Chapter 95 Chapter 95 Win-Win
"Are you and I very close?" Xiao Xijin was increasingly unable to understand his sister's thoughts.
This wasn't the first time. Xiao Xijin rubbed his face dejectedly, a feeling of powerlessness rising within him once again. His sister had been sent to the countryside to work as a sent-down youth at a crucial stage in the formation of her values. During these precious years, she lacked discipline and guidance. Yet, her family, feeling sorry for her and indebted to her, provided her with material comforts far superior to others. This "sense of superiority" had become an integral part of Xiao Lanqin's character. She couldn't let it go, and was even willing to pay a significant price for it.
For example, in order to marry Lin Qiyun, who had an ambiguous attitude, as soon as possible, she became pregnant again out of wedlock.
For example, even though he knew that the other party would not agree, he still forced his second brother to embarrass himself without caring about his feelings at all.
Xiao Xijin didn't follow her advice and ask Lin Xinghuo for help as a counselor. Instead, he took his gifts and went directly to the Agricultural University to find Wu Nian. He made a direct request, changing Xiao Lanqin's request for a "wedding chef" to a "guest return gift." He said they would provide the ingredients and didn't need to work in the kitchen on the day; Wu Nian could just prepare them at home beforehand.
Wu Nian did not agree.
What a joke, his cooking skills can be enjoyed by everyone?
Wu Nian's roommates were also furious, especially Chang Si, who had finally managed to share a dorm with Wu Nian through connections. Chang Si squinted at Xiao Xijin and, with a grin, gave a resounding "snort." What kind of person was this? He actually let the "Kaimenwu" cook for his family? A single movement of the Kaimenwu's hand could send shockwaves through the entire Beijing antique world!
But there are no hidden figures in the antique world these days! That decade-long movement didn't only bring negative consequences. At least, the market sifted through the sands, eliminating a large number of small-time swindlers who had taken advantage of the situation. Furthermore, the unique environment during that decade essentially eradicated tomb robbing. Those who remain in business today are either those with strong backgrounds who survived the movement, or those with deep ancestral heritage who were able to weather the storm. These individuals are all well-established individuals with deep cultural roots. Those speculators who exploited the movement to acquire collectors' assets haven't dared to show their face yet. At least for the past year or two, even if they were to get involved, they would be small-time individuals who couldn't cause any major disruption.
Chang Si has the support of his elder brother's black market in Snow Province and the influence of his father-in-law, but he is just a small-time scoundrel in the circle who has no seat and can only stand.
Now that the college entrance examination has been resumed and intellectuals are on the rise again, all the experts in the circle have a few useful and good-sounding official brands, but they can't ask Wu Nian to do anything, and can only wait anxiously for his works... Because of Wu Nian's craftsmanship, the threshold of Mr. Zhong Qin's house in Sajin Hutong has been raised higher and higher by people in the circle, and many "masters" on the surface can't touch it.
Besides, so far, Wu Nian has only allowed people close to him into the kitchen, and he has only put his face in his pocket twice. How can this face of someone I have never heard of be so big?
Wu Nian just politely refused, and Xiao Xijin was pushed back by several of his classmates.
Losing face was a minor issue, and Xiao Xijin had been mentally prepared for it. But he hadn't anticipated the subsequent setbacks in his work. Several of the male students he'd once gotten along with suddenly became troublemakers, leading the charge in refusing to cooperate with his work. A full-time counselor's job was to interact with students, and this situation made it nearly impossible for Xiao Xijin to do anything.
Xiao Lanqin's wedding had not yet taken place, but Xiao Xijin's situation had already become dire.
The Xiao family was a longtime Beijing resident, with many relatives, so they had to help him investigate. But the truth wasn't that Wu Nian or Lin Xinghuo were petty, but rather that Wu Nian was the culprit. Ultimately, it was Wu Nian who was truly remarkable. Less than two months into the semester, he'd become the unspoken leader of a group of students. His classmates were venting their anger for him, and Wu Nian himself might not even be aware of it.
"What's his background?" Xiao's mother was puzzled: "He's not from one of those government agencies or work unit compounds, right?" The ones who were 'standing up for him' were the ones from those compounds. Aren't those people said to be xenophobic?
