Chapter 68

After staying at Qian Jianing’s house for half an hour, Li Yujun gave her a tight hug before leaving—he still had to return home to grab something.

As for farewells, Chang Xiaoyuan had long been used to them. Her father-in-law was a soldier, her husband was a soldier, and now two of her three sons were in the military. She had already become a qualified military spouse. Normally, Chang Xiaoyuan wouldn’t even bother to see her son off at home, but the thought that her future daughter-in-law was still being kept under wraps by her son made her feel like her heart was being clawed by a cat.

“Who is your girlfriend, anyway? Let me take a look!” Chang Xiaoyuan trailed behind Li Yujun, looking at him eagerly.

Li Yujun packed the things Qian Jianing had prepared for him into his backpack and slung it over his shoulder. “I’ll bring her home as a guest next time I’m back.”

“Next time you’re back?” Chang Xiaoyuan rolled her eyes. “That won’t be until New Year’s.” She turned around and walked away, whatever little reluctance she had completely gone. If he couldn’t even bring his girlfriend home, what was the point?

Seeing his mother leave, Li Yufeng quickly squeezed in through the door and stuffed an envelope into Li Yujun’s hand.

Li Yujun raised an eyebrow at him and didn’t take it. “What’s this?”

“A farewell gift for you!” Li Yufeng shoved the envelope into his hand and grinned. “Don’t worry, bro. I’ll keep it a secret for you.”

Li Yujun opened the envelope, puzzled, and found a few photos inside. In the pictures, Qian Jianing was sitting carefully on the back of his bicycle, clutching his shirt and turning toward him with a sweet smile. Only half of his face was visible, but even that was enough to show how ridiculously happy he looked.

Li Yujun couldn’t help but smile. He put the photos back in the envelope and carefully stowed it in his backpack’s inner pocket. As he walked past the living room on his way out, he stopped and turned to glance at Li Yufeng. “Keep an eye out for me while I’m gone. Don’t let anyone mess with her.”

Li Yufeng grinned. “She’s my future sister-in-law. I’ll watch out for her even more than you.”

Li Yujun frowned slightly. “Stay hidden. Don’t let her see you.”

Watching his brother’s retreating figure, Li Yufeng chuckled. “Jealous, much?” Then he mimicked Li Yujun’s cold voice: “Stay hidden. Don’t let her see you.”

After Li Yujun returned to the army, Qian Jianing quickly adjusted her mindset and resumed her busy routine. Many said it was hard to be a military wife—long-distance separation and having to handle everything at home. But Qian Jianing didn’t think it was an issue at all. She was already used to living a busy life alone. In fact, if they were together all the time, she might even feel a bit uncomfortable.

Sitting in her study, Qian Jianing quickly flipped through the teaching materials Elder Wang had given her and memorized all the content. Some of the knowledge in the book was outdated or incorrect, but the exam would be based on the textbook, so she had to answer according to it to avoid losing points. As for the practical side—diagnosis, pulse reading, acupuncture—those were second nature to her by now.

With no appointments that morning, Qian Jianing planned to attend school like a regular student. After breakfast, she packed several jars of pudding she had made for Wang Chenchen in her bag. She realized she really liked feeding her female deskmates. Back in high school, she had fed Li Xue until she was chubby, and now in college, she often brought snacks for Wang Chenchen.

When Qian Jianing arrived at school on her bike and walked into the classroom, she immediately became the center of attention. No surprise there—she used to attend at least a couple of morning classes, but now she hadn’t shown up for a full month!

Wang Chenchen jumped up excitedly when she saw her, grabbed her hand, and dragged her back to their seats. “Jianing, what have you been up to lately? I missed you so much!”

Qian Jianing looked away awkwardly. She couldn’t exactly say she’d been dating her brother—it felt impossible to say out loud.

Wang Chenchen knew Qian Jianing had a lot going on, so she asked casually and didn’t expect an answer. Instead, she dug into her bag, pulled out a box, and handed it over quietly. “My mom went to Hong Kong a few days ago, and I asked her to bring back some makeup. This set is for you.”

Qian Jianing opened the box to find a complete set of high-end French cosmetics: powder, lipstick, blush, eyeshadow, mascara, eyebrow pencil—everything. She touched her face, a little dazed. “I don’t know how to use makeup.”

In her past life, she couldn’t afford it. After her rebirth, she was naturally beautiful and young. Just a little skincare was enough to keep her looking radiant. Makeup never crossed her mind. Later, with the help of elixirs and ingredients from Xiantao.com, both her appearance and aura improved dramatically. Her skin was now fair and glowing, stunning enough to turn heads.

Wang Chenchen leaned in and stared at her face. “Jianing, I think you’re getting prettier and prettier. You’re already this gorgeous without makeup—if you put some on, would you just ascend to immortality?”

Qian Jianing laughed playfully. “You and your nonsense.”

Wang Chenchen burst out laughing and threw an arm around her shoulder. “No wonder you don’t need makeup. Look at your eyebrows—perfect shape, no stray hairs, just the right color. Your skin is even better than people wearing foundation. And your eyelashes—how are they so long? I swear they’re magical.”

