Su Xiaotian's process of preparing the medicine was very tedious and meticulous. Even with Su Xiaojiu's help, it still took Su Xiaotian a considerable amount of time.
During this period, Dong Yuanzhong sent someone over once.
This time, it was a young man they had never seen before, about fifteen or sixteen years old.
The young man was full of sunshine and health, giving off a very comfortable aura.
Upon meeting the Su family, the young man immediately introduced himself and stated his identity.
"My name is Tong Xing'an, and I am Commander Dong's bodyguard."
"Hello, Comrade Tong. Is there something the Commander needs?" Grandpa Su asked quickly.
Grandpa Su always felt a sense of respect and awe towards Dong Yuanzhong, and his speech was tinged with nervousness.
"Hello, Grandpa Su. I'm here today to deliver a pass to your family on behalf of Commander Dong!"
As Tong Xing'an spoke, he gave a formal salute to the Su family before handing a pass to Grandpa Su.
Grandpa Su looked at this young boy, who was around the same age as his grandsons, and was so polite. He immediately felt three parts fond of him.
This young lad didn't look down on them, country folk.
"Little Comrade Tong, you've worked hard. Please, sit down. Have a bowl of our homemade dried apricot water."
Grandpa Su busied himself inviting Tong Xing'an to drink the apricot water, but Tong Xing'an repeatedly waved his hands.
"No, no, I must leave after delivering this. I'm leaving." Tong Xing'an appeared somewhat flustered.
Su Xiaotian watched from the side, feeling that Tong Xing'an's gaze towards Grandpa Su was like that of a trapped beast.
He even seemed very anxious, looking as if he desperately wanted to escape.
In fact, Tong Xing'an did exactly that. He took advantage of Grandpa Su's inattention and hastily made his escape.
"Hey, you child..." Grandpa Su looked at the flustered Tong Xing'an with helplessness.
Tong Xing'an, who was about to reach the door, suddenly remembered another very important matter.
He smacked his forehead hard, then turned back and said, "Grandpa Su, also, the Commander asked me to relay a message to you."
He even had a message to relay? What was going on?
Grandpa Su looked at Tong Xing'an with tension in his eyes.
"The Commander said that friendship is built through interaction, and the two families will surely become closer the more they interact. You shouldn't avoid him because of his status; he's waiting for you at home!"
For some reason, Su Xiaotian felt that Tong Xing'an was still ready to bolt out the door as he spoke.
She looked around curiously but couldn't figure anything out.
Everything at Yiming Pavilion was normal today; there were no dangerous individuals.
After delivering the message, Tong Xing'an looked at Grandpa Su nervously, awaiting his reply.
He could tell when the Commander said these words that he genuinely hoped someone from the Su family would visit.
Grandpa Su was speechless; he didn't know how to respond.
Visit them?
He was still apprehensive!
But he couldn't just say no, could he?
Dong Yuanzhong was sincere; he could tell.
Refusing him directly would likely hurt Dong Yuanzhong's feelings, which wouldn't be good.
The atmosphere became stagnant. The old man and the young man looked at each other, neither speaking.
Su Xiaotian looked at the two of them helplessly.
Were they planning to stare at each other until the end of time?
While staring at each other was good, the way her grandfather and this young comrade Tong were looking at each other felt somewhat off.
"Please trouble Brother Xing'an to send a message back to Second Grandfather, saying that once the medicine is ready, we will go over."
Tong Xing'an was so happy to receive a definite answer that he beamed.
Before he started working for the Commander, he knew that the Commander cared a great deal about the Su family.
His previous bodyguard, a man named Xiao Yuan, had been sent away precisely because he had offended the Su family.
When the Commander assigned him to deliver the pass today, he had been anxious the entire way.
Before entering the house, he had been worried about how difficult the Su family might be.
Would he become the next Xiao Yuan, being sent away for offending the Su family?
Therefore, his intention today was to absolutely not offend the Su family.
He had even considered that even if the Su family spoke rudely, he would absolutely not retort, lest he lose the hard-earned job opportunity.
But why did he feel now that the Su family was different from what he had imagined?
From the elder to the children, they were all very polite to him and even invited him for a drink.
This was different from what Dr. Wu had said.
Had Dr. Wu misunderstood the Su family?
