Chapter 33: Damage
“Brother Yu, can you still bring in partners?”
Hua Changxi thought for a moment. Although Yu Hui managed the storeroom, even if some discarded medicinal herbs were moved, it would be fine once or twice. If it happened too often, he might be discovered.
If such a thing wasn’t discovered, it would be dealt with once it was.
Yu Hui immediately said upon hearing this, “Sister Changxi, the fewer people who know about this, the better. How can we let others know?”
Hua Changxi: “Brother Yu, what I mean is, we should ideally have a legitimate reason for moving discarded medicinal herbs.”
Yu Hui was speechless. “Sister Changxi, why are you so naive? How can such a thing be legitimate?”
Hua Changxi: “Why not? Didn’t you say that many inferior pills outside are refined using discarded medicinal herbs? The price of pills for Martial Artists is not cheap. It’s obvious that the profits must be substantial. Aren’t there people in the storeroom who want a piece of the pie?”
Yu Hui: “So what if they want it? As I said, the merchants who come to get discarded medicinal herbs are designated by higher-ups and have benefactors backing them.”
“Although they are all discarded medicinal herbs, how they are distributed is not decided by the storeroom.”
Hua Changxi pondered for a while and then asked, “Brother Yu, who has the most authority in the storeroom?”
Yu Hui: “Of course, it’s my godfather, Eunuch Yu.”
Hua Changxi’s eyes lit up, and she quickly asked, “What kind of person is Eunuch Yu?”
Yu Hui: “What do you want to do?”
Hua Changxi: “I want you to tell Eunuch Yu that I can refine pills using discarded medicinal herbs.”
Yu Hui remained silent, his expression hesitant.
Seeing this, Hua Changxi explained carefully, “Brother Yu, think about it. Discarded medicinal herbs cannot be taken out. In the Labor Department, if only you and I cooperate, the first problem we’ll face is where to refine the pills. Can you find a place for me to refine them?”
Yu Hui frowned, his lips pressed tightly together.
Hua Changxi continued, “I believe in your control over Storeroom Number Five, and you can move medicinal herbs without being discovered. However, you only manage one storeroom, so the types of usable medicinal herbs you can find from the discarded ones are limited.”
“Eunuch Yu is different. He manages all the storerooms and can mobilize all the discarded medicinal herbs. With him involved, we will get more types of medicinal herbs, and I can refine more types of pills.”
“Also, with Eunuch Yu shielding us, even if someone discovers that discarded medicinal herbs have been moved, no one will dare to say anything.”
“Brother Yu, what do you think?”
Yu Hui was silent for a moment, looking at Hua Changxi. “Sister Changxi, if my godfather gets involved in this, our fifty-fifty split will no longer be valid.”
Seeing his attitude soften, Hua Changxi immediately smiled. “How about this: Eunuch Yu gets forty percent, and you and I each get thirty percent.”
Yu Hui looked at the ‘naive’ Hua Changxi. “Sister Changxi, have you considered what would happen if my godfather doesn’t agree to this division? What if he wants the lion’s share, say eighty percent for him and ten percent for each of us? Or what if he takes it all and just gives you a small fee for your labor? What would you do?”
Hua Changxi naturally refused. “Is Eunuch Yu that greedy?” Seeing Yu Hui remain silent, she immediately said, “Then forget what I just told you.”
Yu Hui, however, explained, “My godfather used to have some status in the inner court. Unfortunately, he got caught up in a dispute between benefactors, and all his savings for half his life were confiscated.
“Even though it was later proven that my godfather was wronged, his accumulated wealth was not returned. After he was sent to oversee the storerooms, he desperately tried to make money.
“As the steward of Storeroom Number Five, I give him every single coin of the monthly tribute from my subordinates.”
Yu Hui looked at Hua Changxi. “My godfather will definitely be tempted when he hears that you can refine Martial Artist Pills using discarded medicinal herbs, but I’m really unsure about how the profits will be divided.”
Hua Changxi was also a bit uncertain at this point. After obtaining the Spirit Grass, she had refined it in the canteen of the Sixth Bureau.
Although she had a good relationship with the people in the canteen now, if she refined pills too often, it would definitely attract attention.
“Brother Yu, I sleep in a dormitory. Can you find a place for me to refine pills?”
This was a bit tricky for Yu Hui. He lived in a single room, but it wouldn’t do to have the smell of medicine constantly emanating from it.
Seeing his silence, Hua Changxi knew he had no solution. After thinking for a moment, she asked, “Brother Yu, is Eunuch Yu the type of person who would turn his back on someone?”
Yu Hui didn’t quite understand Hua Changxi’s meaning.
Hua Changxi: “Meaning, if you tell Eunuch Yu that I can refine pills using discarded medicinal herbs, I will negotiate the profit sharing with him afterward.”
“I just want to know, if we can’t reach an agreement, will he resent me and retaliate, or even kick me out of the Labor Department?”
Yu Hui hesitated and said, “My godfather has some magnanimity and is quite good to his own people.”
“His own people?”
Hua Changxi thought to herself that she was clearly not one of Eunuch Yu’s own people.
