Chapter 50 A massive steel bridge transforms a natural barrier into…
"Grandpa, thank you."
Meanwhile, Qian Bojiang and Qian Chenghai had already left Qinghe Ancient Town. Qian Bojiang was surprised that Doctor Zhang didn't have a medical license, and that his grandfather was willing to recommend him. This recommendation was a matter of risking his reputation; he didn't recall his grandfather ever recommending anyone before.
Did he underestimate Dr. Zhang's abilities?
Qian Chenghai sighed, recalling some past events: "In the past, the policy was one-size-fits-all, and many people couldn't get a medical license because they didn't have the necessary qualifications. But we can't blame anyone else; our industry was too closed off back then."
In earlier years, while Western medicine had developed a systematic education system, traditional Chinese medicine remained a closed apprenticeship system. Then, a blanket policy led him to discover that many folk TCM practitioners he knew who had learned medicine through this apprenticeship system and lacked medical school diplomas were unable to obtain licenses and practice medicine.
While many of these are counterfeit or even fraudulent, some are genuinely skilled.
This move dealt a significant blow to traditional Chinese medicine.
Fortunately, the country has increasingly valued traditional Chinese medicine and opened up two certification methods: one is apprenticeship registration, and the other is recommendation certification. The latter requires the recommender to have a certain status, and the recommended person must indeed be a special talent. The assessment is also very strict, so it has become increasingly rare in recent years.
“Dr. Zhang deserves this recommendation,” Qian Chenghai said. He looked at his grandson and said meaningfully, “You’re lucky, kid. Come here often to help Dr. Zhang, understand?”
If it weren't for the fact that he had to be stationed at the clinic, I would want to come every day.
Qian Bojiang laughed: "Hehe, do you even need to tell me?"
He discovered Dr. Zhang's remarkable abilities very early on!
......
provincial capital.
Ding Nan strode into the office, looking radiant in her shirt and wide-leg pants—a picture of a successful career woman. Indeed, she had only been with the company for two years before becoming a manager and a strong contender for the position of deputy director; her future looked bright.
When it was lunchtime, several women carrying lunchboxes quickly sat down next to her.
Ding Nan laughed: "What are you sisters trying to do? Are you trying to ambush me?"
"That's so rude!" One of the female colleagues patted her arm. "We came here to ask you, what was that thing you said in the meeting again?"
During the morning meeting, she noticed that Ding Nan looked radiant these past few days and asked her what skincare products she was using. To her surprise, Ding Nan said it wasn't skincare or makeup, but rather that she had been using a traditional Chinese medicine sachet recently, which was why she was sleeping so well every day.
Insomnia is one of the most common sub-health conditions among modern people. Everyone was very interested when they heard this, but soon the boss came in and interrupted their questions.
Ding Nan didn't expect them to be so persistent, still thinking about it now.
“Of course!” a middle-aged female colleague, probably in her fifties, exclaimed. “It’s been so long since I’ve had a good night’s sleep! You guys don’t know how painful menopause is. Being able to sleep for four hours a day is considered good. I’m afraid I’ll die suddenly.”
The others nodded in agreement. They might not understand the suffering of menopause, but they had certainly experienced the pain of insomnia.
"This is it." Ding Nan showed them a picture of the sachet. "It's really amazing. I've only used it for two or three days, and I feel that my sleep quality has improved a lot."
"Give me the link!"
Ding Nan: "It's not that I didn't want to give it to you, it's just that my friend bought it for me. She said the production was very limited, and she only managed to get a few, so she sent me one. The rest will have to wait. Besides, that old Chinese medicine doctor doesn't sell online; he just makes some and sells them to people around him. He doesn't even have WeChat."
Hearing this, the women next to him were somewhat disappointed.
"Then could you ask your friend if she has any in stock and help us grab a few? Don't worry, she won't do it for nothing."
“No problem.” Ding Nan readily agreed. She and Xiao Zhuang were good friends, so he would definitely be willing to do such a small thing.
"Where is this traditional Chinese medicine doctor from? Is he from our provincial capital?" my colleague asked casually.
Ding Nan: "No, they're from Qinghe City. They said they were invited from Qinghe Ancient Town. They're the ones that's been really popular on the platform lately."
