Chapter 111

In the office where the computer was set up, a crowd gathered, each person holding a notebook.

They jotted down every step Feng Xia taught—some with numbers, some with text, some even drawing diagrams.

They pulled out all the stops, determined to engrave every single move of Feng Xia’s into their memory, leaving nothing out.

Feng Xia gave a light cough, and someone immediately handed her a cup of honey water. A short-haired young woman in her twenties furrowed her brow and said, “Young Teacher, have some water. Your voice is delicate; if you’re uncomfortable, take a rest. Let us first review on our own.”

Those around chimed in, “Yes, yes, Young Teacher, don’t strain your throat. We’ll go over things ourselves first.”

Feng Xia appreciated their enthusiasm, a faint dimple appeared on her cheek as she smiled. Having spoken for so long, she was indeed a bit tired. She swiftly began typing on the keyboard, and one by one, printed copies slid out from the printer’s silver-white mouth. The sheets contained the steps to be learned later, clear and illustrated. Several staffers stared wide-eyed in astonishment—this was simply amazing!

They had used printers before, but they had never seen such an easy way to produce diagrams. Incredible! They carefully stored the printed sheets, determined to study hard, hoping that one day they could be as skilled as the Young Teacher!

Suddenly, three urgent knocks sounded from outside the door. Before Feng Xia could respond, the door was pushed open, and Secretary Li entered, sweat beading on his forehead. It was still cold in the first month of the lunar calendar, showing just how anxious he was.

“Comrade, Regiment Commander Qian urgently needs you over there. Hurry, hurry, the car is ready. We need to go now.” Secretary Li said as he helped tidy up, stacking the papers for Feng Xia. He added, “And we need to bring this printer along too. Comrade, how should we handle this?”

Feng Xia first exited the program, then unplugged the transmission cable, and finally shut down the printer, placing it into its box. Secretary Li was amazed—it was that simple to pack up! Truly convenient! He turned to leave, and as Feng Xia was about to follow, she looked back and said: “Even without the printer, you can continue using the programs on the computer. Do not slack off—these are very important.”

The staffers looked at Feng Xia with eyes full of admiration and respect, speaking in unison, “Young Teacher, we understand. We won’t let you down.”

Feng Xia nodded, then turned and followed Secretary Li out. Outside, Zhang Ying and Jiang Long had indeed already prepared the car. Secretary Li watched until the car started and disappeared before returning to the office.

The car sped along. Feng Xia’s mind worked quickly, and she guessed that this wasn’t likely Qian Jun calling for her. So she asked directly, “Are the higher-ups summoning me back? In such a hurry.”

Zhang Ying knew she couldn’t hide it from her and stated plainly, “The top leader heard about the great things you’ve developed and wants you to report to the capital. Higher-ups are anxious. Regiment Commander Qian probably already has a fighter jet ready. We’ll be tagging along with you and flying back by fighter jet.”

Feng Xia hadn’t expected such urgency from above. Was a printer worth all this fuss?

What she didn’t know was that it wasn’t just the printer, but also the magic of her programs. Accustomed to the technological prosperity of the post-apocalyptic era, Feng Xia didn’t think much of these pre-apocalyptic common little programs. Yet this was 1975, when computers had just emerged, and in the Flower Kingdom, they were barely known. Even internationally, computers were seen merely as large-scale calculation tools, their other functions overlooked. Feng Xia’s stroke of genius was like a bolt from the blue, giving the nation a powerful boost.

To put it bluntly, the top leader was probably already itching to show off these small programs to foreigners, saying, “Look, do you have such brilliant programs? Do you have such a clever young girl?”

Feng Xia still underestimated her own significance.

The fighter jet was not as majestic as those in later eras. Its olive-green color gave Feng Xia a special sense of reassurance. She loved that shade of olive green; encountering it in the apocalypse meant safety, food, even shelter. The Flower Kingdom had always been profound and steady, like towering mountains, sheltering its people from wind and frost.

This was Feng Xia’s second time flying in a fighter jet, and it felt oddly familiar. Her gaze fell on the wing—it seemed new, its surface gleaming under the sunlight.

She raised an eyebrow slightly. “Looks like their progress is good. They’ve already put it to use.”

The wing clearly used composite ceramic materials, the creator of which was the fifteen-year-old girl before them—dark hair, snow-white clothes, rosy lips and pearly teeth, as radiant as a peony in the dew.

Qian Jun and Chen Hua heard her words and their eyes grew deep with thought. This girl was even more remarkable than they had imagined!

The fighter jet took off, the people on the ground blurring until they were barely visible. Only the vast, crisscrossing mountains and rivers could be seen—a magnificent landscape.

This flight was a bit faster than the last, taking about two and a half hours. Upon landing, they transferred to a military vehicle. Feng Xia loved sleeping in cars, and she dozed off all the way to Nanhai. When Zhang Ying woke her, there was a deep red sleep crease across her face, giving her a childlike look.

When she met the top leader, Feng Xia still carried a hint of sleepiness. The top leader was very warm and kind, asking her how she had been eating and sleeping in Antai City, as if catching up on family matters, deeply concerned about her life.

Feng Xia answered each question. They talked like grandparent and grandchild, the atmosphere was very harmonious.

Such conversation had been planned with several psychology professors. Feng Xia was a true genius with an extremely high IQ, but her childhood had been unfortunate, and she had been on the battlefield, seeing real blood. For such a genius, only sincerity could earn her trust. It was clear that Feng Xia was someone who repaid kindness, and she was deeply patriotic. Who wouldn’t cherish such a young girl? The top leader treated her like a niece, yet respected every idea she had.

Feng Xia clearly enjoyed this atmosphere.

After chatting for a while over tea, the top leader finally brought up Feng Xia’s latest achievement. “Comrade, you’re truly remarkable! That program you created—no one abroad has anything like it yet. I’ve seen some of their spreadsheets before, very cumbersome, not as neat and simple as yours. Would you be willing to show me? We’ve already prepared a computer.”

Feng Xia happily agreed. The top leader led her to the computer room, where several elderly professors were tinkering with the machines. They smiled and greeted the arrivals. Feng Xia showed no stage fright; she sat in the main seat and her fingers flew across the keyboard. In about ten minutes, she had written out the chart program from before. The network here was faster than in Antai City, so the program ran quickly. In a quarter of an hour, Feng Xia introduced everyone present to a new world.

A white-haired old professor, holding a report that Feng Xia had just printed, was so moved that tears streamed down his cheeks. He clutched his chest as a guard beside him gave him a Quick-acting Heart Rescue Pill, muttering to himself:

“Incredible, incredible! What a blessing for the Flower Kingdom! What a blessing!”