Chapter Summaries

Song Ning prepared for Elder Zhou’s high-stakes operation and discovered that his long-term painkiller use made anesthesia dangerously difficult to dose. After Gu Zheng and his men reassured her that they trusted her judgment, she revealed that she had a solution to the anesthesia problem.

• Song Ning and Lao Qi advised Mike’s team on their CT equipment research before Song Ning left for an operation.
• Song Ning and Lao Qi began preparing for Elder Zhou’s surgery and learned that his medication tolerance complicated the anesthetic dosage.
• Song Ning visited Gu Zheng, discussed his recovery and Tan Min’s suspicious actions, and explained why she had shared her concerns with Lei Ming.
• Han Xiao and Chen Liang told Song Ning they trusted her and urged her to speak openly with them.
• Song Ning told Gu Zheng, Han Xiao, and Chen Liang that Elder Zhou’s anesthesia posed a problem and that she had a solution.

Song Ning proposed using the arrival of Enflurane to test whether Zhou Yuanhang was connected to the K organization, while ensuring Elder Zhou’s surgery could proceed safely. After Gu Zheng arranged heightened surveillance, the two shared an intimate moment until Han Xiao brought Zhou Yunzhi’s latest blood report.

• Song Ning explained that Enflurane could safely supplement Elder Zhou’s anesthesia and suggested watching to see whether Zhou Yuanhang procured it before the surgery.
• Gu Zheng agreed to use the opportunity to investigate Zhou Yuanhang and ordered Han Xiao and Chen Liang to keep the plan secret and stay alert.
• Song Ning told Gu Zheng to monitor the Military District’s drug storage, the suspects, and especially the foreign woman, while they waited for signs of a mole.
• Gu Zheng admitted he feared Song Ning might leave him, and she comforted him before kissing him.
• Han Xiao interrupted them with Zhou Yunzhi’s latest blood report, which had been requested by Song Ning.

Song Ning and Gu Zheng uncovered evidence that someone was secretly trying to wake Zhou Yunzhi, then Song Ning returned home and reviewed Zheng Chang'an's ideas for her hospital plans. The chapter ended with Song Ning asking Zheng Chang'an to prepare a detailed proposal.

• Song Ning and Gu Zheng concluded that someone was secretly using stimulants to wake Zhou Yunzhi, and Gu Zheng ordered an investigation into everyone who had entered her room and the nurses responsible for her care.
• Song Ning left the hospital with Han Xiao and returned to the Siheyuan Courtyard, where Zheng Chang'an and the others had waited to have dinner with her.
• After dinner, Zheng Chang'an showed Song Ning his detailed reflections on her hospital plans, and she asked him to write a proposal based on a section she marked.

Song Ning prepared Zheng Chang'an to help develop practical plans for taking over a hospital under contract, while Song Mei and Song Lan delivered the pills they had made. The chapter left Song Ning planning to ask President Peng to arrange hospital observations for Zheng Chang'an.

• Zheng Chang'an accepted Song Ning's request to expand her hospital management proposals and learned that she seriously hoped to take over a hospital under contract.
• Song Ning assigned Zheng Chang'an more proposals, explaining that concrete rules, budgets, and procedures would help prove she could run a hospital.
• Han Xiao pulled Zheng Chang'an away from Song Ning, and Zheng Chang'an learned that Han Xiao was Song Ning's boyfriend and declared he would assess him.
• Song Mei and Song Lan delivered the pills they had made, and Song Ning praised their work while noting that their filtration and purification could improve.
• Song Lan and Song Mei offered to help Song Ning, and they shared their training and qualifications with her.
• Song Ning told Zheng Chang'an she would ask President Peng to arrange observation visits at several major hospitals so he could learn and broaden his horizons.

Song Ning coordinated preparations for Elder Zhou’s surgery while Gu Zheng’s investigation linked Lin Xiaoming and Lin Xiaojun to the suspected poisoning and a search for a mysterious object. At home, she learned that the Xingfu Road Winery had closed and that Li Suying planned to marry Dong Yuan on New Year’s Day, then discovered Gu Zheng had become Minister of Commerce.

