342: Chapter 341 Ninety Percent

Hanzhong City Mayor, Mayor Fang Dingbei. If this name hadn't been so incredibly prominent, perhaps someone like Wang Shuo, who never paid attention to politics, wouldn't have noticed it, let alone remembered it.

This man could be considered a legendary figure in Chinese politics. At only thirty-six years old, he had already ascended to the position of Mayor of Hanzhong City, the only sub-provincial city in Central China, becoming the youngest vice-ministerial level official in history.

That title was absolute, with no exceptions.

In the days leading up to Mayor Fang's appointment in Hanzhong City, the usually lethargic state media reported on it in an unprecedented manner, with a scale of coverage that was truly unique.

Anyone with a discerning eye could see that this was to build momentum for the new mayor, while also subtly revealing a message: Mayor Fang Dingbei, you cannot afford to offend him.

In response, the local officials in Hanzhong City, who had originally been dissatisfied with the "parachuted" appointment, all quieted down. Even the most stubborn, seasoned veterans tucked their tails and kept a low profile, not daring to make a peep.

And because of this, Wang Shuo had formed a deep impression of Mayor Fang Dingbei.

"Mayor Fang wants to see me?"

Wang Shuo was a bit surprised. He hadn't expected that the person who wanted to see him today would be this man.

"Yes."

Professor Zeng said with a smile, "Little Fang can be considered half a student of mine. After hearing about your matters, he asked me to arrange an informal meeting for you two. I thought it over and felt that meeting at the school would be most appropriate."

"Here?"

Wang Shuo was even more surprised.

Hanzhong City government was not close to the school, and today was Monday. If Mayor Fang Dingbei were to come over, it meant he would have to cancel almost all his morning official business to specifically carve out time.

Going through all this trouble, using the excuse of visiting a teacher just to make a trip, all for the sake of seeing him?

That seemed a bit excessive.

Wang Shuo was no longer the naive freshman who had just stepped through the university gates. He pondered silently, trying to find the reason why Mayor Fang Dingbei wanted to see him.

Seeing that Wang Shuo didn't speak, Professor Zeng raised his watch to check the time.

"It's about time; he should be here soon."

Before the words had even faded, there was a knock at the door.

Ding Congsheng hurriedly sat up straight, restrained his smile, and said in a deep voice, "Please come in."

The door opened, and a young man in a black jacket walked into the room. He had slightly curly short hair, wore simple half-rimmed glasses, and had soft facial features, looking very scholarly.

He was carrying two boxes of gifts. As soon as he entered the door, he cast his gaze toward Professor Zeng on the sofa.

"Teacher Zeng."

Then he turned his gaze toward Principal Ding, who had already stood up from behind the desk.

"Principal Ding."

His voice was soft and steady, faintly carrying a hint of the authority of someone long accustomed to being in a high position.

"Long time no see."

At the same time, Wang Shuo also cast his gaze toward this scholarly young man, and the responses from Principal Ding and Professor Zeng confirmed the man's identity.

"Mayor Fang is here, please sit."

Principal Ding arranged with a smile.

"Principal Ding, you're too polite. Today there is no Mayor here, only Little Fang."

Mayor Fang Dingbei responded with a smile. Without standing on ceremony, he walked to the side of the sofa, turned his gaze toward Wang Shuo on the sofa, and extended his hand.

Wang Shuo did not dare to be negligent and also extended his hand to shake it.

"This must be student Wang Shuo."

Mayor Fang Dingbei said with a smile, "Nice to meet you. I am your senior, Mayor Fang Dingbei."

Senior...

Wang Shuo secretly glanced at Professor Zeng next to him. Seeing Professor Zeng nod slightly, he hurriedly said, "Hello, Senior. I am Wang Shuo."

"Mm."

Mayor Fang Dingbei pointed to the sofa and smiled, "No need to be so formal, sit down."

Everyone then sat down as instructed.

Mayor Fang Dingbei did not pay attention to Wang Shuo for the moment, but instead looked at Professor Zeng and said, "Teacher, I've been in Hanzhong City for over half a year, and I still haven't formally visited you. Please don't blame Mayor Fang Dingbei."

Professor Zeng shook his head, "I know you're a new official taking office and are busy with official duties. Besides, what is there to visit an old man like me for?"

Mayor Fang Dingbei sighed, "Official duties are indeed busy, but it is also a fact that I haven't visited you. Seeing that you are still in good health, I am relieved."

"You are thoughtful."

Wang Shuo listened quietly to the conversation between the teacher and his student. Although it didn't have any substance, it truly opened his eyes. So this was how officials chatted. If he had to say all these flattering words, he definitely wouldn't be able to.

Being direct was the basic pursuit of a straight man; beating around the bush simply didn't exist for him.

After exchanging pleasantries with Professor Zeng, he exchanged a few more words with Principal Ding. Every word showed he was an expert in human relations; in just a few sentences, he had turned the atmosphere warm and lively.

The three of them reminisced about the good times they had spent together before, and only then did the conversation stop.

Mayor Fang Dingbei turned his gaze toward Wang Shuo.

"Junior Wang Shuo." Mayor Fang Dingbei asked with a smile, "I also graduated from HUST, a few years ahead of you. You shouldn't mind if I call you that, right?"

Wang Shuo nodded, "Senior."

Mayor Fang Dingbei said with satisfaction, "Back when I was at the government office, Director Jiao had already mentioned your name to me. I was wondering who this head of Frontier Technology was, to be able to persuade even the usually incorruptible Director Jiao of the Municipal Bureau. I didn't expect that you were also from our HUST. Teacher Zeng, Principal Ding, our school has truly recruited a good talent this time."

