Chapter 136: Morning Light Research Institute

P.S. The extra chapters for this week are complete. The next batch will be posted on the 30th. I originally intended to post them on the 26th, but I have a check-up on the 27th and won't be back until the 29th. I will post the final extra chapters of the month on the 30th! I hope everyone understands!

In Yincheng, Zhu Lan stepped out of the airport and saw Shan Yuchen waiting outside. Seeing Zhu Lan emerge, Shan Yuchen hurried over to greet him.

"Mr. Zhu! I hope you had a pleasant flight!"

"Mr. Shan, I didn't expect you to come and pick me up yourself. I really feel bad about that!"

Shan Yuchen shook his head. "Mr. Zhu, you are too polite; it is the least I can do!"

"Let's head out; the car is already waiting."

Zhu Lan nodded and led Kong Yan and Wang Sheng out of the airport. When he saw the vehicle waiting outside, he paused, surprised. "Mr. Shan, not bad at all!"

"Just for appearances, just for appearances!" Though he spoke with modesty, Shan Yuchen was clearly proud.

Parked outside the airport was a black Rolls-Royce Phantom. Judging by its appearance, it was an original factory model—a rarity in China, as it is not something one can simply purchase with money alone. The price tag started at a minimum of 30 million. It was precisely because of this that Zhu Lan was shocked; arguably, even the top ten conglomerates in China wouldn't use such a car to pick up guests.

"After you, Mr. Zhu!"

Zhu Lan nodded and climbed into the Phantom. "Let's go."

Kong Yan and Wang Sheng followed in the car belonging to Shan Yuchen’s bodyguards.

"Mr. Zhu, shall we head to the research institute first, or...?"

"Let's go straight to the institute."

Shan Yuchen nodded. "To the research institute!"

"Yes, President."

"Mr. Zhu, thank you for what you did for my father."

Zhu Lan shook his head. "Your father's survival instinct was the most important factor in his recovery. I could only provide guidance; that he pulled through is his own blessing. I only did a few insignificant things."

Shan Yuchen was well aware of his father’s situation. Shan Mingshan had passed the danger zone and had been transferred to a sanatorium in Laicheng. Shan Yupeng provided twenty-four-hour care, and a check-up was conducted every week to ensure no accidents occurred. Currently, Shan Mingshan was no different from an ordinary person, but considering the possibility of genetic collapse, Song Tingxian advised a three-month observation period. Shan Yuchen did not object and had simply instructed Shan Yupeng to look after their father in Laicheng with his girlfriend.

Zhu Lan’s visit to Yincheng was solely to inspect the Energy Research Center of the Guangming Group. Guangming Group’s research into solar energy was among the top five in the country, possessing the technology Zhu Lan required.

The Chenguang Research Institute, a scientific unit under the Guangming Group, collaborated with many universities across the country and provided satisfactory positions for numerous graduates. Despite being a private institute, the security at Chenguang was extremely high.

Upon arriving at the institute, after passing through several layers of security checks, Zhu Lan followed Shan Yuchen inside.

"President!"

"Professor Xu, let me introduce you. This is Mr. Zhu from Fantasy Technology!"

"Mr. Zhu, this is Professor Xu Zhengwen. He is an honorary professor at Western University and has deep research expertise in new energy!"

"Nice to meet you, Professor Xu."

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Zhu."

"Professor Xu, Mr. Zhu is here to visit our company today. Please show us around!"

"Very well, President."

Guided by Xu Zhengwen, Zhu Lan witnessed the sophistication of the Chenguang Research Institute. Spanning six large, open areas, the institute was located just outside Yincheng, near a vast desert that served as its testing ground. The area received fourteen hours of sunlight daily—while not comparable to some extreme locations, it was an excellent site for testing light sources.

Shan Yuchen had his staff bring tea and then dismissed them, though he kept Professor Xu behind.

"Mr. Zhu, I wouldn't dare say our Chenguang Research Institute is number one in the country, but we are definitely in the top three. Apart from those two institutes cooperating with the government, no one in the private sector can compare to us!"

Zhu Lan nodded, agreeing with Shan Yuchen's assessment. It was precisely for this reason that he chose to collaborate with the Guangming Group.

"I have seen your technology, but the satellite solar panel project is no small matter. You still need to provide something that satisfies me."

"Please, Mr. Zhu, tell us."

Zhu Lan waved his hand, and Kong Yan brought over his laptop. Zhu Lan opened it, operated it for a moment, and presented a set of data to the two men.

"If you can manufacture a solar panel that meets my requirements within this cost, then the satellite solar panel project is yours."

Shan Yuchen could not make sense of the data, but Xu Zhengwen frowned.

"What is it? Is it difficult?"

Xu Zhengwen nodded gravely. Shan Yuchen’s brow furrowed. Professor Xu was one of the country's leading experts in energy with a profound understanding of light sources. If not for his father’s past connection with him, the Guangming Group likely could never have invited him to be the institute’s pillar. If even he looked grave, it meant Zhu Lan’s requirements were extraordinarily high.