"Oh, oh." The middle-aged female colleague didn't actually watch many videos and didn't know about Qinghe Ancient Town, but she knew about Qinghe City. She raised her chin and asked a young male colleague eating next to her, "Hey, Yao Yuan, I seem to remember you having friends in Qinghe City before?"
Yao Yuan's expression immediately turned somewhat unpleasant, but he quickly regained his composure: "That happened several years ago, we haven't been in contact for a long time."
"I see." The middle-aged female colleague said meaningfully.
Yao Yuan put down his chopsticks and said politely, "I'm finished eating. I'll go back to my office now. Sister Liu, please continue eating."
Ding Nan looked at his retreating figure and then at his plate: "...Does Manager Yao have such a small appetite?"
There's still more than half left!
"What friend? Tsk." The middle-aged female colleague chuckled and explained to Ding Nan, "You're late, so you don't know, but we all know that she's his girlfriend in Qinghe City."
Ding Nan was very excited about the gossip and pressed for details: "Isn't Manager Yao's girlfriend a rich and beautiful woman from our provincial capital?"
"So, he broke up with that guy from Qinghe City." Another female colleague said with a hint of disdain, "Men are all like that, aren't they?"
Ding Nan instantly understood: "I see!"
So they would occasionally make sarcastic remarks to Yao Yuan, expressing their disapproval of such a scumbag. Anyway, they had been with the company for so many years and had connections, so they weren't afraid of him.
The topic then shifted again: "Remember, buy me two extra when you come."
"Okay, okay."
......
A family in the provincial capital.
"Where's the sachet Mom gave me?" The hostess, Su Xia, put her hands on her hips and looked at the man sitting on the sofa. "Find it for me right now."
The man frowned: "You're really planning to give Xiaoxuan that kind of herbal sachet? I've already told you, Chinese medicine is no good, the side effects are too great, don't use it casually. Mom, really, you dare to buy things that haven't been tested."
Not only did she buy things indiscriminately, but she also insisted that he use them too.
The man's name is Gao Wei, He Guihua's son.
When they returned home last time, He Guihua happily gave them two sachets, saying that one could cure Gao Wei's insomnia and the other could make Xiao Yang, their son, less tired during the day.
Gao Wei has been suffering from insomnia for a long time due to work pressure. Gao Xiaoyang, on the other hand, is about to enter his senior year of high school and studies day and night.
However, Gao Wei did not believe these things.
Su Xia had always thought that Gao Wei was somewhat of a critic of traditional Chinese medicine. He often said that traditional Chinese medicine was outdated, could not be scientifically verified, and that Chinese medicine did not even dare to list its side effects, such as liver and kidney damage, etc.
Unlike him, Su Xia, while feeling that many modern TCM practitioners are not very skilled, still believes in TCM. The couple always finds themselves at odds when this topic comes up. Fortunately, this is a rare topic in their lives and doesn't significantly affect their relationship.
Su Xia huffed, "It's just a sachet, it's not like I'm asking you to eat it! Forget it, I can't reason with you! Anyway, I already gave it to Xiaoyang. Use it or not, it's not like I'm the one suffering from insomnia!"
After returning to her room, she thought for a moment, then a sly expression appeared on her face.
Su Xia took out the sachet He Guihua had given her and secretly placed it under her pillow, near the end closest to Gao Wei. She planned to say it smelled like her own perfume if Gao Wei asked. If it actually worked, she'd see how she embarrassed him!
Unlike his father Gao Wei, their son Gao Xiaoyang has already experienced the benefits of sachets.
Gao Xiaoyang was in the top class of a key provincial high school, surrounded by top students, which put him under immense pressure. He felt that he wasn't actually that talented, and that he had risen to his current position purely through hard work and was a test-taker. However, after entering his second year of high school, as the textbooks became more difficult, he began to feel overwhelmed.
I had no choice but to force myself to work harder, do more practice problems, and read more books.
As he rolled around in his studies, he began to feel mentally drained. During the day, he always felt tired and his mind was foggy. His ranking had dropped by more than ten places in the previous midterm exams, which made Gao Xiaoyang very depressed.
But I'm so sleepy and tired...
