Chapter 25: Could You Buy Me a Bread?

Fighter Jet Development and Research Center.

Chang Wen finished his workday and was on his way home. After finally squeezing into the crowded subway, he pulled out his phone out of sheer boredom and opened Weibo. When he saw the first post on his feed, he froze for a moment before exclaiming, "What the hell!"

Instantly, countless curious gazes from those around him converged on him. Chang Wen immediately ducked his head, focusing his attention back on that post.

Wang Yang, a livestreamer he had been following, had actually posted a high-profile announcement claiming that he had developed an F119 engine.

When he first saw the news, he assumed that domestic research had successfully broken through the relevant technologies to produce a fighter jet engine comparable to the F119. Although the F119 was already considered a second-tier fighter engine, its core technology had always been something the domestic industry aspired to master. If such an engine were truly available for their research institute to study, it would significantly accelerate the development of sixth-generation fighter engines.

However, once he realized it was Wang Yang who claimed to have developed it, his excitement quickly evaporated. He didn't even bother reading the comments below; he simply swiped the post away. A livestreamer replicating an F119 engine comparable to the original? How could that possibly be true?

***

Time flew by. Two months later.

In a warehouse in Qingcheng, Wang Yang collapsed into a chair, gasping for air. He wiped the sweat from his forehead, a smile lingering on his face. He looked up at the dense rows of components, several large, brand-new engines—each bigger than any piece of F-22 wreckage—along with pneumatic systems and instrument panels. He let out a long, satisfied sigh.

Ever since he finished replicating the F119 engine two months ago, he had been living in this warehouse. If he was hungry, he had food delivered; if he was tired, he slept in his chair. After two months of relentless effort, he had successfully replicated all the remaining parts.

The most critical phase was next: assembling these components into the F-22 fighter jets and fully restoring the wreckage. After that, these two piles of scrap metal and these brand-new parts would transform into two brand-new F-22 fighter jets—jets that would bring him massive profits and enormous benefits. Just thinking about it made Wang Yang tremble with excitement.

Nearly five months of hard work, days and nights without end, sleeping less than five hours a day, barely changing his clothes, his personal hygiene completely neglected—he had finally reached the final stage of the F-22 restoration. It was hard to imagine how he had survived these five months.

But it would be over soon. Only the final, critical steps remained for the F-22s. Within a month at the latest, they would be ready to be unveiled, and all his earlier investments would yield a massive return.

However, as luck would have it, he needed to purchase one more set of materials from the system to finish the wreckage. A mistake during the restoration of other parts had led to excessive consumption of a low-density composite material.

To cover this material, he needed about 400,000 yuan. He had already spoken to Jiang Liangliang, telling her to charge it to the company account and transfer the 400,000 yuan to him.

*Ring-ring.*

Just then, his phone rang. The screen displayed "Jiang Liangliang." He answered it, "Hello? Has the money been transferred?"

"Brother Yang, we can't touch the funds in the company account. If we do, the capital chain will snap..." Jiang Liangliang said in a sorrowful tone.

During the restoration process, Jiang Liangliang and Wang Yang had communicated many times. Wang Yang had been teaching her how to "rob Peter to pay Paul," squeezing every last cent out of the company's account to ensure its normal operation and avoid the risk of the capital chain breaking entirely.

Wang Yang was stunned. "We can't even move 400,000?"

"Yes, that money is all tied up in various obligations. Forget 400,000, we can't even transfer 40,000..." she replied.

Wang Yang paused, his brow furrowed. "I'll think of another way."

He hung up the phone and, after a moment of thought, called Liang Yuzhu. Since he only needed 400,000, it wasn't worth dropping his work to go out and apply for loans or borrow money. It would be better to ask the "little rich girl" if she had any spare cash. If she did, great; if not, he would figure something else out.

The call was answered quickly.

"Manager Liang, I need about 400,000 yuan to buy materials for the fighter jet restoration. Do you have that much on hand?" Wang Yang got straight to the point.

Liang Yuzhu was clearly taken aback. "Um, you... hold on a second, let me check."

Wang Yang waited patiently. Before long, her voice returned. "I have it... should I transfer it to you directly?"

"Yes, that works."

"By the way, is the restoration... going smoothly?" she asked softly.

Wang Yang replied, "Don't worry, I'm at the final steps. I just need to assemble it all."

"That's good... Oh, I'm transferring the money right now. Just a moment."

After hanging up, Wang Yang waited quietly. Soon, a text message notification chimed.

[Your bank account ending in 0254 has received 400,021.35 yuan...]

Why was there such an odd amount? Wang Yang was puzzled but didn't dwell on it.

"System, I want to purchase a batch of low-density composite materials."

System: [Understood, Host. As this is a replenishment of materials, the system will send them directly to the warehouse. Please check for delivery.]

No sooner had the words been spoken than a pile of low-density composite materials appeared in the corner of the warehouse, accompanied by a flash of white light.

"This system is truly reliable. Materials arrive the moment I ask; it's much faster than any courier," Wang Yang breathed a sigh of relief, a smile returning to his face.

With these materials, he could finally complete the restoration of the two F-22s. One month—at most one month—and it would be finished!

With that in mind, Wang Yang didn't waste another second and immediately began the restoration.

***

The third day, at dusk.

Wang Yang sat in his chair, pushing aside his takeout containers. He looked at the partially cleared F-22 wreckage and wiped the sweat from his face. It was almost over.

He rested for a moment and was about to get up to continue working when his phone rang again. He glanced at it; it was a call from Liang Yuzhu.

As soon as he answered, he heard her voice choking with tears. "Wang Yang, can you... can you buy me a loaf of bread? I'm so hungry..."

Wang Yang froze instantly.

His mind flashed back to three days ago, to the odd, precise amount she had transferred to him.

Wait, does this mean that was all the money she had, and she transferred every last bit of it to me?!