Chapter 56: Whatever I Can Help With, I Will Help With

"Old Zhang, step outside, I'll consult with him," Qin Zhong suddenly demanded.

"Old Qin, that's not quite fair," Zhang予扬 protested with dissatisfaction. "Business is business, and personal matters are personal; I draw a clear line between them. Besides, I've got one foot in the grave already, am I really going to steal young Lin's credit?"

He knew precisely why Qin Zhong wanted him out. Union Medical College Hospital had its own pharmaceutical factory—not a partnered one, but a facility that belonged entirely to the hospital itself.

Qin Zhong fell silent.

"There's no need for all that, really no need," Lin绍文 smiled, stepping in to smooth things over. "When I was examining Elder Zhao last time, I noticed a problem. He has quite a few underlying conditions, but the most severe by far is myocardial infarction."

"Indeed. Although his physical recovery is coming along well now, an attack of myocardial infarction could take his life at any moment," Zhang予扬 sighed. "And myocardial infarction isn't just Zhao Qingming's problem alone; many elderly people suffer from it."

"Young Lin, is the formula you've been pondering related to myocardial infarction?" Qin Zhong asked.

"Correct."

Lin绍文 nodded. "The medicine is called 'Musk Heart-Protecting Pill,' and its ingredients include musk, ginseng, bezoar..."

He reeled off dozens of medicinal ingredients in one breath.

"This formula of yours... it's rather expensive," Zhang予扬 remarked with a sigh.

"No, cultivated ingredients will do just fine," Lin绍文 smiled.

"Cultivated ones?" Qin Zhong asked in surprise.

Although everyone propagated the notion that wild traditional Chinese medicine and artificially cultivated herbs shared the same components, the reality was a world of difference. Take wild ginseng, for instance: an individual plant that took five years to mature in the wild could be forced to maturity in just one year under artificial intervention.

How could the therapeutic effects possibly be the same once ingested?

Furthermore, the chemical compositions were not entirely identical. Though the differences might not seem substantial, it was precisely those minute variations in composition that caused the medicinal efficacy to diverge drastically.

"I'll write down the formula. You can have it manufactured and distribute it to some heart attack patients for clinical trials." As soon as he finished speaking, Lin绍文 began to write. He detailed not only the prescription itself but also the entire manufacturing process with absolute clarity.

"I'll see to it immediately."

Zhang予扬 solemnly put away the prescription, then glanced at Qin Zhong.

"Ahem, ahem. Young Lin, we actually have another matter to discuss today," Qin Zhong gave a couple of dry coughs before saying in a deep voice, "You are exceptionally talented and smooth-mannered. Though we are old, helping you secure a strong foundation is no trouble at all. You understand my meaning, don't you?"

"Are you referring to Lou Xiaoe and me?" Lin绍文 frowned.

"Lou Ban-cheng is decent enough, but when all is said and done, he is still a capitalist. Sooner or later, he will face liquidation. If you are looking to marry, Old Qin and I can find you a suitable match from a good family."

Inside the secluded room, Zhang予扬 spoke with blunt directness.

"I've already given her my word," Lin绍文 said softly.

"Nonsense! Is this a matter of whether you should keep a promise or not?" Qin Zhong asked with a stern face.

"Teacher, if I could abandon a woman to whom I've personally given my pledge, what else wouldn't I be capable of abandoning in the future?" Lin绍文 said solemnly. "My career prospects matter little to me, but I wish to preserve the foundation of my humanity."

Qin Zhong was momentarily stunned, and then he lapsed into silence.

Zhang予扬 smiled bitterly and shook his head. "Old Qin, didn't I tell you this boy has a mind of his own? I told you not to come, but you insisted."

"If I hadn't come, would you have gotten this prescription?" Qin Zhong retorted.

"Thank you both for your deep affection and care, but I believe that since human life lasts only a few short decades, one should live it true to one's heart."

Lin绍文 stood up and bowed to the two elders.

"Very well," Qin Zhong waved his hand. "As long as I draw breath, keeping you safe and sound is still within my power."

"Thank you, Teacher," Lin绍文 said with gratitude.

"Young Lin, if anyone gives you trouble, call me directly."

Zhang予扬 patted Lin绍文 on the shoulder, then pulled Qin Zhong away with him.

Over at the Lou residence:

"So you're saying it worked out?" Madam Lou asked in astonishment.