Especially around three or four in the afternoon, he could fall asleep with his eyes open. But today, Gao Xiaoyang felt quite energetic. Whenever he felt sleepy and tired, a faint fragrance would linger around his nose, invigorating him.
What is it?
Gao Xiaoyang suspiciously followed the scent and pulled a hemp sachet from his schoolbag. The faint medicinal fragrance was coming from inside. He remembered that his mother had put it in his bag when he left home that morning, saying that his grandmother had bought it for him to refresh and relieve fatigue.
He held it under his nose and sniffed it a few times. The medicinal fragrance became much stronger, rushing up his nasal cavity all the way to the top of his head.
Cool!
The idiom "refreshing and invigorating" was not an exaggeration for Gao Xiaoyang. He felt a jolt in his mind, and his whole body instantly became clear.
"What's this?" My deskmate snatched it away with lightning speed, a mischievous grin on his face. "You're quite the expert, aren't you? Isn't this the sachet from the 'Talented Scholar and Beautiful Lady' tale? My lord, please let me explain..."
He even learned a Peking Opera singing style, which immediately attracted the attention of everyone around him.
Gao Xiaoyang rolled his eyes in annoyance and snatched it away, saying, "Get out of here, Dad. You're such a drama queen. This is a Chinese herbal sachet that my grandma bought for me."
A girl came over, took a deep sniff, and her eyes lit up: "It smells pretty good! It seems even more effective than the peppermint oil I bought. Gao Xiaoyang, where did your grandma buy it? Can you buy me a few too?"
She couldn't quite describe the feeling, but she felt that the peppermint essential oil was only very strong at first, but it dissipated quickly. This herbal scent was milder, but it seemed to linger, making her feel very comfortable, as if her fatigue had lessened a bit.
The girl was the class beauty, as the boys in their class had privately voted. Gao Xiaoyang was flattered: "Oh, okay, I'll ask Grandma for you..."
......
"The sachets are selling like hotcakes?" Lu Xiaoqi asked casually after receiving the news, but she wasn't surprised at all.
That's a sachet meticulously crafted by the Sage of Medicine, and she herself has verified its quality. Such a wonderful item, in limited quantities—she'd be surprised if it didn't sell out quickly.
Su Jun: "My colleagues are all asking when we can restock?"
Last time, the hundred sachets weren't much when divided among everyone, and many colleagues didn't get any for themselves. Some new colleagues even joined the fray after asking around.
Lu Xiaoqi opened the group chat for her old customers, which she hadn't had time to check in the past few days. Scrolling up, she saw many people tagging her and asking to buy things:
Do you still have any sachets? I'd like to buy a few more.
[I want one too! It's so damn good, it's amazed me all year!]
[+1, I also want to buy a few for my parents.]
Osmanthus Fragrance: [I told you it was good, right? I encouraged you to buy more (smug)]
Other group members who hadn't bought it started chiming in, some curious, asking if it was really that good. They then received a flood of positive reviews, with almost no negative feedback. As a result, the line of people tagging her grew longer and longer.
They've been tagging me for two or three days now.
Lu Xiaoqi quickly replied, "No, not yet. As I said, these were all made temporarily by the old Chinese medicine doctor we invited from our ancient town. The herbs all need to be reprocessed, which is very troublesome and takes time. So please wait a while. I will notify you when they arrive."
In fact, the medicinal herbs had been prepared long ago, but because of the issue of her medical license, she dared not sell them now.
Lu Xiaoqi used to be ambitious, but now she's as quiet as a chicken.
It's best to be cautious in these matters. After seeing those patients with irritable bowel syndrome who came from out of town these past few days, Zhang Zhongjing stopped making house calls. If it weren't for the fact that those patients were going through difficult times, she wouldn't have wanted Zhang Zhongjing to take them on.
She asked Su Jun, "What does Dr. Zhang do every day now?"
Su Jun: "I chatted with Prefect Li, read medical books, continued to experiment with medicinal herbs, and then started researching acupuncture."
Lu Xiaoqi felt relieved: "...It sounds like his mood isn't affected. So when is he going to get certified as a special talent?"
"Dr. Qian said he's going to the provincial capital next week."
She nodded, thinking that she would definitely have to accompany Doctor Zhang on the trip herself. Should she invite someone else? Su Jun? Or maybe she could just go to Hangzhou to see Zhao Feiyan too, it's not far away...
