Chapter 66: The Aftermath of the Black Jade Bone-Healing Ointment

The visitors were precisely Wu Zhenghui and Wu Zhengliang, along with two others named Wu Zhengpeng and Wu Zhengnan — the Third House uncles who had been injured and left disabled during the encirclement and suppression of One Gust of Wind; all three had now fully recovered.

In fact, they had already recovered three months ago; their decades-long disabilities healed in a single morning, and the essence, qi, and spirit of the three uncles had completely returned, especially Wu Zhengliang, who once again displayed the bearing of the Third House's former head.

After recovering, Wu Zhengliang demanded secrecy within the Wu Family, while publicly claiming they had encountered a divine physician, minimizing the impact of their sudden recovery; he then immediately reclaimed some assets from the Main House and Second House, and spent this period reorganizing and managing them, busy without a moment's rest.

Adding the other two who recovered, the number of Third House members of the Zheng generation capable of handling affairs increased by nearly half at once, and the Third House's momentum finally showed signs of revival.

Wu Zhengliang did not make a grand show of thanking Wu Chengyu, merely showing more attention and care in daily life.

"What brings the four uncles to my small courtyard today? It brightens my humble abode — please, come in quickly."

"No need for you to invite me; I've always felt at ease coming here. What good things have you prepared? I didn't know you had this skill." The speaker was Wu Zhenghui.

"All you know is eating. Xiao Ershiyi, you're blaming me for coming late; Fourth Uncle, I should have visited more often to thank you long ago, haha."

"What are you saying, Fourth Uncle? Seeing your current bearing, Xiao Ershiyi couldn't be happier. I know you've been so busy lately you couldn't even return to Wu Family Slope. Between us uncle and nephew there's no need for formalities; besides, didn't you have Chengzhu Brother send me quite a few good things?"

"Those few things — how can they compare to you saving these two legs of mine? Let's not speak of this further; from now on, just look to your Fourth Uncle."

Wu Chengyu led them into the hall to sit, and immediately served tea: "The uncles' timing is perfect; I made Ancient Antique Soup today, most suitable for the depths of winter."

In the Song Dynasty, hot pot was called Ancient Antique Soup, also known as Boshi Xia Gong; Wu Chengyu found the names overly elegant.

"What's so rare about Ancient Antique Soup? But the flavor of yours is truly different — just smelling it makes my mouth water."

"Your nephew naturally has his own secret recipe; dinnertime hasn't arrived yet, so in a moment I'll let Uncle Zhenghui feast to his heart's content. As it happens, a friend of mine sent some food today, along with ten jars of good wine; I didn't know what to do with it all, so today I invite the uncles to drink freely — whatever you can't finish, please help me take away."

Wu Zhenghui was overjoyed: "Then I won't be polite. Wine isn't a good thing; you're still a child, best not touch it — hand it all over to your uncle."

Wu Zhengliang cut off Wu Zhenghui's words: "Of the whole family, you're the most lacking in propriety. Let's talk business first.

Chengyu, today we came not only to thank you for saving us, but also about the Black Jade Bone-Healing Ointment — we must discuss it with you.

Before, I never expected the Black Jade Bone-Healing Ointment's effect could reach such a degree; you produced the prescription and I just casually accepted it.

Now the three of us are as if we never suffered injury at all; even your Uncle Zhenghui, who once damaged his tendons and bones — though not disabled — would inevitably suffer unbearable pain and itching at the injury site whenever rainy weather came; after I applied the medicine to him, he too has fully recovered.

Such medicinal effect can be called a divine medicine; all the great families in Jiangnan practice martial arts, bumps and bruises are inevitable, which family doesn't have a few disabled members? If this medicine spreads, it will inevitably make a huge name, and the benefits obtained are unimaginable — yet precisely because of this, I dare not release this medicine.

An innocent man bears no guilt, but carrying a jade brings its own crime; our Wu Family counts as a great clan in Gusu, but we cannot withstand others' coveting of this divine medicine — it will inevitably invite great disaster.

Yet the benefits this medicine can bring the Third House are truly too many; the Third House lost a lot of silver in recent years, with severe deficits, and for a time no method to turn things around could be found; now with this medicine, I truly cannot let go of it.

