agitated voice came through the phone.

“What’s happened? You sound so excited.”

Qin Yi and Yin Shouping had been in frequent contact over the phone and were quite familiar with each other, so Qin Yi could tell Yin Shouping was thrilled just by the sound of his voice.

“Haven’t you watched the news?”

“Uh… I never watch the news.”

“Well… I think you should develop the habit of watching the news every day. You can get a lot of useful information from it.”

“But I’m getting sidetracked. Huaxia’s top leadership recently held a very important meeting. They’ve explicitly stated their determination to vigorously develop anti-gravity technology and have established an Anti-Gravity Project Team. Dozens of top experts from the two national academies are part of this team.”

Yin Shouping’s voice was filled with excitement. A project that gathered dozens of top academics was extremely rare. Apart from the space program, it was difficult for any other project to assemble so many top-tier scientists.

One had to understand that these leading figures from the academies didn’t just represent themselves; each one had a vast research team behind them, consisting of researchers, master’s and doctoral students, advisors, professors, and so on. A project team composed of dozens of such figures was by definition an enormous undertaking, and its research would undoubtedly be on a crucial technology vital to all of Huaxia.

“And then~”

Yin Shouping was speaking excitedly, but Qin Yi remained calm, seemingly unsurprised by any of it. He had long predicted that his anti-gravity theory would receive major attention once it was proposed. This was the effect he had wanted, after all. Only a technology with enough weight could quickly boost his reputation.

“You and I have both been assigned to this project team.”

Yin Shouping was slightly taken aback by Qin Yi’s lack of reaction.

“So? Are you excited? You’re the only undergraduate student in the entire project team.”

“Not excited at all.”

“Right, I guess so. You’re the discoverer of anti-gravity, the proponent of the theory. It’s only natural that you’d be recruited for the project team. It makes sense that you’re not excited.”

“You’re almost done with your company’s business, right? Hurry back. I expect you’ll receive the official notification in the next two days, and then we’ll have to assemble.”

“My work is definitely not finished, but I was planning on making a trip to the Imperial Capital soon anyway. I should be there for a few months.”

Qin Yi thought for a moment before replying. The factory and office buildings for his company were almost complete. After that came renovations, plumbing, and electrical installations. The custom-made machinery, equipment, and parts he ordered from various manufacturers would also take time to arrive. All things considered, Qin Yi would have a relatively free few months ahead of him.

Of course, “relatively” was the keyword. He could already start assembling the battery production line now so that as soon as the factory was ready, it could be installed and debugged, and production could begin quickly.

However, Qin Yi felt that he couldn’t handle all the technical aspects of the company by himself. Moreover, the current management team was simply not up to par. So, he was planning to go to the Imperial Capital in person to see if he could persuade some of his classmates to join his company, or perhaps hire a few professional managers to help him run it.

Since Star River Technology was positioned as a high-tech company, it had to continuously strive and develop towards that goal. With its current team, it would never achieve that objective. He had to attract more talent to join his company.

“That’s good. Hurry back. You’re always neglecting your proper duties. I don’t even know what to say to you.”

Yin Shouping nodded in satisfaction, though he was helpless about Qin Yi’s tendency to get sidetracked.

After hanging up with Yin Shouping, Qin Yi couldn’t help but frown in thought. The an ti-gravity project team was definitely a great opportunity for him to shine.

“It seems I’ll have to put on an act now. I must present myself as a monstrous prodigy, a once-in-a-century genius, comparable to Newton and Einstein.”

“But, if I just hand over the anti-gravity technology like that, it seems it’ll be a lot more troublesome for me to make money off it in the future~”

“I was counting on this anti-gravity technology to support my family later on. This is a bit tricky~”

Chapter 23: An International Sensation

While Huaxia was establishing its anti-gravity project research group, the paper on anti-gravity that Qin Yi had submitted to the American journal Science months ago finally landed on the desk of Professor Simon, the reviewer.

Professor Simon was a professor of electromagnetism at Princeton University in the United States. He was one of the world’s top scientists in the field of electromagnetism, an authority in his area.

Because of his authority, he had been invited by Science to be one of their reviewers for the field of electromagnetism. The journal Science was very careful to protect one’s reputation, so all papers published in their journal were reviewed by authoritative scientists, professors, and scholars in their respective fields.

“Anti-gravity?”

When Professor Simon saw Qin Yi’s paper, his first reaction was to shake his head. Many scientists were researching anti-gravity, but no one had ever managed to achieve a substantive breakthrough. So, upon seeing the paper, he was tempted to reject it outright.

However, out of professional integrity, and with the several-thousand-dollar review fee in mind, Professor Simon decided to read it carefully. After all, it wouldn’t take long to finish one paper. Articles in Science had length restrictions; even a very careful reading would only take about ten minutes or so.

“Interesting…”

Soon, a look of excitement appeared on Professor Simon’s face. After just a brief glance at the beginning, he was immediately hooked and began to read it meticulously and in detail.

“My God… anti-gravity actually exists…”

Before long, Professor Simon couldn’t help but exclaim in amazement, his mouth hanging wide open. He carefully read the paper from beginning to end once more.

As an expert in electromagnetism, he understood much of the content of Qin Yi’s anti-gravity paper at a glance. He knew this paper was the real deal, not some wild conjecture. It had experiments, data, and rigorous deductions.

“The discovery of anti-gravity will be the greatest discovery of this century. It will absolutely open a new chapter in human history, and our technology will once again experience explosive development.”

After reading the paper carefully from start to finish again, Professor Simon was so excited he couldn’t help but stand up. His eyes seemed to already see the future unfolding with the expansion and application of anti-gravity technology. A new chapter in human history was opening, a more glorious future era seemed to be beckoning to him.

“I wonder who this person is. Their name will be written into our human history textbooks. They will become a great scientist on par with Newton and Einstein!”

Professor Simon turned to the author’s signature on the paper and looked at the name before him.

“A Huaxian? Qin Yi?”

Simon was momentarily stunned. He had assumed that the person who discovered anti-gravity would surely be from a Western country, perhaps even someone he knew.

But now, he found it a little hard to accept this fact. A person from Huaxia had been the first to discover anti-gravity and was about to become a great scientist whose name would be written in history textbooks.

“And just an undergraduate at Huaxia University. It’s truly unbelievable. Could it be that this century will really belong to Huaxia? That they could produce such an outstanding and talented individual.”

Professor Simon couldn’t help but recall something he had once heard: the 20th century belonged to America, and the 21st century would belong to Huaxia. He had always scoffed at this notion before. After all, while Huaxia was on the rise, there was still a gap compared to the United States.

But at this moment, he suddenly felt that perhaps this saying was not entirely baseless.

Professor Simon shook his head, then forwarded the paper to some of his friends. He himself dove into his lab and began to meticulously study the theory of anti-gravity proposed by Qin Yi.

“It really works! Anti-gravity truly exists!”

“Incredible! This is absolutely the greatest discovery of this century, bar none!”

Through his own experiments, Professor Simon also proved the existence of anti-gravity. At this point, he knew that Qin Yi’s paper was not fake; anti-gravity was real. He was keenly aware that its existence was undoubtedly one of the most significant discoveries of the century.

At the same time, he knew that once this paper was published, it would cause a huge sensation throughout the entire scientific community. Anti-gravity, something countless scientists had been striving to find, actually existed.

“We must attach great importance to this brand-new field. Once anti-gravity technology is developed, everything about humanity will undergo earth-shattering changes.”

Professor Simon was a very responsible person. He conscientiously wrote an email to his president and the Secretary of Defense, attaching Qin Yi’s paper as well as his own views on the prospects of anti-gravity. He hoped to draw their full attention to the matter so they could establish relevant research institutions as soon as possible and seize the initiative in this new, crucial field.

Soon, in the latest issue of Science magazine, Qin Yi’s anti-gravity paper was placed in the most important and prominent position. At the end of the paper, the reviewer Professor Simon’s enthusiastic praise was appended.

This is the greatest discovery of this century, bar none.

The proposal of the theory of anti-gravity will illuminate the path of our human technological development for this century.

With this, human history will turn a new page. Soon, we may be able to truly enter the Space Age.

Qin Yi is a true genius. He will become a scientist as great as Newton and Einstein. And he is still so young, only twenty-one years old. He is a precious treasure bestowed upon humanity by God. He will lead the technology of our time!

Professor Simon’s commentary was the highest form of praise. Of course, one could also see the excitement in his heart at this moment. The emergence of the theory of anti-gravity was, without a doubt, a massive earthquake.

As the world’s most authoritative scientific journal, Science magazine’s circulation wasn’t particularly large, but nearly all universities and research institutions worldwide subscribed to every issue. So, the moment the journal was published, scientists across the globe saw Qin Yi’s anti-gravity paper almost immediately.

Like a single stone causing a thousand ripples, the global scientific community was shocked by Qin Yi’s theory of anti-gravity. It was like a super-earthquake, and countless scientists dove headfirst into anti-gravity research.

Soon, after conducting their own experiments and verifications, scientists one by one came to the same conclusion as Professor Simon: anti-gravity was real, and it could be harnessed by humanity.

“Professor Simon’s comments were not in the least bit excessive. On the contrary, I believe the emergence of the theory of anti-gravity will absolutely change the course of human history. Perhaps in the near future, we will be able to travel freely to and from space in anti-gravity spacecraft and truly enter the Space Age.”

“This is a great discovery. Let us remember the name Qin Yi. Although it’s a bit of a mouthful to pronounce in English, this name is destined to influence our history. Perhaps I should learn some Chinese in the future, so that if he publishes papers in Chinese, I can better understand them.”

“It is now 2020. A hundred years ago, Einstein proposed his Theory of Relativity, which guided our scientific development in the last century. The existence of the theory of anti-gravity will similarly influence our current century.”

“…”

Internationally, one heavyweight scientific authority after another came forward to express their views on Qin Yi’s theory of anti-gravity. Almost all scientists could now see the dawn of a new century, a better future for humanity.

Scientists did not hold back their praise for Qin Yi’s theory of anti-gravity, or for Qin Yi himself. Each one’s praise was more effusive than the last, yet no one felt it was an exaggeration.

The United States placed great importance on the theory of anti-gravity. America’s global dominance didn’t rely on the US dollar, but on its globally advanced science and technology. With advanced technology, America could build the most advanced weapons and act as a hegemon around the world.

Americans never skimped on their emphasis on technology. American universities occupied almost half the ranks of the world’s most renowned universities, and Americans accounted for more than half of the Nobel Prize laureates each year. This was a clear indication of how powerful America’s science and technology were, and how much importance the country placed on it.

Soon, the United States established a powerful anti-gravity research institution, mobilizing numerous top scientists from related fields to participate.

“Find a way to lure this Qin Yi to our America. No matter what it takes, no matter the cost. He is a national treasure-level talent. We must hold the Einstein of the 21st century firmly in our American hands!”

In addition to establishing a powerful research institution, the Americans also resorted to their usual tactics, preparing to bring Qin Yi over to the United States. They had already likened him to the Einstein of the 21st century; a scientist of such-caliber was naturally not to be missed.

America’s actions were swift, and other countries were not slow to follow. Almost all powerful and influential nations around the world simultaneously established corresponding anti-gravity research institutions.

The old British Empire, on which the sun never sets, wanted to rely on anti-gravity technology to reclaim its former glory. The Gaulish rooster, which was already like a drowned chicken, was not to be outdone, believing that anti-gravity technology could help them hold their heads higher.

The arrogant Germans were also unwilling to be left behind, wanting to dominate this brand-new field. Even the Italians, who had already been relegated to a second-rate nation, seemed to see a glorious future and were determined to make their mark in the theory of anti-gravity.

Japan, in Asia, was as if injected with chicken blood; the ambitious Japanese seemed to see the key to the future in their grasp. The Russian Bear, whose sun was setting, as well as India with its love of acrobatics, and Brazil with its passion for samba… nearly every country with power and ambition in the world placed a high degree of importance on anti-gravity, entering the fray, unwilling to be outdone.

Chapter 24: Seeking N Girlfriends, Must Be Beautiful with Fair Skin and Long Legs

“Is there a flower on my face?”

“Why are all of you staring at me like that?”

When Qin Yi returned to his dorm room at Huaxia University, his three roommates, who were usually as elusive as dragons, were all surprisingly present. The moment he walked in, they all fixed their eyes on him, sizing him up from head to toe.

“Qin Yi, can you give me an autograph? Hmm, just ten will do. Maybe your signature will be worth a pretty penny someday.”

His roommate, Wang Zhixuan, pulled out ten blank sheets of paper and looked at Qin Yi expectantly.

“Sure thing! Qin Yi, it’s true what they say—after three days apart, one should be seen in a new light.”

His other roommate, Li Bowen, slung an arm around Qin Yi’s shoulders and started taking pictures with his phone. “A selfie with the 21st-century Einstein,” he continued. “Tsk tsk, I can brag about this photo for the rest of my life.”

“Wait, me too!”

Lü Ziyi hurried over to join them. Not to be outdone, Wang Zhixuan also took out his Fruit phone, and they all crowded around Qin Yi, taking selfies with their arms around his shoulders.

“What on earth is going on?” Qin Yi asked his three roommates, feeling a bit helpless. He was still completely baffled and had no idea what had happened.

“Hold on, let me post this to my Moments and Douyin.”

“Ahem, here he is, the 21st-century Einstein himself. Twenty-one years old, a junior at Huaxia University, and a certified single Pringle. Sincerely seeking an N number of girlfriends. Requirements: fair skin, beautiful face, and long legs. Interested parties, please leave your contact information below.”

Instead of answering Qin Yi, Wang Zhixuan kept his arm around him and recorded another selfie video for Douyin.

“Haha! Quick, like it, like it! This is definitely going viral.”

Li Bowen and Lü Ziyi whipped out their phones and immediately liked the video Wang Zhixuan had just posted.

“You three are so bored. You must have nothing better to do.”

Seeing their antics, Qin Yi shook his head helplessly. He took out his luggage and began to unpack and tidy up. He hadn’t been at school for a few months, and the place needed a thorough cleaning.

“Qin Yi, I have nothing but the utmost admiration for you. The paper on anti-gravity you published in Science has caused a massive sensation throughout the entire scientific community! Look, these are all invitations for you to study abroad.”

Lü Ziyi produced a stack of invitation letters, his eyes filled with adoration as he looked at Qin Yi. He came from a family of academics and had aspired to become a distinguished scientist like his parents since he was a child. He never imagined that his own roommate, Qin Yi, had quietly gone and published a paper in a prestigious international journal like Science.

What was even more shocking was that Qin Yi’s anti-gravity theory had shaken the global scientific world to its core. Countless renowned scientists had begun to voice their opinions on the theory, heaping praise upon both Qin Yi and his discovery.

When the news reached Huaxia University, the entire campus erupted. Qin Yi’s class and department, in particular, were so proud they wanted to shout it from the rooftops with a bullhorn.

Although Huaxia University was one of the top institutions of higher learning in Huaxia, it was still surpassed by many universities on the global stage. Huaxia University had always produced a stream of talented individuals, with outstanding alumni active in various fields worldwide and within Huaxia.

However, in the field of natural sciences, neither Huaxia University nor Huaxia as a whole had yet produced a scientist of the same caliber as Newton or Einstein—a scientist who could significantly propel the advancement of human science.

So, when one famous international scientist after another began comparing Qin Yi to Newton and Einstein, claiming his discovery of anti-gravity was as monumental as Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation and Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, one can only imagine the excitement at Huaxia University.

This wasn’t self-aggrandizement; this was top international scientists singing his praises for them. It was a completely different matter. Thus, Qin Yi had become a celebrity, which explained the scene that had just unfolded.

“Study abroad?”

Qin Yi was taken aback. He hadn’t even applied to study abroad, yet he was receiving invitation letters, not just acceptance notices.

“Harvard University, MIT, Oxford University… Tsk tsk, any one of these is a dream for countless people.”

Lü Ziyi held the thick stack of invitations, reading them out one by one.

“Comparisons are the thief of joy. When we want to study abroad, we have to slave away taking endless exams. But look at him—he becomes famous overnight, and all these universities are throwing olive branches at him.”

Li Bowen looked at Qin Yi with an expression of envy, jealousy, and bitterness. While it wasn’t exceedingly difficult for students from Huaxia University to get into famous international universities—droves of them received acceptance letters from top global institutions every year—someone like Qin Yi, who received unsolicited offers, was very, very rare. Even at a place like Huaxia University, teeming with geniuses, it was an uncommon sight.

“There’s just no comparison. No comparison at all. Qin Yi is now considered by famous international scientists to be a great mind on par with Newton and Einstein. I guess I hit the jackpot, sharing a dorm with someone so badass for three years. This is something I can brag about for the rest of my life.”

Wang Zhixuan sighed with emotion, wondering how he had never noticed anything special about Qin Yi before.

“Go on, you guys. Stop making fun of me.”

By now, Qin Yi had figured it out. His paper must have been published in Science. Given the impact of his anti-gravity theory, it was no surprise that he was gaining some fame. The global scientific community was probably poring over his theory right now.

Qin Yi glanced at the invitations Lü Ziyi had placed on his desk. He casually picked up a few and read them. The content was more or less the same: inviting him to study abroad, or in some cases, offering him a teaching position.

As for tuition, research funds, and living expenses, they were all, of course, fully covered. In addition, they promised handsome bonuses or research start-up funds.

And at the end of each letter, they stated explicitly that if Qin Yi was willing to immigrate, they would be more than happy to sponsor his application and provide him with the most generous package possible.

“Same old tricks.”

Qin Yi smiled and shook his head, then tossed all the invitation letters into the trash can.

Who knew how much talent the countries in Europe and the United States had lured away from Huaxia with this old trick of immigration? At Huaxia University alone, Qin Yi knew that many professors would soon receive immigration invitations from Western countries as soon as they achieved a breakthrough or showed outstanding performance. Every year, this single old trick siphoned away a great many brilliant researchers from Huaxia.

“What are you doing, throwing them away? These are things most people can only dream of, and you just toss them all out.”

Seeing Qin Yi dump the invitations into the trash, Lü Ziyi, Li Bowen, and Wang Zhixuan were all stunned. They immediately protested.

“I don’t want to go abroad, I don’t want to study abroad, and I certainly don’t want to immigrate. What use are these to me? They just take up space. Am I supposed to collect them instead of throwing them out?”

“It’s such a waste to throw them away! If you don’t want them, I do! They’d make a great collection.”

“Yeah, yeah! They’d be great to keep as collectibles.”

“Then do as you please. If you want them, go ahead and collect them.”

Qin Yi watched his three roommates scramble to fish the letters out of the trash, feeling a little speechless. Was it really that serious?

But then, he thought of his old self. If he had received so many invitations from these universities in the past, would he have been able to remain as calm as he was now?

Probably not. He likely would have been just like his roommates.

“Tsk tsk, I’ve got to make another Douyin post. An invitation from Harvard University! Not many people in all of Huaxia get one of these. This will definitely get me a ton of followers.”

Clutching the few invitations he had managed to grab, Wang Zhixuan started playing with Douyin again.

“Qin Yi, a beauty has cast her line! She’s asking me for your contact info. What do you say? Should I give her your number?”

A moment later, Wang Zhixuan rushed over to Qin Yi excitedly. He tapped on his phone, and a picture of a beautiful woman with fair skin appeared on the screen.

“Let me see, let me see!”

Lü Ziyi and Li Bowen hurried over to get a look.

“This one’s no good. You can tell it’s all makeup. I bet she’s a six out of ten at best without it. She’s not good enough for our great scientist Qin Yi.”

“The three of us have to be good gatekeepers for Qin Yi in this regard. After all, he’s still an innocent kid with little experience. We can’t let him get tricked.”

Lü Ziyi studied the image carefully, then shook his head, pointing at the screen.

“I agree, she won’t do. From now on, don’t introduce these makeup-reliant beauties to Qin Yi. Very few of them are genuinely pretty.”

“Ziyi’s right. The three of us have to be strict gatekeepers,” Li Bowen nodded, his expression dead serious.

“I never said she was the one. Qin Yi can date a few, can’t he? I said in my post that he’s seeking N girlfriends. Date a few, date a few!”

Wang Zhixuan laughed and continued scrolling through his phone. Soon, he pulled up another photo. “What do you guys think of this one?”

“This one’s no good either. You can tell she’s been around the block. I wouldn’t even touch her; she seems dirty.”

Li Bowen shook his head as soon as he saw it. After a moment’s thought, he added, “Wang Zhixuan, your resources are terrible. What kind of prospects are these? No, this won’t do. I’m going to post on my Moments and Douyin too. We have to find a few girlfriends for Qin Yi, quickly. Otherwise, it’ll be embarrassing if people find out he’s still single.”

“I’ll post something too. Qin Yi’s a hot topic now—he even made the headlines. I bet he’ll be on the evening news tonight.”

“Mmm, it’s about time we found a few girls to warm Qin Yi’s bed.”

Lü Ziyi also took out his phone to join in the fun, looking utterly earnest.

“You three are just having a laugh at my expense. But fine, I’ll say this: you can look for a girlfriend for me, but… you have to set the standards high. She has to be as beautiful as a goddess, one who could outshine Xi Shi.”

Seeing his three roommates’ antics, Qin Yi couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

Chapter 25: A Quiet Life Shattered to Pieces

“No problem, we guarantee we’ll find you a bunch of beautiful girls.”

Lü Ziyi, Li Bowen, and Wang Zhixuan said almost in unison, suddenly taking the task of finding Qin Yi a girlfriend very seriously.

Knock~ Knock~

Just then, there was a knock on the door of Qin Yi’s dormitory. When they opened it, they were greeted by the sight of several blond-haired, blue-eyed foreigners.

“You are?”

“Excuse me, is this Mr. Qin Yi’s dormitory? We’re looking for Mr. Qin Yi to discuss something.”

James had a smile on his face. His eyes swept across the room and quickly focused on Qin Yi. He remained very polite, however, staying outside the door without an invitation.

“I’m Qin Yi, what can I do for you?”

Qin Yi looked at the foreigners. He didn’t recognize any of them. There were plenty of foreigners in the Imperial Capital and many international students at Huaxia University, but these men were all in well-tailored suits, looking to be in their thirties or forties. It was obvious they weren’t students.

“Mr. Qin, a pleasure to meet you. My name is James, and I’m a staff member at the United States Embassy in Huaxia. I’ve come on behalf of several American universities to formally invite you to immigrate to the United States and accept a teaching position.”

James had the directness typical of a Westerner, getting straight to the point and stating his identity and purpose.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t have any plans to go abroad at the moment. I’ll have to decline your generous offer.”

Without a second thought, Qin Yi refused directly. At the same time, he was astonished by the Americans’ efficiency. He had just arrived back at the university, and they had already tracked him down to his dorm room. The speed and the level of information they possessed were, upon deeper reflection, quite chilling.

“That’s quite all right. I also came here hoping to meet the outstanding talent being called the Einstein of the twenty-first century. If you ever change your mind, Mr. Qin, you can come find me at the embassy at any time. The United States will always welcome you with open arms. As long as you’re willing, we will take care of all your concerns.”

“We have the world’s most first-class universities, the most advanced technology, and the largest scientific research teams. I believe that if you were to join us, you would certainly go much further on the path of science and make even more outstanding contributions to humanity.”

James didn’t seem surprised by the rejection and continued to smile, expressing his welcome to Qin Yi.

“Thank you again for your kind offer. If I have a change of heart, I’ll contact you.”

Qin Yi smiled and declined once more.

“Very well. If you change your mind, Mr. Qin, you can call me at this number. I’ll arrange everything for you!”

“I won’t disturb you any longer.”

Despite being rejected again, James showed no sign of anger. He left a business card and departed with his men.

“Damn! Awesome! So badass! People from the US Embassy came to invite you personally. That’s some kind of treatment!”

As soon as James and his group left, Wang Zhixuan couldn’t help but shout, looking at Qin Yi with a mix of envy, jealousy, and admiration. His own family had been trying to immigrate for a while but had never been approved.

“These Americans are too arrogant, blatantly trying to poach talent right here in our country. And Qin Yi just got back—they were on his heels almost immediately. It shows just how terrifying their influence in our country is.”

Watching James’s departing group, Li Bowen rubbed his chin thoughtfully. He came from a family of officials, a third-generation scion of the political elite, and was naturally very perceptive about these matters.

“Qin Yi, that was a perfect rejection. Science may have no borders, but scientists do. Our motherland has worked so hard to nurture us. We must use what we’ve learned to repay our country.”

Lü Ziyi gave Qin Yi a thumbs-up. His family had instilled in him a love for his country from a young age, teaching him to contribute to its development. He was delighted and impressed to see Qin Yi refuse without hesitation. It was rare for someone from a rural background like Qin Yi to resist such a temptation.

In fact, among the students at Huaxia University, many dreamt of studying abroad and then staying, immigrating to another country. After all, for the longest time, too many people believed that the grass was always greener on the other side.

However, before they could chat for more than a few moments, another group of people came looking for them. This time, it was the Japanese.

“We are very sorry to disturb you~”

As soon as the group of Japanese men arrived at the dormitory door, they bowed repeatedly to Qin Yi and his friends. Their backs were bent at a sharp angle, appearing extremely polite.

“Is there something I can help you with?”

Seeing them bow, Qin Yi knew they were Japanese and figured they were also here for him.

“My name is Yamashita Ichiro. I am a staff member at the Japanese Embassy in Huaxia. I wonder if we might take a moment of your time, Mr. Qin Yi? We have something we’d like to discuss with you.”

Yamashita Ichiro was exceedingly deferential. The young Huaxia man before him looked ordinary, yet he was the scientist his superiors had ordered him to secure by any means necessary. The emergence of the anti-gravity theory had the Japanese as if injected with chicken blood, seemingly seeing the massive changes the future would bring.

“If you have something to say, just say it here. I’m rather busy.”

Naturally, Qin Yi didn’t have a very favorable impression of the Japanese, so his tone was cold.

“I sincerely apologize for the intrusion, Mr. Qin Yi. I have come on behalf of Waseda University in Japan. They hope to invite you to take up a teaching position. We will provide you with the most generous compensation and take care of all your concerns.”

Yamashita Ichiro bowed again in apology before stating his purpose.

“I’m sorry, but I’ve received far too many invitations from various schools, so I haven’t decided where to go yet. I can only decline your kind offer.”

Qin Yi refused without a second thought. When you were strong, the Japanese would follow you around like an obedient grandson, eager to learn your every word and action. But once they became powerful, they would immediately pin you to the ground and stomp on you.

Japan has had a tradition of “killing the master” since ancient times. One only needed to look at Japanese anime to see it. In the most popular series, Naruto, Orochimaru killed his master, the Third Hokage; Obito Uchiha used the Nine-Tails to indirectly cause the death of his master, Minato Namikaze; Nagato killed his master, Jiraiya…

The thought of being a teacher to the Japanese made Qin Yi feel he hadn’t lived nearly long enough to be tired of life. A direct refusal was the best choice.

“That is truly a shame. If you ever plan to visit our country, Mr. Qin Yi, even just for tourism, please inform me in advance. Allow me to fulfill my duties as a host. I will ensure the best arrangements are made for you.”

“This is my business card. Please give our offer some more thought, Mr. Qin Yi. Our two nations share a long history and a common cultural heritage. We have so much in common. I am sure you would find life in Japan much more pleasant than in other countries.”

Yamashita Ichiro showed no sign of anger at the rejection; it was all within his expectations. He also produced a business card and handed it to Qin Yi.

“Thank you for your generous invitation. I will come if I have the chance.”

Qin Yi nodded with a smile and saw the Japanese men out.

“Man~ Looks like we can’t even stay in the dorm anymore. One wave after another… Qin Yi, you’ve become a hot commodity. Everyone wants a piece of you.”

Watching the Japanese leave, Wang Zhixuan sighed with a little emotion. Qin Yi’s background was not as privileged as his own, yet even with a fortune at home, he would never receive such heartfelt invitations from various countries.

The offer to arrange everything for him for life if he so much as visited as a tourist—this was something beyond money. No amount of wealth could make a country treat someone this way.

“It is pretty annoying. Forget it, I’m going to the library to read.”

Qin Yi nodded, then decided to pack his things and head for the library.

But he had completely underestimated his current fame and influence. Before he could even leave the dormitory, a wave of reporters descended upon him, launching a surprise interview and even inviting him to be a guest on various shows.

He had just finished dealing with the reporters when another group came to invite him to give a lecture—to talk about anti-gravity and how he had discovered it.

As soon as he managed to send that group away, the next wave arrived. This time, it was the leadership from Huaxia University, here to discuss his early graduation and a teaching position at the university.

