Chapter 55: The Conspiracy of Country R

As the sun set, the warm glow enveloped the military district, creating an atmosphere filled with joy and honor around Mu Nanhe, Yang Qingyan, and Chen Feng as they returned home. However, this wonderful moment was abruptly interrupted by a discordant voice.

“What’s the use of a captain like him? He’s stuck in a wheelchair now,” He Zhengping’s sharp voice came from a distance, causing those nearby to turn their heads. With her arms crossed and eyes filled with jealousy and disdain, she stood in a corner of the courtyard, intentionally raising her voice, seemingly aiming to be heard by Mu Nanhe and his companions.

Hearing this, Yang Qingyan’s expression instantly soured. She stopped in her tracks, turned to He Zhengping, and with a flash of anger in her eyes, she demanded, “What did you just say? Please clean up your mouth!”

But He Zhengping showed no signs of retreating; instead, she stepped forward with a provocative smile on her face. “What? Am I wrong? Even if he becomes captain now, what can he achieve in this state?”

Chen Feng could no longer hold back. He stepped forward and stood in front of Mu Nanhe, glaring at her. “Sister-in-law, you’re crossing the line! The contributions Nanhe has made to the unit are not something you can tarnish!”

Mu Nanhe, however, gently placed his hand on Chen Feng’s shoulder, signaling him to stay calm. His face didn’t show anger, only a faint calmness. “Chen Feng, don’t bother with her. Everyone has their own opinions, and we can’t please everyone.”

Seeing Mu Nanhe’s composed demeanor, He Zhengping mistook it for weakness and pressed on. “Hmph, acting all magnanimous now. Wasn’t it the same when you were fighting for the captaincy? You used every trick you could.”

At this moment, neighbors began to speak out against He Zhengping. The leading woman, Sister He, frowned and said sternly, “He Zhengping, you are being unreasonable! Mu Nanhe’s determination and abilities have been evident to everyone in the military. He was injured for the sake of the country and the people; such sacrifice deserves our respect. You shouldn’t be saying these cold-hearted words here.”

Another young soldier angrily chimed in, “Exactly! Sister-in-law, this is too hurtful. Captain Mu is our role model, and sitting in a wheelchair, he is still far better than those who only speak cruel words!”

With the barrage of accusations from the crowd, He Zhengping’s face flickered between red and white. She opened her mouth to argue but found herself at a loss for words, ultimately turning away in defeat.

Yang Qingyan returned home with Mu Nanhe and Chen Feng. The tranquility and warmth inside the house starkly contrasted with the earlier conflict in the courtyard. Yang Qingyan helped Mu Nanhe settle on the sofa before sitting closely next to him, her gaze gentle and steadfast.

“Nanhe, don’t take that sister-in-law’s words to heart; she’s just driven by jealousy. I will definitely heal your leg, and you’ll be back in the unit, looking as impressive as before,” Yang Qingyan assured him with unwavering determination.

Mu Nanhe smiled faintly, a hint of warmth on his face as he gently squeezed Yang Qingyan’s hand. “Qingyan, I really don’t mind. When I stand up again, I’ll give her the strongest rebuttal.”

Yang Qingyan nodded slightly, her eyes glinting with a lively sparkle. “I’m relieved you think this way. I plan to go up the mountain to gather some medicinal herbs; they’ll help your leg heal. Just stay here and wait for me to come back.”

At that moment, Chen Feng couldn’t help but laugh, teasingly saying, “Are you treating Nanhe like a child? He’s a tough guy in the army; if his men hear you, they’ll laugh out loud!”

Mu Nanhe shot a glare at Chen Feng, pretending to be annoyed. “Just you and your chatter.” He then turned back to Yang Qingyan, his expression full of concern. “Are you sure you don’t want Chen Feng to accompany you? The mountain trails can be dangerous; having someone with you would make me feel better.”

Yang Qingyan shook her head confidently. “No need! I know this mountain like the back of my hand. I can find those herbs with my eyes closed. Plus, I’ll take something for protection, so there won’t be any issues. You just focus on waiting at home for me to prepare the medicine for you.”

After saying this, Yang Qingyan started gathering her tools for the mountain— a small backpack, a sharp herb-picking knife, and a cloth bag filled with water and snacks. Her movements were smooth and practiced, each step demonstrating her seriousness about this medicinal herb gathering trip.

“Just be careful and come back early,” Mu Nanhe urged, concern etched in his eyes.

“I know! Don’t worry about me,” Yang Qingyan replied cheerfully. She gave Mu Nanhe a light kiss on the forehead and turned to leave the house.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Chef Jiang was busy as usual in the afternoon. He was hunched over, but there was an unusual tension and slyness in his eyes. Taking advantage of the quiet moment, he secretively pulled out a small black bottle from his pocket, which contained a virus that was hard for humans to crack.

