After a week-long “friendly discussions”, the first International Lunar Hadron Collider Conference finally came to an end.
Even though not everyone was happy with the end result, the countries came up with a plan that was acceptable to most people.
At least acceptable to a certain extent…
At the closing ceremony.
NASA Director Carson and the director of the China National Space Administration stood in front of the media cameras and shook hands with each other.
“It was a pleasure meeting you.”
“Yes, same here…”
Director Carson tried to put on a fake smile, but he didn’t look happy at all.
There was a warm applause in the crowd.
The media cameras recorded this historic moment.
Lu Zhou was standing by the side, away from most people. He looked at Director Carson’s uncomfortable face and felt a little distressed.
“Why do I feel like Director Carson isn’t very happy?”
Director Li, who was standing next to him, said, “They had to make a huge compromise on the budget committee negotiations; I’m sure anyone would be unhappy in his position.”
Lu Zhou looked at Director Li and said, “Actually, I’m quite curious about the requests you made.”
Over the past week, Lu Zhou was mainly responsible for the technical side.
Precisely speaking, he tried to protect the initial design plan from these horrible improvement suggestions and make sure that the design would be smoothly implemented before the end of the month.
He didn’t really pay attention to the political negotiation, but he was curious.
Director Li smiled and said, “We didn’t make any requests, we just refused most of their requests.”
Lu Zhou looked surprised.
“And they agreed?”
“Sort of, we have the upper hand, so it doesn’t matter. We have another meeting next year; hopefully, we’ll maintain our advantage.” Director Li patted Lu Zhou on the arm and said, “Diplomatic negotiations are about communicating, but it ultimately depends on the country’s strength. The reason we can do this is because of our advantage; hopefully, you can help us maintain that advantage.”
Lu Zhou smiled and said, “You don’t have to worry about that.”
Director Li solemnly nodded and said, “I’m happy to hear that!”
With the conclusion of the International Lunar Hadron Collider Conference, the construction plan was set in stone. The first batch of the experimental components had been transported to the Jinling launch site. They were going to be transported to outer space via the Skyglow, then transported to the lunar orbit via the Magpie Bridge.
Also, the engineering team responsible for the construction would be sent to the Moon Palace.
On the other hand, the Lunar Hadron Collider Research Center was going to be built in Shanghai.
After hearing this news, Lu Zhou felt emotional.
He always thought that the headquarters of the Lunar Hadron Collider would be in Beijing. However, it seemed like Chen Yushan’s prediction was correct—it was indeed in Shanghai.
Chen Yushan told him that the Communist Party of China wanted to promote the Yangtze River Delta economic region.
Having the ILHCRC set in Shanghai was a signal of their intentions.
Beijing was the future of China, while the Yangtze River Delta economic region would become the political, economic, and cultural center of Asia…
A magnificent blueprint appeared in Lu Zhou’s mind.
If Chen Yushan’s guess was correct, then Lu Zhou should really pay more attention to the project plan…
…
The day after the International Lunar Hadron Collider Conference ended, a line of taxis parked outside the Beijing Shangri-La hotel.
After staying in China for a week, scholars and politicians from all over the world had begun their journeys back to their respective countries.
Academician Zhang Wenlong, chairman of the Chinese Physical Society, stood at the hotel entrance. He spoke in a somewhat emotional tone to Academician Yang Xianfu, principal of the Beijing Institute of Technology.
“I still remember when I went to CERN with my supervisor. I met legendary physicists I read about in textbooks, and I was so excited I couldn’t sleep all night.
“I went to the lecture hall the next day. My supervisor told me what one day China will be like this as well. I didn’t believe him at the time. But now, it seems like my supervisor was right.”
Academician Yang was also filled with emotion as he said, “Yeah, half of the world’s best physicists are here in Beijing. This is amazing! Oh yeah, where is Academician Lu?”
Academician Zhang smiled and said, “You’re a day late. He packed his things last night and left after the closing ceremony! I bumped into him in the elevator, and he said he had something urgent to attend to in Jinling.”
Academician Yang paused for a second and said, “Why did he leave in such a hurry? I wanted to give him a tour of the Beijing Institute of Technology.”
Academician Zhang smiled and said, “Haha, you should’ve told him earlier. Academician Lu is a busy man. I heard that Academician Wang Shicheng was finally able to get him to visit Yan University, but somehow, Academician Lu poached a person during his visit.”
Academician Yang was shocked. “How is that possible? Wang Shicheng must be so embarrassed…”
Academician Zhang sighed and said, “Yeah, he is!”
While the two were talking, they suddenly heard a cough.
Academician Zhang Wenlong turned around and saw Academician Wang Shicheng standing right there.
Academician Zhang Wenlong awkwardly smiled and spoke.
“Academician Wang? Nice to see you… Why are you here?”
“… I’m here for the conference.”
Wang Shicheng maintained a fake smile and began to chat with the two academicians.
However, no matter what Wang Shicheng talked about, he could tell that the two academicians were acting a little weird.
It was almost like…
They felt sympathetic, almost pitiful.
Wang Shicheng was enraged.
The entire academic community heard about Lu Zhou poaching a talent from his mathematics center. Not to mention that Lu Zhou did it right in front of him.
Wang Shicheng clenched his fist and wanted to skin Lu Zhou alive.
F*ck sake!
That little sh*t!
The worst thing is that I still have to put on a smile in front of him…
God damnit!
