Hello, Mr. Major General

Huo Shaoheng grew quiet for a moment before asking him again, “Why does a DNA mismatch have anything to do with you using her bone marrow?” It was fine as long as their bone marrow matched.

Chen Lie grimaced. “I was only telling you one of the results. Not only did the DNA not match, but the bone marrow typing also didn’t match, so I couldn’t use it even if I wanted to.”

“You really thought about doing it? And even tried, too?” Huo Shaoheng gazed at him coldly. “Do you have a deathwish?”

“I’m happy to play along if you want to start something!” Chen Lie was also angry now, grinding out the words from between his clenched teeth. “If it wasn’t for me secretly doing the test, you would still be fooled right now! When this stuff gets out, all your work will be for nothing!”

Right. Huo Shaoheng had thought Gu Nianzhi’s past had been determined already and hadn’t expected such a thing to happen. Crossing his arms, he walked slowly around the empty square in circles, not straying too far away. After a while, he asked, “Then what about Gu Xiangwen? Did you confirm his identity?”

“This Gu Xiangwen should be the real one.” Chen Lie thought about it for a bit. “His DNA matches with Gu Yanran’s, so they are biological father and daughter.”

Huo Shaoheng suddenly tightened his fists. “Gu Yanran is his biological daughter?” Were all his speculations from before incorrect? He originally thought Gu Nianzhi was his biological daughter while Gu Yanran wasn’t, but now it was the opposite? After walking around the square several times, Huo Shaoheng recalled what He Zhichu had done. He had proven that Gu Nianzhi was the Gu family’s youngest daughter, instead of proving she was Gu Xiangwen’s biological daughter. Also, Gu Yanran had admitted that Gu Nianzhi was her family’s little sister. What did this mean? This meant Gu Nianzhi was legally the Gu family’s daughter… right? But the consequences would be too devastating if Gu Nianzhi wasn’t Gu Xiangwen’s biological daughter, while Gu Yanran was. Huo Shaoheng knew how eager the high-ranking military elites were to obtain Gu Xiangwen’s research results and patents, and also knew what great benefits they would bring to national security. But if this leaked, then Gu Yanran’s identity would also fluctuate in importance, completely overtaking Gu Nianzhi’s. No, this couldn’t be. Huo Shaoheng squinted before stopping his pacing and looking back at the helpless Chen Lie. He told him calmly, “This incident ends here. Don’t tell anyone just yet. Remember, you never did this test. You must destroy all the records.”

“Ok.” Chen Lie nodded. “You have a solution?”

“Nianzhi is definitely Gu Xiangwen’s daughter. There is no doubt about her legal identity,” Huo Shaoheng stated confidently. “As to whether or not she is biologically related to him, why does it matter? Even Gu Yanran admits her identity.”

“That’s true. Maybe Gu Nianzhi could be Gu Xiangwen’s wife’s biological daughter?” Chen Lie murmured, “Too bad I can’t get her information and blood sample. Otherwise…”

“You don’t need to worry about that.” Huo Shaoheng could vaguely sense that things were not as simple as they seemed, but at the moment he needed them to be very “simple.” The marriage request had been submitted, and his father Huo Guanchen was still opposing it, but it was because all the military elite believed that Gu Nianzhi was Gu Xiangwen’s biological daughter and that they were still supporting Huo Shaoheng. But as soon as the news broke that Gu Niazhi wasn’t biologically related to Gu Xiangwen, then it would be a matter of moments before the military elites withdrew support. Then his father, Huo Guanchen, would become the most vocal person on the issue of his marriage, and the request would be rejected instantly.

Huo Shaoheng walked around the square several times again with his arms crossed. The early summer sun rose with the dry heat of the season. The trees around the square were draped in green foliage, yet it couldn’t dispel the newly arrived summer heat. Huo Shaoheng’s heart was also getting hot and agitated. “You must keep this confidential for as long as possible.” Huo Shaoheng clenched his fists and finally decided to reply with confidence, “I have to go abroad this month for work. You have to remember to use the reason of Gu Xiang’s serious illness not yet fully recovering to temporarily reject anybody’s visits.”

“Ok, that is not a problem.” Chen Lie nodded. “That is very simple, but if Gu Yanran decides to tell everyone herself…”

“She might not say anything for now as long as we don’t provoke her.” Huo Shaoheng understood Gu Yanran fairly well. “We just need to keep her calm for another three days.”

