Volume 2 [469] At worst, I'll just pursue him again
Seeing the confusion on Zhao Qiang's face, Hu Qian scolded him inwardly, "Serves you right, for having affairs everywhere."
"If I had a deeply unforgettable love in the past, I think I wouldn't want to abandon either of them," Zhao Qiang replied.
Hu Qian chuckled: "You really are a romantic."
Zhao Qiang didn't answer. His brain was frantically processing a memory, possibly related to his past love. He was sweating profusely, his body was stiff, and he was almost numb to the outside world. He was like a statue. This appearance terrified Hu Qian. She didn't know what to do, so she quickly pulled the car over to the side of the road and immediately called Yang Shiqi. Because Wei was with them, perhaps only Wei could give her the right instructions in this situation.
Yang Shiqi and the others were getting anxious, but they dared not investigate the progress on their side. If they alerted Zhao Qiang, it would be very troublesome. Zhao Qiang had the strength to destroy an entire army corps, and now he was a stranger to the girls. If a conflict broke out, it would be a tragedy no matter who got hurt. Zhao Qiang himself was unaware of the situation, but the girls were now fully aware of it, and they had to avoid this situation from happening.
"Hey, Hu Qian, have you been all lovey-dovey with Zhao Qiang and forgotten about us? Is he really the person we're looking for? Tell us now!" Yang Shiqi complained loudly.
Hu Qian had no time to defend herself: "He...he suddenly stopped reacting, he was sweating profusely, I...I didn't know what to do."
Yang Shiqi was quick-witted and immediately asked Wei, who was sitting in the notebook on her lap, "What should we do?"
Wei said, "It must be that Hu Qian mentioned something from the past. The biochip is constantly reading the memories that have been erased from the memory cells. Don't touch your brother. If the reading fails, the biochip will automatically restart. But if the reading is successful, I think your brother will regain a lot of memories."
Yang Shiqi said into the microphone, "Did you hear that? Do I need to repeat it?"
Hu Qian said in a trembling voice, "No, no need. But there's another problem. Zhao Qiang's appearance in front of me has changed. Although he admitted that he had amnesia before, I'm not 100% sure that he is the original Zhao Qiang."
Wei said, "Take this opportunity to take a picture of him and send it back."
Hu Qian did as instructed, and the photo quickly appeared in Wei's notebook. After a quick calculation, Wei said, "There have indeed been many changes, but judging from the comparison, it seems to have corrected many of the previous defects in my brother's body. Now, both his bones and muscles are regrowing according to the design of the advanced biochip, which is beneficial to the improvement of his overall strength and agility. From this point of view, I can conclude that he is the person we are looking for. There is no second advanced biochip in this world, and the advanced biochip in my brother's brain has evolved. Its computing power has surpassed mine."
The news was good, but what was infuriating was that the man she loved didn't recognize her, and he wasn't in good shape at the moment. You could tell from the photos Hu Qian took that he looked pained, was covered in sweat, and was extremely stiff and motionless.
Xu Xiaoya suddenly thought of a very serious problem: "Wei, if the biochip is restarted, will the memories from just now also be erased? Wouldn't Hu Qian be in big trouble then?"
Wei explained, "No, the previous reboot erased all the data in my brother's brain because there were hidden dangers left during the transplant. But after the first reboot, these hidden dangers have been eliminated. So the current reboot is like restarting a computer after it crashes. It will basically not damage the data."
Xu Xiaoya patted her chest: "That's good, otherwise it would have been a real problem. At worst, we can go back to pursuing him. It's not a big deal. The important thing is that Zhao Qiang is safe and sound. That's more important than anything else."
Wei said, "Yes, that's what I was thinking too. Otherwise, I wouldn't have stopped everyone from recognizing my brother. I think it must have been Sister Qian who brought up the past, which caused my brother's brain to shut down. I think you should try not to mention the past in the future and let my brother recover his memory naturally. Although it will be slower, it is the safest way. For example, now, if an enemy appears, can Sister Qian protect my brother's safety?"
The women were all terrified after hearing Wei's explanation. If there were no enemies, there was nothing to fear, but Zhao Qiang's sudden disappearance couldn't possibly be solely due to amnesia. Otherwise, it was impossible for him to have traveled from Donghai to Yihai in such a short time; that defied logic. If Zhao Qiang were to be randomly provoked to recall his past, his biochip would malfunction, rendering him defenseless. At that point, even a child with a knife could kill him. For such a genius protagonist to die in such an accident would be the greatest tragedy.
