The daily life of a space tycoon raising children, doting on his husband, and farming.

Chapter 212 All-Purpose Ointment

Chu Xu's cat-like eyes darted around. "I don't know him."

“I know you.” Zhong Li became more certain, staring intently at Chu Xu’s face. “I think I’ve seen you somewhere before.”

He guessed, "You...you're from the capital?"

Chu Xu: "!!!"

How could you guess so accurately!

"Wu Jiu." Zhong Li reached out and patted Chu Wu Jiu's arm, then pointed at Chu Xu, "Do you know this kid?"

Chu Wujiu looked over, stared at Chu Xu's little face for a moment, and said with certainty, "He looks like a member of the Chu family."

After saying that, he looked at Zhongli as if he were an idiot.

The Chu family has three generations that share almost the same face, so how can they not recognize each other?

Upon hearing Chu Wujiu's words, Zhongli suddenly realized, "Ah, you're that little brat from the Duke of Dingguo's mansion, the one who cried after losing a fight at the banquet."

Shang Wan and the others all looked at Chu Xu.

Chu Xu: "..."

Don't tell anyone, doesn't he have any pride?

The child wrinkled his nose and made a face at Zhongli.

Zhong Lichao dressed up in an even uglier outfit, leaving everyone speechless.

Why is this person arguing with a child?
Dressed up so ugly, it's a complete waste of that pretty face.

Zhongli doesn't care what others think; he's happy as long as he's happy.

He looked at Shang Wan: "Shopkeeper Shang, why is the young master of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion following you?"

Shang Wan: "It's all fate."

Zhongli: "..."

There was a knock on the door of the private room, and the waiter pushed the door open to serve the dishes.

The food and drinks are ready.

After several rounds of drinks and dishes, Shang Wan finally brought up the main business, saying, "I invited Mr. Zhong here today because there is something I want to discuss."

Zhongli, showing little interest, swirled his wine glass and asked, "What is it?"

Shang Wan took a small red box out of her sleeve and handed it over.

Zhongli took it, raised an eyebrow, and asked, "What is this?"

"The ointment," Shang Wan said. "Young Master Qiao likes it very much."

Upon hearing this, Zhongli finally became somewhat interested.

He opened the box, brought it close to his nose, and said with a hint of disgust, "Why does it smell like mint?"

"Is this the medicine that cured Qiao Yugui?"

Shang Wan nodded, "Young Master Qiao wants to cooperate with me and sell the ointment at his clinic."

Zhong Li closed the box, looked up at Shang Wan, and asked, "What were his conditions?"

Shang Wan didn't elaborate, only asking, "Mr. Zhong, are you interested in cooperating with me?"

“I don’t own a clinic,” Zhong Li scoffed, tapping the surface of the medicine box with her pale fingertips. “Aren’t you worried that I’ll have someone make this prescription for you?”

Shang Wan smiled but remained silent.

She dares to take it out openly, so naturally she has no worries.

Zhongli understood this as well. She opened the medicine box and smelled it again, still looking disgusted.

What are the effects of your ointment?

Shang Wan: "I gave this ointment a name: All-Purpose Ointment."

"Universal." Zhong Li's lips curled slightly. "Manager Shang, you have quite the big mouth."

Shang Wan shrugged. "I'd like to be modest, but my abilities don't allow it. If Boss Zhong doesn't believe me, he can always have someone try."

Zhongli put the medicine box away without saying whether to try it or not.

But since he didn't refuse, Shang Wan took it as a yes.

Aside from the initial hiccup, the meal went fairly well.

On the way back in the carriage, Chu Wujiu reached out to Zhong Li to ask for the box of ointment.

Zhongli crossed her arms and refused to give in.

Chu Wujiu glared at him.

"What else can you do besides glare at me?" Zhongli pouted, reached out and took out the medicine box, tossing it over. Chu Wujiu took out a needle pouch from his sleeve, opened it, pulled out a silver needle, picked out some ointment, and brought it to his nose to smell it.

"how?"

