Courtyard House: Starting with handing over the keys, the state helps me abuse birds.

In the temporary base, Lu Zhaoting stood by the window, watching the sky gradually brighten outside, and fell into a brief moment of contemplation.

Behind them, Engineer Chen was still excitedly discussing fertilizer technology details with experts on the other end of the phone, while Xu Zhanqing had already returned to his work on metallurgical verification. The entire base was busy but orderly.

But Lu Zhaoting's thoughts drifted in another direction.

"Old Duan," he suddenly said.

Duan Chengyi was about to return to his courtyard house when he heard this and stopped in his tracks: "Director Lu?"

"What is the current condition of Jia Zhangshi's injuries?" Lu Zhaoting turned around, his eyes deep.

Duan Chengyi paused for a moment, then answered truthfully, "Both legs are broken, with fractures in the knees and ankles, and minor rib fractures. They were just taken to the First People's Hospital."

Who is in charge at the hospital?

"As you instructed, our people have been replaced," Duan Chengyi said. "The attending physician, nurses, and even caregivers were all arranged by the security department."

Lu Zhaoting nodded, paced around the room a few times, and then stopped: "Notify the hospital to give Jia Zhangshi the best medicine, arrange the best doctors, and provide the best nursing care."

Duan Chengyi was stunned: "Director Lu, this..."

"Her recovery needs to be the fastest." Lu Zhaoting's voice was calm, yet it conveyed an undeniable determination. "I want her to be able to stand up again and return to the courtyard house in the shortest possible time."

The room fell silent for a moment.

Engineer Chen put down the phone, adjusted his glasses, and said thoughtfully, "Director Lu means... she can't be 'disabled' for too long?"

"Yes." Lu Zhaoting nodded. "Comrade Xie Weihong's abilities require the 'punishment' target to maintain a certain degree of...activity. If Jia Zhangshi remains in the hospital, then she loses her value as a 'punishment resource'."

He spoke very bluntly, even somewhat coldly.

But everyone in the room understood—Jia Zhangshi was no ordinary patient; she was a crucial link in the national technology development chain. Her existence and her health directly affected Xie Weihong's ability to continue acquiring new technologies.

"I understand," Duan Chengyi said solemnly. "I'll go and notify the hospital right away."

"Tell them to spare no expense," Lu Zhaoting added. "As long as she recovers as quickly as possible, any medicine or equipment will do."

"yes!"

Duan Chengyi turned and left.

Lu Zhaoting looked out the window again, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

He knew this decision was cold-blooded, even somewhat inhumane. But for the sake of the nation's interests, for the technologies that could change the fate of the country, he had to do it.

Meanwhile, in the orthopedic ward of the First People's Hospital.

Jia Zhangshi lay on the pristine white hospital bed, both legs in thick casts, slinged high in the air. Her face was deathly pale, her forehead covered in cold sweat, and she groaned incessantly, "It hurts...it hurts so much..."

The ward door was pushed open, and three doctors in white coats strode in. The one in the lead was an elderly doctor in his fifties with gray hair and gold-rimmed glasses. His name tag on his chest read "Chief Physician Zhang Wenyuan".

"The patient is Ms. Jia Zhang?" Dr. Zhang walked to the bedside, his tone gentle yet professional.

Jia Zhangshi barely opened her eyes and was startled to see three doctors surrounding her: "What...what are you going to do?"

"I'll examine your injuries and arrange treatment," Dr. Zhang said, gesturing to the young doctor beside him to take notes. "Left tibial plateau fracture, right ankle comminuted fracture, third and fourth rib fractures..."

With each word he spoke, Jia Zhangshi's heart sank a little deeper.

Oh no, this injury is too serious. She had broken her arm before and knew how troublesome and expensive it was to treat a fracture.

"Doctor...doctor," Jia Zhangshi's voice trembled with tears, "I...I have no money..."

Dr. Zhang looked up at her and smiled slightly: "Don't worry, your treatment will be completely free."

Madam Jia was stunned: "Completely...completely free?"

"Yes," Dr. Zhang nodded. "You are a special patient and will receive the highest level of medical care. We will use the best medications and arrange for the best doctors to ensure your recovery in the shortest possible time."

He gestured for a nurse to come over: "Give the patient a painkiller injection, then prepare the operating room. I'm going to perform the internal fixation surgery on her myself."

"yes!"

The nurse quickly began preparations.

Jia Zhangshi lay there, her mind a complete mess.

Completely free? The best medicine? The best doctor? And I'll even have to perform the surgery myself?

She had never been treated like this in her entire life!

In the past, every time I came to the hospital, I had to wait in line for ages, and the doctors were indifferent, just prescribing some medicine and that was it. Sometimes, if I wanted to ask a few more questions, I had to watch the doctor's expression.

But now...

Three doctors were surrounding her, and the nurses were incredibly respectful, even offering to give her the best medicine.

Suddenly, Jia Zhangshi remembered something, and her eyes lit up—could it be because of Yi Zhonghai?

Yes, definitely! Yi Zhonghai is a senior figure in the hospital, with extensive connections and a lot of influence. It must have been him who put in the effort for the hospital to take this so seriously!

Thinking of this, Jia Zhangshi felt a surge of pride.

Look, I still have status in this hospital! Even the hospital has to give me face!

The pain seems to have lessened considerably.

"Doctor," she asked tentatively, "did...someone put in a good word for you?"

Dr. Zhang was checking her pupil response when he heard this. He looked up at her, his smile unchanged: "Just focus on getting better, don't worry about anything else."

To Jia Zhangshi, this was tacit agreement.

