"Your uncle has returned to Blue City; you should have a good talk with him, perhaps there will be unexpected gains."
As soon as his words fell, a bout of mad laughter followed.
Li Zishen had intended to stall for more time, but the caller abruptly hung up.
"Chairman, we’ve tracked him down. He’s on the first floor of Huang City Shopping Center, near Wanhua Jewelry." The bodyguard removed his headset and hurriedly reported.
"He was still in Jin City this morning and now he’s run off to Huang City? Is he flying all over the world?"
At that moment, Li Zishen’s rage had no outlet; he didn’t even know who the other party was and ultimately could only smash his fist against the car window glass.
Near Wanhua Jewelry—Wang Junchen?
No, impossible, that’s too obvious!
"Zishen, about your uncle, I heard something at our institute a while ago."
Li Zishen’s thoughts were interrupted by Li Weilian.
"I heard that he used to work at the institute too, but later ... I’m not too clear on the details. I just know he was a very capable person."
Li Weilian seemed to have more to say, but after glancing at Madam Lai, he suddenly changed his tune.
"Uh, yes, that should be right," Li Zishen answered.
He worked at the biological research institute?
Had his mother been covering for his uncle all these years?
But why keep it hidden?
Li Zishen, a man of meticulous mind, could not fail to notice his friend’s hesitation.
Immediately, both men, understanding each other without speaking, took out their phones. At almost the same moment, they typed messages and sent them to each other.
Two hours later, having assured that his mother was settled, Li Zishen drove to an old Western-style house district.
Throughout the journey, Li Zishen felt very heavy-hearted. He guessed that something must have happened when his uncle left the institute.
In fact, as a child, he had witnessed his father having a fierce argument with his mother about his uncle, even calling him a selfish person. However, these were just childhood memories, their origins now unknown.
In the study on the second floor, Li Zishen met Dr. Wu Hai, a cancer specialist well past his seventies.
The table and the coffee table were covered with medical books and handwritten manuscripts, and various trophies and certificates of honor were neglected in a corner, as if forgotten.
"My boy, come, come, look, these are some clinical insights on treating cancer that I’ve just finished sorting ... And this, these are some thoughts on improving 8028—if you find them useful, take them. I’ve made some notes, you can take a look."
Li Zishen was startled and hastily caught the thick stack of papers filled with fountain pen script, along with a worn black leather diary.
"Dr. Wu, did you know I was coming?" Li Zishen asked directly.
Dr. Wu did not answer directly but smiled as he poured several pills from a small bottle into his mouth, his hand trembling slightly, apparently in poor health.
Li Zishen guessed that this might be why the old man was unwilling to be rehired.
Before, when Wang Junchen wanted to discuss a win-win cooperation, Li Zishen had mistakenly thought that he had already secretly won Dr. Wu over, thus managing to develop that modified bottle of 8028.
Now it seemed that he had been overly concerned!
"My boy, ask whatever you want to ask." Follow current novels on Nove1Fire.net
After taking his medication, Dr. Wu’s spirits seemed much better, even his voice grew louder.
"Dr. Wu, then I’ll impose."
"It’s fine, no imposition at all."
During the conversation, Li Zishen heard some news about Yuan Feng’s situation at the biomedical research institute.
It turned out that years ago, Yuan Feng and Wu Hai had a disagreement on a research study about curing cancer. Yuan Feng believed that using genetic engineering to cure cancer was highly effective and was ready for mass production. However, Wu Hai thought the technology involved many potential risks and required further clinical trials, otherwise it could cause unpredictable side effects in humans.
In an intense argument, Yuan Feng, in a fit of anger, smashed a very important petri dish and was transferred to an in-vitro fertilization hospital affiliated with the research institute a few days later.
That place was also owned by the Li Family.
Yuan Feng’s major in college was biotechnology, and he had further specialized in genetics during his master’s studies, so he quickly became proficient in his role and even bought a car.
However, for reasons unknown, after just a few months, he was kicked out of the hospital by Li Zishen’s father, Li Zhenshan, who broke two of his ribs.
He ultimately left Jin City and returned to his hometown.
This incident caused quite a stir at the institute, but as time passed and staff continuously changed, it was gradually forgotten by everyone.
Moreover, Yuan Min later married into the Li Family, and Yuan Feng was her biological brother.
Everyone was more concerned about their jobs, so they didn’t mention it.
"These years, has my uncle ever come to see you?" Li Zishen asked curiously.
"No, I haven’t seen him again."
"It seems my father has always had a bad temper to have gotten so angry."
"He was fine, just a bit impulsive."
At that moment, Li Zishen’s feelings were very complicated. He had never imagined that his uncle would have had such an unpleasant experience in Jin City.
Then, Wu Hai detailed the initial research purpose of 8028—it was meant to alleviate insomnia in cancer patients and effectively reduce pain. He also mentioned that three months before the drug was marketed, Li Zishen’s grandfather, Li Beichuan, had already started taking it.
However, this was done in secrecy. Very few people knew that Li Beichuan was in the late stages of stomach cancer, as it was always publicly claimed to be a stomach ulcer.
Why did Grandfather hide his condition?
Could it be that Grandfather died due to the side effects of 8028, which led to its production being halted later?
But what connection did Uncle’s situation have to the mastermind behind the scenes, and why did he leak the news of Uncle returning to Blue City to me?
Song Dapeng, Uncle, Yi Xiaodan?
No, there was also Wang Junchen. Who exactly improved the new 8028?
A series of questions troubled Li Zishen, and the more he thought about it, the more he felt something was amiss, even suspecting that there was some connection between these people.
But for now, Wu Hai had answered all he knew, and the rest was up to him to investigate.
"Thank you for speaking with me and sorry for disturbing your rest."
Wu Hai looked at Li Zishen with a kind expression, pausing for a few seconds before sighing, "You are very much like your grandfather, both of you have an undying spirit. I believe 8028 will serve its purpose again."
"Rest assured, I will thoroughly look through these materials. Thank you, Dr. Wu."
With those words, the two shook hands and parted ways.
After leaving Wu Hai’s house, Li Zishen took a car directly back to Li Garden. But before entering the gate, he called Bai Long and instructed him to immediately send two trustworthy people to Blue City.
Whether Uncle’s return was true or not, visiting the Yuan Family’s old house would clarify things.
"Go quietly, don’t alert anyone."
"What if he doesn’t want to come?" Bai Long asked tentatively.
In Bai Long’s view, Yuan Feng was not an outsider; he was Li Zishen’s close maternal uncle, and taking action might require careful consideration.
"He must come, it’s non-negotiable, and if necessary... we’ll resolve it by force."
"Yes, Brother Shen, I’ll make the arrangements right away."
Mother was ill; bringing the only uncle to Jin City for a visit was a reasonable and appropriate excuse.