Top Student at Their Peak

"Chief Engineer Yu, you can't get your way with Academician Tian, so you're taking it out on me, right? Fine, fine, fine, I'll take the blame this time. Since it's up to you, what do you want me to do? But let me tell you first, don't go overboard!"

Hearing this, Qiao Yu knew that Academician Liu was done for!

According to his understanding of negotiation principles, the party that makes the first concession usually continues to back down until the bottom line is tested.

Sometimes, the bottom line even breaks a little.

Sure enough, Yu Yanjiang said directly, "How about this, when we sign the contract with Brother Yan Zhen, your Institute will cover 70% of the funding. You don't need to worry about anything else."

"Seventy percent?! Are you kidding me, Chief Engineer Yu? If you're going to be unreasonable like this, then maybe you should find someone else to partner with. Our Institute won't participate." Liu Zhao Yuan said firmly.

Yu Yanjiang laughed and said, "I was waiting for you to say that! You're the one who said you're not participating! Just as well, Lao Su from the Academy of Sciences mentioned last time that if there were any good projects, I should think of him first. So as long as you don't blame me later."

Liu Zhao Yuan pursed his lips, took a deep breath, and said, "Chief Engineer Yu, this is too much! How about this, our Institute will cover 50%."

Yu Yanjiang said unceremoniously, "Let's each take a step back, 60%! Also, I can help you apply for more computing power support. Isn't everyone always complaining about the lack of computing power? Come on, just say the word!"

After hesitating for a moment, Liu Zhao Yuan finally nodded, then looked up at Tian Yanzhen who was sitting across from him.

Tian Yanzhen smiled politely.

Yu Yanjiang finalized the decision, "Alright, that's it then! Zhao Yuan, don't look so glum. If you can learn something real this time, are you worried about not having projects in the future? You'll have so many projects that you won't know what to do with them!

Now, it's almost dinner time. I'll treat you to a meal tonight. Oh, and I've asked Xiao Chen to keep Zhang Zuolin and his student around, so we can have a gathering."

Tian Yanzhen laughed and said, "Don't worry, we definitely have to eat your meal today, besides, it's not easy to get a meal these days."

...

"Director Tian, this Chief Engineer Yu is something else."

Instead of eating at the work canteen, they set the dinner at a restaurant outside. On the way to the restaurant after getting the address, Qiao Yu couldn't help but complain.

"Of course. If he wasn't competent, how could he be the Deputy Chief Engineer of such a big project? Let me tell you, Chief Engineer Yu always talks about achieving big things with small spending.

No need to worry about Academician Liu. Many have been taken advantage of by him! But I'll tell you, he controls the largest chunk of R&D funds for the entire project, and everyone trusts him with it."

Qiao Yu nodded, feeling that his horizons had been broadened...

Indeed, the power plays among the big shots are quite fascinating!

"No, why did Academician Liu agree to such an excessive demand? Could it be that the Institute got a lot of projects from the lunar exploration program?"

Qiao Yu analyzed based on the conversation between the two.

"What else could it be? A miserly tycoon is still a tycoon! Can't really offend them. But don't worry, I'll watch over things for you, he won't be able to take advantage of you!" Tian Yanzhen said with a smile.

...

At the restaurant, the meal was enjoyable for both the host and the guests, and to Qiao Yu's surprise, no one drank alcohol.

Fortunately, with Zhang Zuolin and Liu Hao there, Qiao Yu felt much more at ease—a least there was someone at the table he could talk to.

Otherwise, pretending to be charming in front of a bunch of old men would have been hard to endure.

The meal went on until nine at night, and afterward, Qiao Yu honestly followed Director Tian, planning to leave together.

"Qiao Yu, you go get in the car first. I just thought of something and want to have a word with your teacher."

"Oh, okay." Qiao Yu quickly sped up a few steps to catch up with Liu Hao and left the restaurant first.

Tian Yanzhen looked at Yu Yanjiang and joked, "Chief Engineer Yu, don't tell me you want me to pay for this meal too."

"Haha, don't make me sound so petty. The bill is already settled, I privately treated you guys to this meal! I just wanted to tell you, today you went too far, almost made me lose face in front of the kid."

Tian Yanzhen glanced at Yu Yanjiang and said, "Alright, everyone knows your temperament. But Qiao Yu is different, I'm telling you, don't underestimate this kid's resolve.

If he's really not satisfied, he'll ignore your nonsense and directly go abroad, believe it or not? Princeton has been eyeing him for a long time!

Lott Degen even wrote to me last time to discuss having Qiao Yu as an exchange Ph.D.! So don't try to trick him with any lame honors. He's the real clear-headed one."

Yu Yanjiang was taken aback, squinting his eyes, and said, "What else can a sixteen-year-old love if not fame? Could it be money?"

Tian Yanzhen laughed and nodded, answering, "You're right, he does love money. He's a bit of a money grubber. He even complained to one of my useless students that the Fields Medal is boring, with too little prize money, not even worth his attention.

But he's interested in problems like the Riemann Conjecture and is eyeing the one million US dollar prize from the Clay Mathematics Institute. Who knows, he might even think about getting a Nobel Prize later. If his analysis method really works, he might actually get it one day."

Yu Yanjiang looked serious and said, "The kid is definitely a good one, I think he's been spoiled by you all. I'm telling you, you better keep an eye on him, make sure when he gets a project he doesn't have any dodgy ideas about the R&D funds."

Tian Yanzhen glanced at Yu Yanjiang and said, "You don't have to worry about that, for him, he might not even care about the project funds.

The kid's ambitions are huge. Zhang Yuanling transferred 1.5 million in research funds, and he's even too lazy to do other people's projects. Be prepared to bleed a bit."

Yu Yanjiang sighed generously and said, "You've put it like this, what else can I say? You tell that kid, his Grandpa Yu here has plenty of money, it's just a question of whether he has the ability to earn it!"