"No, besides, the High-End Weapon Research Institute isn't a place he can just walk into. Oh, I heard the Brotherhood is finished, was that your doing?"

"This is only the beginning of dealing with the Tan family. You, Yi Xiaorou, are my Zhao Qian's woman; Tan Tian should never even think about you."

Yi Xiaorou was so moved she didn't know what to say, hugging me tightly, "Husband, I—give me the most intense!"

It's not easy being a man, especially being a qualified good man. If my strength hadn't been considerable, giving her an intense experience like that would have been impossible.

After a period of tender intimacy, Yi Xiaorou turned on the bedside lamp and picked up the communicator Xiao Yudidi had given her—it could also be called a PDA, as it possessed all the functions of a modern PDA, though its computing and storage capabilities far surpassed anything currently available.

"Husband, yesterday the four of us sisters developed our own nuclear attack submarine based on the 096 blueprints. Here are its technical specifications: the submarine has a displacement of 20,000 tons, an underwater speed of 45 knots, a teardrop hull shape, a double-hulled SuperSolid-3X alloy body, a maximum dive depth of 1,000 meters, a peak noise level of 90 decibels, six torpedo tubes carrying 24 deep-sea anti-submarine torpedoes, and twelve ballistic missile launch cells carrying 48 anti-ship, anti-air, submersible launch missiles, capable of fulfilling the heavy responsibilities of anti-submarine, anti-ship, and anti-air triple strikes."

With such a magnificent creation, I couldn't spare a thought for anything else. I snatched Yi Xiaorou's PDA and began studying it closely, "A power system combining nuclear propulsion with high-energy storage batteries—that’s brilliant! In normal operation, the nuclear power is engaged to simultaneously charge the massive high-energy battery banks. Once in combat mode, the nuclear reactor shuts down, and the high-energy storage batteries drive the submarine for navigation and operations. In this mode, the noise level drops to 60 decibels, which is even lower than the ambient ocean noise. How could the enemy possibly detect us?"

Yi Xiaorou replied, "Exactly. This is thanks to the high-energy storage batteries you developed; otherwise, we wouldn't achieve this effect. At the same time, Xiao Yudidi and Zhao Fang also improved the nuclear reactor and propeller technology, which allowed the noise level in nuclear mode to drop to 90 decibels. The best submarines in Xing Nation currently register around 105 decibels."

I wrapped my arms around Yi Xiaorou, "You truly know what I like. Let's start construction immediately and launch a few for sea trials."

Yi Xiaorou said, "Most of the base's strength is focused on the satellite project and constructing the Underground Great Wall. Xiao Yudidi only scheduled two for production, but she issued an emergency production order; we should have the physical models within a week."

"That's fantastic! A 1,000-meter depth, 45-knot submerged speed, and such substantial armament capacity. As long as we can stabilize the situation in the East Sea and secure greater resource support, the satellite and Underground Great Wall projects will be trivial matters."

Yi Xiaorou sighed, "The base no longer has enough raw materials to continue producing the Engineer Ants or the production-model robots. If we can truly acquire more resources from the ocean, that would be a monumental blessing. Currently, 500,000 Engineer Ants are excavating the Underground Great Wall, and 200,000 production robots are manufacturing satellites and submarines."

I considered this for a moment, "That number is already considerable. If we increase it further, the base's energy supply will become problematic. We must accelerate our advance into the ocean, or energy constraints will hold us back in the future."

"Mmm, I will relay your thoughts to my sisters. Our Great Dragon Nation's technology was delayed by almost twenty years due to certain special circumstances. If we don't ride hard to catch up now, I fear we truly won't make it. Look at Bird Nation; though their mainland suffered heavy bombing by Xing Nation after the war, they were several steps ahead of us at the same starting line. Therefore, we must race against time to strengthen ourselves."

"Right. I need to hurry Mengmeng. All three companies must be operational after the New Year. Huanyu’s 36 Stars are nearly complete; once the company paperwork is secured and the secret data centers worldwide are built, we will immediately arrange for the Hope to enter orbital deployment. As for the publicity blitz, that’s up to Big Sister Chu."

Yi Xiaorou suddenly pouted coquettishly, "Husband, look at how capable the sisters are, each one tender as water towards you. I certainly won't fight with them over anything, but I wonder if your true wife in the future will permit my existence."

"Don't worry, you are forever my beloved treasure. I wouldn't give you up even if it meant abandoning the entire world. You don't need to worry about this; I will handle it."

Yi Xiaorou tightly gripped my hand against her chest, "With those words from you, even if one day your principal wife kicks me out of the Zhao family door, I will have no regrets. Oh, Qingqing has something she needs to discuss with you."

"It must be about the Serpent Pearls."

"Husband, you are so smart, guessing it immediately."