"If our company manufactures it, what are our chances?" Shan Yuchen asked directly, not minding Zhu Lan’s presence.

Xu Zhengwen glanced at Shan Yuchen, understanding that he was desperate to secure this project. If they could land a project with Fantasy Technology, the Guangming Group would open up a new market: the aerospace market. The most important aspect of the aerospace market was cooperation with the state. A private company working with the state signified that its technology was top-tier, and such a partnership would incline the government to favor the company in various dealings, which was incredibly beneficial for the company’s growth. Furthermore, if they could enter the aerospace market, the Guangming Group would have the capacity to compete in the aerospace markets of some second-tier nations.

Competition in the solar energy sector was becoming increasingly fierce. New markets were opening up, but they could not be conquered in a day. Shan Yuchen had originally intended to compete in the African solar market next year, but the international competition was far too intense. Now, the satellite solar panels required by Fantasy Technology represented a new starting point for the Guangming Group. If they could secure it, it would mean the Guangming Group had the capital to enter the aerospace market.

"President, if it’s just manufacturing this, I can absolutely do it in three months. But to keep it within this cost, we would likely need to use superior materials, and such materials are too expensive—it’s a contradiction."

Xu Zhengwen gave a vague answer. Shan Yuchen was not satisfied, but he had no choice. Although he didn’t understand the data, he knew that solar panels used for satellites were by no means simple.

"Mr. Shan, I think you need to communicate with your team. Let’s do this: I will leave the data here. If you are sincere, bring me a prototype in a month. I will evaluate your capabilities and then consider whether or not to entrust the solar panel project to the Guangming Group."

Shan Yuchen looked at Zhu Lan. "Mr. Zhu, rest assured, the Guangming Group will definitely produce a solar panel that satisfies you."

Zhu Lan smiled and nodded. He stood up, and Shan Yuchen followed suit.

"Mr. Zhu, I have prepared a dinner banquet for this evening; I hope you will do me the honor!"

Zhu Lan shook his head. "I’m afraid not. I need to rush to Jiuquan."

"Is it about the satellite?"

Zhu Lan nodded.

"In that case, I won't keep you, Mr. Zhu. I will have someone take you."

Zhu Lan nodded, not refusing. Yincheng and Jiuquan were quite far apart, but Zhu Lan arrived in Jiuquan quickly via a short-haul flight.

"Mr. Zhu, a pleasure to meet you for the first time!"

"Director Guo, sorry to trouble you to pick me up!"

Director Guo smiled and shook his head. "Let’s go!"

While Zhu Lan was visiting Jiuquan, a major event occurred in the country. A sinkhole appeared out of thin air in Qincheng, swallowing a small town whole. Tens of thousands of people went missing, and it was estimated that...

Survivors posted the incident online, and it instantly exploded. Tens of thousands of people had just vanished. Rescue teams arrived at the scene immediately, but the surrounding environment was extremely unstable, accompanied by earthquakes that collapsed the only small road leading to the area, making it impossible for rescue teams to enter.

Helpless, they had to request military support. However, after the military arrived, they discovered an even more serious problem.

"Hello?"

"Zhu Lan, where are you?"

"General Qin?"

"Stop with the nonsense. Where are you right now? Why can't I find you at your company?"

"You're at my company?"

"Where are you currently?"

"I’m in Jiuquan. What’s wrong?"

"Haven't you seen the news?"

"No? What happened?"

"A small town in Qincheng was taken by a sinkhole that appeared out of nowhere. There are some issues there, and rescue teams cannot enter. The military needs your robots."

Zhu Lan frowned.

"Stay where you are; I’ll have the people in Jiuquan send you back!"

With that, Qin Jun hastily hung up the phone. Within five minutes, a captain arrived to pick up Zhu Lan. He took a helicopter to a nearby military airfield, where a transport plane was already waiting. Zhu Lan boarded the plane in a daze, and it flew toward the south.

Ten hours later, Zhu Lan returned to Fantasy Technology, where Qin Jun was already waiting. On the plane, Zhu Lan had already learned what had happened and had even had Red Queen transmit the satellite images of the area to him.

"You know everything already?"

Zhu Lan nodded. "But my robots wouldn't be able to enter that place anyway! The magnetic field interference is too strong, I’m afraid!"

Qin Jun nodded helplessly. "There is no other way. The radiation is too strong; even specialized equipment cannot withstand it for more than ten minutes. The sinkhole has been probed to a depth of 1,600 meters, and the environment below is uncertain. We have already sent many drones down, but they all lost contact due to the magnetic field!"

The sinkhole had caused over 70,000 people to go missing. Inside the sinkhole, there was a massive magnetic field, and this field was actually formed by iron ore. At a depth of 600 meters beneath the sinkhole, there was a massive deposit of magnetite, which created an incredibly powerful magnetic field that interfered with all equipment. This interference wasn't just signal disruption; the strength of the magnetic field was enough to directly destroy core components.

"Enough, Zhu Lan. I know you have a special robot. That is exactly what we need."