Chapter 61

Yulong Manor consists of a total of seventeen buildings, each hidden amidst the mountains, making it difficult to see one from another. From the outside, they all appear to be ordinary two-story houses, but inside, they are fully equipped with the finest and most luxurious amenities.

Yue Shangao led Zeng Yi and another person into one of the small buildings and said, "The first floor has a living room, kitchen, and two bedrooms for nannies and security personnel. The second floor has a study and the master bedroom. Many things here are brand new, all of the highest standards. Additionally, we have reviewed some materials and made adjustments according to Old Mr. Qiao's habits."

Zeng Yi was somewhat taken aback. If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, it would be hard to imagine how luxurious this place could be. Almost every piece of furniture and decoration had a story behind it.

It was hard to understand why such a luxurious and comfortable place couldn't retain those old leaders. Zeng Yi wondered if the excessive luxury made the old leaders uncomfortable. At least, Zeng Yi felt that there was no sense of life here; it seemed more like an Arab royal palace.

"Isn't this a bit too luxurious?" Zeng Yi voiced his thoughts.

"Luxurious?" Yue Shangao was taken aback, then shook his head repeatedly. "We are already quite conservative here. Other economically developed provinces are much better than this!"

Zeng Yi fell silent. There was no best, only better. He walked around the place, still feeling that it lacked a sense of life. For a leader on a vacation, this atmosphere might be fine, but for a retirement home, it was not suitable.

In the study, Zeng Yi saw a large calligraphy piece hanging on the wall: "Embrace the world, care for all beings." The brushwork was fluid and the style was impressive.

"Whose calligraphy is this?" Zeng Yi asked.

"It's the masterpiece of the great calligrapher, Elder Yangming!" Yue Shangao introduced.

"Take it down, and replace it with one of Old Mr. Qiao's own works!" Zeng Yi said. From his grandfather's notes, Zeng Yi knew that Old Mr. Qiao was a calligraphy enthusiast and was particularly proud of his own work. In his youth, he hung his own works all over his house, and it was hard for contemporary calligraphers to impress him. Hanging someone else's masterpiece here would be like asking him to study and learn from it.

Yue Shangao was puzzled. He didn't see anything wrong with the calligraphy, whether in style or meaning. Elder Yangming's calligraphy was priceless, and this piece was obtained through many connections by the provincial government.

The bookshelves in the study were filled with books, many of which were in traditional binding, mostly about politics, philosophy, religion, and culture, with a high level of depth.

Zeng Yi added, "Find some books on economics to put here." Old Mr. Qiao's proudest achievement was transforming a backward and poor province into an economically vibrant one during his tenure as provincial party secretary. Therefore, he was knowledgeable about economics, which was one of the reasons he was able to enter the central government.

Yue Shangao had no objections and readily agreed.

"Also, find some old recordings of bangzi opera, the older the better, and place them in the study!"

Yue Shangao looked at Zeng Yi, wondering if this young man knew Old Mr. Qiao. However, from the information he had collected, there was no mention of Old Mr. Qiao liking bangzi opera.

This was in stark contrast to his attitude toward calligraphy. Old Mr. Qiao was very proud of his own calligraphy. If you gave him a contemporary master's work, the only result would be that the work would never see the light of day, and your future would be marked by him as a dead end. He would think you were mocking his calligraphy. On the other hand, if you praised his calligraphy and begged for a piece, he might not give it to you, but he would be very happy and consider you a kindred spirit.

Old Mr. Qiao liked bangzi opera but couldn't sing it well. His voice wasn't deep enough to capture the essence of the opera, so he rarely sang in front of others, and few knew of his preference.

In the bedroom, Zeng Yi pressed the bed a few times and said, "This soft bed won't do; it must be replaced with a hard one!" According to his grandfather's notes, Old Mr. Qiao had a back injury and couldn't sleep on a soft bed.

Yue Shangao noted this down and asked, "Is there anything else that needs to be changed?"

Zeng Yi shook his head. "The setup here is good, but I feel it lacks a sense of life."

Yue Shangao's facial muscles twitched. A sense of life? If they added a sense of life, how would this be different from an ordinary person's home? This young man was inexperienced. It was better to err on the side of luxury rather than simplicity. It was better to be criticized for being too luxurious than to have the leader feel disrespected and unimportant.

Outside the small building, there was a plot of land that had been cultivated for growing vegetables. The main purpose was to give the old leaders something to do, and to let them enjoy the vegetables they grew themselves. Almost every old leader requested such a plot of land, both to experience life and to exercise.

The plot of land in front of them was empty but neatly maintained.

