Professor Fang, Master of Both Pen and Sword

It was midnight, and the outside world remained completely unaware of the incident involving the Aquarius freighter that had occurred tonight.

On the helipad atop the Chu Group headquarters, a military helicopter sat parked in silence.

Chu Feng's executive office had been cordoned off by several heavily armed soldiers, and even the security guards had been cleared out.

"Chairwoman Chu, Ms. Xiaoxiao, Captain Ye, let me introduce you all. This is Commander Hu of the Southeast Military Region! My college classmate!" Professor Fang introduced them.

Commander Hu was a quintessential tough-as-nails soldier, sporting a thick beard and a square jaw, giving him a very upright appearance.

"Chairwoman Chu! Old Fang says your company can provide a long-term, stable supply of highly enriched uranium. Is this true?" Commander Hu nodded to the women before asking with a hint of urgency.

Within his jurisdiction were several nuclear power plants and research institutes directly under the military command; the demand for uranium had always been a headache for the military. The resources allocated by the state were only enough to maintain the status quo, and they were living on a tight budget.

The mother and daughter exchanged a glance, and Chu Feng spoke up: "General Hu, that is indeed the case! Professor Fang has already verified the first batch of goods, and his word should prove that we do have access to this channel."

"I have verified the goods; the quality is absolutely beyond your imagination!" Old Fang patted his chest in assurance.

Commander Hu naturally trusted his professional judgment.

"May I ask the source of these goods? Kangaroo Country? Or perhaps official forces from Maple Leaf Country?" Commander Hu had a soldier's temperament and spoke very bluntly.

Indeed, only massive, state-level military-industrial enterprises would have the strength to conduct uranium mining and high-level enrichment. There were only two or three countries in the world capable of exporting nuclear resources in large quantities.

"I am very sorry, Commander Hu, but we are merely spokespeople for the supplier. We at Chu Group have no knowledge of the specific source of the goods."

Commander Hu nodded in understanding; in matters like this, the fewer people who knew, the better.

"Then, may I ask what your relationship is with the supplier?"

"Hmm... we have never had direct contact with the supplier! They simply entrusted us with this transaction through an agent," Chu Feng hesitated for a moment before saying.

"Good! Then the Southeast Military Region will take this deal!" Commander Hu waved his hand.

He hadn't expected to get any useful information from them anyway. Since a force of this caliber had chosen a small domestic group as their spokesperson, it meant they didn't want to bring the matter into the light. As long as it was beneficial to him, why worry about the reasons behind it?

"I wonder about the price?" Commander Hu frowned slightly.

The military's budget was very tight, and this was considered a heavy asset; it wouldn't be possible to acquire it without billions, so he found himself in a bit of a bind.

"The supplier said they don't want cash; they only want to trade goods for goods. They value one kilogram of highly enriched uranium at 5 billion yuan, and we only need to provide goods of equivalent value!"

"Oh, what kind of goods?" Commander Hu calculated silently in his heart; this price was very fair! It could even be said that it was set too low!

The average price the state paid for nuclear resources imported from Kangaroo Country every year was basically double this, and that was only for low-grade ore.

Even if they didn't use these goods themselves and resold them, the profit margin would be staggering. The other party was showing great sincerity!

"Some high-tech products, military-industrial products—even second-hand ones, they want them!"

"Hmm?" Commander Hu frowned. Trading military-industrial products? This involved national security.

Chu Xiaoxiao, standing to the side, spoke up: "Aside from nuclear fuel, the supplier also deals in some arms trade.

However, Commander Hu can rest assured that these items are all products intended for export abroad and will never circulate domestically.

They also won't require the military to provide classified-level weapons or equipment; we only need to follow standard arms export procedures and keep the buyer's information confidential.

Furthermore, even for retired equipment, we will purchase them at the price of brand-new gear! Future transactions will also be executed according to this standard."

"Oh!" Commander Hu's eyes lit up.

Several military-industrial enterprises in his region were struggling to open up overseas markets, and their warehouses were filled with second-hand equipment that had been replaced. They had to pay a hefty maintenance fee every year. If this deal could be struck, it would truly be a win-win situation!

As for which country these arms would end up wreaking havoc in, that was not within the scope of Commander Hu's concerns. Have you ever seen an international arms dealer pick and choose their buyers?

"If Commander Hu agrees, you can go back and draft a list of goods available for sale, and we will select the items we need from it to conduct the trade!" Seeing the other party was moved, Chu Xiaoxiao struck while the iron was hot.

"Good, I will have someone discuss a transaction plan immediately upon my return!" Commander Hu was very satisfied with this and agreed on the spot.

"Also, General Hu, I wonder if it would be possible to help Chu Group obtain a military-industrial enterprise qualification? It would make many future transactions much more convenient. We are also having some issues with our import and export qualifications at customs. What do you think..." Chu Feng seized the moment to bring up their own needs.

"These are small matters; I will handle them for you!" Commander Hu agreed readily.

For a stable supply channel of nuclear fuel, these were indeed small matters, whether for the Southeast Military Region or for the country as a whole!

With such a major event, Commander Hu would naturally have to report it. Solving this kind of problem at the national level could be considered using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

The two women were overjoyed. The predicament facing the Chu Group was effectively half-solved in one stroke. With the status of a military-industrial enterprise, they could essentially walk sideways in the country.

Both sides finished their negotiations, everyone was happy, and the atmosphere was quite harmonious.

Before Commander Hu and Professor Fang left, the Chu Group generously offered to hand the current batch of goods over to the military first.

There was no helping it; this stuff wasn't safe even in a vault, and it kept them on edge.

As for the issue of the other party's credit, with the state backing it, what was there to worry about? Besides, for goods worth billions, compared to a stable supply channel, was there any need to ask which was more important?

Commander Hu and Professor Fang naturally agreed with both hands; the sooner they got their hands on this stuff, the more at ease they would be!

Professor Fang immediately grabbed the thermos cup from the table, thought for a moment, and then picked up the "Blue Sky Supermarket" bag nearby, placing the thermos inside.

"Let's go, Old Hu!" Professor Fang called out to Commander Hu, beaming.

With this deal concluded, not only had he performed a great service, but he could also bring some nuclear fuel back to the research institute for scientific work, and state commendations would surely follow. He felt that this trip today was absolutely worth it!

"Wait, wait, where are the goods?" Commander Hu stopped Professor Fang, who was about to head out, in confusion.

Professor Fang lifted the bag to show him, "Isn't this it right here!"

Commander Hu: "..."

His eye twitched. "This... this is the cargo?"

"That is where you are mistaken. This is camouflage! If I didn't tell you, who would ever guess that it contains that kind of stuff?"

Ye Min, who had been standing behind the two women the entire time, raised an eyebrow. Why did that sound so familiar?

Commander Hu was also stunned for a moment. After thinking about it, he realized it was true. He had been in here for quite a while, but how could he have ever imagined that an ordinary thermos on the table contained nuclear fuel? It was truly beyond all expectations!

"So that's how it is. I never expected that you, Old Fang, a scientific researcher, would be so well-versed in the art of war regarding deception. I haven't seen you in a few days, and now you're both a scholar and a warrior!"

"Not at all, not at all! You flatter me, Old Hu! I don't deserve such praise, I really don't! Hahaha!"

Ye Min: "..."

Who said that scientific researchers were all thin-skinned?