RYEY -Chapter 491 Negotiating Conditions

“Thank you for your concern, General. This is how I am now—every day I practice the formulas my master taught me, forcing the cold toxin out of my body.”

“That hasn’t been easy at all. Come, come inside. Today, we won’t stop until we’re drunk.”

Hearing this, the health-care doctor beside them was so frightened his heart almost stopped. The general was advanced in years and couldn’t drink—no matter how strong the craving, he could only take a tiny sip. How could it be ‘won’t stop until we’re drunk’?

“General, you—”

“Enough. Today, with young friend Cheng and young friend Li here, I’ll give you half a day off. Go down the mountain and see your child.”

The health-care doctor was overjoyed. He cast a grateful look at Cheng Qiao, saluted Wu Hongxin, then hurried down the mountain at full speed. He hadn’t seen his wife and daughter for a week and missed them terribly.

Seeing that no one would interrupt them now, Wu Hongxin happily raised his wine cup. Cheng Qiao watched as Wu Hongxin secretly circulated his internal energy; her eyes began to heat up, and the condition of his entire body appeared clearly before her.

Mm, very good. It seemed the three months’ worth of health-preserving pills had indeed been effective for this old general. Drinking a couple more cups today wouldn’t be a problem.

Her gaze shifted to Yao Peng. His physical condition was far worse than Wu Hongxin’s. Although he had also taken her health-preserving pills, individual constitutions differed, and so did the absorption effects.

It seemed she should give General Yao Peng more health-preserving pills when she left. After all, he was Ye Chengying’s mentor—and Ye Chengying was her master’s cousin.

The wine was excellent, and so were the dishes. Unable to restrain his emotions, Yao Peng raised his cup and toasted Li Huan and his wife for their righteousness and their willingness to become nameless heroes.

He hoped that when they finally became known, their names wouldn’t be engraved on a cold stone monument, but that they would instead be able to enjoy a happy old age freely on their own land.

Cheng Qiao and Li Huan remained calm. Especially today—having seen the families of martyrs who had sacrificed their lives for the country—their hearts were filled with emotion. Today’s happy life had been won by those predecessors.

If they had no abilities, so be it. But since Heaven had given them such skills, where else could they use them if not in service to the nation?

When the meal ended, Wu Hongxin exchanged a few polite words, then had someone bring out several certificates. Everyone watched Cheng Qiao nervously.

Cheng Qiao first picked up her graduation certificate. In her previous life, she had been a failure—though she made money and took revenge, her life was incomplete. She had lived as a lonely person.

In this life, she had finally lived like a proper human being—protecting the Li family, protecting her own son, and graduating from the University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

The other two documents—one was the medical practitioner’s license, with black characters on a white background. With this certificate, Cheng Qiao could take up a post at any hospital that hoped to recruit her in the future.

She picked up the practitioner’s license. Although she didn’t plan to choose it, she still wanted to see what it looked like.

Opening the first page, there was her photograph. Her beautiful face was smiling brilliantly. When was this taken? Right—probably after she was admitted to the University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

The booklet listed her name, date of birth, graduating school, and exam results. For exam results, it simply read “Outstanding Student.” Just those three words affirmed that these years of hers had not been wasted.

The second page contained a small form. The medical practitioner’s license required annual assessments; once passed, the exam date and approval seal would be filled in. For now, it was blank.

Cheng Qiao closed the practitioner’s license and put it back where it had been. Then she looked at the familiar golden booklet. Hu Lata had shown it to her, Hantong had shown it to her, and now it was her turn to look at her own.

Under the lights, the golden booklet shimmered and flickered, radiating a sacred glow. It represented a belief—a belief in dedicating oneself to the motherland and the people. Cheng Qiao reached out her hand.

Wu Hongxin’s expression alternated between tension and relief as Cheng Qiao moved. When he saw her put down the golden certificate and look toward him, he knew it was time for negotiations.

“Comrade Cheng Qiao, the country needs you, and our soldiers need you. We will also meet your needs. State any conditions you have—so long as I can fulfill them and they do not compromise national security.”

Cheng Qiao nodded. As a mother, the first thing she considered was her child’s safety:

“My child needs a certain level of protection. Every child—including Xuhui. He is the son of a martyr, and also the son of Li Huan and me.”

“Agreed.”

Wu Hongxin agreed without hesitation. Even if Cheng Qiao hadn’t mentioned it, he would have done so anyway. This was protection for the families of special talents—only when their families were safe could they devote themselves fully to protecting the nation.

“I also need a certain degree of freedom—for example, being able to participate in my family’s business.”

“You may not know this, but we’re quite lenient with special talents. We not only encourage them to start their own businesses, but also provide subsidies in various aspects.”

Those with special abilities in the special departments needed to cultivate, and cultivation was a bottomless pit. So long as they didn’t steal or rob, the state truly hoped they could be self-sufficient.

Li Huan and Cheng Qiao had business acumen. Just look at their medicinal cuisine shop in the capital and their general store in Spring City—both were businesses that raked in money daily.

But that income probably wasn’t enough for Cheng Qiao’s medical research, so the state would also provide corresponding subsidies in that area. After all, you couldn’t expect the horse to run without feeding it.

“I also want the spy’s corpse.”

“What do you want that for?”

“I’m doing research…”

“This… I’ll need to discuss it with my superiors.”

In truth, Wu Hongxin was willing to give the corpse to Cheng Qiao. That spy had died so miserably largely because of her—taking it was only fair.

But he also knew that if his superiors refused, it would be a form of protection for her.

Wu Hongxin went to the study. Half an hour later, he came out smiling. It was just a corpse—secretly transporting it out would do.

“Have you found a place to keep the body?”

Cheng Qiao knew at once that approval had been granted. Wonderful—no need to steal it. After all, the charge of corpse theft sounded rather creepy.

“We’ve prepared a piece of land and dug a deep cellar to place the body inside.”

“You must guarantee that once this corpse has lost its value, it will be destroyed. Otherwise, if it falls into the hands of someone with ulterior motives, the consequences will be endless.”

“I guarantee there won’t be any mistakes.”

“Do you have any other conditions?”

“None for now. If I think of any later, can I still bring them up?”

Cheng Qiao glanced at Li Huan. Seeing him shake his head, she quickly spoke up.

Wu Hongxin nodded and personally picked up the golden work permit, placing it into Cheng Qiao’s hand:

“Welcome to our Special Department. Your benefits package will be finalized in a couple of days. Your task is to treat our special population and help them survive as much as possible.”