If that were the case, he would have to go back and explain it properly to Dr. Wu, ensuring Dr. Wu didn't misunderstand the Su family.
After all, they were people the Commander valued, and it was good to maintain good relations.
As for that Xiao Yuan, perhaps he had done something wrong that displeased the Commander, which led to him being sent away?
Su Xiaotian couldn't help but smile as she watched the young boy hastily leave.
Who was he afraid of? The Su family members all had kind faces; they weren't ferocious.
Perhaps she could ask him next time they met.
Grandpa Su looked at the thin pass, feeling it was hot to the touch.
Even though he had agreed to be brothers with Dong Yuanzhong, he had never intended to become too close to Dong Yuanzhong's family.
He looked at Su Xiaotian, with a hint of blame in his eyes.
Why had this child agreed so readily?
How were they supposed to visit? They didn't even have time to prepare a gift.
Last time, when Dong Yuanzhong visited, he had brought cigarettes, alcohol, sweets, tea, and even clothes and fabrics.
He had roughly calculated it; it was a considerable sum of money.
"Xiaotian, are you really planning to go to the Dong family?"
"Grandpa, let's take it as it comes. Perhaps Grandfather Dong genuinely wants you as an elder brother, and it wouldn't be bad for the two families to interact."
Su Xiaotian said it quite casually, and in reality, she didn't see anything wrong with it either.
"It's like how we interact with Grandpa Chi's family, and Grandpa Du's family. Don't we interact with them too?"
Strictly speaking, their family was the one reaching up to them.
It was just that the other two families seemed closer due to their interactions over the years.
And the Dong family, having had little contact for so many years, had become so distant.
Su Xiaotian decided to maintain a similar relationship with the Dong family in the future.
"But, Xiaotian, what should we give them as a gift?" Grandpa Su was very conflicted.
Su Xiaotian smiled, "Grandpa, with me here, are you afraid we won't have good things to give?"
"Besides, the medicinal pills I prepare are also very valuable."
This was the truth. Grandpa Su knew that just the purchase of medicinal ingredients had cost tens of yuan, more than a month's salary for others.
But the question was, would these medicinal pills really be useful to Dong Yuanzhong?
Also, was it appropriate to send medicine?
There was never a precedent for giving medicine as a gift on the first visit.
Xiaotian was still too young and didn't understand these things.
As the grandfather and granddaughter were talking, they heard movement at the door. They stopped talking and stared at the entrance.
Then, they saw several people walking in through the main entrance.
Upon closer inspection, they recognized familiar faces.
Su Xiaotian quickly put on a smile and went forward.
"Director Li, why are you here today? What wind brought you here?"
Director Li looked somewhat surprised when he saw Su Xiaotian, but then he smiled.
"I'm meeting someone for dinner today and remembered your restaurant is quite good, so I came over! Little girl, why are you still in the restaurant?"
Director Li's tone was very casual, as if he were just making small talk.
Su Xiaotian smiled sweetly.
"Director Li, it's the weekend today, so I came to check on the restaurant."
"Little ones should focus on their studies," Director Li advised, then remembered that this little girl probably didn't need his reminder.
"Director Li, our restaurant has a private room in that corner over there. It's secluded and suitable for you and your esteemed guests to talk."
These words surprised everyone present. They exchanged glances, and the expressions of two of them even turned somewhat unpleasant.
In a secluded corner, what was this little girl thinking?
Did she think they were discussing something illicit?
If these words got out, they would likely have a difficult time ahead.
"What we say is not something others cannot hear."
Director Li looked around, confirmed there were no other customers in the restaurant, and then said with a firm tone, feeling somewhat relieved.
Su Xiaotian then remembered that this was not a few years later. In a few years, people would gradually value privacy, but people now were different.
She had been rash!
She quickly put on a smile and said with a sincere attitude, "I was just thinking that it's not easy for you all to get together, and when you're drinking and talking, you wouldn't want to be disturbed, so I recommended the secluded corner."
After speaking, Su Xiaotian looked at the hall and continued, "If you prefer to sit by the window in the main hall, that's also fine."
Director Li's expression visibly relaxed. This was more like it!
"Old Li, you know this young girl? She's quite eloquent!" one of the middle-aged men said with a chuckle. "Since the young lady has considered everything so thoroughly for us, let's go to the private room."
