Chapter 53-Part 2

At the moment, her thoughts were chaotic, and she had lost some of her logical abilities. She was irritable due to insomnia and indecisive, as if she were experiencing multiple symptoms simultaneously. She needed to calm down and think things through carefully.

—

Zhao Min only stayed on Huangsha Star for three days. During this time, he inspected the pharmacists’ drug production and, after confirming everything was fine, he took the newly made medicines back to Jupiter.

Despite feeling emotionally shattered and being bombarded with dog food, he was relieved that the news of someone unexpectedly advancing two levels helped to gloss over the fact that the auction prices were not high. Zhao Min felt quite fortunate.

He pulled himself together and resolved to execute the subsequent plans well. While three parts depend on destiny, seven parts rely on effort. He couldn’t control fate, but within his abilities, he could do things beautifully.

After being tactfully advised to leave, Zhao Min sought out Tang Xin one more time before his departure to inquire about the genetic purification agent. He wanted to ask the divine doctor if exchanging two herbs for one vial of the agent was too low. If it wasn’t worth it, he could immediately change his story, claiming it was a special opening promotion. After half a month, the promotion would end, and prices would revert to their original rates.

However, after thinking it over, Tang Xin refused, saying, “The genetic purification agent is different from other medicines. Each bottle is extremely expensive. One Starry grass is enough to make two doses, but the genetic purification agent has a failure rate of about forty percent. That means ten Starry grasses can produce eleven or twelve doses.

“Exchanging two Starry grass for one dose ensures we make a profit, and with good luck, even more. It’s enough. Anyway, the other ingredients for the genetic purification agent are common, with only the Starry grass being expensive.

“Starry grasses are hard to find, and not many people can get even one. Unless it’s a big family like the Yun family, others wouldn’t have the chance to trade if we raised the price. The current rate is good, guaranteeing profit and attracting many transactions, helping to establish the shop’s reputation.”

Since the divine doctor agreed, Zhao Min followed suit. The price list remained unchanged, and they continued to exchange at the current rate. At the same time, he had a friendly discussion with the local military, hiring two level-six fighters as his long-term private bodyguards.

Zhao Min understood that what he needed wasn’t just two level-sixes but their military affiliation. When these two stood behind him in military uniforms, anyone with bad intentions would think twice. For this, he needed to provide one vial of the genetic purification agent to the military annually and offer them an eighty percent discount.

Leaving the military building, Zhao Min winced, feeling the pain in his heart. Each vial of the agent was incredibly valuable, and the twenty percent discount he gave away could have hired him a dozen level-six bodyguards.

But business wasn’t calculated that way. The military agreeing to provide protection actually meant they were willing to shield the Tangmen. The more the genetic purification agent was hyped, the more pressure the military faced from all sides. Without the annual provision of the agent and the price discount, the military might have hesitated for a long time.

Nonetheless, he had successfully secured the military’s protection. With these two by his side, he could confidently visit his shop without worrying about being ambushed.

—

At the shop, an employee approached Zhao Min and whispered, “Boss, someone has been waiting for you in the VIP room for a few days.”

Zhao Min felt a headache coming on.

“Is it those people looking for the genetic purification agent? I just met some outside and told them I wasn’t here.”

If those people hadn’t seen the two military guards behind him, they would have swarmed him, trying to make connections. Now, they just exchanged a few pleasantries.

The employee shook his head vigorously, looking complicated. “He didn’t ask about the genetic purification agent. When questioned, he said he was also here for medicine and wanted to meet our chief pharmacist.”

“What’s his background?”

“Don’t know…” The employee scratched his head, helpless.

“When told the boss was on a business trip to another planet, he said he’d wait in the VIP room. He’s been here for three days now.”

Unable to get more information, Zhao Min stroked his chin and decided to investigate personally.

“Is he still in the VIP room?”

The employee nodded quickly.

“Yes. He usually arrives right when we open in the morning and leaves when we close at night. He’s quiet and just waits in the VIP room.”

Described as a peculiar guy, Zhao Min waved the employee away and headed to the VIP room with his two bodyguards. As he entered and saw the person inside, his eyebrows raised, “Mr. Ma? What a surprise.”

The visitor was Ma Ruiming.

Zhao Min had the two bodyguards wait outside and close the door for privacy. He knew Ma Ruiming, having been to the Ma family pharmacy several times, always received by Ma Ruiming. Zhao Min had found it strange that when he caused trouble at the Ma family pharmacy, it was Ma Ruian in charge, not Ma Ruiming.

Ma Ruiming no longer had his usual haughty demeanor. Though he looked clean and tidy, there was a hint of dejection about him. He smiled bitterly, “Boss Zhao, please don’t tease me. I’m just a broken man now.”

“What happened?” Zhao Min’s eyes flashed with curiosity.

Ma Ruiming recounted his misfortune in detail and then cautiously asked, “I heard the chief pharmacist at the Tangmen can make a medicine that can raise a person’s genetic level by two grades. It’s amazing. Do you think it can cure me?”

If it were any other medicine, Zhao Min would have to consult the divine doctor for an answer. But he knew about the medicine for tendon and bone renewal. The divine doctor had given him the recipe, intending to sell it at the Jupiter shop, but Zhao Min had declined, thinking they didn’t have enough staff, and decided to focus on three products.

Zhao Min stroked his chin, pondering. The divine doctor’s recipe had guaranteed effects, and he trusted it completely. The only question was whether he should help Ma Ruiming or find an excuse to refuse him.