Like a tireless source of wisdom, she constantly proposes disruptive ideas, leading this group of anonymous elites to silently charge forward on their respective tracks, turning one "impossible" into "possible".

Time slipped away quietly in the tranquility of the valley.

The outside world is ever-changing, but Deep Springs seems to be isolated from the world, with only the laboratory lights always on and the computer indicator lights never going out.

Mingzhao's hair gradually turned gray, and fine lines appeared on her forehead, but her eyes remained clear, deep, and filled with an inexhaustible light of exploration. She led her team, subtly but surely, to propel the nation's leapfrog development in stealth materials, phased array radar, high-performance computing, and even early laser and drone technologies.

Countless scientific and technological achievements that later shocked the world originated in this remote mountain courtyard, guided by her seemingly slender hands.

She became a true "hidden master".

Meanwhile, Howard is making great strides on another battlefield.

With his outstanding strategic vision, technical background, and exceptional organizational skills, he made remarkable contributions to the newly established space-based reconnaissance system project.

His military rank steadily rose, and the number of stars on his shoulders increased from one to two...

The outside world only knows him as an ambitious and meritorious general, and very few people know what kind of bond he had with the female researcher who had long since "disappeared due to injury".

The two are like stars on different orbits, silently illuminating the night sky of the nation's rise along their respective paths.

Occasionally, in an absolutely secure, encrypted communication channel, there will be extremely brief exchanges of messages, conveyed in code that only they understand.

Sometimes it's Howard's subtle request for help when he encounters a technical bottleneck, and sometimes it's Mingzhao's judgment and reminder about the development trend of a certain field.

Every exchange is as concise as code, yet it carries the deepest trust and unspoken concern.

As time goes by, the country has undergone tremendous changes.

With its booming economy, growing national strength, and significant international standing, China has achieved remarkable progress.

Technological breakthroughs that once required strict secrecy and enormous sacrifices to obtain are gradually no longer the only secrets that needed to be guarded at all costs.

Some dusty archives have reached a point where they can be loosened up a bit.

...

On a crisp autumn day, an elderly man with white hair but a sprightly spirit, accompanied by several plainclothes staff members, arrived at the "Deep Spring" Research Institute, which was no longer an absolute forbidden zone.

He declined the grand reception and went straight to the old dormitory area built against the mountain.

He saw that figure at the window of a small building covered with ivy.

She, too, had a full head of silver hair and was dressed in simple work clothes. She was leading several young researchers to observe the growth of a new type of drought-resistant crop in the experimental field outside the window.

This was one of the topics that interested her in her later years.

Her movements remained steady, her eyes focused and clear, as if time had never taken away her curiosity about the unknown world.

The old man gestured for the others to stay at a distance, and then slowly walked over.

The young researchers seemed to have received some instructions; they bowed and quietly withdrew.

Mingzhao seemed to sense something, slowly straightened up, and turned his head.

My gaze fell on the gleaming gold star on the old man's epaulettes, paused for a moment, and then fell on his weathered yet still sharp face.

There was no surprise, no excitement; it was as if I had just seen an old friend I hadn't seen in a long time.

Howard walked up to her, gazing at her weathered yet serene face. A thousand words swirled in his throat, finally settling into a simple greeting, his voice slightly hoarse: "...Long time no see."

Mingzhao looked at him, the corners of her mouth curving upwards in an almost imperceptible arc, a faint, stardust-like light flashing in her eyes: "Yes, it's been a long time, General Huo."

There were no hugs, no tears.

Only the tranquility and tacit understanding that have settled after experiencing vicissitudes can truly be understood.

They stood side by side at the edge of the experimental field, gazing at the distant mountains covered in autumn colors, just as they had in countless years before, silent yet with a shared understanding.

Soon after, a very simple marriage registration procedure, known only to a very few people, was quietly completed at the civil affairs department of an ordinary city.

There was no wedding, no banquet, and no notification was given to any relatives or friends.

These two silent contributors to the nation's achievements, after dedicating almost their entire lives to the country, finally found their final resting place in the simplest way.

Their home was settled in a quiet seaside town, far from the capital and also far from "Shenquan".

The courtyard is small, but it's filled with flowers and plants.

Howard finally put down his heavy official duties, and Mingzhao also gradually reduced his specific research guidance.

In the morning, they would take a walk together and watch the sun rise from the sea; at dusk, she would sit in the yard reading a book while he polished his collection of old airplane models; at night, they would occasionally look up and gaze at the starry night sky.

They rarely talked about the past, and rarely discussed their achievements.

It's as if that magnificent life has transformed into the quiet moonlight flowing before the window, peaceful and serene.

They could finally just be Howard and Mingzhao, an ordinary elderly couple, spending their twilight years together.

Only occasionally, when the television broadcasts news of the country's new fighter jets soaring through the blue sky or new satellites being successfully launched, Howard would subconsciously look at Mingzhao.

She would nod slightly, a hint of pioneer's satisfaction and tranquility flashing in her eyes, a feeling that others could not decipher.

Stars once shone in the heavens, and deep springs once flowed in the secluded valleys.

Ultimately, they converge on this tranquil coastline, transforming into a silent yet eternal ink dot in the grand scroll of national rise.

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