Chapter 26.3

At dinner that evening, Guan Yue brought up the matter of the pharmaceutical factory, and Gu Sui’s eyes lit up. Was she planning to agree?

Guan Yue said, “Opening a pharmaceutical factory here is useless. I won’t teach apprentices, and even if I did, they wouldn’t be able to learn.”

Gu Sui was disappointed again. “So, what do you mean?”

Gu Sui spoke, “We can’t open the pharmaceutical factory, but we can use other methods to improve production efficiency.”

Bringing in an electric line, setting up a powder mill, ensuring a steady supply of herbs, and in return, providing them with a long-term supply of the divine medicine powder. That wasn’t a bad outcome!

Gu Sui brightened up, “No problem, this won’t be difficult. I’ll find someone to take care of it when we get back.”

With Guan Yue’s approval, Wang Tiejun soon came to pick up Gu Sui, and with him was a large bag of hemostatic powder.

Wang Tiejun gave a thumbs-up to Gu Sui. “Colonel, you’re amazing!”

Gu Sui grinned. “This isn’t even the most impressive part. Let’s go, we’ll report the news first.”

Once Gu Sui left, the mountain grew quiet.

Gu Sui was the kind of person who, wherever he was, there was rarely a dull moment. He would chatter on without stopping.

On the lounge chair, Guan Yue lay in Gu Sui’s arms, and he held her tightly.

Guan Yue said, “Hold me tighter.”

Gu Sui tightened his arms and lowered his head to kiss her hair. “Is this comfortable?”

“Mm.”

Since being with Gu Sui, Guan Yue had developed a deep liking for hugging. His embrace was warm and gave her a strong sense of security.

Gu Sui gently stroked her back, soothing her with rhythmic motions.

He asked her, “Because of me, my brother and the others found you and brought you a lot of trouble.”

Guan Yue looked up at him, then leaned back into his arms. “It’s not troublesome. I gave you the medicine willingly at the beginning. Besides, they’ve worked hard, and if I can help, I will.”

Gu Sui hummed in acknowledgment but didn’t bring it up again.

He didn’t need to ask. He knew that, given her character, if things had come to this point, there must have been a reason tied to him as well.

“Da Bai Tian, what are you two doing?”

Hearing an angry voice, Guan Yue quickly pulled away from Gu Sui and jumped up.

What happened? How had she not noticed anyone coming up the mountain?

Cai Guofu angrily walked over and pointed at Gu Sui. “Tell me, did you lie to Guan Yue?”

Just now, Gu Sui had immediately stepped in front of Guan Yue. Seeing that the visitor was Uncle Cai and Big Brother, Guan Yue quickly stepped in front of Gu Sui and explained, “Gu Sui didn’t lie to me. We’re in a relationship. We’ve been together for some time now.”

“Then how come I didn’t know?”

Gu Sui smiled gently. “Guan Yue originally planned to tell you, but she’s been a bit busy lately and hasn’t had the time to come into the city to see you.”

He added, “I personally came here to meet Guan Yue, and I’ve written to my parents to tell them about us. We’re really serious about this, and we absolutely haven’t been lying.”

Had he already told his family? That made Cai Guofu feel a little better, but he was still unhappy. “Even if you’re in a relationship, that doesn’t mean—doesn’t mean—”

Cai Zhiming quickly interrupted, worried his father might say something awkward. “Dad and I came to bring you some things. Uncle Xu sent a big box of stuff, along with a letter.”

Guan Yue was a little puzzled. “A letter at this time? The last batch of medicine I sent should last for half a year, and it’s still early, right?”

“I don’t know. The letter Uncle Xu wrote to my dad didn’t explain it clearly. You should take a look at the letter.”

Opening the box, there were two letters on top—one from her Teacher, and the other from her Teacher’s brother and sister-in-law.

After reading the letters, Guan Yue told Gu Sui, “My Teacher asked if I wanted to go to Hong Kong. If I do, he’ll arrange for someone to take me.”

Gu Sui’s heart skipped a beat. “Do you want to go?”

Guan Yue put the letters away. “I’d like to go and see, but it’s too far, and traveling is a hassle. I’ll wait until it’s more convenient. For now, I still prefer living on Daqing Mountain.”

Guan Yue’s speech was full of twists and turns, making Gu Sui anxious.

When she finished speaking, Gu Sui quickly responded, “Living on Daqing Mountain is great—peaceful and safe.”

This remark struck a chord with Guan Yue. She had always imagined living such a life.

Guan Yue said, “There’s one more thing. There’s a very wealthy businessman in Hong Kong who has heart disease and wants me to go check on him.”

Cai Guofu replied, “Although I’m very patriotic, I have to say honestly, with your skills, you could definitely have better development there. Are you sure you don’t want to go?”

Guan Yue shook her head. “I don’t care about that. I just want to live a good life.”

She turned to look at Gu Sui and smiled at him. “With Gu Sui.”

Cai Zhiming felt a pang of bitterness in his teeth. Tsk, how long had they been together, and now they were already talking about growing old together?

