Chapter 34: You Couldn’t Have Been Deceived, Could You?

At this moment, He Xingzhou was not logged into his video website account. Instead, he was in a group chat with a number of Xuanwu Project executive officers, discussing the upcoming strategy.

The "Xuanwu Executive Discussion Group" was restricted solely to those authorized as Xuanwu Project executives. As the whistleblower of the Zerg crisis, He Xingzhou had been added to this group. Furthermore, all Xuanwu Project implementers were part of a larger group to facilitate timely communication. Not only was the software used for these chats custom-developed, but the devices themselves were issued by the national security department to prevent hacking or eavesdropping.

In the chat, several Xuanwu executive officers were marveling at He Xingzhou’s efficiency.

Kong Qing commented: "It has been such a short time, and your Sentinel Research Institute has already produced results! And it’s breakthrough battery technology at that. @He Xingzhou, you young people are truly incredible."

"Indeed," added He Hongwei. "I was still wondering if the research institute could even officially begin operations within a month... This level of efficiency is truly humbling!"

He Xingzhou replied: "(Emoticon: Embarrassed) I just got lucky. The data happened to be complete, and I have the help of so many experts and academicians. Let’s set that aside for a moment, seniors. What are your thoughts on the matter of technology licensing?"

Lü Mei spoke up: "The more we license, the better, of course. We must roll out the technology immediately! Before the Zerg disaster arrives, our nation’s battery industry must be fully upgraded to metal-air battery technology!"

Cui Weimin added: "Comrade Lü Mei is right. It is not just the military industry; the civilian sector must also be upgraded accordingly. Regarding licensing, I believe we should prioritize state-owned enterprises to ensure they can undergo industrial upgrades immediately. We should also grant licenses to private enterprises to boost their competitiveness within the industry and promote the development of related sectors."

No one raised any objections. He Xingzhou then asked: "What about the associated royalties? My meaning is, we can offer free licensing to state-owned enterprises—it all belongs to the state anyway—but we should charge a certain fee for private enterprises. It would be best if these licensing fees could remain with our Sentinel Research Institute to serve as research funding."

Kong Qing replied: "In this regard, you and your team, as the developers, certainly hold the patent rights. All state-owned enterprises will receive free licenses, while a portion of the other profits will be awarded to the developers to boost morale, and the rest will be retained by the institute as research funds."

"As for your Sentinel Research Institute, any technology or product for which you hold independent intellectual property rights will be under your own discretion to allocate the proceeds!"

"That is excellent!" This was exactly what He Xingzhou wanted. The plan he was implementing required an immense amount of resources—more than even the strength of the entire nation might be able to bear. Since that was the case, he could utilize the technology and products developed to generate profit from the global market and accumulate the necessary resources. As for the personal rewards, He Xingzhou intended to use them to build emergency shelters for himself and his family; this was his own private intention.

While He Xingzhou was chatting with the Xuanwu executives, in a typical residential complex in Jiaying Prefecture, Linhai Province, a once-ordinary family lived in a unit of less than eighty square meters.

This was He Xingzhou’s home, where his father, He Qihang, his mother, Jiang Manrong, and his younger sister, He Mengyao, still resided.

Comrades had already come to arrange for their relocation, but He Qihang had been hesitant for days. Firstly, he was reluctant to leave the environment he had lived in for decades; secondly, he was skeptical of the claims made by the relocation staff. His son was still in college—where would he get the money to buy them a house? And why would he go as far as arranging personnel to handle this?

He Qihang had looked at the residential complexes they offered; there were several options, and any one of those units would start at several million on the open market. The other party even claimed that if they were willing to move to the capital, they could arrange for that as well!

"Why would they be so good to our family?" This was the shared doubt of the entire household. "How expensive are houses in the capital? They are giving us one for free, and they can even handle Mengyao’s transfer... Does my son really have that much influence?"

At that moment, He Qihang was discussing this with his younger brother, He Qiguang. The two were analyzing the situation over tea.

"Exactly. How much would this cost, and how much influence would it take?" He Qiguang was also suspicious. "There is no such thing as a free lunch in this world."

In the kitchen, Jiang Manrong, who was cooking, remarked: "With such a major matter, if Xingzhou doesn't come back to confirm it with us, we dare not believe it easily. Besides, Mengyao is about to take the college entrance exam. We shouldn't stir things up until she finishes."

"This is too extravagant. I keep feeling that something is wrong," He Qiguang said. "Could Xingzhou have gotten involved in a pyramid scheme?"

His words startled He Xingzhou’s parents! "That shouldn't be, my son is quite smart!" He Qihang said, stunned and suspicious.

"Hey! There are plenty of smart people in pyramid schemes!" He Qiguang retorted.

The more they thought about it, the more wrong it felt. Jiang Manrong said: "I have to make a video call to him. His phone hasn't been getting through these past few days—it really does look like he's been scammed!"

She dialed He Xingzhou’s number, and this time, it went through. Before He Xingzhou could speak, Jiang Manrong’s voice came through the phone: "Son, where are you right now?"

"At my workplace," He Xingzhou said, sensing the tone in her voice was off.

"Workplace? Aren't you a student? What workplace could you possibly have?" The family began to panic.

He Xingzhou laughed: "I joined a research institute. I'm interning."

"You were able to join a research institute?" The others were incredulous.

He Xingzhou said: "Haven't you watched the news? It was even on the News Broadcast."

"What could you possibly have done that would be on the News Broadcast?" He Qihang was anxious. "You haven't been getting into any trouble out there, have you?"

He Xingzhou was speechless. "Dad, Mom, didn't I explain this already? If you don't believe me, watch the News Broadcast yourself!"

"He's just spouting nonsense! He's definitely in a pyramid scheme!" He Qiguang confirmed.

"That's not right, though. Would someone in a pyramid scheme be able to chat with us like this?" Jiang Manrong was more inclined to believe him. She said: "Turn on the TV and see what's on."

"Don't hang up, we're going to check." The family hadn't been using the TV much lately, fearing it would distract He Mengyao from her studies.

He Qihang turned on the TV, and at that moment, a channel was rebroadcasting the news.

"Mom, I'm home! It smells so good, I'm starving!" A crisp voice rang out from the doorway. A young girl with a ponytail, wearing a blue and white school uniform, ran in. It was He Xingzhou’s younger sister, He Mengyao.

"All you think about is food!" Jiang Manrong said. "It's in the kitchen, serve yourself."

"What are you all doing?" He Mengyao noticed that they were all staring intently at the TV, watching a news rebroadcast.

"Is that Mengyao?" He Xingzhou called out.

"Brother!" He Mengyao excitedly picked up her phone. "Brother, why haven't you been replying to messages lately? I'm about to take the college entrance exam, and you said before that you'd take me out once I finished!"

He Xingzhou laughed: "Come to the capital after your exams. I can't go anywhere else because I'm very busy right now."

"Hee hee, the capital is fine too! I've been wanting to visit for a long time!" He Mengyao beamed with joy.

At that moment, the television screen began broadcasting news about the battery technology.