Chapter 243: Folk Remedy to Save a Life

Seeing Lou Xiaoe wash up, dress up, and leave in high spirits early in the morning, Lou Mu took it all in, and now that her daughter had returned with a worried look, Lou Mu could not help but feel curious.

"Xiao'e, what is the matter with you?"

"Mother, I..."

"Is it because of Zhang Ping'an?"

"Mother, I don't know how to say it," Lou Xiaoe nodded, then shook her head.

"No rush, tell me slowly, Mother has time."

Lou Xiaoe leaned into her mother's embrace just like when she was a child and whispered everything Wang Xiaoling had said earlier.

"You silly girl, is Zhang Ping'an really that good? You insist on throwing yourself at him; if your father finds out, he will surely break your legs."

"Mother, then what do you say I should do?"

"Just as Xiao Ling said, we protected you too well in the past, which is why you have this misconception. Perhaps what you feel for Zhang Ping'an is not romantic love. How about this: let your father introduce you to a young man, and you two can spend some time together and see."

"Mother, it is not a misconception, I am very certain, I don't want to."

Lou Mu shook her head; this girl rarely went out and spent her time at home reading picture books and novels, so it was only natural for her to yearn for the romance within them.

Lou Xiaoe had attended school when she was young, but it was a women's academy, which meant she had very little contact with the opposite sex. Furthermore, with Zhang Ping'an already having set such a high standard, finding a perfect son-in-law was truly difficult.

"Sigh, then don't tell your father about this yet; Mother will whisper in his ear for you first."

"Mm, Mother is the best," Lou Xiaoe said coquettishly.

Compared to Lou Xiaoe's optimism, Lou Mu did not hold much hope; it was only because of the current era that Lou Bancheng would even consider looking for the child of a Worker. In the past, they might not have even been able to meet her daughter.

Moreover, since Zhang Ping'an was already a married man, it was even less likely that Lou Bancheng would easily agree.

Zhang Ping'an knew nothing of all this and had not even expected Wang Xiaoling to agree; he was still in his office, reading about the basics of antiques with great interest.

"Knock, knock, knock."

"Come in."

"Factory Director, Factory Director Nie is here. Deputy Factory Director Nie is currently accompanying him in the fermentation area."

"Oh, oh, good, I'll head over right now."

Zhang Ping'an had not expected that just after he had made his stance clear yesterday, Factory Director Nie would come to inspect the work today; it seemed he had come to show support for Nie Hansheng.

"Factory Director, why didn't you notify me in advance when you were coming? I could have made arrangements for you."

"Hahaha, Ping'an, let's skip these formalities between us. I came this time to see the results of your pig farm for the first half of the year."

Nie Haiquan had seen the cordial exchange between Li Huaide's father-in-law and Zhang Ping'an at the full-month banquet for Li Huaide's son, and now that he was pushing for his nephew's promotion, he, as an uncle, had to come and take a look.

"Alright, Factory Director, please follow me."

In the middle of summer, Zhang Ping'an naturally would not take Nie Haiquan and his group to visit the pig pens, but instead walked around the pasture to introduce the scale of the operation.

"Mm, not bad, not bad. Has this scale expanded compared to the beginning of the year?"

"That's right, Factory Director. The pig pens have been expanded by one row. We expect them to be full of piglets by the end of the year. Maintaining this volume from here on out is optimal for the supply to our Rolling Mill."

"Good, good, good."

Nie Haiquan was very satisfied. His nephew, like him, was indeed not suited for expanding the market; it was enough to be able to complete tasks step-by-step.

Zhang Ping'an had already laid a very solid foundation for the pig farm, and his nephew passing the next three years steadily would be no problem at all.

Furthermore, if Zhang Ping'an were transferred to be the director of logistics before the end of the year, then his nephew would also share in the political achievement of breaking through the current scale. However, this matter still had to be discussed with Li Huaide first.

At noon, during lunch, Nie Haiquan's group had a meal of Sichuan Cuisine at the pig farm.

"Ping'an, is this pasture grass?"

