"I think Gu Nianzhi is a normal person, not a Frankenstein." Bai Yueran said humorously as she placed the porcelain teacup on the coffee table. "But what we care about is not her as a person, but her background and origins. General Ji, Major General Huo, you haven't forgotten the little backpack she was carrying when she first arrived. That data chart was amazing, right? "
Huo Shaoheng didn't say anything.
General Ji nodded. "It was because of that chart that our Gray Shadow supersonic fighter was able to achieve a breakthrough in the engine."
Otherwise, the engine would forever be the shortcoming of the Empire's fighter jets.
"Yes, to be honest, according to our intelligence, even the United States is still in the process of developing this kind of engine." Bai Yueran's words were completely directed at Huo Shaoheng. "So Huo Shao, do you still want to get rid of this burden, Gu Nianzhi?"
General Ji sat up straight on the sofa. Although he was old, his imposing aura hadn't diminished. He patted Huo Shaoheng's shoulder and said earnestly, "Shaoheng, this is a mission given to you by the country and the military. I know it's not easy for a grown man like you to be a little girl's guardian and raise her like a nanny, but just like Yueran said, what we care about is her background and origins, not her person. So I order you, as long as we don't investigate her background and origins, you can't abandon your responsibility. Do you hear me? "
Huo Shaoheng nodded. "I won't abandon my responsibility, but I still feel that we can't completely entrust the development of the Empire's military technology to her. Self-reliance and independent research are the right path. The things Nianzhi brought back all those years ago helped us greatly, and that's enough. Of course, I will still work hard to find her family, not to gain more benefits, but to allow her to return to her family. You can't possibly think that she doesn't have a desire for family just because she doesn't have the memories of that time, right? "
Bai Yueran giggled. "I didn't expect the ruthless Huo Shao to be so short-sighted and sentimental? I've said it before, Gu Nianzhi is your mission and your goal, not your family or your friend. Huo Shao, your current state of mind is very dangerous because you've already projected too much emotion towards your mission and goal. This is not right. "
"Colonel Bai, it's not up to you to say whether my actions are right or wrong." Huo Shaoheng was unmoved. Bai Yueran's words couldn't affect him at all. "You've crossed ranks."
Bai Yueran was embarrassed that Huo Shaoheng had rebuked her in front of her face. However, on second thought, she realized that she had indeed gotten carried away and had spoken inappropriately. She quickly stood up and saluted him. "Major General Huo! Bai Yueran shouldn't have said such things. Please punish her, Huo Shao! "
General Ji waved at Bai Yueran. "Sit down, sit down. The three of us can talk casually, don't feel restrained. Shaoheng, Yueran's words aren't unreasonable. You have to remember that you're a major general of the Empire. Your every move is of great importance. Of course, I trust you. You're not someone who doesn't know what's important. "
Bai Yueran sat down uneasily and kept looking at Huo Shaoheng's expression. She said quietly, "Huo Shao, I mean no harm. I'm truly thinking for the military. As for Gu Nianzhi, you have a point. Also, when she's of age, she'll find a boyfriend, get married, and have children. As long as she stays in the Empire, there shouldn't be any problems. "
Huo Shaoheng ignored her. He stood up and saluted General Ji. "General Ji, is there anything else?"
"That's all. Since this charity fund is going to be set up in your name, you should take the lead and find someone to do it well." General Ji pushed the stack of documents to him. "Actually, we don't really need this bit of money. Just like the time with Gu Yanran, it wasn't because she agreed to donate that I allowed you to meet her. Do you understand?"
Gu Yanran also had some blueprints they needed. They were even better than the fighter jet engine blueprints that Gu Nianzhi had. This was the real reason the military had compromised with her.
Of course, to the public, it was better to say that it was for the charity fund to fool people.
Huo Shaoheng had known it was for a long time. Otherwise, he wouldn't have gone. However, the fact that he had gone to drink with Gu Yanran for the sake of the "donation" had been used by some people who weren't happy with him. It had spread like wildfire, and the military hadn't come out to clarify it for him. His reputation was still affected and troubled.
