Chapter 48 : The Effectiveness of Spiritual Spring Water

Shen Haifeng ran back home, and the house was quiet.

Shen Haiping and Shen Jinxia were both asleep.

Zheng Lanhua heard the sound and came out of the room, gently closing the door behind her. “Where did you go? That chocolate…”

“Grandma, where’s my stepmother?”

Zheng Lanhua had originally intended to explain the situation with the chocolate, but before she could finish, Shen Haifeng anxiously asked where Fang Xiaoluo was.

Zheng Lanhua replied, “She went to find your father, she’s not at home.”

“Oh,” Shen Haifeng said, feeling disappointed. He wanted to apologize to Fang Xiaoluo quickly, but since she wasn’t home, he could only wait. The thought of it made him feel as though a heavy weight was pressing down on him.

“Grandma, I’m going to school now. See you later.”

Zheng Lanhua looked at Shen Haifeng’s suddenly downcast eyes in surprise.

When the children had first arrived, they were all very guarded, and she had felt heartbroken.

If she had known that after her daughter passed away, her son-in-law would treat the children this way, she would have taken them in much earlier and never let them suffer like this.

Since they came back, Shen Haifeng had slowly started to change. He had been visibly hopeful when he ran in earlier, but now he was dejected.

But any change, even this one, was a good thing.

Huo Jinlei had brought some food to the infirmary, but at a time like this, who could eat?

Well, except for Fang Xiaoluo.

She took the big flatbread Huo Jinlei handed her, took a big bite, and enjoyed the sweet corn aroma mixed with a hint of natural sweetness. The flatbread, cooked in a big iron pot, had a crispy, chewy texture, and it was surprisingly good.

Although there were no side dishes, Fang Xiaoluo was genuinely hungry and slowly finished one.

“It’s delicious,” she said.

Huo Jinlei smiled. “Xiaoluo, if you like it, I’ll have Yan Jie make more for you next time.”

Fang Xiaoluo smiled and said, “That would be too much trouble. I’ll go learn from her sometime.”

“That sounds great. Yan Jie often says she’s bored,” Huo Jinlei replied quickly.

It had been a full hour since the soldiers from the third battalion had drunk the medicine Fang Xiaoluo brought.

Sun Shuling noticed that the soldiers who had mild symptoms were not only regaining their strength, but their faces were also starting to regain color.

Some of the soldiers stood up, stretched their muscles, and then happily ran over to Shen Zheng and Fang Xiaoluo. “Captain, Xiaoluo, the stuff you brought is incredible! I feel full of energy now.”

“Really, Xiaoluo, I feel so much better now, like everything inside is flowing smoothly. I can’t describe how comfortable it feels.”

Fang Xiaoluo smiled, “I’m just glad you’re all alright.”

Zhang Jianhui watched the soldiers gradually get up, acting as though nothing had happened, and he was quite amazed.

He had suspected that Fang Xiaoluo’s medicine might be effective, but he never imagined it would work this dramatically.

He didn’t say anything, just kept watching, until nearly three hours later when the soldiers who had been dehydrated and on IV drips had fully recovered.

Zhang Jianhui stood up. “Xiaoluo, this stuff you brought is really something. I never expected it to work this well.”

Fang Xiaoluo had known that Spiritual Spring Water would definitely be effective for diarrhea cases.

“After all, Deputy Commander Zhang, you’re here, so I couldn’t take all the credit.”

Fang Xiaoluo smiled, knowing that Zhang Jianhui liked to hear compliments, so she gave him some more.

Zhang Jianhui found Shen Zheng’s wife quite interesting, she was gentle and pleasant to talk to. “Xiaoluo, don’t always call me Deputy Commander Zhang. It sounds so formal. We live in the same compound, so let’s leave work aside, just call me Uncle Zhang from now on.”

Fang Xiaoluo readily agreed, “Uncle Zhang.”

