Chapter 17: 17, Never expected

"Brother," Yan Liuyuan asked Ren Xiaosu, "did you really give free treatment this afternoon? Is this still you?"

"Don't ask, or I'll kill myself," Ren Xiaosu said with anguish and indignation.

To be honest, he was too eager to push the black medicine, and this was his greatest reliance on earning others' gratitude now. Moreover, this thing was the core of his money-making plan for the coming period.

So Ren Xiaosu could only console himself that all beginnings are hard, and great undertakings require no attention to trifles; one must be magnanimous!

Ren Xiaosu wasn't simply stingy; he clearly understood what he should do at what time—it was just that he felt heartache...

Xiao Yu Jie smiled and comforted him, "Don't worry, it will definitely succeed."

After speaking, Xiao Yu Jie went back to her own hut to sleep. Before, she couldn't sleep soundly at night, but now that she had moved in, she could sleep very soundly every day.

The next morning, the bell in the Refuge Bastion suddenly chimed, as if reminding everyone to go to the factory to work.

Ren Xiaosu went to fetch today's quota of water. He thought that after applying the black medicine, the scab should form in twelve hours, so he wasn't in a hurry to see how others in the village reacted.

When everyone knew the medicine really worked, naturally someone would come to his door.

However, what Ren Xiaosu didn't expect was that when he returned carrying the bucket, Wang Fugui was already grinning and waiting at the hut door.

"Old Wang, why did you come so early? I haven't gone out catching sparrows lately," Ren Xiaosu put the water down and spoke slowly. He glanced inside, and Yan Liuyuan, that clever rascal, was holding a bone knife warily watching Old Wang, only putting it down when he saw Ren Xiaosu return.

When Wang Fugui saw Ren Xiaosu, his eyes lit up, "Hey, Xiaosu, you're back! I ran over here early this morning to find you!"

"What for?" Ren Xiaosu felt something was wrong. What could make Old Wang so happy? He carefully scrutinized Old Wang, "You didn't drink any fake wine, did you?"

Wang Fugui's face immediately drooped, "Drink what? Alcohol is banned now, don't you know? Who dares to drink when people can't even get enough to eat?"

"I smelled something on you last time..."

Wang Fugui's face changed greatly when he heard Ren Xiaosu say this, and he quickly interrupted, "You better not talk nonsense!"

"Alright, alright, I won't say. What do you want?" Ren Xiaosu said.

"Did you treat the injury of that Iron Head at the eastern end of the village yesterday?" Wang Fugui said, squeezing his brows and eyes.

"Oh, he's called Iron Head... His head isn't even iron, why such a name?" Ren Xiaosu wondered.

"Don't interrupt me, just tell me yes or no," Wang Fugui asked.

"Yes!" Ren Xiaosu's heart had already begun to feel joy. Wang Fugui, who never came without a reason, coming to him must mean the black medicine's effect had attracted him, making him see profit—otherwise why would he be so attentive to him?

So this proved that his black medicine's market was about to open!

When Wang Fugui heard Ren Xiaosu admit it, he was overjoyed, "Then that medicine... do you have more? You can just put it here, I'll help you sell it!"

"You help me sell? No way," Ren Xiaosu shook his head, "There can't be middlemen making a profit... Besides, the village is this big, can't I sell it myself? I'm not trying to dump a hundred or so Refuge Bastions. Even if I really had such a big business, you couldn't handle it."

Wang Fugui was also taken aback. Yes, the village was this big—why would Ren Xiaosu let him act as a middleman?

However, Wang Fugui said again, "Then sell me some too."

"Huh?" Ren Xiaosu looked at Wang Fugui, "You don't have any wounds either, why do you want this stuff?"

Wang Fugui chuckled mysteriously, "You don't even know about this? After Iron Head went home yesterday, he felt more and more uneasy. He wanted to know what exactly you applied on him, so he sniffed it first, but couldn't tell. Later, he just licked it gently to taste what kind of medicine it was, and guess what happened?"

Ren Xiaosu was confused—this was such a habit, licking to taste...

The effect of the black medicine didn't need to be mentioned; Iron Head observed his wound that evening and knew Ren Xiaosu hadn't lied to him—it was indeed a good medicine. Curiosity got the better of him, and he wanted to know what herbs made up this prescription.

Wang Fugui continued, "As a result, he messed with his wife until this morning! Your medicine is too powerful!"

Ren Xiaosu was shocked at that moment!

Yan Liuyuan inside the hut was also shocked at that moment!

Before, Ren Xiaosu had wondered whether the black medicine could be taken internally—would it have any effect if taken internally? He thought it might be possible, but he hadn't dared to try it himself.

However, now he discovered that internal use actually had this kind of effect?! What kind of medicine was this that could mess someone up until morning...

Ren Xiaosu felt a bit helpless, "Then why are you buying this medicine?"

He asked this for a reason because he knew Wang Fugui's wife had died from illness a few years ago, so he wouldn't need this medicine.

Wang Fugui wasn't happy, "Who can't have a second spring? It's just that my body can't take it anymore..."

"Oh? Found someone new?" Ren Xiaosu laughed.

"Not yet," Old Wang said, "but I think, no one can marry a useless man, so I want to keep your medicine."

Ren Xiaosu laughed, "Alright, Wang Fugui, old age brings renewed vigor! What kind of wife do you want?"

Wang Fugui said modestly, "Anyone who can put up with me."

Ren Xiaosu pondered, "...your standards aren't low, are they?"

Wang Fugui: "???"

"Who are you talking about," Wang Fugui said with a black face, "I'm one of the richest men in our village, why can't others put up with me?"

"Ah," Ren Xiaosu sighed a little sadly, "One of the richest men in our village is just a grocery store owner, sounds a bit vulgar..."

"Who's making a living here, stop talking, are you selling or not!"

"Selling!" Ren Xiaosu thought for a moment and said, "For friends, 600!"

"Why don't you go rob someone!" Wang Fugui panicked.

Ren Xiaosu still had enough black medicine left for one more treatment, but if what Old Wang said was true—that licking it once would work—then the remaining amount could be licked several times...

However, the internal effect wasn't essential, so he couldn't sell it too outrageously.

"Are you buying or not?" Ren Xiaosu glanced at Wang Fugui.

"Buying!" Wang Fugui said and immediately paid six hundred yuan without bargaining!

Ren Xiaosu never expected his black medicine to open the market like this...

He also never expected that he originally planned to practice medicine "to heal the world," but ended up becoming a supplier of adult products...

Wang Fugui suddenly turned back and said to Ren Xiaosu, "Thanks for this!"

"Thanks from Wang Fugui, +1!"

Ren Xiaosu: "..."

The number of thanks coins had finally returned to four, although the way he obtained them was a bit different from what Ren Xiaosu had imagined.