The emergence of the Ginseng Root Strengthening Liquid nearly caused a rift between the Lan and Ren families. Had it not been for a sudden major incident, the owners of the Ginseng Root Strengthening Pills would have likely parted ways.
The major incident, of course, was that Tian Jing's health had genuinely taken a turn for the worse.
Upon learning the truth, Old Master Lan immediately abandoned the pursuit of profit. In the face of Captain Tian's selfless dedication, personal gain was insignificant. After all, if Captain Tian's health could not be restored, such pursuits would be meaningless.
The Ren family then smoothly separated from the Lan family, agreeing to maintain the original profit-sharing arrangement for the Ginseng Root Strengthening Pills should production continue. The Lan family had no grounds for objection.
The Dang Shen Gu Ben Ye, essentially twenty percent as effective as the Ginseng Root Strengthening Pills, was developed by the special team's medical group. It was a health supplement for the general public, and no one dared to oppose it.
The Ren family rose to prominence through the Dang Shen Gu Ben Ye. However, they maintained a low profile, refraining from entering social circles. The Ren family had also held a meeting to discuss Captain Tian, who had become a vegetative state after a car accident. Unfortunately, most of the medicinal ingredients for the Tian Yuan Wen Hun Dan recipe had become extinct. For generations, the Ren family had been unable to find substitutes, and they reluctantly gave up, unable to devise a way to save Captain Tian. After all, they were merely pharmacists.
However, today, just a moment ago, Ren Kunwu, the Ren family's most skilled pharmacist, was summoned by the special team, ostensibly to prepare the Tian Yuan Wen Hun Dan. Ren Yanwu excitedly rubbed his hands together. If the Tian Yuan Wen Hun Dan could be produced, and if Captain Tian could awaken, the Ren family would undoubtedly secure a top position with the highest leadership, soaring to unprecedented heights.
Faced with bundles of plants, Ren Kunwu was bewildered. Li Weixin explained the function of each plant to him one by one. He expressed some concern: "Many of these are not medicinal."
"It's alright." Li Weixin was not worried at all, as these were the 'elites' he had cultivated over generations. "As long as you prepare them according to the recipe's proportions using your Ren family's techniques, it doesn't have to be a pill; a liquid extract is also acceptable."
"Alright," Ren Kunwu agreed, relieved that there was no strict requirement. Preparing a liquid extract was easier than making pills.
Li Weixin waited for a full week in the medical group's territory before the door, marked with a "No Admittance" sign, finally opened. Ren Kunwu emerged, exhausted but with bright, shining eyes. "Team Leader Li, I have not failed my mission. The liquid extract has been prepared. As for its efficacy, it still needs to be tested." He then handed over three test tubes. "One tube constitutes one dose. According to my calculations, three tubes will achieve one-tenth of the medicinal effect stated in the recipe."
Li Weixin was overjoyed. Even one-tenth of the recipe's efficacy would be astounding, considering that the Ginseng Root Strengthening Pills only possessed one-twentieth the potency of the Ginseng Root Strengthening Dan. "Excellent, I will test it."
"No, no, no." Ren Kunwu stopped Li Weixin, who was about to drink the medicine. "It must be tested on someone whose soul has been injured, that is, a vegetative patient."
"I'll go find one." Li Weixin quickly ran off with the test tubes. There were bound to be vegetative patients in the hospital…
Tian Jing opened her eyes and saw her mother-in-law with entirely white hair and her husband with equally white hair. What was going on? Was matching hair color suddenly in vogue for mothers and sons?
"Tiantian, Tiantian, you're really awake." Li Mu's vision was blurred by tears. She raised her hand and wiped them haphazardly. "You must be hungry. Mother will go get you some porridge." With that, Li Mu got up and left, giving the space to her younger son.
Li Zhengguo picked up a bowl of water from the bedside and used a cotton swab to moisten Tian Jing's lips. "You've just woken up. The nasal feeding tube was only removed yesterday. Don't rush to drink water. Be careful with what you eat too. Mother will bring you porridge later. Just a few mouthfuls are enough. Eat more if you're still hungry."
"Your hair, what happened?" Tian Jing's gaze was fixed on her husband's hair. Listening to his rambling, she asked the question she most wanted to ask. However, the sound that emerged was so hoarse it was almost inaudible.