"We...we remember," the girls said obediently to Wei. With Zhao Qiang gone, Wei had become the backbone of the group, as she had taken over all of Zhao Qiang's previous work: maintaining the China Red operating system, refining 'g' substances, manufacturing mother tea, and cosmetic mother liquor. However, considering that Wei's production was limited, the slimming tea was no longer sold publicly and was now supplied exclusively to the state.
Zhao Qiang now realized that the more familiar something is with you, the less likely you are to remember it. It was a strange theory, but it was true. He had just found an extremely strong sense of familiarity and was about to successfully read the data. His information about his past women was almost ready to come to mind. However, after several unsuccessful attempts to read the memory, the biochip suddenly restarted, and Zhao Qiang regained his freedom.
Wiping the sweat from his brow, Zhao Qiang glanced at Hu Qian. This 'female pirate' was staring at him nervously with concern in her eyes. Zhao Qiang felt a warmth in his heart; she cared about him. Was she worried about not having a source of cracked software in the future?
"My head was hurting a little just now, but it's fine now," Zhao Qiang explained.
Hu Qian patted her chest: "It's good that you've recovered. You scared me." Hu Qian's pat caused a surge of emotion in Zhao Qiang's eyes. Hu Qian didn't care. Instead, she leaned forward slightly, allowing Zhao Qiang to see her more deeply. He felt a surge of excitement, like he was experiencing first love. It was as if a strange man was looking at him, but in reality, this was his ex-husband, the one who had held him and made love to him countless nights.
"How long do you plan to stay here?" Zhao Qiang changed the subject, pulling his gaze away from Hu Qian's chest.
Hu Qian thought to herself, "Go ahead and look if you want. It's your stuff anyway, why pretend to be so proper?" But she said aloud, "I wonder how long you've been staying here?"
Zhao Qiang said, "After the Spring Festival."
Hu Qian said, "Then I'll leave after the Spring Festival."
Zhao Qiang was puzzled: "Why? What is your real purpose in coming here?" Zhao Qiang didn't believe that she really admired him, even though her gaze towards him was more ardent than before.
Hu Qian was prepared. She couldn't let Zhao Qiang suspect her intentions, so she took out a thick document from her bag and threw it to Zhao Qiang, saying, "Take a look. If I were to ask you to do this, how confident would you be?"
This is a schematic diagram of an air compressor gun. Zhao Qiang glanced at it casually, and the biochip crashed again. There was nothing he could do. This data was too familiar to him. The biochip instinctively tried to read the data from the brain cells that originally contained it. However, these brain cells had been marked as error sectors and were specially separated. Repeatedly reading from them for a long time would easily cause the system to crash.
Whether it was due to the constant reminders from the documents in his hand, or because reading his ex-girlfriend's data had enhanced the biochip's ability to read bad sectors, Zhao Qiang surprisingly recovered the data from his mind in a short time this time.
Zhao Qiang didn't need to look at the remaining information. He threw the document back to Hu Qian: "I don't understand what you mean." Zhao Qiang already understood that this thing required some special materials according to the design theory, and even if he had the special materials, Earth's technology couldn't manufacture it without his energy to control it. This was because what Hu Qian showed Zhao Qiang was the most powerful air compression gun, which current production levels indeed couldn't manufacture. Not to mention the compression chamber, no one but Zhao Qiang could solve the battery capacity problem inside.
Hu Qian was almost scared to death when she saw Zhao Qiang's computer crash again. Fortunately, Zhao Qiang recovered quickly this time. She patted her chest again to comfort herself. So Zhao Qiang ate another ice cream from his wife. Sigh, this is all messed up. He has to sneak around when he sees his wife. If Zhao Qiang were to recall the past, he would definitely grab her deep cleavage.
"If I provide you with the raw materials, can you make one for me?" Hu Qian asked.
Zhao Qiang began to consider the pros and cons of this matter. He really needed such a weapon, so that if an accident occurred, he wouldn't have to fight with just energy. He knew he couldn't hold out in a protracted war. But why did Hu Qian think he could make this thing? Did she have some kind of conspiracy?
Hu Qian noticed Zhao Qiang's doubts and said, "Don't think too far ahead. I just wanted to confirm. If you can do it, that would be great. If you can't, then I'll have to find someone else. You know your ability to crack code has given me blind trust. Of course, maybe this isn't your specialty, and you can refuse."
Zhao Qiang said, "No, I accept. Give me the raw materials, and I'll make one for you."
Zhao Ling and Chen Xinxin had been peering out the window at the scene below when a luxury car drove in, attracting a group of women who braved the cold to watch. Zhao Qiang then got out of the car, rolled down the window, and a very alluring girl poked her head out. Zhao Qiang smiled and waved to her, and the girl rolled up the window and drove away.
