“You’re going to get me killed!” Liu Ying spat through gritted teeth.
Xu Nanxi hurried behind her, defending himself. “Teacher Liu, it’s not just for me, it’s for you too! You’ve been working so hard for so long without a promotion. If the Muxi grass can be saved, this would be a major accomplishment! If it weren’t for you, why would I have taken such a risk?”
Liu Ying laughed in anger. “So it’s my fault?”
“No, it’s not your fault, it’s just that both of us have bad luck.”
Liu Ying gave a cold smile and brushed his hand away.
“You should focus on how you’re going to face Director Hao’s wrath!”
She was the first to bear the brunt, but Xu Nanxi wouldn’t be spared either.
Xu Nanxi’s face turned ashen. He propped himself up on his knees, his spine bent.
What was he going to do?
Suddenly, Xu Nanxi remembered the person who had approached him, and a flicker of hope appeared in his eyes.
He had left his address and contact information at the time. He could go find that person!
As long as he found this person, he wouldn’t have to bear the full responsibility.
Meanwhile, facing the Muxi grass that was on the verge of withering, Director Hao was at a loss.
In desperation, he recalled Zhao Jisheng’s words and immediately sent someone to make a call.
Zhao Jisheng then found Cheng You and hurriedly pulled her to the research institute.
“Professor Zhao, there’s no need to be so anxious. It’s not dead yet.”
Cheng You had been worried about Qi Chengyan for the past few days, unable to sleep at night and drowsy during the day.
She had finally made it to the weekend and could get some rest.
Before she could sleep for long, she was woken up.
“Cheng You, you can’t say that when we go in!”
Cheng You’s eyelids drooped. “Got it.”
Zhao Jisheng and Cheng You walked in, and Director Hao quickly greeted them.
“Professor Zhao, where is he?”
Zhao Jisheng pointed to Cheng You, who was nearly asleep beside him. “You should hand the item over to her.”
Director Hao was a bit confused. “Is this young comrade that person’s assistant?”
“No, the person I’m talking about is her. Dig up the Muxi grass and let her take it back.”
“No!” Liu Ying strode over quickly.
Before Director Hao could speak, she rejected the idea.
She said urgently, “Director, Xu Nanxi has already found someone to prepare the nutrient solution. He said there’s a way to save the Muxi grass! We can hand the Muxi grass over to him!”
Director Hao frowned. “Nonsense! His nutrient solution caused the Muxi grass to become like this, and now you’re telling me he has a solution?”
“Precisely because the nutrient solution was prepared by him, the one who tied the knot must untie it!” Liu Ying retorted forcefully.
Her words made everyone think her point had some merit again.
Cheng You was too young to convince everyone that she could revive the Muxi grass from near death.
In comparison, Liu Ying’s words were more credible.
Cheng You yawned. “What’s the situation now? Do you still need me?”
Director Hao became conflicted. He didn’t know how to choose.
“How about this, let’s have the five of us vote!” Liu Ying suggested.
Director Hao nodded. “Alright, I vote to hand it over to this young comrade.”
He decided to take a gamble and trust Zhao Jisheng.
Liu Ying naturally chose Xu Nanxi, and the other two older researchers sided with her.
One young person was like Director Hao.
In the end, the Muxi grass was sent to Xu Nanxi.
Cheng You had no objections. “Then I’ll be going back.”
Zhao Jisheng stopped trying to be helpful and walked out with Cheng You.
“I didn’t expect this. You came all this way for nothing.”
Cheng You smiled with a curl of her lips. She had known from the beginning that it would be for nothing.
“What a shame. It seems the Muxi grass can’t be saved,” Zhao Jisheng sighed, looking up.
Cheng You said, “Not necessarily. It’s unlikely that person is truly that capable and can save the Muxi grass.”
“Bullshit!” Zhao Jisheng, uncharacteristically, swore.
If they were truly capable, would they have waited until now?
He shook his head with regret. The research institute was bound to be disappointed.
“It’s still early. I’m going back to sleep. Goodbye, Professor.”
Zhao Jisheng wanted to call out to her, but he didn’t know what good it would do, so he simply nodded.
If only he could be as carefree as Cheng You.
Cheng You took the bus back to the compound.
At the same time, a military vehicle drove into the compound.
Escorted by Qi Shengwen’s bodyguard, the item was handed over to Cheng You.
“How is it over there?”
“Comrade Cheng You, I’m sorry, I’m not at liberty to say more.”
Cheng You casually held the item in her arms, making others tremble with apprehension.
“Please be careful.”
Cheng You waved her hand. “I know. You can go back.”
With that, she walked into her courtyard, carrying the Muxi grass.
Since she was going to grow medicinal herbs, Qi Chengyan had previously bought her many brick-red ceramic flowerpots.
She had already dug up the soil and prepared it.
She wasn’t as particular as the botanical research institute, using nutrient soil for the Muxi grass.
After fiddling with it for a while, she heard a knock at the door.
“Cheng You?” It was Song Qinglan’s voice.
“Hey, I’m here. Come in directly.”
Her hands were covered in dirt, and she couldn’t reach to open the door.
Song Qinglan walked in directly from outside and saw Cheng You taking the Muxi grass out of the black bag.
Even the branches were withered and yellow, looking like dried weeds.
“This is the Muxi grass they cherished so much? It’s dead, isn’t it?”
Cheng You touched the roots. “It’s probably not completely dead yet.”
But after today, it would likely be dead.
She buried the Muxi grass in the soil, picked up a bottle nearby, and poured water on it.
Done.
She walked to the side to wash her hands and asked, “What happened over there?”
Song Qinglan alluded to it vaguely. “It was an infiltration attempt by foreign forces. The people have been apprehended.”
Even Xu Nanxi had been taken into custody.
She glanced at Cheng You, then at the Muxi grass, and said, “I came to see if there was anything I could help with.”
Cheng You spread her hands. “No need. It’s already taken care of.”
“What?” Song Qinglan didn’t understand.
The Muxi grass was like this; didn’t it require some special method to save it?
Even emergency treatment in a hospital required specific measures.
“I’ve already planted it. I just need to water it every day.”
Song Qinglan ran a hand through her hair in disbelief.
“Cheng You, this is not a child’s play. They entrusted this to you because they value you. You have to take it seriously! It’s so cold outside; if you leave it out like this, won’t it freeze to death?”
This was too casual!
Cheng You suddenly realized. She wondered why something seemed to be missing.
“But I can’t build a shed here. I’ll bring it inside at night. It can get some sun during the day.”
Song Qinglan: “……” That wasn’t what she meant!
“Are you sure it can survive? I thought…”
She had thought Qi Shengwen specifically handed the item over to Cheng You because she was capable enough.
Cheng You shook her head. “How can I answer such a question? Of course, I’m not sure. I don’t even know if it’s completely dead.”
Anyway, as long as it wasn’t dead, it would live.