<h4>Chapter 719: Prepare for the Moon!</h4>


    Beijing.


    Press conference held by a news outlet.


    A spokesman wearing a suit stood in front of the cameras as he spoke in a clear and solemn voice.


    “... After taking into ount the eagerness of the internationalmunity, our higher management has decided that cooperation applications will be opened for the Garden project. We wee the internationalmunity to participate in this global, futuristic cause.”


    The second the spokesman finished speaking, there was amotion in the press conference center.


    Letting the internationalmunity participate in the Garden project?


    This was different from their expectations.


    Prior to this, international media had framed the Garden project as a scheme from China for colonizing space. The rted research projects were expected to be kept private. However, they didn’t expect China to open the door to the Garden project for the internationalmunity.


    As long as someone was a professional, they could apply to the relevant department, and after they got approved, they could participate in the research n.


    1.5 billion yuan of investment was more than US$200 million. For most poorly-funded natural science researchers, China’s n was extremely lucrative.


    Just like Lu Zhou had expected, after the Ministry of Science and Technology opened the gates for the Garden project, many participation applications were received. Due to the sheer number of applications, the Ministry of Science and Technology had set up a special department to assist the Garden project.


    The international academicmunity approved and weed China’s Garden project.


    However, not everyone thought that way.


    For many patriotic Americans, China taking the lead in the space race was an act of war.


    On an American talk show set.


    They happened to start talking about this project.


    The host in a ck suit was sitting on the sofa. He handed the microphone to his guest and asked, “Jim, you work at a bank, correct?”


    “Yeah, why?”


    “I think you’re a person that has been around the block. Can I interview you?”


    “Of course you can, as long as it’s something that I can answer.”


    “We all know that China is building a biosphere, and they’re also inviting many schrs to participate in this project. What do you think about this?”


    The guy named Jim had a yful smile on his face.


    “What do I think about this? It’s as if your dodgy neighbor suddenly asked you to grab a beer. He either wants to steal your car or bang your wife.”


    The audience membersughed.


    Political humor was the norm on this show.


    However, this time, the joke was more explicit.


    But this was just how American media was.


    For example, in thetest issue of The New York Times, it stated that China opening the gates for the Garden project was an act of trying to gain domination over the space industry. It told Americans research institutes and schrs to participate at their own risk.


    After reading the article, Lu Zhou chuckled.


    There was a reason why the Americans thought this way.


    After all, space domination established from the Cold War era had be part of the United States patriotism. Now that this pride was being challenged by China, it was normal for American media to act in such a hostile manner.


    However, these conservative articles barely had any impact at all.


    Unlike those conservative people, most schrs in natural science research were liberals, and their research was mainly beneficial to the entire world, not just America. They were happy to work for whoever that gave them research funding.


    After the news of the Garden cooperation application was made public, schrs actually began to apply before the media even began to report on it.


    If the Americans nned on creating a Biosphere 3, then the schrs might be persuaded. However, because of theck of funding, most American schrs were happy to research in other countries.


    Unfortunately, the United States Congress wasn’t going to pay for a natural science research project like this.


    Both the California experimental reactor and NASA’s “Ares” projects were money-hungry projects. Even the United States would have difficulty in funding another biosphere project, especially with the two pre-existingrge-scale scientific research projects.


    Even though the biosphere project would cost a lot less than the other two...


    On the other hand, there was no chance Wall Street was going to fund this project.


    The Rockefeller Financial Group lost money funding the Biosphere 2. Unless there was a special reason, no investmentpany would be willing to take this risk.


    The days quickly passed by, and it was soon Chinese New Year.


    All of theunch preparations werepleted. The equipment that needed to be delivered had already been loaded on the Skyglow spacecraft. Skyglow was ready to give everyone a unique gift on Chinese New Year.


    48 hours beforeunch.


    Director Li from the State Administration for National Defense took the train to Jinling. The first thing he did was to head to theunch site, where he found Lu Zhou, who was delegating work at and managing theunch site.


    When Lu Zhou saw Director Li walking toward him, he smiled and spoke.


    “... Director Li? Why are you here?”


    Director Li angrily stared at him.


    “Do you really have to ask!”


    Lu Zhou: “...?”


    How would I know?


    What’s wrong with asking?


    Director Li stared at the oblivious Lu Zhou. He sighed and said, “Stop pretending, do you really not know why I’m here? Tell me the truth, you’re ready, aren’t you?”


    Lu Zhou was muddled. He said, “... Ready for what?”


    Director Li thought Lu Zhou was still pretending to be oblivious, so he tried to persuade him.


    “Landing on the Moon is very different from a low-Earth orbit space flight! We have experience in sending people up and bringing them back safely, but we have no experience bringing people back from the Moon. Zero. Do you understand? No one knows what will happen up there, maybe you’ll nevere back again! Go ask Nie Yun or anyone else in the astronaut team. They all have written their wills!


    “I know you are confident in your research, but I hope you care about your safety more! Think about your parents! You’re their only son! If something happens to you, what do you want me to tell them?”


    Oh, so this is why...


    I thought it was some huge problem!


    Lu Zhou coughed and replied, “Don’t worry, I went up with Skyglowst time, I’ve had my fun. I won’t go up this time.”


    Director Li nearly passed out.


    You said you went up there for science!


    You only did it to have fun?!


    Director Li stared at Lu Zhou in the eye for a while.


    “I don’t want to hear your promises, I will follow you onunch day. If you’re flying, then I’m flying with you!”


    Lu Zhou: “...”


    Jesus, I only flew once, do you really have to follow me?


    So unnecessary...