Chapter 495

On the afternoon of May 14, Lu Fan welcomed leaders of various levels and guests from all directions at the Nanyuan City Hotel.

The first wave were guests from Qinchuan Province; old classmate Wang Honghai arrived with Medical Association Chairman Wang Feng, Hua Fei Medical Chairman Bai Ximing, and representatives of eight listed pharmaceutical companies.

Old classmates met and were especially enthusiastic.

Wang Honghai smiled and said, "Mayor Lu, let me introduce you: this is our Medical Association Chairman Wang Feng, also the Chairman of Baiyun Medical!"

Lu Fan extended his hand and said with a smile, "Welcome, Chairman Wang, to Nanyuan. I hope Chairman Wang can invest and develop business here; I will wholeheartedly serve your esteemed enterprise!"

Wang Feng said enthusiastically, "The Nanyuan Traditional Chinese Medicine market is very mature. I heard Mayor Lu plans to build the nation's largest Chinese medicinal material trading center; we have come with sincere intentions!"

Lu Fan replied, "Nanyuan's cultivation, production, and trade of medicinal herbs have a long history. The Municipal Party Committee and City Government have adopted the development concept of 'building the city on medicine' to become the 'World Capital of Traditional Chinese Medicine.' We aim to build the largest, most fully equipped, highest‑grade Chinese medicinal material trading center in the country. The project will break ground this month. Your arrival, Director Wang, is perfectly timed; tomorrow we'll have everyone guide the work."

Then Wang Honghai introduced to Lu Fan the Chairman of Hua Fei Medical, Bai Ximing; the Chairman of Maide Medical, Zhang Yang; and the Chairman of North China Medical, Liu Wenhua. Lu Fan chatted enthusiastically with the "God of Wealth," and then arranged for everyone to return to their rooms to rest.

Wang Honghai stayed behind, sitting in the lobby to chat with Lu Fan.

Lu Fan asked the staff to bring Wang Honghai a cup of hot tea and said, "You've traveled a long way; why don't you wash your face and rest for a while?"

Wang Honghai replied boisterously, "It's about four hundred kilometers, a real 'hammer' of effort! It's hard to finally meet, so I'll talk a lot with you; I'm here for your sake! Oh, by the way, those companies we just mentioned will invest in Nanyuan; that's my brother's wish!"

Lu Fan said sincerely, "Thank you, Secretary, for your support! When we spoke on the phone last time, I mentioned it in passing, and I didn't expect the Secretary's support to be this strong! Honghai, 'outsiders' are all investing with me; you won't just be a 'talker', will you?"

Wang Honghai said disdainfully, "Is my brother that kind of person? I have so much money I have nowhere to invest; let's just build a drug factory in Nanyuan! Nanyuan has abundant rainfall and excellent sunlight; herbs like Rehmannia, goji berries, and mugwort are famous, as well as mountain cornelian cherry, magnolia flower, platycodon, and Salvia miltiorrhiza. If you vigorously develop the medicinal herb industry, you'll solve the raw‑material problem for me."

Lu Fan laughed, "After three days apart, one must look at each other with new eyes; Honghai, you still have a couple of tricks up your sleeve!"

"What's so funny? My 'brushes' are more than two! Never mind, a summer insect cannot speak of ice, a well frog cannot speak of the sea, an ordinary person cannot speak of the Dao; saying it would frighten you to death!"

Just as the two were getting into a lively chat, Secretary Cheng Haohao ran over and whispered, "Mayor, Secretary Tang Bing and the Director of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Administration, Jia Luhuo, are arriving shortly."

Lu Fan rose immediately and said, "Honghai, you sit for a while; I'll go greet the leaders."

Wang Honghai stood up and said, "We're all old acquaintances; I'll go with you to help you hold the scene!"

The two had just stepped out when they saw two cars pull into the hotel and stop at the entrance.

Lu Fan stepped forward to open the door for Secretary Tang Bing and said, "Welcome, Secretary!"

Tang Bing nodded, walked toward Director Jia Luhuo, and said with a smile, "Director Luhuo, you've had a hard journey!"

