Chapter 206

What's there to be afraid of? It's not the first time I've been beaten up, I'm used to it.

……

On the other end, Director Lin and Director Chen exchanged a glance.

There was a certain tremor in their eyes, a surge of emotion that had not been stirred for many years.

Especially that one line—

"China has existed for five thousand years, while the US has only been around for a few years?"

Like a spark, it splashed into a heart that had been parched for many years.

They are people who came from an era when they had to tighten their belts and split every grain of rice in half to eat.

It is precisely because we have experienced those days that we understand better than anyone else how deep the chasm is between us and that super giant across the ocean.

Those aren't numbers; they're the weight that's ingrained in your bones.

Therefore, every time they face sanctions, they have to be extremely cautious, as if walking on an icy river, not daring to make a single wrong step.

It wasn't that we were timid; it was just that China was incredibly poor back then.

But this young man in front of me is different.

Director Chen looked at Liu Guangqi's calm, almost indifferent profile, and felt as if something had struck him hard in the heart.

This young man showed no fear whatsoever.

That calmness wasn't feigned; it came from the core, a contempt for so-called power.

"...That's right."

Director Chen finally let out a long sigh, his voice tinged with self-deprecation and relief.

"As the director of the Foreign Trade Department, I spend all day staring at the numbers in the foreign exchange market, afraid that someone might overturn our dinner table."

"But now that I think about it, what's the worst that can happen? I can just eat standing up!"

"They're not going to starve to death!"

Director Lin remained silent, but a long-lost light gradually shone in his eyes.

"Yes, we weren't afraid of the founding war back then, so why are we being so timid now... that doesn't make sense."

Liu Guangqi smiled slightly.

He understood what the two elders were thinking.

The imprint of the times is too deep to be erased with just a few words.

"You two directors are too kind."

His voice was steady, yet it sounded as if a breeze was supporting it from below.

"You are the ones who truly paved the way."

Liu Guangqi's smile carried just the right amount of humility, keeping a very low profile.

"Everything takes time to learn, and it's wise to be cautious. As for me... I'm just taking advantage of my youth and being a bit daring."

These words gave the two directors ample face.

No one knew that deep in his memory, that nation that prided itself on being a beacon of the world had long since reduced sanctions to the background noise of its daily broadcasts. Today they blockade this place, tomorrow they suppress that side—but what did it matter? The giant ships that needed to be launched never stopped, and the path to explore the stars remained at the forefront. Life went on as usual, with more and more hope. Those clamorous sanctions were like a whiff of something in the wind—pungent at first, but vanishing without a trace in an instant, changing nothing.

Thinking of this, Liu Guangqi's expression became even more indifferent. He chatted with the two directors for a while longer, discussing other matters, before getting up to take his leave.

These past few days have been incredibly busy at the hospital, and I completely missed the timing of the protagonist's return—a lapse on my part. I admit my mistake and will stand firm even when criticized. Your criticisms are all valid!

In the days that followed, Liu Guangqi's life remained routinely monotonous, a simple routine between his research office and his residence, yet filled with steady busyness. He was completely absorbed in that tiny integrated circuit, and as for the so-called sanctions imposed on CNC machine tools from across the ocean, he didn't even bother to lift an eyelid.

He may not care, but some people do. As soon as rumors of sanctions began to circulate, the allies following the eagle panicked. Since their leader had spoken, who dared to disobey? So they all followed suit, pushing away machine tool orders that were already at their doorsteps, adopting a stance of drawing a clear line between themselves and the enemy.

Yet, amidst this somber atmosphere, a rather ironic scene unfolded. Unlike the Western nations, the island nation across the sea quietly sent people to the gates of its Ministry of Foreign Trade. They weren't there to cancel the contract—quite the opposite, they were there to place additional orders, and their appetite was considerable.

