Chapter 98 is probably almost certain.

After Wang Hu and the others left, the old lady was wheeled out, and the operating room across the street was empty.

Du Ruoxia lowered her eyes and walked forward, when Dean Liu spoke again.

"Alas, you have no idea. If you had come sooner, you could have saved another person. That child was really unlucky," Dean Liu said regretfully.

Du Ruoxia pursed her lips and forced a smile, "It also depends on fate."

Dean Liu nodded repeatedly, "That's right, they just don't have that kind of luck."

Du Ruoxia looked at Dean Liu, "They're gone."

She didn't want to get involved with the Zhao family, and was glad she had avoided them; otherwise, she didn't know what would have happened to her now.

"No, it's just that the child is ruined. Alas, he will never be able to walk normally again," Dean Liu sighed.

"Dean Liu, everyone has their own destiny. Sometimes, it's already a blessing to escape with your life," Du Ruoxia said.

Dean Liu was taken aback when he heard this, and then realized that the doctor who performed the surgery on that child was one of the top doctors in Kyoto.

“You’re right. Given his condition, it’s incredibly fortunate that he survived!” Dean Liu agreed.

"The old lady might have a fever tonight, so please get ready to work." Du Ruoxia changed the subject, and Dean Liu finally turned his attention back to the patient in front of him.

Du Ruoxia escorted the old lady to her ward. She wanted to find a place to rest, but the people brought by the old lady's son kept following her.

She could only stop and look at him helplessly. "Why are you following me? Didn't I promise to stay?"

The man looked at Du Ruoxia with a helpless expression, and finally answered in a flustered manner, "My duty is to follow you."

Du Ruoxia looked up at the sky speechlessly. Was her credit really that bad?

Du Ruoxia felt uncomfortable being followed, and of course she wouldn't let Dean Liu feel comfortable either, so she made Dean Liu follow her.

She thought she would receive news by nightfall at the latest, but Wang Hu didn't return even after dark, nor did the other man.

Du Ruoxia couldn't sit still any longer. She stood up and looked at Dean Liu, "Could you please contact the comrade you mentioned and ask him what's going on?"

Without saying a word, Dean Liu went to make a phone call, but couldn't get through. Realizing it was after get off work, he called home.

He quickly received the news and returned to tell Du Ruoxia, "They are still at the Municipal Party Committee, and Minister Song's assistant is there too."

"What? They haven't transferred anyone yet?" Du Ruoxia raised her voice, her eyes filled with disbelief.

How could a whole day possibly take that long? A normal process would have been completed long ago!

"Yes, I don't know why, but they haven't set off yet, even though they say they have enough people." Dean Liu also looked puzzled.

Du Ruoxia pondered, how could this be? Some people are not setting off, unless there are no conditions!

"Perhaps the tools aren't in the warehouse!" Du Ruoxia said, squinting.

Dean Liu shook his head, "Impossible. Even during a flood, these things wouldn't be mobilized if there wasn't a need at the beginning!"

Du Ruoxia thought so too. She believed that these things wouldn't be needed at first, and that someone had probably already taken them away!

"Are these tools used for anything else? Does Xilan City have a dock?" Du Ruoxia asked Dean Liu with a serious expression.

Dean Liu pondered for a moment, then said, "I don't remember it!"

Du Ruoxia nodded; she remembered that the reports from back then didn't mention any misappropriation.

“Xilan City doesn’t have any docks, but all of them have been transferred to the disaster relief reserve.” Du Ruoxia said as she analyzed.

“There are hardly any boats on the river in Xilan City. If there are any, they are mostly in the neighboring city, where they are building a fish farm!” Dean Liu also joined in the analysis.

"The next city? A breeding farm? People are already raising livestock at this time?" Du Ruoxia was shocked.

She remembered that the concept of a breeding farm was something that would come much later, so how could it suddenly exist in the 1970s?

"Yes, there's a breeding farm there. I heard the owner has some great ideas, and the breeds he raises can't be bought on the market!" Dean Liu said excitedly.

Du Ruoxia frowned and remained silent. "The special breeds in the breeding farm... now someone has such advanced technology?"

"Do you know what kind of fish you're raising?" Du Ruoxia asked curiously.

Dean Liu shook his head. "To be honest, I'm not qualified to eat that fish. At least I need to..." Dean Liu pointed upwards and then shut his mouth.

Du Ruoxia instantly realized that the gray industry chain is always the most powerful.

"Do you think it's possible that the items were all moved over there, which is why it's been delayed again and again?" Du Ruoxia asked Dean Liu in a low voice.

Dean Liu's breath hitched. "You mean the higher-ups have already... Comrade Du, you can't say that! Being reported is a death sentence!"

Du Ruoxia smiled and nodded, "I was just talking nonsense."

She appeared calm, but in her heart she was already 70% certain that it was true!

"Don't talk nonsense. Those people are not easy to mess with. My dilapidated temple can't afford to offend them," Dean Liu said, still feeling a bit scared.

Du Ruoxia patted Dean Liu on the shoulder, "Let's just talk about this casually, I won't tell anyone!"

Dean Liu looked at Du Ruoxia earnestly and said, "Comrade Du, we ordinary people should just live our own lives well and not worry about other things!"

Du Ruoxia nodded, seemingly understanding, but secretly wondering why Dean Liu was being so cautious. "Dean Liu, you're right, I understand!"

"Who is the old lady's son?" Du Ruoxia suddenly asked.

When asked about the old lady's son's identity, Dean Liu shook his head directly.

"I can't say for sure. His identity is not simple. I don't know why he came here this time. It doesn't feel like he's just visiting his mother."

"I haven't seen him for many years!"

Dean Liu was lost in his memories, and his expression became unusually solemn when he spoke of that man.

Du Ruoxia's thoughts turned back, "I hope he's a useful person, at least he should be able to help with the problems in Xilan City."

"He can definitely help, although I'm not sure about his job, but he has influence," Dean Liu replied confidently.

Du Ruoxia nodded, then looked at the man guarding them at the door and asked, "Don't you need to make rounds at the hospital?"

In Du Ruoxia's logic, regardless of rank, everyone is required to conduct inspections every day, and the dean is no exception.

"It's not that we don't have any plans, but there's no rush today," Dean Liu said calmly.

Du Ruoxia understood. She looked at the furnishings in the room and couldn't find a place where she could sleep.

"Are we really going to sit here all night?" Du Ruoxia asked, frowning.

Dean Liu realized that Du Ruoxia hadn't rested at all; she had just returned from the disaster area!

"I almost forgot, you need to rest. Wait a moment, I'll go get you a bed." Dean Liu said apologetically, and quickly went out.

Watching him prepare a place for her to rest, Du Ruoxia smiled gratefully.

However, it was already dark, and she hoped to receive good news soon.

Dean Liu returned quickly, and he had someone bring back a small reclining bed, somewhat similar to the nap beds used in later generations.

"You'll have to make do for the night. You can go back to rest tomorrow after the danger period is over!" Dean Liu said as he tidied up Du Ruoxia.

Du Ruoxia said gratefully, "Thank you for your help, I'll take care of the rest myself!"

Dean Liu helped Du Ruoxia tidy up the window without asking, and Du Ruoxia looked on with mixed feelings, wondering why he acted like an old father.

"Dean Liu, you are so thoughtful," Du Ruoxia said without saying a word.