Early graduation wasn’t a big deal. Qin Yi was already in the second semester of his junior year, an age when many students were already studying abroad.

But the invitation to teach at Huaxia University truly shocked him. To teach there, one typically needed at least a doctorate from a world-renowned university.

Qin Yi hadn’t even earned his bachelor’s degree yet, and the university was already inviting him to join the faculty. Who knew how many rules and regulations had to be bent to make such a decision.

Then again, he thought, if top-ranked universities like Harvard and Oxford were inviting him to teach, perhaps it wasn’t so outrageous for Huaxia University to do the same. It would also let them ride the wave of his popularity.

Qin Yi naturally agreed to graduating early. He had his company to manage and the Anti-Gravity Project Team to work on. Graduating early would free him from his university obligations.

As for the teaching position, Qin Yi felt he needed to think it over carefully. It wasn’t that he felt unqualified or worried about misleading students, but simply that he had too much on his plate and would likely not have the time to teach.

“My quiet life has been shattered to pieces… I haven’t gotten a single thing done today, just dealing with one wave of people after another.”

After seeing the university leaders off, Qin Yi glanced at the time. It was already five or six in the afternoon. He couldn’t help but let out a long sigh.

Chapter 26: Persuading Wen Xueying

In the Huaxia University library, Qin Yi was flipping through books with intense focus, immersed in an ocean of knowledge. Beside him, Wen Xueying rested her chin in her hand, watching him intently.

“I haven’t seen him in a few months, and now this Book-flipping Freak is world-famous. Apart from having a slightly larger head, there doesn’t seem to be anything special about him.”

“From the side, he does look a little handsome when he’s serious.”

Wen Xueying had now become something of a fan. She hadn’t thought much of Qin Yi before, but now that his fame had exploded and he was being hailed by many of the world’s top scientists as the Einstein of the 21st century, she couldn’t help but take a closer look at him.

Wen Xueying took out her phone to check the time, opening WeChat to browse through her messages. A news headline immediately caught her eye.

“Our nation’s genius young scientist, Qin Yi, has been lauded as the 21st-century Einstein. It is rumored that he is a contender for this year’s Nobel Prize, set to break the record for the youngest-ever laureate!”

“What an enthusiastic headline… Genius young scientist.”

Wen Xueying smiled and, without hesitation, tapped on the article.

It was a long piece. The beginning detailed the theory of anti-gravity that Qin Yi had proposed. Then, a large portion of the article reprinted the evaluations of Qin Yi and his theory from world-renowned scientists, filled with effusive vocabulary and thrilling praise. Any citizen of Huaxia would feel their blood boil with excitement after reading it.

For a long time, Huaxia had been talking about its resurgence, striving to be the best in every aspect. In terms of total economic output, we compared ourselves to the United States; in terms of per capita income, we compared ourselves to Qatar; and in technology, we still compared ourselves to the Americans. In short, in every field, we had to measure up to the world’s most powerful.

After all, since ancient times, we had been the most powerful nation and civilization on this planet. Now, in our resurgence, it was only natural to aim to return to our former glory.

With the Reform and Opening-Up, development in all areas was exceptionally rapid. Our progress was changing day by day, and the nation’s comprehensive strength was constantly increasing.

However, in the field of natural sciences, Huaxia’s technology still lagged considerably behind the world’s advanced nations. We had influenced the world for thousands of years, yet in the last few centuries of global scientific development, we had not produced a single scientist of note.

Our contribution to the development of modern science was, one could say, almost insignificant. This was a pain in the hearts of the people, which was why they had always hoped for the emergence of a great scientist comparable to Newton or Einstein—someone who could play a pivotal role in the world’s scientific progress.

Therefore, from top to bottom, we had always been very concerned with how foreigners perceived us, because we needed their acknowledgment and approval. Sometimes, a small compliment from a foreigner would make us overjoyed. It was, admittedly, a sad state of affairs—a kind of inferiority complex formed after a century of being beaten and left behind.

Now, Qin Yi’s appearance, as dazzling as a comet, had drawn praise from numerous famous international scientists. This was immensely helpful in bolstering the confidence of the people. The entire news report was written in a grand and stirring tone.

At the very end of the article, it even reprinted a prediction from a top foreign scientist, who believed Qin Yi was very likely to win this year’s Nobel Prize and break the record for the youngest laureate.

Finally, Huaxia was about to produce a scientific titan, a great scientist who would lead the world’s technological development.

After reading the article from start to finish, Wen Xueying couldn’t help but feel a little excited. Looking at Qin Yi, who was still engrossed in flipping through his book, she suddenly felt he looked even more handsome.

“Hey, Book-flipping Freak, you’re a headline. Take a look.”

Wen Xueying nudged Qin Yi’s arm and showed him the news on her phone.

“There are no handsome pictures of me. Bad review.”

Qin Yi finished reading it quickly, then rubbed his chin thoughtfully and commented.

“You really are a narcissist…”

Wen Xueying was speechless. She thought Qin Yi might give an acceptance speech of sorts, but instead, he complained about the lack of handsome photos of himself. She was at a loss for words.

“I want to discuss something with you.”

Qin Yi looked at Wen Xueying, then at the management book on her desk. He suddenly remembered that this stunning beauty before him was a business administration major at Huaxia University. Perhaps he could persuade her to join his company and help manage it. She would be a good choice.

“What is it?”

Wen Xueying looked at Qin Yi’s serious expression and had a feeling he was up to no good. A woman’s intuition was a powerful thing.

“I opened a small company when I went home this time. Are you interested in coming to work as a manager or something?” Qin Yi asked with a smile.

“Work as a manager at your company?”

Wen Xueying’s interest was piqued. She thought for a moment and said, “First, tell me what your company will be focusing on in the future. And how big is it?”

“The company is very small right now; I only just established it. The factory and office building are still under construction.”

“But, as you know, I’m a researcher. The company I opened is naturally a high-tech company. In the future, we’ll mainly be making high-tech products. The first one is a High-Energy Atomic Matrix Battery.”

Qin Yi’s eyes darted as he began his pitch.

“A high-tech company. That certainly fits your profile.”

“What is this Atomic Matrix Battery?”

Wen Xueying nodded slightly, then asked after a moment of thought.

“The batteries we use now are basically lead-acid batteries, lithium batteries, and the like. Their storage capacity is very limited, and more importantly, they cause a lot of pollution.”

“In physics, we all know the principle that the closer an electron is to the atomic nucleus, the more energy it carries. The Atomic Matrix Battery uses this principle to create an entirely new type of battery. Its storage capacity will undergo a qualitative, revolutionary breakthrough.”

Qin Yi explained the concept of the Atomic Matrix Battery to Wen Xueying.

“If you can really make a battery like that, it would be a product with huge market potential. New energy electric vehicles could truly be popularized on a large scale, unlike now, where they are limited by battery technology and always fall short of expectations.”

Upon hearing this, Wen Xueying immediately recognized the vast market prospects of the Atomic Matrix Battery and was quite optimistic about the product.

“Where is your hometown?”

It was a high-tech company with a promising flagship product. A tech company like this was bound to do well. Wen Xueying was now slightly tempted. After all, in a startup like this, she could get a good position right from the start, which would be a great way to hone her skills and would be very helpful for her future development.

If she were to join a large corporation, she would definitely have to start from the bottom and work her way up. Although that path was more stable, it would take a certain amount of time and effort before she could take charge of her own department.

Furthermore, if a startup grew rapidly, the first batch of employees could reap significant benefits, with no shortage of future stocks and dividends.

Of course, the most important thing was that this was Qin Yi’s company. Qin Yi was now a world-renowned scientist. His high-tech company surely couldn’t be bad; it definitely had a future.

Thus, Wen Xueying was tempted.

“A remote mountain village in Hongdu,” Qin Yi said with a smile.

“No way. Why would you set up your company in a remote mountain village?”

Wen Xueying was stunned. She had thought Qin Yi would at least set it up in a second-tier city, but she never imagined he would establish his company in a rural village in a remote mountainous area.

“I had no choice. I don’t have enough initial capital. If I put it in a big city, the money wouldn’t even be enough to acquire the land.”

“Another reason is that my hometown is too undeveloped. I want to use my company to drive its development, so I set up the company in my hometown’s village.”

Qin Yi shrugged helplessly as he explained his plans.

“But don’t you know that a business, especially one in industry like yours, needs a comprehensive support system to succeed? If you put it in a rural mountain area, there are no supporting enterprises. Besides, you call it a high-tech company—who would go to a village? Even if you had money, there’d be nowhere to spend it.”

Wen Xueying was exasperated. She looked at Qin Yi, unable to fathom what was going on in his head.

“I know all that. You’re a city person, so you might not have this kind of sentiment.”

“Every time I go back home and see how undeveloped it is, I always think that one day I must do something to contribute to its development. A child is never ashamed of their mother, just as a dog is never ashamed of its poor master.”

“Right now, my hometown is very undeveloped. But if my enterprise can grow and continuously drive the local economy, in the future, my hometown can also become a prosperous city like the Imperial Capital, completely changing its backward state.”

Qin Yi sighed, then smiled as he spoke. His eyes were filled with confidence, as if he could truly change his hometown’s backwardness with his own strength.

Wen Xueying looked into Qin Yi’s eyes, and for some reason, at that moment, she found herself completely believing his words.

“I can go, but you’ll have to persuade more people to come. Since it’s a high-tech enterprise, you can’t do without talent. With your current fame, I think some people would be willing to follow you, even to a village.”

After a long pause, Wen Xueying seemed to have made her decision. She looked at Qin Yi and said with a smile.

“You agree?”

Qin Yi was slightly taken aback. He had thought Wen Xueying would refuse without a second thought, but he never expected her to agree, especially since she knew he was trying to persuade her.

“Yes, I can agree to go and take a look first. But I don’t have any experience, so it would be best to hire an experienced professional manager to run things.”

Wen Xueying nodded, then naturally slipped into the role of Qin Yi’s employee and began to consider things on his behalf.

Chapter 27: A Husky in the Wolf Pack

“We do need to hire someone with experience. Young people like us may have drive, but we lack experience and can easily be taken advantage of.”

Qin Yi nodded. Although Zhang Guomin was helping manage the company now, he was ultimately self-taught. In his father’s eyes, Zhang Guomin was a capable man, but from Qin Yi’s perspective, he was fine for managing a small factory, but completely unqualified to run a large, high-tech corporation.

His company needed to recruit someone with management experience from a large enterprise to implement standardized, system-based management, rather than relying on one person’s experience.

“Wen Xueying, how about you help me find some candidates and build the company’s framework?”

Qin Yi thought for a moment and said to Wen Xueying with a smile, clearly planning to be a hands-off boss.

He had no choice. Qin Yi had already received a notice that he would soon be joining Professor Yin Shouping to report to the Huaxia Anti-Gravity Project Team. Once he got busy with that, he would have even less time for company management.

“You really know how to be a boss, don’t you? First, tell me, what’s my salary going to be?”

Wen Xueying pouted, rendered speechless by Qin Yi. She had only just agreed to join his company, and he was already putting her to work. She couldn’t help but wonder if she had just fallen into a huge pit.

“Haha! Name your price.”

Seeing her expression, Qin Yi couldn’t help but laugh.

…

The next morning, Qin Yi arrived at Yin Shouping’s office bright and early.

“Qin Yi, you’re just in time! Hurry and tell me more about anti-gravity. The more I study it, the more confused I get. I have so many questions for you, and there are many things I just can’t figure out.”

The moment Qin Yi walked in, Yin Shouping quickly grabbed several sheets of paper filled with scribbles and diagrams. These were all the questions he had accumulated during his recent research.

Before Qin Yi arrived, he would call him every day without fail, and their conversations would often last for an hour or two. Anyone who didn’t know better would have thought Qin Yi was on the phone with his girlfriend.

“Professor, we have plenty of time. Shouldn’t we be heading to the project team to report in now?”

Qin Yi was taken aback by Yin Shouping’s intense demeanor and quickly changed the subject.

“Right, right! I almost forgot about the important stuff. Let’s go, let’s go. We should get there early. I’ll introduce you to some of the big shots later.”

Yin Shouping slapped his forehead, hastily packed his things, and hurried out with Qin Yi.

Soon, a small car drove off the Huaxia University campus. Yin Shouping, while driving, didn’t forget to ask Qin Yi questions. He was so engrossed that Qin Yi was actually worried for his safety.

The project team’s location wasn’t far from Huaxia University, also situated within the university town area. This was because many of the scientists in the project team were professors from various universities, and there were also many of Huaxia’s research institutions nearby, which were also home to many top experts. Therefore, the location was chosen for its proximity to everyone.

A dozen minutes later, after a series of twists and turns, Yin Shouping brought Qin Yi to a heavily guarded location. There were no signs of any kind, but the security was extremely tight. At the gate alone, there were several squads of soldiers armed with live ammunition, and they conducted meticulous inspections of every vehicle entering and exiting.

“Hello, may I see your identification, please?”

When it was Yin Shoping’s turn, a soldier approached politely.

Yin Shouping and Qin Yi presented their work IDs as a matter of course. The IDs had been mailed to them in advance, with a special instruction to contact the workgroup immediately if they were ever lost.

“Proceed.”

After a few minutes of tedious checks, the soldier finally waved them through.

“What a hassle. It seems the higher-ups are taking this project very seriously and are enforcing strict confidentiality, even placing the project team here.” Yin Shouping said to Qin Yi as he drove.

“Where are we?”

Qin Yi looked out the car window. Ancient trees were everywhere, and many of the buildings looked very old. Each building had a squad of armed soldiers guarding its entrance, accompanied by surveillance cameras and patrolling soldiers. It was clearly no ordinary place.

“The Third District. I’ve only been here once before, with my mentor. I never thought I’d have the chance to come back in this lifetime.”

“The Third District?”

“It’s just a codename. It looks very old, but you’ll soon see there’s more to it than meets the eye.”

Yin Shouping drove on, soon arriving at a building that was only three stories tall. After another thorough security check, the two finally reached their destination.

“Huaxia Anti-Gravity Technology Research Institute.”

Qin Yi looked at the brand-new sign hanging at the entrance of the building, then at the building itself. No matter how he looked at it, the sign and the location seemed a bit too humble.

After all, this was a research project that had gathered dozens of top experts. How could it be housed in a single building like this? And from the looks of it, the building seemed to be several decades old.

“Let’s go. You can’t tell anything from the outside.”

Yin Shouping seemed to have read Qin Yi’s thoughts and led the way inside.

Upon entering the building, they began to encounter people one after another, all wearing glasses and looking like high-level intellectuals.

“Professor Yin!”

“Old Yin!”

“Old Zhang!”

Professor Yin was quite famous, and many people knew him. He continuously greeted people as they walked.

It was then that Qin Yi understood why Yin Shouping had said you couldn’t tell anything from the outside. Once inside, he truly understood.

The exterior was unassuming and inconspicuous, but the interior felt like a completely different world. The decor wasn’t luxurious, but it was tasteful. There were research personnel in white coats bustling about, and high-tech security doors everywhere. It finally had the feel of a proper research institution.

“Professor Yin! You’re just in time. The project team’s first meeting is about to start. You should hurry over.”

“And you must be Qin Yi. You should head over to the meeting as well.”

As the two were walking and looking around, the beautiful receptionist at the front desk saw them and spoke immediately.

“The conference room is the first room on this side.”

“Alright.”

Yin Shouping nodded and led Qin Yi towards the conference room.

“Am I that famous now? She recognized me right away,” Qin Yi said, rubbing his chin.

“It’s not that you’re famous, it’s that the receptionist here is incredible. Do you think just anyone can work the front desk here? I bet she could recite the files of every single person in the project team. Recognizing you at a glance is nothing.”

Yin Shouping shook his head with a smile and soon led Qin Yi into a conference room.

“Haha! Old Yin, you’re here! I knew it. How could such an important project team be complete without you?”

Just as Yin Shouping entered the conference room, a hearty voice rang out, and a middle-aged man with a square face, graying hair, a ruddy complexion, and glasses walked over.

“Old Li!”

Yin Shouping smiled in surprise upon seeing the man.

“Haha! Old Yin, you made it.”

Soon, more people came over to greet Yin Shouping. It was clear he was well-known and had a large network. A group of more than ten people quickly gathered around him.

“Qin Yi, come here. Let me introduce you.”

After chatting for several minutes, Yin Shouping finally remembered Qin Yi and pulled him over to begin the introductions.

“This young man is the one everyone has been eager to meet, Qin Yi, the discoverer and proposer of anti-gravity.”

As Yin Shouping introduced him, everyone in the conference room turned to look. Qin Yi’s name was now legendary. Everyone was researching anti-gravity, so they had all been dying to meet him, and now they finally had the chance.

Instantly, the room erupted in thunderous applause.

Qin Yi looked at the top experts in the conference room. As they all applauded him, he couldn’t help but blush. At that moment, he felt like a husky that had wandered into a wolf pack, and now all the wolves were staring at him. He couldn’t help but feel a shiver run down his spine.

“This is Academician Li Hengwen, an Academician of the Two Academies of Huaxia and one of the leading authorities in the field of electromagnetism.”

“This is Academician Zhu Qin, an Academician of the Two Academies and a titan in the field of cosmology and astronomy.”

“This is Academician Xu Sirui, an Academician of the Two Academies and a leading expert in the aerospace field.”

“…”

After introducing Qin Yi to the crowd, Yin Shouping began to introduce the top experts to Qin Yi one by one. Every single person attending this meeting was an authority in their respective field, a top-tier scientist. Many were Academicians of the Two Academies. Even the relatively younger ones were already world-renowned scientists.

“The new generation surpasses the old. Huaxia has finally produced someone who can influence the course of human technological development.”

“Work hard and try to develop anti-gravity technology as soon as possible, so that Huaxia can surpass the rest of the world.”

“There are a few problems I haven’t been able to figure out, and I’ve been wanting to ask you for a long time. You said that this…”

As the top experts saw Qin Yi, some sighed with emotion, some offered him encouragement, and some, who were as obsessed with research as Yin Shouping, even began to ask him questions on the spot.

At that moment, Qin Yi was truly trembling. He felt like he couldn’t keep up the act any longer. Every single person there was a true titan, yet they were all greeting him with such enthusiasm. The husky’s heart trembled, but all he could do was smile and continue the charade.

Chapter 28: Leave Request

Something came up today, so I’m taking a day off. I will make it up later.

Chapter 29: Low-Profile Development

In the Imperial Capital’s mysterious Third District, a vast expanse of land was dotted with seemingly low-rise houses, hidden away amidst dense trees and greenery. They were utterly inconspicuous, resembling a military compound or perhaps a retirement home for military personnel.

The Anti-Gravity Project Team was highly valued. In addition to the main project site, dozens of surrounding buildings had also been allocated to them.

These buildings appeared unremarkable from the outside, but their interiors were filled with state-of-the-art laboratories. Advanced equipment of all kinds was everywhere, and scientists and researchers in white lab coats bustled about.

In a laboratory the size of three or four basketball courts, a group of scientists in white coats had gathered, deep in discussion.

“We have now proven the existence of anti-gravity. The next step is to figure out how to apply it and create a powerful anti-gravity engine.”

“Gravity and anti-gravity coexist, much like attraction and repulsion share the same principle. Research into the anti-gravity engine should follow this line of thought.”

“According to Qin Yi’s theory, both gravity and anti-gravity are related to electromagnetism. The Earth’s core, under high temperature and pressure, is a giant positive electric field. If anti-gravity is its opposite, then it should be a negative electric field…”

Among the numerous scientists, Qin Yi was inconspicuous. He even stood on the periphery, unable to squeeze into the center—not that he deigned to jostle with the others. It was enough just to be able to hear their conversation.

In truth, while Qin Yi appeared to be intently listening to the other scientists share their research findings on anti-gravity, his mind was elsewhere entirely.

He had already learned most of what there was to know about anti-gravity technology in the Technology Tower and had long since achieved a thorough understanding. There was no need to waste time listening to others’ thoughts and deductions about it.

At that moment, Qin Yi was learning from the Old Man in his mind. After all, time was precious. He was only participating in this project to build his reputation, not to actually learn anything.

As he studied, Qin Yi would occasionally chat with the Old Man, discussing the knowledge he’d gained from the Technology Tower or sometimes just talking about current events on Earth.

“Qin Yi, I feel that your Huaxia’s scientific research system is too focused on formalism. When everything is judged by papers, you get a lot of people who can talk a good game but have abysmal hands-on skills. Perhaps, at its core, the root of Huaxia’s problem lies in its exam-oriented education.”

The Old Man was keenly aware of the outside world. Over the past few days, as Qin Yi spent his time with the project team and interacted with many scientists and researchers, he had gotten a good look at Huaxia’s top-tier scientific community. However, the Old Man was far from satisfied, believing that many areas needed improvement.

“Exam-oriented education has many drawbacks, but it ensures a degree of fairness and gives students from humble backgrounds a level playing field.”

“If it were like in Western countries, many of those students would never get into prestigious universities because the spots would be filled by people using connections and pulling strings.”

“It’s a choice born of necessity.”

Qin Yi said with a somewhat helpless smile.

“I think you should consider starting your own university in the future, maybe even a whole system from elementary school up. You must independently cultivate talent. To rely on the current educational model to produce enough talent to traverse the starry cosmos is simply a daydream.”

“Forgetting everything else, just look at physical fitness. I just checked the data. Among high school students in Huaxia, seven or eight out of ten have vision problems, almost all of them nearsighted. That’s not acceptable.”

The Old Man offered another piece of advice after a moment of thoughtful nodding.

“I’ve had similar ideas, but it’s too early to think about that now. The company is already running on fumes. Don’t you think we sold our cheat software too cheaply?”

Qin Yi nodded. He knew from the Technology Tower about the talent cultivation methods of powerful cosmic civilizations, and when he compared them to Huaxia’s current system, he too had considered becoming a principal himself one day and leading students astray.

“We sold the cheat software for far less than it’s worth, but that was for the sake of high volume and quick turnover. After this initial phase, your company’s expenses will drop significantly. Once the production line arrives, your money-printing machine will start, and you’ll be rich.”

“I still think you should quit this project team. It’s a waste of time. Or at the very least, just produce some results to satisfy them and be done with it.”

“Let’s stay a few more days and see.”

“…”

“Qin Yi, you’re the discoverer of anti-gravity. What are your thoughts? We haven’t heard you share your opinion yet.”

Yin Shouping and a few other scientists were at an impasse. They each had their own understanding of the developmental direction for anti-gravity technology, with some arguing it should be approached from the field of electromagnetism, while others insisted on focusing on electron fields. Voices were raised and faces were red with passion as they each stated their case.

It was then that Yin Shouping noticed Qin Yi standing in the corner. He suddenly remembered that Qin Yi was the one who had discovered and proposed the concept of anti-gravity. He had been so low-key these past few days that everyone had almost forgotten his presence.

At Yin Shouping’s words, all eyes turned to Qin Yi. He had been so quiet these past few days that some had begun to suspect he was all name and no substance, that he had just gotten lucky in discovering anti-gravity, which was the only reason he had the opportunity to sit on equal footing with so many top experts.

Of course, such thoughts belonged to those with little ability of their own, who were merely envious and jealous of Qin Yi’s position. The true big shots, like Yin Shouping and Fan Ke, still held him in high regard.

“Qin Yi~”

Seeing Qin Yi lost in thought and not responding, Yin Shouping prompted him again.

“Oh~”

Qin Yi snapped back to reality. He looked at the expectant faces, pondered for a moment, and then spoke slowly, “Everyone here is my senior, as well as an authority and luminary in your respective fields. I think what everyone has said is very reasonable and well-founded.”

“I was just lucky to have discovered anti-gravity, and my understanding of it is still very shallow. Since you all want to hear my thoughts, I’ll share some of my personal understanding.”

“Gravity, like light and sound, propagates and diffuses in the form of waves. The same is true for anti-gravity; it also propagates and diffuses in the form of waves.”

“When we research anti-gravity technology, we should first focus on studying gravitational waves. Once we have a clear understanding of gravitational waves, we can then study anti-gravitational waves. Of course, this is just my own humble opinion. Please feel free to correct me.”

Faced with so many top experts, Qin Yi had maintained a very low profile, listening more and speaking less. But now that Yin Shouping had asked him directly, he had no choice but to offer his own perspective.

Qin Yi was well aware of the key points of anti-gravity technology, the first and most crucial of which was the research direction. If they started down the wrong path, they would face immense difficulties later on.

The key to anti-gravity was to recognize that both gravity and anti-gravity propagated and diffused in the form of waves, and then to harness this unique wave-like nature to realize the technology.

Chapter 30: The Anti-Gravity Engine

Of course, Qin Yi was well aware of this, so he spoke with great confidence. After several days of keeping a low profile, Qin Yi had been listening to the other top experts and constantly absorbing knowledge in the Technology Tower. As a result, he had gained a relatively deep understanding of various fields.

Qin Yi felt it was time for him to show what he was made of, or else he would truly be looked down upon. That would be detrimental to his plan of making a name for himself.

It was just like being a jungler in a video game. After farming quietly in the background, once you had the right equipment, you had to come out and help kill enemies, demonstrating your presence and value. Otherwise, you’d be flamed to death by your team.

Hearing Qin Yi’s words, the crowd frowned in deep thought. some nodded slightly in approval, while others looked troubled, seemingly not quite agreeing with his viewpoint but unable to produce a counterargument at the moment.

“I think it’s best we all split up to conduct our own research for now and then meet regularly to exchange our findings. I believe this will allow us to speed up our progress.”

Seeing that no one was speaking, Academician Li Hengwen, the project leader, decided to make a suggestion. They had been arguing incessantly for the past few days, and now they couldn’t even reach a consensus on Qin Yi’s perspective. He thought it would be better to research separately.

“I think that works.”

“Arguing back and forth like this is meaningless. It’s better to go back to our own labs and focus on our research.”

The problem now was the clash of ideas. Only by pursuing their own lines of thought would they slowly discover whose approach was right and whose was wrong.

Soon, the many top experts returned to their respective laboratories with their teams. As a key member of the project team, Qin Yi was also allocated a lab of his own, along with a large group of research personnel to serve as his assistants.

As a high-priority project, the investment in anti-gravity technology was enormous. They were given whatever they needed—funding, personnel, almost anything they asked for.

Under such favorable conditions, Qin Yi was thriving like a fish in water. Although he had already thoroughly mastered anti-gravity technology in the Technology Tower, he had never been able to conduct any real experiments in reality due to a lack of resources.

Now, things were different. He could conduct any experiment he wanted, tinkering as he pleased. Qin Yi loved it, because theory could only be truly mastered when combined with practice.

A month later, inside a laboratory in the building where Qin Yi’s lab was located—a space as large as several basketball courts—Qin Yi was leading his small team in a detailed inspection of a strange, circular machine.

The machine looked like a large ring, several meters in diameter. The cross-section of the ring’s tube was over a meter thick and was filled with a dense tangle of thick copper wires. Two long electrical cables were connected to its side.

“Liu Peiqiang, are the checks complete?”

Qin Yi spoke to a tall man with thick eyebrows, large eyes, and a square-shaped face. This was Liu Peiqiang, a researcher on his team. He was in his thirties, much older than Qin Yi, and, crucially, he held a PhD. Yet now, he was one of Qin Yi’s assistants.

Because Liu Peiqiang’s hands-on skills were quite impressive, Qin Yi had taken him under his wing, entrusting many of the experimental tasks to him.

“No problems. We can begin the experiment at any time.”

Liu Peiqiang said with a nod after carefully finishing his inspection and reconfirming everything.

“Experiment fifty-three, begin.”

Qin Yi nodded, satisfied. He looked at the ugly machine before him, his heart filled with joy. This machine was something he and his team had poured their blood, sweat, and tears into building from scratch. It was the earliest, most rudimentary version of an anti-gravity engine.

Compared to the highly advanced, science-fiction-like anti-gravity engines in the Technology Tower, the one before him was like a wooden airplane from the early twentieth century, while those in the Technology Tower were equivalent to the F-22. They were worlds apart.

Nevertheless, that didn’t diminish Qin Yi’s fondness for it. This was the first anti-gravity engine he had personally built, and it was also the first one ever built by humankind. In the future, it could be displayed in a history museum.

As Qin Yi’s command was given, his subordinates at the side immediately initiated the experiment.

As a continuous stream of electricity flowed into the anti-gravity engine, everyone in the laboratory hall could clearly see ripples forming in the air. Keep in mind, there was no wind in the lab, nor was there any kind of energy blast.

It was the anti-gravitational wave.

The anti-gravitational wave was affecting the surrounding gravity, creating fluctuations. The anti-gravity engine, several meters in diameter, began to slowly levitate, like a flying saucer from a science fiction movie. There was no energy propulsion, nor did it have rotors like a helicopter to generate lift.

