The fragrance of medicine fills the countryside in 1990

Chapter 43: Yao Lao's Advice, a Dinner
Yao Lao has white hair and a youthful face, and he looks to be about seventy years old. He has a slender figure, like an ancient pine tree that has experienced many hardships.

His hair was as white as snow, not a strand out of place, and fluttered gently in the wind, adding a touch of sage-like temperament to his appearance.

Although his face is full of traces of time, he still maintains that kind of majesty that makes people dare not underestimate him.

Yao Lao was leaning on a cane in his hand. The cane looked ordinary, but it gave off a faint woody fragrance and was obviously made of fine wood.

He wore a green robe with exquisite cloud patterns and herbal patterns embroidered on it, showing his identity as a doctor.

When he saw Su Chenjin, the light in Yao Lao's eyes suddenly lit up. It was a light of appreciation and recognition, but then he hid it again and regained his calm and depth.

He walked slowly to Su Chenjin, looking at her face with sharp eyes. He looked at her as an equal, as an elder, without any arrogance or prejudice.

"Hello, Xiaojin." His voice was deep and powerful, with a kind of magic that made people believe it involuntarily.

"I'm Zheng Susheng, and I live in Jiangcheng. I heard that you control all the channels for medicinal materials in the South China Pharmaceutical Market?"

Su Chenjin's face froze. She didn't expect that the elder in front of her was so quick and well-informed.

She looked at him without changing her expression, and her calm eyes seemed to contain a tranquil lake, clear and deep.

She stared calmly, her eyes deep and steady. She did not rush to respond, but chose to remain silent, letting her calmness and composure be revealed in silence.

It was the first time that Yao Lao had met such a calm girl, and he couldn't help but feel more curious and admiring of her.

His eyes lingered on her face, focusing on her a little more.

The two looked at each other. Although there was no verbal communication, they both knew the importance of the other in their hearts.

Yao Lao couldn't help but think that this girl was just an 18-year-old girl!

Where does this calmness and grace come from?
Su Chenjin was also observing the old man in front of him. This was not an ordinary stranger.

She had just completed an important task at the South China Medicinal Materials Market and thought she could leave quietly, but unexpectedly, at this critical moment, the old man actually caught her little trace.

Su Chenjin looked at the elder carefully. His face was as warm as the spring breeze, and his kind eyes revealed a sense of peace, as if time had left no traces on his face.

Those deep eyes are filled with wisdom and insight, like stars twinkling in the night sky, bright and profound.

Yao Lao has a calm and composed temperament. No matter what kind of storm he faces, he can always remain calm and composed.

Su Chenjin thought that this elder had a kind face and looked calm and composed.

Who is he, who can turn a single word into a wise advice?
Su Chenjin looked at him and couldn't help but feel an inexplicable awe in her heart. She knew that this old man was not an ordinary person, and his sudden visit must have a hidden meaning.

Yao Lao's expression froze slightly, as if he was thinking about something, and then the corners of his mouth slowly lifted up, revealing a warm smile. The smile gradually widened, like a willow swaying in the spring breeze.

There was a gleam of wisdom in his eyes, and he saw through all the troubles and complexities in the world.

Su Chenjin was infected by Yao Lao's smile, and the corners of her eyes couldn't help but slightly curve, forming a beautiful arc.

Her smile is like the warm sunshine in spring, making people feel comfortable and peaceful, and all sorrows and worries are dispelled by this warm light.

There was a tacit understanding and resonance quietly passing between Yao Lao and Su Chenjin.

"Hello, old gentleman!"

Yao Lao nodded slightly, his eyes sparkling with joy.

He said to Su Chenjin, "I am the manager of the South China Pharmaceutical Market. You just signed a contract with me and left your promise. I came to you specially to discuss future cooperation with you. I wonder if you would be willing to do me a favor and have a drink with me?"

Yao Lao's voice was gentle yet powerful, and every word carried weight.

Su Chenjin frowned slightly and glanced at the watch on her wrist. She thought for a moment and said, "I have a big class in fifteen minutes. I should have time after class."

