Chapter 23: The Pharmaceutical Factory Blueprints Arrive

The kerosene lamp flickered, casting a dancing shadow of Su Yao, who was hunched over, tallying accounts on the wall. The cooperative's ledger lay spread out on the table, the dense rows of numbers making her eyes ache. Just as she rubbed her temples, ready to blow out the lamp, a strange voice suddenly echoed in her mind.

[Breakthrough detected in the host's agricultural field. Hidden task unlocked: Strengthening the Nation Through Medicine.]

[Reward: Complete set of pharmaceutical factory blueprints, one copy of "Battlefield First Aid Manual."]

The abacus in Su Yao's hand clattered to the floor, beads scattering everywhere. It took her a long moment to realize it was the system—it hadn't made a sound since providing the initial research funding, and she had almost forgotten about it.

"Where are the blueprints?" she asked inwardly.

A roll of kraft paper appeared out of thin air on the corner of the table, bound with a red string, accompanied by a small, deep-blue booklet. Su Yao untied the string and unfurled the blueprints, which covered half the table. At the top was the factory floor plan, with workshops and warehouses clearly marked. Flipping down, her eyes locked onto the penicillin extraction flow chart—from strain cultivation to purification and crystallization, every step was meticulously drawn, with key parameters noted alongside.

Her heart pounded against her ribs. Not long ago, Erzhuzi’s son had caught pneumonia, and the commune’s health clinic had no penicillin; the man had been so desperate he was kowtowing for help. It was only because Lu Zhanye had pulled strings with the military that they managed to get a small vial—a medicine more precious than gold.

"If only we could produce it ourselves..." Her fingertip traced the extraction tank on the blueprint, fraying the edge of the paper.

Footsteps sounded outside the window. Lu Zhanye pushed the door open, bringing the chill of the night dew with him. His military boots were caked with mud, having just returned from the base. "Still up?"

Su Yao pushed the blueprints toward him, her voice trembling. "Look at this."

Lu Zhanye picked up the blueprints, his brow furrowing deeper as he studied them. Having seen many comrades perish from lack of medicine, he knew the weight of penicillin. Seeing that the extraction purity could reach ninety-eight percent, he looked up sharply. "Where did this technology come from?"

"The system gave it to me," Su Yao didn't hide it from him, briefly explaining what had happened. "I want to build a pharmaceutical factory."

Lu Zhanye didn't speak, his fingers tapping lightly on the paper. Building a factory required funds, land, and manpower—none of it would be easy. But looking at the light in Su Yao’s eyes and remembering the lives lost for lack of medicine, he suddenly clenched his fists.

"I'll help you," his voice deeper than usual. "There’s a Professor Zhang at the military hospital, an expert in antibiotics. I'll take you to see him tomorrow."

Early the next morning, the two set off for the county town on their bicycles. Lu Zhanye’s military bike was polished to a shine. Su Yao sat on the back, clutching the blueprints, her heart racing. Passing the commune, they ran into Secretary Li, who called out, "Director Su, where are you headed?"

"To the county office for some business!" Su Yao replied over her shoulder, her voice carried away by the wind.

At the military hospital, the sentry saluted Lu Zhanye and let them pass. The old professor’s office was on the third floor of the inpatient department, a sign reading "Professor Zhang" hanging on the door. After a knock, a hoarse voice came from inside: "Enter."

Professor Zhang was reading a paper through his bifocals. Seeing Lu Zhanye, he set down his pen. "Zhanye? What brings you here today?"

"Professor Zhang, I've brought you something good." Lu Zhanye handed over the blueprints. "Could you see if this technology is reliable?"

Professor Zhang adjusted his glasses and took the blueprints, examining them slowly. Calm at first, his brow furrowed deeper as he went on, until he finally slapped the table. "Who drew this? This is sheer nonsense!"

Su Yao’s heart sank to the bottom of the well. Lu Zhanye quickly interjected, "Professor, please, don't get upset. Tell us slowly."

"Slowly?" Professor Zhang pointed at the extraction steps. "This extractant isn't even mass-produced in the country! And the temperature control—our equipment can't even reach these levels! Isn't this just talk on paper?"

Su Yao bit her lip and pulled another sheet of paper from her bag. "Professor, look at this. I modified it based on our current conditions. Using ethanol instead of the extractant reduces the purity slightly, but it guarantees mass production."