It was incredibly surreal, as if gravity had suddenly ceased to exist in the laboratory. The anti-gravity engine, which weighed several tons, simply floated up slowly.

As it ascended, the power cables connected to it stretched, and it soon rose to a height of several meters.

“Try moving it.”

A smile appeared on Qin Yi’s face. His researchers were all visibly thrilled. Under his guidance, they had successfully built this anti-gravity engine in just about a month. It was simply incredible.

Soon, someone began to control the anti-gravity engine, slowly moving it horizontally—forward, left, right, and even backward without turning at all.

“Haha! It’s a success! It can fly backward without changing its orientation at all. This is definitely anti-gravity technology!”

Liu Peiqiang was ecstatic. As a PhD in aerospace dynamics, he had a decent understanding of propulsion systems. None of the propulsion technologies humanity currently possessed could allow for direct backward flight.

To fly backward, a vehicle had to turn around. But once it turned around, what was originally the rear became the front. It was still incapable of true backward flight.

“Of course. Anti-gravity technology doesn’t distinguish between front, back, left, or right. It can fly in any direction, so its maneuverability is absolutely the best of any propulsion technology.”

Qin Yi smiled and nodded. There was a reason the anti-gravity engine was made circular. Anti-gravity propulsion had no directional constraints; it could fly in any direction it wanted, unlike traditional technologies that could only fly forward.

As for flying left, right, up, or down, those were achieved by adjusting the direction of the tail thrust. It could never be as effortless and fluid as anti-gravity propulsion.

“Qin Yi, you’re a genius!”

Liu Peiqiang couldn’t help but give Qin Yi a thumbs-up. Before, he had felt aggrieved that a PhD like him had to be an assistant to Qin Yi. But gradually, he had been won over by Qin Yi’s vast knowledge and became a willing follower. Now, after creating this initial anti-gravity engine in just a month, he was completely in awe.

“Report our research progress. Tonight, we’ll all go out and celebrate.”

Qin Yi smiled and then announced the evening’s celebration. The crowd immediately broke into joyful cheers.

Chapter 31: The Power Problem

The Anti-Gravity Project Team placed immense importance on Qin Yi’s breakthrough. Early the next morning, nearly all of the dozens of top experts on the team gathered in Qin Yi’s laboratory.

Around the crude anti-gravity engine, numerous scientists huddled together, studying it carefully and asking Qin Yi questions from time to time.

“If I’m not mistaken, the reason it’s shaped like a ring is that the entire anti-gravity engine acts like a giant magnet. It generates a powerful magnetic field to influence gravity, thereby allowing it to break free from its constraints, correct?”

Yin Shouping observed it closely. Every detail of the anti-gravity engine was clearly visible. The coils of copper wire were wound extremely tightly, resembling a traditional electric motor, but there were some parts he still couldn’t figure out.

“That’s right.”

Qin Yi nodded. Once he explained the principle behind the anti-gravity engine, everyone would be able to grasp it quickly. However, there was still a very, very long road ahead before the anti-gravity engine could be truly applied in the real world.

“Liu Peiqiang, start the engine. Let’s give everyone a look.”

At Qin Yi’s words, the surrounding scientists scattered, watching intently.

Soon, as the anti-gravity engine was connected to a power source, it began to levitate slowly, accompanied by a slight ripple in the air. Then, it started moving back and forth and side to side in mid-air with great agility, just like a flying saucer from science fiction movies and novels.

“Incredible! Once anti-gravity propulsion technology truly enters the application stage, the maneuverability of fighter jets built with anti-gravity engines will completely blow all current fighter jets out of the water.”

Xu Sirui, a top expert in the field of aerospace and aviation dynamics, had a gleam in his eyes. It was as if he could already see a new generation of fighter jets, built with anti-gravity engines, soaring through the blue sky.

It could move rapidly in any direction without needing to turn. Its maneuverability would be absolutely terrifying.

“Qin Yi, why is it connected to two wires?”

Pan Ke’s eyes also shone with excitement, but his brow quickly furrowed as he looked at the two wires dangling in the air. Although he had already guessed their function, he still wanted to confirm with Qin Yi.

“These are the power cables,” Qin Yi explained with a smile. “The anti-gravity engine runs on electrical energy, and it consumes a massive amount of it. Without these cables, it wouldn’t be able to fly at all.”

“I knew it. It’s just as I suspected. Can this engine be powered by batteries?”

“What’s its power consumption like?” Pan Ke nodded, then continued to ask with a worried expression.

“Its power consumption is immense. With our current battery technology, we couldn’t support it for more than a few minutes. Its power draw is over 1000 kilowatts.” Qin Yi smiled as he stated the consumption rate.

“Over 1000 kilowatts?”

Pan Ke nearly jumped out of his skin. When he first saw those two thick power cables, he had guessed the device was a massive power-devouring beast, but he never imagined that this small anti-gravity engine could consume power at a rate of over a thousand kilowatts. It was terrifying!

“With such horrific power consumption, our current battery technology truly has no way of providing it with sufficient energy. And without enough power, it can’t fly at all.”

Nearby, Yin Shouping also overheard the conversation and was stunned. A moment ago, he had been elated, thinking that with the development of the anti-gravity engine, they could soon apply it to the aerospace and aviation fields. Now, it seemed they had been getting ahead of themselves.

“We can’t just have it dragging two power cords across the sky, can we?”

“Exactly. It consumes thousands of units of electricity per minute. How could we possibly find a battery powerful enough to supply it?”

“I can’t believe we developed the anti-gravity engine only to be defeated by batteries.”

Hearing this, the surrounding top experts all wore troubled expressions and fell into deep thought. Because the anti-gravity engine couldn’t be disconnected from its two power cables, no one could feel happy, even though the engine itself had been successfully developed.

“Could we use wireless power transmission technology to supply it with electricity?”

“That would solve the energy problem. It wouldn’t be restricted, and the anti-gravity engine would finally have a use.”

One scientist’s eyes lit up as he proposed the idea of wireless power transmission.

“In theory, there are four types of wireless power transmission: electromagnetic induction, resonance, magnetic coupled resonance, and microwaves. With the technology we currently possess, all four methods are highly immature and have numerous limitations. Moreover, this anti-gravity engine is an absolute power-devouring beast. It’s almost impossible to satisfy such enormous energy consumption through wireless transmission.”

Pan Ke was a master in the field of electromagnetism. He had once conducted in-depth research into wireless power transmission but had never achieved any substantial breakthroughs, eventually abandoning the project.

Now that someone had brought it up, he was the first to object. The idea was good, but current wireless power technology was simply incapable of satisfying the anti-gravity engine’s massive appetite.

“If we paired it with a nuclear power plant, the energy supply should be more than sufficient. But we don’t have the means to miniaturize nuclear fission technology to that extent yet. Besides, nuclear fission converts nuclear energy to thermal energy, then to mechanical energy, and finally to electrical energy. The required support systems would be enormous. It might work for large-scale equipment…”

Soon, a nuclear energy scientist weakly offered his opinion, though he seemed to lack confidence, negating his own point halfway through.

“That’s right! We can use nuclear energy! Like a nuclear submarine. That would solve the power problem!”

Li Hengwen’s eyes lit up. He slapped his forehead as the idea struck him. Nuclear fission technology was no longer a major hurdle; the world’s major powers had long ago applied nuclear power to large-scale equipment like submarines, aircraft carriers, and ships.

At this, the eyes of the surrounding scientists lit up as well. They had been worrying about the engine’s power source, and now, suddenly, it seemed like a non-issue. They began to chime in one after another, building on this line of thought.

All the while, Qin Yi stood to the side with a smile on his face, listening quietly. In truth, he had anticipated all of this. The anti-gravity technology he had presented was the most elementary version.

In the initial stage of anti-gravity technology’s development, many civilizations had used nuclear power to provide sufficient energy for their anti-gravity engines due to their massive power consumption.

Because it was nuclear-powered, the application of anti-gravity technology at this stage was confined to the national and military levels, making it impossible to popularize among the general public.

Only with the advent of high-energy storage batteries could the energy problem be solved. Then, anti-gravity technology could truly be miniaturized and gradually popularized among ordinary people. Only then could it be said that anti-gravity technology had truly changed the world.

Initially, Qin Yi had considered skipping the first stage entirely. But after some thought, he decided it was an unnecessary leap. Some paths had to be walked. He possessed the technology for high-energy storage batteries, but he planned to use that tech to build his fortune in the future, so he certainly couldn’t reveal it now.

In any case, he had now successfully developed the anti-gravity engine, so fame and prestige were guaranteed. He had achieved his goal. Next, he would dedicate himself wholeheartedly to managing his own company.

In Qin Yi’s grand plan, his future company would make its fortune on high-energy storage battery technology. When anti-gravity technology entered its second stage, he could sell his batteries and rake in the profits.

Moreover, he also possessed more advanced anti-gravity engine technology, which would allow him to shine brightly in the field of anti-gravity aircraft later on.

At this thought, Qin Yi couldn’t help but smile. He had no choice. Having joined the Anti-Gravity Project Team, something as important as anti-gravity technology would naturally be controlled by the higher-ups.

This was merely the first generation of anti-gravity engine technology, and its use would be limited to the national level. It wouldn’t affect his future money-making plans at all.

Meanwhile, the country could leverage anti-gravity technology to achieve major breakthroughs in aerospace and aviation, shattering the international blockade and isolation imposed on Huaxia in these fields. It would also allow them to take a leading position in the brand-new field of anti-gravity propulsion. For the nation, that was more than enough.

Chapter 32: Can’t Go Back Empty-Handed

In a courtyard house beside Central Chang’an Street in the Imperial Capital, the leaders of the Anti-Gravity Project Team were reporting their latest progress to an elderly man, while also applying for the next stage of research.

“You’ve already developed an anti-gravity engine?”

The old man held the report, asking with some disbelief. In his view, even if Huaxia had a certain lead in the field of anti-gravity, successfully developing the technology should have required preparing for a long haul.

The initial proposal had invoked the spirit of the “Two Bombs, One Satellite” project. This alone showed that the higher-ups had been prepared from the very beginning to spend several years, a decade, or even longer to develop anti-gravity technology.

But now, less than two months after the Anti-Gravity Project Team had officially begun its work, they were claiming to have developed an anti-gravity engine. It was so unbelievable that no one would take it seriously; it sounded like an outlandish boast.

“Yes, we’ve developed it. There’s no mistake. It was mainly thanks to Qin Yi’s brilliance. Without him, we truly would have been in for a long haul,” Academician Li Hengwen said with a nod. He now held a deep appreciation for Qin Yi, the foremost contributor to the anti-gravity engine.

“Qin Yi…”

The old man murmured the name, firmly committing it to memory.

“Qin Yi is the discoverer and proposer of anti-gravity theory. In this field, no one can surpass him. He is absolutely a national treasure. I recommend that the state provide him with a certain degree of protection. In particular, we absolutely cannot let him fall into the hands of foreigners, or this anti-gravity technology will quickly be leaked,” Academician Xu Sirui added with a nod, speaking slowly.

Generally speaking, scientists held a high status in every country and were considered the wealth and treasure of all humanity. Therefore, no matter the conflict, no one would target scientists. Even if one wanted to win them over, it would be done with money, beautiful women, and the like, not through open robbery or assassination.

After all, if you killed one of their scientists today, they could very well kill ten or even a hundred of yours tomorrow. Moreover, the scientists within your own country would band together to pressure you.

Only a fool would resort to assassinating or kidnapping a scientist, as doing so would make one a public enemy to the world, incurring universal condemnation.

But some scientists were different. Those participating in the Anti-Gravity Project Team, for instance, had access to the most core and classified technology. From the very beginning, people like Qin Yi and Yin Shouping had signed the highest-level non-disclosure agreements. As long as the higher-ups had not decided to declassify the relevant information, they could not breathe a single word of it to anyone.

Because this involved anti-gravity technology, which would shape the future, other countries would stop at nothing to obtain it. In such a situation, they would not be overly concerned with appearances; they would just need to be clean about it or come up with a reasonable excuse.

Qin Yi was the discoverer and proposer of anti-gravity, and now he was a core member of the anti-gravity engine’s development. His value was self-evident. Such a national treasure would be coveted by every country in the world and naturally had to be well protected.

“I will make arrangements for this.”

The old man looked at Academician Xu Sirui. To receive such high praise from both Li Hengwen and Xu Sirui, this Qin Yi was undoubtedly precious. After a moment of contemplation, he nodded his head.

“Since the project has made substantial progress, a commendation ceremony will be arranged soon. However, it will certainly be kept secret. Now is not the time for a public announcement. Countries around the world are vigorously researching anti-gravity technology. We must continue to push forward. The gap between other countries and us is not that large.”

“Is there anything else I need to do?”

“Although the anti-gravity engine has been built, it still has one drawback: Its energy consumption is enormous. We envision applying nuclear power to it, so we will need your support in this area.”

“Submit an application. It shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Once we solve the energy problem, I estimate that our anti-gravity spacecraft will be able to take flight very soon. By then, we can completely phase out conventional rockets and achieve a leap forward in the aerospace field. Perhaps we will be able to conduct a manned moon landing soon.”

“That would be wonderful. We have waited for this day for far too long.”

In the Third District, Qin Yi was in his lab. Ever since the anti-gravity engine was developed, he felt much more relaxed. At the moment, he was idly looking around his laboratory.

“The engine is built. I don’t need to get involved in the next step of adding nuclear power. With the state’s resources, it probably won’t take too long to build a real anti-gravity ship.”

“The factory and office buildings for my company are almost finished. Much of the equipment and instruments I ordered have been arriving one after another. It’s about time for me to go back and work on my own projects.”

“But since I came all this way, I can’t go back empty-handed, right? Every single person here is a talent. I have to poach at least a few to take back with me.”

Qin Yi’s eyes scanned over the researchers, one by one, liking what he saw in each of them. The team he led wasn’t huge, but it still numbered over a hundred people, and each one was highly skilled.

Without these hundred-plus people, without the advanced labs behind them, and without the unlimited financial and material support from above, Qin Yi felt that even he couldn’t have built the anti-gravity engine in such a short time, even with a complete understanding of anti-gravity in his mind.

“If only I could poach all of them, my company would instantly have a powerful research and development team.”

As Qin Yi looked at the people he had worked with for over a month, his expression was like that of a glutton who had stumbled upon a grand feast, practically drooling. He wanted every single one of them and was unwilling to let any go.

“The higher-ups would never agree. And although I have a bit of a reputation now, the chances of convincing people to abandon their current positions to follow me are too slim.”

“But I absolutely can’t let Liu Peiqiang, Lu Qingwei, Yang Hongyan, Zhang Jian, and Wang Songling get away. Every one of them is an excellent prospect. With a bit of nurturing, they could definitely become outstanding scientists.”

Qin Yi’s gaze locked onto the five figures. After a month of working together, these five were his favorites among his subordinates.

“The higher-ups definitely won’t let them go easily, and it won’t be simple to persuade them either. It would be hard to sway them with money. At their level, they may not be wealthy, but their livelihoods are certainly secure.”

“It seems the only way is to entice them with new technologies and research directions.”

At this thought, a smile appeared on Qin Yi’s face.

“No scientist can resist the allure of new techniques and technologies.”

Qin Yi was confident on this point. It was just like when Yin Shouping had seen Qin Yi’s anti-gravity experiment; he had become completely mesmerized and was instantly captivated.

“Liu Peiqiang is very interested in biotechnology. Perhaps I can chat with him about gene recombination technology.”

“Lu Qingwei loves cosmology and astronomy. I can find some time to discuss the possibility of extraterrestrial life with him.”

“As for Yang Hongyan, he loves electromagnetism. Luring him away will be even easier. I just need to talk about photomagnetic traction technology.”

Qin Yi counted on his fingers, his mind whirring with calculations.

Talent was hard to come by. Having participated in a major project and entered a mountain of treasures, returning empty-handed was not Qin Yi’s style. Since there were no other benefits to be had, poaching a few talented individuals would be a harvest in itself.

“Well, I’m a citizen of Huaxia, and my company is in Huaxia too. It shouldn’t be a big problem, right?”

Chapter 33: Everything Is Ready

Qin Yi was strolling through the campus of Huaxia University. It was the golden autumn. The campus was a sea of gold, the sun bright and the sky clear. The air was crisp, the breeze gentle—a rare, perfect day.

After months of being busy, Qin Yi finally had some time to relax and walk around the campus. Watching the new students, their eyes filled with immense hope as they walked through the grounds of the prestigious university they had longed for, he couldn’t help but recall his own first day years ago.

Just like these freshmen, he had been excited, full of anticipation, and entered Huaxia University with boundless aspirations for college life and the passionate dreams of youth.

In the blink of an eye, he was now supposed to be in his senior year. But just two days ago, Qin Yi had already graduated. Yes, a one-man graduation. At his current level, continuing his studies at the university was completely unnecessary, a pure waste of time.

Besides, it was already September. Having wrapped up his work with the Anti-Gravity Project Team, Qin Yi was preparing to return to his hometown of Huangjing Town to manage his own business.

After several months of construction, Star River Technology’s office building and the first phase of its factory were complete. All the machinery and equipment Qin Yi had purchased had also arrived. Zhang Guomin had contacted him many times, but Qin Yi had been tied up with the project team and could only keep delaying.

“If I don’t start production soon, I’m going to go bankrupt~”

Qin Yi thought about his investments over the past few months. Even with the Old Man’s help and the excellent performance of his cheat/hack business, which brought in tens of millions each month, he didn’t have a single cent left now.

Building the factory, the office building, and the industrial park, not to mention the renovations and the purchase of equipment, instruments, and production lines, had completely drained his savings.

“Luckily, the project team awarded me ten million this time. Otherwise, I’d have to wait until next month to even buy raw materials.”

With the successful development of the anti-gravity engine, the entire project team, from top to bottom, received a substantial bonus. As the core researcher and main contributor to the engine’s development, Qin Yi was awarded a bonus of ten million. At the same time, he also began to receive special treatment. Wherever he went, he was now flanked by two elite bodyguards.

Although he felt he didn’t really need them, Qin Yi had no choice. They were assigned directly from above, and he couldn’t refuse. Besides, he didn’t have to pay for them, so having two free bodyguards seemed like a pretty good deal. At the very least, it would be quite a statement when he went out. It was a badass way to show off—no need to announce his own identity when his bodyguards’ presence was enough.

The two bodyguards were named Zhang Long and Zhao Hu. They possessed the meticulous and stoic demeanor of soldiers. Both had very ordinary looks and wore crisp black suits. They maintained a certain distance from Qin Yi, trying not to disturb his life while remaining ever-vigilant of their surroundings, carrying out their duties with utmost diligence.

“Qin Yi~”

Wen Xueying, dressed in a snow-white dress, walked over, pulling a suitcase. She looked as if she were about to elope with him.

Watching her approach, Qin Yi had to admit that Wen Xueying was truly beautiful. She was tall, with enviably long legs. The white dress she wore complemented her fair skin perfectly, making her look like a blooming snow lotus. Qin Yi couldn’t help but be captivated.

“Hey~ What are you staring at?”

Seeing Qin Yi’s smitten expression, Wen Xueying smiled happily and waved a hand in front of his face.

“You’re beautiful~”

The words slipped out of Qin Yi’s mouth without a second thought. As soon as he said it, Wen Xueying’s face flushed slightly. She fidgeted with the hem of her dress, suddenly at a loss for words.

“Ahem~ Let’s go.”

Seeing her expression, Qin Yi rubbed his nose, cleared his throat, and took her suitcase, heading toward the university’s exit.

“Mr. Qin, allow us~”

Zhang Long stepped forward and naturally took the suitcase from Qin Yi. Zhao Hu was already holding another one—Qin Yi’s.

“Mm, thank you.”

Qin Yi smiled and nodded. Bodyguards were quite useful, and this was a clear example.

Wen Xueying was no longer surprised by the two bodyguards at Qin Yi’s side. She knew he had participated in a secret research project, and afterward, these two followers had appeared.

“I’ve already found an excellent candidate for the company’s general manager position. His name is Lin Ye. He used to be a senior executive at a Fortune 500 company. It took a lot of effort to persuade him, and of course, it was only after hearing your name that he decided to join.”

“He’s already headed to Huangjing Town ahead of us. Also, for the finance department, I have a high school classmate named He Junbo. He graduated from the Imperial Capital University of Finance and Economics and is willing to join us. He’ll be in charge of finances from now on.”

“As for the R&D staff, I used your big-shot scientist reputation to rope in dozens of our old high school classmates. They are all top engineering students from major universities in the Imperial Capital and will be reporting to Huangjing Town soon.”

As they walked, Wen Xueying gave Qin Yi a detailed report of her work over the past few months. Although she hadn’t officially started at Star River Technology yet, she had already begun recruiting for the company.

“Qin Yi, I’ve really put myself on the line for you. If this company doesn’t succeed, my entire reputation will be ruined because of you.”

“Haha~ Don’t worry, I’ll take responsibility for you~”

Hearing her words, Qin Yi almost burst out laughing. He thought for a moment and replied with a smile.

“Of course, you have to take responsibility~”

Wen Xueying didn’t seem to realize the other meaning in his words. She nodded as if it were a matter of course. Then, realization dawned, and her face turned bright red.

“Haha~”

Seeing her reaction, Qin Yi laughed heartily.

The two chatted and laughed as they arrived at the main gate of Huaxia University. Liu Peiqiang, Lu Qingwei, Yang Hongyan, Zhang Jian, and Wang Songling were already waiting there with their luggage.

Qin Yi had to move heaven and earth to persuade these five to join him. It was only because he was the great hero of the Anti-Gravity Project Team that the higher-ups had agreed to let them go. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to take a single one of them. After all, everyone who could join the project team was a true genius, each one a valuable talent.

“Hmm~ Now this team is finally starting to look presentable.”

Qin Yi looked at the people before him, feeling that he was finally on the path to building a real company. At least this team was worthy of a high-tech company’s name. Every single one of them was a graduate of a top university. It was a far cry from when Star River Technology was first established, where, in a meeting room full of people, no one besides Qin Yi had impressive credentials.

“Let’s go~”

…

In Xiashan Village, Huangjing Town, the Star River Technology industrial park was finally taking shape after more than half a year of intense construction.

A glass-clad building, over ten stories tall, reflected a modern aura under the sunlight, causing the farmers toiling in the nearby fields to glance over from time to time.

Huangjing Town, this remote and impoverished place, had been dominated by agriculture for thousands of years. Now, it finally had a touch of modern industrial civilization.

The glass building was the company’s office building. The words “Star River Technology” were prominent on its facade. However, the interior decoration was rather plain. Because Qin Yi was short on funds, he could only afford a simple coat of paint, making it just barely usable for now.

In the industrial park not far away, there was also a factory building. Closer to Xiashan Village were several dormitories and a cafeteria for the employees. It had cost Qin Yi tens of millions, but at least all the essential components were in place.

In Qin Yi’s office on the top floor of the Star River Technology building, he stood by the window, looking down at the land. His eyes were met with a view of golden rice paddies. Within them, tiny, ant-like dots were slowly harvesting the rice.

Qin Yi could clearly see the farmers straightening up to rest for a moment, their gazes turning toward his building. Huangjing Town, and indeed the entire Ning County, had placed great hope in Star River Technology.

Qin Yi’s name had made headlines and been featured on the news. He was already a household name in Ning County, and the story of him returning to his hometown to start a high-tech company had spread throughout the county.

It could be said that everyone in Ning County was now hoping that Qin Yi would bring about change—change the backwardness of the area, transform the agrarian society that had persisted for thousands of years, and help Ning County thrive like the developed coastal regions, instead of remaining an underdeveloped, impoverished mountainous area.

“Everything is ready, all we need is a gust of wind~”

“Everything is more or less ready. The next step is to assemble the production line for the Atomic Matrix Battery, and then the company can officially begin operations.”

Chapter 34: Can I Take It Apart?

Inside the Star River Technology industrial park, Qin Yi and dozens of people were bustling around in the factory building. All sorts of machinery had been ordered by Qin Yi from various companies and enterprises, broken down into small, individual components. Except for a few machines that could be used directly, most of the machinery and equipment needed to be assembled.

Initially, Qin Yi had only done this for the sake of secrecy, to prevent his Atomic Matrix Battery technology from being leaked. That was why he had broken down the machines he needed into many parts to place the orders.

But now, Qin Yi was regretting it. Assembling them was incredibly troublesome. The key issue was that the dozens of people under him, despite all being engineering graduates from prestigious universities, had hands-on skills that were simply atrocious. Only the five who hailed from the Anti-Gravity Project Team—Liu Peiqiang, Lu Qingwei, and Yang Hongyan—had relatively strong practical skills.

Qin Yi handed over the assembly blueprints to them, but their assembly efficiency was still very slow, and they would frequently run over to ask him questions.

“Oh well~ At least it’s good training for their practical skills.”

“It seems I’ll have to give everyone more lessons and training in the future, especially on these practical skills. They’re just too poor. When it comes to mechanical matters, they’re all brilliant in theory, but in practice, each one is worse than a primary school student.”

Qin Yi couldn’t help but sigh. He now fully understood the drawbacks of the exam-oriented education the Old Man had spoken of. In truth, it wasn’t just them; even Qin Yi’s own practical skills had been poor. They had only been honed during his time with the Anti-Gravity Project Team. Otherwise, they would have been atrocious as well.

Dozens of people surrounded the machines, disassembling and reassembling them over and over. They were finally, slowly, getting the hang of each piece of equipment. The company didn’t have a laboratory yet, so for now, all they could do was study the machines and build up their practical skills.

“Qin Yi, is this the Atomic Matrix Compressor you designed?”

Liu Peiqiang, Lu Qingwei, Yang Hongyan, Zhang Jian, and Wang Songling—the five of them—were circling a large machine. It had no markings on it, its body was a dark, glossy black, and it gave off the feeling of a high-tech device straight out of a science fiction movie.

Liu Peiqiang ran his hand over the Atomic Matrix Compressor. It was the first time he had ever heard of such a machine, and he was filled with curiosity.

“That’s right. The Atomic Matrix Compressor is absolutely essential for the Atomic Matrix Batteries we’re going to produce. Only by compressing them with this machine can we manufacture the batteries.”

Qin Yi nodded. In reality, this machine came from the Technology Tower. With Earth’s current technology, building an Atomic Matrix Compressor wasn’t difficult, but it would require the most advanced technology and equipment on the entire planet.

With Qin Yi’s current influence, it was naturally impossible to get the world’s most advanced equipment and talent to build an Atomic Matrix Compressor for him. So, taking one directly from the Technology Tower was a much simpler solution.

Once the company was operational and had money, Qin Yi could go on a massive spending spree. He could then buy or design his own advanced equipment and replicate a new Atomic Matrix Compressor. That would make for a plausible story.

“Can I take it apart? I really want to see how it compresses atoms.”

Liu Peiqiang asked thoughtfully after a moment’s consideration.

“No! Absolutely not! I moved heaven and earth just to get it assembled. The company’s production line is waiting for it to get up and running. If we don’t start production and make a product soon, I’m going to go bankrupt.”

“Maybe later. Once we have money, I’ll buy a few sets of spare parts. You can take them apart all you want then.”

Qin Yi immediately shook his head. If they disassembled it, they would definitely discover the incredibly high level of technology inside. The degree of precision machining alone was far beyond what any ordinary domestic company could accomplish.

Besides, with machinery, once you take it apart, even if you reassemble it, its performance will change drastically. This is especially true for high-precision manufacturing equipment.

This Atomic Matrix Compressor came from the Technology Tower. If they took it apart now, even Qin Yi couldn’t guarantee he could reassemble it perfectly. It absolutely could not be disassembled.

“Alright then. The assembly of the next Atomic Compressor has to be my job.”

Liu Peiqiang nodded helplessly. He had developed something of an addiction to assembling and disassembling machines these last few days. He was discovering that being an engineer was perhaps far more interesting than being a scientist. Scientists often studied things that were invisible and intangible, but engineers dealt with real, solid machines.

“Haha! Don’t you worry, you’ll definitely get your chance,” Qin Yi said with a laugh.

“The battery blanks are ready!”

At that moment, someone drove up on a forklift, pulling a pallet of goods. Everyone hurried over to look. The forklift was loaded with neat, rectangular blocks, each about the size of a brick. They looked like blocks of metal, silvery-white and gleaming with a metallic luster.

These blocks were only about twenty centimeters long, ten-something centimeters wide, and four or five centimeters high, roughly the same size as the batteries in the small electric scooters seen everywhere on the streets.