However, Gu Nianzhi's move had immediately silenced those people.
Huo Shaoheng thought of Gu Nianzhi, who was becoming more and more mischievous. His lips curled into a smile, and his stern expression softened. "General Ji, this fund can't be set up in my name."
"Why?" Bai Yueran and General Ji asked in unison.
"Huo Shao, don't be so modest." Bai Yueran said anxiously. "If it's set up in your name, it'll count as your merit!"
This was something that could be written on one's resume. Whether it was a promotion or an election, it would be something to write home about.
Huo Shaoheng smiled and picked up the stack of documents to shake. "Didn't you see that the owner of this remittance is Gu Nianzhi? She's not even 18 yet, so she needs a guardian's signature to donate money. Her remittance from the United States was signed by Little Ze, but in reality, her donation needs my signature to be official. So, do you want my reputation to be even worse? "
As a guardian, he had ulterior motives and tricked his ward into donating all her money to himself in order to gain merit?
Was he really that despicable?
Bai Yueran and General Ji hadn't considered this. They looked at each other, then turned to look at Huo Shaoheng. "What do you plan to do?"
"That's none of your business." Huo Shaoheng put the documents into his briefcase and didn't answer the question. "I'm going back. When the 6th Military Region's headquarters is built next year, I'll move over."
…
After Huo Shaoheng left, General Ji returned to his desk and composed himself. He asked Bai Yueran sternly, "You've been at the 6th Military Region for a month. How do you feel?"
Bai Yueran quickly said, "With Huo Shaoheng overseeing the 6th Military Region, it's like an iron bucket, so I don't approve of sending a new commander there."
"Oh? So you approve of Shaoheng becoming the commander of the 6th Military Region? "
"Yes. Other than him, no one else has the right." Bai Yueran paused. "I know that Uncle Ji is worried that the Bai family will have disagreements with Huo Shaoheng because of what happened to my second uncle, but I can assure you that the Bai family is heartbroken by my uncle's treason and has sworn to draw a line with him. Also, we've mobilized our family and friends around the world to track my second uncle's whereabouts. Once we find anything, we'll immediately report it to the military. We won't be biased. "
As a large family, the Bai family played an important role in the upper echelons of the Huaxia Empire.
Not only did they have many talented people in politics and the military, but they also had many outstanding people in the private business, media, and academia.
In this era, it was no longer possible to have a family like this. The defection of Bai Yueran's second uncle, Bai Yusheng, didn't have much impact on the Bai family.
The only one affected was his daughter, Bai Shuang.
She could no longer be the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but she didn't want to be transferred to an insignificant department and achieve nothing for the rest of her life.
Therefore, she had already resigned from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and would no longer work in public office.
General Ji relaxed a little when he heard Bai Yueran's words.
He wanted to pave the way for Huo Shaoheng, and the Bai family had to be stable so that they wouldn't have too many negative impressions of Huo Shaoheng.
Fortunately, the evidence of Bai Yusheng's defection was conclusive. Even with the Bai family's influence, they couldn't clear their name. Therefore, they could only actively draw a line with Bai Yusheng and help arrest him.
However, some members of the Bai family were also unhappy with Huo Shaoheng. They felt that he could have communicated privately instead of publicly arresting Huo Shaoheng. If he did that, it would be a slap in the face to the Bai family.
They could only count on Bai Yueran to put in a good word for Huo Shaoheng in the Bai family.
Bai Yueran's father was the head of the Bai family. Their branch of the family still held a lot of weight in the Bai family.
"That's good. It depends on your performance." General Ji wasn't afraid of falling out with the Bai family. If the Bai family really did harm the interests of the empire, they wouldn't be lenient.
…
Huo Shaoheng flew overnight from the Imperial Capital to the C City base. He found that Chen Lie had already returned from the United States and was sitting in the living room eating lychees with his legs crossed.
When he saw him enter, he quickly stood up and said with a smile, "Huo Shao, you're finally back. I heard that Nianzhi donated a lot of money to the military, is that true?"
"Where did you hear that?" Huo Shaoheng threw his gloves on the table at the entrance. "Less than four people in the entire empire know about this."
