Chapter 128

Chapter 128

Meanwhile, Feng Xia took the car directly back to her small building and fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. In between, Zhang Ying pulled her out of bed to eat one dinner and one breakfast, practically feeding her. She hadn't had a proper sleep in a long time, so Feng Xia slept soundly this time, actually sleeping two full days and nights. After that sleep, she felt completely refreshed and healthy.

The leader had someone send the portable therapeutic device back. The main reason was that this miracle gadget was so miraculous that the secretaries didn't dare to charge it, afraid of damaging it, since it was currently the only one of its kind in the country, even in the world.

Feng Xia looked at the portable device on the table, her eyes going blank. She was thinking: a cost price of sixty thousand per unit, excluding labor, was simply too expensive. Although the leader didn't say it, Feng Xia could sense that in 1976, what could sixty thousand get you? A large courtyard house in the capital didn't even cost that much; that amount of money could buy enough pork to fill an entire pig farm.

Feng Xia wondered if she could lower the price further and compress the costs. Her black, glass-like eyes moved mechanically, making her look almost inhuman, sharing a special mechanical quality with the device on the table. Zhang Ying silently poured another glass of soy milk for Feng Xia. After a moment of thought, Feng Xia still hadn't figured anything out. She simply decided to go out for a walk today. It had been a long time since she had gone out, and staying cooped up in the lab, a change of scenery wouldn't be bad.

Zhang Ying suggested, "How about we go check out the factory where they'll make the devices? The leader has arranged everything, and it should be put into production this week."

Feng Xia hadn't expected the higher-ups to place so much importance on this. In just two or three days, everything was arranged—the factory was set up, the production line was ready. Truly lightning fast.

"Alright, let's go have a look together. Brother Jiang, are you coming?"

"Definitely. The higher-ups specifically told us to follow you wherever you go. I heard Secretary Li is preparing to transfer two more people. You're a hot commodity now." Zhang Ying was organizing money and tickets while joking with Feng Xia. She wasn't making it up; Feng Xia was too important. She herself was a national treasure, a veritable strategic asset. Though Zhang Ying and Jiang Long didn't say it, if something really happened, they'd give their lives to protect Feng Xia—it was both a responsibility and a heartfelt conviction.

Feng Xia lounged on the sofa, her fair neck curving in a soft arc, her collarbones looked like wings about to take flight beneath her clothes. Her eyes were like a winter lake—quiet, beautiful, and deep—and her entire being was as clear as the frost of a cold month, possessing a purity that made others feel inferior.

Her voice carried the hoarseness of a long sleep: "Why would we need so many people? Having you and Brother Jiang is enough. I'm quite capable myself. I'm definitely the best fighter among scientists and the smartest among special forces soldiers. Haha, I'm a jack of all trades."

Feng Xia had no shame in boasting. Zhang Ying smiled and smoothed the little girl's hair, then took out a fluffy coat for Feng Xia: "Alright, great genius, we'll head out soon. Put on your coat quickly, or you'll catch a chill."

Feng Xia glanced at the fluffy coat. She didn't like such white, fuzzy things; having developed a habit in the apocalypse, she preferred dark-colored clothing. After sizing it up for a moment, she still put it on. Her exquisitely sculpted little face was wrapped in the fluff, making the girl look even smaller, softening people's hearts.

The three of them first went to the therapeutic device factory site. The factory was located at the 135th Corps garrison in the capital, almost entirely guarded by the entire 135th Corps, ensuring not even a mosquito could get in. Jiang Long had called ahead to inform them, so when they got out of the car, someone was already there to greet them.

The person who came was about forty-something, with a kind and amiable smile, and spoke with a friendly tone: "Hello everyone, here to tour our factory, I suppose? I'm Hang Wen, director of the Artifact Factory and also chief of staff of the 1st Regiment, 135th Corps. Please, this way." As this Factory Director Hang spoke, his gaze lingered on Feng Xia, burning with enthusiasm, as if looking at his beloved mortar, itching to have Feng Xia modify his firearms.

