Rebirth 1977 Great Era

Chapter 1064 Planning a Medicinal Herb Base in Adversity: Guests Arrive at Home? (Two Chapters Combined)
"No need to go outside, right? The hospital cafeteria is fine, and we've already prepared lunch for you today," Fang Yaozhong said to Comrade Lu. Although he knew that Comrade Lu wanted to thank them, there was absolutely no need to go to a state-run restaurant outside.

The chefs at the restaurants outside aren't even as good as those in the hospital cafeteria.

Besides, given Comrade Lu's status, how could he be expected to treat everyone?
Upon hearing Fang Yaozhong's stance, other traditional Chinese medicine practitioners echoed his sentiments.

Comrade Lu waved his hand, his tone carrying an undeniable warmth:
"How can that be? Dr. Fang, you've been busy since morning, without even having a sip of water. How can you just eat whatever you want in the cafeteria? Let's go to the 'Red Star Cafeteria' at the street corner. I ate there when I came here. Their braised pork and stir-fried liver are absolutely delicious!"

Fang Yaozhong quickly waved his hand, his sleeve brushing against the hem of his white coat: "Comrade Lu, you're being too polite. The sweet and sour pork ribs in the hospital cafeteria are made by the old chef. Besides, your niece is still under observation. It would be a waste of time for us to eat out. Why don't we ask the cafeteria to make two dishes urgently and bring them over? They'll be just as hot."

Chen Keji chimed in, "That's right, that's right. The cabbage and tofu stew I had in the cafeteria last time was even more delicious than the soup at home. Don't waste your money."

Seeing this, a middle-aged doctor from Chongwen Hospital chimed in, "Comrade Lu, you're too kind. We're all about efficiency during our work hours. Eating in the cafeteria is quick, so it won't delay our return to tend to the patients."

Comrade Lu placed his briefcase on the table, his brows slightly furrowed: "This isn't about spending money, it's about the sentiment! You saved my niece's life, what's a meal for me? Besides, a state-run restaurant is better than the canteen..."

“Comrade Lu,” Fang Yan, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke, tapping lightly on the bedside table with his fingertips. His voice was soft but weighty, “How about this? The head chef in the canteen knows how to cook rice porridge properly. Let them prepare it for the patient first, and we can eat at the canteen. That way, it won’t take up much time, and it will put your mind at ease. Once the patient is fully recovered, you can invite us to the Red Star Canteen for a celebratory drink. We’ll enjoy the meal even more then. What do you say?”

As soon as he finished speaking, the air in the ward relaxed. Looking at Fang Yan's sincere eyes and glancing at his niece's approving gaze, Comrade Lu finally rubbed his hands together and smiled, "Alright! We'll do as Dr. Fang says! Let's go to the cafeteria first. I'll have the driver buy two pounds of braised beef to take over, just to add a dish to our menu!"

"Okay!" Fang Yaozhong agreed, and now it was clear that speaking in dialect was still effective.

Then Fang Yaozhong led everyone toward the cafeteria.

People were already lining up for food. Fang Yan and his group didn't go through the main entrance, but instead entered through the side entrance of the cafeteria. Although Fang Yan had eaten many meals provided by the hospital, this was the first time he had eaten at Xiyuan Hospital.

After entering through the side door, there is a small passageway. To the left is the private room, and to the right is the canteen kitchen.

"I'll go arrange for the rice porridge to be cooked," Chen Keji said to everyone.

"Shall I come with you?" Fang Yan said.

Chen Keji waved his hand:
"Hey, just go eat with them. I'll arrange for someone to come over right away. Rice porridge isn't anything difficult to make."

Fang Yaozhong also said to Fang Yan:

"Let's go, what's there to worry about with such a small matter?"

Fang Yan thought about it and realized that Chen Keji was a future master of traditional Chinese medicine. If he couldn't even do this little thing well, he would be laughed at for the rest of his life.

Inside the private dining room, there were three large round tables, with six dishes and a soup steaming hot on them.

Although the medical services offered by Chongwen Hospital were not well-received, a lunch still had to be provided.

