Chapter 224

"From today onwards, your research department is officially upgraded to a first-level ministerial-level industrial research institute, a deputy department-level unit."

He paused, then a smile spread across his lips:

"Congratulations, Director Liu."

As Director Zhang finished speaking, the air in the room seemed to grow heavier. Looking at the young man before him, a long-held sigh of regret welled up within him once more.

Liu Guangqi was not the only one who was shaken at this moment.

Director Zhang was also silently reflecting. Knowledge doesn't just change destiny; it completely reshapes the trajectory of life. When he got back, he really needed to take better care of his son's education—his own life was pretty much over, and he couldn't let the next generation's path go to waste.

He still clearly remembers that a few years ago, Liu Guangqi was recruited into the Ministry of Machinery Industry as a fresh graduate of Tsinghua University, a green engineering assistant, based on a letter of introduction he wrote himself.

But who could have predicted—

At the same moment that Director Zhang was secretly sighing, Liu Guangqi, the true protagonist of this conversation, had a completely blank mind.

The office was so quiet you could hear the dust settling. Only his own heartbeat pounded, heavy and rapid, against his chest, making his eardrums buzz. His fingers, gripping the document tightly, were slightly white from the force.

Director of the research institute. Deputy director-general level.

He had certainly anticipated this day. With his contributions and seniority, reaching this level was only a matter of time. However, anticipation is one thing, but when the concrete, written agreement was laid out before him, the impact was entirely different.

He was only twenty-five years old.

At twenty-five, most people haven't even established themselves in their careers yet. But he has already crossed the threshold of deputy director-general level.

Having lived two lives, he had witnessed countless examples of rises and falls, but he never dared to imagine that he himself could reach such heights at such a young age.

Even though the director of this research institute's rank differs from that of the deputy director-generals who wield real administrative power, and is more of a technical position, a deputy director-general is still a deputy director-general. Administrative level twelve. This is the official cadre sequence of the First Ministry of Machine Building, a real leap from the level of a division chief to a deputy director-general.

This means greater say, more autonomy in research and development, and the right to access higher-level secrets.

Who would have thought? Liu Guangqi, who seemed like an ordinary engineering assistant who graduated from Tsinghua University, has risen to the position of head of a deputy director-level research institute in less than six years.

Such speed would probably shock many people if word got out.

Even Liu Guangqi himself felt as if he were walking on clouds, his steps unsteady and his sense of reality somewhat surreal.

After a long while, he slowly exhaled the breath he had been holding for so long, and the pounding in his chest finally subsided slightly. He gently placed the document back on the table, raised his eyes, and met Director Zhang's smiling gaze.

The initial shock and surging emotions gradually subsided, and something heavier settled down—responsibility, heavy and pressing down on our shoulders.

He understood that this appointment was not just an honor, but also a responsibility. The Academy and the Ministry had entrusted the weight of the entire future of industrial research and development to him, a young man of twenty-five.

"Thank you, Director," Liu Guangqi said, his throat a little dry.

Director Zhang waved his hand, his smile deepening. "Why thank me? You earned all of this step by step on your own." He looked the young man up and down, a hint of good-natured teasing in his eyes. "I thought you'd be more composed, but what, you're already stunned?"

Liu Guangqi rarely showed a hint of embarrassment, and said with a wry smile, "Please don't make fun of me, my mind is still blank right now."

"Look at you, so unambitious!" Director Zhang said with a laugh, then his expression turned serious. "Work hard! With your brains and this resume, you have a bright future ahead of you. Maybe in a few years, I'll be calling you 'leader'."

This was half a joke, and half a serious expectation.

Liu Guangqi's heart tightened upon hearing this, and he quickly shook his head, his expression extremely earnest: "Director, I dare not accept such words. No matter where I go, you will always be my leader, the one who guided me into this field."

"You little rascal!" Director Zhang's smile widened completely, radiating immense satisfaction. To be honest, what he valued most was Liu Guangqi's unwavering understanding of where he came from.

He stood up, walked to Liu Guangqi's side, and patted the other man's shoulder heavily.

"Alright, the appointment is here, and so are the responsibilities. The research institute has just been established, and you, as the new director, will be very busy. Go back and prepare well... Don't let me down, and don't let down the leaders who have high hopes for you."

……

After exchanging a few more words, Liu Guangqi took his leave.

Stepping out of the personnel department's gate, the cold winter wind hit him in the face, stinging slightly. This chill, ironically, completely cleared his mind, which had been somewhat muddled.

"I didn't realize I'd gotten this far."

He murmured to himself, the last trace of confusion in his eyes dissipating, replaced by a clear and resolute gaze.

When he first came to this era, he simply wanted to live a more comfortable life than others in this courtyard house.

By the way, use those advanced insights in your mind to help the country's industry avoid some detours.

But who could have predicted that?

Taking steady steps forward, he gradually became an unavoidable milestone in the industrial field.

They even reached a point where they could stand shoulder to shoulder with those top giants.

Yes, there is nothing wrong.

Now, as the head of the Industrial Research Institute of the First Ministry of Machine Building, he is comparable to Director Deng of the Ninth Research Institute of the Second Ministry of Machine Building in terms of both rank and authority.

The only difference,

It's about age.

Director Deng graduated from Southwest Associated University at the age of 21, became a teaching assistant at Peking University at the age of 22, and went abroad to obtain his doctoral degree at the age of 26. He then entered the research institute to work in depth.

He then quietly accumulated knowledge and experience in the field of nuclear theory for decades before finally taking charge of the Ninth Research Institute, which was directly under the Second Ministry of Machine Building.

And what about him?

