Break out of the courtyard

Chapter 850 Four Generations Under One Roof
After hearing that Elder Zhuang had arrived, Elder Hua, Elder Li, Elder Zheng, and others returned to Shenzhen Peace Academy one after another, wanting to inquire about the subsequent testing of the Lifespan 160 potion.

However, cell drug delivery testing is not so quick; we still need to observe Professor Zhuang's cell division.

The current problem with the Longevity 160 drug is that, during drug administration tests, the cells of ordinary elderly people break down after dividing about 50 times.

Here we need to reiterate the telomere length at the ends of chromosomes, which corresponds to the number of cell divisions.

The average number of cell divisions in modern humans is 40 to 60, while the normal cell division cycle is 2 to 2.4 years.

Based on this calculation, a modern person, in the absence of disasters or illnesses, could theoretically live to be 80 to 144 years old.

However, the reality is complex. A person's lifespan is rarely up to the theoretical value due to a variety of factors, including genetics and environment.

The drug Shouyuan 100 previously claimed that it activates telomerase activity and extends the length of telomeres at the ends of chromosomes.

There is a crucial piece of data that has not been released: how many times did the somatic cells of the test subjects divide after using the Lifespan 100 drug?

50 times!
Yes, only 50 times!
Why did Zhang Heping emphasize that trial participants must be 90 years old to apply for the Lifespan 100 drug?

Only when one reaches the age of 90 can somatic cell carriers that have not divided to the required number of divisions and have a fast division cycle be eliminated, thereby ensuring sufficient cellular activity to be utilized and achieving the amazing effect of delaying aging.

As for whether the Lifespan 100 potion has the effect of prolonging life, that depends on how outsiders interpret it!
Most people currently believe that the Longevity 100 potion can make the elderly look like they are in their fifties or sixties again, which is a sign of extended lifespan.

The Lifespan 120 potion cannot be mass-produced, nor does it exceed the limits of normal people.

It simply extends the length of telomeres at the ends of chromosomes that have divided less than 60 times to 60 levels.

Then, by sacrificing some cell activity, it achieves the effect of delaying aging.

The reason Zhang Heping didn't develop the Lifespan 140 potion is because that potion also failed to break through the limits of the human body.

If you want to extend your lifespan to 140 years, you need sufficient cellular activity to slow down aging, so that outsiders can't see the effects directly.

The Lifespan 160 potion, a new potion that claims to theoretically extend lifespan to 160 years, can cause human cells to divide at least 80 times, which has already broken the human limit of 144 years.

The problem is that when ordinary people's cells are tested with the Lifespan 160 drug, they can only divide about 50 times before they break down.

Only Grandma Zheng's cells were able to divide more than 80 times after testing with the Lifespan 160 drug.

Therefore, the biologists and geneticists involved in the experiment speculated that only the cells of people who had used the longevity drug could withstand the effects of the longevity 160 drug.

But the result was not so. At least for those who used the Lifespan 100 potion, their somatic cells could still only divide up to 50 times after testing with the Lifespan 160 potion.

Therefore, everyone focused their attention on the test subjects of the Lifespan 120 drug.

Thus, the idea of ​​inviting Grandpa Zhuang to participate in the experiment came about.

Experiments have proven that Grandpa Zhuang's somatic cells can indeed withstand the effects of the Lifespan 160 drug.

This is great; the Lifespan 120 potion, which cannot be mass-produced, has become an entry-level drug for extending lifespan and delaying aging.

If people want to live longer, they can't avoid the Lifespan 120 Potion!

The reason why the Shouyuan 120 drug cannot be mass-produced is that there are not many blood donors whose cells can divide up to 60 times, which makes it impossible to extract more active enzymes to develop the Shouyuan 120 drug.

This problem did not stump the biology and genetics experts, because they quickly turned the question to the trial participants of the Life 120 drug.

The number of cell divisions in the trial subjects of the Life 120 drug was rewritten at the genetic level, theoretically reaching 60 times.

Therefore, theoretically, the active enzymes used to develop the Shouyuan 120 drug can also be extracted from the blood of the test subjects.

A new problem has arisen!

Who is the blood donor that provides active enzymes for the development of the Shouyuan 160 drug, with cells dividing 80 times?
Zhang Heping didn't say anything about this issue. Although other biology and genetic experts had guessed what was going on, they all tacitly chose to remain silent.

Because as long as the blood of the people who tested the Shouyuan 120 drug can be used to extract active enzymes and produce Shouyuan 120 drug dosage.

Therefore, in theory, active enzymes can also be extracted from the blood of the test subjects of the Shouyuan 160 drug for mass production.

In this way, there's no need to dwell on who the first blood donor was to provide the active enzyme for the development of the Life 160 drug!

However, knowing the theory is one thing.

Zhang Heping has not yet taught anyone the key technology of extracting active enzymes from relevant blood to extend the length of telomeres at the ends of chromosomes.