But each block was incredibly heavy, like a solid piece of iron. So much so that even though there were only a few dozen of them, they had to be moved with a forklift.

These were the Atomic Matrix Battery blanks that Qin Yi’s team had first produced using their machines. They planned to create some test samples first to check the data. If everything looked ideal, they could have the company’s sales team start promoting them.

Running a company was different from doing scientific research. Everything had to revolve around profit. A company without profit could not survive for long. That’s why Qin Yi had to do this. Securing a large number of orders, or even receiving some deposits before production even began, would be a great help to the company’s operations. After all, the current Qin Yi was also utterly broke.

Whirrr—

As the Atomic Matrix Compressor emitted a very faint hum, the battery blank that had been inserted was quickly brought out of the exit port.

Everyone quickly gathered around. Each person picked up a battery and began to examine it closely.

It looked no different than it had before it went in, except that the metallic luster on the surface seemed even more refined. It felt cold and metallic to the touch, and when tapped lightly, it produced a very crisp echo.

The Atomic Matrix Battery was different from conventional batteries. It didn’t require substances like lead, acid, or mercury at all. Conventional batteries could be called chemical batteries, while the Atomic Matrix Battery was a physical battery—they were two completely different concepts.

“Qingwei, please take some people to test the various specs on these batteries. Get the data as soon as possible so our salespeople can use it for their pitches.”

Seeing these Atomic Matrix Batteries, Qin Yi’s eyes nearly turned into money signs. It was as if he could see countless banknotes waving at him.

The battery data testing took a full week. Only then did the data on the Atomic Matrix Battery reach Qin Yi’s hands.

“Unbelievable! With such a powerful Atomic Matrix Battery, who needs to equip the anti-gravity engine with a nuclear power plant? You could just use this!”

The moment Liu Peiqiang got the data, he couldn’t help but exclaim. As a researcher who had participated in the work on the anti-gravity engine, he was well aware of its current limitations.

So now, looking at the data, he couldn’t help but glance at Qin Yi. He understood everything in an instant. It had all been within Qin Yi’s control. He had started planning for this Atomic Matrix Battery long ago. He also now understood the future financial prospects of this battery.

They were absolutely going to be counting money until their hands cramped. It might not be obvious now, but once anti-gravity technology was promoted and popularized across various fields, the Atomic Matrix Battery would definitely become the standard accessory.

“Calm down, calm down. And remember, this is confidential.”

Qin Yi quickly looked around. Matters concerning the Anti-Gravity Project Team absolutely could not be leaked. Fortunately, the few people around him had all been part of that project team; otherwise, this would have been a problem.

“It’s just incredible. This tiny battery can store over a thousand kilowatt-hours of electricity.”

Lu Qingwei looked at a single battery. This one was fully charged, its original silvery-white color now a deep black. The Atomic Matrix Battery had a unique characteristic: you could judge its charge level by the depth of its color.

The more electricity it stored, the blacker it became. When all the electricity inside was discharged, it would revert to its silvery-white color.

Wang Songling smiled and picked up the test report to look at it closely.

Storage capacity: a standard Atomic Matrix Battery could store one thousand kilowatt-hours of electricity. What did one thousand kilowatt-hours mean? If it was used to power an ordinary household, assuming a family used one hundred kilowatt-hours a month, it would be enough for ten months, almost a full year.

In other words, a single battery, roughly the size of a brick, when fully charged, could power an ordinary household for almost a year. Its storage capacity was truly astonishing.

Keep in mind that the capacity of ordinary batteries is measured in milliamp-hours. That alone showed just how formidable the Atomic Matrix Battery was.

If a small electric scooter were powered by one of these Atomic Matrix Batteries, a single full charge would be enough to last until the scooter was retired. There would be no need to charge it daily like with current ordinary batteries, which limited travel to short distances and made longer trips impossible.

And the most important parameter for measuring a battery is its storage capacity. For the same size, Nanfu batteries last longer than ordinary ones. The technology inside is naturally much more advanced, and the corresponding price is higher, but Nanfu batteries sell well because they offer more value.

Chapter 35: A Small Goal of 10 Billion

Storage capacity is the primary standard for measuring a battery’s value, but beyond that, its lifespan, discharge capability, and stability are also crucial indicators.

Battery lifespan is easy to understand—it’s how long the battery can be used. Electric scooters are extremely popular these days and can be seen everywhere. A good battery can last for several years, while a poor one might only last a year or so.

Often, there’s nothing wrong with the scooter itself, but the battery has failed. Some unscrupulous merchants sell battery packs for hundreds of yuan, only for them to become useless after just a few months.

Furthermore, battery lifespan is a significant factor hindering the widespread adoption of electric cars. Thanks to national new energy subsidies, electric cars are often quite cheap and very competitive in price.

Moreover, charging is much cheaper than refueling. A full tank of gas can cost hundreds of yuan, while a full charge costs a few dozen at most. In the long run, the savings on fuel alone are substantial.

Yet, most people don’t consider electric cars when buying a vehicle. A major reason for this is the short lifespan of their batteries. After two or three years, the battery needs to be replaced, which can cost tens of thousands of yuan—almost the price of a new car.

This clearly shows the importance of battery lifespan.

A battery’s discharge capability, in simple terms, is its ability to release the electricity it has stored. For example, a battery might be able to store 100 kilowatt-hours of electricity, but in actual use, only about 80 kilowatt-hours can be drawn. The remaining 20 kilowatt-hours are essentially unusable. Once the charge drops to around 20%, its discharge capability plummets, most noticeably manifesting as a loss of power in an electric vehicle.

Battery stability refers to how a battery performs under different environmental conditions. Some batteries are very unstable in low temperatures, with poor discharge capability. That’s why in cold regions, almost no one buys electric cars, because in winter, you might not even be able to start them.

Additionally, when a battery continually discharges power, its temperature often rises. If the temperature reaches a certain point, the battery could melt down.

Stability is a very important metric.

Returning to electric cars, besides their limited range and short battery lifespan, another significant limiting factor is battery stability. They are notoriously unstable and prone to problems, causing owners a great deal of worry. So, despite the subsidies and cheap charging, the popularization of electric vehicles remains an uphill battle.

Qin Yi held the data report for the Atomic Matrix Battery, a smile unconsciously spreading across his face. Because it utilized atomic matrix technology, it was fundamentally different from traditional chemical batteries. As a result, its performance in every aspect completely blew away all other batteries currently on the market.

Its storage capacity was off the charts. An Atomic Matrix Battery the size of a brick could store thousands of kilowatt-hours of electricity, and this was only the first generation. With technological innovation, the storage capacity of future Atomic Matrix Batteries would be even greater.

Compared to ordinary batteries, even those used in a Tesla, the Atomic Matrix Battery had a storage capacity hundreds of times greater for the same volume.

This was, without a doubt, an epoch-making leap and breakthrough.

Next was its lifespan. Ordinary batteries typically had a few hundred charge-discharge cycles. Furthermore, for traditional chemical batteries, lifespan was inversely proportional to capacity—the higher the capacity, the shorter the lifespan.

The Atomic Matrix Battery had no such limitation. It could easily handle several thousand cycles, giving it an exceptionally long service life.

In terms of stability, traditional chemical batteries were significantly affected by temperature due to their chemical components. Their own temperature would rise during charging and discharging, making them very unstable and unsafe.

But the Atomic Matrix Battery was completely different. As a battery built with physical technology, it was minimally affected by temperature changes. It remained extremely stable during charging and discharging, making it incredibly safe.

“It utterly outperforms traditional batteries~”

After reading the detailed test report, Zhang Jian couldn’t help but clench his fists. He had originally agreed to follow Qin Yi because of his fame, thinking he could learn a lot at his side.

He never expected that just a short time after he joined, Qin Yi would develop such a powerful battery technology. The Atomic Matrix Battery absolutely, completely outperformed all traditional batteries.

“Our company is going to be rich~”

Wang Songling’s eyes curved into crescents as he smiled. He could almost see countless banknotes flying toward the company. Once such an advanced battery hit the market, every other battery on sale could be declared obsolete. Star River Technology could feast on the entire massive market until it was bursting.

…

In the conference room of Star River Technology’s headquarters, the entire management team was assembled. Qin Yi sat in the chairman’s seat, with Lin Ye in the general manager’s seat. Zhang Guomin, wearing a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, appeared gentle and refined. His management skills were formidable. The company’s original management style had been based on experience.

After Lin Ye’s arrival, he quickly reorganized the company, establishing a complete set of management systems. The company soon transitioned to a systematic and standardized management model, becoming very well-organized.

After all, he was a former executive of a Fortune 500 company. Star River Technology, at its current small size with fewer than 100 employees, was almost a waste of his talent.

Qin Yi hadn’t treated Zhang Guomin, who was previously in charge of operations, unfairly. He still held the title of Deputy General Manager and was now in charge of the relatively lighter task of overseeing the construction of the phase-two factory building.

Wen Xueying served as the President’s Assistant, which was Qin Yi’s personal secretary. It was a very important position. Well, for now, her duties weren’t too demanding; she was mainly learning about company management and operations from Lin Ye.

The head of finance had also been replaced by He Junbo, a graduate from the Imperial Capital University of Finance and Economics. The former finance head, Chen Li, had become the Deputy Finance Manager. It couldn’t be helped; the difference in their skill levels was too great. Running a company was no joke, and financial matters were a major concern. As the company grew, it would be impossible to manage without a strong finance department.

The entire management team had been overhauled. The “ragtag team” Qin Yi had originally put together was now a “high-caliber team,” finally looking presentable and professional.

Only Yang Chenghao, who was in charge of administration, had not been replaced by Qin Yi. He still handled the company’s administrative work, but Qin Yi planned to replace him in the future as well. Human resources was another critical area that required an experienced and seasoned professional to oversee.

“Everyone, take a look at this document. This is our company’s first product. The sample has been made, and all the data has been tested. The purpose of today’s meeting is to discuss our work plan moving forward.”

Qin Yi looked around the room and spoke slowly.

Lin Ye carefully read the document, and after a moment of contemplation, he said slowly, “Our product’s quality is excellent; it’s a truly epoch-making product. I believe that in terms of product positioning, we should position it as a high-end product.”

“Therefore, in selecting our target customer base, I think we should primarily focus on the new energy electric vehicle sector. According to the latest data, all major global automakers are continuously expanding into the electric vehicle field.”

“New energy electric vehicles are the future. They are more environmentally friendly, economical, and affordable than traditional cars. However, the development of almost all electric vehicles has been constrained by their batteries.”

“Thus, I have immense confidence in our product. I believe that as soon as our product is launched, the era of new energy electric vehicles will truly arrive. We will become the Intel of the electric vehicle industry. No matter the brand of electric car, its core, its heart—the battery—will be in our hands.”

Lin Ye lived up to his reputation as a professional manager. After learning that the company was making batteries, he had conducted in-depth research on the entire global market.

Now, knowing the power of the Atomic Matrix Battery, he was overcome with excitement. His voice was loud and thrilled. He could already see the future of Star River Technology: positioned as the Intel of the electric vehicle industry, a company that controlled the core of all EVs.

Whenever he thought of this, Lin Ye grew incredibly excited. Although he had been an executive at a Fortune 500 company before, he had never been the top official.

He had originally joined the company out of respect for Qin Yi, the great scientist, believing that such a brilliant mind could lead them to create miracles. Otherwise, who would be willing to come to a poor, remote place like Huangjing Town?

With his skills and experience, Lin Ye could have easily secured a high-level management position at a large corporation in any major city and lived a very comfortable life.

He never imagined that shortly after joining, Qin Yi would produce such a powerful technological product. The emergence of the Atomic Matrix Battery showed him the infinite potential of Star River Technology. Becoming a Fortune 500 company would definitely not take long.

Hearing Lin Ye’s words, the other managers at Star River Technology were also stirred with excitement. They all knew his assessment was no exaggeration. The Atomic Matrix Battery would trigger a boom in electric vehicles, ushering the automotive industry into a new era, and Star River Technology would be the company controlling its very heart.

“I think we can start by setting a small goal,” Lin Ye said, raising a finger with great confidence. “Let’s have our company’s revenue exceed 10 billion this year~”

Chapter 36: The Storm is Coming

At the BYD Auto headquarters in Pengcheng, Wang Youfu, the head of the BYD Group, walked into his office as usual to begin his busy day. As one of the few private companies in the country that insisted on independent research and development of automotive technology, BYD Auto’s journey had been full of hardships.

Among the sea of foreign car brands zipping along the nation’s roads, BYD Auto was one of the few domestic brands, saving a last shred of dignity for the nation in this sector.

Of course, in the traditional automobile sector, BYD’s performance was rather average. Its real strength lay in the new energy vehicle sector, especially in electric vehicles. The electric buses and coaches produced by BYD were very popular and sold well in Western countries, making it the leader in the large-scale public electric vehicle market. Its success was so great that even Daimler AG, Mercedes-Benz’s parent company, sought to collaborate with BYD.

The story of Wang Youfu and BYD, surviving and thriving in the gaps, could be written into a thick, legendary saga.

“It’s still hard to make a breakthrough in the electric vehicle market. The limitations of batteries are just too great. If the battery problem isn’t solved, electric cars will never be able to replace traditional fuel-powered vehicles.”

After dealing with some routine matters, Wang Youfu had a habit of quietly contemplating the company’s future direction alone, a habit he had maintained for many years.

Like everyone else in the automotive industry, he saw the bright future of electric vehicles, but he also saw what was currently holding them back.

Batteries. It was always the batteries. The biggest constraint on electric vehicles was the battery.

Unlike the aviation industry, where the main limitation was the engine, electric motor technology was widely available, and the gap between competitors was small. Motor technology wasn’t particularly advanced; instead, the battery was the core and key to an electric vehicle.

“If we could solve the battery technology issue, the age of electric vehicles would truly arrive. Whoever could take the lead in this field would make a killing. The global automotive market is just too massive!”

At this thought, Wang Youfu couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement, but he quickly shook his head and laughed at himself.

“Boss! Boss!”

Just then, Wang Youfu’s secretary rushed in, looking so flustered that he forgot to even knock.

“What is it?”

Wang Youfu frowned slightly. He disliked being disturbed while he was thinking, something his secretary should have known well. Seeing how anxious he was, it must be something important.

“We just received an invitation from a company called Star River Technology. I think this is extremely important, so I rushed to report it to you.”

The secretary handed an invitation to Wang Youfu, speaking before he could even catch his breath.

“Star River Technology? Why have I never heard of this company before?”

Wang Youfu pondered for a moment, thinking hard. He was sure he had never heard of this company.

“It’s a company that was just established at the beginning of this year. They make batteries. You’ll understand as soon as you look at their invitation.”

The secretary gestured for Wang Youfu to read the invitation carefully.

“A company founded at the beginning of the year?”

Puzzled, Wang Youfu began to read the invitation. It was very simple, mainly providing a detailed introduction to Star River Technology’s product, the “Starry Sky Generation 1” Atomic Matrix Battery, before finally inviting BYD to attend their product exhibition.

“Atomic Matrix Battery?”

The moment Wang Youfu saw it was a new battery technology, his interest was piqued.

“Impossible! How could such a powerful battery exist?”

A moment later, Wang Youfu exclaimed in surprise. He couldn’t believe the specifications of the Atomic Matrix Battery described in the invitation. BYD had its own battery division, so he knew the current state of battery technology all too well.

“I also find it hard to believe that Star River Technology’s Atomic Matrix Battery has such powerful, terrifying performance. But since they dared to send us an invitation, they must have some substance to them.”

The secretary nodded in agreement.

“Did Star River Technology send a sample over?”

Wang Youfu shot up from his chair and asked his secretary.

“Yes. I’ve already had it sent to the lab for testing. I believe the results will be out soon.”

The secretary nodded.

“I want to see the test report the moment it’s available.”

Wang Youfu paced around his office, then thought for a moment and added, “Bring me all the information on Star River Technology immediately.”

“Wait, book me a flight to the city where Star River Technology is located. We’ll leave as soon as possible. We won’t wait for the test report.”

“Here is the file on Star River Technology. I’ve already looked into it. The founder and owner of Star River Technology is named Qin Yi. In the first half of this year, he was still a junior at Huaxia University. He published a paper on anti-gravity in a scientific journal and is now very famous in the scientific community, hailed as the Einstein of the 21st century.”

It had to be said that the secretary was very competent. He had already thoroughly investigated everything about Star River Technology, including Qin Yi’s personal information, and placed it all before Wang Youfu.

“Star River Technology is located in Qin Yi’s hometown, Huangjing Town in Ning County, a very remote mountainous area. There are no airports or even train stations, so we’ll have to go by car.”

“Qin Yi?”

Hearing his secretary, Wang Youfu picked up the file and read it carefully. He pondered for a moment and then said, “Notify the driver immediately. We’re leaving now. I initially thought there might be some exaggeration, but now it seems this Atomic Matrix Battery is most likely real.”

“Since this Qin Yi is hailed by scientists around the world as the Einstein of the 21st century, this Atomic Matrix Battery technology must be his invention.”

“Understood. I’ll make the arrangements right away.”

The secretary nodded in complete agreement and immediately began to arrange the trip to Star River Technology in Huangjing Town, Ning County.

…

Japan. In the headquarters of Toyota, Akio Toyoda, the head of the company, was carefully reading an invitation from Huaxia. Next to the document was a detailed file on Star River Technology and Qin Yi.

“Atomic Matrix Battery…”

“The era of electric vehicles has finally arrived. It’s just a shame that the one who holds this core technology is from Huaxia.”

“Qin Yi, the discoverer and proposer of anti-gravity theory, hailed as the Einstein of the 21st century… Why wasn’t such an outstanding talent born here in Japan?”

After finishing the documents, Akio Toyoda frowned in deep thought. He could already see the earth-shattering changes about to unfold in the automotive industry. Electric vehicles would soon completely phase out existing fuel-powered cars.

“The storm is coming,” Akio Toyoda said softly. Then, without any further hesitation, he spoke to his secretary, “Book me a flight to Huaxia. I need to get to Star River Technology as quickly as possible. We must seize the initiative in this new era.”

…

Wolfsburg, Germany, the headquarters of Volkswagen. Ferdinand, the head of the Volkswagen Group, was busily reviewing documents. As the head of one of the world’s most renowned automotive groups, Volkswagen, Ferdinand was always exceptionally busy.

“Sir, there is an invitation from Huaxia, from a company called Star River Technology. I think you need to see it immediately.”

Ferdinand’s beautiful secretary placed the invitation from Star River Technology in front of him.

“Star River Technology? I don’t have time to waste on some little-known company.”

Ferdinand frowned, considering whether it was time to get a new secretary. She was bringing him just about anything.

“No, I feel it’s absolutely necessary for you to take a close look. This concerns a huge change in the future of the automotive industry,” the beautiful secretary insisted.

“Alright then.”

Seeing his secretary’s persistence, Ferdinand picked up the invitation and began to read.

Soon, his entire demeanor became incredibly serious, and his expression changed drastically, turning solemn in an instant.

“Qin Yi?”

“Star River Technology…”

When he put down the invitation, he couldn’t help but mutter their names, then frowned in thought.

“Submit an application to the board of directors immediately. I want to request a large sum of funds. The larger, the better.”

“Also, please book me a flight to Huaxia, as soon as possible. If we’re late, we might miss the wave of this new era’s revolution.”

“Of course. I will submit the application to the board right away.”

“As for the flight, I’ve already booked it. You can fly to Huaxia in two hours.”

The beautiful secretary smiled and revealed her preparations. In truth, the moment she saw the invitation, she knew Ferdinand would personally go to Huaxia. The emergence of the Atomic Matrix Battery would undoubtedly trigger a massive revolution in the automotive industry, and as one of the world’s four largest automakers, Volkswagen would absolutely not miss it.

Missing this revolution meant missing the opportunities of a new era. Volkswagen could become like the Nokia of old, quietly fading from the stage of history.

And that was something Ferdinand would never allow to happen—at least, not on his watch. That was why he would absolutely make the trip to Huaxia himself.

“Hmm. You’ve done very well.”

Ferdinand nodded in satisfaction. He had the pride of a German and rarely praised anyone, but this time, he was very pleased with his secretary.

“The Einstein of the 21st century… I didn’t expect him to start influencing the world so soon. With such a powerful battery, the age of electric vehicles is upon us, and the age of fuel-powered cars will soon be over. Can we maintain our current position in the future?”

Ferdinand looked out the window, his eyes filled with fear and apprehension for the future.

Chapter 37: Only Selling Batteries

Inside the Star River Technology industrial park, Qin Yi had been incredibly busy lately. Though battery samples were ready, the company’s production line was still not fully assembled, and the process was painfully slow.

So much so that Qin Yi had to step in and help. There was no other choice. If they didn’t get the production line running and start selling products soon, the company would run out of cash. Qin Yi had invested tens of millions, and to date, the venture hadn’t laid a single egg.

“Have we heard back about the invitations sent to the major auto manufacturers?”

Qin Yi took a sip of water, about to take a break, when he saw Wen Xueying hurrying over, looking like she had something to report.

“Yes! Yes! Wang Youfu from BYD Group has come to our company personally with a large team. Also, Toyota and Honda from Japan, Hyundai and Samsung from South Korea, Ford from the United States, and Volkswagen from Germany have all called us. They said they’re very interested in our Atomic Matrix Battery and have already sent people to Huaxia, who will arrive shortly.”

Wen Xueying caught her breath. She had jogged all the way over, her excitement palpable. The company’s Atomic Matrix Battery had become an overnight sensation. Nearly all of the world’s major auto manufacturers had shown immense interest and dispatched large teams to Huaxia to investigate.

“BYD moves fast. We only sent out the invitations a few days ago, with the appointment set for three days from now. I didn’t expect them to be here today.”

Qin Yi nodded. After a moment’s thought, he asked, “Besides BYD, haven’t we heard from any other domestic auto manufacturers?”

“No,” Wen Xueying said, shaking her head.

“It seems there’s a reason our domestic auto manufacturers are stuck doing rebranding for others. No wonder the roads are filled with a sea of foreign car brands.”

Qin Yi couldn’t help but chuckle and sigh. He had treated everyone equally, sending invitations and samples to all the major well-known auto manufacturers around the world.

Logically, the domestic companies should have received the invitations and samples first and been the quickest to respond. Yet, it was the major foreign manufacturers who had all reacted, while among the domestic ones, only BYD was quick on the uptake. The state-owned giants seemed to have shown no reaction at all.

“Let’s go. Time to meet Wang Youfu from BYD. Private entrepreneurs really are different—they have a sharp nose for opportunity and react quickly. You could say BYD has saved a bit of face for our country in the automotive sector.”

Qin Yi set aside his work and headed for the company’s office building. He had a good impression of Wang Youfu. Building a national car brand as a private individual must have involved countless hardships. Such a person was definitely someone worth learning from.

In a conference room in the Star River Technology office building, the company’s management team—Lin Ye, Zhang Guomin, He Junbo, Yang Chenghao, and others—were cordially meeting with the delegation from BYD Group, led by Wang Youfu. They were chatting and laughing, but hadn’t gotten to the main topic yet, because the key person, Qin Yi, had not yet arrived.

Soon, when Qin Yi walked into the conference room, all eyes turned to him. With a broad smile, Qin Yi extended his hands. “Mr. Wang, welcome! Your presence truly honors us.”

“Mr. Qin, you’re too kind. I’ve heard so much about you—your name precedes you. You’ve been hailed by many scientists at home and abroad as the Einstein of the 21st century. It’s truly an honor to meet you today.”

Wang Youfu, also beaming, shook Qin Yi’s hand warmly while carefully observing the young man before him. In his early twenties, Qin Yi was very young. He was dressed casually, exuding a young person’s carefree and untamed spirit. The overall aura he gave off was similar to that of the young researchers in his own company.

“Mr. Wang, you flatter me.”

“Mr. Wang, your BYD Auto is one of the few independent national brands in our country. It has preserved the last shred of dignity for our people in the automotive industry. That is what’s truly remarkable.”

Qin Yi smiled. The two teams sat down facing each other and exchanged a round of pleasantries.

“Mr. Qin, I’ll get straight to the point. We are extremely interested in your company’s Atomic Matrix Battery and hope to cooperate in this area.”

Wang Youfu began with a smile, finally broaching the main topic. On his way here, he had already received the test report on the Atomic Matrix Battery sample from his company’s lab. The data in every aspect matched what Star River Technology had provided. A battery this powerful was something he was determined to acquire.

“The fact that we sent your company an invitation indicates our own intention to cooperate,” Qin Yi said with a smile and a nod.

“Mr. Qin, name your price. I want to acquire your company’s Atomic Matrix Battery technology.”

Wang Youfu smiled, but then his entire demeanor shifted in an instant. He directly stated his intention to acquire the Atomic Matrix Battery technology from Star River Technology, like a giant crocodile opening its massive jaws, looking as if it were about to swallow Qin Yi whole.

“The Atomic Matrix Battery technology is absolutely not for sale.”

Qin Yi chuckled and shook his head. You must be joking. The Atomic Matrix Battery technology is a goose that lays golden eggs. How could I possibly sell it? I wouldn’t sell it for any amount of money. I’m counting on this technology to build my empire in the future.

Hearing this, Wang Youfu simply smiled. He pondered for a moment before speaking. “Mr. Qin, I know you are an outstanding scientist, but running a business is perhaps different from conducting scientific research. Business operations involve far too many issues to face and consider. In comparison, scientific research is much simpler.”

“With your talent in the field of science, I believe that if you were to focus solely on research, you could surely become one of the most distinguished scientists in human history. There’s really no need for you to be running a company.”

“Besides, Mr. Qin, coming from a technical background, you must know that technology becomes obsolete very quickly. While only Star River Technology has mastered the Atomic Matrix Battery technology for now, it’s possible that others will master it soon enough. By then, the technology won’t be worth much.”

“So, I think you should consider it carefully. We are very sincere, and you can name any price you want.”

His words were full of praise for Qin Yi, but at the same time, they were a reminder that if others were to master the Atomic Matrix Battery technology, it would become worthless. There was a veiled warning within his statement.

“Thank you for the well-intentioned reminder, Mr. Wang, but my answer is the same: we are not selling the technology.”

Qin Yi smiled and shook his head, thinking to himself that this Wang Youfu was really something else. With just a few words, he could bluff and intimidate someone. A pure technician might actually have been swayed by his words and sold the technology.

Although Wang Youfu made it sound nice, saying he could name any price, Qin Yi suspected that if they really started negotiating a technology transfer, BYD Group probably couldn’t come up with that much money. Yet, he was putting on a badass front.

“That’s a real pity.”

Wang Youfu smiled, seeming to have anticipated this outcome. He thought for a moment and said, “Well then, what if our two companies were to jointly invest in building a factory? I see that your company currently only has one plant, so your production capacity must be limited.”

“We at BYD can provide the capital, the personnel, and the land. Star River Technology only needs to provide the technology. Together, we can rapidly expand production capacity. That way, even if someone else manages to develop the Atomic Matrix Battery, we’ll have already eaten our fill.”

“That’s a very good proposal, Mr. Wang. However, I have no plans to expand production capacity at the moment. Right now, our company is only selling the product. Technology transfers, joint investment in factories, and the like are not under consideration for the time being.”

Although Qin Yi maintained a smile, he was now extremely wary of Wang Youfu. To be able to snatch a piece of the pie in such a brutal market, this Wang Youfu was far from simple.

He made it sound great—jointly investing to build a factory, expanding production, sharing the Atomic Matrix Battery pie—and he had instantly pinpointed Star River Technology’s current weakness: limited funds and production capacity. He had struck right at Qin Yi’s Achilles’ heel.

If Qin Yi were someone rash and eager to advance, agreeing to cooperate with him would be like boarding a pirate ship. At that point, the other party would surely have ten thousand ways to get the technology out of his hands.

But Qin Yi was clearly not rash, nor was he a fool. Why would he share a market like the Atomic Matrix Battery when he could have it all to himself?

He might not have the money to expand production now, but he would soon enough. As for the worry that the technology might be stolen or that others might also develop it, Qin Yi wasn’t concerned in the slightest.

Naturally, he wouldn’t be scared by a few words from Wang Youfu, nor would he be in a hurry to turn the technology into cash. You don’t slaughter the goose that lays golden eggs.

Seeing that Qin Yi remained completely unmoved by his words, a flicker of disappointment crossed Wang Youfu’s eyes. Still, after some thought, he spoke again, unwilling to give up. “Mr. Qin, why don’t you think it over carefully? Technology really does become outdated very quickly. We have a leading edge right now, and we should be rapidly expanding that advantage, increasing production capacity, and seizing the market. Let’s eat our fill first, then we can talk.”

