The Research Institute is Saved

Chapter 62 The Research Institute is Saved

"What?!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Xuelan's eyes widened immediately.

"Sell it? Why? This is such a good piece of equipment, you just want to sell it like that? I don't agree!"

Seeing Liu Xuelan's serious expression, Wu Zu explained helplessly, "The factory is short of money, so I was thinking of modifying a few more machines and selling them all together. That way, we'll have money for research!"

Liu Xuelan shook her head.

"That doesn't mean you're allowed to sell this equipment. Besides, the dean and your dad went to solicit sponsorships, so don't worry about it!"

Wu Zu's eyes lit up. "How about this? If my dad and his team can raise money, we'll keep the equipment; if they can't, we'll sell it. What do you think?"

"Okay—yes!"

After thinking for a moment, Liu Xuelan nodded in agreement.

In the office of the factory director at the Northwest Wanjia Fan Factory.

Han Xueheng sat to the side, taking in the somewhat rudimentary office environment before turning his gaze to the man behind the desk.

The man, who was balding, was none other than Jiang Li, the factory manager.

"Old Jiang, we've really run into a lot of trouble this time and urgently need your help. How much funding can you provide?"

""

Upon hearing this, Jiang Li helplessly scratched his sparse hair and sighed deeply.

"Old Han, to be honest, if I had the ability to help, I would definitely help without hesitation. But you know how badly our factory is doing right now. We can barely pay wages. I really don't have the means to help you."

"Is there really absolutely nothing left?"

Han Xueheng still held a sliver of hope and pressed for an answer again.

Jiang Li nodded: "We really can't squeeze out a single penny."

As he spoke, he took out his wallet and pulled out a few crumpled banknotes. "Consider this a small token of my appreciation."

Seeing this, Han Xueheng shook his head: "Alright, I understand. Then we'll take our leave."

Jiang Li quickly stood up: "Don't go! Stay and have lunch before you leave."

"We're not eating anymore, we have to rush to the next place."

After Han Xueheng finished speaking, he walked out of the factory area and got into his car.

The people in the car looked at each other in bewilderment.

"Didn't manage to borrow any money again?" one of them asked.

"Oh, I didn't get one. Let's go to the next one."

After two days of running around without any results, everyone's patience is almost worn out.

They originally thought borrowing money wouldn't be difficult, but they didn't expect that all the places they went to were dirt poor.

Without further funding, the Northwest Ordnance Research Institute may really have to close down.

Han Xueheng witnessed the entire process of the research institute's establishment and development, and he has a deep affection for it, finding it hard to part with it.

After filling up the gas at the gas station, Han Xueheng couldn't help but sigh after paying.

"I never imagined borrowing money would be so difficult. I've already risked everything, but I still can't borrow a single penny. Sigh!"

Wu Guodong stepped forward to comfort him, saying, "Dean, don't worry, there might be a way."

"Let's hope God helps us. By the way, how many places do we still have to visit?"

"There are two left, one is the provincial research institute, and the other—I guess the chances are slim."

After thinking for a long time, Han Xueheng finally said, "Forget it, let's not go to the other one. It'll probably be a wasted trip. Let's go directly to the Provincial Research Institute."

Everyone knew how difficult it was for Han Xueheng to make this decision.

After all, the national decision to close some outdated research institutes likely involves provincial research institutes.

Since they made the decision, getting money from them is easier said than done.

"Dean, are you really going?" someone couldn't help but ask.

Upon hearing this, Han Xueheng's aged face seemed to have gained even more wrinkles.

"Yes, of course we should go! Even if there's only a sliver of hope, we should try!"

After saying that, Han Xueheng turned to the others and said, "How about this, none of you need to come with me. I'll go alone this time."

"Dean————"

The crowd tried to dissuade them.

Han Xueheng waved his hand: "Alright, stop talking. You guys hurry up and pack your things to go back. Leave the rest to me."

Left with no other choice, the group redistributed their belongings and then split into two groups, each setting off on their own.

By the time I got back to the research institute, it was already past 10 p.m.

Since there were no research projects, most of the lights in the laboratory building were off.

Wu Guodong looked up and saw that Wu Zu's room in the dormitory building was still lit.

"This kid, why aren't you asleep so late?"

Wu Guodong muttered to himself as he walked towards the dormitory building.

In the dormitory on the second floor, Wu Zu sat on a stool, drawing circuit diagrams while asking Liu Xuelan next to him questions.

"Mom, how did it go? Did you understand?"

Liu Xuelan stared intently at Wu Zuhua's design drawings.

"Wait a minute, although I don't completely understand it yet, it feels like there's some real knack to it!"

Just then, footsteps came from outside. Wu Zu hurriedly jumped off the stool, opened the door, and saw that it was Wu Guodong.

"Dad, why are you back?"

Wu Guodong grinned, squatted down, and gently pinched Wu Zu's cheek.

"What, you're not welcoming Daddy back?"

He looked a little dejected. "Dad didn't bring you a gift this time, but I'll make it up to you next time, okay?"

Wu Zu smiled and said, "It's okay, Dad."

At this moment, Liu Xuelan put down the blueprints in her hand and looked at Wu Guodong.

"Didn't you manage to borrow any money?"

Wu Guodong nodded: "Yes, it's much more difficult than we expected. We've been to every place we could go, but we still haven't been able to borrow a single penny. Sigh~"

Upon hearing this, Wu Zu's eyes suddenly lit up, and he reached out and gently touched Liu Xuelan's arm.

"Mom, can we proceed with my plan then?"

Seeing Wu Zu's excited expression, Wu Guodong was slightly taken aback, then looked at Liu Xuelan.

"What does this mean?"

Liu Xuelan smiled, pulled Wu Guodong to the stool next to her, and handed him the blueprints.

"Your son is going to do a great job! He's converted all those old machine tools in the factory into CNC machine tools. His idea is to sell these CNC machine tools, and then we'll have money for research and development!"

"What?!"

Wu Guodong's eyes widened instantly as he stared at the mother and son in disbelief.

"You guys aren't kidding me, are you? CNC equipment?"

"If I remember correctly, the US has only published this information once in a science journal, and they said this technology is at least ten years away from being realized!"

"That would take them ten years, but we don't need that. We've already got it done!"

"Hiss~"

Wu Guodong gasped and looked at Liu Xuelan.

Liu Xuelan smiled and nodded at him: "It's true. You can go to the smelting workshop and see for yourself if you don't believe me."

"I'll go take a look!" Wu Guodong said, and ran out.

Upon arriving at the casting workshop, he saw that it was brightly lit, and a lathe that had been abandoned for a long time was being put back into use.

A small control panel was added next to the lathe, with a palm-sized screen on it.

Zhou Hao was standing in front of the control panel, inputting a string of numbers into it.

Upon seeing this, Wu Guodong couldn't help but walk into the workshop: "My God, is this CNC equipment?"

Hearing the voice, Zhou Hao recognized Wu Guodong and smiled, saying, "Professor Wu, you're back! Yes, this is the CNC lathe your son, Azu, modified!"

"Good heavens, this kid actually did something this big behind my back. How's the lathe's performance?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Hao immediately began to describe it.

"This equipment is amazing. Just input all kinds of data into this computer, fix the parts in place, press the start button, and it can process automatically. It's extremely efficient and highly accurate."

As he spoke, he took out a freshly machined part. "Look," he said, "the precision is perfectly up to standard. It only took me less than five minutes to produce this part!"

"Hiss~"

Wu Guodong's eyes widened, then he suddenly burst out laughing.

"Haha, our research institute is saved now!"