CHAPTER 267: CHAPTER 265: RETURNING TO THE THREE TOWNS

While advancing toward the three towns, Chen Xin’s journey didn’t seem so boring as he cooperated with researchers to test their communication equipment.

Although the task of testing communication equipment sounded important and complex, it actually wasn’t troublesome. All Chen Xin and the others needed to do was receive the information sent over and then provide feedback.

To simplify, it was about having someone sit in the passenger seat and chat with the other side through the vehicle’s communication equipment and answer questions.

Although things were simple, it was far less boring than rushing all the way ahead. After all, previously, Chen Xin could not handle everything alone, which made it seem there were a lot of tasks. But after Han Ping and Han Ze split the tasks of driving and reconnaissance, there wasn’t much left requiring Chen Xin’s personal attention.

Even tasks like cooking were all taken over by his mother, who felt sorry for his broken hand. Chen Xin’s days were just about waking up to eat, then eating to sleep.

After two days of such bliss, Chen Xin’s car once again drove into the range of the three towns.

Thanks to the permit obtained last time, he went smoothly into the range of the three towns. The communication from the research institute arrived before he even drove into the urban area, inviting Chen Xin to "come over for a chat."

Chen Xin did not refuse this kind of invitation. He estimated that the country should have completed the evaluation and testing of the Isotope Thermoelectric Battery he submitted, and naturally should have also developed a plan on how to cooperate with him.

Going to the research institute now should be to discuss how to cooperate.

Moreover, Chen Xin had previously promised to meet up again when passing through the three towns, so he had no reason to refuse this invitation.

This time, however, Chen Xin’s car couldn’t go through the river tunnel. Due to being upgraded, the RV was too high and wide to enter the tunnel; he had to either go over the ice or take the Yangtze River Bridge.

Faced with this situation, Chen Xin hesitated for a moment, then decided to let Han Ping drive the car across the ice.

Although he was very concerned about the integrity of the ice layer, comparatively, the ice surface solidified at temperatures tens of degrees below zero was still more reliable than the Yangtze River Bridge, which had suffered multiple disasters. After all, Chen Xin hadn’t taken the Yangtze River Bridge last time.

The conditions on the ice were considerably better than Chen Xin had anticipated. Although the surface was slippery, it wasn’t a problem for the tracked chassis, and the thickness and load-bearing capacity of the ice were stronger than Chen Xin expected, with no cracking occurring.

This allowed Chen Xin to smoothly cross the Yangtze River. Even at the thinnest part of the ice in the middle of the river, there were no issues.

The only problem was that Chen Xin’s vehicle, being extra wide and tall after the upgrade, couldn’t enter the underground tunnel to light valley.

However, that wasn’t a major problem, as he could take the surface route if he couldn’t go underground.

After having Han Ping drive to the entrance of the building where the research institute was located, Chen Xin left his parents in the car and only brought Han Ping through the original main entrance of the research institute on the surface.

"Mr. Chen Xin, we’ve been eagerly waiting for you! Ever since you left, we’ve been hoping you’d return!" One of the researchers who had witnessed Chen Xin creating a nuclear battery by hand rushed up enthusiastically, shook Chen Xin’s hand, and expressed a warm welcome.

Faced with the researcher’s excessive zeal, although Chen Xin could understand the other’s sentiments, he still felt awkward and quickly withdrew his hand: "Sorry, my arm is fractured, I can’t shake hands."

Upon seeing this, the researcher was instantly shocked and quickly inquired with concern: "How did it get injured? Is it serious? Rest assured, we have the best doctors in the three towns and can provide you with the best medical care. Mr. Chen Xin, your hand is a national treasure and cannot afford any accidents!"

Saying this, the researcher began shouting at other staff to contact hospitals and doctors quickly.

Watching them frantically spring into action, Chen Xin found it somewhat amusing yet deeply touching.

Though these people valued him because of his mastery of the system’s black technology, it also meant that Chen Xin was more important than he had realized.

"No, no, it was a slight fracture caused by an avalanche when driving previously. I’ve already seen a doctor and had X-rays taken, it’s not a problem." Moved as he was, Chen Xin didn’t want to be troubled with another hospital visit and quickly declined the researchers’ good intentions.

After some reassurance and explanation from Chen Xin, the researchers finally dropped the idea of getting a doctor to check on him again.

After the commotion settled, Chen Xin and several researchers sat down in a meeting room to begin discussing cooperation between him and the state.

"Mr. Chen Xin, before discussing cooperation, we would like to understand, does the ability manifested from your acquired savant syndrome have a range limitation?" One researcher asked Chen Xin the most pressing question on their minds.

Because whether Chen Xin’s enhanced capability had limitations or not greatly altered their understanding.

If limited to one or two or a few fields, Chen Xin would still be crucial but would not have a substantial impact.

This would at most influence the research progress of one or two fields and accelerate the development of certain disciplines.

Such impact might eventually reach the whole nation, but it would take some time for the effect to materialize.

This is similar to having one or two top academic leaders emerge in certain fields; only, Chen Xin doesn’t do research, he delivers outcomes.

But if Chen Xin’s capability had no limits, the impact was drastically different, elevating his influence to a factor that could change the national strategic deployment significantly within a short period.

So it wasn’t an exaggeration when the researcher said Chen Xin’s hand was a national treasure. Whether his abilities have limitations or not, calling someone who could at least accelerate the rapid development of certain fields or industries a national treasure is not overstating it.

In fact, the researchers regretted not valuing Chen Xin enough after knowing of his injury. If they had been more attentive when he left, having personnel from Hubei Province accompany him or straight up escort his parents from Anhui Province, he wouldn’t have gotten hurt.

To the researchers, Chen Xin now seemed like a treasure that couldn’t afford even a bump, better off realizing his potential safely in a lab rather than traveling and getting a fracture.

Regarding the researcher’s question and attitude, Chen Xin rubbed his forehead before replying with a question: "What if there are limitations? What if there aren’t?"