Although the two countries had ended their state of war, their relationship remained delicate. They hadn't formally established diplomatic relations, but their clandestine trade never ceased. In the early years, when developing rice cookers, China frequently bought prototypes from them to disassemble and study. Later, when their own products emerged, they began exporting overseas. Initially, they used their northern neighbor, Xiong, as a middleman, allowing him to profit from the difference. However, after their relationship with Xiong soured, they simply supported several local importers in the island nation, eliminating the middlemen entirely. Xiong was furious but helpless, while these island nation merchants, freed from layers of exploitation, reaped huge profits and now treated orders with almost obsequious deference.

Meanwhile, China also began importing cable technology and equipment from them last year. If all goes well, there are more procurement plans to follow. As long as the price is right, the island nation might even be willing to relinquish the technology—their reputation for prioritizing profit over principle is already widespread. More than a decade later, in the Ministry of Railways' "two peaches kill three warriors" scheme, they knowingly fell into a trap, all for the sake of profit. It's not surprising that they now actively seek them out for profit.

In a sleek meeting room of the Foreign Trade Department, Director Liu held a cup of jasmine tea, gently blowing away the floating leaves, his eyes glancing at the several Japanese businessmen sitting upright opposite him. The middle-aged man at the head of the group was named Matsushita, and a thin layer of sweat was already beading on his forehead.

"Mr. Matsushita, and all of you gentlemen," Director Liu set down his teacup, his tone calm, "before we get down to business, there's something I need to say upfront—our CNC machine tools are currently being sanctioned by your 'elder.' You should know this better than we do, shouldn't you?"

He emphasized the word "elder" slightly, as if stating a fact known to all. After listening to the translation, Matsushita immediately bowed, a humble smile plastered on his face.

"Mr. Liu, there is an old saying in your country: 'Those who understand the times are heroes.' We... are willing to be such heroes."

After the translation was completed, Director Liu chuckled inwardly. This visitor from the island certainly knew what was good for them.

However, since he had already run into the door, he figured he might as well knock on it. He remained outwardly calm.

Director Liu took several documents from the folder and gently pushed them across the table. The documents were written in Japanese. Matsushita and the others hurriedly took them, and as they looked down to examine them closely, their eyes first lit up, then their expressions changed drastically.

Matsushita's eyes widened, his fingers trembling slightly as he gripped the edge of the paper. What followed was a rapid string of Japanese, spoken so fast that even the translator beside him had to concentrate to keep up.

Director Liu didn't need the interpreter; just by looking at the flushed face and waving arms, he knew the other party was asking for an excessively high price. He raised his hand in a downward gesture, and only after the noise subsided did he speak slowly and deliberately.

"Please calm down, everyone. The situation is different now; your country's allies are imposing sanctions on us. We are supplying goods under pressure, and the risks and costs involved must naturally be reflected in the price—this increase is reasonable."

He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and added with a gentle smile, "Of course, if you find it too much to handle, you can choose not to purchase. We completely understand."

That calm and composed demeanor seemed to be silently reminding the other party: if you want to complain, go find your allies behind you.

"Mr. Liu!" Matsushita cried out urgently through the interpreter, disregarding formalities, "They are them, and we are us! We have come here with the utmost sincerity to cooperate!"

The interpreter paused briefly, then added, "Mr. Matsushita expressed his hope that you would consider the long-term prospects of future technological exchanges between the two countries and provide a more reasonable quote."

"Mr. Matsushita, your words put me in a difficult position." Director Liu spread his hands, his expression sincere. "The CNC machine tools you requested are already on the sanctions list. We are taking the risk of shipping them, so we need some safeguards."

He leaned forward slightly, looking directly at the other person.

"How about this, to show our sincerity, please include your latest cable technology in this transaction."

"This is our bottom line."

The meeting room fell silent.

Matsushita's expression was even more rigid than before, and his pupils contracted slightly. This nation, deeply versed in Eastern strategy, was now finally showing signs of wavering in the face of a true player in the game.

