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"What's the big deal?" Chen Keyi's voice became more serious.

"It's hard to explain over the phone, we'll talk when you get here. Oh, and could you also contact Lao Zhou and Lao Wang for me? Tell them I have something urgent to discuss and they should come as soon as possible."

Xue Boshou hung up the phone and immediately dialed a second number. After making four or five calls, he finally put his phone away, turned to look at Tang Wenxiu, and said, "You go home first, I'll wait for them at the association."

"Alright, go ahead." Tang Wenxiu knew she couldn't stop him. "Don't be too anxious or upset. Tell me slowly."

Xue Boshou nodded, taking larger strides than before. His figure turned the corner at the alley entrance and disappeared into the afternoon sunlight.

The Chinese Medicine Association is an old-style courtyard with blue bricks and gray tiles. A plaque with the words "China Chinese Medicine Association" hangs at the entrance. The characters are vigorous and powerful, and are the work of a national master calligrapher from decades ago.

When Xue Boshou pushed open the door and entered, the young man on duty in the gatehouse was taken aback: "Old Xue? What brings you here?"

"I have something to do." Xue Boshou waved his hand and walked straight past the screen wall to the conference room in the backyard.

The meeting room was small, with a long rosewood table in the center and a dozen or so armchairs around it. Shelves against the wall were piled high with various ancient medical books, and a faint herbal scent filled the air.

Xue Boshou sat down by the window, casually picked up the purple clay teapot on the table, poured himself a cup of tea, took a slow sip, put the teacup down, looked up at the doorway, and waited a little while before footsteps came from under the eaves.

The person who pushed open the door was Chen Keyi, with her silver hair neatly combed and wearing reading glasses. She looked straight at Xue Boshou as soon as she entered and said, "Hey, old man Xue, what are you up to? You were so vague on the phone, what's the big deal? I was just researching a new prescription when you called me over."

Xue Boshou pointed to the chair next to him: "Sit."

Chen Keyi had just sat down when several more people arrived outside.

Zhou Wenqi, a native of Shanxi, is 76 years old this year and is a veteran expert specializing in the identification of Chinese medicinal materials.

Wang Zhiyuan, 72 years old, was an expert consultant for the State Drug Administration in his early years. After retiring, he devoted himself to the research of the cultivation and protection of traditional Chinese medicinal materials.

Qian Jingchuan, 79 years old, is recognized in the industry as the "number one person in Chinese medicine processing". His eyes are full of experience, and although he walks with a cane, his steps are still steady and firm.

Li Guizhi, female, 74 years old, is the only gynecological expert among them and also the executive director of the Chinese Medicine Association.

The group of people looked puzzled when they saw Xue Boshou.

Chen Keyi spoke first: "Old Xue, you didn't explain things clearly on the phone, just saying something about 'great news,' why don't you hurry up and tell us?"

Xue Boshou glanced around, then looked at the doorway: "Wait a little longer, there are still people who haven't arrived."

"Who?"

"My senior brother, Xu Zhensheng." After Xue Boshou finished speaking, the room fell silent for a moment.

Zhou Wenqi's eyes widened: "Xu Zhensheng? Didn't he already withdraw from worldly affairs and rarely go out?"

"I asked him to come," Xue Boshou said calmly. "I can't make this decision alone; he had to come."

The group exchanged bewildered glances. Chen Keyi frowned. "What could have happened that even your senior brother was involved? The last time I saw him was when Deng Zhe became his disciple! You wouldn't... have something happened to you, would you?"

"I'm fine." Xue Boshou picked up his teacup and took another sip. "It's just that there's a big plan involving traditional Chinese medicine and the Chinese herbal medicine industry, and I can't make a decision on my own, so I called you all here to discuss it. Old Xu is older than me and is the most respected among us old folks; this matter can't be done without him."

