34: Chapter 34: General Confers Rank, Unparalleled Hero; Strawberry and Cured Meat Win a Beauty's Smile
The helicopter's propellers whipped up a fierce wind, rustling the newly hung laundry in the yard.
Gao Jian and Qin Lan instinctively raised their hands to shield their faces. Their expressions changed as they watched the figure sliding down the rope ladder.
General Zhang landed and, without so much as a glance at the two people from the Ministry of State Security, walked straight toward Su Che.
The iron-blooded aura radiating from him, forged from mountains of corpses and seas of blood, instantly overwhelmed the sharp and capable demeanor of Gao Jian and Qin Lan.
“You two can leave now.”
General Zhang's voice wasn't loud, but it sounded like an absolute command.
Gao Jian frowned.
“General, Comrade Su Che's safety and the related cases are now being taken over by us.”
“I said, you can leave.”
General Zhang turned his head, his hawk-like eyes locking onto him.
“My business with him is a top-secret matter directly authorized by the Military Commission.”
“Your security clearance is not high enough.”
Gao Jian's lips twitched, but in the end, he said nothing.
He glanced at Qin Lan, who gave him a slight shake of her head.
“Comrade Su Che, we will be in touch again.”
After Qin Lan finished speaking, she and Gao Jian turned, got into the black Hongqi sedan, and quickly drove away.
Only Su Che and General Zhang were left in the yard.
Along with the Z-20 helicopter hovering overhead like a steel behemoth.
“General, back from the capital so soon? But this entrance of yours is a bit grand, isn't it?”
Su Che teased.
General Zhang ignored the tease, simply handing over the pitch-black metal briefcase in his hand.
The briefcase was opened.
Inside, there were no gold or jewels, only a stack of documents stamped with the bright red national seal, and several precision tools gleaming with cold metallic light that Su Che had never seen before.
The top document was a letter of appointment.
—Comrade Su Che is hereby appointed as a National Special Technical Advisor, enjoying security and logistical treatment equivalent to the rank of Major General.
The signature block bore the red stamp of the Dragon Kingdom's Military Science Commission.
Su Che stared at the words, stunned.
“General, this is...”
“Take it.”
General Zhang stuffed the letter of appointment into his hands and pointed to the tools in the briefcase.
“These are the latest models of processing equipment from the military research institute, boasting micron-level precision.”
“From now on, whatever materials or equipment you need, just give a list to Captain Li Jun. It will be delivered to you within 24 hours.”
He closed the briefcase, his voice turning solemn.
“But keep this safe.”
General Zhang pointed to the letter of appointment.
“This is both your protective amulet and your death warrant.”
“Don't show it unless absolutely necessary.”
“Understood.”
Su Che nodded. He carefully tucked the letter of appointment and the notebook into a metal cabinet at the very back of his workshop.
“Alright, I'm off.”
General Zhang patted his shoulder.
“The Ministry of State Security will handle Ma Wenju's matter. Don't get involved.”
“What you need to do now is empty everything in your brain out for me.”
With that, General Zhang turned, grabbed the rope ladder, and vanished into the sky amid a deafening roar.
...
In the workshop, Su Che sat alone for a long time.
His grandfather's notebook, the general's appointment, Ma Wenju's betrayal, the nation's expectations...
Each and every one of these weighed on him like a mountain, making it hard to breathe.
He stood up irritably, his gaze falling on the charred remains of the earthen stove in the corner.
And on his system panel, a single new mission lay there in isolation.
[Mission Name: Have a Safe, Happy, and Delicious New Year!]
Su Che let out a long breath.
Forget it.
No matter how big the issue, celebrating the New Year comes first.
He walked out into the yard and began rummaging through his pile of 'divine treasures.'
He dragged out an abandoned oil drum.
He also detached a compressor salvaged from an outdoor air conditioner unit.
Combined with the military-grade precision instruments General Zhang had just delivered...
Su Che's eyes lit up.
The clanging and banging of tools once again echoed throughout the yard.
...
When Lin Waner walked in, this was the scene that greeted her.
Covered in grease, Su Che was welding a cyberpunk-style 'giant iron canister' made of an oil drum and various pipes, sending sparks flying everywhere.
“Su Che, are you alright? That helicopter just now...”
