Chapter 120

Chapter 120

Bringing back the college entrance exam was meant to bring in talent. Considering that admitted students from across the country would take a while to travel, Peking University set the start of the semester one month after the exam, i.e., mid-October.

For the two sisters Feng Jinlian and Feng Jingui, who were admitted to a normal university, the start date was even earlier, and they reported almost as soon as they got their admission letters. Wu Hongxia, meanwhile, was busy getting her official letter of introduction and rushed to Beijing without stopping. After years apart, she was finally returning to the place she'd been dreaming of.

The next day was Peking University's opening ceremony. President Wang Shuangkun was sweating buckets, his palm sticky with perspiration as he gripped the telephone receiver, nearly dropping it. The voice on the other end conveyed a simple message: the top scorer he had personally selected, Comrade Feng Xia, with a score of 497, would not be able to attend the opening ceremony.

Wang Shuangkun was greatly displeased. If Feng Xia herself had informed him, he would have chewed that young hotshot out. But the one contacting him now was Zhu Guangya from the 101 Institute, a man of higher rank and holder of numerous patents. Rank beats reason, so Wang Shuangkun could only pinch his nose and go along with it. Fine, she wasn't coming, but at least she gave him a heads-up a full day in advance.

The speaker for the opening ceremony had to be changed. Wang Shuangkun had to track down the second-place candidate, who scored 490. Luckily, this new student had arrived early, saving Wang Shuangkun an unnecessary trip.

"Comrade Zhao Guangming, congratulations on being admitted to Peking University with a high score of 490. You will deliver the freshman speech at tomorrow's opening ceremony. Be sure to write a good draft and be well prepared today." Wang Shuangkun led Zhao Guangming to his office, sounding pretty impressed.

Zhao Guangming was thrilled by the sudden good news, a bright smile spreading across his face. He suddenly thought of the top scorer from Beijing. To his knowledge, that student had also been admitted to Peking University, so why had he landed the opportunity? Anyone admitted to Peking University was sharp; Zhao Guangming didn't ask further, simply promising to write an excellent speech and ensure everything went smoothly the next day. With this matter settled, everything else was trivial.

Wang Shuangkun then called the professors for the courses Feng Xia was supposed to take, notifying them that she would not be attending classes for the time being. Most teachers had a pretty good idea that if the president himself had to make the call, the student must be truly exceptional. For the stubborn ones, Wang Shuangkun simply shut them up with, "The student is working on a project at the 101 Institute." Even some senior professors couldn't get into the 101 Institute, so they dared not ask further—it was clearly a matter of national secrecy.

And so, the next day arrived.

Hundreds of new students from all over the country gathered in the great hall, men and women, young and old, packed shoulder to shoulder. The president delivered a passionate speech, moving everyone, who had endured years of hardship, to tears. Their fervor remained unquenched; they were determined to master knowledge and skills to serve their homeland.

The freshman speech was scheduled last. Many had hoped to catch a glimpse of the prodigious top scorer with a score of 497. Instead, they saw a young man step onto the stage. Quite a few were scratching their heads—Hey, wasn't the top scorer a girl?

Zhao Guangming was calm and composed. Hard years in the countryside had toughened him up, giving him a strong physique. The young man announced in a clear, strong voice: "Greetings, fellow Peking University students. I am Zhao Guangming, with a score of 490. The top scorer, with 497, had something to attend to and couldn't be here, so I got the lucky break. Classmates, do you know what that means?"

His humorous tone got the attention of the freshmen who had been looking down on him, who eagerly awaited his next words.

"It means anything is possible!" As Zhao Guangming's words fell, the students burst into laughter. The second-place candidate had truly left an impression on the Peking University students. On stage, Zhao Guangming smiled along with them, undisguised ambition in his eyes. Students of Peking University—who could claim to have no ambition? His openness was refreshing and even admirable.

Many female students looked at the witty, robust young man on stage, their cheeks flushing and eyes sparkling. A young man at his finest—charismatic and confident.

Over at the 101 Institute, the atmosphere was far less lively.

As soon as Feng Xia submitted her project proposal, the Ministry of Science and Technology immediately convened a meeting centered around her new project. The project was too cross-disciplinary, leaving even Minister Cai of the Ministry of Science and Technology unable to make up his mind. Moreover, Feng Xia had requested a budget of one hundred thousand yuan, a substantial sum, especially in 1976.

Unable to reach a decision, Minister Cai took the project proposal to Nanhai that evening. The leader, with a complex expression, finished reading it and asked, "Xiao Cai, your children are married now, right? Have you got grandchildren?"

Unaware of the relevance of the question, Minister Cai answered honestly, "Yes, they've been married for a few years. The eldest has a little girl, the second hasn't had any yet, and the third has a son, a mischievous little one."

The leader smiled and said, "Look at this girl—isn't she just as mischievous? In my view, she's simply relying on her intelligence, jumping from one thing to another, and yet she actually manages to get things done. We old folks are getting on in years; the future belongs to them."

Minister Cai understood. In his heart, he admired the leader's deep trust in Feng Xia. Even with such a broad cross-disciplinary scope, he supported her. Unbeknownst to him, the leader, a visionary, aimed to nurture a scientist who could drive epochal change. Money was essential, and if Feng Xia had the ability, the leader would support her. No matter what, with the nation backing her, she could go all out, no worries.

Within a day, Minister Cai approved the project proposal and promptly allocated the funds—one hundred thousand yuan, not a penny short.

Feng Xia successfully initiated her project. She selected a few people from the lab; the original two had left to return to their classes. She chose two steady and diligent individuals, and on that day, a project that would later be considered a game-changer was established.

Currently, aside from the Ministry of Science and Technology, only Zhu Guangya knew about the research direction of this project. Even Zhu Guangya, the seasoned Vice Minister, was taken aback when he saw Feng Xia's submitted proposal. What the heck is this?! In his view, Feng Xia was going off-track. She just dropped the lithium battery project halfway, started working on fluid mechanics, stopped working on firearms, and now abruptly turned to this. If he were Wan Fulin, he would definitely break that girl's legs.

Zhu Guangya took two quick-acting heart-saving pills from his pocket to calm himself, then reluctantly gave the project the green light. There was nothing he could do—he simply couldn't control the young girl! Feng Xia never listened to him; she was really stubborn, beyond anyone's control.

Professor Zhu Guangya thought to himself, let the girl do as she pleases. When she messes up, she'll come back and focus on the batteries. Everyone has their moments of youthful impetuosity. He understood.

From top to bottom, no one had high hopes for Feng Xia's current research. Even the upper echelons were merely letting her try, for no other reason than that the project was far too cross-disciplinary. Despite Feng Xia's genius, it was a pretty worrying move.

Except for Feng Xia herself.

She believed in herself.

She could do it. She, Feng Xia, had never failed before.