“Brother Yu, perhaps we should forget it.”
Although Hua Changxi really wanted to facilitate this cooperation, she still put on an act of wanting to back out.
Yu Hui and she were friends, but their friendship was not strong.
For Yu Hui, Eunuch Yu was undoubtedly more important.
If the cooperation were to succeed and Eunuch Yu were to participate, Yu Hui would definitely side with him.
She couldn’t appear too eager now. Who knew if Yu Hui would team up with Eunuch Yu to squeeze her profits?
Yu Hui became anxious. “Don’t forget about it.”
Hua Changxi: “Brother Yu, you know my personality. I definitely won’t work for free. Rather than offending Eunuch Yu over profit sharing, I’d rather not do it from the start.”
Saying this, she turned to examine the medicinal herbs in the storeroom.
Seeing her like this, Yu Hui paced back and forth a few times, then ran to Hua Changxi’s side. “I’ll talk to my godfather. Even if it doesn’t work out, I won’t implicate you, Sister.”
A hint of joy flashed in Hua Changxi’s eyes, but she said verbally, “Brother Yu, perhaps we should forget it. What if you offend Eunuch Yu because of this?”
Yu Hui waved his hand, looking as if he wanted Hua Changxi not to worry.
Three days after discussing the cooperation in refining pills with Yu Hui, Hua Changxi was intercepted by a young eunuch when she went to collect medicinal herbs.
“Eunuch Yu wants to see you. Come with me.”
The young eunuch spoke in an unyielding tone and, without waiting for Hua Changxi’s response, turned and walked away.
Hua Changxi looked at the eunuch’s retreating back, remained silent for a moment, and then quickly followed.
After passing through more than half of the Labor Department, Hua Changxi followed the eunuch to a courtyard in the northwest corner of the storeroom.
On the steps of the main house in the courtyard, a middle-aged eunuch with no beard sat in a reclining chair, leisurely drinking tea. To his right, Yu Hui stood with a somewhat nervous and apprehensive expression.
The young eunuch led Hua Changxi into the courtyard and pointed to a pile of discarded medicinal herbs in the center. “This is some of yesterday’s discarded medicinal herbs. Find the usable ones from this pile. There are refining tools over there. Refine a few types of pills for the Eunuch to see.”
Hua Changxi didn’t move. She glanced at Eunuch Yu on the steps. He seemed to have no interest in her. Apart from a glance when she entered, he hadn’t looked at her again.
He didn’t ask her who she was or why she could refine pills, only gave orders and instructions.
This was the difference in power. Regardless of whether she was willing or not, she had no choice but to obey.
Hua Changxi hadn’t forgotten that one of her initial goals for entering the Medical Affairs Department was to improve her medical skills. Due to a fortunate encounter, she had been filled with medical knowledge, but her practical skills were rusty.
She didn’t have the money to buy large quantities of medicinal herbs for practice, so these discarded medicinal herbs became the most accessible resources for her at this stage.
“Hurry up, the Eunuch is waiting to see.”
The young eunuch, seeing Hua Changxi standing still, impatiently urged her.
Hua Changxi wanted to facilitate the cooperation, so even though she felt uncomfortable, she lowered her head. She estimated the pile of discarded medicinal herbs to be at least five or six cartloads.
Before, she had to hide to get a few withered herbs, but now they had brought so many cartloads and placed them directly in the courtyard. This was the difference between having power and not having power.
Hua Changxi knew clearly that only by demonstrating her refining skills would Eunuch Yu talk to her, so she began to pick through the herbs.
On the steps, Eunuch Yu appeared absent-minded, but in reality, he was paying attention to Hua Changxi’s every move.
This little girl dared to look at him so boldly. As Yu Hui had said, she did have some courage.
However, he didn’t care about the personality of a young woman. What he cared about was whether this little girl could truly refine pills for Martial Artists.
After Hua Changxi began sorting through the discarded medicinal herbs, Eunuch Yu paid close attention.
However, as he saw the medicinal herbs Hua Changxi picked out, Eunuch Yu’s brows furrowed tighter and tighter.
He himself was a Seventh-Rank Martial Artist. Although he couldn’t refine pills, he knew the common pill recipes for Martial Artists.
The medicinal herbs the girl picked were clearly not for any recipe he knew.
Eunuch Yu glanced at his godson behind him. Seeing that his godson was covered in cold sweat, he felt a bit disgusted. His godson had good judgment but lacked courage.
At least one-third of the discarded medicinal herbs still had medicinal efficacy. Hua Changxi didn’t pick much, only selecting herbs for refining Qi and Blood Pills, Body Tempering Pills, and Foundation Solidifying Pills.
In fact, she didn’t know the specific recipes for the Martial Artist Pills sold on the market. However, she could formulate corresponding recipes based on the detailed explanations of medicinal properties in the Hundred Herbs Annotation.
Eunuch Yu’s expression became serious after Hua Changxi began processing the medicinal herbs.
Hua Changxi’s technique for processing medicinal herbs was too skilled: washing, soaking, grinding, mixing with medicine, rolling into pills, and finally baking over a low heat on the stove. Every step was done perfectly.