The accommodations at the Agricultural University weren't as good as those at the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, with eight people sharing a room. Wu Nian's dorm, like Lin Xinghuo's, was also a day student dormitory. Those who could apply for day study at least had enough housing these days. Locals, with families crammed into a few dozen square meters, would never give up a dorm far more comfortable than home to study on the day. What's the point of having enough housing in Beijing? This alone, like the Milky Way cut by the Queen Mother, kept ninety-nine percent of people out.
The children of the academy were so proud. They used to be proud of their background, and now that they'd made it to university, they were even more proud. But even these brats, who often looked down on each other from their respective academies, were completely captivated by Wu Nian's tinkering skills within just two months. Wu Nian's classroom skills, the bicycles he'd taught them to modify, the ice skates he'd made himself... Wu Nian even knew how to weave and make clothes! Nothing Wu Nian made, or taught them to make, didn't work. Wu Nian, so versatile he made them want to kneel down and call him "father," quickly replaced their traditional role model or "big brother" and became the idol of these stubborn, arrogant kids. This group of shrewd and treacherous individuals, fiercely competing against each other, quickly found a familiar pattern of survival at school: just like in the academy, they followed the leader.
The unspoken rule in the compound: whoever doesn’t give face to the leader is not giving face to all of their brothers!
Most of the Xiao family members worked in the propaganda department, and they were dumbfounded. Just like Xiao Xijin didn't understand his own sister's train of thought, the whole family couldn't understand the thoughts of these children from the big courtyards with deep backgrounds and wide connections. How could they all be convinced by a young man from outside the circle?
It can be said that the Xiao family has been spoiled by their work. They are used to the common phenomenon that "whatever is publicized, people unconditionally support and believe in it." They almost equate their work with themselves and have a high self-esteem: they think that their work represents authority, and they feel that they have become the authority themselves.
Xiao Xijin, constantly undermined by his sister, was almost the first to wake up. However, after he stubbornly left his "promising" publicity position and transferred to a university as a counselor, he lost most of his influence in the family. No one was willing to listen to his warnings. Even when Xiao Xijin encountered trouble, the Xiao family was only willing to inquire about it, not to the point where they felt it was worth using their resources and connections to help him out.
Xiao's mother, who loved her children the most, only sighed and said a few words of comfort at home. She also did not allow Xiao Xijin to say anything more about "postponing the wedding date, Lin Qiyun does not seem to be a good match." She believed that her daughter's move was a good one. Not only did it set the wedding date, but it also established her position in the Lin family.
"Your brother-in-law and his previous children have all moved out. As soon as Qinqin moves in, she'll be the mistress of the entire villa! And once she has a child, that place will be home to the three of them, and those previous children will be outsiders!" Xiao's mother frowned and scolded her son, "Don't say those things anymore. If this isn't a good match, what else is?"
"That's enough! What's the future of being a counselor? If you really like the university environment, wait until your sister gets in, and I'll tell her to ask her brother-in-law to help you find a new position! The school's publicity position is still not very good, being a leader's secretary is better than this. But in the final analysis, the most promising career in school is teaching and educating people. It would be great if I could be a lecturer. I don't mind starting from a low point..." Xiao's mother had obviously been thinking about this for a long time, and she said whimsically: "As long as the students under you are capable, then you can make a name for yourself as a teacher!"
Xiao Xijin lost his temper. He really felt that Lin Qiyun had a problem with his attitude as he dragged his wife's feet and refused to get married after getting engaged. However, his family only saw that Lin Qiyun had become a deputy minister of a large unit in his early forties, and was a big tree that could support the entire Yue family.
"I don't need Qinqin to do anything for me. The less we bother Lin Qiyun, the more Qinqin can stand up straight in her family." Xiao Xijin said, "I'll live in a single dormitory on campus. My family won't have to worry about me. I wouldn't appreciate it if they did. Anyway, I won't change my job."
After saying that, Xiao Xijin picked up his luggage and left. Xiao's father and mother were so angry that they chased after him and said they would no longer care about him.
Fortunately, during this period, the whole family and relatives were busy preparing for Xiao Lanqin's wedding, so Xiao Xijin had some peace and quiet.