However, when seating was arranged, the people from Chongwen Hospital were not seated at the same table as Fang Yan and his group.

At Fang Yan's table, besides the doctors who were consulting today, were Comrade Lu and his secretary.

Of course, there were two empty seats, one reserved for Chen Keji and the other for the person who was assigned to buy braised beef.

Today's banquet, while not as lavish as that at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, was still quite good.

Sweet and sour pork ribs served in an enamel basin, the rib pieces coated in a bright red sauce.

The cabbage and tofu stew was served in an aluminum pot. Tender cabbage leaves and cubes of tofu floated in the milky white broth. The broth was probably made from pork bones, and it was sprinkled with chopped green onions.

The stir-fried liver tips on a blue-rimmed porcelain plate featured thinly sliced ​​pork liver coated in cornstarch and stir-fried with green peppers and wood ear mushrooms. This dish was considered a "signature dish" in state-run canteens in the 70s.

A yellow porcelain bowl contains braised chicken with potatoes. Although there isn't much chicken, the potatoes are stewed until soft and tender. This is a dish served by the canteen per person.

There was also a steamed egg custard served in a bamboo steamer. The surface of the custard was smooth as a mirror, and it was sprinkled with soy sauce and sesame oil.

A plate of fresh mung bean sprouts, with the roots removed, is stir-fried quickly in oil, sprinkled with salt and chopped green onions.

Finally, there was a bowl of seaweed and egg drop soup.

The staple food is steamed buns made with old dough. They are large and firm, and when you break them open, you can see fine air pockets. They have a wheat aroma.

Not long after they sat down, Chen Keji also returned.

Then Comrade Lu's driver also brought back a paper package containing braised beef.

Once opened, the deep red meat glistened with oil, becoming the most eye-catching "extra dish" on their main table, a privilege not afforded to the other two tables.

The main problem is that even if we wanted to share, there wouldn't be enough to go around.

Everyone knows that this dish was brought by Comrade Lu for Fang Yan to eat.

Those who sit next to you at the same table are the ones who can benefit, but those at other tables shouldn't even think about it.

Once everyone had arrived, Fang Yaozhong invited them to lunch.

Fang Yaozhong picked up the serving chopsticks and first put a piece of sweet and sour pork ribs on Comrade Lu's plate:
"Comrade Lu, please try these ribs. They're made by Chef Wang from our canteen; the sugar is caramelized to a color like amber." The ribs swayed in the porcelain plate, the bright red sauce clinging to the bones. Each bite offered a sweet and sour flavor followed by the rich aroma of the meat. Comrade Lu chewed and nodded repeatedly.
"Mmm! The chefs in the capital are truly exceptional; the food is so flavorful!"

"Doctor Fangyan, please try this braised beef!" Comrade Lu pointed to the beef that had been placed in front of Fangyan.

Fang Yan nodded, picked up three slices, and found the beef to be savory and sweet with a hint of saltiness, while the tendons and membranes were stewed until tender and soft.

The doctors from Chongwen Hospital at the next table, drawn by the aroma of braised beef, couldn't help but glance up. The middle-aged doctor poked at the braised chicken and potatoes in his bowl with his chopsticks and whispered to the person next to him:

"Since it was Comrade Lu who brought it, we at this table won't have the chance to enjoy it."

The doctor next to me shoveled rice into his mouth and whispered:

"It's good enough to be able to have a hot meal at the Xiyuan cafeteria. I thought they were telling us to find our own way."

The middle-aged doctor suddenly smiled and said mysteriously to the crowd:
"Although Lao Fang has a sharp tongue, I know he still has a sense of shame and wouldn't do something like this."

They spoke in hushed tones, barely audible to the neighbors speaking in their dialect. However, their ears were more sensitive than others, so they managed to overhear what the other person was saying.

Sometimes he couldn't help but sigh, "This shamelessness is something even ghosts are afraid of."

This guy is something else; I wonder how he met Fang Yaozhong.

During the meal, Comrade Lu started talking about things happening in Jilin.

Since everyone present was a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine, he focused on the topic of Chinese medicinal herbs, mentioning that Jilin is also a major producing area for many medicinal materials.

