68: Chapter 68 Project Suspension and Returning Home

The application for enlightenment has been submitted; the seeds of hope have been sown, but it will take time for them to break through the soil.

Deng Renfang knew full well that before the authorization was finalized, every penny was precious.

He could not sit idly by, nor could he let the funds evaporate rapidly in endless trial and error as they had before.

He called a meeting of the employees and made a difficult but necessary decision: the pace of research and development would undergo a strategic slowdown.

"Engineer Liu,"

Deng Renfang found the head of materials R&D, his voice weary but exceptionally clear.

"The exploration of the Stardust-III formula is temporarily being reined in. Concentrate all efforts on organizing the test data from all previous failed formulas, especially the failure modes and molecular structure change data under high temperature and high pressure! It must be the most complete and detailed! Not a single parameter can be missed!"

Engineer Liu was taken aback.

"CEO Deng? We're not going to continue tackling new directions? Then..."

"The direction of our assault needs to change," Deng Renfang's gaze was firm.

"But it won't be by fumbling in the dark as we are now. Data! We need the most solid and comprehensive data right now! This is the key to whether the product can succeed!"

The testing department cannot stop; continue with the standard limit testing on the existing promising base formulas to accumulate operating condition data! As for exploring other expensive new directions... suspend them."

This instruction was like a giant boulder thrown into the R&D group, stirring up ripples.

Some were confused, some were frustrated, but some vaguely guessed that this might be related to the rumored enlightenment.

Deng Renfang didn't explain too much, only emphasizing the importance of data.

He knew that once enlightenment was connected, this failure data, soaked in blood, sweat, and money, would become the most precious nourishment.

By slowing down R&D, the largest source of hemorrhaging, the strained capital chain finally got a moment of respite.

More importantly, Deng Renfang's own nerves, which had been stretched to the limit, also needed a moment of relaxation.

It wasn't that he didn't want to go home; he was just afraid of bringing back the anxiety, despair, and the lingering smell of machine oil from the factory.

Home was his last pure land, a fortress built by his wife's gentle smile and his daughter's crisp cries of 'Daddy'.

He didn't want to bring pressure and emotions back home.

He washed himself clean—not just his body, but his mood as well.

He made a point of taking a shower at the factory and changing into a clean set of casual clothes before driving home.

He didn't call ahead; he wanted to give his wife and daughter a surprise.

The key was inserted into the lock and turned.

He pushed open the door, but the familiar aroma of food did not greet him as expected.

Time seemed to freeze at that moment.

Who says men don't cry easily? It's just that they haven't reached the point of heartbreak!

An indescribable sourness and a sharp pain suddenly rushed to his eyes, and scalding liquid almost burst forth!

He stood at the door like an abrupt intruder, his hands and feet cold, his throat so choked that he couldn't make a sound.

Under the warm light of the living room, beside the small dining table, sat his entire world.

His wife Lin Jing and daughter Diminutive for girl. They were eating dinner with their heads bowed.

On the table, there were only two plates of food.

One was a plate of wilted, yellowed greens, clearly cooked a long time ago and having lost its heat; the other was half a saucer of dull-colored pickled mustard strips.

In their bowls was simple white rice, sparsely garnished with a few pieces of greens and pickled mustard.

Meat? There was almost no sign of it.

The shabbiness made Deng Renfang's heart feel as if it were being gripped tightly by a cold hand, suffocating him instantly!

He was out there fighting with all his might, even mortgaging the house that held countless memories, yet he let his wife and daughter eat such meals at home?!

"Daddy?!"

Diminutive for girl was the first to notice him, crying out in surprise and pouncing over like a happy little bird to hug his leg tightly.

Lin Jing also looked up abruptly, her face instantly blooming with immense surprise and a flicker of subtle panic.

"Old Deng?! Why are you back? You didn't say a word beforehand!"

She hurriedly stood up to greet him, naturally leaning into his embrace with her forehead against his chest, her voice carrying a hint of reproach and irrepressible joy.

"Is everything... okay at the factory? Everything's fine at home, really! Look, aren't we doing great? I even took Diminutive for girl to the newly opened amusement park yesterday, she had so much fun!"

Diminutive for girl looked up with her small face, excitedly pulling at his trousers.

"Daddy, Daddy! Look! I got first place in my final exams! The teacher gave me an award certificate! It's so pretty!"

The little girl was eager to share her pride, as if presenting a treasure.

Deng Renfang gritted his teeth, forcefully suppressing the surging tears and heartbreak back into his heart.

He took a deep breath, and when he looked up again, his face was covered in smiles, though deep in his eyes lay an unspeakable guilt and heartache.

He bent down, scooped up his daughter, kissed her rosy little cheek, and spoke with a deliberately cheerful voice.

"Diminutive for girl is so amazing! That's my good daughter! Quick, show Daddy the certificate!"

He walked toward the dining table holding his daughter, his other hand tightly around his wife's shoulder, saying in a relaxed tone.

"The factory is saved! I've found a new path; things will get better soon! So I took some time off to come see my two treasures!"

Lin Jing looked at his forced smile and then at the simple meal on the table. Her eyes reddened slightly, but she said nothing, only squeezing his hand tighter and whispering.

"It's good that you're back. Sit down, I'll fry an egg for you."

The small home was instantly filled with warmth and laughter because of the male master's sudden return.

That simple dinner, in Deng Renfang's mouth, was more precious than any delicacy.

He ate the scrambled eggs with green onions his wife had hastily cooked, listening to his daughter chatter about the fun at the amusement park and news from school. The tense string in his heart finally began to slowly loosen.

For the first time ever, he stayed home for two full days.

He turned off his work phone and pushed away all possible interruptions.

He spent time with Diminutive for girl doing homework and building Legos.

He accompanied Lin Jing to the market to buy groceries and clumsily helped her prepare the vegetables.

In the evening, the family of three huddled on the sofa to watch an animated movie.

He deliberately immersed himself in the trivial warmth of family, as if the factory's plight, the pressure from shareholders, and the deep pit of R&D were all temporarily shut out.

He needed this moment of respite; he needed to draw from this most primal strength.

However, the tree wants to be still, but the wind will not stop.

Just as Deng Renfang felt his body and mind were restored and was preparing to head back into battle, that haunting phone call came anyway.

Fatty Li's name was flashing on the screen.