• Song Ning assigned Chang'an, Song Mei, and Song Lan to study hospital systems and record problems from doctors’ and patients’ perspectives.
• Song Ning and the surgical team spent the day rehearsing and planning Elder Zhou’s operation, though they still had no solution for the anesthesia.
• Gu Zheng told Song Ning that nurse Xiao Hui’s sister Xiao Lin was Lin Xiaojun’s girlfriend, while Lin Xiaoming had been contacting Wu Tao Ying about the mysterious object; Gu Zheng’s team continued surveilling both men.
• Li Suying told Song Ning that the Xingfu Road Winery had closed and that local authorities would decide its future, then shared her plans to marry Dong Yuan on New Year’s Day.
• Han Xiao told Song Ning that Gu Zheng had been appointed Minister of Commerce.

Song Ning proposed leasing the failing distillery and having Song Wang make liquor while Factory Director Zheng managed it, and Song Wang agreed to recruit her and Old Li. After Song Ning’s team completed a successful practice operation, a nurse announced that they had found a solution to Elder Zhou’s anesthesia problem.

• Song Wang explained that the distillery would close because of debt and losses, but he wanted to help Factory Director Zheng sell its final batch of liquor.
• Song Ning suggested leasing the distillery and keeping Factory Director Zheng as manager while Song Wang focused on making liquor; Song Wang agreed to persuade her and asked to keep Old Li on.
• Zheng Chang'an brought Song Ning a stack of drafts while Han Xiao watched her juggle meetings at home and at the hospital.
• On December 2, Song Ning, Lao Qi, and their team successfully performed a level-two laminectomy decompression surgery to build their coordination ahead of Elder Zhou’s operation.
• As Song Ning and the team discussed the unresolved anesthesia risk, a young nurse announced that they had found a solution.

Song Ning learned that Tan Min had brought the hospital a foreign anesthesia protocol for Elder Zhou, though Song Ning suspected someone had used Tan Min to deliver it. After discussing the plan’s uncertain safety with Elder Zhou’s family, Song Ning returned to find Gu Zheng holding Ma Jinliang’s file, identifying him as the doctor who had told Tan Min about the protocol.

• President Peng announced that the hospital would use intravenous Ketamine with inhaled Enflurane for Elder Zhou, and Director Liu explained the plan.
• Tan Min said Doctor Ma had told her about the protocol from foreign literature, and President Peng credited her with finding a source for the drug.
• Song Ning suspected Tan Min did not know the full story and someone had used her to bring the protocol back.
• Song Ning reassured Elder Zhou’s family that the team would test the drug, while Zhou Yuanhang worried they had only one day before surgery.
• Gu Zheng handed Song Ning Ma Jinliang’s file and identified him as the Doctor Ma who had told Tan Min about the protocol.

Song Ning and Gu Zheng investigated how Tan Min learned the anesthesia protocol and focused on finding Wang Ping, who had arranged Ma Jinliang’s shift. As Han Xiao pursued Wang Ping, Song Ning acknowledged her suspicions about Zhou Yuanhang and recognized Gu Zheng’s role as commander-in-chief of Unit 331.

• Song Ning learned that Ma Jinliang had handled research materials from the Jin City Underground Base and had joined the free clinic after Wang Ping asked him to fill in on November thirtieth.
• Song Ning and Gu Zheng concluded that Wang Ping’s shift arrangement could reveal who had introduced the anesthesia protocol, and Han Xiao went to Ji Province to find him.
• Song Ning checked Gu Zheng’s recovery and said she would operate on him after Elder Zhou’s surgery; Gu Zheng admitted he had noticed nothing suspicious when Tan Min visited.
• Song Ning said she hoped Zhou Yuanhang was innocent but would suspect him if Wang Ping had deliberately switched shifts with Ma Jinliang, since Zhou stood to benefit from Elder Zhou’s surgery.
• Chen Liang explained his loyalty to Tan Jin’s memory and said he would not tolerate Tan Min harming the country’s interests, even if she was being used.
• Song Ning told Chen Liang that she had guessed Gu Zheng was the current commander-in-chief of Unit 331.

