Chapter 12: The Chief of Base One

Upon returning to the apartment entrance, Aunt Geng saw Ye Fengwan from a distance, carrying someone on her back. She hurriedly rushed out, pushing a wheelchair to meet them.

Aunt Geng was Ye Jianggui’s personal caregiver. After the sisters had rescued her from an accident years ago, she had been taking care of Ye Jianggui ever since.

As a Strength Esper, Aunt Geng handled the physically limited Ye Jianggui with remarkable ease. She carefully lifted the woman from Ye Fengwan’s back and placed her into the wheelchair, pushing her into the house.

“Fengwan, dinner is ready. Go eat. I’ll bring your sister’s meal to her room later.”

Ye Fengwan nodded. “Alright.”

Ye Jianggui seemed exceptionally weary. She leaned against the backrest, eyes closed, silent.

Seeing her like this, Ye Fengwan touched her hand before lowering her eyelashes and heading to the dining room.

A moment later, Aunt Geng came in.

Seeing her sitting at the table in silence, not even having gone to get her food, Aunt Geng sighed inwardly.

Ye Fengwan asked, “How much organic food is left?”

Aunt Geng’s face clouded with worry upon hearing this. “Only enough for tomorrow. I told your sister about this the day before yesterday, but I don’t know if she contacted the Qu family.”

When Ye Jianggui had first awakened her Esper Ability, she had suffered a severe illness, causing Dark Uranium elements to invade her entire body. The doctors had tried their best but could only flush the toxins down to her thighs, where they accumulated in her knees.

Since then, she had been unable to walk, and her health had deteriorated day by day, falling ill constantly.

Her diet could only consist of organic food. Even the slightest trace of Dark Uranium element could cause unpredictable damage to her body.

One of the reasons the two sisters had stayed in Base One was that the Qu family possessed an old-era, contamination-free farm capable of producing natural food.

Ye Jianggui’s need for organic food was great in quantity and high in quality. Central City didn’t have a contamination-free farm like the Qu family’s. Even if Commander Meng had initially promised to take her in, he likely couldn’t supply her needs.

When Ye Jianggui had negotiated with Qu Wanshan back then, the provision of organic food was one of the conditions.

Now, years later, the Qu family’s attitude had become increasingly ambiguous, and the organic food supply was intermittent. They had to pester them each time before anyone would deliver.

In the past, Ye Jianggui handled these matters herself. Now, with only a day’s supply left, Aunt Geng didn’t know if she had contacted them, or if the Qu family was blocking the food.

“I asked Xiao Yu, the usual delivery boy. He secretly told me the higher-ups haven’t arranged a delivery, he can’t make his own decisions.”

Ye Fengwan’s expression tightened. After hearing this, she nodded.

“I understand. I’ll contact the Qu family later.”

Aunt Geng hesitated.

Over the past three years, Ye Fengwan’s relationship with the Qu family hadn’t been harmonious. The Qu family suspected her of colluding with the Rebel Alliance and considered her the main culprit behind Qu Baichuan’s death. Even with Ye Jianggui’s efforts to smooth things over, the suspicion hadn’t been cleared.

The Qu family treated her with great disfavor.

Therefore, Ye Jianggui handled the food supplies herself, trying to avoid confrontations between her sister and the Qu family.

Now, if she personally contacted them, who knew how either side would react.

Ye Fengwan didn’t mind Aunt Geng’s worry. She stood up, walked to the window, and initiated a call from her wristband.

It took a while for the other end to pick up.

“Fengwan?”

“Uncle Qu, it’s me.”

“Rare for you to find time to contact me?”

Ye Fengwan lowered her eyes. “I’m not as busy as my sister. I have time, but I know you’re swamped with affairs of state, Uncle Qu, so I didn’t dare disturb you.”

Qu Wanshan laughed heartily, though his voice wasn’t particularly pleasant. “Busy as I am, I can’t compare to you scientific researchers. Uncle Qu, and Base One, we all rely on you two sisters.”

Ye Fengwan closed her eyes, enduring the veiled mockery.

Hearing no response, Qu Wanshan asked, seemingly casually, “What has your sister been busy with lately?”

“Busy with the mutant mallard duck project. It was nearly finished, but these last two days she seems barely able to hold up. She came home and fell into a deep sleep without eating dinner.”

Hearing that Ye Jianggui was unwell, Qu Wanshan’s tone immediately changed. “Is Jianggui alright? I’ll send Changqing over to check on her.”

Ye Fengwan replied: “We’ve done what we can. Having Director Fang come would end up the same. No need to trouble him so late at night. However, Aunt Geng told me Xiao Yu hasn’t delivered any food here for quite a few days. There’s only a day’s worth left.”

“My sister likely felt the food was precious, so she didn’t dare eat much. Missing nutrition, the toxins can’t be suppressed, and her health collapsed.”

Qu Wanshan, hearing this, feigned surprise. “The people below didn’t mention this to me. I suspect this is what happened: the farm reported a few days ago that due to the recent Plague Rains, some crops have succumbed, and some had to be sent as tribute to Central City. Probably because of all that, the distribution was strained and they couldn’t allocate it in time…”

“But tell your sister not to worry. I’ll make sure they find a way to set aside her portion. It should arrive within the next couple of days.”