However, plans are subject to change.
Two days later, Li Bing found her: "Young friend Lu, when will we be able to set off for Shu?"
He didn't want to wait any longer.
Li Bing has been resting in Qinghe Ancient Town for more than half a month.
He was calm and composed. Although he had wandered around other parts of the ancient town and seen some incomprehensible new things from the future, his curiosity was not as strong as that of others.
He had only one obsession: to go to Sichuan and see Dujiangyan.
After watching it, I will have no regrets in this life.
In other words, his current projection is purely supported by this obsession.
Therefore, after resting for a while, he came to ask when they would set off.
Lu Xiaoqi sighed inwardly. She had been putting it off partly because she was busy, and partly because she wanted to deliberately exploit a system bug to make Magistrate Li stay longer. But now that he was unwilling, she had no choice but to go along with his wishes.
After a moment's hesitation, she glanced at the calendar. It just so happened that Zhang Zhongjing was going to the provincial capital with Qian Chenghai in a few days, so why not go together? Qinghe City didn't have a direct high-speed train to Sichuan, nor an airport; the only option was to fly from the provincial capital.
As planned, I'll also make a detour to Hangzhou to visit Zhao Feiyan.
She told Li Bing about this arrangement and asked for his opinion.
"I will follow your arrangements, young friend Lu." Li Bing was overjoyed. It was already very kind of Lu Xiaoqi to take the time to accompany him. As for the few days they would spend on the road, he didn't care. Perhaps he could take advantage of these few days to see this completely different world before fulfilling his wish.
That's how it was settled.
The Shu region is beyond SR's operational range, so Lu Xiaoqi has to go alone. The provincial capital and Hangzhou are both options, but going to Hangzhou would definitely require taking Su Jun and Song Wu Sao with her, which leaves only Yuwen Kai.
She asked Yuwen Kai.
Yuwen Kai was in a dilemma: "I'm afraid I don't have time. The construction team from outside has just arrived, and it's a crucial time."
This is a crucial part of the Qinghe Ancient Town renovation plan, involving a comprehensive expansion of the craftsmanship team. Lu Xiaoqi, through the Culture and Tourism Bureau, invited several renowned construction teams from the domestic ancient architecture industry to work alongside her own renovation team. These three teams have been arriving and starting work in the past few days. Each team is larger than her own.
As the chief planner of the ancient town and the head of the renovation team, Yuwen Kai is at his busiest time and certainly cannot leave easily.
Upon hearing this, Lu Xiaoqi immediately said, "Okay, then I'll trouble Teacher Yuwen to stay here."
This is a major event that determines whether our ancient town can open before the end of the year!
She said apologetically, "After the business opens, I'll accompany you to visit the ancient capitals of the Sui and Tang dynasties, such as Xi'an and Luoyang."
Yuwen Kai stroked his beard and smiled: "Very well, I'll leave it to you, young friend Lu."
Lu Xiaoqi called Song Wu Sao again, trying to persuade her to go as well, since it wouldn't matter if the fish restaurant closed for a few days. With her current reputation, she wouldn't have to worry about losing customers after a few days of rest.
Besides, Fifth Sister-in-law has been busy for so long, she deserves a rest.
Unexpectedly, Sister-in-law Song said on the phone, "Xiao Lu, I was just about to call you. I'm afraid this fish restaurant won't be able to stay open."
Lu Xiaoqi was shocked: "What's wrong? What happened?"
......
“We agreed on a three-month period, and there are still twelve days left in the three months.” Sister-in-law Song frowned as she looked at the young couple in front of her, somewhat displeased and puzzled. “Why do you care about these twelve days? We will leave naturally when the time comes.”
Lu Xiaoqi rushed to the city center and was still a little out of breath: "That's right, and we've already paid this month's rent. We didn't owe you anything before, did we?"
She was furious. How could someone be so untrustworthy?
The young couple sitting opposite them were the ones who had originally sublet the shop to them for three months. They came back early and immediately demanded to take back the shop, refusing to wait even a day. They insisted that the couple vacate the space immediately, speaking in a very forceful manner.
