"Mr. Zhang, we're attending an academic conference, isn't traveling in this manner a bit too luxurious?"
A few academicians were riding in Zhang nglong's private plane, and for these scientists used to a modest lifestyle, with little to enjoy besides their white lab coats and research labs, such an airplane was indeed too extravagant.
"What's wrong with that?" Zhang nglong said indifferently, "What's the point of being alive if you don't enjoy it? Here, try this Sprite from '82."
"Mr. Zhang, you might not realize how toxic those netizens' comnts can be. Look, they've already started," Academician Wang said as he passed over his phone. No one knew how the news got out, but their itinerary had been exposed.
Zhang nglong glanced at the phone, and sure enough, they had once again beco a trending topic.
Of course, the reason they were trending was not that they represented the country at the world academic exchange conference, but because their mode of travel this ti broke conventional expectations.
"Xinhua News reports that today, several of our country's academicians have traveled together to Kaibong to participate in this session of the global science academic conference. This trip is sponsored by the world's richest man, Mr. Zhang nglong, who is also the leader of this academic venture."
"It is revealed that they will not stay in hotels but in a private villa at the foot of the Fertile Mountain. Their transportation to the conference will be completed entirely by private helicopter."
"According to investigations by Chinese netizens in Kaibong, the villa is the largest private estate in Kaibong, spanning the size of a small town, and includes facilities like a wine chateau and a private lake..."
"Should scientific researchers abandon a simple lifestyle? Could this lead to negative value judgnts?"
....
Beneath these eye-catching headlines, the comnts seed particularly noxious.
"Still calling themselves scientists and academicians, living such luxurious lives, it really tarnishes the spirit of the literati."
"Ah, the simple lifestyle we once knew is no longer seen. Even these scientists have started indulging. What hope is there for societal progress?"
"I hope the relevant departnts will investigate them thoroughly. If they're this extravagant just for a conference, their everyday lives must be very lavish. They might even be embezzling research funds."
"Exactly. Are our tax dollars really supporting such indulgent people?"
...
"Alas, to what extent have social mores and values beco distorted?" Zhang nglong sighed, "Although it's just a portion of the population, we have to admit there are many who slip through the cracks of nine years of compulsory education. When did high-quality living beco synonymous with a lack of values?"
Not long ago, 65-year-old Professor Dai beca a sensation. He is a gaunt old man with white hair, speaking a rustic Mandarin.
Yet, this elderly man's offline courses are consistently fully booked, and countless netizens follow him fanatically online, eagerly anticipating his video updates every day.
But so netizens ridiculed him: "A role model for teachers, yet blinded by money."
Others criticized: "A proper university professor losing all sense of literary integrity."
What is literary integrity? Can you eat it? This was after Professor Dai's wife was diagnosed with lung cancer.
A box of the anticancer drug Tarceva costs 51,000 yuan a bottle, containing only 30 pills, each pill priced at 1,700 yuan, which is consud in less than a month.
Such dical expenses are unaffordable even for a university professor.
What's wrong with earning money? It's neither stolen nor extorted; it's earned fair and square. Which law says university professors can't make money through live streaming?
If Professor Dai's case is an anomaly, then the situation of Professor Yuan, known as the Shennong of the human world, is even more disheartening.
This elderly man developed the super hybrid rice, feeding over a billion people across the nation. Without him, half the country might still be starving.
At a car show, Professor Yuan beca the center of public debate rely for touching a rcedes-Benz, and eventually, the discussion shifted to speculations about how many luxury cars he owned privately.
It culminated in a furious attack on Professor Yuan.
Zhang nglong found this situation absurd. For soone like that, it wouldn't matter if they just touched a rcedes-Benz, or drove a supercar like a Bugatti—why should anyone have any objections even if they commuted to work riding a national treasure like a giant panda every day?
Over a decade ago, Professor Yuan's net worth was already estimated at 100 billion. In ancient tis, such a person would have had temples built and golden statues made in their honor, worshipped as a deity.
Yet, in this era, there were still people who harbored such attitudes and criticized the lifestyles of scientific researchers.
Take Professor Wang, for example. His industrialization of high polyr materials generated an industrial chain worth tens of billions of US dollars. If he had chosen to start his own company or sell the patents himself, he could have beco a billionaire instantly—and in US dollars at that!
But he decided to contribute his patents to the nation. Now, he brings in enormous revenue for the country each year while still earning a basic salary of less than ten thousand RMB per month, with his total monthly inco, including various subsidies, barely exceeding twenty thousand.
Would adding two more zeroes to the monthly inco of soone like him be too much? Zhang nglong thought not at all!
Academician Liu, a pioneer in nuclear fusion technology and proponent of new power devices, had made significant contributions to the country's aerospace industry. Huaxia's status as an aerospace power was inseparable from his contributions.
The other academicians also had significant and notable contributions to the nation.
Yet now, these individuals were being accused of indulging in luxuries and suspected of embezzling research funds, simply because they took a private plane or stayed in a luxurious estate during exchanges. It was quite disheartening.
Whereas actors and celebrities owning multimillion-dollar mansions were seen as a given, were these individuals, who had made outstanding contributions to the country, expected to live in poverty forever, as if they had to be saints?
"It's ti to change this mindset!"
Zhang nglong opened his Weibo, "This private plane is provided by , and this estate is mine. They deserve such luxury. Do any of you keyboard warriors have an issue with that?"
Zhang nglong's direct approach imdiately won over the online community with a strong sense of justice.
"Hell yes, that's satisfying! I wanted to swear the mont I saw those words. What kind of nonsense is this? They don't deserve luxury but you keyboard warriors do?"
"They've created such great contributions for the country. I wouldn't mind even if they drove sports cars and lived in mansions every day. Who are you, with no family of your own, to judge them?"
"Talking about corrupting social morals, it's people like you who corrupt society. I now understand why so many talented individuals leave for other countries, where their skills are valued. You guys only know how to chase celebrities and fawn over idols."
...
While the topic was still being hotly debated, Zhang nglong imdiately announced another piece of news.
"Starting today, I've decided to establish a Scientific Research Contribution Fund. Anyone with significant achievents can apply for a reward. Scholars who win the Natural Science Award, the Technological Invention Award, the Science and Technology Progress Award, and the International Science and Technology Cooperation Award will receive a cash reward of 50 million. Scholars who win the National Highest Science and Technology Award can apply for a cash reward of 100 million!"
"Anyone who contributes to the nation's progress, not limited to the field of science, is eligible to apply for this reward. Tomorrow, I will arrange for a team to set up an assessnt panel. You naysayers can bark all you want; if I take any of you seriously, consider it my loss!"
"Hats off to President Zhang! They deserve the money!"
"Holy smokes! Can I still make it in ti to go for graduate studies and delve into academia?"
"It's about ti we improved the treatnt of those in scientific research!"
"From today on, President Zhang is my idol!"
...
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