Shen Heng negotiated a price with Chen Ting: he would invest 8,000 yuan initially, and if there were any results later, even if it was only theoretically feasible, he would be willing to invest more.

"How many?"

"Eight thousand."

"How many?!"

Chen Ting didn't want to lose his composure, but Shen Heng was giving him far too much.

Even if Gao Long had a precious son and spent all his time using Shan Guanwen's research results to embellish his own achievements, the research subsidy he could apply for in a year would only amount to a maximum of two thousand yuan.

Eight thousand.

He had never fought such a rich war in his life.

"Of course, Professor Chen, this money is my budget. As for your project, I will have Shan Guanwen connect with you. I don't understand the professional aspects, but you can prepare a project proposal and discuss it with Shan Guanwen. As for the final amount, Shan Guanwen will decide with me when he returns."

“No problem, no problem,” Chen Ting said. He knew that what Jian Shao said was true; his apprentice had indeed made a fortune. “We’ll just follow the steps for applying for national subsidies. Don’t worry, I know all the procedures.”

With Jian Shao's endorsement, Chen Ting wasn't afraid that Shen Heng would deceive him. He clinked glasses with Shen Heng and said, "Young man, you're really promising. Come, let me toast you."

"Don't drink with him, you can't outdrink him," Jian Shao reminded him from the side, but Chen Ting was too excited and didn't care: "Today I'm going to drink with Xiao Shen until we drop! Xiao Shen, I'll drink this, you can ride your bike home, it's okay if you drink a little less."

"Teacher Chen, I'll drink as much as you drink."

"Xiao Shen," Chen Yan pointed into the air, "is promising, good!"

Jian Shao sipped his wine and looked at his apprentice. Eight thousand yuan was like throwing money down the drain. Wasn't that a pathetic job? His apprentice!

After a few rounds of drinks, Chen Yan's alcohol took effect; his face turned red, and he even slurred his words.

Holding Shen Heng in his arms, he patted his chest and said, "Little Shen, don't worry, I'll definitely take care of the matter of the San Guan Wen! What is Gao Long? From now on, I'll be in charge of the Mechanical Engineering Department!"

"Then I'll leave it to Teacher Chen."

Shen Heng calmly pushed the man, who reeked of alcohol, away.

Jian Shao said, "He was drunk, so I took him home. It's getting late, you should go home too, so your family won't worry."

Jian Shao also knew that Shen Heng wanted nothing more than to stick to his wife all the time.

"Thank you for this, Teacher Jian. It's getting late, so I'll head back now."

"Okay, it's dark, so watch where you're going and don't fall."

Knowing Shen Heng's alcohol tolerance, Jian Shao thought that these two cups wouldn't make Shen Heng drunk, so he watched him leave with peace of mind. Then he knocked on the door across the street and, together with Chen Yan's family, helped Chen Yan to bed.

Chen Yan took this to heart. He knew that helping Shan Guanwen graduate smoothly was a way of currying favor with Shen Heng, this cash cow.

Otherwise, with several professors and laboratories in the School of Mechanical Engineering, why would anyone choose him?

Shan Guanwen has not given in to Gao Long. He is unsure whether Shen Heng can resolve his graduation certificate issue, but he will absolutely not succumb to Gao Long's tyranny.

He was unsure of himself, but he still did as Shen Heng instructed, working hard to finish his graduation thesis and preparing diligently for his defense.

Gao Long, as Shan Guanwen's teacher, did not participate in Shan Guanwen's defense, but all the teachers in their laboratory came to listen to the defense.

These teachers were well aware of Gao Long and Shan Guanwen's situation. Gao Long, in the name of the academy, told them that Shan Guanwen could not be allowed to pass, otherwise it would be an open defiance of the academy.

These teachers felt sorry for Shan Guanwen and took turns trying to persuade him, but Shan Guanwen refused to budge.

It wasn't until Chen Ting intervened and became the main defense examiner that Gao Long belatedly realized something was wrong.

After nervously finishing his graduation thesis, Shan Guanwen expected to be challenged, but Chen Ting simply discussed two professional issues with him based on his thesis.

He then said, "I have no further questions. Do any of the other teachers have anything to add?"

Everyone was adept at changing their tune depending on the situation, and they all followed Chen Yan's example, asking a few trivial questions. After Shan Guanwen finished answering, he returned to his seat with a cold sweat on his face.

"Shen Heng, what brings you here?"

When Shan Guanwen saw Shen Heng come in through the back door and sit next to him, he greeted him quietly.

"Isn't today your thesis defense? I came over after class."

"I have already finished my defense."

"Then come out for a moment," Shen Heng said, and followed Shan Guanwen out of the defense room.

Shan Guanwen said, "I've never seen this teacher sitting in the middle before, but he didn't make things difficult for me. Shen Heng, do you think he deliberately didn't find fault with me and wanted to give up on me directly, or...?"

"Don't worry, Professor Chen Yan is one of us. I plan to invest in his lab. I don't understand the professional knowledge, so you'll be in charge of dealing with him more in the future."

"Really? Then can he decide what my graduation certificate is?"

“He can’t say for sure about your diploma, but your thesis defense went smoothly.” Shen Heng patted Shan Guanwen on the shoulder. “Now that you’ve finished your defense, everything should be fine. I hope you can start working as soon as possible. I won’t count you as an intern, and you’ll be paid as we agreed. But you need to get used to it quickly. You can move your bedding to the factory today.”

Shen Heng had been eyeing Shan Guanwen, this piece of fat meat, for over a year. Now that it was finally ready to be served, he wanted to get it into his mouth as soon as possible.

Hearing Shen Heng say this, Shan Guanwen's anxious heart finally calmed down: "Shen Heng, as long as I get my graduation certificate smoothly, I will definitely work hard for you!"

That graduation certificate is the best proof of his current situation. Even if Shen Heng said that he could work in his factory without a graduation certificate, Shan Guanwen would still feel regret.

"Okay, if you have any difficulties, just tell me. I only have one request for you, which is to improve the production technology in the factory. Now that you've finished your defense, I'll be leaving now. If you run into Gao Long, tell him that I can help you get back the results he stole from you in court. Even if you lose the case, you can still smear him with excrement at the school."

If you want people to work hard for you, you have to be completely honest with them first.

Upon hearing Shen Heng's words, Shan Guanwen said with emotion, "Shen Heng, no one has ever been so kind to me before!"

"Seriously, stop saying such disgusting things. I'm leaving!"

Shen Heng waved to Shan Guanwen and went to the factory to arrange a dormitory for Shan Guanwen.

Now, Shan Guanwen is a bachelor, so he can just live in the factory. This guy with glasses doesn't like to go out and about. He can eat and live in the factory from now on, which will save him a lot of time working!

Shen Heng pondered this in his mind, becoming happier and happier with each thought.

Shan Guanwen had no idea what the capitalist was thinking. He was so moved that his nose tingled. He had suffered so much under Gao Long's command for so many years. Who would have thought that things would turn out the other way around!