Chapter 29.1

Zhang Mingrui intended to befriend the Xu family. Since they had run into each other, he was sure to invite them to shop together.

Mrs. Zhang, Cai Jin, took the initiative to loop her arm through Jiang Zhi’s and smiled warmly. “Since we’ve run into each other, it must be fate. Please don’t be polite. If you see anything you like in the mall, just take it.”

Jiang Zhi smiled and replied, “I’d feel so embarrassed.”

Jiang Zhi and the others casually picked a mall, not noticing that the one they entered was owned by the Zhang family.

Without waiting for a response, Cai Jin led Jiang Zhi into a luxury brand store. “We’ll need to see each other often in the future. Picking out a few pieces of clothing isn’t a big deal. And from now on, don’t call me Mrs. Zhang, it’s too distant. I’m a few years older than you. My maiden name is Cai, my full name is Cai Jin. Just call me Cai Jie, alright?”

“Sure, no problem. Cai Jie, you take the lead.”

Jiang Zhi chuckled softly. Befriending the Zhang family was exactly what she wanted.

Since the Zhang family had extended an olive branch, Jiang Zhi didn’t hold back. She revealed the purpose of their shopping trip that day. “One reason we’re here is to buy a few suitable outfits for Hua Ping, but I also want to buy some proper clothes for Guan Yue. Cai Jie, you have great taste. Could you help me choose?”

Cai Jin’s eyes lit up, and she leaned in closer to Jiang Zhi. “I heard Mingrui say that the little divine doctor who prepared his medicine seems to have the same name. Is that right?”

“That’s right!”

Cai Jin exclaimed, “Oh, in that case, I’ll pick out a few nice outfits for the little divine doctor and thank her for helping Mingrui prepare such great medicine. What does she look like? How tall is she?”

“I saw a photo of her from Hua An. She’s a beautiful girl, with big eyes, looks very gentle, and has a slim figure. As for her height, she’s about this tall.”

Jiang Zhi measured the height roughly by looking at a girl trying on clothes ahead of them.

Zhang Mingrui and Xu Huaping followed behind their wives, chatting about business matters. When Zhang Mingrui overheard their conversation, he turned to Xu Huaping and asked, “Do you still send the little divine doctor daily necessities?”

Xu Huaping smiled and nodded. “Hua An said Guan Yue doesn’t care much about everyday things. Although someone is taking care of him over there now, he’s still worried that Guan Yue isn’t eating or dressing well. Since we’ve been in touch, every time we send letters, we also send over some clothing and daily items.”

Zhang Mingrui responded, “As long as the little divine doctor is good at medicine, everything else can be taken care of by others.”

“We think the same,” Xu Huaping agreed.

Jiang Zhi and Cai Jin were full of energy as they visited store after store.

Xu Huaping and Zhang Mingrui followed behind, helping to carry the items. In the mall, the usually ruthless businessmen appeared no different from the average men walking their wives around.

With the New Year approaching, Wei Zongnan and his wife were out shopping with their children. When they saw these two sitting in the lounge area waiting, they thought they had made a mistake.

Zhang Mingrui spoke up. “I have a friend who knows people at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I was thinking of asking them to help me get in touch with Guan Yue. Would you be interested?”

Xu Huaping spoke seriously, “If Sir Zhang can find a way, our family also wants to go back and take a look. Especially my younger brother. If it weren’t for my health being so poor and him being worried about me, he wouldn’t have followed me to Hong Kong. He’s been wanting to go back to see Guan Yue for a long time.”

Zhang Mingrui nodded. “I will figure something out for this.”

Jiang Zhi was generous with her spending, and Cai Jin was even more so. If it weren’t for Jiang Zhi’s persuasion, Cai Jin would have packed up every piece of clothing suitable for Guan Yue from each store and taken them all home.

In addition to clothing, Cai Jin also bought a camera, jewelry, some local delicacies, and even a set of high-end porcelain.

Zhang Mingrui sighed, “Porcelain isn’t an easy gift to give.”

Cai Jin countered confidently, “Why wouldn’t it be? You just need to spend a little more money and make sure they handle it carefully when delivering it. Someone as delicate and beautiful as the little divine doctor deserves to use some good porcelain, doesn’t she?”

Zhang Mingrui rubbed his forehead. “Fine, you’re right. I can’t even spend money properly?”

Jiang Zhi and Xu Huaping stood to the side, laughing. They had never interacted much before, and they didn’t realize that the usually fearsome Zhang Mingrui, who made people tremble in the business world, was like this at home.

In the end, the New Year’s gifts for Guan Yue were packed up, totaling ten boxes.

With the current transportation difficulties and numerous checkpoints along the way, sending so many items was no easy task. The shipping cost alone almost exceeded the value of the ten boxes.

At this moment, the intelligence officers who were ahead of Zhang Mingrui and his team had already arrived in the Southwest Military District.

“The Xu family, where Guan Yue’s teacher, Xu Hua’an, is from, originally lived in Shanghai. Their ancestors were in the medicinal herb business. Over a year ago, they got in touch with other forces across the Taiwan Strait. Their main exchange has been Guan Yue sending medicine to them and Xu Hua’an sending over food and supplies.”

