Chapter 82 Rumors are not even dust in the face of absolute power.

Gu Baobao walked to the well, filled a basin with clean water, washed her hands carefully, and then splashed her cheeks with cool water.

The cool water cooled her flushed cheeks, which were burning from anger, and also cleared her mind.

[Explanation? Explain to whom?]

Gu Baobao sneered inwardly.

[To those who have already been influenced by preconceived notions? Do you think they'll believe that? Wang Yunxia dared to do this because she knew I was new here, had little influence in the family compound, and few connections.]

If I were to try to explain now, it would only make things worse, making me seem guilty, or... even more arrogant and disrespectful towards them. That's why I need to explain.

She wrung out the towel, dried her face, and sat down on the stone bench in the yard.

The sunlight shone on her, giving her a soft golden glow.

On that exquisitely beautiful face, there was no grievance or anger, only a calm, almost cold, contemplation.

Defu, remember this.

Gu Baobao spoke slowly,

The most skillful counterattack is not to engage in direct conflict yourself, but to turn your opponent's schemes into stones that hurt you instead.

The most important thing right now isn't arguing with a group of military spouses who've been swayed by popular opinion. It's...

She looked up, gazing in the direction of the military hospital, a sharp glint in her eyes.

Let those who truly matter see my value. Let idle gossip become laughable noise in the face of absolute strength and contribution.

At the same time, in a heavily guarded small conference room at the military region headquarters.

The atmosphere was so heavy it was almost palpable.

On one side of the long conference table sat Deputy Chief of Staff Zhang Yun, Hospital Director Zhou Mingren, and a man with gray hair and thick glasses.

Professor Qian Weiguo, a refined yet sharp-eyed elder, is a true authority in the military region's medical system. Everyone respectfully calls him Old Qian.

On the other side of the table stood an elderly man, Feng Guozheng, commander of the island military region, wearing a faded old military uniform, with a dignified face and sharp eyes like a hawk.

At this moment, Commander Feng was holding two detailed data records in his hands, his brows furrowed, his gaze sweeping back and forth between the reports and Zhou Mingren's face.

"Old Zhou, are you sure?"

Commander Feng's voice was deep and resonant, carrying the oppressive air of someone accustomed to a high position.

"These figures... aren't exaggerated?"

Zhou Mingren was so excited that his face turned red, and he suddenly stood up:

"Commander! I guarantee with my Party spirit! Every set of data was personally supervised by Elder Qian and tested under strict control conditions!"

The six soldiers participating in the test had similar injuries and were divided into three groups: one group used the hemostatic powder currently available in our hospital, one group used the regular hemostatic powder provided by Comrade Gu Baobao, and the third group used the enhanced version!

He pointed to the data in the report:

"Look! The average hemostasis time with the current hemostatic powder is 8 minutes and 30 seconds, and the rate of mild infection within 24 hours after surgery is 15%; "

The standard version of the hemostatic powder has an average hemostasis time of 5 minutes and 10 seconds and an infection rate of 3%; the enhanced version... the enhanced version has an average hemostasis time of 1 minute and 45 seconds!

The infection rate was zero! Furthermore, the redness and swelling around the wound were significantly reduced, and preliminary observations indicate that the healing speed has accelerated by at least 30%!

Mr. Qian adjusted his glasses, his voice steady yet tinged with barely suppressed excitement:

"Commander, I personally examined the wounds. The soldiers who used the enhanced hemostatic powder had clean wound edges, active granulation tissue growth, and almost no inflammatory exudate. Most importantly..."

He paused, then took a deep breath:

"None of the six test subjects received additional antibiotics. So far, none have shown any signs of fever or infection."

This means that this hemostatic powder itself has powerful antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects!

The meeting room was silent.

The only sound was Commander Feng's fingers tapping on the table, tap, tap, tap.

Zhang Yunxiang also added:

"Commander, Comrade Gu Baobao also raised an idea. She said that if the effect of this medicine can really be stabilized at this level, perhaps... we can consider using it to generate some foreign exchange for the country."

"What?!"

Commander Feng suddenly looked up, his hawk-like eyes flashing with a sharp light.

"Create foreign exchange? Did she really say that?"

"Absolutely true!"

Zhou Mingren nodded emphatically.

"She said that good medicine shouldn't just be kept at home. If our products are better than those of foreigners, why can't we take them out and exchange them for the equipment, technology, or...funds we desperately need?"

Commander Feng remained silent.

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the soldiers training on the parade ground outside.

He knows better than anyone how difficult things are for the country right now.

Foreign exchange is something even more precious than gold! It's something you earn little by little by tightening your belt and exchanging agricultural products and minerals!

If... if there really were a drug that could open up the international market...

Commander Feng turned around abruptly, his eyes flashing like lightning:

"The observation of the drug's effects must continue! Mr. Qian, you take charge personally! Mr. Zhou, go and invite Comrade Gu Baobao over right now! No, I'll go see her myself!"

He looked at Zhang Yunxiang:

"Xiao Zhang, you're coming with me! Also, immediately encrypt communications, contact headquarters, report the initial situation, and request higher-level assessment and support!"

"Yes, sir!" Zhang Yunxiang and Zhou Mingren stood at attention simultaneously, their voices booming.

A potentially far-reaching meeting concluded in a tense yet exciting atmosphere.

At this moment, Gu Baobao was completely unaware of all of this.

She was sitting on a stone bench in her own courtyard, looking at a small notebook, deep in thought.

The notebook was filled with complex anatomical diagrams and acupoint markings, and next to it were densely covered with neat handwriting—it was her lesson plan for a first aid training course.

[Host, are you really not going to do anything?]

Defu couldn't resist after all.

[Wang Yunxia's stale green tea is practically stale by now, brewed all over the family compound! Our system has detected a slow but increasing percentage of people holding negative opinions about you! While most are simply being swayed by rumors, public opinion can be devastating!]

Gu Baobao continued writing without stopping, and didn't even look up:

What's the rush? The brighter the fire burns, the more thoroughly it will be extinguished.

Her tone was flat, yet carried a cold certainty.

[And Defu, have you forgotten what our greatest strength is?]

"Huh? What is it?" Defu was stunned.

Gu Baobao sketched a clear flowchart of airway obstruction emergency treatment, a faint, almost sharp smile curving her lips:

It is time, and irreplaceable value. People like Wang Yunxia can only resort to these petty, underhanded tricks.

And everything I do is solidifying an unshakeable foundation. Until my hemostatic powder passes validation, until my first aid courses begin, until Old Tang's health improves day by day…

By then, who will remember a few ambiguous remarks made by a female soldier in a cultural troupe? People will only remember the island military hospital.

There is an expert named Gu Baobao, whose medical skills are superb, saving lives and healing the wounded, and who can also create powerful medicines. As for those jealous, slanderous, and clownish tricks...

Gu Baobao put down her pen, picked up the warm water that was cooling beside her, and took a sip.

Sunlight fell on her long eyelashes, casting soft shadows.

Before absolute power, nothing is even dust.

Defu was so shocked by these words that the data stream momentarily went haywire, before bursting into an excited electronic voice:

[Host! Your vision and mindset are simply breathtaking! This system is utterly impressed! Yes, yes, that's it!]

Crush all demons and monsters with absolute power! Let the green tea ferment into fertilizer under the sun! Host, you are mighty!