Chapter 241 Firm Refusal

"Beautiful Miss Jiang, I'll be frank." Wolfgang closed the door and said enthusiastically, "I need the formula for ZG-3 alloy. In exchange..."

He opened the safe and took out a set of microfilms. "This is the complete set of KPM-75 design drawings."

Jiang Haitang's heart beat faster.

This is exactly the technology that the country urgently needs!

This is also the technology that foreign countries have blocked from China. If this set of microfilm can be brought back, the benefits to China's development will be immeasurable.

She wanted it desperately, but on the surface she remained calm, "Why do you take the risk?"

"I'm fed up with people like Hans using technology as a tool for extortion!" Wolfgang said excitedly. "Real technology should benefit humanity! Not be used as a tool for personal wealth accumulation."

Jiang Haitang looked at the microfilm in Wolfgang's hand, which symbolized the world's top precision manufacturing technology, and her heart beat violently in her chest.

A complete set of design drawings of KPM-75!

This is not just a blueprint, but also the key to unlocking the shackles of China's high-end manufacturing industry. It is a treasure that countless engineers dream of.

With it, domestic research can avoid at least five years of detours.

However, Wolfgang's condition was the formula of ZG-3 alloy, which was like a basin of ice water poured on her burning heart.

She forced herself to calm down, maintaining a professional, thoughtful expression on her face, not immediately showing shock or rejection.

His brain was working rapidly, analyzing Wolfgang's true intentions and the current situation.

"Mr. Wolfgang," Jiang Haitang said in a steady voice, with just the right hint of confusion. "I'm a little surprised by your knowledge of ZG-3 alloy. As far as I know, ZG-3 is a material used in specific areas in my country. Its performance parameters and specific formula... I'm afraid it's beyond my professional scope, let alone my ability to decide whether to exchange them."

She cleverly drew a line, indicating that she was not the decision maker and that she herself had no access to the relevant information.

The eager smile on Wolfgang's face froze slightly, and his eyes flickered.

"Ms. Jiang, please don't misunderstand me. It's just that our team was stuck for two whole years developing the flexible bearings for the next-generation harmonic reducer. All our theoretical calculations and experiments indicate that certain properties of ZG-3 are the key to solving this problem."

"We don't need a complete formula, even some key parameters or some directional guidance on its smelting process... As long as it can help us break through this bottleneck, this set of KPM-75 drawings will be yours." He pushed the microfilm forward again, his tone almost pleading.

Jiang Haitang knew it clearly.

Wolfgang was not completely unaware of the sensitivity of the ZG-3, but the enthusiasm of the technicians and the desire for a breakthrough overwhelmed political caution.

He was gambling on her desire for top-notch technology.

I bet she would even give out some parameter data in order to get this blueprint.

"I understand your urgency for a technological breakthrough, Mr. Wolfgang." Jiang Haitang's tone became serious and sincere.

A smile appeared on Wolfgang's lips. He could almost imagine that Jiang Haitang would say the words of agreement next.

Although the young Chinese woman in front of him said that she didn't know this information, Wolfgang didn't believe it. His intuition told him that this woman had what he needed.

However, Jiang Haitang's next words disappointed Wolfgang!

"As a technician, I deeply desire to see the most advanced technology. However, I have no right to know the details of the ZG-3 alloy, let alone to engage in any form of discussion or transaction. This goes beyond the scope of technical exchange and is a matter of principle."

Jiang Haitang's tone was very soft. After shaking her head slightly, she gently and firmly pushed back the microfilm that Wolfgang had pushed to her. Her action left no room for doubt.

"Do you really want to give up such a great opportunity? Miss Jiang, do you know what kind of glory these films will bring to you if you bring them back to China? You might even become a person respected by everyone in China!"

Jiang Haitang sneered in his heart. Is the glory that can only be obtained by betraying the country true glory?

That is a shame, a shame that can never be washed away.

"Mr. Wolfgang, I'm truly sorry that I can't offer any assistance in this matter. Although I regret your offer, I cannot accept it."

The atmosphere in the laboratory dropped to freezing point in an instant.

Wolfgang didn't want to give up. Instead, he took two pages of materials and said, "Ms. Jiang, these are two of the KPM-75 design drawings. After seeing them, you might change your mind."

Wolfgang felt that Jiang Haitang must not understand the situation yet. If she knew how advanced this equipment was, she would definitely be interested.

However, Jiang Haitang just glanced at the drawing in Wolfgang's hand and did not take it.

She shook her head and said, "I can't do that, Mr. Wolfgang."

The enthusiasm on Wolfgang's face completely faded, replaced by disappointment, unwillingness, and even a hint of offended anger.

