On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Chen Xihua and her family went to Uncle Chen's house to wish Grandpa and Grandma Chen a Happy New Year.
As I entered, I encountered Chen Penghua and his family. The three of them were in a hurry, exchanged a few words, and left.
It seemed as if they were afraid that their aunt, Wang Fen, would make them stay and take care of Uncle Chen.
The siblings didn't go into their uncle's room; they just peeked at it from the doorway.
Uncle Chen lay still, only his head could move, his eyes were lifeless, and his face was expressionless.
Neither Grandma Chen and the others, nor Chen Xihua and the others who were watching him at the door, made any reaction.
But when Chen Lao Er casually mentioned, "That brat Chen Jianhua," Uncle Chen's eyes flickered, then dimmed again.
According to Grandma Chen, for the past two weeks, she has been trying to call Chen Jianhua, but no one has answered.
When Grandma Chen left after visiting Chen Xihua for the New Year, she gave each of the five siblings, including Chen Xihua, a two-yuan red envelope, even to the second sister who didn't attend.
As she was leaving, she held Xiao Liu's hand, reluctant to part, saying, "Xiao Bao, you must come to Grandma's house often..."
It's as if the two families live a distance of 108,000 miles.
"Fifth sister, I feel a little unwell." Outside, Chen Xiaoliu tugged at Chen Xihua's shoulder, looking listless.
He instantly lost that festive spirit he had during the Lunar New Year.
"You're so young, yet you're already feeling melancholy." Chen Xihua could actually understand Xiao Liu's feelings very well.
But I didn't comfort him, saying that as he grows up, he will understand that feeling more and more.
Even though there used to be some arguments with my uncle's family, at least it was lively. But now...
On the second day of the Lunar New Year, the third sister, Chen Meihua, returned to Yunshi, the provincial capital, to continue filming.
Actually, the third sister didn't have many scenes, but Director An required her to be present for every scene to observe and learn.
Time flew by, and on February 20th, after the Lantern Festival, Chen Xihua and her two sisters prepared to set off to return to Beijing for school.
"Xiao Liu, I won't be coming back this summer vacation. I'm letting you know in advance so you won't get angry."
However, my older sister will come back. After graduating in June, she will first go back to work in Gaoyang County for a period of time.
"Once the 'Yunhua Building' is completed, the plan is for my eldest sister to start working at the provincial headquarters office building next year."
Chen Xihua briefly outlined her plans for the year, stating that she would likely spend the entire year in the lab.
She had already handed over the company's affairs to Sister Xiaolan and her eldest sister before the new year.
For the next year, both she and the company need to keep a very low profile and be very cautious.
Chen Xihua had a vague feeling that someone was already eyeing her company.
However, it's possible that because a large portion of Fanghua Company is located in Gaoyang County, the other party had some reservations and therefore didn't take action.
As for who it was, she had some guesses; it was probably one of the family businesses headed by the provincial capital of Nan Province.
Generally speaking, they won't bother with small, unregulated companies.
However, once her company's turnover exceeds a certain amount, it will definitely attract special attention, since Fanghua Company's turnover has exceeded 100 million yuan in the past two years.
Chen Xihua had no intention of paying respects to the powerful figures around him.
In another year or so, especially after the third crackdown in 2001, public security will improve significantly; in addition, in terms of the economy, joining the WTO will make the domestic economic market more transparent.
She doesn't need to be subservient to anyone; as long as she has the strength to do so, she is fully capable of establishing a conglomerate directly.
Chen Xihua thought to herself, "I've already been lying low for so many years, what's one or two more?"
"Hmph, I know, I'm almost in my final year of junior high and I need to prepare for the high school entrance exam, so I don't have time to think about you."
Although Chen Baohua was unhappy and reluctant, he listened to everything Chen Xihua said, knowing that his fifth sister must have her reasons.
"Little tsundere!" Chen Xihua patted Xiao Liu on the shoulder, and then boarded the bus with her eldest and fourth sisters.
Two days later, after returning to Beijing, Chen Xihua immediately immersed herself in the laboratory.
Before the Lunar New Year, she had already discussed several of her drug development projects with her professional mentors and Professor Ning.
At that time, Professor Ning was so excited that he said he also wanted to participate, but only as an assistant.
