Chapter 040: Are You Secretly Drinking with Another Man Behind My Back?

Jia Dongming stood up. Hearing Song Kai’s question, he nodded and said, “Of course I remember. The production batch for Kangxin Granules was approved by him.”

Song Kai said, “Good, that’s what I wanted to know. That packet of tea—where did you get it?” As he spoke, Song Kai looked at Jia Dongming with great anxiety, afraid the tea might have come from someone else.

Jia Dongming thought for a moment and replied, “I bought it from an old farmer. Earlier this year, I went to Enshi County to research a medicinal ingredient. While I was there, I saw an old farmer selling tea on the street. Among his goods was a particularly expensive packet—three thousand per pack. He said he only had one and wouldn’t sell it for a penny less. I smelled it and immediately knew it was excellent tea. I happened to need a gift for Director Tang, so I bought it. Why do you ask? How did you know about this?”

Song Kai let out a sigh of relief, chuckled, and said, “That’s a secret. But tell me in detail—where exactly did you find this old farmer? Every detail matters.”

Grateful for Song Kai’s earlier help, Jia Dongming nodded and replied, “It was at the eastern end of Donghu Town in Enshi County. The tea seller’s just in a small shack—it seems to be a regular stall. If you go, you should be able to find it.”

Song Kai slapped Jia Dongming’s shoulder energetically. “Excellent! That puts my mind at ease. Now, tell me how you make your Kangxin Granules. I want all the details.”

Jia Dongming explained in detail. In fact, it was a fairly common prescription for heart disease, one he had purchased from an old traditional medicine doctor for thirty thousand. The efficacy seemed decent. The process was to decoct the herbs into a liquid, concentrate it, add a solidifying agent, and thus produce Kangxin Granules.

Song Kai nodded. “Got it. Don’t worry—it’s definitely not a problem with your medicine. I think someone’s deliberately making trouble for you, or perhaps trying to extort you. Either way, for now, don’t be too concerned.”

Jia Dongming sighed, “How can I not worry? The local villagers all want their money back, the bank is pressing for repayment, and I can’t sell my products. What am I supposed to do?”

Song Kai glanced out the window, surveying the entire traditional medicine factory. It was large, with many quite new workshops and a well-planned layout. Clearly, Jia Dongming had poured a great deal of effort into it.

Song Kai said, “Here’s what I propose: sell the factory to me as a package deal. What do you think?”

“What? You want to buy the factory?” Jia Dongming looked at him in surprise, then quickly added, “That’s wonderful! I can sell it to you at a discount. I invested about ten million in total. If you can pay me eight and a half million, just enough to cover the bank loan and the villagers’ funds, it’s yours!”

Song Kai said, “Alright. Don’t stay here in the factory for now—lay low for a while. Wait for my call tonight. If I can raise the money, I’ll buy the factory.”

Jia Dongming sighed, “Laying low isn’t a solution. My conscience won’t let me rest.”

Song Kai patted his shoulder. “Come on, give me the factory’s information. I’ll try to scrape the money together tonight. If I can borrow it, I’ll buy it; if not, there’s nothing I can do.”

“Alright, alright.” Jia Dongming hurried to organize a stack of documents about the factory.

Song Kai took the materials and left the factory in high spirits. He hadn’t made an absolute commitment to buying it—his only worry wasn’t that the factory might lose money, but rather that he might not be able to raise the funds.

As for running a traditional medicine factory, that was child’s play for Song Kai. He remembered many valuable, long-lost prescriptions—reliable formulas that had once been the treasured secrets of the Quanzhen Sect.

He could choose a few at random, turn them into proprietary medicines, and they’d sell like hotcakes. The real problem was the money.

Right now, Song Kai could only try borrowing from Xu Ling. Ten million was no small sum. If Xu Ling refused, the acquisition plan would fall through.

He would call Xu Ling about the factory soon. For now, the most important thing was to prepare the necessary gear for digging up the polygonatum root.

Tomorrow—no, tonight. He would set out for Enshi, Hubei tonight!

He didn’t want to wait another moment!

