The red light in the operating room finally went out. Zhao Qiang stood up abruptly. The director of the Hedian District Central Hospital took off his mask and walked out with a pale face. The surgery had lasted for more than four hours. Even with his superb skills, he was exhausted, but it was all worth it. He had helped this young man with a great background, and now he wouldn't have to worry about falling from his position as director.
“Xiao Su…” Zhao Qiang didn’t dare to ask any more questions. His eyes were full of pleading, hoping that the dean would tell him good news. He couldn’t imagine how he would face the bad news.
A faint smile appeared on the dean's pale face. "Comrade Zhao Qiang, Miss Su is out of danger."
Zhao Qiang's legs went weak, and if Hu Qian hadn't caught him in time, he probably would have knelt down before the dean on the spot.
"Thank you." Zhao Qiang sincerely shook the dean's hand.
The dean said, "This is what I should do. Miss Su is very lucky. If the bullet hadn't been removed in time, she probably would have died from breathing difficulties. As the saying goes, those who survive a great calamity are bound to have good fortune in the future. Miss Su's future will surely be bright!" The dean took the opportunity to flatter Zhao Qiang.
Hu Qian said to Zhao Qiang, "Now that Xiao Su is out of danger, you should go and rest. You haven't had a drop of water for two meals." At this time, it was getting dark outside. He hadn't eaten lunch, and on the way to the hospital, Zhao Qiang had upgraded his X-ray glasses. His body was indeed a bit weak. He just needed to rest and replenish his energy.
Time flies, and Lunar New Year's Eve arrived in the blink of an eye. When Zhao Qiang woke up, there were already firecrackers going off outside. This was a signal for some families to start their breakfast. In previous years, Zhao Qiang's family was too poor to buy too many firecrackers, so they usually didn't participate in this morning's firecrackers. But this year was different. Last night, when he went to sleep at his grandfather's old house, Zhao Weidong had told him to set off firecrackers when he came home for breakfast! And it would be a 10,000-shot firecracker.
Zhao Qiang nudged Wang Meng, who was sleeping on the other side of the bed, and said, "Hey, get up."
Wang Meng opened his eyes groggily, "Brother Qiang, Happy New Year."
Zhao Qiang laughed and said, "You're quite eager. It's not too late to offer New Year's greetings tomorrow morning. You won't get any red envelopes if you do it now."
Wang Meng got up, scratched his head, and chuckled: "Isn't this a New Year's greeting? I'll go wake up my grandma."
Two days ago, Wang Meng and his grandmother moved into the house that Zhao Qiang's grandfather used to live in, while Zhao Tiancheng moved into Zhao Qiang's house. Zhao Qiang gave his bedroom to Hu Qian, so he had to come to his grandfather's house and share a bed with Wang Meng. Wang Meng's grandmother slept on the earthen bed that Zhao Tiancheng used to sleep on, as the old woman was not used to sleeping on a bed.
The old lady initially disagreed with the move, but after Zhao Qiang told her he planned to have Wang Meng help him, paying him a high monthly salary, she finally agreed, considering Wang Meng's future. She absolutely trusted Zhao Qiang; she had personally witnessed the assassination attempt, and if it weren't for Zhao Qiang protecting her, she probably would have followed her husband in death. She felt completely at ease letting her grandson work for such a good person who was willing to risk his life to save others. She repeatedly warned her grandson to work hard, and that if she found out he had wronged Zhao Qiang, she would beat him to death.
After Wang Meng helped his grandmother get dressed and wash her face, Zhao Qiang pointed to the sneakers under the bed and said to Wang Meng, "From now on, you must wear these except when you are sleeping at home. We tested their effects the night before last. They can at least double your current abilities. If you master them a little more, it's not impossible to double them."
Wang Meng nodded solemnly: "I'll remember." The scene of the assassination attempt made Wang Meng dare not relax, but wearing these magical sneakers the night before last made him ecstatic. It was like a spaceship that had lost its energy and now suddenly gained a lot of energy, finally able to travel in space.
Zhao Qiang picked up a pair of Golden Monkey leather shoes from the ground with a bit of swagger. After successfully subduing Wang Meng, he decided to give Wang Meng his old sneakers so that he could enhance Wang Meng's strength and make him work for him better. Zhao Qiang then modified a pair of leather shoes so that he wouldn't have to wear a suit with sneakers when he went to Xu Xiaoya's house on the third day of the Lunar New Year. This was considered a step up in terms of style.
As for whether giving the running shoes to Wang Meng would cause a secret leak, Zhao Qiang had considered this. Based on the old lady's analysis, Wang Meng's character should not be a big problem. Moreover, with current technology, no one but Zhao Qiang could replicate these running shoes. If an outsider got them, they would eventually become useless because they could not be charged.
