Chapter 788: A Real Man Should Read Books

Aaron never hesitated to speculate about others from the worst possible angle.

Do not assume villagers are simple and honest; eating the assets of a family with no heirs, road bullies and mountain bandits, armed fights over water, kicking down a widow's door... these are also things that frequently happen in the countryside.

If the first person to eat the crab isn't dealt with, the Post-Heaven jujube tree will be plucked bald!

Since a test subject has rarely come along this time, he is not one to decline the favor.

When Sangouzi ate the jujube, he had already secretly utilized 'Alchemy' to channel the spirituality of 'Red' into one of the jujubes.

Well, of the whole tree of jujubes, only the one You Ershenzi took was actually useful; the rest were just ordinary fruit.

However, the one Sangouzi ate was different.

Aaron was too lazy to farm those few mu of thin fields, but letting them lie fallow was not good either; it was rare to encounter a laborer.

Aaron also spoke openly: "If my jujubes encounter a terminal illness, they can at most allow one to be slightly relieved and replenish some Essence Qi..."

Provincial Graduate Gu was not in good health and had been seeing doctors and taking medicine.

"This... Sangouzi is usually not like this."

Sangouzi wailed repeatedly: "It hurts so much... save me, save me..."

The two engaged in a vague, roundabout tug-of-war, and in the end, Gu Yue could not hold his composure, suddenly showing a sorrowful expression: "Sigh... my old father is now bedridden, and the doctors in the city cannot treat him. As his son, my heart is truly cut to pieces, and I wish I could take his place... Originally, meeting you for the first time today, I really shouldn't have made such a rash request, but I still shamelessly ask you to go and diagnose my father..."

The farmers discussed it heatedly, exchanging glances with one another.

Sangouzi gritted his teeth and lifted the cloth covering his head; the onlookers were immediately startled.

"Sangouzi has had sticky fingers since he was a child, and he grew up stealing chickens and dogs... I'm not surprised at all that he stole jujubes, but why did he change his nature and come back to return them?"

The two chatted for a while longer, leaving the bystander Fan Tong stunned.

Otherwise, the ones suffering would have been them.

Aaron chuckled, ignored what was happening outside, and went back to sleep.

Sangouzi wailed incessantly, and looking at his face, it truly made the listener sad and the viewer weep.

Of course, this also carried a sense of mysticism within it.

Aaron, however, ignored it all and directly used him as a negative example to shock the village.

'This Fang La... is indeed different from before.'

Aaron shook his head and said to Sangouzi: "You took thirty-seven of my jujubes, so I must punish you... I will sentence you to farm for my family for thirty-seven days. When you have finished that, I will treat you again."

Aaron waited until the people had mostly arrived before opening the door and stretching: "Who are you?"

Fan Tong also had the intention to befriend him, and the two hit it off immediately, heading toward the Fang Family.

Yet he did not expect that Aaron had a completely modern corporate mindset.

A servant stepped forward to ask if he should present a name card first.

"Looking at the clothes, it seems to be Sangouzi!"

Sangouzi had a cloth wrapped around his head and was holding fire-red jujubes in his hands; he arrived at Aaron's door and, without saying much, simply knelt and kowtowed.

At this moment, at the entrance of the village, a group of people also slowly approached.

He gave a light flick, and the Talisman Paper ignited without wind, drawing another round of gasps from the surrounding crowd; the old master Gu Yue's eyes lit up even more.

In this day and age, the official has two mouths; they really can say whatever they want.

"What illness? Let me see..."

Aaron said deliberately.

As he spoke, he personally picked a red jujube and handed it to Gu Yue.

Gu Yue looked closely and felt that this jujube was large and plump, its body as red as fire, and he could not help but be overjoyed: "I have heard that this jujube can cure all diseases..."

The surrounding farmers saw there was no more excitement and gradually dispersed, highlighting Gu Yue's group.

"Hehe..."

Gu Yue excitedly explained the matter.

Gu Yue looked around and, feeling it was unbearably poor, could not help but click his tongue in wonder.

Yet he did not expect that a sneer would appear on Provincial Graduate Gu's face: "Foolish child!"

"It's just a rumor among the villagers... I only know a little bit about Medicine..." Aaron waved his hand and also saw Fan Tong, but he did not take it to heart.

"Exactly, exactly, who did this?"

"You were deceived and didn't even know it; it really makes me wonder how I can rest easy handing this family business over to you..." Provincial Graduate Gu shook his head: "Without reading, one cannot understand wisdom, but after all, you are only a Cultivated Talent, not a Juren... When I passed the Civil Service Examination back then, I went to the prefectural school library that only Juren were allowed to view, and only then did I know that although there are legends of ghosts, gods, and immortality in the world, none of them compare to the Civil Service Examination and the Imperial Court!"

"Brother Fang, I am Sangouzi. I shouldn't have been possessed by a ghost and stolen your jujubes. Please, treat me..."

It was clearly a display of power, but his Qi Points actually skyrocketed, reaching about 50 points—more than the amount he got from playing god and making the jujube tree mature yesterday!

