Chapter 49: Wealth Concealed

After the meeting, Shang Lu sought out “White Dove” and suggested putting the subsequent experiments on hold to first help him identify the true reason why artificially bred Gu insects were weaker than their wild counterparts. With the assistance of White Dove’s project team, providing quantitative assessments of combat effectiveness, he was confident they could solve the problem at its root. White Dove did not refuse outright but said she needed to consider it. That very night, she received a call from Fang Tianqiu, who spoke in an authoritative tone, ordering her to halt her current research projects and fully cooperate with Shang Lu’s work. He promised funds, manpower, and resources—whatever was necessary to conquer this critical challenge. Fang Tianqiu, a former military man, was straightforward and uncompromising; when he gave an order, it was final. Despite her reluctance, White Dove had no choice but to agree.

The next day, Shang Lu eagerly approached White Dove to discuss their collaborative plan. She recommended starting with the “Mountain-Lifting Gu,” a widely distributed species with extensive research, abundant wild samples, and relatively mature breeding techniques. It also suited their current combat power evaluation system. Shang Lu agreed, likening it to genetic research beginning with fruit flies—creatures with a clear genetic background, easy to manipulate, and low cost. The Mountain-Lifting Gu was the fruit fly of Gu insect research; it made perfect sense.

Cooperation between the two project teams was complex, tangled with many vested interests. White Dove made many concessions out of respect for Fang Tianqiu, and Shang Lu understood this well, offering compensation elsewhere. Sima, a core member of White Dove’s team and the best candidate for testing the Mountain-Lifting Gu, was granted an additional research stipend of twenty thousand yuan monthly, deposited at the start of each month. This unexpected windfall made Sima indebted to White Dove, and he sincerely thanked her. In turn, White Dove increased her own financial allowance to twenty thousand yuan, effectively boosting Sima’s monthly income by forty thousand yuan—a staggering sum in that era when housing prices in Beizhi City were four thousand yuan per square meter.

Sima kept this fortune to himself, telling no one except Zhou Lingri. More accurately, under the surveillance cameras of the comprehensive office, he couldn’t hide it from her even if he wanted to. Zhou Lingri managed the office’s “petty cash,” handling substantial expenses regularly. Though forty thousand yuan was a large sum, it did not faze her. She advised Sima to buy a traditional courtyard house in Beizhi City—a unique, independent home. Although old and requiring costly renovation, its value would soar in a few years, becoming a rare gem. If he was short of cash, she offered to lend him money. Sima recognized Zhou Lingri’s foresight; indeed, the courtyard house was a fine investment. However, with “Daqin Shipbuilding” stocks still low and better opportunities in the stock market, he politely declined her offer.

The collaboration between Shang Lu and White Dove was fraught with countless details. Preparations were overwhelming, and even with the two leaders’ consensus, it was impossible to launch the project immediately. Sima had returned to a nine-to-five routine and found himself restless from the sudden idleness.

One evening, on his way home, he passed a crossroads and noticed some outsiders selling cats and dogs at a stall—one cage of puppies and one of kittens, all mixed breeds, claimed to be raised at home and sold cheaply. Waiting at the red light, Sima’s “Spiritual Communication Gu” in his chest suddenly reacted. His gaze fixed on a small kitten in the cage, yellow and black, malnourished, curled up in a corner with pitiful, squinting eyes full of fear.

Sima crouched down and asked the vendor’s price. The seller hesitated briefly before saying a thousand yuan. Sima didn’t bargain and paid immediately. The kitten trembled but soon relaxed against Sima’s chest, licking his hand quietly and staying still. Crossing the intersection and taking a slight detour, Sima arrived at a pet store. The clerk, donning gloves, gave the kitten a brief check and identified it as a small leopard cat, about a year old, generally healthy with no major issues. Having no experience with cats, Sima bought a litter box, food bowls, dry food, and canned food on her recommendation, then hailed a taxi home.

Back at his rented apartment, Sima bathed the little leopard cat with warm water. The cat was surprisingly docile, showing no wildness. He taught it to use the litter box, then poured some food into the bowl. The kitten immediately buried its face in the food, clearly starving. While it ate, Sima found an old fruit basket, lined it with a blanket, and hung it up as a cat bed. Leopard cats were adept at climbing and jumping; the height posed no challenge.

The next morning, Sima awoke to find the kitten lying on his stomach, directly over the spot where the Gu insect resided, sleeping soundly. It was small and thin, utterly unguarded. His heart softened, and he decided to bring it to the office and treat it well. After washing and breakfast, he placed the kitten on his shoulder and strode to work, becoming the most eye-catching figure on the street and attracting countless stares. The Anti-Doping Center was a government agency, so when he noticed some uneasy looks, he quickly hid the kitten inside his coat, covering its small head, and slipped into the building. Only then did he let it out in the office.

Zhou Lingri gasped in surprise and delight, wanting to pet the kitten but hesitating, worried it was dirty. She paced anxiously. Sima suppressed a smile, pretending ignorance. Zhou Lingri’s eyes followed the kitten as it climbed up, jumped down, slipped under desks, and darted onto the sofa. She covered her mouth in excitement.

Sima asked, “Have you ever raised small animals?”

Zhou Lingri shook her head. “When I was little, I raised silkworms—‘silk babies.’ They were plump and white, spinning silk and cocooning, finally emerging as moths.”

“Silkworms are much dirtier than cats. They eat a lot and produce a lot of waste. The moths are covered in powder that flutters off with every flap...”

“Ugh, stop! Just thinking about it makes me sick!”

Sima stopped teasing her. “I’m going to the kitchen to find some scraps to feed the cat. You watch it and don’t let it run out—those field agents have bad tempers. If it gets kicked to death, it’s no joke!”

Zhou Lingri assured him, “Don’t worry, I’ll keep an eye on it!”

Sima stroked the kitten’s head and told it to stay and play, to wait patiently for him. Zhou Lingri couldn’t help but laugh. “Your cat understands human speech?”

Sima smiled, taking that as confirmation, then left. The leopard cat looked up and fixed its gaze on him, then settled motionless on the sofa, leaving Zhou Lingri marveling and eager to pet it some more.

The kitchen was a restricted area, but Sima had good relations with the office staff, and the special kitchen’s chef knew him. Scraps for feeding cats were cheap but plentiful; the chef gladly packed a big bag. Sima thanked him with a smile, mentioning he worked in the comprehensive office and invited the chef to reach out if he needed anything. The middle-aged, greasy-faced chef’s eyes lit up, and he beamed with delight.