“Take ginseng for example,” Comrade Lu gestured with his chopsticks, “the wild ginseng from Fusong, Jilin, is a treasure left by our ancestors. In the past, ginseng harvesters had to worship the mountain god and tie the ginseng roots with red ropes to prevent it from ‘running away.’ Now there are also many cultivated ginseng plants. You can slice them and put them in your mouth; they’re very invigorating!”

The patient put down the porcelain spoon and continued speaking:
"Jilin ginseng is the most authentic for replenishing vital energy. The Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica says that it 'mainly nourishes the five internal organs and calms the spirit.' However, nowadays, medicine must be used carefully. Wild ginseng is precious, so garden ginseng or transplanted ginseng is generally sufficient. When processing it, it can be steamed or dried, and each method has its own way of use."

Comrade Lu nodded, but he only knew a little bit about it.

Hearing that everyone was interested, he started talking and said:
"Haha, besides ginseng, there's also deer antler!"

Comrade Lu was clearly intrigued. “We have a special deer farm where we harvest deer antlers. The villagers say that you have to harvest them when they are in their ‘second stage,’ which is when they have just started to branch out, because that’s when they are most potent. I’ve seen freshly harvested deer antlers, still bloody. They’re dried, sliced, and soaked in alcohol to make aphrodisiac and kidney tonic. A couple of years ago, a relative of mine had back and leg pain. He soaked deer antlers in alcohol with goji berries and drank it all winter. By spring, he was able to go back to work in the fields.”

At this moment, Fang Yan put down his chopsticks and wiped his mouth:
"The land and water nurture the people and the medicinal herbs. These authentic medicinal herbs from Jilin are treasures from nature, and if used properly, they can solve major problems. For example, with your niece's illness, if she needs to be treated in the future, using some ginseng and schisandra from Jilin to replenish the spleen and kidney yang would be a good choice."

Comrade Lu nodded in agreement and then placed a piece of sweet and sour pork ribs on Fang Yan's plate.
"Oh, Dr. Fang, after hearing what you said, I realized there are so many intricacies to the medicinal herbs in our hometown! Once my niece recovers, I will definitely bring some good herbs from Jilin to make medicinal wine for you!"

Fang Yan smiled and suddenly thought of the company's current supply channels.

He picked up a slice of braised beef, his gaze sweeping over Comrade Lu and Fang Yaozhong:

"By the way, did you know that wild ginseng from Jilin has 40% higher saponin content than cultivated ginseng?"

“Our institute conducted tests last year and found that the same weight of ginseng was half the efficacy of a dose of medicine.”

Comrade Lu blinked, put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth with a tissue, and asked with some confusion:

"Dr. Fang, what do you mean...?"

Fang Yan was actually thinking that nowadays supplies can be provided from all over the country, but after the reform and opening up, the situation in various places will change again. Although there are state-owned units guaranteeing the supply, the medicinal materials sector will inevitably be impacted.

Then, Fang Yan changed the subject and started talking about the medicinal herb supply channels of the Secret Formula Research Institute of the Huaxia Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, where he currently works.

Fang Yan rarely talks about this in front of outsiders; most people don't even know he has a secret formula research institute under his command.

Fang Yaozhong and Chen Keji were both surprised when they heard him say this, and they didn't understand what Fang Yan wanted to do.

They didn't know that the dialect was a precautionary measure.

Under the planned economy, the "unified purchase and sale" of medicinal materials by the pharmaceutical companies led to a disconnect between farmers' planting and market demand, often resulting in "cheap medicines hurting farmers" or a rush to buy scarce medicinal materials at high prices, such as the dramatic price fluctuations of Panax notoginseng in Yunnan in the 80s.

Moreover, state-owned channels prioritize "quantity targets" over quality, leading to the loss of authentic medicinal materials. For example, Jilin ginseng was replaced by low-grade cultivated ginseng. After the reform and opening up, Japanese and South Korean pharmaceutical companies monopolized high-quality production areas with their capital advantages. For instance, 70% of Jilin ginseng was later re-exported through South Korean merchants, with the purchase price driven down to the cost line.

