#57 - Chapter 57 Taking Cao Yinghua for a Test

"Boss Niu, you can't fake something like this!" Mayor Gong asked again to confirm.

"I told you, it's genuine!" Niu Xingwang replied calmly.

"How many do you have on hand?" Mayor Gong asked.

Niu Xingwang held up two fingers.

"Two doses?" Mayor Gong asked.

Niu Xingwang nodded.

These were the leftovers from the daytime. Forty-three people, forty-three injections, leaving two doses.

"Boss Niu, name your conditions," Mayor Gong said.

"I said it before, a firearms permit! Without protective forces, this thing isn't safe," Niu Xingwang said without holding back. This was the moment for serious bargaining.

"I'll approve it. So, now...?" Mayor Gong inquired.

In fact, the higher-ups had already issued a document stating that each settlement had complete authority to decide on the self-organization of civilian protective forces, without needing to report or apply. Mayor Gong simply wanted to use this opportunity to get Niu Xingwang to transport more food.

"Mayor Gong, this dose is for you," Niu Xingwang handed over the antigen.

Mayor Gong tremblingly accepted it, as if receiving a priceless treasure.

"Mayor Gong, get it done now. It's not safe to keep it on hand," Niu Xingwang reminded him.

Mayor Gong hesitated. He wasn't comfortable relying solely on Niu Xingwang's word.

"If Mayor Gong is worried, you can call Cao Yinghua to have it tested. It's easy to find out if there are antibodies in his body," Niu Xingwang said.

"Cao Yinghua got it?" Mayor Gong asked in surprise.

"That's right. The forty-three people in the field team all got it during the day. Mayor Gong, please understand, the guys are running around outside, I have to worry about their safety, right?" Niu Xingwang said pretentiously.

The corners of Mayor Gong's mouth twitched violently.

This thing is so scarce, and you just gave it away? And used over forty doses at once!

Good heavens, inhumanely lavish!

"Boss Niu, aren't you afraid of danger, revealing such an important secret?" Mayor Gong asked.

"The people in the field team don't know what I injected them with. The only person who knows about this is you, Mayor Gong. Mayor Gong surely understands that everything is the same: what you hold in your hand is a treasure, what you throw away is garbage. Wouldn't you agree, Mayor Gong?" Niu Xingwang asked with a smile.

"Boss Niu truly has extraordinary courage and insight, I admire you!" Mayor Gong complimented.

Niu Xingwang's little hint made it clear to him. If this antigen was real, then holding it in his hand meant infinite resources and opportunities. If it leaked out, not only would he needlessly attract trouble, but he wouldn't gain anything. They were both smart men and didn't need to be so explicit.

"Alright, Mayor Gong. It's getting late, so I won't disturb you any longer. Next, I'll be waiting for your permit," Niu Xingwang said, taking his leave.

"Boss Niu, take care," Mayor Gong replied politely.

The next morning, Mayor Gong had someone call Cao Yinghua over.

"Report!"

"Enter!"

"Mayor Gong, you were looking for me?" Cao Yinghua asked.

"Yinghua, come, sit," Mayor Gong said amiably.

"Yes!"

"Yinghua, are you settling in well at the Huatong Chamber of Commerce?" Mayor Gong asked.

"It's alright!"

"Have you discovered anything unusual?" Mayor Gong asked.

"Mayor Gong, I..." Cao Yinghua hesitated to reveal anything.

Niu Xingwang had said that if nothing happened to his warehouse within a month, then everyone would be fine. After returning, everyone had privately discussed that Niu Xingwang's implication was probably that if anything happened to the warehouse, everyone would be done for.

He could not consider for himself, but he had to consider for so many others.

Seeing Cao Yinghua's reaction, Mayor Gong knew that this spy had become compromised.

"Yinghua, you can't be muddle-headed on matters of principle!" Mayor Gong pointed out.

"Mayor Gong, I'm sorry. Yesterday, Boss Niu gave us some kind of injection without telling us what it was, saying that if nothing happened to his warehouse, everyone would be fine. So, if I reveal information to you, it might harm everyone," Cao Yinghua explained.

"Oh, you're talking about that. It's alright. Boss Niu already told me about it yesterday. Everyone can rest assured, nothing will happen," Mayor Gong reassured him.

"Really? Then I'm relieved," Cao Yinghua said, but still frowned.

"I called you here today also for this matter. Although Boss Niu said it's nothing, I still have to consider everyone's safety. You come with me to the medical area now, and I'll have someone give you a checkup," Mayor Gong said.

"Thank you, Mayor Gong!" Cao Yinghua said, standing up.

"Alright, alright, no need to be so polite here. Let's go then."

One hour later.

In a private office in the medical area.

"Mayor Gong, the results are out, negative," a doctor walked over and said.

"Does negative mean there's immunity or not?" Mayor Gong didn't understand this.

"Yes!" the doctor said.

"Good! That's great!" Mayor Gong replied excitedly.

"Who was that just now?" the doctor asked.

"Director Xue, that was an asymptomatic carrier," Mayor Gong made up a lie.

"Another asymptomatic case?" Director Xue muttered in surprise.

"Oh? Director Xue, have you seen other asymptomatic carriers before?" Mayor Gong asked curiously.

"Yes, in August, at an underground base in Binzhou," Director Xue said.

"Oh? Is that so? Alright then, Director Xue, you can get back to work," Mayor Gong said, not understanding the implication.

After Director Xue left, he also hurriedly left the medical area, surrounded by several doctors.