In the evening, the Li family's four vajras carried gifts, following their elders from house to house to thank the villagers for lending tables and benches.
The villagers smiled from ear to ear when they received the gifts.
Sister-in-law Niu and Sister Guilan, among others, received gifts and their smiles grew even wider, as they received two sets.
Sister-in-law Niu held up two bowls of dishes, "I knew Tiantian wouldn't forget about us."
"Hmph!" Li Min let out a soft hum and whispered into Sister-in-law Niu's ear, "A few more years to endure, and I'll go crazy."
Sister-in-law Niu asked in a low voice, "Didn't you say you were enjoying freedom?"
Li Min shook her head, "But I can't be away from home all year round, can I? Forget it, I won't talk about it anymore. I'm going to the next house."
...
Yuan Feng was returning to Hot Spring Valley with Little Yuan. Tian Jing and Ouyang Meihua escorted them one by one, as the cable car had already shut down completely.
Twenty thousand yuan was left as a thank-you fee. Tian Jing and Ouyang Meihua descended the mountain.
Li Weihao's wedding banquet ended just like that. As for what others would say, Tian Jing didn't care; she had done it ostentatiously for others to see.
...
That evening, County Mayor Li returned from the countryside, and the Li family had a lively family dinner.
Li Wanting gave red envelopes to her younger brother, brother-in-law, and the younger generation as a token of changing relations, and she also received a red envelope from Xiaomai.
Li Weixin presented a pair of gold locks. The gold locks were padlocks, the common type in the seventies and eighties.
Except for the lock body, which was pure gold, other parts could not be replaced with gold, because this padlock could be used normally.
Li Weihao looked at the golden lock that completely covered his palm, unable to laugh or cry. What was the point of making it usable normally? What door was it meant to lock?
Li Weixin didn't care; he had given the gift.
The next day, the young people of the Li family returned to their respective posts.
Li Weihao and Li Wanting stayed at home for a few days and then proposed to take a car out for a trip, to travel while also purchasing desired daily necessities to send to the special skills team.
Tian Jing agreed, telling them to remember to leave some vacation time to come back for the New Year.
Ji Qing and Ji Xiang hugged their aunt's leg, wanting to go with them, but their grandmother pulled them back, "You've played enough, it's almost New Year. We'll go after the New Year when it's warmer."
Ji Qing and Ji Xiang looked at the receding car's taillights with tears in their eyes, knowing that Grandmother was just tricking them, the little ones. kAnshu伍.ξà
...
The Li family became quiet, and Tian Jing planned to visit the special skills team.
Zeng Jingchu and Yulia had taken the medicine six times in total.
Upon seeing Tian Jing, Zeng Jingchu congratulated her on becoming a grandmother again.
Tian Jing noticed that Zeng Jingchu's spirits were very good, not the manic excitement that seemed to drain his life force like three months ago.
Yulia still didn't feel anything. Tian Jing pulled her out with a vine. As soon as she left the cell, Yulia activated her superpower and then smiled, "It's gone, truly gone. I'm finally a normal person."
Saying this, she bent down and asked Zeng Jingchu in the cell, "Jingchu, I'm a normal person now. Do you still want me?"
Zeng Jingchu nodded vigorously, "Yes! We have Ji Xiang."
Then, he extended his hand to Tian Jing, "Pull me up and test it."
As soon as he was up, Yulia stared at him nervously.
More than ten minutes passed, and Zeng Jingchu showed no change. He looked hopefully at Tian Jing, "Am I cured?"
"I don't know."
Tian Jing shook her head, "Wait another two to three months, after taking a total of ten to twelve doses, and then test again. Yulia is the same. After the New Year, when you can leave completely, we'll conduct more detailed observations."
Zeng Jingchu and Yulia both agreed. Although they would have to stay in prison for another two to three months, they had hope of getting out.
Returning to the office, Tian Jing handed the six test tubes to Zeng Jingrong.
Zeng Jingrong, looking at the names and dates of administration marked on the test tubes, said, "The two drops of liquid you gave me produced results a month ago."
Tian Jing was a little nervous and asked, "What results?"
Zeng Jingrong's gaze shifted to Tian Jing's face, "The result was no result. The laboratory couldn't provide final data from just two drops of liquid. The liquid seemed to not exist."
"Even the water in the liquid should have some components, right? Yet, two drops of liquid yielded absolutely no discernible components. Those professors were so excited they wanted to declare two new species."
"But they had no reference for the effects of the two liquids, nor enough liquid for them to experiment with."