Since Hang Wen had taken the position of director of the Artifact Factory, he couldn't be unaware of Feng Xia. The higher-ups had shown him all of Feng Xia's data. After reading that series of brilliant achievements, this iron-blooded chief of staff was full of admiration. Though he had studied a few years and attended military academy, brains as sharp as Feng Xia's were rare in his lifetime! Everything Feng Xia did could save lives, could save soldiers' lives on the battlefield!

Along the way, Hang Wen introduced every detail. The factory hired only retired soldiers as employees, with a management system comparable to the military, even stricter in terms of entry and exit. The production line had already been laid out, all imported from the Bear Country, including some machine tools that the Chinese had developed based on those obsolete Bear Country equipment. These were some of the top-tier equipment in all of Flower Kingdom. Once again, Feng Xia felt the leader's emphasis on the therapeutic device.

Suddenly, an inspiration struck her. If the portable version was so expensive, why not make a fixed version? Model it after the two security check gates of later generations, and change the power storage mode to direct charging. This could potentially cut the cost in half. The factory could have two lines: one for fixed therapeutic devices, one for portable ones. This would essentially solve the cost issue. The choice between portable and fixed could be based on the geographical environment and level of danger.

Hang Wen saw the beautiful girl suddenly stop mid-walk, puzzled. Then he saw Feng Xia pull out a small notebook from her pocket and start scribbling on the side. Instantly alert, without needing Zhang Ying to remind him, he fell silent automatically. Together with Zhang Ying and Jiang Long, they formed three different positions to firmly protect Feng Xia. Even though they were inside a military factory, they did this instinctively.

By the time Feng Xia finished writing this cost-reduction plan, half an hour had passed. She put away her pen and looked at the three tense backs, saying softly, "I'm done."

Although Hang Wen didn't know what Feng Xia had written, he understood its importance. Hearing her say this, he relaxed his body and turned around.

Jiang Long placed the iron case he was carrying on a table. Inside was the portable therapeutic device. Feng Xia stared straight at Hang Wen: "Factory Director Hang, do you know what we will produce and manufacture in the future?"

Though puzzled, Hang Wen answered sincerely: "A medical instrument that can provide rapid treatment, developed and manufactured by you. It can replace basic medical facilities and can play a huge role in certain places."

Hang Wen tactfully replaced "battlefield" with "certain places" to avoid giving the young girl too direct an impact.

Feng Xia nodded, opened the iron case, and took out the portable therapeutic device. "Factory Director Hang, you can have a direct experience of the therapeutic device's effect. We'll need an injured soldier to cooperate in the treatment."

In the military camp, there was no shortage of injured soldiers—they were everywhere! Hang Wen personally went to call a soldier. This soldier was a cook. Yesterday, the kitchen equipment had aged, and the handle of a large iron pot suddenly broke, spilling the entire pot of soup on the young soldier. The scalding hot liquid immediately soaked through his clothes and burned him. Although he had applied medicine, his face was still pale, and blisters covered his neck, looking especially pitiful.

But being brought by Factory Director Hang, he endured it, not crying out in pain, only silently clenching his fists. The pain from the scald was fierce and hideous. He slightly turned his face, trying to hide the injury from Feng Xia's direct view.

"Is this one alright? Xiao Zhao's scalding is too severe. Can it be treated? If not, it's okay; this injury is indeed serious. He's the head of the cooking squad, an eight-year veteran. I feel terrible seeing him suffer like this." Hang Wen's tone was heavy, yet carried a glimmer of hope.

Xiao Zhao's lips moved: "It's... it's okay. It'll heal slowly. Leader, it's fine."

Clearly, speaking caused him pain due to the scalding on his face, and it was very painful.

Even Zhang Ying couldn't help sighing in pity. Xiao Zhao's expression grew even more somber.

Suddenly, a clear female voice resolutely spoke: "Who said it can't be treated?"