These months I've thought back and forth, and finally have a bit of a clue — but I don't know if you can do it?"

Wu Chengyu said seriously: "Fourth Uncle need not stand on ceremony; whatever I can do, just say it."

Wu Zhengliang replied: "This medicine was all personally made by you, so you understand its efficacy best — is there any way to produce a substitute for the Black Jade Bone-Healing Ointment, somewhat better than ordinary bone-injury medicines, enough to suppress those outside injury medicines? It doesn't need such astonishing effects."

Wu Chengyu lowered his head in thought; he knew he had previously thought too simply, while Wu Zhengliang's method was the most secure — a medicine slightly better than those on the market could bring sufficient profit, and the Wu Family could withstand that much pressure; the real Black Jade Bone-Healing Ointment would truly invite calamity.

He focused and consulted the Bamboo Slips; characters immediately appeared on the slips, indicating the Black Jade Bone-Healing Ointment could be downgraded for use, meeting Wu Chengyu's requirements — at most allowing a person with disabled legs who applied the medicine in time to barely walk; for those old chronic injuries, there would at most be a pain-relieving effect.

Next the Bamboo Slips displayed a new prescription; more than half the medicinal ingredients differed from the Black Jade Bone-Healing Ointment, and the price was lower, greatly reducing cost.

With this, Wu Chengyu had a clear idea; he looked up at Wu Zhengliang and replied: "Fourth Uncle, such a prescription does exist; however, give me some time to carefully work it out and try to produce some finished products."

Wu Zhengliang clapped his hands and laughed loudly: "Perfect — this avoids disaster and gives our Third House a large new income.

The Third House originally had medicine shops and clinics; they were previously handed over to the Second House, and this time I specifically reclaimed them — just right for use.

You've given the Third House such a good thing; the Third House can't take it for nothing — from now on, all proceeds generated by this medicine, you take three-tenths; don't think it's little — distributing and selling this medicine through the shops also requires cost, and the Third House currently has deficits that must be filled quickly; Fourth Uncle can only let you suffer a bit of grievance for now."

"What are you saying, Fourth Uncle? Since I'm a member of the Wu Family, I naturally should serve the family — these three-tenths of profit needn't be given."

"No; family affairs naturally have family rules — without rules nothing can be accomplished; the family has no reason to take advantage of its own juniors for nothing; don't make things difficult for me in turn — these three-tenths are yours, no refusal allowed."

After a few rounds of back-and-forth, Wu Chengyu could only agree; but this way, his future access to money would also be less conspicuous — truly killing two birds with one stone.

The group conversed very happily; Wu Zhenghui couldn't resist bringing out a jar of wine and drinking first, praising the wine as he drank, saying Wu Chengyu had made a good friend, and wanting Wu Chengyu to introduce him — he also wanted such a friend.

In Wu Chengyu's mind appeared Niu Dajie's gentle and graceful image, and those arms that could ride horses; he repeatedly agreed verbally, promising to introduce them in the future — a pity both Wu Zhenghui and Niu Dajie were already married, otherwise it would be a match made in heaven.

Not long after, A Ku finally returned; everyone gathered around the hot pot and ate heartily — the hot pot recipe modified by the Bamboo Slips drew repeated exclamations of praise, and they ate with great enjoyment; after three rounds of wine, Wu Zhenghui finally remembered the proper business.

"Xiao Ershiyi, that Murong Family descendant you asked me to trace — I visited all over Gusu and few knew of them; but your uncle is no ordinary person — I finally didn't disgrace the mission and found some clues."

Hearing this, Wu Chengyu's spirit roused greatly, and he hurriedly pressed for details.

Wu Zhenghui said smugly: "Events of over a hundred years ago have long since sunk into oblivion; things remain but people are gone — fortunately our Wu Family still has General Wu."

The May 1 holiday ended; I originally wanted to write more chapters during the break, but house renovation delayed a lot of time; fortunately furniture has now moved in, basically just some finishing work left, so I'll have more time to write afterwards.

However I'm not a full-time writer, so temporarily I don't have the capacity for more updates; I can only build up some manuscript stock first.

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(Chapter End)