Taking advantage of the five-year education system, he joined the Ministry of Machine Building after graduating at the age of nineteen.

With just a few light industrial appliances that generated foreign exchange, the legend of the "Red Star Factory" was built.

This actually allowed the country to pay off its debts in the north ahead of schedule.

Subsequently, breakthroughs in technology followed one after another: second-generation transistor computers, integrated circuits, CNC machine tools, automated production lines, and more.

Let him be twenty-five years old,

They have carved out their own niche in the field of industrial automation and risen to a position commensurate with it.

This achievement,

Without relying on family background or seniority, they relied entirely on solid technical expertise and built one powerful instrument after another to support the nation's destiny.

Even Liu Guangqi himself, when he occasionally looks back, feels somewhat dazed—

I don't know when it started, but so much glory and achievement have fallen on my shoulders.

Thinking of this,

Liu Guangqi raised his head, looked at the gray sky outside the window, and smiled slightly.

Once upon a time,

He only wanted to be a participant who could shake history;

now,

He seems to have become the one who writes the chapters of industry.

"Director of the Industrial Research Institute"

He silently repeated the new title to himself.

***

Liu Guangqi's promotion this time,

It was eerily quiet. There wasn't a sound coming from the radio all day.

The research office—

Many people had been listening intently all morning, only to hear the usual broadcast announcements, leaving them looking at each other in bewilderment.

"Strange, why hasn't our section chief made a move this time?"

"That can't be right. The achievements of these two major projects are evident, and even high-ranking leaders from the higher-level institute committee came to inspect them..."

"Exactly, everyone in the department has been promoted, let alone the department head!"

As the crowd whispered among themselves,

When speculating whether something had happened,

Several technicians returning from the ministry's bulletin board brought almost unbelievable news:

"Don't wait for the broadcast!"

"Our research office's sign has changed! It's now called the Research Institute!"

A single sentence is like a spark falling into a haystack.

This instantly ignited everyone's curiosity. Many people rushed to the entrance of the office building, and from afar, they could see that the original "Research Department" sign was nowhere to be seen.

Instead, a new plaque was erected—**Industrial Research Institute**.

A single word can make all the difference.

"Am I... seeing things? The research department has become a research institute?"

A young technician rubbed his eyes, looking completely bewildered.

The older researcher next to him raised his hand and patted him on the back of the head, his voice filled with barely suppressed excitement:

"What do you know, kid!"

"The Research Division is a functional department within the ministry; it's essentially just a division!"

"But the research institute—that's a nationally recognized research institution, its administrative level has been directly raised to deputy director-general level! How can that be the same?"

"Deputy director-general level?!"

A low gasp rose from the crowd.

Everyone understands that in this day and age, the level of one's work unit means everything.

A department at the ministerial level suddenly became a directly affiliated agency of a deputy bureau, which led to a significant increase in the status and benefits of all technical personnel.

"Then...then the section chief..." someone asked instinctively.

"Still calling him 'section chief'? He should be called 'director-in-chief'!"

Old Zhou glanced at him sideways, his chest unconsciously puffing out: "The research department has become an institute, how can the director stay in the same place?"

Everyone suddenly realized.

When they looked at the newly hung plaque again, their initial shock had turned into burning joy.

Soon,

The official announcements on the ministry's bulletin board have also been posted.

The words are written in black and white, concise and powerful:

**Liu Guangqi is hereby appointed as the Director of the Industrial Research Institute.**

A quiet yet bustling crowd gradually gathered in front of the bulletin board.

The stairwell was packed with people, and the air seemed to freeze.

All eyes were on that name.

Liu Guangqi.

Director of the research institute.

Many people felt a sense of disbelief – the speed of this promotion was astonishing, almost like a legend.

But then they realized that, given Director Liu's past achievements, this was probably how it should have been.

Surprise and a sense of entitlement swirled in everyone's hearts, eventually settling into a deep respect.

As a result of this job change, Liu Guangqi's treatment was officially upgraded to the deputy director level.

For Liu Guangqi himself, there was not much difference in what he did every day from the position of section chief to the position of director.

The only difference was that the research institute had more authority and could mobilize more resources, and on his large desk, there was now a red dedicated telephone.

The Research Office has been officially renamed the Institute.

This improvement in benefits is not limited to the workplace.

Building No. 5 in the ministry compound's staff housing is always quiet.

That afternoon, a series of regular knocks broke the silence.

Zhao Mengyun was gently soothing the child inside; the childcare worker and the caregiver had already left. Hearing the noise, she got up and opened the door.

Two staff members dressed in post office uniforms stood outside the door, carrying toolboxes; they were clearly technicians.

Upon seeing Zhao Mengyun, the leader politely leaned forward slightly and asked, "Excuse me, is this Director Liu's home?"

Zhao Mengyun stood there, stunned.

Director Liu?

Isn't her husband a section chief? When...?

Before she could think it through, the technician spoke again, his tone steady and formal:

"Hello, we are from the post office. We have received instructions from our superiors to install a dedicated telephone line for your home."

Telephone hotline.

These four words struck Zhao Mengyun's mind like a thunderbolt, causing her to freeze, almost thinking she had misheard.

The fact that someone from the post office came to my door in person meant that I had received official notification.

But... how is that possible?

Having lived in the ministry compound for so long, Zhao Mengyun knew the rules all too well—

Her family's compound, the General Logistics Department compound, was strictly managed, but it was home to military leaders at the level of army commanders and political commissars, so it wasn't unusual for them to have dedicated lines installed.

But the situation is different in ministry compounds.

Telephone availability in this area is strictly limited.

The exchange's capacity only allows for the connection of fifty dedicated telephone lines.