"They asked me to get them a few more drops, and I said I didn't have any. They didn't believe me, stopped their experiments, and kept pestering me for the liquid. They're driving me crazy."
Tian Jing smiled, "After the New Year, when the experimental results of Zeng Jingchu and Yulia are out, we can negotiate with Matvey."
Without a doubt, Zeng Jingrong knew what those two drops of liquid were:
"A few research fanatics in the lab are extremely enthusiastic about the two drops of liquid. They believe that if they discover new species, it will bring them and China international renown."
"Let them dream."
Tian Jing said faintly, "This is my secret weapon against potential global disasters, not a stepping stone for someone to achieve fame and fortune. Has the Chinese medicine research group made any breakthroughs?"
"Not yet."
Zeng Jingrong shook his head, "With the Ginseng Gu Ben Pill already in existence, they're under a lot of pressure."
"The Ginseng Gu Ben Pill is an ancient prescription," Tian Jing shook her head. "Tell them to strategically release news of new progress."
"When Zeng Jingchu and Yulia achieve complete success, it will also be the time for the research group to show results."
Zeng Jingrong nodded, "When the research group releases news of new progress, I will arrange for a few trustworthy doctors to be resettled."
Tian Jing agreed, resettling them would ensure the safety of the doctors and the antidote.
The doctors would certainly be unwilling to accept credit that fell into their laps without merit. Even if they knew the truth, they would feel deceived. Instead:
"At that time, let's bring in the Ren family as well to participate in the research of the new Ginseng Gu Ben Pill."
Zeng Jingrong blinked, "Are you planning to give the Ginseng Gu Ben Pill to the special skills team?"
"Dream on."
Tian Jing smiled, "Tell them to research a Ginseng Gu Ben Pill suitable for the common people's budget."
"Give some of the proceeds to the resettled doctors. The Ren family and I will take half, and the special skills team will only get a share for providing the venue."
"As for the team members who work at the venue, they will receive bonuses from the scenic area."
Zeng Jingrong nodded repeatedly, "Whatever you say."
...
Wei Xiaoyong's barren mountain project was completed, including the new road leading to the Ku River and forty courtyards situated on both sides of the new road.
The land for the new road and courtyards was leased by Ku Mountain, as the men would only use it for twenty years.
As for the new bridge over the Ku River, its construction was scheduled for early spring next year.
November 8th was an auspicious day for travel, cleaning, moving into new homes, and praying for blessings.
The forty men, along with their families, moved into their new homes.
Many of the family members had already come to help. For this move, all the family members decided to stay and celebrate the New Year.
After the New Year, the men's wives would stay to cultivate the greenhouses, and their sons and daughters-in-law or daughters and sons-in-law would return to prepare for the opening of the fruit supermarkets.
All participating family members were considered employees and would receive a fixed salary. Only three members per family would be hired to avoid labor surplus and wasted expenses.
Tian Jing came to congratulate the men on their housewarming.
The men vied to invite Tian Jing to their homes for dinner.
Tian Jing merely sat and chatted from house to house, not staying for meals.
Li Dani chased after Tian Jing, "Auntie Tian."
Tian Jing stopped, "What is it?"
Li Dani's face was full of worry, "My father is getting out early. I'm scared..."
"Scared of what?"
"I'm scared he'll still hit me, scared he won't like Xiaoyong, scared he'll take Xiaoyong's plantation and fruit supermarket. I'm scared of many things..."
Tian Jing pondered, "You need to talk to your grandfather about this. If your grandfather can't handle it, then go to the village committee, or the court."
"I believe he wouldn't dare; he's an old man now. If he makes trouble, then separate your households and deal with it as it comes."
"I believe if you tell Xiaoyong, he will have a way. You're not bearing the Li family's matters alone; it's good for him and good for your family."
"You need to learn to share the burden with him. If you can't bear the weight of a household, he's not incompetent, is he?"
Li Dani stood stunned for a long time, then raised her hand and patted her face, "Many people say I look old, that my unhappiness is written on my face, and they guess that my life is not going well."
"Xiaoyong also often advises me not to put too much pressure on myself."
"I, I..., I should have talked to Auntie Tian about my daily life earlier."
"I understand. I'll go back and tell Xiaoyong now that the home is ours together, not something I can bear alone. We need to carry it together."
"Thank you, Auntie Tian."
Saying this, she turned and ran back to her new home, the one Xiaoyong personally built, her home and the home for her child...