She became even more smug and started plotting—since the hospital was taking her so seriously, could she ask for more benefits? Like the best ward, the best food, and maybe even a free full-body checkup…

"Patient Jia Zhangshi." Dr. Zhang's voice interrupted her reverie. "We're about to perform surgery on you. There will be a recovery period after the surgery, so you need to cooperate with the treatment, take your medication on time, and do your rehabilitation exercises regularly."

"Okay, okay, I'll definitely cooperate!" Jia Zhangshi said quickly.

She was willing to do anything to get better and discharged from the hospital quickly. Once she was discharged, she would settle accounts with Xie Weihong! With Yi Zhonghai's influence this time, and the hospital taking it so seriously, she was sure she would receive special treatment when she reported the case to the police station!

The more Jia Zhangshi thought about it, the more wonderful it seemed, and she even felt that the pain in her legs was bearable.

She was quickly wheeled into the operating room.

The operating lights came on, and the anesthesiologist began preparations. Lying on the operating table, Jia Zhangshi looked at the busy doctors and nurses around her, and a sense of pride welled up inside her again.

Look, so many doctors are surrounding her, all there to perform surgery on her!

When has Jia Zhangshi ever had such prestige?

The anesthetic was slowly injected into her vein, and her consciousness began to fade. In the moments before losing consciousness, Jia Zhangshi was still thinking—once she was discharged, she must properly thank Yi Zhonghai. If it weren't for him, would the hospital have taken this so seriously?

The surgery lasted three hours.

Dr. Zhang personally performed the surgery, using the latest internal fixation technology; both the plates and screws were imported. During the operation, he specifically instructed his assistant: "Pay attention to protecting the periosteum; it will speed up postoperative recovery."

"Director Zhang, who is this patient?" the young assistant couldn't help but ask. "You performed the surgery yourself, and used such good materials..."

Dr. Zhang glanced at him, said nothing, and continued with her work.

Outside the operating room, Duan Chengyi had already arrived. He looked at the surgery inside through the glass, his expression complex.

"Director Duan." A young man in plain clothes walked over and reported in a low voice, "Director Lu instructed that the patient should be placed in a special care ward after surgery, with 24-hour monitoring. During the recovery period, nutrition must be adequate, and rehabilitation training must be professional."

"Understood." Duan Chengyi nodded. "Is everything arranged at the hospital?"

"Everything is arranged," the young man said. "The attending physician is one of ours, and so are the nurses. The entire orthopedic ward is now under our control."

Duan Chengyi watched the busy figures in the operating room and remained silent for a long time.

He knew that from this day forward, Jia Zhangshi's fate had been completely changed.

She was no longer just an ordinary shrew, but a special resource within the national technology development plan.

Her health, her condition, and even her emotions will be closely monitored and regulated.

In order to ensure that she could continue to exist as a "punishment target" in a continuous and stable manner.

It's cruel, but necessary.

After the surgery, Jia Zhangshi was wheeled back to her ward.

This ward was noticeably different; it was a single room, bright and clean, with pristine white sheets and a bouquet of flowers on the bedside table. Two nurses were by her side, and upon seeing that she was awake, they immediately went to her.

"Aunt Jia, you're awake? How are you feeling?"

Madam Jia opened her eyes groggily, and was stunned by the surroundings.

A single room? And with flowers?

She used to be crammed into large wards with seven or eight people in one room, noisy and chaotic. She'd never experienced this kind of treatment before.

"How much...how much will this cost..." she asked instinctively.

"Don't worry, it's all free," the nurse replied with a smile. "Just focus on getting better, and call us anytime if you need anything."

Madam Jia opened her mouth, but could not utter a word.

For the first time in her life, she experienced what "VIP treatment" meant.

The pride in my heart grew wildly like weeds.

See, I'm so powerful! I even get a private room in the hospital!

Once she's discharged from the hospital, let's see if those people still dare to look down on her!

Thinking about this, she even felt that breaking her leg was worth it. If she hadn't suffered such a serious injury, how could she have enjoyed this kind of treatment?

"Nurse," she suddenly remembered something, "I'm hungry..."

"We'll prepare your patient meal right away," the nurse said. "Today at noon we'll have chicken soup, fish soup, and a special nutritious meal prepared just for you."

Jia Zhangshi's eyes lit up.

Are there specially prepared nutritious meals?

This treatment is practically the same as that of a government official!

She lay happily in bed, starting to plan her life after being discharged from the hospital. Once her leg was healed, she would ask Yi Zhonghai for help to go to the police station and give Xie Weihong a good dressing down. With the hospital taking her so seriously, the police station would surely give her face too.

At that time, not only will Xie Weihong be made to pay compensation, but he will also be kicked out of the courtyard!

Those two rooms are hers!

The more Jia Zhangshi thought about it, the more excited she became, and she even started humming a little tune.

The sunlight streaming in through the window was warm and pleasant.

She had no idea that everything in the ward—the doctors, nurses, equipment, even the bouquet of flowers—was carefully arranged.

Little did she know that from this day forward, she would become a "regular" at this hospital.

Whenever she was almost fully recovered, she would be sent back to the scene of the incident—the courtyard house—and become Xie Weihong's "punishment target" again, getting injured again and being sent back to the hospital for treatment.

This cycle continues until her value is completely drained.

Or, until Xie Weihong acquires enough technology.

But at this moment, Jia Zhangshi was still immersed in her own fantasy.

She looked at the pristine white ceiling, a smug smile playing on her lips.

"Xie Weihong, oh Xie Weihong," she muttered to herself, "just wait until I get out of the hospital, and see how I deal with you..."