After being separated from my family, I became a darling of the military region thanks to my medical

The ghastly green fluorescent code was reflected on Dean Zhao's face, which was covered in cold sweat. The string of "System Error" was like a death warrant from the King of Hell.

"What happened! It was fine just now!" Dean Zhao's voice trembled like a leaf, and the ecstasy of obtaining the treasure vanished instantly, leaving only a chilling coldness.

Chief Engineer Liu dropped the screwdriver with a clatter, his face even greener than the line of code: "Dean... the hardware is locked. This machine has an anti-tamper self-destruct program. Just now, Xiao Zhang tried to adjust the voltage, which may have triggered the protection mechanism... the core motherboard inside is burned out."

It was burned.

These two words struck everyone like a hammer blow. This wasn't a radio; this was an extracorporeal circulation machine, costing tens of thousands of US dollars and acquired with the entire nation's resources! It was all foreign exchange!

"Fix it! Fix it for me!" Dean Zhao roared, his eyes bloodshot. "If we don't fix it, we'll all be punished! This is a political task!"

Old Liu shook his head in despair and collapsed to the ground: "It can't be fixed. This is German encryption technology. Even a god couldn't crack it unless a Siemens engineer came with the key."

……

The bad news spread faster than the flu.

Before the New Year's Eve bells even rang, the news that Shanghai First People's Hospital had "broken the baby" spread like wildfire throughout the national medical community.

The hospital directors from Peking Union Medical College Hospital and West China Hospital, who had been smugly pleased with their ventilators and monitors, were so shocked by the news that they dropped their dumplings. Those who had been eager to plug them in and show them off now unplugged them completely, fearing that their own devices might also be "explosive" at the slightest touch.

"Feed? Minister Li! We dare not touch this machine! The instruction manual is entirely in German; if it locks up, we can't afford to pay for it!"

"Sir, why don't you ask Dr. Ye... oh no, I mean, that German specialist to take a look?"

Inside the Ministry of Health's office building, Vice Minister Li stared at the incessantly ringing red telephones on his desk, his head spinning. Just two hours earlier, he had felt he had orchestrated everything effectively, ensuring everyone received their due share; now, he felt like the chair beneath him was made of nails.

He gritted his teeth and, through the switchboard, finally managed to get through to the emergency contact number at Siemens headquarters.

The call was transferred three times before I finally got through to Hans, the technical manager.

"Scheiße! (Damn it) It's you again?" Hans's voice, thick with the sound of crashing waves, was so arrogant it seemed to burst the receiver. "How many times have I told you, that's not a tractor! That's precision equipment! Operating it without training is a crime! You bunch of monkeys who just randomly press buttons, you're practically raping my machine!"

Vice Minister Li, his face turning ashen from the scolding, still forced a smile: "Mr. Hans, this isn't just a machine problem; it concerns the patient's life... Could you please fly to China?"

"Go to China? Ha! I'm enjoying the sun in Bali right now! I don't even know if I can buy a ticket there!" Hans interrupted rudely. "Unless God himself calls me, I'm not going to that cold place to clean up your mess! *beep*"

The dial tone came through. Vice Minister Li's knuckles turned white as he gripped the receiver, a deep sense of powerlessness washing over him.

Technological barriers.

These four words, on this New Year's Eve, became an insurmountable mountain, bending everyone's spines.

……

The Gu Family Compound.

The dumplings were fresh out of the pot, steaming hot as they were plated. Gu Zheng was preparing a dipping sauce for Ye Zhen with a vinegar bottle in hand: lots of minced garlic, strong vinegar, and a couple of drops of sesame oil. When it came to serving his wife, Commander Gu was more meticulous than when commanding a thousand troops.

"Knock knock knock!"

The courtyard gate was pounded with a deafening roar; the manner of the pounding was more like announcing a death than a New Year's greeting.

