The little star from the Gobi Desert, handed over to the state, is hailed as a national treasure.

Liang Zhe carried Tian Tian into the third car, with two guards sitting in the front and back seats. The car drove out of the airport and onto the highway leading to the city.

Sweetie's face was pressed against the car window, her eyes fixed on the passing scenery: more and more houses, wider and wider roads, rivers of bicycles, and buses lined up like colorful building blocks...

"Dad, the capital is so big," she whispered, afraid that her voice would disturb the city.

"Yes, it's huge." Liang Zhe hugged his daughter tightly.

As the car passed the square, Tian Tian suddenly sat up straight and pointed out the window: "Daddy, look! Red flags! So many red flags!"

The morning sun shone on the square, the national flag fluttered in the wind, and the monument to heroes stood tall. The streets were bustling with people, shoulder to shoulder, all dressed simply but brimming with youthful vigor.

Liang Zhe felt his eyes welling up with tears. He wanted to tell his daughter that under that banner lay the ideals his wife had once dreamed of, and even more so, the future forged by the blood and sweat of countless predecessors and contemporaries.

But in the end, he simply hugged his daughter tighter and whispered, "Sweetie, this is our capital. When you grow up, you must also do your part for this country."

The little girl nodded vigorously, her small hands gently stroking the glass, as if trying to feel the pulse of the city.

The car stopped at a guesthouse near Xihua Hall. It was an elegant three-story building with soldiers standing guard at the entrance. The lobby was decorated in a simple and elegant style. It was said to have been converted from the private residence of a powerful warlord during the Republic of China era. Because of its superior conditions, foreign dignitaries would occasionally stay here.

They were assigned to a guest room on the second floor. The room was furnished with antique-style furniture, and the bed was covered with brand-new, snow-white sheets, a stark contrast to the harsh conditions of the camp tents in the desert.

The guards put down their luggage, saluted Liang Zhe, and Liang Zhe returned the salute.

"Commander Liang, please rest for now. If you need anything, please ring the bell. There are plainclothes officers on guard in the corridor and downstairs to ensure your safety."

"Thank you, comrades."

"You're welcome."

The soldiers left the room, leaving only the father and daughter in the large space.

Sweetie was like a little bird just released from its cage, looking around here and there. She touched the soft sheets, looked at the celadon vase on the octagonal table, and tiptoed to examine the calligraphy and paintings on the wall. The little girl had never seen such a nice house before, and everything seemed new and interesting to her.

"Daddy, when are we going to the zoo?" Sweetie ran around for a bit, then ran back, skillfully climbed onto her dad's lap, and looked at him expectantly.

"Tomorrow, let's go first thing tomorrow morning." Liang Zhe picked up his daughter, but a sense of unease lingered in his heart. The foreign delegation was currently in Beijing, and he wondered what kind of obstacles they would bring to the fledgling missile program.

"Rest today, and Dad will take you downstairs for a nice lunch."

"Okay, Daddy, Sweetie wants to eat meat!"

"Alright, let's eat meat. But there are so many delicious things to eat in the capital: fried noodles with soybean paste, sugar figurines, roast duck..."

"I want to eat them all! I want to eat them all!"

Seeing his daughter's joyful expression, Liang Zhe couldn't help but smile. He carried Tian Tian to the window, gazing at the gray-tiled alleyways and tree-lined streets outside, but his thoughts drifted back to the distant Gobi Desert...

There, the wind howls, lights burn all night, and faces hold ideals, dedicating themselves to the country...

Wherever they are, protecting this peace and the innocent smiles of the children is the whole meaning of their selfless dedication and sacrifice.

Meanwhile, in the Xihua Hall, a special meeting was just beginning. When Professor Qian entered the reception room, the white-haired old man was facing away from the door, looking at the huge map hanging on the wall.

On the map, the mountains and rivers are majestic and magnificent, and the long-dormant dragon of the East has awakened, and an ancient civilization is quietly rising.

Hearing footsteps, the old man turned around. Their eyes met, and they remained silent for a few seconds.

"Money," Professor Enlip spoke first, his English thick with a Boston accent, "long time no see."