Fang Yan planned that at this time, the transactions would be non-market-based, but would go through the institutional channels. He would send a formal purchase letter to the Jilin State-owned Pharmaceutical Company through the research institute. Comrade Lu would coordinate the priority supply of high-quality medicinal materials such as premium ginseng and deer antler in the local area. The process was "official to official". When the reform and opening up officially started and local policies changed, Fang Yan could still get a stable supply of medicinal materials to ensure the quality of his Chinese medicinal materials.

The money their company earns can also be used to subsidize these local medicinal herb bases, creating a virtuous cycle.

In later generations, because many of these cycles disappeared, many medicinal herbs in Chinese herbal medicine bases could not be sold, or were subject to price gouging by foreign buyers.

There are actually successful cases here. In 1982, Tongrentang's "targeted planting agreement" with ginseng farmers in Ji'an, Jilin Province, increased the quality rate of ginseng from 40% to 80%.

Of course, there are also failure cases. In 1985, the Shanghai Pharmaceutical Company failed to establish a feedback mechanism, which led to the conversion of the Corydalis yanhusuo producing area in Zhejiang to rice cultivation, resulting in a shortage of medicinal materials in 1988.

The short-term goal is to leverage Comrade Lu's local resources and his status as a member of the national research institute to create a closed loop in the area of ​​valuable and authentic medicinal materials in Jilin, thereby ensuring the quality of the company's products.

This product is not only intended to be sold abroad to earn foreign exchange, but it also has a huge domestic market.

Moreover, these medicinal materials are sold to domestic companies to be made into medicines and earn foreign exchange.

If we sell directly to foreign countries, they will try their best to drive down the price, and in the end, it is our own people who will suffer.

Fang Yan said to Comrade Lu:
"Currently, the research institute is undertaking the Ministry of Health's task of developing new drugs, which requires authentic medicinal materials for clinical support. However, the quality of the materials supplied from various regions is inconsistent. We can only find one or two qualified materials out of three pounds. If Jilin could supply some top-grade medicinal materials, it would not only solve the urgent needs of the national project, but also give our domestic medicinal materials a boost!"

The dialect used is certainly an exaggeration; the quality of the current supply channels is screened.

However, he wanted to make his point more serious, elevating the procurement need to a national mission, so that Comrade Lu's subsequent assistance would become politically correct. Moreover, it would bring honor to the country, and the medicinal herbs from Jilin would also be helpful, which would be a political achievement for Comrade Lu.

"This..." Comrade Lu probably didn't expect Fang Yan to suddenly bring this up.

He wasn't prepared at all and didn't know how to answer for a moment.

Fang Yan continued:

"Rest assured, this is all business-to-business transactions with zero risk. All procedures follow the accounting procedures of state-owned enterprises. It is not a private transaction between us. Others present can also testify that everyone heard it."

"Moreover, our project earns foreign exchange for the country, and we can offer a higher purchase price than the market price. The premium can be used to establish a fund for improving the quality of medicinal materials. We can send Chinese medicine technicians to help local areas increase production and improve quality, and provide free training in the production, cultivation, processing, and preservation of Chinese medicinal materials."

"Furthermore, our research institute can submit a 'Clinical Efficacy Enhancement Report of Authentic Medicinal Herbs' to Jilin every year to help it apply for the national 'Modernization Base of Chinese Medicinal Herbs' pilot project."

Fang Yan pointed at him and said:
"This is a legitimate and tangible achievement that can be seen..."

While Comrade Lu hesitated, Fang Yan delivered the fatal blow in a low voice:
“Think about it, the same deer antler, the supply and marketing cooperative is buying first-grade products for how much per kilogram now, but if it is labeled as ‘designated raw material for national emergency rescue medicine’, can it be sold for three or five times more in the future? This difference goes back to the ginseng farm as workers’ wages, and to the county as asphalt roads, but what if it is bought up by foreign merchants at a low price? You will only have that little bit of foreign exchange.”

The strategy of using local dialects is simple: use specific figures to expose the predicament of foreign trade, and transform the benefits of cooperation into achievements that benefit people's livelihoods (road construction, wage increases), directly addressing the core demands of local officials.

