Chapter 17: Totally unexpected
Translator: Legge Editor: Legge
“Bro,” Yan Liuyuan asked Ren Xiaosu, “Did you really treat someone for free this afternoon? That’s so unlike you!”
“Don’t ask. Kill yourself if you do,” Ren Xiaosu said bitterly.
Honestly speaking, he really wanted to promote the black medicine to everyone. He would largely have to depend on this method to gain the gratitude of others. Moreover, this medicine was also the core of his plan to make money in the short term.
So Ren Xiaosu convinced himself that the beginning was always the most challenging as a consolation. People with big goals should not be hindered by trivialities. He would have to be generous as a person!
Ren Xiaosu was not stingy for the sake of it. He knew well what he had to do at the appropriate times. However, he couldn’t help but feel the pinch.
Xiaoyu consoled with a smile, “Don’t worry, you’ll definitely succeed.”
After saying that, Xiaoyu returned to her shack and went to bed. In the past, she could not sleep all that well at night. But since moving here, she could always sleep soundly every day.
The next morning, the stronghold’s clock abruptly rang as though it were reminding everyone that it was time to go work at the factory.
Ren Xiaosu returned with the allocated amount of water that he was allowed to draw for the day. He estimated that it would take 12 hours for the wound to start scabbing over after the black medicine was applied, so he was not in a rush to see what the reactions of the people in town were.
Once everyone learned of the effectiveness of the medicine, people would naturally approach him with questions.
However, Ren Xiaosu did not expect that when he carried the bucket of water back, Wang Fugui would be there waiting at the entrance of the shack with a smile.
“Old Wang, what are you doing here so early? I haven’t been out to catch any sparrows lately,” Ren Xiaosu said unhurriedly as he put the bucket on the ground. He glanced into the shack. Quick-witted Yan Liuyuan had already raised his bone knife to guard against Old Wang. It was only after he saw Ren Xiaosu that he finally lowered the bone knife.
When Wang Fugui saw Ren Xiaosu, his eyes shimmered. “Oh, Xiaosu, you’re finally back! I came over this early in the morning just to look for you!”
“Why?” Ren Xiaosu felt that something was amiss. What could make Old Wang that happy? He examined Old Wang closely and said, “Have you been drinking?”
Wang Fugui immediately looked annoyed. “What do you mean by drinking? Don’t you know that alcohol is prohibited now? Who’d be brave enough to drink when everyone does not even have enough food to spare?”
“I remember smelling something particular on you the previous time...”
Wang Fugui’s expression became thunderous in reaction to Ren Xiaosu’s words He quickly interrupted him and said, “Don’t you spout nonsense!”
“Alright, alright, I won’t. Why are you looking for me?” Ren Xiaosu asked.
“Did you treat Iron Head’s wound yesterday? The one who lives on the east side of town?” Wang Fugui said as he winked at him.
“Oh, so he’s called Iron Head.... His head doesn’t feel that hard to me, so why does he have that name?” Ren Xiaosu wondered.
“Don’t interrupt me.” Wang Fugui said, “Just tell me if you did or not.”
“Yes, I did!” Ren Xiaosu was beginning to cheer in his mind. Wang Fugui was a person who would not look for someone without a reason. It must be the black medicine’s effectiveness that attracted him and made him see the profitability of it. Why else would he be so polite towards him?
This proved that the market for his black medicine was opening up!
Wang Fugui was elated when Ren Xiaosu admitted to it. “Do you... still have that medicine? You can give them with me. I’ll sell it for you!”
“You want to sell it for me? No way!” Ren Xiaosu shook his head. “I can’t have a middleman taking a cut of the profit. This town is so small already. Wouldn’t it be better for me to sell it myself? It’s not like I’m planning to sell my medicine at every stronghold out there. Besides, even if I had such a big business, you wouldn’t be able to handle it.”
