Eating melons

"Yes," Xiao Xuemu took the cup of water.

"'Peaceful rise' and 'mutual benefit and win-win' will be the themes. We want to showcase a China that is open, progressive, and friendly, and that also possesses a strong technological foundation and organizational capabilities. This in itself is the best advertisement for our national image."

However, what Xiao Xuemu didn’t say was that their country now has a lot of good things, but it is almost out of money, which cannot be said to be the case.

There are too many projects being carried out at the same time, and too many places to burn money, most of which cannot produce immediate results.

If there is more investment, we can develop faster.

Moreover, domestic investment is limited, and they would rather use that investment for national infrastructure.

Cutting-edge technology must develop, but infrastructure must also keep pace.

How much water a wooden barrel can hold does not depend on the length of its longest board, but on the length of its shortest board.

We must develop in an all-round way in all aspects and cannot make any mistakes, otherwise there will definitely be disadvantages in the future, and they will be very serious disadvantages.

However, if we want to popularize it on a large scale, it would be a complete waste of money, a huge waste of money.

But even if it means burning money, it must be burned.

Their country has a lot of good things, but good things need to be made known to the public so that they can raise the price when selling them.

Also, Hong Kong and Macau are about to return, and they plan to take them back together. In order to avoid unnecessary trouble, some good things have to be revealed.

As they had foreseen, the successful bid for the Olympic Games was like a key that opened the process of "lifting the ban" or "downgrading" a series of technologies and projects that were originally highly confidential.

These opportunities are multifaceted. During this period, newspapers and television are full of news, and good things for the home are being unveiled.

People in China were a little bit unbelievable when looking at these strings of things.

Not to mention not wanting to eat them, people in China couldn’t believe it, and the appearance of these things also caused a huge response internationally.

For a moment, people abroad were a little unsure whether China was lying.

What's going on in China? How did so many things appear overnight?

What is it that is so surprising?

First, the city’s infrastructure and green technology were fully unveiled. Everyone went crazy when they saw these infrastructures.

In order to create the concept of "Green Olympics" and "Technological Olympics", the infrastructure construction in Beijing and its co-host cities has been accelerated and upgraded.

But the starting point of this upgrade is extremely high.

It is not only an extension of the subway line, but also the introduction of the long-tested unmanned maglev branch line.

Connecting the Olympic Village with the Main Media Center, it is smooth, quiet and high-speed, and will become a moving landscape during the Olympics.

It also allows the world to experience China's absolute leadership in the field of magnetic levitation up close for the first time.

High-efficiency photovoltaic building integrated materials, smart grid systems and ultra-efficient sewage treatment technologies are widely used in the Olympic venues and surrounding areas.

These technologies are not put together on the spur of the moment, but have been operating maturely for many years in western photovoltaic bases and specific industrial parks. We are taking this opportunity to demonstrate them on a large scale and in a centralized manner, aiming to attract global cooperation intentions in the green and low-carbon fields.

Based on the new generation of Internet of Things nodes covering the entire city, Beijing's traffic management, security monitoring, crowd control, and public service response speed will reach an unprecedented level.

Tourists and athletes will experience extremely convenient and safe city life, and behind this is powerful information integration and processing capabilities.

What followed was the shocking launch of information and communication technology, allowing the world to see China's far-leading modern information technology.

The Olympic Games was selected as the world's first large-scale commercial scenario for the "Huaxing" communication standard, which has reached 3G technology.

Although China's private technology has reached 5G, it seems that it will not reveal its true trump card.

In order to avoid excessive stimulation, the term "4G" will not be used for the time being. It will only be mentioned that 4G technology was used in the 2004 Olympic Games.

But these actually far exceeded the transmission speed, extremely low latency and massive connection capabilities of any country's 4G or even laboratory 5G technology at the time.

Through high-definition event broadcasts, ubiquitous high-speed network experience, and smart venue interactive services, the world's media and technology communities will be able to intuitively feel the generational shock.

