I Want a Laboratory

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

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 suddenly easing.

Eight thousand.

Fu Junlin worked part-time here and earned a little over a thousand a month. After covering his own living expenses, he could even contribute to the household.

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

But how many 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. You deserve it!"

Zhang Cheng said sincerely.

Even sixteen thousand felt rather stingy.

But he seemed to understand why Fu Junlin had asked for so little. Giving him too much would put enormous pressure on him. It would be a thankless gesture and might even 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 labs."

Fu Junlin said.

"That's all?"

Zhang Cheng asked in disbelief.

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 said: "Those who later ascend the altar, whenever they consider it, fear claiming merit."

By expressing harmless needs at the right time, he would make Zhang Cheng see him as no threat.

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

Zhang Cheng gave a bitter smile, one tinged with shame and self-mockery.

He laughed at his petty suspicions, at the stink of money all over himself.

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

Because that was the admission threshold for an average high school!

If his son's grades had not been so poor, he could have afforded to spend twenty thousand to send him to a top school. Unfortunately, his son had failed to live up to expectations.

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

He wanted a laboratory.

Fu Junlin still only thought about studying, about 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 Zhang Cheng today.

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

Below our factory grounds, four warehouses have stood empty all year. Warehouse A1 will be your laboratory from now on.

You won't need to pass through the factory grounds from the back entrance. You can come and go directly through 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 in 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, yet 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, nodded, and carefully put the key away.

"Thank you, Mr. Zhang."

Fu Junlin thanked him from the bottom of his heart.

Though to everyone nearby, including Wang Kai, that gratitude sounded somewhat strange.

Because to them, these things were utterly insignificant.

But it was different for Fu Junlin.

It had resolved his mother's most urgent problem. That alone was an enormous favor.

And being granted the use of his own laboratory was something he had never even dared dream of.

Fu Junlin was deeply satisfied. His heart churned like a stormy sea, impossible to calm.

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

Wang Kai stepped forward and tightly slung an arm around Fu Junlin. He could tell Fu Junlin did not want to remain in this setting for long, so he found an opportunity to get 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 keep an eye on the work, and hurry up and get Junlin's laboratory cleaned out."

Wang Kai pressed down with one hand and said from above him.

The crowd burst into laughter.

Punishing the boss by making him work—there would probably only ever be one time like this.

Zhang Cheng helplessly pointed at Wang Kai, then 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 were in an uproar as well.

Once everyone had rushed out of the room and gone to the production lines to repair the crystal blocks according to Fu Junlin's specifications, only the three of them 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. Not only was Secondary Energy Infection incurable, but even water sources carried varying degrees of infection.

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

They did not necessarily take lives gradually like Secondary Energy Infection, but they could make people suffer beyond endurance.

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

The Subspecies District was a high-incidence area!

Wang Kai benefited as well. Zhang Cheng gave him several hundred yuan and told him to make sure he took Fu Junlin out for a good meal.

After they left.

Not long afterward, Chen Rong strode toward Zhang Cheng aggressively with Chen Changming in tow.

"Zhang Cheng, have you got some nerve! Huh?"

Chen Rong pointed at Zhang Cheng's nose and berated him the moment she arrived.

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

"What? Why are you glaring at me? Are you rebelling? Huh? Changming did you such a huge favor, and you dare glare at him? Are you looking to die?"

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

But Zhang Cheng struck first, swinging his huge palm in a wide arc.

Slap!!

He sent Chen Rong staggering with one blow. Her eyeballs nearly rolled sideways, leaving the whites of her eyes exposed.

Chen Changming caught Chen Rong and roared at Zhang Cheng:

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

"You ignorant bastard, your idiot little brother got tricked by Pi Yi'an! The goods rushed out overnight yesterday were all explosive goods!!

I nearly lost everything! Pi Yi'an and the others ran off long ago!! If I hadn't met someone capable and recovered the losses—

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

Zhang Cheng was still not satisfied after cursing them out. He kicked Chen Rong again.

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

Only then did the surrounding people come over to stop the fight.

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

She had spoiled her younger brother and had always been hot-tempered toward Zhang Cheng, but she was not stupid. If what Zhang Cheng had said was true, then she had no grounds to argue.

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

She naturally realized she had been deceived as well. She just had not known Zhang Cheng would nearly be ruined. Chen Changming had only thought he had caused trouble, so he came to his sister to accuse Zhang Cheng first, hoping she could put Zhang Cheng in his place and preserve his deputy factory director position.

He had not expected Zhang Cheng to be so decisive.

Chen Rong's fury instantly 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 inside.

After lunch, he returned to the factory and helped out for the entire afternoon. Once that large batch of crystal blocks passed inspection, Fu Junlin finally put his mind completely at ease.

At around six in the evening, Fu Junlin hurried home impatiently.

Yao Jinying and Fu Junting were already home.

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

Yao Jinying seemed especially happy today as well.

"Bro, hurry up! Look what Mom brought home!!"

Fu Junting was so excited he could barely stay seated. He craned his neck to peer into the wok.

Fu Junlin curiously crowded over as well, and his eyes immediately lit up.

There was actually a whole large pork rib in the wok, sauce glistening over it and its rich fragrance filling the air.

Yao Jinying wore a proud expression as she waved the spatula.

"Hmph, good thing your mother was quick! Let me tell you! After those customers left, I was supposed to clear that table.

Hey! That old sow Liu Lifen tried to snatch my meat! I went right up and tore out a clump of her hair."

Yao Jinying smugly gestured as she spoke, then looked proudly at her two sons.

But Fu Junlin's heart trembled.

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

To let her sons have a bite of meat, she might have gone through far more than she had said.

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

Fu Junting eagerly began eating. Only after placing several pieces of meat in his mother's bowl did he put one piece into his own.

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

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

After struggling for a long while, he finally asked timidly:

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