I Want a Laboratory

"Mr. Zhang, I... want a bonus. Eight thousand yuan!"

Fu Junlin cautiously held up eight fingers.

Zhang Cheng and Wang Kai, standing beside him, both let out long breaths, the tension in their hearts abruptly easing.

Eight thousand yuan.

Fu Junlin earned a little over a thousand yuan a month working part-time here. After covering his living expenses, he could still help support the family.

Eight thousand yuan could only buy ten Battle Flag Crystal Blocks of their grade, not even counting the deposit.

But how many crystal blocks had Fu Junlin saved?

There was no way to calculate it, because he had saved the entire factory.

"I'll give you double that—sixteen thousand! Don't feel burdened in any way. You deserve this!"

Zhang Cheng said sincerely.

Even sixteen thousand seemed terribly stingy.

But he seemed to understand why Fu Junlin had asked for so little. Giving him too much would put enormous pressure on him, and good intentions might backfire.

Seeing how firm he was, Fu Junlin did not object. He continued, "Also, I want the key to a laboratory. After work, I hope to use one of the laboratories."

Fu Junlin spoke.

"That's all?"

Zhang Cheng asked incredulously.

Wang Kai did not know whether to laugh or cry.

"That's all."

Fu Junlin shook his head.

He did not think he was foolish. As the poem went: "Those who later climbed the altar feared earning merit whenever they thought of it."

By expressing harmless needs at the right time, he would instead keep Zhang Cheng from seeing him as a threat.

But if he used his achievements to demand more, disaster might follow.

Zhang Cheng gave a bitter smile, ashamed and self-mocking.

He laughed at his own petty suspicions, at being steeped in the smell of money.

Fu Junlin wanted eight thousand yuan. How could he not know what it was for? His own son had just spent exactly that amount.

Because that was the entry fee for a mid-tier high school!

If not for his son's scores being too low, he could have afforded to spend twenty thousand yuan to send him to a key school. Unfortunately, his son had failed to measure up.

And didn't Fu Junlin have a younger brother about to enter high school?

He wanted a laboratory.

Fu Junlin still had his mind on studying and research. If not for his persistence in pursuing knowledge—

There would have been no Fu Junlin turning the tide.

And no reversal of fortune for him today.

"You foolish boy, what am I supposed to say to you... Sigh...

Below our factory grounds are four warehouses that have stood empty year-round. Warehouse A1 will be your laboratory from now on.

You won't need to pass through the factory grounds to use the back entrance. You can enter and leave directly from the back street.

I'll equip it with some basic research equipment. Whatever else you need, give me a list.

You pay for it, and I'll buy it under the factory's name. It'll be quite a bit cheaper.

As long as I, Zhang Cheng, am here, and as long as this War Banner Factory exists, that laboratory is yours! No one else is allowed to use it!"

Zhang Cheng's tone was calm, but unshakable. As he spoke, he removed a key from the ring at his waist and slowly placed it in Fu Junlin's hand.

Looking at Zhang Cheng's profound smile, Fu Junlin smiled faintly as well and nodded, carefully putting the key away.

"Thank you, Mr. Zhang."

Fu Junlin thanked him from the bottom of his heart.

Though to everyone else around them, including Wang Kai, that thanks sounded somewhat strange.

Because to them, these things were barely worth mentioning.

But it was different for Fu Junlin.

It had solved his mother's urgent need. That alone was an enormous favor.

And having the right to use a laboratory of his own was something he had never even dared dream of.

Fu Junlin was content. His heart was churning like a stormy sea, impossible to calm.

"Alright, leave the rest to you roughnecks! I'm taking the pride of our production line out for a grand meal!!"

Wang Kai stepped forward and wrapped an arm tightly around Fu Junlin. He could tell Fu Junlin did not want to stay in this setting for long, so he found an opportunity to take him away.

"I'm coming too!"

Zhang Cheng immediately wiped the tear tracks from his face and stood up.

"Hey, you can't come. Your punishment is to stay here and supervise the work, and hurry up and get Junlin's laboratory cleaned out."

Wang Kai pressed a hand down and spoke from on high.

The crowd burst into laughter.

Punishing the boss by making him work—there probably would not be another time like this.

Zhang Cheng helplessly pointed at Wang Kai and could only nod.

"Fine, I'll listen to all of you!"

"Woo!! Back to work!!~~"

For a moment, all the production line supervisors erupted in cheers.

The factory workers also boiled with excitement.

After everyone rushed out of the room and returned to the production lines to repair the crystal blocks according to Fu Junlin's specifications, only three people remained inside.

Zhang Cheng took sixteen thousand yuan in cash from the safe and stuffed it directly into Fu Junlin's hands.

He patted Fu Junlin on the shoulder and solemnly said:

"May your energy be limitless."

"May you be immune to infection."

Fu Junlin accepted the money and gave Zhang Cheng a deep bow in return.

