Chapter 77

Chapter 77

The finished product was submitted, and what to do with it was the higher-ups' business, but Feng Xia still wrote and submitted a report suggesting that if the electroshock batons needed battery replacements, it would be best to switch to this one in the future to extend their service life.

Professor Zhu Guangya passed Feng Xia's report up the chain, and the higher-ups took it very seriously. Several top leaders held meetings for days over it. Currently, Flower Kingdom was in a weak position internationally, and the advent of this Liquid Lithium Battery greatly boosted national prestige. All the scientific researchers involved in the project received bonuses. As for Feng Xia, her bonus was even larger. The higher-ups worried that the young girl might face inconveniences outside and also exchanged for various industrial coupons, almost buying everything for her.

This showed how much they valued Feng Xia—the nation's big daddy was looking out for her.

After handling all this, Professor Zhu Guangya finally breathed a sigh of relief. He was getting old, and research was mentally and physically draining. Over this period, he had more white hairs and deeper wrinkles. Now that he could relax, he made a big feast at home that day.

Before, it was just him and his wife, and even if he was itching to show off his cooking skills, he didn't want to waste food, so he only made one or two dishes to celebrate with the old lady.

Now with Feng Xia around, there were no such worries. The table was fully loaded. The old couple just tasted a bit of each dish and were full, then sat smiling and watching Feng Xia eat. Feng Xia ate with her cheeks bulging, looking so appetizing that the couple ended up having another bowl of rice themselves, stuffing themselves.

Feng Xia didn't let them down—she finished every last bite of the dishes and then quickly washed the dishes. The girl had grown taller; it was August 1974, and Feng Xia was fourteen. Professor Chen planned to take her to buy some new clothes in the afternoon.

At the supply and marketing cooperative, bustling Beijing meant the three-story building was crowded every day, like a modern shopping mall. The goods were plentiful, clothes were varied, and the service staff were quite enthusiastic.

The old lady took Feng Xia to try on clothes one by one. The first stall sold sweaters. Feng Xia liked the dark green one, but the old lady preferred the pink one, thinking that a young girl should wear such vibrant colors. Feng Xia didn't argue; she tried them on for size and bought both. Two sweaters cost twenty yuan, plus two wool yarn coupons.

Many people preferred to buy wool yarn and knit their own sweaters, since a roll of wool yarn cost about one yuan, and five yuan worth of wool could easily make one sweater with leftovers. Goods were honest back then—a roll of wool yarn was generous.

But Feng Xia didn't know how to knit, nor did she have the nerve to ask the old lady to knit for her. Besides, the old lady didn't know how either!

Moving on, Feng Xia bought two pairs of corduroy pants, quite thick. The pants she was wearing had become a bit short, slightly exposing her ankles. She didn't find it a problem, as there was indeed a trend in later times of showing ankles, which was considered stylish. Such retro trends had even made a comeback during the apocalypse, but after a zombie snapped her ankle, that trend completely died out.

The old lady also picked out a pair of comfortable, non-squeezing shoes for Feng Xia and bought several pairs of woolen socks. They ended up with a pile of bags, but Feng Xia wouldn't let the old lady carry them, easily lifting them herself.

The old lady smiled and went to the first floor to buy some pastries and candies. Both were satisfied with their shopping and headed out.

The streets were crowded; the Mid-Autumn Festival was approaching, and the air was filled with the sweet scent of mooncakes. Feng Xia wanted to buy mooncakes at the cooperative, but the old lady stopped her. She knew an old-established shop that made excellent mooncakes, but business was slow there now. However, if you brought your own ingredients and paid for labor, they would make them. Professor Zhu Guangya had already ordered some, to be picked up later.

As they walked home, they met an acquaintance who chatted with the old lady for a bit. Feng Xia stood on the outside, shielding the old lady. The acquaintance praised Feng Xia, saying she was filial, making the old lady beam with joy—she clearly adored Feng Xia.

"Everyone, be the judge. This is my younger sister. Her family arranged a marriage for her, but she didn't want it, so she stole our parents' life savings and ran here. Shouldn't I take her back?" The man speaking was tall, dark-skinned, looking like a farmer. He held a girl's slender wrist, his face appearing honest, but a fierce glint flashed in his eyes, unnoticed.

The girl being dragged was crying, her voice hoarse: "I don't know him. I really don't know him. Please, help me, save me."

The man said sternly: "As soon as I say I'm taking you home, you don't recognize me as your brother? The marriage our parents arranged has been canceled. They're not well and want to see you one last time. I'm begging you, okay?"

The onlookers started whispering among themselves, blaming the girl.

"Oh, if the engagement is off, you should go back to see your parents. They raised you after all!"

"What an ungrateful child, not even recognizing her own brother, and stealing money. She deserves a good beating. Spare the rod, spoil the child."

Word after word, they all but confirmed the two were siblings. A flicker of joy passed over the man's face, but he quickly suppressed it, thanking the crowd repeatedly: "Thank you, everyone, thank you. No matter what, I have to take my sister back. My parents are waiting to see her one last time."

Suddenly, a slender, fair hand gripped the man's arm holding the girl. The man felt a sharp pain in his arm, and his grip involuntarily loosened. Feeling the restraint ease, the girl broke free and hid behind Feng Xia.

The man's face changed. A few people emerged from the crowd, all stout, strong women. One of them spoke: "Oh dear, little girl, just go back with your brother. You're family; how could he harm you?" She reached for Feng Xia and the girl, but Feng Xia dodged, leaving her grabbing at air.

Feng Xia raised an eyebrow. She was tall, looking like a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old girl. Well-dressed, with fair, translucent skin, she clearly came from a well-off family. These traffickers wouldn't dare touch such a tough nut.

So the man began to plead: "Comrade, if I don't take my sister back, my parents will die with their eyes open!"

Feng Xia: "With a son like you, it's normal that they'd die with their eyes open."

The man's sobbing stopped abruptly, his face momentarily blank, as if wondering how she could say such a thing.

Feng Xia continued: "This female comrade has delicate features, fair skin, and speaks perfect Beijing dialect. You speak with a local accent, look nothing like her, are a head shorter, old enough to be her father, and still have the nerve to call yourself her brother? You've lost all shame."

As Feng Xia said this, the onlookers took a closer look. Indeed, the man's plain features didn't resemble the girl's at all. He was too old—around thirty or forty, while the girl seemed eighteen or nineteen. It really didn't fit.

The man: "My parents had her late in life, and she's been in Beijing for years. I work in the fields every day while she enjoys herself here, so of course there's a big age gap in appearance."

Feng Xia shook her head, looking at the unrepentant man, too lazy to say more. Seeing this, the man lunged to grab her arm. Feng Xia twisted his arm, and with a crisp "crack," both his arms hung limply. He fell to his knees, wailing in pain. The onlookers glanced at Feng Xia warily—she acted without warning, too frightening. They'd rather stay alive than watch the excitement. The crowd scattered like birds.

Just then, the whistle of the armed forces sounded. The stout women tried to blend into the crowd and flee, but Feng Xia hit each of them with her electroshock baton. By the time the armed forces and the old lady arrived, they saw two young girls surrounded by six or seven people lying on the ground, some motionless, their condition unknown, one man still groaning. What the hell, old lady, is this the granddaughter you said was in danger?! It looks like the granddaughter is a danger to others!