The man in the young couple's eyes flickered for a moment, and he seemed a little embarrassed, but the embarrassment quickly disappeared.
“This was originally a short-term agreement,” the woman argued. “We only transferred the shop to you because we saw that you were having trouble finding a storefront. Now that we’re back, of course we want the shop back.”
Lu Xiaoqi was so angry she laughed: "An agreement? We signed a contract! It clearly states three months, so not a single day less."
The woman was taken aback by the girl's assertiveness and was momentarily speechless.
At this point, the man changed tactics and began to play the victim: "Miss Lu, Sister Song, we have no choice. You see, something just happened to our family, and we're in dire need of money right now. If we don't have any income, we'll be starving this month. Anyway, there are only twelve days left on the contract, so please give the shop back to us."
The woman, though outwardly fierce, retorted, "If we can't do business and have no income, then I'll make sure you can't do business either."
Lu Xiaoqi and Song Wusao exchanged a glance, both feeling somewhat disgusted.
The two are playing good cop and bad cop. But unfortunately, when faced with such a tantrum and annoying behavior, it seems there's no good solution other than direct physical intimidation. Physical intimidation could easily land you in the police station yourself, and it's not worth it for twelve days.
Forget it, a gentleman takes his revenge even after ten years.
They both understood each other's meaning from each other's eyes.
Sister-in-law Song took a deep breath: "The day after tomorrow, at the earliest, is when we can return the shop to you. If you don't agree, there's nothing to talk about. And then, you have to return the rent for the remaining ten days to us."
"Both conditions must be met, and neither can be omitted."
Her reservation on the mini-program was actually a week in advance. While reservations from a long time ago could be cancelled, it would be difficult to find suitable replacements for customers within the next two days, and their mood would likely be negative. Sister Song wanted to serve them well before leaving.
The couple opposite looked at it for a moment, and finally nodded: "Okay, let's do it that way."
Even after they left, Lu Xiaoqi was still furious.
Sister-in-law Song Wu advised her, "Alright, alright, we who wear shoes shouldn't provoke those who have nothing to do. The fact that they would do something like this shows they are scoundrels. Even if we operate as usual for these twelve days, if they keep bothering you and affecting the customers who come to eat, it will be worse."
Therefore, it might be better to take a step back for now.
Lu Xiaoqi gradually calmed down after hearing what she said.
She still found it strange: "Why can't we even wait twelve days all of a sudden? We're not behind on rent. And we had everything going well before."
She and Sister-in-law Wu originally wanted to renew the lease for another three months, hoping to increase the rent a bit so the young couple could make some profit. They'd probably be happy to just sit back and collect money. Then, Sister-in-law Wu could take a break and then get back to work on the restaurant in Qinghe Ancient Town, which would be a way of giving back to their regular customers in the city.
She clearly felt the young couple was somewhat interested during their phone call. How did they suddenly change their minds?
Are they just jealous of their business?
Just then, a waiter from the fish restaurant ran in from outside and whispered, "I know why they suddenly came here!"
Everyone perked up their ears.
The worker asked, "Do you know what kind of business that's being renovated across the street is planning to open?"
Lu Xiaoqi raised an eyebrow, a sudden inspiration striking her: "...Could it be that I'm going to open a fish restaurant too?!"
“Yes!” The helper nodded. “The boss next door, Mr. Wang, said it’s owned by a local catering company, and they’re also planning to open a fish restaurant on this street. Then, he saw those two people meeting with the owner of that restaurant!”
Sister-in-law Song clicked her tongue and said, "That makes sense."
Lu Xiaoqi found it utterly absurd: "Does that mean they conspired to make us move out? No, they can run their businesses, we can run ours, wouldn't it be better to do business together? Besides, look at their decor, it's not even in the same league as ours!"
How can anyone do business with such unscrupulous means?
Lu Xiaoqi, a novice businesswoman, experienced the treacherous nature of the business world for the first time.
Sister-in-law Song had seen plenty of people like that, and sighed, "There are plenty of people like that. They think that if they drive you away, all the customers will go to their restaurant. Besides, our fish restaurant is quite famous now, and it's boosted the popularity of the whole area."
Nowadays, many people in Qinghe City associate Wuliu Road with the impression that "it's a great place to eat fish." The other party clearly wants to capitalize on this.
