Chapter 64.2

Mu Xuehui suggested, “It has to be between Chengjia Village and Xiahe Village. I think Xiahe would be best. That way, we can stir up resentment between Chengjia Village and Dawang Village. The Qin family’s relatives will also side with us.”

Even if they don’t help, it’ll at least be a thorn in the side of the Qin brothers, Qin Yan and Qin Ao.

Chang Linyan chuckled, “Alright, then we’ll choose Xiahe Village. I’ll have your senior sister negotiate the land lease.”

Mu Xuehui hadn’t expected that her plan would result in her senior sister, Cheng Wanxia, being assigned the task. She protested, “Master, my senior sister is from Chengjia Village. Isn’t it inappropriate for her to handle Xiahe Village?”

Chang Linyan advised Mu Xuehui to have a broader perspective, “Your senior sister still hasn’t severed ties with her village. I want her to break away from them.”

…

Grandma Huang called the farm, saying that there were patients causing trouble at the shop.

Jiang Ruan quickly asked, “Is it an issue with the medicine? Did it not work?”

Grandma Huang was furious, “No, the medicine worked great. The patients were recommended by others, and when they heard there was no stock, they wanted to trash the place.”

“Call the police,” Jiang Ruan instructed. “Report it, then close the shop and go home. I’ll head back right away.”

Qin Ao brought out a bicycle for Jiang Ruan, speculating, “Could this be Chang Linyan’s doing?”

Chang Linyan had sent her apprentice Cheng Wanxia to Xiahe Village to negotiate with the local Qin family about leasing land. People from Chengjia Village weren’t happy about it and went over to cause trouble, insisting that Cheng Wanxia should lease from their village instead. It had nearly turned into a brawl, and Jiang Ruan had planned to check it out.

But now she had to head back to the city to deal with the shop situation.

She warned Qin Ao not to go to Xiahe Village, saying, “Your cousins might pick a fight with you if they see you.”

Qin Ao replied, “I won’t get involved. But are you really not planning to make any more rheumatism medicine?”

Jiang Ruan said, “Chang Linyan is getting desperate. I don’t know what method she used to create a similar effect, but she’s afraid to use it on He Ziqi and can’t get my medicine either. Her tricks are just pathetic.”

Qin Ao was indignant, “Rejuvenation Hall already has a good reputation. Why do they need to compete with you?”

Jiang Ruan said, “Brother Qin Yan told me that the Shencao Grass Flower has the potential for a wide range of products and immense medicinal value. As long as I continue cultivating it, she won’t be able to monopolize the market. And I won’t give up just to avoid trouble.”

“Of course, you shouldn’t give up,” Qin Ao said. “If you need help, just ask Xun Li.”

“Alright, I’ll head to the city now and check things out,” Jiang Ruan replied.

After Grandma Huang reported it to the police, they visited the shop. Several relatives of rheumatism patients were sitting outside. When they saw Jiang Ruan arrive, they seemed to recognize her and stood up, saying, “Boss Jiang, we’re not here to cause trouble. My father’s rheumatism is so severe it affects his daily life. Please, just give us the medicine. We’ll pay whatever it costs.”

On the way, Xun Li had already informed her that this family was made up of fake filial sons, hired by Chang Linyan to buy medicine.

Jiang Ruan stood at the locked shop door and said, “There have been too many people from the same industry trying to buy medicine here. It’s impossible to prevent. The new rule at Rheumatism Hall is that treatments must be done in-store.”

“But we’re from out of town,” the man protested. “We have to take a bus, and it takes over an hour to get here. Just prepare the medicine, and we’ll take it home to treat him.”

Jiang Ruan shook her head. “Aren’t you supposed to be a devoted son? Can’t you let your father stay in the city for ten days for treatment?”

“But we have farm work to do at home,” the ‘devoted son’ said.

Not far away, there was a barbecue shop run by Liang Yong’s relatives. Today, if it wasn’t for his presence deterring them, these people wouldn’t have been so obedient.

Liu, the owner of the barbecue shop, brought over some of his staff and mocked them, “Using your own father’s illness to make money, aren’t you afraid of divine retribution?”

The ‘devoted son’ was embarrassed. “Is your medicine really that miraculous?”

Jiang Ruan opened the shop door. “Let your father try it once. He’ll decide if it works.”

The old man was an honest person. After soaking in the herbal bath and applying the ointment, his knees felt much better. He said, “The effect is good, but the medicine is too expensive. Forget it; let’s not treat it anymore.”

The ‘devoted son’ was red-faced. He hadn’t exactly refused to treat his father, his family wasn’t well-off, and someone had approached him, offering to pay double the price if he bought the medicine for them. Thinking of the extra money he’d earn, he thought he could use that to buy medicine for his father.

He scraped together the exact amount, 3.20 yuan, and paid for the medicine before helping his father out the door.

Seeing that they weren’t entirely bad people, Liu felt some sympathy and asked, “I heard you mention earlier that you’re a bricklayer. I’m planning to renovate my house. You could do some day work there and stay with your father in the city for treatment. I’ll pay you and your brothers daily.”

The ‘devoted son’ thanked him profusely, and the conflict was resolved.

