```
Late at night, Li Zheng, with his backpack on, was heading towards the entrance of the residential compound when he saw a familiar figure pulling a suitcase out through the gate.
Li Zheng hastened his steps and called out, "Ning’er?"
An Ning looked up and smiled, "I thought you weren’t coming back."
"Hey, I probably won’t co back tomorrow either." Li Zheng took over the suitcase, accompanying his mother towards the outside, "A flight at this late hour?"
"Don’t get started, flights to Africa are always at these tis." An Ning, looking up at the moon with a wry smile, said, "I used to imagine that maybe one day we would both leave early and co back late, our work so unpredictable that we’d end up eting like this soday. I just didn’t expect it to happen so soon."
Li Zheng walked a couple of steps and then sighed, "Looks like Old Li will have to keep the empty house company from now on."
"Poor him. Used to be just his wife that wasn’t around, now even his son is missing out, turning into a lonely old man in his forties." An Ning, ruffling Li Zheng’s hair, asked, "How’s the work environnt?"
"Apart from the als, everything else is pretty good." Li Zheng wheeled the suitcase to the car parked by the curb, knocked on the window, turned back and said, "Don’t worry, with Mother Lin watching my back, no one dares to bully ."
"I’m worried you might bully soone else..." An Ning said with a helpless smile, "Don’t use your own intensity as a asure for others. Try to be hardworking without showing off too much. Keep a low profile, or else you’ll end up being resented by your coworkers."
"Huh?" Li Zheng looked puzzled, "So I should be like Zhang Xiaoke, pretending not to study and secretly scoring high marks?"
"Sothing like that."
"And here I thought it was good to let people see how hard you work..."
"It varies from person to person. Your kind of intensity is just overbearing and can put too much pressure on others."
"Alright then."
By this ti, the driver had gotten out of the car, took the luggage from Li Zheng to put it in the trunk, and then opened the car door for An Ning to get in.
An Ning checked her watch and said to the driver, "We have enough ti. Wait for ten minutes. I’m embarrassed to say that it’s rare for to see my son."
"No problem," the driver checked his own watch, "I can drive faster. Even if we leave in 20 minutes, we will still make it."
"Thank you."
After the driver got back in the car, An Ning pulled Li Zheng towards a west-facing intersection and suggested, "Let’s walk around the compound, the timing should be just right."
"How about running? I haven’t hit five kiloters yet today."
"..."
"Haha, just kidding, let’s walk." Li Zheng motioned as he spoke, "By the way, do you know Director Chen Hongbing, Chen?"
"I’ve t him a few tis, he’s a leader with a good reputation."
"And Zhao Zhenhua?"
"He’s well-known, nicknad Zhao Dapao for his eagerness to berate people. But since his elder generation contributed to ’Two Bombs, One Satellite,’ no one dares to ss with him. However... he might be scolding all the ti, but when it cos to getting work done, he’s really efficient, and he also knows who he can scold and who he can’t. He’s a leader who really holds sway," An Ning pursed her lips and added, "But if there’re any more issues with Yellow 2, or a lack of progress for a long ti, then that’s probably the end of his run, I guess."
After pondering An Ning’s words, Li Zheng then inquired, "And what about Aunt Shen?"
```
"I had never heard of this person before," An Ning waved off, "I only started asking around when I learned you were going to intern. She’s an extrely low-profile person, always burrowed in at the Rocket Academy after graduating. She would push off any external etings if possible, but even so, her promotion rate hasn’t been slow. Roughly every half year when Chen Hongbing gets a promotion, she gets pulled up too. Her abilities are certainly top-notch, but I feel, without Chen Hongbing, she would be a long way from becoming a chief designer."
"Good at recognizing and utilizing talent!"
"Stop flattering yourself," An Ning said with a laugh and a scold, "Director Chen made a special exception for you to intern, and you think you’re sothing, huh?"
