Chapter 5: The Initial Dream

When Chen Geng spoke, Li Jianguo and Wang Fusheng's faces were instantly filled with disappointment. All the previous flattery was just talk; the "but..." that followed was the real point. Sigh, they had thought they could find an excellent talent for the army, but now it seemed their efforts were in vain.

Chen Hongjun had a quick temper and a strong sense of pride... soldiers all have a strong sense of pride... In his view, since the National Defense Department had personally come to invite him, it was like the Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage in ancient times. He should have quickly agreed, but he was actually hesitating and unwilling to commit?!

This made Chen Hongjun unable to accept it. What's wrong with the National Defense Department? What about the National Defense Department doesn't suit you? He said angrily, "Brat, you..."

However, Chen Geng certainly didn't want his father to misunderstand him. As soon as Chen Hongjun opened his mouth, he interrupted him, "Dad, don't worry, just let me finish."

After saying that, he ignored his father and turned to Li Jianguo and Wang Fusheng, "Comrade Li, Comrade Wang, to be honest, I have one principle for my workplace: it must be a place where I can use the skills I've learned. I hope to go to the grassroots, that is, my father's unit."

Li Jianguo and Wang Fusheng were stunned: in this day and age, there are still people who would rather not go to a central ministry and instead go to the grassroots?!

But they immediately believed it. In this era, there were many young people willing to dedicate themselves to their ideals. Going to the grassroots was nothing; some even went to remote mountainous areas. Although Chen Geng's approach seemed somewhat naive and childish, he was like the sun at 10 o'clock in the morning.

Li Jianguo patted Chen Geng's shoulder hard and said with emotion, "I didn't expect it, I really didn't expect it! Chen Geng, your aspirations are so great... By the way, what is Comrade Chen Hongjun's workplace?"

Chen Geng smiled a bit embarrassedly, "It's the Third Military Equipment Repair Factory of the East China Military Region."

What?!

Li Jianguo and Wang Fusheng were completely shocked. They thought Chen Hongjun's unit would at least be something like the Military Region Headquarters, but it turned out to be just a military equipment repair factory under the military region, and even the third one at that?

What kind of grassroots is this? This is directly thrusting into the depths of the mountains.

Although Ma Chao was very shocked, he was still better off because he had heard Chen Geng talk about it before. Wang Fusheng and Li Jianguo were completely stunned, "Your school... has grassroots placement indicators?"

For graduates from Peking University, Tsinghua University, and Renmin University, staying in the capital was natural. The various ministries, newspapers, and countless institutions in the capital were eagerly waiting for these fresh graduates. For students, even working in the provincial party committees or provincial governments could be considered a form of "exile." Tsinghua University didn't even have grassroots placement indicators.

For students who hadn't found a receiving unit before graduation, the worst-case scenario was waiting for the school's allocation, but even the school's allocation would be in the various ministries in the capital. The difference was merely that the unit they were assigned to might not be their ideal one. But going to a military equipment repair factory under a military region? The distance was like the distance from Earth to Pluto.

Chen Hongjun looked at his son with concern, wanting to say something but holding back. Although he had previously resorted to violence to "convince" his son to go back with him, he had now given up that idea. But what was the situation now? His son actually wanted to go down voluntarily?

Giving Chen Hongjun a reassuring look, Chen Geng said embarrassedly, "There are no indicators, so I hope the two of you can help me with this..."

Before Chen Geng could finish, Li Jianguo shook his head without hesitation, "No! This is impossible! We..."

He had already guessed what Chen Geng was thinking: Tsinghua University didn't have grassroots placement indicators, so he could first go to the National Defense Department, and after reporting to the National Defense Department, he could then find a way to go to the Third Military Equipment Repair Factory of the East China Military Region. But this was absolutely impossible! Absolutely not allowed!

The National Defense Department had finally recruited such an excellent talent, who knew three foreign languages. If it weren't for the coincidence of knowing that Chen Geng's father was a serving officer, the National Defense Department wouldn't even have considered Chen Geng. Who would let such an excellent talent go to a place where even birds wouldn't defecate? They wouldn't even wait until the next day; the department's leaders would immediately make the person responsible for this matter pack their bags and leave!

