Chapter 118

“This is the team’s production plan. Take a look and let me know if you have any suggestions.”

Early the next morning, Liu Wensheng laid out a stack of documents and addressed the group. The current task for the farm was to sell Ice Storage Machines and Purification Machines. After a night of discussion, the farm had decided on a product lineup: pendants, wristbands, jackets, and Purification Masks, with unit costs ranging from 300 to 3000 yuan.

“We’ve already reviewed the factory data. The daily production capacity is 700,000 units,” Sun Yiping said after going through the team’s documents. The Ice Storage Machines and Purification Machines required specialized tech production lines. Under normal circumstances, the products wouldn’t hit the market until the end of 3030. But with the Technology Factory in place, they could be launched as early as next week. The task was expected to be completed by mid-September.

“These prices fall within the system’s regulations and won’t place too much burden on the residents…”

After some discussion, the group turned their attention to product pricing. This time, the System Task was relatively simple, but it came with one strict requirement: the selling price could not be lower than the cost.

Based on the team’s budget, the final product prices were set as follows—

Pendant: 599 yuan

Wristband: 1,699 yuan

Jacket: 3,699 yuan

Purification Mask: 1,699 yuan

…

“If there are no objections, the team will begin reallocating materials today,” Liu Wensheng continued.

The core technology of the Ice Storage Machine and Purification Machine lay in their tech chips. The main materials included metal frames, cotton threads, stamped components, and high-quality silicone. With prices rising across the board, sourcing these materials was somewhat challenging, but with Longxia handling procurement, the logistics wouldn’t be too difficult.

“Here are the product names.” As the meeting drew to a close, Liu Wensheng pulled out another document.

The names “Ice Storage Machine” and “Purification Machine” were too generic. After deliberation, the Longxia Team decided to rename the Ice Storage line as the “Constant Temperature Series”—for example, Constant Temperature Pendant, Constant Temperature Wristband. The Purification Machine would be renamed simply as the “Purification Mask.”

“That’s a good name. It’ll be more comfortable to use in winter,” Song Yueshan said, looking over the renaming document.

He was seventy-five this year and suffered from moderate rheumatism. Ever since the farm announced the Ice Storage Machine, he had reached out to the Technology Group, wanting to be the first to purchase one. The Ice Storage Machine could be set between -10°C and +50°C, and the “Constant Temperature Series” better conveyed the product’s features.

As the group chatted, the conference room phone rang.

“Hello, this is Liu Wensheng.” He picked up the call, then turned to the others. “Longshan, Fengmai, Qinghong, and twenty-one other companies have submitted cooperation applications to the Science and Technology Bureau.”

Longshan and Fengmai were among Longxia’s most renowned tech companies. Half of the country’s electronic products came from these twenty-one enterprises. Technology was a booming global industry, but after the Harma Acid Rain incident, global demand for electronics had plummeted—except for essential survival appliances like air purifiers and water filters. Sales of phones, speakers, and other devices had dropped 52% compared to the same period in previous years.

Over the past two years, major tech companies like Dongshan and Fengmai had shifted their focus to environmental product research. However, tech development took time, and there had been little progress in national air conditioners and purifiers. In the midst of this uphill battle, the Academy of Sciences released two new technologies. Upon seeing them, the tech companies reached out to the farm immediately.

Fengshan Farm was now a national research hub with strict confidentiality protocols. Unable to make direct contact, the companies had no choice but to submit formal requests through the Science and Technology Bureau—leading to the current situation.

Ten minutes later, the farm received a fax. In addition to requesting cooperation, the tech companies also hoped to visit the Farm Laboratory for further technological exchange.

“What does everyone think?” Liu Wensheng asked after reading the fax.

“If we collaborate with these tech companies—letting them handle product design and assembly while the farm focuses on chip production—we could boost daily output to five million units.”

…

The group analyzed the proposal carefully.

Three years ago, they would’ve worried about leaking farm secrets. But after years of research, they understood the complexity of the farm’s technology. These days, even if foreign teams got their hands on the chip data, without lab support, they wouldn’t be able to crack it.

“I understand,” Liu Wensheng nodded after listening.

The tech industry was one of the country’s pillars, but the recent economic crisis had forced people to tighten their belts. New phones and headphones were no longer essentials. In the past three years, 30% of small and medium-sized tech companies had gone bankrupt. Now, under environmental pressure, only giants like Dongshan and Fengmai had the financial muscle to survive. Subcontractors were barely hanging on.

A well-timed tech demonstration could give these companies a much-needed boost.

The farm’s mission wasn’t to monopolize technology, but to use its innovations to help the nation recover from the Acid Rain crisis.

The farm was like the heart of technology, and the country’s enterprises were its lifeblood. Only when the blood kept flowing could the nation regain its strength after the Acid Rain disaster…

The farm made its decision and responded directly to the Science and Technology Bureau.

After discussions on both sides, a final list of 122 companies was confirmed for the visit. In addition to tech firms, the list included seed companies, fertilizer companies, and others who had previously submitted applications. All visitors would undergo a professional-level vetting process. The visit was scheduled for May 20th—just three days away.

Over the next three days, the farm focused on planning for the current task, while the 120+ companies, upon receiving the farm’s reply, were instantly thrilled!

…

“President Zhou, I’ve worked at the company for twenty-seven years. I’d like to apply for a spot on the visit list.”

