At the beginning, he took his seven younger siblings to join Yi Zhonghai.

"Grandma, please have a seat."

Tan Xiulian moved a chair to the side of the kang (a heated brick bed) and placed a cotton cushion on it.

The deaf old lady didn't stand on ceremony and sat down, then pointed to the basket she had brought.

Yi Zhonghai quickly stepped forward, placed the rough porcelain bowl he was carrying on the table, and then unveiled the white cloth.

The basket contained a bowl of golden millet porridge, with a thick layer of rice oil floating on the surface, still steaming.

"My mother-in-law doesn't have much to give as a gift. This is something I cooked myself, using this year's newly harvested millet. It took me two whole hours to cook."

"Daughter, drink this porridge while it's hot. It's very nourishing. When a woman is in postpartum confinement, the first thing she needs to do is replenish her blood, and the second is to nourish her stomach. The rice oil in millet porridge is a good thing."

The deaf old lady pointed to the bowl of porridge and said to Bai Yushu.

"Grandma, you're so old and you still worry about me. How can I possibly accept that?"

Bai Yushu quickly sat up straight and said gratefully.

"What's there to feel bad about? Zhonghai and the others have taken care of me all these years, allowing this old man to live such a comfortable life. What's wrong with me cooking you a bowl of porridge?"

"Drink! I'll watch you finish it!"

The deaf old lady waved her hand and said in an unquestionable tone.

Bai Yushu glanced at Yi Zhongding.

Yi Zhongding smiled and nodded.

She picked up the bowl, scooped up a spoonful, and put it in her mouth.

The millet porridge was cooked to perfection, thick but not greasy, melting in your mouth with a unique sweet aroma of grains. The warmth flowed down your throat to your stomach, making you feel completely comfortable.

"It tastes good."

Bai Yushu said sincerely.

"If you like it, drink more. There's more. Alright, you've seen it, and the porridge has been delivered. I won't get in your way anymore."

"You all rest well, I'm going back to the backyard."

The deaf old lady then showed a satisfied smile, stood up and said.

"Grandma, why don't you finish your meal here before you go back?"

Yi Zhongding quickly stood up and said.

"No, please. It would be nice to trouble you or one of the children to bring a side dish to my old lady later. We still have some porridge at home."

The deaf old lady waved her hand and said firmly.

"Then I'll take you there."

Yi Zhongding added.

"Why bother delivering it? It's just a few steps. It's not like I don't know the way."

The deaf old lady walked out, leaning on her cane.

After she finished speaking, she left without looking back, leaving behind a hunched but strong back view.

Yi Zhongding stood at the door, watching the old lady's figure disappear beyond the moon gate, a feeling he couldn't quite describe welling up inside him.

He turned and went back into the house, where he saw Bai Yushu drinking the bowl of millet porridge, and the two little ones on the bed had quieted down and were sleeping soundly side by side.

"This old lady is so kind. I never expected her to bring me millet porridge."

Tan Xiulian watched her walk away before speaking softly.

"This old lady is incredibly insightful about the ways of the world; her methods are truly effective at touching people's hearts."

"Let's take better care of her from now on. She's still in good health, so we're not worried about not being able to repay the favor."

Yi Zhonghai looked at the bowl of millet porridge and said with a light laugh.

The lively atmosphere in the west room gradually subsided.

Tan Xiulian took the younger children to the east wing for a nap.

Bai Yushu also drank the porridge, then fell into a deep sleep while holding her two sons.

Yi Zhongding quietly closed the door, walked into the courtyard, and let out a long sigh of relief.

Just as he was about to go and see what he was missing at home, he heard the sound of a car outside the gate.

A short while later.

Yan Bugui then brought in a man wearing a Zhongshan suit.

"Zhongding, this comrade is looking for you."

Yan Bugui said with a fawning smile.

"Thank you, Teacher Yan."

Yi Zhongding took out a cigarette and offered it to him.

Yan Bugui took the cigarette, tucked it behind his ear, and left happily.

He was never greedy; he was happy as long as there was a little benefit.

"Hello comrade, you were looking for me?"

Yi Zhongding then asked the person who had come.

"Hello, Comrade Yi Zhongding, I am from the State Council. I am here to see you. You will be attending a consultation with the health care team the day after tomorrow morning."

After the visitor saluted, he looked around before speaking softly.

As he spoke, he handed over a document.

Yi Zhongding's heart skipped a beat.

Health care team consultation!

That's the only place left!

He knew what this meant.

The invitation letter previously sent by the General Office of the State Council stated that it was for "a face-to-face meeting to discuss matters related to the artemisinin project."

But the fact that someone was specifically sent to inform him that he had been included in the consultation list of the health care team was a signal that was far more complex than a simple scientific research report.

It should be noted that although he had joined the health care group, he was only required to report, but ultimately he was not qualified to participate in high-level consultations.

"Comrade, what exactly is the situation?"

Yi Zhongding steadied himself and asked the question.

"Um, I'm only responsible for relaying the orders to you."

The visitor shook his head and said.

"Okay, thank you. I'll be there on time."

Yi Zhongding nodded and said.

The visitor saluted and then left.

Yi Zhongding watched his retreating figure, lost in thought.

This wasn't his first time interacting with high-level officials.

But things are different now.

It is now 1960. Resources are scarce, the international situation is tense, and the domestic political atmosphere is also quietly changing.

He was the director of the Tropical Diseases Research Laboratory at the 301 Hospital. Although he was trained in traditional Chinese medicine, he was suddenly selected to join the health care group. There must be someone pushing him behind the scenes.

Who is this person? Is it someone in the State Council who saw the potential of the artemisinin project, or is it someone else?

His mind raced, but he remained outwardly calm.

Yi Zhongding responded and looked out the kitchen window toward the distant horizon.

It was all gray and hazy there, and you couldn't tell if it was sunny or cloudy.

Two days later, at six in the morning.

Yi Zhongding, dressed in a faded blue Zhongshan suit and with his hair neatly combed, stood at the entrance of the courtyard house.

He was carrying a black briefcase containing the artemisinin experimental data he had compiled overnight and a preliminary plan for malaria prevention and control.

He didn't know if he needed these materials, but he prepared them all anyway.

A black Jeep appeared at the alley entrance on time and slowly stopped in front of him.

The car window rolled down, revealing the face of a middle-aged man.

He was in his early forties, with a square face and thick eyebrows, wearing a gray Lenin suit, and looked like a cadre in a government agency.

"Comrade Yi Zhongding?"

The man asked.

"it's me."

"Get in the car. I'm Wang Hanzhang from the Administrative Office of the State Council. This is my ID. You can just call me Lao Wang."

Wang Hanzhang handed over his identification documents through the window.

The document itself is not important; what matters is the "five-digit number" on it.

They may be living a quiet life in the city now, but they will be famous in the future.

Yi Zhongding got into the car, which smoothly drove out of the alley and into the early morning streets.

It's already quite cold in the capital this morning; a thin layer of frost has formed on the road, and pedestrians are hurrying along with their necks hunched over.

Throughout the journey, Lao Wang didn't say much, and Yi Zhongding didn't initiate any conversation either.