Chapter 30

When Jiang Xingchen woke up, he was already at the base of the Purple Bauhinia Mercenary Group, with his second brother by his side.

Seeing him awake, his second brother told him that Zhao Danqing had brought him here and then left, leaving a message that the Zhao Family Pharmaceutical had secured a five-year supply contract for healing medicines with the Seventh Legion. Many matters needed to be arranged, so he couldn't come to thank him in person and asked for his understanding. Moreover, Zhao Danqing had promised before leaving that the Zhao Family Pharmaceutical would try to purchase medicines containing primordial energy at cost price, without overcharging a single copper coin.

Hearing this, the pressure on Jiang Xingchen's shoulders instantly减轻了一大半. With the help of the Zhao Family Pharmaceutical, he no longer had to worry about a lack of medicinal materials. As for the money issue, it was no longer so pressing.

But then, Jiang Xingchen felt a bit embarrassed. Zhao Zixiang had saved Meier, and helping him was his duty. How could he let the Zhao Family Pharmaceutical sell him the medicinal materials at cost price, without making a single copper coin?

As if reading Jiang Xingchen's thoughts, his second brother smiled and said, "You don't need to think too much. The Seventh Legion has been on the border for years, constantly clashing with the Dongxuan Kingdom. The Zhao Family Pharmaceutical's five-year supply contract for healing medicines will earn them at least ten million yellow crystal coins in profit!"

"Ten million!" Jiang Xingchen was somewhat surprised. Ten million yellow crystal coins were equivalent to 500 million soft girl coins, almost a billion per year. He knew that the Zhao Family Pharmaceutical wasn't a large enterprise like those in his previous life; it was at most a well-known pharmacy. How many people could it possibly have?

"No wonder all the major pharmacies are vying for it. The profit is really huge!" Jiang Xingchen sighed.

At this moment, the door opened, and Mo Hongxian walked in with a hearty laugh.

"Little brother, I just got back and heard that you fainted again. This time, you really lost face, fainting in front of the commander of the Empire's Seventh Legion..."

"Little brother, cough, cough, cough..." His second brother covered his mouth and coughed violently, his face turning red.

Jiang Xingchen was embarrassed and said, "Sister Hongxian, can you change the way you address me? Don't call me 'little brother' anymore!"

"Sure, little brother!"

"Spit!" His second brother almost burst out laughing, his eyes roving over Jiang Xingchen with a lecherous look.

Jiang Xingchen's eyes twitched, feeling like they were about to burst. He glared at his second brother, "What are you looking at? You look like a little brother!"

Mo Hongxian also put on a serious face, slapped his second brother on the neck, and scolded, "Get lost!"

"Ah!" His second brother shrank his head and hurriedly responded, then ran out like a streak of smoke.

After his second brother left, Mo Hongxian put away her playful expression and said, "Furongzhai and Cuilou have been unable to withstand the pressure. They came to me yesterday, asking me to stand up to the nobles who are trying to buy their secret formulas."

Jiang Xingchen smiled and said, "These two are quite shrewd... I'm sure you didn't agree, right!"

"Of course not!" Mo Hongxian glared at him and said, "They clearly want to earn a bit more money and have me take the lead. Do you think I would agree... If I could handle it, why would I need to sell the secret formulas? It would be better to keep them and let the profits flow steadily! I'm already exhausted from helping you fend off the harassment these past few days!"

Hearing this, Jiang Xingchen was deeply moved. He and Meier had been able to live in peace these past few days thanks to Mo Hongxian's efforts. It was not easy for a friend to go this far!

He opened his mouth to thank her but hesitated and didn't say anything. Given their current relationship, expressing gratitude would only create a distance between them.

"Sister Hongxian, send someone to bring the owners of Furongzhai and Cuilou, and also bring Sun Sanqiang!" Jiang Xingchen said after a moment of thought.

"Hmm?" Mo Hongxian looked at him with confusion and asked, "What, do you have another plan?"

"Yes!" Jiang Xingchen nodded and smiled, "I want to bring them together to restart the cooperation. The original contract doesn't matter anymore! They asked you to step in because they were afraid that if they proposed to sell the secret formulas first, you would hold them accountable... Once I propose my new plan, they will definitely negotiate with you to terminate the contract."

"Alright!" Mo Hongxian almost didn't hesitate before nodding in agreement. Jiang Xingchen's various actions over the past few days had already made her trust him. Since he had endured a heart-pounding moment and insisted on stitching her wound, she had considered him a true friend.

After giving instructions to her subordinates, Mo Hongxian returned and asked, "Why are you including Sun Sanqiang in this plan?"

"Sun Sanqiang is a good person and my friend. I promised to help him!" Jiang Xingchen explained.

For a moment, Mo Hongxian seemed to gain a deeper understanding of Jiang Xingchen's character. She knew that Meier's timely rescue was crucial due to the carriage and subordinates arranged by Sun Sanqiang. But Jiang Xingchen didn't mention this, only saying that Sun Sanqiang was his friend, which revealed something about his character!