Furthermore, although Wang Meng couldn't say he was completely devoted to Zhao Qiang at this moment, he had personally witnessed Zhao Qiang shielding his grandmother from a bullet. Moreover, Zhao Qiang was more powerful and wealthier than him, and Wang Meng believed that following Zhao Qiang was a bright future, so he had no reason to be half-hearted.
Wang Meng helped his grandmother, with Zhao Qiang following behind. The three of them returned to Zhao Qiang's home. By then, Zhao Qiang's parents had already prepared breakfast, which, according to local custom, consisted of noodles and four side dishes.
Hu Qian also got up early and dressed neatly. When she saw Zhao Qiang, she smiled happily: "I can spend the New Year in the countryside again. It's been ten years since I've enjoyed the atmosphere of the New Year in the countryside."
Zhao Qiang said, "Oh, you lived in the countryside when you were a child?"
Hu Qian nodded: "My dad said he wanted to cultivate my brother and me's independence, so he left us in the countryside when we were little."
Zhao Qiang said, "Now I finally understand why you and Hu Xiaojiang don't have the slightest air of spoiled brats."
Hu Qian smiled wryly: "Have I disappointed you?" In the past few days, Hu Qian had been thinking about many things, and her attitude towards Zhao Qiang had become more and more enthusiastic and ambiguous. Many times, Zhao Qiang could not resist her temptation and fled in panic.
Zhao Qiang said, "No, this is good. At least you and Hu Xiaojiang both have the kind heart of ordinary people. This is the cornerstone of our cooperation and relationship. As for the rest, we can take it slowly. Nobody is born with an overbearing aura, right?"
Hu Qian said, "Fine, I have no other choice now. Whatever you say, I'll sell myself to you."
Zhao Qiang chuckled: "Selling yourself to me isn't that simple. I'm a man, and you're a woman..."
Hu Qian wasn't afraid of Zhao Qiang at all: "I never lock my bedroom door at night, but unfortunately you don't have the guts."
Zhao Qiang blushed, just as Zhao Weidong came to call him to go out and set off firecrackers. Zhao Qiang took the opportunity to escape.
Volume 2 [200] Good boy, work first.
Hu Qian glanced at the rearview mirror again, and what she saw startled her. A cloud of white mist had appeared in front of Zhao Qiang, and Zhao Qiang's glasses seemed to be suspended in the mist. Then the glasses started spinning rapidly. Hu Qian thought she was seeing things, so she rubbed her eyes to make sure it was real. She didn't dare to ask Zhao Qiang what was going on and could only continue driving while observing.
The energy separated by Zhao Qiang was plentiful, and the super biochip had already calculated every step of the upgrade. It was programmed and run to control the energy and make detailed modifications to the glasses. The upgrade process only took a few minutes. Just as the energy was about to disappear and the glasses were about to fall off, Zhao Qiang grabbed them and put them on the bridge of his nose, and then immediately activated them.
The wound on Su Xiaosu's body was immediately seen through downwards, and the bullet head was immediately revealed along the trajectory. Su Xiaosu's breathing became weaker and weaker. Zhao Qiang dared not delay any longer. He took off the abnormal screwdriver, heated and sterilized it with a lighter, and then used the super biochip to precisely control the movement of his hand. The abnormal screwdriver carefully went into Su Xiaosu's chest cavity along the wound on her back.
When the screwdriver encountered any bones obstructing its path, it would bend and go around them. Under Zhao Qiang's mental control, the screwdriver changed shape after reaching the bullet, like a small pair of pliers tightly clamping the bullet. Zhao Qiang pulled it out, and the bullet was successfully removed! Clang! Zhao Qiang threw it out the window.
Hu Qian, who was driving, was so shocked she almost veered off the road! She had clearly seen it was just a small screwdriver, but when it pulled out the bullet, the shape of the tip changed. The screwdriver became thin, long, and crooked, and then Hu Qian watched as it returned to its original shape and was hung back on Zhao Qiang's waist. What... what was going on? A screwdriver that could transform at will? If this technology were applied to cutting-edge fields, what a shock it would cause to China's science and technology! At that moment, Hu Qian truly wished she could trade her life for Zhao Qiang's technology.
The car screeched to a halt in front of the emergency room. Zhao Qiang rushed in, carrying Su Xiaosu, shouting, "Doctor! Doctor! Help!"
After a brief period of panic, Su Xiaosu was taken into the operating room. Outside the operating room, Hu Qian sat silently beside Zhao Qiang. Zhao Qiang was trembling with nervousness. The red light in the operating room was constantly on. He dared not speak or think too much. He was so dazed that he didn't even realize that Hu Qian was touching his back.