"This empty plot doesn't look good. It would be best to plant some chili peppers here!" Zeng Yi explained, "I heard that Old Mr. Qiao loves spicy food and can't live without it!"

Yue Shangao quickly noted this down. If the information was accurate, this was a crucial piece of intelligence.

The three left the small building and headed toward the administrative building of Yulong Manor. On the way, Yue Shangao gave Wang Jinzhu a meaningful look.

Wang Jinzhu understood and said, "Mr. Zeng, is this your first time here? Would you like someone to show you around the mountain? You might not know, but the scenery of Yulong Mountain is the best in our Rongcheng."

Zeng Yi replied, "Sure, I was just thinking of going for a walk. I've been cooped up in the city lately, and it would be nice to get some fresh air."

Yue Shangao immediately took out his phone and made a call. Soon, a young man in his twenties ran over. Yue Shangao said, "Xiao Wei, show Mr. Zeng around the manor and the mountain. Make sure he has a good time."

"Director, you can count on me!" Xiao Wei extended his hand warmly, "Mr. Zeng, this way, I know the area very well."

Watching Zeng Yi leave, Yue Shangao took out his notebook and discussed with Wang Jinzhu, "Mr. Zeng has given so many suggestions. What do you think, Director Wang?"

Wang Jinzhu didn't give an opinion but said, "Mr. Zeng was personally appointed by Director Feng!"

Yue Shangao immediately understood. If Mr. Zeng was appointed by Director Feng, there must be a reason. Perhaps Mr. Zeng's suggestions were tailored to Old Mr. Qiao's preferences. It seemed necessary to make some adjustments.

"Should we prepare two options?" Yue Shangao looked at Wang Jinzhu, suggesting that they prepare two different setups and let Old Mr. Qiao choose.

"Director Yue, you have more experience in this area. I won't interfere."

Yue Shangao secretly cursed Wang Jinzhu for being a sly old fox. He wouldn't take even a small responsibility, which was why he was still just a section chief. In comparison, Mr. Zeng was much stronger, at least speaking his mind openly and honestly.

Yue Shangao decided to follow Zeng Yi's suggestions and prepare another small building. The facilities were already in place, but Old Mr. Qiao's calligraphy would be a challenge, as it wasn't available in the manor.

"Director Wang, you'll need to arrange for Old Mr. Qiao's calligraphy," Yue Shangao said.

"Sure, I'll start working on it as soon as I get back, and I'll try to get it done quickly!" This was within Wang Jinzhu's responsibilities, and he couldn't refuse, so he agreed.

Zeng Yi took a walk around the mountain and found that the scenery of Yulong Mountain was indeed very beautiful. The clear streams, bird songs, and fragrant flowers, along with the cool breeze, made it a refreshing and pleasant place for recuperation. The vegetation on the mountain was lush and diverse, with many rare species. Due to the lack of visitors, Zeng Yi saw many medicinal herbs along the way.

By the time he returned from the mountain, it was almost evening. Yue Shangao had prepared a table of food and drinks, with flying sky Moutai wine and dishes that, while not lavish, had unique flavors not found elsewhere.

Zeng Yi had to admit that the chef at Yulong Manor was indeed exceptional. Even a simple dish was different, not only delicious but also beautifully presented, making it hard to bear to destroy the artistry with a bite.

After the meal, Director Wang sent Zeng Yi back to Rongcheng. By the time they reached the clinic, it was almost dark.

A military jeep was parked outside the clinic. As soon as Zeng Yi got out of the car, Tang Weiguo walked over and said with a hearty laugh, "Doctor Zeng, I've been waiting for you for a long time!"

"It's Director Tang!" Zeng Yi almost didn't recognize him. Yesterday, Tang Weiguo was in civilian clothes, looking domineering and like a gang leader. Today, in military uniform, he looked solemn and imposing.

"Doctor Zeng's medicine is very effective. My brother only took one dose and is already much better!" Tang Weiguo stepped forward, "Thank you for not holding a grudge. I really admire you. If you don't mind, let's have a drink tonight, my treat!"

Zeng Yi patted his stomach, "I just had dinner!"

"Perfect, then we can drink without worrying about hurting our stomachs!" Without further ado, Tang Weiguo dragged Zeng Yi to his car.

Zeng Yi had no choice but to say goodbye to Wang Jinzhu, "Thank you for the ride, Director Wang. We'll keep in touch!"

"Go, go!" Tang Weiguo pushed Zeng Yi into the car, then excitedly got into the driver's seat, "A few of my brothers heard that Doctor Zeng is skilled, and they are already waiting!"

Zeng Yi thought, "Are you inviting me for a drink, or are you planning a fight?"