"That's right, Factory Director. Please have a taste. This is alfalfa leaf blanched and served as a cold dish. It is rich in dietary fiber, which can promote gastrointestinal motility, improve digestive function, and is also rich in various vitamins and minerals."

"Oh? Then I must have a taste."

"It will definitely surprise you."

"Mm~ not bad, it has a unique flavor. Everyone, have a taste."

Zhang Ping'an did not elaborate, but in fact, this cold dish was most friendly to those with constipation; eating it at night usually yielded quite a lot of results the next day.

After finishing lunch and seeing off Nie Haiquan and his group, Zhang Ping'an returned to his office to continue studying antique knowledge.

After playing cards that night, Wang Xiaoling finally mentioned that Lou Xiaoe had come to find her in the morning, and Zhang Ping'an's face turned dark immediately.

"Should I call that girl bold or fearless? Coming to the door to provoke? What did you say?"

"I agreed..."

Zhang Ping'an's face turned even darker.

"I see the whipping you got yesterday wasn't enough, letting your mind wander all day long."

"Brother Ping'an, spare me, wait until I finish speaking..." Wang Xiaoling immediately recounted the conversation she and Lou Xiaoe had that morning.

"Mm, but you said it too late, I am very angry right now."

At one in the morning, Zhang Ping'an arrived at the Black Market again, only to find Tong Siye waiting on the side early on. Looking at his anxious appearance, he had likely encountered some trouble.

However, his attire was different every time, and since he did not speak, Tong Siye naturally could not recognize him.

"Ahem, why is Fourth Brother here?"

"Little Brother, I've finally waited for you."

"Fourth Brother, don't be agitated. Tell me what you need; as long as I have it, I will definitely not refuse."

"It's like this, Little Brother. You have Tiger Penis Wine, so you must have Tiger Penis, right? Even if it's the kind that has been soaked in wine, that will do."

"No, this has been soaking for several years, it doesn't have much effect anymore. Who has come down with a strange illness?"

Tong Siye's pupils contracted imperceptibly, then he fell silent. After a long while, he spoke slowly.

"There is indeed a person of status who is ill and has not recovered for a long time. We had an old Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner look at it, and he thought of a folk remedy that might be useful. Now, all we are missing is the Tiger Penis."

"Is it convenient to tell me the symptoms? Perhaps I can help. You know, these Medicinal Wine and Honey Slimming Liquid also come from the hands of an old Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner."

"This... brother, wait a moment, I will go and ask."

"Done."

A prescription that could use Tiger Penis is eighty percent likely for a kidney problem, which for him was not a big issue; it was merely a matter of how potent the medicine needed to be.

About half an hour later, Tong Siye hurried over.

"Brother, these are the symptoms, I have written them all down, please take a look quickly."

"Good."

Zhang Ping'an glanced over it and knew it was kidney yang deficiency, but someone who could serve by the side of a noble person certainly wouldn't be an ordinary practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine; he wouldn't fail to see it, so it seemed this problem was serious.

"Take me to see them, otherwise they will find it hard to live past three days."

Tong Siye's expression changed drastically; this number was even shorter than the time estimated by their Imperial Physician.

"This, this, this is impossible." Tong Siye sat on the ground in despair, then grabbed onto Zhang Ping'an as if clutching a straw for survival.

"Brother, come with me."

Zhang Ping'an followed Tong Siye through many twists and turns until they arrived in front of an imposing residence, then Tong Siye knocked on the door with a rhythmic pattern, and the small side door soon creaked open.

"Fourth, why did you bring an outsider here?"

"Second Brother, he can save Bei, he can save Jin Ye."

"Come in." Tong Erye hesitated for a moment, but still let them in; after all, the noble person's body was already at the end of its rope.

"Li Shenyi, this is the high disciple of the old practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine who developed the Medicinal Wine and the Honey Slimming Liquid."

"Fine, follow me inside." Li Shenyi sighed softly; how could someone whose yang energy was about to dissipate be saved? Let him toss and turn as he pleased; what if there was a miracle?