Two more days passed.
The approval matter was finally resolved.
But Liu Yutong also had to pay some price.
In the afternoon, she was summoned to the National Defense Science, Technology, and Industry Bureau again. This time, it wasn’t the elderly director who met her, but a higher-level leader.
He wasn’t wearing a uniform, just an ordinary dark blue jacket. His face was stern, but when he spoke, his tone was quite gentle.
“Director Liu, we’ve carefully reviewed your application materials. Wanlong Aerospace’s plan is ambitious. The higher-ups intend to support private capital entering the aerospace sector—this is an inevitable trend. I estimate that within a few years, policies will fully open up. But some rules must be clarified in advance,” the leader said.
Liu Yutong caught the underlying meaning in his words. “Sir, whatever the conditions are, just tell me directly. I’m all ears.”
The leader smiled and handed her a document.
Liu Yutong took it, opened it, and read through each clause. Her expression gradually turned serious.
The conditions were simple but harsh.
The gist was this: all technological achievements from rocket-engine research and development by Wanlong Aerospace would belong to the state. She would only retain usage and operational rights. Throughout the entire R&D lifecycle, the project must accept full supervision and technical review by the National Defense Science, Technology, and Industry Bureau. Key technical personnel would need to pass the strictest national security background checks.
At the same time, all launch missions must prioritize national strategic needs, and civilian commercial launches would require advance reporting and approval.
To put it bluntly: she would fund and staff the R&D, but whatever came out of it would go to the state. She could only use it, not sell or transfer it to any third party. She would also have to sign an extremely strict confidentiality agreement with the state.
Moreover, she herself would be prohibited from emigrating.
Any other businessperson under these conditions would likely walk away without a second thought.
But Liu Yutong didn’t.
Because she understood better than anyone that aerospace was never a purely commercial game. It was a key pillar of national power—a blade of the nation. Every bit of technology in this field could be applied to intercontinental missiles, military satellites, or critical areas of national security.
For the state to entrust a private company with full control over technology of this level? That would only happen if the top brass got completely drunk.
So from the very beginning, she never expected to own these technologies outright.
What she wanted was usage rights, operational rights, and that legal license to launch rockets.
As for the more sensitive issues like technology ownership, she had already had private discussions with a few senior figures over the past few days. In particular, she had taken time yesterday to visit Madam and touched on the topic.
From that moment on, she had already made up her mind: no matter how much money she poured into developing those technologies, she would hand them over to the state.
Although it seemed like a loss, it was actually a good thing for her personally.
It was like adding a talisman of protection.
Beyond that, Wanlong Aerospace’s rockets could legitimately take on national missions, and even secure technical support and talent resources from the state level.
These were things money couldn’t buy.
“I agree.”
Liu Yutong closed the document without a moment’s hesitation.
The leader was slightly taken aback, clearly not expecting her to consent so quickly, without even bargaining.
“Director Liu, you don’t want to reconsider?”
“No need.”
Liu Yutong stood up and looked earnestly at the leader before her. “The aerospace industry has always been a national endeavor. For a private company like mine to be involved is already an exception. I’ll yield the profits I should yield, and I’ll follow the rules I’m meant to follow. As long as Longguo’s rockets can fly higher and farther, a little personal sacrifice means nothing.”
The leader stared for a long moment at this twenty-year-old woman, then suddenly smiled.
“Director Liu, what you’re saying puts an old-timer like me, who’s spent thirty years in this system, to shame.”
“Young people today should take you as a role model.”
“Thank you, sir, for the praise!”
The leader took a small red booklet from his drawer and pushed it across the desk to Liu Yutong.
“This is the launch vehicle manufacturing license you requested. It’s been approved at the top level. The satellite frequency approval will come through in the next couple of days, and I’ll have someone deliver it to you directly.”
Liu Yutong picked up the booklet, opened it, and flipped through it. The weight on her heart finally lifted.
“Thank you, sir.”
“Don’t thank me. You earned it yourself.”
The leader stood up and extended his right hand. “Director Liu, on behalf of all my colleagues in the aerospace system, I officially welcome Wanlong Aerospace into the family. If you run into any technical or policy difficulties in the future, don’t hesitate to come to me.”
Liu Yutong shook his hand. “I will.”
Stepping out of the Bureau, Liu Yutong stood on the steps and took a deep breath. She felt an incredible lightness throughout her body.
Now, she held two trump cards: Longxin and Wanlong Aerospace—her own talismans of protection.
And from the conversation with that leader, she had picked up something else: it seemed the top brass had truly begun to take notice of her.
Not the casual compliments from provincial visits last year in BS Province—you know, those polite, throwaway lines.
This was real entry into the vision of the highest authorities.
That feeling was more reassuring than making ten billion yuan.
After wrapping up Wanlong Aerospace matters, she turned her mind back to making money.
Aerospace was a bottomless pit—an enormous money furnace. You could pour hundreds of billions into it and not even hear a splash. So she needed to hustle, to build up plenty of ammunition for future R&D.
“Big Miss, heading back to the hotel?” Yun Cheng asked.
Liu Yutong nodded. “Yes, and book us tickets. We’re heading back tomorrow morning.”
“Understood.”
She had stayed in the capital long enough.
The things that needed doing were done. The people who needed seeing had been seen. The groundwork had been laid.
The rest was up to time to unfold.
The next morning, the plane landed at Danancheng Airport.
As Liu Yutong stepped off the aircraft, she couldn’t help grumbling, “When are they ever going to build an airport in Mingzhu City?”
That way, she wouldn’t have to go through all the transfer hassles. She could just land and be home.
But she knew perfectly well that, given the current pace of urban planning and economic development, it would be at least two decades before Mingzhu City had its own civilian airport.
Even with her push in this lifetime, it would likely take more than ten years.
Maybe she could find time to mention it to Uncle Li—see if he could bring it up with the higher-ups to get Mingzhu City an airport ahead of schedule.
“Yutong Jie! Over here!”
Before she even reached the exit, Li Xiaohui’s voice rang out.
That girl was wearing a bright purple T-shirt today, paired with a matching baseball cap. She looked like an eggplant that had wandered into the airport—very eye-catching.
Liu Yutong was surprised to see her. “What are you doing here?”
“I happened to be in Danancheng for a match. I knew you were coming back, so I specifically came to pick you up,” Li Xiaohui said, grinning as she linked her arm through Liu Yutong’s. “And I haven’t seen Yaya in a while. I’ll head back with you and mooch a meal.”
At the mention of Yaya, Liu Yutong’s heart softened.
It had been over a month since she’d seen that little girl.
“Alright, I’ll go buy some things first. I can’t go back empty-handed.”
The two of them first took a car to a shopping mall in the city, where they bought some clothes and gifts for the grandparents, as well as a bunch of snacks and toys for Yaya.
After about three or more hours, the convoy finally arrived at Liu Yutong’s hometown.
