Chapter 144: Doctor Zhou

Chapter 144: Chapter 144: Doctor Zhou

Su Wan was puzzled, but she only glanced at the woman’s back and didn’t press the issue.

She didn’t have to wait long before Zhang Qiu arrived and gave her a military salute.

"Comrade Zhang Qiu, I’d like to contact Master Ji. Is that possible?"

"No problem. Master Ji told me to notify him immediately if you tried to contact him." Zhang Qiu didn’t ask any questions and led Su Wan to the communications room.

It was clearly much busier with phone calls and telegrams than it had been a few days ago.

As soon as Master Ji picked up the phone, Su Wan used a fabricated story to deliver her warning. "Sir, when I was communicating with some students studying abroad, I found that they mentioned the possibility of fighter jets being sabotaged. I heard about the situation on the southern front and was worried the engineers doing the inspections might not know about this new foreign technique, so I thought I should overstep and mention it."

Master Ji was meticulous. "Go on, Comrade Su Wan. I’ll take notes."

"Master Ji, please take note of these few detection methods..." Su Wan calmly relayed several little-known inspection procedures to him.

Having foreseen the fighter jet crash in her dream, she had guessed a few likely causes. She just needed to remind Master Ji to have someone check them out.

Master Ji listened and wrote everything down.

He then asked Su Wan to send him the fighter jet design diagrams she had drawn, as well as the sketches of its exploitable weaknesses, so he could immediately dispatch personnel to inspect the jets with maximum speed.

Su Wan was a designer herself, so the first things she had noted in her dream were the fighter jet’s model and serial number.

With this precise information, Master Ji launched an investigation at once.

"Someone, go check all the fighter jets at the airbase," Master Ji ordered.

At an airbase near the border, the stationed troops received the news and immediately began inspecting the fighter jets.

"Battalion Commander Lu, please wait a moment. Master Ji just ordered an inspection of the fighter jets. We can arrange your return trip after it’s complete." Qi Battalion Commander, who was in charge of logistics and transport here, happened to encounter the large-scale inspection as he walked out of his office alongside Lu Zhengchuan.

Lu Zhengchuan glanced at his watch and nodded. "Hm, we still have time. There’s no rush."

His presence here was also due to a work-related deployment.

"Battalion Commander Lu, this is Doctor Zhou. She will be leading a medical team to the border to support the rescue efforts on the front line." Taking advantage of the opportunity, Qi Battalion Commander introduced Doctor Zhou Lin, who had just arrived, to Lu Zhengchuan.

One of Lu Zhengchuan’s objectives for this trip was to escort a medical team to the border.

Once war breaks out, injuries are inevitable. There were already casualties, and he worried there would be many more. Bringing a medical team in advance was essential to reduce unnecessary losses.

"Doctor Zhou, a pleasure to meet you."

Lu Zhengchuan extended his hand to shake Zhou Lin’s. ℯℯ𝑙.

Zhou Lin stared at Lu Zhengchuan for a moment. "Battalion Commander Lu, you don’t look very well. Do you need me to prescribe you something to help you cool off?"

Lu Zhengchuan withdrew his hand. "Hm? Doctor Zhou, aren’t you a surgeon?"

Military doctors were best known for surgery. While some practiced Chinese medicine, it wasn’t well-suited for the battlefield. If Zhou Lin was recommended for a support mission at the border, she must be a formidable surgeon.

"Battalion Commander Lu, the Zhou family is a family of physicians. Although I was interested in surgery from a young age and even studied medicine abroad, I’m not completely ignorant of Chinese medicine. I know the basics," Zhou Lin said humbly.

Lu Zhengchuan saw the pride hidden beneath her gentle facade.

"I see. In that case, Doctor Zhou, going to support the border is very dangerous. Are you sure you can handle it?"

Zhou Lin’s expression stiffened slightly. ’He’s not admiring my skills, he’s actually questioning if I can handle hardship!’

"Battalion Commander Lu, are you questioning my patriotism?" Zhou Lin huffed, annoyed.

Lu Zhengchuan shook his head. "No. The medical team at the border is crucial. No one knows how the battle will unfold. Even though the medical team is in the rear, it’s hard to avoid the effects of the battlefield. There will be risks to your safety. And even if something happens, the medical team cannot retreat."

"Of course I know that. It’s precisely because I know that I volunteered for this mission," Zhou Lin said, full of pride. "Even if it gets dangerous, I will not abandon our soldiers and retreat. You can rest assured on that, Battalion Commander Lu. There are no cowards among my ancestors in the Zhou family."

"Excellent, excellent." Qi Battalion Commander, standing nearby, nodded repeatedly in admiration of Zhou Lin. He clapped Lu Zhengchuan on the shoulder. "Battalion Commander Lu, I went out of my way to find you a great doctor like Comrade Zhou. You should be thanking me."

Lu Zhengchuan was a flexible man. He nodded at Zhou Lin. "Doctor Zhou, I was a bit blunt. Please don’t take it personally."

Zhou Lin’s expression softened. "Battalion Commander Lu, I can understand your concerns, but I will not disappoint you or our country."

"My offer to prescribe you something was also out of concern for your health, Battalion Commander Lu."

"...Alright then, write me a prescription." Lu Zhengchuan had indeed been suffering from headaches recently. He knew full well it was from lack of rest. He had to organize battle plans, and the situation on the battlefield could change in an instant. As the one coordinating everything, it was impossible to take it easy. ’Some medicine to calm my nerves and cool my system might not be a bad idea.’

"Xiao Li, go with Doctor Zhou," Lu Zhengchuan ordered.

Xiao Li immediately saluted. "Yes, Battalion Commander."

"Doctor Zhou, please lead the way."

Zhou Lin nodded and turned to lead Xiao Li to the pharmacy.

Not long after the two had left, a soldier ran over and quickly saluted them.

"Qi Battalion Commander, Battalion Commander Lu, a problem was found with fighter jet G3654, which was assigned to Battalion Commander Lu. It is currently under repair."

"What? There’s a problem with the jet? When will the inspection be finished?"

Qi Battalion Commander frowned. They only had four fighter jets here, which wasn’t many at all. It couldn’t be helped; planes were scarce in the country right now, let alone fighter jets. Other military regions also needed them, and the Southwest Military Region had limited resources.

"The engineers say it will take at least two hours."

"What about the other jets?" Qi Battalion Commander asked, displeased. "I thought all jets were inspected daily and ready for deployment at any time."

"Battalion Commander, the other two jets are on a mission. The remaining one, G4600, has several defective parts and is still undergoing repairs."

Hearing this, Qi Battalion Commander’s head started to throb.

"Let’s go have a look." Lu Zhengchuan had no intention of waiting two hours. He needed to get back and command the battle; he didn’t have that much time to waste.

"Battalion Commander Lu, wait for me." Qi Battalion Commander hurried to catch up.

When they arrived at the jet, several engineers were already inspecting it, all of them clearly working very diligently. But the situation was complex, and they hadn’t reached any conclusions yet.

"If you don’t find anything in half an hour, we’ll put it into service," Lu Zhengchuan declared.

Recalling Master Ji’s direct orders for the inspection, Qi Battalion Commander patted Lu Zhengchuan’s shoulder soothingly. "Battalion Commander Lu, don’t be so anxious."