Cheng You greedily devoured the remaining sesame cakes, washing them down with two large gulps of water.
She wiped her hands before opening the envelope.
Qi Yang's words were always concise and to the point.
The letter primarily concerned the hemostatic powder.
Apparently, there had been an explosion in their laboratory, injuring several people.
When they were on the brink of despair, they used Cheng You's hemostatic powder and were miraculously astounded by its excellent hemostatic effect.
A doctor happened to be present at the time and, seeing the results, asked Qi Yang for the remaining hemostatic powder to take back.
The next day, someone from the People's Hospital came to inquire about the hemostatic powder with Qi Yang.
Since it was beneficial to the public, Qi Yang readily shared all the information.
However, upon learning that Cheng You's operation was not a formal pharmaceutical company, the inquirer hesitated.
After all, who knew if the products made by a folk healer might be harmful to the human body?
They decided to purchase some for research first.
Qi Yang also made a list for Cheng You.
Besides the hospital's needs, Cheng You's medicines had also become famous in her laboratory, and her colleagues clamored to buy them.
Just the hemostatic powder alone was requested in two hundred bottles, along with several other items like Yin Qiao Powder and Chapped Skin Ointment.
After listing everything, Qi Yang reminded Cheng You that it would be best to apply for formal licenses to avoid giving anyone leverage.
Reading the letter, Cheng You gave a wry smile. "Looks like I'll be busy again."
The stock she currently had was far from enough.
"My sister is getting medicine from you?"
Cheng You nodded. "Quite a bit, too."
Qi Chengyan gently stroked her head. "Then don't be unhappy."
Cheng You pouted. "I'm not unhappy about that. My medicine will always sell."
"Yes, it will always sell," Qi Chengyan lightly tapped her head.
Still, her innate love for money couldn't be curbed. Looking at the list, Cheng You couldn't help but start calculating how much money it represented.
After all, she had spent quite a lot over the New Year.
"Wow, this is over a hundred!"
Qi Chengyan watched her happy expression, his thin lips curling. "So happy?"
"Of course! Once I earn enough money, I'll retire."
Retire and live a leisurely life, tending to flowers and plants at home, eating and drinking.
Qi Chengyan paused for a moment, then suddenly took something out of his pocket and placed it in her palm.
"Youyou, you don't need to earn enough money to retire."
Cheng You glanced at it and knew it was his savings book.
She suddenly felt a little flustered. Usually, salaries were handed over only after marriage.
She and Qi Chengyan weren't married yet.
Thinking about it this way, the savings book felt a bit hot to hold.
"Maybe… you should keep it yourself."
Qi Chengyan raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you going to open it?"
Cheng You, under his gaze, felt her curiosity pique. She opened it and took a look.
She was immediately stunned!
"How can there be so much!"
Tens, hundreds, thousands…
Over fifty thousand!
Qi Chengyan was actually a "ten-thousand-yuan household"!
Cheng You felt a pang of envy. Heaven knew how hard she had worked to extract such a small amount of money from Cheng Tianhua.
At best, she had saved a thousand. Yet, Qi Chengyan casually produced a savings book with fifty thousand!
Cheng You pouted. She hadn't intended to accept it, but now she felt a shameful flicker of desire.
"Most of it was left by my grandmother."
The old lady had been a wealthy young lady with a generous dowry, what people now called a capitalist.
When she passed away, she bypassed his father and left her inheritance directly to him.
Cheng You fidgeted, pouting, and said, "But is it okay for me to accept this? People usually hand over their money after marriage."
Qi Chengyan raised an eyebrow. "You don't plan to marry me?"
His expression clearly asked: Are you trying to be a scoundrel?
Cheng You grabbed his hand and shook it, coquettishly saying, "Of course not. We're not married yet, are we? If I hold onto so much money, aren't you afraid I'll run off with someone?"
Qi Chengyan chuckled. "Try running, then."
His tone held a hidden threat.
Cheng You stuck out her tongue. "I'm not that foolish."
If she changed to someone else, she probably wouldn't have this much money.
…
The next day, Cheng You began to take stock of her pharmacy.
She planned to send all the medicines she currently had first, and then make more if needed.
She would go to the mountains a few more times in the coming days; it would be great if she could find some He Shou Wu.
While she was busy, Pan Yu went to Cheng Tao's place.
Since they could both make money, it didn't make a difference to her whether she worked for Uncle Li or Cheng Tao.
Madam Lin, having been struck twice by Old Mother Li, harbored resentment and began to spread gossip about Uncle Li's wrongdoings.
"What's wrong with Pan Yu copying the formulas for Cheng Tao? The knowledge was taught to everyone, and everyone can learn it. Aren't they all children of our Yangshu Brigade? Must they be treated differently!"
"Cheng Tao stealing the health clinic's business is her own capability; what does it have to do with Pan Yu? Blaming the outhouse for what you can't poop, I've never seen such a thing."
"If you ask me, among the captain's two daughters, Cheng Tao is the promising one. Cheng You has such a fiery temper, just like her deceased mother!"
Not many people participated in the discussion, but everyone had their own thoughts.
They had all bought a lot of medicine from Cheng You before. But now, it seemed Cheng Tao's was cheaper.
If the effects were the same, why pay a higher price?
With that thought, many people took their unopened medicine and went to Cheng You to ask for refunds.
Although it was a bit shameless, every cent saved was a cent earned.
They were all farmers, and earning money was not easy.
Cheng You looked at them coming to request refunds and couldn't help but let out a soft laugh, her eyes filled with sarcasm.
She couldn't help but ask, "Do you really want to return them?"
"Of course, we're returning them! Cheng Tao uses the same formula as you; why are you selling it more expensively? If you ask me, the health clinic chose her side, so her medicine must be better!"
Cheng You didn't argue with them. She refunded the unopened medicines at the original price.
This way, she could send even more medicine to Qi Yang.
Since she could make money either way, if they didn't want it, Cheng You was happier to send it to Qi Yang.
As soon as these people returned their medicine to Cheng You, they turned around and bought cheaper medicine from Cheng Tao.
Because Cheng Tao's current stock was insufficient, they could only place pre-orders.
Cheng Tao was beaming, experiencing Cheng You's former joy for the first time.
The feeling of receiving money was simply too good.
She glanced at Pan Yu. "Work hard for me here, and I'll give you a cut in the future."
Pan Yu smiled. "Thank you, Sister Cheng Tao. You're much better than Cheng You; Cheng You can't compare to you."
Cheng Tao chuckled, accepting her flattery.
Wang Hongxia walked in from outside and asked, "Cheng Tao, do you want to go and hurry up the health clinic?"
"No need to hurry. That's the health clinic; they won't not pay."
Wang Hongxia glanced at the money in her hand. "It's not that I'm worried, but how much did you sell just now? Let me keep the money for you."
Cheng Tao sounded a little impatient. "Mom, I need money to buy medicinal ingredients. If you take this money away, how am I supposed to do business?"
Wang Hongxia choked. For the sake of the money, she didn't dare to argue with her.
She walked out resentfully. Times had changed; both daughters-in-law dared to treat her with such an attitude.