Qian Jianing was both amused and exasperated. She took out the jars of pudding and placed them on Wang Chenchen’s desk. “Since your mouth is so sweet, here’s some extra dessert for you.”

“Whoa! You made these for me? I love you!” Wang Chenchen kissed her on the cheek and kept talking with her arm still around her. “But seriously, if you ever attend a party, just a touch of makeup would make you look super classy.”

Qian Jianing remembered her promise to visit Li Yujun’s house next time and blushed slightly as she put the makeup into her bag. “Thanks, Chenchen. I really like your gift.”

“No need to thank me—we’re besties.” Wang Chenchen pulled her hand back and gave her a quick pat on the face.

Watching Wang Chenchen happily eat the pudding with a spoon, Qian Jianing leaned in and whispered, “I’m graduating!”

“What?” Wang Chenchen froze with the spoon in her mouth, confused. “You mean it’s almost break time?”

“Nope!” Qian Jianing whispered in her ear, “I already spoke to the principal. In a few days, I’ll be taking the graduation exam with the fifth-year students and getting my diploma.”

The spoon fell from Wang Chenchen’s mouth and landed right on her skirt. “We all started school at the same time—how are you so amazing? Are us regular folks even allowed to live anymore?”

Qian Jianing patted her head sympathetically. “Don’t worry, even if I graduate early, I’ll still be your friend. I’ll tutor you before finals.”

Wang Chenchen made a few exaggerated sobs and then grinned. “Jianing, you’re totally going to make it into the school’s history books—the fastest graduate ever.”

Cherishing the last stretch of her student days, Qian Jianing attended two classes every day. Soon, the fifth-year graduation exams began, and the second-year students entered a tense exam review period. As a result, students in the Traditional Chinese Medicine Class 1 discovered their top student was missing again.

“What is Qian Jianing doing all the time? She never shows up, and the teachers still indulge her?” Zhang Linlin muttered, annoyed, as she looked at the empty seat next to Wang Chenchen. She wasn’t happy. Last semester, she almost got the top scholarship, but Qian Jianing, who constantly skipped class, ended up getting first place, making her miss out. And the second-place scholarship was 300 yuan less—enough to cover a semester of living expenses.

Zhang Linlin’s deskmate looked up briefly and then went back to her notes. “She’s just that good at studying. If you could skip class and still come out on top, I’m sure the teachers would let you too.”

Zhang Linlin was instantly deflated. Even though Qian Jianing rarely attended, every time she did, her insights and class discussions were way beyond what first-year students could understand. So even if she was jealous, there was nothing she could do—they weren’t even in the same league. Admitting it felt humiliating.

It wasn’t until the teacher posted the exam seating chart that Zhang Linlin, after searching every inch of the list, still couldn’t find Qian Jianing’s name. Unable to hold back, she asked Wang Chenchen during the break, “Qian Jianing isn’t even taking the final exam? Doesn’t she want the scholarship anymore?”

Wang Chenchen let out a long sigh. “Scholarships no longer appeal to our Jianing. Her goal is… a diploma.”

Zhang Linlin was baffled. “What?”

Twisting the pen in her hand, Wang Chenchen said, “She’s just too brilliant. The principal thinks it’s a waste of time for her to keep attending classes, so he gave her special permission to take the graduation exam. Once she passes, she can graduate directly.”

“Graduate?” Zhang Linlin’s eyes widened as she stammered, “How is that possible? No matter how good you are at memorizing, you can’t just graduate like that. She hasn’t even studied pulse diagnosis or acupuncture yet!”

Wang Chenchen gave her a pitying look. “Just because we haven’t learned it doesn’t mean she doesn’t know it. Haven’t you heard? Jianing treated a cancer patient with multiple tumors in two locations. Not only did the patient live well past the doctor’s predicted deadline, all the tumors shrank, and their overall health improved drastically. It’s been called a medical miracle.”

Zhang Linlin stumbled back to her seat, dazed. Xiang glanced at her. “What’s wrong? You look completely out of it.”

“She’s in the same class as us. How did she soar so high, so fast? How am I supposed to catch up?” Zhang Linlin sighed, feeling a deep ache in her chest. “I finally had someone to chase after, but before I could even get close, she’s already graduated.”

With her diploma in hand, Qian Jianing took her graduation photo among a group of confused senior students and graduated smoothly. After the ceremony, Li Chengming quietly asked her, “Have you considered further studies? Our school offers a combined master’s and PhD program.”

Qian Jianing looked at him eagerly. “Can I finish it in one year?”

Li Chengming: “…”

Qian Jianing sighed. “Then never mind. I guess it’s just not meant to be between me and this school!”
—

It must be said, Mr. Zhang Renze’s dedication to Chinese medicine was unmatched. Just one month after receiving Qian Jianing’s permission, the content of the two Chinese medicine notebooks began appearing in the most prestigious journals in the field, along with a series of academic papers—all of which prominently bore Qian Jianing’s name.

