Chapter 104: Nobel Prize Speech

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Meijiang County had never been home to any noteworthy enterprises. It was only after Li Fu’s Fuyun Technology Group established itself there that the county’s economy began to soar rapidly. Yet, apart from Fuyun Technology Group, hardly any other companies had settled in Meijiang County.

Although the surrounding towns near Sanjiang Town were developing swiftly, the other townships in Meijiang County showed little progress. Countless people were still forced to leave their hometowns and seek work along the coastal regions, leaving their children behind to be raised by elderly relatives.

Now, with Foxconn preparing to invest in a massive 300,000-employee factory in Meijiang County to manufacture virtual machines, the entire population was electrified. This meant that in the future, they would not need to leave home for work and could find employment locally.

A factory of this scale alone could provide over 300,000 jobs. Coupled with the ancillary service industries and other sectors, the employment needs of Meijiang’s population of just over one million could be fully met. Moreover, it could attract young laborers from other regions, propelling the county’s economy to new heights.

Fuyun Technology Group, being a high-tech enterprise, was also expanding its workforce, but it exclusively recruited university graduates. Those without formal education had no chance of entry. Furthermore, most of its factories were fully automated and required minimal human labor.

While Fuyun did contribute significantly to Meijiang’s economic growth, its impact on employment was far less than that of a manufacturing giant like Foxconn—especially in a predominantly agricultural and impoverished county like Meijiang.

Working at Foxconn required no educational qualifications; diligence and a strong work ethic were sufficient. This was a stark contrast to Fuyun’s university-only recruitment policy.

This explains why Foxconn’s investments in factories across China have always been warmly welcomed—not because of their GDP contribution, but because they solve large-scale employment problems. That alone earns the wholehearted embrace of local governments.

Upon hearing the news, the Meijiang County government was ecstatic and immediately dispatched representatives to negotiate with Foxconn to expedite the factory’s establishment. The entire county shared the excitement—finally, the dream of working close to home was within reach.

No longer would families have to leave their comfortable houses behind to live in dingy, overcrowded rental rooms elsewhere. No longer would parents be separated from their children, giving them the chance to nurture and guide their increasingly rebellious offspring.

Undoubtedly, everyone recognized that this monumental change in Meijiang County was all thanks to Li Fu from Sanjiang Town—the young prodigy named “Talent of the Century” by Time magazine. If not for Li Fu’s involvement, Foxconn would never have invested in such a remote place, and Meijiang would never have undergone such a profound transformation. Everything owed itself to Li Fu.

“To succeed is to benefit the world; to fail is to perfect oneself.”

This creed had always driven Li Fu to keep his enterprise rooted in his hometown. It was this conviction that led him to accept personal losses for the sake of his hometown’s development.

Yet at this moment, Li Fu was no longer in Sanjiang Town. At the Imperial Capital International Airport, Li Fu and Wang Yun held hands, each pulling a suitcase, ready to board their flight.

Li Fu had recently received an invitation from the Nobel Prize Committee to attend the 2018 Nobel Prize ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden, on December 10.

For an ordinary event, Li Fu would have declined without hesitation. But this was the Nobel Prize ceremony—the highest honor a scientist could achieve. Although Li Fu was now a wealthy entrepreneur whose net worth rivaled that of the world’s richest, deep down he still saw himself as a scientist.

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Becoming a scientist had been Li Fu’s lifelong dream, one he had tirelessly pursued. Winning the Nobel Prize, the pinnacle of scientific achievement, was a moment he naturally intended to attend.

The Nordic region, where Sweden was located, had long been a paradise for countless travelers. Li Fu planned to take Wang Yun along to enjoy a proper vacation. After a year of hard work, he had little time for her; this was his chance to make up for it.

“This time, I’m going to have a blast. The five Nordic countries—Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland—I won’t miss a single one. I won’t be back until after the New Year.”