“I'm fine.”
Su Che stopped his work and wiped his face, leaving a streak of black grease behind.
“Just a military delivery.”
Looking at his carefree attitude, Lin Waner found it both exasperating and amusing.
She hesitated for a moment before pulling a brand-new copy of 'Introduction to College Physics' from her pocket.
“Su Che, I... I wanted to ask you a question.”
“Ask away.”
“Um... what is... the field-induced levitation effect?”
She asked somewhat haltingly, clearly having just memorized it.
Su Che paused, looking into her earnest eyes.
He didn't explain it with a bunch of complex formulas as he usually would.
He simply smiled.
“It's basically making a bunch of disobedient beans line up nicely.”
Lin Waner burst into a giggle.
As they were talking, the 'giant iron canister' in Su Che's hands suddenly let out a faint humming sound.
“It's ready!”
Su Che clapped his hands and rubbed them together excitedly.
He brought out a slab of pork belly he had just 'stolen' from Su Pingan and stuffed it into the canister.
Then, he input a string of parameters on a crude control panel nearby.
“Start!”
The canister began to vibrate slightly, its surface glowing with a faint blue aura, without a single wisp of smoke escaping.
Lin Waner leaned in curiously.
“What is this?”
“The ultimate New Year food maker!”
Su Che patted the canister proudly.
“The Smart Smokeless Bacon Smoker! Let's wait and see.”
As Su Che and Lin Waner waited patiently...
Twenty minutes later.
*Ding!*
A crisp notification sound rang out.
Su Che opened the lid, and a rich... strawberry aroma instantly filled the entire yard.
The two stared at the pinkish 'bacon' that emitted a sweet, cloying fragrance, completely dumbfounded.
“Che'er!”
Su Pingan followed his nose over, pinched a piece to taste, and his face instantly turned green.
“Are you making snacks for Teacher Lin? It smells completely girly!”
Su Che's face flushed red, and he scratched his head in embarrassment.
“The parameters... the parameters weren't adjusted properly.”
Looking at his embarrassed state, Lin Waner doubled over with laughter.
Looking at her smiling face, Su Che felt a stir in his heart.
He walked over to the control panel and tapped away on it for a bit.
“There.”
He pointed to a newly added pink icon on the screen.
“This is for you.”
“Maiden Mode.”
“It can dry flower teas and dried fruits, with zero smoke.”
Lin Waner's laughter stopped.
She looked at the icon, then at Su Che.
Under the winter sun, this grease-covered young man looked as if his eyes were filled with fallen stars.
In the midst of this warm atmosphere...
Su Che's phone suddenly vibrated.
He picked it up and saw it was a call from Captain Li Jun!
“Su Che! Quick, go online and check the news, Eagle Nation's CNN channel!” Captain Li Jun's voice was grave, even carrying a hint of anger!
Su Che's heart skipped a beat. He immediately rushed into the room and turned on his old computer.
A VPN had already been installed on the computer, so Su Che directly opened CNN, the largest news network in the Eagle Nation!
A blonde, blue-eyed white scientist, wearing a high-end suit and sporting an arrogant expression, was speaking right into the camera with righteous indignation.
The title of the live broadcast read: [Tansford Chief Scientist Speaks Out: Dragon Kingdom's So-called 'Anti-gravity' Is Actually a Highly Toxic Carcinogen!]
The scientist named Allen Reed pointed to a screenshot on the large screen behind him of Su Che conducting the Anti-gravity experiment in front of Academician Ma, a sneer of undisguised contempt on his lips.
“This so-called 'miracle material' is nothing more than a variant of hexavalent chromium dust! A highly toxic waste product that everyone in industrial production avoids like the plague!”
“The so-called energy reaction he detected is not advanced technology at all, but rather the radiation signature of a carcinogen!”
Allen Reed slammed his hand on the table, his voice broadcasting across the globe through the television.
“He is using highly toxic substances to poison everyone around him, all for a pathetic bit of fame!”
The camera suddenly zoomed in close, focusing on Allen Reed's face, which was filled with self-righteousness.
He stared into the camera, as if delivering a direct verdict to Su Che.
“Mr. Su Che, you are no genius.”
“You are a fraud, a complete and utter murderer!”