After Xiao Xijin moved into the staff dormitory, he ignored everything outside and returned to his textbooks. Surely he didn't know that teaching was the best career path in the school? He simply wanted to pursue a dignified career. Given his situation, he was considered an "employee with equivalent education," which meant he could apply for graduate school regardless of academic qualifications. As long as he had a competent advisor, he could even teach as a teaching assistant during his studies...
Xiao Xijin didn't consider his mother's words at all, but someone did want to use a student to get ahead. The "capable student" in question was Lin Xinghuo.
This man didn't want profit; he only needed fame in his old age. Therefore, he not only approached Fang Tongjian himself, but also took a two-pronged approach, first convincing Wu Nian in a roundabout way. He was truly well prepared:
Wu Nian's roommates were mostly children of wealthy families. The only one who didn't come from this background had a grandfather similar to Fang Tongjian's, both of whom had once come from wealthy, scholarly families. They had now returned a significant portion of their ancestral property and lived in a courtyard house with over a dozen rooms. In some ways, Li Bing's background was the closest to Lin Xinghuo's, the only difference being that the old man hadn't been able to carry on the family's legacy, and there was no one to succeed him.
Li Bing's grandfather, Mr. Li Yuan, was born into the Li and Fang families, once known as the "Fang peach compares to Li," both boasting centuries-old traditions. Long ago, the Li family married into the equally scholarly Yuan family, while Fang Tongjian's mother, not from a well-established family steeped in literary tradition, came from a newly emerged wealthy family, looked down upon by the literati of the time. Li Yuan and Fang Tongjian were constantly compared from their mothers' wombs. Unfortunately, Li Yuan's talents were far inferior to Fang Tongjian's, who was several years his junior. However, Li Yuan's temperament was far more appealing than Fang Tongjian's.
Thus, in Beijing's cultural circles at the time, the two young men were nicknamed "Cutting Square to Round (Yuan)", a mockery of Fang Tongjian's sharp edges and Li Yuan's inferior talent. As Li Yuan grew older, his temperament became more smooth, and his talent waned. Thus, he followed the old path of the literati, "If you can't be a good minister, then be a good doctor," hoping to emulate the renowned Yuan Dynasty physician Danxi, who achieved fame by becoming a monk mid-career.
But Li Yuan wasn't particularly gifted in medicine. Despite his vast knowledge and impressive memory, he still couldn't stand out from the crowd. Fortunately, he was exceptionally adept at dealing with people. During those ten years, he hadn't let his family background hold him back, remaining strong throughout. He even managed to secure a spot on a health care team filled with national champions, making him one of those people who rose to prominence through sports.
"...He has protected many people and still has a conscience." Fang Tongjian told his apprentice about Li Yuan: "This man has a very good eye and is very shameless. If we were born in the same family, maybe your uncle would have to call him 'chief' when he saw him." He was obviously a potential official who would abuse his power, but he was born into the conservative and stubborn Li family.
If it were the Fang family, his grandfather would have been given an official position. The old man would have been so happy that he wouldn't have been so worried about his grandson's behavior before he left.
Master Fang's words were quite pertinent: "He's certainly adept at handling relationships and directing affairs, but he's not good with his hands, writing, or practicing medicine. His father and grandfather's corrupted wisdom corrupts his mind, and he's single-mindedly pursuing the reputation of the 'Century Li Family'... This tiger that's taking the blame for you has run into you on its own terms!"
The old man took a sip of his tea and said leisurely, "Old Man Li is willing to take on all the responsibilities for you except for the actual achievements. He only wants the reputation. Your uncle and I think it's worth it. Girl, what do you think?"
Lin Xinghuo has plenty of achievements. The "Beiyuan Bamboo" she'd just barely revealed had already caught the attention of several teachers. Discovering this new herb, outside of traditional pharmacopoeias, was already a significant achievement. Furthermore, this bamboo was resistant to freezing temperatures. Beiyuan Bamboo held immense value, both for medicinal purposes and beyond, yet to be explored and researched. Who knew how many surprises lay ahead?
