Free Web NovelChapter 46: Chapter 22: New Medicine (2)
He hurriedly picked up a brush and paper and began writing everything down.
The small room fell utterly silent, the only sound the faint whisper of a brush moving across rough paper.
Time flies when you’re immersed in your work.
Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family woke from her afternoon nap and saw Fang Rui engrossed in writing and drawing. She slowed her steps, careful not to disturb him.
She even woke Fang Ling and told her not to make a sound.
...
The afternoon passed in a flash, and Caozhi Hall remained closed for the rest of the day.
「Evening.」
Fang Rui finally broke out of his concentration, and the first thing he felt was hunger.
’Have I... been researching all afternoon?’
He glanced at the twilight sky outside and stretched. "Fortunately, my efforts paid off, and the results are outstanding!"
He had successfully developed two new finished medicines.
Muscle Regeneration Powder: Accelerates wound healing.
Scar Remover: Capable of removing minor scars.
It wasn’t as if he’d created them from scratch. He had simply improved upon existing prescriptions to create ’finished medicines’ that could be stored for longer periods without losing efficacy. Besides, they had already been pharmacologically verified...
So, there was no need for lengthy clinical trials. They were ready.
’After dinner, I’ll prepare a batch of the two new medicines... I’ll take them to the Black Market tonight and see how they do. I imagine they won’t fare too poorly...’
’If they sell well and I get some money, I can buy meat, oil, and eggs!’
Fang Rui subconsciously swallowed.
Yes, times were tough. Most people couldn’t afford to eat, and grain prices had skyrocketed. Even in the Black Market, items like meat, eggs, and oil were relatively scarce.
But if you had silver and were willing to spend it, you could still find some good things if you shopped around, waited a while, and got lucky.
If you weren’t worried about the price, you could even go to the resellers. If you were truly extravagant, you could visit the grain shops run by the great families. As long as you paid enough, they could find a way to get you whatever you wanted.
In other words, scarcity was a fact, but a relative one. If you had money and power, no problem was truly a problem.
「After dinner.」
Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family had Fang Ling wash the dishes while she sorted herbs to the side, assisting Fang Rui as he personally prepared a batch of Muscle Regeneration Powder and Scar Remover.
When the time was right, Mrs. Xue of the Fang Family and Fang Ling went down into the cellar. Fang Rui told them he might be back late and not to worry, then sealed the cellar entrance with the giant stone before heading out.
...
「The Black Market.」
At the entrance, the guard was the same as always: the Fast Swordman, Yuan Da. Fang Rui paid the usual entry and stall fees, received a numbered token, and expertly found his spot to set up.
On the wooden sign next to his stall, he used a piece of charcoal he’d brought to add his two new products, Muscle Regeneration Powder and Scar Remover, writing the names in large, bold characters.
Before long, a customer came to inquire.
Over the past few days, Fang Rui’s stall had attracted quite a few regular customers.
After all, he was the pioneer—the originator of finished medicines. The packets he sold were high-quality, his reputation was excellent, he always showed up on time, and he was a stable, reliable Entry Grade Martial Artist.
All things considered, among everyone selling finished medicines in the Black Market, his business was the best.
"...The Muscle Regeneration Powder speeds up wound healing... The Scar Remover gets rid of minor scars and even has a skin-whitening effect. It’s the perfect gift to win a lady’s favor..."
Fang Rui pitched his products. "New product launch today, and we’re having a sale! Spend ten large coins, get a one-mace discount! Spend twenty large coins, get a three-mace discount! Don’t miss out!"
A new product combined with a sale was a powerful combination indeed.
"Muscle Regeneration Powder, Scar Remover... give me one of each. And..."
After listening, the customer gritted his teeth and, in one go, bought packets of Hemostatic Powder and Nourishing Medicine as well, spending over twenty large coins in total.
After that, customers arrived in an endless stream; he was never without one.
The Muscle Regeneration Powder and Scar Remover, in particular, sold faster than the Hemostatic Powder and Nourishing Medicine, despite being more expensive.
In short, business at Fang Rui’s stall was booming.
...
"Fuck! Why is business at that bastard Fang’s stall so good today?!"
In the distance, Gao Yao wandered over, clutching a fake martial arts manual. When he saw the roaring trade at Fang Rui’s stall, his eyes widened instantly, and he couldn’t stop a curse from escaping his lips.