Eunuch Yu had been in the Medical Affairs Department for several years and knew many Pharmacists. He had also witnessed Pharmacists refining pills, but none of them had a process as smooth and natural as the young girl in front of him.
Most importantly, the types of medicinal herbs she used to refine pills were too few.
Smelling the medicinal fragrance wafting from the courtyard, Eunuch Yu had already guessed that the three types of pills Hua Changxi was refining were Qi and Blood Pills, Body Tempering Pills, and Foundation Solidifying Pills.
He knew the recipes for these three types of pills, and they were the standard recipes of the Medical Affairs Department.
For example, the Qi and Blood Pill used by First-Rank Martial Artists to enhance qi and blood required twelve types of medicinal herbs according to the Medical Affairs Department’s recipe, but the girl in front of him only used three.
As for Body Tempering Pills, the more tempering the better for Martial Artists below Third Rank. The Medical Affairs Department’s recipe required over fifty types of medicinal herbs, but the girl only used eight.
As for Foundation Solidifying Pills, a healing pill useful for all Martial Artists, the Medical Affairs Department’s recipe required over twenty types of medicinal herbs, but the girl only used five.
Eunuch Yu eagerly walked to the stove. Without waiting for the pills to be fully refined, he reached out and took a Qi and Blood Pill, putting it in his mouth.
The efficacy of the pill exceeded Eunuch Yu’s expectations.
Eunuch Yu suddenly turned to look at Hua Changxi, his eyes shining with golden light. At this moment, Hua Changxi was like a shining gold ingot in his eyes.
“I agree to what Yu Hui said, but you will only get ten percent of the profit.”
Hua Changxi looked him straight in the eye. “Forty percent is my bottom line.”
Eunuch Yu burst into laughter, then his smile vanished, and he looked at Hua Changxi grimly. “Do you have the qualifications to bargain with me?”
Hua Changxi’s expression remained unchanged. “Then find someone else to refine pills for you.” Saying this, she prepared to leave.
Yu Hui, standing nearby, saw this and his expression changed drastically. He ran and grabbed Hua Changxi. As soon as he reached her arm, he knelt on the ground with a thud.
Hua Changxi was startled. “Brother Yu, even if the deal doesn’t go through, we can still be friends. You don’t need to kneel to me.”
Did Yu Hui want to kneel? No. At this moment, Yu Hui felt a mountain-like force pressing down on him. He couldn’t help but kneel.
Yu Hui knew that his godfather was using his Internal Energy to force Sister Changxi to agree, but the range of Internal Energy was too wide, and it affected him.
What he couldn’t understand was why, even though he had knelt, Sister Changxi showed no reaction?
Hua Changxi saw beads of sweat the size of soybeans visibly appearing on Yu Hui’s forehead, and the sweat flowed down his cheeks. She immediately sensed something was wrong and looked up at Eunuch Yu.
Upon looking, she discovered that the young eunuch who had led her here was also kneeling on the ground.
And the way Eunuch Yu looked at her was peculiar.
Hua Changxi blinked and stared at Eunuch Yu for a while, seeming to understand something.
At this moment, Eunuch Yu moved and suddenly attacked Hua Changxi.
In the eyes of Yu Hui and the young eunuch, Eunuch Yu’s punch was fast and fierce. But in Hua Changxi’s eyes, Eunuch Yu’s fist moved towards her as slowly as a snail.
Hua Changxi raised her right hand and, using her thumb, index, and middle fingers, lightly, as if holding a brush, easily grasped Eunuch Yu’s wrist.
After learning Lingbo Microsteps, she had spent a lot of time studying Five Finger Mountain.
The Five Finger Mountain cultivation method was very powerful, integrating attack techniques of palms, fists, fingers, and claws.
Watching Eunuch Yu’s hand unable to move between her three fingers, Hua Changxi curled her lips, very satisfied with the power displayed by Five Finger Mountain.
Hua Changxi was secretly pleased, while Eunuch Yu’s heart was churning with waves, and fear appeared in his eyes.
“You… you are a Martial Artist?”
And her martial arts cultivation was even higher than his.
Hua Changxi flung Eunuch Yu’s wrist away. After Eunuch Yu retreated a few steps and stabilized himself, she said, “If we can’t cooperate, fine. Why did Eunuch Yu try to attack me?”
Eunuch Yu suppressed his shock and forced a smile. “Young Woman Hua misunderstood. Yu Hui is my godson, and you are his friend. For his sake, I wouldn’t make things difficult for you.”
“It’s as you say. From now on, I will provide the discarded medicinal herbs and this courtyard for refining. You will be responsible for refining. We will split the refined pills four-six, with the remaining two parts going to Yu Hui.”
Hua Changxi was excited. She had actually gotten one more percent than she expected!
When she had said forty percent earlier, she was waiting for Eunuch Yu to bargain.
Hua Changxi suppressed her inner joy and smiled at Eunuch Yu. “Alright, we’ll do as Eunuch Yu says. I hope our future cooperation will be pleasant.”
As expected, having skills alone wasn’t enough; one also needed powerful martial force.
