Chapter Nineteen: The Base Energy Department

Emerging from underground, Zhang Mingyang and his companion returned to the first-level tunnel, following Wang Bowen toward the central office area of the base.

After walking for 800 meters through the tunnel, they arrived at the office and residential section of the base. To avoid detection by satellite surveillance, there wasn't a single tall building in sight—only rows of two-story houses. All the research and manufacturing workshops were hidden inside the excavated mountains on all sides. From above, the base looked just like an ordinary village.

“Grandpa Wang, isn’t this a bit too basic?” Zhang Mingyang couldn’t help but think he’d come to the wrong place as he looked at the rundown houses.

“This is already quite good. With so many satellites in the sky watching every day, this is the only way we can stay hidden,” Wang Bowen replied.

Standing in front of the Energy Department’s office building, Zhang Mingyang hesitated to go inside, but Wang Bowen dragged him in nonetheless.

As soon as they entered, more than a dozen people in the room stood up, all turning their gazes toward the door.

“Zhang Mingyang?”

That familiar voice caught his attention. Looking into the crowd, he immediately recognized a figure he knew all too well.

“Teacher? What are you doing here?”

It was none other than Lin Guangming, the man who had first recommended Zhang Mingyang for the nuclear fusion team.

Lin Guangming strode over, his trademark booming voice echoing as he called out, “Everyone, come over here. Let me introduce you—this is my prized disciple, and soon to be your colleague, Zhang Mingyang.”

With Lin Guangming’s introduction, the others gathered around, greeting Zhang Mingyang warmly. Lin Guangming then went on to introduce each person individually. “Everyone here is at least a generation older than you, Mingyang. In the lab and in the dorms, remember to learn humbly from your seniors…”

Nodding, Zhang Mingyang shook hands with each one in turn.

Once he had met everyone, Zhang Mingyang finally realized that the “Antimatter Group” under the Energy Department, to which he now belonged, was the oldest team on average and the most accomplished in the entire base.

Though the group was small—just sixteen people—apart from Zhang Mingyang, every member was an academician or director from major institutes and universities across the country.

“Is Zhang Mingyang here?”

A white-bearded elder entered and called out into the group.

Lin Guangming quickly leaned over to whisper, “That’s Qian Zhongshu, our Energy Department director. He’s formidable—one of the few here who once worked alongside Wang Huairen!”

“I’m here!”

Zhang Mingyang hurried forward.

Qian Zhongshu looked him over, circling and scrutinizing him before handing over a document. “Did you write this?” he asked Zhang Mingyang.

Glancing at the file, Zhang Mingyang realized it was the “Antimatter Energy Thesis” he had written years ago.

“Yes, I wrote it.”

At his reply, Qian Zhongshu paused, his normally bloodless face flushing with excitement.

“Excellent!” he exclaimed, drawing everyone’s attention in the room. “You have the flair of young Wang Huairen. Our team of experts has all read this thesis—it truly carries his style from those days.”

Only now realizing he was being praised, Zhang Mingyang felt relief—he’d been worried there was a problem with his paper.

Qian Zhongshu pulled him aside, and the two delved into a discussion of antimatter technology.

They talked until dusk, reluctantly parting only when Lin Guangming came over to remind them it was time for dinner.

After an afternoon of conversation, Qian Zhongshu saw in Zhang Mingyang a promising talent, while Zhang Mingyang found Qian Zhongshu to be a worthy mentor whose vast knowledge would be invaluable to him.

Leaving the building, the three headed toward the largest structure in the valley—the base’s canteen.

Along the way, they saw many others heading the same direction, evidence of the base’s considerable population.

Inside the canteen, more than half of the 150 tables were already occupied, so the trio quickly grabbed trays and queued for their meal.

The food was quite good—each day there were four meat dishes, four vegetable dishes, two soups, and a portion of fruit.

With their meals, Qian Zhongshu led Zhang Mingyang to a table where Lin Guangming and an equipment engineer were already seated.

During dinner, Qian Zhongshu, as a veteran of the base, described the structure of its departments.

“Our base has ten departments. For research and development, there’s the Energy Department, the Polymer Materials Department, and the Telecommunication Department. For spacecraft construction, there are Factory One, Factory Three, Factory Six, and Factory Nine. Logistics are handled by the Special Security Department and the Logistics Department. And finally, there’s the 145th Bureau, which commands the ‘Far Ocean’ spacecraft—though no one can enter there, it’s extremely secretive.

“All told, there are about 800 people at the base.”

Listening to Qian Zhongshu’s explanation, the three of them gradually gained a clearer picture of the base’s organization.

After dinner, Zhang Mingyang remembered he’d been away from home for several days and wondered how his grandparents were doing—he decided to call and check in.

Standing under a large tree, Zhang Mingyang tapped his wristwatch and dialed his grandmother’s number.

“Beep, beep…”

“Hello, who is this?” His grandmother’s voice came through.

“Grandma, it’s me! Mingyang!”

Hearing his voice, his grandmother’s excitement was palpable. “Mingyang! How are you out there? Are you eating well? Is it warm where you’re staying?” She fired off a string of questions.

Zhang Mingyang replied with a smile, “I’m doing great, grandma. The food is good, and I’m comfortable—don’t worry about me!”

Yet suddenly, he found himself at a loss for words. He couldn’t bring himself to tell her he was involved in a secret project and wouldn’t be able to come home for a while.

But his grandmother caught a hint of hesitation in his voice. She said, “Mingyang, I know all about it. Grandpa Wang told me—you’re working on a research project at the Institute of High Energy, and it might take over a year.”

Hearing this, Zhang Mingyang felt a weight lift from his heart. “Don’t worry, grandma. At most, this will take a year. As soon as it’s over, I’ll come straight home.”

“As long as you’re fine, that’s all that matters. Your grandpa and I are doing well. Did you get leave from your school?”

“Yes, I’ve taken care of things with the university. You and grandpa take good care of yourselves—and if anything happens, go to the hospital right away.”

His grandmother chuckled and nodded. Before hanging up, she reminded him once again to take care of his health and not to let work wear him out.

After ending the call, Zhang Mingyang was overwhelmed by mixed emotions. He felt as if, like his late father, he was abandoning his loved ones for the sake of work.

“Mingyang, what are you standing there for? I’ll show you to your dormitory.”

His teacher, Lin Guangming, spotted him under the tree and led his beloved student toward the dorm building.

The Energy Department dorms were built into the eastern slope of the hill, and their group’s dormitory was situated right between the Energy Department and the Logistics Department—so that every time he stepped out, he would catch a glimpse of that woman.