Chen Lie sensed that Huo Shaoheng already had some kind of a plan in place but didn’t want to ask too much. “You think about it clearly. Do you need to give Nianzhi a heads up?”

“No, she can’t remember anything, anyway.” Huo Shaoheng resumed his normal demeanor. “I’ll be going now.” When he returned to his office, he said to Zhao Liangze, “Send me information about Tan Dongbang’s family situation.”

“Tan Dongbang? The Minister of Justice? Popular candidate for the Prime Minister election?” Zha Liangze laughed. “Mr. Huo, you sure have broad interests.”

Huo Shaoheng didn’t even look at him before walking straight back to the private room inside his office. Zhao Liangze rubbed his nose and immediately obtained all the information about Tan Dongbang from the data vault, then sent it to Huo Shaoheng.

Huo Shaoheng had only read a bit of it when General Ji called again to implore passionately, “Shaoheng, this is a serious matter. You should consider it well and go to the United States personally.”

“General Ji, I need a reason.” Huo Shaoheng’s tone was no longer as resolute. “Why do you want me to go no matter what?”

General Ji stiffened. He had only meant to humor him, but he thought about how he and Speaker Long had tried to convince Huo Shaoheng all night, but the younger man had yet to give in at all. He knew that he would never convince Huo Shaoheng using a random excuse. “You really want to know?”

“Of course.” Huo Shaoheng’s cursor quietly clicked on Minister of Justice Tan Dongbang’s information, and he scrolled through the pages. Tan Dongbang was a family man with a long history of academic achievements. Both his parents were esteemed figures in the Huaxia Imperial legal realm, but the Tan’s had always been famous only within the academic circles as a scholarly family. Tan Dongbang was the first one in his family to make a career outside of academia. Tan Dongbang’s wife, Cai Songyin, was born in the Huaxia Imperial liberal arts family, the Cai’s. Her ancestors were once especially renowned figures in the educational world, and many current high-ranking government leaders had been helped by the Cai’s in the past, so they remained thankful to them even to this day. They also only had one daughter, Tan Guiren.

“Shaoheng, it’s actually Mrs. Tan who requested that you personally take part in helping them find their daughter. As parents, it’s understandable that want to give their daughter the best treatment. Just like how hospitals will ask for the best doctors, schools will look for the best students and the best teachers. Also, there is certainly something strange with this incident, so I will be reassured if you personally take part.” General Ji was getting on in years already, yet he was able to set aside his pride and beg Huo Shaoheng.

Huo Shaoheng remained silent as he gazed blankly at the information on the screen. General Ji continued to mutter over the phone, “Shaoheng, if you personally find Tan Guiren, then both the Tan’s and the Cai’s will owe you a favor. If Tan Dongbang is elected Prime Minister, then your future will improve over the next five years…”

Although Huo Shaoheng was part of the military system, Tan Dongbang would be figuratively the leader of the nation if he was elected Prime Minister. The promotion of generals and assignment of rank had to be approved by the Cabinet was well, so Huo Shaoheng wouldn’t be able to rise in rank if the Prime Minister-led Cabinet didn’t agree. Huo Shaoheng didn’t actually care about that, because if he had, he would’ve immediately agreed yesterday. There would have been no need for Speaker Long and General Ji to beg him repeatedly. But the information he had just received form Chen Lie made him change his mind. After looking at the data for a long time, and with General Ji’s tongue already so parched from pleading over the phone he was about to give up, Huo Shaoheng spoke. “General Ji, it’s not out of the question for me to go personally. But I have a condition.”

“What condition? Tell me!” General Ji was overjoyed at the news. It was a great feeling to have the entire situation turn around!

“I will go if the military can immediately approve my marriage request and also complete Nianzhi’s background check before I go abroad.” Huo Shaoheng’s fingers began tapping mindlessly on the desk. He was feeling a hint of nervousness, but his expression was completely inscrutable.

“What?!” General Ji was shocked. “You already know how long the process takes! How can you make such a request?!”

“You don’t agree? That’s fine, then.” Huo Shaoheng motioned to end the call.

General Ji composed himself and began to rebut Huo Shaoheng. “Shaoheng, be reasonable. How can your issue and Tan Guiren’s incident be on the same level?”

“From the start, requesting me to go personally was a favor asked by certain people. Then why can’t I make a request of my own?” Huo Shaoheng smiled. He could already see a glimmer of hope. “How can those people propositioning the Tan’s not pay a bit? They have to understand that asking us to go is asking us to risk our lives to help them return their favor to the Tan’s.”