148: Chapter 148 Are you crazy! The condition for becoming the chief engineer is having dinner with his wife.

Su Qingxue remained silent for a second.

Then, she raised her hand and pinched the soft flesh on his waist hard.

Lu Li hissed softly, but he didn't dodge.

Su Qingxue didn't loosen her grip, but her face quietly leaned closer to his shoulder.

The car was quiet for a long while.

Outside the window, the night view of Jingzhou flowed by, and the neon lights reflected on the car window, flickering.

Su Qingxue stared at those lights and spoke softly.

"Hubby."

"Hmm."

"Don't work too hard. Just doing our best is enough!!"

Su Qingxue's voice was filled with tenderness.

Lu Li felt warm inside. After all, she knew about his rebirth and would always ask if it hurt at that moment.

Having met such a gentle and kind woman, he naturally wanted to cherish her.

The smart city was the first step in civilization upgrading, followed by medicine. He hoped the system would reward him with some medicine.

The reason Lu Li decided to promote the smart city was not only to enhance national strength and surpass the United States.

It was more about driving changes in system tasks and obtaining rewards.

And just as the press conference ended, his previous task was completed.

[Main Task: The Breaker (Completed)]

[Objective: Break the blockade and make the sanctioners become a laughingstock trailing behind.]

[Task Rewards:]

[1. Air-generated scene-based holographic projection technology (no medium required, imaging from thin air)]

[2. City-level AI management system "SkyNet" prototype (computing power increased by 1000%)]

[3. Mark 45 Battle Armor design blueprints and core reactor technology (same as Iron Man's)]

The third reward was already being carried on his person.

And the holographic projection reward had absolutely nothing to do with his previous life, just like the Virtual Helmet of the Neural Mesh.

Lu Li guessed that the system would reward many other technological products, or even fictional existences.

Then, would medicines that could increase physical strength and extend lifespan also exist?

He wanted to live longer with Su Qingxue because he always felt that he had forgotten something very important.

...

The car stopped in front of a heavily guarded state-run guesthouse.

Director Wu Zhenguo, the head of the National Security Bureau, was waiting at the entrance in person.

When he saw Lu Li, he lowered his voice and quickly gave him a few instructions in his ear.

Lu Li nodded, his expression remaining normal.

They passed through lines of armed sentries.

In the tea room, the tea smoke was thin, and it was so quiet that one could hear the incense embers crackling softly in the burner.

Sitting in the main seat was that face that had appeared punctually at the core position of the evening news for decades.

Elder Zhang.

Even Elder Wu was only respectfully accompanying him on the side, and his posture was much more upright when seated.

Lu Li pulled out a chair and sat down.

He casually picked up the teapot and poured himself a cup.

Seeing this demeanor, Elder Zhang's eyes filled with undisguised approval.

"The younger generation is to be feared, Comrade Lu Li."

The old man's voice was gentle, yet it carried a weight accumulated over decades, grounded deep in his vocal cords.

"We held a top-level meeting overnight to discuss the smart city concept you entrusted Elder Wu to pass on last night."

"The steps are huge, but the vision is extremely accurate."

Lu Li took a sip of tea and hummed in acknowledgment.

"The technology is all ready; we just lack a place to run it and verify it."

Elder Zhang tapped his fingers on the table twice.

"The state's intention is to designate Beining City in Jiangbei Province as the pilot city for China's first smart city."

Lu Li's hand holding the tea paused.

Beining City.

The place where this body grew up.

Qingyang County was within the jurisdiction of Beining City.

His adoptive parents were also from Qingyang County.

Elder Zhang's gaze was gentle, carrying the thoughtfulness unique to an elder.

"It's close to your hometown, so when you're working on the construction, you can visit home more often."

"Beining's industrial foundation is also suitable for this transformation."

Lu Li put down the teacup, a hint of warmth flashing in his eyes.

He didn't expect this old man to choose his hometown as the first stop for development.

"Fine."

"Within a year, Beining City will disappear from the map of the old era and become the world's only city of the future."

Elder Zhang laughed heartily, his laughter clear and resounding.

"What spirit!"

After laughing, his expression darkened slightly.

"Since it is a smart city, security and defense are of paramount importance; there is no room for any mistakes."

"The state has decided to establish a national-level intelligent defense agency to be specifically responsible for national defense security construction in the intelligent field."

"I would like to invite you to serve as the chief engineer, grant you the rank of major general, and provide you with special ministerial-level treatment."

Beside him, Elder Wu was already frantically signaling to Lu Li.

There was no need to say what this position meant.

Lu Li, however, frowned.

He put down the teacup, his expression full of annoyance at the trouble.

"Elder Zhang, I can be the chief engineer, but I have a few conditions."

Elder Zhang raised his hand, signaling him to speak.

"No meetings, no clocking in, no sitting in an office."

Lu Li said each word clearly, his tone calm.

"I will set the technical direction, I will write the core things, and I will not handle any administration or management."

The tea room quieted down silently.

Elder Wu pressed hard on the tabletop, forcing himself to maintain his facial expression.

Lu Li paused for two seconds, then added the last sentence unhurriedly.

"Also, I need to go home on time."

"To eat with my wife."

As he spoke, he glanced at Su Qingxue; the tone clearly indicated being with Su Qingxue.

The tea room fell into an extremely subtle silence.

Sweat seeped out on Elder Wu's forehead at this moment; he tried hard to stare at the tabletop, not daring to make eye contact with anyone.

What does "eating with my wife" mean?

Who is he negotiating with?

Elder Zhang stared at Lu Li for a full five seconds.

Then, he held his teacup and threw his head back, laughing out loud.

The laughter was steady and hearty, rolling out from his throat, carrying genuine pleasure, and finally turning into a long sigh.

"You kid, you really are a freak."

He waved his hand.

"Fine, I agree to all of them."

"As long as you can make China's technology lead the world by a hundred years, the state will let you rest however you want."

"In Beining City, I will specially approve for you to build a research base with the highest authority, and all resources will be unconditionally open to you."

Lu Li nodded with satisfaction.

"Deal."

He picked up the teacup and downed it in one gulp.

The bottom of the cup touched the mahogany tabletop with a crisp, light sound.

Elder Wu looked at Lu Li's expression—having just decided the fate of half the country, and in the next second worrying about going home to his wife and a warm bed—and took a deep breath.

He suddenly didn't know whether to envy Su Qingxue or envy this man.