Last month, after he and Fang Rui parted ways, he had started cooperating with other Physicians. At first, business was still quite good, coasting on momentum.
After all, the buyers didn’t know Gao Yao and Fang Rui had split up, and they wouldn’t think to ask if the packets they were buying were still from the originator of finished medicines.
But with Fang Rui also selling his packets in the Black Market and clarifying the situation, Gao Yao could no longer ride his coattails. And because of Fang Rui’s previous warning, he didn’t dare use his name either.
After all, Fang Rui frequented the Black Market. If he got caught... Gao Yao was afraid Fang Rui would hunt him down!
But that was just the beginning.
What was worse, the booming business he’d enjoyed for the first two or three days had attracted the wrong kind of attention—he was being watched.
The predators in the Black Market, those who specialized in preying on their own kind and fleecing easy targets, were incredibly well-informed. They’d heard the news the day after Fang Rui and Gao Yao split.
The result?
The Physician who’d partnered with Gao Yao never came back to the Black Market after their second time working together. One could only imagine that something had happened to him.
Even Gao Yao himself had been targeted for a couple of days. If he hadn’t been vigilant, with a few tricks up his sleeve to shake the tail, and then stayed away from the Black Market for several days, he’d probably be finished by now.
Later, Gao Yao partnered with a second Physician.
But as time went on, without the "originator of finished medicines" banner, with no one to protect him, and with the declining quality of the medicine, his business fell off a cliff. freewebnøvel.coɱ
After all, the success of his previous partnership with Fang Rui had relied on two things: Gao Yao’s salesmanship and the quality of Fang Rui’s medicine packets. Now that he’d lost half of that equation, even his silver tongue couldn’t reverse the decline.
Of course, it was a blessing in disguise. With business being so poor, he was no longer a target. The people who had been watching him couldn’t even be bothered to look for him anymore.
These days, Gao Yao’s income had plummeted, and he regretted his decision more than once.
The only thing that made him feel better—a small psychological comfort—was occasionally wandering over to Fang Rui’s stall and seeing that his profits seemed to have dropped as well.
But what in the world was happening today?
Gao Yao hurried to ask around, and it didn’t take long for him to learn about the new medicines.
"Fuck! Fuck! FUCK FUCK FUCK!"
His eyes went red with rage. "That bastard Fang! He lied to me, said he didn’t have any new formulas! What is this then?! Based on the timing of this launch, he must have already been developing them back then!"
Anger, jealousy, regret...
At that moment, a storm of emotions raged in Gao Yao’s heart.
But he was an adult, after all.
After weighing his options, he made a decision. ’I have to go back to that bastard Fang!’
In truth, the thought had crossed Gao Yao’s mind more than once these past few days. But he still had a shred of pride; he couldn’t bring himself to do it.
But now, the potential profits were enough to shatter that pride.
Never mind apologizing and admitting his mistake—if he could partner with him again, he would even get on his knees!
Making money isn’t shameful, after all.
’A good horse never returns to the pasture it left behind? Bullshit!’
Gao Yao spat on the ground, rubbed his face, and plastered on a brilliant, fawning smile. Hunching his shoulders slightly, he headed toward Fang Rui’s stall.
...
Fang Rui had expected business to be much better today with two new finished medicines, but he hadn’t expected it to be *this* good.
The two new products, Muscle Regeneration Powder and Scar Remover, were selling like hotcakes, and they even boosted sales of his two older medicines.
In less time than it takes to drink a cup of tea, every single medicine packet was sold out.
In high spirits, Fang Rui began to pack up his stall.
Just then, however, an unwelcome guest arrived.
"Lord Fang..." Gao Yao began, a fawning smile plastered on his face.
"Stop right there."
Fang Rui’s brow furrowed as he cut him off. "I know what you’re going to say. Save it. Leave yourself some dignity."
With that, he immediately turned and left without a moment’s hesitation.
’As for this troublesome fellow, since Fang Rui was determined to make a clean break, why would he ever get involved with him again? When two people don’t see eye to eye, even half a sentence is too much. Listening to another word from this man would be a waste of time.’
He watched Fang Rui’s back disappear.
A storm of emotions—humiliation, jealousy, anger—flashed across Gao Yao’s face. In the end, they all boiled down to a single word: "FUCK!"
...