As a result, the name “Qian Jianing” went from being known by a few to being known by everyone across the country. Many even came and lined up, hoping to be treated by her. But Qian Jianing naturally couldn’t let them disturb the diners at her restaurant. Even though cooking was the least profitable of all her skills, in her view, guests came to enjoy food, and that experience should never be interrupted. Now that she had her diploma and medical license, it was time to open a traditional medicine clinic.

With skyscrapers rising all over Imperial Capital, people were increasingly drawn to apartment living. Aside from places like Qian Jianing’s that had been completely renovated, courtyard homes (siheyuan) were no longer convenient to live in. Several of her neighbors wanted to sell their siheyuan and pool money to buy apartments. So Qian Jianing simply bought them all and handed them over to Li Menglong for renovation.

Among these, only the one adjacent to her private restaurant was redesigned as a traditional medicine hall; the others kept their original appearance, with just some upgrades for modern living. Once renovated, they would all be rented out. Treasure Bowl had told her that fixed assets also count as “wealth energy,” so purchasing real estate was definitely a good move.

The houses didn’t need much structural change—just some transplanted plants in the courtyards—so the adjacent medicine hall was completed in just a month.

Qian Jianing had amassed a vast amount of virtual currency, so she spent it freely. Lying in bed, she opened the exchange page and bought an “Immortal Realm Pharmacy System,” complete with a herb cabinet that prevented pests, dampness, and efficacy loss. Most importantly, its built-in temperature control system was excellent. Over the years, it had saved her a fortune on electricity—so much so that the electric company’s meter readers came several times, suspecting her of stealing power!

With help from Zhang Renze and Dong Bocheng, the clinic’s licensing and procedures were quickly completed. To build a good relationship, Le Zongxiang, chairman of Lehetang, even offered her access to their supply chain—better prices and excellent quality.

Thanks to the help of all these influential people, Qian Jianing’s clinic quickly put up its signboard. But since her goal was to make money, she posted a notice: No treatment unless it’s terminal, the person has good character, and doesn’t question the doctor.

She didn’t want to waste time on routine wellness maintenance or minor ailments. She would only treat terminal cases. Moreover, consultation hours were limited: from 8 to 10 a.m., with only 20 patients per day. The rest of the time she still had to run her restaurant. Fortune-telling or physiognomy readings were also offered at the clinic but only from 2 to 3 p.m., with three slots per day, each costing 10,000 yuan, plus extra fees depending on the customer’s request. Qian Jianing figured that, in the public’s eyes, she was already the definition of a money-grubbing businesswoman.

In the early days of the clinic’s opening, Qian Jianing invested in newspaper and local TV ads. At the same time, national news had just reported a major breakthrough in traditional Chinese medicine, prominently crediting her for the success. Now everyone in the country knew her name.

People in Zibo City, upon seeing the news, felt both proud and bittersweet. Qian Jianing’s world had become too big. It was unlikely she’d return home during the holidays to cook again. It’d be easier to go to her restaurant, Qian Xiaomi’s Private Kitchen, in the Imperial Capital, to satisfy their cravings.

On the grand opening day of Ning’an TCM Clinic, even before firecrackers were lit, the line of patients already stretched dozens of meters. Qian Jianing opened her Heavenly Eye and observed the people—some surrounded by clean white mist, others clouded in gray filth.

At the front of the line was Sheng Min and his family. Sheng Min was a doctor who had saved countless lives over his twenty-plus years of practice. He even paid for medications out of pocket for patients who couldn’t afford treatment. Yet this good man had been diagnosed with cancer, with no solution in sight.

He radiated a holy light, even tinged with gold for all the lives he’d saved. Qian Jianing reached out and handed him the very first number.

He had come with his wife and parents. Sheng Min hadn’t expected her to know immediately that he was the one who was sick. It only made him trust her medical skills even more.

The second number went to someone with strong financial luck and decent character.

The third in line was a bloated businessman with two bodyguards. A cloud of grayish-black hovered over his head. Even if he hadn’t taken lives, he’d clearly done many shady things. Qian Jianing didn’t even look at him and handed the third number to the person behind him.

Zhao Xiang watched as she passed him by and immediately protested, “Hey! What’s going on? Don’t you see I’m standing right here? I’m number three!”

Qian Jianing gave him a cold glance, clearly annoyed. “Didn’t you see the notice at the door? I don’t treat people with bad character. Don’t you know what kind of person you are?”

Zhao Xiang suddenly felt a pang of guilt, quickly followed by a surge of rage. The fat on his face trembled with fury. “I came here to give you face, and this is how you treat me? Let me be clear—if you don’t treat me today, no one is getting treated!”

His two bodyguards stepped forward threateningly, clearly trying to intimidate her. Qian Jianing couldn’t help but laugh out loud. No one had dared mess with her restaurant, but now someone had come looking for trouble at her clinic?

With a cold sneer, she thought: Since he brought himself to my door, I might as well use him to make an example—and show everyone that this is my turf. No one causes trouble here.