Chapter 145: There Are Always Shifty Rascals Trying to Weasel Out of Paying Their Debts

Yang Hui led this group of graduate students—though now they should be called research personnel—on a flight from the imperial capital to the southwest. There was no denying that flying was faster and far more comfortable than traveling by train. At that moment, Yang Hui felt a sudden urge to one day design civil passenger aircraft.

Yet, impulses are called impulses precisely because they are unrealistic. For now, it was merely a passing thought. Once the plane landed, Yang Hui put the idea aside and led the group out of the airport.

“All right, we have now arrived at Jin’guan City. There’s still an entire afternoon ahead of us, so let’s keep moving. We still have nearly one hundred and fifty kilometers to travel by road to reach our destination.”

The wind tunnel base in the southwest lay nestled among mountains, home to a secret military-industrial city. Alongside the cluster of wind tunnels, there were production bases for two-stage rockets and a research center dedicated to mushroom-shaped bombs.

While the Republic could do without an international financial metropolis like Magic City, it could never lack this military-industrial city. This city was the backbone of the Republic.

Of course, in 1983, no one dared to declassify such matters—not even Yang Hui.

They managed to secure a reasonably decent bus and boarded it, twenty strong, beginning the slow, laborious journey toward Fucheng—the name of this military research city.

In reality, the one hundred and fifty kilometers could have been covered by train, but considering time and cost, the difference was negligible. After weighing their options, they naturally chose the more flexible bus.

Bumping along the road in the old vehicle, with the afternoon sun nearly setting, they finally reached a small county beneath Fucheng.

They found a guesthouse to stay at. As for going straight to the wind tunnel testing center, that was impossible now; they first needed to establish contact and then wait for the center to send a vehicle to pick them up.

After a day of arduous travel, everyone was exhausted. The phrase "welcoming the guests" was no mere formality—long-distance travel was a grueling task in these times. Though it was the 1980s, transportation was still quite primitive compared to later eras.

After dinner, everyone promptly fell asleep. Early the next morning, a large truck arrived—yes, just a truck, with only two long wooden benches under the canopy for passengers.

The journey was a stop-and-go crawl. The enclosed canopy at the back was reasonably ventilated, but it was absolutely forbidden to glimpse any mountain roads along the way.

Yang Hui knew this was part of the local secrecy measures. Even the drivers were not aware of all the mountain routes; they would drive only a section before switching drivers, thus keeping the entire mountain path confidential.

After about four hours, the truck finally stopped. Yang Hui and the others could step out and see sunlight again—but this light was artificial. They were still deep within the mountain.

“Hello, welcome on behalf of the base’s testing center. Please come with us to settle your accommodation first.”

Passing through several compartments—yes, no mistake, the national defense facilities inside the mountain were designed in segmented compartments for security—they reached the guesthouse section. Twenty people was neither too many nor too few, just enough to fill this compartment’s guesthouse.

Once accommodations were arranged, the next task was to organize the testing process. Yang Hui and Liu Jun naturally took it upon themselves to discuss the test details, while the others, all first-timers in such a secretive defense setting, were more curious than anything but also quite reserved. After Yang Hui and Liu Jun left, the others quietly stayed by their beds.

The mysterious underground complex was secretive not only externally but internally as well. Its labyrinthine transport network was impossible to navigate without a guide.

Their escort was a soldier who remained stern and silent throughout the journey. The only time he spoke was to warn Liu Jun, who had slowed down to peek into a nearby working compartment.

They arrived at a seemingly ordinary compartment, with no indication it was an office—only a cryptic number hanging outside.

“Don’t speak. This is the base’s technical director. If you have technical matters, discuss them with him. You may enter now. The technical section chief inside is surnamed Luo.”

With that, the soldier showed no intention of entering himself, making it clear only Yang Hui and Liu Jun were to go in.

Pushing open the door, they saw a fair-skinned middle-aged man, clearly someone who had worked underground for a long time.

“Hello, Director Luo. I’m Yang. We’re aerodynamic designers from Base 0011. This trip is to conduct some supersonic wind tunnel tests, which should have been coordinated earlier by our Chief Engineer Yu.”

Director Luo had indeed received prior notice and knew this project was specially urged by higher-ups. He was pleased to finally have a project to work on.

“Hello, I’m the technical director here. Your project has been cleared. We will prioritize it. Please give me your materials so I can arrange the tests.”

Yang Hui placed his briefcase on the table, took out the documents, and after confirming everything was in order, handed them over.

The documents contained a general introduction, outlining the main progress and aerodynamic improvements of the project—enough for Luo to plan the testing.

He carefully studied the materials, quietly analyzing how to arrange the schedule.

Yang Hui and his research team had now relocated to the far southwest. A few days had passed, and the wind tunnel tests were underway. It was only then that the Fengtian Institute realized they had been stood up.

Finding Director Yang, he too was amused and exasperated by Yang Hui’s actions. Though this move allowed them to absorb the team, it effectively severed relations with Fengtian Institute.

“I didn’t expect this either. They just left without notice, and I can’t reach them now. Maybe you should try contacting Chief Designer Yu Ximing. It’s better to deal directly with the project’s lead designer.”

Director Yang’s deft deflection shifted the pressure away. Vice Director Zhang of Fengtian Institute gave up and prepared to venture alone into hostile territory.

Chief Designer Yu was in high spirits that day, having just concluded two months of successful negotiations with the British. He had celebrated with a few drinks and was now happily heading back to the guesthouse with the negotiation team, ready to resume design work the next day.

Meanwhile, the guesthouse lobby became lively. Vice Director Zhang, having failed to find the negotiation team, refused to give up. He sat at the front desk, awaiting Yu’s return. His angry demeanor frightened the guests, who kept their distance.

This led to a dispute between Zhang and the guesthouse staff. Luckily, Yu returned quickly, diverting Zhang’s ire.

“Yu, tell me honestly—was this your idea to take the graduate students away? I’m telling you, this matter was agreed upon by both the Science Committee and the Aviation Ministry. If you act recklessly, you’ll face the consequences. Now call those people back immediately!”

Calling them back? Impossible. Yang Hui had informed Yu beforehand, and Yu was prepared. The single word: delay. It was now a test of Fengtian Institute’s patience.

“Well, it’s hard to say. This project is urgent, and these people have done most of the prior tests—they’re accustomed to it. So let’s wait until they finish the remaining tests. It’s beneficial for them too. Just be patient.”

This was outright chicanery. Vice Director Zhang wanted nothing more than to storm in and give this rogue a good thrashing, but faced with being alone against many, he dared not.

Seeing no recourse, Zhang had to retreat strategically, though he left behind a parting barb.

“Hmph, there are always scoundrels trying to shirk their responsibilities.” (To be continued.)