"Haha, special exception? I’ve been sent off to the test site to do grunt work already."
"What? Should I make a call?"
"No need, no need, the testing doesn’t interfere with my studies," Li Zheng stretched sluggishly and sighed, "I’ve already thought it through. On one hand, I want to learn engineering techniques, and on the other hand, I want to learn about collaboration, so I’ll have a foundation for working in the Ji University labs in the future."
"So you’ve set your heart on research?" An Ning asked casually.
"It’s not so much about being set on it," Li Zheng waved and smiled, "It just naturally happened, going down this path. It would be strange to head in any other direction."
"That’s going to make things difficult…" An Ning rubbed his chin, "Just think, soone in charge of budget allocation, all those old n in the labs will be scrambling over you. I won’t ntion anyone else, but Old Deng has already brought it up several tis with …"
"Hahaha, keep it separate, don’t mind them."
"You don’t understand, these accounts aren’t that simple to tally," An Ning shook his head, "By the ti you really enter this circle, I’ll probably be ready to apply for a transfer."
"Ah? Is it that serious?"
"It varies from person to person. I really can’t stand being talked about behind my back," An Ning once again gently patted Li Zheng’s head and laughed, "If I need to make way for you, I’ll just do it."
"This…"
"Don’t feel pressured, moving to another departnt is just an opportunity to live a little longer," An Ning said with a laugh behind her hand, "I have so retired sisters that talk about how to take care of grandchildren all day long; they’re so annoying. I’m definitely not going to bother with that in the future, but your dad seems to really enjoy it…"
"Maybe he’s just lonely and going crazy."
The mother and son chatted about more family matters, and before they knew it, they had circled back to the car.
"All right, off you go," An Ning patted her son one last ti, "Work is not like studying; it’s not just about results, and many tis work results are hard to asure. If you have any troubles, don’t hesitate to bother , just speak up when you need to."
"Definitely."
"But you know, if you really can produce so results, you should climb if you must, you should fight if you must," An Ning put her hands on Li Zheng’s shoulders and said, "If you can reach the cutting edge in a certain field, that’s your solid skill, no need to fear anyone, and no one can touch you."
"Now I’m reassured," Li Zheng laughed, "Then why does Deng Dada and such still suck up to you? Aren’t they already academicians?"
"That’s a matter on another level," An Ning thought for a mont, glanced at the driver’s seat, saw the driver was on the phone with earphones, and then whispered to Li Zheng, "It’s difficult for a person to maintain a vigorous learning and research ability all their life. Usually, people reach their peak at a certain stage and then just struggle to maintain it; that’s the ceiling for pure technicians. Those ’smart’ researchers, however, know how to accumulate resources and reputation. At Old Deng’s level, they hardly need to do any specific work anymore. Their core duty is to fight for and allocate resources for their line of people. Of course, there’s no need to criticize them because they have the qualifications and the ability to do this. It’s precisely because of people like Old Deng that resource allocation can be done more effectively."
After pondering for a long ti, Li Zheng asked, "So, going down this path, one has to beco a scholar faction eventually?"
"Unless you’re willing to let people inferior to you allocate the resources in this field," An Ning said while tapping on the car window, speaking gravely, "If you have confidence in becoming a leading expert in a field, sa as before, you climb if you must, you fight if you must. Show the determination you have in competition and survival, and those with insight will naturally gather around you."
"Ah… that… the thing about competition and survival…"
"Don’t worry, no brain damage, not even a concussion," An Ning winked laughingly, "Don’t go fighting people in the future, or you really will beco a scholar faction."
Li Zheng watched the car drive away and then shook his head with a smile.
Ning’er’s aning was very clear.
Even in the research circle,
one should not be too honest.
Assert yourself when necessary, fight for what you deserve.
Otherwise, you’ll only be stepped on by those inferior to you.
And watch as the dishonest ones carve up the resources.
After all, not every Shen Tinglan will et a Chen Hongbing.