Upon hearing this, Yao Lao smiled slightly, and his smile seemed to contain endless deep meaning.

He looked down at his watch, an antique watch with a gold case and an exquisite enamel dial.

He raised his head and said to Su Chenjin: "Then let's have dinner together after your get out of class!"

Su Chenjin's class was an English class. The English teacher stayed at Jiangnan University after returning from abroad.

Su Chenjin's English grades are good, but his spoken English is not up to par.

Before traveling through time, Su Chenjin, the eldest daughter of a duke's mansion in the Tang Dynasty, studied English with the British envoy for a period of time when she was ten years old.

At that time, she was still an innocent little girl, full of curiosity and yearning for foreign culture and language.

However, the characters of the Tang Dynasty were somewhat different from the English pronunciation of the 90s, which caused Su Chenjin to encounter considerable difficulties in his subsequent studies.

She could never get rid of the way of pronunciation that was influenced by the memories of the Tang Dynasty, and it became a permanent mark in her heart.

Fortunately, after arriving at Jiangnan University, Su Chenjin was introduced to a famous English teacher with the help of Gu Xinliang.

When English teacher Mr. Wang saw Su Chenjin for the first time, he was attracted by her lively and intelligent eyes. He thought this little girl was very talented and decided to take her as his apprentice.

After the English class, Su Chenjin walked out of the classroom and unexpectedly found Yao Lao waiting quietly downstairs in the department building.

A hint of smile flashed across Yao Lao's eyes. "Yao Lao, are you waiting for me here?" Su Chenjin stepped forward, with a hint of surprise and respect in his tone.

Yao Lao smiled and nodded, "It's just five minutes earlier than the agreed time."

His voice was calm and warm, like a ray of sunshine on a winter day.

Su Chenjin relaxed. She looked up and said to Yao Lao, "My course has ended. We can start our meeting anytime."

Yao Lao waved his hand and said softly, "Don't be so reserved. I just want to invite you to have a simple meal together."

Su Chenjin was slightly stunned, then smiled and said: "Okay! I just heard Director Gu Xinliang mention you, saying that you are the most famous drug dealer in Jiangcheng. I just came to Jiangcheng, and it is really a happy thing to have the opportunity to cooperate with you."

A hint of affirmation flashed in Yao Lao's eyes, "Young man, your ideas are very admirable. I came here just to meet you. It is said that every generation has its own talents, and each of them leads the trend for hundreds of years.

I believe that young people with outstanding abilities like you will definitely become the pride of Jiangda in the future!"

Su Chenjin felt a little embarrassed by the compliment, and a blush appeared on her face. She smiled softly and said, "Thank you, Mr. Yao. I'm just trying my best to do my job well."

Upon hearing this, Yao Lao couldn't help but laugh out loud, his eyes sparkling, "That's absolutely true! Young people should be humble and work hard, their future will definitely be limitless!"

Su Chenjin got into Yao Lao's black car, and the world outside the window gradually receded.

Yao Lao's eyes caught Gu Xinliang's figure through the car window. He smiled slightly, rolled down the car window easily, and greeted warmly: "Xinliang, this is the first time I meet Miss Su Chenjin today. If time is available, can we go together?"

Gu Xinliang stopped, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. When his eyes fell on Su Chenjin, the corners of his mouth could not help but rise, revealing a gentle smile.

"Mr. Yao, you have a very good vision. Xiaojin is indeed a very good student." Gu Xinliang's words were fair and he did not show too much affection, but the sharp-sighted Mr. Yao still caught it.

For Yao Lao, this was the first time he had encountered such a rare thing as Gu Xinliang.

Yao Lao smiled slyly and said, "Student Xiao Jin is my VIP guest tonight."

Gu Xinliang nodded and smiled, showing his understanding. "Unfortunately, I have a meeting later and cannot enjoy the meal with you. I wish you a pleasant meal."

Yao Lao nodded and responded in a friendly manner: "Okay, you go ahead and do what you need to do first."

The car window was rolled down, and the black sedan started and slowly drove out of the school.

