At the beginning, he took his seven younger siblings to join Yi Zhonghai.

Yi Zhongding sat down at his desk and took out the leadership group's notification document again to look at it.

My gaze lingered on the words "Project Team Leader Yi Zhongding" for a long time.

Then he carefully put the documents into the drawer, locked it, and took out the key and put it close to his body.

Only then did he calm himself down, spread out a blank sheet of paper, pick up a pen, and begin writing the work plan for the collaboration system.

The pen tip glided across the paper, making a soft, scratching sound that was particularly clear in the quiet office.

After some time, a soft knock came at the door.

"Director Yi?"

Yi Zhongding looked up and saw Tu Youyou standing at the door, holding a stack of documents in her hand, her face showing exhaustion.

"Team Leader Tu, didn't you go to the Academy of Military Sciences? Why are you back?"

Yi Zhongding stood up with a smile to greet her.

"I've finished debugging, so I'm coming back now. You're going to come over tomorrow to check on the test run, right?"

Tu Youyou followed him in and sat down in the chair opposite the desk.

"Yes, go there first thing tomorrow morning. How did the equipment testing go?"

Yi Zhongding poured her a glass of water.

"Excellent, even better than we expected. We tested three more batches of crude extract this afternoon, and the crystallization time and purity remained stable at the optimal level."

"I think the process you've developed can be directly incorporated into the industrialization plan."

Tu Youyou looked very excited and said without hesitation.

"Okay, I'll take a look at it in person tomorrow. If there are no problems, I'll solidify these process parameters."

"The greatest credit for this process belongs to you, especially Comrade Tu Youyou, who deserves the most credit."

Yi Zhongding nodded and said with a smile.

"Zhongding, don't be modest. My greatest strength is my honesty. I just followed your path, so what's the big deal?"

Tu Youyou waved her hands repeatedly and said.

"Let's not worry about that then. Is there anything else you need? No matter how difficult it is, I'll figure something out."

Seeing her hesitant expression, Yi Zhongding took the initiative to ask.

"Zhongding, I heard that the leading group's approval has been issued?"

Tu Youyou hesitated for a moment, but still asked.

"You're quite well-informed. I just received the news today. The official announcement will be made next Monday."

Yi Zhongding smiled and didn't hide anything.

"Then you will be the project leader. From now on, you will be the one to lead everyone on the path of artemisinin."

Tu Youyou was silent for a moment, then spoke softly.

Yi Zhongding detected a complex emotion in her calm tone: a mixture of relief, anticipation, and a hint of worry.

Yi Zhongding quickly realized what she was worried about.

She was worried that if she gained more power and responsibility, she would change.

"Comrade Tu Youyou, no matter how big this project becomes, no matter how many titles I have, one thing will never change."

"I am a member of the organization and also a doctor. My duty is to treat the sick and save lives. Please rest assured about that."

"Right now, I still need to oversee the production process of artemisinin, but once it's on track, I'll let go of that responsibility and go back to being a traditional Chinese medicine doctor."

Yi Zhongding looked into her eyes and said earnestly.

"I'm not worried."

Tu Youyou met his gaze for a moment, a smile appearing on her lips, and then slowly nodded and said.

Having gotten the answer she wanted, she stood up with relief, picked up the stack of documents, and turned to walk towards the door.

"Director Yi, I'll be waiting for you at the hospital entrance at 7:30 tomorrow morning."

As Tu Youyou walked to the door, she turned back and said.

"Okay, see you there."

Yi Zhongding smiled and nodded.

Tu Youyou's figure disappeared through the doorway.

Yi Zhongding withdrew his gaze and looked again at the half-finished work plan on the table.

Outside the window, the sky was gradually darkening.

Yi Zhongding looked up at the sky, rubbed his sore eyes, picked up his pen again, and continued writing at his desk.

He divided the work plan into three stages according to the principles of "overall planning, phased implementation, key breakthroughs, and comprehensive advancement".

The first phase focuses on the construction and commissioning of artemisinin raw material production lines, while simultaneously promoting the layout of medicinal herb planting bases.

The second phase focuses on the research and development of artemisinin derivatives, aiming to launch a new generation of antimalarial drugs within two to three years, or even less.

The third stage aims to build a complete antimalarial drug research and development and production system, achieving full-chain self-reliance and control from raw materials to formulations, and from research and development to production.

After writing the last word, Yi Zhongding put down his pen and read it through from beginning to end. Only after confirming that the wording was precise, the logic was clear, and the data was detailed did he let out a soft sigh of relief.

Then he looked up at the clock on the wall.

It's already 8:40.

Yi Zhongding stood up, stretched his stiff shoulders, put the completed proposal into his briefcase, turned off the lights, and left the office.

The corridor was quiet; most departments had already closed for the day.

When I walked out of the hospital, the streetlights were already on.

The dim yellow light cast long shadows on the empty streets.

He got on his bicycle and rode towards home.

Yi Zhongding pedaled his bicycle while thinking about tomorrow's plans.

At 7:30 a.m., Tu Youyou and I went to the Academy of Military Sciences to watch the test run, and at 2 p.m., we held a meeting for the entire project team.

After the afternoon meeting ended, I took some time to visit the garrison, and then looked for an opportunity to go into the mountains to release all the animals in the space.

When Yi Zhongding returned to the entrance of the courtyard house, the aroma of food wafted from the courtyard.

He pushed his bicycle into the courtyard, and as soon as he set it up, he saw his sister-in-law, Tan Xiulian, peeking out from the kitchen.

"You're back? Go wash your hands and eat, we're waiting for you."

Tan Xiulian said with a smile.

"Hey, you're back, sister-in-law. Haven't you eaten yet?"

Yi Zhongding responded and walked towards the kitchen.

"The four babies ate first, and Yu Shu also ate a little in the afternoon. Everyone is waiting for you."

"You know, no one knows how many days you'll stay home all year round. When you are home, the whole family eats together happily."

Tan Xiulian said with a smile as she stirred the food in the pot.

"After I come back and have dinner, can we sit down and have some tea together? You don't have to wait for me on an empty stomach."

Yi Zhongding felt somewhat guilty.

"Eating and drinking tea are not the same thing. Don't worry, we're not stupid, we won't starve ourselves."

"Go and rest first, Yu Shu and the others are in the main room."

Tan Xiulian noticed her younger brother's apology and quickly smiled and said...

"Eh."

Yi Zhongding stopped being polite and turned to walk towards the main room.

"Big brother."

"Big brother."

.......

When his younger siblings saw him enter, they all greeted him in unison.

Bai Yushu was sitting at the table, holding the finished little garment in her hand, examining it carefully under the lamplight.

Hearing footsteps, she looked up and a gentle smile bloomed on her face.