Chef Jiang hurriedly made his way towards the army’s water well, the lifeline of the entire military camp. He vigilantly looked around to make sure no one was watching, and upon confirming he was alone, he nervously twisted open the bottle cap and poured the poison into the well. The water surface instantly rippled, and the poison quickly spread, like a hidden snake silently contaminating the source of life.

After finishing this deed, Chef Jiang hurriedly left, his figure disappearing around the corner of the barracks. At that moment, soldiers in the camp were training, completely unaware that a terrible crisis was silently descending upon them.

Meanwhile, in a distant country, in a secret meeting room of Country R, the atmosphere was tense. Senior officials wore grim expressions, closely monitoring a map showing the shrinking sphere of influence they had after being suppressed internationally.

“We must find a way to reverse the situation!” one general suddenly slammed the table, his eyes wide with anger.

“We have already contacted our mole in the opposing forces, code name ‘Chef.’ He will complete the mission today and deal a fatal blow to their troops. This virus spreads rapidly and is hard to crack,” the intelligence officer hurriedly reported.

“Good! Let’s hope he doesn’t disappoint us. Once it’s unleashed, their fighting power will suffer a heavy blow, and we’ll have the opportunity to reposition ourselves,” the general said with a darkened face.

By evening, soldiers began to gather in the mess hall for dinner. Chef Jiang forced calm onto his face as he served food to everyone. Shortly after, the first group of soldiers who had drunk the contaminated well water began to show symptoms of discomfort, starting with dizziness and followed by uncontrollable vomiting, quickly collapsing to the ground.

The poisoned soldiers were urgently rushed to the medical facility, where the medical staff was overwhelmed but unable to determine the specific illness. The soldiers groaned in pain, showing no signs of relief from the symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea.

The military district imposed a complete lockdown on the mess hall, meticulously inspecting all food and water sources, but the results were disheartening—no findings.

Moreover, those who had come into contact with the poisoned soldiers began to show varying degrees of symptoms. The military district leadership realized the seriousness of the situation and immediately isolated the affected individuals, requesting a large number of doctors from the military hospital for assistance.

The military district notified Chen Feng and He Zhengping to take charge of the investigation into this incident. Chen Feng felt the weight of responsibility and dared not slack off. When Mu Nanhe learned of the situation, he insisted on participating as well, understanding the significant impact this incident could have on the unit; he wanted to contribute to resolving the crisis, even if it meant sitting in a wheelchair.

The three of them moved through various corners of the military district, meticulously checking every nook and cranny of the mess hall, from the storage of ingredients to the cooking stoves, leaving no possible place for clues unchecked. They also questioned the kitchen staff one by one, but the information they obtained was quite limited; everyone claimed operations were normal and that nothing unusual was detected.

Next, they arrived at the water source, gazing at the well that provided daily water for the entire military district. The expressions of Mu Nanhe and Chen Feng turned serious as they checked the surroundings of the well, finding no signs of forced entry or suspicious items. Chen Feng crouched down to inspect the well opening, hoping to find a hint, but ultimately came up empty-handed.

He Zhengping began organizing and isolating the groups within the military who had come into contact with the affected individuals, managing different levels of illness for isolation. Comforting measures were also being implemented.

At the medical clinic, doctors exhausted every conventional diagnostic method but still could not determine the cause of the poisoning. The pressure mounted on Chen Feng and Mu Nanhe as time ticked away. The condition of the poisoned soldiers grew increasingly critical, and they felt like they were groping in the dark, unable to find direction.

At that moment, Yang Qingyan was still enjoying the tranquility of nature high up in the mountains. She strolled through the woods, breathing in the fresh air and absorbing the vigor of the surrounding life, enhancing her abilities. After carefully searching for precious medicinal herbs, once she gathered her herbs, she hummed a little tune and walked home with a light step.

However, when she returned home, she found the house empty; Mu Nanhe was not there. A wave of confusion and worry washed over her—at this time, he should have been waiting for her at home. She hurriedly set down her backpack and saw a note from Mu Nanhe on the table.

Without taking a moment to rest, Yang Qingyan hurried toward the military district.

Arriving at the entrance of the base in a frantic rush, she was stopped by a guard on duty. “Comrade, the base is currently on lockdown. No one is allowed to enter without permission.” The soldier’s tone was firm, his gaze unyielding.

Yang Qingyan quickly explained, “I’m looking for Mu Nanhe. I’m his wife and a doctor; I have something important to discuss.” Her voice carried a sense of urgency, and beads of sweat formed on her forehead.