He turned to look at Su Chenjin, with a bit of mischief in his eyes, "Student Xiaojin, you seem to be very familiar with Xinliang?"

Su Chenjin was stunned by the question, and her face turned slightly red. She leaned against the window gently, avoiding Yao Lao's gaze, and did not intend to answer this question that made her reluctant to say. However, Yao Lao seemed to see through her thoughts and couldn't help laughing.

Su Chenjin looked up in surprise, and there was no distraction in the starlight in the other person's eyes.

Su Chenjin raised the corner of his mouth slightly, revealing a hint of a smile, and said softly: "It's best not to speculate about a woman's thoughts."

Yao Lao nodded in agreement, with a hint of mischief in his eyes: "You are right, as an old man, I still like to see lovers finally get married."

Su Chenjin knew that she had no way to hide from Yao Lao. She looked at Yao Lao, frowned slightly, and said with a headache: "Yao Lao, please don't make random guesses. There is no clue at all!"

Yao Lao nodded, a hint of certainty flashed in his eyes: "Okay, okay, I won't guess anymore."

Su Chenjin smiled bitterly and said helplessly: "What happened between me and Director Gu is really not what you think. Really, don't think too much about it."

Yao Lao stroked his beard, a smile flashed in his eyes, and nodded, as if accepting her explanation. But Gu Xinliang's love for her just now was different.

The black car drove onto the ocean beach.

Next to the ocean beach, there is a unique restaurant that is both a music bar and a buffet restaurant, and it also incorporates elements of country music.

Here, there is a wide variety of seafood dishes, from deep-sea treasures to shallow-sea delicacies.

The music is a medley of country music, which seems to carry the fragrance of soil and makes people feel as if they are in the fields.

As soon as Su Chenjin stepped into the restaurant, he was attracted by the unique atmosphere.

Yao Lao chose an excellent table location, right in the front row of the restaurant, where he could not only enjoy an unobstructed view of the performance on the stage, but also hear the clearest and most moving music.

As soon as Su Chenjin sat down, she couldn't help humming along with the rhythm of the music. Her voice blended perfectly with the country music and became a part of this wonderful night.

There was a glimmer of joy in Yao Lao's eyes, and as he watched the little girl gradually become more active, his mood also became cheerful.

He smiled and said with a hint of teasing in his voice: "Xiao Jin, it seems that you are not only a top student, but also a fan of country music!"

Su Chenjin couldn't help but laugh softly when she heard this, with a hint of mischief in her eyes. She admitted frankly, "It sounds good. Country music can sometimes relax you!"

In the country music of the 1990s, every note is like the breeze in the rice fields, with its unique mellowness and low-keyness, just like the stars in the night, which are not ostentatious but enough to light up people's hearts.

This music is different from the solemn and majestic bell sounds of the prosperous Tang Dynasty. It is like a stream flowing out of a deep valley in the mountains, clear to the bottom and as crystal clear as jade.

It flows quietly, through the green grass, around the ancient trees, bringing a hint of coolness, gently brushing people's hearts, bringing peace and joy to their hearts, like the rising sun, warm and full of vitality.

With this melody, Su Chenjin sat at the wooden dining table and picked out a plate of grilled cold noodles for himself.

The cold noodles were grilled to perfection, the golden crust exuding an enticing aroma. Take a bite, it's crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, with rich taste layers.

She picked up a piece of golden and crispy fried chicken wing. The skin of the chicken wing was sprinkled with spices. A slight tear revealed the tender chicken inside. Every bite seemed to taste the tranquility and simplicity of the countryside, just like the waves of wheat in the fields, rolling in, full of the joy of the harvest.

Yao Lao chose a steak, which was cooked to perfection, with an attractive reddish-brown surface and a rich meaty aroma.

He gently cut the steak, revealing the pink meat inside. The texture was tender and juicy, as if he could taste the gift of nature and the vitality of life.

He savored the delicacy with a satisfied smile on his face. At this moment, all his worries were melted away by the delicacy.

