Chapter 77: Chapter 63: Blade Nurturing Art! Accumulating Blade Qi!_3
Su Changkong had not expected to encounter Dr. Huashan here again today.
“Don’t make it hard for us! Please leave!”
The disciples of Ginseng Manor showed a mix of helplessness and impatience as they urged the two to leave.
“These people don’t have a bit of compassion…” the handsome young man said disappointedly.
“What’s going on?” Su Changkong couldn’t help but step forward and ask when he saw this.
If it had been anyone else, Su Changkong certainly wouldn’t have bothered, but since Dr. Huashan had been kind to him, Su Changkong intervened with a question.
Several gazes turned toward Su Changkong at once, both Dr. Huashan and the handsome young man a bit puzzled as to who this man in black was.
“Mr. Wen!” The other disciples of Ginseng Manor naturally recognized Mr. Wentai as an honored guest of Ginseng Manor and saluted him respectfully.
One of the disciples of Ginseng Manor explained, “Dr. Huashan came to Ginseng Manor to purchase medicine. We hold him in high regard at Ginseng Manor, and we’ve already given him the biggest discount possible, selling to him at cost price, not making a profit, even taking a loss… but he’s come for the fifth time… We can’t do a losing business every day!”
Upon hearing this, Dr. Huashan blushed with embarrassment.
The handsome young man spoke up indignantly, “My master is trying to save the common people who have been infected with the epidemic. He needs those medicinal materials, not for his own sake! Otherwise, why would he lower his pride before you?”
When Su Changkong heard this, he roughly understood what had happened.
About half a year ago, an epidemic broke out around Clearwater City due to the covert instigations of the Black Lotus Sect, and many infected people died. Dr. Huashan, who was traveling outside at the time, heeded the news of Clearwater City and resolutely returned. He personally began producing medicine to treat the sick.
Although Dr. Huashan did charge for his services, many of the infected were poor commoners, so Dr. Huashan often didn’t charge them or only asked for a small fee. However, the cost of the medicinal materials was still there, and the money Dr. Huashan earned was not enough to cover his expenses.
Left with no choice, Dr. Huashan had come to Ginseng Manor several times to purchase ingredients. Ginseng Manor respected his character and gave him a discount, but that was manageable once or twice. However, after numerous visits, it became unsustainable for Ginseng Manor to lose money.
Since Ginseng Manor was not a charity and still needed to cover the cost of the medicine, they naturally refused, leading to the current situation.
After a moment of reflection, Su Changkong said, “Does Ginseng Manor still have the medicine Dr. Huashan needs?”
“We do,” a disciple of Ginseng Manor answered.
“Then bring out all your inventory, I’ll pay for it,”
Su Changkong declared.
Su Changkong didn’t like being indebted to anyone. Dr. Huashan had taught him the Five Animal Frolics without expecting anything in return.
Encountering Dr. Huashan financially strapped today, he decided to generously open his wallet. Spending some money to repay the debt of Dr. Huashan’s teaching was well worth it!
The disciple of Ginseng Manor hesitated before saying, “This… The price is not cheap, even at cost price, it would be two thousand taels of silver.”
“You don’t think I can afford it? Hurry up!” Su Changkong said with an assertive lift of his eyebrow, commanding authority without anger.
“Yes… yes!” The disciple of Ginseng Manor, feeling an inexplicable heavy pressure, didn’t dare to delay and repeatedly nodded his head, gesturing to the other disciples to get the medicine.
“Good sir, what goes around comes around. Heaven will surely bless you!” Dr. Huashan had not expected this stranger in black to be so generous as to pay out of his own pocket for his medicine, buying up all of Ginseng Manor’s inventory. With these medicinal materials, he would surely be able to save many lives. He kept thanking Su Changkong profusely.
“It’s nothing,” was Su Changkong’s only nonchalant reply.
Dr. Huashan had once spent a few days with Su Changkong, not recognizing that Su Changkong, now disguised as “Mr. Wentai,” had changed his appearance.
Even if he had looked the same as before, several years had gone by, and Su Changkong’s once slightly frail appearance had completely changed. Dr. Huashan probably wouldn’t have recognized him.
The handsome young man at Dr. Huashan’s side was also exceedingly surprised, “Is there really such a person in the world who would spend so much money to do good?”
The handsome young man was Dr. Huashan’s disciple taken in a few years ago. He had been learning medicine and traveling with Dr. Huashan, and he had seen too many people who were verbally grateful for their treatment but when it came to paying, they would become evasive and unwilling to give even a copper coin for actual support.
For someone like Su Changkong, who didn’t ask many questions and paid a huge sum straightaway, it seemed like an immense act of kindness!
Of course, neither Dr. Huashan nor the handsome young man knew that Su Changkong was not what one would call a great benefactor; he was willing to pay only because he had once received kindness from Dr. Huashan. To repay debts and to show gratitude was all there was to it.
During the wait, Ginseng Manor packed up all the medicinal materials Dr. Huashan needed, clearing out their inventory with a basket full and an entire pushcart.
Su Changkong didn’t make it difficult for Ginseng Manor and took out a silver note of two thousand taels from his bosom to pay Ginseng Manor.
“Mr. Wen, on behalf of all the patients who will be saved by this, I thank you!”
Dr. Huashan, filled with intense excitement and gratitude, bowed deeply to thank Su Changkong, and the handsome young man also followed suit respectfully.
“Hmm, I have other matters to attend to, so I will be leaving now.”
Su Changkong nodded and then, without delay, set off on his way.
“There are still more good people in the world! Let’s go as well!”
Watching Su Changkong’s disappearing figure, Dr. Huashan sighed.
“Who exactly is this Mr. Wen? Is he the son of some great family?” The handsome young man nodded while his curiosity about the man’s identity grew; even the sons of rich families were not likely to casually hand over two thousand taels of silver to a stranger!