'It is very clear that this represents that most people only remember the beating, not the eating...'

Gu Yue rolled his eyes in his heart, but he also knew that since this Fang La did not have a Monk Certificate, admitting to knowing magic rashly might result in him being branded as a sorcerer, so his caution was understandable.

A circle of people surrounded the Fang Family's door, pointing at the jujube tree that had been plucked halfway: "Was this stolen?"

This time, hearing some rumors, he was curious and came here, just happening to run into Fan Tong.

A few were already preparing to go over and get their hands on it.

'I saw with my own eyes just now that you used Talisman Water to treat the illness, not herbal medicine!'

"Brother Fang, I don't know what happened to my face, but these things grew on it, and it hurts when touched... I haven't even taken a wife yet; you must treat me..."

Without the protection of the Juren title, the Gu Family would immediately be in a precarious state, which was why Gu Yue was so anxious.

Besides, with the experience accumulated from the previous few worlds, he was the true big shot, and his demeanor came naturally.

Gu Yue stepped forward to pay his respects and looked curiously at the jujube tree: "It is rumored that the fruit of this jujube tree can cure all diseases; is it true?"

There was even a famous doctor who diagnosed that his limit was within these two years.

Gu Yue walked out of the village and returned home all the way.

"Father, you?" Gu Yue was utterly bewildered.

He immediately tapped his folding fan, and a servant behind him stepped forward at once, presenting four-colored gifts: "I have come to visit you, brother, today. It is a small token, please do not take offense."

"Fine, I'll go right now, I'll go right now!"

But scolding aside, he was his son after all, so he asked: "You have come... for what matter?"

"So it was you who stole my jujubes?"

Since the monk can touch it, why can't I, a bald man, touch it?

"Ahhh!"

In the past, Gu Yue would have teased this pretty maidservant, but he was in no mood for it now. Walking into the inner room, he saw a white-haired old man lying on the bed, having withered away to almost nothing, and his eyes reddened: "Father, your son has returned..."

From the perspective of profit maximization, developing a miracle drug that cures a person in one go simply doesn't make much money!

It should be divided into countless courses of treatment, controlling the condition while making people take it for their entire lives until they die of old age—that is the truly ideal type of medicine!

The Spirituality within the Fire Jujube is roughly the same.

Lv Yuan replied in a crisp voice.

He had traveled the whole way with this Cultivated Talent, only to feel that the other party was a man of great learning; he couldn't even answer a casual remark, and deeply felt that he was indeed destined to be a country bumpkin.

'Do you really think Red Spirituality is harmless to humans and animals?'

He had high hopes for this son, but never expected that the other would only pass the Cultivated Talent exam, and fail the Juren exam repeatedly.

He usually liked to invite a few close friends to travel through mountains and rivers, seeking out the secluded and exploring the mysterious.

"The master took the medicine and slept for a while; he has now awakened."

The Spirituality of 'Red' inherently possesses the power of flesh distortion and aberration; growing these tumors is perfectly normal.

"Oh my, that Fang family lad is truly ignorant, not even looking after this Spirit Jujube Tree well..."

Some things can only be done, not spoken of!

This Cultivated Talent was named 'Gu Yue', the son of Provincial Graduate Gu of the Gu Family. Although he had studied since childhood, he only liked reading stories about talented scholars and beautiful ladies, fox immortals, and ghosts. His academic career was difficult, and he could not continue after reaching the rank of Cultivated Talent.

Yet Fang La, also a countryman, could remain composed and maintain his poise.

At this moment, Aaron had finished disciplining Sangouzi, which also served to establish his authority, and he laughed heartily: "To take without asking is to be a thief! However, since you know your mistake and correct it, you are still worth saving..."

Thinking back to how the other party was mediocre before and became vastly different after a trip to the deep mountains, perhaps there really were immortals in the deep mountains?

After chatting for a few sentences, Gu Yue even had the illusion that he had met a government education official and was being examined himself.

"Historical records state... there was a Daoist in the previous dynasty who claimed to have attained the status of a Ghost Immortal. He was skilled in transformation and could turn stones into gold, but in the end, the county magistrate sent a squad of soldiers to wipe him out, razed his Daoist temple, and the man himself was sliced to death after being soaked in a cesspit... Even if there are Daoists with True Cultivation, at most their Physiognomy or geomancy skills are worth mentioning, or they refine some medicine to refresh the spirit and provide stimulation, still having to cling to the powerful and wealthy to survive!"

'Compared to bestowing favors, violence and fear are more effective at making them obey...'

"Drink it. Although it cannot cure the illness instantly, it can alleviate your pain."

Aaron handed the water to Sangouzi, and Sangouzi drank it hurriedly.

"The so-called cultivation to become an immortal and the pill for immortality are all illusory things! In fact, quite a few people have died from taking Daoist Golden Cores..."

"Hmph, running off again to travel through mountains and rivers with fox friends and dog companions?" Provincial Graduate Gu snorted coldly.

