The madness-mosquito disease was rampant across the globe, and certain countries were indeed experiencing a "deep misery and raging fire."

The news broadcast maintained its usual tone: the Motherland's situation was splendid, while the world's people suffered in dire straits. This time, they weren't exactly exaggerating.

But if the world's people were truly suffering, was the Motherland's situation really so perfect?

Believe it or not, that's what the news anchors were saying!

At Secretary Qin’s dinner table, everyone ate while watching the news broadcast.

On screen, workers were busily loading truckloads of the specific antidote for the madness-mosquito disease onto airplanes. The reporter on site announced this was China's seventh batch of aid medication for various countries, destined for Vietnam, where the epidemic was severe, potentially saving ten thousand lives.

After the on-site footage concluded, the anchor added supplementary information, detailing which countries would receive how much medicine tomorrow and the day after, while emphasizing that a much larger batch would soon be produced for donation to even more nations.

“Vietnam’s disaster is quite severe,” Pi Shaocong sighed softly. “A former classmate of mine works in trade there; he says hundreds of people are dying every day recently. The hospitals have been overwhelmed for ages. More than half the cities have ceased functioning.”

“Hundreds of deaths daily? Aren't these ten thousand doses of medicine just a drop in the bucket?” Wang Zhuo couldn't help but take a sharp breath. The news broadcast hadn't mentioned Vietnam losing so many people. He wondered if the Vietnamese official figures were underreported, or if the news had deliberately downplayed the severity.

Pi Shaocong was Qin Xue’s chief secretary. Given his administrative rank, he certainly had access to internal reports, and being well-connected, it wasn't surprising he knew such details.

“Isn't that the truth?” Pi Shaocong shook his head. “This medicine can’t even control the outbreak in a single city. Vietnam is an equatorial country; the temperatures are high, and sanitation is poor. There are already over a hundred thousand patients needing immediate treatment.”

Wang Zhuo instantly understood. Those ten thousand doses certainly wouldn't be distributed unconditionally. They would prioritize the power elite before deciding on further discretionary use.

Compared to that, the people of the nation were much happier. At least they could get into a hospital for emergency treatment and receive medicine quickly to protect their health, perhaps even their lives.

Pi Shaocong chuckled. “To tell the truth, the more severe the epidemic gets elsewhere, the more our country benefits. I don’t know how many countries are desperate to get medicine from us now, and of course, they have to pay a price. This is all thanks to you, Wang Zhuo.”

Wang Zhuo managed a wry smile, noticing the slight upturn at the corner of Qin Xue’s mouth, a hint of amusement. Suddenly inspired, he asked with a smile, “Uncle Qin, did the Vietnamese make any concessions on the South China Sea issue after receiving these ten thousand doses of medicine?”

Qin Xue smiled and shook his head, adopting a profound air—clearly not intending to answer such an overstepping question.

Wang Zhuo didn't press the matter and instead asked Pi Shaocong, “Director Pi, what’s your take?”

“Ten thousand doses of medicine are nothing; they certainly wouldn't be enough to force concessions on such a crucial national policy,” Pi Shaocong stated frankly and analyzed openly. “But if another month passes and no other country manages to develop a similar drug, the situation could become unpredictable.”

Secretary Pi’s words were quite bold! Wang Zhuo was slightly surprised, then immediately understood. A secretary is a leader’s mouthpiece; for him to make such a daring analysis, Qin Xue must think the same way and perhaps even voiced similar opinions in certain forums!

Qin Siqing, who hadn't spoken much, suddenly interjected, “If another month passes and no Western country develops an effective cure, Brother Wang Zhuo will truly become the savior.”

“A month?” Qin Xue glanced at his daughter and said flatly, “In a month, the death toll will reach the level of a century-long disaster. The last time such a severe epidemic occurred was the Great Flu of 1918; at least fifty million people died then.”

Qin Siqing stuck out her tongue with an embarrassed smile and quickly changed tack. “Then let’s say half a month. I just remembered, it will be spring in a month, and the mosquitoes will be swarming then.”

Pi Shaocong mused, “It’s a blessing this disease was discovered in winter; otherwise, it truly would have been a catastrophe.”

Wang Zhuo deeply agreed. In his hometown at this time, there were almost no mosquitoes, and the outdoors was freezing; there was no breeding ground for the madness-mosquito disease to spread. In fact, transmission was sluggish even in Jiangzhou because although the mosquitoes survived, people wore heavy layers of clothing.

If this epidemic had erupted in the summer, the world would likely have fallen into chaos already.

As he was reflecting, his phone rang. For others dining at the Qin residence, the experience would be either ecstatic or terrifying; they would have turned off their phones before entering to avoid causing any disruption. Wang Zhuo, however, kept his phone on, clearly not treating himself as an outsider.

