Chapter 38 Ten Billion Scientific Research Funds

Words : 1052 Updated : Sep 17th, 2025

"Me, me, me!" Professor Guo was the first to stand up, and when it came to burning money, there was definitely not a single teacher in Jiangnan University of Science and Technology who would dare claim they exceeded him. Since the virus outbreak at the beginning of the year, his research group had thrown themselves into developing a new antiviral drug formulation, and as it's known, drug development is definitely one of the most cash-consuming projects! In ten months' time, they had burnt through more than 30 million, yet the completion level of his project was only at 10%, and the subsequent investment needed for research development was even expected to be counted in billions! This was why so many drugs sold in the world were so expensive. In fact, the manufacturing cost of the drugs was really low, but the selling price was, at the very least, dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of times higher— all because of the exceedingly high research costs incurred during the early stages. "Professor Guo, I must support your project!" Zhang Menglong slapped his thigh, "How much funding do you need?" "This..." Professor Guo suddenly found it difficult to speak. His research was carried out in stages, so he never considered securing all the funding at once, and besides, it was nearly an impossible feat. Ordinarily, such research could only be carried out with the backing of large pharmaceutical companies or under the impetus of state machinery. "For the current stage, I'm afraid it will require around 50 million." Professor Guo tentatively said, afraid that saying too much might inadvertently offend Zhang Menglong. "Professor Guo, we can't squeeze funding out like toothpaste in scientific research. If we can't even solve the money issue, what's the point of doing research!" Zhang Menglong said, "Give me a figure, and I'll support you all the way until you complete your project." "This... Menglong, I fear the amount might be quite large." "Just say it; we're not short of money!" Zhang Menglong couldn't wait for a larger figure. He had finally found a righteous method to spend money, and he intended to drop dozens or even hundreds of billions of US dollars today. "Since you're so generous, then I'll just say it." Professor Guo spoke up, "To support the completion of all the project content, it will require at least 500 million in funds." "Damn, Old Guo, what do you mean? There's a total of just 10 billion, and you want five billion for yourself? What are the rest of us supposed to do?" Teachers immediately started protesting in discontent. "Exactly, your family has a large business, Old Guo, but you can't monopolize everything. Look at Old Han, he's Menglong's supervisor, and he only got one billion in scientific research funding. You're going too far!" Han Jinyu almost laughed out loud watching their bickering. With a particle collider worth over two hundred billion attributed to their research group, what were a few billion to him, Han Jinyu? "You'll all come begging to borrow equipment when the time comes!" Han Jinyu smiled slightly, thinking that this was the time to keep a low profile and amass wealth quietly. "Professor Guo, I'll directly sponsor your scientific research with 10 billion!" "10... 10 billion?" Professor Guo was so startled that his voice trembled. He never imagined he could get one billion, let alone the huge surprise Zhang Menglong just gave him. "Also, I will sponsor another hundred million dollars for your scientific research fund," Zhang Menglong added. The teacher was ecstatic, but he also felt somewhat uneasy because he really couldn't give Zhang Menglong anything in return. He felt guilty accepting this scientific research funding! "Of course, I do have a condition," Zhang Menglong added, "If during the exploration, you discover any unnamed asteroids or other celestial bodies, you must name them after me!" "Haha, I'm such a clever devil!" Zhang Menglong gloated in his heart. This was as if he had spent the money to buy the naming rights of a celestial body. This wasn't called a donation! "Damn, even research on those crappy planets gets a hundred million!" Other teachers realized Zhang Menglong was just there to splash the cash, and whether it made money or not, he simply didn't care! "Menglong, my research group has a project on postnatal care of alpacas. To better collect data, we need ten thousand alpacas for a two-year tracking observation. It's absolutely a money-burning project!" "Damn, postnatal care for sows isn't enough for these professors in life sciences anymore?" Zhang Menglong scathingly criticized inwardly. But alpacas weren't cheap, and he even doubted whether it would be possible to get ten thousand alpacas. "Then I'll sponsor you a hundred million first!" "Menglong, I've got a project for a sky diving device. Would you consider it?" "Menglong, I have a project on land desertification control!" "Hey, at this rate, it'll never end!" Zhang Menglong directly said to Teacher Han behind him, "Teacher Han, could you help me out, please? Compile a list of the projects and their total funding amount, the more the merrier. I've prepared several tens of billions in scientific research funds, so count 'em up without hesitation!" "Several tens of billions?" Han Jinyu took a cold breath; he had underestimated Zhang Menglong! "Alright, leave these things to me. You go ahead with your work!" Knowing how wealthy Zhang Menglong was, Han Jinyu also knew he must be very busy. "He... He's gone?" Seeing Zhang Menglong leave the office, all the teachers were full of confusion. "Ahem, old fellows, Menglong has entrusted me to manage these funds, so you..." "Hehehe!" Instantly, all the teachers became obsequiously flattering. "Old Han, don't you have a daughter? It just so happens my boy is also of age. Here's how much I'll give as a betrothal gift!" "Old Ding, you shameless thing, resorting to such methods!" another teacher accused righteously, "Old Han, you've been divorced for so long without finding someone. I have a sister, still unmarried, young and pretty, and a professor at another school. How about dinner at my place tonight?" ...

Chapter 38 Ten Billion Scientific Research Funds

Comments (0)