Professor Zhang took the modified draft, his eyes suddenly lighting up. He compared the two, his fingers dancing across the pages, muttering to himself. After a long while, he looked up, his eyes full of amazement. "Little girl, how does your brain work? This improvement could increase penicillin production by at least thirty percent!"

"You mean... it’s feasible?" Su Yao’s voice trembled.

"Feasible? It's more than that!" Professor Zhang stood up excitedly, pacing. "This technology is at least ten years ahead of its time! If we get this into production, think of how many lives we can save!"

He suddenly grabbed Lu Zhanye’s arm. "Zhanye, who came up with this? I need to meet them! No, I need to report this to the authorities! This is a major matter!"

"It was me," Su Yao said softly. "Su Yao from Red Flag Commune."

"Su Yao..." Professor Zhang mused, then suddenly clapped his hands. "I remember! The educated youth who led the ecological planting project? Truly, young and promising!"

He picked up a pen and signed Su Yao’s factory application, writing several pages of recommendations. "Take this to the city. Tell them it's recommended by old man Zhang. If anyone gives you trouble, tell them to come find me directly!"

Leaving the hospital, Su Yao felt the sunlight was brighter than usual. Lu Zhanye pedaled the bike swiftly, the wind rushing past their ears, carrying the scent of fresh grass.

"I knew you could do it," Lu Zhanye smiled back at her, his eyes sparkling beneath his military cap.

Su Yao leaned her face against his back, feeling his warmth. She suddenly felt that no matter what difficulties lay ahead, as long as he was there, she was afraid of nothing.

Back at the commune, Su Yao took the recommendation and application to Secretary Li. He scratched his head for a long time. "A pharmaceutical factory? Never heard of such a thing. How about we call a meeting to discuss it?"

The commune committee meeting lasted all afternoon. Some supported it, saying it would drive development; others opposed it, citing high risks and the fear of losing the commune’s entire assets.

"I think it can work," Erzhuzi stood up suddenly. He was a representative of the commune members. "Last time my boy had pneumonia, if it weren't for Comrade Lu, he would have been gone. If we can make our own penicillin, we won't have to beg others anymore!"

"Erzhuzi is right," Widow Wang added. "Director Su is reliable. Didn't the ecological planting work out? I believe in her!"

Finally, Secretary Li made the final decision: "Let's do it! Our Red Flag Commune is just missing this kind of drive! Director Su, I’m putting this in your hands. If you need anything, just ask; the commune will support you all the way!"

The news spread, and the commune members were abuzz. Some said Su Yao was too ambitious, neglecting her duties to stir up trouble; others said it was a good thing, that they wouldn't have to worry about medical care anymore. Su Yao ignored the talk, leading a team to scout locations around the commune, finally settling on an empty plot by the river—close to the water source and convenient for transportation.

Lu Zhanye took leave to help with the paperwork. Having spent many years in the military, he knew many people, and things went much smoother for him than they would have for Su Yao. Sometimes, when Su Yao was too busy to eat, he would wait at the construction site with a lunchbox, watching her eat with a heart full of tenderness.

That night, as Su Yao organized the blueprints, Lu Zhanye pulled a small notebook from his bag and handed it to her. It was the "Battlefield First Aid Manual," filled with dense annotations—his own experiences added as supplements.

"Study the first aid methods in there," Lu Zhanye sat beside her. "Building a factory is bound to have its bumps; knowing some first aid won't hurt."

Su Yao flipped through the manual, her heart warming at the sight of his vigorous handwriting. Suddenly remembering something, she took a small cloth bag from the drawer, containing all her savings. "This is all my money. Take it. The factory needs funds, use this first."

Lu Zhanye pushed it back. "Don't worry about the money. I’ve spoken to the military, and they are willing to provide an interest-free loan. Professor Zhang has also promised to contact the equipment manufacturers."

Su Yao was stunned; she hadn't expected him to have arranged everything. Looking at his sharp, angular profile, her nose suddenly felt sore.

"Lu Zhanye, thank you," she whispered.

Lu Zhanye turned, looking at her by the glow of the kerosene lamp. "Why be so polite with me? Besides, this is for our own benefit. In the future, if the kids get a fever, we'll have medicine on hand."

Mentioning the children, Su Yao smiled. Lu Xingchen had become obsessed with the factory blueprints, drawing on them with a pencil every day, saying he wanted to be a pharmaceutical engineer. Lu Shihan pestered them to go to the construction site to see the "big house," saying she wanted to be a nurse there.

