Chapter 147: When Is the Time to Return

The aerospace system’s major consortium completed its reorganization after the 2020 Spring Festival, signifying Tang Country’s determination to advance its space endeavours.

Accompanying this was the national release of a plan to accelerate the development of Tang Country’s aerospace industry, with the goal of establishing a permanent base on Mars by 2030.

Upon the announcement of the plan, it immediately sparked a multitude of discussions.

One group believed the timeline was too aggressive.

After all, the first Mars landing took place in 2020, and to build a permanent base within ten years certainly has the scent of excessively rapid progress.

They believed it would be more prudent to build a permanent base on the Moon first.

Another group argued that given how quickly technology is advancing, significant changes could happen in two to three years, not to mention a decade.

A decade to sharpen a sword – building a permanent base on Mars by 2030 conforms to the laws of scientific development.

In fact, the focus of the plan was not the goal itself, but rather the nation once again relaxing permissions for private investment in the aerospace industry.

The already booming commercial spaceflight market surged to heightened activity levels with this plan, driving a derivative effect that powered Tang Country through an economic transformation that had long been elusive.

When the United States implemented the Star Wars program years ago, it not only revitalized its own economy but also brought down the former Soviet Union.

It also led to thirty years of strong technological development that allowed the United States to become the sole superpower through its high-tech advantages.

Under these circumstances, with its industry-leading products, Dream Technology became a critical foundation for many businesses eager to grab a share of the large space market.

In the field of aerospace, the precision requirements for various components are much higher than for ordinary products.

Xingguang Precision, a joint venture between Dream Technology and the aerospace consortium, is the sole supplier of ultra-high precision machining centers.

Western nations, led by the United States, have a complete sales ban on these numerical control machining centers to Tang Country.

Domestic enterprises wishing to supply components for aerospace products can only purchase these machining centers from Xingguang Precision.

These were the reasons why those reaching out to Dream Technology withdrew their hands, as Dream unexpectedly became a shareholder of the aerospace consortium.

Moreover, holding 25% of the consortium’s shares with a batch of patented technologies, Dream surpassed some people’s expectations by a great margin.

This meant that Dream Technology would not undergo privatization to state control; the enterprise remains a private company under Dr. Du Qiu.

What’s more, well-informed individuals had already disseminated rumors that the charges against Dr. Du Qiu were fabricated and would soon be dropped.

All these factors enabled Liu Yaofeng to steer Dream Technology through those difficult times.

“Boss, I just heard you say that this place is going to be turned into an anti-aircraft missile base. Do we have anti-aircraft missiles here?”

Liu Yaofeng, a hardcore military enthusiast born into a military-industrial enterprise in Shaanxi Province, naturally took his beloved subject to heart with a brew of concern.

Du Qiu smiled faintly and said, “How could my base be considered secure without anti-aircraft missiles? Who doesn’t know that the Americans love to play with surgical airstrikes?”

“Which country’s products are these? Given you dare not even return to the country, they’re certainly not from Tang Country. You probably wouldn’t dare use American products either — who knows if they have backdoors,” Liu Yaofeng said, counting on his fingers before slapping his thigh. “It’s definitely the old Soviets’ S400, right? How did you manage to get it?”

Du Qiu gave a mysterious smile, “Do you think that in more than a year, without releasing any leading-edge products, I’ve run out of talent?”

Liu Yaofeng stared in astonishment and pointed at Du Qiu, “No way, you didn’t switch to military industry, did you?”

Instead of answering directly, Du Qiu said, “Like I said, after what happened more than a year ago, I realized something. One must have the power to make others listen to reason.

And that strength doesn’t just come from having money. You also need guns!”

“So… What good stuff have you come up with in this year and more?” Liu Yaofeng’s voice trembled with excitement.

“There’s plenty of good stuff, and of course, anti-aircraft missiles are part of it,” said Du Qiu, keeping it a suspense.

“Boss, tell me quick, I’m dying to know.”

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While Liu Yaofeng was visiting Du Qiu’s underground base, in the far-off Magic City of Tang Country, Ning Shuangshuang had just led a team to capture a spy who was secretly photographing a new aircraft carrier.

After more than a year, Magic City’s new aircraft carrier stood majestically at the mouth of the Yangtze River, visible to passing ships from afar.

Recently, the frequency of satellite overpasses above Magic City had increased dramatically, all aiming to get a clearer picture of Tang Country’s new aircraft carrier.

Therefore, a spy disguised as a Tang Country military enthusiast attempted to take close-range pictures.

“Team leader, do you want to conduct the interrogation?” asked Deng Quan.

“No need, you handle the interrogation,” said Ning Shuangshuang before turning and leaving.

She did not go back to the office or home; instead, she drove to the street outside Dream Technology.

Over the past year, whenever she had free time, she would “casually” pass by Dream Technology and stay on this road for a while.

As if by doing so, she felt as though she had seen Du Qiu.

Never before had Ning Shuangshuang yearned for someone so much.

Over the past year, she had contacted Du Qiu no more than a handful of times.

Since she hadn’t seen any video footage of Du Qiu, at one point Ning Shuangshuang even wondered if he had been captured by the Americans, who insisted that they had not caught him.

This thought wasn’t hers; it was suggested by Director Mo inquiring about her contact with Du Qiu.

To test the idea, Ning Shuangshuang once told Du Qiu during their conversation that the allegations had been dismissed, and he could return to the country at any time.

However, Du Qiu didn’t say he would return; instead, he mentioned he was working on an important research project and couldn’t leave, but he would return to the country when the project succeeded.

Nearly a year passed since Du Qiu’s statement.

Although Ning Shuangshuang had contacted him four more times, Du Qiu never mentioned returning.

When Lorraine & Co came to Magic City to invest and build a factory, Ning Shuangshuang had gone to meet him, asking if Du Qiu had sought him out.

Regrettably, Lorraine & Co told her they thought Du Qiu had already returned to Tang Country quietly, which is why they came to invest in Magic City, hoping to meet Du Qiu discreetly.

With each passing day, Ning Shuangshuang’s disappointment and anxiety grew.

“Du Qiu, you asked me to wait for your return, how long do you want me to wait? Have you really been captured and held by the Americans?”

Ning Shuangshuang gazed, lost in thought at the gates of Dream Technology. Although it was after working hours, hardly anyone came out.

Working overtime had become the norm for employees at Dream Technology because their products were in such high demand.

Dream Technology’s eco-friendly waste treatment equipment couldn’t be sold abroad, but the domestic environmental protection departments strongly recommended it.

This garbage disposal method perfectly solved the problem of urban waste management, the process was very environmentally friendly, and the resulting by-products were profitable.

Marketing department’s Liu Sichen emphasized this point in promotions, winning favor with environmental bureaus everywhere.

They set up environmental garbage treatment projects in cooperation with Dream Technology, using PPP project models, with project funds for the purchase of Dream’s equipment, and the by-products to be distributed proportionally between both parties.

This win-win model made the once-troublesome environmental garbage treatment equipment a strong cash cow for Dream Technology within the year.