Chapter 75

His words were meant to be caring, so why did they come off so harsh? Huo Jilin set the red silk ribbon in his hand and snorted lightly: "In your eyes, am I really that useless? The old me... you never met him. He might not be as good as I am now."

What was he even going on about?

Chen Jue didn't bother bickering with him. Once he confirmed Huo Jilin was fine, he dropped it and waited for the whole-pig feast. It was his first time, and the spread looked lively.

The whole village dug into a lively pork feast, and everyone came away re-energized.

The mud bricks destroyed at the workshop two days ago were remade, taking a full day to rebuild.

While the bricks dried, everyone kept digging the other trenches and setting fires one patch at a time. This time, they lit them at night to spook any boars out for payback.

They burned every other day, and once all thirty-plus acres were torched, there was no sign of boars left.

Even with the boars causing trouble, the workshop was still finished on Huo Jilin's schedule.

The building went up exactly as Huo Jilin specified—a wide entrance, plus big windows on all four sides, with paper pasted on both layers.

The wide entrance made hauling herbs easy, but the windows on all four sides? Nobody got it.

Luckily, Huo Jilin's earlier words still carried weight. Puzzled but obedient, everyone built it to his specs.

With autumn and winter sun in full supply, the building dried in two days—then came the main event.

Lime-plastering the walls.

The village's seasoned older men were baffled—they'd never plastered with this stuff. They only knew it kept out damp and bugs, and they usually worked with dry quicklime.

Huo Jilin set up a cauldron in the workshop yard, got water boiling, and told everyone to back off. He kept just a few quick, tight-lipped workers to pour the boiling water into the lime pit. Once the lime bubbled and softened from the heat, they stirred it with long poles into workable slaked lime. After it cooled fully, they mixed in glutinous rice water and got to plastering.

The only one with experience was Uncle Li, who'd spent years building houses for town families. He'd seen it done in town, but they mixed in straw bits and yellow mud—never pure white with pure glutinous rice. This was downright extravagant.

Though Uncle Li winced at the waste, he followed Huo Lin's instructions, spreading the white paste even and smooth.

Once he got the hang of it, he taught his son to plaster.

When the walls came out stark white, Uncle Li felt a little uneasy and asked Huo Jilin hesitantly, "Is this right?"

Huo Jilin confirmed, "Yeah, just like that."

Uncle Li couldn't help asking, "Every room in this clinic is like this? Isn't all this white bad luck?"

Huo Jilin gave a faint smile. "Uncle Li, this pure white look might catch on someday."

Slaked lime had been in skilled use since the Song Dynasty. This fictional dynasty was Song-like, and sooner or later, white walls and black tiles would come into fashion.

The classic Huizhou-style buildings had survived into the modern era.

Seeing Huo Jilin was pleased, Uncle Li dropped it and promised to bring a few skilled hands the next day to whitewash the rest of the rooms.

Once every room was plastered, the windows, doors, tables, and chairs Zhou Dajiang had built were all in place.

The simple pharmacy tools Huo Jilin had forged at the blacksmith's were also all installed.

Zhou Dajiang had even carved the sign himself: "Chen's Pharmaceutical."

A big red silk ribbon hung from it, made by Zhang Yan.

Huo Jilin picked an auspicious day and invited Old Doctor Tang from Jishi Hall and Shopkeeper Li over.

He didn't invite Magistrate Liu—not yet. Only real results would count as Magistrate Liu's political achievement. When that day came, Magistrate Liu would show up on his own.

Old Doctor Tang gave the whole workshop a critical once-over. His bones, nearly rattled loose by the carriage ride, finally settled after the walk.

He never expected this poor mountain village—the one that had nearly rattled his old bones apart—to have a building like this. It looked like it had dropped straight from the sky. Stumble in here at night, and you'd think you'd walked into a fox spirit's mirage.

Harsh as his metaphor was, Old Doctor Tang was plenty satisfied inside. This level of cleanliness met his standards.

Folks didn't care about cleanliness, but a lot of sickness came from dirty conditions.

Old Doctor Tang always told patients to wash their hands and avoid unclean food, but what could he do? When people couldn't even fill their bellies, how could they worry about things like that?

This Huo Jilin really had some chops—not only did he build the workshop fast, but it beat his expectations.