Wang Yun nestled affectionately in Li Fu’s arms, holding a map of the Nordic countries as she mapped out their itinerary. Given the rare opportunity to travel with Li Fu, she was determined to plan it well.

“Ha, everything’s up to the lady boss,” Li Fu chuckled, nodding in agreement.

“Always just talking, never helping to find good tourist spots,” Wang Yun teased, rolling her eyes and continuing to pore over the travel guide.

After more than ten hours of flight, including a transfer, Li Fu and Wang Yun finally arrived in Stockholm, the Swedish capital. The journey felt endless, and with jet lag looming, the couple prioritized a good rest at their hotel.

On December 10, around 3 p.m. local time, amidst the enchanting strains of music at the Stockholm Concert Hall, the 2018 Nobel Prize ceremony was underway.

On this rare occasion, Li Fu donned a meticulously tailored suit prepared well in advance. His enigmatic aura and youthful presence set him apart from the other laureates, making him the only Asian face in the gathering—truly a standout figure.

“Because you have opened a new chapter in the field of biological science and virology, unveiling a new world in biotechnology for humanity, and developed a drug to treat AIDS, enabling mankind to conquer disease and foster greater health for individuals and society, thereby making an outstanding contribution to human progress, we unanimously deem Mr. Li Fu deserving of the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Please welcome Mr. Li Fu.”

Before each laureate ascended the stage, the host summarized their achievements in English, but Li Fu understood every word effortlessly.

Amidst the melodious music, Li Fu smiled gently as he walked onto the stage. At this moment, he was purely a scientist, receiving the highest honor from the scientific community.

King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden personally presented Li Fu with the Nobel certificate, medal, and prize money. The monarch couldn’t help but scrutinize the young genius who had achieved honors that many scientists spend their entire lives chasing. Li Fu’s calm smile, neither arrogant nor meek, combined with his unassuming appearance yet mysterious aura, compelled curiosity about the true nature of this remarkable talent.

As the brightest scientific star of the ceremony, Li Fu was granted the opportunity to deliver his acceptance speech.

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“Esteemed members of the Swedish Academy, ladies and gentlemen, it is an immense honor to stand here in such a place of supreme distinction to deliver my acceptance speech. Since childhood, I have dreamed of becoming a scientist—a great scientist. I never imagined that one day I would receive such a prestigious accolade in the scientific world.”

“The advancement of humanity is inseparable from the exploration and discovery of science. We have now harnessed formidable power, yet compared to the vast cosmos, we remain but tiny specks.”

“As humanity continues to grow and our society advances, Earth increasingly struggles to meet our needs. Our future lies among the stars, in the boundless universe. I believe that in the not-too-distant future, humanity will truly leave Earth behind and venture into interstellar space, into the vast expanse of the cosmos.”

“……”

The ancient sounds of the East resonated throughout the concert hall as Li Fu delivered his speech in Mandarin. He spoke not of biotechnology, AIDS treatments, or profuse thanks, but boldly predicted humanity’s future path—pointing to rapid expansion into interstellar space and the universe.

Few in the audience understood Mandarin, but since Li Fu had provided a transcript beforehand, translators conveyed his words, allowing all to grasp the meaning of his speech.

“Interstellar travel… venturing into the universe?”

Many distinguished guests pondered the implications of Li Fu’s words. Though the international space race was intensifying, the idea of humanity quickly entering interstellar space seemed premature. Yet Li Fu was a genius scientist; his assertions surely carried merit.

“Lastly, I plan to donate the entire prize money to the International Education Fund. In addition, I will contribute ten million U.S. dollars to the fund, hoping to provide more educational opportunities and resources to children in developing countries. Knowledge changes fate—not only individual destiny but also the destiny of nations, and perhaps even of humanity itself.”

As Li Fu’s words concluded, a wave of applause surged through the concert hall.

While Li Fu attended the Nobel ceremony, a shadowy force closely tracked his every move in Stockholm. A conspiracy targeting Li Fu was quietly taking shape.

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