He stared at Jiang Haitang, as if judging the truthfulness of her words, and as if measuring whether there was still room for persuasion.

After a moment's silence, he took back the microfilm and his tone became cold.

"It seems that true technical exchange is ultimately blocked by invisible barriers. Miss Jiang, you are very cautious and... very loyal."

How could Jiang Haitang not hear that Wolfgang was still trying to PUA her at this time?

She met his gaze frankly. "This is a sign of respect for each other's national interests, Mr. Wolfgang. Thank you for your invitation and presentation today. It's truly eye-opening. I think it's time for me to take my leave."

She stood up and nodded politely but distantly.

Wolfgang did not try to persuade her to stay, but just watched her pack up her notebook silently.

Just as Jiang Haitang was about to turn and leave, he suddenly spoke again in a low voice, "Miss Jiang, Hans... he hasn't given up yet. He harbors deep hostility towards you and your delegation. The suspension and investigation didn't calm him down; it may have angered him. You've disrupted his plans within the group and damaged his interests and reputation. He'll definitely take more drastic measures, so please be careful. If you need any help, Miss Jiang, you can come to me."

Jiang Haitang could understand the meaning of Wolfgang's words.

But unfortunately, Jiang Haitang can't and won't give Wolfgang what he wants.

"Thank you for your reminder, Mr. Wolfgang. We will be careful." She thanked him again and left the laboratory full of cutting-edge technology but also hidden risks.

Hans is certainly not a good person, but Wolfgang is not necessarily a righteous person either.

At the same time, in a black car not far from the laboratory.

Hans put down the high-powered telescope in his hand and a cold smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

The assistant in the passenger seat took several photos before putting down the camera.

"Did you take the picture?" Hans said in a cold voice.

"Very clear, Boss." Klaus waved his camera proudly. "She entered this hidden location alone and stayed there for over forty minutes. While I can't capture exactly what happened inside, the fact that a member of the Chinese delegation, especially the highly-regarded Jiang Haitang, privately contacted Krupp's chief engineer in his secret laboratory... that in itself is enough to intrigue the imagination."

"Her leaders in China might become suspicious of her because of this. And with this evidence, it will be easy for us to do something."

"Very good." Hans lit a cigar, and his eyes were sinister in the smoke.

"She humiliated me and got me suspended for investigation! Now, she's flirting with my competitors... That tech lunatic Wolfgang is definitely after ZG-3."

"Humph, no matter whether they succeeded in the negotiation or not, as long as they met privately, that's enough! I won't easily get around this woman Jiang Haitang."

He blew out a smoke ring, his eyes like a poisonous snake fixed on Jiang Haitang's departing figure.

"Develop the photos and mail them anonymously to the embassy's military attaché office and the domestic security department. Write, 'Chinese technicians are suspected of conducting sensitive technology transactions with Country D's military-industrial enterprises.'"

"Also send a copy to those media outlets that aren't so friendly to us: 'Chinese delegation members secretly met with a key figure from Krupp. Was it technology exchange or theft?' ... Public opinion can sometimes be more deadly than bullets."

"I want to make it impossible for her, the entire Chinese delegation, to take a single step in Country D! I also want to make sure that even after she returns to China, she still has nowhere to go."

Hans didn't know that Jiang Haitang's visit to the laboratory was not a private act, but had been reported to Vice Minister Zhou and the embassy long ago.

Jiang Haitang returned to the hotel and immediately reported to Vice Minister Zhou everything that had happened in the laboratory, including Wolfgang's exchange proposal and her own stern rejection, as well as his final warning.

After listening to Jiang Haitang's report, Vice Minister Zhou said solemnly, "Comrade Haitang, you did the right thing! Your stance is firm and your words are well-reasoned."

"Country D has set its sights on our ZG-3 and I'm afraid it won't give up so easily." Jiang Haitang said worriedly.

"The ZG-3 is a national treasure. We can't replace it even with ten or a hundred blueprints, let alone one set! Wolfgang is a renowned technical lunatic. Who knows, if I achieve my goal, he might do something else. And Hans, that venomous snake, will definitely not give up."

Jiang Haitang nodded. "Hans has suffered a great loss, and now he's been suspended. He's definitely going to bite like a mad dog. I suspect that since he can't find any real evidence, he'll most likely resort to manipulation to stigmatize us, create diplomatic trouble, or even incite anti-China sentiment in Country D, hindering future cooperation."

"At the same time, we cannot rule out the possibility that he will do something personally. After all, his attitude towards me has always been very hostile."

Jiang Haitang was helpless about this situation. In fact, it seemed that she and Hans had never offended Hans. In fact, it seemed that she had never dealt with Hans in a real sense.

Why was Hans staring at him like a mad dog?