147: The storm is brewing again, this guy is looking for death!

"Little Jiang, are you still dreaming? Even the Senior Engineers in our shipyard don't make 500,000 in annual salary. There should be a limit to how much you tease us old folks."

"Exactly, us old geezers are durable; we can accept early retirement."

"Hiring old geezers at a 500,000 annual salary? You're joking, kid."

Seeing that the old Experts didn't believe him, Jiang Guoqing immediately dialed Lu Shenwei's number: "Director Lu, what kind of compensation are you offering the Experts?"

Eh? Didn't we discuss this yesterday? Is General Manager Jiang this forgetful?

"A starting annual salary of 500,000. If the Experts aren't satisfied, we can negotiate further. The contract is for five years, with no early exit allowed. Upon arrival, they'll be provided with a car, and after completing five years, they'll be gifted a 158-square-meter flat. These terms aren't bad, right?" Lu Shenwei said casually.

"If the Experts are still not satisfied, I can discuss it with them in person. Dividends and commissions are also on the table. If necessary, I can fly over right now."

How did the price go up after just one night?

Jiang Guoqing chuckled and said: "No need to come over for now. I'll talk to them and let you know."

Jiang Guoqing hung up the phone, and the old Experts became anxious. You couldn't find a deal this good even if you searched with a lantern.

"Little Jiang, I put in quite a bit of effort back when you became the chairman of the shipyard."

"What kind of talk is that? Trying to pull strings? They're looking for Experts, and can you be more of an Expert than me?"

"When it comes to the technology of building large warships, if I say I'm first in our shipyard, no one dares to claim second."

"Bullshit! I'm the one who's first. Don't any of you fight me on this!"

The old men argued until their faces were red, no longer caring about their past friendships.

Just kidding, Dalian Shipyard only paid them an annual salary of 350,000, and they were about to face a sharp drop in benefits upon retirement.

This big sucker—no, this big boss—offered a 500,000 annual salary right off the bat, plus a car and a house. Whoever doesn't go is the real old geezer!

Seeing this, Jiang Guoqing laughed: "The opportunity is rare. To be fair, how about we decide by flipping a hand?"

"This… I think that works!"

"Reliable! Don't try any tricks."

Five minutes later, the two Experts were decided, and the three who didn't make the cut hung their heads in disappointment.

"Little Jiang, hiring two people is an offer, and hiring five is also an offer. Why don't you ask them to take all five of us old men as a package deal?"

"That's also a way. The five of us old guys are about the same age. If it happens to be in a desolate development zone, we can look out for each other."

A package deal? Do you think you're buying cabbage?

"500,000 annual salary each—even if Director Lu has money, he won't spend it recklessly."

"We can negotiate. I'm willing to lower my salary by 100,000. I don't need the car, but the house is a must."

"I have the same thought. I'll lower my annual salary to secure a good destination for my old brothers."

Jiang Guoqing's teeth ached: "Qinchuan Julong Steel, you all have heard of it, right? It's their chairman, Lu Shenwei, who is looking for people this time."

"Qinchuan? Isn't that in the hinterland of Dragon Xia? There are only ancient ferry crossings there, and the water is very shallow. They want to build ships there?"

"Qinchuan is a good place, an ancient capital of a thousand years."

Jiang Guoqing nodded: "I was puzzled too, so I asked them to sign a five-year contract. In case their shipbuilding plan fails, you uncles will have a way out."

"I know Julong Steel; they've been very popular recently."

"A steel factory building ships—this is quite a novelty."

Jiang Guoqing pondered: "Going as a group of five—I'll ask for Director Lu's opinion, but don't hold too much hope. After all, Director Lu's money didn't just blow in on the wind."

Two days ago, Julong Steel transferred 25 million to Dalian Shipyard's public account. Feeling the sincerity of Lu Shenwei, Jiang Guoqing was willing to help arrange things.

"What did you say? Five Experts can come? That's great!"

Lu Shenwei was overjoyed, while Jiang Guoqing was completely bewildered.

"Director Lu, let me remind you, these Experts are not young."

"It's precisely because they are old that I want them. Haven't you heard that the older they are, the more experienced they become? With them joining Julong Steel, our shipbuilding plan is set."

"Then it's settled, the 500,000 annual salary for each of them cannot be less."

"Rest assured, I can afford that much."

Jiang Guoqing let out a huge sigh of relief; he had been struggling for a long time over how to place these five old Experts.

Currently, the authorities are strict with staffing quotas, and re-employment spots are scarce. Julong Steel being able to solve the re-employment problem for five seniors at once was a huge help to him.

He even felt a bit regretful now for accepting that 25 million from Lu Shenwei.

"Uncles, the matter is settled. Director Lu will arrange for a car to pick you up in two days."

"Really? Little Jiang, you kid finally did a good deed this time."

"Look at how you say that, as if I've never done a good deed before."

"Since you're so sensible, I'll reveal something to you in advance: the authorities are going to conduct research on nuclear-powered aircraft carriers."

Hiss—

Jiang Guoqing gasped: "Is the news authentic?"

"I have an old colleague who works at the Dragon Xia Nuclear Power Research Institute. He mentioned it casually; I estimate the bidding will start soon."

A tender for the design of a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier—if Dalian Shipyard can win the order, they won't have to worry about business for the next few years.

"Uncles, let's sit down tonight. I haven't had a chat with you all in a long time."

"You kid never acts without seeing the target, but we should thank you for still remembering us old folks."

That night, the main cafeteria of Dalian Shipyard was brightly lit as the technical staff held a farewell for the old Experts.

"General Manager Jiang is really something. The Experts are so old, couldn't they just retire in the shipyard?"

"What do you know? I heard General Manager Jiang arranged a better place for the old Experts."

"What place could be better than our shipyard?"

"You don't get it, do you? Julong Steel Factory. That young man who came a few days ago, Director Lu, is from Julong Steel."

"Julong Steel is poaching people with a 500,000 annual salary, plus a car and a house."

"Holy crap! I'm tempted. 500,000 annual salary—I can do that too!"

"Stop dreaming, damn it. They specifically asked for old Experts."

"I'm not young either."

"You're not young, but are you an Expert? Go wash up and go to sleep."

Two days later, Lu Shenwei drove personally to pick up the five old Experts and headed to Qinchuan.

Lu Shenwei spent 600 million to redeem the upgrade and modification plan for the unmanned boat, upgrading the ship's all-electric propulsion system, L5-level autonomous driving system, and multi-band radar system.

Half a month later, under the guidance of the five old Experts and a group of apprentices, the Julong Steel unmanned boat project was officially launched.

And just as Lu Shenwei was busy pondering new projects, the southern waters of Dragon Xia were surging with turmoil.

Japan's self-defense fleet, in coordination with the Eagle Sauce Shetuan Hao Aircraft Carrier strike group, used the excuse of defending freedom of navigation to crazily provoke in the southern waters of Dragon Xia.

The sky was clear, in the southern waters of Dragon Xia.

The guangyu silent Aircraft Carrier Commander looked at the radar map, his face full of indignation: "Damn Eagle Sauce aircraft carrier fleet, blocking the path my formation must take."

The aircraft carrier staff officer reported: "Commander, if we detour now, we will need to travel an extra thousand nautical miles. I'm afraid our stock of heavy oil won't be enough; we need support from an ocean-going supply ship."