Chapter 040: Ah, I’ve Been Found Out
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Why are they calling again?!
Could it be... something happened to her family?!
When Lu Jiao'er was summoned to the neighborhood committee to answer a call from Director Huang, she could not help wondering. She was not worried about Gu Fengji; she was worried about the Lu family.
“Hello, this is Lu Jiao'er.”
After arriving at the neighborhood committee, she had barely caught her breath when the telephone rang. Director Huang gestured for her to answer it, and Lu Jiao'er picked up the receiver without ceremony, identifying herself first.
“This is Gu Fengji.”
Sure enough, it was her legal husband on the other end of the line. His voice was deep and resonant, exceptionally steady and reassuring.
“Why are you calling?”
Lu Jiao'er had always been straightforward. If there was something to say, she said it. Given the nature of their relationship, neither of them was good at small talk, and there was not much else to discuss.
Besides, telephone calls were terribly expensive these days, especially long-distance calls. They cost nearly one yuan per minute.
One yuan could buy a whole pound of pork. No family would make a call casually unless it concerned something truly life-or-death. Otherwise, would it not be better to spend the money on pork and enjoy a meal?
“Er... We went to your home some time ago. You already know that. Your parents also gave us some of the medicine you bought in the capital. Several comrades fell ill these past few days, but they recovered after taking it. I wanted to ask where you bought it. We would like to get some more.”
Gu Fengji hesitated before stating his purpose. Problems had to be addressed, and retreat was not in his nature. At present, he was filled with suspicion about Lu Jiao'er.
“That medicine wasn’t bought. I made it myself. There are only a few bottles left now. If you want them, I can send you all of them.”
Ah. So she had been found out.
So that was what this was about. Lu Jiao'er’s worries about the Lu family eased, and she answered truthfully.
She was not panicked. Given how effective the medicine was, it was only a matter of time before many people learned about it. Sooner or later, it would come to light.
If Gu Fengji wanted the medicine, she could give it to him.
“You made it? How come I didn’t know you could make medicine?”
Gu Fengji instinctively recognized his wife’s forthright nature and voiced his doubts just as directly.
“I taught myself. After I fell into the water, I suddenly understood many things. My mind became clear all at once, and I was able to learn very quickly.”
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Whether he believed her or not, she said it calmly, without panic, fear, or evasion.
Gu Fengji: “...”
She had taught herself? And mastered it in no time?
Of course he did not believe her.
But she was his wife now. As long as she was not an enemy agent, a spy, or a hostile element, he had a responsibility toward her.
“There really isn’t much medicine left? Are you planning to make more?”
She was far away, and he was burdened with heavy duties. Gu Fengji had no way to look after her for the moment, so he could only set the matter aside and deal with it later.
“I’m not planning to make any more medicine for now. I need to prepare for the national college entrance examination. I still have more than a dozen bottles of various medicines here. Where should I send them?”
He had not interrogated her or continued pressing his doubts. Lu Jiao'er breathed a sigh of relief. Naturally, she was not afraid of being investigated. Raised under the red flag and nurtured by the spring breeze, she had received years of education from her country. No one could make her betray her homeland.
Gu Fengji gave her an address: a military hospital in a certain military district in Ning City. Once the medicine arrived there, it could be tested immediately, and there would be no concern about anything going wrong.
After writing down the address, Lu Jiao'er neither asked nor said anything else.
“How much do I owe you for the medicine? I’ll send you the money.”
“No need. I’ll deduct it from the five hundred yuan you gave me.”
Lu Jiao'er was no longer short of money, and she was pleased to be able to repay some of what she owed Gu Fengji. She was feeling especially generous.
The entire call lasted less than three minutes from beginning to end, and even that counted as a long conversation for them.
After thanking Director Huang, Lu Jiao'er returned home, took out the medicine she had in stock, and began packing it. She found a large quantity of old newspapers, some dried grass, and a wooden crate, then packed all the medicine inside. The next morning, she went out and mailed it.
Although she had given away that medicine, she still had dozens of bottles of whitening cream, freckle-removing cream, and acne cream. Once sold, the money would be enough to support her for three months.
“Old Gu, she really made it herself? I never would have guessed.”
Ling Yulin had heard the entire conversation and had made no attempt to avoid listening. He was deeply puzzled.
“As long as she isn’t an enemy agent, a spy, a hostile element, or someone selling counterfeit goods, and the medicine is genuinely effective, that’s enough. Never mind. I’m going to report this to our superiors.”
After some consideration, Gu Fengji decided to report the matter to the organization. His personal affairs were insignificant; the country’s affairs came first.
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One hour later.
“The comrades really recovered that quickly after taking the medicine made by Lu Jiao'er?”
“Absolutely. They recovered extremely fast. Even the Western medicine in our medical unit doesn’t have that kind of effect.”
“Is there anything suspicious?”
“No.”
“I’ve asked the relevant personnel to investigate the Lu family, and I’ve also arranged for an investigation in the capital. Little Gu, don’t worry. Whether or not there is a problem with her, this matter will not implicate you.”
“Commander, I trust the organization, and I trust her as well.”
“Rest assured. We will not do anything to Comrade Lu. We’ll investigate first.”
“Understood.”
Lu Jiao'er had no idea that Gu Fengji had reported her situation to his superiors. Still, she had already considered what the other side might do, including the possibility that someone would investigate her.
But she was not afraid.
Let them come. Pure gold fears no fire.
Sure enough, the moment the parcel Lu Jiao'er had mailed arrived at the post office, it was collected and taken to a confidential facility before she had even gone far.
The medicines inside were removed one by one and subjected to complex procedures involving the most sophisticated instruments available at the time, including analysis and sample verification. The final conclusion was that they were unquestionably pure, authentic traditional medicines. Their medicinal ingredients were exceptionally refined, entirely free of impurities, and capable of delivering their full therapeutic effect.
They were non-toxic and had no side effects or other harmful ingredients. Every one of them was precisely suited to its intended condition.
The investigation into Lu Jiao'er’s life after arriving in the capital was also completed, including everything that had happened when she first went to the Gu family’s compound. The guards on duty remembered that day with perfect clarity; they did not need to struggle to recall a thing.
The neighbors in the alley, as well as the neighborhood committee, were discreetly questioned. Investigators even disguised themselves as customers seeking medicine and went to Lu Jiao'er’s residence to investigate. They purchased some of her skin-care products and took them back as well.
Yet after investigations from every angle, including an in-depth examination of every member of the Lu family and all their relatives and friends, the conclusion was unanimous: Lu Jiao'er was certainly not a spy, an enemy agent, or a hostile element.
But why had she suddenly learned how to manufacture medicine? And how had she managed to make it so well without any sophisticated machinery?
That was the truly strange part.
Thus, five days later, Lu Jiao'er received an unexpected elderly visitor.
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