Advisory Team

Having finished today's studying, Han Yang sorted through the difficult problems he had encountered that he could not solve on his own, drafted an email, and sent it directly to Professor Zhang Dong.

Professor Zhang Dong was the fairly reliable expert Han Yang had found on a Q&A website before. After communicating several times on the site, the two had come to an agreement and begun contacting each other privately, cutting out the middleman so no one else could profit off the difference.

Every day, Han Yang would organize the questions he could not solve and send them over. After spending some time researching and thinking them through, Professor Zhang Dong would reply.

In return, Han Yang paid Professor Zhang Dong between ten and thirty thousand yuan per month on average, effectively hiring himself a part-time scientific consultant.

He had thought Professor Zhang Dong would reply tomorrow at the earliest, but the moment he sent the email, Professor Zhang Dong called.

"Little Han, these questions are way too specialized and complicated, aren't they? Even I would need to think them over carefully for four or five days before daring to answer, and I still couldn't guarantee I'd be right."

Professor Zhang Dong's voice was full of helplessness. "I'm only doing this part-time, making a little pocket money on the Q&A site to help support my family. You're draining me so badly that I don't even have the energy to teach during the day."

Han Yang secretly felt ashamed.

He had raised those questions himself, so of course he knew how weighty they were.

"Forget it. I can't keep fleecing one person forever. I've spent so little money these past few months while having Professor Zhang answer so many questions for me. I've already made out like a bandit."

After thinking it over, Han Yang smiled. "How about this, Professor Zhang? I'll give you fifty thousand a month, and you put together an advisory team for me. You decide who to recruit and how much to pay them. As long as they can answer my questions, that's enough. With more people, you'll have it easier too."

On the other end of the line, Zhang Dong paused, finding the idea rather appealing.

"Old Wang, Lao Li, Lao Liu, and the others, plus several of my students—their family situations aren't very good. Some of them even take tutoring jobs. If I give them five thousand a month, I guarantee they'll be willing. Besides, with more people, we can discuss things together. The answers will be more accurate and efficient, I'll have an easier time, and I'll earn more money too."

"That could work."

Zhang Dong immediately stopped complaining and agreed at once.

"Alright, then it's settled. I'll transfer the follow-up funds to you."

They had worked together for quite a while, so there was that level of trust between them.

Zhang Dong sighed again. "I really don't understand why you keep researching these things."

Han Yang casually replied, "Our team got investment and is making a hardcore tech game, the kind where players can build their own chips in the game. Naturally, the technical details have to be realistic."

"So that's what it is."

Zhang Dong suddenly understood. "Still, your team's learning progress is quite fast. The questions you've been asking lately are getting more and more profound."

"Of course. That's the strength of a team."

Having settled things with Professor Zhang Dong, Han Yang reluctantly transferred another forty thousand yuan to Zhang Dong, settling this month's fees.

"Studying isn't just exhausting—it costs a damn fortune too. Sigh."

Though Han Yang earned a lot, he also spent heavily. Zhang Dong alone cost fifty thousand a month. He also had to pay Zhou Da'an, the security officer for these streets, twenty-five thousand yuan every month, not to mention utilities and internet fees. Fuxing Mall had only just opened and was not yet profitable, while so many people still needed supporting and more equipment needed buying. Life was still tight.

"But no matter how tight things are, I still have to buy the equipment I need. Buy this workbench and the industrial robot now."

As CPU precision improved further, relying solely on manual work was no longer realistic.

Each cable was only as thin as a sewing needle, each transistor about the size of a grain of rice, and there were tens of thousands of them. How could he possibly solder them on one by one by hand?

Getting an industrial robot and a workbench, then operating the robot to manufacture them, was the only viable path.

Just like that, another two hundred thousand yuan vanished.

Looking at the mere fifty thousand yuan left in his account, Han Yang sighed again.

Fortunately, after today, he could withdraw the money earned yesterday. Then he would have eighty thousand yuan on hand.

The night passed. After a good sleep, Han Yang was once again full of energy and threw himself back into studying.

Time slipped by quietly. At this moment, Zhang Dazhu and his companion Li Qing were patrolling the streets.

After more than half a month of hellish training, Zhang Dazhu was completely different from before. His back was straight, his posture upright, and he carried himself with a touch of elite bearing. Especially dressed in that security uniform bearing the words Revival Group, he looked even more imposing.

The streets bustled with people. Every street-facing building, no matter how dilapidated, had been rented out for business. Snack vendors, clothing shops, barbers, and all kinds of other businesses filled the area, making it exceptionally prosperous.

Compared with the three streets controlled by Revival Group, the next street over, barely a dozen meters away, was deserted. Its buildings were tightly shut, and pedestrians hurried along with wary expressions, afraid to linger. Only when they reached these three streets did they breathe a sigh of relief.

Who didn't know by now that security was good on Revival Group's three streets? Forget open robbery or gang conflicts—even thieves did not dare go there. If caught, their hands really would be broken.

At that moment, seeing Zhang Dazhu approach, both pedestrians and shopkeepers gave him looks full of respect. He could not help straightening his chest, his heart filled with pride.

"Life is much more comfortable now. Training may be exhausting, but what does that matter?"

To earn people's heartfelt respect and personally help create a paradise amid a chaotic world—no other feeling of accomplishment could compare.

"Security Guard Zhang, here's this month's protection fee. Please take it."

When they reached the entrance of a roasted snack shop, the owner warmly came out and tried to stuff a sum of money into Zhang Dazhu's hands.

"Uncle Tong, I can't accept this. The company has dedicated staff who come around to collect protection fees. I'm not allowed to take it."

Zhang Dazhu immediately refused.

"I just happened to see you and thought I'd pay you directly. Fine, I'll hand it over when the collector comes. The sunflower seeds just came out of the oven—have some, Security Guard Zhang."

"Uncle Tong, don't get me in trouble. Our company is strict. I can't take your things."

Zhang Dazhu waved his hands repeatedly. "Alright, I'm leaving. Call me if anything comes up."

The two walked on and continued their patrol. His companion Li Qing remarked, "I've never seen anyone scrambling to pay protection fees. Back when I ran with that gang, every time we collected protection money, we had to chop up a few people to establish our authority..."

Zhang Dazhu snorted disdainfully. "What gang could compare to our company?"

When they patrolled to the end of the street and saw the bleak, empty street directly across the road, Zhang Dazhu shook his head and turned to head back.

But then someone rushed out from over there, money in hand, ran up to Zhang Dazhu, and dropped to his knees. "Security Guard Zhang, please, take this protection fee!"