Chapter Fifty-Nine: The Southern Desert Base

After breakfast, the three of them hurried to the helipad behind the headquarters building, where a small helicopter was already waiting. Once aboard, a crew member helped them fasten their safety gear, and the helicopter lifted off, heading for a nearby airport.

This was Zhang Mingyang’s second time in a helicopter, and he was much less excited than before. He opened the small porthole on the cabin door, letting the roaring spring wind rush in as he gazed at the scenery below.

Bang, bang…

Tian Wenyuan tapped him on the helmet and pointed to the helmet’s communication system, signaling him to switch it on.

Zhang Mingyang nodded and turned on the comms.

“Junior, we’ll be transferring soon. When we reach our destination, you’ll go with Old Peng. I have to head to the wind tunnel center, which is a bit further away—no need for you to wait for me.”

Zhang Mingyang gave an OK sign in response.

Opposite him, Peng Dongli pulled a badge from his backpack and handed it to Zhang Mingyang.

“Here’s our pass. Put it on once we get off the helicopter—it’ll save you unnecessary trouble.”

Zhang Mingyang accepted it, glancing at the badge, which read, “Aerospace Force Staff Office—Staff Member Zhang Mingyang.” The photo showed him in military uniform.

“Senior Peng, how did we become military personnel?”

Peng Dongli smiled. “You know how important this project is—on par with the decades-long nuclear programs. Of course, the military is involved. Having military status makes it easier to get around.”

“That makes sense.”

Still, Zhang Mingyang wondered where they’d gotten his photo in uniform.

“We’ve arrived. Prepare for landing.”

The co-pilot signaled them. They had reached the airport.

Looking down, he saw it was still Xiping International Airport.

When the helicopter touched down, the three of them hopped off and, under Peng Dongli’s lead, entered the military passageway.

“Comrades, please show your credentials,” a soldier on duty saluted and stopped them.

Peng Dongli indicated the badge on his chest. The soldier scanned it with a device.

“No problem, comrades, please proceed.”

After their checks, a military officer guided them onto a transport plane.

“All right, everyone, get some rest. We’ll be there in just over half an hour.”

With that, Peng Dongli closed his eyes and drifted off.

Reclining in his seat, Zhang Mingyang pulled out his communicator, entered the Energy Department group, and checked the recent messages.

“The third retrieval starts tomorrow?”

“Another newcomer in the Energy Department?”

…

He scrolled through more than a dozen messages but found no news of that person.

“That’s strange—no word for days. What is she up to?”

Tian Wenyuan glanced over. “Waiting for a girl’s message?”

“Huh?”

Startled, Zhang Mingyang quickly put away his communicator.

“Senior Tian, you—”

Tian Wenyuan smiled. “Young man, why hide it if you’re in love?”

Zhang Mingyang forced a laugh. “Who says I’m in love? I was just…checking messages.”

“Oh, really?”

Tian Wenyuan clearly didn’t believe him.

“R—really!”

Zhang Mingyang stammered.

“Never mind,” Tian Wenyuan turned away. “A piece of advice: if a woman ignores you, there are only two possibilities. Either she doesn’t like you, or she does.”

Zhang Mingyang was bewildered. “Senior, what does that mean?”

“Figure it out yourself. I’m going to take a nap.”

With that, he shut his eyes and dozed off.

Tian Wenyuan’s words left Zhang Mingyang restless throughout the flight. Not until they reached their destination did he finally stop pondering the question.

The hatch opened, and dazzling sunlight and a blast of heat struck him. Shielding his eyes, Zhang Mingyang descended the gangway. The sight before him was utterly breathtaking.

He stood in the middle of a vast desert Gobi, stretching into a boundless expanse of sand and gravel. And yet, here, two buildings stood.

One of them was over a hundred meters tall and nearly a thousand meters wide, resembling a giant lying across the land.

“Senior Peng, what is this?”

Peng Dongli pointed to the building ahead. “This is our assembly plant. The future spacecraft will be assembled here.”

Staring at the enormous structure, Zhang Mingyang marveled at the size—just how many people could it hold?

“Only thirty.”

“Only thirty?” Zhang Mingyang thought he’d misheard. How could such a massive spaceship hold only thirty people?

“You’ll see for yourself.”

With that, Peng Dongli led the way toward the factory.

As they walked the road to the plant, Zhang Mingyang took in the widened runways on either side, the constant arrival and departure of various aircraft, and the strange vehicles shuttling back and forth.

In the distance, he could even see upright missiles and neatly arranged tents.

“Senior, are the spaceship’s components also manufactured here? Isn’t this just the assembly plant?”

Peng Dongli gestured to the building on the left. “That’s ‘Mohan One.’ Part of the space is for manufacturing the ship’s shell, the rest is for storing components flown in by aircraft.”

“And the building on the right is ‘Mohan Two’—that’s the real assembly plant.”

“I see.”

After walking for more than ten minutes, they reached the north gate of Mohan One. Two soldiers in desert camouflage, rifles in hand, stopped them.

“Comrades, please show your credentials.”

Again, Peng Dongli indicated their badges. One soldier checked, pressing his right hand to his ear, as if receiving orders.

“All right, comrades, you may enter.”

The soldiers stepped aside, swiped a magnetic card on the gate behind them.

Beep, beep…

With a metallic sound, the iron door opened, and the two entered.

Immediately, the clamor of voices and machinery filled their ears. The sight before Zhang Mingyang left him in awe.

Inside Mohan One, the entire structure was hollow. Looking up, he could see the roof more than forty meters above.

On the floor, workers were systematically arranging all sorts of massive, strange parts. Overhead, huge blades and metal plates were being hoisted. All around, large vehicles bustled in and out of various entrances.

Witnessing this scene, Zhang Mingyang was completely stunned.

“Hey, dazed already?”

Peng Dongli nudged him, seeing his slack-jawed expression.

“No,” Zhang Mingyang replied, rubbing his neck.