Just then, footsteps sounded outside again, and everyone looked towards the door. A thin old man stepped in, wearing a dark gray Zhongshan suit, with completely white hair neatly combed, and a face full of wrinkles, but with bright and piercing eyes. It was Xu Zhensheng.

He leaned on a bamboo cane, walking slowly but with a very steady gait. Behind him followed a middle-aged man in his forties, his student, who appeared to be carrying his things.

"Boshou." Xu Zhensheng entered the room, his gaze sweeping around before finally landing on his junior brother Xue Boshou. "What's the matter that's so urgent? I received a call in Suzhou and bought a high-speed rail ticket this afternoon to come here."

Xue Boshou stood up and took a step to greet him, helping him inside: "Senior brother, it's good that you're here. Please sit down first, and once you're settled, I'll explain everything to you in detail."

Xu Zhensheng sat down at the other end of the long table. The students behind him placed the thermos cups they had brought next to him and then quietly retreated to a corner.

Xu Zhensheng picked up his cup, took a sip of water, and looked around at his old friends: "Is everyone here? None of you have explained anything to me on the way here. What exactly happened?"

Chen Keyi shrugged: "Don't look at me, I don't know either. Your junior brother is very tight-lipped. He only said that something big is going on, and didn't reveal a single word."

Xu Zhensheng then looked at Xue Boshou, his gaze questioning.

Xue Boshou paused for a moment before putting down his teacup and slowly began to speak: "Gentlemen, I have invited you all here today because there is an important matter concerning the future of traditional Chinese medicine that I would like to discuss with you."

"This morning, I went to see my apprentice Deng Zhe and we chatted for a while. Coincidentally, he mentioned an idea to me, talking about some of the current problems in the Chinese medicine industry, such as counterfeit products, substandard products, and excessive heavy metals."

As Xue Boshou spoke, he repeated Deng Zhe's words from that morning verbatim. The room gradually quieted down, and everyone's eyes were fixed on him; even the student in the corner unconsciously raised his head.

"...He meant several things, and I'll explain them to everyone." Xue Boshou held up one finger.

He said that if we want to revitalize traditional Chinese medicine, the root problem lies in Chinese medicinal herbs. The current state of Chinese medicinal herbs is that counterfeit products are rampant, while genuine, high-quality herbs cannot be sold. He said that to solve this problem, we must establish a unified national standard for Chinese medicinal herbs, covering the entire chain from planting, harvesting, processing, storage, to distribution. Each link must have clear indicators, and each batch of herbs must be traceable to its source.

After he finished speaking, he glanced at everyone's expressions.

Chen Keyi frowned, Zhou Wenqi nodded thoughtfully, and Wang Zhiyuan slapped his thigh: "That hit the nail on the head! I told you the pharmaceutical market is in complete chaos!"

Xue Boshou held up a second finger: "The second thing he wants to do is establish medicinal herb planting bases to control quality from the source. Bases will be established in all the authentic medicinal herb producing areas across the country, with unified varieties, unified management, and unified harvesting standards. It sounds like a big deal, but in reality, it's ten or even a hundred times more complicated than building a single pharmaceutical factory."

The room was silent for several seconds.

Chen Keyi was the first to break the silence: "Your apprentice... is he the one who writes novels, makes TV shows, and works in science and technology? Is he Academician Deng Zhe?"

"It's him." Xue Boshou nodded. "Don't look at his other identities. This kid does have some ideas. The key is that he has resources and money."

"Then why does he want to get involved in traditional Chinese medicine?" Li Guizhi asked, puzzled. "Our industry is exhausting and doesn't make much money. What's in it for a big boss in the high-tech industry?"

Xue Boshou paused for a moment: "He said he studied traditional Chinese medicine under my tutelage. He said that since he entered this field, he had a responsibility to do something for traditional Chinese medicine. He didn't want to see the legacy left by our ancestors ruined in our generation."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

I can't write anymore, I'm stuck on the perfect attendance requirement!! Now I can't even meet the standard for perfect attendance!!!