…
The next morning, at 8:30 a.m., at the Western Suburb Test Site of the First Division of the First Institute.
It was still Lin Yujing who drove Li Zheng over in her family car.
There was no helping it; the place was too remote, practically in the deep woods.
Considering the dangerous nature of the tests, there was no sign of human life within five kiloters, and there was just one road specifically built for the site.
Strangely, though the road was sparsely traveled, it was extrely wide, at least six lanes, probably because it needed to accommodate the transportation of rocket prototypes.
However sparse the population here, the security was nonetheless full-fledged, with a soldier standing guard at the entrance.
As the white sedan approached, the soldier snapped to attention and saluted crisply.
Li Zheng and Lin Yujing were both taken aback, glanced at the entry permit in front of the car, and felt a bit embarrassed.
Did Big Brother Soldier mistake them for Shen Tinglan?
Indeed, as they drew closer, Big Brother Soldier finally recognized the people inside the car, and his eyes bulged out as he quickly raised his hand.
Lin Yujing obediently stopped the car, and both she and Li Zheng produced their IDs.
After scrutinizing them closely for a while, and still finding it a bit strange, Big Brother Soldier made a phone call before finally letting them through.
He was quite apologetic when he let them pass, and said sowhat shyly, "Sorry... you really don’t look like folks from the institute... Thought you were here to shoot a movie..."
Li Zheng took a glance in the rearview mirror at himself, empathizing, and nodded, "Big brother, it’s normal. I indeed don’t look very scholarly, and often get that wrong impression looking in the mirror."
"No, no, no, you look quite normal," Big Brother Soldier chuckled and pursed his lips, "It’s mainly her... she’s even prettier than the people in the movies..."
"~~~" Lin Yujing tilted her head back, looking pleased after the thanks, and happily drove into the compound.
"This big brother is really inexperienced," Li Zheng shook his head, "Never mind, won age quickly anyway. Just wait, in a year you and Aunt Shen will look like sisters."
"Pfft pfft pfft, we look like sisters now," Lin Yujing slamd on the brakes hard, coming to an abrupt stop.
"Aunt Shen really is sowhat of a wonder," Li Zheng unfastened his seatbelt and gestured, "You should et my mom soti, those white hairs, they just scream scholarship."
"...Why should I et your mom..."
"I’ve t your mom, don’t you want to et mine?"
"This... is eting the sa as seeing?"
"Forget it, et her or not, she probably can’t be bothered to see you," Li Zheng humd as he got out of the car.
"Huh? What... what does she an, why doesn’t she want to et ?"
"Why the panic..." Li Zheng laughed rrily as he opened the trunk, "Co on, help with this stuff."
"..."
In the test machine room, three engineers in front of a computer screen were bleary-eyed, with only the freshly arrived cleaning lady bustling about energetically.
"Aiyo..." the lady muttered while sweeping the floor, pursing her lips, "What’s going on here, running a hair salon, are we? Why is it falling out in clumps..."
One of the engineers, short in stature with lively movents, turned to ask, "Sister Li, what ti is it..."
"Should be almost nine now," the lady replied with so sympathy, "You guys with your rotating double shifts, 12 hours each... it’s only because you’re young. Don’t keep it up for too many years..."
"They’re on 12-hour shifts, but I’m a 7X24 regular," the engineer rubbed his eyes and said, "I can’t handle it, I need to take a short nap. Make sure you two brief clearly on the tasks when you switch shifts later."
"Things will get better, Director Liu..." the engineer beside him put down the phone, "Director Chen and Secretary Zhao still rember us... They’ve rushed to assign two interns to us, and they’ve already entered the institute."
"Right, right, that’s what’s happening," the short engineer finally relaxed a bit and then asked, "Where are they from? Jinghua, or Ji Hang? They at least have to be from a polytechnic right?"
"Hang on, let check..." the other engineer picked up a mobile phone and fiddled with it.