It was well past breakfast time when Zhao Qiang knocked on Zhao Ling's security door. Zhao Ling was a little unhappy, her face gloomy. She opened the security door without saying anything, went back to her bedroom and closed the door. She was jealous. How could she not feel threatened when she saw a woman more glamorous than her escorting Zhao Qiang back?
Zhao Qiang naturally sensed Zhao Ling's change, gave Chen Shuxian, Zhao Shan, and Guo Huiqin, who were sitting in the living room, a faint smile, and then followed them into the bedroom.
Zhao Shan and Guo Huiqin were somewhat puzzled. Zhao Shan asked his wife, "What's wrong with Lingling? Why is she throwing a tantrum?"
Guo Huiqin stood up: "I'll go in and ask."
Chen Shuxian stopped Guo Huiqin: "Sister, we shouldn't get involved in the young people's affairs. Don't worry, they'll be all smiles when they come out in a little while."
(Thanks to Xiaoyou Xuhuan [5 images] and Jiulu for their monthly tickets, and thanks to MengVshe for urging me to update.)
Volume 2 [470] Expulsion
[470] Dismissal
Chen Xinxin was comforting Zhao Ling when Zhao Qiang entered, and the two women glared at him with hostility.
Zhao Qiang asked, "Do you two have a deep-seated grudge? What happened between you two?"
Chen Xinxin said, "Why are you asking what happened? Who was the girl who brought you back just now? You've wronged us so much, especially Zhao Ling. You did that to her last night, and now you're out flirting with other women first thing in the morning."
Zhao Qiang chuckled: "You've misunderstood. He's a business partner. He just took on a job."
Zhao Ling asked, "Really?"
Zhao Qiang said, "It's true, our business is huge, already exceeding ten million. If this job can be done, it's estimated to be tens of millions, or even hundreds of millions."
Upon hearing that it was such an important business relationship, Zhao Ling finally smiled. She put her long hair up in a bun, looking quite alluring, and said with a hint of resentment, "I thought your ex-girlfriend had come looking for you."
Zhao Qiang patted his forehead: "I haven't thought about whether I had a girlfriend before. If I do, I'll definitely tell you."
Zhao Ling and Chen Xinxin were extremely nervous. "Are you planning to abandon us? Then you absolutely mustn't think about it."
Zhao Qiang said, "Of course we won't abandon you. You two get along very well, right? You won't mind having one more person."
Chen Xinxin kicked him, saying, "You wish! You really want to flirt with other women? Zhao Ling, let's beat him up!"
Zhao Qiang easily dodged Chen Xinxin's foot and said seriously, "Stop fooling around. Let's quickly think of how to find Zhao Ling's brother and deal with his matter. There are still people cursing us at the hospital."
Chen Xinxin immediately became serious: "Yes, this is important."
Zhao Ling said, "You should eat first, and we can talk after you've eaten."
Zhao Ling probably told her mother about Zhao Qiang's appetite, so the breakfast was very substantial. Zhao Qiang drank a large bowl of millet porridge and ate more than ten kilograms of fried dough sticks before he could barely stop. If he continued eating, there wouldn't be enough time, and it was almost noon.
Zhao Shan felt ashamed. If his daughter hadn't given him 20,000 yuan in advance, he would have really worried whether the family's food reserves would be enough for Zhao Qiang's antics. After all, Zhao Qiang could earn money and eat. Guo Huiqin had initially worried that her daughter and Zhao Qiang would have a fight, but at the dinner table, she kept ladling millet porridge for Zhao Qiang and occasionally adding pickled vegetables. It seemed that the unpleasantness from earlier had long been forgotten. Truly, the young couple made up as soon as they got out of bed.
The small living room was a bit crowded, but it was winter, so it was warmer. After dinner, Zhao Ling chaired a meeting: "Dad, Mom, let's not worry about the person who was beaten at the hospital for now. The key is to find my brother."
Zhao Shan snorted: "Don't worry about it, let him die out there. Just pretend I never had this son." Zhao Shan was just saying this out of anger. If he really knew that his son had died out there, he probably wouldn't have survived either.
Guo Huiqin felt sorry for her son: "Who knows where he went? We can't get in touch with him. Should we put up a missing person notice?"
Zhao Ling said, "I'm just afraid that others will see the missing person notice, but my brother won't. You all know he never watches TV."
Zhao Qiang asked, "Then he must be at an internet cafe. Let's go to various internet cafes and see if he's hiding away and bored, he might be going online."
