Chapter 13: Project 491

【13】 Project 491

“1949, I’m back again.”

Xiao Qiang turned off the headlights, leaned back against the seat, and lit a cigarette. He exhaled a cloud of blue smoke with a sense of relief, sitting quietly in the car.

The landing site before him, which had looked like farmland when Xiao Qiang returned over half a month ago, had undergone a massive transformation in less than twenty days. Looking from afar, high walls tightly enclosed tens of thousands of square meters of space. At the top of the walls stood tall iron posts, with barbed wire strung between them—the security was tight.

No sooner had Xiao Qiang turned on his headlights than human voices drifted over from the distance. A man carrying a flashlight ran rapidly toward Xiao Qiang’s car. As the man approached, Xiao Qiang saw clearly that it was Wei Guo! He quickly jumped out of the car.

“Xiao Qiang, you’re back!” Wei Guo, wearing a worn, patched cotton-padded jacket, ran over with an excited look on his face. He shook hands with Xiao Qiang, who had just stepped out of the car, with great enthusiasm and immense strength. Looking at Wei Guo’s haggard, unshaven appearance, it was clear he had been keeping watch here for quite some time. Thinking that there were people in this world so dedicated to waiting specifically for him, Xiao Qiang felt a sudden warmth in his heart.

“Sorry to have kept you waiting; the plan was completed successfully.” Xiao Qiang pressed his lips together tightly, a look of determination appearing on his face. People of this era often wore such expressions—when they did what they knew to be impossible, or when they carried a thousand-jin burden on their frail shoulders, they all wore this look.

“Let’s go, we need to report to the Minister,” Wei Guo said with a wide, excited grin.

He immediately pulled Xiao Qiang back into the driver’s seat, and Xiao Qiang drove the car toward the main gate in the wall as directed by Wei Guo.

Upon reaching the entrance, Wei Guo got out to open the large wooden gate. The armed guards outside hurried over to help pull open the several-meter-wide doors. The two switched to a black sedan that had been prepared at the gate, and with two escort trucks carrying over a dozen soldiers in front and behind, they drove toward the Intelligence Department.

Minister Li and the participants of the secret project, having received the news, worked through the night with Xiao Qiang to hand over the supplies. However, there were simply too many materials, and the handover process continued until noon the next day before it was roughly completed.

Premier Zhou also arrived upon hearing the news that morning. He was very pleased after hearing Xiao Qiang’s introduction of the supplies.

“Comrade Xiao Qiang, you have performed a great service this time! Although you are on the secret front and cannot be publicized due to security reasons, your contributions will forever be recorded in the nation’s book of merit. These books, materials, and equipment that transcend this era will make an epoch-making historical contribution to the recovery of New China’s economy and its socialist construction.”

The Premier then told Xiao Qiang that during his mission, the Central Committee had officially established the Project 491 Leading Group to build a top-secret scientific research base. Marshal Nie would lead the entire project, and the state would draw a large number of absolutely loyal and trusted comrades from the military to participate. They would strive to complete the re-typesetting of these books and the absorption and digestion of the technical data as soon as possible, and aim to train a group of high-level technical backbones capable of operating this machinery in the shortest possible time.

As an engineering student, Xiao Qiang knew how heaven-defying this equipment was. As a high-level processing base, they could completely manufacture the most advanced aircraft and artillery of this era according to the blueprints in a short period.

“Premier, if we supplement this with some large-scale heavy industrial equipment in the future, such as a ten-thousand-ton hydraulic forging press, we will be able to manufacture our own advanced weaponry. Should we implement this plan as our next step?” Xiao Qiang asked.

“You are quite right, but before that, you must rest. You can only work well if you are well-rested. Now, I order you to go home and sleep immediately,” the Premier said with a smile.

Riding in the Premier’s official car back to the entrance of the hutong, Xiao Qiang said goodbye to the driver and walked toward his home.

“Chief, you’re back!” Pan Dongzi exclaimed in surprise upon opening the door and seeing Xiao Qiang.

“Yes, I rushed back overnight. I’m a bit tired, so I’m going to get some sleep first.”

“Yes, Chief. I clean your room every day, and the bed is swept clean and kept in good order,” Dongzi replied.

Hearing the noise, Yu Feng pushed open the door from her room in the east wing and came face-to-face with Xiao Qiang. She greeted him, “Staff Officer Cao, hello.”

Xiao Qiang nodded at her and went back to his room to rest; he was truly exhausted.

Seeing him ignore her, Yu Feng pursed her delicate lips, feeling a bit aggrieved.

During the time Xiao Qiang was away on his business trip, she, as a doctor, had been left in this courtyard just eating and doing nothing. She was unable to exercise her professional enthusiasm and abilities, which left her incredibly depressed. Consequently, she had gone to the General Military Hospital to request a change of post, hoping to return to the hospital to serve as a glorious People’s Doctor. The Dean accepted her transfer request, but two days later, when she returned to the hospital for an answer, the Dean appeared agitated and mysterious.

“Comrade Yu, do you have any idea how important your current job is!”

The Dean stared at Yu Feng.

“This is the Premier’s reply to you. Take a look.”