Moreover, he can handle other matters related to the school, as well as some application materials and procedures.
How could Professor Ning not be excited?
The two cold prevention drugs and the targeted anti-cancer drug proposed by Chen are not entirely new ideas, but they are the most comprehensive and have a high chance of being developed into experimental projects.
Therefore, Chen only needs to focus on conducting experiments and various verifications.
If those medicines can really be developed, it would be a great thing for the country and its people.
Chen Xihua was also very relieved. Although Professor Ning had retired and only visited Peking University to mentor students in his spare time, he was still an academician of the Chemistry Department of the National Laboratory.
With him involved, it's actually better; she doesn't need to be too high-profile.
If several drugs are successfully developed, she believes the country will not treat her unfairly.
In addition, the prescription for that 'hemostatic medicine' is probably the simplest.
Chen Xihua had a premonition that the prescription was genuine, given that her grandmother had managed to keep it hidden; it just needed to be verified a few times.
——
Time flies, and more than a year has passed in the blink of an eye; two years are about to go by.
Before we knew it, it was December 28, 2001.
Around 5 PM today.
Chen Xihua, wearing a thin black coat, walked out of a special laboratory on the Peking University campus.
A gust of cold wind instantly perked her up, and a satisfied expression appeared on her face.
Her skin was fairer, her face had lost its childishness, and her features were more refined; she was already an eighteen-year-old girl.
At first glance, although she still looked a little tired, she seemed to be in good condition overall.
In the past two years, she has basically stayed in the laboratory, but she insists on getting up early every day to exercise, so she doesn't look sickly pale at all.
There were two other people next to them, senior students majoring in pharmaceutical engineering at Peking University.
At that time, Professor Ning found people to assist her and form a research and development team together.
Their condition was much worse than Chen Xihua's.
Her eyes were bloodshot, and she looked very tired. She was also a little unsteady on her feet, probably because her physical condition was not as good as hers.
"Junior Sister Xiao Wu, you're in great spirits! You're even preparing to go back for your final exams. We two can't do that; we need to rest for a while."
"Okay, Senior Brother Gao, Senior Sister Lü, you should go back now." Chen Xihua smiled and waved goodbye to the two of them.
Walking slowly back to her dormitory, she took out her phone, which had been switched off for a while. When she turned it on, Chen Xihua felt a mix of amusement and exasperation.
Nearly a hundred text messages were sent from my older sister's phone.
Without even looking, Chen Xihua knew that the sender was 90% likely Chen Xiaoliu.
She broke her promise. Not to mention that during the summer vacation in July this year, after Chen Baohua finished his middle school entrance exam and successfully entered Jiangshi Middle School, she did not keep her promise to take him to Beijing for fun.
Chen Xihua did not go home during last year's winter vacation and Spring Festival. She had not returned to Gaoyang County for almost two years.
Just as Chen Xihua was about to call her older sister, her phone rang. Looking at the caller ID, it was a landline. "Hello..."
"Fifth sister, it's me! You've finally turned on your phone! I've been waiting for you for so long, I've missed you so much."
I just finished my math exam this afternoon. You said three months ago that the experiment would be completed in the next couple of days.
So I ran to the convenience store at the school gate and tried calling you from a public phone. Haha, I didn't expect it to actually go through.
"Fifth sister, when are you coming back?" Chen Xiaoliu kept asking on the phone.
He was already going through a slight voice change. At first, his tone was very excited and happy, but as he spoke, his voice became muffled, as if he was about to cry.
"Okay, okay, I know Xiao Liu misses me. But I just came out of the lab and I'm starving. I'm on my way to the cafeteria for lunch. I'm also preparing for my final exams. I'll be able to go home in a week." Chen Xihua quickly comforted the person opposite him. They were both big boys in high school, yet they were still so sentimental.
However, she smiled slightly, indicating that she was in a good mood, though also a little sour.
"Oh, okay, then Fifth Sister, don't go hungry, go eat quickly." Upon hearing this, Chen Baohua immediately switched to an anxious and worried tone.
Chen Xihua smiled and said, "Then I'll hang up."
She rubbed her slightly sore neck. Some plans were finished, but some things were just beginning and waiting for her to handle.
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