It was evident that this man held the highest position among the group; in other words, he was the one who made the decisions.
"Yes, Director Li, when we few are drinking and having fun, we might get loud, and it wouldn't be good to disturb others!"
Su Xiaotian was greatly relieved by their conversation.
Although these men still had some reservations about sitting in the private room, they actually quite liked the idea of a private space.
Su Xiaotian immediately led them to the private room and invited them to sit down.
Director Li watched Su Xiaotian busying herself and genuinely felt that such an outstanding young girl shouldn't be doing the work of a waitress.
Her hands should be holding a pen, translating documents.
It was a complete waste of talent!
"Come, come, Xiaotian, let me introduce you. This is Vice Factory Director Hu from our factory. This is Section Chief Qian from our production department..."
Director Li introduced them one by one. Although the introductions weren't very detailed, he didn't miss anyone's position.
Most of these people were from the Dongfeng Electronics Factory. Only one person was not from Dongfeng Electronics Factory, and Director Li didn't make a special introduction for him, so Su Xiaotian simply pretended not to have noticed.
She greeted everyone steadily, with grace and without being subservient, earning their favor once again.
The others were clearly surprised that Director Li would introduce a young girl so formally, and they all looked at Su Xiaotian with some bewilderment.
They were curious as to why Director Li was treating this young girl so exceptionally.
"Director Li, this is..." Section Chief Qian finally couldn't help but ask.
"This is the Su Xiaotian I told you about, the young girl proficient in French!" Director Li quickly introduced.
But the pride in his tone made it seem as though this wasn't just someone he casually knew, but rather his junior.
Factory Director Hu was taken aback. He had indeed heard that Director Li had found a young girl proficient in French from somewhere.
When the news reached him, he had thought the rumors were exaggerated. He believed she might be younger, but surely an adult?
He had never seen a child with such abilities.
But this young girl before him was too young, wasn't she?
How old was she? Not yet an adult?
Was Old Li employing child labor?
For some reason, such a thought crossed his mind for a moment. Fortunately, Factory Director Hu didn't voice it.
"Old Li, at such a young age, can she really be proficient in French?"
Director Li said proudly, "Of course! Factory Director Hu, how could I lie to you? Don't let the young girl's age fool you; she is a disciple of the esteemed Elder Chi."
Since Chi Ge returned to the capital, countless people had tried to get close to him.
It was said that many influential families in the capital wanted to send their children to Elder Chi for guidance.
In reality, saying "guidance" was just an excuse.
As long as Elder Chi personally acknowledged them as a disciple, their future would be boundless.
However, Elder Chi had recently stated that he had taken his final disciple and had no intention of accepting any more.
Even Factory Director Hu had heard this news.
"Is she really Elder Chi's disciple?"
"Factory Director Hu, I wouldn't dare deceive you. Xiaotian is the final disciple Elder Chi mentioned!"
This statement was like a thunderclap, leaving Factory Director Hu and the others stunned.
She was Chi Ge's final disciple?
How was that possible?
What kind of promising talent couldn't Chi Ge find, that he had to take in a young girl who seemed somewhat mercenary?
"Are you sure you're not mistaken?"
Clearly, Factory Director Hu couldn't believe it was true.
A young girl helping out in a restaurant, and she was Chi Ge's disciple?
Don't be ridiculous!
As Factory Director Hu was contemplating, someone else had already spoken.
"Director Li, have you made a mistake?"
"Naturally not. Xiaotian has been a disciple of Elder Chi for several years! No matter how confused I might be, I wouldn't be so confused as to get something like this wrong!"
Su Xiaotian heard these conversations clearly but didn't say a single extra word.
Her innocent face maintained its usual faint smile.
Immediately, the way this table of people looked at Su Xiaotian changed.
If nothing else, just based on the fact that this young girl before them was Elder Chi's final disciple, they had nothing to be proud or arrogant about in front of Su Xiaotian.
With her status as Chi Ge's disciple, even though she was young, Su Xiaotian was enough to be their equal.
Oh, no, even being their equal would be an advantage for them!
Factory Director Hu began to agonize over whether to invite Su Xiaotian to join them for dinner.
Just then, Su Xiaotian spoke with a calm smile.
[Author's Note]
Still very busy today, so two chapters have been combined into one. There are fewer chapters, but the word count is the same! Goodnight, everyone!