Chapter 7: The Three Examiners Could No Longer Sit Still!

Before the podium, five large boxes were placed, each packed to the brim.

The sheer sight of this startled everyone present.

The instructor quietly pulled Zhao Haikuo aside and asked, “What’s he doing? This is a thesis review, not a moving day!”

“Teacher, I don’t know either,” Zhao Haikuo replied with a grimace.

He now deeply regretted his earlier words—if only he had known that Su Dingping took everything so seriously. Now, Su Dingping had brought all his draft papers with him.

If the three examiners saw casually sketched designs among them, wouldn’t they just burst out laughing?

Huang Wei leaned over and whispered, “Haikuo, is the junior trying to win by sheer volume?”

“Shut up!” Zhao shot him a sharp glance and then hurriedly leaned close to Su Dingping’s ear to murmur.

“Junior, it’s too late now. When the examiners question you, hold your tongue. This is my fault—tonight I’ll treat you to dinner and apologize properly!”

With that, Zhao quietly slipped back to his seat, anxiously waiting.

After briefly learning the situation from Zhao Haikuo, Huang Wei and the others felt a knot tighten in their stomachs.

The instructor’s heart skipped a beat upon hearing the news.

He hadn’t expected Professor Zhang’s protégé to be so bold. Wasn’t this just trying to bluff the examiners?

Seeing Su Dingping panting and wiping sweat, Professor Li didn’t rush him. Instead, he found the situation quite amusing.

“Others come in here all nervous, barely breathing. This student is interesting—he’s really put on a show! I wonder how long this will last.”

Professor Huang calmly said, “He wouldn’t really have brought those casual sketches, would he? Is there a rule that bringing more materials means a higher score?”

“The scale is impressive, but the rules don’t change,” Major General Zhang said sternly, as always.

After a pause, Su Dingping spoke.

“Esteemed examiners, inside these boxes are the design drawings of the warships I created. They include the main structure, radar systems, electronic navigation systems, propulsion systems...”

Professor Li was the first to ask, “Which warship served as the design prototype?”

“Report, Professor Li, over ten types of warships in total!”

The three exchanged glances. Professor Li said, “Five months’ time, studying over ten types of warships and producing entirely new designs from scratch?”

“Yes, Professor Li!”

“So young, and so confident!”

Professor Li, who had been somewhat intrigued, suddenly lost interest.

Not only this young man before him—no one could possibly redesign a warship from the ground up in just five months.

The famed protégé of old Zhang turned out to be just that—empty boasting.

Then he looked to Professor Huang. “Professor Huang, you go first.”

Professor Huang nodded, already having an inkling.

“Please begin, young man.”

“Yes, Professor Huang.”

Su Dingping took out a thick stack of drawings from the first box and handed them over.

“Professor Huang, these are the main structural drawings of the warship.”

Professor Huang took them, intending to glance through casually and finish quickly.

However, after a few looks, a trace of surprise crossed his face.

Besides the initial general design drawings of the warship’s main structure, the rest were detailed data sheets for various parts.

Each section’s detail required hundreds, even more, sheets of drawings!

Because Su Dingping had labeled every piece of data meticulously!

“All of these are in this box?”

“Yes, Professor Huang.”

After going through the papers in hand, Professor Huang pulled out another batch from the middle of the box for a closer look.

He had expected some useless sketches to be mixed in.

But after reviewing them, his surprise deepened.

Every dimension and datum was neatly marked—these were no mere casual drafts!

“Continue!”

For some reason, he suddenly became interested in the drawings in the remaining boxes.

Professor Li, who thought this would be over quickly, was stunned.

He looked at Professor Huang, as if asking, “What’s going on?”

Professor Huang shook his head calmly, as if to say, “I know you’re anxious, but hold on.”

Since Major General Zhang sat between them, Professor Li didn’t dare lean in closer.

Below, Huang Wei muttered, “Haikuo, something seems off here.”

“Seems like it,” Zhao scratched his head.

He had seen Professor Huang’s earlier action—pulling out drawings from the middle of the pile—that was a killer move. His heart had almost leapt to his throat.

Yet, Professor Huang actually told Su Dingping to continue!

Su Dingping took out another stack from the second box and handed it over.

“Professor Huang, these are the drawings for the regional air defense radar system. According to—”

Before Su Dingping could finish, upon hearing the words ‘regional air defense radar,’ Professor Huang’s brow furrowed sharply.

All the navy’s active warships, including those still in design, currently use point defense.

It might seem like a minor difference between ‘point’ and ‘regional.’

But point defense can intercept only one missile at a time, whereas regional defense can intercept multiple missiles simultaneously.

This involves core modern naval technologies that Western countries guard fiercely.

He was about to warn Su Dingping to temper his claims—Huang Wei had just been reprimanded for suggesting improvements in regional air defense.

But as he glanced at the design on the drawings, his eyes instantly hardened.

Hearing ‘regional air defense,’ Professor Li knew Su Dingping was halfway done for.

Yet, all he saw was Professor Huang studying the drawings intently.

Suddenly, Professor Huang said, “Professor Li, something’s not right here.”

“What’s not right?”

“Nothing, I’ll explain later.”

Professor Huang ignored Professor Li and continued searching through the box.

As he pulled out page after page, his expression visibly changed.

Finally, he closed all the drawings and fixed a sharp gaze on Su Dingping.

“You made this?”

Su Dingping remained calm. “Yes, Professor Huang.”

“Professor Huang, what is it?” Professor Li asked again.

“Old Li, don’t interrupt.”

Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Professor Huang said again, “Continue!”

Su Dingping moved to the third box, took out the top drawings, and handed them over.

“Professor Huang, these are my designs for the ship’s electronic navigation system.”

Professor Huang had just skimmed a few pages when his expression suddenly shifted.

“Alternating current? You designed this?”

Su Dingping nodded.

Professor Huang kept flipping through the drawings, growing more astonished, his hand trembling slightly as he held the papers.

“All these… all designed by you?”

“Yes, Professor Huang.”

Professor Huang stood rooted, momentarily speechless.

“Professor Huang, what’s wrong?” Professor Li, startled by the scene, hurriedly inquired.

“Old Li, I want to ask you something. Be honest.”

Professor Huang looked at Professor Li, his tone grave.

“Has the challenge of replacing direct current with alternating current on warships been solved on your side?”

“That’s classified.”

“Alright, what about the problem of mutual interference among multiple radars and communication systems on warships? Has that been overcome?”

“Professor Huang, that’s under confidentiality agreements!”

Professor Li’s tone was harsh.

He was bound by secrecy protocols. Not just with so many people around, but even privately, he could not reveal a word!

Closing the documents, Professor Huang lowered his voice.

“This thesis solves those technical problems covered by confidentiality agreements.”

“What!”

Professor Li and the ever-stern Major General Zhang suddenly stood up.

Such matters were strictly forbidden from disclosure under secrecy rules—how could they appear in a thesis? And not just appear, but be solved!