With three superpowers at his fingertips, he could dominate the 1970s.

Although Jiang Zhiyu felt a little uncomfortable with the way the higher-ups were protecting her, she was increasingly grateful.

In her past life, during the apocalypse, no one protected her. She survived only through her special abilities, her own spatial dimension, and her own life. Who would protect whom? She was lucky to even be able to take care of herself.

But this life is different.

This country, these complete strangers, silently suppressed the rumors and cleared away all the scrutiny and speculation without her asking for anything in return.

She wasn't used to feeling protected like this, but it warmed her heart.

She felt an increasing sense of belonging to this country.

---

What Jiang Zhiyu didn't know was that because of her, an uninvited guest arrived at the Xishan Sanatorium.

---

Xishan Sanatorium.

The old leader and the white-haired, youthful-looking old man opposite him had been staring at each other for more than ten minutes.

No one spoke.

The tea went cold, pot after pot. Secretary Li came in twice to refill the water, each time tiptoeing out without daring to even breathe.

The elderly man sitting opposite the former leader is Zhuge Yunhe, the former director of the Second State Archives Administration.

With a full head of silver hair and a ruddy complexion, he wore a faded Zhongshan suit and looked kind and gentle, like a retired schoolteacher. But his eyes—occasionally flashing a glint of shrewdness amidst their murky appearance—were like those of an old fish swimming at the bottom of a deep pool, seemingly calm but actually insightful.

This is one of the most mysterious old men in the entire country.

It is said that he possessed an ancestral art of divination, capable of deducing conclusions unimaginable to ordinary people from the slightest clues. He was said to have foreseen and planned ahead for countless major events, allowing the nation to avoid numerous hidden dangers.

At this moment, looking at his former leader, he finally lost his composure—

"Just tell me, where is that person!"

He puffed out his beard and glared, looking just like an old man whose grandson had hidden his chessboard, so anxious he kept slamming his fist on the table.

The old leader glanced at him again, then slowly picked up his teacup and took a sip.

"I told you, that girl is still young. She might not want to go into your place."

Zhuge Yunhe simply wouldn't listen to him.

"I don't care! I've calculated it, this girl will be ours someday! We'll see her sooner or later anyway! Just let me see her!"

As he spoke, he simply pulled his chair forward, moved closer to the old leader, and fawned over him with a beaming smile.

His appearance was completely different from the legendary image of the strategist and mastermind Director Zhuge.

The old leader sighed helplessly and put down his teacup.

"Really, that girl just came of age, she's too young. The missions your bureau carries out every day are quite dangerous—she's not even engaged, her parents are still being persecuted in the countryside, and the exoneration documents haven't been issued yet. We just seized a large amount of her stuff, and I sold her out in the blink of an eye—"

"Hey! Old boss, what do you mean by 'selling'?" Zhuge Yunhe exclaimed anxiously. "I'm calling this 'cherishing talent'! How can it be right not to include such a talented person in our Second Administration Bureau?"

The old leader shook his head with amusement: "It's not that I don't want to tell you. Let that girl settle her family matters first, then I'll let you see her. We just took some good stuff from them, and then we're off to carry out a mission for you—that doesn't make sense."

Zhuge Yunhe's beard twisted with anger: "Why are you so stubborn—"

He suddenly stopped laughing halfway through his sentence.

His expression turned serious.

That serious look was completely different from his playful and joking demeanor just now; it was as if he had changed his face.

He slowly sat up straight, placed his hands on his knees, and looked intently at his old leader.

"Well, old boss. There are some things I've figured out, but I wasn't planning to tell you first."

His voice lowered, and his tone carried an unusual seriousness:

"But this matter is rather urgent. Since I can roughly deduce this girl's abilities—although the upcoming disaster is still less than two months away, this girl's great skills will come in very handy."

---

The old leader became interested.

"Then tell me, what are this girl's skills? I haven't dared to ask her yet."

Zhuge Yunhe shook his head.

"This, I really can't tell you."

He paused, his gaze falling on the ginkgo tree outside the window, as if carefully choosing his words:

"Her background is quite peculiar. The fact that she is now wholeheartedly devoted to our country is a testament to our nation's destiny."