The medicine he'd made earlier had already cured his pharmacy apprentice, and the effects were solid.

So the Chen's Medicine Workshop officially opened on the fifteenth of the ninth month.

The dark brown sign with its red silk ribbon looked surprisingly beautiful against the blue sky.

"Light the firecrackers!" Chen's father had brought them himself.

They crackled and popped out front of the brand-new workshop.

Curious villagers packed the usually empty spot, and kids scrambled for the scattered candies, thinking it was someone's wedding.

"Who's tying the knot?"

"It's the opening of Chen's Pharmaceutical," Chen's father said, stroking his beard.

He'd brought the whole family. This was actually Chen Jue's second time setting foot in this backwater.

Still poor as ever, but the sign his son-in-law carved was a nice touch.

Chen Jue's three older brothers were a bit taken aback by the workshop. They hadn't figured this brother-in-law would actually pull it off. Well, they wished them luck—their father had bet all his herbs on this.

Chen's mother stuck close to Chen Jue. Another half month had gone by, and his belly was clearly bigger. Yet Chen Jue still walked fast, and she kept wanting to steady him.

"You're due in a month, and now you're busy with this workshop. You've got to be careful."

Chen Jue hummed in reply. "I know, don't worry."

Chen's mother shook her head. "How can I not worry? I figured you'd wait until after the baby came, but who knew you'd move this fast!"

This son-in-law was usually quiet, but once he set his mind to something, he just did it—and in half a month, no less.

Chen's mother was relieved and worried at once, especially when she heard the old doctor say Chen Jue would oversee the whole medicine-making process. That only made her worry more.

How exhausting would that be?

"When's the first batch of medicine ready?" Old Doctor Tang pressed.

Chen Jue said, "We start this afternoon, and the first batch will be done in five days."

Shopkeeper Li asked with concern, "So how many packets can you produce the first time? And how many in a month?"

Chen Jue showed them around the medicines he had prepared: "I've stocked about a month's worth of herbs, roughly 1,500 packets, but since we're just starting, packaging may be slower, so we'll start with 1,000 packets."

Huo Jilin added, "Once we're familiar with the whole process, we can reach 1,500 to 2,000 packets a month."

Shopkeeper Li did a quick calculation and nodded, "Alright, at the start, let's focus on quality first. So, in five days, I'll come by to pick up the first batch?"

Huo Jilin smiled. "Sure thing."

Shopkeeper Li then chuckled, "I heard from the village head you're partnering with the county's medical shed? Supplying them with medicines too?"

Although Huo Jilin hadn't been required to make Jishi Hall the sole pharmacy, he had made one request: that they hang the sign "Chen's Pharmaceutical" at Jishi Hall. He'd assumed that meant exclusivity.

Huo Jilin glanced at him, a faint smile on his face. "Shopkeeper Li, you're well informed. But as you know, my pharmacy has to be registered at the county office. When Magistrate Liu heard about my medicine-making, he asked me to look after the wounded at the medical shed too. Those are my old comrades-in-arms; I couldn't say no. They were hurt defending our homeland."

He paused and told Shopkeeper Li, "Other than the military patients, it's only your Jishi Hall, Shopkeeper Li. I'm sure Jishi Hall will understand my decision."

Old Doctor Tang didn't overthink it. He said generously, "Our original goal is to give folks easy ways to treat their illnesses. The patients at the medical shed need these meds even more, so they should naturally get priority."

Huo Jilin gave a slight shake of his head and said, "Old Doctor Tang, these can go hand in hand. Jishi Hall serves the people, and the military serves the soldiers who protect our country. They can coexist."

Huo Jilin glanced at Chen Jue and smiled, "A physician once told me that all people are equal in the face of life. I think that applies here too."

Chen Jue hadn't expected Huo Jilin to one day use his words as backup. How had he put it back then?

He seemed to have forgotten. Chen Jue touched his belly—pregnancy brain was clearly getting to him.

Luckily, he'd already written down all the formulas for these finished meds.

Old Doctor Tang heard Huo Jilin's words and said, "Oh, that physician had a unique idea, and a righteous one too."

It was more than righteous—anyone else might call it treason.