Since the restoration of order began, Li Yuan had voluntarily retired from the health care team and was now employed at the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine. He had protected many people back then, and these individuals, now reinstated, had considerable influence. With these connections, even without a prominent health care position, Mr. Li could still spend the rest of his career at the head of a university, and that university didn't necessarily have to be a College of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Mr. Li lacked prestige, but he had extensive experience. Even Ning Bangyan's former supervisor had been indebted to him. For someone like him, being a professor at a College of Traditional Chinese Medicine was a bit of a misnomer.
But Li Yuan insisted on doing so. He didn't even bother with the position of school leader, instead staying in the professor's office. The old man wanted to be featured on the title page of a book, with a legacy of scholarly achievements that would carry the family name forward, rather than a biographical record resembling an official resume. So, the moment he learned that Lin Xinghuo was Fang Tongjian's prized apprentice, he set his sights on him, hoping to borrow "Newton's apple." Of course, the old man's vision was a win-win situation of mutual benefit and assistance.
"As long as you are willing to choose him as your mentor, he is willing to carry out projects completely according to your wishes and requirements...Those matters inside and outside the project are very complicated, just leave them to old man Li, and old man Li will definitely be able to handle it." In this regard, Fang Tongjian still trusts Li Yuan very much. Although the two have always been compared when they were young, the arrogant Master Fang has never regarded Li Yuan as an opponent, because Li Yuan knows how to behave and has a conscience, and the relationship between the two old men is actually not bad.
Lin Xinghuo, who originally didn't plan to continue studying after college: "..."
"How long have you been thinking about this?" The old man really took great pains to let her continue her studies.
Old Man Fang argued confidently, "Studying wasn't originally the same as academic qualifications, but with the reinstatement of the college entrance exam, academic performance has become synonymous with academic qualifications. Your master, I'm considered the best at studying. If you were born earlier, you'd most likely have won the top spot... You're not outstanding in this area, so forget about winning the top spot. But now that we've caught up with the best times, just study to the top and you'll be considered the 'top scholar'."
This was naturally a joke to his disciples, but being born late and failing to catch up with the imperial examination system was indeed a regret in Fang Tongjian's youth. He was proud of his talent at the time and truly wanted to compete with the country's talents. As the saying goes, "There is no first place in literature," it seemed that only the top scorer in the imperial examination could satisfy Fang Tongjian at the time.
But academic qualifications are indeed a practical matter that Lin Xinghuo should consider.
When she'd previously only dreamed of expanding her farms and cultivating medicinal herbs, a university degree and connections were enough. But hadn't Lin Xinghuo discovered another promising path to fulfilling her "great ambition"? Spiritual plants were like a vast treasure trove; solely utilizing them to increase the birth rate of babies born with spiritual roots was too narrow-minded. Beiyuan Bamboo was the first stone thrown in to test the waters, but Lin Xinghuo's current education and experience weren't enough to lead Beiyuan Bamboo research.
It is conceivable that there will be many more such things in the future.
Lin Xinghuo herself didn't necessarily want full control over the research, but her university degree meant that unless she joined a research institute after graduation, she wouldn't be able to interfere with any subsequent research on her mortalized spiritual plants. This meant the research direction was uncontrollable, and the consequences could even spiral out of control, such as overuse and generalization... Lin Xinghuo was a cultivator, and while she could afford to be less virtuous in this regard, she couldn't bear the consequences of good deeds, and some of these consequences could be too severe for her to bear.
In fact, this is precisely the fundamental reason why cultivators often shun the mundane world. In ancient times when spiritual energy was abundant, cultivators who possessed extraordinary powers could easily improve the lives of mortals. However, cultivators were numerous, and the mundane world remained backward and ignorant. Those cultivators who made their mark in legends or unofficial history were often short-lived and reluctant to make any contributions. While the experience of the past doesn't necessarily have to be followed, it must be carefully considered. Trying to avoid the negative consequences of karma is the attitude that Lin Xinghuo should maintain in his practice.
This is also one of the considerations for Lin Xinghuo to use Beiyuan bamboo as a medicinal material. Medicines usually have to go through several research and testing stages before they can be promoted, so they can be studied more carefully and comprehensively.