Li Zhengguo smiled. "I'm getting old. It's time for it to turn white." His face was full of wrinkles, which deepened with his smile.
"I..." Seeing that Tian Jing wanted to speak, Li Zhengguo stopped her. "Shh! Don't speak. You're still very weak after just waking up. I'll call Ranan back later to tell you everything." After drinking a few spoonfuls of porridge fed to her by her mother-in-law, Tian Jing fell asleep again.
Li Mu quietly tiptoed out of the room and waved to the group waiting in the living room. "Go do what you need to do. Tiantian is tired and has fallen asleep again."
Li Min worriedly asked, "Will she… *muffled sounds*." Her mouth was covered by her husband. Chen Suozhu said to his mother-in-law, "We'll go back and clean up, and come back later to cook."
Li Mu waved her hand. "Go ahead."
Li Min and her husband left. Li Liguo also pulled his wife away. "Sister-in-law is awake. An'an's wedding can be held this year. We need to urge Xiaoyu." Last year, in the second half of the year, because his sister-in-law hadn't returned, their mother had been quite disoriented, and no one in the family had paid attention to An'an's wedding arrangements. By the time Zeng Jingrong delivered the news that his sister-in-law had become a vegetative patient, their mother immediately regained her senses and personally went with her younger brother to Kyoto to bring his sister-in-law back for rest. They hadn't even had a good New Year last year; who would dare bring up their children's weddings? Although the first half of this year had been peaceful, they still walked on eggshells in their words and actions. Fortunately, the special team's medical group had developed a potent medicine that was highly effective in repairing the brains of vegetative patients…
Ouyang Meihua nodded. "Xiaoyu is already 28. He's long given up on his master's and doctoral degrees. It's time to urge him. If he doesn't listen, I'll have Mother kick him out." This year, due to Tiantian's situation, their mother's authority had grown daily, and neither the adults nor the children dared to misbehave.
Li Mu beckoned to the seven children in the living room and took them to the kitchen…
Tian Jing woke up again and saw her husband's haggard face by her side. She wanted to raise her hand to caress him but found she couldn't. She didn't know how long she had slept to become so weak. She wanted to use her powers to alleviate the symptoms of prolonged bed rest but found her body was completely empty. Gone? It was good that it was gone…
"What are you thinking about?" A deep voice sounded in her ear.
Tian Jing turned her eyes to her husband. "My body…"
"It's alright." Li Zhengguo stood up and poured water from the water heater into a cup. "Ranan will be back tonight. He'll use his powers to help you move around. You've been lying down for so long, and he's been using his powers to maintain the flexibility of your muscles. However, you'll still need rehabilitation to walk on your own." As he spoke, Li Zhengguo propped up her upper body, tucked the quilt beneath her, and then brought the cup to her lips.
After drinking a few sips of water, Tian Jing's throat felt much better. "How long have I been lying here?"
"A whole year." Li Zhengguo put down the cup. "I don't know the specific details, so I'll have to wait for Ranan to come back and tell you." A year? Thinking back to that final lightning strike, her survival was indeed a stroke of luck.
Li Weixin returned along with Li Weiyan, Li Weibo, and Han Lushí, as well as Li Weihao's family of three. Li Wanting brought her seven-month-old son to her mother-in-law. "Mom, this is Sirui. He was born in January this year." Looking at the infant, who had inherited the features of her eldest son and daughter-in-law, Tian Jing smiled. "Good, he looks very healthy. Who took care of you during your confinement?"
Her mother-in-law was concerned about her postpartum recovery. Li Wanting was very touched. "I took leave and came home. Grandmother and my aunts and cousins took care of me."
"Nonsense." Li Mu playfully chided. "You say you came home, so why talk about being tired? This is your home, and you've given birth to my Li family's grandson."
Li Wanting grinned. "Isn't it that Mother also needs to be taken care of?"
Li Mu waved her hand. "Take Sirui out. The air in this room isn't good. When your grandmother has completely recovered, I'll have Hao Hao bring Sirui back to live with us."
"Okay." Li Wanting complied and stepped aside, making way for the three Li Weihao brothers behind her. Tears welled up in the brothers' eyes.