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

Without delay, before it got dark, driver Xiao Wang quickly drove the jeep to the entrance. Everyone hurriedly loaded the nutritional supplements and fruit into the car, and then sped off towards the base.

The atmosphere in the carriage was lively, and everyone was in high spirits. They hadn't expected that this trip to town would not only bring Professor Qian timely medical treatment, but also such invaluable supplies.

Song Dazhuang was overjoyed, praising Tian Tian again and again, and swearing to the heavens that he would also have a clever and cute little daughter like Tian Tian in the future, otherwise he would regret it for the rest of his life.

The jeep sped along the now-smooth gravel road, faster and more stable than before. As soon as they arrived at the base gate, Liang Zhe and Song Dazhuang jumped out impatiently, grabbing their things and rushing into the camp. The patrolling soldiers, seeing their hurried manner, stopped in their tracks. When their eyes fell on the red apples and yellow pears they were carrying, they were all stunned.

"Deputy Regiment Commander Song, this...this is..."

"Fruit! Never seen it before? Get out of the way!" Song Dazhuang shouted without turning his head, and ran even faster.

The soldiers looked at each other, their faces filled with disbelief.

"Squad leader... quick, pinch me! Am I dreaming? Fruit in the desert?"

"What a dream! I saw it too! It really was fruit!"

"Good heavens... the experts and professors are saved! This is better than any tonic!"

"It's Tian Tian, ​​it must be Tian Tian!" a young soldier blurted out. "She never lets us down!"

The veteran next to him immediately became alert, glaring at him fiercely, "Mind your manners, don't blurt things out."

"Yes." The soldier immediately composed himself and dared not utter another word.

After the patrol team left, no one noticed that a pair of binoculars was quietly put away.

He squinted, repeatedly studying the lip movements the soldier had just made, and picked out a key name from them: "Sweetie!" In a secluded corner not far away, a pair of binoculars was quietly put away.

The man narrowed his eyes, his brow furrowed, repeatedly studying the soldier's lip movements, selecting a key name from them: "Sweetie!"

That little girl who was only three years old?

A little girl who is spoiled without any principles by everyone in the base?

She was even allowed to accompany Professor Qian when he went out for medical treatment, which was an exception.

Why?

That wasn't the strangest thing. What puzzled him even more was that, even though he had arranged for someone to destroy the last vitamin injection, how was Professor Qian still able to be saved?

The person who arranged the rendezvous disappeared without a trace, and no further news came back.

Once is a coincidence, twice is an accident, but what about the third or fourth time?

The numerous strange events occurring at this base far exceeded his comprehension and even overturned basic common sense. Even if there was an element of luck involved, the successive "miracles" seemed more like a deliberate manipulation.

Who exactly is behind all of this?

He gazed at the distant barracks, lost in thought.

Inside the logistics department's barracks, Commander Liu and his superiors sat around a table, looking at the baskets of fresh, juicy fruit, their faces beaming with undisguised joy and excitement.

"Comrade Liang Zhe, you've done a tremendous job on this trip!" Commander Liu patted Liang Zhe on the shoulder, deeply gratified. "You not only solved the base's urgent problem, but also rid the people of a major scourge! Excellent! Well done!"

"If you ask me, our little lucky star, Tian Tian, ​​definitely deserves a lot of credit for this!" Chief Designer Wang smiled, picking up Tian Tian, ​​who was eating a cookie, and gently bouncing her around. "Wasn't it Tian Tian who helped find Grandpa Qian's medicine?"

With a cookie still in her mouth, Tian Tian blinked her big eyes when she heard her name and said earnestly, "It was Daddy... Daddy beat the bad guys."

"Yes, yes, yes!" Commander Liu laughed heartily. "Your father is a great hero, and you are a minor hero! Both are good comrades of our base!"

Joking aside, Commander Liu quickly became serious and gave the order: "Zhao Youtian!"

"Here!" Logistics Minister Zhao Youtian immediately stepped forward.