How could Zhao Shan not care about his son? He said, "This little brat has indeed become addicted to the internet lately. He asks me for money every few days, but I haven't given it to him."
Zhao Qiang slapped his thigh and stood up: "I think we should start by searching in various internet cafes, making copies of Zhao Mingming's photos, leaving our phone numbers with the managers, and offering a big reward for anyone who finds him."
Zhao Ling stood up with Zhao Qiang and said, "I'll go with you."
Chen Xinxin also said, "I'll go too."
Zhao Shan and Guo Huiqin had to go to work in the afternoon, so they stayed home to wait for news. Chen Shuxian accompanied the two women and Zhao Qiang to go downstairs to search various internet cafes. If they didn't find Zhao Mingming first, he would be in danger if the group of people in the hospital found him.
Let's start with Zhao Shan and Guo Huiqin's work. As soon as they stepped out of the building, they felt people around them looking at them strangely. Guo Huiqin lowered her head, and Zhao Shan also looked away. However, someone still stopped the two of them and asked, "Zhao Shan, did you have guests at home last night?"
Out of politeness, Zhao Shan had to reply, "Yes, my daughter came home for the Chinese New Year and brought her friends to visit for a couple of days."
"I heard you're driving two BMW X5s. Are they the two parked downstairs?" the person asked, pointing to the cars parked downstairs.
Zhao Shan puffed out his chest, feeling proud of himself. "Yes."
"Your daughter is really capable," the person speaking said in a slightly veiled tone, which made Zhao Shan's chest shrink back. Guo Huiqin, however, said loudly, "My daughter and her boyfriend run a repair company in Yihai. They repair equipment for big factories and make a lot of money."
The person asking the question said meaningfully, "Oh? Is that so? There are rumors that your daughter is messing around in Yihai."
Guo Huiqin loudly corrected, "That's nonsense!"
Seeing that Guo Huiqin was very angry, the man chuckled and said, "She's probably just talking nonsense. Go to work now, or you'll be late."
After changing into their work clothes and entering the workshop, the surrounding workers pointed and whispered about the couple. Zhao Shan was a little confused and said to his wife, "Does the workshop know that our daughter drove home for the New Year in a nice car?"
Guo Huiqin said, "Why do you care about them? We've been spending a lot of money at home lately, let's focus on our work."
Zhao Shan sighed: "What's the use of working so hard if we don't even know if we'll get paid?"
Guo Huiqin said, "It should be able to open once before the New Year, otherwise how can people celebrate the New Year?"
Looking in the direction of the office building, Zhao Shan said, "Will those officials consider our feelings?"
A middle-aged woman walked out of the workshop office and called out from afar, "Zhao Shan, Guo Huiqin, come to the office."
Zhao Shan asked his wife, "Going to the office? What's up?"
Guo Huiqin said, "It can't be a bonus, can it? We didn't do anything good." In the elderly couple's view, going to the office was probably to be praised, because they had worked diligently and hadn't received a single criticism in more than ten years. They had always been good people.
Upon entering the office, the workshop director was drinking tea, his face flushed with the color of alcohol. He had drunk quite a bit at noon, and his speech was somewhat slurred. These officials, no matter how poor the factory was, would never suffer from poverty. "Comrade Zhao, Zhao Shan, sit down, sit down. You are one of the veteran workers in our workshop. If I remember correctly, you should be able to officially retire in about eight years."
Zhao Shan bowed and nodded stiffly: "Yes, Director. It would be even better if we could arrange early retirement, but I heard there are limited spots available, so I don't dare to even think about it. However, my wife is not in good health, so if possible, I hope to try to get one for Huiqin."
The workshop foreman nodded: "Yes, everyone wants to do this, but you two can forget about it."
Zhao Shan and Guo Huiqin were a little embarrassed by the blunt rejection, but the workshop director was telling the truth. They didn't offer gifts or pull strings, so they could only dream of getting an early retirement spot.
The workshop foreman continued, "Why did I say we shouldn't count on you two? Because you're both very capable."
Zhao Shan was bewildered. "Director, what do you mean? We don't understand."
The workshop director, holding his teacup, sneered: "Congratulations on having such a fine son. You've got some nerve, huh? You even dared to beat up the son of Director Yang from the Municipal Government's Enterprise Management Office. I heard it was quite a beating, turning him into a mummy. And that's not all. You acted like a bully at the hospital, refusing to pay Director Yang's medical expenses and severely beating his friend. One of them was stabbed and is currently in critical condition and receiving emergency treatment. Director Yang has already called the police, and I expect you'll be summoned soon."