Chapter 203 (Self-Assessment)
The two started arguing in the office, each with their own reasons, engaging in a fierce verbal battle, neither willing to give in.
Director Huang was driven crazy by the noise. He shouted, "Alright, you two shut up. I invited Comrade Lin Yuanshu here not to watch you two argue."
Deputy Director Ye still looked furious, staring at the man with hostility, but she didn't continue arguing. After all, Director Huang had spoken, and she still had to give him face.
The man was also furious. He had never seen such a unreasonable woman before, who could make even the darkest things seem white.
Seeing this, Director Huang sighed, turned to Lin Yuan, and said earnestly, "I didn't expect things to turn out this way. It's my fault. As soon as I received the report, I rushed over to invite you without investigating thoroughly. Fortunately, both of them are here now. If you have any questions, ask them! I can't figure out who told the truth and who lied. I just hope your rumors have nothing to do with the people at the Dongfanghong Research Institute."
The main reason he was so anxious was that he was worried that Lin Yuanshu would find out about it himself. The consequences of him taking the initiative to expose it and Lin Yuanshu finding out about it himself were worlds apart. To be honest, he didn't want things to get too ugly between him and Lin Yuanshu.
They might have opportunities to collaborate in the future!
Lin Yuanshu pursed his lips and glanced thoughtfully at Deputy Director Ye. Judging from the current situation, it was obvious that the man had a preconceived notion. He felt that Deputy Director Ye was not a good person, so he became suspicious of every move Deputy Director Ye made. He was just applying the answer to the formula, and no matter which formula he applied, it would make sense.
Besides, the rumors about her didn't spread from one person to ten, then from ten to a hundred; they suddenly started spreading throughout Beijing without any warning. The former was unintentional, while the latter was deliberate.
Therefore, she guessed that this matter was most likely unrelated to Deputy Director Ye.
She looked troubled and said, "In the end, this is still an internal matter of the Dongfanghong Research Institute. I think it's better for you to handle it. No matter what the outcome, I believe you can handle it impartially."
Lin Yuanshu chose to pass the buck back. She was already extremely busy and didn't want to create trouble for herself, as it could easily offend people if not handled properly.
Director Huang watched the two men deep in thought, considering whether he should take on this troublesome matter. If the person involved wasn't Deputy Director Ye, he could have handed the matter over to Deputy Director Ye to handle, instead of having to take it on himself as he was now. It seemed that it was time to push forward with the selection of a new deputy director for the research institute.
Seeing this, Deputy Director Ye sensed something was wrong. She took a deep breath and tried to explain to Lin Yuanshu, "We've known each other for so many years, you should know my personality. I've never done anything to wrong you. I can swear that this matter really has nothing to do with me."
Although she had considered taking action, she held back. She never expected that trouble would find her again. She couldn't help but feel a little resentful towards Lin Yuanshu. If it weren't for Lin Yuanshu, she wouldn't have encountered this situation.
The man was naturally unwilling to watch Deputy Director Ye make excuses, so he said sarcastically, "It may not be on the surface, but it's hard to say what might happen in private."
Deputy Director Ye glared at the man and said sternly, "Shut up! Comrade Lin Yuanshu and I are discussing serious matters. What business is it of yours?"
The man rolled his eyes and gave a disdainful look. He felt that Deputy Director Ye's current actions were a sign of his guilty conscience, and sooner or later he would expose Deputy Director Ye's hypocrisy in front of everyone.
At this moment, Lin Yuanshu also had a different idea in mind. Perhaps she could use this matter to make Deputy Director Ye willingly help her investigate the rumors.
She smiled slightly and said earnestly, "You don't need to explain so much to me. I have always believed in you, and I also believe that Director Huang can prove your innocence."
Deputy Director Ye felt a mix of emotions. She hadn't expected that the person who trusted her the most was Lin Yuanshu. But then again, while Lin Yuanshu trusted Director Huang, she didn't trust him!
Director Huang's forte is smoothing things over; what she needs is to clear her name, not to let the matter pass smoothly.
The farce finally came to an end with Lin Yuanshu's belief. Director Huang didn't care about the truth, as long as Lin Yuanshu believed in the innocence of the Dongfanghong Research Institute and that he hadn't deliberately targeted her.
