Cheng Chengyan changed into Cheng You and stood in front of the barbecue grill, looking quite professional.
Cheng You, meanwhile, ran to the side to check on the roasted lamb leg, the aroma of which was very enticing.
Lin Changhe glanced outside, "Cheng You, come in and eat when it's almost ready."
With only the two of them outside, the others felt too awkward to sit and eat.
Cheng You smiled and said, "Don't worry, Grandpa Lin, I'll be done soon."
The main event was the roasted lamb leg, which couldn't be missed.
By the time Cheng You finished, Cheng Chengyan had also finished grilling everything.
The sizzling, greasy roasted lamb leg was served, making the children next door cry with envy.
Cheng Chengyan picked up a knife and began to carve the meat.
"Eat up, everyone."
Uncle Li couldn't wait to take a bite and, as expected, it was incredibly fragrant.
He gave a thumbs-up, "Delicious!"
It wasn't just delicious; it was exquisite.
Lin Changhe sighed, "Cheng You, with your skills, you could set up a stall."
Cheng You quickly shook her head, "I couldn't possibly."
The work at the pharmacy was already enough to keep her busy.
She was inherently a laid-back person, and building Zhen Shan Tang step by step was already quite an achievement.
If she were to take on anything else, she would lack the energy and will.
Besides, street stalls were not allowed in the commune yet. The policy might relax next year, and then it would be possible.
By the end of the meal, everyone was thoroughly satisfied.
Zhen Zhen ate until her belly was round, feeling as though it were New Year's.
No, she didn't even eat this much meat during the New Year.
"Sister, I'm so happy," she grinned, revealing her newly lost baby teeth.
Cheng You patted her small face, "We'll be even happier in the future."
Zhen Zhen pursed her lips and smiled, her heart filled with sweetness.
...
As the month drew to a close, Cheng You settled the accounts.
The goods taken by the health center had doubled.
She produced a total of eight types of traditional Chinese patent medicines, not many, but each sold very well.
If it weren't for the shortage of medicinal herbs, they could have produced more.
Qi Yang had written several times, mentioning that the People's Hospital in Yancheng was interested in cooperating with Zhen Shan Tang.
However, Cheng You couldn't supply the quantities they needed, so the matter was put on hold.
Nevertheless, two batches of the chapped skin cream had already been shipped.
Cheng You calculated the money. The business had improved significantly this year, and it was only November. After deducting costs, the net profit had already surpassed three thousand.
Cheng You was very pleased with this.
When the policy opened up next year, she could rent a new shop in the commune and open Zhen Shan Tang with great fanfare.
As December approached, Lin Yunian once again sought out Cheng You.
It was still about the pharmaceutical factory. Cheng You's medicine was selling exceptionally well, and her reputation in the commune was growing.
Such good medicine should naturally be mass-produced.
He still felt that Cheng You had a small vision and was unwilling to hand over the recipes.
This was a matter of benefiting the people!
Hearing his persuasion, Cheng You felt a little helpless.
"Director Yang, I can't explain it to you, but it's really impossible to mass-produce this."
Besides the shortage of medicinal herbs, it was also due to insufficient spatial dew.
Although the dew was increasing, the speed was very slow.
She had to supply both the medicines and the medicinal herbs, leaving her with no energy.
Yang Yunian was even more helpless than she was, "Cheng You, your hemostatic powder has a miraculous effect. If it could be used in medical treatment, it would be a great boon."
"I know, and I want to mass-produce it even more than you do, but it's genuinely impossible right now. Director Yang, just consider me selfish, I can't help it."
Seeing that she was utterly unwilling to budge, Yang Yunian became somewhat angry.
But there was nothing he could do. He was here to ask for a favor, and it wasn't as if he should fly into a rage just because Cheng You refused to hand over her own property.
"If that's the case, then let it be. Besides the patent medicines, I've also come to discuss the matter of medicinal herbs."
Although the medicinal herbs in Qili Village were grown by the villagers themselves, the seeds were provided by Cheng You.
It had been agreed before planting that Cheng You would own twenty percent of these medicinal herbs.
Even though it was only twenty percent, with so many villagers in Qili Village, the shares were not much after distribution.
Cheng You's twenty percent already made her a significant shareholder.
At first, some people were unconvinced, thinking Cheng You only got so much because of Elder Jiang.
But later, they discovered that the seed survival rate was ninety percent, and the Health Bureau planned to build a pharmaceutical factory. Zhao Jisheng even said that their medicinal herbs were of extraordinary quality, and they were all convinced.
Cheng You had shown them a path to prosperity. With an additional income each year, everyone was overjoyed.
Therefore, Cheng You had a say in this batch of medicinal herbs.
"Before Old Zhao left, he mentioned that a batch of medicinal herbs would be ready for harvest next year," Lin Yunian said.
Cheng You was aware of this; her medicinal herbs had a shorter growing period.
"I need a batch here. The rest, if the pharmaceutical factory can digest it all, can go to the factory, but the price..."
The price would definitely not be lower than that of ordinary medicinal herbs, given their superior quality.
Lin Yunian quickly assured her, "You can rest assured about this. The price will definitely be higher, not lower. I've already reported it to the higher-ups. If you work hard, you'll definitely make a profit."
This was the first pharmaceutical factory built by the Health Bureau, and ten thousand yuan had been allocated as funding.
Ten thousand yuan, that was no small sum.
"Moreover, it would be even better if you could recommend someone from your end to work at the pharmaceutical factory."
He found the few people who helped Zhen Shan Tang to be quite good, especially Zhou Yunru, who was already capable of treating patients.
Cheng You had also mentioned that she wanted Zhou Yunru to be a resident doctor in the future.
Cheng You herself also needed people, and he felt awkward about poaching them directly.
"Yes, I'll think about it. Actually, there are people in Qili Village who can identify some medicinal herbs."
After all, they had cultivated tens of mu of land, and with Cheng You's promotion, everyone had started to become familiar with medicinal herbs.
With a little more training, working in the pharmaceutical factory would not be a problem. Who wouldn't want to work in the pharmaceutical factory, earning public rations?
As soon as Director Yang left, Cheng You approached Cheng Tianhua.
If he weren't the captain of Wujing Village, she wouldn't bother coming to him.
"I want to recruit some people to learn about identifying medicinal herbs and some basic pharmacological knowledge from me."
Cheng You hadn't mentioned the pharmaceutical factory yet, as learning didn't guarantee employment there.
However, Cheng Tianhua was not optimistic about her and naturally refused to cooperate.
Just like last time when Cheng You proposed planting medicinal herbs.
"Stop messing around! Can your little pharmacy afford to pay so many people? A few people are enough for now. Don't end up being reported for capitalist practices."
Cheng You's expression became displeased, "Whether or not you're reported is none of your business. As the captain, you just need to spread the word. After ten days of learning, I'll screen them. Suitable individuals will be retained, and they will be paid. As for whether I can afford to pay them, that's my problem."
Cheng Tianhua was infuriated, glaring at her with eyes wide with rage.
"If you have this money, you should use it to support your old father! Don't you see how much I lost because of that wretched girl last time? I can barely afford to eat now!"
Cheng You was too lazy to argue with him about it, "Song Yulian abducted Zhen Zhen, and she rightly deserves to pay a price. You chose to help her, and it has nothing to do with us. Anyway, I've told you, whether you recruit people or not is up to you."