Merchant and doctor

Chapter 1911 Hanging on by a thread
Lianchi, a famous scenic spot in Lijin City, is a 4A-level tourist attraction and a popular spot for online influencers. Aside from holidays, the main scenic area attracts a large number of tourists and supports many online streamers who also sell goods online and offline, making it a local attraction.

In addition, there is a place called "Chen Sizhuang" next to the main scenic area of ​​Lianchi. The local villagers do not have many paddy fields. At most, they grow some vegetables and fruits for their own consumption. Most villagers make a living by making raw Xuan paper, hemp Xuan paper, and Huzhou brushes.

Later, some villagers noticed that some tourists in the Lianchi Scenic Area were showing a demand for short-term and long-term rentals of guesthouses and courtyards. Some of the more resourceful villagers started to take out small homestay businesses. If they didn't have enough money, they could just take out a mortgage loan!

Having been engaged in small workshops related to culture for many years, the villagers of this village are noticeably smarter than their fellow villagers in other surrounding villages. They quickly learned how to run a business, and gradually, the "Chen Sizhuang" homestay business became very successful.

As its fame spread, some struggling professional painters felt that the scenic lakes and mountains surrounding "Chen Sizhuang" were suitable for in-depth creation and reflection on life, while also helping to heal their inner wounds. So, one rented a small courtyard, another rented a small two-story house, and they gradually gathered together to lament the impermanence of life, while also improving their painting skills, hoping to sell some works every year! Otherwise, they would have to shamelessly beg their families for money to make a living.

Over the years, Chen Sizhuang has attracted all kinds of painters, and it has gradually evolved into a holy place for painting. Over the decades, houses and courtyards have been built, and various supporting commercial facilities have sprung up like mushrooms after rain. Chen Sizhuang has naturally grown into an art park with a strong business atmosphere.

During a casual conversation, the painter Zeng Qiang mentioned Lianchi, saying that the art in the artists' village there tends to be vulgar, and that no one has produced a masterpiece in decades.

It's clear that Fang's painting skills are above those of the "Chen Sizhuang" group of painters.

Having been there in person, Bian Mu could already sense some of the unique atmosphere of the art world.

The lotus pond's water area far exceeded Bian Mu's imagination; the lotus leaves stretched as far as the eye could see, like a flowing skirt. The area temporarily rented by the organizers of the so-called "traditional Chinese music and folk art" event was likely the most artistically vibrant part of the park, with the fragrance of lotus blossoms filling the air and the scenery breathtaking.

The owner of the pool handed two gold-plated invitations to a middle-aged woman. Under her arrangement, a customer service young man called over a painted boat from the lake. The boat had a golden dragon head at the front and a dragon tail at the back, and the carved beams and painted pillars in the middle exuded a sense of luxury.

The two boarded the small boat along the gangway, and the customer service guy noted down the dishes they ordered and went ashore to serve them.

"There should be some kind of counterweight installed at the bottom of the boat, otherwise we wouldn't be sitting so comfortably!" Bian Mu muttered casually after glancing around a few times.

The matter that Master Chi was discussing today was quite important, and Bian Mu, being small and frail, felt that she couldn't handle it, so she naturally changed the subject.

"Nothing can be hidden from you. It works on a similar principle to a washing machine. There are large, heavy cement blocks installed at the bottom of the boat. They're quite clever; they've also covered it with a layer of sheet metal or something. There are electromagnets installed on the shore bridge. When they attract and depress, the boat is as stable as it is on land. I've heard tourists ask about it. They feel that eating on the shore isn't romantic enough and want to go to the middle of the lake for drinks and conversation. When the electromagnet breaks, the ballast weight is reduced by more than half, and the boat sails away easily." The owner of the boat seemed to know quite a lot about the place. She explained with a smile, and it was clear that she frequented this place often, and might even be a VIP member or something.

"No wonder! You can't make any money in the last two years without using your brain. That's great!"

As we were talking, the cold appetizers were served.

Bian Mu casually slipped a hundred yuan to the customer service guy, then gently patted him on the shoulder and said thank you for your hard work. The customer service guy smiled and quietly thanked him before hurrying ashore to arrange the other dishes.

"Of course! Not only is Old Master Cen a highly skilled doctor, but he's also a shrewd businessman. It's a pity that his children are incompetent. They're all talk and no action, and they don't know anything else. They're unwilling to put in the hard work in business, and they can't endure the hardships of studying medicine. They're not on the same page as the old man at all. Even though the old man is in such a state, they still do their own thing and don't seem to care about sharing any of the burdens for him." Master Chi suddenly vented his anger in rapid succession.

"A conflict broke out?" Bian Mu asked with a smile. "It's utterly unreasonable! If our children aren't up to it, we can just gather the old man's disciples together and train a heir to guard the family business. At worst, we can reduce the size of the Cen family's assets and admit defeat, at least we can protect ourselves! You don't know how much effort Old Master Nie has put in to help our family behind the scenes, but it's hopeless! Those disciples are all so selfish and indifferent. Seeing the old man getting older and older, they've all started making their own little schemes, plotting all sorts of things! Sigh! To be honest, this is also the old man's fault. He usually only emphasizes professional skills and profit-based rewards and punishments, and he has indeed neglected medical ethics..."

"If neither side is reliable, then the Cen family is completely doomed."

"Why don't we ask you, the great one, to step in and take over? Both locals and outsiders have started making moves! Otherwise, I wouldn't have needed to ask you out for a private meeting!"

Just as the two were discussing the crucial issue, two customer service representatives skillfully served all the dishes and lit the charcoal stove.

“We’ll eat in the lake area. Could you two please arrange the route?” As he spoke, the restaurant owner stuffed a hundred yuan into the hand of the other customer service guy who hadn’t received any money.

"Want a boatman?" the customer service guy who had just received the money asked with a smile.

“No need! I can sail.” Bian Mu quickly interjected.

"Okay, have a pleasant journey! Here are three life jackets, do you know how to use them?" the customer service guy who received the money asked.

Bian Mu and Master Chi nodded slightly.

"Then we'll start locating it." After saying that, the customer service guy from Deqian walked to the wheelhouse, turned on the electronic navigation system, set the various parameters, and that was it.

Bian Mu and Chi Guanzhu waved goodbye to the customer service guy.

With the automatic/manual mode enabled, Bian Mu switched the system to manual oar mode, steered with his left hand, and gently rowed with his right. Growing up on the water's edge, Bian Mu steered the boat as steadily as Mount Tai.

“Sure! You’re good at everything! It’s the same idea as last time: entrusting the Cen family’s assets to you is a great thing that benefits the world. If you don’t take it over, it’s bound to collapse within six months, and it will definitely benefit those scoundrels. Overall, it’s a major blow to the Lijin TCM community! For both public and private reasons, you have to take on this responsibility. This is also what Elder Nie wants.”

Hearing this, Bian Mu smiled calmly and replied, "Do you know why Elder Cen has been able to hold on until now?"

Upon hearing this, Master Chi was taken aback.

"You're amazing! With the foundation you built, plus the old man's careful self-care, and Elder Nie visiting you every few days, with three top experts working together, it would be a joke if he wasn't good!" Master Chi replied dismissively.

"Hey! Actually... the old man is only hanging on by a thread. If I really listened to you and rushed to take over, once Old Master Cen got the definite news, he would be so anxious that his confidence would be completely lost. If nothing unexpected happens, he probably won't last more than six weeks."

Upon hearing this, Master Chi gasped and his expression changed drastically.