Hu Qian counted the bullet holes one by one, then gently lifted Zhao Qiang's winter coat and sweater. The bullet holes disappeared in front of the white shirt. Actually, Hu Qian had been wondering these past few days that Zhao Qiang always wore a pair of sneakers and a white shirt, practically never changing them. Was Zhao Qiang a sloppy man? But he clearly didn't seem like it. Now, Hu Qian seemed to be deep in thought. She pinched the fabric of the shirt; it was very thin. But why were the front layers riddled with bullet holes, while this layer remained unscathed? If it was a bulletproof vest, that would be too amazing!
Hu Qian secretly touched the mysterious screwdriver on Zhao Qiang's waist. From the outside, it looked normal, small and delicate, like a keychain pendant. But Hu Qian had seen Zhao Qiang use it to remove the bullet from Su Xiaosu's body, and there was also the pair of glasses flying in the air. It must have another special function! Could it be similar to the shadowless lamp in an operating room? It can't be that simple, can it?
Hu Qian's mind raced with countless thoughts: the transforming screwdriver, the bulletproof shirt, the spinning glasses, and the sneakers Zhao Qiang had been wearing for so long—if these were all high-tech products, and if the Hu family had mastered them and applied them to the military, Yang Shiqi's achievements would be nothing, and the Hu family's desire to regain its former glory would be a piece of cake.
But how could she get Zhao Qiang to agree to share these technologies? Without his support, Hu Qian wasn't sure she could replicate the finished product. Yang Shiqi's inability to refine 'G' substance herself was the best proof of that. Zhao Qiang was too clever; he left the most crucial step as his own safeguard. Trying to break away from him and go it alone was out of the question.
Hu Qian was lost in thought, while Zhao Qiang was reminiscing about every little thing since he met Su Xiaosu. The naive Su Xiaosu dared to let Zhao Qiang into her room in the middle of the night, which, besides showing her lack of understanding of the wickedness of people in society, also demonstrated her kindness and purity. She made instant noodles for Zhao Qiang, let him warm himself on her bed, chatted with him, and held him while he slept, making him incredibly happy in every way. It would be an injustice not to cherish such a girl. If she could escape this ordeal, Zhao Qiang thought he would definitely protect her as if she were his own life.
The red light in the operating room finally went out. Zhao Qiang stood up abruptly. The director of the Hedian District Central Hospital took off his mask and walked out with a pale face. The surgery had lasted for more than four hours. Even with his superb skills, he was exhausted, but it was all worth it. He had helped this young man with a great background, and now he wouldn't have to worry about falling from his position as director.
“Xiao Su…” Zhao Qiang didn’t dare to ask any more questions. His eyes were full of pleading, hoping that the dean would tell him good news. He couldn’t imagine how he would face the bad news.
A faint smile appeared on the dean's pale face. "Comrade Zhao Qiang, Miss Su is out of danger."
Zhao Qiang's legs went weak, and if Hu Qian hadn't caught him in time, he probably would have knelt down before the dean on the spot.
"Thank you." Zhao Qiang sincerely shook the dean's hand.
The dean said, "This is what I should do. Miss Su is very lucky. If the bullet hadn't been removed in time, she probably would have died from breathing difficulties. As the saying goes, those who survive a great calamity are bound to have good fortune in the future. Miss Su's future will surely be bright!" The dean took the opportunity to flatter Zhao Qiang.
Hu Qian said to Zhao Qiang, "Now that Xiao Su is out of danger, you should go and rest. You haven't had a drop of water for two meals." At this time, it was getting dark outside. He hadn't eaten lunch, and on the way to the hospital, Zhao Qiang had upgraded his X-ray glasses. His body was indeed a bit weak. He just needed to rest and replenish his energy.
Time flies, and Lunar New Year's Eve arrived in the blink of an eye. When Zhao Qiang woke up, there were already firecrackers going off outside. This was a signal for some families to start their breakfast. In previous years, Zhao Qiang's family was too poor to buy too many firecrackers, so they usually didn't participate in this morning's firecrackers. But this year was different. Last night, when he went to sleep at his grandfather's old house, Zhao Weidong had told him to set off firecrackers when he came home for breakfast! And it would be a 10,000-shot firecracker.
Zhao Qiang nudged Wang Meng, who was sleeping on the other side of the bed, and said, "Hey, get up."
Wang Meng opened his eyes groggily, "Brother Qiang, Happy New Year."
