Lin Yan found herself quite at ease in the research institute. She genuinely enjoyed the life of being busy with studies every day.
This was a way of life she had never experienced before. Especially since the research institute was located within the military district, she had the opportunity to interact with many soldiers.
These were people she had never encountered. She had watched many videos about soldiers and read numerous news reports about them.
But none of it compared to her personal experience. They were truly a group of the most lovable people.
She felt a strong desire to do something for them. The research conducted in this institute was all for the benefit of these soldiers, which made her feel she could strive even harder, for the safety of these people!
As Lin Yan's fundamental knowledge grew more solid, the tasks she undertook became increasingly important. She also demonstrated her capabilities at opportune moments.
She gradually transitioned from doing odd jobs and learning to becoming an assistant, and then to being responsible for a specific section.
When they finally produced a finished product, Lin Yan was given the opportunity to observe it.
It was a bright and sunny day. Lin Yan and others took a military truck to the testing grounds. Upon arrival, the person in charge of this particular test came to the vehicle to greet them.
He jogged to the side of the truck and offered a military salute to those inside.
"I am the person in charge of this test, my name is Xu Hao Ran." He stood ramrod straight, his angular face flushed red from the sun.
Most strikingly, he possessed a pair of exceptionally beautiful eyes.
He introduced them to the testing area. Lin Yan, among the group, listened attentively to his explanation. After hearing the entire procedure, she nodded.
Although she hadn't been involved in the research from start to finish, she was well aware of its function.
However, this man in front of her, Xu Hao Ran? Lin Yan curved her lips into a smile.
"System, is there a person named Xu Hao Ran in the original novel?" Lin Yan asked.
"Please wait a moment, Host." The system's voice paused briefly. "Yes, Xu Hao Ran will be demobilized and return home during the million-strong military reduction a few years later. He then gathered some demobilized soldiers like himself and started a construction company."
"Due to the sense of responsibility inherent in soldiers and the natural trust people have in them, the business was very successful. Later, the male protagonist became a business competitor with him. He used some methods to surpass him."
"However, he also caused the male protagonist quite a bit of trouble, making him a secondary antagonist in the mid-story!"
"Another antagonist?" Lin Yan smiled, this was quite a coincidence!
As she observed the testing grounds and Xu Hao Ran, Xu Hao Ran was also cautiously observing the young girl among a group of middle-aged people.
At first, he thought she was someone's daughter. He only learned she was also a researcher after hearing the introduction.
But she was truly young! He noticed the care the researchers showed towards this girl and the look in their eyes, the kind of gaze one reserves for outstanding juniors.
He was familiar with this look; many of his uncles and elder relatives had looked at him with such eyes.
"System, he became a company commander at such a young age. Why is he also included in the military reduction?"
Lin Yan noticed the insignia on his shoulders. She didn't recognize it at first, but having interacted with soldiers more, she had gained a better understanding of military ranks.
"This was not mentioned in the original novel, so I don't know." The system sounded somewhat apologetic.
"It's not your fault. Regardless, it's something for the future. For now, let's focus on properly examining this thing that took so much of my effort, and see how it functions!" Lin Yan shifted her attention to the testing grounds.
The test was a success. Everyone discussed the achievement with great excitement, and then moved on to discussing potential improvements and areas for refinement.
Lin Yan did not interject. The content was somewhat profound for her at this stage. While she understood it all, she chose not to reveal her full grasp of it.
As she listened to the discussions around her, she noticed Xu Hao Ran looking in her direction again.
Lin Yan offered him a smile, nodded, and then returned to diligently listening to the discussion, occasionally jotting down notes in the notebook she carried.
As everyone was preparing to leave, Lin Yan, unnoticed by the others, slipped a note into the hand of the waiting Xu Hao Ran. She smiled at him before boarding the departing vehicle.
Xu Hao Ran watched the researchers' car drive away. He felt his heart beating faster, his palms growing damp.
Fearing he might dampen the note, he quickly tucked it into his pocket.
He thought of that young figure, a slight smile appearing on his lips, but he immediately suppressed it.
"Company Commander, what are you still looking at? They've all left!" A young soldier beside him patted Xu Hao Ran's shoulder.
"Don't be rude." Xu Hao Ran pushed the soldier's hand away.
Then, subtly, he touched the note in his pocket, as if to confirm its presence.
"Let's go. Finish up the cleanup work, and then we head back to the barracks!" Xu Hao Ran put an arm around the young soldier's shoulder.
That evening, Xu Hao Ran carefully opened the note that had been in his pocket for most of the day. The note contained only one line:
"You can look openly."
Upon reading this line, Xu Hao Ran's tanned face immediately flushed with a color he had never displayed before, even spreading to his ears.
After returning from the testing grounds, everyone held a small celebration banquet, after which they plunged back into intensive research work.
During this period, Lin Yan was not idle. She sketched some agricultural machinery, this time larger scale.
The military district also had its own agricultural farms. After the experts confirmed the usability of these machines, they were directly put into production and transported to nearby farms for trial use.
Lin Yan's talent in agricultural machinery caught the attention of her superiors, who encouraged her to continue her research in this area alongside her studies.
Amidst the busy research work, Lin Yan also received several letters. The most surprising among them was a letter from the original host's parents.
It was then she learned that her parents had also left the farm and had entered research institutes, though their research directions differed from hers.
Upon receiving her reply, her parents were also very happy. After all, they had been engaged in such work themselves and were naturally delighted to see their daughter follow this path.
Moreover, life in the research institute was relatively simple, which put their minds at ease about their daughter's well-being.
Of course, there were also letters from Zao Lin Brigade. All incoming mail was inspected. Through the letters, Lin Yan learned about Zao Lin Brigade's new developments and emerging issues.
In her reply, Lin Yan offered them some solutions.
Despite the problems in Zao Lin's development, the villagers' lives had seen significant changes. At least they no longer had to rely on the "chicken butt bank" just to buy a bag of salt.