Yao Lao smiled and nodded, his eyes showing some approval, "The buffet here is indeed delicious and makes people eat to their heart's content. You can take as much as you want."

This was Su Chenjin's first time dining here, but she was immediately attracted by the food. She nodded slightly with a satisfied smile on her face, "Indeed, the food here is very much to my taste."

Su Chenjin would occasionally taste these delicacies, but most of the time, she kept her diet simple and light.

However, when talking about fried chicken wings in the 90s, her eyes would sparkle with unconcealable joy.

The corners of Su Chenjin's lips lifted slightly, outlining an elegant and warm smile, as if the spring sunshine was shining on the quiet lake, causing ripples.

Her eyes revealed a kind of appreciation and satisfaction, and he said softly, "The environment here is very good, and the food is also very enjoyable. Yao Lao, what do you want to talk to me about?"

Yao Lao stroked his silver beard, with a warm smile on his face.

His eyes were full of wisdom and kindness, a kind of calmness and composure that can only be possessed after years of experience.

He looked at Su Chenjin and seemed to see the shadow of his own youth. That passion and curiosity about the world made him want to share more life experiences with this young man.

"Actually, I, an old man, just want to have a quick meal with you and have a chat today." Yao Lao's voice was calm and warm, like a spring breeze.

He continued in a steady tone, "You may be young, but you have a lot of experience. You are very smart in business. I am very optimistic about you."

Su Chenjin responded with her usual modesty, her voice soft but firm, "I have only dabbled in the business of medicinal materials, I didn't expect to receive your attention!"

Her tone revealed her modesty and love for the business of medicinal materials. In her eyes, every kind of medicinal material contains endless vitality and mystery.

He stared at Su Chenjin, his deep eyes shining with admiration and recognition.

His eyes moved across her face, and in her eyes, he saw tenacity and wisdom, as well as that rare humility and self-control.

He knew that although this young woman was modest in her words, her talent and potential were as bright as a star and could not be ignored. She was like an uncut jade, with endless value and possibilities within.

He whispered, "You are an admirable girl!"

This is true!

Su Chenjin responded politely, "Thank you for your support!"

Her voice was soft but full of strength and confidence.

Yao Lao's curiosity was aroused, and his eyes sparkled with interest, like an explorer who had discovered a new continent.

He pressed on, "I want to know, how do you plan to sell all these herbs? I want to hear your thoughts!"

Her deep eyes flashed with a light of neither servility nor arrogance. She met Yao Lao's scrutinizing gaze and was silent for a moment, thinking about how to speak.

She leaned forward slightly and folded her hands in front of her. This action was both respectful and revealed her inner confidence.

Her voice was clear and firm, like a bright pearl shining in the dark night. "Before answering your question, you need to understand my professional background. I hope to cooperate with you, not just for a one-time cooperation!"

Yao Lao smiled and nodded. His voice was hoarse and powerful, like the melodious sound of an ancient musical instrument that had been passed through the years.

His eyes were gleaming with appreciation and recognition. "I am also sincere in completing the cooperation with you, but I think it is not easy for an 18-year-old girl to make such a big deal. But your courage and bravery make me feel that it is necessary to treat you to a meal and have a good chat about this issue!"

Su Chenjin was slightly stunned, her intelligent eyes sparkling with light, touched by Yao Lao's words. She stared at Yao Lao, her tone calm and firm, "I'm just doing a small business, I didn't expect to receive so much attention from you, I also want to know what you think of me! We can talk about this issue first!"

Yao Lao put down the teacup and stared at Su Chenjin with sharp eyes, as if assessing her ability and determination.

He spoke calmly, his voice steady and powerful, "My sincerity is the best evaluation! I think what we need to talk about is that such a large market of medicinal materials are in your hands. How can you sell them before the medicinal materials lose their effectiveness? This is time-limited!"

As Yao Lao finished speaking, the entire room seemed to be shrouded by an invisible force and fell into silence.

The air seemed to freeze, and even the slightest sound could not break the silence.