Deputy Director Ye also saw through Director Huang's plan. What could she do? She could only leave Director Huang's office feeling extremely frustrated. She was afraid that if she stayed any longer, she would not be able to resist beating up Director Huang and that male colleague.
Because Lin Yuanshu had something to say to Deputy Director Ye, she didn't stay in Director Huang's office for long. Instead, she followed Deputy Director Ye and left the office.
The man's thoughts were similar to Lin Yuanshu's, but he didn't want to talk to Deputy Director Ye; he wanted to talk to Lin Yuanshu instead.
Director Huang watched helplessly as the three men left his office without saying a word, as if his office were some kind of den of dragons and tigers.
He shook his head helplessly and sighed, "Being a leader is difficult, but being a good leader is even more difficult."
The three of them walked out of the office building together. The man jogged up to Lin Yuanshu and earnestly advised him, "Comrade Lin Yuanshu, you are too kind. Little do you know that kindness is often taken advantage of, and even brothers can fall out over interests, let alone friends. You should be more careful in the future and not trust others too much."
He genuinely hoped that Lin Yuanshu could continue as the deputy director of the Dongfanghong Research Institute. After all, Lin Yuanshu didn't have as many troubles as Deputy Director Ye, who hadn't revised the rules and regulations or made any work requirements for the staff.
Before Deputy Director Ye took office, they could slack off a little. But since he took office, they don't even have time to go to the toilet anymore. Their research institute has suffered under Deputy Director Ye for a long time!
Unfortunately, Deputy Director Ye was unaware of what this man was thinking. If she had known, she would have retorted that Lin Yuanshu had few troubles because she wasn't in power; if she were in power, she would still make changes.
Lin Yuanshu smiled slightly and said politely, "Thank you for reminding me. I will be more careful in the future."
She always agrees to something but doesn't actually do it.
The man looked at Lin Yuanshu with great excitement. Sure enough, Lin Yuanshu was a better leader. He listened to other people's suggestions, unlike Deputy Director Ye, who not only had a bad temper but was also inflexible in his work.
Seeing the two chatting and laughing, Deputy Director Ye's anger was reignited. Just because she didn't dare to make things difficult for Lin Yuanshu didn't mean she wouldn't dare to make things difficult for the male comrade.
Knowing that he was no longer protected by Director Huang and would definitely suffer losses if he confronted him, the man did not continue to argue with Deputy Director Ye, but turned around and left the place.
Deputy Director Ye stared at Lin Yuanshu, gritting his teeth, and said, "I was framed by him. You wouldn't believe his nonsense, would you?"
Lin Yuanshu shook his head and said softly, "The point now is not whether I believe him or not, but what benefit he can gain from framing you!"
Upon hearing this, Deputy Director Ye put on an extremely aggrieved expression and accused, "You don't believe me? You just believe his nonsense."
Lin Yuanshu: "..."
It felt like I'd wandered into the wrong theater.
The two remained silent for a long while before Lin Yuanshu slowly said, "What I mean is, who benefits from him doing this? This isn't aimed at me, it's aimed at you. What good is it for me to trust you? The key is whether the researchers at the institute believe you, and whether your reputation will be affected..."
That's why she didn't say she didn't believe it back then. If she had said she didn't believe it, the investigation would have fallen to Director Huang, and Director Huang wouldn't have cared as much as the person involved!
Deputy Director Ye paused for a moment, then said thoughtfully, "You mean, someone deliberately spread rumors about you to frame me. Their target isn't you, but me. You've been implicated because of me."
Besides this, there doesn't seem to be a more reasonable reason.
Lin Yuanshu raised an eyebrow. She hadn't expected Deputy Director Ye to think that way. That wasn't what she meant; she just wanted to remind Deputy Director Ye.
However, she did not explain this, but instead said with a smile, "I can only say that it is possible."
Deputy Director Ye deliberately probed, "So what do you think I should do next?"
Lin Yuanshu pretended not to know that Deputy Director Ye was testing him and said without hesitation, "Of course it's to clear your name. I'm waiting for you to prove your innocence to me."
Deputy Director Ye licked his lips. "I will find the evidence."
This was the only option available. If she stopped there, the researchers at the institute would definitely talk badly about her behind her back, thinking that she was the one who did it. It was only because Lin Yuanshu spoke up for her that Director Huang couldn't continue to pursue the matter.