"Moreover, his renovation will inevitably cost more, but if it costs more but the taste is still not as good as ours, then his reputation will be greatly damaged."
That's why they resorted to this method.
After Song Wusao's analysis, Lu Xiaoqi understood and could only shake her head, feeling very disgusted: "I curse that business to close down soon!"
“His business may not be easy either.” Sister-in-law Song smiled, very confident in herself. “If it were in my time, it might be okay. But nowadays, people have too many choices and won’t settle. Never mind, I’ll just take a break for a while.”
Lu Xiaoqi immediately turned around and said, "Then let's go to the provincial capital and Hangzhou together."
“Alright, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen Her Majesty the Empress,” said Sister-in-law Song with a smile.
At the fast food restaurant next door, a helper asked the owner, Wang, curiously, "Boss, why did you tell them about this?"
Don't you just dislike them?
Boss Wang leisurely fanned himself with a palm-leaf fan on his recliner. He was too reluctant to turn on the air conditioner. He tapped his younger brother on the head with the fan and said, "Your brain is practically nonexistent. The people next door aren't in the same industry as us, so we can still benefit from their traffic. But if that couple comes back, they'll be real competitors."
He's not stupid.
Those two must have been envious of Song Sao's fish restaurant business and wanted to take it over and run it themselves. But Song Sao's restaurant has real skills; they didn't even consider their own capabilities before eyeing it...
Mr. Wang shook his head; he was not optimistic about their future business.
This time, he's definitely not mistaken!
After Song Wu Sao figured it out, she was happy to take a few more months off, but the diners were completely shocked and couldn't accept it.
The customers whose reservations were cancelled repeatedly confirmed on the phone: "Are you really not going to reopen?"
Sister-in-law Song patiently explained to each of them, "It's just that this place won't be open for business anymore. There will be a restaurant opening in Qinghe Ancient Town soon, and you're welcome to visit us then."
To express her apology, she asked Lu Xiaoqi to send a 50-yuan coupon to the accounts of the customers whose bookings were cancelled via the mini-program, which could be used in the ancient town later. However, when everyone logged into the mini-program, they found that a notice of temporary closure was indeed posted on the homepage.
Xu Chen and Liao Yunyun, who lined up to buy boxed lunches every day at the same time, saw the large closure notice posted at the store entrance and were immediately heartbroken.
The foodie group was in an uproar:
[Didn't they say there were still twelve days left? Why are they closing down all of a sudden?]
[No! (Grabs onto legs) My cafeteria is gone! How am I supposed to live?!]
[Crying loudly, "Chef Song, you lied! You clearly said last time that we could stay open for a few more months!"]
Song Wu Sao also felt guilty. She comforted everyone in the group for a while and promised to notify everyone as soon as the restaurant in Qinghe Ancient Town opened, which made everyone feel a little better.
She didn't reveal the inside story or her own speculations; there was no need.
Then everyone started urging Qinghe Ancient Town to open for business again in the group chat. No one left the group, and Lu Xiaoqi and Song Wusao received many new friend requests on WeChat.
Lu Xiaoqi asked one of them out of curiosity and learned that a local food and entertainment influencer had posted the news that Song Sao Fish Restaurant was about to close down. Some of the regular customers left their WeChat IDs in the comments, and many customers who hadn't added them before started looking for them, afraid that they wouldn't be able to find their way back.
[Finally found my people, 5555! I definitely want to give them a kick when they reopen!]
[I'm from out of town, but I ate there once and haven't forgotten it. Could you please join the group? I'll definitely be there to support Qinghe Ancient Town when it opens.]
[I haven't even had a chance to eat yet and they've already closed down. So frustrating. I'll just reserve a spot for now.]
[Chef Song, please don't take too long of a break! Remember to reopen!]
In just one day, she received hundreds of group join notifications, and she was overwhelmed. Lu Xiaoqi had to create two new groups of 500 people each. She calculated that even if only a third of the people in these groups bought annual passes for Qinghe Ancient Town for the restaurant, that would still be great.
After all, in addition to the annual card, they also have to make other purchases, which adds up to a considerable amount.
