Chapter 129 Gu Ningbao is here
In the provincial capital, the atmosphere in that low-rise bungalow was strangely tense.
Chen Yongkang's hand was still gripping "Su Xiaoyu's" neck, but his grip loosened involuntarily.
The woman before me had the same face, but her eyes had completely changed. The previous foolishness, resentment, and fear had vanished, replaced by a strange calm, even carrying a hint of... amusement and scrutiny?
She was even able to breathe and say those words.
"Honey, I'm more important than you think. We're husband and wife, are you going to kill me off?"
His voice was hoarse, yet every word was clear, carrying an incongruous calmness.
Chen Yongkang's pupils contracted slightly, his grip tightened, and he stared intently into her eyes:
"Su Xiaoyu, stop playing tricks on me! Tell me, what are you up to?!"
"Su Xiaoyu? Ha..."
The woman, or rather, Gu Ningbao, who had taken over Su Xiaoyu's body, chuckled softly. The laughter was filled with mockery, whether directed at herself or the original owner of the body was unclear.
"That idiot is dead. I'm the one talking to you now."
She felt a deadly pressure on her neck, but she wasn't particularly afraid.
In her past life, she lived in the shadow of her genius cousin Gu Yubao, witnessed the coldness of human relationships, and developed the instinct to negotiate in desperate situations.
The murderous intent in Chen Yongkang's eyes was real, but he wouldn't kill her for the time being.
At least until we figure out exactly how much she knows and what her value is.
"Didn't you want Gu Baobao's formula?"
Gu Ningbao softened her tone, her voice becoming coaxing.
"What a coincidence, I have some too. Although they can't compare to her miraculous medicines, some of these formulas are enough to make you rich in this day and age, or... exchange them for what you want."
Chen Yongkang's heart pounded.
Gu Baobao?
formula?
How did this woman know he was interested in the baby's formula?
Who exactly is she?!
He abruptly released her, slamming her hard onto the cold ground. He took two steps back and stared at her as if she were a monster.
Gu Ningbao covered her neck and coughed violently a few times, greedily inhaling the air.
The near-death experience made her even more disgusted with her frail body and terrible situation, but it also fueled her fighting spirit.
Gu Yubao, no, she's Gu Baobao now?
How come you can still thrive in this crappy era?
They're always blocking my way wherever I go!
But it's okay, I'm here now.
Although the start was terrible, at least... I learned of your existence and the secret of this man.
She slowly got up from the ground, tidied her messy hair and clothes. Although her clothes were worn, she tried to straighten her back, attempting to regain some of the demeanor she had as a member of a family of doctors in her previous life.
"Let's get to know each other again."
She looked at Chen Yongkang, whose face was full of wariness and suspicion, and forced a smile that wasn't exactly attractive.
"My surname is Gu, Gu Ningbao. I know a little about medicine and some things... that might interest you. As for the original Su Xiaoyu, you probably strangled her to death. Now, we're in the same boat, Section Chief Chen, oh no, husband?"
The last "husband" gave Chen Yongkang goosebumps.
His mind raced.
The woman before me is definitely not Su Xiaoyu! Her demeanor, tone of voice, eyes, even the subtle sense of superiority and her mention of medical skills are completely different from Su Xiaoyu's.
Reincarnation?
Or... something else?
But whatever it was, she mentioned Gu Baobao, the formula, and immediately revealed her interest in Gu Baobao.
This means she may know more.
The urge to kill surged up again, but even stronger than the urge to kill was the desire to explore and exploit.
If... if she really has some skills, if she can actually come up with something useful...
Chen Yongkang suppressed his turbulent thoughts, his face returning to its usual, somewhat hypocritical and gentle expression, though his eyes remained icy:
"Gu Ningbao? Never heard of her. You say you have the formula? That's just empty talk."
Gu Ningbao sneered inwardly, knowing that the first step was secure.
What I fear is not his suspicion, but his ruthless killing.
