A nation's industrial development begins with junior engineers.

Chapter 731 Problematic Youth, Set Off for Battle!

The atmosphere remained heavy in the smoke-filled conference room. Although news had come back that Jiang Xia had decided to send Jin Zhen and Xiao Pangdun to Switzerland, the veteran comrades were still somewhat apprehensive.

“Comrade Jin Zhen… is no problem.” An old leader put down his teacup and slowly spoke, “He has made achievements in optical interferometry (double-slit interference experiment), and has also made a name for himself internationally. He has a solid academic background and his English conversation skills are also good. Sending him to the conference is a reasonable choice.”

He changed the subject abruptly, his brows furrowing slightly: "But that... chubby guy? Oh, you mean that young comrade named... Zhou Xiaofeng? His file says he's only in his early twenties? And he's also..." At this point, the man twirled his finger around his head.

"Let him represent the country at the IEC to participate in the development of international standards for programming languages? Isn't that... too frivolous? Outsiders will think we've run out of talent!"

“Yes!” another leader wearing glasses chimed in, his tone tinged with worry. “International standard setting is a battleground for experts! Not only do you need technical expertise, but you also need strategy and tact! What if a greenhorn gets tricked by those old foxes at the meeting, or says the wrong thing in a moment of nervousness…? It’s the country’s face that will be lost! If core technologies are swindled out of us, the losses will be even greater!”

"Isn't Comrade Jiang Xia being a bit too hasty?" someone muttered quietly.

"Hasty?" The old man, who had been silent all along, suddenly looked up, his voice booming, "I think you're all meddling in other people's business! That kid Jiang Xia is shrewd as a sly fox! He must have something up his sleeve for making these arrangements!"

"Those who know the details of how Jin Zhen's achievements ended up in his name will naturally know, and those who don't should not ask any more questions!"

"Anyway, Comrade Jin Zhen is currently the first author of that paper!"

Hearing him say that, the other attendees picked up the files again and looked at them. Some of the knowledgeable ones, seeing the list of names following the co-first author, couldn't help but laugh at themselves: "Damn it, why was I out there back then? Otherwise, I could have become a contributing author too."

"And also, the fat guy you suspect, oh no, I mean Comrade Zhou Xiaofeng!" As he said this, the old man's sharp eyes pierced the speaker.

"If you dare utter that word, I'll accuse you of insulting the descendants of martyrs! No one can stop me!"

"Hmph! A child who lost both parents, who managed to crawl back to the Red Zone despite having his legs broken by the enemy, taking advantage of the enemy's unpreparedness—doesn't that prove his loyalty? As for his intelligence, some people are too stupid to see it!"

What defines a genius? It's someone you mortals can't even comprehend!

"I insist on Comrade Jiangxia's plan!"

"You're not convinced? Then I'll make a solemn promise! And I'll personally lead the team on this mission!"

"Hey... calm down, calm down... please don't say something like, 'Heroes have always roamed Yan and Zhao, sharing a cup to drive out the Japanese invaders.' I can't accept that..."

Upon hearing the old man utter the phrase "military order," the bespectacled leader immediately withdrew, waving his hands repeatedly as if to say it wasn't that serious...

"Alright! Stop arguing. Call Jiang Xia again! Let him explain why it has to be this chubby kid! Make him give a clear reason so you can stop speculating!"

…………

The call came quickly, but unfortunately at the wrong time.

At this moment, Jiang Xia was thinking about his grand plan to make some extra money. Thanks to Lao Wang's suggestion, the new soldier could only hold the microphone so that the other side could hear what Jiang Xia was saying.

When Jiang Xia finally came to his senses and suggested going out to attend the meeting, the knowledgeable leader on the other end of the microphone couldn't help but speak up.

"No! I can't participate!"

"Huh?" Jiang Xia's smile froze.

"Didn't the newspaper say that we go every year?"

"I can't go! Comrade Jiang Xia, you've got it all mixed up!" The words had barely left his lips when a reply came from the other end of the phone, a voice both amused and exasperated as it corrected him:

"Comrade Jiang Xia, your idea is good! But... you've come to the wrong place!"

"what?"

"The 'mother of all trade fairs' you mentioned refers to the Leipzig Fair. It does have the longest history, but it mainly focuses on books and consumer goods. It's not the same as our heavy industry, especially the machine tools you're involved in," the voice on the other end of the phone patiently explained.

"can not go."

The voice on the other end of the microphone paused for a moment, "It's because you got it mixed up. The Leipzig exhibition is in Eastern Hansmiao, mainly for exchanges between Eastern Europe and the socialist bloc."

The "mother of all trade fairs" you mentioned should be the Hannover Messe, which started in 1947 and focused on global industrial technology. That's where Western industrial giants truly gathered!

Jiang Xia scratched his head: "Oh... Leipzig and Hanover are that different?"

“Not even close.” The leader chuckled. “Siemens is a local giant, they go to Hanover every year; I don’t know which company you’re talking about, but if IBM has any reputation, it’ll definitely be here this year! You won’t see either of those companies in Leipzig. If you want to set up a booth, you have to go to Hanover.”

"Ah...I see..."

Jiangxia's hair stood on end, deeply regretting that he hadn't studied history well.

The Leipzig Fair was a highly anticipated event for us, starting when we first participated in 51. The cumulative number of visitors reached over 40. "When it was crowded, it took seven minutes to walk up the twenty-odd steps from downstairs."

When we participated in the exhibition again in 1952, our exhibition area had more than tripled in size, occupying an entire hall, "the second largest independent comprehensive exhibition hall after the Soviet Union."

In particular, during the 52 event, we brought 652 kinds of goods worth more than 80 rubles to sell at their state-run retail company. The prices were so low that local residents often started queuing at dawn, and the crowding even caused "breaks in glass and windows," leading "the authorities to send in more police to maintain order."

In this situation, we did not raise prices to maximize profits, which surprised even the well-informed Hansmiao, who was amazed by the "high quality and low price" of Chinese products.

Hehe, this time it really left a deep impression on Hansmiao. Later, when importing technology and trade from Hansmiao, the obstacles here were significantly fewer compared to other places.

"However... if you still want to go, there's still a way!"

This turn of events slightly cheered up the previously sullen, ditzy guy. "Boss, please speak!"

"Before that, could you please clear up our confusion? Why not go yourself, but instead send two junior comrades?"

……

Hey, it's just a debate!

Dongfeng 113 Jiangxia has already engaged in a heated debate with a group of scholars, so this little discussion is certainly not insignificant to him.

"Comrade Jinzhen is our 'face'! She speaks eloquently, is familiar with international communication rules, can hold her own, and represents the image of the country!"

"Little Fatty is our 'backbone'! Don't let his youth fool you, when it comes to the depth of his understanding of C language and his practical programming skills, I dare say no one on the entire planet can match him!"

"Sending Jinzhen is to let the world see that we have top-notch scholars! Sending Xiaopangdun is to let the world know that China has cutting-edge technology! The two of them work together, combining strength and gentleness, and neither can be missing!"

This is Jiang Xia's concluding remarks.

It's just that these big shots aren't very familiar with these two, otherwise Jiang Xia would definitely have been scolded.

He's really exaggerating a bit, praising Jin Zhen's eccentric personality and the chubby little boy like that...

However, subsequent events will prove him right.

After all, those two "problem youths" were filled with enthusiasm for their motherland, and the energy they unleashed was fueled by this emotion.

You can't imagine!