“I will keep your golden words of advice in mind, Mr. Wang. But for now, our company is only selling the product. If you wish to purchase the product, we can continue this discussion. As for anything else, I don’t think we need to waste any more time.”

This time, Qin Yi didn’t bother with pleasantries, his expression turning cold as he spoke directly.

What a joke, he thought. The market for the Atomic Matrix Battery is enormous. I can enjoy it all by myself at my own pace, so why should I bring you along? Trying to scare me by harping on about technology becoming obsolete… does he really think I was born yesterday?

Chapter 38: They’ve All Arrived

The temperature in the conference room seemed to drop several degrees at Qin Yi’s words. Wang Youfu gave an awkward laugh, thought for a moment, and said, “In that case, we hope to buy out all of Star River Technology’s production capacity for the next few years. As for the price, it’s as I said before—name your price.”

“Haha, Mr. Wang, you certainly are magnanimous. You want to buy everything in one go without even asking about our price or production capacity.”

Qin Yi smiled. While BYD was a decent auto group with an annual turnover in the tens of billions, he was sure Wang Youfu was putting on an act. Given BYD’s financial situation, there was no way they could come up with that much money.

But on second thought, if they could truly secure all of Star River Technology’s Atomic Matrix Batteries, it would mean they could monopolize the electric vehicle sector before anyone else. With his connections and relationships, leveraging such an advantage to raise a massive amount of capital was certainly possible. Thinking of it that way, perhaps he wasn’t just showing off after all.

“While BYD may be average in the fuel-powered vehicle sector, we’ve done quite well in the electric vehicle market. Securing your company’s production capacity shouldn’t be a major problem,” Wang Youfu said with a smile.

“I may be a researcher, but even I know that in business, it’s a very bad idea to sell all your products to a single company. Not to mention, it’s not like my Atomic Matrix Batteries are hard to sell. There’s absolutely no need to sell exclusively to BYD.”

Qin Yi’s eyes glinted. Throughout the meeting, Wang Youfu had held the initiative, making it seem as if Qin Yi was begging him to buy the batteries. Qin Yi decided it was time to make their respective positions crystal clear.

Star River Technology might not be as big as BYD right now, but they were the ones who needed him. He had to be more assertive and make Wang Youfu understand the reality of their situation.

Hearing this, Wang Youfu frowned slightly. From their conversation so far, he knew that while the young man before him might be inexperienced in some ways, he was principled and clear-sighted on crucial issues. Trying to take advantage of him was clearly impossible.

He sighed inwardly. The confident front he had put on from the beginning was just a bluff. BYD didn’t have that much capital, nor did they have any bargaining chips in this negotiation. Now that Qin Yi had shown his hand, he was at a loss.

“Mr. Qin, you must have seen the immense changes coming to the auto industry. With the advent of the Atomic Matrix Battery, electric vehicles will soon replace traditional fuel-powered cars. And because we have your Atomic Matrix Battery, we have a leading edge in this area.”

“If we work together, we can surely push Huaxia’s cars onto the global stage. Compared to other automakers in the world, our country’s cars are still too weak. In a fair competition, it would be very difficult for us to win against foreign brands.”

Seeing that bluffing wasn’t working, Wang Youfu decided to play the sentiment card.

“Mr. Wang, I can only give you thirty percent of our production capacity. Consider it my support for a domestic auto brand. As for anything else, there’s no need to discuss it further.”

“Of course, if the BYD Group feels you don’t need our Atomic Matrix Batteries, you don’t have to buy them. I imagine foreign automakers would be more than willing to buy up my entire stock very soon.”

Qin Yi sighed to himself. This Wang Youfu was no simple man, but his helplessness was evident in every move. Before Qin Yi, he had no cards to play. His ambition was vast, but he just didn’t have the hand to back it up.

The only thing that had hit home was that last emotional appeal. Qin Yi did want to support domestic auto brands, but alas, the domestic brands were simply not up to par.

The big shots from the various major domestic auto companies hadn’t paid him any mind at all. The only one to come was BYD, which was relatively weak yet harbored immense ambition, like a snake trying to swallow an elephant. Even if he wanted to support them, he wouldn’t do it at the expense of his own interests.

Hearing Qin Yi’s final offer, Wang Youfu sighed, knowing that saying anything more would be useless. His dream of dominating the electric vehicle sector was now hopeless. The Atomic Matrix Battery was firmly in Qin Yi’s control, and there was nothing he could do.

“Thirty percent it is. Thank you for your support, Mr. Qin.”

Although it was far, far from his original goal, Wang Youfu still smiled happily and expressed his gratitude. He then started to make small talk with Qin Yi, hoping to build a better personal relationship.

He had just shown too much of his ambition, which Qin Yi had seen right through, yet he lacked the strength to back it up. Perhaps this was a common ailment among private entrepreneurs.

Securing thirty percent of the production capacity meant he could capture a thirty percent share of the electric vehicle market. That was enough. If he could take thirty percent of the global auto market, he would be making a fortune. The BYD Group would easily join the ranks of the world’s top companies.

At this thought, he couldn’t help but feel the need to properly cozy up to Qin Yi. Just as Qin Yi could agree to give him thirty percent, he could also refuse to sell him a single battery. His future prosperity was entirely in the hands of the young man before him.

…

Over the next few days, internationally renowned automakers such as Toyota and Honda from Japan, Hyundai and Samsung from South Korea, Volkswagen from Germany, and Ford from the United States all sent delegations, one after another, to Huangjing Town in Ning County.

This remote mountain town had practically never seen a foreigner before. Now, with one massive foreign team after another pouring in, uninformed onlookers might have thought Huangjing Town had suddenly become the site of an international conference center.

Without a doubt, these foreigners had traveled thousands of miles, sparing no effort to come to the remote mountain region of Huangjing Town for one reason and one reason only: the Atomic Matrix Battery in the hands of Star River Technology, the core component that would define the future of the automotive industry.

In the largest conference room of the Star River Technology office building, the heads of various auto manufacturers were gathered. They glanced at one another—all familiar faces, many even good friends. But at this moment, the faint smell of gunpowder hung in the air.

Honda’s Hachigo Takahiro, Toyota’s Akio Toyoda, and Volkswagen’s Ferdinand—the top officials of these three world-renowned automakers had all personally led their delegations. This showed how seriously they took the Atomic Matrix Battery, as they all foresaw the earth-shattering changes about to sweep the auto industry.

They exchanged glances. They were old rivals, and each could see the determination in the others’ eyes. The Atomic Matrix Battery was something they were all determined to acquire; it was an opportunity that could not be missed.

South Korea’s Hyundai and Samsung, though their top officials hadn’t come in person, had also dispatched high-ranking executives to lead large teams to this remote Huaxia mountain village.

Bill from America’s Ford seemed full of confidence. A smile on his face, he looked at his many old friends and then out the window at the fields of Huangjing Town, unable to hold back a sigh. “Fate is truly a wondrous thing. Who would have thought that we, some of the world’s most famous automakers, would all gather in a remote village like this in Huaxia.”

They didn’t have to wait long. Soon, Qin Yi arrived at the conference room with the senior management of Star River Technology. He hadn’t greeted these illustrious automakers one by one, a clear display of his pride, and also a tactic to secure a more advantageous position in the upcoming proceedings.

Qin Yi’s arrival immediately drew everyone’s gaze. They all looked at him—the young man before them was exactly as he appeared in their files. An ordinary-looking Huaxia man, yet one who had been hailed by many of the world’s leading scientists as the Einstein of the 21st century.

The discoverer and proposer of the anti-gravity theory, who had joined the ranks of internationally renowned scientists at such a young age. And now, it turned out he was also the developer of the Atomic Matrix Battery technology.

One anti-gravity theory, one Atomic Matrix Battery. Either one of these achievements would be enough for a person to go down in history. Yet this young man had already created two miracles back-to-back at such a young age. The title “Einstein of the 21st century” seemed well-deserved, with no exaggeration.

“Mr. Qin.”

Everyone stood up to show their respect for Qin Yi. Regardless of anything else, Qin Yi was an outstanding scientist. It was too early to say if he would be great, but people from every country respected scientists, for they were a precious treasure for all of humanity.

“Thank you all for attending the product exhibition for Star River Technology’s ‘Starry Sky Generation 1’ Atomic Matrix Battery. As our company is located in a remote mountainous area, please forgive us for any inadequacies in our hospitality.”

On behalf of Star River Technology, Lin Ye was the first to speak, welcoming everyone. He then began to detail the arrangements for the product exhibition and sale.

The arrangements were actually quite simple: a tour of the company, a demonstration of the power of their Atomic Matrix Battery, and then the main event—the sale of the product.

The company currently only had one product, and samples had already been sent to all the major corporations in advance. The representatives present already had detailed test reports in their hands and were very familiar with the product; otherwise, they wouldn’t have wasted their time coming to Huangjing Town.

Qin Yi sat quietly, carefully observing everyone. He felt a slight sense of disappointment. The other major domestic auto manufacturing companies really hadn’t sent anyone. They hadn’t even returned a phone call or a message. They either didn’t take this matter seriously, or the news had never reached their senior management.

Only BYD’s Wang Youfu was there, sitting quietly in a corner. He had already secured his thirty-percent share, but he showed no intention of leaving just yet.

Chapter 39: The Extravagant Koreans

“Next, please allow me to introduce some of the features of our company’s ‘Starry Sky Generation One’ Atomic Matrix Battery, so that everyone can better understand the product.”

Lin Ye looked at the numerous industry titans in attendance, feeling a surge of excitement.

He had once felt he was selling himself short. After all, he had been a senior executive at a Fortune 500 company. Coming to a remote mountain village like this to manage a company with fewer than one hundred employees seemed like a major step down, no matter how you looked at it.

If it weren’t for Qin Yi’s formidable reputation, he would never have even considered it. Now, however, he was extremely grateful for his choice. In the short time he’d been with the company, Star River Technology had already gained such enormous influence.

Any one of the automotive magnates present could command a meeting with a major national leader, yet now they had all made the arduous journey to this remote mountain village.

Although he had worked in management at a Fortune 500 company before, the gap between those corporations could be massive. Automotive giants like Toyota, Honda, and Volkswagen were all at the very top of the Fortune 500 list. In his previous role, he’d had few opportunities to interact with the leaders of such conglomerates.

Now, these same leaders were eager to speak with him, each hoping to monopolize Star River Technology’s Atomic Matrix Batteries. The stark contrast made him feel incredibly fortunate for the choice he had made.

Star River Technology was undeniably a company with a brilliant future. Following Qin Yi was the right move; he was destined for great things. He could already see a tech giant on the verge of a spectacular rise.

“Our Star River Technology’s Atomic Matrix Battery utilizes Atomic Matrix Technology, which is completely different from traditional batteries. Traditional batteries are fundamentally chemical batteries, whereas our Atomic Matrix Battery is a physical battery. Therefore, it comprehensively surpasses traditional chemical batteries in every aspect, including storage capacity, stability, safety, and lifespan…”

As Lin Ye spoke, images began to appear on the massive projector screen, detailing the product’s performance and providing a simple explanation of the technical principles behind the Atomic Matrix Battery.

The entire conference room was silent. The teams from the major auto manufacturers had all brought Chinese translators, as well as experts from the battery field. They wouldn’t miss a legitimate opportunity like this to learn about Atomic Matrix Technology.

Some took pictures, others took notes, their tasks clearly divided. It was obvious these auto manufacturers had come with the intention of gleaning whatever technical secrets they could, only considering other options if that failed.

Qin Yi was well aware of this. That was why the company’s production workshops were almost entirely sealed off. From the outside, one could only see massive, windowless rooms. Raw materials went in, and finished Atomic Matrix Batteries came out. It was impossible to see a single thing.

As for the crucial atomic compressor, Qin Yi had protected it with even greater measures. Only small openings for entry and exit existed, and the interior was guarded by advanced security equipment from the Technology Tower. If anyone tried to forcibly tamper with the atomic compressor, the security systems would make them regret it deeply.

This Atomic Matrix Battery technology was the goose that lays the golden eggs, and Qin Yi naturally had to guard it meticulously. He couldn’t afford a single misstep, lest he do all the hard work only for someone else to reap the benefits.

A little over ten minutes later, Lin Ye finally concluded his brief introduction to the Atomic Matrix Battery’s features.

“Next is the Q&A session. If you have any questions, you may ask them now, and we will do our best to answer them.”

Lin Ye smiled and announced the second part of the event. The moment he finished speaking, people from the various auto manufacturers throughout the conference room raised their hands. Of course, these were all their subordinates; the big bosses themselves remained as calm and composed as ever.

“This gentleman, please.”

Lin Ye smiled and randomly pointed to a blond, blue-eyed foreigner, gesturing for him to ask his question.

“I’d like to ask Mr. Qin Yi if he could provide a more detailed introduction to the Atomic Matrix Battery technology. For example, could you explain how the atoms are compressed?”

The blond, blue-eyed foreigner wore glasses and looked like a technician, seemingly obsessed with the technology. Yet the question he posed hit a nerve. It was a seemingly casual inquiry, but if Qin Yi took the bait and得意ly began explaining the technology, they might very well be able to deduce the principles of Atomic Matrix Technology from his words.

Historically, during the early days of the Reform and Opening-Up, many of Huaxia’s traditional technologies, such as the Xuan paper-making techniques, were stolen by the Japanese in this very unassuming manner.

“That is a commercial trade secret. I’m afraid I have no comment.”

Qin Yi smiled and rejected the question without a hint of politeness. He sneered internally, Why don’t I just tell you the entire technical process?

“This gentleman~”

Lin Ye smiled again and gestured for a Korean man to stand and ask a question.

“My question is, does your company have any intention of transferring the technology? We are willing to offer ten billion US dollars to acquire the Atomic Matrix Battery technology you possess.”

As soon as the Korean man finished speaking, the magnates in the conference room couldn’t help but clutch their heads. When it came to being extravagant, none of them could really compare to Korea’s Samsung. After all, this wasn’t just Samsung; it represented South Korea itself.

The session was supposed to be for questions about the technology and product, but this Korean had just brazenly made a colossal offer. Ten billion US dollars, just like that. He truly didn’t seem to treat US dollars like real money.

But the Koreans had their reasons. Although the Samsung Group was enormous, with its output accounting for twenty percent of the entire country’s GDP, it also faced severe challenges. In every field, Samsung’s position seemed to be in jeopardy.

Driven by a strong sense of crisis, the Samsung Group had always been incredibly aggressive, sparing no expense to acquire what it wanted.

The Atomic Matrix Battery could be used not only in cars but also in electric bikes and, more importantly, in mobile phones. If Samsung’s phones could be equipped with Atomic Matrix Batteries, it might just be the thing to restore their fading mobile phone division to its former glory.

“Hah~”

When the massive offer of ten billion US dollars was announced, everyone in the conference room drew a sharp breath. Although the Atomic Matrix Battery technology was incredibly powerful and had immense potential, there was no need to be so aggressive right from the start.

Samsung might have the unlimited backing of South Korea’s major banks, but while the other auto manufacturers’ positions in their respective countries might not be as dominant as Samsung’s in Korea, they were not far behind. Each wielded considerable influence.

And if it came down to a battle of nations, South Korea, the country behind Samsung, was actually the weakest among all the nations represented by the major corporations present. Any one of the others could completely crush South Korea.

Toyota and Honda had Japan behind them, Volkswagen had Germany, and Ford and Tesla had the United States. Which one of them wasn’t stronger than South Korea? There was no need to make such a ruthless opening bid.

“This…”

Even Lin Ye was stunned by the Korean’s extravagance. For a moment, he didn’t know how to respond and turned his gaze to Qin Yi. To be honest, such a colossal offer would tempt anyone. Just by transferring the technology, they could immediately gain ten billion US dollars. An opportunity like that was simply too good to pass up.

After all, for Star River Technology to build its own factories and manage production, even with a monopoly on Atomic Matrix Battery technology, earning that ten billion dollars would be no easy feat. It would take a very, very long time.

If any unexpected changes occurred during that time, such as another country also developing Atomic Matrix Battery technology, the technology would become commonplace. Without the advantage of a monopoly, they might enter a red ocean market where making a profit would become difficult.

It was clear the Koreans were being extravagant, willing to do whatever it took. And with the backing of South Korea’s major banks, Samsung could certainly come up with ten billion, or even twenty billion, or one hundred billion US dollars. There was no doubt about that.

Everyone’s eyes fell on Qin Yi. He seemed to show a moment of hesitation, as if he were truly tempted by the staggering figure. After all, between a guaranteed ten billion dollars and an uncertain future, any smart person would know how to choose.

“We are willing to offer eleven billion US dollars~”

Seemingly noticing Qin Yi’s hesitation, someone immediately stood up and raised the price. If this technology fell into Samsung’s hands, it would be game over for everyone else. With Samsung’s immense power, they would almost certainly establish terrifying production capacity in a very short time.

Combined with South Korea’s automotive industry, they could instantly crush the existing car market and overturn the entire industry. All the other automakers in the room could just announce their retirement and go home to farm.

This was something the automakers present would never allow to happen. The automotive industry was too vast and interconnected, capable of affecting the economies of their home countries. Their respective nations would also never permit such a scenario.

“Twelve billion~”

The moment that voice faded, someone else made another offer.

“Fifteen billion~”

Seeing the others’ posturing, the Korean representative sneered with disdain and spoke in a cold voice, “You want to compete with me on funds? Can you compete with the South Korean banks backing Samsung?”

“Hiss~”

Wang Youfu had been watching the whole time. Hearing such a massive bid, he couldn’t help but suck in a sharp breath. He was glad he hadn’t made an offer during his earlier meeting with Qin Yi. If he had, he’d want the ground to swallow him whole right now. Compared to these people, he was truly insignificant.

Forget fifteen billion US dollars; even if it were fifteen billion Huaxia currency, he didn’t think he could raise that much even if he sold himself.

“They’ve all gone mad~”

Wang Youfu shook his head repeatedly. At this moment, in the eyes of these people, money wasn’t money. It was just a string of numbers, a pile of waste paper. They casually threw around bids in the tens of billions of US dollars. Even if you were rich, you couldn’t be this willful.

But thinking carefully about the importance and enormous potential of the Atomic Matrix Battery, the bids seemed to make sense. If he had the support of Huaxia’s big four banks, he too would dare to join the fray.

Chapter 40: The Deep-Pocketed Koreans

Chapter 40: Selling Quotas

“Twenty billion~”

The Korean’s incomparably domineering voice echoed through the vast conference room. His attitude was one of absolute determination, willing to pay any price. Whatever the last bid was, he would instantly raise it, looking as though he would not rest until he achieved his goal.

Although Qin Yi appeared highly hesitant on the surface, it was all an act. Since they enjoyed bidding, he might as well let them play for a while. After all, he had never said he was selling the technology; they were just raising the price amongst themselves.

Besides, Qin Yi was also curious to see how much his Atomic Matrix Battery technology was worth in their eyes. It seemed there were plenty of people who recognized its value. Some of the titans of the automotive manufacturing industry were already signaling their subordinates.

The massive teams behind each of them began contacting their backers, looking ready to fight to the bitter end.

Each of these auto manufacturers held immense influence in their respective countries. Casually raising tens of billions of dollars was not a problem for them. The exception, of course, was BYD’s Wang Youfu. He had gone completely silent and was now worried sick that Qin Yi would actually be moved by the colossal bids.

If that happened, Qin Yi’s promise to give him a thirty-percent share of production capacity would become empty words. His dream of making a mark in the electric vehicle sector would be shattered, and BYD’s existing electric vehicle business would suffer a devastating blow.

“Ahem~”

Qin Yi let out a light cough. The smoke-filled battlefield of the conference room immediately fell silent. Everyone turned to look at him, suddenly realizing that amidst all their bickering, Qin Yi had yet to make any statement.

“Thank you all for holding our company’s Atomic Matrix Battery technology in such high regard,” Qin Yi said with a smile as all eyes fell on him. “However, our company only sells products. We will not be transferring technology, nor will we partner with anyone to build factories. So, please, stop bidding. I will not sell the technology, no matter how high the price.”

Hearing this, the magnates in the conference room all frowned slightly. If Qin Yi had been greedy for the immense wealth right in front of him, things would have been simple. It was just money, after all, something their backers could easily provide.

The Atomic Matrix Battery technology had vast potential. With proper management, it was more than enough for everyone to be making a fortune. More importantly, whoever obtained this technology could monopolize the electric vehicle industry.

Once they monopolized the electric vehicle industry, they could then use it to challenge traditional fuel-powered vehicles, bringing them within sight of monopolizing the entire automotive industry.

Monopolizing the automotive industry wouldn’t just allow a single company to soar; the nation behind that company would also reap enormous benefits.

The industries associated with automobiles were simply too vast. The jobs it could create and the economic growth it could stimulate were immeasurable, and it was also crucial for technological development.

But now, Qin Yi had bluntly stated that he was only selling the product. This showed that he had sufficient ambition and was looking far ahead. In the future, anyone who wanted to make electric vehicles would have their heart squeezed in Star River Technology’s grip. They would inevitably have to act according to Qin Yi’s whims.

The feeling of being controlled by others was extremely unpleasant, and none of these magnates were willing to accept such a fate. Furthermore, if the automotive industry’s key point was controlled by Star River Technology, the nations behind them would also suffer. If they wanted to wage a trade war with Huaxia or criticize its human rights issues, Huaxia could just have Star River Technology clamp down on their automotive industry’s heart, and the consequences would be immediately and severely felt.

“Mr. Qin, the price is still negotiable, as long as you’re willing to sell the technology.”

The Korean was still unwilling to give up. Not having the technology in hand left him feeling insecure.

“This isn’t a matter of money. I simply have no intention of selling the technology. Let’s leave this topic here for now.”

“Old Lin, you may continue.”

Qin Yi smiled and shook his head, then turned and gestured to Lin Ye.

“Sigh~”

The Korean sighed. There were some things money just couldn’t buy, and there was nothing he could do. He turned his attention back to Lin Ye, listening intently.

“Our company only sells products. Considering everyone’s sincerity, we naturally cannot sell all our products to a single company or a few companies through a bidding process.”

“After careful consideration, our company has decided that all our products for external sale will have a uniform price. Each standard Atomic Matrix Battery will be sold for two thousand US dollars. Of course, if a customer has special requirements and needs custom-sized batteries, we will calculate the price separately, but it generally won’t differ too much.”

Lin Ye nodded at Qin Yi and continued his explanation.

The “standard Atomic Matrix Battery” he referred to was a brick-sized battery, a single unit of the ‘Starry Sky Generation One’ capable of storing over a thousand kilowatt-hours of electricity.

“Two thousand US dollars… that’s just ruthless.”

Hearing Lin Ye’s price, everyone present couldn’t help but curse inwardly. Star River Technology was as black-hearted as they came. To sell a brick-sized battery for two thousand US dollars—what was the difference between that and robbery? There was no difference at all.

Ruthless! Absolutely ruthless!

Even Lin Ye thought so himself. He knew perfectly well what the manufacturing cost of a standard Atomic Matrix Battery was. Its cost was less than ten US dollars. Compared to the selling price of two thousand, that was a two-hundred-fold markup. It was so ruthless it was as if their hearts were black.

Of course, at the same time, Lin Ye couldn’t help but marvel. This was what a tech company was. You could sell something worth one dollar for several hundred, and the buyer would still be begging you to sell it to them. This was a true tech company, a byword for high-tech and exorbitant profits.

Compared to Star River Technology, the companies he had worked for before, despite their massive scale and volume, had razor-thin profit margins. They might have annual revenues in the hundreds of billions, but their profit margin wasn’t even ten percent.

Star River Technology was different. Selling something that cost ten dollars for two thousand—you could calculate the profit with your toes. Only a company like this deserved to be called “high-tech.” Other companies with “tech” in their names were just passing off fish eyes for pearls.

Although it was incredibly ruthless, the magnates present knew they had no choice but to swallow it and buy. But since the price was now fixed, they couldn’t compete on price. So how would they compete for more Atomic Matrix Batteries?

They all knew that the more batteries they acquired, the larger their share of the new electric vehicle market would be. Now that the price was set, the next step had to be competing for a larger quota.

Before the magnates had much time to think, Lin Ye continued, “As our company’s current production capacity is limited and cannot meet everyone’s demands, we have decided to divide our production capacity into ten shares. Each share will be put up for auction.”

“Whoever bids the highest will receive the corresponding share. The quota from this auction will be valid for two years. Within these two years, we will only supply Atomic Matrix Batteries to the companies that have won a share in the auction.”

“Badass! Auctioning off production quotas… truly worthy of a company with a monopoly. Take it or leave it. They really don’t give a damn about these international magnates.”

After hearing Lin Ye’s words, Wang Youfu couldn’t help but give another thumbs-up in his heart. This was just too awesome. To be so bold in the face of so many international giants.

In the past, it was always foreign companies acting so arrogant and high-and-mighty towards Huaxian enterprises. He never expected to see the tables turn today, with Star River Technology being so haughty towards these international giants. It was truly satisfying.

“This Star River Technology…”

While the Huaxians present felt a sense of vindication, the foreigners felt differently. They felt a bit sour. Since when did Huaxians get to be so arrogant and rude to them?

But then they thought about Star River Technology’s Atomic Matrix Battery and the future of the electric vehicle market, and it suddenly seemed perfectly reasonable. If the roles were reversed, they would probably be even more ruthless, more arrogant, and would make even more demands. They might even attach some political-bundling agreements.

It was just like when they bought engines and fighter jets from the Russians—not only was the price exorbitant, but they were also forced to buy their natural gas and oil at high prices. It was a bundled sale, take it or leave it.

Huaxians had encountered situations like this countless times on the international stage, and each time, they could only grit their teeth and accept it, enduring it all along.

These foreigners, though they all looked dapper and polite in their suits, were unbelievably rapacious in their true nature. If the tables were turned, they would probably devour you until not even scraps were left.

“We will now begin the auction for the first ten-percent share. The starting bid is one hundred million US dollars.”

Lin Ye didn’t give them much time for sentiment, projecting an air of sufficient arrogance. The rules were set. Buy if you want, don’t if you don’t. There were plenty of others who wanted a piece. To survive, one had to secure a place in the electric vehicle industry.

“Two hundred million US dollars.”

The Korean bid coldly. He had dared to offer twenty billion just moments ago; this amount was nothing to him.

“No matter what, we have to secure a certain share first. It would be best if we could research this Atomic Matrix Battery technology ourselves, but if we can’t, and we also fail to secure a share, then we’ll be truly finished.”

The magnates’ eyes opened a little wider. As they looked at each other, they saw the same determination in their rivals’ eyes. No one was a fool. In the face of uncertainty, it was more important to firmly grasp the future that could be secured.

“Three hundred million.”

The representative from Toyota followed with a bid.

“Four hundred million.”

The Korean immediately spoke up again, showing no intention of letting this first share go.

“Quick! Notify the company to raise funds immediately! Star River Technology is giving us a thirty-percent share. Based on this bidding trend, we need to prepare at least three billion US dollars!”

Wang Youfu, who had been watching the show, was thrown into a panic the moment the bidding started. Star River Technology had promised him a thirty-percent share, but they never said it was for free. He would definitely have to pay Star River Technology the market price.

For a thirty-percent share, even if one share was worth five hundred million US dollars, BYD would still need to prepare one and a half billion. But looking at the trend, a single share could be worth much more than five hundred million. Wang Youfu was suddenly frantic.

Chapter 41: Not Selling Shares, But Entrance Tickets

“Eight hundred million~”

The Korean’s money-is-no-object voice once again echoed through the vast conference room. The other magnates of the automotive world all frowned and shook their heads slightly.

It was merely a ten percent share, yet the bidding had already reached the sky-high price of eight hundred million US dollars. By this calculation, Star River Technology was set to make nearly ten billion US dollars just by selling off these distribution rights. It was terrifying.

The tycoons present had gone mad, seemingly treating US dollars like pocket change. This was especially true for the Korean representative; no matter who made an offer, he would immediately raise it, looking utterly determined to win and as if he would never back down.

“Eight hundred million, going once~”

Lin Ye was all smiles, his grin stretching from ear to ear. They were just selling distribution rights, yet the valuation was approaching ten billion US dollars. No one would believe it if he told them.

But everything unfolding before his eyes proved this was no dream. A Huaxian tech company could actually be this badass one day. Monopolies were great business, and tech products were always in high demand.

His gaze swept over the crowd once more. Seeing that no one seemed intent on raising the price, he continued, “Eight hundred million, going twice~”

His voice was much louder this time, as if to remind the tycoons present that if they didn’t place another bid, the first ten percent share would fall into the hands of the Koreans.