Because this was an era of imperial rule, where a subject had to die if the sovereign commanded it, let alone talk of equality for all.

Shopkeeper Li thought to himself that their Old Doctor Tang had spent his whole life studying medicine and didn't understand a thing about the ways of the world.

How could there ever be equality for everyone in this world?

The emperor had so many imperial physicians tending to him, while common folks couldn't even afford one dose of cold medicine.

But he also understood what Huo Jilin was getting at. Huo Jilin was telling him: the military is the support, Jishi Hall is the front line. It wasn't enough for Jishi Hall to just hang the "Chen's Pharmaceutical" sign; they also needed the county office to cover their backs.

Both had to coexist; you couldn't have one without the other.

This Huo Jilin was sharp.

Shopkeeper Li clasped his hands in a salute to Huo Jilin and said, "Boss Huo, you've covered all the bases. I'll head back and report today's events to our boss in full..."

Huo Jilin returned the gesture. "Much obliged, Shopkeeper Li."

The two exchanged pleasantries, while Old Doctor Tang was already deep in discussion with Chen Jue about the cold medicine formula. Indeed, when physicians meet, they always end up talking about formulas.

"This batch treats colds. The medicine works best in the first three days, stopping the chill before it turns into fever or cough. This medicine targets regular colds from colder weather. For the next batch," Chen Jue glanced at the withering leaves on the hillside, "the next batch will have a stronger formula, adding fritillaria to boost the cough-suppressing properties."

When the cold wave hit, the colds would get worse, and the formula would need to be strengthened accordingly.

Old Doctor Tang stroked his beard and looked at him—that was exactly what he'd been about to say, but Chen Jue was already on it.

This young man not only knew how to formulate medicines but also thought of every possibility. He wasn't just clever—he was highly skilled in medicine too. From his calm words, you could tell these formulas came to him effortlessly.

Who had taught him?

Old Doctor Tang's curiosity was piqued, but if the young man didn't offer it up, he wouldn't ask.

There was one question he could ask, though. Old Doctor Tang suddenly blurted out, "That physician who said that—it was you, wasn't it? The line about all people being equal when it comes to life?"

Chen Jue raised an eyebrow in surprise, and Old Doctor Tang just chuckled, "That's the feeling you give me."

That near-treasonous statement could only have come from this nineteen-year-old before him.

Brilliant and unruly—he had felt the same way in his youth. He had been a wandering physician for many years, traveling to practice medicine.

Chen Jue nodded, admitting it was his words, but added, "And in the face of death, all people are equal too."

When it's time to die, even the gods can't save you. A person's fate is fixed.

That was something Chen Jue had recently come to understand.

Old Doctor Tang stroked his beard and laughed heartily, "You're an interesting young man, and you suit this old man's temperament. If you don't mind, I'd like to be your friend across generations. We can discuss medicine together anytime."

Shopkeeper Li and Huo Jilin exchanged glances and quickly caught up with the two. Good heavens, in just a moment, these two, who could be grandfather and grandson, had become cross-generational friends.

And Chen Jue had already agreed, "Alright, Brother Tang."

Old Doctor Tang replied cheerfully, "Little Brother Chen."

Shopkeeper Li: "..."

Well, this trip wasn't wasted after all—he'd gained a younger brother.

Old Doctor Tang and Shopkeeper Li conducted a strict inspection of their herbs and finally left with peace of mind.

After seeing off Shopkeeper Li and Old Doctor Tang, Huo Jilin and Chen Jue finally greeted their prospective father-in-law, mother-in-law, and three brothers-in-law.

Village Head Zhou was also there. Today, he had graciously said a few words for the opening of Chen's Pharmaceutical, so for the midday meal, Chen Jue specifically asked Uncle Liu and Aunt Zhang to help prepare a feast, inviting the supervisors who had helped over the past days.

Once the first batch of finished medicines sold, Huo Jilin promised to treat all those who had helped to a proper meal.

Zhao Chun and the others laughed, "The wild boar feast last time was already good enough. We'll have another one at New Year's!"

"Our days will only get better," Huo Jilin said simply.

Though he had almost no silver left in his pocket now, that didn't stop him from looking to the future and making firm promises.

Everything Huo Jilin set out to do, he did to the best of his ability, so after the pharmacy was built, he and Chen Jue had nearly spent all their money.