At that moment, Cai Guofu looked at Gu Sui with great displeasure and snorted. “Your Teacher doesn’t even know you’re in a relationship, does he?”

“I’ll write a letter back soon. Uncle Cai, could you help me deliver it?”

Gu Sui changed the subject, talking about Guan Yue’s future work plans, specifically increasing production to supply medicine to the military.

Cai Guofu became serious. “Guan Yue, if this really works out, fame and fortune aside, you’ve done a great thing! You’ve accumulated great virtue!”

Guan Yue smiled and mimicked him. “Virtue and things like that are secondary. I’m just helping out when I can, as long as I have peace of mind.”

Cai Guofu laughed heartily. “You little girl! Remember to mention this to your Teacher and let him rejoice on your behalf.”

“Okay, I’ll write a letter later. Since you came all this way, why don’t you have a meal before you leave?”

“Sure, we’ll eat before we go.”

Cai Guofu and Guan Yue’s Teacher were friends, and over the years, he had looked after her, almost like a senior. In order to please Cai Guofu, Gu Sui took extra care when cooking lunch, preparing six dishes.

Gu Sui was already good at cooking, and with the added effort, the meal was impeccable, leaving no room for complaint.

After lunch, Guan Yue went to her room to write the letter. Gu Sui made digestive tea for Cai Guofu and his son.

Gu Sui went to the kitchen to wash the dishes, and Cai Zhiming quietly advised his father, “Gu Sui is really a good guy! He takes care of Guan Yue, and he’s got great cooking skills. You’ve been acting like you’re not pleased with him all afternoon, even grumbling and complaining. What’s the point of that?”

Cai Zhiming couldn’t honestly compare himself to Gu Sui, not even half. His wife still thought he was a good man, but if Gu Sui was too good for his father, what kind of man would his father be willing to approve of?

Cai Guofu scoffed, “What do you know? You can’t judge if a man is reliable just by looking at the surface.”

“If you don’t judge by the surface, then what? Are you claiming to have sharp eyes that can see through his heart and soul?”

Cai Guofu turned around and slapped him. “How do you talk to your father? Unfilial son!”

Cai Zhiming quickly dodged, muttering to himself. Really, was he not allowed to speak his mind?

Guan Yue finished writing the letter and handed it to Uncle Cai. “Do you need any medicinal herbs? I have some dried ones here. If you need them, just take them with you. I probably won’t be going to the county town in the next month or so.”

“Yes, give them all to me. I’ll take them back later.”

“Alright.”

Cai Zhiming carried the medicinal herbs, and Guan Yue escorted them to the valley entrance. She only turned back after watching them disappear into the distance.

The box of items sent by her Teacher was still on the table. Guan Yue opened it, and the first thing she saw was a pile of clothes, all skirts.

Below them, there was a box of skincare products, including facial creams and lipsticks.

Guan Yue picked up a mirror and studied her face. With her special abilities, her body was naturally healthier than most, and her skin was fair and smooth. She didn’t really need these skincare products.

Guan Yue took a lipstick, unscrewed the cap, and found the color quite dark. She applied a thin layer, and the color, a shade of orange-red, looked quite nice.

Next to the skincare products was a box of jewelry. Compared to the rubies sent last time, this time, there were smaller items—colorful bracelets, pearl earrings, and the like, likely what was currently fashionable over there.

Guan Yue found these quite interesting.

The jewelry and clothing now were very different from what would be seen a hundred years later. To Guan Yue, these items didn’t seem like the latest trend but rather a vintage style.

She put on the pearl earrings and then changed into a white pearl-colored dress.

After changing, she walked barefoot out of the room, and in Gu Sui’s eyes, his girl shone with beauty.

Guan Yue twirled, holding the hem of her dress. “Do I look good?”

“You look great!”

Guan Yue laughed. “Then I’ll wear dresses from now on.”

Gu Sui picked her up and placed her on the chair, crouching down to brush the dust from the bottom of her feet. “You look good in anything. Where are your shoes?”

“The shoes are inside.”

Gu Sui told her not to move and went into the room to fetch the shoes.

Guan Yue propped herself up, picked up the mirror from the table, and looked at her reflection. It seemed like something was missing.

Gu Sui put on her shoes, his hands gently holding her feet. Guan Yue, full of curiosity, asked him, “Can you braid hair?”

Braid hair? He didn’t have a younger sister and had never tried this skill before, but now he could give it a shot.

“Well, try it. There are some pretty hairbands in the box, I want one.”

“Okay!”

Gu Sui had once been a surgeon, so his hands were still quite skilled. After a bit of trial and error, he managed to braid her hair neatly.

Guan Yue looked in the mirror. “Wow, you did such a good job!”

She put the mirror down, playfully tugging at the hem of Gu Sui’s shirt.

Gu Sui laughed and held her in his arms. “Stop messing around, it’s getting late. Do you still want to go back to the treehouse for an afternoon nap?”

“Then are you going back soon?”

“No, I’ll wait until tonight to go back.”

“Then I won’t go back either. I’ll stay with you.”