Song Ning planned to take over the Distillery and work with Zheng Chunzhi to revive it, assigning Song Wang responsibility for documenting its brewing procedures. The next day, she arrived at the hospital and learned from the travel-worn Han Xiao that Wang Ping had returned to the Military District.

• Zheng Chunzhi visited Song Ning and said she wanted to keep working at the Distillery if Song Ning took it over.
• Song Ning outlined reforms for the Distillery and asked Zheng Chunzhi to prepare a proposal for their meeting in a week, promising she would remain factory director.
• Song Ning asked Song Wang to document his brewing recipes and production methods for future operating procedures.
• Song Ning reassured Song Wang that she had sent him to work at the Distillery so he could learn its operations and build experience, not because he was incapable.
• On December 3, Han Xiao met Song Ning at the hospital and told her that Wang Ping had returned to the Military District.

Han Xiao reported that Wang Ping had returned after a verified family emergency, leaving Song Ning to consider whether Tan Min had deliberately revealed the anesthesia protocol. As the hospital began testing Enflurane, an unexpected visitor arrived at Song Ning’s office.

• Han Xiao told Song Ning that records and witnesses confirmed Wang Ping had left to care for his injured mother and returned when summoned.
• Song Ning questioned Han Xiao about Tan Min’s behavior and suggested Tan Min might be manipulating people or deliberately exposing the anesthesia protocol.
• President Peng interrupted Song Ning and Han Xiao, and Song Ning entered the elevator with him to ask for his help.
• The hospital began rigorous trials of Enflurane using small doses and volunteer patients with external injuries.
• After eating and lying down to rest, Song Ning heard a knock and found an unexpected visitor outside her office.

Song Ning questioned Lu Changqing’s account of his kidnapping and suspected Lin Xiaoming was connected to the mystery surrounding Master Gang’s associate and Zhou Xiaotang. After receiving her physician’s license and surgery passes, she checked on Gu Zheng, then encountered a grave-faced Han Xiao, who said something was wrong.

• Lu Changqing told Song Ning he had been approved to join Unit 331 and admitted he had seen a photograph of Zhou Xiaotang before their failed blind date, though they never met.
• Song Ning recalled the suspicious man connected to Master Gang and realized Lin Xiaoming might know why Lu Changqing had been frightened away from the restaurant.
• Song Ning received passes for Zheng Chang'an, Song Mei, and Song Lan, along with her physician’s license, which Director Zhang took back for the hospital to keep.
• Song Ning visited Gu Zheng and found Tan Min caring for him; she checked his pulse, then left them together.
• Han Xiao met Song Ning by the elevator and told her something was wrong.

Song Ning helped Zheng Chunzhi refine her distillery proposal while worrying about unrest around Capital City and the detained foreign experts. Before Song Ning’s surgery on Elder Zhou, Zhou Yuanhang told her his mother was terrified and asked her to give the family more confidence.

• Han Xiao told Song Ning that trouble had broken out in several places and Regiment Commander Lei had not returned, then hurried to brief his boss.
• Song Ning reviewed Zheng Chunzhi’s distillery proposal with Zheng Chang'an, advising them to focus on fixing past problems while preserving the distillery’s existing foundations.
• Wei Jinjun learned that Qingbei Laboratory had urgently contacted Song Ning and asked Gu Zheng to investigate the matter.
• Zhou Yuanhang rode with Song Ning to the hospital and explained that his mother had not slept because she feared Elder Zhou would not survive the operation.
• Zhou Yuanhang asked Song Ning not to let his mother’s distress affect her and to give her more confidence.

Song Ning led a demanding operation on Elder Zhou that succeeded, then rested with Gu Zheng and warned him about Lu Changqing joining Unit 331. Gu Zheng explained his plan and told her that Kong Jianming had come looking for her because he was in trouble.

