In the shopping mall, Wang Fang was still shaken.
She had almost run headfirst into Qi Chengyan.
If she hadn't reacted quickly, she would have been recognized.
"I told you not to come to Yancheng. If this continues, I'll definitely run into them later."
Her brow was furrowed, and she truly felt guilty.
She could still hear people in Yancheng gossiping about Qi Chengyan.
Every time she heard it, her heart ached unbearably.
It was like a needle pricking her heart, constantly reminding her of what she had done.
Qin Jianzhong waited until Cheng You and the others had walked far away before helping Wang Fang out.
"It's alright, it's alright. This was an accident. I promise there won't be a next time. Yancheng is the capital, and the hospitals here are much better than those in Yongcheng. I feel more at ease giving birth here."
If it weren't for this child, he wouldn't have gone through so much trouble.
Wang Fang asked, "Captain Qi is back. Will he return to the army?"
If Qi Chengyan could have a better life, she wouldn't feel so distressed.
Qin Jianzhong paused, then shook his head, "Probably not."
Although he didn't know much, he understood one thing: the army was a place where decisions were final.
Qi Chengyan had left with a stain on his record; it wouldn't be easy for him to return.
He was probably just accompanying Cheng You to school, not planning to go back.
"Alright, let's go home. Don't think too much about it."
Wang Fang lowered her head, guilt washing over her.
...
The encounter with Qin Jianzhong was soon forgotten by Cheng You.
Because she had a mountain of things to do.
The next day, she went to find Zhao Jisheng to discuss medicinal herbs.
This was her first time at the Agricultural Research Institute. It housed many research achievements and had security comparable to a military compound.
Cheng You brought some medicines from Zhenshantang, along with some chapped skin cream and seven-child paste.
Although giving medicine as a gift seemed a bit awkward, Zhenshantang had nothing else to offer.
What else could she do when she was a medicine seller?
After passing through multiple checkpoints, she finally entered the Agricultural Research Institute.
"Professor Zhao is at the traditional Chinese medicinal herb base. You can see it by walking to the end of this road."
Cheng You thanked them and leisurely walked inside with her things.
Halfway there, she ran into Zhou Qi.
As fate would have it, he wouldn't pretend not to see her.
"Cheng You, what are you doing here? Not everyone can enter the Agricultural Research Institute."
Cheng You pointed in the direction of the traditional Chinese medicinal herb base. "I'm here to see Professor Zhao."
Zhao Jisheng kept his collaboration with Cheng You very secret. Apart from his research team, no one else knew.
"Professor Zhao isn't someone you can just meet. Are you leaving on your own, or should I call someone to escort you out?"
Cheng You put her hands in her pockets, looking relaxed.
"Are you sure? If you delay Professor Zhao's work, can you take responsibility? Zhou Qi, if I leave today, and you want me to come back later, you'll have to personally come and invite me."
Seeing her unfazed demeanor, Zhou Qi was the one who flinched first.
He couldn't afford to be responsible for delaying Professor Zhao's work.
Cheng You raised an eyebrow. "Do you want to continue?"
Zhou Qi huffed and said stiffly, "Since Professor Zhao invited you, then forget it."
With that, he turned and ran off as if fleeing.
Cheng You shrugged, having thought he would actually dare to kick her out.
The traditional Chinese medicinal herb base at the Agricultural Research Institute wasn't large, looking to be about an acre.
Some areas had greenhouses, and each plot had a sign detailing what herb was planted, its growth cycle, and other attributes.
Cheng You examined them one by one.
The medicinal herbs here were much more comprehensive than those in Qili Village.
After walking for a while, she spotted Zhao Jisheng.
He was wearing tall rubber boots, and several students were with him, taking notes.
She walked over and called out, "Professor Zhao."
Zhao Jisheng, wearing his reading glasses, thought he was mistaken.
As Cheng You approached, he exclaimed with surprise, "Cheng You!"
He eagerly extended his hand. "I've been waiting for you for so long!"
Cheng You shook his hand and smiled, "I just arrived in Yancheng a couple of days ago and settled down. I apologize for making you wait."
Zhao Jisheng couldn't be bothered to continue his lecture. He immediately said, "Xiao Wang, quickly go make some tea and bring it to my office. I need to discuss some matters with Cheng You. Come, come, my office is this way. Let's sit down and talk properly."
As they walked, he introduced the three students beside him to Cheng You.
"The one making tea is Wang Junjie. This is Li Meiqi and Wu Tingyao. They are all students from the Agricultural University."
Wang Junjie was tall and burly, a typical Northeastern man.
Li Meiqi was also quite tall, half a head taller than Cheng You, and had a hearty laugh.
Compared to them, Wu Tingyao seemed much more reserved, but his face was filled with a thirst for knowledge.
Cheng You nodded. "I'm Cheng You."
Li Meiqi couldn't help but chuckle, clutching her notebook tightly.
"You don't need to introduce yourself. Your name is already music to our ears. We just didn't expect you to look so young. Are you an adult yet?"
Cheng You narrowed her eyes at her. "I suspect you're implying I'm short."
Li Meiqi burst into laughter. "You're so cute. Although you're petite, you're well-proportioned and good-looking."
Compared to them, Cheng You was considered petite and delicate, but she had a curvaceous figure that evoked a desire to protect.
Zhao Jisheng adjusted his reading glasses and chuckled. "She's not only an adult, but she's also married. Don't get any ideas about her. But since you'll all be university students, you can communicate more."
Cheng You quickly said, "No, I'm not good at farming. I only know how to make medicine."
Zhao Jisheng eyed her. "I can tell you're not good at farming, otherwise the medicinal herbs in Qili Village wouldn't be such a mess."
A jumbled mess.
No system, no order in when to sow or fertilize.
It was a miracle that the seeds Cheng You provided had managed to grow to maturity safely.
Cheng You chuckled. "I'm not a professional, so of course I can't do scientific planting."
The group entered the office and sat down. Wang Junjie also brought in the tea.
Sitting down, Cheng You felt like a monkey, being stared at by them.
Zhao Jisheng took out the contract. "These are the general terms for the cooperation with the medicinal herb base. Take a look."
However, the specific profit-sharing details were not yet written.
This was because the two percent Cheng You proposed was still up for negotiation.
In simple terms, the higher-ups thought two percent was too much and wanted to discuss it further.
Zhao Jisheng had already informed Cheng You of this earlier.
Cheng You scanned it briefly and found no issues. The only point of contention was likely the profit share.
"Professor Zhao, my profit share in Qili Village and Wujing Village is two percent. This is my bottom line."
Professor Zhao nodded with a smile. "I understand. I said the same thing, but Cheng You, the country is vigorously developing its healthcare sector. Not only are we expanding the cultivation area of traditional Chinese medicinal herbs, but we are also injecting enormous research funds into the foundations, clinical applications, and drugs for the combination of traditional Chinese and Western medicine. Therefore..."