Give me paper and pen.
She pointed to the table.
"I'll write one down for you to see. It's a simple remedy for malaria, not as effective as quinine, but it's cheaper and the ingredients are readily available. In the water-rich areas of the south, or... through certain special channels, it might be of some value, right?"
malaria!
Chen Yongkang's heart skipped a beat. In those days, malaria remained a common disease plaguing the southern regions and the military; effective treatments relied on imports and were expensive. If there truly was a cheap and effective remedy…
He was skeptical, but he still took out half a pencil and a crumpled piece of paper from the drawer and threw them over.
Gu Ningbao took it, recalled some ancient books and family prescriptions about malaria that she had read in her previous life, and combined them with the medicinal materials available in this era, she quickly wrote down a simplified version of the Artemisia annua and turtle shell decoction with modifications.
She deliberately omitted the most crucial ingredient ratios and processing methods, but the general idea and main medicinal materials are clear.
After she finished writing, she pushed the paper away.
Chen Yongkang picked up the paper. Although he wasn't an expert in medicine, he still had basic common sense and insight. This prescription looked... plausible, at least not made up.
He looked up and re-examined the woman in front of him.
"Who exactly are you? What's your relationship with Gu Baobao?" he asked, his tone softening slightly, but his vigilance remained.
“Enemy.” Gu Ningbao uttered two words, a deep resentment flashing in her eyes.
"As for who I am, you don't need to know too much. You just need to know that I probably know more about Gu Baobao than you do. And we have a common goal: neither of us wants her to have an easy time, right?"
Chen Yongkang remained silent.
The enemy of my enemy is not necessarily my friend, but he or she can be a temporary tool.
"You just said we'd be husband and wife?" he asked slowly.
"It's just for show."
Gu Ningbao twitched the corner of her mouth.
"You need cover, I need a temporary foothold and... a partner. It's a win-win situation."
Once I've established myself and gotten what I want, we can go our separate ways anytime. Of course, that's on the condition that you don't try to silence me again.
She spoke bluntly and coldly.
Chen Yongkang discovered that dealing with Su Xiaoyu like this was actually less troublesome than dealing with the original, foolish, and impulsive one:
At least, she understood the stakes.
"Can."
He finally nodded, carefully folded the prescription, and put it away.
"But you need to prove your worth. One recipe isn't enough."
"rest assured."
Gu Ningbao walked to the small window and looked out at the dusty streets of the provincial capital.
"Isn't Gu Baobao going to F country to make a big splash? Although we can't reach her for now, we can still think of ways to create some trouble for her and make her journey less smooth. For example... what about when she's at the pharmaceutical factory in the provincial capital these few days?"
She turned around and looked at Chen Yongkang, her eyes flashing with calculation:
"What if she has a technical accident while supervising the production line, or if a minor problem is found with the key data she provides... wouldn't that affect her schedule, or even affect her superiors' trust in her?"
Chen Yongkang narrowed his eyes.
This woman is ruthless and audacious.
"Do you have a solution?"
"Give me some time. I need to understand the situation at the pharmaceutical company and what specific guidance she needs."
Gu Ningbao said,
"Besides, I need some money and some freedom of movement. After all, I am now your frail and sickly wife who needs to relax, aren't I?"
Chen Yongkang stared at her for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled, but the smile was devoid of warmth:
"Alright. I'll trust you this once. But Gu Ningbao, you'd better not try anything funny. Don't forget, I gave you your life. I can take it away whenever I want."
"Likewise."
Gu Ningbao met his gaze without backing down.
"And don't forget, I know your secret. A radio... isn't something an ordinary cadre should have."
Their eyes met in mid-air, silently forging a dangerous and fragile alliance.
Outside, the hustle and bustle of the provincial capital gradually rose.
The two people inside the house, each harboring their own secrets, began plotting how to create new trouble for Gu Baobao, who was far away and completely unaware of the situation.
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