Especially since the man was working at the research institute, she couldn't cover his mouth and shut him up, so she had no choice but to investigate and find out the truth.
If Lin Yuanshu tells Director Huang that she doesn't believe him, her situation will be even worse. At least for now, she still has the initiative in the investigation, instead of passively waiting for the results.
Lin Yuanshu patted Deputy Director Ye on the shoulder and said with a smile, "My subordinate Liu Hongmei is also investigating the rumors. If you find any important information, you can discuss it with Comrade Liu Hongmei, or ask her what information she found. I believe that with the joint efforts of the two of you, the truth will soon come to light."
Deputy Director Ye: "..."
Her feelings were very complicated. She felt like she had been deceived by Lin Yuanshu, but she couldn't quite put her finger on what was wrong.
Lin Yuanshu left the Dongfanghong Research Institute with satisfaction. As the saying goes, three cobblers are equal to one Zhuge Liang, and Deputy Director Ye was, after all, an asset.
If she misjudged the situation and Deputy Director Ye was the real culprit, then she would now put forward a scapegoat in order to clear her own name.
She wasn't afraid of the mastermind making a move; she was afraid of the mastermind remaining inactive, because the more they made a move, the easier it would be to be discovered.
Lin Yuanshu was in a good mood, but Deputy Director Ye's mood was rather complicated. She walked absentmindedly to the tea room in the laboratory building, and just as she was about to leave, she heard everyone discussing Lin Yuanshu's situation.
"Have you heard about Director Lin's matter?" a chubby man asked mysteriously.
One of the women immediately became agitated and told them everything she knew: "You mean that recent rumor that Director Lin is overwhelmed and will be unable to handle everything, affecting the progress of the new research institute? That's obviously nonsense. Director Lin can do many things at once. We know her work efficiency better than anyone else!"
The man who had spoken earlier smiled slightly and deliberately kept everyone in suspense, saying, "The information you know is outdated."
Upon hearing this, everyone turned to look at the man and asked anxiously, "What's the latest news? Tell us quickly, don't keep us in suspense."
The man cleared his throat and said confidently, "Do you know why this rumor is spreading?"
Everyone shook their heads.
But Deputy Director Ye, standing at the door, had an ominous feeling.
The man shouted, "That's because someone deliberately spread this rumor to ruin Director Lin's reputation and prevent her from becoming the director. Her work ability is too strong, which makes people envious."
"Director Lin is really unlucky. His work ability wasn't given to him by his parents; it all comes from his own hard work. And people are jealous of this? That person is really petty."
Everyone felt indignant on Lin Yuanshu's behalf. They had a good impression of her, as she was known among the institute's leaders for being easy to talk to, provided that you worked hard. Moreover, she was upright and incorruptible, judging people solely by their abilities and not their backgrounds.
"By the way, do you know who that person is? I'll avoid them whenever I run into them, so they won't be jealous of me. After all, I have a lot of good points too."
"That's right! This kind of person is really terrible. He spreads rumors to make things difficult for Director Lin for his own selfish reasons. Fortunately, our colleagues in the institute are quite rational and did not believe these rumors."
The man shook his head and said with a grin, "I don't know who that person is yet, but I'm sure I'll be able to find out."
Everyone expressed their belief in him, and they were waiting to hear what would happen next. Of course, they couldn't raise any questions, lest he get angry and refuse to ask any more questions.
When Deputy Director Ye heard this, her heart sank. This matter was indeed aimed at her. Right now, they were trying to change Lin Yuanshu's image, but in a few days, it would become gossip about her. She was the petty person who was jealous of Lin Yuanshu.
The people behind this are pulling strings, it's terrifying! They're trying to ruin her!
No, she has to catch the mastermind quickly. The sooner she catches him, the safer she will be. The man who reported her is a breakthrough. Even if he wasn't involved, the mastermind is definitely connected to him.
She would have preferred that the man be involved rather than being foolishly used; the former would be easier to trace, while the latter would be a bit of a headache.
"Instead of wasting time gossiping here, you'd be better off getting to work," Deputy Director Ye reprimanded the group expressionlessly, his tone tinged with displeasure.
She thought Lin Yuanshu had implicated her and resented him in her heart. In the end, it turned out that she had implicated Lin Yuanshu, and Lin Yuanshu suffered an undeserved disaster.