“I was part of the Outstanding Management Program—I definitely meet the criteria…”

“Headquarters…”

…

On May 17th, during a high-level meeting at Dongshan Corporation, shareholders and mid-level managers alike abandoned their usual restraint and eagerly volunteered themselves for a rare opportunity.

Two years ago, the Longxia Academy of Sciences developed Aseptic Storage Technology. At the time, many tech companies expressed interest in a technical exchange. Back then, the Longxia Science and Technology Bureau had not yet merged with the Fengshan Base, and everyone assumed the aseptic technology had been developed elsewhere. It wasn’t until global seed variants began to update rapidly that people realized the true influence of Fengshan’s scientific research. But by then, Fengshan Base had already been designated a national key facility. Any thoughts of collaboration were now far out of reach.

Dongshan Technology had been frustrated and regretful for two years. Then, just as they were wallowing in disappointment, Longxia unveiled two new technologies.

Dongshan is a tech-driven company. While they may not specialize in biological research, they excel in modern technology. With the global average temperature now at 35°C, and the nation experiencing a heat surge since last year, Dongshan had been focusing on developing portable cooling devices. But none of their prototypes managed to balance practicality and portability—the project had made zero progress.

If Dongshan’s portable cooling system was on the first level, then Longfeng’s Cold Storage Unit was on the seventh. Not only that, Longfeng’s Air Purification Machine was also on the seventh level.

After seeing these two breakthroughs, Dongshan’s research bases were thrown into a frenzy.

Two days ago, Dongshan, along with other companies, submitted an application to the Science and Technology Bureau. Though everyone applied, none expected Fengshan Base to approve so quickly. According to the base’s response, each company could send three representatives for a visit. For security reasons, all personnel would undergo a background check, and no phones, radios, or other electronic devices would be allowed inside. The visit would also be covered by reporters from Longxia TV.

The ban on phones and radios was minor—these days, even Dongshan’s own labs prohibited such devices. The real issue was: how to choose just three people?

“President Zhou, here’s our team’s suggested list of candidates.”

“Our project group also has a few names…”

This was a company-wide meeting of over 300 people, including shareholders and all mid-level and senior staff. Given the farm’s air of mystery, everyone was eager to recommend themselves or others.

“Why don’t you put your name in?” At the back of the conference room, a skinny young man nudged the man beside him.

The man was jotting down meeting notes. He chuckled, “Only three slots—what’s the point of me joining the scramble?”

“You’re a Level 10 engineer at our company. If they’re choosing based on technical merit, who else would they pick if not you?” the skinny young man said matter-of-factly.

The man hesitated, clearly tempted.

His name was Gao Dong, a PhD graduate from Jinghe University. After graduation, he joined Dongshan’s R&D department. Gao Dong was known for his technical prowess—one of the most widely used mobile apps on the market was developed by him.

With so many high-level executives vying for a spot, Dongshan’s leadership had decided to let interested employees nominate themselves. A review panel would then make the final decision.

Gao Dong thought it over, then scribbled his name on a slip of paper. Reason for application: Level 10 engineer at Dongshan, capable of patiently learning from Fengshan Base’s knowledge.

Half an hour later, staff collected the slips. Out of the 327 attendees, 315 had applied to join the visit. The remaining 12 couldn’t adjust their schedules due to ongoing projects.

At noon, the meeting adjourned.

“When do you think they’ll announce the results?” Gao Dong asked the young man across from him as they ate lunch at 12:50.

He hadn’t expected to be selected at first, but now that he’d applied, he was anxious about not making the cut.

“The visit’s on the 20th. With the base’s background checks, I’d say we’ll know by tomorrow morning at the latest,” the skinny young man replied. He was a Level 8 engineer at Dongshan. Though not as technically skilled as Gao Dong, he was still dreaming of a miracle that would land him in the final three.

At 1:20, the two finished lunch and returned to the office.

At 3:00 p.m., the manager’s secretary came to Gao Dong’s desk. After a half-hour conversation, Gao Dong returned.

“What was that about?” the skinny young man asked curiously.

Gao Dong looked a bit dazed. “The manager just gave me the news.”

“What news?”

“I made the list. I’m going to the farm.”

The results had come out even faster than expected. The manager’s secretary not only informed him of the outcome but also asked detailed questions about his alma mater, family background, and any potential problematic social connections…

The questioning was more thorough than his original job interview. After he answered everything, the secretary finally announced: he should pack his bags tonight. After work tomorrow, he and the other two selected employees would head to Jinghe Airport, then transfer flights to Gan Province. The next morning, a professional team would escort them to the base.

“Who are the other two?” the skinny young man asked, still curious.

“President Zhou and Engineer Li,” Gao Dong replied.

President Zhou—Zhou Changsheng—was Dongshan’s general manager. It made sense for him to visit the farm to inform future company decisions. Engineer Li, like Gao Dong, was also a Level 10 engineer.

“Our company’s really serious about learning this time,” the skinny young man said with a click of his tongue.

He had expected President Zhou to bring someone from the PR department. But instead, he was bringing two top-tier engineers. Clearly, Dongshan was more determined than ever to absorb new technology.

Dongshan was known for its efficiency. The next evening, Gao Dong and the other two headed to Jinghe Airport. The [Jinghe–Gan Province] departure hall was packed—not just with regular passengers, but with many others also heading to the base.

Everyone looked energized, their faces glowing with anticipation for a visit to the nation’s most mysterious research facility.