Cut What Needs Cutting, Approve What Needs Approving

I'm not afraid of loud noises, I'm afraid of the sudden silence.

"We are all scholars, and we believe in reason. What do you think?" Shen Qi looked at Associate Professor Xu.

"I apologize for my poor attitude just now." Associate Professor Xu made an apologetic gesture. He didn't respect Director Cai, but he respected Shen Qi.

"Old Xu, Director Cai, let's talk this out. If there are disagreements, let's discuss and resolve them together. What do you think?" Shen Qi then looked at Director Cai.

"Seeking common ground while reserving differences is a fundamental principle, and that's how it should be." Director Cai, after all, is a leader, and his temper flares up and subsides quickly.

"Why don't we take a look at Lao Xu's project application details?" Shen Qi suggested.

"Let's take a look then," Director Cai, giving Shen Qi face.

Associate Professor Xu gave Shen Qi a grateful look and began to recount the details.

Shen Qi quelled the incident with a few words, and the meeting room returned to normal.

Each committee member actually had a printed copy of the project application.

The committee members had all reviewed Associate Professor Xu's project proposal beforehand.

Therefore, Director Cai didn't need to listen to Associate Professor Xu's detailed report before saying that the maximum amount would only be 20 million.

This 20 million yuan was not allocated by Yenching University, but it needs to be reviewed and approved within the university before it can be reported to the relevant ministries.

Associate Professor Xu Langlang said, "Global warming is a serious problem. This time, our project team will collaborate with Sun Yat-sen University and international academic institutions to conduct scientific expeditions in the Northern Hemisphere. The expedition areas include the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the Gobi Desert in Inner Mongolia, the East China Sea, the Yellow Sea, the Bering Sea, the Chukchi Sea, and the Canada Basin."

"For the marine expedition, we expect to complete 90 CTD observation and water sampling stations, 89 LADCP observation stations, 43 turbulence observation stations, 44 marine optical observation stations, 66 mobile GPS radiosondes, 422 XBTs, and 37 XCTDs... This is the marine expedition part. Our project team is mainly responsible for the comprehensive investigation of marine meteorology and physical oceanography. The land expedition is Sun Yat-sen University conducted by China University of Geosciences, so I won't go into details." Once the usually hot-tempered Associate Professor Xu returned to academic topics, he became confident and exuded the refined demeanor of a scholar.

Shen Qi listened with great interest, and he commented objectively and fairly. "To be honest, forty million yuan isn't a lot of funding for an expedition from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau all the way to the Arctic Circle. I even worry, is it enough? Just these detection instruments alone will cost tens of millions. Don't the researchers need to eat? Where will the research vessels come from?"

Associate Professor Xu looked at Shen Qi with great appreciation, a sense of mutual respect and understanding arises between experts. "Thank you for your understanding, Professor Shen. Let me add something: the research vessel was arranged by Sun Yat-sen University of Geosciences, and their leader has close ties with the State Oceanic Administration. Indeed, hardware expenses accounted for a large proportion of this expedition's costs. As for the logistical support for the project team members, we will find our own solutions."

"Old Xu's project proposal is well-founded and reasonable. I think we should report it to the higher-ups at 46.5 million. Whether they approve it or not, and by how much, is up to them. What do you think, Director Cai? Committee members, please share your opinions as well." Unbeknownst to him, Shen Qi had become the real decision-maker at this review meeting.

Yes, Director Cai couldn't control Lao Xu, but Shen Qi's calm and collected words tamed the wild Lao Xu.

"This..." Director Cai hesitated for a few seconds, then said, "After thorough review by the committee, we have preliminarily approved Associate Professor Xu Zhou's team's project applications on atmospheric physics, ocean physics, and other related topics."

The other committee members replied, "Agreed."

"Thank you, thank you, committee members!" Associate Professor Xu and Director Cai reconciled with a smile. That's just how emotional people are; they're like children, unpredictable and moody.

The review of the subsequent projects went smoothly. The project proposals were obviously overly extravagant, but the committee members cut the funding without hesitation.