Let’s not talk about these things. The 3G technology currently on display alone has already amazed the world.

Now 3G is still in the research stage in most countries, and even some are still in the trial stage, but China's 3G technology is about to mature.

This is not only a technology demonstration, but also an attempt to seize the commanding heights of future global communication standard formulation and pave the way for domestic related industrial chains to open up the global market.

Although many people abroad are waiting for China to slap them in the face.

But the senior leaders of those countries were all wondering in their hearts whether this matter was true or not. If it was true, it would definitely be a huge threat.

And this is very likely to be true, because China is generally low-key on such matters, but what it says is usually the truth.

This time the whole world was shocked by China. I don’t know why China suddenly became so generous and stopped hiding its secrets.

But everyone soon found out the reason.

The wheel of time rolls forward, and soon it is 1997.

China's "vulgar development" stage is nearing its end.

As a series of low-key but game-changing technologies and applications gradually release their influence through channels such as Olympic preparations, this ancient oriental country has stood taller than ever on the international stage.

Wei Wei is the largest supplier of information for these things, and all these technologies have passed through her hands, so she knows a little about many aspects.

And you can also access the most core evaluation reports.

Reports have long shown that in many key areas, China has achieved parity or even taken the lead.

Calculated in terms of purchasing power parity, China's total economic output has quietly approached the second largest in the world, and the quality of growth has far exceeded external expectations, with the proportion of high-tech industries continuing to rise.

In terms of military technology, it has benefited from leaps in materials, power, and electronic information.

The new generation of stealth fighters and regional navigation systems, "Beidou", have completed regional networking ahead of schedule, with an accuracy far exceeding the GPS civilian code.

Although new ships and other equipment have not been unveiled on a large scale, their existence itself constitutes a powerful strategic deterrent.

The financial firewall has long relied on advanced information technology and advance planning to remain unshakable during several international financial crises and has accumulated strong foreign exchange reserves.

Because of the rapid breakthroughs in weapons, the eliminated Wu Qi are all in the world's leading position, so they have suddenly become the largest suppliers in the international market.

This huge power hidden underwater has given China unprecedented confidence and bargaining chips when dealing with old powers.

Any doubts, delays and bargaining that may have existed in the past become pale and powerless in the face of the absolute gap in strength and clear development prospects.

The negotiations on the return of Hong Kong and Macao went much smoother and faster than in the other time and space that Wei Wei and Jiang Qi remembered.

In early 1997, in a highly confidential meeting room.

The leader presiding over the meeting spoke in a calm and firm tone.

“…The situation is stronger than people. Our comprehensive national strength has made great strides, especially our absolute control over high-end manufacturing, information technology and financial stability.

This makes attempts by certain forces to continue colonial rule or create obstacles both unrealistic and meaningless, and they no longer have many cards left.

Even if there is, it is futile in the face of absolute strength."

Now they understand the convenience and comfort of fire coverage. If they had to use one word to describe their current mood, it would be very comfortable.

Another leader in charge of foreign affairs added, “Based on this, we have proposed a plan that is more efficient and more in line with the current international landscape and our country’s national dignity.

Hong Kong and Macao ended colonial rule on the same day, July 1, 1997, and returned to the embrace of the motherland.

A low murmur of approval echoed in the meeting hall.

"This is the most powerful declaration, heralding the complete end of an old era and the beginning of a new era in which the Chinese nation controls its own destiny. We have the ability and determination to do this."

Wei Wei knew that Li Shiyuan had told her this news quietly, and she was shocked when she knew it.

Although I had anticipated that the country would take advantage of this "momentum", I was still deeply shocked when I actually heard about this decision.

Returning at the same time! This had never happened in the history she knew. It required such strong confidence and control over the situation!

Sure enough, this plan initially caused shock to the outside world and discomfort in some aspects during the subsequent negotiations.

But in the face of China's firm will and unquestionable strength, all parties finally accepted this arrangement.

The world has clearly realized that the will of this resurgent giant cannot be underestimated.

