Chapter 325: Changes

"Strange, could the Jade energy have all been absorbed by the Tea Tree and the pond?" Zhang Ping'an drank a few more mouthfuls of water; it was still clear and cool.

"Could it be that because I eat Space Ingredients year-round, my body has almost no impurities, so I can't feel it?"

Zhang Ping'an filled a bottle with water and left the space; after boiling it in the kitchen and letting it cool to a warm temperature, he handed it to his father, who had just finished his Taiji.

"Drinking green tea in winter? Don't you usually drink black tea in winter?" Zhang Laohan didn't suspect anything and downed the whole bowl of water in one breath.

"Uh, I suppose so. Dad, do you feel anything?"

"Feel what? Nothing. You've been acting all mysterious since early this morning."

Zhang Laohan went to wash up after finishing the water, and before long, he was clutching his backside and running into the toilet.

Fifteen minutes later, following the end of the pitter-patter sounds, Zhang Laohan emerged from the toilet looking weak.

"You brat, what did you give me to drink just now?"

"Uh, it was green tea, I guess?"

Zhang Ping'an felt a bit guilty; perhaps the dosage for a single time was a bit too high. The bowls at home now were those large, flared bowls, unlike the fist-sized ones of later generations, but seeing that Zhang Laohan's voice was full of vigor despite his wobbly legs, he felt relieved.

"Let me take a look at you."

Zhang Laohan stretched out his hand without a word; he had just had to go too urgently, it had taken too long, his anus couldn't take it, and he felt completely hollowed out, plus he was starving now.

As soon as Zhang Ping'an took his pulse, he felt the difference. His father was seventy-six this year, and his physical condition was usually about the same as a sixty-year-old's, but this pulse beat didn't feel like a sixty-year-old's; instead, it felt like that of a middle-aged person in their forties or fifties.

Zhang Ping'an activated the space scan and discovered that his father's internal organs really did seem to have regained their vitality.

"Ping'an, is your dad okay?" Dong Dani asked from the side, worried.

"Cough, he's fine. He just drank some tea and cleared out his intestines, which is a good thing. It's just that he might have drunk a bit too much. Mom, you go ahead and serve Dad some porridge to help him settle."

"Okay."

Seeing that her husband was fine, Dong Dani finally set her mind at ease; the pitter-patter that had lasted for over ten minutes just now had indeed been frightening.

"That wasn't green tea, was it?"

"Uh, no. It was a type of Medicine Liquid I developed. I didn't expect the potency to be that strong. Dad, do you feel anything else now?"

"No, I'm just hungry now, and my anus is a bit burning."

"..."

"That's fine, you'll be better after a while."

It was fortunate that his father insisted on practicing Taiji year-round, and since the ingredients he ate were almost all Space Ingredients, there weren't many impurities in his body; if it had been an ordinary old man, he probably would have suffered a rectal prolapse.

That was reckless; he still couldn't use his own body as a template, otherwise, a good intention would lead to a bad outcome.

However, this also let Zhang Ping'an know that the Space Water had been significantly strengthened. He had to arrange a round for his grandparents and his master and the others.

There was still quite a bit of water in the kitchen water vat. Zhang Ping'an didn't dare to add too much, only dripping ten drops in to slowly and subtly improve his family's health.

As for his maternal grandparents, it seemed he would have to make a trip in person. Although these could be sent as liquor, their usage and effects were hard to explain. In this day and age, the censorship of letters was still very strict; once leaked, he would be done for, and Zhang Ping'an would definitely be sliced up for examination.

The next day at work, Zhang Ping'an spent his time in the office writing and drawing, recording everyone who needed it. At the same time, he was also paying attention to procurement tasks near Beijiang and Pengcheng; if he could hitch a ride, he had to seize the opportunity, and if not, he would have to ask for leave to go.

After all, his maternal grandparents were eighty-six this year; even if they could live ten more years beyond their original lifespan, it would be good. When transportation became convenient in the future, he could go over at any time.