"Have the logistics department distribute these fruits according to need. The principle is simple: regardless of rank or seniority, whoever is most severely depleted should eat first; those who can hold out should go later!"

Minister Zhao Youtian gave a wry smile: "Commander, the soldiers below have already brought it up on their own initiative... Everyone says that fruit is precious and should be given to the experts first, so as to ensure their health."

Commander Liu's expression froze instantly, a hint of emotion flashing in his eyes. He turned to look at Brigade Commander Bai, who shrugged; then he looked at Liang Zhe, who smiled and nodded, clearly having already anticipated this outcome.

"Nonsense!" Commander Liu glared, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Health is the foundation of everything! Experts and professors are important, but what about the soldiers' health? We are one team! Zhao Youtian!"

"arrive!"

"Distribute this batch of fruit fairly and impartially, according to the standards for war supplies! Soldiers and experts alike, treat everyone the same! Whoever is in poor health gets it first! That's an order!"

"commander……"

"Execute the command!"

"Yes! I guarantee I will complete the mission!" Zhao Youtian did not hesitate any longer and gave a solemn salute.

Commander Liu then turned to Chief Designer Wang: "Old buddy, we've temporarily weathered the storm. But the real battle is yet to come."

Chief Designer Wang adjusted his glasses, his expression equally serious: "Commander, you mean... the engine ignition test in five days?"

"Yes," Commander Liu nodded. "Old Qian's illness is a major loss. But the 'Longsword' project's milestones cannot be delayed! This full-condition, long-duration test is the final and most crucial hurdle before the engine is delivered for assembly. Success means our missiles will have a reliable heart; failure... the consequences would be unimaginable. Therefore, only success is allowed; failure is not an option!"

"Report!" Song Dazhuang stood up at attention.

"speak."

"Commander, before we left the hospital, Elder Qian repeatedly instructed us that he would definitely return to the base before the test drive! Please rest assured, leaders!"

Upon hearing this, Commander Liu's eyes flashed with a complex mix of emotions, a mixture of gratitude and heartache: "This stubborn old man... he's so seriously ill, yet he still refuses to rest properly."

"Commander, this is all Qian Lao's hard work. The 'Longsword' engine is his lifeblood. Making him lie in a hospital bed is worse than killing him, such a big thing as test driving." Chief Designer Wang knew his partner all too well.

"Alright then." Commander Liu waved his hand and looked at Liang Zhe. "When the time comes, you go to town again and bring Old Qian directly to the experimental site so that he can witness his hard work successfully come to fruition."

"yes!"

"Therefore, all the researchers at the base will be stationed at the test site to do their utmost to overcome the final technical difficulties until the test run is successful. Only the necessary logistical support personnel will remain at the base." Commander Liu said, his gaze unconsciously falling on Tian Tian sitting on the small chair, his eyes full of worry.

"Therefore, for the next five days," Commander Liu looked around at everyone and gave the final order, "all relevant scientific research and technical personnel at the base will move to the 'Dongfeng' test site five kilometers away! Go all out to overcome the final technical difficulties until the test is successful. Only necessary logistics and security personnel will remain at the base."

His gaze finally fell on Tian Tian, ​​who was being held by Chief Designer Wang, revealing a rare tenderness and worry.

"Don't worry, Commander!" Brigade Commander Bai immediately understood and stepped forward. "I will make special arrangements for the female comrades who stay at the base to take good care of Tian Tian and ensure that there will be no problems."

Commander Liu nodded. "Comrade Bai Shuyong! I'm entrusting our 'little lucky star' and 'little hero' to you. Keep a close eye on him; not a single hair can be missing!"

"I guarantee the mission will be completed." Commander Bai chuckled and patted Tian Tian's little head.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, the base's researchers and staff set off for the test site five kilometers away. There, they would conduct the engine's final ground test. All the technicians had been working tirelessly day and night at the test site for a week to prepare for this day, and now they were all gearing up for the final push.