The affairs of Niu Xiaoge had been brewing for some days and, in the eyes of outsiders, were concluded.
However, for those involved, it was far from over.
Even without the Niu family causing trouble, the woman was hounded by rumors and forced to leave her hometown to find work.
As the Niu family was concerned about Niu Daniang's health, Niu Dasao brought the grandmother and granddaughter back home.
Niu Dasao complained to Tian Jing, "I don't know how much debt I owe my mother-in-law from my past life. I've been repaying it for forty years, and it's still not over."
Tian Jing couldn't offer comfort for this matter. Even if Niu Daniang passed away, even if Er Niu grew up and got married, it would always be Niu Dasao's burden.
Because Er Niu had grown up by Niu Dasao's side, with that emotional bond, Niu Dasao could not be as at ease with her as she was with Niu Niu.
She would have to worry about her for a lifetime.
Essentially, Niu Xiao Sao had given birth to a daughter for Niu Dasao.
Tian Jing could only change the subject, "Did Brother Niu agree to let you take Xiaoshan and the others to see their mother?"
Niu Dasao became even more annoyed, "Your Brother Niu won't allow it, saying the old and young at home are too many to leave."
"I was about to enjoy some peace, and Heaven has assigned me more troubles."
"This will surely make Big Niu and Second Niu resent me. I'm not planning to look after my own grandsons, but I'm bringing my niece to live with me."
"Before, I had no reason to feel guilty, but now that I'm bringing Er Niu home, I feel uneasy towards Big Niu's wife and Second Niu's wife!"
On this issue, Tian Jing could offer advice: "Niu Dasao, the only excuse you can use is that both your daughters-in-law are pregnant around the same time. It's not appropriate for you to busy yourself with either side, and you're getting older, you can't stay up all night."
"It's better to spend money to hire two confinement nannies to represent your well-meaning intentions as a mother-in-law, to avoid any misunderstandings that you might be biased towards one side."
"That's right!" Niu Dasao clapped her hands. "Now there are confinement nannies, so I don't have to personally handle it as a mother-in-law."
"If I hire confinement nannies, it's because I care about my two daughters-in-law and grandsons."
"I knew it. Coming to talk to you about my troubles always leads to a solution."
...
Lin Hua'er and Chen Fu had returned to their storefront in the scenic area. Li Min often brought her two grandsons back to the courtyard.
Since her mother wasn't home, she had gotten used to returning. Otherwise, where else would she go to visit friends?
The Niu family was completely out of the question now.
As soon as Li Min returned to the courtyard, she didn't want to leave, insisting on staying for lunch.
Tian Jing simply asked Ouyang Meihua to come back for lunch every day as well.
When Li Mu heard that her children were getting along harmoniously in her absence, she was naturally very pleased.
At the end of the month, just as Tian Jing was planning to visit the special skills team again, a visitor arrived.
She ushered the 'uninvited guest' into the living room and, after serving tea and water, sat quietly with him.
Ren Yanwu also sat quietly, finishing a cup of tea. After a refill, he finally spoke:
"Captain Tian, there is actually another ancient medicinal formula preserved by my Ren family. However, some of the medicinal ingredients in the formula can no longer be found on this planet, and even substitute medicines cannot be found. Therefore, I did not bring it back for the Lan family."
Tian Jing did not interrupt, waiting for him to continue.
Ren Yanwu smiled slightly, "Do you know about the Chinese Medicine Association's recruitment of TCM practitioners, Captain Tian?"
Tian Jing nodded, "I heard about it, but didn't pay much attention."
Ren Yanwu said, "I went to the Chinese Medicine Association. They only recruit doctors, not pharmacists, and they don't buy medicinal formulas."
Tian Jing raised an eyebrow, "Doesn't Old Master Lan have the influence for this?"
Ren Yanwu shook his head, "My Ren family has been researching these two medicinal formulas for generations. Only the formula for Renshen Gubenyuan has found substitute ingredients."
