Chapter 197 Now, it's our turn to return the favor.
The atmosphere inside the courtyard was heavy and oppressive.
National security personnel are conducting more professional sampling and preliminary analysis of the sealed medicinal materials, while also questioning Gu Baobao, Lu Zhanming, and all guards in detail to sort out the timeline and contacts.
Gu Baobao has regained her composure and is cooperating in describing the details of identifying the medicinal materials and their potential impact.
Lu Zhanming and the person in charge of the National Security team exchanged information in hushed tones about the security deployment and suspicious clues.
Everyone was taken aback when they saw Old Master Lu stride in with a stern face.
"Grandpa, what brings you here?"
Lu Zhanming hurriedly went to meet him.
"How could I not come?!"
Old Master Lu's gaze was sharp as he swept over the messy backyard windows and the burlap sacks sealed up at the entrance to the east wing.
Finally, the anger fell on Gu Baobao. Seeing that although her face was a little pale, her eyes were still relatively calm, he felt slightly relieved, but his anger intensified.
"Baby, are you alright? Were you scared?"
"Grandpa, I'm fine. The medicine was discovered early, so there was no damage."
A warm feeling washed over Gu Baobao, and she answered obediently.
"It's good that you're alright!"
Old Master Lu snorted heavily and turned to the person in charge of national security. He recognized him.
"The second son of the Zhao family? Zhao Feng?"
"Old Lu!"
Zhao Feng stood at attention and saluted respectfully.
"Why did you come in person?"
"If I hadn't come soon, some people might have thought our knives were too old, rusty, and too heavy to lift!"
Old Master Lu's voice wasn't loud, but it carried immense weight.
"In their own capital, they tried to sabotage the experts we're risking our lives to protect, and they almost succeeded!"
This is a provocation! This is a declaration of war! If your National Security Bureau can't dig out this nest of worms hiding in our hearts this time, I don't think you'll have the face to wear this uniform anymore!
Zhao Feng's expression turned serious:
"Don't worry, Elder Lu! The commander has given a firm order: solve the case at all costs within the specified time!"
Our initial assessment is that this was a targeted sabotage operation with overseas connections, specifically carried out by personnel within China.
We have already established full control over the medicinal herb supply line, and we believe we will make a breakthrough soon.
"Overseas?"
Old Master Lu's eyes flashed with a sharp light.
"Is it that Lavoisier who stirred up trouble in F country?"
Zhao Feng didn't give a direct answer, but his eyes said it all:
"All clues and signs point to a foreign force that has a grudge against Expert Gu. They may have used deeply hidden enemy agents."
"Okay, okay!"
Old Master Lu nodded repeatedly in anger.
"For decades, these persistent bastards have really started to think they're something special!"
We failed to completely eliminate them back then, and now they dare to show their faces and harm people!
Zhao Feng, let me be frank with you. If you need any support, we old guys are still able to get things done and will be there whenever you call!
We'll provide the manpower and the channels! In short, dig out this bunch of scum, root and ram, and leave no one behind!
"Yes! Thank you for your support, Elder Lu!"
Zhao Feng solemnly promised.
The arrival and statement of Mr. Lu undoubtedly gave the investigation team a strong boost and conveyed the top leadership's determination to show no leniency.
The subsequent investigation involved meticulous segmentation within the vast capital city system.
The capital's third medicinal herb supply station was completely sealed off.
All employees were isolated and investigated, and purchase records, warehousing records, and outbound documents were checked one by one.
The delivery driver, Lao Wu, was an honest and simple veteran. He was so scared that his legs went weak, and he swore that he knew nothing and that it was just like that when he was loading the truck.
The focus quickly shifted to Qian Youde, the warehouse keeper at the supply station.
He was in his fifties, wore glasses, and appeared refined and taciturn. He had worked at the supply station for over a decade and had a good reputation for his meticulous work.
However, the investigation team discovered that on the afternoon of the day before the problematic medicinal materials were released from the warehouse, Qian Youde, who was supposed to be resting, entered the warehouse alone under the pretext of checking the inventory and stayed for nearly an hour.
The warehouse records showed minor signs of alteration during that period.
Faced with sudden interrogation and psychological pressure, Qian Youde initially denied everything, claiming that he was just doing a normal inventory check.
But when the investigation team presented evidence:
The small dose of powder found in a hidden part of his home was identical in composition to the powder of Caragana sinica found in the contaminated medicinal materials.