"Haha, I heard it from Little Ze. I got a call from him as soon as I got off the plane. He said something about the guardian's signature and that you'd have to handle it. "Chen Lie brought up the agate plate with lychees." … Do you want some? "
"No, thank you." Huo Shaoheng pushed him away. "I still have something to do. If you don't have anything else, go back and rest. Aren't you jet-lagged? "
He had just returned from the United States and was already in high spirits to eat. No wonder he was getting fatter.
Huo Shaoheng looked Chen Lie up and down. "Did you get fatter again?"
"Don't hit me in the face, and don't call me fat." Chen Lie patted his stomach. "I've given up on myself a long time ago. I no longer control myself."
Huo Shaoheng ignored him and went to the study to summon the people from the base. He had them start the work on the charity fund.
"This fund can be named 'Today's Heart' Charity Fund. The donors will be kept secret and will be completely managed by the military." Huo Shaoheng issued tasks to his subordinates. "You all go down and work with the legal department to establish the fund according to the legal framework. Then use this as the standard to establish the guidelines for the military charity fund. Donors of the charity fund will not be allowed to interfere with any of the fund's operations. Only those who make a one-time donation of 90 million US dollars will be given the position of honorary director. Apart from receiving a financial statement every year, any conditions the donors propose are not allowed and are illegal. "
Huo Shaoheng wagged his slender fingers. "Did you hear that? These are the rules. We welcome those who are willing to donate, but we have the final say on how the donations will be used. If you don't agree to these conditions, then don't mention the donation. "
His conditions were very strong, but this was an important matter for the military. If he didn't take a strong stance, he would be waiting for the military to be infiltrated by external forces.
This had always been Huo Shaoheng's way of doing things.
He wanted to be the one who made the rules. He would never be obedient to the rules set by others.
Huo Shaoheng's subordinates were overjoyed when they saw the huge figure in the bank account. They smiled. "No problem! But Mr. Huo, can you tell us which deity is so generous? Is it that rich woman from Barbados? "
The subordinates looked at Huo Shaoheng excitedly. They wanted to take out their cameras and record every word Huo Shaoheng said.
Huo Shaoheng glanced at them expressionlessly. "No. But after the fund is set up, have Ms. Gu transfer the promised donation directly to the 'Today's Heart' Charity Fund's bank account. Tell her that an anonymous donor has already donated 90 million US dollars, so her 50 million won't make up the majority of the fund. She doesn't even have the right to be an honorary director. "
"Yes, Chief!" The subordinates stopped asking as soon as they heard it wasn't Gu Yanran. They took the documents and went to find the legal department to start preparing the fund.
…
After everyone left, Huo Shaoheng returned to his building and found that Chen Lie was still there.
However, he had taken out his laptop and placed it on the coffee table. He worked and ate at the same time.
Huo Shaoheng sat down on the sofa across from him and frowned. "What do you want? Why aren't you home yet? "
"I forgot to show you this." Chen Lie waved at him excitedly. "Quick, look at this. It's a freshly shot short video, recorded live. There are no traces of Photoshop or editing!"
Huo Shaoheng shook his head speechlessly. He got up to shower. "Look at it yourself. I'm not interested."
"Oh? Not interested? I thought you'd want to see what happened in court … "Chen Lie looked at Huo Shaoheng's back and grinned. He almost took out his stopwatch to count the time Huo Shaoheng would turn around.
However, he was disappointed. Huo Shaoheng didn't hesitate this time. He turned around and sat next to him. He turned the laptop to face him and asked, "Is this Nianzhi's court interrogation record?"
"Yes." Chen Lie opened the video happily and crossed his arms to sit to the side. He kept humming an old song. "I'm laughing proudly … I'm laughing proudly …"
There was a burst of noise from the laptop. Huo Shaoheng's gaze was immediately attracted to the beautiful girl in the middle of the screen.
From this angle, Gu Nianzhi was even more beautiful than he remembered. Her bright eyes and brows, and she relied on the power of the tall man next to her to intimidate others.
"… See? Don't they match? "Chen Lie leaned over fearlessly.
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