"When the factory is built, let Xingchen help in the lab, and Shihan can dispense medicine at the pharmacy," Su Yao said with a smile.

"What about Yuxuan?" Lu Zhanye asked. Lu Yuxuan had recently become obsessed with machinery and spent his days hanging around the bulldozers at the site.

"Let him maintain the equipment," Su Yao said. "Isn't he quite interested in mechanics?"

The two smiled at each other, the kerosene lamp casting a halo on the wall, stretching their shadows long.

***

Not long after, the city approved the project and allocated startup funds. The equipment manufacturers promised to ship the machinery within three months. Professor Zhang sent two top pharmacy students to provide guidance.

On the day construction began, the sound of drums and gongs filled the air—it was even livelier than when the ecological planting pilot succeeded. Secretary Li cut the ribbon, and Su Yao used the blueprints to explain the construction points to the workers. Lu Zhanye stood on the side, watching, and thought she looked even better in work overalls than in her cadre uniform.

During the lunch break, Erzhuzi brought over a large bowl containing braised pork his wife had made. "Director Su, have some! Get some strength!"

Just as Su Yao reached for it, someone shouted, "Director Su, phone call! It's from the city!"

She ran to the commune office to answer; it was Director Wang from the Municipal Health Bureau. He said that provincial leaders had heard about the pharmaceutical factory and attached great importance to it, and would be coming for a personal inspection next week.

"Director Su, this is a great opportunity!" Director Wang said. "Prepare well and leave a good impression on the provincial leaders."

After hanging up, Su Yao’s palms were sweating. Lu Zhanye walked over and handed her a towel. "What's wrong? Your face is pale."

"Provincial leaders are coming to inspect next week," Su Yao said, wiping her hands. "I'm afraid I'll mess it up."

"Don't be afraid," Lu Zhanye took her hands, his palms large and warm. "I'm here. Just prepare step by step; there will be no problems."

Over the next few days, Su Yao led the workers in overtime, cleaning up the site and putting up slogans on the walls: "Safe Production, Quality First." The students sent by Professor Zhang were not idle either, organizing technical data and preparing reports.

On the day of the inspection, the provincial leaders' motorcade drove into the commune in a grand procession. Su Yao stood at the entrance, dressed in a clean blue cloth jacket, to welcome them. The leader was an old man with gray hair, kind and approachable, without any airs.

"Are you Comrade Su Yao?" the old leader took her hand. "Young and promising! I've long heard of your name."

Su Yao was a bit embarrassed. "The leader is too kind; I’ve only done what was my duty."

The old leader smiled and waved, following her to inspect the site. He looked carefully, asking technical questions from time to time. Su Yao answered them one by one, clearly and logically.

Seeing the model of the penicillin extraction workshop, the old leader suddenly stopped, his eyes full of emotion. "Back in the day, many soldiers didn't die on the battlefield because their wounds were too severe, but because of a lack of antibiotics. If we had a factory like this sooner, how many more lives could have been saved!"

He turned to the accompanying city leaders and said, "This project must be prioritized for support! Give them the funds, give them the people, and get it into production as soon as possible!"

As the inspection concluded, the old leader took Su Yao’s hand again. "Little girl, keep up the good work! The country needs talents like you."

After seeing the provincial leaders off, Su Yao let out a long breath. Lu Zhanye handed her a bottle of water. "Good performance."

Su Yao took a sip and suddenly laughed. "Actually, my legs were shaking just now."

Lu Zhanye laughed too, reaching out to ruffle her hair. "I could tell."

The sunset stretched their shadows long, and the machines on the construction site hummed, as if playing a joyous song. Su Yao looked at everything before her, her heart full of hope. Building the pharmaceutical factory was just the first step; the road ahead was long. But she wasn't afraid, because she wasn't fighting alone.

Returning home that night, the children were already asleep. Su Yao sat under the lamp, leafing through the "Battlefield First Aid Manual." Lu Zhanye’s handwriting was vigorous, gleaming under the kerosene lamp. She suddenly felt that this manual was not just a first aid guide, but a manifestation of his care and protection.

Moonlight spilled in through the window, landing on the blueprints, illuminating the three characters for "Pharmaceutical Factory." Su Yao knew tomorrow would be busy again, but she felt full of strength. She was doing something meaningful, something that could change many people’s fates.

Behind her were Lu Zhanye’s warm gaze, the children’s innocent smiles, and the expectations of all the members of the Red Flag Commune. These were her motivation, her eternal support.