After a pause of more than ten seconds, seeing that no one was raising the price, Lin Ye didn’t drag it out any longer. “Eight hundred million, going three times. Sold.”

Although he didn’t have a proper auctioneer’s gavel, the effect was the same. The Korean representative’s face was impassive, seemingly unsatisfied with a mere ten percent share. He watched the proceedings like a tiger stalking its prey.

As for the tycoons like the one from Toyota and Ferdinand, they all exchanged glances, as if telling each other not to fight too fiercely. Take it easy, let’s not line the pockets of the Huaxians.

But when they looked at the Korean, all the tycoons understood. The man’s ambitions were immense. If they didn’t make a move, they might be forced out of the massive automotive market entirely.

“Next, we will auction the second ten percent share. The starting bid is one hundred million US dollars.”

Lin Ye wasted no time and continued the auction.

“Five hundred million~”

The moment Lin Ye’s words fell, someone immediately called out a price.

“Six hundred million~”

The Korean had no intention of giving up and immediately followed.

“Seven hundred million~”

This time, the Japanese representative, unwilling to be outdone, seemed to be getting anxious.

“Eight hundred million~”

The German representative called out the price of the first share. The competition was much fiercer this time.

“Nine hundred million~”

The Korean made another cold bid. He truly wasn’t treating US dollars like money; it was almost as if he saw them as Korean won. No matter what price you named, he would immediately add to it.

“One billion~”

The American finally made his move. After stating his price, he shot a vicious glare at the Korean, as if daring him to keep raising the bid.

Seeing the American’s fierce expression, the Korean’s face changed slightly. He had no choice; he didn’t dare snatch the meat from Daddy America’s mouth. Even if he won this share now, Daddy America had plenty of ways to make him spit it back out. After all, in front of Daddy America, the Koreans couldn’t even stand up straight.

Faced with the massive bid of one billion US dollars, the others also shook their heads slightly, showing no intention of continuing to raise the price. The Americans were not to be trifled with, and besides, this was the first time they had vied for a share.

“One billion, going three times~ Sold~”

Lin Ye’s smile widened as he happily announced the sale.

The subsequent auction continued with fiery intensity. After the fierce competition of the first two rounds, the later rounds became even more heated. No one was willing to show weakness or give up.

The third ten percent share was snatched by the Japanese for the astronomical price of 1.2 billion US dollars. The fourth share was taken by the Koreans again. When it came to the fifth share, the Germans grew frantic. If they didn’t make a ruthless bid now, who knew if they would get another chance. They had to secure a share first, no matter what.

During the sixth share, the Japanese representative went on a rampage again. As the number of available shares dwindled, the fiercely ambitious Japanese once again seized another share, this time for the sky-high price of 1.5 billion US dollars.

“Next, we are auctioning the seventh share, which is also the final share of this auction.”

From the first six shares, Star River Technology had already raked in over seven billion US dollars. Qin Yi was grinning from ear to ear, and everyone at Star River Technology now stood a little straighter. Having money really made a difference.

“What? This is the last one?”

As soon as Lin Ye announced it was the final share, a wave of panic swept through the vast conference room. The tycoons who hadn’t secured a share yet, or those who felt they hadn’t gotten enough, grew particularly anxious.

“Our company is reserving thirty percent of our production capacity, so this is the last share. If you want it, you absolutely cannot miss this chance.”

Lin Ye smiled without offering further explanation.

“One billion~”

The moment his words landed, the Indian representative immediately made a bid. His ambitions were also considerable. India’s Tata Motors might not be well-known in Huaxia, but the Tata Group was a powerful enterprise ranked very high in the Fortune 500. In fact, the Land Rover brand was one of its subsidiaries.

Previously, the Indian representative had felt no rush, allowing others to get their shares while assuming there would be more opportunities. But Lin Ye’s sudden announcement that only one share remained threw him into a panic, so he opened with a bid of one billion.

He had no choice. The electric vehicle sector was undoubtedly the future of the automotive industry. If they didn’t get on board now, there would be no a second chance to participate. This final share was essentially an entrance ticket into the EV industry, and he absolutely could not let it go.

“1.1 billion~”

The Korean coldly offered another bid. Although he had already secured twenty percent, it was far from enough to satisfy his ambitions. After all, they were a people said to have ambitions vast enough to swallow the universe; a meager twenty percent was far too little.

“1.2 billion~”

“1.3 billion~”

“1.5 billion~”

Not long after the Korean spoke, the Japanese, German, and American representatives all followed suit. None of the tycoons were calm anymore. They gestured to their aides, and members of their teams began leaving the conference room to contact their backers for more support.

“1.6 billion~”

The Indian representative’s slightly chubby face scrunched up. He couldn’t worry about the cost anymore. If he didn’t fight for this, India’s auto industry would be completely left behind. No one could stand against the tide of history; all one could do was keep pace.

“1.7 billion~”

The Korean continued to bid with a relaxed look on his face, even casting a slightly disdainful glance at the Indian. You want to compete with me? You’re not the American.

“1.8 billion~”

The Indian representative gritted his teeth and made another bid, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. Although the Tata Group was wealthy, coming up with such a huge sum of cash at once, on top of the money needed to roll out EVs into the market, would create immense pressure.

But then he thought about the losses they would incur if they were forced out of the auto market, and this sum of money suddenly seemed insignificant in comparison.

“1.9 billion~”

The Korean frowned slightly, surprised that the Indian was still in the running. But then he remembered the man had yet to secure a single share, and it all made sense.

“Two billion~”

Gritting his teeth, the Indian representative called out an astronomical price. The first share had sold for a mere eight hundred million, yet this final one had reached two billion, a price nearly three times higher.

The tycoons present all frowned, seemingly contemplating whether to continue. Two billion US dollars was not two billion yen or won. Even for these deep-pocketed and ostentatious magnates, each with powerful forces behind them, they couldn’t just squander money like this.

Even the aides sitting beside the tycoons were shaking their heads, signaling that they should not continue bidding. The price was too high.

“They’ve all gone mad~”

Wang Youfu, who had been observing coldly from the sidelines, couldn’t stop shaking his head. At the same time, he felt an immense sense of relief—relief that he had come to Star River Technology early, and relief that none of the other state-owned automobile magnates from back home had shown up, allowing him to easily secure a thirty percent share.

Even if he couldn’t use that much, reselling it would allow him to make a huge profit. This trip was worth it, making the arduous journey to this remote, impoverished mountain valley worthwhile.

“I really have to thank my lucky stars I’m Huaxian. Otherwise, Star River Technology wouldn’t have given me any face at all. Thinking back to my negotiations with Qin Yi, when I opened my mouth and demanded to acquire Star River Technology… It’s simply laughable.”

Wang Youfu’s aged face flushed slightly. He didn’t dare look at the people from Star River Technology, afraid they would laugh at him. Just the distribution rights—a mere seventy percent share—were worth nearly ten billion US dollars. Star River Technology truly lived up to its name as a high-tech company.

“Knowledge is wealth~”

“Two billion, going twice~”

Seeing that the tycoons had no intention of raising the price, Lin Ye smiled and announced loudly.

The faces of the many tycoons in the conference room revealed their hesitation. They seemed to want to keep bidding, but the people beside them were all shaking their heads, warning them not to go on.

Even the Korean representative was frowning, hesitating over whether to raise the bid. He had money, but it was money he had worked hard to earn. He had already secured a twenty percent share at a cheaper price, which was enough. There was no need to spend wasted money just to enrich the Huaxians.

Moreover, seeing the Indian’s posture, it was clear he was truly desperate this time. If he continued to push, the Indian would probably keep up. After all, India had always prided itself on being a major power with international influence; they definitely wanted a piece of the electric vehicle pie.

“Two billion, going three times~ Sold~”

Lin Ye paused for a full few minutes this time, to the point where the Indian representative repeatedly gestured and urged him to end it quickly, afraid that if he waited any longer, one of the other tycoons might raise the bid again.

“Phew~”

Hearing Lin Ye announce the sale, the Indian representative let out a sigh of relief. The other tycoons also sighed softly. The landscape of the brand-new electric vehicle industry of the future had been decided.

Chapter 42: We’re Rich! We’re Rich!

In the conference room of Star River Technology, the magnates from all over the world had departed, leaving only the company’s own people behind.

“We’ve struck it rich!”

Wen Xueying’s eyes narrowed into slits, and you could almost see money signs in them. Despite her well-to-do background and being an elite graduate of Huaxia University, she was so excited she nearly jumped for joy.

She had originally agreed to join Qin Yi’s company purely because she felt that Qin Yi, a great scientist, had limitless future potential. She had even used her own connections to recruit many employees for him. It truly felt as if she had given up everything to run away with Qin Yi.

She had always been worried that Star River Technology might not make it, but now, all those worries had vanished into thin air. The Atomic Matrix Battery—just the sales rights alone had sold for nearly ten billion US dollars. If you included BYD’s thirty percent share, the total easily surpassed ten billion US dollars.

And this was only for the sales rights. The product hadn’t even been manufactured yet, and the assembly line wasn’t even fully set up. But the company had already acquired a massive fund of nearly ten billion US dollars just from selling distribution rights. It was something no one would believe if you told them.

But it had all really happened. The funds in the company’s account began to explode, to the point that even the bank had to call and confirm with Star River Technology time and time again.

“Haha!”

Seeing Wen Xueying’s expression, everyone else broke into happy laughter.

“It seems my previous slogans were too conservative,” Lin Ye said with a broad smile, shaking his head in amazement. “Only now do I truly understand the meaning of ‘technology is the primary productive force’ and ‘knowledge is wealth’.”

There were very few companies in the world as dominant as Star River Technology. Boeing, which built airplanes; Apple, which sold phones; Intel, which sold chips; Sony, which sold phone camera sensors; Microsoft and Google, which sold operating systems… you could count them on your fingers, and there wouldn’t be more than ten such dominant companies in the entire world.

In the past, it was always Huaxia’s companies being fleeced by these foreign high-tech enterprises at every turn, and they could only grit their teeth and endure it.

Now, the tables had turned. It was these foreign companies’ turn to meekly lay themselves on the chopping block, letting you ask for whatever exorbitant price you wanted, letting you fleece them as you pleased.

There was no other way. If they wanted to survive, they had to submit to Star River Technology’s exploitation. Otherwise, they could just wait to be forced out of the massive electric vehicle market.

Once the battery problem was solved, electric vehicles would inevitably replace gasoline cars in a very short time. After all, whether from an environmental or a cost-performance perspective, electric vehicles had an irreplaceable advantage. The simple fact that gasoline was much more expensive than electricity was enough to defeat traditional fuel-powered cars.

“This feels great!”

“Looking at the faces of these international tycoons, I just want to burst out laughing. I remember clearly how these automotive giants used to treat Huaxia consumers with a completely different attitude than consumers from other countries.”

“The same model with a known issue—they’d recall all of them in other countries, but not in Huaxia. They didn’t take us seriously at all. Now look at them, all begging us.”

“This feeling is just awesome!”

Lu Qingwei was visibly excited. He was a bit of a firebrand nationalist, and he loved seeing foreigners get their comeuppance.

“We’re rich, we’re rich! Everyone, let’s think hard about how to spend this money. It’s not doing any good just sitting in the bank.”

Qin Yi was also beaming, finally letting out a heavy sigh of relief. It hadn’t been easy making money selling cheat software, and he had poured all of it into industry. If he hadn’t seen some results soon, Qin Yi felt he wouldn’t have been able to keep going.

“Old Man, we’re not selling cheats anymore. We have money now; it’s time to do some legitimate business,” Qin Yi instructed the Old Man in his mind. Selling cheat software was, after all, illegal and not something respectable. He had no choice before and could only operate in the gray area. Now that he had money, he naturally couldn’t continue with such activities.

“As you wish. Look at you, so happy over this tiny accomplishment,” the Old Man replied dismissively in Qin Yi’s mind.

“Haha! You need money to do big things. We need to build laboratories, a research institute, and even a university. None of that is possible without money.”

Qin Yi smiled. He had a grand blueprint in his mind, and this was just the very beginning.

“I think we need to plan this out properly. The company’s current production capacity is too low. I suggest we build more factories as soon as possible to expand our output.”

“Once electric vehicles start to take off, the demand will be enormous. Our production capacity must keep up so we can capture this entire market.”

Hearing Qin Yi, Lin Ye pondered for a moment before being the first to speak.

He then opened a map of Huangjing Town and, with a grand sweep of his hand over the area around Xiashan Village where the company was located, said, “We can acquire all the land in this surrounding area and build a massive industrial park.”

“Acquiring the land is no problem at all. The town government already has an agreement with us. The surrounding land was reserved for us. They can give it to us whenever we need it.”

“But, do we really need that much land?” Zhang Guomin asked. He saw that Lin Ye’s circle had practically encompassed a third of Huangjing Town. Even if it was cheap, the company had no use for such a vast amount of land for the time being.

“We’ll need it. We’re not just building factories. We’ll also be building a research institute, and in the future, a university and so on. I’m afraid this land won’t even be enough,” Qin Yi said with a smile, revealing a small part of the blueprint in his mind.

Hearing this, the others were slightly astonished. Only now did they realize how magnificent Qin Yi’s vision was. This was no longer as simple as just running a business.

“Ahem, Mr. Qin, shouldn’t we redecorate the company’s office building first? The current decor is really not presentable,” Wen Xueying said with a slight cough, glancing around the conference room. It was far too plain, completely unbecoming of their status as a high-tech company.

“Absolutely! And it has to be high-caliber!”

Qin Yi nodded. Now that they had money, they could naturally afford to be a bit more extravagant. They had to be frugal before out of necessity, and even he found the office building’s decor a bit hard to look at.

“I think the most important thing for our company to do next is to enhance our security. Everything we have now is thanks to the Atomic Matrix Battery technology. Lately, I’ve noticed people constantly loitering outside our company, trying to get into our factory to steal our technology.”

Liu Peiqiang looked out the window. Although the bigwigs from the major auto manufacturers had returned home, they had all set up offices in Huangjing Town, leaving behind numerous foreigners.

These foreigners were now trying to approach company personnel under all sorts of pretexts, asking to tour or “learn” inside the factory. None of them had good intentions; they all wanted to steal the company’s technology.

Fortunately, Qin Yi had issued strict orders from the very beginning. In addition, the concealed bunker system he had taken from the Technology Tower was placed inside the Atomic Compressor, so there hadn’t been any problems so far.

But Liu Peiqiang didn’t know this. He was extremely worried. Once the monopoly on a technology was lost, it became worthless. As someone who had participated in major national scientific research projects, he placed great importance on technological security, because Huaxia had suffered too many losses in this area in the past.

“Yes, the security issue is definitely something we must take very seriously. We absolutely cannot let even the slightest bit of our technology be leaked.”

Hearing this, Qin Yi, Lin Ye, and the others all nodded in agreement.

Qin Yi thought for a moment and then said to Zhang Long and Zhao Hu, who were standing in a corner of the conference room, “Brother Long, Brother Hu, you two have military backgrounds. You must know many outstanding retired soldiers. I was wondering if you could help connect us and introduce some of them to our company. We will definitely treat them well.”

“That’s no problem at all. I’m sure many would be willing to come,” Zhang Long and Zhao Hu replied after exchanging a look. The employment of retired soldiers had always been a problem. The benefits at Star River Technology were excellent. Once they reached out to their contacts, there would surely be a flood of people willing to come.

“Then I’ll have to trouble you. Please introduce as many as you can. A few hundred would be no problem. There will be many more places needing enhanced security in the future, so we might as well hire more now.”

Qin Yi smiled his thanks. He thought it would be best to hire several hundred at once. In the future, he would be revealing more and more high-tech products, and there would certainly be more people trying to steal his technology. Strengthening security was a must.

Since Zhang Long and Zhao Hu were elite bodyguards, the people they recommended would surely be top-notch. Combined with some advanced technological equipment he could take out from the Technology Tower, Qin Yi was confident he could handle the security aspect well.

“Alright.”

Zhang Long nodded in agreement. He knew Qin Yi was a nouveau riche now, with plenty of money and a firm grasp on a massive amount of capital, making him very generous.

“We also need to give thorough, long-term consideration to the Star River Technology Research Institute and its laboratories. Hmm, we need to acquire as much land as possible. We will need to build a great many laboratories in the future. There is no budget for this. Even if we don’t have enough funds right now, we can slowly build as we earn.”

There were expenses on all fronts, but what Qin Yi valued most was the construction of the research institute and laboratories. To advance in technology, he couldn’t do without labs. Moreover, for a true high-tech enterprise, it was unthinkable to not have its own laboratories and research institute.

To establish one’s own research team, the institute, labs, funding, and talent were all indispensable. Even with money, these things took time to accumulate, so it was natural to put them on the agenda as early as possible.

Chapter 43: Changes

At six in the morning, Qin Yi was awakened by his own biological clock. Ever since injecting the Gene Optimization Fluid, his energy had been exceptionally abundant; six hours of rest a day was more than enough, supplemented at most by a half-hour nap at noon.

Qin Yi’s mother had already prepared breakfast. Since Qin Yi returned to his hometown to invest in and build a business, his parents’ lives had also undergone a tremendous transformation.

Naturally, they no longer needed to farm. For the first half of the year, Qin Yi’s father had been helping supervise the construction of the company’s factory and main building. He felt that Qin Yi was still too young and wasn’t around, so he couldn’t rest easy letting outsiders handle everything.

As for Qin Yi’s mother, now that she had free time, she spent her days琢磨着 planting some green, pollution-free vegetables and raising some free-range chickens and ducks. She would cook for the family, and when she had a moment, she’d go chat with the neighbors and listen to them praise her son, Qin Yi.

After a quick breakfast, Qin Yi began his run to the company. Xiashan Village, where his family lived, wasn’t far from Liujiang Village, where the company was located—only a few kilometers. As long as it wasn’t raining, he basically ran to the company every day.

“Grandpa Li, morning!”

“Morning. That you, Little Yi? Off to work?”

“Yup.”

“I say, Qin Yi, you’re a rich billionaire now. You should buy yourself a car. Walking to and from work doesn’t suit your status. Look at the young people in our village—which one of them doesn’t buy a car the moment they have a little money?”

“I think walking to work is great. It’s good exercise, and I get to chat with everyone.”

“You kid. I always knew you were different. I was sure you’d have a great future.”

“You’re too kind, Grandpa Li. I’ll let you get back to it. I’m off to work.”

Qin Yi couldn’t help but shake his head. The tendency for people to compare themselves with one another was quite serious. During the New Year, the cars the young people in the village drove were each nicer than the last. Sometimes, even if they didn’t have the money, they’d put on a brave front, even if it meant renting a car to drive home.

That’s why people often judged how well someone was doing out in the world by the car they drove. Now that everyone knew Qin Yi was a big boss, seeing him still walking to work prompted frequent suggestions that he buy a car. At the very least, he had to keep up appearances.

“…”

“Auntie Wang, morning!”

“Morning, Qin Yi! Off to work, are you? So hardworking, waking up this early. When my boy comes home, he’s definitely not up before ten. Sometimes he can sleep right until lunchtime. You’re the one with a future, Qin Yi, hardworking since you were a child.”

“You’re joking, Auntie Wang. Brother Zhang is doing great too. He’s my age, and he already has two kids.”

“You really know what to say, Qin Yi. By the way, do you have a girlfriend? My older cousin’s second daughter is gorgeous. Just like you, a college graduate. How about I set you two up?”

“Sure, sure, thank you, Auntie Wang.”

“Then it’s settled! I’ll get your contact info from your mom and send it to her.”

Qin Yi felt a bit like he was beating a hasty retreat. He couldn’t help it; he had now become the ultimate catch in everyone’s eyes. Good character, educated, a great scientist, and a big boss on top of it all. The news that Star River Technology had earned over ten billion US dollars had spread like wildfire, and pretty much everyone in Ning County knew about it.

With such a net worth, he was wealthy enough to be on Huaxia’s list of tycoons. That’s why so many people were busy trying to play matchmaker for him. His parents brought it up with him every day as well, but Qin Yi always maintained a let-nature-take-its-course attitude. His mind simply wasn’t on such things.

After all, Qin Yi was still young and extremely busy. He had a mountain of company matters to deal with, and every day he had to study new scientific knowledge with the Old Man in the Technology Tower. Where would he find the time for romance?

“…”

“Qin Yi, morning!”

“Morning, Uncle Liu.”

“You heading to work?”

“Yes. Are you off to harvest the rice, Uncle Liu?”

“Yeah. A few of my fields can’t be reached by the harvester, so I have to cut it myself. You’re the one with a future, Qin Yi, the boss of a big company now. I heard that your company made over ten billion US dollars in one transaction a few days ago.”

“Qin Yi, is your company hiring? Can you get my good-for-nothing second son a job in your company?”

“Uncle Liu, our company is a high-tech company. We generally only hire people who are at least college graduates. Without a diploma, I’m afraid he could only do unskilled work. That would be worse than starting his own business. In the future, as my company puts its roots down here, it will definitely drive development. Casually opening a diner or restaurant would be very profitable.”

“Is that so? I heard the folks in Liujiang Village are making a killing just selling vegetables now.”

“That’s right. Huangjing Town will become more and more developed in the future, and there will be lots of opportunities. You can tell Brother Liu to start any small business; he’s sure to make money.”

As he ran, Qin Yi shook his head. Ever since his company was founded, there was no shortage of all sorts of relatives trying to shove people into his company.

The compensation at Star River Technology was excellent. Even the cleaning ladies made five thousand a month. Such an income wouldn’t be considered low even in a city, let alone this remote countryside.

In this regard, Qin Yi handled things differently for different people. For his closest relatives, he would help out to some extent. The company’s cleaning and sanitation staff were basically all his relatives.

These positions needed to be filled, they were not critical, and they had no impact on the company. In this world, one has to navigate social obligations, so he would help where he could.

As for those who weren’t related to his family, or were only distantly related, Qin Yi naturally stuck to his principles. This was especially true for people who had no education and no skills. He had no need to support idlers, and once he made an exception, the company’s management would become chaotic.

But Qin Yi didn’t refuse them bluntly; he did so tactfully. He had many cousins as well, but aside from Chen Li at the very beginning, he hadn’t let a single one of them in, rejecting them with the same reasoning he had just used on Uncle Liu.

What Qin Yi said was the truth. Thanks to Star River Technology’s arrival, Huangjing Town was already showing signs of taking off. One had to remember that he was about to invest over ten billion US dollars in Huangjing Town. With such a massive amount of capital, the town’s economy was sure to boom.

Anyone who invested at the beginning and secured a position in some industry would definitely make money in the future. Even a fool could see that.

Therefore, Qin Yi’s cousins had already started investing in various industries in Huangjing Town early on. Some opened farmhouse restaurants, some pooled funds to open a hotel, and others opened internet cafes. Their interest in receiving a salary from Qin Yi’s company had greatly diminished.

“…”

Hoo…

As he ran, Qin Yi regulated his breathing. Since injecting the Gene Optimization Fluid, his body had become incredibly strong. After running several kilometers, his face wasn’t red and he wasn’t out of breath, which couldn’t help but make even Zhang Long and Zhao Hu, who were following him, look at him with new eyes.

“Most of the people from Liujiang Village have come back. It’s much livelier now.”

Soon, Qin Yi arrived at the company. Liujiang Village was very close to the company, and the employee dormitories and cafeteria were right next to it. Star River Technology’s employees were all young and had high incomes, so their spending power was very strong.

The people of Liujiang Village had seen this opportunity and spontaneously set up a small market behind the company’s dorms and cafeteria. There were small eateries that served home-style stir-fry dishes, and their business was thriving. After all, one can always get tired of cafeteria food.

There were also late-night snack stalls, which did extremely well in the evenings. Their business could only be described as booming, prompting many young people from Liujiang Village who had been working elsewhere to return. After all, if they could easily make money right at their doorstep, why would they wander far from home? Moreover, Star River Technology was still expanding its workforce, so it was only going to get busier here.

Small restaurants, late-night snack stalls, mini-marts, a small vegetable market… the entire market was bustling with activity, just like the markets near a university.

“Qin Yi, morning! Have you eaten yet? Come have a few buns at my place.”

“Thanks, Uncle Li, I’ve already eaten.”

As Qin Yi passed through the small market, he frowned slightly at the messy sight. It was unplanned and chaotic, and the sanitation was terrible, with everyone setting up their stalls wherever they pleased.

“This can’t go on,” he thought. “As the number of company employees grows, this place will become even more popular. If this continues, it will seriously damage the company’s image, and it’s also very unhealthy.”

“It seems we’ll have to step in and have a good discussion with the villagers of Liujiang. The company will fund the construction of a standardized market, ensuring proper hygiene and regular food inspections. That would be beneficial for everyone.”

Qin Yi firmly committed this matter to memory, planning to bring it up with Lin Ye when he had the chance.

“The company will only get bigger in the future, and more and more people will depend on it for their livelihood, especially the villagers from these nearby villages. Their land has been expropriated, and they might face relocation and consolidation in the future. Perhaps we can establish a standardized market near the company. That would provide good employment opportunities and allow everyone to enjoy the benefits of this development.”

“Since the goal is to drive the development of my hometown, I need to think more about these things. However, rural people often lack an awareness of hygiene and are not used to being managed. If no one takes the lead to properly organize things, it will surely end up like this small market—dirty, messy, and awful, truly atrocious. In the long run, that’s not good for anyone.”

“It must be properly managed. Many of the small markets near universities are managed very well, with good hygiene, good service, and guaranteed food safety. But for the company to take the lead on this, we must discuss it carefully with the villagers.”

Chapter 44: The Era of Electric Vehicles

“Lin, have you seen that little market in Liujiang Village behind our company dormitories?”

Upon arriving at the company, Qin Yi went straight to find Lin Ye, ready to talk about what had just been on his mind.

“I have.”

“Yes? What about it?”

Lin Ye listened, thought for a moment, and asked.

“That market is dirty, messy, and awful. There are no regulations or management whatsoever. Not only does it affect our company’s image, but as we continue to expand, that small market will become a large one, and it will only get more chaotic.”

“So, I was thinking our company could take the lead. We can discuss it with the villagers of Liujiang Village, have the company fund the construction of a proper market, and then manage it systematically. This way, we can fully protect the villagers’ interests while also ensuring cleanliness and order.”

“What do you think?”

Qin Yi brought this up with Lin Ye in a consultative tone. Qin Yi had never given Lin Ye any direct orders regarding the company’s daily operations. As the boss, Qin Yi needed to focus on the company’s future direction. As for the specific day-to-day management, Lin Ye, the professional manager, was already doing an excellent job. That’s why whenever something came up, Qin Yi would discuss it with Lin Ye to hear his opinion.

“Actually, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about this for a while now. I also think that market out back needs to be properly managed. I’ve just been too busy to get to it.”

Hearing Qin Yi’s words, Lin Ye nodded with a smile, then added after a moment of thought, “It’s not just Liujiang Village. After our company’s large-scale expansion, more villages will be affected. I think we should establish a standard management system for all of them, so everyone can coexist harmoniously and happily.”

“Yes, exactly! We’re really on the same page.”

Qin Yi nodded repeatedly. If nothing else, Lin Ye’s ability to see the bigger picture from a single point was impressive; he had a good long-term perspective.

“Don’t worry, I’ll arrange for someone to handle it.”

Lin Ye smiled and accepted the task. After a moment’s thought, he asked, “Qin Yi, have you seen the latest news?”

“Not yet. Did something big happen?”

Qin Yi shook his head. He’d been so busy running around that he hadn’t had any time to check the news.

“Mhm, the era of electric vehicles has arrived. Samsung and Hyundai from South Korea, Toyota and Honda from Japan, Volkswagen from Germany, Ford and Tesla from the United States, Tata Motors from India, and our very own Huaxia’s BYD—they’ve all recently launched brand-new electric vehicles, one after another.”

Lin Ye smiled. As a professional manager, he had long made it a habit to read the news every day, paying particularly close attention to industry news related to his own company.

“Those car companies sure moved fast. We haven’t even started mass production of our Atomic Matrix Batteries or supplied them yet, and they’ve already launched their new electric vehicles?”

Qin Yi was slightly surprised. He then issued a command in his mind for the Old Man to search for related information. In an instant, news headlines appeared in his mind’s eye.