"Mm."

Lou Xiaoe lowered her head, blushing.

"Oh, as expected of my daughter."

Madam Lou happily pulled Lou Xiaoe into an embrace.

Lin绍文's medical skills were truly remarkable. Ever since she started raising silkworms, she had had to travel to the outskirts every day to pick mulberry leaves just to tend to those little darlings. Afterward, she had to feed them personally and clean up their droppings... In short, she was kept busy to her heart's content.

Yet, her palpitations and melancholia had completely vanished, and she slept soundly through the night.

Seeing the two women so joyful, even Lou Ban-cheng allowed the corners of his mouth to curve upward into a smile.

Now only the three of them remained in the Lou family; the rest of the extended branches had either died or scattered, leaving the once-grand Lou family essentially shattered.

"Sir, we have a guest. He says his surname is Zhao," Nurse Wu walked in and announced.

"Surname Zhao?"

Lou Ban-cheng pondered for less than half a second before immediately standing up. "Quickly invite the guest inside..."

A short while later.

"Manager Lou, please forgive me for calling uninvited," Zhao Qingqing's robust figure appeared in the living room.

"Brother Qingqing, what kind of talk is that? Please, have a seat."

After inviting him to sit, Lou Ban-cheng instructed the domestic worker to serve tea.

"No need for tea. I've come this time to convey a message on behalf of my father..."

Zhao Qingqing retained the steadfast demeanor of a military man, speaking with absolute directness.

"Please go ahead."

Lou Ban-cheng reined in his expression while Madam Lou beside him grew extremely tense. Only Lou Xiaoe blinked her large, bright eyes, looking at Zhao Qingqing with curiosity.

Zhao Qingqing shifted his gaze from Lou Ban-cheng to Lou Xiaoe, then smiled. "My father said, 'Whatever can be helped in the future, I will help.' The message has been delivered. Farewell."

With that, he stood up and left without the slightest hesitation or drag.

Lou Ban-cheng sat dumbfounded in the living room for a long while before it occurred to him to see Zhao Qingqing out, but the domestic worker informed him that Zhao Qingqing had already departed.

"Dad, what does that mean?" Lou Xiaoe asked, somewhat perplexed.

"Xiaoe, you really do have an eye for people," Lou Ban-cheng hugged his daughter in excitement and declared loudly, "A fortune-teller said when you were little that our Xiaoe's life would be one where 'fortune and misfortune are intertwined.' It seems the fortune outweighs the misfortune after all, hahaha!"

"Of course. Look at whose daughter she was raised to be," Madam Lou said, equally elated.

With Zhao Qingming's words, they at least had no need to worry for the time being.

Even if trouble arose, Zhao Qingming would give them advance warning.

Lou Xiaoe blinked her eyes repeatedly, still none the wiser.

In the courtyard:

As Lin绍文 walked past the Jia family's doorway, he saw the Matriarch Jia entertaining a middle-aged man. The man appeared to be in his early forties, wearing a reserved smile on his face, while Jia Dongxu stood beside them wearing a ingratiating grin.

Upon seeing Lin绍文, the group abruptly stopped talking.

"You thousand-cut little bastard!"

Matriarch Jia spat in the direction of Lin绍文's retreating back.

"Who is that?" the middle-aged man asked with curiosity.

The young man was dressed remarkably well, pushing a bicycle and wearing a wristwatch on his wrist; at a single glance, he was clearly well-off.

"Just a little bastard from the courtyard, pay him no mind," Matriarch Jia cursed, then immediately asked, "Daoist Priest Feng, did you just say that the fortune and destiny of this courtyard have been usurped by someone?"

"Indeed," Daoist Priest Feng formed a hand incantation and said, "Has anyone in your courtyard suddenly struck it rich or received a promotion recently?"

"Yes, yes, yes! It's that very same little bastard!" Matriarch Jia shrieked at once. "Ever since that little bastard moved in, nothing has gone smoothly for our family..."

"Then it seems my reading was correct," Daoist Priest Feng sighed. "Just now, I also observed that young man's physiognomy; he is indeed destined for extraordinary wealth and nobility. Your family... is no match for him."

With a bicycle and a wristwatch, anyone could tell at a glance that Lin绍文 was wealthy.

Yet the Jia family only grew more anxious.