I Inherited 5,000 Years of Family Property

"Top three?" Hearing this tone, Han Jinyu was totally shocked. In his view, making it into the top 18 was already an incredible feat, let alone calling it a miracle would not be an exaggeration.

Top three? Wasn't that reaching the level of world-renowned universities like Qingbei University and Huaxia University? Did he think they were just twiddling their thumbs?

To put it bluntly, one college's achievements could annihilate their whole school. Speaking such words, wasn't he afraid of twisting his tongue?

"Is top three very difficult?" Zhang Menglong laughed, "Wanting first place isn't impossible either, it's just that we should consider the feelings of those prestigious schools a bit. I'm afraid it would be too much of a shock for them."

"You are the biggest boaster I have ever met, and you're my own graduate student, unbelievable!"

"Teacher Han, how many science and engineering professors do we have in our school?"

"Professors and associate professors together, probably around one hundred and twenty or thirty."

"Hmm, then I'll just need two or three hundred projects," Zhang Menglong said, "Teacher Han, could you inform those professors and have them list the details of their research directions for me? In a couple of days, I'll get each of them a national-level research project."

"Are you crazy?" Han Jinyu blurted out.

Setting aside how hard it is to apply for national-level projects, in bad years, Jiangnan University of Science and Technology might not even secure one. Hoping to get over a hundred projects? Nonsense!

Even if he could apply successfully, to expect results within a month? That's a joke, right? Those national-level projects, without spending three to five years, what significant results could be expected?

"You don't need to worry about this, it's all small stuff," Zhang Menglong laughed, "As long as we have the capacity to undertake these projects, even if we don't ask for them, the nation would beg us to work on them."

"Alright, then I'll watch your performance. I'll handle the mental preparations for those old guys."

"Hehe, sorry for the trouble, Teacher Han. After a month, chances are we won't have many opportunities to meet."

"First get your tasks done before you start saying such things. Don't give me that nonsense!"

The two, old and young, laughed heartily in the office.

The day after the report was the weekend, and Zhang Menglong planned to take a trip to Yanjing to visit Teacher Zhou, and he was also taking Lu Yiyao with him for fun.

Teacher Zhou's residence was a very ancient courtyard, surrounded by tranquility, making one feel as if they had returned to the illusion of the seventies or eighties.

"Oh, Menglong is here!" Teacher Zhou's wife had passed away early, now only he and a few carers arranged by the state lived there, he didn't have much to do every day, his only hobby was pottering around in the courtyard with plants and flowers, he wasn't involved much in state affairs anymore.

"And he's brought his girlfriend!" Teacher Zhou walked up as affectionately as if he had seen his own junior.

"Hello, Teacher Zhou, my name is Lu Yiyao, Menglong often mentions you!" Lu Yiyao carried herself with the grace of a lady in such settings.

"He mentioned me?" Teacher Zhou looked skeptical, "The last time I spoke with him on the phone I was still lecturing him, what good did he have to say about me?"

"Teacher Zhou, you're seeing me a bit too narrowly, am I that kind of person?" Zhang Menglong said with feigned grievance, "I even brought you a gift, it looks like I can only throw it away now."

"Don't!" Teacher Zhou snatched the exquisitely packaged box from Zhang Menglong's hands, opening it with the anticipation of a child.

The packaging of the box was very elegant, but inside was only an unimpressive-looking item.

"What's this? Are you trying to poison me to death now thinking I'm so old?" Teacher Zhou blustered, expecting Zhang Menglong would have brought some fine wine, as old people do enjoy a good drink.

"This is certainly not poison, this is an Immortal Pill. If you take it, you'll stay vigorous for another twenty or thirty years!"

"Come on, I think you're a quack selling fake medicine."

"Fake medicine? If you don't believe me, ask around at the Qin Family, the old General Qin is so healthy because he took my medicine."

"What did you say? Old Qin took your medicine?" Upon hearing this, Old Zhou suddenly became invigorated.

He had a very good relationship with Old Master Qin from the Qin Family. A few months ago, General Qin's old wounds relapsed, and he almost didn't make it through. The doctors said that even though he survived this time, he probably had only a few months left.

But during his last visit to see General Qin, he had actually gone directly to the troops and even sparred with those young special forces on the ring!

An old man nearing a hundred years old sparring with special forces in their early twenties, can you believe it? He even thought at one point that it was General Old Master Qin's final rally before death.

Later, he found out that on Old Master Qin's birthday, his grandson Qin Feng had acquired some Miracle Elixir for him. Now, despite his age, his physical condition was almost like that of someone in their thirties or forties, and there were medical reports to prove it.

When this news got out, the entire elite society in Yanjing was in an uproar. They all tried hard to find out from Qin Feng where they could get this thing, but all efforts were in vain.

To think that the Miracle Elixir had actually come from Zhang Menglong.

"Good lad, this gift of yours isn't light," Old Zhou accepted it with a grin. At this age, who wouldn't want to be healthier?

"So, what trouble have you stirred up this time?"

"Look at what you're saying. Do I look like the kind of person who stirs up trouble?" Zhang Menglong responded.

"With confidence, remove 'look like,' and you are exactly that kind of person."

"Now you've hurt my feelings. I came here to make contributions to the country this time."

"Believe you, and I'd be a fool," Old Zhou rolled his eyes at Zhang Menglong, "Spill it already."

"Hehe, do you know anyone in the Technology Department?"

"The Technology Department? What do you need them for?"

"Isn't the Ministry of Education currently evaluating scientific research universities for piloting? I want to secure some projects for our school."

"You're asking me to make a mistake," Old Zhou's expression became somewhat unnatural. "This is a matter of principle. I'm afraid I can't help you with that. The country only allocates so many projects each year, and everyone depends on their own abilities. I can't just give them to you; other universities would have objections if they knew."

"Old Zhou, just tell me, how many of our national projects are completed each year?"

"This..." This question made Old Zhou embarrassed.

Anyone involved in the scientific research system knew that, regardless of the project, there was a lot of fluff. Some projects might show some results in the laboratory but were absolutely unfeasible industrially, ending up as merely academic exercises.

And the nation's research funding was thus wasted on these projects.

Each year, if about a dozen or so projects truly made a difference, it was already a significant advancement for the country.

"It's about twenty to thirty percent," Old Zhou inflated the number a bit.

"In one month, I could complete one hundred percent of all projects and wouldn't need a single dime from the state for research funding. All I ask is that the projects be named under Jiangnan University of Science and Technology."

"Are you serious?" Old Zhou said. "Those projects are not something your university can handle. Even if you spent three to five years, the academic groups at the Huaxia Academy of Science may not be able to complete even one. Don't boast to me here."

"Of course, I'm serious. Do my previous records have any fluff?"

Thinking this over, Old Zhou suddenly realized that the person in front of him was not just any ordinary graduate student; he was Zhang Menglong!

"How many projects do you want? I'll go ask for you."

"Not too many, just start with a couple hundred!"