But Wang Fusheng quickly and secretly tugged at Li Jianguo's clothes, smiling and said to Chen Geng, "Chen Geng, you really want to go down? You need to understand that with your education, there are many more opportunities for development in the capital. I sincerely suggest you stay in the department. If you really want to go down, you can stay for a few years, gain some work experience, and then go down."

Li Jianguo was stunned for a moment and immediately understood his old friend's thoughts: stabilize him first, get him into the unit, and once he's in, we can control him. As long as he reports to the unit, if he wants to go down, without the unit's permission, how could he just run off?

Understanding this, Li Jianguo immediately nodded with a smile, "That's right, Chen Geng. However, if you insist on going down, it's not impossible, but I suggest you work in the department for a while first..."

Ma Chao couldn't care about anything else and pulled Chen Geng aside, lowering his voice, "Old Three, you're not joking, right?"

"What do you think?" Chen Geng countered.

"I..." Ma Chao was speechless.

"We've worked hard for four years. Do you remember what we said in our first year? We wanted to use our skills to revitalize the country's engine industry. If I go to other units, do you think I'll have the opportunity?"

Ma Chao was silent.

He said with deep emotion, "Old Three, I never expected you to have such determination. I'm not as determined as you, but I really admire your courage... Have you really thought it through?"

"I have." Chen Geng nodded lightly.

Hesitating for a moment, Ma Chao added, "But... if you want to work on engines, wouldn't going to FAW be good too? Or at least, you worked in the Volkswagen project team for a while, going to Volkswagen would be good too, right?"

Chen Geng smiled bitterly, "Old Two, you should know that although I studied engines, at FAW and Volkswagen, there are many people with more experience and skills than me. When will it be my turn? My father's unit may not be great, but there are fewer constraints. It's okay to start with some difficulties; the important thing is that a blank sheet of paper is easier to draw on... Anyway, let's not talk about me. Have you decided on your receiving unit?"

"Decided, it's the General Office of the State Council." Ma Chao nodded repeatedly, very happy about being able to go to the General Office of the State Council.

"The General Office?" Chen Geng was surprised by this answer: "Don't they mainly accept liberal arts students?"

"Not enough people," Ma Chao shrugged, looking smug, "Although I studied automotive engineering, you forgot that I'm a famous talent in our department, having published many articles in newspapers and the school magazine. It's not hard to understand why they would want me."

"..." Chen Geng raised his thumb speechlessly, "Alright, you're impressive."

In this era of the People's Republic, the thirst for talent was so great that even science graduates could enter the General Office.

"Ha ha..." Ma Chao looked at Chen Geng with admiration, "Old Three, since you're going down to realize our brothers' dreams, I can't stop you. I just want to say that if you need any help, just speak up, don't be shy. You don't know yet, but in our dorm, the eldest has just been assigned to the General Office of the Central Committee, the fourth to the People's Daily, and the fifth to customs. Only the sixth, seventh, and eighth haven't decided yet, but I think we'll have news today."

Pausing, he grabbed Chen Geng's hand and earnestly said, "We are brothers, in university and in work. When we made the oath, all eight of us made it together, but now only you... I won't say more. Brother, I'll just say one thing: you're helping all the brothers in Room 302 realize our common dream. If you encounter any difficulties or need help, just speak up, don't be shy."

"Don't worry," Chen Geng felt warm inside and smiled, nodding, "Do you think I would dare to go down if it weren't for you guys being up there? If anyone dares to bully me, you'll help me deal with them."

"Ha ha ha... Good, then it's settled. If anyone dares to bully you, we'll help you deal with them. Old Three, you also promise me, you must represent Room 302 and build a Chinese engine that makes us proud!"

...

Li Jianguo and Wang Fusheng stretched their necks, looking worriedly at Chen Geng and Ma Chao, afraid that Ma Chao would persuade Chen Geng to change his mind. Their necks were sore, and they were afraid that Chen Geng would be swayed by his dorm mates. When Chen Geng and Ma Chao were patting each other's shoulders and laughing happily, their hearts almost jumped out of their chests.

It wasn't until Chen Geng came back to them that their hearts were still racing.

"Comrade Li, Comrade Wang, sorry to keep you waiting," Chen Geng apologized first, and the next sentence made Li Jianguo and Wang Fusheng's hearts bloom with joy, "When can we start the procedures?"

"Now! We can start right now!"

Hearing this, the two felt as if they were drinking fine wine, their hearts filled with more than just joy. They felt as if they were floating in the clouds.