Everyone immediately shut their mouths, filled the tea room with hot water, and left without looking back.
Hong Shuang'er followed behind the group and left the place quietly. When she passed by Deputy Director Ye, she looked up at him.
To be honest, she really thought Deputy Director Ye was highly suspicious. She came to the break room today to see how well the rumors she spread had gone, but she ran into Deputy Director Ye, who looked like he didn't want to listen. If she wasn't suspicious, who was?
This rumor must have exposed her true feelings, which is why she became so angry and embarrassed.
Deputy Director Ye felt much better when he saw everyone disperse.
In just a few days, the rumors about her changed drastically. She went from being an unworthy leader to a pitiful victim who had been framed. That was exactly the effect she wanted.
Lin Yuanshu was now able to relax, while Wu Jianhua's subordinates were extremely anxious and fearful, unable to concentrate on their work.
Seeing that he was frequently distracted, Wu Jianhua couldn't help but ask, "What trouble have you encountered? You've been out of sorts all day and keep making mistakes at work."
The subordinate did not answer Wu Jianhua's question, but instead inquired about other matters, "Have you heard any gossip about Comrade Lin Yuanshu?"
Wu Jianhua, puzzled, asked, "Which gossip are you referring to? She has so many gossips; I'm not sure I've heard them all."
The subordinate took a deep breath, hesitated for a moment, and then slowly spoke: "I heard that the recent rumors about Comrade Lin Yuanshu were spread by spies, because she is so capable at her work that the spies feel threatened. Is this true or false? Is someone around Comrade Lin Yuanshu investigating the identities of these spies?"
His words were already a bit incoherent, probably because he had been worried for two days. If he didn't get these thoughts out, he would really burst. He didn't dare to tell his family either, afraid that they would worry about him.
He can't contact the organization and doesn't know what to do next. Is the organization being watched, or have they abandoned him? He's in a dilemma...
Wu Jianhua dismissed the idea, saying, "Who knows! But Comrade Lin Yuanshu is, after all, the director of the research institute. It's very possible that the higher-ups arranged for secret agents to protect him, so it's not impossible that they discovered the spy."
These rumors are all unbelievable. Some people even say that others are jealous of Lin Yuanshu's strong work ability, which is why they spread these rumors. Anyway, there are all sorts of rumors, but the only thing that remains unchanged is that Lin Yuanshu is completely innocent.
Only Lin Yuanshu probably knows the truth.
Wu Jianhua's words successfully dissuaded his subordinate. Already fearful, he felt as if he was about to be arrested by the police, and wondered if it was too late for him to escape to Japan.
Seeing that his subordinate remained silent for a long time, Wu Jianhua asked in confusion, "What's wrong with you lately? Why do you keep bringing up Comrade Lin Yuanshu? She has no contact with us now. Whether she has spies around her or not is none of our business. Instead of worrying about her, you should worry about whether you can get a promotion!"
The subordinate swallowed hard and replied perfunctorily, "Mm."
He didn't want to get involved either! But the spy was himself, and he couldn't remain indifferent. He didn't know if Lin Yuanshu had discovered his identity, or if the spy in the rumors referred to him, or other accomplices.
Of course, he had also heard other rumors, but he felt that those rumors were just to confuse the public. He believed that Lin Yuanshu's discovery of the spy had been revealed by someone, and that other rumors were being spread in order to divert their attention.
Seeing this, Wu Jianhua didn't say much. He cared for his subordinates meticulously, but they didn't seem to take his words seriously. They were either just giving him the runaround or on their way to doing so.
He said he would ignore them, and it's happened every time, to the point that he doesn't even want to talk to his subordinates anymore. If it weren't for the fact that his subordinates kept making mistakes today, he really wouldn't have bothered with them.
"Since you're not feeling well, you should go home and rest. I'll tell the workshop director you're on sick leave." Wu Jianhua waved his hand, his tone tinged with helplessness.
Without hesitation, the subordinate left the pharmaceutical factory.
As he walked along the road, feeling uneasy, he finally received a message from the organization. Before he could even feel happy, he heard that the organization was going to arrange for him to assassinate Lin Yuanshu. This was like asking him to knowingly walk into a dangerous place!
The subordinate, utterly devastated, said, "I can't do it."