Professor Qian stepped forward and extended both hands: "Welcome, Professor Anlip."

Two hands of world-renowned scientists, transcending time and space and straits, were once again clasped tightly together.

The guesthouse's lunch time was from 11:00 to 1:00. At that time, the whole country was working together to carry out construction, and due to the shortage of supplies, all catering standards were adjusted accordingly.

Meat and eggs are available on a limited-time offer, only at lunchtime, and are not included in the meal price; guests must pay for them separately.

The staple food is mostly coarse grain steamed buns. Those who are slightly better off can have a bowl of white rice porridge, but the rice grains are very sparse.

The meals at this guesthouse aren't cheap, but those who can stay there are either public officials or people with special status who come from wealthy families and don't care much about the price.

Liang Zhe then understood why Zhao Zhifeng, who was receiving him, had given him so much cash and food coupons—in this top-notch security and excellent facilities, expenses were naturally considerable.

Liang Zhe, holding Tian Tian's hand, first exchanged two meal vouchers, then took out twenty yuan and ordered an extra plate of stir-fried pork. In the resource-scarce town of Northwest China, this was a rare treat of meat. As for the twenty yuan… back then, it was enough to buy over twenty jin of pork!

He truly couldn't bear to be so extravagant if it weren't for the fact that his daughter hadn't had a decent meal of meat and vegetables in the Gobi Desert for so long.

As soon as the stir-fried pork was served, its rich aroma instantly filled the room. Sweetie wrinkled her little nose, wishing she could bury her entire face in the plate.

"It smells so good, Daddy..." The little girl's mouth was practically watering.

"Don't worry, baby, it'll be ready soon."

Liang Zhe carried the plate to an empty table and sat down, handing his daughter a coarse grain steamed bun. Tian Tian didn't even notice the bun; she eagerly picked up a slice of meat and stuffed it into her mouth.

While eating, she awkwardly picked up a piece of meat and handed it to Liang Zhe, saying, "Dad, you can eat too."

Liang Zhe felt a warmth in his heart. He took only a small bite and put the rest of the meat back into his daughter's bowl. He then picked up his chopsticks and took a shredded potato. "Daddy doesn't like meat, but he likes shredded potatoes. Sweetie, eat more."

"Daddy lied!" Sweetie immediately pouted and protested, "Mommy used to do the same thing, always saving the best food for Sweetie."

One sentence instantly struck a nerve with Liang Zhe, causing a pang of sadness in his heart. Most parents in the world are like this, silently giving their children the best of everything. This love, though unspoken, weighs a thousand pounds.

He gently stroked his daughter's head, his voice a little hoarse: "Sweetie has grown up and knows how to care for her parents. It's all thanks to Mom's good teaching."

Thinking of his deceased wife, Liang Zhe's eyes quietly welled up with tears. If his wife were still here, if she could sit here and enjoy a bite of this fragrant stir-fried pork, he would be willing to do anything, no matter how much he had to sacrifice.

"Daddy, don't cry, eat some meat." Sweetie was exceptionally sensible. She stretched out her soft little hand and gently wiped away the tears from Liang Zhe's eyes. Then she picked up the biggest piece of meat and carefully put it into his mouth. "Daddy, eat. If you eat, you won't be sad anymore."

Holding his daughter's soft little body, Liang Zhe felt his heart melt. All his grievances and longings were washed away by his daughter's obedience at this moment.

But this heartwarming moment didn't last long, shattered by a child's innocent yet arrogant voice. A little boy stood in front of the food court, one hand covering his nose, complaining in fluent English, "Daddy, what's that weird smell? It stinks!"

Most of the people who could afford to stay at this guesthouse were people of a certain social standing, and many of them could understand English. Upon hearing this, everyone turned their heads and looked towards the entrance.

There stood a family of three, their attire completely out of place with everyone else present.

The man was dressed in a dark suit and bow tie, his hair slicked back, exuding an air of sophistication. The woman wore a wide-brimmed hat, a dark gray striped dress, and high heels, her posture haughty.

Between the two was a six or seven-year-old boy, wearing overalls and a small shirt, with a black bow tie, his eyes full of arrogance.