Chapter 94 The tallest tree in the forest will surely be felled by the wind.
In the provincial capital, smoke filled a private room at the state-run No. 2 Hotel.
Four dishes and a soup were laid out on the round table:
Braised pork belly, steamed fish, stir-fried vegetables, cucumber salad, and a bowl of tomato and egg soup. In this day and age, this is considered a very respectable meal.
Five people were sitting around the table, all dressed in Zhongshan suits or military uniforms, and aged between thirty and fifty.
Sitting in the main seat was the middle-aged man with neatly combed slicked-back hair who was reading anonymous letters in his office. His name was Chen Yongkang, the head of the Third Section of the Provincial Special Affairs Investigation Office.
At that moment, he was slowly and methodically picking out fish bones with chopsticks, a friendly smile on his face.
"Come on, Lao Liu, try this fish. It was just delivered today, it's very fresh."
Chen Yongkang placed the deboned fish meat into the bowl of a fair-skinned man wearing black-rimmed glasses next to him.
The man called Lao Liu is Liu Jianguo, the deputy director of a research institute under the provincial health department. He is in his early forties and his glasses are as thick as the bottom of a bottle.
He adjusted his glasses and thanked him repeatedly.
"Section Chief Chen, you're too kind, too kind."
"Hey, forget about being a section chief. When we're having dinner together, we're all comrades."
Chen Yongkang waved his hand and poured local rice wine for the others.
"I invited a few of you here today for no other reason than that it's been a long time since we've all gotten together, so we'd like to chat and exchange ideas."
After several rounds of drinks and several dishes, the atmosphere gradually became lively.
Sitting to Chen Yongkang's right was a square-faced man named Zhao Dezhu, a section chief in the logistics department of the provincial military region. After a few drinks, he became more talkative:
"If you ask me, some organizations these days are exaggerating their work! Old Chen, your office is well-informed, have you heard? They've come up with some kind of miracle hemostatic drug over there on the island. They're making it sound like the moon!"
Liu Jianguo adjusted his glasses and continued:
"I know a little about this. I heard it was done by a country girl who's not even twenty years old? And she even became some kind of specially appointed expert?"
"Nonsense! All the old professors in our lab have spent their lives working with pharmaceuticals, and none of them have ever dared to make such a boast!"
Chen Yongkang took a sip of wine and smiled without saying a word.
The other tall, thin man, surnamed Sun, was a low-ranking cadre in the propaganda department of the Provincial Revolutionary Committee. He lowered his voice:
"I heard that girl's background is quite extraordinary. Her hometown is the most remote village in Liaoning Province, and it's said that she didn't even finish elementary school? Suddenly she can cure diseases and even dispense medicine? This doesn't make sense."
Zhao Dezhu slammed his hand on the table:
"Exactly! Something's fishy going on! If you ask me, we should investigate this thoroughly! Maybe it's..."
He looked around, lowering his voice even further.
"Could they have been sent from over there?"
He emphasized the two words "over there" with both light and heavy emphasis, causing the expressions of the people at the table to change.
Liu Jianguo frowned:
"Section Chief Zhao, you can't say things like that carelessly. Old Qian personally verified the medicine's efficacy."
"Old Qian?"
Zhao Dezhu chuckled.
"It's true that Professor Qian is a technical authority, but he's a kind-hearted man. What if he's been deceived? Besides, even if the medicine is real, is he a clean person?"
A country girl suddenly possesses such extraordinary abilities. Was there no one teaching her? No one directing her? What was her motive? Just to contribute to the country? I don't believe it!
Only then did Chen Yongkang slowly put down his wine glass and sigh:
“What the comrades said makes sense. Logically speaking, talented people are hard to find, and we should protect and support them. But it is precisely at times like these that we must keep our eyes open. I have also recently received some complaints from the public.”
He paused, seemingly considering his words:
"It is reported that this Comrade Gu Baobao is particularly close to certain cadres in the military region, and his lifestyle... well, of course, it may be a rumor."
But there's no smoke without fire. Besides, her idea of exchanging traditional Chinese medicine for foreign exchange sounds good, but putting it into practice… dealing with foreigners is a very complex matter. What if she gets taken advantage of, or what if she herself…”
He shook his head and didn't say anything more, but the unspoken meaning left people with more to think about than if he had said it all.
Officer Sun immediately continued:
"Section Chief Chen's considerations are thorough! This is a major issue concerning national interests and defense security! We cannot lower our guard just because someone has some ability!"
I suggest that a joint investigation team be immediately established, stationed on the island, and thoroughly investigate the origins of this person and this drug!
Liu Jianguo was still somewhat hesitant:
"But the higher-ups seem to take it very seriously. I heard they're going to send a working group to assist, and we'll even be going abroad to participate in an exhibition..."
"Then we should investigate even more thoroughly!"
Zhao Dezhu became excited.
"If we go out with problems, make an international laughing stock, or leak secrets, who will be responsible? Director Liu, we are doing this for the revolutionary cause! We would rather find out there are no problems than let them go with doubts! This is a matter of principle!"
Looking at their indignant expressions, Chen Yongkang's eyes flashed with a hint of satisfaction, but his face showed a troubled look:
“I understand how my comrades feel. But this matter… involves the military region and a leading figure like Qian Xuesen, so it’s not easy to handle.”
"What's so difficult about it?"
Zhao Dezhu, intoxicated, pounded his chest loudly.
"Let's follow the procedures! Write a report, submit the materials! List out all the doubts clearly! I refuse to believe that the higher-ups won't look at the facts!"
"Yes! Write a joint report!"
Sun, the cadre, also chimed in.
Liu Jianguo looked at this and that, and finally nodded:
“If there are indeed doubts, we should report them. This is also being responsible to our comrade. If she is truly innocent, investigating and clarifying the matter will also protect her.”
Chen Yongkang then seemed to have made up his mind, raised his glass and said:
"Since all of you comrades think so, let's, with a high sense of responsibility to the revolutionary cause,..."
Report the information and concerns you have gathered to your superiors truthfully! Come, let's drink to the purity of the revolutionary cause!
"Dry!"
The wine glasses clinked together, making a crisp sound.
In the smoke, several faces glowed red, radiating a kind of excitement in defending the truth.
Chen Yongkang slowly finished his drink, lowered his eyelids, and concealed the fleeting coldness in his eyes.
Gu Baobao! Gu Baobao, the tallest tree in the forest is bound to be felled by the wind.
Do you understand this principle?
Want to go to a wider world?
Want to soar to the sky?
His lips curved into an almost imperceptible smile.
Ideally, its wings would break halfway through.
Or... what if something goes wrong with those hands that are said to be able to bring the dead back to life and concoct medicines with miraculous skill?
That's such a shame.
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