Chapter 689: Mental Prescription

Chapter 689: Chapter 689: Mental Prescription

"Exactly," the old woman nodded repeatedly. "I was wondering about that myself. How could resting make me sick? Is this what they call being fated to never enjoy a life of leisure?"

"Actually, it’s because although you’ve retired from your job, you’ve never retired mentally."

Li Xu hit the nail on the head. "Over the past year, even though you haven’t been working, you’ve been worrying about household trifles. Groceries, your children’s jobs, your grandson’s schooling... These seemingly trivial matters are actually more mentally taxing than a simple job."

"When you were working, you had a purpose, a focus, which allowed you to temporarily block out these worries. Now that you have free time, all your energy is focused on these domestic trifles. The excessive worry has led to stagnant qi, which is even more draining on your spirit."

"Oh my!"

After listening, the old woman turned to Ding Kaifang excitedly. "Kaifang, you really found me a Divine Physician! Dr. Li is so right, it’s like he looked right into my heart."

The old woman had worked for the Ding Group her entire life. Even though she was a relative with good pay and a manageable workload, her professional habits had conditioned her to worry constantly.

After retiring, she suddenly lost her sense of purpose. Her social circle shrank, and her focus narrowed entirely to the small matters at home.

She’d worry when her son and daughter-in-law argued. She’d get worked up if her grandson did poorly on a test. She would even fret for ages if the price of vegetables went up by a few cents.

This invisible mental drain was more exhausting than writing copy for a whole day.

"So is there nothing I can do now?"

The old woman asked, her face grim. "I’m already retired, and I can’t go back to work. And I can’t just ignore all these family matters."

"Since it can be nurtured, how can you say there’s nothing to be done?"

Li Xu smiled reassuringly. "Nurturing your spirit doesn’t require you to get a new job or run away from home. First, adjust your mindset and find inner peace. Second, find a relatively quiet environment, even if it’s just for half an hour each day."

"There are many ways to nurture your spirit. In fact, the most common methods are meditation from the Daoist School and Buddhist traditions."

"Meditation doesn’t necessarily require a specific cross-legged posture, nor do you have to retreat to some remote mountain forest. The most important thing is your state of mind—to be free of external distractions and at peace. Even if you just sit on the sofa and space out for a while, as long as your mind is quiet, your spirit will transcend the mundane."

"Become a nun?"

The old woman was startled. "That’s too difficult! My grandson isn’t even married yet."

Li Xu couldn’t help but laugh. "I’m not asking you to become a nun. I’ll write you a ’spiritual prescription.’"

"First, you can listen to some music you enjoy. The Daoist School has a text called the ’Scripture of Clarity and Stillness.’ You can search for it online when you get home; there are many recited versions. Find one with a gentle voice and a slow rhythm, listen to it every morning and evening, and follow it to regulate your breathing. You’ll find it easy to quiet your mind."

"Second, do things you enjoy. For example, tend to some flowers, practice calligraphy, or even knit a sweater. Don’t do them with the intention of ’completing a task.’ Just do them simply to pass the time, cultivate your character, and enjoy the process."

Li Xu summarized, "In short, you don’t have to do any of these things. It’s not about adding another burden. It’s about choosing an activity based on your interests—whatever brings you joy and helps you relax, do that. Ensure you have a good appetite, good sleep, and good spirits. If you stick with it long-term, your spirit will naturally be nurtured back to health."

"This also applies to things like your cervical spondylosis. You need to maintain good habits and not deliberately dwell on your illness—the more you think about it, the more anxious you’ll become. Just focus on nurturing your spirit. Once your qi and blood flow smoothly, the pain will naturally lessen."

"I understand."

The old woman nodded thoughtfully, a relaxed smile appearing on her face.

She turned back to Ding Kaifang. "Kaifang, you really found me a Divine Physician! Dr. Li explains things so well. Just listening to him makes me feel at ease."

"Of course. Dr. Li’s skills are incredible. He’s nationally famous now."

Ding Kaifang said, not without a touch of pride.

Afterward, Ding Kaifang had the old woman wait in the outer reception area for her prescription.

The two of them got down to business.

"Doctor Li, about that delay tonic..."

Ding Kaifang had a conflicted expression. "That guy, Old Luo, rushed back yesterday. I bet he’s adjusting his production line overnight. He has called me incessantly today, asking when we can sign the contract and how we’ll cooperate. The way he’s acting, you’d think he’s ready to rip his heart out for me."

He’d gone home last night and thought about it all night. The more he thought, the more he felt that giving away such a huge piece of the pie was a raw deal.

Although he and Luo Sha had been friends for years, business was war. Friends were friends, but business was business. When billions in profit were on the line, accounts had to be settled clearly.

Li Xu saw his hesitation and took a neat stack of documents from a drawer. "I’ve written down the formula and production process in here. This kind of product is indeed outrageously profitable, but it’s also a sensitive area that can easily attract trouble."

"My suggestion is that we establish an independent subsidiary to specialize in this product category. The brand needs to be separate, so we don’t confuse it with Ding’s Pharmaceutical’s main brand. That way, we avoid damaging our image as a serious medical company."

"As for that Luo Sha..."

Li Xu paused. "He has existing channels, a mature sales network, and experience dealing with this type of product. We can let him buy in as a shareholder, act as a distributor, or even have him manage the specific operations. But the core technology and the controlling stake must remain firmly in our hands."

"This is what you’d call ’borrowing the chicken to lay the egg,’ and it’s also ’tying our interests together.’"

Ding Kaifang nodded repeatedly as he listened, his eyes growing brighter. "Brilliant, truly brilliant. We use his resources while keeping the lion’s share for ourselves. Let’s do it that way."

With the preliminary plan settled, Ding Kaifang was in high spirits. He left the clinic with his aunt, who now had her medicine.

On the way back, the old woman was in a good mood. Gazing at the scenery outside the window, she suddenly said, "Kaifang, I have an old friend who hasn’t been well lately. Her insomnia is torturing her. The thing is, she’s a bit stubborn and doesn’t really believe in Chinese medicine. She thinks it’s all a scam."

"I’ll try this medicine first. If Doctor Li’s treatment is really that effective, I’ll recommend him to her, too. It would be a shame to miss out on such a good doctor."

Ding Kaifang asked casually, "Who is it?"

The old woman smiled. "It’s Shen Wen."

Ding Kaifang’s heart skipped a beat. "Is that... Shen Wen from the Guangshun Group? Director Shen?"

The old woman nodded. "Yes, that’s her."

Ding Kaifang sucked in a sharp breath.

The Guangshun Group was a corporate behemoth in the province, involved in real estate, energy, finance, and multiple other sectors. Its power was unfathomable.

Previously, although the Ding Group was a local industry leader, it was just a small fry compared to the Guangshun Group. The Ding’s Pharmaceutical Factory had seen a meteoric rise in the last two years thanks to a few of Li Xu’s blockbuster drugs, and its market value had multiplied several times over. However, in terms of overall strength and foundation, it was still an entire order of magnitude behind the Guangshun Group.ℯ