Jia Luhuo stepped forward, extended his hand, and replied with a smile, "It is my honor to attend the grand events of Huayuan Province and Nanyuan City; there's no talk of hardship."

Tang Bing said, "The construction of Zhang Zhongjing National Medical University is a major, joyous, and essential undertaking in Huayuan Province's development; we ask Director Luhuo to give strong support, and we will jointly celebrate this occasion!"

After the leaders exchanged pleasantries, Lu Fan hurried forward to shake Director Jia Luhuo's hand, expressing his welcome.

Wang Honghai also smiled and said, "Welcome, Secretary Tang, Director Jia!"

Tang Bing laughed, "Honghai, shouldn't I, the host, be the one to welcome you?"

Honghai replied, "Lu Fan and I are 'iron‑clad' classmates; Nanyuan's affairs are my affairs. Our Longteng Medical will make a massive entry into Nanyuan; I can at least be considered 'half a host'!"

Jia Luhuo smiled and said, "Honghai, you haven't visited me for a while; now your wings are strong, so you no longer need our support!"

Honghai hurriedly said, "Director Jia, I can't take that responsibility. I've been abroad recently; if Lu Fan hadn't invited me, I probably wouldn't be back until next month. In a few days I'll go to Jingcheng and will definitely pay a visit! Director Jia, I need to say a few words on behalf of Lu Fan: Nanyuan's determination to develop Traditional Chinese Medicine is huge, so you must give strong support!"

Director Jia replied, "The hometown of Zhongjing, the spirit of the medical sage shines through the ages. The Traditional Chinese Medicine Administration has always attached great importance to the construction of Zhang Zhongjing National Medical University. This visit is to sign a co‑construction agreement; we will continue to monitor the university's building and development, and participate comprehensively, providing strong support in funding, policies, faculty resources, and other aspects!"

After chatting for about ten minutes, Lu Fan personally escorted the two leaders back to their rooms to rest, then went to the hotel lobby to receive them again.

Around five o'clock, according to the invitation list, leaders from the National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Finance, National Health Commission, Market Supervision Administration, and Ministry of Education arrived, all sent deputy‑level officials, which already set a high standard for an event of a prefecture‑level city.

At six p. m., night fell, the lights glowed, and the Nanyuan Hotel shone brilliantly and bustlingly. A grand banquet was being held there to welcome the leaders and distinguished guests who had traveled from afar.

After the banquet, Secretary Tang Bing and Director Jia Luhuo held a meeting; both sides reached a consensus on co‑building Zhang Zhongjing National Medical University, with Director Jia pledging specific support measures, and Lu Fan accompanied them throughout.

On May 15 at 9 a. m., in the Nanyuan Urban‑Rural Integrated Demonstration Zone, colorful flags fluttered, drums and cannons roared, formations lined up, guests gathered, and the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of Zhang Zhongjing National Medical University was held here in grandeur.

The groundbreaking ceremony was chaired by Nanyuan Mayor Lu Fan, with Secretary Tang Bing and Director Jia Luhuo delivering speeches in turn. Leaders from ministries, provincial‑level departments, invited enterprises, and representatives of Nanyuan's various departments attended, totaling 1,200 people. Everyone jointly witnessed the engraving of this historic scene and together bore witness to this historic moment.

Executive Vice Mayor Wang Hong introduced the scale of Zhang Zhongjing National Medical University's construction. Phase I will cover about 1,000 mu, primarily accommodating 6,000 students. The building projects include teaching buildings, labs and training rooms, a library, indoor sports facilities, administrative offices, department and faculty offices, faculty‑student activity rooms, a hall, cafeteria, student dormitories, single‑faculty dormitories, logistics and ancillary facilities, with a total construction area of 260,000 square metres.

The university's design is based on the principle "Harmony and Unity, Following Heaven and Illuminating Virtue," reflecting a social melody of harmony and cooperation, as well as the essence of the Taoist unity of heaven and humanity in Chinese‑medicine culture. Once completed, the university will embody concepts of green, ecological, and healthy architecture, integrating traditional Chinese‑medicine culture with advanced medical building features, becoming an important base for medical, teaching, and research in Huayuan Province.