Instantly, his already swollen eye bags swelled even more.
"Lake Ying Middle School..."
The short engineer cursed, "I didn’t ask about your middle school, tell your highest degree."
The engineer beside him turned with a blank look, "Lake Ying Middle School."
"..."
"..."
"Motherf***er..." the short one slamd the experint log onto the table, "This is impossible to work with!"
Just as he said this, soone knocked timidly on the door and peeked half a head into the room.
"Excuse ... is Teacher He in here?"
Upon hearing the delicate, sweet, and tender female voice, the n’s expressions instantly brightened.
It wasn’t just their eye bags that were engorged, but their whole bodies.
He turned his head to look.
Oh my God!
Lucky you, high school students!
A leader is a leader, all class and profundity!
Lake Ying Middle School is great, Lake Ying Middle School is just, screw Jinghua and Ji Hang.
The leader must have known the brothers couldn’t take it anymore, and that’s why he rushed over with an ergency redy.
"Yes, yes, yes!" the short one suddenly perked up, "I am He Zhongrui, and you are... that, that..."
Speaking, he snatched a cellphone from a nearby engineer, glanced at it, then tossed it back.
"You must be Classmate Lin Yujing, right?"
"Yes, I’m sorry for any trouble," Lin Yujing said as he entered the room and nodded.
"Hey, hey, it’s no trouble at all." He Zhongrui nodded vigorously, "Is there anything else? Do you need help taking it downstairs?"
"Actually, there is..." Lin Yujing said sheepishly, "My classmate who ca with brought quite a few things."
"What?! There’s another one?" He Zhongrui’s eyes lit up, and he imdiately turned back and commanded, "What are you dawdling for, let’s show them the enthusiasm of our test team."
"Enthusiasm, definitely enthusiasm!"
"Let’s go, go, go, let’s welco the newbie."
The three escorted Lin Yujing out, each one more enthusiastic than the last.
"Classmate Lin, with this internship, are you sure there will be no problem with your studies?"
"Hmm... the school supports it."
"Classmate Lin, we often have to work overti until very late here..."
"It’s fine, I was prepared for that before I ca."
"Classmate Lin, there’s not much good to eat around here, and no takeout either. If you want sothing for lunch, I’ll have Auntie make it for you."
"I’ll have... fried fish steak, then."
"...Alright! I’ll go catch a fish for you from the pond next door."
"Ha ha, no need to bother."
This morning, the three who had just survived an all-nighter were greeted by a sun shining as if they were reborn.
Life suddenly seed beautiful.
Until they got to the parking lot and saw the man standing there with his hands behind his back.
"Ah, why are there so many people?" Li Zheng quickened his pace to greet them, straightened up and said, "Li Zheng, Lin Yujing, reporting to the test team."
"..."
"..."
"..."
The faces of the three darkened at the sa ti, a look of misery on each.
The enthusiasm was gone.
The sunshine was gone.
Life didn’t seem so beautiful anymore.
Originally, having another male student wouldn’t be a problem.
But... would it have killed them to send one who looked like the rest of us?
What’s the aning of suddenly throwing a handso guy into the mix?
What was more crushing was that, when they checked the resus on their phones, they found that the two were classmates from Lake Ying Middle School.
And glanced at how they communicated with their eyes.
This female high school student.
She wasn’t appealing anymore.
Soured.
In an instant, the three exchanged several sorrowful looks.
But in their sadness, He Zhongrui suddenly raised his eyebrows again.
It was hope; he had dug out hope from his sorrow.
The other two also perked up, thinking of sothing.
A man isn’t judged by his face, nor by his hair retention.
The standard to asure a man should be talent, knowledge, and social experience.
At least in these three areas,
we, the two master’s and one PhD from a prestigious university, are enough to crush dozens of Li Zhengs.
As for Lin Yujing, she did seem to get along quite well with Li Zheng on the surface.
But she must not be your average high school girl.