Master Fang's requirement for the highest academic qualification was entirely based on her own perspective, seeking a double insurance policy for her apprentice.
When Lin Xinghuo's education wasn't enough to stand on her own, Li Yuan became her ideal mentor. The old man wanted to maintain his reputation to continue the Li family's renown. His medical skills weren't enough to make him a great doctor, but he was able to forge his own path, becoming a renowned doctor specializing in certain, or even several, effective medicines.
Mr. Li is not greedy. He is good at judging people and has a sharp eye. After visiting Fang Tongjian several times, he persuaded this old friend who always looked down on him.
"That is, we don't want false reputation, so that when we need it in the future, we won't lack the means." Fang Tongjian complained to his apprentice: "Otherwise, we can't let Old Man Li get it for nothing."
Lin Xinghuo laughed so hard: "Cheap? Setting up a laboratory, establishing projects, striving for various policies...this is a bargain for us, right?" Except for the project content and initial direction, Mr. Li did everything, but he only wanted reputation and didn't want any specific results. With such a price tag, I'm afraid many big guys would be tempted. What a partner fell from the sky!
This had nothing to do with hoarding student research. Li Yuan himself would participate in the entire experimental process, with Lin Xinghuo merely serving as a guide, the apple that hit Newton. In reality, Lin Xinghuo's specific contributions to the project were limited; in Li Yuan's lab, she was a participant, and only a participant. But the compensation Li Yuan offered for "guidance" was substantial, and he ceded the actual value of the research. Even if Lin Xinghuo were a prodigy, in the future, not only would domestic experimental mechanisms remain immature, but even established commercial laboratories abroad wouldn't offer such generous conditions.
That is to say, Grandpa Li is old, and he saw the more extraordinary "Beiyuan Bamboo" from Fang Tongjian, and he bet that there will be results in the next few years - of course, there is also his only grandson Li Bing who is always praising Wu Nian. His grandson praised Wu Nian to the skies. Not long after Li Bing entered the school, he pursued the lofty ideal of "developing and filling the gap in agricultural machinery" and identified his subject guide... Taking advantage of the special relationship between Wu Nian and Lin Xinghuo, this kid also eased his grandfather's dissatisfaction with his aspiring major. Li Bing swore to the old man that he would make extraordinary achievements in this major and live up to the reputation of his ancestors.
Li Bing's vigorous advocacy became the last straw that broke the camel's back for Mr. Li.
When Lin Xinghuo and Wu Nian attended Xiao Lanqin's wedding, the decoration she wore on her chest, in addition to the university emblem, had added a small rectangular metal plate with the words "Junior Researcher of a certain laboratory" on it... Ququ was already in her second year of university, and she was favored by the professor and accepted into his laboratory. This almost meant that she had a bright future. At least, she easily got the place in the postgraduate study that Xiao Lanqin had always wanted.
Ever since the three roommates came and took their seats, Xiao Lanqin, who was wearing the most fashionable red tweed coat, had her smile stiffen unconsciously.
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The author has something to say: I changed some content.
Mr. Li Yuan lacks a breakthrough direction. He does not want to shamelessly encroach on Xinghuo's achievements. Xinghuo also needs such a mentor to protect it. Little angels should not misunderstand the old man's academic misconduct.
Note:
Danxi Weng, a renowned Yuan Dynasty physician: Zhu Danxi was a renowned physician during the late Song and early Yuan dynasties. His exceptional medical skills earned him the title of one of the "Four Great Masters of the Jin and Yuan Dynasties," along with Li Gao, Liu Wansu, and Zhang Congzheng. His real name was Zhu Zhenheng, and Danxi was his pen name. Zhu Danxi began his medical training at the age of 44, a typical latecomer, but he ultimately became a renowned physician. A classic formula: the Qi-tonifying and exterior-strengthening "Yupingfeng Powder" (Yupingfeng Powder), composed of Saposhnikovia divaricata, Astragalus membranaceus (honey moxibustion), and Atractylodes macrocephala. Although it contains only three herbs, their combined effects combine tonic and dispersing properties, achieving the combined effects of Qi-tonifying, exterior-strengthening, and antiperspirant properties. [Baidu]
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