Super Island Tycoon

Chapter 1199: Chapter 1198: Research Hall

"Wasn’t it, in myths and legends it was always said that the people of West Mountain were adept in magic and immortal techniques, so they called the four families as the West Mountain Four Families," Zhao Shuai explained.

"Then why are they all attending the seminar this year?" Wu Fen wondered.

Zhao Shuai took a sip of water and said, "Speaking of which, I also find it strange. In recent years, the people from the Four Families increasingly didn’t regard the seminar highly. Sometimes, if even one person from a single family came, it was considered good. This year they suddenly announced they would all attend, and I find it suspicious too."

Jiang Cheng was also curious about the Four Families mentioned by Zhao Shuai. They suddenly announced they were all coming, which surely indicated something was happening this year, but Jiang Cheng was obviously unclear about exactly what.

However, in recent years, the research results of the Four Families have also been far inferior to before. At the last seminar, the scientists from the Hua Clan came but didn’t bring a single research product, and at the time it was quite embarrassing," Zhao Shuai mentioned, sighing.

Jiang Cheng didn’t know how powerful the Four Families were, but he couldn’t believe they couldn’t present a single product at the Imperial Capital seminar unless there was some special reason. Jiang Cheng had a feeling that this matter might be related to Li Country.

"Speaking of the Four Families, Rongfeng is from the Qi Family, and he will also be coming to the seminar tomorrow," Zhao Shuai said.

"Qi Rongfeng?" Wu Fen asked, "I thought he wasn’t into scientific research." "Oh, it’s a long story, let’s talk about it when we see Rongfeng," Zhao Shuai sighed.

After parting ways with Zhao Shuai and Wu Shi, Jiang Cheng returned to his hotel and used his smart watch to check the situation of the previous scientific seminars. As Zhao Shuai said, in recent years, the seminars had become a bit dull, and sometimes not even a single impressive work was presented. The more Jiang Cheng thought about it, the more he found it not unrelated to Li Country.

The next day, the Director took Jiang Cheng to the Imperial Capital Scientific Research Hall. Before entering, the Director stopped Jiang Cheng and said, "Scientist Lin, don’t hold back at this seminar. Show whatever you want and let them see it. I think you can definitely shine," the Director said excitedly.

Jiang Cheng couldn’t help but laugh. He was nominally a member of the town’s research institute, so what will happen after he shines? The benefits wouldn’t still be for the Director? Although Jiang Cheng had already known why the Director insisted on bringing him, hearing him say it so bluntly made him feel a bit uncomfortable, as if he were just a research nerd who hadn’t seen the world.

"Hmm, I might run into my friends later, so I’ll go with them first," Jiang Cheng felt there was no need to be polite with the Director anymore. An eye for an eye seemed appropriate, Jiang Cheng thought.

The Director seemed a bit stunned, "What? Not coming with me?" The smile on the Director’s face vanished instantly, "You’re a bit ungrateful, I brought you here and you agreed to be part of our research institute, and now you want to walk off on your own?" The Director looked at Jiang Cheng displeased.

"I agreed, so I’m here as part of your research institute, but that’s all. Is the Director expecting me to give away my research for free?" Jiang Cheng felt the Director was being a bit too greedy.

The Director’s face darkened further, wanting to say more.

"Lin, you’re here early," Zhao Shuai, surprisingly neatly dressed in his suit, looked vibrant, exuding a hint of success.

"Yeah, you look great today," Jiang Cheng praised Zhao Shuai.

"Of course, I’m quite the handsome guy," Zhao Shuai said proudly, grinning, "But, Lin, why are you here and not inside? What are you doing standing here?" Zhao Shuai glanced at the Director standing beside Jiang Cheng and asked.

"Nothing, let’s go," Jiang Cheng took a quick look at the Director, not wanting to say anything more. To Jiang Cheng, it seemed like a waste of words to engage with someone like this. The Director’s expression was indeed quite colorful at this moment; he had come unprepared, merely hearing that Jiang Cheng was doing research alone in the desert and assuming he was just a bookworm he could take advantage of by seizing his inventions and research for his own fame and fortune. Now it seemed it was all a delusion. He then headed into the research hall.

As soon as Jiang Cheng walked into the scientific research hall, he felt a rich cultural atmosphere, indicating it was a good place. He saw the walls around him, in Zhou Tian, adorned with numerous portraits of predecessors from Kai Ao Country, including many excellent scientists and advanced creations. Evidently, the technology of Kai Ao Country was exceptional before, but now it seemed to be gradually going downhill.

Zhao Shuai appeared quite familiar with this research hall, as if he had been here many times, "Lin, our Kai Ao Country’s tech civilization was so brilliant. I used to come here often with my dad when I was small. Back then, it was bustling with people. Everyone in Kai Ao Country studied technology, and those were indeed glory days."

Zhao Shuai seemed to be lost in memories, his eyes full of longing and brightness.

Jiang Cheng didn’t know how to console Zhao Shuai, hearing this tale brought a sigh from him too.

Upon arriving at the main venue, Jiang Cheng noticed the scientific research hall had two floors. Surprisingly, the hall appeared quaint and classical, seemingly out of place for modern scientific research, yet it had a unique charm. Up front was a large display screen beside which were several computers, and many cameras from Zhou Country were present. It looked like the seminar would be broadcasted to the public. Most of the seats on the first floor were already occupied, while the second floor seemed larger than the first but was still quite empty with very few people present.

"Zhao Shuai, why is no one on the second floor?" Jiang Cheng asked.

"Lin, this is your first time here, you don’t know. The second floor is reserved for notable and renowned scientists, and the Four Families I mentioned yesterday also sit on the second floor. We’ll head up there shortly," Zhao Shuai explained.

Jiang Cheng followed Zhao Shuai up to the second floor. He found the environment there even more elegant and comfortable than the first floor. Zhao Shuai and Jiang Cheng took seats at the very front.

"Is it okay for us to sit so close to the front?" Jiang Cheng felt that since there was a clear distinction between the first and second floors, the front and back seating probably had some significance too.

"My dad will be coming later, he’ll sit beside me," Zhao Shuai pointed to the seat next to him.

"The chief?" Jiang Cheng had heard from Qi Rongfeng before that Zhao Shuai’s father was the President. Although he didn’t feel sitting in such a prominent seat was good, he also didn’t know where else to sit other than here. So he said nothing.

"Yeah, I’ve not told you, my dad is the chief. He actually has a strong preference for running the country through technology, which is why he forced me into a university major I didn’t like. He comes to the seminars every time, and during the industry’s downturn in recent years, he always looks very worried," Zhao Shuai said, tears welling up in his eyes.

Jiang Cheng patted Zhao Shuai’s shoulder to comfort him, knowing Zhao Shuai might seem carefree and often angered his father by not going home, but he apparently still loved him deeply. However, it was indeed time for Kai Ao Country to truly reform its scientific community. Jiang Cheng thought.

Qi Rongfeng had just reached the second floor when he saw Zhao Shuai leaning on Jiang Cheng, while Jiang Cheng was continuously patting Zhao Shuai’s shoulder, seemingly comforting him.

"Oh, Lin, Zhao Shuai, what’s with you two? You—" Du Rongfeng covered his mouth, looking as if he couldn’t put the scene into words.

"Qi Rongfeng, what are you thinking?" Zhao Shuai quickly sat up, pointing at Qi Rongfeng accusingly.

"Look at this kid, his mind is all over the place," he said.