Wang Fugui was stunned at Ren Xiaosu’s words. Right, this town was tiny, so why would Ren Xiaosu let him sell the medicine for him?
But Wang Fugui said again, “It’s fine even if you sell a little bit of it to me.”
“Eh?” Ren Xiaosu scrutinized Wang Fugui. “You don’t look injured, so why would you need this medicine?”
Wang Fugui smiled mysteriously and said, “You still don’t know, right? Yesterday, Iron Head got a little suspicious after returning home. He wanted to know what you applied to his wound. So he smelled it but couldn’t make out what it was. After that, he licked it, trying to taste what it was made with. Guess what happened as a result.”
Ren Xiaosu wondered what the hell was wrong with that guy. He’d even licked it.
There was nothing wrong with the black medicine’s effectiveness. When Iron Head inspected his wound that night, he knew that Ren Xiaosu did not lie to him. It was indeed a good medicine. Driven by curiosity, he was hoping to find out what it was made with.
Wang Fugui continued, “In the end, he and his wife went at it all night, all the way until this morning! That medicine of yours is way too effective!”
Ren Xiaosu was shocked!
Yan Liuyuan, who was in the shack, was also shocked by what he heard!
Ren Xiaosu had also wondered whether the black medicine could be taken orally and if there would be any side effects. He felt that maybe it could be taken orally, but he did not dare to try it out himself.
Now he found out that the medicine had such an effect when it was taken orally! To be able to do it from night until morning, just what kind of medicine was this?
Ren Xiaosu did not know whether to laugh or cry. “Then why are you buying this medicine?”
He had good reason to ask this. He knew Wang Fugui’s wife had passed away several years ago due to illness. So he wouldn’t have any reason for taking this medicine.
Wang Fugui said unhappily, “Can’t I have a second chance at love? It’s just that my body’s a little weak now.”
“Eh? You found another woman?” Ren Xiaosu chuckled.
“Not yet,” Old Wang said, “but I’m thinking about it. No one would want to marry an impotent man, right? That’s why I want to be ready with your medicine.”
Ren Xiaosu laughed. “You’re funny, Wang Fugui. Old but energetic! What kind of wife are you looking for?”
Wang Fugui said modestly, “As long as she likes me, it’s good enough.”
Ren Xiaosu mulled it over. “That’s not an easy requirement.”
Wang Fugui was annoyed. “Are we close?” Wang Fugui said with a dark expression, “I’m one of the richest people in town anyway, so why wouldn’t a women take a liking to me?”
Ren Xiaosu sighed, a little melancholic. “One of the richest people in our town is a grocery store owner. Why does that sound a little shameful....”
“Who are you to criticize me? Cut the crap. Do you want to sell it or not?!”
“Yes!” Ren Xiaosu gave it some thought before saying, “You get the special ‘acquaintance discount,’ 600 yuan!”
“Highway robbery!” Wang Fugui said angrily.
For now, the amount of black medicine that Ren Xiaosu had left was only enough for a one-time treatment of wounds. However, based on Old Wang’s description of the medicine being effective with just one lick, the remaining portion should still be enough for quite a few more licks.
However, the sought-after effects of this medicine when taken orally were not driven by necessity, so he could not sell it for too much.
“Do you want to buy it or not?” Ren Xiaosu snorted at Wang Fugui.
“Yes!” Wang Fugui then counted out 600 yuan and paid it to Ren Xiaosu. He did not even try to haggle over the price!
Ren Xiaosu could never have expected that the market for his black medicine would get opened in such a manner.
His initial plan was to become a doctor so that he could “practice medicine to help the people.” He never thought he would become an aphrodisiacs supplier instead.
Wang Fugui spun around and said to Ren Xiaosu, “Thank you for this!”
“Gratitude received from Wang Fugui, +1!”
Ren Xiaosu was speechless
He finally had four gratitude tokens again, although this gratitude token was earned a little differently from how Ren Xiaosu had expected.