Zhao Qiang laughed and said, "You're quite eager. It's not too late to offer New Year's greetings tomorrow morning. You won't get any red envelopes if you do it now."
Wang Meng got up, scratched his head, and chuckled: "Isn't this a New Year's greeting? I'll go wake up my grandma."
Two days ago, Wang Meng and his grandmother moved into the house that Zhao Qiang's grandfather used to live in, while Zhao Tiancheng moved into Zhao Qiang's house. Zhao Qiang gave his bedroom to Hu Qian, so he had to come to his grandfather's house and share a bed with Wang Meng. Wang Meng's grandmother slept on the earthen bed that Zhao Tiancheng used to sleep on, as the old woman was not used to sleeping on a bed.
The old lady initially disagreed with the move, but after Zhao Qiang told her he planned to have Wang Meng help him, paying him a high monthly salary, she finally agreed, considering Wang Meng's future. She absolutely trusted Zhao Qiang; she had personally witnessed the assassination attempt, and if it weren't for Zhao Qiang protecting her, she probably would have followed her husband in death. She felt completely at ease letting her grandson work for such a good person who was willing to risk his life to save others. She repeatedly warned her grandson to work hard, and that if she found out he had wronged Zhao Qiang, she would beat him to death.
After Wang Meng helped his grandmother get dressed and wash her face, Zhao Qiang pointed to the sneakers under the bed and said to Wang Meng, "From now on, you must wear these except when you are sleeping at home. We tested their effects the night before last. They can at least double your current abilities. If you master them a little more, it's not impossible to double them."
Wang Meng nodded solemnly: "I'll remember." The scene of the assassination attempt made Wang Meng dare not relax, but wearing these magical sneakers the night before last made him ecstatic. It was like a spaceship that had lost its energy and now suddenly gained a lot of energy, finally able to travel in space.
Zhao Qiang picked up a pair of Golden Monkey leather shoes from the ground with a bit of swagger. After successfully subduing Wang Meng, he decided to give Wang Meng his old sneakers so that he could enhance Wang Meng's strength and make him work for him better. Zhao Qiang then modified a pair of leather shoes so that he wouldn't have to wear a suit with sneakers when he went to Xu Xiaoya's house on the third day of the Lunar New Year. This was considered a step up in terms of style.
As for whether giving the running shoes to Wang Meng would cause a secret leak, Zhao Qiang had considered this. Based on the old lady's analysis, Wang Meng's character should not be a big problem. Moreover, with current technology, no one but Zhao Qiang could replicate these running shoes. If an outsider got them, they would eventually become useless because they could not be charged.
Furthermore, although Wang Meng couldn't say he was completely devoted to Zhao Qiang at this moment, he had personally witnessed Zhao Qiang shielding his grandmother from a bullet. Moreover, Zhao Qiang was more powerful and wealthier than him, and Wang Meng believed that following Zhao Qiang was a bright future, so he had no reason to be half-hearted.
Wang Meng helped his grandmother, with Zhao Qiang following behind. The three of them returned to Zhao Qiang's home. By then, Zhao Qiang's parents had already prepared breakfast, which, according to local custom, consisted of noodles and four side dishes.
Hu Qian also got up early and dressed neatly. When she saw Zhao Qiang, she smiled happily: "I can spend the New Year in the countryside again. It's been ten years since I've enjoyed the atmosphere of the New Year in the countryside."
Zhao Qiang said, "Oh, you lived in the countryside when you were a child?"
Hu Qian nodded: "My dad said he wanted to cultivate my brother and me's independence, so he left us in the countryside when we were little."
Zhao Qiang said, "Now I finally understand why you and Hu Xiaojiang don't have the slightest air of spoiled brats."
Hu Qian smiled wryly: "Have I disappointed you?" In the past few days, Hu Qian had been thinking about many things, and her attitude towards Zhao Qiang had become more and more enthusiastic and ambiguous. Many times, Zhao Qiang could not resist her temptation and fled in panic.
Zhao Qiang said, "No, this is good. At least you and Hu Xiaojiang both have the kind heart of ordinary people. This is the cornerstone of our cooperation and relationship. As for the rest, we can take it slowly. Nobody is born with an overbearing aura, right?"
Hu Qian said, "Fine, I have no other choice now. Whatever you say, I'll sell myself to you."
Zhao Qiang chuckled: "Selling yourself to me isn't that simple. I'm a man, and you're a woman..."
Hu Qian wasn't afraid of Zhao Qiang at all: "I never lock my bedroom door at night, but unfortunately you don't have the guts."
Zhao Qiang blushed, just as Zhao Weidong came to call him to go out and set off firecrackers. Zhao Qiang took the opportunity to escape.
