In the duty room, Dean Li firmly grasped the receiver of the red phone.
A steady male voice came through the earpiece.
"Hello, Agriculture Department."
Dean Li's voice was hoarse, yet carried a commanding presence that brooked no dissent.
"I want to speak with Secretary Zhou."
There was a brief pause on the other end.
"Who are you?"
"Beijing Agricultural College, Li Changqing."
Three seconds of silence.
The voice on the other end immediately turned respectful.
"Mr. Li, please hold on!"
Soon, Secretary Zhou's voice came through.
"Mr. Li, you're calling so late, is there an emergency?"
Dean Li glanced at the pale-faced young officer beside him.
"Emergency?"
"A matter of great importance!"
"The national new cold-resistant crop cultivation project I'm in charge of, Experimental Zone Zero, has been deliberately cut off from power!"
"Secretary Zhou, go and ask the minister right now!"