The two young lovers were completely caught up in their affection, not worrying about anything else, just enjoying their sweet and loving relationship.

After returning to the border, Gu Ci went straight to find Colonel Yan. Colonel Yan agreed to all of Guan Yue’s conditions.

Colonel Yan also proposed another request. “Guan Yue’s acupuncture skills are truly impressive. Ask her, since there is no one in Qingxi Village now, if we can set up a sanatorium there. We’ll hire Guan Yue as a special doctor, with the highest rank and salary.”

“Colonel, you must know a bit about Guan Yue’s personality. She isn’t someone who cares about fame or wealth.”

Yan Zhengwen felt a bit troubled. How could he recruit someone like her, who wasn’t interested in fame or profit? What else could he offer her besides that?

“What do you think?”

Gu Ci shrugged his shoulders. He had no ideas either.

Yan Zhengwen, growing irritated, said, “If you have no solution, why are you talking so much nonsense? Get out!”

“Yes!” Gu Ci turned around and walked out.

But then Yan Zhengwen called him back. “Come back!”

Gu Ci turned around, asking, “What’s the matter?”

“You need to call the logistics minister over. This matter still requires him to handle it.”

“Got it!” The orderly was no longer needed, so he had to run errands for him.

He was a Colonel now, yet he had been reduced to running errands. Tch.

Gu Ci turned around and went to find Logistics Minister Li Dingbang.

It hadn’t even been half an hour, but by the time he returned, the bag of divine medicine powder he had brought back was almost empty.

Gu Ci was furious, pacing around in anger. “Damn it, who stole my divine medicine powder? These medicines were painstakingly collected by me, going up the mountains and down the rivers!”

The orderly dared not speak.

Gu Ci’s anger flared as he spun in circles. He could already guess who had taken his stuff. It had to be those damn little bastards who knew he was back and had come to take advantage of the situation.

“Tell me, who came over just now?”

The orderly straightened up and reported, “Colonel Zhang, Colonel Li, Colonel Zhao, the director of the hospital, Dr. Liu, and also the orderly from Colonel Yan’s team…”

Hmph, it seemed like a gang effort.

This only made Gu Ci even angrier.

Meanwhile, back at Guan Yue’s place, after confirming that she was willing to cooperate, Minister Li moved quickly. After meeting with Colonel Yan that day, he wrapped up his work and immediately had the driver take him to Qingxian County.

By the next afternoon, they arrived. Without wasting any time, he got in touch with all the necessary departments, starting to set up the power connection. As for the powder mill, he had already contacted it through military channels, and it would definitely be delivered first thing when it arrived.

For the herbs Guan Yue needed, the most convenient source was still to directly order from the Qingxian County herb company.

As the head of Qingxian County’s herb company, Cai Guofu immediately realized when he received the order that these herbs must have been requested by the military for Guan Yue.

Guan Yue had drawn up a list of required herbs, including the hemostatic ones and detoxification pills among others.

It was impossible for outsiders to guess the formula just from the list she provided.

Moreover, even if they did have the formula, they wouldn’t be able to make the medicine. Guan Yue was confident in that.

As for the power connection to Qingxi Village, Zhou Baohe and the others were…

The day after Minister Li arrived in Qingxian County, he received the notification that the power lines were already halfway there.

Zhou Baohe was puzzled. “But Qingxi Village has no people left now. Why are they bringing electricity there?”

The commune secretary waved his hand. “That’s the higher-ups’ decision. We just need to cooperate. From now on, our commune will have electricity too. It’s a good thing.”

Zhou Baohe thought for a moment. “Could it be because of Guan Yue?”

The commune secretary gave a knowing nod. “It’s because of the military’s connections.”

“That’s definitely it. Guan Yue is also supplying the military,” Zhou Baohe remarked.

The commune secretary had already guessed this. He knew that aside from Guan Yue, no one in Qingxi Village had the ability to make things happen.

He chuckled. “Isn’t the electrification a big deal? We should keep it to ourselves for now and enjoy the benefits. I’m telling you, this won’t be just for the electricity. There might be more good things coming soon.”

“I’ll go back and ask Gu Sui. Since he’s dating Guan Yue, he must know the inside story. This kid keeps his mouth shut, though. The electrification is already almost complete, and he never mentioned it to me.”

“Electricity is great! We’ll be able to show movies in our commune now.”

“That’s not all. Once we have electricity, we can raise funds to buy machines. I heard that many agricultural machines have already been developed. During busy farming seasons, machines will help, and people will have an easier time.”

As they discussed the benefits of electricity, the two men became more and more excited, exchanging ideas back and forth.

Before the electricians even arrived, Li Dingbang had already made his way to Qingxi Village.

It was his first time here, and he wasn’t sure where the wooden houses were. He planned to take a look around and scout the area. If Guan Yue agreed, they could start building the sanatorium right away.

Li Dingbang gazed up at Daqing Mountain. If he couldn’t find the way, he’d follow Gu Ci’s advice and go to Qingsong Brigade to have Gu Sui lead the way.

Before he could go too far, Guan Yue had already spotted him, and Gu Sui went down to greet him personally.