Shen Qi cut a project from 80 million to 12 million, to the point that he felt utterly hopeless about life.

The internal review process at Yenching University must not be taken lightly, as it represents the university's opinion.

If a project that could be handled with 10 million is reported to the ministry with an amount of 80 million, the higher-ups will definitely criticize it and may even send an investigation team to conduct an investigation, both overt and covert.

If a project with excessive embellishment is submitted to Yenching University, it will be seen as a sign of extremely unprofessional management within the university, and it will also bring the university a bad reputation for misappropriating research funds.

Shen Qi acts with conscience and professional competence; no one can fool him when it comes to mathematics and physics.

The projects reviewed today are all physics projects: nuclear physics, atmospheric physics, geophysics, you name it.

There were no math projects, because it's very difficult to get funding for math projects exceeding 20 million.

Mathematics projects costing hundreds of thousands, even tens of thousands of yuan are common. For projects with relatively low budgets, Yenching University can easily cover the costs with some funding from its internal budget and the Beijing Municipal Education Commission and Science and Technology Commission. There's no need to involve the national government.

After the meeting, Shen Qi walked out of the Academic Committee building and saw Associate Professor Xu standing at the door smoking.

Associate Professor Xu offered Shen Qi a cigarette, Shen Qi waved his hand and said, "I don't smoke, thank you."

"A scholar will die for one who understands him, Professor Shen. If there's anything I, Old Xu, can do for you in the future, please don't hesitate to ask," Associate Professor Xu said sincerely.

"Is your Scientific Expedition Team short-staffed?" Shen Qi asked.

Associate Professor Xu thought for a moment and said, "We are indeed lacking a strong and healthy person to do the work. There was a young man before, but he couldn't stand the loneliness and hardship, so he quit."

Shen Qi then asked, "What specific work do you do?"

Associate Professor Xu said, "Releasing a balloon, setting up a buoy, and collecting data—this job isn't difficult; even a graduate student could do it."

Shen Qi: "Do you think I meet the requirements? I'm strong and healthy, hardworking, and have a doctoral degree."

Associate Professor Xu was quite surprised. "Professor Shen, you must be joking?"

Shen Qi said earnestly, "If I have the chance, I'd like to go out and see the world with the Scientific Expedition Team."

Associate Professor Xu breathed a sigh of relief, "Accompanying the team? No problem. Our Scientific Expedition Team welcomes you to accompany us and provide guidance at any time. As for releasing balloons and setting up buoys, let's forget about that. I'll take it as a joke."

"It's a deal, okay? Come on, let's add each other on WeChat. I'll keep track of your Scientific Expedition Team's movements." Shen Qi and Lao Xu became WeChat friends, and the two formed a friendship.

The acquisition of Ou Beiqi Pharmaceutical is still under negotiation. The details have been basically finalized, and now it's just a matter of procedure.

Old Shen will become the boss of Ou Beiqi Pharmaceutical. On the surface, Shen Qi has no connection with Ou Beiqi Pharmaceutical, but he is the real behind-the-scenes boss.

This pharmaceutical factory will eventually be handed over to Shen Qi. In the initial stage, Old Shen will manage everything in an orderly manner, and at a suitable time, the father and son will achieve a smooth transition.

Following Shen Qi's instructions, Old Yan and Cheng Haonan revised C01C's paper and submitted it.

Overtly and covertly, everything is proceeding according to Shen Qi's plan.

Old Shen updates the acquisition progress daily, with new developments every day.

State-owned enterprises rely on their platforms, joint ventures excel in management processes, and private enterprises can only survive by relying on efficiency.

Old Shen is really efficient. He told Shen Qi that Ou Beiqi Pharmaceutical was settled and is now an asset of the Shen Family.

Shen Qi took some time to return to Nangang, where he accompanied Old Shen on an inspection of Ou Beiqi Pharmaceutical.

The new owner of Ou Beiqi Pharmaceutical is Shen Zhishan, the father of the famous scientist Shen Qi; this news could not be kept secret.

There was no need to hide it, and Shen Qi entered the Ou Beiqi Pharmaceutical factory with his father, his conscience clear.