Gu Yue's expression was serious. He arrived at the main room, and as soon as he entered the courtyard, he smelled a thick scent of medicinal herbs.

To put it bluntly, the Gu Family's calling cards were more effective in these ten miles and eight villages than the official documents of the yamen!

"Wait a moment, let's see what happens."

Gu Yue immediately felt the urge to seek out an immortal, but since the immortal's Disciple was right before his eyes, he could only put the plan aside for now.

To possess such a Strange Art yet remain content with this, he is indeed an extraordinary person.

Gu Yue's face was filled with disappointment, and he rose dejectedly to take his leave.

Just as he was about to leave, Aaron spoke again: "Reciprocity is the essence of human sentiment... Mr. Gu gave me a gift, and though I have nothing of value, I will give you a jujube."

The next day.

Sangouzi said nothing more, just kowtowing incessantly.

Better to arrive at the right time than to arrive early; he just happened to see this lively scene!

"Hiss... is this still a human?"

Behind him followed several servants and laborers.

Fortunately, he did not continue to act against Fang La, otherwise, this poisonous curse of growing tumors and sores would likely have fallen upon himself and his family!

"Young Master..."

One of them was dressed as a scholar, in a green robe with a square cap, appearing to hold the rank of Cultivated Talent. He had a short beard on his lips and was clean-shaven, the image of a handsome man most beloved by women today.

This could be left for future, continuous harvesting!

Aaron accepted the gift, invited Gu Yue into the room, and served a bowl of plain water: "My humble home is simple; I can only treat guests with clear water."

"Hehe... you are joking; where in the world is there a Spirit Pill that can cure all diseases?"

It could be seen that on Sangouzi's already ugly face, one tumor after another was now growing, each the size of a grape, almost covering his cheeks entirely.

Strangely enough, after drinking the Talisman Water, that pain immediately subsided significantly, and even the tumors on his face seemed to have shrunk by a circle.

Sangouzi stood up and smiled fawningly again: "Brother Fang, Master Fang... please be kind and give me another bowl of water..."

He looked at his Qi Points, and a weird scene occurred.

The ancients all valued the benevolence of a physician, hoping that a single dose would cure a chronic illness instantly.

Aaron watched this scene, unable to help but sigh in his heart.

The surrounding farmers and their wives were whispering and discussing.

"Mr. Gu's filial piety is truly moving," Aaron thought for a moment and said, "but my Medicine is crude... it may not compare to the physicians in the city."

"Mr. Gu is being too modest, truly too modest."

Sangouzi said in a subservient tone.

Fan Tong secretly warned himself, feeling that today's actions were the right thing to do.

However, he also kept his guard up; while he had done the act of playing god and acting like a ghost, he only referred to it as Medicine.

"Good, Sangouzi, so it was you who stole the dates."

This no longer looked like a human; it looked just like a monster!

Frightened children were already crying, and were pulled away by adults who turned their faces and comforted them in low voices.

He called over a maid: "How is Father?"

Just at this moment, a sharp, miserable scream traveled all the way from the village.

Sangouzi nodded like a pestle pounding garlic and hurried home to rummage for farm tools.

"Can't recognize..."

The place where the Gu Family resided was called Gu Family Manor, where they had built a very large estate, and most of the surrounding villagers were their tenant farmers.

"Son has specially sought a fine medicine for Father!"

Fan Tong, who usually threw his weight around in the village, was now like a lackey, following behind this person with a face full of smiles: "Cultivated Talent, I did not lie; there is indeed a Strange Person in this village who can make date trees bear fruit early, and the fruit can cure a hundred illnesses!"

When encountering illnesses other than bruises and fractures, it could at most boost Essence Qi, allowing a person to hold on for a while longer.

Gu Yue closed his fan and sized up Fang La with great interest.

Seeing that this youth was about twenty years old, his features could only be considered refined, yet he had not expected that he truly possessed such a Strange Art.

Once these words were spoken, those who were preparing to steal the dates all gasped in their hearts, secretly rejoicing that Sangouzi had taken the disaster for them.

He did not know that Aaron knew nothing of the classics of this world, and the reason he was composed and carried himself with natural grace was simply because he had a plan in mind.

Gu Yue looked at Sangouzi's hideous and terrifying face and opened his folding fan, covering half of his face.

Aaron shook his head repeatedly: "These dates were originally intended by me to benefit the villagers, but when that immortal taught me, he once said that sincerity brings efficacy; with your ulterior motives, even an immortal medicine would turn into poison!"

"This person... who is he?"

At this time, walking through the door, there were sounds of flattery everywhere: "The young master has returned!"

After speaking, he went straight into the room to fetch a bowl of water and a piece of Talisman Paper.

Fan Tong also opened his mouth wide, while feeling extremely fortunate in his heart.

"Gu Yue of the Gu Family, greetings to this brother."

"Brother's home is indeed quite impoverished..."

"The most powerful force in this world is the Dragon Court!"

"It is precisely because we know the power of the system and Dragon Qi that men of our generation study hard for decades, all to seek fame!"

(End of this chapter)