Local cadres like Comrade Lu are most susceptible to the combination of national missions and local honors. Sure enough, after understanding the dialect, he immediately entered a state of deep thought, ignoring the dialect and continuing to eat on his own.

To be honest, this stewed chicken with potatoes was quite delicious.

There wasn't enough chicken, especially considering that everyone was too embarrassed to eat it.

Fang Yan recalled that when he left home in the morning, he asked his wife to prepare two hens so that he could stew ginseng for dinner.

Oh, by the way, that ginseng is also from Jilin.

Just as Fang Yan was eating and letting his mind wander, Comrade Lu spoke.

He spoke in dialect:

"This is not something I can decide on my own, but I feel I can do it."

"I wonder if the research institute could draft a detailed set of regulations, write it down on paper, and let me take it back with me."

Upon hearing the other party relent, Fang Yan immediately came to his senses and smiled as he agreed:
"Of course, no problem. I'll call the dean in a bit."

At this moment, the prescription pharmacist whispered a reminder:

"Dean Zhao Xiwu will be coming this afternoon."

The dialect suddenly became clear:

“Oh, that’s even better. I’ll go directly to the dean and talk to him about it, and then get a document issued.”

After saying that, he assured the landing comrade:
"I will get it ready and deliver it to you as soon as possible."

Comrade Lu said:
"There's no rush. I took leave this time to come here specifically to take my niece to see a doctor. I will definitely stay until she is out of danger and has almost fully recovered before I go back."

Fang Yan was surprised to hear that he actually planned to accompany his niece to this extent. Wasn't the family relationship a little too close?
Fang Yan suddenly felt a little worried about where Comrade Lu might have an accident.

After considering it for a moment, he still asked:
"Comrade Lu, I actually have a question. Why did you bring your niece? Where are her parents?"

Comrade Lu didn't seem to care about the dialect issue; he simply said:

“Sigh, when she was eleven years old, her parents died unexpectedly. Then I took her into my home and raised her like my own daughter. I took care of everything for her education and work.”

"However, this child is just as unlucky as her parents. She contracted this disease at such a young age and has been treated for two years without improvement. Fortunately, she came to the capital. Although there were some twists and turns, she met you."

Fang Yan finally understood after hearing this.

They're basically father and daughter.

After lunch, the rice porridge from the canteen was ready. Fang Yan and the others carried their things and returned to the ward with Fang Yaozhong and the others.

The moment Fang Yan lifted the lid of the thermos, the aroma of rice porridge wafted out with the steam. It was the unique sweet fragrance of millet mixed with the slight spiciness of ginger, dispelling the smell of disinfectant in the ward.

The patient, sitting back in bed, saw the glistening layer of rice oil in the bucket and his eyes lit up: "This is it! It tastes just like what my grandma used to make!"

Fang Yan and the others were full, but the girl had been saying she was hungry earlier, and now she was practically drooling as she spoke.

Fang Yan took the white porcelain bowl handed to him by the nurse, gently skimmed off the ginger shreds on the surface with a wooden spoon, and scooped up the thickest rice oil: "Drink slowly, it's still a little hot from being freshly cooked."

The patient blew on the wine a few times before taking a small sip; his throat moved gently, but his brow relaxed.

Then she stopped talking and started eating her lunch in silence, clearly because she was really hungry.

He finished the bowl in no time.

She stared at the thermos on the bedside table, still somewhat unsatisfied.

"Would you like some more?" Fang Yan picked up the empty bowl and shook it. The patient immediately nodded, but his eyes darted to the half-full container of porridge remaining in the thermos.

When Comrade Lu saw this, he was about to go and fetch the food, but Fang Yan stopped him: "Wait a minute, let's check the tongue coating first."

The patient immediately cooperated upon hearing this.

He shone a flashlight into the patient's mouth. The thin white coating on the tongue had mostly disappeared, revealing a pale red tongue body, but there were still slight teeth marks on the sides of the tongue, indicating that the spleen was deficient and the dampness and turbidity had not been cleared.

