Chapter 294 - 219: Lin Chu: I’ve Wanted to Be a Scientist Since I Was a Child

Chapter 294: Chapter 219: Lin Chu: I’ve Wanted to Be a Scientist Since I Was a Child

「Two in the afternoon.」

Lin Chu and Chen Yuanxing sat in the classroom, right on time for their MBA class.

The first class of the day was "Introduction to Corporate Strategy."

The lecturer was a cultured and refined man in his fifties, wearing a pair of gold-rimmed glasses. He introduced himself as Bian Gaige.

That name...

It was certainly memorable.

Bian, of course, was his surname.

"I know this professor. When he was younger, he started a company—the Golden Idea Company, which was a huge deal back in the day. They specialized in creating business plans and strategies for people. Often, a single good idea from them could save a company on the brink of bankruptcy."

"I can’t believe he’s a university professor now. Wow, Peking University is really something else. This guy is the founding father of combining theory and practice."

Chen Yuanxing said with a touch of surprise after thinking for a moment.

He knew a gem when he saw one.

Someone like Bian Gaige had achieved financial freedom many years ago. After all, he had single-handedly created a new market niche and reaped enormous profits from it.

Becoming a university professor now was probably just a personal hobby.

He just enjoyed studying things like business strategy.

Hearing Chen Yuanxing, Lin Chu quickly looked him up on Baidu Baike and discovered just how incredible the old professor was. Suddenly, he seemed to be surrounded by an extra layer of light.

And Bian Gaige’s lecture was indeed fascinating. He was witty and eloquent, cracking jokes and dropping pearls of wisdom.

"If the founder of a company can’t envision what it will look like in five years—barring any force majeure—then I don’t think he’s thought it through. He should go back to the drawing board."

...

"The times create heroes. Imagine three people in an elevator. One is standing still, one is doing push-ups, and one is in a half-squat as if relieving himself. All three firmly believe that their own posture and effort are what’s making the elevator go up, taking them to a higher floor. But in reality, it’s because the elevator was already going up. When the elevator stops, they stop. And when the power goes out, they will all fall."

...

"The stages of a company’s development are like a man’s attitude toward women. What is it at first? Childhood: naive, innocent, ignorant, and full of awe. Then comes adolescence: bold, passionate, and restless. Then middle age: bloated, powerless, with an unwieldy tail. He wants a divorce, he wants to have an affair, and he wants to have his cake and eat it too. In old age, a stable, profitable core becomes the primary competitive advantage."

...

His constant stream of wit and wisdom periodically sent waves of laughter through the classroom.

Lin Chu couldn’t help but feel impressed. ’Peking University really is on another level.’

’If my undergraduate professors were this good, I wouldn’t have made a point of sleeping through my electives and selectively sleeping through my required courses.’

’Those professors who just read from the textbook and PowerPoint slides were a complete waste of tuition money.’

’You get what you pay for.’

When the class ended, everyone was left wanting more.

However, Bian Gaige ended the class almost to the second. As soon as it was over, he displayed his WeChat QR code on the large screen.

"Everyone, add me on WeChat. If you have any questions, you can ask me anytime. It can be about your studies or about life. But, of course, there’s a fee."

"Depending on the difficulty of the question, it’ll be anywhere from 100 to 100,000 yuan."

"Don’t even think about reporting me. The university allows this. You’re MBA students, not undergrads. I guarantee my answers will be worth more than what you pay."

"All right, hurry up and add me. Class is dismissed once you’re done!"

Lin Chu: ...

Tsk.

’Impressive.’

’He even turned this into a business model?’

’As expected of the old fox. The founder of the Golden Idea Company, a first-generation think tank monster.’

Still, Lin Chu added him immediately.

’If I have to pay, I’ll pay.’

’For questions you genuinely can’t figure out, who else is going to teach you?’

’This man is a goldmine of guidance.’

...

Compared to the first class, the second one was rather dull.

The lecturer was one of the three old professors from dinner last night. He didn’t even introduce himself before starting his lecture.

He was talking about the Baoneng-Vanke dispute, which has been dubbed "China’s number one corporate war."

The topic had been beaten to death by every online content creator, and his take on it offered nothing new.