Similarly, Zhang Heping did not disclose the key technology for accelerating the cell division cycle to delay aging.

In addition, after the No. 3 Lifespan Space Module was launched and successfully docked with the No. 2 Lifespan Space Module, the remote control center for the space module on the top floor of the biological gene experimental building started the development of the Lifespan 200 drug.

The question from before resurfaced in the minds of the researchers: who was the blood donor for the active enzymes that provided the life-saving 200 drug?
Which person's cells can divide 100 times?
cancer cell?
……

Time flies, and more than a month has passed.

The news that the Department of Cosmetic Surgery at Shenzhen Peace Hospital is conducting clinical trials of the Longevity 120 drug has spread both domestically and internationally.

The reason it spread overseas is that after his father-in-law Tang Ming and mother-in-law Xu Jiefeng were discharged from the hospital, they went to Hong Kong Island with an appearance that looked like they were in their fifties or sixties.

Then, the news spread from the mouths of Tang Ren's concubines.

Zhang Heping returned to the capital with his family, including Grandma Yang, who looked much younger.

Finally, he left behind a dose of Longevity 120 medicine, which was developed using active enzymes extracted from the blood of Grandma Zheng and Grandpa Zhuang, and told Elder Hua and Director Wang to handle it as they saw fit.

Thus, the Lifespan 120 potion, which was originally not allowed to be mass-produced, was only made possible by Zhang Heping's secrecy regarding the key technologies!
“Elder Hua, we know that we only have one dose of the Lifespan 120 potion at the moment,” said a retired old man who hadn’t gone to the capital, addressing Elder Hua, who was pacing back and forth in the living room.
"How about we draw lots to decide who gets to try the longevity potion!"

An old man sitting on the sofa spoke up: "Old Hua, we've been through thick and thin with you for so many years. Tell us who should receive that longevity potion, and we'll answer without hesitation."

“That’s right, we have no objections!” another old man chimed in. “Those who didn’t get their turn this time can simply wait for the longevity potions that will be developed later!”

Director Wang Sumei heard noises coming from inside the room at the door. She was about to turn around and leave when Secretary Chen, who was waiting outside, knocked on the door for her and rescued the bewildered Mr. Hua.

"This Lifespan 120 potion is not suitable for any of you right now!" After saying this, Elder Hua walked out. Only then did Elder Hua regret letting these old subordinates into the Peace Academy.

At the same time, he also understood why Zhang Heping left behind a lifespan 120 potion—it was very annoying!
After Director Wang and Elder Hua came out, Director Wang frowned slightly and said, "Three Middle Easterners came to the Cosmetic Surgery Department of Heping Hospital. They want to spend money to buy the Lifespan 120 drug!"

Upon hearing this, Elder Hua frowned. "Have you told Heping about this?"

“I told you!” Director Wang’s tone was somewhat unusual. “Peace Hospital offered 120 billion yuan, demanding that the other party bring the elderly over to receive physical conditioning and drug injections at the Cosmetic Surgery Department of Peace Hospital in Shenzhen.”

"A single Longevity Potion costs 12 billion?" Old Hua looked at Director Wang with gleaming eyes and said in a complicated tone, "Isn't that too expensive?"

“Peace says it’s not expensive!” Director Wang said with some emotion. “He said that 120 billion RMB converted into magnesium is only a little over 20 billion, which is nothing to those tycoons in the Middle East.”

"120 billion RMB?" Old Hua asked, slightly surprised. "He's not accepting magnesium this time?"

Director Wang frowned again. "He said that we need to touch up the global status of magnesium to prevent the Americans from getting too arrogant."

Hua Lao asked in surprise, "Magnesium is linked to oil, does he want to link RMB to longevity potions?"

~
After returning to the capital with Zhang Heping's family, Grandma Yang and Grandpa Zhuang first sat for a while at the Zhang family compound on the north bank of Houhai Lake. They chatted with Ma Xiuzhen and Zhang Bing, asking them when they would hold a full-moon celebration, before finally going home.

On the 19th of last month, Roy gave birth to a healthy baby boy for Zhang Yi, the first child of the fourth generation of the Zhang family.

Zhang Heping brought his family back, firstly to attend the baby Zhang Bo's one-month celebration, and secondly to find out about the job transfers of his eldest sister, second sister, two brothers-in-law, nephew, and niece.

Grandma Yang stayed at the Shenzhen Peace College for more than a month and managed to persuade some of the elderly people to realize that they had no relation to Zhang Heping.

Then, some elderly people who thought they still had connections took action and stopped lingering at the Shenzhen Peace Academy.

Following this, Zhang Heping's two older sisters' families, as well as Zhou Xiaochun and Zhou Xiaopeng, all received invitations from various departments and organizations to transfer them to work there.

Chang Xing, who works at the Geological Bureau, agreed on the spot without even discussing it with his family when he heard that other units had invited him to join them.

Now, he is a section chief in the logistics department of the tobacco bureau, and more importantly, he is a deputy!