Su Chenjin's eyes were as calm as water, and she looked at Yao Lao calmly. Her state of mind was like a deep lake, and no matter how stormy the outside world was, it could not disturb it at all. She smiled, but she had more thoughts in her mind, "Selling medicinal materials always involves risks, but the medicinal materials in my family's medicine shop sell well!"

The light in the room seemed to soften at this moment, and the sunlight coming in through the window was gently swayed by the dust, as if dancing silently in the air.

Su Chenjin's surprised smile was like the warm sunshine in spring, warm and bright, bringing a touch of brightness to the heavy atmosphere.

Yao Lao's gaze was deep and calm, like the ever-changing sky. Although he appeared calm on the surface, he contained endless power in his heart.

He encouraged Su Chenjin to continue speaking, and every word and every sound was full of power and expectation.

Su Chenjin is not someone who is willing to share her story easily, but she has indeed shown amazing talent in the field of medicinal material channels. Her words reveal a kind of confidence and determination, as if in her eyes, there is no difficulty that cannot be overcome.

She looked up and saw Yao Lao's calm face, as if she saw the future of cooperation. She smiled gently, and her smile revealed an unshakable determination, "That's easy to say! Since we have signed this contract, we are partners fighting side by side."

She continued, "Now, all the medicinal materials in your market have been handed over to me. This is undoubtedly a great trust in me. And as a businessman, I naturally want to convert this trust into more benefits."

She paused and took a deep breath. "However, as you said, the way Jiangcheng sells medicinal materials may not be suitable for Jincheng. Jincheng has its own market rules and its own consumer habits. Therefore, I need to adapt to local conditions and adjust our sales strategy according to the actual situation in Jincheng."

Hearing the word Jincheng, Yao Lao's eyes instantly became hot, illuminated by an invisible light. Jincheng, this unknown fourth-tier city, is well-known in the national medicinal materials channel, like a dazzling pearl inlaid in the vast land.

Whenever he mentioned this small town, Yao Lao's eyes always revealed deep admiration and yearning.

In Jincheng, there are many people running drugstore businesses. With their keen business sense and unique management philosophy, they have made the city's drug business flourish.

The most outstanding among them is the Gu family.

When talking about the Gu family, Yao Lao's eyes couldn't help but reveal a bit of respect and admiration.

He whispered, "You know the head of the Gu family is Chen Fangyu from the Red Cross Hospital!"

This sentence was like a thunder, exploding in the midst of Yao Lao's words.

Chen Fangyu, this name is well-known in the medical field. She is not only a top expert in the Red Cross Hospital, but also a leader in the national medicinal materials market.

With her superb medical skills and unique vision, she injected new vitality into the Gu family's medicinal materials business, allowing the Gu family to stand firm in this prosperous land.

Yao Lao gently lifted the teacup, took a sip, and the fragrance of tea filled the air.

"When Chen Fangyu married into the Gu family, the Gu family's chain drugstore business was at a low point and faced unprecedented difficulties." Yao Lao's voice was low and powerful, as if he had traveled through the tunnel of time and space, re-presenting that period of history to Su Chenjin.

"The Gu family at that time was like a huge ship that was swaying in a storm and could sink at any time." Yao Lao's eyes became deep, as if he could see through the thick dust of history.

"However, the appearance of Chen Fangyu is like a ray of light, illuminating the future of the Gu family." Yao Lao's words were full of admiration and praise.

"After she took over the Gu family pharmacy, she quickly turned the situation around with her unique vision and extraordinary wisdom. Under her leadership, the Gu family pharmacy was reborn from the ashes and regained its vitality." Yao Lao described, every word was full of power.

"In just less than two years, she not only turned the Gu family's pharmacy from danger to safety, but also turned losses into profits, creating unprecedented glory. And when she was 26 years old, she gave birth to the eldest grandson for the Gu family, bringing endless joy and hope to the Gu family." After Yao Lao finished speaking, the joy and pride still echoed in the air.

Yao Lao's words suddenly stopped at this moment, as if the air had frozen. He raised his eyes slightly, and his gaze gently swept across Su Chenjin's still young face, capturing her innocence. A sly smile flashed across the corner of his mouth, like the pride of a chess player who had succeeded in his plan.