They're sending him to deal with Lin Yuanshu, but Lin Yuanshu hasn't even done that yet. He's about to be exposed, his identity is about to be revealed. This isn't sending him to assassinate Lin Yuanshu, it's sending him to his death!
The contact raised an eyebrow and said calmly, "You're capable. It's not like you haven't killed people before. Why are you so afraid? Besides, Lin Yuanshu isn't some burly man. What's there to be afraid of? Just take the knife, go in with the white blade, and come out with the red blade, and that's it."
These words did not comfort the subordinate, who said with great fear, "Lin Yuanshu has people protecting her. I can't get close to Lin Yuanshu at all. My identity has definitely been discovered. The most urgent thing is to get me away."
The contact smiled slightly, "Stop talking nonsense. Just obediently complete the tasks assigned by the organization, or you'll bear the consequences. If you don't think about yourself, you should at least think about your family!"
The subordinate was stunned for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said, "If you threaten me like this, my dad won't let you get away with it."
The contact patted his subordinate's face, saying disdainfully, "Having enjoyed so many benefits from the organization, it's time for you to repay it. As for your father, ha..."
The so-called "biological father" is nothing more than a fig leaf; his "biological father" has "biological sons" all over the country, so he has no choice but to comply.
The organization is hesitant to act due to the rumors surrounding Lin Yuanshu. They don't know how much Lin Yuanshu knows about the organization, but they understand one thing: their subordinate's identity has definitely been discovered.
Since that's the case, we might as well make use of him and send him to assassinate Lin Yuanshu. This will also allow us to find out Lin Yuanshu's true strength and weaknesses.
If Lin Yuanshu has prepared a trap for her subordinates, it means she has a lot of information about the organization, and then the organization will consider starting to retreat.
If Lin Yuanshu hasn't prepared anything, it means she doesn't know much. They just need to be careful and get through this period.
The subordinate reluctantly replied, "I understand."
He sighed, turned and walked towards Lin Yuanshu's school instead of his own home. He glanced back at the direction of his home, his eyes filled with reluctance.
The contact person may appear to have left their original location, but in reality, they are following behind their subordinate, monitoring them as they complete their mission.
As the sun set, Lin Yuanshu finished her day's classes and left the school, dragging her tired body. Although the matter of the rumors about her had been resolved, the real culprit behind it had never been found.
The root of the problem was already difficult to trace, and the director of the Chinese Academy of Traditional Medicine had to interfere, making the already chaotic situation even worse!
Deputy Director Ye is almost obsessed with investigating this matter; he sees everyone as the mastermind and has become incredibly irritable.
Her recent behavior has made Hong Shuang'er somewhat believe that she is innocent.
Suddenly, a middle-aged man with bloodshot eyes and a haggard expression appeared before Lin Yuanshu. One of his hands was still inside his clothes, and he walked towards her anxiously.
Lin Yuanshu felt that this person looked like he had a mental illness, and a bad feeling arose in her heart. She immediately turned around and walked back to school.
The other person quickened their pace.
Lin Yuanshu took a deep breath and decisively started running. The other person also started running. The situation was now very clear: this person was after her.
Just as she was about to scream for help, the school security guard suddenly appeared and quickly subdued the middle-aged man, throwing the knife out of his hand.
The subordinate struggled and shouted, "Let me go! You disgusting lowlifes, what right do you have to arrest me?"
The contact deep in the alley saw his subordinate being captured and muttered to himself, "As expected, Lin Yuanshu has someone protecting him and made preparations in advance. It seems I need to tell everyone to prepare for the retreat."
As for his subordinates, they were already pawns they were ready to discard. He naturally wouldn't waste his energy trying to save a pawn. It all depended on his fate; if he was lucky, he could live, and if he was unlucky, he would be out of luck.
He glanced at Lin Yuanshu and decisively left the alley.
At the same time, seeing that the middle-aged man had been caught, Lin Yuanshu mustered up her courage and went to the guard's side. She said with a look of relief, "It's good that you showed up in time, otherwise the consequences would have been unimaginable. But speaking of which, how did you suddenly appear? I remember that this place is quite a distance from the school."
The security guard smiled sheepishly and explained, "The principal heard a few days ago that you were being targeted by spies and was worried that they would do anything to assassinate you. So he arranged for me to take you home safely after school. Because I was afraid that you would care too much about me and inadvertently reveal my whereabouts, I didn't tell you about it."
