Chapter 27: Are You Really Exiling Me to Ningguta?

"Locked up for life?"
"Life imprisonment?"
"Is Wei Xiu going to be sentenced to life?"

Wei Xianjun was standing far away, only catching the gist of it. Not hearing clearly didn't matter, but he couldn't help but panic. These words scared Wei Jianguo half to death. What kind of crime could possibly warrant life imprisonment? Wasn't it just fixing a car poorly? No matter how expensive the car was, it shouldn't be worth a human life.

Before Wei Jianguo could speak, Wei Xiu had already followed the old man into an off-road vehicle.

"It's over, it's all over!"
"This is truly the end."
"Once they've taken him away, there’s no room left for negotiation."

Wei Jianguo suddenly felt as if his efforts in raising his son had been in vain. He was already over fifty, and having another child wasn't realistic. Wasn't everything finished?

...

On the other side, inside the off-road vehicle.

"My name is Lin Xiao," the old man said, remaining gentle and approachable. "I see that I am a bit older than your father. Let me take the liberty of being your uncle."

Wei Xiu frowned and said nothing.

Lin Xiao was curious. "What? Unwilling?"

"It doesn't matter who is the uncle," Wei Xiu waved his hand. "It's just that your name sounds very familiar."

"That's normal. I suppose you've heard it on the evening news."

Wei Xiu: "!!"

It really was him! That name frequently appeared on the evening news and military channels, usually in major events, and always high on the list. No wonder! Wei Xiu had guessed that the old man’s status would be high, but he hadn't expected it to be *this* high. There were only a few people in the entire country above Lin Xiao.

Thinking of this, Wei Xiu felt a bit uneasy. There was no follow-up on the aircraft matter yet, and neither Huang Han nor Zhang Mingrui had shown their faces. Instead, someone near the very top of the pyramid had come to see him. Wei Xiu didn't know if this was a good thing or a bad thing.

"How exactly do you intend to deal with me?"

Lin Xiao turned to look out the window. "My thought is to send you to Harbin."

Wei Xiu: "To do what? Serve a sentence?"

*Are you actually exiling me to Ningguta? Come on! I only made a small mistake; a local reprimand should suffice. Why send me all the way to the Northeast?*

Lin Xiao couldn't help but chuckle. "You really are a talent, kid."

He didn't mean it literally; it was pure sarcasm. Before coming, he had been told by others that Wei Xiu was not exactly serious. Seeing him in person, it was true.

Facing a high-ranking official like him, Wei Xiu showed no fear and was full of witty remarks. With this kind of psychological composure, he was definitely capable of handling major responsibilities.

"We have carefully evaluated your abilities. The Red Flag 9 you modified has strategic significance for our country's air defense. We must prioritize cultivating talents like you. The Electronic Engineering program at the Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) is among the best in the country. That is why I want to recommend you go there."

On the flight over, Lin Xiao had already consulted with all relevant parties. Whether it was Huang Han from the military or Zhao Hengyan from the technical sector, both had nothing but praise for Wei Xiu, calling him a talent seen once every fifty years. But when Lin Xiao saw the modified Red Flag 9 with his own eyes, he felt that Huang Han and Zhao Hengyan were being too conservative.

A repairman had broken through the technical bottlenecks of the electronic engineering field. Practice had outpaced theory; not only had he verified the feasibility of quantum radar, but he had also moved it straight to mass production. This level of skill was perhaps only comparable to his late mentor.

Lin Xiao himself had a background as a technical officer and was among the first batch of elite students in aerospace engineering. His late mentor was the greatest of all time, whose book *Engineering Cybernetics* remains a popular textbook for major science and engineering programs to this day. His mentor was not only the father of domestic aerospace engineering but also laid the foundation for the aerospace engineering of the Eagle Nation. Lin Xiao had thought that since his mentor passed away, there would never be another talent like him.

But now, he had overturned that assumption. Every move Wei Xiu made carried a hint of his old mentor’s spirit. The key was that Wei Xiu was only twenty-four. He had infinite potential. Thinking of this, Lin Xiao felt that the nation's destiny was looking up. And HIT was the best place he could think of to settle Wei Xiu.

"What do you think? Are you willing to go to HIT?"

Wei Xiu shook his head. "Not really."

As the words fell, a trace of surprise appeared on Lin Xiao's face. Even the driver and the secretary in the front row wore expressions of utter confusion. A high-ranking official personally arranges for you to go to the best university in the country, and you aren't willing? Anyone with a normal brain would consider hesitating for even a second an insult to HIT.

Lin Xiao found this kid increasingly interesting. "Why?"

"First, it's too far from home," Wei Xiu said frankly. "Second, I’m past the age for school. If I go back to study now, I’m afraid my efficiency won't keep up."

To be fair, HIT was indeed tempting. If nothing else, just being able to say the school's name would be a great way to show off. But considering the system and the uncompleted task of reaching one million followers, Wei Xiu had to忍痛割爱 (reluctantly give it up). Reasonably speaking, as long as he stuck to his live stream, gained his one million followers, and received his rewards, his contribution would be no less than going to study at HIT.

However, upon hearing Wei Xiu's refusal, Lin Xiao burst into laughter. "Huang Han did not lie to me; you really are a peculiar one."

Wei Xiu: "???"

"Who told you to go to HIT to study?"

Wei Xiu looked confused. "Then what would I be doing there? Guarding the gate?"

"I want you to go to HIT as a teacher," Lin Xiao said, his expression turning serious. "As a visiting professor in the Department of Electronic Engineering, specializing in radar and anti-stealth technology. I will add you to the Changjiang Scholar Program, where you will enjoy high-level talent subsidies. I hope you can develop quantum radar into a systematic theory and train a batch of professional talents for us."

Wei Xiu never expected this outcome. "Me? Am I qualified?"

*A two-dollar key, am I even worth the price? Oh my... Uncle Lin, you really think highly of me.*

What kind of place was HIT? It would be a struggle just to get in as a student, let alone as a teacher. Wei Xiu immediately refused. "I can hand over the theory for the quantum radar, but teaching? Forget it, I can't explain it well."

Lin Xiao shook his head. "You are too humble."

"It's not humility; I know my own worth." Wei Xiu was adamant. Leaving aside the issue of misleading students, going there to teach would make it even harder to gain followers.

Seeing Wei Xiu’s firm attitude, Lin Xiao didn't press him further. "Alright then. But I will keep the visiting professor title for you. The benefits will remain the same. If you are ever interested, you can go there at any time."

Wei Xiu pouted. "Getting paid for doing nothing, is that really okay?"

Lin Xiao: "It's over fifty thousand a month, all in all."

"Thank you, sir!" Wei Xiu’s expression shifted instantly in a display of ancestral-level face-changing. There was no help for it; it was hard to refuse such kindness. To decline further would seem ungrateful.

"You kid, you're quite interesting," Lin Xiao chuckled. "Actually, it's not entirely for nothing. If I have a need for you in the future, you must help."

Without a second thought, Wei Xiu pounded his chest. "It is my duty."

Lin Xiao nodded. "Good. I have a small favor I need you to help with right now."

"????"

Wei Xiu was stunned. *So it wasn't just polite talk; there really is a favor to ask?* He had to admit, there was an advantage to being older. He had eaten more salt than Wei Xiu had walked over bridges. The little traps were one after another; it was impossible to guard against them.