Chapter 139

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Main Character:

Shen Yao

Time flies, years pass like a shuttle.

With the existence of a system cheat, Shen Yao did not encounter any difficulties when giving birth to this child.

The only difficulty worth mentioning is that for the sake of nurturing the fetus and so Xie Ci'an could care for her with peace of mind, both of their studies had to be temporarily postponed for a year.

Shen Yao delayed her PhD graduation, while Xie Ci'an postponed his advanced studies.

But a mere year is no problem at all for the two of them.

……

1991, late spring turning to early summer

"Meimei, Manman, you two run slower, be careful not to fall."

The two children answered in unison, running ahead boisterously with heads down, while Shen Yao, trailing behind carrying schoolbags, couldn't help but sigh.

Aiyo

Sure enough, getting older, these past two years raising children even with help, Shen Yao still feels unequal to the task.

Meimei and Manman are the pet names of the dragon-and-phoenix twins Shen Yao gave birth to later.

Their formal names are Xie Weishu and Xie Weixi.

Now already six years old, smart and quick-witted, at the age to start school.

This time Shen Yao sent the two of them back to Fengshou Hutong because she needs to make a trip to the Southwest on business, regarding herb planting.

Having already graduated from the Traditional Chinese Medicine University, Shen Yao neither stayed to teach nor entered the system, but opened a herb planting base.

That is, selecting places across the country suitable for herb planting and cooperating with locals.

The produced medicinal materials are also collected by her side, and conveniently sold in the soon-to-open Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic.

She also gained some inspiration from Pingshan Town's industrial reform.

Shen Yao feels that in Chinese medicine, firmly grasping the entire process from raw material production to specific finished products is a high cost-performance investment, at least eliminating worry about the common problem of unstable drug efficacy in herbs.

"How many days will this business trip take? After a while I need to make a trip to Guang City."

The older she gets, the more spirited Tian Na looks.

Especially that neat head of black hair; whoever sees it would not think Tian Na has already entered her seventies and is charging toward eighty.

"Not long, a round trip about a week," Shen Yao glanced at the two little ones playing noisily in the courtyard, explaining Xie Ci'an is in the desert, Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan are also rooted in the Northwest, "I'm afraid they won't be back until after autumn this year."

No help for it, all three of them are research personnel, and the extremely intelligent genius kind at that.

Some national missions require their contribution; Shen Yao cannot possibly reach out to stop them in this regard.

Tian Na waved her hand, "Let them be busy, serving the country is as it should be.

No matter, if you can't return on your end, I'll push back the Guang City trip; anyway it's just going to talk business, one day earlier or later makes no difference."

Having spoken, Tian Na reached out and pointed at the busy grand courtyard where no one could be seen.

"Busy is good, every household earning money, even speech becomes more amiable.

These past years factory returns have been poor, fortunately we still have our own business."

Otherwise this whole big family of theirs, even eating chaff and swallowing vegetables would cost a lot.

State-owned factories hit by market impact, most are in a state of expenditure exceeding income.

Fengshou Hutong is alright, because the Xie Family was bold, surrounding households all received some positive influence.

Although they lack the Zhao Family's daring spirit to quit factory jobs and strike out on their own, they can still scrape together a little extra by buying cheap goods from the Xie Family and reselling them.

Don't underestimate these bits; the whole country has only been developing for a few years, earning an extra hundred or eighty yuan a month can genuinely make life not bad.

For 1990s Jing Shi, the cost of living here is high, yet cannot compare to a fraction of the future's.

Shen Yao nodded in agreement, "Right, thanks to Mom's far-sighted planning."

Casually praising Tian Na, Shen Yao then brought up Wu Zhaodi and Wang Yanyan.

These two are also old hands working in factories; the Machinery Factory and Rolling Mill situation can only be described as six of one, half a dozen of the other.

"Eldest Sister-in-law and Second Sister-in-law's meaning when they spoke to me was they want to find someone to pull strings first, they'll go South to check the situation."

After all, in this era many people go into business; some fear trouble, worry about a bad outcome, so they want to leave themselves a retreat route and make two-handed preparations.

Wu Zhaodi and Wang Yanyan have their own mother-in-law as a positive example right before them, and have experienced their own clothing store's booming opening and the garment factory's establishment and so on, completely without worry about lacking money-making paths; what the two of them currently worry about most is the instability of earning money.

See, they dare say it to Shen Yao this sister-in-law, but don't dare say it to Tian Na this mother-in-law.

This trip back, Shen Yao also carried a mission from her two sisters-in-law.

Tian Na: ……

Tian Na muttered that Wu Zhaodi and Wang Yanyan are timid, dare speak but dare not act.