“Our investigation found that Zhang Mingrui got in touch with Guan Yue through the Xu family and has been receiving medicine from him. Both Xu Huaping and Zhang Mingrui have heart conditions. It’s said that the medicine Guan Yue provides is very effective, but it cannot completely cure the condition, so they are trying to find a way to return to the country and seek treatment from Guan Yue.”

In a room full of leaders, the General leaned back in his chair, crossing his hands in front of him. “So, there’s no issue with Guan Yue’s identity?”

It could indeed be said that there was no issue. However, in this particular environment, having any dealings with the other side was the biggest problem.

Of course, specific situations needed specific analysis. As long as they were willing to turn a blind eye, Guan Yue’s situation was within the range of what could still be negotiated.

Yan Zhengwen asked, “What are they planning to do to return?”

“It’s said that Zhang Mingrui has gotten in touch with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through intermediaries and is planning to gift us an entire fertilizer production line.”

“Eh, they really have money! Last year, our country tried to buy foreign production lines, and several departments argued for days just because of foreign exchange issues.”

The General nodded. “What does Beijing say about this?”

“The things that come to your door are definitely meant to be accepted. The two sides are still negotiating. However, we estimate that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs doesn’t yet know the true purpose behind Zhang Mingrui’s offer of the production line. They probably still see him as a patriotic businessman.”

If they hadn’t traced the connection through Guan Yue, no one would have guessed that Zhang Mingrui had gone through so much trouble just to go to the southwest mountains and seek medical treatment from a girl who wasn’t even twenty years old.

“As for the investigation into Guan Yue, that’s where it ends. You can notify Beijing, and whether they agree or not depends on their decision.”

Yan Zhengwen chuckled, “The lives of the rich are really valuable. Now that we know the true purpose of their donation of the production line, we can’t miss the chance to make a big deal out of it. Are we just going to let it go?”

The others in the room shared the same view—if you don’t take advantage of a good deal, you’re a fool.

Li Dingbang, the logistics minister, even proposed a solution. “A one-time deal seems a bit of a loss. If we use Zhang Mingrui as a breakthrough point, we might be able to trade other things with them in the future.”

Li Dingbang smiled mysteriously. “Other countries have blocked us, but Hong Kong doesn’t have many restrictions. Some things can be easily arranged through them.”

A Colonel joked, “No wonder you’re the logistics minister. You really have a way with getting resources.”

After thinking for a moment, the General didn’t reject Li Dingbang’s suggestion. He was a pragmatic person, and he cared more about real benefits than empty talk.

It wasn’t that his stance was unstable—when there was a shortage of supplies, relying on those who only knew how to criticize the opposition for benefits was just wishful thinking.

The General said, “Dingbang, you continue to pay attention to this matter. When the time is right, you…”

Li Dingbang understood. “Don’t worry, General!”

Yan Zhengwen added, “This still needs to be communicated with Guan Yue; she’s the key person.”

Li Dingbang replied, “The first batch of doctors and nurses will go to Qingxi Village’s sanatorium before the New Year. I’ll go with them, and I’ll personally talk to her then.”

“As long as you’re clear on it.”

In Daqing Mountain, after finishing the slaughter of the New Year’s pigs, there had been good weather for several days. The cured meats and sausages they made were now ready to eat.

After tasting this year’s freshly made sausages, Guan Yue said, “I think this year’s sausages are even more fragrant than last year’s.”

Gu Sui replied, “The sausages this year were smoked with pine and cypress branches. The smoky flavor gives the cured taste a deeper richness.”

“The spicy-flavored sausages are quite suitable for smoking, huh.”

Gu Sui pinched her chubby cheek. “Have you gained a little weight recently?”

Guan Yue snorted and ignored him.

Gu Sui teased her on purpose, “Is it because you’ve been eating too much meat lately?”

Guan Yue stamped her foot, “Gu Sui, you’re so annoying! Are you calling me fat because you want to monopolize my cured meats and sausages?”

Gu Sui laughed heartily, “I’m just joking, you’re not fat at all.”

Guan Yue didn’t believe him. Did he really think she didn’t look in the mirror?

Guan Yue decided she needed to exercise more. “Today, I’m going to go up the mountain to gather herbs and hunt some wild chickens. We can make some air-dried chicken.”

“Why are you always going after chickens? Don’t you eat rabbits?”

Guan Yue smacked her lips. Rabbits were fine, but compared to them, she preferred eating chicken more.

After lunch, Guan Yue went up the mountain alone.

Gu Sui wanted to follow her, but Guan Yue refused to take him. When he turned around, she was already running off.

Gu Sui gritted his teeth. That little girl was definitely holding a grudge.

Daqing Mountain had a rich variety of medicinal herbs, but Guan Yue didn’t gather many of them. Most of the time, she used the herbs she grew herself. Even when she went up the mountain to gather herbs, her main goal was to find new varieties, then take the seeds from the mature herbs and store them.

She had already collected over 200 kinds of herb seeds. One of the reasons she wanted to build a villa on the mountain was to create a storage facility for the herb seeds.

As for other medicinal ingredients like minerals and animal-based materials, she couldn’t use her abilities to grow them, so she needed a place to store them as well.

While hunting in the mountains, she casually looked for new herbs. After a while, she came back with ten wild chickens in hand.

She handed them to Gu Sui. “You clean them. I’m going to work on the house up in the mountains.”

Before Gu Sui could even tell her he had made yam and spicy pork rib soup and hoped she’d come back early for dinner, Guan Yue had already disappeared again.