Base

Near a fairly prosperous town in the vicinity of the Taihang Mountains sits a base covering nearly three hundred mu of land. This is one of the most vital bases for Xingyan Group, a large-scale facility that integrates experimental research and development with large-scale pilot production.

At the entrance of the base, dozens of people are gathered. A man with a weathered face but a sturdy build stands in the center of the crowd, naturally exuding an air of authority.

Sunlight pours down from above, and the roots of his seemingly thick black hair reveal faint traces of silver, a testament to the fact that he is no longer young.

A capable woman dressed in black professional attire puts down her phone and walks briskly toward the man.

"President Chen, I just received a call from Secretary He. They are expected to arrive in about five minutes."

The man addressed as "President Chen" nods in acknowledgment and continues to look toward the end of the road.

This President Chen is Chen Yanbing, the largest shareholder and general manager of Xingyan Group.

True to his name, Chen Yanbing is a military veteran who has been awarded individual and collective second-class honors multiple times.

After retiring from the service, Chen Yanbing pooled his resources with several fellow veterans to found a chemical raw material production enterprise.

Initially, due to Chen Yanbing's strong drive, as well as his impressive capabilities and network, the enterprise developed rapidly. Within ten years, it grew from an initial investment of less than ten million to three hundred million. However, under the influence of the subsequent economic climate, the company's growth became lukewarm, and for five consecutive years, its output value struggled to exceed five hundred million.

After a business meeting, finding himself in Hangzhou—the home of Jiangzhe University—he decided to visit the campus where his son, Chen Mingsheng, was studying.

At the time, Chen Mingsheng was a freshman. Due to his easygoing personality, he had joined the student union as a staff member in the Department of Student Life, where he maintained good relationships with his colleagues.

Upon learning that his father had come to the school, Chen Mingsheng suggested to Chen Yanbing that they invite his student union colleagues out for a meal.

Lin Chenxing was a sophomore at the time. As the vice president of the student union, he frequently dealt with off-campus enterprises, and his foresight regarding future development made many entrepreneurs very willing to engage with him.

Because of this, Chen Mingsheng made Lin Chenxing a key invitee for the gathering.

Through this interaction, Chen Yanbing realized that Lin Chenxing could help his enterprise forge a higher and further future, and he invited Lin Chenxing to participate in several of his important gatherings thereafter.

Later, under Lin Chenxing's leadership, Chen Yanbing sat down with Gao Zheng and others, initiating a corporate integration that led to the formal establishment of Xingyan Chemical.

Today, although Xingyan Group is involved in more than just the chemical industry, the chemical sector still accounts for the largest share of the group.

This invitation to the delegation from the School of Chemical Engineering at Jiangzhe University is specifically intended to reach a deeper level of cooperation, namely in talent cultivation and project research.

As two buses drive in, the crowd gathered at the base entrance quickly forms a neat line.

The bus doors open slowly, and Gao Zheng and Jin Zhenwei lead the way off the vehicles.

Chen Yanbing walks toward Gao Zheng and Jin Zhenwei, extending his right hand to Jin Zhenwei with a face full of smiles, his previous air of authority seemingly vanishing in an instant.

"Welcome, Dean Jin, to inspect our Xingyan Group!"

Jin Zhenwei also extends his hand to shake Chen Yanbing's, looking equally spirited.

"I didn't expect President Chen to take time out of your busy schedule to come in person. I am deeply honored."

Chen Yanbing turns to the side, gesturing toward the base gate with his right hand, and says, "It is already noon, and I imagine everyone must be hungry. Please move to the canteen for a meal first."

The building housing the canteen is designed with a feel reminiscent of a large shopping mall within this massive base.

The canteen occupies the first and second floors of the building. The first floor uses a self-service dining model, while the second floor adopts a layout similar to a shopping mall, divided into dozens of shops where orders are placed individually.

The third and fourth floors of the building are spaces for employee leisure, featuring various functions such as cinema and fitness facilities.

Upon arriving at the canteen, the Jiangzhe University delegation cannot help but reveal a hint of admiration in their eyes at the human-centric design of the base.

"The environment and design here are quite good. Are the people eating here all company employees? Is it open to non-employees?"

Jin Zhenwei asks Chen Yanbing.

"These were all designed with the participation of your brilliant students. As for non-employees, as long as they get a card on the first floor, they can also dine in our canteen and go upstairs to watch movies or work out, though the prices are naturally higher than for internal staff."

Chen Yanbing wears a smile, his expression revealing a touch of satisfaction and pride.

After the first day concluded, Chen Yanbing and Gao Zheng both rushed off to other branches and bases to attend to work, leaving only Lin Chenxing as the host to accompany the Jiangzhe University delegation on their tour of the base.

Over the next few days, the group visited every production stage and research facility in the base, gaining an understanding of Xingyan Group's future development needs.

At the base's research center, the Jiangzhe University delegation could be said to have seen the potential for it to develop into a small branch of an academy of sciences.

The entire Xingyan Group has only this one major research center, with other research bases amounting to less than one percent of this one. The center covers a total area of over seventy mu, with building footprints reaching nearly ten thousand square meters. Fifty percent of the annual profit is invested into this experimental base. The research categories involved are numerous, and whenever the group has a need, a laboratory is established here.

The second phase of this base, which is about to launch, is located right next to the current facility. Once completed, the research center will expand further, with a tentative area of fifty mu designated for research use.

Seeing the importance Xingyan Group places on research, Jin Zhenwei feels increasingly at ease, secretly deciding that this project cooperation must be finalized. This would be a beneficial matter for both himself and the school.

Especially in the last few days, the accompanying professors and students were all captivated by the conditions here, their private conversations filled with longing for this place and plans for working here in the future.

The scheduled five-day trip finally came to an end, and the day of departure arrived. Gao Zheng managed to rush back late the previous night to see the Jiangzhe University delegation off.

"Dean Jin, when I was traveling back and forth these past two days, I noticed that falling rocks and broken trees often appear on the road. Please be careful on your way back and don't drive too fast. I have to rush to other places, so I won't be seeing you off. With Chenxing accompanying you back, I am at ease. Our base here and our other branches always welcome you all to visit again."

Gao Zheng holds Jin Zhenwei's hand with reluctance, repeatedly emphasizing safety on the road and his hope for their return.

Lin Chenxing watches this scene, the corners of his mouth curling slightly as he says to Gao Zheng, "Brother Gao, don't worry. We've prepared plenty of things on the bus this time, all for the sake of what's to come. Besides, with me here, the Dean and the others will definitely come back."