Chapter 48: Taking Over the Burden
After leaving Ren Jian’s office, Lin Xu wasted no time and set his plan into motion.
The first person he needed to secure was Xu Jin. He had to explain the current situation and persuade him to join Donghua Chemical Fiber Factory as a consultant to oversee the subsequent research and trial production work.
To Lin Xu, this should have been a “not-so-simple” task.
Yet, the moment he sent the message to Xu Jin, the phone rang almost instantly.
“Y-you... you’re already ready? Can I start right now?”
“Where are you? Can I come find you immediately?”
“Am I far from you? Do you need me to do anything for you?”
Xu Jin’s voice revealed unrestrained excitement, even trembling slightly.
“You can come over now.”
“I’m about to check the new factory building. I’ll need your help assessing what equipment still needs to be added.”
“It’s 3 p.m. now. Can you arrive by 4?”
“I can!”
With a click, the call ended.
Lin Xu stared at his phone in disbelief.
What the hell?
Just hung up like that?
He probably would never understand the thought process of someone like Asperger’s.
I haven’t even sent you the location yet!
Helplessly, he opened the chat window and shared his location with Xu Jin via WeChat.
Then, he promptly greeted Ren Jian and headed to Donghua Chemical Fiber Factory.
By the time he arrived, Ren Jian had everything arranged.
Reception and guides were ready. After a few minutes, Xu Jin arrived, breathless—truly out of breath.
“How did you get here? You didn’t run, did you?” Lin Xu asked, noticing the sweat dripping from Xu Jin’s forehead.
“I... I...” Xu Jin stammered, trying to explain but abruptly waved his hand.
“It doesn’t matter! It doesn’t matter! It doesn’t matter!”
“Can we go in now? Can we take a look now?”
“Of course, this way please,” the guide responded warmly.
“Hello, leaders. I’m the former general manager’s secretary here at Donghua Chemical Fiber Factory and will continue to serve everyone going forward.”
“Today, I’ll be your guide—both of you look like practical men, so you’ll probably be interested in our technical equipment.”
“Shall we start now?”
“Let’s go.”
Lin Xu tugged at Xu Jin’s arm, and the two followed the guide into the factory.
Ahead lay equipment that was somewhat outdated but mostly complete. The entire factory was spotless. It was clear that Donghua Chemical Fiber had made considerable preparations for this acquisition.
“Don’t judge our equipment by its age; at the time, it was quite advanced.”
“Although Donghua Chemical Fiber Factory has fallen on hard times now…”
“No good,” Xu Jin interrupted suddenly, cutting off the guide before he finished.
“This stuff won’t do. It can only produce the previous generation of carbon fiber materials—actually, most of it is useless!”
“We need new equipment!”
“We need a new melt impregnation production line, new hot presses, plasma surface cleaning processes, hydrolysis-proof dryers…”
“All of this needs replacing!”
“This one has to go!”
“That one too!”
“We must hurry… faster!”
Xu Jin darted among the machines, inspecting each one but shaking his head in disappointment after each.
He muttered to himself like a man possessed, leaving the guide speechless.
Tentatively, the guide approached Lin Xu and asked,
“Sir, is this... expert a bit...?”
“A genius acts like this.”
Lin Xu raised his hand to interrupt.
“He’s a true genius.”
“Whatever he says, listen to him entirely.”
“By the way, you said you’d stay on here as secretary?”
“Then you can start working now.”
“Write down all his requirements and compile them for me.”
“No problem.”
The secretary responded immediately.
He had realized now this young man was no gilded rich second generation or dilettante heir.
He commanded an elite team and was a genuine rising star.
Unbelievable...
How old was he? Twenty-three? Twenty-four?
At such an age, he was already capable of standing on his own and expanding critical territories.
—So how on earth did he do it?
He hadn’t heard that Boss Ren had any secret heirs.
Could he be... an agent?
That aura about him did resemble something like that—not bureaucratic, but rather carrying a sense of decisive ruthlessness.
The secretary harbored suspicions but kept them to himself.
Such matters were better left alone.
He cleared his throat and continued,
“Should I copy this to General Manager Ren?”
“No need,” Lin Xu shook his head.
“Let’s first inspect everything and then submit the budget to the boss.”