"Drink another half bowl, no more." Fang Yan took the spoon from Comrade Lu's hand and deliberately scooped out half a bowl of thin rice soup. "Although rice oil is nourishing, it is too rich and greasy and can upset the spleen. You are like someone who has just woken up. Eating too much will only make you feel tired." The patient was a little reluctant, but seeing that Fang Yan had indeed scooped out very little, he took small sips.

Chen Keji added from the side:
"It's like tilling the land. Once you've loosened the compacted soil, you can't immediately sow too many seeds."

"My abdomen has shrunk by two fingers after defecating, but my spleen and stomach are still weak. I need to let my stomach qi slowly 'wake up'."

After she finished eating, she lay back down on the bed.

A few minutes later, the second bowl of medicine was brought over.

Fortunately, Fang Yan and the others controlled her intake earlier, otherwise she probably wouldn't be able to drink it now.

After drinking the second bowl, the patient immediately started burping.

Fang Yan began to take her pulse.

Fang Yaozhong asked Fang Yan:

"How about it?"

Fang Yan touched it for a while and then said:

"The right Guan pulse is stronger when palpated superficially than before lunch, but it is still somewhat weak when palpated deeply, although it is recovering."

Turning his head, Fang Yan examined the bruises on her body again, and they had indeed faded a bit.

The nurse then came over with a tape measure to measure the patient's swollen leg, and the measurement confirmed that it had shrunk somewhat.

"Would you like to take a nap?" After taking the measurements, Fang Yan adjusted the head of the bed and asked her. The patient shook her head: "I'm not sleepy, I just feel lightheaded."

Chen Keji explained with a smile:

"This means the dampness and turbidity have been removed, and the body is not so heavy anymore. It's like a porter who has been unloaded from a heavy load and is not used to feeling light for a while."

After that, everyone stopped guarding the place and Fang Yan went to Zhao Xiwu to do something.

Seeing this, most of the staff from Chongwen Hospital left, leaving only two doctors to guard the place. They would get some credit for their efforts, but if they left, they would truly lose out.

Fang Yan's progress was also going smoothly. After discussing with Dean Zhao Xiwu in the afternoon, he directly asked Fang Yan to help him with the clinic, and then went to make phone calls to discuss with other people.

Fang Yan was conscripted into the medical team, and he has to thank Dean Zhao. He saw patients at Zhao Xiwu's clinic that afternoon. People who had originally booked an appointment with a specialist thought they had come to the wrong place when they saw that it was a young man. But when they saw that it was Fang Yan, they were overjoyed, as if they had found money, and happily let Fang Yan see them.

There weren't any urgent cases this afternoon; they were all chronic illnesses, which Fang Yan treated with ease. When it was time to leave work in the afternoon, Zhao Xiwu appeared at the door right on time, smiling and telling Fang Yan that she had passed the test.

Next, we prepared to send a written document back to Comrade Lu.

Although it felt like the old man had deliberately made him fill in for him here, Fang Yan's idea had been fulfilled.

After thanking Elder Zhao, Fang Yan returned to the ward and told Comrade Lu about the situation here.

However, this written document will most likely be released tomorrow or the day after. Of course, there's still plenty of time. Comrade Lu wants to wait until his niece has recovered enough before leaving, so there's no rush.

Meanwhile, his niece's condition went very smoothly after her final check-up before Fang Yan left. She's basically out of danger now, and the next step is the grueling caregiving, which of course has nothing to do with Fang Yan.

The person who took over was Comrade Chen Keji.

After exchanging pleasantries with him, Fang Yan wished him a successful night watch, then bid farewell to everyone and went downstairs to get his car.

I was supposed to be here for an internship today, but I was drafted into rescuing someone this morning and then supervising someone else's shift this afternoon.

Probably only the rest of their class would be envious.

Fang Yan drove back to Xiehe Hospital, first stopped at the logistics department to fill up the gas tank, and then parked the car just as he saw Lao Hu and his wife coming out.

As soon as we met, I heard Lao Hu say:

"You have guests at your home, from Inner Mongolia."

PS: The basic chapter of 6000 words has been updated.

There will be an extra chapter later.

(End of this chapter)