Chapter 86

Chapter 86

Professor Zhu Guangya's voice was gentle, but a hint of urgency could be detected upon closer listening: "Feng Xia, go back first and change your clothes. Actually, never mind, the outfit you're wearing today is fine as it is." The old professor gave Feng Xia a once-over, found that the young girl's clothes and hair were not even slightly disheveled, and simply called her to get into the car.

His expression was solemn, his tone serious: "Feng Xia, we’re going to meet a top leader later. Don’t be nervous. The top leader is very kind, and I’ll be there with you—we’ll go together." Feng Xia raised an eyebrow. She had guessed they were going to see someone important, but she hadn’t expected it to be the top leader.

The car passed through five or six checkpoints, each more stringent than the last. By the time they reached the South Sea where the top leader resided, almost an hour had passed.

"Please, come this way, both of you." The secretary who received Professor Zhu Guangya and Feng Xia was a younger man. He led them into the conference room inside. When Feng Xia saw the top leader seated there, even she felt a momentary daze.

This was truly a great figure—there was no denying that.

The top leader had a gentle expression, with a warm smile, and his voice was resonant: "Comrade Zhu and the little comrade are here! Come, sit down quickly, let’s chat for a while."

Feng Xia wasn’t the least bit nervous. During the apocalypse, she had turned the tide during a zombie siege and had been praised by the highest authorities countless times. Having lived through innumerable life-and-death situations, how could she be nervous now? Seeing that she was calm, Professor Zhu’s admiration for Feng Xia deepened even further. What a fine prospect—unmoved by praise or blame, with a steadfast heart.

This time, the top leader’s conversation was primarily with Feng Xia. Watching the composed young girl, he couldn’t help but feel admiration, and his tone carried appreciation: "Little comrade, I’ve read your solution to the Navier-Stokes equations. It’s really well written. However, due to some special reasons, this thesis may need to be kept confidential for a while before publication. Of course, we are a democratic country. This thesis is your work, and your wishes take priority. If you want to publish it now, we will publish it now. That way, the world will know that the Flower Kingdom has outstanding scientific research talents and that our education system can cultivate excellent talents."

Hearing this, Feng Xia’s impression of the top leader improved even more. She smiled slightly, her dimples vivid.

"I’ll follow the country’s lead. I trust the country." Her voice was clear and crisp, like the first thaw of spring, yet inexplicably warming people’s hearts. What a wonderful child—so trusting and devoted to her motherland.

The top leader said solemnly, "Little comrade, rest assured that not a single bit of the honor that belongs to you will be lost. The country will never forget any meritorious person. Also, the Liquid Lithium Battery that you and Comrade Zhu developed is truly a treasure. Thank you for your contributions to the nation. Having people like you is the country’s fortune!"

Both of them flushed with excitement, humbly insisting they didn't deserve such praise and could not bear such honor. The top leader was truly a warm and amiable person, very talkative and humorous. The three of them chatted for a while, until the secretary outside reminded the top leader of another visitor. As the head of state, busyness was the norm. Professor Zhu Guangya and Feng Xia politely took their leave. The same secretary politely showed them out.

Feng Xia was holding a big bag of chocolates, all given by the top leader. They were almost all fine imported brands. The top leader told her to take them all and eat them, saying he couldn’t finish them himself. Hearing that Feng Xia liked sweets, he let her take them all to enjoy slowly.

As the car drove out of the South Sea, Professor Zhu Guangya realized his back was a bit stiff. After all, it had been the top leader—even without being nervous, he had unconsciously kept his back straight. But the little girl beside him had truly remarkable composure. She had already unwrapped a chocolate and popped the round ball into her mouth, her cheeks bulging, making her look even younger. Thinking back to what the young girl had said and done in the office, Professor Zhu sighed again. The challenge of educating a child prodigy—it was really tough!

That evening, the security officer still summarized the events and reported to the top leader. The top leader sat under the lamp, looking slightly tired, his voice low: "She’s still young, with an exceptionally clever mind. There are many things she doesn’t quite understand. She’s even been on the battlefield—she’s truly killed over a hundred Japs. It’s normal for her to carry some pent-up aggression. We’ll teach her slowly. This little girl is wonderful in every other way; if she weren’t, why would we need to be here? I remember Zhang Ying has come back, hasn’t she? Let her go and keep an eye on the girl, teach her a bit. She’ll be fine later. She’s still young—if she's strayed a bit, we can straighten her out. The child is still young, after all."

Every word and sentence was filled with care for Feng Xia. She had truly caught the attention of the higher-ups.

Because of the incident with Jiang’s mother, Feng Xia decided to take the next day off and not go to the library. Moreover, Professor Zhu Guangya had been relentlessly questioning Feng Xia about her "Navier-Stokes equation solution" the day before. Although he knew it was confidential, how could Zhu Guangya not realize that someone had poached his protégé? Early the next morning, he went to Peking University to argue with Old Zhang. Feng Xia pulled her little blanket tighter and decided not to get involved in the disputes among these old gentlemen. Wouldn’t it be nice to just sleep in?

But just after breakfast, someone knocked on Professor Zhu’s door. Feng Xia opened it to find a spirited and capable female comrade standing at the door, smiling brightly at Feng Xia: "Hello, Comrade Feng Xia. I am Zhang Ying, and I will be responsible for protecting you from now on. Hello. Here are my letter of introduction and credentials. You can check them." She handed the documents to Feng Xia.

Feng Xia carefully inspected them and found no issues. She immediately invited Zhang Ying inside and poured her a cup of tea. Before Feng Xia could ask, Zhang Ying volunteered: "Comrade Feng Xia, the top leader arranged for me to protect your safety. I know you are extremely capable, but I specialize in reconnaissance. I can help you eliminate potential hidden dangers around you. I hope I can be of help."

Feng Xia had no objection to this arrangement. She understood that the higher-ups might have assigned someone to keep an eye on her to prevent another incident like yesterday’s. That was fine, Feng Xia thought.

"Alright, then I’ll have to trouble Sister Ying from now on." Feng Xia smiled sweetly, took two chocolates, and handed them to Zhang Ying. Zhang Ying liked this young girl and accepted the chocolates with a smile. From then on, the two would be partners and comrades.

Feng Xia still planned to go out today and take a stroll around the streets. Zhang Ying volunteered, saying she was quite familiar with the capital and would take Feng Xia to a few interesting places, promising that Feng Xia would be satisfied. Feng Xia happily agreed, left a note for Professor Chen Yue, and followed Zhang Ying out.

The streets were crowded. It had been National Day a few days before, and many people from out of town had come to watch the military parade. Many out-of-towners hadn’t left yet. Although free trade was still not allowed, the restaurants and supply cooperatives along the streets were packed with people as far as the eye could see. It gave Feng Xia an eerie sense of déjà vu, like seeing a zombie horde in the apocalypse.

They walked and looked around, stopping at a state-run restaurant to buy a candied hawthorn skewer. It was sweet and sour, exquisite in flavor, leaving Feng Xia’s little mouth red and bright. Watching the increasingly stunning young girl, Zhang Ying’s heart softened.

"Oh! Feng Xia, when did you arrive in the capital? Why didn’t you come find me?"