PCJ – Chapter 663 To Stay or To Leave

Li Ningbo was furious and wished he could just storm out. But truth be told, without this Butcher Huang, he’d really have no choice but to deal with subpar research. If the project were that easy to complete, he wouldn’t have sought out Butcher Huang in the first place.

“Dean Huang, we’ve known each other for years. I’ve looked after your research group many times. Are you planning to burn the bridge after crossing the river?” Li Ningbo’s words carried a veiled threat.

“Director Li, if you put it that way, then I have nothing more to say. Ours isn’t the only group in the country doing genetic research. You can go find another group. We’re already overwhelmed with national-level projects. As for your so-called ‘support’ in the past, I do thank you—but let’s be clear: our research achievements weren’t handed to us through favors, but earned through the hard work of every graduate student and professor in our lab,” Huang Zhongfang replied, neither meek nor aggressive.

Huang had no good impression of Director Li—he had been tricked by him more than once. In the past, just to win a research project, Huang had to beg and grease palms all around, only to have a slim chance of approval.

Huang Zhongfang became angry and stood up and said, “I still have things to do in the lab. My terms are clear—if you’re willing, send the project funding. If not, don’t waste my time. I’m a researcher, not a businessman—I don’t bargain.”

Li Ningbo stood frozen, glaring at Huang’s departing figure, then angrily turned to Director Tang Zhendong from the military biochemical institute and said, “Director Tang, this guy is way too overbearing. We haven’t even started yet, and he’s already this aggressive. How can the project go smoothly like this?”

Tang Zhendong chuckled, “Talented people are always a bit proud. But the fact is, only Dean Huang’s team is capable of this project in the country. And we’re not even trying to compete for credit. Why would we want credit? My goal is just to send people over to learn. That doesn’t seem to conflict with his interests. Or does your committee have other ideas?”

Li Ningbo was furious—Tang Zhendong had clearly just changed his tune. They had agreed beforehand to stay on the same page!

Back in his office, Huang Zhongfang burst into laughter. “That felt great! Seeing Li Ningbo’s face turn dark like that was so satisfying!”

He was in high spirits today, all thanks to one particular outstanding student. Technically, Huang wasn’t even Zhang Jiaohua’s advisor—Zhang had completed his entire undergraduate through PhD in just one year. His doctoral thesis only had Huang’s name as the official advisor, but Huang never actually mentored him.

Still, Huang didn’t feel ashamed about that. As Confucius said, “The teacher doesn’t have to be superior to the student.”

Just then, Ma Nanli entered the office with a document for Huang to sign and was startled to see him so elated. Professor Huang was usually stern—Ma had never seen him so unrestrained.

“P-Professor Huang?” Ma hesitated at the doorway.

“Little Ma, what’s up?” Huang said with a warm smile.

Ma was even more unsettled—he feared there might be hidden meaning behind the smile. “Professor, did something happen?”

“Good news. A big project. Zhang Jiaohua agreed to take it on. I’m thinking of having you join in too, though Mei Qing will still lead the team,” Huang replied. Seeing Ma’s nervous look, he thought, Am I really that scary all the time? Maybe it was time to soften his image.

“Zhang Jiaohua really agreed?” Ma asked excitedly.

“If you’re not interested, I can assign someone else. You’re capable of running your own projects now, and I wouldn’t want to dampen your drive,” Huang said with a smile.

“No, no! Please don’t take me off the team! I definitely want to go. Even if the project is delayed by a year, I still want to be part of it. I can’t sit this one out.” Ma still vividly remembered working with Zhang Jiaohua in the lab and how much he had learned. Now, his former junior had become his senior.

Zhang Jiaohua didn’t wait for Ma to arrive at the secret site—he had already returned to Tianbaqiao Town.

While reporting back from his leave, he was informed that the road from Tianbaqiao to Yingpan Village was under construction. It had already been designated a county road, but the county now planned to upgrade it to a three-lane road to support Yingpan Village’s future agritourism.

“Xiao Zhang, the development of Tianbaqiao Town owes a lot to your contributions,” said Zhu Qingdong, who was well aware of the situation. Before Zhang came, even the internal roads in town were muddy and unusable. Back then, the town submitted report after report without results. But since Zhang arrived, the road to a remote village like Yingpan was being built to the highest standard—wider than most county roads in the region.

“Mayor Zhu, please don’t say that,” Zhang replied modestly.

“Xiao Zhang, are you a Party member?” Zhu Qingdong asked.

Zhang shook his head, “Not yet.”

“Ah…” Zhu Qingdong sighed, clearly thinking ahead. The county had already proposed making Zhang the top official in Tianbaqiao Town—either the mayor or party secretary. But that was only a transitional position. The real plan was to bring Zhang into the Daehua County government.

To Daehua County, Zhang Jiaohua was a major asset. As long as they could keep him there, investment and state-backed projects would follow, driving rapid development.

“The idea is to let you serve as either town mayor or party secretary for a year or two, then the county will recommend you to the city level for an exceptional promotion. Your batch of village officials is registered at the city level, and with your achievements here, the city government will surely be pleased. Secretary Wang Zongxian has repeatedly used you as a positive example in meetings. If the county proposes a promotion for you, he’ll definitely support it.”

Zhu Qingdong genuinely hoped Zhang Jiaohua would stay—Zhu Qingdong himself was about to be transferred, and if Zhang Jiaohua stayed on, Tianbaqiao would be in good hands.

The only unfortunate part was that Zhang Jiaohua wasn’t a Party member yet. That meant Yang Yongqiang might have to remain as party secretary, though he’d likely be on extended medical leave soon. Thinking of his old rival, Zhu Qingdong couldn’t help but feel a little sympathetic.