Chapter 371: Chapter 371: The Marvels of Fate

Li Hongying started getting busy from noon; tonight the Mu Family and the Zheng Family are coming over to sign a contract, and naturally, dinner will be at home. Xu Ancheng delivered quite a bit of ingredients in the morning, and Li Hongying finalized the menu right away.

From the Mu Family came the siblings Mu Guihong and Mu Guiwei, while the Zheng Family came with a big group, headed by Zheng Mushao.

With the Xu Family involved, the Zheng and Ding Families can be considered relatives to some extent, making them loosely connected to the Yi Family. It’s essential to take this opportunity to get to know each other well, especially since through the Yi Family, the Zheng Family has connected with the Mu Family. Once the An Gong Life-saving Pill hits the market, the Zheng Family is set to gain both status and wealth. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Xu Zongyin also came, and Zheng Mushao gratefully held Xu Zongyin’s hand. Thanks to the Xu Family’s promotion, with the prescription and the Mu Family’s involvement, they didn’t have to involve the Zheng Family, yet allowing them to join shows the Xu Family’s recognition of them.

Li Hongying prepared two tables, and the dishes were comparable to those at a state-run restaurant: white-cut goose, braised pork, spicy diced chicken, fish with pickled vegetables, stewed offal, fish head tofu soup, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, cold cucumber salad, eggplant braised with beans, stir-fried shredded pork with water bamboo, steamed egg with small ribs, and pickled winter melon.

Every dish was plentiful, and it was Xu Ancheng who prepared all the ingredients for such a lavish table.

The main staples were white rice and buns, along with drinks, including Maotai liquor and various soft drinks provided by Xu Ancheng.

Everyone who tasted Li Hongying’s cooking complimented it, understanding why the Xu Family had arranged this gathering.

After the meal, they began discussing business. Yi Roujing took out the prepared contract, and all three parties reviewed and signed it without hesitation. Xu Zongyin, as a witness, also signed his name.

The collaboration among the three families was fully agreed upon. Yi Roujing handed over the prescription, and Zheng Mushao received it with both hands, shaking hands with each Yi Family member, his words and demeanor full of gratitude.

"Roujing, how is your sister-in-law?" Mu Guihong asked with concern.

"She can get up and walk around; she’s recovering well," Yi Roujing replied with a smile.

Knowing that someone hadn’t joined for dinner and was eating inside, naturally, there was concern and greetings. In the end, Xie Chenyan came out specially to meet everyone. She was conscious of being a patient and thought stepping out might make others uncomfortable, but seeing that others didn’t mind, she did so graciously.

After Xie Chenyan met everyone, she took several more glances at Zheng Mushao, which inevitably aroused curiosity.

"I... I just think Uncle Zheng looks a bit like the Director Zheng in the photo my grandfather left behind," Xie Chenyan said, embarrassed.

"Director Zheng? Which factory? With the same surname, could he be a relative?" Zheng Mushao said with a smile, not really thinking too much, just wanting to ease the younger generation’s awkwardness.

"Huimin Textile Factory." Xie Chenyan smiled, "My grandfather used to be a technician there."

The smile on Zheng Mushao’s face froze upon hearing "Huimin Textile Factory," his eyes widened in surprise, "You... you, what is Xie Wandao to you?"

This time it was Xie Chenyan’s turn to be stunned, looking at Zheng Mushao in disbelief, she replied, "Xie Wandao is my grandfather."

The smile on Zheng Mushao’s face deepened with sincerity as he extended both hands and shook Xie Chenyan’s hand vigorously, his words excited, "Technician Xie was a talent at Huimin Textile Factory back in the day and contributed significantly to it. But later, the factory couldn’t remain privately run, and as times grew chaotic with war everywhere, Technician Xie fled with his family, and there was no news of him after that. I never expected to meet the granddaughter of Technician Xie today, wonderful, wonderful."

Xie Chenyan’s eyes slightly reddened, "Uncle Zheng, my grandfather hid the Zheng Family’s dyeing technique book and never leaked it. They all passed away early, but instructed my brother and me that if we had the chance, we must return the book to the Zheng Family."

"However, I came in a hurry this time, primarily for medical reasons, and didn’t bring it with me. But once I return, I’ll send the book to Jing City," Xie Chenyan said earnestly.

"Ah, I know of that book," Zheng Mushao replied. "While Technician Xie started his research based on the Zheng Family’s dyeing techniques, many of the methods recorded in the book were combined with his innovations. That book belongs to the Xie Family."

"No, my grandfather explained clearly before he passed away, that as descendants of the Xie Family, we must return the book to the original owner, the Zheng Family, if given the chance. I cannot go against my grandfather’s wishes," Xie Chenyan said solemnly. "And besides, my brother and I are not doing the kind of technical work; the book is of no use in our hands."

"Alright, I understand," Zheng Mushao nodded solemnly. "Hongqiang, come here."

Zheng Hongqiang, Zheng Mushao’s eldest son, is now the Deputy Director of the Jing City Textile Factory, overseeing the technical aspects, "Chenyan, this is your Zheng brother. He’s currently in charge of the technical section at our Zheng Family’s textile factory. You can actually send the book directly to the factory. We’ll submit the good techniques to the country, and when we do so, we’ll list your grandfather’s name, marking the joint effort of the Zheng and Xie families."

Xie Chenyan nodded tearfully, never expecting to meet the Zheng Family members so coincidentally, and thus fulfilling her grandfather’s wish.

Zheng Mushao also marveled at the serendipity of fate, never having expected that the descendants of an old friend were now Yi Family’s daughter-in-law, making them extended relatives.

The Zheng Family increasingly felt they owed their fortune to the Xu Family. If it weren’t for them finding their son and gaining a daughter-in-law, none of this would have happened.

With the collaboration now settled, the Xu (Yi) Family provides the formula, the Zheng Family handles production, and the Mu Family takes care of sales. It caused quite a stir in Jing City, and even before sales began, many families had already placed orders. The prominent families in Jing City were well-informed, and with the old lady from the Mu Family as a case study, everyone believed in it.

Xu Ancheng, along with Yi Weiliang, spent several days looking at houses. After two days, they finally selected one. Everyone went to see it, and it was located in Dafeng Lane, in the south of the city. It was also a courtyard house, similar to the Ding Family’s in Beiluo Lane, but older and a bit messy due to previous partitioning. However, the location was excellent.

Seizing the opportunity, they completed the formalities and immediately hired someone to renovate it. It took three days to finish. Since they planned to rent it out, they didn’t do any repainting or purchase furniture, knowing that tenants preferred this kind of simplicity.

On May 20th, Liu Huilan and two others packed up and boarded the train home, their accomplishments during their half-month stay in Jing City could not be understated.

Seeing off her family, Yi Roujing, holding Mantou, followed Xu Ancheng and the others out of the train station. With the crowd bustling, Xu Ancheng picked up Mantou with one hand and firmly held Yi Roujing with the other.

"Hey, you almost knocked someone over," Yi Roujing only felt the weight on her shoulder as she was bumped by someone in a hurry before she could speak a word when an elderly woman nearby called out loudly.