On the day of graduation, Song Wu Sao, Lu Xiaoqi, and Su Jun, who had come to help, moved everything they could carry. All the bowls, chopsticks, sterilizers, and other items they had bought themselves. Song Wu Sao had originally planned to leave these things for the young couple.
"Move this too," Lu Xiaoqi said, pointing to the plaque on the wall and the blackboard with the menu.
Hmph, she won't leave them anything, she'll take even a pack of tissues with her.
Su Jun found her vindictive little expression cute and felt a strange urge to laugh, but he kept a straight face and faithfully carried out her orders, packing all the tissues and other small items into the box.
The young couple who came to inspect the place were quite surprised. The woman had expected to receive some everyday items, but they had cleaned it so thoroughly that she was quite dissatisfied. She ended up pointing to nail holes in the wall and finding fault with everything.
"Our contract doesn't say anything about nailing nails into the wall, does it?"
This means they want to deduct some money.
Lu Xiaoqi was so angry that her face turned red. Just as she was about to explode, Su Jun stopped her and said to the woman in a deep voice, "The previous contract did not stipulate that you could take back the store in advance. If we propose to sue for breach of contract now, you will probably have to pay more."
Su Jun added casually, "I can call a lawyer right now."
He was over 1.8 meters tall, with a tall and straight figure. He had also been a son of a high-ranking official, so his imposing presence was quite strong and inexplicably intimidating. Moreover, he had the face of a handsome and noble young master, which inexplicably made people feel that he had an extraordinary demeanor and a distinguished background. When he said something like "find a lawyer," it sounded particularly believable.
The woman felt that his family could support a whole team of lawyers. She backed down, forced a smile, and remained silent.
After returning home, Lu Xiaoqi looked Su Jun up and down, clicking her tongue repeatedly: "I didn't realize that Young Master Su was so worthy of his name. He even knows how to hire a lawyer now."
I have to say, Su Jun looked pretty cool when he stepped out.
Su Jun touched his nose, a smile appearing on his lips: "If we really need to hire a lawyer, then you, boss, will have to pay for it. So, I'm just borrowing your power."
She is the tiger, and he is the fox.
Lu Xiaoqi thought about it and realized it was true, and chuckled to herself.
“You’re just not good at dealing with these scoundrels. And you’re a young girl, so they look down on you.” Su Jun comforted her. “It’s no use trying to reason with people like that. Only by showing your strength, whether it’s power or money, will they listen to you.”
He had encountered countless people like this in the past. He used to think there was nothing wrong with such behavior, that it was human nature, but now he found it pathetic.
Lu Xiaoqi nodded and gave him a thumbs up: "I've learned a lot, you truly deserve to be called Young Master Su!"
......
Song Wu Sao was delighted to receive a vacation and immediately packed her bags to join Lu Xiaoqi's travel group.
The team also includes Li Bing, Zhang Zhongjing, and Su Jun.
The group first took the high-speed train to the provincial capital.
Even though they had been living in modern society for some time and showed little trace of ancient times on the surface, Song Wu Sao and Su Jun were still dazzled when they entered the vast high-speed rail station.
Not to mention Li Bing and Zhang Zhongjing. Their curious eyes lingered everywhere, and they never stopped asking questions.
Zhang Zhongjing initially thought that with his extensive travel experience and growing familiarity with the area, he could easily reach the provincial capital even without companionship, as long as he had the funds. However, after this trip, he had to admit that modern travel methods far exceeded his expectations.
But what impressed him most was not the dazzling array of advanced equipment, but the attention given to "people" – for their convenience, Lu Xiaoqi prepared a wheelchair for Li Bing and then booked the "priority passenger" service offered by the high-speed rail station. From the moment they entered the station, they received special care, passing through a green channel all the way, and were even guided by dedicated staff.
If there hadn't been so many of them, the staff would probably have been vying to push the wheelchair.
Zhang Zhongjing was initially quite calm, but after hearing Lu Xiaoqi say that this measure was not because of her background or status, but because it was aimed at all citizens and was purely a way for the railway system to care for special passengers, such as the elderly and disabled, he fell silent.
It wasn't until I got on the bus that I snapped out of my emotional trance.
He was a medical student, and naturally possessed a compassionate heart, which made him even more moved by this kind of humanistic care: "You've done a great job, absolutely wonderful!"
