Zhu Yanyi looked at Elder Zhou’s meal. There was a plate of dried eel, a plate of green vegetables, a bowl of soup, and rice made from millet and late-season rice.
She picked up the rice bowl and smelled it first. Then she smelled the vegetables and the soup. Only then did she ask the caregiver nearby, "Who cooked Elder Zhou’s food?"
"It was Little Chen," answered the staff member surnamed Zhao. People usually called her Officer Zhao. Hearing Zhu Yanyi’s question, she replied quickly.
"Where is she now?" Zhu Yanyi asked.
"He is in a side room, under guard," Officer Zhao answered.
"Keep her there for questioning. This person is suspicious," Zhu Yanyi said calmly.
"Huh?" Officer Zhao was stunned. "Little Divine Doctor, is there something wrong with the food?"
"The oil used for the vegetables and the seasoning oil in the soup both contain lard. That is not the main issue. Even the millet and rice in the bowl were soaked in lard. Don’t you find that absurd? We can assume someone thinks lard makes food taste better. But soaking rice in lard? I cannot think of any reason for that. Normal people do not soak rice in lard before cooking," Zhu Yanyi said lightly. "If this person is innocent, it would be strange."
"Yes, I will investigate immediately." Officer Zhao realized Elder Zhou’s illness was suspicious. Without another word, he hurried away to interrogate the suspect.
Zhu Yanyi did not dwell on the matter. However, she told the awakened Elder Zhou what she had found. "Elder Zhou, you should investigate the people around you."
This was clearly a targeted attack. Therefore, a thorough investigation was necessary.
Elder Zhou nodded. "Understood. I will remember this."
Having shared what she knew, Zhu Yanyi left a prescription and departed the sanatorium. The facility had its own pharmacy, so obtaining the medicine was easy.
However, she was stopped at the entrance. Another elderly person had fallen ill.
Zhu Yanyi was slightly surprised and returned immediately. The victim was another prominent elder. After examining her, she found the same problem. This was clearly not an isolated incident. Zhu Yanyi made a quick decision. She called Elder Yun while starting to investigate the food supply.
She discovered serious issues with the food. Not only was lard added, but some food had been soaked in croton oil.
Someone had targeted the sanatorium. Elder Yun was shocked. The higher-ups were also shocked and sent investigators immediately.
Fortunately, Elder Zhan had called Zhu Yanyi to treat her friend earlier. Otherwise, this might have gone unnoticed. The attackers did not strike all at once. They acted every other day. Yesterday, they targeted Elder Zhou. Today, they targeted another elder. If Zhu Yanyi had not noticed the clues, no one would have suspected such a major flaw in the food ingredients.
"Investigate. You must investigate," the Big Boss said angrily. He would not allow such incidents. This concerned the reputation of Huaxia.
The older generation had worked hard to bring about today’s peace. In their old age, they only wanted to enjoy their lives. To have enemies targeting them crossed the Big Boss’s bottom line.
Enraged, the Big Boss ordered a full investigation.
Zhu Yanyi put the matter aside. Her current task was to check the health of all the elders again. Once she confirmed they were safe, she checked the surrounding environment. With the prescriptions ready, it was no longer her concern.
Back home, Yan Aohan already knew about the incident. He asked, "Were you scared today?"
Zhu Yanyi shook her head slightly. "This did not scare me. I just wonder who did it."
Yan Aohan smiled lightly. "Guess?"
Seeing her expression, Zhu Yanyi guessed it was someone she had crossed paths with. "Chong Lou?"
Yan Aohan shook his head. "Chong Lou has the Holy Sect’s influence, but he lacks the ability to penetrate that deeply. He also lacks the money."
Although Chong Lou appeared to be the Holy Sect’s manager in the capital, he did not have the power there. Therefore, he could not have achieved this.
Zhu Yanyi tilted her head and thought. "Then who?"
"Markov." Yan Aohan did not hide the truth.
"Markov? I do not know her." Zhu Yanyi truly did not recognize the name.
Yan Aohan laughed. Seeing his reaction, Zhu Yanyi had a sudden thought. "Could it be the creator of the plague disaster?"
"It is him," Yan Aohan said calmly. "He is now using the alias Malo. He came to the capital pretending to travel in Huaxia. He made friends with some people, including a purchaser at the sanatorium. You can guess the rest. Markov just wanted to test the waters. If lard went unnoticed, he would use croton oil. If that went unnoticed, he planned to use fungi."
"Heh," Zhu Yanyi laughed twice. "Should I praise her for being smart, or call her stupid? Or say she was unlucky? She was caught at the lard stage."
"Luck is part of life," Yan Aohan smiled. "He was unlucky because he has no fortune in Huaxia."
Zhu Yanyi nodded. "Is she under control?"
"I had Zhou Feng take men to detain him and hand him over to the authorities," Yan Aohan sighed. "I also sent people to search his residence. We will likely find some pathogens there. Special departments will need to destroy them."
Yan Aohan sighed again. "When a nation is weak, others always try to harm us."
Zhu Yanyi said, "There is no need to worry too much. This situation is temporary. Besides, physical enhancement agents are already being promoted. Soon, the physical condition of Huaxia’s people will improve."
Yan Aohan nodded. Then he instructed, "By the way, if I am not by your side in the next few days, you must move with Luo Gang." Things had been too unstable recently. Yan Aohan worried someone might target Zhu Yanyi. Although he trusted her skills, he felt compelled to remind her.
"Huh?" Zhu Yanyi looked at Yan Aohan in surprise. Even if he did not say it, she always brought Luo Gang and others when Yan Aohan was not present. "Did something happen?"