He found that she seemed to be unaware that Gu Xinliang was Chen Fangyu's son. Thinking of this, Yao Lao couldn't help but smile secretly. It seemed that this matter could not be told to her so soon.

Whenever I think of the look in Gu Xinliang's eyes when he interacted with her, I feel that it was really an interesting thing.

Yao Lao decided to meet Gu Xinliang to see what kind of expression would appear on his usually calm face when he found out that his students had moved the entire South China Herbal Medicine Market? Was it shock? Astonishment? Or... something else?
This thought made Yao Lao feel even happier, as if a spring breeze was blowing across the lake, creating ripples.

He was looking forward to that moment, looking forward to seeing Gu Xinliang lose his composure in front of him. The feeling of being in control of everything made him feel as if he had returned to his youth, full of fighting spirit and passion.

But this secret cannot be revealed so quickly now. Yao Lao decided to let it slowly reveal its brilliance with the passage of time.

Su Chenjin keenly noticed Yao Lao's cunning. She felt that his closeness to her was not only due to her boldness, but she couldn't put it into words.

This closeness is an invisible bond that connects the two of them closely, yet it seems confusing.

Su Chenjin did not tell Yao Lao about his cooperation with Chen Fangyu.

She knows very well that some things can only be faced alone, and some secrets can only be buried deep in the heart.

But when Yao Lao mentioned Chen Fangyu, Su Chenjin's crystal clear black eyes immediately flashed with a fiery light.

Feelings of admiration and adoration surged in her eyes, like dewdrops in the morning light, crystal clear and impossible to conceal.

And how could Yao Lao, an experienced old man, miss such a subtle expression of emotion?
But he didn't say it out loud, he just smiled and nodded, everything was said without words.

Su Chenjin did not show any fear. She nodded to Yao Lao and said in a firm and confident voice, "I have heard of Dean Chen Fangyu's reputation for a long time. She is a very good senior in the medical field! The drugstore channels in Jincheng are divided into production, famous, and traceability. The channel I buy the medicinal materials from the market is traceability."

As she finished speaking, Yao Lao was attracted by Su Chenjin's words.

In the prosperous land of Jincheng, the channels of the medicinal materials market are divided into three levels: production, name, and traceability. Each level represents different strengths and influences. Being able to get involved in them, especially the traceability level, is undoubtedly the best proof of strength.

Currently, there are only two companies in Jincheng that can trace the channels. And Su Chenjin was able to get involved in them, which is enough to show her ability.

Yao Lao lowered his head and sipped the cup of tea quietly, with a measure already in mind.

There was a deep light flashing in Yao Lao's eyes as he thought about the story and strength behind Su Chenjin.

Su Chenjin raised her head and stared at Yao Lao, patiently waiting for his response. Her fingers gently stroked the edge of the teacup, which was as smooth as jade and exuded a faint coolness, like an autumn breeze blowing through her heart.

Yao Lao sat on the rattan chair opposite and glanced at her secretly. There was a hint of cunning in his eyes, but he didn't show it.

He continued to drink his tea in silence, the tea swaying in the cup, making subtle ripple sounds.

The night sky is like a huge black velvet cloth, slowly covering the sky. The golden beach sparkles with a soft and mysterious light under the cold moonlight, like countless tiny stars falling on the earth.

The lights of the music tea restaurant gradually dimmed in the night, like stars being swallowed up, leaving only a faint but firm light.

The waves gently hit the shore, making a low and powerful rhythm, which interweaves with the occasional chirping of insects in the distance to form a symphony of the night.

Time passed slowly in this quiet and solemn night. Half of the lights in the Beach Music Tea Restaurant had been turned off, and the remaining lights seemed particularly lonely and bright in the darkness.

Su Chenjin lowered his head nervously. The hands of the watch on his fair wrist quietly skipped past eight o'clock, making a slight ticking sound that echoed in the silent night.

She secretly guessed in her heart that the mysterious medicine master was quietly waiting for her next words in the night.