Mayor Fang Dingbei pointed at Wang Shuo with a smile, "My junior here just had to open his mouth to get over forty million from the government."

"There's such a thing?"

Ding Congsheng looked at Wang Shuo in surprise.

"And that's not all."

Mayor Fang Dingbei was in a talkative mood and continued, "I personally signed and approved those forty million. When I first arrived, I didn't want to reject Director Jiao's request. But unexpectedly, Director Jiao's feedback on the project has been very good. Recently, the crime rate in Hanzhong City has dropped by thirty percent, and even fights and brawls have decreased significantly. Your system deserves a lot of the credit, Junior."

Wang Shuo blushed slightly. Making money, catching people, and ensuring his own safety were the real goals; everything else was secondary. Now, hearing Mayor Fang Dingbei praise him like this in front of Professor Zeng and Principal Ding, he felt a bit awkward and said, "Senior, it doesn't have as much impact as you say. It's all thanks to Director Jiao's effective leadership..."

Damn it, having sat with these people for so long, he had learned how to speak officialese too.

"Don't sell yourself short."

Mayor Fang Dingbei patted Wang Shuo on the shoulder, very kindly, "I have already gone to the site to see it, and the results exceeded my expectations. Junior, this project's money was well spent, and I am happy to have spent it."

Mayor Fang Dingbei waved his hand grandly and said with spirit, "I heard from Old Jiao that you still have other equipment being delivered successively. Only when everything is added together will it be the complete Sky Eye System, and then the results will be even more outstanding. Junior, I will fully support you. I plan to make the Sky Eye System a unique feature of Hanzhong City in the coming time, taking Hanzhong City's security to the next level. If the results truly meet expectations, I will even report it to the central government, promote the Sky Eye System, and let the whole country use your system!"

Wang Shuo clicked his tongue. If the whole country used the Sky Eye System, how much money would he make?

One billion? Or ten billion?

As expected of the Mayor of Hanzhong City, a figure with connections that could reach the heavens. His tone was indeed much grander than Zheng Yi's. Wang Shuo expressed his sincere gratitude, "Thank you, Senior."

With this layer of interest involved, he accepted this senior with genuine conviction.

Hmm... when did he become like that old fox Chen Zhongxuan?

"No need to be polite with me."

Mayor Fang Dingbei waved his hand, "It's because your product is truly capable. If the product weren't good, even if we were alumni, I wouldn't open a back door for you."

Wang Shuo nodded with understanding; he believed this statement.

The person sitting in front of him was different from others; he still had a bright future. Many people believed that Mayor Fang Dingbei's future would not stop at being the Mayor of Hanzhong City, nor would it stop at the vice-ministerial level. He was still very young; in the future, even ministerial or national levels were possibilities.

Such a person wouldn't risk their future for petty gains.

Yes, you heard that right. In the eyes of these people, tens of millions are no different from petty gains.

Professor Zeng said with a smile, "Wang Shuo, you never told us about this. I thought your company's main business was only zero egg."

Wang Shuo rubbed his nose and laughed sheepishly, "It's a side business, a side business."

Using copies generated by Zero for surveillance was indeed a side business.

"I'd also like to do a side business that can earn forty million."

Ding Congsheng chimed in, "Introduce me to a side business, too, so I can earn some retirement money."

He had originally thought that even if Wang Shuo didn't refuse, he would dodge the question. Unexpectedly, Wang Shuo nodded readily and replied, "No problem."

This left Ding Congsheng speechless. He coughed, glanced at Mayor Fang Dingbei, and wisely changed the subject.

"Mayor Fang came this time also wanting to understand some things about zero egg. Wang Shuo, you are the creator, so why don't you introduce this?"

zero egg?

Wang Shuo was taken aback and looked at Mayor Fang Dingbei.

Mayor Fang Dingbei looked at him with a smile and asked, "I wonder if it's convenient for you, Junior? If it involves your company's trade secrets, I can avoid the topic."

Wang Shuo shook his head, "There's nothing inconvenient about it."

He roughly introduced zero egg, including the idea behind creating zero egg, the production process of zero egg, the craftsmanship of zero egg, the kernel of zero egg, and so on, without intentionally hiding anything.

Mayor Fang Dingbei was thoughtful and asked, "So, the problem zero egg is currently facing is the Chip?"

"Yes."

Wang Shuo nodded heavily, "To try to avoid the Chip shortage problem, I purchased a sufficient quantity of Chips in advance. But because of some special reasons, it might now be impossible to obtain Chips through regular channels."

"Is that so."

Mayor Fang Dingbei nodded and asked, seemingly casually, "Junior, I wonder how much you participated in the kernel of this zero egg, that is, the software part?"

"The software part?"

Wang Shuo was taken aback again. Mayor Fang Dingbei's question caught him off guard for a moment.

"That is, the Artificial Intelligence."

Mayor Fang Dingbei said with a smile, "I want to know how much of a share you have in it, Junior?"

Looking at Mayor Fang Dingbei's face, which held a sense of seriousness beneath his smile, Wang Shuo vaguely understood what this meeting today was for.

He had a premonition that the answer to this question would influence the direction of the following conversation.

But there didn't seem to be anything to struggle with regarding the answer to this question.

Wang Shuo glanced at Ding Congsheng and Professor Zeng, who were also wearing serious expressions, and said, "Senior, Artificial Intelligence is something I participated in the design and production of from start to finish. If we must talk about shares..."

Wang Shuo's voice was exceptionally steady.

"I account for over ninety percent."