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

As soon as the car came to a stop in front of the hospital, several doctors in white coats and the hospital director came out to greet us. They had clearly been notified and were taking Professor Qian's condition very seriously.

"We are aware of Professor Qian's condition. Quickly, get him to the emergency observation room!" The hospital director, an elderly man with gray hair, shook hands with Dr. Sun and the others, then directed the medical staff to take the stretcher and push Professor Qian into the hospital.

As they walked, Dr. Sun explained the situation to the hospital director and attending physician: "...The preliminary diagnosis is scurvy symptoms caused by long-term severe vitamin C deficiency, accompanied by weakness and fainting. Due to limited resources at the base, we can only provide emergency treatment."

The hospital director nodded and said to a young doctor wearing glasses beside him, "Dr. Li, immediately conduct a comprehensive examination on the patient, focusing on blood routine and vitamin levels. Xiao Zhang, go to the pharmacy and get the two vials of vitamin C injections that I specially reserved for you."

"Yes!" Dr. Li and Nurse Zhang responded and left.

Inside the emergency room, medical staff quickly began checking indicators such as blood pressure, heart rate, and basic vital signs. Liang Zhe, Song Dazhuang, and several soldiers stood guard outside, their expressions solemn. Tian Tian held her father's hand, her big eyes peering anxiously through the crack in the door at the busy figures in white coats inside.

Shortly after, Dr. Li came out with the lab results. "Gentlemen, Professor Qian's condition is more serious than we thought. His vitamin C level is nearly 70% lower than normal, and his electrolytes are also severely imbalanced. He must receive intravenous vitamin C immediately, otherwise he may develop complications such as organ bleeding and heart failure."

"Where's the medicine? Has it been brought?" the dean asked immediately.

At this moment, Nurse Zhang ran back breathlessly, her hands empty, her face ashen.

"The hospital director... the medicine... something's happened to the medicine!"

"What?!"

Everyone's expression changed drastically!

"I went to the pharmacy to pick up my medicine. When Mr. Zhou opened the refrigerator, both medicine bottles were smashed! And next to them... there was a dead rat lying there!" Xiao Zhang pointed towards the pharmacy. "Mr. Zhou was completely stunned and was still standing there in a daze."

Without a word, the dean rushed out. Liang Zhe picked up Tian Tian and followed closely behind, with Dr. Sun and the soldiers also hurrying to catch up.

Several medical staff who had rushed to the scene had already gathered at the pharmacy entrance. Mr. Zhou, the store keeper in his fifties, squatted on the ground, staring intently at the mess on the floor—

Broken glass shards mixed with dark yellow liquid, and a gray-haired rat lay stiffly in the middle.

"Old Zhou! What have you done?!" The dean was furious upon seeing the scene. "This medicine is for saving lives! I've emphasized countless times that it must be absolutely foolproof! How could you make such a basic mistake!"

"Dean, this isn't right!" Master Zhou looked up, his eyes red-rimmed. "I've always kept the medicine bottle on the top shelf of the refrigerator, and the key has never left my hand. How could a rat have gotten into the cabinet? And look at this rat," he pointed to the stiff corpse, utterly perplexed, "it doesn't look like it just died."

"What's the use of saying all this now!" Dr. Sun stamped his feet anxiously. "The medicine is gone, what will Professor Qian do? Can the hospital find any more vitamins?"

"That's all..." The dean was also taken aback by this situation, his face turning pale. "These are our last two injections! This medicine is in short supply nationwide. Even if we immediately send it to the city or province, it will take at least a day or two to arrive. Professor Qian's condition... we simply can't afford to wait!"

"What are we going to do then?!" Upon hearing this, Song Dazhuang's anger surged instantly. He rushed to Old Zhou in a few steps, grabbing the master's collar: "Do you know how important this medicine is?! If something happens to Old Qian, can you take the responsibility?!"

"Dazhuang!"

Just as the punch was about to land, Liang Zhe shouted to stop him.

Old Zhou was so frightened that he abruptly closed his eyes. The nurses around him wanted to intervene but were too afraid, shrinking to the side. The hospital director was pacing anxiously. "Comrade, calm down, calm down! Let's think of another way..."

Song Dazhuang's fist froze in mid-air, his eyes bloodshot, rage almost bursting from them: "What other options do you have? If you harm Old Qian, none of you can afford to pay for it!"

"Yes, we know, we know!" The dean's voice was pleading. He knew Professor Qian's importance—this was a project supported by the entire nation, and if something went wrong due to the hospital's negligence, they wouldn't be able to explain themselves to the people of the country. "We didn't expect this to happen either!"

Liang Zhe stepped forward and forcibly pressed Song Dazhuang's hand down. "Calm down, violence won't solve anything."

"Commander Liang, I can't calm down!" Song Dazhuang's eyes were filled with tears. "Old Qian is still lying there. If we don't get this life-saving medicine..."

Upon hearing this, Master Zhou, who had been squatting on the ground, steeled himself, suddenly stood up, and smashed his head against the corner of a nearby cabinet: "I'm the one who harmed the old professor, I'll pay with my life!"

"stop--!!!"

With lightning speed, Liang Zhe released Tian Tian and rushed forward, grabbing Master Zhou tightly in a hug. "Master Zhou, stop!"

"Oh dear, Lao Zhou, you can't do anything foolish!" The dean was also stunned. He never expected things to escalate to this point. He hadn't even managed to save a national treasure-level professor. If another person were to die, how would he face the consequences?

Tears streaming down his face, Master Zhou struggled to break free from Liang Zhe's grasp: "Dean, I am also a person of Party spirit... Such a huge blunder, I cannot shirk my responsibility! Please punish me!"

"Sigh, Lao Zhou, you've been a veteran for so many years, working diligently and conscientiously. Do you think I don't know your character?" The dean sighed heavily, lowered his head, and said, "This happened in our hospital, and as a leader, I bear management responsibility. I am willing to accept any punishment."

"What's the point of dealing with you! Can you bring Qian Lao back?!"

Song Dazhuang was still indignant. He didn't necessarily want to hold a grudge against Master Zhou and the dean, but Professor Qian's safety weighed heavily on his mind, making it impossible for him to calm down. No one understood better than them what Professor Qian meant to the base and to the country.

"Dazhuang!" Liang Zhe patted him on the shoulder. "Say less. The most urgent thing is to find a way to save Old Qian."

"What other way is there!" Song Dazhuang squatted on the ground in anger, burying his head in his hands in anguish. Several young soldiers also couldn't help but wipe away their tears.

The entire pharmacy was shrouded in gloom, and despair weighed heavily on everyone's hearts like a mountain.

Just then, Liang Zhe's clothes were gently tugged. He looked down and saw Tian Tian looking up at him with her big, watery eyes, saying in a childish voice, "Daddy, this mouse didn't break the medicine."