Ordinary high school girls wouldn’t go crazy enough to intern at the Rocket Academy.
Clearly, she longs for the universe.
She is not a typical high school girl.
She’s a high school girl who has left low-level interests behind.
There’s a chance.
I still have a chance!
All three believed this simultaneously.
As long as they demonstrate their talent, knowledge, and work performance in the coming period,
she would certainly recognize their charm, several orders of magnitude deeper than that of Li Zheng.
The trio thus renewed their confidence and shook Li Zheng’s hand with feigned sincerity.
"Welco."
"It’s quite a journey to get here, right?"
"Where’s your stuff? We’ll help you with it."
After shaking hands, Li Zheng stepped aside, showing off a large cardboard box and two big woven bags in the trunk.
Three people were stunned at the sa ti.
"This..." He Zhongrui’s face twitched, "Aren’t you here to intern... Why did you bring so much stuff? What’s all this?"
"The box contains a newly purchased foldable bed," Li Zheng explained, patting each piece of luggage. "These are bedding, these are books... Given the few staff mbers here, it’s unlikely to have a cafeteria, and takeout is inconvenient, so I brought so canned food and long shelf-life ingredients... These are basic cooking utensils... In case there’s nowhere to live, I’ve also got a camping tent..."
"Wait wait wait..." He Zhongrui stuttered, "We’re... testing rockets... not surviving in the wilderness..."
"But the leaders have warned that the workload is huge," Li Zheng responded with widened eyes, nodding, "With such heavy work and the place being so remote, why return ho at all? I figured I’d stay for a month first."
"..." Just as He Zhongrui was about to say sothing, he was stopped by an engineer next to him, who gave him a aningful look.
He Zhongrui’s eyebrows rose again at that mont.
Brilliant.
"Right, right, right, we often have to stay here," he said, then turned to look at Lin Yujing, "Did Classmate Lin bring any bedding?"
"Um..." Lin Yujing hung her head in distress.
"No worries," He Zhongrui said with a smile, "We have communal beds, very clean ones. You can rest anyti you’re tired; it’s all allowed."
The other two were shocked when they heard this.
Worthy of being the team leader!
So cunning.
With this...
That old, dirty bed will definitely beco appealing.
But then they saw Li Zheng frown and say to Lin Yujing, "Communal isn’t convenient; look, you sleep on my new bed, and I’ll take the communal one."
The hearts of the three n felt like they were being gripped suddenly.
But Lin Yujing, flustered, punched Li Zheng and said with her head lowered, "I haven’t even said I’d stay..."
Bang.
Their hearts popped.
It took the three a long while to recover, then they stepped forward to pick up Li Zheng’s luggage, huddling together and discussing as they walked.
"Is Director Chen trying to kill us..."
"Don’t panic... they might just be classmates..."
"I think this Li Zheng is a blockhead. Though he’s not bad-looking, he doesn’t seem like the type girls would like."
"Right, right, right, he doesn’t seem to have any charm with girls at all."
"So we need to keep it together, don’t make a fuss," He Zhongrui said in a deep voice. "At our age, being steady is what matters most."
The two beside him nodded confidently.
But at the sa ti, they felt sothing was off.
They just realized that their rival was not only Li Zheng.
But also her.
This is too much of a rat race.
"Alright, it’s ti to change shifts. You two head back," He Zhongrui said cheerily.
"It’s fine, let’s do so extra work today," the engineer beside him said with a swagger, wiping his nose.
"How could I leave without completing the task?" echoed the other, looking resolute.
In an office tens of kiloters away, Chen Hongbing suddenly thought of sothing.
"The guys in the test team are all single, right?" he asked Zhou Chenglong.
Zhou Chenglong laughed and said, "Of course, they don’t even have ti to watch a movie, let alone have girlfriends."
"Ah..." Chen Hongbing leaned back in his chair and sighed deeply, "Hang in there, comrades..."
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