“Hahaha.” Zhang Jianhui was in a good mood today. Originally, the issue had affected the mock exercise, and with Li Zhongxun gone to the command center, he was frustrated. But now, with Fang Xiaoluo’s help, everything was resolved. “Good, good. Forget about the work for now, from now on, you and Shen Zheng here are senior to me. I’ve even gained a bit of seniority.”

Yu Xinzheng, who was standing nearby, was stunned. Fang Xiaoluo had just started calling him ‘uncle’ so quickly?

This was ridiculous!

“Shen Zheng, you didn’t make your military oath in vain. But I have to tell you, after this, your regiment will have to review what happened. After the exercise, the division will hold you accountable!”

Shen Zheng didn’t care anymore about making self-criticism or facing any punishment because his soldiers were all recovered, and the heavy burden on his heart had been lifted.

He stood at attention. “Yes, sir!”

“Handle things here yourselves.” After saying this, Zhang Jianhui and the others walked away.

Yu Xinzheng stayed behind and looked at Shen Zheng. “Captain Shen, you sure are lucky.”

Shen Zheng glanced at him sideways. “Yes, I’ve always had good luck. It will get even better from here on out.”

Yu Xinzheng snorted and walked off as well.

Chen Shisong gathered the troops, instructing the company commanders to bring the soldiers back. After they finished eating, it would be time to prepare for departure.

He walked over to Fang Xiaoluo. “Xiaoluo, thank you so much for today.”

Saying this, Chen Shisong gave Fang Xiaoluo a formal military salute.

His serious gratitude moved Fang Xiaoluo.

“No need for thanks, it’s the least I could do.”

Sun Shuling walked over, completely changing her previous attitude, now appearing humble. “Comrade Fang, I have something I’d like to ask you.”

Fang Xiaoluo turned and smiled at Sun Shuling. “Dr. Sun, if you’re asking about the recipe for the medicine, I’m really sorry. I promised my master I wouldn’t share it. I took an oath.”

Sun Shuling had indeed wanted to ask about the recipe, she had never seen such a miraculous medicine before. And she had just drunk a bit of it herself, and now she felt completely refreshed.

She said, “I’m sorry, Comrade Fang. I apologize for my attitude earlier. I know this might not sound right, but if your recipe could benefit the public, it would truly be a noble deed.”

Fang Xiaoluo didn’t really have any hard feelings towards Sun Shuling, but the Spiritual Spring Water she had wasn’t something that could be used to do noble deeds.

“Dr. Sun, what you said is certainly true, but let me be honest with you. There is an ingredient in this formula that was left to me by my master before he passed away. After today, there’s almost none left. This ingredient is very hard to find. Even if I wanted to benefit the public, I’d be powerless.”

Sun Shuling understood. “Comrade Fang, I was being too hasty. Anything with a rare ingredient is definitely hard to come by.”

Leaving the infirmary, Chen Shisong muttered, “How could there be laxatives in chocolate?”

Fang Xiaoluo, overhearing, said, “The chocolate was bought, then heated and melted. You can add anything you want to it, including laxatives. After that, you pour it into molds and let it cool and set, then wrap it up.”

Chen Shisong understood and looked at Fang Xiaoluo with admiration.

Shen Zheng turned to Fang Xiaoluo. “You should go back now. We’ll be leaving tonight. Wait for me to come back.”

Fang Xiaoluo smiled. “Okay, take care and stay safe.”

Shen Zheng wanted to hug her, but it wasn’t the right time.

As she walked home, Fang Xiaoluo heard behind her Chen Shisong apologizing to Shen Zheng.

“Captain, I’m sorry.”

Shen Zheng scolded Chen Shisong in response.

“Don’t tell me you’re sorry. Are you apologizing to me? You owe an apology to all the soldiers in the battalion!”

“From the moment the exercise orders were given, the exercise had already started. After all these years of experience, you actually took something your long-lost friend gave you and distributed it to the whole battalion. Are you using your brain at all?”

“How long has it been since you saw that friend? Do you know his connection to the Blue Side command?”

“If this were a real war, what would have happened to these soldiers? The bodies you’d have seen at noon would have been theirs!”