Chapter 61
Chapter 61
It was clear that Guan Guo saw Zhang Bei as just another rich heir playing around.
In fact, this was a sad reality for many laboratories these days.
Aside from those funded by major corporations, most small-scale laboratories were funded by wealthy heirs.
The research topics were often all over the place, much like the Laboratory Zhang Bei had purchased.
That particular heir had wanted to see if they could develop a virtual reality game. However, such technology was far beyond the current era, and there was essentially zero chance of success.
After playing around for a while, the heir lost interest and naturally stopped investing, leaving the scientists in the Laboratory with nothing to show for their wasted time.
Professor Li, sitting to the side, spoke up. “Don’t worry, this kid’s research and development skills are top-tier.”
Guan Guo gave Professor Li a skeptical look.
Having known him for so many years, this was the first time he had heard Professor Li praise a young person so highly.
Zhang Bei smiled. “What I want to research this time is a low-altitude Air-Powered Device.”
Zhang Bei had already mostly conceptualized his next attraction, but the structure required a mechanism capable of lifting the tracks. The high-efficiency aerodynamics from the System had become his first choice.
Guan Guo still found it hard to believe. How old was Zhang Bei? He looked twenty-five at most. To be described by Professor Li as having ‘top-tier’ R&D skills clearly implied he had already achieved significant results.
However, if the person involved didn’t want to talk about their specific products, it wasn’t his place to pry.
“Fair enough. My annual salary is two hundred thousand. Besides that, I need to use the Laboratory for my own research every month.”
Zhang Bei nodded. “As long as it doesn’t delay the normal R&D progress, you can use the Laboratory for as long as you want.”
With that settled, the rest followed naturally.
Using Professor Li’s printer to sign the contract, Guan Guo officially joined the first research office under the Amusement Park.
By three in the afternoon, Guan Guo frowned as he looked at the modest Laboratory before him.
“Can you show me what exactly you want to research now?”
Zhang Bei smiled and pulled a sealed document from a nearby drawer.
“Take a look. A High-Efficiency Thermal Air-Powered Device.”
The materials Zhang Bei provided this time only contained basic formulas and theories. Guan Guo’s job was to develop the equipment based on this data and collect experimental results.
As he finished reading the documents, Guan Guo could not hide the shock in his eyes.
He had worked in the field of aerodynamics for nearly twenty years; he could naturally discern the value of these materials. It was no exaggeration to say that if Zhang Bei took this data to Yanda, he could easily land a professorship. If Zhang Bei so much as breathed a word, countless investors would be clamoring to fund him.
Guan Guo’s expression gradually turned solemn.
“This data is incredibly complete. I’m going to start the experiments.”
Zhang Bei nodded. “I’ll leave it to you then. Call me if anything comes up.”
“Will do!”
Watching Guan Guo walk into the Laboratory to calibrate the instruments, Zhang Bei headed outside. With the Laboratory in Guan Guo’s hands, Zhang Bei could focus on managing the amusement park.
Meanwhile, Weibo was in an absolute frenzy.
As the top influencer in the travel sector, any post from Qingyang was bound to attract a massive crowd.
Qiqi Kid: [Holy crap, this is the first time I’ve ever seen a five-star rating!]
Huahuahua: [A five-star amusement park… I’m seeing this for the first time too.]
Youyou Hashou: [Tickets booked! One last hurrah before school starts!]
Baili Tutu: [Plus one! Got my tickets for tomorrow!]
Countless people were shocked by the rating Qingyang had given. Even Disney had only received a four-and-a-half-star rating from him.
Zhang Bei had just stepped into the amusement park when he was greeted by a large face.
Qi Xiu’s face, filled with apology, stopped right in front of Zhang Bei.
“Boss Zhang, I am deeply sorry for what the Cultural Tourism Bureau did to the amusement park over a decade ago.”
Looking at the old man before him, Zhang Bei merely gave a slight nod.
“What is it you want to say?”
Qi Xiu gave a bitter smile. “What happened back then was the work of two fresh graduates. We weren’t aware of it at the time, and we are willing to offer compensation for it.”
Zhang Bei narrowed his eyes. “Where have you all been until now? You only thought of compensation once you saw the amusement park starting to thrive?”
Embarrassment washed over Qi Xiu’s face. The root of the issue really did trace back to those two recent graduates.
At that time, Dingyang City’s economy was in a slump, and the bureau often struggled even to pay salaries.
As ambitious university students with big dreams, they had scouted various options and selected this amusement park as their breakthrough point.
However, they had no money back then, so the funds for the promotion had to be borne by the amusement park itself.
But they were, after all, just two fresh graduates. They hadn’t considered the receptiveness of out-of-town tourists.
After a round of promotion, they ended up generating a massive wave of negative word-of-mouth instead.
Looking at the files, Qi Xiu also felt that the situation was a mess.
It had happened so long ago that the amusement park didn’t actually need their help anymore.
Coming forward now made them look like people who just wanted a piece of the pie.
Organizing his thoughts, Qi Xiu finally spoke.
“Please have some faith in us, Boss Zhang. We truly come with sincere intentions this time.”
Zhang Bei squinted. “Let’s hear it then. Show me your sincerity.”
Qi Xiu hurried to explain. “We have already hired specialists to promote the amusement park as a major tourist destination. In the next phase of urban planning, we will establish a dedicated bus stop for the amusement park.”
At this point, Qi Xiu glanced at Zhang Bei’s expression before continuing.
“In the short term, all television promotions will focus on the amusement park, and all tour groups affiliated with the Cultural Tourism Bureau will continuously bring visitors here. Please rest assured, Mr. Zhang, all of this will be free of charge.”
The Cultural Tourism Bureau wasn’t short on money now; besides, these things wouldn’t cost much anyway.
Zhang Bei narrowed his eyes. “And what do you want me to do?”
Qi Xiu breathed a sigh of relief. As long as Zhang Bei was willing to cooperate, things would be much simpler.
“Nothing at all. We only hope that Boss Zhang can maintain the current state of the Amusement Park.”
“I understand. Anything else?”
“Then I won’t disturb you any further, Boss Zhang. I wish you a prosperous business!”
Although their relationship hadn’t fully thawed, it was enough for Qi Xiu to breathe a sigh of relief.
As long as Zhang Bei didn’t harbor such strong resistance toward them, then driving tourist traffic would be a sure thing.
Stepping through the gates of the amusement park, Zhang Bei went straight to the Monitoring Room and locked himself inside.
The Air-Powered Device had already entered the research and development stage now that he had the detailed data.
Zhang Bei made a rough estimate; it would take at most half a month before the device could be installed.
That meant he could begin designing the next set of attractions.
Independent design was different from purchasing existing facilities.
The price wasn’t fixed; instead, it cost varying amounts of Emotional Value based on the design blueprints.
Zhang Bei sat in the Monitoring Room, his pencil sliding continuously across a sheet of white paper.