The old leader paused slightly as soon as he uttered the words "national destiny".

He got it.

Some things are better left unsaid.

Since even Zhuge Yunhe used the phrase "national destiny," this girl's origins must be even more bizarre than he imagined. He already had some suspicions—so many things appearing out of thin air, without a single person around, this method was beyond the realm of common sense—but Zhuge Yunhe's words made his suspicions even deeper.

"Since you also say that girl has great abilities, tell me, what did she calculate that made you come all this way for such a serious reason?"

Zhuge Yunhe's expression grew increasingly somber.

His lips moved a few times, as if he was hesitating, or perhaps weighing the weight of his words.

Finally, he spoke with great difficulty.

Two words.

"A major earthquake."

---

The old leader's teacup fell to the ground with a clatter.

He was completely unaware that tea had splashed all over his trouser leg.

"What did you say?"

Zhuge Yunhe spoke again, his voice even deeper than before, as if each word carried the weight of a thousand pounds:

"Major earthquake. Major natural disaster."

The old leader's face turned pale instantly.

He stood up abruptly, causing the chair to tip backward with a jarring sound.

"Old Zhuge! You can't just say things like that!"

Zhuge Yunhe looked up at him, his cloudy old eyes revealing no hint of a joke.

"Old boss, do you think I'm the kind of person who talks nonsense?"

The old leader slumped back into his chair.

His hands were trembling.

When that batch of equipment arrived a couple of days ago, he was so happy that he couldn't sleep all night. The things that girl brought gave him hope for the country's rise—the equipment was there, the food was there, scientific research could begin, and the people could finally have enough to eat.

But now—

Great earthquake.

He had just been happy for two days when this news was like a bucket of ice water poured over his head.

"Why...why does this country suffer so many disasters..."

His voice was hoarse, carrying a deep weariness.

"It's too difficult, old Zhuge. Our people haven't even had enough to eat yet... and we've only just begun to see a glimmer of hope..."

Zhuge Yunhe also sighed heavily.

His aged hands were clasped together on his knees, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force.

"That's why I said that girl would be very useful."

He raised his head and looked intently at his former leader:

"I don't know her specific abilities, but I do know she can definitely transport large quantities of supplies—or perhaps she possesses some kind of magical treasure."

The old leader's brows were tightly furrowed.

Zhuge Yunhe continued, "It's not that I'm coveting her treasure; it's just that I really need her this time. Old leader, you just need to introduce me to her, and I'll handle the rest."

The old leader remained silent for a long time.

The ginkgo trees outside the window rustled in the afternoon breeze, and sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, drawing golden lines on the ground.

He stared at the light for a long time.

"I thought you came here to kidnap someone."

His voice finally regained its composure, but carried an undeniable heaviness.

"Since things have come to this point—I'll call Lao Song in a bit and ask what that girl thinks. If she's willing to meet, I'll let you know."

Zhuge Yunhe nodded.

He stood up, and as he walked to the door, he turned back to look at his old leader one last time.

"Old boss, there's always a way out. With that girl around, this time—maybe it will be different."

After saying that, he walked out.

His expression was solemn, but his steps were much heavier than when he arrived.

---

The old leader was left alone in the conference room again.

He sat in the chair, staring at the spilled tea on the floor, motionless for a long time.

Why?

Why does this country have to suffer so much?

From the Opium War to the War of Resistance against Japan, from the Civil War to the founding of the nation, from being poor and backward to tightening our belts to build a better future—when has this country ever had a peaceful day?

The common people are suffering.

We've had two days of good food, and just when we saw a glimmer of hope, the sky is about to fall.

Does a nation have to endure hardship and toil before it can flourish?

He closed his eyes.

A little moisture welled up in those old eyes that had seen so much of life's vicissitudes.

After a long while, he slowly opened his eyes, bent down, and picked up the teacup from the ground.

The tea mug is printed with the five characters "Serve the People," but several pieces of the enamel have been chipped off, revealing the metal underneath.

I've been with him for over thirty years.

He wiped the water off the teacup and put it back on the table.

Then he picked up the phone.

"Bring Song Bingzheng to me."