In his time, the powerful and wealthy enjoyed every privilege; for healthy people, simply surviving was considered a stroke of luck. The elderly, the infirm, and the disabled were often the first to be eliminated. Caring for them? And for the imperial court to expend considerable effort to provide them with special services?
Dream on!
Li Bing stroked his cane and said slowly, "Only when the world is at peace and the court is prosperous can things be like this. Neither of these conditions can be met."
Unfortunately, the Qin state was engaged in wars year after year, and had no choice but to fight, so it simply did not have the time or money to manage its internal affairs.
Su Jun, however, had a different opinion: "I think that even if these two conditions are met, not all courts are willing to provide benefits to the people and share in the prosperity."
Emperor Wen of Sui is a prime example. During his reign, the court was wealthy, and the granaries were overflowing with grain. However, when natural disasters struck and the people went hungry, he still chose not to distribute grain, leading to widespread displacement and starvation.
Li Bing smiled wryly and sighed softly, "You're right."
Even if someone is rich and capable, so what? To those in power, they are nothing more than a bunch of commoners. Why bother with such an effort? Even he himself, before coming here, didn't he vaguely think so?
Lu Xiaoqi listened intently to their hushed discussion, her hands supporting her chin.
She thought to herself, "Of course, it's different."
Just like the popular saying online now, wheat has ripened thousands of times, but "Long live the people" is a first.
Sister-in-law Song didn't participate in the discussion; she was simply mesmerized by the scenery rushing past the window. It was the rural landscape of the Jiangnan region, with crisscrossing paths and rows of two- or three-story houses dotting the landscape, almost all with cars parked in front. The rice paddies were already golden, and farmers were working, but most were equipped with mechanized assistance; combine harvesters were carving straight paths through the rice fields.
Occasionally, you'll pass through waterways. Water transport is well-developed here, with small cargo ships and sand-carrying vessels coming and going even on small tributaries.
Apart from the slightly different appearance of the boats, the waterways here are not much different from those in the Song Dynasty, Song Wu Sao thought to herself. Back then, both Bianliang and Lin'an were extremely prosperous water transport, with hundreds of boats vying for position on the river.
But soon, a wide river came into view. It was a tributary of the Yangtze River, and its flow rate was among the highest in the country.
She couldn't help but exclaim, "Look!"
Li Bing and the others turned around and saw one after another giant ships, fully loaded with cargo, sailing orderly across the river, their horns blaring. Not far away, a massive steel bridge, like a rainbow, spanned the river, connecting the two banks. The high-speed train they were on was also traveling on such a bridge, treating the formidable barrier as a mere passageway, leaving the river behind in just a minute or two.
Everyone stared, completely stunned.
The future world has unveiled another layer of its veil to them.
Li Bing murmured, "Is this... our future?"
“It’s your descendants.” Lu Xiaoqi sensed the subtle emotion in his tone and immediately said seriously, “Although the earth-shaking changes have only taken place in the last hundred years or so, if the Qin Dynasty had not unified the world and standardized the writing system, there would be no China as we know it today.”
This kind of comparison across time is actually unfair. Our history is not a burden of backwardness, but the foundation that has created all the glory we have today.
It's like building a wall with bricks; you can't do it if any one brick is missing.
Upon hearing this, Li Bing's eyes showed relief and satisfaction: "Standardizing cart tracks and writing... Your Majesty has indeed done a great thing that will benefit future generations."
In his memory, the young man who ascended to the throne of Qin had eyes burning with ambition and aspiration. No one doubted that he would achieve even greater feats than his forefathers. Li Bing could not have imagined that these achievements would be so great, shining brightly for thousands of years.
After traveling for an hour and a half, the high-speed train finally arrived in the provincial capital.
Even elderly people in wheelchairs were given special access. Lu Xiaoqi had already arranged a car to take them to the hotel.
Qian Chenghai, who arrived a day earlier than them, had already gone to the office of his old colleague, Wang Jingde, who was also the dean of the provincial medical college.
Wang Jingde was somewhat surprised: "You want me to jointly recommend someone with you?"
Qian Chenghai: "I also want Lao Li to come along."
Wang Jingde: "...Are you trying to recommend a famous doctor?"
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