Reborn in 1994, escaping from marriage and going sea fishing, I won!

Chapter 1133 A Progressive Young Woman from Old Shanghai

When we got home, Grandpa Xie and Grandpa Wang were playing chess!

Professor Xie was knitting with Grandma Xie, chatting as they went. "Meilan, you're back? There's almond milk in the pot, let me get you some!"

Liu Meilan smiled and said, "Mom, you don't need to bother, I can do it myself."

"Grandma, Great-Grandma!" Fu Ying and Fu Hai rushed over and hugged Professor Xie's grandmother affectionately.

Having grown up at their maternal grandparents' house, the two children are still closest to that side. As for the Fu family, they are also relatives, but there are always degrees of closeness.

Professor Xie squatted down and hugged the two children, kissing one and touching the other, showing great affection.

When Dazhuang and Xiaozhuang saw their older brother and sister return, they jumped for joy, but they were too happy and tripped and fell.

If you fall down, as long as you don't hit your head, adults won't bother you; you'll get up on your own.

Liu Meilan poured almond milk, drank a large glass herself, and gave the children a small glass, feeling refreshed and relaxed.

"Grandma, it's still snowing up north, so you and Grandpa can stay here without worry. Once I'm done with things here, and spring comes, if Mom doesn't have time, I'll take you back. This time, we'll take a plane, it'll be quick!"

Grandma Xie beamed, "Great! I'm so lucky to have gotten on a plane thanks to my granddaughter. It's much faster than the train; I can just sleep and I'll be there."

Professor Xie said with a smile, "By the way, your second uncle called but couldn't get through. I told him you were on a plane."

"What does my second uncle want with me?" Liu Meilan asked.

Professor Xie replied, "On one hand, there's the matter of the medicinal herb valley, and on the other hand, there's the honey. Your second uncle has now also contracted the two thousand acres of woodland next door. He doesn't plan to develop it; he'll just sow some medicinal herb seeds and let the herbs grow freely."

“Sure!” Liu Meilan replied. “Although the medicinal herbs grown this way don’t look very good and aren’t as plump as those grown in conventional cultivation, they are very effective! As long as they are processed according to regulations, the traditional Chinese medicine company under the investment company will buy them all.”

Professor Xie nodded. "If it were just that, it wouldn't be so bad, but now even more people in the area want to join! Are you facing any difficulties?"

Liu Meilan blinked. "It's not that there's no difficulty. The main problem is that I trust my second uncle, but I don't necessarily trust others! I'm afraid that the people over there will only focus on immediate interests and not on quality, and will use inferior products instead, which would be very troublesome."

“I had the same idea, but your second uncle was approached by local government officials who asked him to lead the local people to prosperity. As you know, many industrial bases in Northeast China have declined after reforms. Many people have gone out to work, but many others still make a living locally.”

Liu Meilan stroked her chin. "Actually, they can use the woodland for aquaculture. The money earned from aquaculture can generate a certain profit. As for medicinal herbs, if they just sow seeds and cultivate them in a semi-wild manner, the price is good, and they can earn even more. In the end, it all comes down to one thing: quality, quality."

Professor Xie thought for a moment, then said, "The leaders from that side were originally going to come and visit..."

"Huh?" Liu Meilan was taken aback. "Coming all the way here to visit? Isn't that too far?"

Professor Xie replied, "Now we're trying every possible way to boost the economy. By the way, one of the best men at your third brother's wedding works over there."

Liu Meilan patted her head, "I remember now, that person's name is Li Qiang."

Grandma Xie tugged at her daughter's shoulder. "Qingya, I know the business environment over there isn't very good, but how should I put it? There are still many people willing to do something practical. Meilan, if you feel it's difficult, then forget it."

Liu Meilan smiled and said, "It's not that difficult, but as long as they can control the quality, we'd like as many good medicinal materials as possible. The original prescriptions from the pharmaceutical factory, as well as the Chinese and Western medicines that my second sister-in-law and my mother developed together, are all quite good."

"Anyway, it's not suitable to plant medicinal herbs now. I'll go there in the spring to finalize some things. That's just how I am; if it doesn't work the first time, I won't use it again. If any medicinal herbs are adulterated, I won't buy them in the future."

Grandma Xie was overjoyed to hear this. "People are so afraid of being poor, they really cherish this opportunity. With this, many laid-off workers have been allocated some woodland to raise livestock and grow crops, which is enough for them to make a living."

Seeing her grandmother's genuine smile, Liu Meilan thought about how this girl from Shanghai had lived in Northeast China for over sixty years. It could be said that she had left the best years of her youth there.

"Grandma, do you miss Shanghai? When the weather gets warmer, would you like me to go there with you?" Liu Meilan asked, not wanting to have any regrets.

According to my mother's account, my maternal grandmother was a progressive young socialite in Shanghai, and her family was quite well-off. However, she was born into a chaotic era, and amidst the torrent of history and constant warfare, she managed to remain unscathed. The struggle for national salvation and survival permeated the entire society!

Grandma Xie shook her head. "When I was seventy-six, your mother took your grandfather and me to see it. Time has passed, and things have changed. The familiar people and familiar surroundings are gone. Everywhere are high-rise buildings. It's not the Shanghai I remember anymore. The most important people, my former relatives, are all gone. There's no longer any longing for me there. On the contrary, it's the Northeast. I spent most of my life there. Every blade of grass and every tree there has become part of my blood. A hundred years from now, bury me in that fertile black soil."

Professor Xie touched Grandma Xie's hand, "Mom, perhaps my eldest uncle, youngest uncle, and aunt are still alive, we just haven't found them yet."

Grandma Xie shook her head. "All of us siblings are literate, but during those turbulent times of war, we lost contact with each other while pursuing our dreams and trying to save the nation. If they were still alive and in the country, it's impossible that none of them would have seen the newspapers."

Liu Meilan asked in confusion, "Grandma, they're not in China. Maybe they went abroad?"

Grandma Xie sighed, "If I had gone abroad and was still alive, how could they not have come looking for me? Of my three daughters and three sons, I favored your mother because she looks like your great-aunt. I favored your second uncle because he looks like your great-uncle and your great-uncle."

Professor Xie chuckled, "No wonder you weren't happy that I married someone from another place! After we get married, when we go back, you and Dad will see that Zhengtao is a good person and then you'll be willing to accept him."

Grandma Xie shook her head and chuckled, "Yes, you've brought everyone here. I couldn't offer you a good job back then. You were able to live a stable life with Zhengtao, so what more could I ask for? Your second brother, seeing me often crying while looking at photos of your two uncles, he didn't go anywhere. He just stayed at home, taking care of us. Sigh, if I have any debts in this life, it's your second brother. If it were your eldest brother contracting the forest farm, I would never have asked Meilan for it, but with your second brother, I have to take advantage of my seniority this time."

Liu Meilan smiled, "Grandma, if it were me, I would do the same. I'm keeping a close eye on my second uncle's side! I guarantee I'll handle it perfectly."

Now that her grandmother is this age, Liu Meilan wants to do her best to make sure the old lady lives a comfortable life.