"Let them go look, circling the factory all day has no future."

Because these two do not do technical work; just doing it for a lifetime, what can they become.

Their combined wages Tian Na can earn back with interest in a month.

Sighing deeply, Tian Na quietly admonished Shen Yao not to learn this, "Your situation differs from theirs; you are someone who uses her brain, they can only brute-force."

Brute-forcing earns money, but it's all hard-earned money from exhausting labor.

Tian Na doesn't feel the youngest son's family lacks money; the currently hot-selling Flavor-Enhancing Powder, she bought some to taste and it's exactly the same as the powder the youngest daughter-in-law puts in glass bottles.

As a successful boss who opened a garment factory, sent it gradually onto the right track, and even spends money hiring designers to help design original clothing, Tian Na understands the meaning of copyright and patents.

Just like this Flavor-Enhancing Powder, although she can't guess how much profit her youngest daughter-in-law takes from it, she only needs to see the powder's popularity to know this money is only more not less, completely enough to spend.

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law sat in the small courtyard and chatted briefly, then Shen Yao stood up, waved to Meimei and Manman, and left alone.

Reunion and happiness

This was Shen Yao's blessing for her own life, and her earnest hope for her four children.

"Meimei, Manman, come back for dinner; you'll stay at Grandma's house tonight."

Tian Na stood up to call the two children over, and amid the children's unique childish voices, she smilingly promised they would go out early to eat tomorrow.

In Jing Shi in '91, there were already quite a few small private food stalls outside.

As a rich woman famous far and wide in Fengshou Hutong, Tian Na lived in great comfort day to day.

If it weren't that buying a four-wheeled car was too high-profile, Tian Na would definitely get herself a contemporary car no matter what.

"Not to mention anything else, just driving out would look impressive, wouldn't it?"

Tian Na made no secret of her desire to go out and enjoy herself once she made money.

Life is only once, so how one lives is still living. Tian Na had worked diligently for her family in the first half of her life, and now that she was old enough to have such fortune, it was because Heaven saw that her previous days had been too hard, and this was her reward.

Without hesitation, she entrusted her thoughts to the still-young Meimei and Manman; Tian Na grinned at the corners of her mouth, and the three of them walked into the main house rooms.

……

Meanwhile, Shen Yao, who had already returned to her residence, was busy packing the luggage she would take when she went out.

The place she was going this time was the Southwest, with Chuan Province and Qing City as her main destinations; if time permitted, she could also visit Gui Province and Yun Province.

Senior Sister Xu Huixin, the eldest sister in the dormitory, lived in Chuan Province, where there were many wild and artificially cultivated medicinal materials. Through letter exchanges over the past two years, Shen Yao knew the other party had already moved to the provincial capital to live.

This time Shen Yao went there, going to Chuan Province first was partly out of consideration for Xu Huixin.

Soon, a large luggage bag was packed.

Shen Yao brought several sets of long-sleeved shirts and long pants for changing, took some books only available in Jing Shi, sat by the bedside and exhaled, then finally ran to the desk and leaned over to write a letter.

The three people at home didn't know about her going out, but necessary communication still had to happen.

She briefly wrote in the letter about her recent affairs and the matters she would be busy with afterward.

Shen Yao made three copies of the finished letter, put them separately into envelopes, and sealed them.

She just had to wait until tomorrow morning, when she went to the train station, to conveniently deliver them to the post office.

Washing up and changing clothes, putting out the lamp and going to sleep.

When Shen Yao opened her eyes again, the time had already come to the early morning of the second day.

She got up, picked up the packed luggage bag, locked the room door, and left home.

Shen Yao ate breakfast at a small stall outside, then took a vehicle directly to the train station.

At the train station, besides Shen Yao, there were several young people going on this business trip.

They were all students graduated from the Traditional Chinese Medicine University, and after graduation they entered Shen Yao's company.

Don't look at this as working for a private person, but as their direct senior sister, Shen Yao not only provided free accommodation, but also paid high wages plus various travel allowances, which was much better than them going to hospitals or the public sector.

"Sister Yao," "Sister Yao"

Three men and two women, each carrying their own luggage for going out.

Shen Yao smiled and greeted them, "Have you all eaten?"

"Eaten, eaten"

"Buns and flower rolls bought on the way"

"The tea leaf eggs next door are delicious, I brought a few"

"……"

Chattering and buzzing, the enthusiasm unique to young people made Shen Yao unable to help but laugh heartily.

No wonder they always bring young people on business trips; such vitality is very comforting.

