Chapter 1386: Military Pharmaceutical Factory

It was New Year again…

The crackling and popping of firecrackers rose and fell; without May 1st at home on New Year’s Eve, there was always a lot less laughter. Zhou Jiao figured that in this family it wasn’t just her who felt that way.

But when she thought of her son spending the New Year together with the Miao Family, she was much more at ease.

What was there to be afraid of?

She was afraid that on New Year’s Eve, when welcoming the arrival of the new year, her May 1st would be risking his life, alone with gunshots and blood for company, while she wasn’t by his side.

Listening to the laughter and cheerful voice of her son on the other end of the phone, Zhou Jiao no longer found the firecrackers exploding by her ears harsh at all, and she broke into a heartfelt, radiant smile.

After the reunion dinner, the joy of the New Year spread everywhere—digging out a few favorite trinkets at the crowded temple fair, feasting and drinking with gathered relatives and friends, and in the constant ringing of the telephone…

The days slipped by in the blink of an eye.

Once again it was the season when the frozen earth began to thaw and spring flowers bloomed.

On a construction site in Jingjiao, the scene changed day by day. At special-zone speed, before the crisp autumn season arrived, buildings were rising one after another.

This military pharmaceutical factory, built at a cost of 20 million, was equipped with the latest international assembly lines, as well as a group of authoritative traditional Chinese medicine doctors headed by Doctor Hu.

There was hope for the development of national medicine, and even more hope to carry it forward and shine; this was the lifelong wish of all the senior experts who had been rehabilitated after the catastrophe.

As soon as these highly respected old doctors got the news at the very start of construction, they promptly sorted out the fruits of their life’s work and went around visiting and notifying each other.

By early summer, a large traditional Chinese medicine research and development team had been successfully formed, taking medical ethics as its benchmark and selfless dedication as its goal.

Deeply moved, Zhou Jiao made a grand gesture and expanded the scale further.

Now this place had already become a large community.

Apart from that one bumpy main road leading into the city still awaiting the final stage of completion, the research institute at the foot of the mountain, the spacious factory buildings rising one after another, and the rows of three-story dormitory blocks were all standing ready…

They were just waiting for the day the entire project here was completed, when these selfless senior traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and more than three thousand physically disabled servicemen would move in with their families.

The scale was so huge that Zhou Jiao did not dare treat it lightly, and she was secretly thankful that her eldest son had postponed his marriage by a year.

As soon as she got off work and arrived at the site, she saw from afar her master Mr. Hu strolling around with several old friends, and she couldn’t help but secretly let out a sigh.

If one asked who was the happiest about the establishment of this pharmaceutical factory—

If her master claimed second place, no one would dare claim first.

That massive traditional Chinese medicine R&D team was put together by him calling in old friends and sending out heroic invitations; otherwise, with her reputation alone she could not have invited these big names.

As his sole disciple, she had inherited all his medical skills but hadn’t taken the proper path. It was impossible for the old man not to feel regret; it was only that he was broad-minded.

Luckily, her sons had come up with this idea. This pharmaceutical factory, at the very least, lessened her master’s regrets a bit. Otherwise, how could she live up to his great affection for her?

Zhou Jiao quickened her pace and came up to the old gentlemen, respectfully saluting them as a disciple and greeting them, answering the questions of the seniors while her eyes were fixed on the ground.

She was terrified that at their age if any of them were to take a fall, that was something she could never make up for!

Doctor Hu had been in high spirits recently, energetic every day, his legs much nimbler too. In his and his old friends’ words: to have one disciple like this in this lifetime was enough.

The old man didn’t dare show off too much in front of his old friends; only in letters to his own seniors did he endlessly brag and preen.

Who else had such an obedient disciple, throwing around piles and piles of money to do great deeds for the country and the people? Who else had such a little disciple who did things so beautifully…

“See those machines over there? All shipped back from overseas by my little grand-disciple. Take a look—anything else you need? While the kid’s here, let’s old mates talk it over.”

They hadn’t walked for long, nor discussed anything to a conclusion.

Then they caught sight of an empty quadrangle courtyard not far from the research institute.

The old man started again…

“Look over there—later that’ll be a little park. And that pretty little courtyard in front, see it? That’ll be our old fellows’ gathering spot in the future.”

After the introduction, of course he had to hurry and add a compliment, right?

“My little disciple is thoughtful, you know. She said those apartment blocks aren’t suitable for us, not grounded enough. So right in front she opened up a traditional Chinese medicine consultation center for us old guys to kill time and treat those national heroes. And there’s a row of side rooms at the back, where she wants to set up a place for our entertainment.”

Hearing this, Zhou Jiao felt both amused and helpless. Being praised several times a day by the old man had thickened her skin considerably. That counted as progress, didn’t it?

Before dark, Zhou Jiao finally managed to escort these national-treasure-level old gentlemen back to the city, personally seeing each of them to their doorstep.

Once home, she hurriedly shoveled down a few bites of food and dove back into the study.

The passion of these old gentlemen left her no room to feel tired. She wanted even more to get the project finished soon, so that everything could get on track.

Seeing this, Zhang Guoqing felt an ache in his heart; he trotted over, holding soup and tea to serve at her side, coaxing her to drink a few more sips. She’d lost so much weight without noticing.

He had already decided in secret: next time they did a good deed, he’d just make a single decision and throw the money straight in somewhere.

“Wife, that stock has gone up again.”

“As expected.”

“Wife, your oldest son’s going to run over there during summer vacation.”

“He should.”

“Wife…”

Finally, Zhou Jiao raised her head and smiled at him. “Be good. Once the factory starts up, I’ll have nothing to do. I’ll play with you then, all right?”

Zhang Guoqing couldn’t help but laugh, ruffling her hair and pinching her cheek. “I’m your man, not a little kid! Don’t you think you deserve to be punished for that?”

Zhou Jiao had no choice but to put down her pen and raise her hands in surrender. “Brother, why don’t you bring your work over and we’ll do it together?”

“Hmph.” Zhang Guoqing shot her a sideways look. “I haven’t been busy lately, didn’t you notice?”

“Really? That’s great—then help me with my work.”

“…”

In the living room, Miao Lishan heard this and laughed so hard she had to cover her mouth.

Zhou Xiaozheng glanced speechlessly at the open study door: stupid kid! He really didn’t know how to find an excuse—just mention that they’re moving house, and wouldn’t his Jiao Jiao immediately shift her attention?

“Jiao Jiao is just like you, throwing herself into everything she does. She keeps wanting everything to be perfect; how exhausting is that? With Xiao Wei and the other boy supervising things on-site, what’s there to worry about?”

Zhou Xiaozheng slanted a look at her. “My own flesh and blood doesn’t turn out like me—who else is she supposed to be like?”

“Hahaha… and who is it that’s worrying himself sick, huh?”

Zhou Xiaozheng picked up the newspaper from the coffee table, deciding not to stoop to her level.

His Jiao Jiao, ah…

He couldn’t help sneaking another glance toward the study.

Well, now even the silly son-in-law had been dragged into it, both of them burying their heads and working hard!

There was one thing he just couldn’t figure out.

With just those few tens of millions, couldn’t they just throw it all on that piece of land and be done? Did they really need to crunch all those numbers? Who would have the guts to embezzle funds from this project?

Did they really need to plan every penny?

It wasn’t even a water conservancy project!

Alas… his Jiao Jiao hadn’t chatted with him for days.