Eastern Theater Command General Hospital.
After Wang Peng parked the car, he opened the trunk and took out two large duffel bags.
The bags contained some fruit, milk, and other goods.
Wang Peng closed the trunk and walked toward the elevator with the two bags.
A nurse in a white coat was writing behind a special ward reception desk.
She noticed Wang Peng walking in, so she asked, “Hello, sir, who are you?”
“Wang Peng, visiting a wounded buddy. His name is Li Gaoliang. Here’s my ID.”
The nurse took the ID from Wang Peng and frowned.
She was wondering why a Ministry of State Security member was visiting someone from the army.
After all, Li Gaoliang was not an ordinary person. Apparently, he was connected to sensitive medical experimental equipment, so anyone outside of his family would have a hard time visiting him.
Most of the people who visited him were experts from the Chinese Academy of Sciences…
“Sorry, please wait a second.”
The nurse stood up and walked into the office.
Wang Peng smiled at the guard that was staring intently at him and stood there without a worry in the world.
After a couple of minutes, the nurse came back with a doctor in his sixties.
Wang Peng recognized this doctor; his name was Zhou Youde. Wang Peng met him when he visited Lu Zhou. Apparently, he was a celebrity doctor and was in the Changjiang Scholars Program.
Wang Peng and Zhou Youde made eye contact.
Zhou Youde immediately recognized him.
“I… know you!” Zhou Youde said as he stared at Wang Peng. He then said, “You’re Academician Lu’s security, right? I saw you next to him last time…”
Wang Peng smiled and nodded.
“Kind of, Professor Zhou, long time no see.”
Even though Wang Peng was technically a driver, he carried weapons on him at all times.
“Come in… Oh, come on, what are you guys doing, give him some water, don’t let him wait outside like this!”
The nurse lowered her head in shame as Wang Peng spoke.
“She was just looking out for the patient, it’s fine.”
The nurse quietly whispered, “Yeah… I didn’t know if he was a spy or something.”
“Enough!”
Zhou Youde turned toward Wang Peng and spoke politely.
“Let’s go inside, Battalion Commander Li is in the rehabilitation center.”
Wang Peng nodded and followed Zhou Youde to the rehabilitation center.
On the way to the rehabilitation center, he saw many people walking with crutches or in wheelchairs. This was one of the best hospitals in the Eastern Theater Command area. Most people here were in the military.
Wang Peng looked at Professor Zhou and spoke.
“How is Battalion Commander Li’s recovery going?”
Zhou Youde nodded and said, “I don’t even believe it myself. The surgeon said he would be lucky to be able to live in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. But now, he’s walking, running, and even playing basketball. His reaction speed has even increased.”
In fact, that was an understatement.
With titanium alloy bones and electric motion systems, once the brain adapted to the new inputs, dunking the ball was a piece of cake…
Of course, then again, it would be impossible to wear this device to the Olympic games. This was more powerful than doping.
Zhou Youde paused for a second and looked at Wang Peng. He spoke in a solemn tone.
“… Please thank Academician Lu for me! His neural interface system is a godsend! Once the technology matures, thousands of people will be able to function normally again!”
“I will pass on your thanks, I’m sure he will be happy.”
Zhou Youde nodded at Wang Peng’s promise.
“Okay, thanks!”
They soon arrived at the rehabilitation center.
There weren’t many people inside. In fact, there was only one person.
A man in a singlet stood in the middle of the wooden floor. It looked like he was practicing shadow boxing, which Wang Peng instantly recognized.
What surprised Wang Peng was his speed and agility; it was like he had never been injured as he moved around like a snake.
Wang Peng estimated that if he got punched in the face, he would probably get knocked out.
Zhou Youde was about to shout at Li Gaoliang, but Wang Peng stopped him.
“Let him continue.”
“Okay then, you guys talk, I have to go.”
“Okay, take it easy.”
Zhou Youde walked away as Wang Peng continued to watch Li Gaoliang.
A couple of minutes went by.
Li Gaoliang took a break and was about to drink some water when he heard someone speak from the entrance.
“Not bad!”
Li Gaoliang smiled at Wang Peng and walked over.
“What brings you here?”
“I finally had some spare time, so I came to visit you. How are you? How’s recovery?”
Li Gaoliang laughed and said, “It’s amazing! Come, let me practice on you.”
“Forget about it, I don’t want to hurt you.” Wang Peng smiled and placed the bags on the floor.
“Professor Lu wanted to visit you in person, but he went to training. This bag is mine, that bag is his. Since you’re recovering so well, I won’t drop them off in your room, you can carry them yourself.”
Li Gaoliang sighed as he looked at the bags.
“Ah, you’re too kind.”
Wang Peng shook his head and spoke seriously.
“Not kind, also…”
He put on a more serious face and spoke.
“Other than to see you, I also came here for a mission.”
Li Gaoliang’s eyes lit up.
“Mission? I can return to the field?”
“You might,” Wang Peng said. “The higher-ups want me to ask you, you have two options, one is to retire and move to a—”
Li Gaoliang interrupted Wang Peng and said, “Give me the second option, I’m in my thirties, I’m not going to retire.”
“I knew you would say that.” Wang Peng sighed and said, “The second option is to join the aerospace forces in the Eastern Theater Command. If you’re interested, you can get in. You’ll be the same rank as before, but there will be lesser people under your command.”
“Aerospace forces?” Li Gaoliang asked, “What is that?”
“Aerospace forces…” Wang Peng didn’t know how to explain, so he said, “Basically, we need to train new forces to keep up with the times, we need troops above the low-Earth orbit.”
Li Gaoliang: “What is this nonsense? I don’t know how to fly planes!”
“You don’t need to fly a plane; the higher-ups mainly want you for management and logistics.”
Li Gaoliang: “Can I go back to my original position?”
“I’m afraid not…”
Li Gaoliang sighed and waved his hand.
“Okay then, I’ll go to the aerospace forces… It’s better than retiring.”
Wang Peng nodded and continued, “Okay then, I have something else to tell you.”
Li Gaoliang: “What?”
Wang Peng: “The higher-ups want you to register within 2 days and complete basic training as soon as possible. There will be a drill in thirty days. The Eastern Theater Command aerospace forces will participate.”
Li Gaoliang had a serious look.
“Drill? Can you tell me more?”
Wang Peng nodded.
“Counter-terrorism, overseas support…
“And hostage rescue!”
