Read Novel Full Chapter 539: Medicine in Exchange for Land
Chapter 539: Medicine in Exchange for Land
After checking his pulse, Jiang Ning clearly understood Gu Tinglin’s physical condition.
She skillfully used acupuncture to help him adjust his body, but she also knew well that he had a tendency to forget about his health due to his dedication to work.
“Acupuncture treatment won’t show results after just one or two sessions. You should come whenever you’re free in the evening and don’t ignore your health.”
For someone his age, he was still so stubborn.
Despite being scolded by his daughter, Gu Tinglin wasn’t angry at all; in fact, he felt a warmth inside.
Having devoted his life to serving the country, even though he now had a partner, Shu Xueqing, who took the lead in their relationship and family life, he really didn’t know how to properly connect with his daughter.
Decades of military service had shaped his tough and serious character, yet Jiang Ning’s personality was strikingly similar to his.
Afraid of saying the wrong thing and upsetting her, Gu Tinglin changed the subject. “The medicine you brought back should be able to exchange for quite a bit of land. What do you plan to do with the land?”
See? He really didn’t take his health seriously.
Jiang Ning couldn’t help but feel annoyed at herself for worrying so much. “I don’t know. Maybe plant some sweet potatoes or something.”
Gu Tinglin made a suggestion. “Anyone can plant those, but the poor harvests are due to the harsh and unpredictable climate and the barren soil. If those conditions are improved, the food shortage problem can be solved. What you’re doing doesn’t have much significance.”
Jiang Ning thought to herself how he was always worrying about the country and its people but never about his own body.
But she managed to hold herself back, though her voice turned cold as she asked, “Does Chief Gu have any brilliant ideas, then?”
“The field team found a fire seed box yesterday. Inside was a specially preserved box of silkworm eggs, and most of them are still alive,” Gu Tinglin explained.
“When the military evacuated, they brought a lot of seeds, hoping to turn this land into a green oasis. But after two years of effort, it’s been a struggle, and the seeds have almost run out.”
For two years, they had been attempting to grow trees and seedlings, but harsh weather had destroyed most of them. Around 90% had died, leaving only a small portion barely alive.
Among those were mulberry trees.
The silkworm eggs had been found, but there were no mulberry leaves to feed them.
“If we wait any longer, more of the silkworm eggs will die,” Gu Tinglin said.
Jiang Ning was slightly stunned. “You want me to plant mulberry trees and raise silkworms?”
Gu Tinglin had that plan in mind. “If that doesn’t work, cotton will do. I’ll make arrangements.”
At the end of the day, human needs boil down to food, clothing, shelter, and transportation.
After years of natural disasters, the base faced countless urgent problems. Many survivors wore tattered clothes, some even barely covering themselves.
Jiang Ning thought for a moment. “I have some mulberry and cotton seeds stored from the base. But silkworm eggs are rare. If you give them to me, won’t others have objections?”
Gu Tinglin rubbed his forehead. “The base has nearly 5,000 soldiers. Before the disaster, their task was to protect the country. During the disaster, they took on other roles, which is understandable, but they can’t do everything.”
“The base needs to develop and do so quickly. Otherwise, if another wave of disasters strikes again, what chance does humanity have?”
These 5,000 soldiers were already responsible for farming, protecting the base, searching for fire seed boxes, making bricks, hauling stones…
Even if they were machines that could do anything, they’d still need time to breathe.
Jiang Ning understood now. He wanted to train and select new people to take on the responsibilities of improving the base’s livelihood.
Military and politics are completely different fields.
The military ensures national security, while politics manages and fosters development.
Now that these two have merged into one during this end-of-world disaster where everything awaits revival, it’s no surprise they are overwhelmed. But it’s also the perfect time to build something extraordinary.
Jiang Ning didn’t refuse. “If you trust us, we can give it a try.”
Surviving such a huge disaster and still living well, Gu Tinglin chooses competent people without favoring family. “There are a few people skilled in agriculture at the base. When the time comes, ask them. The base also has books on this subject, so there’s no need to worry.”
After the acupuncture session, Huo Yishen helped carry the toilet to the next room.
Behind closed doors, Shu Xueqing asked, “How do you feel after the acupuncture?”
“Very comfortable, I feel much lighter all over,” Gu Tinglin said in a good mood but with a curious tone. “You know acupuncture, so why did you say you didn’t?”
Shu Xueqing rolled her eyes at him. “You’re so dense. If I said I knew it, would Jiang Ning have been able to do the acupuncture for you?”
Gu Tinglin thought about it and chuckled.
While sorting through the things delivered from next door, Shu Xueqing couldn’t help but feel happy for him. “Old Gu, Jiang Ning does care about you, but she just can’t show it.
They say daughters are their father’s little cotton-padded jackets. Don’t always put on a serious face. Try to soften up and win her over bit by bit, and the gap between you will eventually disappear.”
Gu Tinglin knew how much she had done for him. “Thank you for everything.”
Whether it was hard or not didn’t matter to Shu Xueqing. She simply loved him and extended that love to his daughter and hoped he was happy.
She then organized his meals going forward. “Jiang Ning gave a lot of supplies, enough to last two or three months. If you keep up with the nutrition, your health will definitely improve.”
Gu Tinglin corrected her. “She brought it for us.”
Her health hadn’t improved much either, and she had suffered a lot over the years.
But Shu Xueqing shakes her head. “I appreciate the gesture, but these are precious items. I’d just waste them.”
He spoke seriously as usual. “What nonsense. Why draw such a line between us?”
Shu Xueqing wasn’t upset. Knowing his personality, she thought only Jiang Ning could truly handle him. “Alright, I’ll listen to you.”
Seeing him head back to the study late at night to work, she sighed. He really did treat himself like a machine.
The next day, the hospital director and land management officer came by.
When the director saw the medicine wasn’t expired, he was thrilled. “Comrade Jiang, are you really willing to trade this batch of medicine?”
Having decided to step up and take responsibility, Jiang Ning smiled calmly. “I’m a resident of Fengcheng, so it’s my duty to contribute to its development. This batch of medicine came from America. It’s been used before and is safe, but you should still perform your professional checks.”
The director inspected the medicine thoroughly, and upon confirming none had expired, he was overjoyed. “No problem. We’ll handle the testing.”
It was agreed on the spot that the entire batch would be taken.
He calculated the value carefully and gave the numbers to Director Xiao from the land management.
Director Xiao, a man in his forties with the posture of a former soldier, asked, “Comrade Jiang, do you want to exchange for uncultivated land or land that’s already been prepared for planting?”
Uncultivated land had not been cleared and required manual fertilization.
The prepared land had already been cleared and fertilized.
Additionally, she could choose between a one-time purchase or pay taxes annually.
A one-time purchase would provide much less land, but paying taxes was essentially like an installment plan.
Jiang Ning was surprised but found it reasonable…