No one else commented, because this whole thing happened so suddenly, it made people feel like there was something fishy going on.

“My suggestion is that you can wait a little longer!” Zhang Heping looked at his brother-in-law Chang Sheng, who seemed hesitant to speak, and explained slowly:

"As you just saw, after Grandma Yang used the Lifespan 120 potion, she looks at least twenty years younger."

"Of those who wanted to obtain the Life-Extending 120 Potion from me through your job transfers, only the person behind the Tobacco Bureau has succeeded so far."

As Zhang Heping spoke, he looked at Chang Xing, who had an embarrassed expression, and said, "A drug that can make people younger and extend their lifespan—I don't need to explain, you all should understand how precious this drug is!"

Second sister Zhang Pandi frowned and asked, "Brother, will this matter put you in a difficult position?"

“No!” Zhang Heping looked around and said to his family members sitting around him, “I created this longevity potion for two reasons: first, we need it ourselves, and second, it can be used to control anyone who wants to live a long life.”

"After all, the examples of Shen Wansan and Lou Bancheng serve as a warning; a family can't just be rich!"

"Peace!" Brother-in-law Chang Sheng finally couldn't hold back any longer. "The Municipal Bureau wants to transfer me there. They say a deputy director is retiring and they think I can take over his position. What do you think..."

"Oh, Dad!" Chang Wen looked at her father, who was almost 50 years old, with a helpless expression. "My third uncle made it so clear just now, telling us to wait and wait for a better job transfer!"

"But that's the municipal bureau in the capital!" Chang Sheng said somewhat unwillingly, "I'm just a lowly deputy director. I think it's already pretty good that I've been transferred to the municipal bureau and even promoted to deputy division chief!"

"Whatever!" Zhang Heping said indifferently, "In two years, the leaders of the Municipal Bureau might need to contact me through you. You can seize the opportunity then."

Chang Wen shook her head helplessly, "Now I finally understand why Chang Xing was so impulsive in changing jobs. It's all inherited from my dad. Asking you to wait a little longer won't hurt you!"

Zhang Pandi stopped her eldest daughter, then smiled at her third brother and said, "I've only been transferred to the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation for a little over two years, and I don't want to move for the time being."

"Besides, you mentioned before that there would be tax reform in China, and I'm waiting for that opportunity."

"Whatever you want!" Zhang Heping laughed. "I came back this time to explain the ins and outs to you, so you won't feel like you owe someone a huge favor."

After a few more words, everyone heard Ma Xiuzhen calling for everyone to bring their bowls of noodles and have dinner.

After dinner, when the family went for a walk, the eldest sister, Zhang Zhaodi, approached Zhang Heping again to ask her parents-in-law, Chang Guoxing and Dai Qiuye, if they could use the longevity potion.

Zhang Heping thought for a moment and said, "It mainly depends on their current physical condition. If they experience difficulty moving around or symptoms such as Alzheimer's disease, they can use the Lifespan 120 drug in advance."

"However, using it in advance does not have a very good effect on extending lifespan; it can only be considered as improving the lives of the elderly and enabling them to take care of themselves."

“His father is 71 years old this year, and his mother is 68. I feel that their health is okay.” The eldest sister, Zhang Zhaodi, said uncertainly, “How about I have Chang Sheng pick them up tomorrow, and you can take their pulses.”

"Okay!" Zhang Heping said casually, "These are all minor matters, you can arrange them. The main thing is to talk to your brother-in-law clearly, so he won't misunderstand that I'm reluctant to give him the medicine, after all, our parents haven't used it yet."

“Your brother-in-law understands this, don’t worry!” After Zhang Zhaodi finished speaking, she walked over to Chang Sheng, who was lagging behind, to discuss picking up his parents for dinner and medical check-ups the next day.

Seeing that her eldest daughter had finished speaking, Ma Xiuzhen pulled Zhang Heping aside and asked, "Son, your Aunt Chen is 64 this year, and your Uncle Zhou is 66. They probably don't need your anti-aging medicine, right?"

“Mom!” Zhang Heping replied helplessly, “Let me explain it to you like this: if you use that kind of medicine when you’re over 60, you’ll live to be 110 at most; but if you use it when you’re in your 80s or 90s, you can definitely live to be 120.”

"You're 10 years younger than me, do the math!"

Ma Xiuzhen exclaimed in surprise, "They can live to be over a hundred years old!"

Zhang Heping laughed and said, "Otherwise what! Why do you think those outsiders would transfer jobs or promote my eldest and second eldest sisters?"

"You mean, your Uncle Zhuang and Grandma Yang can live to be over a hundred years old?" Ma Xiuzhen was still somewhat incredulous. "I thought that kind of medicine only made them younger..."

Zhang Heping didn't explain further, but turned his head to look at the little guy Zhang Bo that Tang Xin was holding, wondering when his own children would be able to have offspring.

Compared to those large families, the Zhang family had far fewer members.

……

(End of this chapter)