“The Premier?!” Yu Feng felt a shock in her heart and hurriedly picked up her transfer request. She saw that it was written in calligraphy: “Comrade Yu Feng, your work is extremely important. I order that you must ensure the health of Comrade Cao Xiaoqiang at all costs, and protect the life of Comrade Cao Xiaoqiang at all costs.

I hope you will continue to work hard and constantly improve your professional level and service capabilities.

This transfer request is not approved.”

Signed, “Premier of the State Council, Zhou Enlai.”

The calligraphy was calm, dignified, and majestic.

Yu Feng’s hand holding the letter trembled slightly. “The Premier actually replied to me personally!?” Her mind went blank; she felt both happy and sad. She was happy that the Premier actually knew her name and her work, but sad that she had caused trouble for the Premier, forcing him to spend time in his busy schedule responding to such a trivial matter of hers.

Looking at Yu Feng, who was standing at attention in a daze, the Dean said

“Do you know how important your job is now? It was the Military Commission’s Intelligence Department that requested a personal doctor for Cao Xiaoqiang. I forwarded your report to them, but I didn’t expect the State Council itself to intervene. Don’t say another word; this matter of transferring is never to be mentioned again! Go back and follow the Premier’s instructions, and conscientiously carry out the health care work for Comrade Cao Xiaoqiang. This is an order! From now on, after the daily check-up reports are compiled, submit them directly to the Central Health Committee every Monday. Go.”

“Yes!” Yu Feng stood at attention, saluted, and walked out of the Dean’s office.

On the way home, Yu Feng’s mind was full of questions. “This guy… no, Staff Officer Cao, is actually so important that even the Premier personally inquires about his health. What exactly does he do? The file only says he works for the Military Commission’s Intelligence Department. Could he be a great spy or secret agent for our military?”

Recalling their first meeting, where Cao Xiaoqiang, as a soldier, wore a suit instead of a uniform, and how he could only return after such a long business trip, Yu Feng secretly confirmed her suspicions.

Today, having finally waited for Xiao Qiang to return, Yu Feng had a belly full of questions she wanted to ask. Although the confidentiality regulations stated that one should not ask about what they shouldn’t, every girl had a curious and gossipy side. She hadn’t expected him to just nod at her and go into his room. Did he already know about her application for transfer? But seeing his pale face and how tired he looked, perhaps he wasn’t putting on airs?

Yu Feng made up her mind; as his dedicated personal doctor, she had to check his physical condition. So, she followed Xiao Qiang into the room.

“Staff Officer Cao, I need to check your physical condition. You look pale, and your complexion doesn’t seem very good,” Yu Feng said with concern.

“Hmm, I’ve been quite busy lately. I lost some blood last night and have been pulling all-nighters since then without sleep, so I’m a bit tired. No need for an exam; I’ll be fine after a sleep.”

“Lost blood? What do you mean by lost blood?” Yu Feng asked, puzzled.

“Haha, it’s nothing, just a bit dizzy. It feels like my blood was drained out,” Xiao Qiang said, glossing over it.

Yu Feng nodded. “According to your medical records, Staff Officer Cao, you have iron-deficiency anemia. The cook assigned to you by the logistics department arrived a few days ago, and I have already drafted a healthy diet for you. Nutritional supplements are very important. Of course, if the situation is serious, I will take you to the hospital for a blood transfusion.”

“Thank you. I’d like to sleep first. Tell Dongzi to wake me up at eight o’clock for dinner,” Xiao Qiang said.

“Alright, you rest first.” Yu Feng closed the door and walked out.

Xiao Qiang lay down on the bed and pulled up the quilt. The moment his head hit the pillow, he fell fast asleep. He slept until six o’clock, when he was awakened by Dongzi’s urgent voice: “Chief, Chief, wake up quickly, wake up quickly.”

Xiao Qiang sat up, rubbing his sleepy eyes, only to see Dongzi already holding his clothes, ready to help him put them on.

“What’s wrong? Why the rush? Is it eight o’clock already?” Xiao Qiang felt like he hadn’t slept at all; his body felt weak.

“The Chairman has sent someone to invite you over, Chief. Hurry and get ready!” Dongzi’s large eyes were wide open, filled with worship and envy. His face was flushed red, and he whispered excitedly.

Xiao Qiang thought to himself that the Chairman must have finished watching the documentaries he brought, and now it was time for a talk. He was instantly jolted awake, his sleepiness gone. He hurriedly put on the clothes Dongzi held, gave his hair a quick comb in the mirror, and walked out quickly.

Yu Feng stood straight at her door, silent, staring at Xiao Qiang in astonishment.

Seeing her, Xiao Qiang greeted her: “Dr. Yu, you all go ahead and eat; don’t wait for me. I expect I’ll be back very late, maybe not until tomorrow morning. I’m sorry to have made you prepare a nutritious meal for nothing. Thank you.”

With that, he strode toward the outside of the courtyard.

Yu Feng replied in a fluster: “It’s okay, it’s okay, you go ahead, don’t let anything be delayed.”

Dongzi walked him all the way to the alley entrance, watching Xiao Qiang get into a car with several comrades from the Central Guard Regiment, before reluctantly heading back.