The group of six boarded the train, sat together, and discussed the work content of this trip to the Southwest.

"Xiao Xu, you and Xiao Xu are one group; Huating, you and Cheng Cheng are one group; Xiao Yu, you are temporarily one group by yourself."

"We're going to quite a few places on this trip; if the tasks aren't reduced, time is tight. We need to visit all these places marked above within one week."

Shen Yao never talked nonsense; she liked to be direct. This not only improved everyone's work efficiency but also reduced unnecessary socializing.

Everyone was out working to make a living; as a leader, Shen Yao had to set an example even more.

After about half an hour, Shen Yao announced the meeting adjourned, and the five people breathed a sigh of relief.

The lively Huating playfully patted her chest, "I'll go get hot water."

"I'll go with you, and buy some snacks. How can you take a train without snacks?" Cheng Cheng chimed in, and the two little sisters held hands and went toward the dining car.

Shen Yao looked at the remaining three young men, "You can go see what you want to eat too."

"The train moves around fine during the day; just go quickly and come back quickly."

After she finished speaking, the other three also left their seats eagerly.

They were all newcomers going far away for the first time. Although this train ride would take several days, it didn't stop them from being excited.

But such excitement didn't last long. After spending a night on the train, even the liveliest Huating looked listless.

Shen Yao found it amusing, thinking that after all, it was their first time going on such a long business trip. She also bought them some snacks and told them about her own experiences taking the train in a calm tone.

It had to be said, the trains of this time were much more comfortable than those in her early days.

Even when resting at night, they didn't need to hold onto their luggage tightly; at least they could sleep soundly.

Huating listened, stunned, and chimed in with Cheng Cheng one sentence after another, directly turning the science lecture into a comedy show.

The other three young men were good at playing along, never letting the conversational thread fall flat throughout.

Shen Yao:... impressed

After several days on the train, as soon as they landed, they were spirited again.

Shen Yao led them to finish the proper business first, then gave them half a day off to go sightseeing separately.

"You can buy some specialty products for your family, and if you have any good friends, go see them too.

But you must come back as soon as the time is up; I'll call roll and check on everyone one by one then."

After Shen Yao finished instructing them, she waved her hand, letting them go do whatever they should be doing.

She didn't rest at the guesthouse either, but packed up the books she had brought and went to see Xu Huixin, who had specially taken leave to come out.

"It's been about a decade since we last met; your looks haven't changed much."

Xu Huixin's short hair had grown into long hair, tied into a ponytail at the back.

Wearing a still frank and hearty smile on her face, Xu Huixin, as the host, treated Shen Yao to a sumptuous lunch.

Chuan Province's unique spicy dishes made Shen Yao drink several cups of plain water in a row.

"The climate here is humid, vastly different from Jing Shi; eat more chili peppers, and your body will feel much more comfortable."

Shen Yao waved her hand repeatedly, "No, no, this body of mine can't handle spicy food well; it chokes my throat."

Xu Huixin laughed especially happily, perhaps seeing her good friend's embarrassment; she opened her mouth to explain that she herself couldn't get used to the chili peppers here at first either.

She is a proper coastal person; if it weren't for the matter of the Knowledgeable Youth being sent down to the countryside bringing her here, marrying her current husband and smoothly giving birth to three lovely children, she would certainly have returned to her hometown to live.

"It's still too far; last time I went home, my parents were getting on in years, and I was reluctant in my heart."

Some words Xu Huixin couldn't say to her family; her relationship with Shen Yao was just right, and they could even say many heart-to-heart words.

Companionship between people is this strange; it was as if Xu Huixin had never thought Shen Yao would come here, and similarly never thought Shen Yao would still want to poach her.

Ah?

Shen Yao looked dead serious, feeling in her heart that Xu Huixin might not have a comprehensive enough understanding of her own capabilities.

"What's there to be surprised about? Whether it's your education or your years of experience, me poaching you is a perfectly normal thing.

The herb business inherently has a long cycle and high investment; even if a contract is signed here, without someone I trust to help take charge of arrangements, the follow-up work cannot be carried out at all."

What Shen Yao does isn't big if you say it's big, isn't small if you say it's small; herbs involve a vast amount of content, and are the most crucial link in her future career.

Not only Xu Huixin, but other places as well; Shen Yao needs people she can trust to be the persons in charge.

Not saying they must reach the height of confidants, but at the very least they must not drag her down.

The medicinal materials grown are for her own use; Shen Yao now has the revenue boost from the Flavor-Enhancing Powder, indeed not lacking money much, but she still hopes she can create greater value, whether for herself or for something else, so that coming here and walking through a lifetime is not in vain."