Chapter 74

Chapter 74

"Knock, knock, knock."

"Come in." Qian Jun's gaze shifted from the report to the newcomer. Feng Xia was wearing a blue dacron jacket today. Old Lady Wu had Feng Xia's measurements down perfectly, so the clothes fit perfectly. The jacket also had a small, inconspicuous sunflower embroidered on it, making the young girl look even more endearing.

It was March 1973. The deep green of spring promised summer was on its way. Feng Xia had grown a bit taller and looked more radiant than ever. What remained unchanged about her was that lazy, languid air—as if nothing in the world truly concerned her.

Qian Jun said, "Comrade Feng Xia, the transfer order from the capital has arrived. This trip to the capital will be quite long. You should pack your bags quickly and leave tomorrow afternoon."

Feng Xia: "Alright. Am I going alone?"

Qian Jun: "Yes. This time, you’ll be flying there on a military plane. Some of the senior gentlemen can't handle the journey. Old Mr. Wan did apply to go with you, but the stun baton factory's production is still unstable and requires their oversight, so I'm afraid you'll have to go alone this time."

Feng Xia nodded: "Okay, I’ll go home and pack."

When she got home, she told Old Lady Wu about it. The old lady immediately began preparing things for Feng Xia—clothes for spring and summer, shoes, and all kinds of snacks, many of which she had made herself, like dried rabbit meat, which was fragrant and chewy. All of these had to be brought along.

There were many items: a large bundle of things, a leather suitcase full of clothes, and another big bundle of food.

Afraid she might have forgotten something, the old lady went next door to talk to Qian’s wife. The two women packed even more things from all over the house, all for Feng Xia to take.

After everything was packed, Feng Xia went to see Old Mr. Wan Fulin again. He didn't say much—just patted her shoulder and handed her a few books, telling her to study hard in the capital and never neglect her books.

Then he pulled out a letter from under his desk drawer and told Feng Xia that if she ran into any trouble in the capital, she should go to Tsinghua University to find Professor Jin Zhaozhong, an old friend of his. Professor Jin would look out for her.

They talked a bit more, and then Feng Xia went to say goodbye to the others, promising to bring back local specialties from the capital. The old gentlemen smiled and nodded, patting the girl's head affectionately and wishing her a smooth journey.

Feng Xia also visited Yuan Biao and Lin Feihu. Everything was settled, and night had already fallen. After a good night’s sleep, the next day Feng Xia picked up her large suitcase and big bundle, waved goodbye to Old Lady Wu, and headed to the tarmac.

The military plane was parked not far away. It looked far less impressive than later models—somewhat crude and outdated. But for the time, it was still top-tier in the country. Feng Xia gazed at it thoughtfully.

She was able to hitch a ride on the military plane for two reasons: first, the urgency from the capital—they were eagerly waiting for her and practically wanted to snatch her away immediately; second, it happened to coincide with a transport run for military supplies, so they simply brought Feng Xia along.

The military plane was small. Besides Feng Xia and the pilot, there were only two young soldiers. These soldiers were from a field army base. When they saw Feng Xia, their eyes lit up—clearly, they also knew about the tremendous power of the stun batons. They enthusiastically took her suitcase and bundle from her and helped her store them. Entering the cabin, the interior was as rough as the exterior. Military planes aren’t like civilian aircraft—they prioritize performance over comfort.

"Feng... Comrade Feng Xia, hello. I’m Zhang Xiaojun, squad leader of the second regiment’s fifth squad. Nice to meet you." The young soldier blushed as he extended a hand. Feng Xia shook his hand gracefully. The other soldier also introduced himself. They talked a bit more, and then the plane took off.

As the plane ascended into the sky, Zhang Xiaojun’s face turned pale. It was his first time flying, his first time leaving the ground at such a high altitude. He could clearly see the vast landscape below, with clouds swirling around. Many people get nervous or even throw up.

Zhang Xiaojun struggled to suppress his discomfort. He glanced at Feng Xia. Her expression was calm, and there was even a faint smile on her lips as she looked down at the mountains and rivers below, looking very happy. She showed no signs of nervousness at all, not like someone flying for the first time. Zhang Xiaojun’s admiration grew even stronger. "No wonder she invented the stun baton—really amazing!"

The flight from Dongshan to the capital took about three hours, much faster than by train.

The tarmac in the capital was located in the suburbs. It would take another hour by car to reach the research institute. Someone was already waiting for Feng Xia. After picking her up, they hurried to the institute.

The driver was Zhang He, a security guard from the institute—a dark-skinned, strong young man with a warm and hearty voice: "Comrade Feng Xia, you don’t know how eagerly our colleagues at the institute have been waiting for you! The leadership has arranged accommodation for you in the family quarters, at Professor Zhu Guangya’s house. Let me take you there first. If you don't like it, we’ll find another place."

A smile appeared on Feng Xia’s fair face as she nodded and said okay.

When they arrived at the institute, there were armed guards at the gate. The car had already gone through three checkpoints on the way in, each more stringent than the last. Zhang He carried her luggage and took her to Professor Zhu’s house. Along the way, he gave her a brief overview of the professor's household.

Professor Zhu’s children were all working elsewhere, so only he and his wife—a professor in the Chinese department at Peking University—lived there. The couple were gentle and kind. When they heard about arranging accommodation for Feng Xia, they were the first to invite her to stay with them. Moreover, Professor Zhu’s house was close to the institute, making it convenient for travel.

Chatting all the way, they arrived at Professor Zhu Guangya’s small courtyard. The yard was full of green onions and greens, lush and healthy.

An elderly lady, about fifty years old, with her hair neatly combed, was sweeping the yard. She wore a cotton skirt and a shawl draped over her shoulders. Though her face showed her age, her old-world elegance was still evident.

This must be Professor Zhu Guangya’s wife.

The old lady also saw the visitors. She called out "Old Zhu" and put down her broom. Stepping forward, she took Feng Xia’s hand, her voice full of obvious joy: "So this is Feng Xia! You’re really pretty. Welcome, welcome! Come on in, Xiao Zhang, sit for a while too. Old Zhu and I knew you were coming today, so we bought a lot of ingredients."

Zhang He waved his hand, saying he had to report back to his superior and would come for a meal when he had time. Professor Chen Yue didn't insist, just told him to come when he could. Zhang He delivered Feng Xia’s luggage to the house and left.

Professor Zhu Guangya was cooking in the kitchen. Several meat dishes were already laid out on the table—clearly a welcome feast prepared for Feng Xia.

"Come, come, Feng Xia. First, let me show you your room. We’ll take your luggage upstairs." Professor Chen Yue tried to help carry the luggage, but Feng Xia stopped her, saying it was too heavy and she could manage. The old lady smiled and didn’t insist, leading Feng Xia upstairs.

The room was very clean. The cotton quilts on the bed looked soft. The old lady helped Feng Xia hang up her clothes and organize the bundle. Feng Xia took out a bag of dried meat and dried fruit and handed it over. The old lady happily accepted it. Once everything was done, they went downstairs.

Professor Zhu Guangya had finished cooking. The table was laden with delicious, varied dishes—clearly, Professor Zhu was an excellent cook.

On her first day in the capital, Feng Xia ate until she was stuffed. She slept in bedding that smelled faintly of sandalwood and was very satisfied.