A nation's industrial development begins with junior engineers.

Chapter 821 Going home to find Mom!

Uncle Jin raised his third finger, his tone becoming more subtle, carrying a tacit understanding: "The third point is much easier to say than the first two, but it also requires more of your... understanding and trust."

“During this special period, in order to quickly control the epidemic, my actions may need to touch on some… gray areas. For example, transporting supplies through areas with unclear control, or cooperating with complex local channels. I need your tacit approval and exemption from certain actions to the greatest extent possible.”

"Ok?"

Harris had just made a huge concession on intelligence sharing and already felt he had conceded. Upon hearing this, he immediately frowned warily: "King, what kind of 'acquiescence' do you want this time? Supplies transport? Do you expect the Seventh Fleet's escort range to be adjusted specifically for your 'epidemic prevention supplies'?"

"Don't be nervous, General." Uncle Jin smiled gently and calmly pulled another document from his briefcase. This time it wasn't a confidential briefing, but a local Hong Kong English newspaper. He flipped to the advertising section and pointed to an inconspicuous advertisement.

"Please look at this."

Harris took the newspaper, and Anderson also came over to look. The advertisement had a Chinese brand name and a picture of a small syrup bottle, along with English instructions, but Harris was completely baffled by the Chinese brand name.

"What the hell is this?"

Uncle Jin pointed to the Chinese brand name with his fingertip and calmly explained, “Isatis root syrup. A traditional herbal preparation widely used in Hong Kong. Based on some…informal but credible clinical observation reports I’ve obtained…”

As he spoke, he produced several documents that appeared to be issued by a private hospital in Hong Kong, with somewhat irregular formats but bearing a company seal:

"It shows that it has a good relieving effect on symptoms such as fever and sore throat caused by viral infections, including mumps, and the price is only a fraction of that of current drugs."

Here, Uncle Jin lied; this medicine has only recently been introduced and hasn't had time to become widely known. However, it is true that Banlangen (Isatis root) can clear heat and reduce inflammation; Uncle Jin drank a lot of this traditional Chinese medicine in herbal tea when he was a child.

Yes, it's a proper herbal tea, from Guangdong...

Just a side note, this Cantonese herbal tea is actually a traditional Chinese medicine. If you drink it like milk tea, it will probably leave you with a similar unforgettable experience as the fermented mung bean juice in Beijing.

"Chinese herbs? Witchcraft?" Harris scoffed, nearly throwing the newspaper back. "King! You're a senior CIA officer! How can you believe in something that hasn't been certified by the FDA and has no known origin! This is ridiculous!"

"General!" Uncle Jin's voice rose slightly. "We are now facing an outbreak in impoverished mountainous areas, not in luxurious local hospitals! What we need is not the most advanced and expensive medicines, but the fastest, cheapest, and most widely accessible solution! This stuff is cheap, can be produced in large quantities, and is easy to distribute. Even if it only has a placebo effect, it can stabilize public morale! That's the most important thing!"

He stared at Harris. "Do you really think the White House would let the pandemic destroy the president's strategic village plan over this controversy over 'witchcraft'? Results are more important than form!"

Brigadier General Anderson listened from the side, seemingly swayed by the words "cheapest," but his professional instincts compelled him to raise an objection: "But... Mr. Kim, this is, after all, a product from a rival country. According to regulations, we cannot purchase it..."

Uncle Jin had anticipated this question. He slowly turned to Anderson, a faint smile playing on his lips, and said in a teasing tone, "Oh? General Anderson, are you saying... we should strictly follow the regulations and use those precious penicillin and high-grade anti-inflammatory drugs in the fleet base warehouse to distribute to the Montag villagers who may be infected with the virus?"

Putting aside whether this is overkill, are you sure... the inventory in your base's warehouse is enough for such a large-scale use? Or would you rather use those scarce Western medicines in... a more 'suitable' place?

Uncle Jin's gaze swept meaningfully across Anderson's face.

Anderson's expression instantly turned somewhat unnatural. Although his private dealings in medical supplies for the base were kept secret, it was hard to guarantee that this all-powerful CIA director in front of him wouldn't find out anything about it.

Uncle Jin's words sounded casual, yet they were like a needle gently pricking his sore spot. He immediately changed his tune sheepishly: "Uh... well... you're right! In times of crisis! Humanitarian aid comes first! Rules are rules, but people are flexible! As long as the epidemic can be controlled, the type of medicine used doesn't matter! I agree!"

Harris looked at Anderson, who had quickly switched sides, and then at Uncle Kim, who was so confident and whose words hit the nail on the head, and felt a sense of powerlessness.

The outflow of penicillin from the base warehouse was carried out at his behest, all to cover the maintenance costs of that "ball-shaped" nuclear submarine...

Finally, the desire for promotion overwhelmed all his principles. He waved wearily, as if shedding a heavy burden:

"Alright! Alright! Kim, you've convinced me. Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures! I authorize you to handle all procurement and transportation matters. As for... well, the transportation routes and cooperation channels for these 'special supplies,' as long as they ultimately reach those who need them, I won't interfere with the process. But, Kim, if any problems arise..."

“I will not let you down, General.” Uncle Jin smiled and took over the conversation with confidence. “Everything is for controlling the epidemic, everything is for the success of the strategic village.”

Thus, all three of Uncle Kim's conditions were met, thanks to Harris's complex internal struggle and Anderson's personal considerations.

A supply and intelligence channel, seemingly for epidemic prevention but actually concealing a hidden agenda, was thus opened.

……

at the same time.

In Hong Kong, Mulan, who had just finished teaching a lesson to a scoundrel selling plastic flowers, stared wide-eyed at the shopping list that was a full meter long.

"What the heck is Banlangen dried syrup? And why so much of it? Is it like that Ma Yinglong stuff, which you stuff into your anus?"

Johnson's young wife playfully patted Mulan on the shoulder: "A young lady should be more refined!"

"I took this medicine a couple of days ago when you were busy! It's for treating mumps! It's quite effective; look, my cheeks aren't swollen anymore!"

"Hey, Sister Liu Shuang, isn't mumps something that only kids get?"

Sister Liu Shuang pursed her lips dejectedly. She had been frail and sickly as a child, and couldn't recall ever having been ill. Perhaps she had, but whatever illness she got, she just toughed it out. The hospitals of the Bald Eagle—were not places for ordinary people to enter?

Mulan, not receiving a response, didn't delve into it further. She glanced at the list again and thought, "Wow, the quantity is enormous." A huge pile of grains, fertilizers, medicines, and all sorts of other things.

"Sister Liu Shuang! Where did you get the medicine?"

"It was sent from the mainland, along with Ma Yinglong ointment. I even helped them place an ad in the newspaper, while you were busy dissecting someone's arm..."

Mulan remembered Ma Yinglong ointment. It was an urgent notice from Uncle Jin when the last batch of air fryers was shipped. She had already purchased all the stock in Hong Kong, but it still wasn't enough. Finally, they had to arrange for a batch to be shipped from the mainland through China Resources to meet the demand.

"Oh, I see. That makes things easier!"

"Sister Liu Shuang, let's go! Let's go home and find Mom!"