The call was from Siyuan. He excused himself from the dining room and answered in the hallway.

“Instructor Wang, something’s happened!” Siyuan’s voice was urgent. “Xiaobai is infected with the madness-mosquito disease! She’s had a fever for three days, and there’s no medicine locally—she’s in critical danger!”

Xiaobai? Bailu? The image of that tall nursing student flashed in Wang Zhuo’s mind—pretty, quiet, with expressive, speaking eyes. Somewhat similar to Xu Chu, yet distinctly different.

“How can there be no medicine?” he frowned slightly and asked, “Why did she wait so long to contact you after falling ill?”

“It wasn't that she wasn't trying to contact us, but we couldn’t reach her!” Siyuan retorted angrily. “For some reason, the local phones won't dial out, mobile internet is down, and broadband is dead too. She only managed to contact me because a tourist in her area lent her a satellite phone!”

Damn it! A surge of anger rushed through Wang Zhuo, making him want to curse. The local authorities were clearly using special measures to conceal something. They were shipping finished medicine to aid friendly nations while leaving their own citizens to suffer in misery—what sort of garbage was this?

The more he thought about it, the more enraged he became. Wang Zhuo gritted his teeth and demanded, “Tell me her location. I will arrange for medicine to be sent to her immediately!”

Siyuan immediately sent a message containing the full administrative district name where Bailu was located, along with a map of the geography and transportation, and the precise GPS coordinates.

Returning to the dining room, Wang Zhuo’s face was etched with cold fury. Seeing everyone watching him in confusion, he snorted and said, “A friend of mine in Hexi Province is infected with the madness-mosquito disease. They have no medicine locally, yet they’ve blocked all outgoing communications via phone and internet. Are they trying to kill people?!”

Qin Xue immediately frowned, deep in thought about something.

“Which part of Hexi Province? Do you need assistance?” Pi Shaocong asked solicitously.

“It’s quite remote…” Wang Zhuo replied. “A life is on the line. I’ll immediately arrange for someone to buy a dose of medicine from the Lanzhou hospital and send it over…”

Qin Siqing quickly reminded him, “I’m afraid you might not be able to get it. The medicine for the madness-mosquito disease is strictly regulated…”

“Money makes the world go round,” Wang Zhuo scoffed dismissively. He pulled out the mobile number for the Lanzhou agent of Wangchao Wuliang and dialed immediately, without stepping outside.

Listening to his side of the conversation, everyone, including Qin Xue, felt a mixture of exasperation and amusement. This man certainly acted with wild abandon. He threw out a massive incentive—the agent, upon hearing that the supply volume for the next quarter could be increased tenfold, immediately transformed into a brave warrior under great reward, pounding his chest and guaranteeing the medicine would reach the patient before dawn!

Only after receiving the assurance did Wang Zhuo finally relax. If this were a year or so ago, he might not have been overly concerned about a girl like Bailu, but after all this time, her persistence had deeply moved him. Moreover, from another angle, he was no longer that principled young man from before; he had almost lost his immunity to beautiful women now…

Qin Siqing frowned slightly, asking doubtfully, “There’s something strange about this. If medicine is scarce, why would the locality blockade the news?”

“Does that even need asking?” Wang Zhuo snapped back impatiently. “What medicine shortage, what complete control over the epidemic—it’s all a lie! I should have guessed it sooner. The news broadcast is deceiving people again!”

“Are you suspecting the domestic epidemic situation isn’t as rosy as reported?” Qin Siqing inquired.

“Do I need to suspect it?” Wang Zhuo laughed in exasperation. “Clearly, it is! My friend is in a remote area, she got sick, and she can’t get effective treatment, yet the locality is suppressing the news. Is this what they call comprehensive epidemic control? The facts speak for themselves!”

“Wang Zhuo…” Qin Xue, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly spoke, his voice calm. “There must be another reason for this. Your analysis is incorrect.”

“Oh?” Wang Zhuo raised an eyebrow, countering undeterred, “Is there any other possibility?”

Qin Xue gave him an exasperated look. “You’ve been scared stiff by the news broadcast, haven’t you? I might as well tell you, the production of the madness-mosquito drug is already ample. There’s no situation where we tighten our own belts while subsidizing other countries. I know exactly what you’re thinking: that the state is concealing the epidemic in remote areas while using medicine to barter for political gains internationally. From the perspective of a great power, that strategy is understandable, but it’s certainly not humane.”

Whether it was right or wrong, he didn't dispute that; what mattered to him was that a good girl like Bailu was facing mortal danger because of this situation, and he was angry that a pleasant thirty-minute program had misled him for nearly twenty years!