Chapter 108: The Coming of the New Year

“He can go back and rest for a while. When he wakes, he can come find me,” Zhong Yuxiu said. She rose and headed upstairs. “I’ll call Doggie down to make breakfast.”

Hao Nan nodded and withdrew his head, saying to Tian Shangguo, “Comrade Zhong has gone to call Doggie. The things we make aren’t as tasty as what Doggie makes.”

“Then let the porridge simmer first,” Tian Shangguo said, going to fetch a basin and wash the rice.

Zhong Yuxiu pushed the door open and went straight to the laboratory. When she opened the lab door, she saw Doggie clutching the windproof blanket, seemingly busy with something.

“Doggie, what are you doing?”

“Master.” Doggie turned his head. “I’m seeing whether this windproof blanket can be improved. It would be better if it could cover the whole body. Right now, it only blocks the wind and cold from the front, but when the vehicle is moving, cold air still rushes in from behind.”

The same biting chill.

Zhong Yuxiu nodded. “Set that aside for now. We’re not going out this morning. Go make breakfast. Make noodles; it would take too long to steam buns or mantou now.”

By the time it was ready, she would be hungry enough to flatten her own chest against her back.

“Understood, Master.” Doggie did not ask why. He put down the windproof blanket and went out.

Zhong Yuxiu picked up the blanket, tugged it left and right a few times, and after a little study found its flaw. She drew it on a sheet of paper and set the sketch together with the blanket before going downstairs.

When she reached the kitchen, she saw Hao Nan and Tian Shangguo helping Doggie, so she stepped inside.

“Doggie.”

“Beep.” Doggie turned his head to look at her, the very picture of a mute robot.

Zhong Yuxiu said, “I redrew the windproof blanket. The blueprint is in the laboratory.”

“Beep beep beep.”

Doggie indicated that he understood, then turned back to his work. The noodles were already prepared; for noodles to taste good, the most important things were the broth and the seasonings, and at the moment he was simmering the stock.

“Comrade Zhong, please go out and sit for a while. We’ll bring it out when it’s ready,” Hao Nan said.

“Then I’ll head out,” Zhong Yuxiu replied with a nod. She turned and left the kitchen. Just as she was about to take a seat on the sofa, she heard voices outside. Changing course, she went out instead and saw Xi Nian standing at the door with two guards, each of them carrying a suitcase. “Ah, it’s Comrade Xi Nian. Please come in.”

Xi Nian smiled and nodded, following her inside. Zhong Yuxiu called toward the kitchen, “Doggie, make some tea.”

“Beep, beep.”

After Doggie answered, Zhong Yuxiu said to the two guards beside Xi Nian, “You two sit as well. Don’t just stand there.”

“No need, Comrade Zhong, thank you,” the two guards said. Not only did they refuse to sit, they even stepped back.

Zhong Yuxiu smiled lightly and said to Xi Nian, “Comrade Xi, please sit.”

“All right.” Xi Nian took a few steps forward and sat down on the sofa.

Zhong Yuxiu also sat opposite him. At that moment, Doggie came over carrying tea and set a cup before each of them. Two cups remained. Doggie walked up to the two guards and offered them tea as well.

The guards found it novel. They wanted to accept, but discipline held them back; the two of them stared fixedly at Doggie, studying him.

Seeing this, Zhong Yuxiu laughed. Xi Nian turned to look as well, amusement in his eyes. “Since Comrade Doggie is offering it, just take it. Our Doggie here is quite the all-purpose robot. You were cooking in the kitchen earlier, weren’t you?”

The two guards thanked him, took the tea, and then thanked Doggie as well. Doggie beeped in response twice and carried the tray away.

“Yes,” Zhong Yuxiu said with a small smile. “I’ll be frank. Doggie does all the housework and cooking at my place. Every day someone brings over meat and vegetables, so it’s quite convenient. Comrade Xi, have some tea.”

Xi Nian lifted his cup and took a small sip before smiling. “Comrade Zhong, with your large robot being so easy to use, I imagine the small robots are no worse.”

“There are some differences,” she said. After all, it was not powered by a star-era chip.

“Some difference shouldn’t matter much, should it?”

Zhong Yuxiu nodded helplessly. “Once the chip for the small robots has the program written into it, the difference won’t be great. The key lies in the robot’s parts, chips, and sensors.”

“Understood.” Xi Nian’s smile did not fade. “It’s a pity they haven’t worked it out yet. If they ever do, I’d like to buy one too. It could do the housework and cook, and in ordinary days there would be someone at home to keep me company. Even if it’s a robot, it’s better than nothing.”

“They’ll be here soon enough,” Zhong Yuxiu said calmly. “The mobility carts are already on sale, which means the sensors and chips have been solved. It won’t be long before the robots are made.”

Xi Nian smiled and nodded, then changed the subject. “Comrade Zhong, I came this time for two reasons: first, to thank you for your selfless contribution; and second, to bring you some clothes. The mobility carts exported this time have been extremely popular, and the machinery plant is already overwhelmed. The value you have created far exceeds the treatment you’ve been given. Your appearance has greatly improved the country’s economic situation, and now that the economy has eased somewhat, the higher-ups are going to make a move as well.”

For years, economic restraints had kept development painfully slow.

“I was born on this land and raised on this land. I sincerely hope it grows strong enough that no one dares to provoke it,” Zhong Yuxiu said earnestly.

“Our ideals are the same. I also hope that in our lifetime, it can grow into a true behemoth.” The depth in Xi Nian’s eyes grew even more pronounced. “Comrade Zhong, may I ask whether you have any study of weapons?”

Zhong Yuxiu paused slightly. “I do have some research in that area, but I don’t know the level of the weapons used today.”

She truly did not know much about this country’s weapons. Control was strict, and nothing could be privately leaked. Getting hold of a weapon was impossible unless one resorted to smuggling.

“Recently, the research at the military institute has run into a bottleneck, which is why I’m bringing this up. I hope Comrade Zhong will not stint in offering guidance.”

Zhong Yuxiu leaned back a little and narrowed her eyes. “Why do you think I can solve their problem?”

Could it be that the higher-ups were already beginning to suspect something?

Xi Nian lowered his head and smiled.

“Instinct, perhaps. My instinct tells me that if Comrade Zhong takes action, you’ll be able to solve every problem.”

Robots, mobility carts, computers, and surveillance equipment had all come into being within the span of a single year. For a genius of such uncanny talent, as long as she was willing to devote herself to it, there seemed to be no problem she could not solve.

“Then I ought to thank Comrade Xi for his trust,” Zhong Yuxiu said, though she did not want it.

Xi Nian said, “Please forgive my abruptness, Comrade Zhong.”

“I do have some research in weapons. I’ll draw a few blueprints for you later. If you have the connections to get them accepted and have them seriously studied, there shouldn’t be much trouble making them. If they don’t accept them, then treat it as if I never gave them to you. What do you think?” At the moment, she was busy studying medicine and could not devote herself to research. If weapons were to be developed, they would still have to rely on the military institute.

“Very well. In that case, thank you, Comrade Zhong, for your generosity.”

Zhong Yuxiu shook her head and called toward the kitchen, “Doggie, go upstairs and bring down my blueprints and fountain pen.”

“Beep beep beep beep.”

Doggie answered and hurried up the stairs at once. As for how curious the two guards were, and how badly they wanted to investigate, or how from the moment Doggie emerged Xi Nian’s gaze had been glued to him, it was plain to see just how novel they found him.