<h4>Chapter 699: Responsible for the Countdown</h4>


    China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.


    Chief engineer’s office.


    When he heard that Star Sky Technology nned to conduct a test flight on New Year’s day, Secretary Yu immediately rushed over in order to bring this news here. Yuan Huanmin was reading a thesis, and after hearing about the situation, he froze for a few seconds.


    Once he realized what was going on, he had a look of disbelief on his face.


    “Test flight?”


    “Yeah! Who knew they were moving so fast!” Secretary Yu was worried. He sighed and said, “Ah, we were one step behind, what do we do now?!”


    Actually, unlike the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation never took this bet seriously.


    Ion thruster propulsion...


    Everyone knew that it would be impossible to ovee gravity with that small amount of thrust. Otherwise, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation leaders wouldn’t have agreed on this bet so easily. They would rather let Professor Lu self-destruct.


    Now...


    Who would have thought that they were starting their flight tests?


    When Yuan Huanmin saw how anxious Secretary Yu was, he was astonished.


    However, his worries were different from Secretary Yu’s worries...


    After staying silent for a while, he spoke in a suspicious tone.


    “They’re sending people on their first test flight?”


    Secretary Yu paused for a second and said, “There are two pilots in theunch n...”


    “This is outrageous!”


    Yuan Huanmin pped the table with his right hand, causing the teacups that were on it to shake. He stood up angrily from his chair and grabbed his coat from the back of the chair. He then started to walk out of the office.


    Secretary Yu quickly caught up to him.


    “Chief Engineer Yuan, where are you going?”


    Yuan Huanmin said without hesitating, “Do you really need to ask? I’m going to Jinling’sunch site!”


    Secretary Yu said, “But Jinling didn’t invite us, wouldn’t it be embarrassing for us to show up like this...”


    “Is this the time to feel embarrassed?!” Yuan Huanmin’s eyes were wide open as he said, “Which one’s more important, human lives or pride?!”


    Two astronauts!


    Not to mention they’re the elites of the test flight team!


    Yuan Huanmin was furious, he shook his head.


    As expected, Lu Zhou is too immature.


    His ego is through the roof.


    Using novel technology is whatever, but now he’s putting the precious lives of the two astronauts at risk!


    Yuan Huanmin’s opinion was that Lu Zhou was blindly abusing the country’s trust in him!


    Yuan Huanmin was fine with Lu Zhou spending money on the project, but now that lives were at risk, he had to do something.


    I have to stop him!


    Yuan Huanmin called his assistants and asked him to book him a train ticket from Beijing to Jinling. He then went downstairs to the parking lot.


    Secretary Yu was walking right behind Mr. Yuan. He wanted to persuade him not to go, but in the end, he decided against it.


    Maybe it’s a good thing for him to prevent this testunch?


    Regardless of whether Mr. Yuan can stop theunch, it’s worth a try...


    ...


    Outside the Jinling aerospaceunch site.


    A heavy rocket transport vehicle was being escorted by several military vehicles, and it slowly entered theunch site.


    Yesterday, the Jin Ling city council blocked this section of the highway and used police forces to temporarily block all sections of the road leading to theunch site. This was for the protection of the citizens and also to keep thisunch confidential.


    However, it was obvious that many foreign countries had their eyes on thisunch.


    But that didn’t matter.


    Nothing could be kept secret forever. Moreover, it was actually quite amazing they were able to keep this confidential until now.


    Regiment Commander Dai got off a military green jeep and walked in front of Lu Zhou. He then firmly shook Lu Zhou’s hand.


    “Professor Lu, we meet again.”


    “Good to see you, Regiment Commander Dai,” Lu Zhou said while shaking his hand.


    These two had known each other since the controble fusion project. They had always had a good rtionship. This testunch was very important to the higher-ups; therefore, the China Eastern Military Division was responsible for security, which meant that Regiment Commander Dai was in charge.


    After some small talk, Regiment Commander Dai said, “Let’s catch up after theunch is over, I won’t bother you anymore. This area is guarded by our soldiers. You just have to focus on the experiment!”


    “Okay,” Lu Zhou nodded and said, “thank you guys so much.”


    “No need to thank us, this is our duty.”


    Regiment Commander Dai waved his hand and walked back to his jeep.


    The moment he picked up his walkie-talkie, he spoke in a dignified manner.


    “Squadron 1, Squadron 2, begin patrol of theunch site!


    “I don’t want to see a single fly within a 500-meter radius!”


    ...


    After saying goodbye to Regiment Commander Dai, Lu Zhou found the two test pilots. They were preparing to board the flight. Their instructor was giving them somest-minute advice.


    When the instructor saw Professor Luing, he stopped talking and gave Lu Zhou the opportunity to speak.


    Lu Zhou walked next to the two test pilots and reached out his fist. He then gave Nie Yun a fist bump.


    “You got this!”


    Nie Yun took a deep breath.


    He didn’t talk a lot. He smirked and replied, “Ok!”


    Lu Zhou walked in front of Nie Yan and reached out his fist. He suddenly remembered that Nie Yan was a girl, so he awkwardly touched her shoulder instead.


    Nie Yan noticed Lu Zhou’s movements, so she smiled and began to flirt.


    “Actually I don’t mind fist-bumping.”


    “Are all the women in the army so masculine?”


    “Not quite, there are many types of girls in the army. What type do you like? I can introduce some to you.”


    “I’m good...”


    Does everyone know I’m single?


    Lu Zhou put on a more serious face and looked at her solemnly as he said, “Do your best.”


    Nie Yan did a military salute. Her expression was fearless and strong, and she looked exactly like her brother.


    “I will!”


    Lu Zhou nodded and started to walk toward the space shuttle. He suddenly turned around and looked at the two pilots again.


    “This is going to start a new age of aerospace, and you guys will be the first people to take that step.


    “I won’t waste your time.


    “But just know that history will remember this day, they will remember you guys, and everyone else standing here.”


    Lu Zhou paused for a second and looked at the silver spaceship.


    “See you guyster.”


    All of the engineers and technicians at the scene were touched.


    No one noticed that Lu Zhou, who was looking at the space shuttle, had a beaming smile on his face.


    After a while, Lu Zhou yelled out a name.


    “Hou Guang.”


    “Yes, sir!”


    “You’ll be responsible for the countdown!”


    Hou Guang excitedly nodded his head.


    “Yes, sir!”