In this day and age, "May you be immune to infection" was the most common blessing. Secondary Energy Infection was not the only incurable condition; even water sources suffered from varying degrees of contamination.

Z Virus, T Virus, Flower-Drum Parasites, X-6 pathogens. Infection was everywhere, filling every corner of the world.

They might not gradually take lives like Secondary Energy Infection did, but they could still make people wish they were dead.

By their thirties or forties, most people would contract one or two viruses.

The Subspecies District was a high-incidence area!

Wang Kai also benefited from this. Zhang Cheng gave him several hundred yuan and told him to make sure Fu Junlin got a good meal.

After they left.

Before long, Chen Rong stormed toward Zhang Cheng with Chen Changming in tow.

"Zhang Cheng, you've got some nerve! Huh?"

The moment Chen Rong arrived, she pointed at Zhang Cheng's nose and started berating him.

The flesh on Zhang Cheng's face twitched three times.

"What? Why are you glaring at me? You trying to rebel? Huh? Changming rendered you such a great service, and you dare glare at him? You want to die?"

Chen Rong had never seen Zhang Cheng dare glare at her like this. Seeing his reaction, she flew into a rage and raised her hand to strike him.

But Zhang Cheng moved first, swinging his huge palm in a full arc.

Slap!!

He sent Chen Rong staggering with one blow. Her eyes were knocked sideways on the spot, leaving nothing but large swaths of white.

Chen Changming caught Chen Rong and roared at Zhang Cheng:

"Zhang Cheng, are you looking to die?!"

"You ignorant fool! Your idiot little brother got played by Pi Yi'an! The goods rushed out overnight yesterday were all explosive products!!

I nearly got ruined paying for it! Pi Yi'an and the others already ran away!! If I hadn't met an expert and recovered the losses—

You'd have been begging on the streets already! And you're still yapping at me? Get out! If you don't like it, then divorce me!"

Zhang Cheng was still not satisfied after cursing her out, so he kicked Chen Rong again.

He did not hate Chen Changming. He hated this damned woman. Chen Changming had become what he was entirely because she had spoiled him.

Only then did the people around them come over to break up the fight.

Chen Rong had first been stunned by the beating, then stunned by Zhang Cheng's tirade.

She had only spoiled her younger brother and had a bad temper toward Zhang Cheng, but she was not stupid. If Zhang Cheng's words were true, then she had no grounds to argue.

She abruptly turned to look at Chen Changming, only to see him stammering and hesitating.

Naturally, she realized she had been deceived. She just had not known Zhang Cheng would be ruined by it. Chen Changming had only thought he had caused some trouble, so he came to his sister to accuse Zhang Cheng first, hoping she could keep Zhang Cheng under control and preserve his position as deputy factory director.

He had not expected Zhang Cheng to be so decisive.

Chen Rong's fury immediately found a new target. She rolled up her sleeves, and Chen Changming's screams soon echoed through the workshop.

Fu Junlin enjoyed lunch immensely, not because the food was delicious.

But because he was excited.

After lunch, he returned to the factory and helped out for the entire afternoon. Only after the huge batch of crystal blocks passed inspection did Fu Junlin finally put his mind at ease.

At around six in the evening, Fu Junlin eagerly ran home.

Yao Jinying and Fu Junting had already returned.

The moment he entered, the familiar aroma of food greeted him. Yao Jinying sat on a small stool in front of the stove, stir-frying vegetables.

Yao Jinying seemed especially happy today as well.

"Brother, hurry up! Look what Mom brought back!!"

Fu Junting was so excited he could barely sit still, craning his neck to look into the wok.

Fu Junlin curiously gathered around too, and his eyes immediately lit up.

There was actually a whole large pork rib in the wok, overflowing with sauce and giving off a mouthwatering fragrance.

Yao Jinying looked smug as she waved the spatula around.

"Hmph, good thing your mother moved fast! Let me tell you! After that table of customers left, I was supposed to clear their table.

Hey! That old sow Liu Lifen tried to steal my meat! I went right over and pulled out a whole patch of her hair."

Yao Jinying proudly gestured as she spoke, then looked at her two sons as if showing off.

But Fu Junlin's heart trembled.

Because there seemed to be several scratches near the corner of his mother's eye...

To let her sons have a bite of meat, she had likely gone through far more than she was willing to say.

Soon, the meat dish was served. Yao Jinying had even set aside some of the meat broth separately. It could be used as seasoning for several days.

Fu Junting eagerly started eating. After placing several pieces of meat in his mother's bowl, he finally put one piece into his own.

At the sight of meat, little stars practically shone in his eyes.

But when the meal was nearly over, Fu Junting's expression became somewhat unnatural.

After hesitating for a long time, he finally asked weakly:

"Mom, I want... four hundred yuan. Because... the exams are coming up, and without Energy Crystal Blocks, I'll be at a huge disadvantage. I want to bring a few with me."