Mayor Lu Fan, on behalf of the Nanyuan Municipal Party Committee and City Government, delivered a speech:

"Respected leaders and distinguished guests, I sincerely welcome you on behalf of the Nanyuan Municipal Party Committee, City Government, and all city cadres and the public, and express heartfelt thanks to all who care for and support Nanyuan's medical undertakings!"

"The spirit of the medical sage shines through the ages, and the marvelous arts of Chinese medicine bless future generations. Nanyuan City seizes the historic opportunity of the nation's vigorous development of the Chinese‑medicine industry, launches the construction of Zhang Zhongjing National Medical University, strives to build a 'Sacred Land of Chinese Medicine, Health‑Living City', inherits Zhongjing's spirit, promotes Chinese‑medicine culture, leads the development of the Chinese‑medicine industry, and will become a base for inheriting outstanding Chinese traditional culture and a world landmark of Chinese‑medicine culture."

"This is Zhongjing's hometown and also a 'natural medicine depot.' Nanyuan City regards cultivating high‑quality medicinal herbs as the foundation of its Chinese‑medicine industry, intensifying standardized planting, focusing on a medicinal‑herb base centered on magnolia flower, western‑mountain cornelian cherry, gastrodia, platycodon, enriched Salvia miltiorrhiza, turmeric, Eucommia, Tanghe gardenia, and Isatis root, which has developed rapidly. At present, the city has identified 2,357 species of wild medicinal herbs, over 50 locally renowned premium herbs, with a total stock of more than 250 million kilograms. Mountain cornelian cherry and magnolia flower each hold 60 % and 70 % of the national market share, earning the titles 'Hometown of Mountain Cornelian Cherry,' 'Hometown of Magnolia Flower,' and 'Hometown of Gardenia.'"

"In addition, Nanyuan City is called the 'World Moxa Home'; there are 1,530 mugwort enterprises, over 100,000 farmers engaged in mugwort planting, harvesting, processing, and sales, with a planting area of nearly 300,000 mu."

"Next, Nanyuan will build the nation's largest Chinese medicinal material trading center, creating a 'World Capital of Chinese Medicine'!"

"The enduring 'fragrance of Chinese medicine' delights those nearby and draws those far away. Under the guidance of the provincial party committee, provincial government, and Traditional Chinese Medicine Administration, and with strong support from ministries, Nanyuan City has the conditions, foundation, capability, confidence, and determination to successfully carry out Zhang Zhongjing National Medical University…"

The Huayuan Province First Construction representative of the general contracting unit declared that the enterprise will uphold the business philosophy "Integrity and Society First, Customer Satisfaction as Honor," insist on "completing a project, erecting a monument, making a friend, expanding a market," start with a high benchmark, build at a high level, manage with high standards, and strive to achieve three "guarantees": ensure the project is completed on schedule with quality; ensure the project becomes a government‑trusted, satisfactory high-quality project; ensure the design becomes a novel, publicly‑noticed "Zhang Zhongjing National Medical University" that serves as a warm spotlight project, repaying the trust and support of the Nanyuan Municipal Party Committee and City Government, and repaying society's expectations of Huayuan Province First Construction.

Next came the exciting moment when the provincial government and the Traditional Chinese Medicine Administration signed the co‑construction agreement for Zhang Zhongjing National Medical University!

Secretary Tang Bing expressed gratitude for the long‑standing concern and support of the National Health Commission and the Traditional Chinese Medicine Administration for Huayuan Province.

Director Jia Luhuo stated that the Traditional Chinese Medicine Administration will earnestly fulfill the agreement, giving Nanyuan strong support in concepts, funding, talent, and projects, jointly building "Zhang Zhongjing National Medical University" and aiding the development of Huayuan Province's Chinese‑medicine cause.

At exactly 11 o'clock, amid the thrilling countdown shouts, the roaring gongs and firecrackers, the leaders and guests who had been invited to the groundbreaking ceremony waved golden shovels together, officially commencing construction of "Zhang Zhongjing National Medical University."