Nodding, Mo Hongxian didn't press further. Jiang Xingchen then changed the topic, "Sister Hongxian! Let me see your wound; it should be ready to have the stitches removed."

"Okay!" Mo Hongxian sat next to Jiang Xingchen, rolled up the sleeve of her left arm, and revealed a perfectly smooth, crystal-white arm, showing no signs of the muscular build that usually comes from martial arts practice. If not for the bandage on her upper arm, it would be flawless.

The last time he stitched her wound, her arm was covered in blood, and Jiang Xingchen hadn't noticed these details. But now, he was momentarily stunned by the sight of her arm, his breathing slightly halted.

Mo Hongxian immediately noticed Jiang Xingchen's reaction and grinned, lifting her right hand to pinch his chin with a voice completely unlike her usual tone, "Little brother, does sister's arm look nice?"

"Ah!" Jiang Xingchen shivered, her coquettish voice making him feel extremely uncomfortable.

"Hehe, well..." Jiang Xingchen awkwardly laughed and blurted out, "Sister Hongxian's arm should be left for Sister Wanrou to see!"

"Hmm? What did you say?"

Jiang Xingchen felt the temperature in the room drop and shivered again, quickly changing his words, "I meant to ask, why isn't Sister Wanrou here today?"

As he spoke, he reached out to untie the bandage on Mo Hongxian's arm, diverting her attention.

"Wanrou is very busy. The selection for the Empire's New Year performance is about to begin, and she is preparing the dance," Mo Hongxian explained.

"Performance!" Jiang Xingchen recalled Meier's dream talk and was somewhat surprised, "Sister Wanrou is going to perform in the dance?"

In his understanding, Wanrou had a deep background, and her identity seemed out of place with the role of a performer.

"What, is that strange?" Mo Hongxian frowned and said, "The Empire encourages the development of entertainment. Both nobles and commoners enjoy it. If the New Year performance receives unanimous praise, it can also be rewarded with a noble title... Even the Imperial Academy has a dedicated category, and many nobles are eager to participate!"

Jiang Xingchen was taken aback. This was very different from his imagination. In his world, the status of performers in ancient times was very low, at the bottom of society. But in this world, there was a focus on the development of spiritual and cultural fields.

"If it weren't for the ongoing war, this would be a time of peace and prosperity!" Jiang Xingchen sighed. The bandage was already undone, and he saw that the wound had almost completely healed.

Jiang Xingchen asked someone to bring scissors to remove the stitches for Mo Hongxian.

However, Mo Hongxian seemed to be lost in thought, continuing in a low voice, "Wanrou is the only daughter in her family, and her constitution is not suitable for martial arts. As a girl, she doesn't know how to develop in other areas, so learning dance and performance is her only way out... and it has been her dream since childhood..."

As Mo Hongxian spoke, Jiang Xingchen's mood became heavy. His current situation was quite similar to Wanrou's. His family also had only one child, and once the elders were gone, a dramatic change would follow, even losing their noble status...

The heavy topic made the atmosphere tense, and the room fell silent, with only the sound of the scissors cutting the sutures.

Just as Jiang Xingchen finished removing the stitches and was examining the needle holes on Mo Hongxian's arm, the door creaked open, and his second brother led Sun Sanqiang, the owners of Furongzhai, and Cuilou into the room.

"Boss! I haven't even gone to find them, and they came... Uh!" His words were cut off, and he stared at Mo Hongxian and Jiang Xingchen, looking dazed.

At that moment, Jiang Xingchen was holding Mo Hongxian's arm, his head close to it. Mo Hongxian was looking down, silent. The situation looked suspicious.

Not only his second brother, but the people behind him also had a stunned expression, standing there in shock.

At this moment, Mo Hongxian and Jiang Xingchen turned their heads at the sound.

Seeing their expressions, they knew what had happened. Jiang Xingchen quickly withdrew his hand, and Mo Hongxian hurriedly put down her sleeve.

"Cough! Well... Sorry, boss, I didn't notice, I disturbed you..." His second brother said, turning to leave.

"Damn it, what do you mean by disturbing us!" Mo Hongxian's eyes flashed with anger, and she darted out, slapping his second brother on the head, "What are you thinking? Jiang Ling was just removing my stitches!"

"Yes, yes, yes, Jiang Ling is treating the boss's wound, I was just thinking too much..." His second brother's eyes sparkled, almost as if he had "gossip" written on his forehead.

"What kind of look is that? Are you trying to make me angry?" Mo Hongxian's teeth ground together, and her eyes blazed with fury.

His second brother didn't dare to stay and darted away faster than a rat, disappearing in a flash.

Seeing his second brother run away, Mo Hongxian turned her head and fixed her gaze on Sun Sanqiang and the others.

The three of them felt their skin crawl and shivered, awkwardly smiling, "Commander Mo, you called us here..."

Hearing this, Mo Hongxian regained her composure, waved her hand to close the door, and invited the three to sit down.

Soon, several voices filled with excitement and surprise came from the room, "What, can we enhance the firepower... and there are new dishes..."

While they were discussing their cooperation, a storm began to sweep through the upper echelons of the Empire's various legions.

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**End of Chapter**