Song Kai drove to Mingyue Lake in Tengyun City, a scenic spot surrounded by shops selling paintings and antiques. But Song Kai knew that, if you turned into one of the alleys, there were not only antique shops selling jade pendants but also places that bought burial objects—items unearthed by tomb raiders. In addition, one could find shops selling grave-digging equipment.

Digging up a five-hundred-year-old polygonatum root was no simple task. Such an exceptional specimen would almost certainly be guarded by a spirit creature—a guardian beast, as it was called.

The supreme polygonatum nourished the beast with spiritual energy, and the beast protected it from people or pests.

Therefore, Song Kai needed to prepare something to deal with the guardian. The best was explosives, though a hunting rifle would be more convenient—but that was difficult to carry and, besides, Song Kai was currently penniless and couldn’t get one anyway.

He entered a shop, gained the proprietor’s trust, and managed to buy a bundle of detonators, along with a military shovel and a machete.

He also collected other gear—ropes and so on—buying a full set.

After gathering all the equipment, Song Kai was so broke he couldn’t even afford a train ticket!

He took his gear home and shamelessly begged Tang Ying to transfer him a thousand yuan.

With everything settled, he took a shower. Night had fallen completely.

He touched his stomach—he’d been so busy all day, he hadn’t even eaten dinner.

Still, it was worth it!

Finally, he could take a breather. He thought about the factory—if he really managed to take it over, he was sure there would be good profits.

On this point, Song Kai was confident.

Just as he was thinking, his phone rang—a video call from Liu Miaoyu.

A video call!

Song Kai felt a little guilty, but he answered.

On the screen appeared Liu Miaoyu’s lovely face.

“Hey, where’s your dad? Is he with you?” Song Kai asked cautiously.

Seeing his expression, Liu Miaoyu burst into laughter, rolling on her bed. “Was it because my dad gave you a beating yesterday? You look terrified.”

“I’m not scared! I just don’t want to bully an old man,” Song Kai replied, then added more cautiously, “He’s not home, is he?”

Liu Miaoyu arched her brows and smiled at him. “Relax, he’s not here. He has a banquet tonight. Thanks for yesterday, by the way. I thought you were just a creep who wouldn’t care if I lived or died.”

Song Kai grinned. “I was putting on a show for the ghosts.”

“Don’t scare me!” Liu Miaoyu pouted. “I’m home alone—it’s scary. By the way, haven’t you been skipping class these days? Zhou Ran misses you.”

“She just wants to bully me,” Song Kai said. “I’ve been busy lately. When I get back, I should be able to help you get rid of your trouble for good. Don’t worry.”

“Alright.” Lying on her bed, Liu Miaoyu smiled at him through the phone. “Well, I won’t thank you in words. Get back to your work—I’m off to do homework. While you’re slacking off, I’ll take back my title as the top student in the school.”

“You’d better work hard, then.”

After chatting for a while, they ended the call.

Liu Miaoyu stared at the now-dark screen, then a smile blossomed on her face. “Just you wait—I’ll outscore you and put you in your place, arrogant ghost!” She leaped up, happily heading off to study.

Song Kai dialed Xu Ling’s number; this matter had to be settled quickly.

The call took a while to connect.

“Dear wife, there’s something I want to talk to you about. Huh? Why is it so noisy there? Don’t tell me you’re at a bar with another man behind my back?” Song Kai teased immediately.

Xu Ling’s voice was annoyed. “What do you want?”

“I need to borrow ten million.”

“What?”

“Ten million. Don’t worry, it’s for business. I’m going to restore the Song family’s glory! I promise, I’ll pay you back in three months—with interest. Twelve million. How about that?”

Xu Ling fell silent.

Song Kai quickly added, “I have the business plan and everything. You can look at it—it’s a sure thing, no loss. Well?”

Still silent, Xu Ling finally said, “Come to the Jinhua Hotel, top floor. Pick me up. We’ll talk in person.”

“What? Alright! Are you in some kind of trouble?” Song Kai asked.

The noise on her end grew even louder, then the call was cut off.

Song Kai scratched his head, changed clothes at once, and hurried toward Tang Ying’s bedroom...