"It's just ordinary medicine for injuries, nothing special." Chu Wujiu frowned as he put away the silver needles, then looked up at the person opposite him. "You haven't been tricked, have you?"

Zhongli: "..."

He thought for a moment, then shook his head. "She wouldn't play me for this."

Chu Wujiu threw the medicine box back to him, saying, "I don't see anything special about this ointment anyway."

Zhongli casually remarked, "That's because you're not skilled enough."

Chu Wujiu really wanted to take out his silver needles and kill this guy.

Before he could put his idea into action, Zhongli asked, "When do you plan to return to the capital?"

"Once we get the Snow-Treading Map," Chu Wujiu said, looking at the person opposite him, "what about you? When are you returning to the capital?"

Zhongli didn't answer, but just smiled, her peach blossom eyes slightly curved, her gaze shimmering with affection.

Chu Wujiu turned his face away in disgust and waved his hand as if chasing away something dirty.

Zhongli: "..."

I really want to strangle this guy!

·
Meanwhile, Shang Wan and Lu Chengjing took the two children back to the shop.

Wu Kai and his two companions had just finished eating at the restaurant.

It was hot, and going back and forth at noon would be time-consuming and exhausting, so Shang Wan simply let the three of them rest in the servants' room in the backyard.

After telling the two children to play inside, Shang Wan took Lu Chengjing to visit the landlady next door.

Lu Chengjing then realized that he had almost died, and stared at Shang Wan expressionlessly.

Shang Wan winked at him, "Facts speak louder than words."

The proprietress had some recollection of Lu Chengjing; he had once asked her about the shop's situation.

It turns out these two are a married couple; they look like a perfect match.

Shang Wan gave the boss's wife a box of multi-purpose ointment.

Unlike Zhong Li, the proprietress thought the mint smelled wonderful, especially on a hot summer day, as it was very refreshing.

Shang Wan smiled and said, "If it works well, you'll have to tell the neighbors for me."

The proprietress readily agreed.

She burned her hand with hot oil while cooking yesterday, and there are still red marks on the back of her hand. It's a good opportunity to try this.

As Shang Wan emerged from the restaurant, the bright sunlight stung her eyes.

Lu Chengjing subconsciously reached out to shield her.

The proprietress who saw the two out held her face in her hands, thinking to herself that this scholar was quite considerate.

When Shang Wan and Lu Chengjing entered the room, Chu Xu and Yuan Yuan were already asleep in bed.

It's unclear what the two children were playing before bed, but their round little heads were resting on Chu Xu's belly, while their little feet were kicking Chu Xu's face.

Lu Chengjing shook his head as he watched, then went over to adjust the sleeping positions of the two children.

Shang Wan went over and pinched each of their cheeks. The round cheeks felt so comfortable to pinch, the texture was wonderful.

"What did A-Nian say to you during dinner just now?" Lu Chengjing finally found a chance to ask.

"He told me that Zhongli was a concubine's son."

Lu Chengjing lowered his eyes; the identity of a concubine's son was not something to be proud of.

Shang Wan reached out and pinched his earlobe. "Guess who his father is?"

Lu Chengjing didn't want to guess. There were so many important figures in the capital; how long would it take to figure it out?

He took Shang Wan's hand, brought it to his lips, and kissed it, saying gently, "Please enlighten me, my wife."

Shang Wan raised an eyebrow at him, and Lu Chengjing lowered his head and kissed the back of her fair hand again.

"Here." Shang Wan nodded.

Lu Chengjing turned his head to look at the children on the bed. Seeing that the two were still fast asleep, he quickly moved over like a thief, kissed Shang Wan on the lips, and then quickly retreated.

Before Shang Wan could react, his ears turned red, and he turned his face away shyly, pursing his thin red lips repeatedly.

Shang Wan glanced at his bright red ears and thought to herself that he had made some progress, at least his neck wasn't red.

“Zhongli’s father was the Marquis of Anle. Although he had many wives and concubines, he only had one son, Zhongli.”

I wonder what the Marquis's son is doing in this poor and remote place, Dongning County.