Volume 2 [201] From Today On, You Are My Brother
"Zhao Qiang, I heard Hu Qian is with you?" It was Xu Xiaoya. Her tone was accusatory. Hu Qian had been here for so many days and she only just received the news. It seemed that her intelligence work was not very good.
Zhao Qiang did not deny it, "Yes, she had a repair job, which she just finished this morning."
Xu Xiaoya said with great dissatisfaction, "What kind of business requires us to come to your hometown?"
Zhao Qiang said, "It's a software project from the Navy. The compensation was quite generous, so I accepted the job. The product has already been delivered, and I estimate I'll receive the money before the fifteenth of the first lunar month."
Xu Xiaoya said, "This isn't about money; I suspect Hu Qian has ulterior motives towards you!"
Zhao Qiang laughed and said, "No way." At this moment, Hu Qian walked out of the house and walked towards Zhao Qiang. Zhao Qiang hurriedly gestured to her not to make a sound, and Hu Qian quietly stood next to Zhao Qiang to eavesdrop.
Xu Xiaoya said, "How could she not? Zhao Qiang, don't forget that she needs your help now. If you don't stand firm, you'll definitely suffer. That woman is a vixen!"
While grinning mischievously at Hu Qian, Zhao Qiang replied to Xu Xiaoya, "Oh, you're saying Hu Qian is a vixen? I don't see that coming from you."
Xu Xiaoya said angrily, "You were blinded by her, of course you didn't see it! All you could see was her chest."
Zhao Qiang glanced at Hu Qian's bulging chest and said, "No, I'm definitely not the kind of person who lacks self-control."
Xu Xiaoya said, "No, I'm going to your house too. I'm going to keep an eye on you and make sure you don't lose control and get scammed by her. If she uses that to blackmail you, what price will you have to pay? Do you want to watch your budding company be ruined? This is where my hard work is going, and I absolutely will not allow that to happen!"
Zhao Qiang asked in surprise, "Is it that serious?"
Xu Xiaoya said, "Of course. If you two have a relationship, how will the shares of Hongwang Technology Co., Ltd. be distributed? You don't want to just hand them over to her, do you? Of course, I have no right to interfere in your affairs, but as your class monitor, I can't bear to see you fall into such a state! It would be such a waste for you to become a sacrifice for their family."
Hu Qian stood beside Zhao Qiang, looking aggrieved. She hooked her finger around his other hand, her expression pitiful, clearly telling him that she wasn't what Xu Xiaoya had described. Zhao Qiang patted her hand in comfort. Xu Xiaoya's worries weren't unfounded, but Hu Qian probably wasn't as insidious as she claimed. The deeper her understanding of Zhao Qiang, the less likely she was to harbor ill will towards him. She and her family needed Zhao Qiang, not for any other reason than his mastery of advanced technology. As Deng Xiaoping said, science and technology are the primary productive forces!
Seeing Zhao Qiang's nonchalant attitude, Xu Xiaoya said, "Oh dear, it's hard to explain over the phone, I'd better come over."
Zhao Qiang said, "Today is New Year's Eve. How can you bear to leave your parents behind and come to my place? Anyway, the third day of the New Year is coming soon. I'll try to get there as early as possible. It's such a long distance to come and go, and I don't feel comfortable letting you drive by yourself."
Xu Xiaoya was silent for a while on the other end of the phone. "Okay, my parents really won't let me leave home, but you have to promise me you won't be tempted by her. No matter how she tries to seduce you, you can't fall for it."
Zhao Qiang almost burst out laughing at Hu Qian, "Okay, I got it. I'm going to start eating now, what about you?"
Xu Xiaoya said, "My mom is calling me from the living room. After you finish eating, go online and we can chat again."
Zhao Qiang put down the phone and couldn't help but laugh out loud. Hu Qian stomped her foot angrily: "You're still laughing? How could she say that about me? Do you think I'm that kind of person? This is just judging a gentleman by the standards of a petty person!"
Zhao Qiang said, "Just because you're older than Xu Xiaoya doesn't mean you can give in to her. I know who's better and who's worse."
Hu Qian was taken aback, but her expression quickly calmed down. Zhao Qiang's words reminded her that Xu Xiaoya was far more important to Zhao Qiang than she was. Several of Zhao Qiang's business matters were now handled by Xu Xiaoya. If she couldn't maintain a good relationship with Xu Xiaoya, her importance in Zhao Qiang's eyes would decrease! And if Zhao Qiang accused her of being jealous, it would be even more troublesome. Zhao Qiang wasn't stupid; he could tolerate Xu Xiaoya's little tantrums, but she couldn't take it seriously!