Lin Yuanshu: "..."
The principal is such a good person, and people in this era are so simple and honest. She thinks that among all the rumors, this spy rumor is the most fake.
Instead of trying to steal secrets, the spy came to spread rumors about her. He must have nothing better to do.
Lin Yuanshu looked her subordinate up and down and asked suspiciously, "I don't know you. Why did you want to assassinate me? Who ordered you to come? If you don't tell me, I'll send you to the police station. If you obediently tell me everything you know, then I'll let you go."
The subordinate's face was pressed to the ground by the security guard, and he said with difficulty, "You're not lying to me?"
Lin Yuanshu said righteously and sternly, "I am a man of my word, and I would never lie to you about something like this."
As his subordinate hesitated, he heard the bodyguard on top of him whisper, "You're letting a tiger return to the mountain!"
His heart jumped into his throat, and his hesitation turned into worry that Lin Yuanshu would change his mind.
While observing the middle-aged man's expression, Lin Yuanshu said in a serious tone, "You don't need to say anything more. I've already made up my mind. This is how it will be done."
The security guard had no choice but to reluctantly shut his mouth.
"Can you tell me now?" Lin Yuanshu asked, looking down.
After much hesitation, the subordinate thought of his children at home and repeatedly asked, "No matter who I am, you will let me go?"
Lin Yuanshu nodded without hesitation.
The subordinate took a deep breath and reluctantly said, "I'm a worker at the Dongfanghong Research Institute, and I work for Wu Jianhua. As for why I wanted to assassinate you, you're just asking a question you already know the answer to. The security guard has already given you the answer..."
Lin Yuanshu thought about what the security guard had said earlier, and looked at the person in front of her in shock, "You're a spy?"
Having lived two lifetimes, this was the first time she had ever met a spy.
"You didn't know I was a spy?" The subordinate was equally shocked.
If Lin Yuanshu didn't know his true identity, wouldn't that mean all his actions today were unnecessary? As long as he didn't act rashly, he could continue to live peacefully.
Lin Yuanshu smiled slightly and said ambiguously, "Maybe he knows, maybe he doesn't, who knows?"
They really caught a big fish.
The subordinate's face darkened instantly. He gritted his teeth and said, "I've told you everything I know. Let me go now."
Lin Yuanshu stroked his chin and ordered, "Release him."
The guard said reluctantly, "He's a spy. People like him should be killed on the spot. How can we let him go?"
"Release it," Lin Yuanshu ordered again.
The security guard glared at his subordinate and reluctantly let go of his hand.
His subordinate, beaming with pride, was about to leave when he heard Lin Yuanshu say, "Arrest him!"
Upon hearing Lin Yuanshu's order, the security guard instinctively pressed his subordinate to the ground again.
The subordinate was furious and said, "You're a liar! You broke your promise!"
Lin Yuanshu shook his head and denied it, saying, "I didn't. I already let you go, but who would have thought you'd be caught by the security guards again? That's not my problem. I'm only responsible for letting you go once. It's because your legs are too short and you run too slowly!"
The subordinate struggled desperately, but he was no match for the security guard and could not break free. He began to beg the security guard to let him go, saying that he had an elderly mother and children at home and that he could not afford to get hurt.
"To avoid any unforeseen complications, let's send him to the police station now. Maybe we can get some names of spies out of him," Lin Yuanshu said with a serious expression.
She believed the police could investigate the matter thoroughly, and she just needed to wait for the results.
The guard nodded excitedly. Catching a spy was a great achievement, and his whole family would be proud of it.
Initially, no one was willing to take on the task of secretly escorting Lin Yuanshu home. It was only because he admired Lin Yuanshu's talent that he took the initiative to take on the task. Who would have thought that the spy would actually make a move!
The subordinate refused to give up, saying, "I'm willing to give you the list right now. Can you let me go? As long as you don't send me to the police station, I'm willing to tell you anything. I can even help you catch other spies. I don't ask for much, just that you don't tell anyone my identity."
Lin Yuanshu smiled slightly and refused, saying, "I'm not a police officer; catching spies isn't my responsibility."
The security guards were somewhat eager to investigate, but they also knew that such a big matter couldn't be kept secret from the police officers at the local police station.
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