• Professor Yang anxiously awaited Elder Zhou’s operation, and Song Ning reassured him before heading to prepare.
• President Peng promised to back Song Ning, and the operation began at ten with a team of top surgeons.
• Professor Qi announced the operation was a complete success at three fifteen, and Professor Yang collapsed from relief.
• Song Ning slipped away to rest in Gu Zheng’s room, where they discussed Elder Zhou’s recovery and Lu Changqing joining Unit 331.
• Gu Zheng explained that allowing Lu Changqing into Unit 331 would help reveal whether he had ulterior motives, then told Song Ning that Kong Jianming had come looking for her and was in trouble.

Song Ning learned that Kong Jianming had been arrested after fighting Lin Xiaoming, while Wu Tao Ying had gone missing, and she reviewed the investigation into Songnian Alley. She arranged Gu Zheng’s surgery for the next day, helped solve the critical problem in the Fourth-Generation CT Equipment project, and was left facing an unexpected car outside the university gates.

• Gu Zheng told Song Ning that Kong Jianming had hit Lin Xiaoming and was detained, then arrested again after the Wu Family reported Wu Tao Ying missing.
• Song Ning asked about the investigation into Lin Xiaoming and Songnian Alley, and Gu Zheng explained that investigators were examining the alley’s residents and the families displaced by an old fire.
• Song Ning checked Gu Zheng’s recovery, scheduled his operation for the next day, and answered Professor Yang’s questions about Elder Zhou.
• Tan Qingru and Tan Min visited Gu Zheng, and Song Ning wondered whether Tan Min was a “pure white lotus” or a “green tea girl.”
• Song Ning went to the Qingbei Laboratory, where she and Mike’s team resolved the Fourth-Generation CT Equipment project’s critical problem and expected to finish validation in about a week.
• Song Ning left the university intending to go to the Bus Station, but a car stopped in front of her.

Song Ning learned that the investigation had uncovered a possible staged fight connected to Night Owl, then completed Gu Zheng’s surgery and returned to the Laboratory. The chapter ended with Kong Jianming waiting outside to report something important to her.

• Han Xiao told Song Ning that Wu Tao Ying had been found unconscious by her home and that Lin Xiaoming claimed he had gone to the hospital after Kong Jianming beat him.
• Song Ning and Han Xiao discussed how the fight might have been staged as an alibi while Regiment Commander Lei confronted Night Owl during a planned trap.
• Song Ning returned to the Siheyuan Courtyard, where her family celebrated the success of her earlier surgery.
• Song Ning operated on Gu Zheng to fill the cavity in his arm and instructed Director Liu to limit visitors to reduce infection risks.
• Song Ning returned to the Laboratory and promised Mike she would help the team finish their project.
• Kong Jianming waited outside the Laboratory and told Song Ning he had something important to report.

Song Ning learned that Lin Xiaoming had tried to gain the Wu Family’s trust by offering to repair their warehouse, and she and Han Xiao planned to use the publicly announced renovation to draw out anyone watching them. As the warehouse work approached, Song Ning focused on finishing the Laboratory report and prepared for the next day’s meeting about the Distillery.

• Kong Jianming told Song Ning that Lin Xiaoming had repeatedly approached Wu Tao Ying and offered to renovate the Wu Family’s warehouse for free.
• Song Ning told Kong Jianming he no longer needed to investigate Wu Tao Ying and urged him to take responsibility for his past mistakes.
• Song Ning told Han Xiao about Lin Xiaoming’s offer, and Han Xiao explained that Gu Zheng had arranged new housing and an approved warehouse renovation to flush out suspicious people.
• Song Ning spent the next few days compiling and translating the Laboratory’s project data into a comprehensive report.
• Han Xiao told Song Ning that the Wu Family would move soon and that the warehouse renovation had been publicly scheduled for December twelfth through fifteenth, with people watching the site.
• Song Ning returned home ahead of the December ninth meeting about the Distillery.