Toyota Group launches a new generation of all-electric vehicles, featuring the latest Atomic Matrix Battery technology, with a range exceeding 2000 kilometers and a 10-year battery warranty promising a no-questions-asked full refund for any issues…

Hyundai Group launches a new generation of all-electric vehicles, priced at only 120,000 Huaxia currency, with a promised range of over 2000 kilometers, a battery life of over 10 years, government subsidies available, and a free state-of-the-art super-pulse fast charger included with purchase…

Germany’s Volkswagen launches a new generation of all-electric vehicles, powered by the new high-tech Atomic Matrix Battery, with a range exceeding 2000 kilometers and a 10-year battery warranty promising a no-questions-asked full refund for any issues. Electric vehicles: environmentally friendly, energy-saving, and economical. Priced at only 150,000 Huaxia currency…

Qin Yi quickly scanned through the latest news from the various car manufacturers in his mind. He had to admit, the speed of these automobile companies was truly astonishing.

For these international giants, designing and developing a car was as easy as pie. It had only been a few days since they had obtained the sales rights and technical data for the Atomic Matrix Battery from Star River Technology.

And now, just a few days later, every single one of them had launched their own brand-new electric vehicle, and the advertisements were already bombarding the globe. It was only because Qin Yi was in a rural place like Huangjing Town that he hadn’t seen them; in the city, he would probably be seeing ads for these new EVs everywhere.

“Of course they’re fast. With the advent of our Atomic Matrix Battery, the era of electric vehicles is here. Gasoline-powered cars will gradually fade from the stage of history.”

“Once the battery problem is solved, economical, energy-saving, and environmentally friendly electric vehicles will inevitably replace traditional gasoline cars. Everyone can see that clearly.”

“Since they’ve seen the future trend, these car companies are naturally going all out. They’ve all set their prices relatively low to quickly open up the market, build a reputation, and seize market share.”

Lin Ye smiled as he shared his analysis.

“The prices are low, most countries support the development of environmentally friendly and energy-saving electric vehicles with substantial purchase subsidies, and charging is far cheaper than refueling. I believe electric vehicles will soon take the world by storm.”

“Lately, the price of crude oil on the international futures market has been plummeting. The countries that rely on selling oil to get by are probably going to have a hard time ahead.”

“This is a massive earthquake for the automotive industry. A brand-new era is dawning—the era of all-electric vehicles!”

Lin Ye spoke with emotion. In the past, he might not have felt the changes of an era so profoundly. But this time, the seismic shift in the automotive industry was triggered by his own company, which was why he felt it so deeply. It was as if he could already see the curtain falling on one era and rising on a brand new one.

“Looks like we need to speed up and get our factory into production. We also need to get a move on with the expansion plans. Otherwise, these car companies will hound us to death for more batteries.”

A broad smile spread across Qin Yi’s face. All these car companies pushing electric vehicles was undoubtedly good for his company. The more electric cars they sold, the more Atomic Matrix Batteries his company would sell. It didn’t matter which car company came out on top; Star River Technology was poised to swallow the entire automotive battery market whole.

“Of course. Before, we were short on cash. Now, with enormous capital in our hands, we can solve these problems by simply throwing money at them.”

Lin Ye was also beaming. All that was left to do now was wait for the money to start rolling in.

Chapter 45: The Good Days Are Over

Major global car manufacturers launched a frantic worldwide promotional campaign for their all-electric vehicles. Now that the new electric cars had solved the three fatal flaws of range, battery life, and stability, the market’s reaction was immediate.

Iceland, located in Northern Europe, was the first to respond enthusiastically. To protect its beautiful natural environment, the Icelandic government formally announced a new environmental law for automobiles, banning the sale and use of gasoline-powered cars starting next year and fully transitioning to all-electric vehicles.

Of course, Iceland is a small country with a limited number of cars. However, developed nations in Europe and the United States followed suit, rolling out policies to promote the development of electric vehicles. They introduced a series of new measures covering taxes, financial subsidies, and charging infrastructure to boost the EV market.

Undoubtedly, these policies were pushed by the domestic auto companies within each country. These corporations wielded immense influence at home, and now was the time to seize the electric vehicle market. Standing firm in their home countries while setting their sights on the global stage, they received strong support from their respective governments.

After all, the automotive industry is an incredibly vast industrial chain. A single car consists of tens of thousands of parts, spawning countless derivative businesses and bringing numerous benefits such as boosting the economy, creating jobs, and increasing tax revenue.

Global media outlets, various experts, and others were not to be outdone, joining the chorus to welcome the new electric vehicles. In an era focused on environmental protection and economy, EVs were both green and affordable. More importantly, they were very economical in the long run, so naturally, they were hyped to no end.

Under such a fierce promotional blitz, the already fiercely competitive market for traditional gasoline-powered cars was dealt another heavy blow.

At the headquarters of Huaqi Group in Shanghai, life had always been quite comfortable. As one of Volkswagen’s two partners in Huaxia, Huaqi Group had been making a fortune through its rebranding business, leveraging the vast Huaxia market.

But in recent days, life for Huaqi Group had suddenly taken a turn for the worse. In a conference room in the headquarters building, all the top executives of the group had gathered for an emergency meeting.

“Everyone, take a look. This is our sales situation for the past week. We’ve sold practically zero cars. Major dealerships across the country have stopped ordering from us, and some are even demanding returns.”

Chen Ping spoke with extreme gravity, pointing to the latest sales report.

As a massive enterprise that produced and sold millions of vehicles annually, Huaqi Group had always done very well by rebranding foreign car brands for the enormous Huaxia market. It lacked grand ambitions and had never seriously considered developing its own national brand. Relying on the state’s automotive policies, it lived a comfortable and profitable existence, even becoming a Fortune 500 company.

But the sales figures for the past week were simply atrocious. Sales had come to a complete halt for every single brand under its umbrella. The 4S dealerships across the country had stopped sending payments and placing orders, throwing the entire Huaqi Group into a state of panic.

“We’ve investigated the situation thoroughly. All the major global car manufacturers are launching new, fully electric vehicles. The prices are very competitive, and there are government subsidies. As a result, the market is currently in a wait-and-see mode,” explained An Guowen, the Director of Market Sales, presenting his findings. “Sales at all our dealerships nationwide have ground to a halt. Even our recently launched new models aren’t selling.”

“Of course, it’s not just our brands. All the automotive groups in the country are facing the same situation. Sales are completely stagnant. It’s difficult to sell even a single car.”

His words brought a slight sigh of relief from the executives present. As long as they weren’t the only ones in this terrible situation, it wasn’t so bad. It was an industry-wide problem, after all.

For a large central state-owned enterprise like Huaqi Group, they were used to making a fortune when the market was good. When the market was bad, they didn’t have to worry about bankruptcy. For a group this large, connected to so many industries and employing so many people, the state would certainly not stand by and do nothing. No matter what happened, the lives of these executives would remain very comfortable.

“There’s something I must make clear to everyone,” Chen Ping said, a sense of helplessness in his heart as he looked at the expressions around the room. This was the reality of state-owned enterprises; the internal networks were intricate and incredibly complex. The people in this room might not all be capable, but every single one of them had connections. “The world’s major automakers are all launching new, all-electric vehicles. Our partners, Volkswagen and General Motors, have shown no intention of continuing our collaboration in the electric vehicle sector.”

Previously, they could live good lives by relying on the state’s policies for the auto industry. But now, he felt as if doomsday was approaching. In the brand-new field of electric vehicles, all their former partners were planning to go it alone.

Here, it is necessary to mention Huaxia’s automotive industry policy. In the past, Huaxia actually had many of its own car brands, such as the Jiefang Brand Automobile featured in history textbooks, as well as Changchun Automobile, Great Wall, Changan, and others.

However, after the Reform and Opening-Up, a policy was introduced to aggressively import advanced foreign production technology. Major domestic auto groups scrambled to partner with foreign companies, hoping to learn their advanced techniques.

The final outcome is well known. Whether any technology was actually learned remains a mystery, but the cars on the nation’s roads quickly became a sea of foreign car brands. Huaxia’s own brands were nowhere to be seen. In the end, all of Huaxia’s domestic auto groups were relegated to being OEM factories for foreign cars.

They might appear massive, many of them Fortune 500 companies, but they could only operate within Huaxia. For all the cars they produced under license, the core components—the engine and a transmission—were all imported. Only assembly and some non-critical parts were manufactured domestically.

The result was that major foreign automakers siphoned off massive profits from the Huaxia market every year just by selling engines, transmissions, and brand licenses. Meanwhile, the domestic auto groups were all reduced to OEM factories, and almost all of the independent national brands vanished overnight.

This is why the roads in the country were filled with a sea of foreign car brands, yet vehicles from Huaxia’s own independent brands were conspicuously absent.

Some might ask, why don’t these global automakers just export cars directly to Huaxia? Why bother partnering with these domestic companies?

The reason is that Huaxia levies extremely high tariffs on fully imported vehicles. The same model of BMW that sells for over three hundred thousand Huaxia currency in the United States costs six hundred thousand in Huaxia. The extra hundreds of thousands are almost all tariffs. This is why some people find that buying a car abroad is cheaper than buying one at home.

Relying on this policy, these domestic auto companies were able to survive. Even though they were just doing rebranding, the enormous size of the Huaxia market allowed these automotive groups to live very comfortably, with many of them making it into the Fortune 500.

They appeared to be powerful Fortune 500 enterprises, but in reality, they were like infants under a protective wall, unable to grow up. Once that wall was gone, every single one of these companies would be finished.

Huaxia was known as a major car manufacturing nation, but its annual vehicle export numbers were atrocious. In 2017, Huaxia exported only 1.06 million vehicles, while global car sales that year exceeded ninety million. Huaxia’s share of exports was utterly insignificant.

Furthermore, most people might not know what kinds of cars were exported. They were the domestic brands like Chery, Great Wall, JAC, and Changan. The legendary Wuling Hongguang was a mainstay among them.

As for the Fortune 500 companies that served as OEMs for major foreign manufacturers, they couldn’t export a single car. Their fate was to produce cars under foreign brand names and sell them in Huaxia. If they wanted to export, they would have to use their own brand.

With this context, it should be clear why Huaqi Group was in a panic. Its foreign partners had no plans to cooperate with it on producing electric vehicles, at least not for the time being.

The reason was simple: Star River Technology’s production capacity for the Atomic Matrix Battery was limited for now. The quotas received by the major automakers were relatively small—not even enough for their own needs, let alone having any surplus to partner with Huaxia’s domestic companies for rebranding.

Moreover, only a handful of companies had secured a quota for the Atomic Matrix Battery, which meant this small group would share the entire massive market. They couldn’t even satisfy demand in other parts of the world yet, so they certainly wouldn’t be looking to partner with anyone else.

The old gasoline-powered cars weren’t selling, and they had no way to enter the new electric vehicle market. This was the predicament facing Huaqi Group and other Huaxia automakers.

As Chen Ping finished speaking, the executives in the conference room finally stirred, a flicker of comprehension in their eyes. They at last understood their current situation. The good old days seemed to have vanished completely.

“If they don’t cooperate with us, they can forget about selling their cars in Huaxia,” someone said dismissively, clinging to the key to their survival: the high tariffs on imported cars made them too expensive, which would surely affect sales.

“No… they can,” Chen Ping said, shaking his head with a sigh. “Because the major car companies have huge government subsidies from their own countries. Also, it seems our own Huaxia’s BYD Group has also mastered a new battery technology and launched new electric vehicles. Judging by the market’s reaction, they seem highly anticipated.”

“Our good days are over.”

Chapter 46: A Lost Cause

In the largest conference room at Star River Technology’s headquarters, Qin Yi’s expression shifted slightly as he looked at the enormous group before him. Huaqi Group, Huadou Auto, Shanghai Auto, Imperial Capital Auto—nearly every magnate from the major state-owned domestic auto companies was present. Alongside them were officials sent from Changan Street in the Imperial Capital.

The massive team, numbering over a hundred people, packed the spacious conference room to the brim. They stared daggers at Qin Yi, as if he were their mortal enemy.

Ostensibly, they were here to visit and learn from Star River Technology, but any discerning eye could see that their aggressive demeanor meant they didn’t come in peace.

“Welcome, everyone. We at Star River Technology apologize for any shortcomings in our hospitality.”

Lin Ye greeted the crowd with a wide smile, but no matter how much he smiled, the atmosphere remained tense. The visitors were not buying it.

“Let’s skip the pleasantries. We came to Star River Technology today mainly to visit and learn, but also to ask a question: is Star River Technology still a Huaxia enterprise? Why are you selling out your own people?”

The man leading the group, Ji Gang, was about fifty years old and was from the government administration on Changan Street. With a grim face, he spoke harshly to Qin Yi the moment he began.

He was the official specifically in charge of Huaxia’s auto industry. This time, the major auto groups had all gone to their superiors to complain, claiming they couldn’t survive, that hundreds of thousands of people were about to lose their jobs, and that the national auto industry was on the brink of disaster.

After an investigation, they discovered that electric vehicles were beginning to disrupt the traditional gasoline-powered car market, and that major foreign auto manufacturers had almost no intention of continuing to partner with domestic companies in the EV sector.

Further investigation revealed that the company that had solved the core battery problem for electric vehicles was, surprisingly, a small Huaxia enterprise—Star River Technology, a company that had only recently been established.

Suddenly, these auto companies saw a new ray of hope. They immediately banded together and descended upon Star River Technology in Huangjing Town, ready to jointly pressure the company.

As the official in charge, Ji Gang naturally couldn’t stand by and watch Huaxia’s auto industry suffer a devastating blow. He was particularly incensed to learn that the root of all this was a small Huaxia company, and so he had shown them a sour face from the very beginning.

“Selling out our own people?”

“You can’t just throw accusations like that around. That’s a label I dare not wear.”

Hearing this, Qin Yi’s expression turned cold as he retorted.

“I, Qin Yi, have always stuck to my principles. Even when I make money, I make it from foreigners and then invest it in our own people.”

“If that’s the case, why are you selling your company’s Atomic Matrix Batteries to foreign auto manufacturers while none of our domestic auto giants have received any?”

Ji Gang’s face remained stern, his tone completely brusque.

“When our company held its new product launch, we sent invitations to all auto manufacturers, both domestic and international. I’m sure all the auto companies present here today received one.”

“Furthermore, while we are selling the Atomic Matrix Battery abroad, we reserved a thirty percent share for a domestic company, BYD Auto. We did take our country’s auto enterprises into consideration.”

Qin Yi explained with a small smile.

“Did you receive an invitation from Star River Technology?”

Hearing Qin Yi’s words, Ji Gang’s expression softened considerably. He turned to ask Chen Ping, Zhang Hongyi, Fu Junjie, and the others. Chen Ping was the head of Huaqi Group, Zhang Hongyi the head of Huadou Auto Group, and Fu Junjie the head of Imperial Capital Auto.

“Uh… yes, we did.”

Chen Ping was momentarily stunned, but after a moment’s thought, he nodded. Huaqi Group had indeed received an invitation to Star River Technology’s product launch, but at the time, no one had paid it any mind. Who would bother with Star River Technology, a small, unknown company?

“We received one.”

Zhang Hongyi of Huadou Auto Group also nodded. The invitation had landed directly on his desk, but like Chen Ping, he had dismissed it as unimportant and thrown it straight into the trash.

“I think we received one too,” Fu Junjie of Imperial Capital Auto said evasively after a moment’s thought.

“What do you mean, you think you received one? Did you or did you not?”

By this point, Ji Gang’s face had turned ugly. The situation seemed to have completely reversed. As someone in charge of state-owned enterprises, he could tell with his eyes closed that all these companies had likely received invitations from Star River Technology but had simply ignored them.

“We received one,” Fu Junjie said quickly, hearing the seriousness in Ji Gang’s voice.

“Since you all received an invitation from Star River Technology, why didn’t any of you take it seriously back then?”

Ji Gang looked at the heads of the auto groups under his purview and couldn’t help but shout, feeling a sharp pang of frustration at their failure to live up to expectations. He had the sudden urge to fire them all.

At Ji Gang’s reprimand, the company heads lowered their gazes and remained silent.

“Qin Yi, my deepest apologies. It seems I completely misunderstood you.”

Ji Gang took a deep breath and then turned to Qin Yi and Lin Ye with a broad, apologetic smile. He had been extremely anxious about the domestic auto industry, so when he heard the initial reports from these executives, he had flown into a rage and took it out on Qin Yi the moment he arrived.

It was now clear that he had misjudged Qin Yi and Star River Technology. It wasn’t that they were unwilling to support the nation’s automotive development; it was that no one had paid any attention to Star River Technology or the Atomic Matrix Battery back then, which led to the current situation.

“Not at all, not at all. It is our company’s honor to have you visit, Director.”

Qin Yi watched the scene unfold with a smile. He was baffled at first, but now he understood. These auto companies were on the ropes and had traced the problem back to Star River Technology. They had hoped to use Ji Gang’s official authority to pressure them into signing an agreement under duress.

“I’ve long heard of your reputation, Qin Yi. You truly are young and promising. It’s no wonder you’re called the Einstein of the twenty-first century, to have developed something as advanced as the Atomic Matrix Battery.”

Ji Gang was all smiles, his earlier severity vanishing in an instant. His eyes swept over the auto executives under him. As much as they were a lost cause, he still had to help them. He couldn’t just watch these companies collapse; the fallout would be too great, and it would have a huge impact on his own political career.

“You flatter me, Director.”

Qin Yi smiled, but he clearly remembered what they were like when they had first arrived.

“With the Atomic Matrix Battery developed by Star River Technology, the Era of Electric Vehicles is inevitable, and traditional gasoline-powered cars will slowly be phased out. In this brand-new field, Huaxia must catch up and leapfrog the competition.”

“Fortunately, the core technology of electric vehicles, the Atomic Matrix Battery, is in the hands of our own people. This is extremely advantageous for Huaxia’s auto industry. I hope, Qin Yi, that you can consider the needs of our Huaxia auto companies and see if you can sell the Atomic Matrix Batteries to our own enterprises.”

Ji Gang felt his face flush. He had no choice but to swallow his pride and ask.

“Thirty percent of Star River Technology’s Atomic Matrix Battery quota is sold to BYD Auto, which is one of our own Huaxia companies. The other seventy percent has already been sold to major global auto enterprises. The sales rights alone brought in over ten billion US dollars. If we were to breach the contracts now, we would face penalties exceeding twenty billion US dollars. If the major auto companies are willing to pay this penalty on our behalf, then of course, we have no objection.”

Qin Yi smiled. He saw the situation clearly. On one hand, he was pointing out that he hadn’t neglected domestic companies—BYD was a Huaxia enterprise, just not a state-owned one. On the other, he was laying out the massive penalty fees to see their reaction.

“Ten billion US dollars!”

When the crowd heard that Star River Technology had made ten billion US dollars just from selling the sales rights, they all gasped in amazement. They looked at Qin Yi with eyes glowing green with envy. This kid, who was barely old enough to shave, was already a multi-billionaire. It was enough to make anyone burn with jealousy.

Hearing Qin Yi’s words, the executives all turned to look at Ji Gang in unison. The message was clear: they wouldn’t be paying, so it was up to the government to find a solution.

Ji Gang shot a harsh glare at the auto executives, feeling a wave of helplessness. A penalty of twenty billion US dollars—over one hundred billion in Huaxia currency. Even he couldn’t think of a way to raise such a sum on short notice.

“Is there really no other way?” Ji Gang asked with a frown.

“Not unless you wait two years for our sales rights agreements with the various automakers to expire. Then, you can all compete for a share. Also, if you’ll forgive my bluntness, if you were to obtain the Atomic Matrix Batteries, would you be able to develop new electric vehicles?”

Qin Yi shook his head with a smile. Then, with a look of intrigue, he posed the question to Chen Ping, Zhang Hongyi, Fu Junjie, and the others.

“We don’t need to develop anything. As long as we can get the Atomic Matrix Batteries, the foreign automakers will continue to partner with us. We’ll be able to quickly force our way back into the electric vehicle sector.”

Someone replied almost without thinking. The moment the words left his mouth, an unusual silence fell over the conference room. Even Ji Gang was stunned, looking at him with disbelief.

“A lost cause.”

At that moment, the same thought surfaced in the minds of Qin Yi, Ji Gang, and Lin Ye. Even with the Atomic Matrix Battery, all they could think about was doing OEM work for foreign companies and scraping by in the domestic market. They had absolutely no ambition.

Chapter 47: A Lost Cause

Ji Gang and the others came and went in a hurry. Perhaps they realized these state-owned car companies were a lost cause, or perhaps they knew that with the limited supply of Atomic Matrix Batteries, a thirty percent share of the electric vehicle market was plenty.

Whether they ultimately went to negotiate a quota for the Atomic Matrix Battery with BYD’s Wang Youfu or simply let these state-owned enterprises fend for themselves was no longer Qin Yi’s concern.

As far as Qin Yi was concerned, a sale was a sale, regardless of the buyer. He had given them their chance and had done everything he could. It wasn’t his fault they failed to seize the opportunity.

If those domestic car companies had shown up at the Atomic Matrix Battery exhibition, Qin Yi would have been willing to reserve the majority of the shares for his own people. But reality had proven that this was just his own wishful thinking. These state-owned giants, protected by the high walls of government policy, had no desire to venture out and compete in the vast international market.

To them, the domestic market was already vast enough for them to make a killing. They had all grown large enough to become Fortune 500 companies, but what was the point of being a Fortune 500 company like that?

They could only dominate within the protected greenhouse of their home country. In the international market, they couldn’t hope to sell a single car. In that respect, they were inferior to companies like JAC, Changan, and Wuling Hongguang, which at least managed to export a few hundred thousand vehicles each year.

Qin Yi’s life soon returned to its peaceful routine. He went to work every day, studying in the Technology Tower. In the blink of an eye, September passed, and Star River Technology’s first Atomic Matrix Battery factory officially began production.

As the machinery whirred to life, a steady stream of Atomic Matrix Batteries rolled off the production line. As soon as they were packaged, representatives from the various auto companies’ offices in Huangjing Town came to pick them up. They immediately arranged for trucks to rush them onto the highway, to the airport, where they would be airlifted to their destinations.

Time was money, especially in the race to claim a slice of the enormous pure electric vehicle pie. These auto companies were now running on all cylinders. Their brand-new electric vehicles were already manufactured, just waiting for Star River Technology’s Atomic Matrix Batteries to go on sale.

“This isn’t a production line; it’s a money-printing machine. And it’s faster than any mint.”

Inside the factory, Lin Ye was accompanying Qin Yi on an inspection of the newly operational production line. Seeing the endless flow of Atomic Matrix Batteries, even Lin Ye, who was worldly and had seen it all, couldn’t help but exclaim in awe.

The entire production line was almost fully automated, with only a few stations requiring manual operation. The production speed was incredibly fast, capable of producing twenty-five Atomic Matrix Batteries per minute. That amounted to one thousand five hundred batteries per hour. Based on an eight-hour workday, they could produce twelve thousand batteries a day, totaling about four million a year.

Of course, as an unscrupulous capitalist exploiter, Qin Yi wasn’t about to let his machines run for only eight hours a day. In fact, the production line operated on a three-shift, twenty-four-hour system. By that calculation, the annual output would be around twelve million Atomic Matrix Batteries.

At a selling price of two thousand US dollars per battery, the factory was generating fifty thousand US dollars in output value every minute, seven hundred and twenty thousand US dollars every day, and twenty-four billion US dollars annually.

It was an absolutely terrifying figure. This small factory, occupying less than ten thousand square meters and requiring fewer than one hundred workers even with three shifts, could generate a staggering twenty-four billion US dollars in annual output value.

An annual output value of twenty-four billion US dollars was about one hundred and fifty billion in Huaxia currency. It might not seem like a huge number, as one could easily find a plethora of companies in Huaxia that surpassed Star River Technology.

But this was from just one factory, one production line. An annual capacity of twelve million Atomic Matrix Batteries was far from enough to satisfy the enormous market demand.

The global annual automobile production was in the hundreds of millions. The current capacity was a long way from meeting the needs of the electric vehicle market, not to mention the fact that the applications for the Atomic Matrix Battery weren’t limited to electric vehicles.

Its uses were incredibly broad. Anywhere electricity was needed, the Atomic Matrix Battery had great potential and a vast market. It was just that Star River Technology was just starting out and hadn’t deeply cultivated the market yet, as its capacity was the current bottleneck.

Once Star River Technology’s second-phase project of ten Atomic Matrix Battery production lines was operational, the company would essentially monopolize the entire global battery market.

When Star River Technology’s production capacity ramped up, its annual output value could easily reach several hundred billion US dollars, placing it among a handful of exceedingly rare companies in the world.

Moreover, Star River Technology’s profit margin was extraordinarily high. The cost of one Atomic Matrix Battery was a mere ten US dollars. Even after deducting various miscellaneous taxes and fees, the company’s profit margin was still shockingly high.

It was no wonder Lin Ye was so moved. As the company’s General Manager, he was well aware of the cost and profit of the Atomic Matrix Battery. This production line was truly a goose that laid diamond eggs.

“This is the value of knowledge, the value of technology~”

Wen Xueying, who was standing nearby, also sighed with emotion. She was truly witnessing what a high-tech enterprise was and what it meant to be outrageously profitable. Everything before her eyes was a testament to that.

“It’s alright, I guess~ Just a few tens of billions of US dollars in output a year~”

Qin Yi was all smiles. He could finally be considered rich. Earning tens of billions of US dollars a year, his net worth would soon be enough to make him the richest man in Huaxia. Yet, he spoke with a calm and composed expression.

“Ahem~ Mr. Qin, if you stop bragging, we can still be friends.”

Wen Xueying rolled her eyes at Qin Yi, with a look that said, “I’m waiting for you to burst your own bubble.”

In Qin Yi’s words, an annual output of tens of billions of US dollars was just “alright.” This was an output value and profit margin that would make countless people green with envy, even on a global scale, yet Qin Yi acted as if it were nothing.

“I’m not bragging. This is just one production line. When all our other lines are up and running next year, our annual output will be in the hundreds of billions of US dollars. A few tens of billions will be nothing then.”

“Besides, this is just the Atomic Matrix Battery. In the future, we’ll enter even more high-tech industries. We’ll be counting money until our hands cramp.”

Qin Yi pouted. He really wasn’t bragging. An annual output of a few tens of billions of US dollars was nothing to get too excited about.

“This much money isn’t even enough for me to spend. Next year, I’m planning to build the Star River Technology Research Institute. Who knows how much money I’ll have to sink into all the different labs? Some of that research equipment costs hundreds of millions a piece.”

“And I was even thinking that after the factory was officially in production, I’d give everyone a raise, hand out some bonuses, maybe build some housing for everyone to share… But now it seems like everyone thinks I’m just bragging. I guess I really am just bragging.”

Qin Yi tapped his fingers as he started thinking about how to spend the money. After a quick calculation, it seemed that a few tens of billions of US dollars a year really wouldn’t be enough.

“No~ Not at all! Our Mr. Qin is mighty and extraordinary, handsome and dashing, elegant and charming… He’s a man of his word, he would never brag! Isn’t that right, everyone?”

When Wen Xueying heard that this black-hearted capitalist wasn’t planning to give raises or bonuses, she panicked and immediately started showering Qin Yi with a torrent of compliments.

“Right~ Right~ Mr. Qin is the handsomest, most dashing man in the entire world. How could he possibly brag?”

“Mr. Qin said he’d give us raises and bonuses, he definitely wasn’t bragging~”

Chapter 48: Take Me to the Ceremony

October 2nd. It was the middle of the long National Day holiday. Most people were either resting, traveling the world, or lounging on their comfortable sofas, playing on their phones.

Qin Yi, the unscrupulous capitalist, had also very rarely given the employees of Star River Technology a short holiday. Well, it was a high-tech enterprise, and it had to look the part. Holidays were, of course, a must. In fact, they should probably be even longer to make the company seem more high-caliber.

However, the company’s money-printing machine had only just started running, so it was impossible to bring it to a complete halt. They could only offer compensatory leave. Overtime during the National Day period was paid at ten times the normal rate. Working for three days was equivalent to a month’s salary, and working for seven days meant getting what was essentially two extra months’ pay.

This was a huge temptation for everyone. After all, the company’s salaries were already very high to begin with, so an extra two months’ pay was a very handsome sum. Besides, they could take compensatory leave later, so they wouldn’t lose out on their seven days of vacation.

Moreover, the best choice during the long National Day holiday was to stay put. Otherwise, you would just be met with massive crowds everywhere you went. It was better to work some overtime at the company and then take a nice long vacation later to play to your heart’s content.

That was why even Wen Xueying, who had originally planned a trip to the Maldives, was now dutifully working at the company. There was no helping it; the allure of money was irresistible.

Inside Qin Yi’s office at the Star River Technology headquarters, Qin Yi finished the task at hand, crossed his legs, and gazed into the distance through the floor-to-ceiling window.

A vast expanse of land around Liujiang Village and Xiashan Village had been acquired by Star River Technology. Heaps and heaps of cash had been thrown down, turning the entire massive area into a bustling construction site. Even now, during the National Day holiday, tens of thousands of workers were still on-site, working day and night.