Fortunately, Chen Jue's father had fronted the cost of the herbs, and they would pay him back after the first batch of medicines sold.

Village Head Zhou exchanged pleasantries with Chen Jue's father, praising Pingshan Village, only for Chen Jue's father to say it was only a third as good as Chen Family Village. Village Head Zhou barely managed to keep his temper and didn't snap—he'd finally met someone just as shameless as himself.

The two didn't enjoy the meal, but since they were at Huo Jilin's place, they couldn't afford to clash. When they took their leave, both threw out threats: just wait and see.

"In the future, Pingshan Village will become the wealthiest village under the capital prefecture."

Village Head Zhou declared.

Father Chen stroked his beard: "Right now, our Chen Family Village is already the wealthiest village, and in a few more years, it'll still be number one."

Auntie Zhang and Mother Chen shot each other a look, both shaking their heads helplessly, exchanging apologetic smiles.

Neither of them was the type to let things slide, which is why one meal could get them this worked up.

After seeing off Father Chen and Mother Chen and cleaning up, it was already getting dark. Huo Jilin and Chen Jue strolled slowly along the path, walking off their dinner.

Now that Chen Jue couldn't spend his days up in the mountains anymore, he'd added this nightly walk before bed, and Huo Jilin accompanied him. They'd helped fix up this path while building the house—there weren't enough stones, so they'd laid them in a stepping-stone pattern so the road wouldn't turn to mud when it rained.

So Huo Jilin supported him as they walked, and Chen Jue didn't refuse. This far along in his pregnancy, a fall would be serious.

The two of them walked so close that even the evening breeze felt softer than usual.

"Once we start making money, I'll repave this road properly, so it's easier for you to walk on and for hauling stuff," Huo Jilin said with a smile.

Chen Jue nodded in agreement—to get rich, you gotta build roads first.

The village roads weren't narrow, but they were all winding dirt paths, and once it rained, they were impassable. Carts had it even worse.

As they neared the medicine workshop, Huo Jilin pointed to their thirty acres of land ahead and asked him, "How's it feel? Pretty big territory, huh?"

Chen Jue gave a smile too: "Not bad—one step closer to ruling the world."

Huo Jilin let out a laugh: "You can only say that around me—don't ever say it out loud. Otherwise, the three of us will lose our heads."

If the wrong person heard that, we'd be accused of treason.

Chen Jue hummed in acknowledgment—he wouldn't have said it to anyone else.

So, since when had he become so free to say whatever he wanted in front of Huo Jilin?

Was it because Huo Jilin had told him last time that in front of him, he didn't need to hold back—say whatever he wanted, do whatever he wanted, and he could trust him completely...?

In his ear came Huo Jilin's bold declaration: "Today is a day worth remembering—the founding day of Chen's Pharmaceutical. This place will also be etched into the history of Chen's Pharmaceutical, because this is where it all began."

The corner of Chen Jue's mouth twitched, but he turned his head and smiled anyway.

Huo Jilin's words were three parts mild mockery, seven parts affirmation.

Three parts real, seven parts put-on—because Huachen Pharmaceutical was several times larger than these thirty acres, so he wouldn't really make such a fuss, let alone keep saying "Chen's Pharmaceutical" over and over. He was saying it deliberately for Chen Jue's benefit.

Chen Jue looked at the signboard in the darkness, feeling a warmth in his heart. He wanted to watch this humble Chen's Pharmaceutical in the wilderness grow and expand until the day it became Huachen Pharmaceutical.

Otherwise, this world was so barren—he didn't know how long he'd have to stay here, and when there was nothing to look forward to, the days felt too empty.

"Come on, let's walk a lap around the workshop—that should be enough exercise, right? Tired?" Huo Jilin supported Chen Jue's arm with one hand and reached the other toward his waist, wanting to help support him with that big belly, but Chen Jue slapped his hand away. Huo Jilin didn't insist, just steadying his back instead.

Chen Jue was quite protective of his belly.

Huo Jilin couldn't quite say what he was feeling, but he no longer felt so resistant toward the child.

A child Chen Jue would bear for him—would it look like Chen Jue?

He would come to love it too, wouldn't he?