His psychological defenses crumbled when records of several recent communications between him and an overseas mailing address were obtained through special channels.
Qian Youde, whose original name was Qian Bojun, worked as an apprentice at a foreign pharmacy before the liberation, a period of his life that he cleverly concealed.
He was actually an enemy agent who was discovered in the late 1940s and subsequently went into hiding for a long time due to a loss of contact.
Lavoisier activated this hidden mole through some long-forgotten channels.
The instructions are simple:
Taking advantage of his position, he replaced specific medicinal materials delivered to a specific address at a specific time.
The reward was a sum of US dollars in an overseas account, along with a promise of the opportunity to get his grandson out of the country.
"I...I was just confused for a moment...They said it would only make the medicine less effective, and wouldn't kill anyone...My grandson wants to study medicine, and the conditions are better abroad..."
Qian Youde confessed with tears streaming down his face.
"Won't anyone die?"
During the interrogation, Zhao Feng slammed his fist on the table, his anger turning into a mocking laugh.
"If Expert Gu uses that batch of medicine to treat people and causes problems, you will be an accomplice to murder! You dare to betray your country and harm people just for your grandson to go abroad?"
Do you even know who Expert Gu is? She's saved more people than you've seen in several lifetimes!
Unearthing Qian Youde was like pulling out a deeply buried poisonous vine.
Following this lead, the national security authorities launched a covert screening and surveillance operation nationwide targeting similar historically abandoned moles.
Meanwhile, international intelligence channels also began to operate at full capacity, collecting evidence of Lavoisier's connections with these moles, as well as clues about his laboratories conducting illegal research.
In the courtyard, Gu Baobao remained silent for a long time after hearing the latest developments brought by Lu Zhanming.
"Brother Zhanming,"
She nestled in her husband's arms, her voice weary, but mostly cold.
"Does the fact that Lavoisier was able to awaken such hidden agents mean that there are many more like Qian Youde sleeping in places we can't see?"
They might be right next to us, the most ordinary, unremarkable neighbors, and the shop assistants... just waiting to be awakened one day, then bite us like venomous snakes?
Lu Zhanming tightened his arms around her, his chin resting on the top of her head, his voice deep and firm:
“Yes, baby. The struggle has never stopped, it’s just changed form. Before it was open warfare, now it’s more of an undercurrent. But, you see,”
He gestured towards the seemingly peaceful but actually heavily guarded alleyway outside the window.
"We've found it, we've taken action. This time, we've dug one up. Next time, we'll dig up more."
Their era is over; now it is the people's country. Any parasites that try to disrupt this peace will be found and crushed.
He lifted Gu Baobao's face and looked into her eyes:
Are you scared?
Gu Baobao shook her head, her eyes gradually sharpening:
"I'm not afraid. I just feel... we can't just sit here and take a beating. Lavoisier has given us such a great gift, shouldn't we... reciprocate in kind?"
Lu Zhanming looked at the familiar light shining in her eyes—the light he had seen when facing provocation at the F country exhibition, the light he had seen when facing difficult problems on the operating table. He knew that his little wife was definitely not a delicate flower that would only hide under a protective umbrella.
What do you want to do?
He asked, with complete trust and support.
Gu Baobao didn't answer immediately. She walked to the desk, picked up a pen, and slowly wrote a few words on a piece of white paper:
"Medicinal herb contamination...toxin analysis...reverse deduction...specific mutagenesis..."
She raised her head, looked at Lu Zhanming, and a cold smile curled at the corner of her lips:
"He likes playing with drugs, doesn't he? Then I'll use drugs to give him a... truly scientific gift. However, this requires the most professional analysis and intelligence support."
"Brother Zhanming, could you help me contact Comrade Zhao Feng, or a more specialized pharmacology and toxicology analysis department? I think we could collaborate."
Looking at the words on the paper that were ahead of their time, and then at the fighting spirit burning in his wife's eyes, Lu Zhanming felt a surge of pride.
"Okay! I'll arrange it right away!"
Lavoisier, we have received your gift.
Now, it's our turn to return the favor.
This return gift will travel along the poisonous hand you extended, burning all the way back to your lair.
Let me show you what it means to lift a rock only to drop it on your own foot; those who play with fire will eventually get burned.
Outside the courtyard, the darkness before dawn seemed even deeper, but the eastern horizon was already faintly revealing a sharp, undeniable light.
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