Song Ning helped Zheng Chunzhi prepare a proposal to revive the closed Xingfu Road Winery, and they presented it at a Chaodong District meeting. Zheng Chunzhi proposed contracting the distillery to a private operator and credited Song Ning, leaving the officials to consider the unconventional plan.

• Zheng Chunzhi gave Song Ning the final proposal and agreed to bring its earlier drafts to the district government meeting.
• Song Ning and Zheng Chunzhi attended a crowded meeting where Xingfu Lane Subdistrict invited officials and factory representatives to discuss the winery's future.
• After Section Chief Qian called on her to speak, Zheng Chunzhi explained how rigid management and systemic problems had contributed to the winery's closure.
• Zheng Chunzhi proposed keeping the distillery's business and contracting it to a private operator, prompting an uproar among those present.
• When Section Chief Qian asked whether anyone was interested, Zheng Chunzhi credited Song Ning's guidance and encouragement for her proposal.

Song Ning presented a detailed plan for privately contracting the Xingfu Road Winery and promised concrete payments to the district and state. Her proposal drew intense interest from the officials, who left the meeting poised to consider the factory as a pilot for reform.

• Song Ning outlined five problems in the Distillery’s existing system and explained how private contracting could address them.
• An unfamiliar official asked how her proposed solutions would be put into practice, and Zheng Chunzhi distributed the prepared implementation materials.
• When someone challenged whether Song Ning or Zheng Chunzhi had written the plan, Song Ning showed five earlier drafts and explained how they had revised it together.
• Song Ning offered a security deposit equal to forty percent of the factory’s assets and pledged to raise its annual payment to the district from four thousand yuan to six thousand yuan while paying taxes.
• Section Chief Qian realized the official viewed the small factory as a pilot project and a step toward wider reform.

Song Ning and Zheng Chunzhi signed an agreement for Song Ning to take over Xingfu Road Winery, then celebrated with their friends. After recognizing Wu Tao Ying’s younger brother fleeing a beating and mentioning treasure the Wu Family had supposedly dug up, Song Ning alerted Chen Liang; the chapter ended when Zheng Yang delivered an urgent call from Qingbei’s Laboratory.

• Song Ning and Zheng Chunzhi negotiated with district officials and signed the Contracting Agreement for Xingfu Road Winery, with the takeover expected in about ten days.
• Zheng Chunzhi thanked Song Ning and pledged to help rebuild the Distillery as they arranged a celebratory dinner.
• Song Ning overheard youths beating a young man who claimed his family had dug up treasure, then recognized him as Wu Tao Ying’s younger brother.
• Song Ning called Chen Liang at the Military Hospital and reported what she had heard, prompting him to investigate immediately.
• Song Ning joined Song Wang, Zheng Chang’an, and the Meilan Sisters for dinner, then returned to the courtyard and learned from Zheng Yang that Qingbei’s Laboratory urgently wanted to speak with her.

Song Ning investigated why Kong Jianming had urgently summoned her and discovered Wu Tao Ying was secretly trying to sell a gold bar. The bar’s maker’s mark connected it to the mysterious name Tian, and Song Ning suspected Wu Tao Ying was hiding other buried valuables.

• Song Ning rode to Qingbei University after Kong Jianming reported that Wu Tao Ying had asked him to find a buyer for a gold bar.
• Kong Jianming introduced Song Ning to Wu Tao Ying as a buyer, and Song Ning persuaded her to show the bar in the empty Project Group's Laboratory.
• Song Ning examined the gold bar and found it stamped with the words “Beiping Yufeng Gold Furnace, pure gold” and a tiny mark that read “Tian.”
• Song Ning connected the Tian mark to the dying man's words about “Tian” and “Song Girl,” then asked Wu Tao Ying whether the gold bar had been buried with anything else.
• Wu Tao Ying grew hesitant when Song Ning suggested that other items buried with the bar might be even more valuable.