Still, the topic itself was a big enough draw.

Besides, since this corporate war had taken place in Peng City, Lin Chu listened along casually. He treated it like eating a plain steamed bun—tasteless, but it could fill you up.

Suddenly, his phone vibrated.

He received a message from Chen Yuanxing: "I just asked my nephew. He said Li Bin went to the lab to discuss a technical collaboration, but Elder Su shot him down. He even goaded Li Bin into donating five million. Unconditionally."

Pfft!

Lin Chu almost burst out laughing when he saw the message.

’Sure enough, science and technology are the primary productive forces. Even a business tycoon has to take a loss in front of a real tech titan.’

"Create a group chat. Add me and your nephew. Let’s talk business."

"Don’t worry, I’m not going to poach your connection. You guys are close relatives, after all."

Lin Chu sent back a couple of messages.

An idea suddenly sparked in his mind.

"Hey, of course I trust you. You’re making me out to be so petty, aren’t you?"

Chen Yuanxing replied, then immediately created the group chat.

The three-person group was created.

Lin Chu saw that his nephew’s WeChat nickname was—Chen Sheng (Desperately Seeking Graduation Edition).

Chen Sheng must be his real name.

’Even top students get graduation anxiety?’

After Chen Yuanxing introduced them to each other, Lin Chu typed directly into the group: "Li Bin only donated five million? I’d like to donate something too. Just giving cash feels insincere. What does your lab need most right now? Like, any large-scale equipment? Price is no object."

Seeing this, Chen Yuanxing pursed his lips and didn’t say anything, waiting for his nephew’s reply.

’Leave it to Lin Chu.’

’So loaded.’

Chen Sheng: "Hahaha, hello, boss. Right now, what the lab needs most is experimental space. Our lab’s facilities are limited, so for a lot of our test flights, we have to apply to use other people’s labs or find all sorts of random places. Our supervisor is always cursing about it."

Hmm?

Lin Chu thought for a moment, then quickly replied: "Alright, I’ll donate a piece of land then. In Guan City. It’s not far. We can build a large-scale test flight laboratory for you there."

Chen Sheng: "?"

"[Sticker: Boss is awesome! 666]"

"For real? Don’t mess with me. I’m bold enough to actually believe you."

Chen Yuanxing couldn’t help but glance at Lin Chu, his sharp Adam’s apple bobbing.

’What kind of willful extravagance is this?’

’No, seriously, this is too much.’

’We have other options!’

He nudged Lin Chu’s arm, but Lin Chu ignored him.

"It’s real. You can screenshot this conversation and send it to your professor right now. Me? Well, I’ve actually dreamed of being a scientist since I was a kid, but I just don’t have the brains for it, so I had to go into business. Now that I’ve made a little money, it’s only right that I support scientific research."

"Even if you don’t end up transferring the technology to me, don’t worry. The land and the lab will be an unconditional gift to you all."

Chen Sheng: "[Sticker: Bowing to the master!]"

"Okay, I believe you then! I’m sending it to my professor now."

Lin Chu: "OK."

Chen Yuanxing stared at Lin Chu, his eyes wide. His lips moved, then moved again, but he was truly at a loss for words.

’Oh my god!’

’What kind of god is this guy?’

At first, he had thought Lin Chu was young and easy to fool. After lunch today, he thought Lin Chu was shrewd. But now, he had no idea how to describe him.

Just one word: flashy!

That move was just too flashy!

"I don’t want to start a business anymore."

"Actually, I want to build a lab too."

"I also had a dream of being a scientist when I was a kid."

Chen Yuanxing said suddenly with a perfectly straight face.

Lin Chu glanced at him and replied, just as seriously, "Sure, you can open one too. Research men’s health supplements. You know, Golden Scale Grass, Tiger Bone Wine, that kind of thing. Once you develop something, I’ll invest however much money you want."

Of course, he was joking.

Chen Yuanxing let out a long sigh and shot back, "So President Lin is already worried about that sort of thing?"

Lin Chu chuckled. "Aren’t I just looking out for you? A 38-year-old man should start thinking about the second half of his life... and his lower half. Wouldn’t you agree?"

Chen Yuanxing: ...

...

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