The company’s Phase II factory, the Star River Technology Research Institute, and a huge residential complex large enough to house over ten thousand people were all being built simultaneously. With tens of billions of Huaxia currency poured into the projects, even well-known state-owned giants came scrambling over each other to bid for the contracts.

“This Star River Technology residential complex is well-planned, built against Lotus Mountain. The villas on the mountain can be awarded to outstanding researchers and company executives in the future, while the large apartment buildings at the foot of the mountain can be allocated to company employees.”

“This area for the Star River Technology Research Institute is also quite good. In the future, the large adjacent plot can be used to build Star River University, combining research with education…”

Just as he was mapping out the future in his mind, a call came from Yin Shouping.

“You brat, I hear you’re just sitting at home counting your money all day. Have your hands gone numb yet?”

As soon as Qin Yi answered the phone, Yin Shouping’s cheerful voice came through. He was clearly aware of Qin Yi’s recent fortune. After all, Star River Technology’s Atomic Matrix Battery was ushering in the Era of Electric Vehicles, and it had also created huge waves in the scientific community. As a top expert in the field of electromagnetism, Yin Shouping himself had received many commissions hoping he could help research the Atomic Matrix Battery technology.

“Professor, you’re not calling to hit me up for money, are you?” Qin Yi asked with a weak laugh.

“That’s right, I’m here to hit you up for money. Don’t even think about getting rid of me for anything less than a billion or two.”

“Professor, as long as you’re willing to come to Star River Technology, I’ll give you a research fund of two billion a year,” Qin Yi said with great sincerity.

“Get out of here! It wouldn’t matter if you gave me ten billion a year. Aren’t you afraid our university president will come over and knock you on the head? How dare you try to poach from your own alma mater? You’re really getting ahead of yourself.”

“I called you today because I have some good news and some bad news. Which one do you want to hear first?”

After a few sentences of banter, Yin Shouping got down to business.

“Let’s hear the bad news first, then.”

Qin Yi was slightly taken aback. Good news and bad news? He thought for a moment but couldn’t guess what it might be.

“The bad news is that the entire global electromagnetics community is now studying your Atomic Matrix Battery. Even I’ve received a research commission. So, you’d better hurry up and make more money while you can. Once everyone figures out the technology, your good days will be over.”

Yin Shouping smiled as he recounted the major event in the world of electromagnetics. The Atomic Matrix Battery was an incredibly hot topic right now because it was just too profitable. It was practically common knowledge that Star River Technology had sold the licensing rights alone for ten billion US dollars.

Furthermore, the implications of this technology were far-reaching. It wasn’t just about the electric vehicle sector; the Atomic Matrix Battery had immense applications in almost every field related to electricity. Naturally, the various countries of the world couldn’t tolerate this technology being monopolized by someone from Huaxia. Even within Huaxia, countless people were green with envy of Qin Yi.

“Is that so… what’s the good news, then?”

Qin Yi wasn’t concerned. The Atomic Matrix Battery technology was not that easy to figure out. With Earth’s current level of technology, even with existing samples, Qin Yi estimated it would take them at least several years.

By the time they finally figured out the technology, Qin Yi would have already made a killing in the field. At that point, it wouldn’t matter if he lost this slice of the pie.

“Hah! You seem pretty confident. But your Atomic Matrix Battery really is something special. Can you explain a few points to me? I’ve never been able to figure it out… how does the atomic matrix operate?”

Hearing the tone of Qin Yi’s voice, Yin Shouping knew at once that he wasn’t worried at all. He asked with a smile.

“Professor, this is my bread and butter. If I tell you now, won’t I be smashing my own rice bowl? If you want to learn, you can. Just come to my company.”

Qin Yi pursed his lips, his eyes darting as he immediately tried to coax him.

“Stop trying to sweet-talk me. Believe it or not, I could figure out this Atomic Matrix Battery technology tomorrow and put you out of business.”

Hearing this, Yin Shouping couldn’t help but feel his hackles rise in mock anger.

“I believe you, I believe you! Professor, you’re omnipotent, unparalleled in history, a modern Newton, a future Einstein…”

“Stop, stop! Are you trying to curse me? ‘A modern Newton, a future Einstein’… that sounds a little strange.”

“Let’s not talk about that. The good news is that I think you’re going to win the Nobel Prize. Someone from the Nobel Committee just contacted me and asked for your contact information. They should be getting in touch with you soon.”

“The new generation surpasses the old. Congratulations!” Yin Shouping said with a sigh, then congratulated Qin Yi with heartfelt joy, as if he himself had won the prize. Qin Yi could feel that he was genuinely happy for him.

“They just wanted a number. It might just be a nomination. Isn’t it too early to celebrate?”

Qin Yi was stunned. He hadn’t expected the good news to be about the Nobel Prize. There had been a lot of talk about him winning for his discovery related to anti-gravity, but that was just talk. Nothing was certain until the Nobel Committee made a public announcement.

“For anyone else, there might be variables, but for you, it should be a sure thing this time. The youngest Nobel laureate in history… just thinking about it is exciting.”

Yin Shouping, however, was very certain and confident about it.

“By the way, Professor, I have a request. I hope you can agree to it.”

“Go ahead. As long as it’s within my power, I’ll do everything I can.”

Hearing Yin Shouping’s serious tone, Qin Yi immediately agreed.

“When you go to accept the award, can you take me with you? I probably have no hope of winning a Nobel in this lifetime. Being able to attend my own student’s award ceremony would be enough for one life. That Nobel hall is a sacred place in the hearts of all of us who do scientific research!”

As Yin Shouping said this, a sense of melancholy washed over him, as if he regretted that the Nobel was out of his reach.

“Of course, no problem at all! But Professor, if you really want to win a Nobel, you might consider coming to my company. You might still have a chance.”

Qin Yi agreed to Yin Shouping’s request without hesitation, then added after a moment of thought.

“Go on, go on, trying to coax me again. That’s it. If we talk any longer, you’ll really talk me into it.”

Yin Shouping couldn’t take any more of Qin Yi’s attempts. The allure of a Nobel Prize, the highest honor in a researcher’s life… it was better to just hang up the phone.

Qin Yi put his phone away, smiled, and shook his head. Then, he fell into an anxious wait.

Even with the Technology Tower in his possession, winning awards was only a matter of time. But when the moment was actually upon him, he still couldn’t hide the joy and excitement in his heart. Now, as he waited, every minute and every second felt exceptionally long.

But Qin Yi didn’t have to wait for long. A dozen or so minutes later, a call came in from abroad. Qin Yi answered it almost instantly.

As expected, it was a call from the Nobel Committee. They first congratulated him on winning the 2020 Nobel Prize in Physics and invited him to Sweden on December 10, 2020, the anniversary of Nobel’s death, to attend the award ceremony.

Qin Yi naturally expressed his thanks and readily agreed to attend.

Hanging up the phone, Qin Yi couldn’t help but clench his fists in excitement. For those in the world of scientific research, the Nobel Prize was absolutely the highest honor, the goal that every scientist strove for their entire life.

Even someone like Yin Shouping, who was indifferent to fame and fortune, was fixated on the Nobel Prize, considering it a lifelong regret not to have won one. Upon learning that Qin Yi was going to receive it, he even asked to be taken to the ceremony to experience it, just to soothe his own heart’s regret.

This showed just how high the status of the Nobel Prize was in the hearts of all scientists. It was an honor, the highest honor!

Chapter 49: The Youngest Nobel Laureate in History

“Qin Yi, you seem very excited?”

Wen Xueying walked into Qin Yi’s office and saw him clenching his fists in excitement. She asked, completely bewildered.

“Mmm~”

Qin Yi nodded, his face wreathed in smiles.

“It looks like our boss has some good news. Does that mean we should get a raise? When there’s good news, it’s only natural to share the happiness with everyone.”

Seeing Qin Yi’s expression, Wen Xueying’s eyes darted around as she spoke with a smile.

“I just gave everyone a raise. Let’s talk about it after the new year. However, I am taking a trip to Northern Europe in December. I wonder if you’d be interested?”

Qin Yi looked at Wen Xueying. Today, she was dressed in professional attire that perfectly outlined her flawless figure. She was like a snow lotus in full bloom, a sight so pleasing to the eye that one couldn’t help but take a few extra glances.

“Just the two of us… going to Northern Europe?”

Hearing this, Wen Xueying’s face immediately flushed red. Seeming to have thought of something, she became a little shy.

“What? Not interested?”

“If you’re not interested, I’ll just ask someone else. If you miss this chance, you’ll definitely regret it for the rest of your life.”

Seeing the blush on Wen Xueying’s face, Qin Yi was secretly delighted and continued with a smile.

“Let me think… think about it~”

Wen Xueying’s face grew even redder, like a ripe cherry. Her thoughts were in a jumble, completely unable to figure out what Qin Yi really meant. He was inviting her to Northern Europe alone, a trip for two.

“Is he going to officially pursue me?”

“Should I say yes?”

“He may look a bit plain, but he has a pretty good personality…”

Wen Xueying’s mind was in chaos, her face bright red.

“If you don’t want to go, that’s fine. I’ll ask someone else. Don’t blame me when you regret it later.”

Watching Wen Xueying’s reaction, Qin Yi could barely hold back his laughter, but he maintained a serious expression as he spoke.

“I’ll go~ I’ll go~”

The moment she heard Qin Yi’s words, Wen Xueying immediately replied as if she were afraid of losing something. Seeing the mischievous smile hanging on the corner of Qin Yi’s lips, she couldn’t help but feel a surge of anger.

“Is this how you pursue a girl?”

“Serves you right for being a single dog! You don’t even invite someone out to dinner or a movie to let things develop step by step. You just jump straight to inviting them on a trip for two…”

“And then… on a trip for two…”

Wen Xueying’s heart was a mess. A million thoughts ran through her head, and her shy demeanor was a far cry from the usual composure of a strong career woman.

“Alright~ If you’re going, could you please plan the travel itinerary? I’m really clueless when it comes to planning trips.”

Qin Yi nodded and added after a moment of thought. He looked at Wen Xueying, completely baffled. All he wanted was for her to accompany him to the Nobel Prize award ceremony and the banquet afterward. Was it necessary for her to blush like a cherry?

“Women truly are complicated creatures~”

Qin Yi shook his head and got back to his work.

Wen Xueying, standing to the side, looked at Qin Yi’s serious, busy expression and couldn’t help but pout. He invites her on a trip, and then he even makes her plan the itinerary. This was simply too much!

Face flushed, fuming, yet with a secret sweetness in her heart, she returned to her desk. Her thoughts were still in turmoil, her mind a complete mess.

After a long while, she managed to calm the storm in her heart. A delighted smile spread across her face as she skillfully opened her computer, ready to get back to work.

Suddenly, a Tencent News notification popped up. She was about to close it out of habit, but as her eyes swept over it, her hand froze.

On the afternoon of October 2nd, 2020, the Nobel Committee announced: This year’s Nobel Prize in Physics is awarded to Huaxian physicist Qin Yi, in recognition of his major discoveries and breakthroughs in the field of anti-gravity.

Qin Yi has become the youngest winner of a Nobel Prize in the natural sciences in history. He is only twenty-three years old this year, born in Ning County, Hongdu Province, Huaxia, and a graduate of Huaxia University…

“He won the Nobel Prize~ And he’s the youngest winner in history~”

Without a second thought, Wen Xueying immediately clicked on the article. The news report gave a very detailed introduction to the anti-gravity theory Qin Yi had discovered, as well as his personal information: where he was born, where he graduated, and even his hobbies and interests. The only thing missing was what color underwear he liked to wear.

At the same time, when the Nobel Committee announced Qin Yi as this year’s physics laureate, the news of him becoming the youngest Nobel winner in history spread at an incredible speed.

After the first piece of news appeared online, a flood of subsequent reports sprang up like bamboo shoots after a spring rain, blossoming across Weibo, WeChat, news headlines, and more.

Once the accuracy of the information was confirmed, almost all of Huaxia was set abuzz by the news.

“Someone from Huaxia won the Nobel Prize again, and he even broke the record for the youngest winner! His name is Qin Yi~”

“The discoverer of anti-gravity theory. He was the most talked-about candidate this year. This was expected~”

“A 23-year-old Nobel laureate, setting a new record for the youngest winner…”

“Huaxia is mighty~”

“Congratulations from Huaxia University~”

“Congratulations from Imperial Capital University~”

“Congratulations from the people of Guangdong Province~”

“Congratulations from the people of Shanghai~”

“…”

Although Qin Yi had enjoyed some fame before, it was limited to scientific circles. To the vast majority of uninformed onlookers, his name was completely unknown.

But now, before Qin Yi even had a chance to share the joy of his award on his own WeChat and Douyin, he was pushed to the number one trending spot by the crowd of onlookers frantically searching his name.

Previously, Baidu Encyclopedia had no entry for Qin Yi. But almost instantly, Baidu produced a highly detailed encyclopedia page for him, chronicling how he had shown extraordinary scientific talent ever since he was a toddler in split-crotch pants…

What did a Nobel Prize mean?

For the entire nation, it could greatly boost national confidence. It signified that the country’s level of scientific research was rapidly improving, and it also meant that next year, more students taking the college entrance exams would jump into the deep pit of math, physics, and chemistry…

Breaking the record for the youngest Nobel laureate, discovering and pioneering anti-gravity theory, and becoming a forerunner in the field of anti-gravity placed him on par with historical figures like Newton and Einstein. He had become the most outstanding and dazzling figure from Huaxia in the realm of modern and contemporary natural sciences.

This was incredibly important for the people of Huaxia.

For a long time, Huaxia’s contributions to modern and contemporary science had been few and far between. Now, to suddenly have a figure comparable to Newton and Einstein emerge—and a very young one at that—was enough to prove that the Huaxian people were undoubtedly one of the world’s most outstanding civilizations, second to none.

The entire nation’s confidence received a tremendous boost. Countless people carefully read Qin Yi’s personal information, and in the process, also learned a little about what anti-gravity was and the immense changes the theory could bring to humanity in the future.

For Qin Yi himself, the significance was also extraordinary.

Whether at home or abroad, no university or research institution in the world would refuse to accept a Nobel laureate. Not only that, but the respect, treatment, and resources Qin Yi would be able to enjoy would be unparalleled.

Moreover, a Nobel Prize was a huge protective umbrella, a very effective talisman. No matter where Qin Yi went, anyone thinking of harming him would have to consider this very carefully.

For instance, the last time Ji Gang brought people to Star River Technology, he immediately slapped Qin Yi with the label of “selling out one’s own people.” If it were now, he absolutely wouldn’t dare. He wouldn’t even dare to show up at Star River Technology so aggressively to hold him accountable.

For someone like Qin Yi, who had no powerful backing, the title of Nobel laureate was an excellent protective umbrella, especially when he was using high-tech to make money. Having this protection or not was critically important.

Right now, Qin Yi had already made countless people green with envy just by making a little money from the Atomic Matrix Battery technology. If he were to release more technologies in the future, it would surely make people so jealous that they would try to make a move against him.

But now, things were different. Anyone who wanted to touch Qin Yi would first have to consider his immense fame and the voice of Huaxia’s one-point-four billion citizens. As long as Qin Yi did nothing to betray the country, it was safe to say no one would be foolish enough to touch him.

Of course, now that Qin Yi had won the Nobel Prize and was the youngest winner in history, no one would find it strange when he unveiled new technologies in the future. They would think it was only natural. Because he was the youngest Nobel laureate, the Einstein of the 21st century—wasn’t it expected and perfectly normal for him to invent all sorts of new technologies?

…

In Qin Yi’s office, his phone was ringing nonstop. Friends and family were all sending him congratulatory messages. His WeChat messages had exploded to the point where he couldn’t even share the news of his win himself. His phone was on the verge of crashing.

So many people were sending him friend requests, and one call after another came in, mostly from unknown numbers, some even from abroad.

“Looks like I’ll have to get a new number~”

Qin Yi thought to himself, rubbing his chin.

“Liar~ You big liar~”

However, before Qin Yi could be happy for long, Wen Xueying stormed into the office and said angrily.

“Liar? A big liar?”

“When did I lie to you?”

Qin Yi was completely lost. It didn’t seem like he had ever lied to Wen Xueying. But from her expression, it was as if he had loved her and then cruelly abandoned her.

“Liar~ Big liar~ You’re just a big liar~”

Wen Xueying was fuming. When she thought about all the wild thoughts that had run through her head when Qin Yi had invited her to Northern Europe, she was furious.

She finally understood why Qin Yi had invited her. It wasn’t to travel around Northern Europe while falling in love, but to attend the Nobel Prize ceremony and banquet. The thought made her even angrier.

Chapter 50: The Youngest Nobel Prize Winner in History

The news of Qin Yi winning the Nobel Prize spread throughout all of Huaxia almost instantaneously. At Huaxia University, Qin Yi’s alma mater, a grand and magnificent banner was hung in less than half an hour.

Heartfelt Congratulations to Our Outstanding Alumnus Qin Yi on Winning the 2020 Nobel Prize in Physics and Becoming the Youngest Nobel Laureate in History.

The banner was very long and hung in an extremely conspicuous spot. A Nobel laureate held extraordinary significance for a university. As Huaxia’s most prestigious institution, it had cultivated countless outstanding talents who were active on every stage in the nation.

However, the fact that no graduate of Huaxia University had ever won a Nobel Prize had always been a great regret, something that didn’t quite match the university’s status. After all, every single one of the world’s top universities had produced a host of Nobel laureates.

Now, Huaxia University finally had a student who had won the Nobel Prize, and the youngest in history at that. Naturally, it was an occasion for grand celebration. Just hanging a banner was hardly enough to express the joy in their hearts.

Almost immediately, the dormitory building where Qin Yi had lived during his university years was renamed the “Qin Yi Building,” a small path on campus was renamed “Qin Yi Road,” and so on. They were just short of turning his old dorm room into a Qin Yi Memorial Hall.

Ning County No. 1 High School, where Qin Yi had studied, was certainly not to be outdone. Passionate banners nearly obscured the entire school gate.

Hearty Congratulations to Our Outstanding Alumnus Qin Yi on Winning the 2020 Nobel Prize in Physics.

Hearty Congratulations to Our Distinguished Alumnus Qin Yi on Becoming the Youngest Nobel Laureate in History.

Hearty Congratulations to Our Distinguished Alumnus Qin Yi for Proposing the Anti-gravity Theory that Will Influence 21st-Century Technological Development.

…

Banner after banner, each starting with nearly the same phrase, but with the latter half dedicated to listing Qin Yi’s various contributions. From a distance, the main gate of Ning County No. 1 High School seemed to be completely hidden behind them.

For a high school in a poverty-stricken county, producing a student who got into Huaxia University was cause enough for a massive celebration. So, when a student from their school actually won a Nobel Prize, it had to be highlighted in bold, to the point where they wished they could hang countless banners all over campus.

This wasn’t just a matter of celebration and joy; there were also many benefits involved. A high school that could produce a Nobel laureate…

When it came to public relations, Qin Yi was an incredibly useful card to play. Furthermore, when applying to higher authorities for teaching funds, or for building a new sports field or academic building, the process would surely go much more smoothly.

In addition, with Qin Yi as their claim to fame, Ning County No. 1 High School’s application to become a designated “key high school” would also be much easier. After all, a school that could produce a Nobel laureate would surely have no problem earning such a title.

When it came time for admissions next year, they could feature Qin Yi again to attract countless students to apply. Who knew, they might even be able to raise their admission scores by several tiers.

…

Besides the university and high school Qin Yi had attended, which had hung their grand banners, even his middle school, Huangjing Town Middle School, couldn’t resist joining the excitement. Banners were raised, their characters magnificent, and they even started setting off fireworks in broad daylight.

They were just short of calling back all the students currently on their National Day holiday to properly publicize the glorious stories of Qin Yi’s diligent studies during his middle school years.

The teachers who had once taught Qin Yi felt a shared sense of glory. Whenever they spoke of him, their words were eloquent, their faces filled with pride and happiness.

“I taught Qin Yi math in his second year of middle school. Even back then, I could tell this child would have a great future. He had horns growing on his head—a clear sign of a future dragon or phoenix…”

“I had just graduated from teacher’s college and came to teach at Huangjing Middle School. I taught physics. One time during class, I saw him zoning out and asked him, ‘You’re not paying attention. What are you thinking about?’ Guess how he replied?”

“He told me he was pondering Earth’s gravity. I never imagined that he would go on to discover anti-gravity and win the Nobel Prize! It’s a good thing I didn’t criticize him harshly back then. Instead, I encouraged him to explore its mysteries…”

Teachers who rarely bragged were now boasting to their students and friends, and everyone else listened with rapt attention. After all, stories about Qin Yi’s childhood were fascinating. Who knew, they might be written into textbooks one day, in articles like The Extraordinary Qin Yi, The Young Qin Yi, or Qin Yi in His Youth.

…

“Qin Yi, can you take me with you when you go to accept the Nobel Prize? From now on, whenever you’re in the Imperial Capital, I’ll carry your bags and be your chauffeur, and I’ll treat you to the best food and drinks. The Nobel Prize award ceremony and the banquet… if I could go just once, I’d have bragging rights for a lifetime~”

“Sure~ No problem. There are plenty of spots anyway. Let Wang Zhixuan and Lü Ziyi know, and we’ll all go together.”

“You’re a true bro~ Haha~ Let’s see who dares to brag in front of me now. I’ll blow their minds. What banquet could possibly be more prestigious than the Nobel banquet?”

“…”

Qin Yi smiled, shook his head, and hung up Li Bowen’s call. Before he could even catch his breath, another call came in. This time, it was an unknown number, and he rejected it without a second thought.

There were simply too many calls. Qin Yi had gotten nothing done the entire afternoon. The moment one call ended, another came in. He could ignore the unknown numbers, but he had to answer the calls from friends and family.

Chatting with each person for a minute or two, the time flew by. Looking at the unread text messages and the notifications from friends on WeChat, Qin Yi felt that he wouldn’t be getting any peace for the next few days.

He checked the time and glanced at the night sky outside. It was completely dark. Qin Yi stood up, stretched, and cracked his bones as he looked out the window.

The construction site in the distance was a hive of activity, showing no signs of stopping even at night. High-powered spotlights illuminated the area, and the roar of machinery was incessant.

“Time to go home for dinner~”

Qin Yi tidied up a bit and prepared to leave.

“Boss, you won the Nobel Prize. Shouldn’t you show some appreciation to everyone?”

As he walked out of his office, Wen Xueying blocked his path with a pout, looking as if she wouldn’t let him pass until he made some kind of gesture.

“Boss~ A gesture~ a gesture~”

When the others saw this, they all started to chime in, gathering around him.

“Late-night snacks are on me tonight. Everyone can eat and drink whatever you want~” Qin Yi immediately surrendered to the situation, offering tentatively.

“Not enough~ It’s just one late-night snack. That’s not even a drop in the ocean for you.”

Wen Xueying said, shaking her head with her hands on her hips.

“Right~ Not enough, not enough~”

The others echoed her.

“Then how about three extra vacation days for everyone after the National Day holiday?”

Qin Yi’s eyes darted around. It seemed like he wouldn’t get off easy this time.

“Nope~ Still not enough~”

Wen Xueying looked determined not to let him off the hook, shaking her head with a stern expression.

“Everyone gets an extra month’s salary this month~”

Qin Yi grit his teeth and stomped his foot. He had no choice but to pave his way with money.

“Now that’s more like it~”

Hearing that everyone was getting a month’s bonus, the crowd erupted in cheers. The allure of money was irresistible. Even Wen Xueying, satisfied, stepped aside to clear a path.

“Phew~ Good thing the company doesn’t have many employees right now. An extra month’s salary for everyone isn’t that much. Otherwise, I would have really taken a huge hit this time.”

After leaving the company, Qin Yi couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret. As a black-hearted capitalist, he had actually been fleeced by his own employees. He was supposed to be the one doing the fleecing!

Qin Yi had thought he would find some peace and quiet at home, but it turned out he was wrong. Terribly wrong.

Back at Qin Yi’s old family home in Xiashan Village, the house was bustling with activity. Many guests had arrived, all of them members of the Qin clan. People in the countryside had always had large extended families. It was only in Qin Yi’s generation, due to specific national policies, that each household had fewer children. Before, having four or five siblings was perfectly normal.

For instance, Qin Yi’s father had seven siblings, and his mother had eight. When you counted up all sorts of relatives, the number was quite large.

The people sitting in the house now were from his grandfather’s generation. Although Qin Yi’s own grandfather had passed away early, these were his grandfather’s brothers, along with his own uncles. They had filled his family’s house to the brim.

“Qin Yi, you’re back just in time. The clan has an important matter to discuss with you.”

Seeing Qin Yi return, his father immediately pulled him over.

Qin Yi smiled and greeted his granduncles and uncles. He couldn’t neglect his courtesies. Even though he had achieved a certain status, he was still a junior in their presence.

“Qin Yi,” his eldest granduncle began, looking at him with deep gratification and pride as he smiled and spoke. “After the clan learned that you won the Nobel Prize, everyone got together and discussed it. We think it’s time for us to gather, update the family genealogy, and renovate the ancestral hall. After all, for our Qin family to have produced a talent like you, it is something we should celebrate properly.”

“This is a wonderful thing. Of course, I support it wholeheartedly. I will cover whatever funds are needed.”

Hearing this, Qin Yi was slightly taken aback. He hadn’t expected that his winning the Nobel Prize would lead the clan to want to revise the family genealogy. He remembered the last time it was done was when he was very young; it hadn’t been updated in over a decade.

He never thought that as soon as he won the Nobel Prize, the clan would bring up updating the records. It was clear that they were genuinely proud of him. For a clan to produce a Nobel laureate was indeed an occasion worthy of a grand revision and celebration.

The matter of funding wasn’t the key issue. Qin Yi had been wealthy for some time, and everyone knew it, but no one had mentioned updating the genealogy. This showed that they were truly doing it to commemorate his Nobel Prize.

UNTITLED

1. Chapter 1: Qin Yi
2. Chapter 2: The Technology Tower
3. Chapter 3: The Road Ahead
4. Chapter 4: The Elusive First Pot of Gold
5. Chapter 5: Custom-Made Cheats

6. Chapter 6: A Job That Earns Hundreds of Millions a Year Is Actually…

7. Chapter 7: Gene Optimization Fluid

8. Chapter 8: The Importance of Literature and Philosophy

9. Chapter 9: How to Calculate the Mass of the Earth

10. Chapter 10: What’s Wrong with This Guy?

11. Chapter 11: Gone Viral

12. Chapter 12: Papers with Huaxia Characteristics

13. Chapter 13: Anti-gravity Technology
14. Chapter 14: What’s Your Name, Student?
15. Chapter 15: A Little Excited

16. Chapter 16: Choosing a Location for the Company

17. Chapter 17: Let’s Study It Together
18. Chapter 18: Fame Makes All the Difference
19. Chapter 19: Star River Technology

20. Chapter 20: Not Attending to Proper Duties

21. Chapter 21: The Hardships of Industry
22. Chapter 22: The Anti-Gravity Project Team
23. Chapter 23: An International Sensation

24. Chapter 24: Seeking N Girlfriends, Must Be Beautiful with Fair Skin and Long Legs

25. Chapter 25: A Quiet Life Shattered to Pieces

26. Chapter 26: Persuading Wen Xueying
27. Chapter 27: A Husky in the Wolf Pack
28. Chapter 28: Leave Request
29. Chapter 29: Low-Profile Development
30. Chapter 30: The Anti-Gravity Engine
31. Chapter 31: The Power Problem
32. Chapter 32: Can’t Go Back Empty-Handed
33. Chapter 33: Everything Is Ready
34. Chapter 34: Can I Take It Apart?
35. Chapter 35: A Small Goal of 10 Billion
36. Chapter 36: The Storm is Coming
37. Chapter 37: Only Selling Batteries
38. Chapter 38: They’ve All Arrived
39. Chapter 39: The Extravagant Koreans
40. Chapter 40: The Deep-Pocketed Koreans
41. Chapter 40: Selling Quotas

42. Chapter 41: Not Selling Shares, But Entrance Tickets

43. Chapter 42: We’re Rich! We’re Rich!
44. Chapter 43: Changes
45. Chapter 44: The Era of Electric Vehicles
46. Chapter 45: The Good Days Are Over
47. Chapter 46: A Lost Cause
48. Chapter 47: A Lost Cause
49. Chapter 48: Take Me to the Ceremony

50. Chapter 49: The Youngest Nobel Laureate in History

51. Chapter 50: The Youngest Nobel Prize Winner in History