His master was also eighty-six, but as a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine, his health was excellent. Yet, who could refuse to live a few more years?

"Uncle, Factory Director Li is looking for you."

"Oh, okay, I'll go over right now."

"Knock, knock, knock."

"Come in. Ping'an, come over and sit."

"Okay, Factory Director."

"I have already submitted the promotion list for your batch of exchange and study personnel. In the future, you will take over the responsibilities of Zhu Weiguo."

"So you will be in charge of the entire procurement department. During this time, pay more attention to Procurement Section 1 and the Third Section. Wherever help is needed, you should step in promptly. You have also served as a Logistics Director before, so I imagine these things won't stump you."

"Okay, Factory Director, I understand."

These things really coincided with his own thoughts, and he could also help out openly.

The two chatted for a while longer about procurement matters before Zhang Ping'an took his leave.

Returning to the office, Zhang Ping'an noted that the Procurement Section 1 tasks at this stage were all daily procurement tasks; he feared there would only be an opportunity toward the end of the year.

After getting off work and returning home, he kissed his two sons before asking about his father's condition. Two days had passed, so he figured he should be able to feel the changes in his body.

"Dad, do you feel anything now?"

"Hmm... I seem to have more energy? My body also feels a bit lighter," Zhang Laohan said, sounding a bit uncertain.

"Hmm, that's right." Zhang Ping'an took his father's pulse again; the pulse was indeed beating strongly.

"Then I'll go pick up Grandpa and Grandma and give them some to drink too."

"Alright, I've already dripped it into the water vat. After dilution, drinking it long-term won't cause such a strong reaction like yours did."

Hearing this, Zhang Laohan's brow twitched, remembering the scene in the toilet, and the look he gave Zhang Ping'an became unfriendly.

"Cough, Dad, you rest first. I'll go set up the wooden windshield frame for your tricycle."

"Hmph, this brat did it on purpose."

Dong Dani watched the bickering between the father and son and shook her head with a smile, turning to serve the meal.

Time flew by, and another month passed. Zhang Ping'an could see the changes in his family members through taking their pulses; their appearances hadn't changed much, but their internal bodies were indeed much younger.

During this month, based on the changes in his family, Zhang Ping'an readjusted the proportions and prepared another batch of new-style Pill.

Zhang Ping'an finally waited for the opportunity to go to Beijiang. Although it was only for a short four days, Zhang Ping'an now had a van and a motorcycle, so taking one day out was completely doable.

He got some gasoline coupons at the Black Market, added two barrels of oil, and put them in the space for backup. Returning home, he told his father, mother, and wife that he was going to Beijiang on a business trip.

"Ping'an, if it's convenient, bring some things to your maternal grandparents."

"Sure, there should be enough time."

Thus, Zhang Ping'an took two large packages and boarded the train directly to Wushi. After four days and four nights, he finally arrived.

Zhang Ping'an handled the relevant procurement matters at the fastest speed, and then on a dark and windy night, the low roar of a motorcycle broke the silence of the desert.

Ten minutes later, Zhang Ping'an stopped the vehicle and silently switched to a van; the late night in Beijiang at the end of November was damn cold.

Rubbing his somewhat frozen hands, Zhang Ping'an then started the van.

"Whew, it really is better to have shelter from the wind and rain."

Don't get me wrong, Jia Youwei really has some skills; when in Xiangjiang, the roads were good so I didn't feel much, but on this broken road now, Zhang Ping'an realized the benefits of a well-tuned chassis.

Although it was still bumpy, it was much better than a heavy truck or a Jeep, and the key was that the speed was fast; a journey that originally required a whole day, Zhang Ping'an felt he could arrive at his grandmother's doorstep before dawn.

Originally he had planned to arrive at daybreak and switch to horses midway, but now it seemed completely unnecessary; it would be in time to switch even when he arrived at his grandmother's doorstep.