They have the confidence and strength, and there is no way they can confront it head-on, so they can only agree to it reluctantly.

August 1997, 6, night.

Beijing City, Wei Wei's home.

It was a rare occasion that Xiao Xuemu did not work overtime in the laboratory. His family gathered together with Jiang Qi, Li Zhibin's family, and Li Shiyuan who came to visit.

On TV, live broadcast signals have been transmitted simultaneously from Hong Kong and Macau.

The new wing of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre is brightly lit.

The Garden Pavilion of the Macau Cultural Center is also solemn and dignified.

The two Union Jacks and the Portuguese flag will be lowered at the same time.

"It's really... I can't even imagine it."

Jiang Qi held Wei Wei's hand, and both of their palms were a little sweaty.

"Coming back to both places on the same day, this feeling is even more... profound than witnessing the successful Olympic bid."

Wei Wei nodded heavily, her eyes fixed on the screen. "This is the right to speak that comes with strength. We no longer need to deal with them separately due to too many concerns. We have the ability to resolve historical issues in one fell swoop, in a way that best demonstrates our sovereignty and dignity."

Xiaotuanzi and Xiaoyuanzi are already fourteen years old and are teenagers. Although he cannot fully understand all the political significance of this, he is also infected by the solemn historical atmosphere and watches TV quietly.

July 1, 1997, midnight.

The majestic "March of the Volunteers" was played simultaneously over Victoria Harbour and Macau River!

China's five-star red flag rose slowly on the land of Hong Kong and Macao at the same second, accompanied by the first note of the national anthem!

At that moment, countless Chinese people sat in front of their TVs with tears in their eyes.

It is not just for the return of lost land, but also for the complete cleansing of a century of humiliation for an impoverished and weak nation, and the establishment of a strong, confident and modern China!

At the handover ceremony in Hong Kong, the prince's expression was complicated.

At the ceremony in Macau, the faces of the Portuguese representatives were also filled with the end of history.

Both sides have one thing in common, which is that they feel extremely aggrieved.

The Chinese representatives, whether they were core leaders in Beijing or frontline officials on the scene in the two places, all had faces filled with calmness, confidence and unquestionable majesty.

"The ceremony is over."

Xiao Xuemu let out a long sigh, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders. He put his arm around Wei Wei's shoulders.

"An era has truly passed."

Li Zhibin waved his fist vigorously, "From today on, let's see who dares to look down on us!"

Li Shiyuan picked up the teacup and took a sip of water. "No one dared to look down on me anymore."

There have been many border frictions, and it's hard to say that it was a coincidence that there were one or two accidents.

But over the years, not a single one has been successful, and no one knows how it failed.

Those people have long since stopped looking down on China in private, it’s just that it has not been reported openly.

China does not want to reveal too much of its strength too early, while those countries just do not want to admit that they are too inferior.

Although everyone had this "tacit understanding" and kept silent, the international attitude towards China had already changed.

Wei Wei and Jiang Qi smiled at each other, tears in their eyes.

They know better than anyone how difficult and "cheating" this road to rise is.

But no matter what, the result is good and is what hundreds of millions of compatriots are looking forward to.

The next day, the whole country was still immersed in great joy and pride.

The front pages of newspapers were all filled with the grand occasion of the return of the two cities, and the headlines all revealed a sense of pride and pride.

On the streets, people are no longer discussing "can it be recovered?" but "how beautifully it was recovered, how inspiring!"

The next day, Wei Wei returned to the office and looked at the internal briefing that summarized the international reactions.

When reporting on this historic event, the tone of Western mainstream media was filled with complex emotions: surprise, disbelief, but more of a sense of reality that had to be accepted.

Commentators generally believe that China's move marks a fundamental and irreversible shift in the global balance of power.

Wei Wei walked to the huge world map on the wall and her eyes fell on the two shining pearls on the southeast coast.

Hong Kong and Macau have returned home.

She knew that the country's gaze would be more firmly cast towards farther places, towards the magnificent deep blue and the broader international stage.