A question directly stumped both Lu Ming and Qiao Ling.
What was this talk of having children? Where did that even come from?!
Qiao Ling’s face instantly turned red, like an overripe tomato. With a burning blush, she shyly said, "Grandpa, what nonsense are you talking about?"
Qiao Kaicheng paused, "Uh... was I too hasty? Have you two just started? Have you held hands? Have you kissed?"
Qiao Ling was so ashamed she wanted to dig a hole and bury herself.
She was afraid such questions would annoy Lu Ming, so she quickly interjected, "No, neither! Grandpa, Lu Ming and I are just ordinary friends."
"Ah?"
Qiao Kaicheng was completely dumbfounded.
Just ordinary friends?
Impossible, absolutely impossible. Qiao Kaicheng had walked more bridges than Qiao Ling had roads; he could see Qiao Ling's maiden crush with a single glance. She definitely liked Lu Ming.
Qiao Kaicheng glared at Lu Ming, "What, you don't fancy my granddaughter?"
Lu Ming was also bewildered.
Why had the conversation veered so far off course?
Qiao Ling said, "Grandpa, Lu Ming and I are truly just ordinary friends! Besides, he's already engaged to Jiang Mengxin, the female CEO of Jiang Corporation. He's a married man. What kind of relationship could I possibly have with him?"
Although these words were the truth, as Qiao Ling spoke them, she distinctly felt a bitter tang.
She even faintly felt a lump in her throat.
On the verge of tears.
To love and not be able to attain it is the most tragic thing in the world.
Qiao Ling liked Lu Ming very much, but she knew that for an outstanding man like Lu Ming, there were plenty of women who liked him. She only regretted being "too late."
If only she had met Lu Ming before Jiang Mengxin, how wonderful that would have been!
Alas, fate was not in her favor.
Sigh!
With things having reached this point, Qiao Kaicheng had nothing more to say. He just lowered his head and repeatedly said, "A pity, a pity, such a great pity. Such an outstanding man, and our Qiao family cannot have him. What a shame."
After this, the three returned to Ren Zhi Pharmacy.
Qiao Kaicheng first publicly announced the truth of the matter, then struck Qiao Qiong's name from the family tree.
Following that, Qiao Kaicheng asked Qiao Ling to rejoin the family.
And!
Qiao Kaicheng publicly announced, "From this moment on, Qiao Ling will be the head of the Qiao family. Henceforth, all matters within Ren Zhi Pharmacy will be decided by Qiao Ling."
The old man formally announced his retirement.
After handling these matters.
Qiao Kaicheng finally opened the safe in the storeroom, took out a red box, and placed it on the table.
He smiled at Lu Ming and said, "Lu Ming, you've helped our Qiao family immensely. Originally, I wanted to marry my granddaughter to you as a token of my gratitude, but since you're already engaged, that path is closed. Therefore, I intend to repay your great kindness with this item. I hope you won't find it lacking."
Saying this, he opened the box.
Everyone gathered around, looking closely. Inside the box lay a large, dark yellow ginseng.
Ginseng is a very precious medicinal herb.
Ordinary ginseng is already valuable, and hundred-year-old ginseng is even rarer than gold. The ginseng in the box, judging by its size, weighed at least half a pound!
Such a massive ginseng was at least five hundred years old.
However, they had underestimated the value of this ginseng.
Only Lu Ming, with his extensive knowledge and sharp eyesight, immediately recognized its unique quality. He exclaimed, "Old sir, this ginseng must be at least a thousand years old!"
His words astonished everyone.
A thousand-year-old ginseng was a legendary, extremely rare variety that was practically impossible to find in real life.
But, they were seeing it now.
"Incredible, incredible! Old sir, to think you had such a treasure hidden away. Amazing."
"I've lived long enough to witness a thousand-year-old ginseng. I'm truly fortunate to have seen it."
"Does eating a bite of this grant a hundred years of life?"
Qiao Kaicheng laughed heartily, "It might not grant a hundred years of life, but this ginseng is incredibly valuable and can treat all sorts of difficult ailments. Someone once offered ten million to buy it from me, but I didn't sell."
Ten million could buy a luxurious villa!
Trading a villa for a piece of ginseng demonstrated just how precious it was.
Most importantly, the old man hadn't made the trade!
Qiao Kaicheng said to Lu Ming, "Now, this ginseng belongs to you."
Lu Ming repeatedly waved his hands, "No, no, I absolutely cannot accept such a precious ginseng."
Qiao Kaicheng said, "You helped our Qiao family preserve our reputation and protected Ren Zhi Pharmacy's century-old foundation. This merit is far more valuable than the ginseng! Lu Ming, if you don't accept it, I will be very sad."
With it said so plainly, it would be inappropriate not to accept.
Others also urged him.
Reluctantly.
Lu Ming cupped his fists and said, "Then, this junior accepts your generous gift."
Amidst the envious gazes of everyone, Lu Ming graciously accepted the thousand-year-old ginseng, worth ten million.
...
Late at night, in a hotel.
Jiang Anzhi, Jiang family's eldest uncle, secretly booked a room. He wasn't meeting a woman, but an old man – Yuan Chengji.
Jiang Anzhi immediately said, "Uncle Yuan, please quickly help me think of a solution. Jiang Mengxin has a firm grip on the Jiang family now, and Lu Ming keeps causing me trouble. I'm going mad with worry!"
Yuan Chengji chuckled.
He had actually been thinking of a solution during this time.
It wasn't that he wanted to help Jiang Anzhi, but he simply wanted to ruin the Jiang family and Lu Ming.
Because Yuan Keying had been getting closer and closer to Lu Ming recently, Yuan Chengji genuinely worried that Yuan Keying might lose control and fall deeply in love with Lu Ming, ending up in a messy situation of fighting over a man with Jiang Mengxin.
After a moment of silence.
Yuan Chengji took out a photograph and said, "Go find this man."
Jiang Anzhi glanced at the photo, "Who is this?"
"A laborer working on a construction site."
"Ah? A laborer? Why would I look for him?"
Yuan Chengji smiled and said, "He has a deep hatred for your Jiang family. It just so happens that your mother's eightieth birthday is in a couple of days. Arrange an opportunity for him to cause a scene at the banquet. If he can take care of Jiang Mengxin and Lu Ming, that would be best. If not, you can still shift the blame to Jiang Mengxin, the president."
Jiang Anzhi was delighted, "Using someone else's knife to kill? Excellent, this is a brilliant plan. I don't have to lift a finger and can reap the benefits. I love these kinds of easy deals!"
Putting away the business card.
Jiang Anzhi cupped his hands towards Yuan Chengji, "After this is accomplished, Uncle Yuan, I will surely reward you handsomely."
With that, he hurried away, following the information on the photo to find the laborer. This laborer would become a pain for the Jiang family!