Storm clouds gathered over Shimen County

"You... you bunch of country bumpkins!"

The potbellied man flew into a rage and raised his hand to slap Zhang Hongxing a few times, but he had misjudged the situation and underestimated the man standing before him even more.

Thud!

Zhang Hongxing's kick was not particularly hard, but it was just enough to send the potbellied man flying out of the research base.

For a long while, the potbellied man could not get back up.

The other companions who had come with him did not lose their tempers over the potbellied man's beating. One of them even walked up to Zhang Hongxing with a smile.

"You must be Mr. Zhang Hongxing. I'm Zhang Chu, Elder Qian's student. That fat man outside is Shi Yihong, Academician Shi's son. He's used to throwing his weight around thanks to his father's status. It's actually an honor for him to receive a lesson from you today, Mr. Zhang."

"Is the research team coming later going to be full of people like you?"

Zhang Hongxing gave Zhang Chu a disdainful look.

"That's rather presumptuous of you, Mr. Zhang. Whatever else may be true, we're here on Elder Qian's behalf. Even if you do have some advanced technology, your achievements could never surpass his."

"If you don't want me to kick you out, get lost."

"You!"

Zhang Chu glared furiously at Zhang Hongxing, then turned and left. He had no desire to end up like the potbellied man.

"Director, weren't we a little too harsh?"

After Zhang Chu left, Pan Qiwu came over to Zhang Hongxing.

"Forget about him. Researchers should focus on their research. Let them keep their games to themselves."

"But..."

"That's enough. I'll take responsibility for everything."

Zhang Hongxing reached out and patted Pan Qiwu's shoulder. This really was no big deal to him, but the thought of constantly having to handle such petty matters himself irritated him.

So he took out his phone and called Lin Kui.

The special forces soldier, who claimed to have pledged his life to him, had always wanted to stay by his side. Previously, Zhang Hongxing had planned to spend a long stretch at home, so he had firmly turned him down.

Now he could have him find a few people to handle security.

"Boss, you finally remembered me!"

Lin Kui was thrilled the moment he received Zhang Hongxing's call.

"I have something I'd like your help with."

"No need to talk about helping, boss. Just give the word."

"I'm working at the Shimen County Research Base now. Find some discharged soldiers and send them over. Pay them twice the standard rate."

"No problem, boss. I'll bring them over by tomorrow at the latest."

"Thanks, then."

"Boss, don't hang up just yet. My grandfather wants to come thank you in person. Would that be convenient?"

"Sure. Just come straight to the Research Base."

"All right, boss."

As soon as the call ended, Lin Kui rushed to his grandfather's study.

"Grandpa! Grandpa! The boss agreed to let you visit!"

"Really? Wonderful! When are we going?"

"Anytime is fine, but I need to get some old friends together first. Someone's probably causing trouble at the boss's Research Base. He called today to ask me to find a few soldiers to handle security."

"Oh? Then hurry up and take care of it."

"Yes, Grandpa."

Outside the Research Base in Shimen County.

The potbellied man struggled to his feet, his eyes filled with malice.

"Brother Dazhuang, are you all right? This Zhang Hongxing has gone too far. How dare he act so arrogantly?"

Zhang Chu, who had just walked out through the gate, helped the potbellied man up with a concerned expression. He seemed like a completely different person from the one who had shown such contempt for him in front of Zhang Hongxing.

"Hmph! That damn bastard. When I see Elder Qian, I'm definitely reporting him. Someone like him doesn't deserve Elder Qian's attention, let alone a place on the Special Research Grant list."

"Brother Dazhuang, do you think Elder Qian really is coming here this time because of the Special Research Grant?"

"Of course. What else would require Elder Qian to personally review it?"

"Maybe I'm overthinking it. I just get the feeling that nobody here cares much about the special research funding."

"You're definitely overthinking it. Research funding is what Elder Qian oversees now. What, do you expect him to keep working on Nuclear Power Research?"

"Well... Brother Dazhuang, now that you mention it, I actually think that's possible."

"What do you mean?"

"You know what this research base works on. If Elder Qian really is coming here for Nuclear Power Research, wouldn't that mean combining the Maglev Train's propulsion system with nuclear power?"

"How is that possible?"

The potbellied man's mouth fell open in shock.

"No. If that's really what's happening, I absolutely can't just stand by. I can't let them succeed."

A crazed gleam flashed in the potbellied man's eyes. He turned and ran toward a secluded spot.

He needed to call his father, far away in Capital City.

Zhang Chu quietly watched the potbellied man turn toward the secluded spot, a trace of smug satisfaction in his eyes.

"Dad, I've discovered something huge here."

The potbellied man spoke quietly into his phone, his eyes constantly darting around.

"What huge discovery could you possibly make? Have you run out of money again?"

"Dad, this is real. You know Elder Qian is going to the Maglev Research Base in Shimen County, right? It's related to that."

"Based on my analysis, Elder Qian's real purpose in coming here is to conduct research, specifically to combine nuclear power with maglev technology."

"There's a very good chance they've made a technological breakthrough in that area."

There was a brief silence on the other end. Given how unreliable his son had always been, Shi Yihong initially did not believe it. But when he considered how sudden Elder Qian's trip had been, he began to hesitate.

"Did you really work this out yourself?"

"Dad, why don't you trust me?"

"Tell me the truth. If I find out otherwise, I'll cut off your entire allowance."

"Dad!"

"Are you going to tell me or not?"

"All right. Xu Chu actually worked it out, but I was thinking the same thing."

"Xu Chu? Tell me everything that happened, from beginning to end."

While Zhang Hongxing was still at the Research Base discussing possible directions for formation research with the researchers, a storm was brewing outside because of his work there.

After hearing his son's account of the entire incident, Shi Yihong drafted an article and posted it online. As a prominent technology influencer with 800,000 followers, he wielded considerable influence.

[Shimen County's maglev base may combine nuclear power technology to build the first Nuclear-Powered Maglev Train. Is this a risky venture undertaken under external pressure, or a natural integration of mature technologies?]

Judging by the headline alone, there was nothing particularly wrong with Shi Yihong's article. The content beneath it, however, pushed the entire Shimen County Research Base toward the abyss.

From beginning to end, the article insinuated that the technology was not yet mature.

An unproven nuclear power technology was being developed in a county town home to more than two hundred thousand people.

Who could possibly accept that?

A wave of opposition to the Shimen County Research Base soon swept across the internet.

The residents of Shimen County, caught up in that wave,

began gathering in small groups to discuss it and curse,

then started assembling.