The bodyguard, Xiao Wang, rushed in with snowflakes all over his head, looking troubled: "Sir, Vice Minister Li is here. His hat is askew, and he says he has some extremely urgent business to discuss with Dr. Ye."

Gu Zheng frowned, slammed the vinegar bottle on the table, and his roguish, unruly air instantly surfaced: "It's New Year's Eve, don't you know the rules? Even if the sky falls, people still have to eat! I won't see him! Tell him to go cool off somewhere else."

He finally managed to have a peaceful meal with his wife, and these people just wouldn't stop?

Ye Zhen picked up a dumpling, blew on it to cool it down, and said with a gentle look in her eyes, "Let him in. Vice Minister Li is a man who cares a lot about his reputation. He wouldn't be banging on the door like this unless he was desperate."

"You're just too soft-hearted." Gu Zheng sighed helplessly, got up to open the door, and muttered, "You've spoiled them."

As soon as the curtain was lifted, a gust of cold wind carrying snowflakes rushed in.

Vice Minister Li practically stumbled in. His usual meticulous demeanor was completely gone; his glasses were fogged up, his face was red from the cold, and his eyes showed a hint of panic.

"Xiao Ye... Nephew Gu... Help!" Vice Minister Li's voice was hoarse. "Shanghai... has locked down the machines. That German Hans is calling us... monkeys, and he absolutely refuses to come. If this gets out, our country will lose all face!"

The main room was deathly silent, except for the clicking of the clock on the wall.

Old Master Gu paused, his chopsticks still in his hand, and his face darkened. Gu Zheng sneered and put Ye Zhen's slightly cold hand into his warm palm.

He raised his eyelids, his gaze sweeping across Vice Minister Li's disheveled face like a blade, a mocking smile curving his lips. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an air of domineering arrogance.

"Honey, go teach them. The premise of the saying 'teaching a disciple will starve the master' is that they have to be disciples, not a bunch of old men who just randomly press buttons."

Ye Zhen felt the warmth from the back of her hand and gently squeezed the man's palm, signaling him to calm down.

She slowly swallowed the dumpling in her mouth, took out a tissue to wipe her mouth, then stood up and took the phone number from Vice Minister Li. She walked to the long table in the corner of the main room.

There was a red secure telephone there.

"Connect to the switchboard and transfer to an international call."

Her voice was clear and cold, like a handful of snow, instantly calming the restless room.

Vice Minister Li was stunned. This was Old Master Gu's private line! He watched as Ye Zhen skillfully recited the connection code.

After a few minutes of static, the call connected.

"I told you! Don't disturb my vacation anymore! Don't you understand German?!" Hans's roar came again from the other end of the phone, accompanied by the sound of waves.

Ye Zhen remained unmoved, not even raising an eyebrow. She slightly tilted her head, and her fluent German, like the low notes of a cello, gracefully switched into the channel:

"Hans, long time no see. How's the sun?"

The roaring on the other end of the phone stopped abruptly.

The deathly silence lasted for three seconds.

Then, Hans's voice became hesitant, even tinged with caution: "Ye? Is that you?"

"It's me." Ye Zhen leaned against the table, her fingers unconsciously twirling the telephone cord. Her tone was as casual as if she were chatting about everyday things. "I heard that my compatriots, out of curiosity, triggered those cute little traps you set? Hans, as an engineer, you're too guarded."

"Oh! Ye! You have to be the judge!" Hans exclaimed, as if he had found a kindred spirit, and immediately began to pour out his grievances. "This isn't my fault! It's a work of art! How dare they turn it on without even reading the instructions! They're raping my machine! I'm in Bali, and I'm absolutely not going back, not for any amount of money!"

Vice Minister Li, who understood a few words, was so anxious that he kept rubbing his hands and frantically trying to wink at Ye Zhen, signaling her to plead for him.

Ye Zhen didn't even glance at him; instead, a playful smile appeared on her lips.

beg?

The word "ask" never existed in her dictionary.