Meanwhile, at Master Liu's house, Li Ying was distracted; while cooking, she either put in the wrong amount of salt or forgot to add water.
Looking at the burnt rice, Master Liu sighed, "Forget it, let's just boil some noodles."
Li Ying did not argue. She silently took out the noodles, and this time, she managed to cook them properly.
However, several police officers arrived and took both her and Master Liu away.
Left behind were her wailing young daughter and two sons who were lost and bewildered.
On the afternoon of June 9, 1975, in the military industrial compound, this midday was anything but peaceful.
The Great-Aunt, seeking to redeem herself for her crimes, confessed to a major matter: Liu Yu's memory was correct—it was indeed Li Ying who had drowned Liu Yu's mother.
Great-Aunt had seen it with her own eyes, and then she had gone to Li Ying to threaten her for benefits.
Li Ying said she had no money, and subsequently, the two conspired to sell Liu Xia to a family in the mountains of the Great Northwest.
Regardless of how much money was made, it all belonged to Great-Aunt.
This was something no one could have ever imagined.
There were no "military couples"; they were all Great-Aunt's accomplices.
In the afternoon, Lu Qiaoge and Director Hu were summarizing information at the Security Department.
To their surprise, they received even more shocking news: Li Ying could not withstand the interrogation. She confessed that she had not only killed Chai Xiaoyan but had also killed her first husband.
It was truly one wave after another, and finally, the Factory Director and the Party Secretary were alerted.
The afternoon production meetings were all suspended.
All relevant personnel went to the Security Department because Li Ying had confessed that her first husband was a local spy.
"...Was I wrong to kill him? He forged his identity and used my father to infiltrate the military factory. He even tricked me into having two children with him. He used sweet words and solemn vows with me, but he showed no mercy when exploiting me and my father." Li Ying's voice was filled with hatred.
Section Chief Jia of the Security Department had been in an investigation company in his early years. The dossier in his hands concerned the case of the research institute's fire eleven years ago, which resulted in the loss of important new engine design blueprints.
The lead designer—a titan of power and energy who was top-tier not just in Dragon Country but in the entire world, a scientist dedicated to serving his motherland—had inhaled too much carbon monoxide while trying to save the documents, leading to a decline in his cognitive abilities. Now, he could not even manage daily life, let alone research topics.
One suspect was still in prison, and the other had committed suicide.
Director He had also fallen seriously ill because of this.
Who could have imagined it! Who could have possibly imagined it!
The interrogators were horrified.
Those listening in the observation room, including Lu Qiaoge, were also incredibly shocked.
*Good heavens, this woman is something else.*
After discovering her husband was a spy, she hadn't chosen to report him, but had handled it herself.
Suppressing his anger, Section Chief Jia asked, "Why didn't you report him and let the organization handle it?"
Li Ying gave a cold laugh. "If I had reported him as a spy, my son's life would have been ruined. But if he's dead, it's over; it's settled, and no one will know."
"...How did he steal the blueprints?"
Li Ying said, "He tricked Worker Tao's wife. As for how he tricked her, I don't know. You'll have to ask Worker Tao's wife to find out."
Suppressing his excitement and indignation, Section Chief Jia asked calmly, "Where are the blueprints? Do you know where they are? Li Ying, if you confess honestly, we will definitely make arrangements for your three children."
Li Ying had been full of hatred, but upon hearing this, her whole body trembled, and tears began to stream down her face.
After a long silence, she said, "That bastard put the blueprints in the bookcase. I never dared to touch them or take them out, but I didn't destroy them either. I don't care whether I live or die, as long as you promise me that you will take care of my children. Otherwise, I won't tell you even if I die."
Lu Qiaoge clenched her hands.
*Oh my god, it all connects now.*
The blueprints inside that bookcase at the scrap yard came from this.
However, there were still many suspicious points. Those rats said it was Worker Tao's wife who did something bad out of pettiness, so who was it that sold the bookcase to the scrap yard?
Lu Qiaoge remained composed and continued listening, but she knew that today, the bookcase could finally be turned in.
It was truly unexpected.
Although everyone was desperate to obtain the blueprints because they were the life's work of a great master—and even though eleven years had passed, they were just as precious now—the more desperate they were, the less they could show it.
Otherwise, Li Ying would demand even more.
Among those listening outside, Director He had joined the group.
She held her hand tightly against her chest, her eyes fixed on Li Ying through the isolation window.
Everything around her seemed to have nothing to do with her.
Section Chief Jia sighed, "It has been eleven years. Are you sure the blueprints are still blueprints and haven't suffered any other accidents?"
Li Ying froze for a moment, but her eyes flickered as she said, "As long as you promise to take care of my three children, I will tell you where the things are. The blueprints are not damaged. There is a mechanism in the bookcase, and the outside is wrapped in a special moisture-proof paper. I saw the bookcase sitting there perfectly fine just over a week ago."
Old Jia had discussed the organization's bottom line with the leaders in advance, but they could not let the suspect become suspicious. Although Li Ying was a woman, her psychological resilience was very strong; she could be described as ruthless. If Great-Aunt hadn't been caught, they might not have caught her even by the time she died.
Section Chief Jia coughed and asked Li Ying seriously, "To what extent do you want us to fulfill your request?"
Li Ying pondered for a long while before saying with a cold sneer, "If something happens to me, my eldest son certainly won't be able to continue as an apprentice. Old Liu is soft-hearted but lacks any fatherly compassion for his children. He won't treat the daughter I had with him well. No matter what situation he falls into, he will resent me and even take it out on my children. As long as you promise to send my three children away and let them live under assumed names—not asking for wealth or status, just peace and safety—I will immediately tell you where the blueprints are and how to get them out."
Section Chief Jia hesitated for a moment and said, "I will discuss this with the leaders."
Section Chief Jia walked out and looked at the leaders outside.
Factory Director Hao looked at Director He.
Director He's voice trembled as she said, "Try your best to satisfy her requirements. The blueprints are truly important. Setting aside those eight years, in just these last three years, we have spent countless efforts, yet we have still failed to conquer the core part of the engine..."
Director He paused, took a deep breath, and continued, "Our current engines lack power, consume too much fuel, and are inefficient. They simply cannot compare to advanced foreign technology."
"Especially the issue of turbine blade materials. Foreign engines can work for long periods under high temperature and high pressure, but our materials simply cannot hold up; they deform or even break at the slightest provocation."
Director He said solemnly, "Our independent research was originally on the verge of success, but it was sabotaged by a spy. Regardless, the blueprints must be obtained."
Factory Director Hao and Secretary He had no objections, and Qin Hengzhi nodded.
They could agree to it.
As for Director Hu and Lu Qiaoge, no one asked for their opinion.
In fact, once the blueprints were interrogated, Director Hu and Lu Qiaoge should have been allowed to leave.
(End of Chapter)