Is that considered smart? Hua Qingqing’s intentions were as clear as day to everyone.

"How many more does she plan to buy? What's her offer this time? And how much of a kickback did she give you? You must tell me everything clearly," I demanded, grabbing Yi Xiaorou’s twin peaks to coerce her.

Yi Xiaorou feigned compliance, "My Lord, show mercy! This humble woman will confess everything. Qingqing is leveraging her services to give me massages for free, demanding you sell her ten more Serpent Pearls. This time, she offered an astronomical price: one billion RMB per pearl."

I had already carefully counted that pile of Serpent Pearls; not counting those already sold, there were 116 remaining. This quantity was quite large, but compared to the monstrous python, these few pearls were less than a drop in the ocean inside its ancient belly. The pearls weren't large, only about the size of a soybean.

I said to Yi Xiaorou, "One billion RMB sounds terrifyingly high, but one percent of what her elder sister sold one for was ten billion US dollars."

Yi Xiaorou writhed on me like a water snake, the sensation of her large breasts pressing against me was truly delightful, "Husband," her voice grew slightly drawling, "Don't blame me for siding with an outsider. Qingqing was my only friend before; if it weren't for her, I might already be dead. Besides, the B-needles she formulates using the Serpent Pearls constantly give people headaches—if this happened to you, wouldn't you be driven mad? And her hospital has operating costs, and..."

I squeezed Yi Xiaorou's breasts twice, "And she touched you here, and made you wet, didn't she?"

Yi Xiaorou carefully tested the waters, "Are you angry, Husband? How about I stop going there for massages?"

I took two deep breaths, "If any other man touched them, I'd chop them into a thousand pieces. If a woman touches them, I'll just touch her back until she's satisfied. I see Qingqing is quite well-endowed too... Ouch, that hurts."

Yi Xiaorou gripped my manhood, "Do you still dare harbor such thoughts? Don't you have Fenfen and Mengmeng? Besides, aren't mine here for you to play with? You still dare set your sights on Qingqing."

"I was wrong, wife. From now on, only she is allowed to touch you, and I promise not to touch her. But you must find an opportunity to touch back for yourself, otherwise, our Zhao family will suffer a huge loss!"

"You dare say that again! I'm ignoring you."

Yi Xiaorou turned her back to me, and I held her from behind, my palms fitting perfectly over her two mounds. "Are you angry, wife? I was just joking. I never took that little thing between you and Qingqing to heart. Go ahead and get your massage. I hope those two beauties reach F-cup status soon. I don't object to these kinds of things between girls; I'll provide the main course, and having a little appetizer occasionally isn't bad either."

Yi Xiaorou turned and nestled into my embrace, "What nonsense are you speaking? Qingqing and I are not lesbians! She is a doctor to you, just like you are to me."

I nudged Yi Xiaorou with my groin, "My treatment relies on this. Does Qingqing use the same method?"

Yi Xiaorou's eyes darted around, "Husband, why do you keep bringing Qingqing up? Do you have inappropriate designs on her too?"

I didn't want Yi Xiaorou to misunderstand me, "Alright, wife, let's stop joking. Qingqing is our good friend, she's my boss, and she saved your life. I'll sell her the 10 Serpent Pearls, and I fully endorse you getting massages. After all, I must cultivate an F-cup in our household. Fenfen's facial structure isn't suitable, and Mengmeng is a lost cause in this lifetime. My entire hope now rests on you."

Yi Xiaorou brightened up, "Great! I'll do whatever Husband says. I’ll call Qingqing right now; she’s anxiously awaiting my reply."

The phone rang for quite a while before it was picked up. Who is awake in the middle of the night? "Qingqing, it's Xiaorou. I have great news for you; I've sorted out your request."

I could hear Hua Qingqing's voice even without the speakerphone, "Really! That's wonderful, Xiaorou, you are truly magnificent."

Yi Xiaorou scolded playfully, "Mere praise won't suffice, you know. Remember to treat the four of us sisters to a big meal tomorrow at noon."

After a few more whispered words between them, they disconnected. I said to Yi Xiaorou, "You and Xiao Yudidi and the others get along very well."

"Yes, don't you want us to?"

"I wish for it! If you argued every day, I'd have something to do."

"Qingqing said she only wants to buy one for now, but you are not allowed to sell the remaining nine to anyone else. Her funds are a bit tight."

I was happy to play the good guy, "Forget it, I don't need her to give me an IOU. I'll give her all ten. She can pay me back whenever she has the money."

Yi Xiaorou kissed me, "What a good husband you are... Wait, before we sleep, the sisters want you to name the submarines."

I was about to drift into the Divine Cosmos realm and casually thought, "Let's start naming them after the eight planets, from the smallest one outwards: Mercury-class, hull numbers 101, 102..."