A sarcastic light flickered in Ye Fengwan’s eyes. Qu Wanshan certainly didn’t want Ye Jianggui to die, but he wanted the sisters to call and beg him.

He was in a game of power, and Ye Fengwan was his leverage through emotion.

“Alright, thank you, Uncle Qu. I’ll tell my sister you’re working on it.”

“Take good care of your sister.” Qu Wanshan hung up.

Ye Fengwan lowered her wrist, turning to Aunt Geng. “Next time there’s an issue with the vegetable delivery, tell me directly.”

Aunt Geng nodded and began setting the table for her.

Organic food was only taken by Ye Jianggui like medicine. Ye Fengwan and Aunt Geng ate ordinary food within acceptable consumption limits.

Meanwhile, on the other end, as soon as Qu Wanshan hung up, an urgent voice erupted beside him.

“Dad, the farm clearly has food! Why not send it to Jianggui? You know her health is poor!”

Qu Wanshan turned, glancing at his eldest son, whose face was flushed with anger. “What’s your hurry? Ye Jianggui is the face of Base One. I wouldn’t ruin my own reputation.”

Qu Ning, agitated by his father’s nonchalant look, grew even more anxious. “Jianggui isn’t like those outsiders! Don’t use the same tactics on her! I’m taking it to them now.”

“Stop right there!” Qu Wanshan looked at him, disappointed. “You’re thirty-two, not twelve. How can you still hold such naive ideas? If your uncle saw you like this, he’d be turning in his grave!”

Qu Ning met his gaze. “There’s still no evidence it was Fengwan who acted against Second Uncle. Even if it were a sure thing that Ye Fengwan did it, what does that have to do with Jianggui?”

“They share the same blood. What do you mean, what does it have to do? Do you truly believe Ye Jianggui can claim she takes no sides and actually mean it? Without her indulgence, how could Ye Fengwan be so reckless!”

“Without evidence, all suspicions are baseless. You shouldn’t do this!” Qu Ning argued fiercely.

Angered by this repeated defiance, Qu Wanshan slammed his teacup on the table. “The entire base has a massive resource gap, hundreds of thousands of mouths waiting to be fed, and you’re quarreling with me over such a trivial matter! Is this proper behavior!”

Qu Ning gritted his teeth. “Right now, the Ye sisters are tirelessly working to solve the base’s resource shortage. Is this how you treat them?”

Qu Wanshan’s face was stern. “I admit Ye Jianggui is working relentlessly on this, but what about Ye Fengwan? What has she done, or what has she done behind our backs?”

Qu Ning: “There’s no proof Ye Fengwan did those things. And even if she did, what about the things you do? Those people sold to the Unclaimed City, what kind of lives do they lead? Shouldn’t she have acted?”

Qu Wanshan burst out in fury, slamming the table as he stood. “You unfilial son, how dare you say such things! Do you know who I’m doing this all for? For you! This base will one day be handed to you! Not only can you not fully support my work like your younger brother, but you oppose me for the sake of a woman. How did I raise a son like you?”

“Dad—” Qu Ning’s neck was red with defiance.

Qu Wanshan didn’t give him a chance to speak, continuing his tirade: “You are the ultimate beneficiary. You’re the last person who has the right to criticize!”

“If your brother had even the slightest bit more potential, I wouldn’t be racking my brains trying to get you to awaken an Esper Ability, still hoping you could become the next Base Chief.”

Qu Ning’s righteous indignation evaporated the moment he heard “awaken an Esper Ability,” and he fell silent.

Perhaps this was his only sore spot.

He wasn’t as indifferent as he appeared in public.

No one knew that deep down, he also hoped Ye Jianggui would go to the Second Research Institute.

He turned his back to Qu Wanshan, covering his eyes with his hand, unable to say a single word.

Seeing him like this, how could Qu Wanshan not understand his son’s heart? He softened his voice. “I do this so they recognize clearly that without our Qu family, they are nothing! Think more about how to persuade Ye Jianggui to take over the work at the Second Research Institute, to participate in Changqing’s project. With her Brain Domain Ability and intelligence, I believe helping you awaken an ability wouldn’t be difficult.”

Upon hearing this, Qu Ning’s face twisted into an almost ferocious expression. “You still want me to persuade her? If you hadn’t torn us apart back then, would I be in this position, unable to even get close to her? With what standing should I go and persuade her now?”

Qu Wanshan’s face darkened. “It was she who came to me with conditions to negotiate. It was she who insisted on dissolving the marriage agreement with you. I didn’t tear you apart.”

Qu Ning didn’t believe him, shouting: “Yes, it was you! You tore us apart! You just minded that she’s Ye Wei’s daughter, that she’s a cripple, that she can’t bear children.”

Qu Wanshan was furious. “Shut your mouth! At your age, still hung up on such personal romantic entanglements! A real man should focus on his career. I never imagined your vision could be so short-sighted. You truly disappoint me!”

Qu Ning ignored him and stormed out.

After finally reaching the outside, he stood still for about ten minutes, waiting for his emotions to slowly stabilize. Only then did he open his wristband and make a call.

“Fengwan, your sister’s ingredients will be delivered by Xiao Yu tomorrow morning.” His voice was as gentle as ever, a stark contrast to his earlier outburst.

From the wristband, Ye Fengwan’s voice emerged. “Alright, thank you, Dean Qu.”