“He doesn’t understand this technology; he just provides the funds.”
“...Understood.”
The secretary fell silent.
His gaze toward Lin Xu was complicated.
This was indeed a strange combination:
A swift and decisive boss, a young and mysterious decision-maker, and a slightly unhinged “expert”...
Such a team together...
They truly intended to accomplish something great, didn’t they?
...
Several hours later, as twilight deepened, inside the Jinling Zhongshan Cadres Sanatorium.
Xu Qianlin rarely sat up from his bed, but now a guard wheeled him into the central courtyard for fresh air.
His health seemed to improve slightly, but everyone here—including himself—knew his time was running out.
The spreading cancer cells were eroding his life; current medical treatments could only delay the inevitable.
Six months?
At most a year, before he had to let go.
And within those fleeting moments, the time he could maintain clarity of thought was even scarcer.
So he cherished it all the more.
Even during a “walk,” staff accompanied him, constantly updating him on work progress.
“The next Mars probe launch must follow the previous plan but select a different launch window.”
“The unusual event encountered by the Zhurong rover is unlikely accidental; we must verify whether this ‘incident’ relates to timing.”
“Additionally, the probe’s robustness—its reliability—needs improvement.”
“If we consider rocket payload issues, we can wait a bit.”
“Once the new engine from Institute 11 is ready, we can revisit the plan.”
“There’s still time.”
“I can’t wait, but you can.”
“Understood.”
The staff quickly jotted down Xu Qianlin’s words, then added,
“The progress at Institute 165 is actually quite rapid; only the silicon carbide self-healing coating remains an issue. Once resolved, trial runs can proceed.”
“You don’t have to tell us; you can see it yourself.”
“Don’t offer useless comfort—I definitely won’t see it.”
Xu Qianlin waved his hand, then said,
“The payload issue can’t be solved by engines alone.”
“In the end, we must work on the materials.”
“Maybe that’s why Xu Jin is so obsessed with PEEK and M46X materials.”
“By the way, how’s progress over there?”
As soon as he spoke, the staff replied,
“Very fast.”
“That company called Sky Dome Technology seems serious.”
“Economic investigators report that Sky Dome’s owner, Ren Jian, just turned down an investment close to 200 million yuan. The news is already out.”
The staff smiled slightly.
“It’s quite amusing; investors think Ren Jian is crazy.”
“But economic investigators say Ren Jian is resolute.”
“He can’t get bank financing now, but the acquisition and equipment purchases need money. So this afternoon, he directly mortgaged a villa he owns in Tailai Yiran through a third-party company.”
“Preliminary information says he can raise 150 million yuan from it.”
“That’s a hefty sum,” Xu Qianlin said in surprise.
“Yes.”
“Moreover, that villa is quite special to him. Rumor has it he had a big fight with his wife today—but that’s just gossip, a story to hear.”
“Indeed, just a story…”
Xu Qianlin nodded thoughtfully, then said,
“But what he’s doing is real.”
“My son sent me a message today—quite formal.”
“He visited the Donghua Chemical Fiber Factory acquired by Sky Dome Technology and made a series of equipment purchase requests.”
“Some equipment he can’t find a source for yet.”
“He begged me—he rarely uses that word—to help him find and complete the equipment quickly.”
“I’m still considering whether to help.”
“Do you need us to step in?”
The staff asked.
“If it’s about funding…”
“Funding isn’t the problem,” Xu Qianlin waved his hand.
“Ren Jian even sold his house; he has the money, just no channels.”
“Give him time to explore, and he’ll find all the equipment Xu Jin requires.”
“Only… Xu Jin is a bit impatient.”
He paused.
After a moment of silence, he said,
“Then help them.”
“There are still several companies and research institutes in the country with the relevant equipment.”
“Help me connect the dots and build bridges. Use leasing or borrowing methods to provide the equipment temporarily.”
“Once the new equipment is procured, Sky Dome Technology can cover the difference.”
“Everything must be compliant.”
“I mean, formally and substantively compliant.”
“Can you do that?”
“Of course, no problem,” the staff nodded immediately.
“This is a minor matter. Don’t worry—I’ll handle it.”
“That’s good.”
Xu Qianlin sighed softly.
“I’m done for.”
“I hope my boy can shoulder the burden…”