"Mr. Liu, we have been cooperating with your department for many years..." Matsushita tried to rekindle old friendships.

"Precisely because we have been cooperating for so long, we should show our sincerity even more," Director Liu interrupted gently. "The quotas for other countries have become available. If you want to take them over, you will have to pay the corresponding price."

"Otherwise, what right do we have to give them special treatment?"

The next three hours became a test of patience. Matsushita left his seat twice, returning each time with an even more somber expression. Director Liu, however, remained steadfastly seated, unmoved like a rock.

When Matsushita returned from outside the door for the second time, his shoulders slumped, and after a long silence, he finally managed to squeeze out a few words in a dry voice:

"...We accept."

He picked up his pen and signed the agreement that included the technology transfer clause. Circumstances had changed; now he needed their help and had no choice but to yield.

The moment the pen left the paper, he slumped back as if all his strength had been drained, letting out a long breath. The ten machine tools, along with the technology transfer fee, totaled tens of millions, a heavy expense even for him.

Across the table, several members of the foreign trade department exchanged restrained glances. Director Liu picked up the signed document, a faint smile flickering in his eyes.

He knew the nature of certain ethnic groups all too well.

Sometimes, a little pressure is enough.

This concession is just the beginning.

It has been proven that no industrial power can maintain a tough stance in the face of China's near-overwhelming CNC machine tool technology.

The mother machine of industry is the lifeline of a nation. If others control it while we lack it, then the so-called development and catching up is like a castle in the air—are we supposed to rely on flesh and blood to catch up with the torrent of steel?

Since Japan broke the deadlock and reaped the benefits, Western countries have also become restless.

While countries like the British, French, and Hans Christian are openly proclaiming their solidarity with the United States, they are secretly sending wave after wave of business missions to the East, practically wearing down the thresholds of relevant institutions in China.

For them, it was simply a matter of changing the outer shell and finding a transit point; orders continued to pour in like snowflakes.

After several rounds of maneuvering, China's foreign exchange orders not only remained unaffected, but the tense undercurrents actually led to a natural increase in prices.

Sanctions and covert purchases cannot be done at will. There has never been such a convenient scheme in the world.

I'm sorry, the situation has changed now.

To make a transaction, you need to add tokens.

Either pay a higher price, or exchange technology for opportunities; otherwise, it's all out of the question.

Ultimately, the so-called joint blockade painstakingly orchestrated by the United States turned into a futile farce in front of China for the first time, resembling a meticulously planned but unappreciated comedy.

Just as undercurrents were swirling in the Western world, and countries were playing a double game, good news came from Liu Guangqi's side.

After nearly two months, a key breakthrough has finally been achieved in integrated circuit technology.

Unlike the circuit boards used in previous CNC machine tools, this time the challenge is to tackle true small-scale integrated circuits.

Cheers suddenly erupted in the research and development room of the First Ministry of Machine Building:

"Chief! We did it!"

The boiling crowd of voices surged like waves:

"The gate oxide charge problem is completely solved! ESD protection parameters... Good heavens, they're 15 percentage points higher than the design target!"

"Small-scale integrated circuits—we actually made them!"

Shouts, table-pounding, and even tears of joy mingled and collided, composing a stirring triumphant song.

Standing in the crowd, Liu Guangqi looked at his group of excited researchers, and his nerves, which had been tense for two months, slowly relaxed.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil churning within him.

He understood—

The most critical technological hurdles have been cleared from the way forward for integrated circuits.

Two months is neither a long nor a short time. If someone else were to lead this kind of research, it would probably take three to five years to see results.

But Liu Guangqi is different.

He had a clear technical blueprint laid out in his mind, like lighting lamps for the team groping in the fog, and then urging them to make progress.

Such efficiency is naturally extraordinary.

After the test was completed, the entire research lab was filled with jubilation.

The celebratory cheers penetrated the walls and spread into the corridor.