"We are powerless regarding the other formula, so when we sought refuge with the Lan family, we did not present this formula."
"The research team recruited by the Chinese Medicine Association this time aims to treat a close relative of a high-ranking official. Our Ren family has decided to contribute the formula, perhaps there will be something we can learn from."
"Therefore, this matter absolutely cannot go through the Lan family; it will create a rift in the trust we have painstakingly built."
Tian Jing leaned back against the sofa, "I'm sorry, I can't help you. I am an equally trusted partner to Old Master Lan."
Ren Yanwu said, "Captain Tian misunderstands my intentions. I plan to give this formula to the special skills team."
Tian Jing sat up straight, "You know my identity?"
"I guessed it," Ren Yanwu nodded. "Old Lan vaguely mentioned that your identity was special."
"And I discovered clues from the respect many people show Captain Tian."
"You can cultivate thirty-year-old ginseng, and you don't seem like a captain from an ordinary military unit, so you must be the captain of the special skills team."
Tian Jing leaned back against the sofa, "You're revealing your shrewdness. Aren't you afraid I'll investigate you?"
"Not afraid," Ren Yanwu said frankly. "My Ren family has been pharmacists for generations. In this industrialized modern era, our craft is no longer needed, so we can only develop in other areas."
"The Ren family already has the Renshen Gubenyuan formula, which is enough profit. This research team is an opportunity for us to pursue fame."
"Even if the formula is not useful, it should leave a good impression of the Ren family on the high-ranking official. Coupled with the effectiveness of Renshen Gubenyuan, they will complement each other. If the Ren family is to rise, we cannot be dependent on the Lan family."
"However," Tian Jing sneered, "if the high-ranking official knows about the Ren family, Old Master Lan might also find out."
Ren Yanwu said solemnly, "Therefore, I implore Captain Tian to help me transfer the formula to the special skills team, to be presented under the name of the special skills team."
"As long as the high-ranking official knows about the Ren family, it doesn't need to be publicized. After all, it's about a family member, considered a private matter."
Tian Jing stared into Ren Yanwu's eyes, and a subtle pressure emanated outwards.
After a short while, even in the 24-degree air-conditioned room, Ren Yanwu was sweating profusely.
As Tian Jing's pressure increased, Ren Yanwu's back bent, and his face turned red, yet he gritted his teeth and persevered.
Two minutes later, Tian Jing withdrew her pressure. Ren Yanwu slumped back on the sofa, gasping for breath, his earlier confident composure completely gone.
Tian Jing said calmly, "Those who try to use me deserve to be punished."
Ren Yanwu clasped his hands together, "I apologize. We truly do not wish to remain forever under the shadow of the Lan family."
Tian Jing extended her hand, "Bring the formula here."
Ren Yanwu quickly picked up his briefcase and handed it to Tian Jing, "It's in a hidden pocket on the outer layer."
Tian Jing retracted her hand, "You should take it out yourself."
Ren Yanwu took out a blade as thin as cicada's wings, placed the briefcase on the coffee table, and slowly began to cut along the seam of the bag opening...
A few minutes later, two yellowed papers, laminated, appeared on the coffee table.
The edges of the papers within the lamination were frayed and damaged in many places from frequent handling.
The writing in the creases of the paper was also difficult to discern.
Ren Yanwu pushed the two laminated sheets across the coffee table, "Captain Tian, on the back are the formulas transcribed by our ancestors based on these originals."
"Because the original paper is too old and would have disintegrated if not treated, we immediately placed it on the back of the transcribed formulas and laminated it once we got a laminator."
"One of them is the formula for Renshen Gubenyuan. The one we gave to the Lan family is the one with replaced ingredients."
Tian Jing picked up the two laminated sheets. The yellowed paper bore ancient Chinese script, and Tian Jing could only recognize a few characters.
Turning them over, the formulas on the back were in traditional Chinese characters from recent times, which Tian Jing could recognize.
Renshen Gubenyuan Dan?
Tianyuan Wenhun Dan?