Liu’s niece, Xiao Sui, was married to Yan Mancang, and the couple was currently farming in Dawang Village. They worked well together, and Liu felt grateful to Jiang Ruan for her help. He asked, concerned, “Xiao Jiang, do you think Rejuvenation Hall will send more people to cause trouble?”

Jiang Ruan replied, “Even if they do, time isn’t on their side. They won’t keep it up for long.”

Jiang Ruan then called the farm and said she would stay in the city for a few days until He Ziqi left.

Qin Ao asked, “What if He Ziqi doesn’t leave?”

Jiang Ruan said, “He’s here to invest, not to play around. He doesn’t have that much time to waste.”

…

Chang Linyan was indeed anxious these past few days. She had used ten packets of medicine, acquired through intermediaries, to treat He Ziqi’s frailty. The treatment was effective.

It should have been something to celebrate, but Chang Linyan wasn’t happy at all. The medicinal herb she was using to treat rheumatism, called Shencao grass, was also effective for treating frailty. The chemically synthesized version she developed probably wouldn’t have such remarkable effects.

Jiang Ruan had sensed her move, and no longer sold her herbal packets at the shop, making it impossible for Chang Linyan to acquire them.

From what she had heard, Jiang Ruan grew batches of Shencao grass while breeding chicks every month. The seeds she cultivated could be planted in any season, allowing her to harvest batches of fruit each month. The stalks and leaves were used for feed.

These fruits had the strongest medicinal effects. But where did Jiang Ruan store them after harvesting?

He Ziqi had been without the medicine for two days. Chang Linyan tried using the chemically synthesized version, but it wasn’t nearly as effective, which left her feeling frustrated.

…

He Ziqi was equally troubled. He initially thought Chang Linyan’s medicine would cure his frailty, but the last batch smelled off, and the effect was lacking.

This confirmed what Jiang Ruan had said—Chang Linyan didn’t have a reliable source for the original medicine. If Jiang Ruan wouldn’t cooperate and supply it, she couldn’t replicate the previous batch.

He would have to go back to Jiang Ruan, but his impression of her wasn’t great. Smooth talkers were easy to deal with, but Jiang Ruan was tough and didn’t seem to have any desires. She was hard to negotiate with.

He Ziqi decided to dine alone at the Fuyun Restaurant, owned by Chang Fuxiang, and ordered roast duck. Mu Xuehui wanted to tag along. “Mr. He, let me join you.”

He Ziqi was annoyed. “Miss Mu, I hope you understand boundaries. Right now, I just want to eat alone in peace.”

Mu Xuehui secretly fumed. It’s not like he had earned his own wealth, he was just born lucky with a good father. If it weren’t for his father sending him inland to invest, who would bother wasting time with this arrogant guy?

She apologized, “There are bad people even in the inland. I’m just worried you might get swindled. I can accompany you back to your hotel after dinner.”

“No need. I can find my way back. The local security seems quite good, not as dangerous as you make it sound.”

He Ziqi ordered roast duck, which he had tried at many places. Fuyun Restaurant had both a ten-yuan and a fifteen-yuan roast duck, but the fifteen-yuan version was exceptional, unmatched elsewhere.

Chang Fuxiang opened the private dining room door, bringing in complimentary duck bone soup, and smiled obsequiously. “Mr. He, Boss Jiang was wondering how you were feeling today. Would you be open to having a chat?”

“Jiang Ruan?” He Ziqi was puzzled. “Why does she want to see me?”

“Perhaps you can ask her yourself when you meet?”

“Alright.” Eating alone was a bit dull, so He Ziqi thought he might as well hear what Jiang Ruan had to say.

Jiang Ruan sought him out to settle things once and for all.

The waiter set up extra utensils and closed the door. Chang Fuxiang even instructed them not to let anyone disturb the meeting.

“Can I join you for the meal?” Jiang Ruan asked.

He Ziqi nodded. “Miss Jiang, what brings you to me?”

Jiang Ruan said, “I’d like to make a deal with you.”

He Ziqi calmly rolled a piece of roast duck in a lotus leaf wrap, took a bite, and only after dabbing his mouth with a napkin did he respond, “Oh, what kind of deal?”

His table manners were impeccable, unlike Jiang Ruan, who enjoyed dipping the crispy duck skin in sugar.

She said, “You can invest wherever you like, but I’m asking you not to invest in any of Chang Linyan’s businesses. If you agree, I can treat your condition—and I can cure it.”

She had used this tactic before in competition with Xun Li, and it had been quite effective.

In truth, it didn’t matter where he invested, but Chang Linyan’s proposed biomedical company had huge potential, and she had promised exclusive access to Shencao grass.

He Ziqi said, “I’ve had this frailty since birth, and even the best doctors in Hong Kong couldn’t cure it. Why should I believe you?”

Jiang Ruan put down her chopsticks and, after wiping her mouth, said firmly, “Brother Qin Yan advised me not to meddle in your affairs, but now that Chang Linyan has become a threat to me, I must retaliate. Your condition is due to long-term poisoning from childhood, and the fruits of Shencao grass just happen to have detoxifying effects. All the fruits are with me, and Chang Linyan can’t cure you.”

“Poisoning?” He Ziqi was skeptical. “Who could have been poisoning me for over twenty years?”

Jiang Ruan replied, “You’re asking me? Who should I ask then? Whether you want to treat the accumulated toxins in your body is your choice. Think it over and come find me if you decide.”