I attained immortality through meditation in the Great Qian Dynasty.

"I'll pay you whatever I want; there's nothing I can't have! If you agree now, you can be the manager's wife and live a life of luxury. But if you refuse, I guarantee your Jishetang will be shut down in three days. Then you'll be begging me for forgiveness, and I won't be so lenient with you!"

"Smack."

Zhao Zian put down his teacup.

His gaze fell on Qian Defa.

Qian Defa felt a little uneasy under his gaze.

"What are you looking at? Pretty boy, this is none of your business!"

Zhao Zian ignored his insults.

"Manager Qian, is that right?"

Qian Defa nodded subconsciously.

"Opening a pharmacy is a business," Zhao Zian said slowly, "but it's more than just a business."

"Medicine is something that goes into the mouth; it is the foundation of life. Every penny counts in the lives and health of patients. We doctors, or those who sell medicine, are holding human lives and trust in our hands."

Qian Defa frowned.

This is what bothers him the most.

"Stop trying to give me that high-sounding lecture! I don't understand it!"

"I'm asking you this: I sell things cheaply, benefiting ordinary people. What's wrong with that?"

"You did nothing wrong."

Zhao Zian actually nodded.

This left not only Qian De stunned, but also Su Mei and Accountant Sun.

What does Zhao Gongfeng mean by this?

"Hey, you're smart to back down! So, stop struggling and just close up shop..."

"It's certainly right to let ordinary people benefit."

Zhao Zian interrupted him.

"But the premise is, is the benefit you're offering truly a benefit?"

"Free medical consultations and selling medicinal herbs below cost."

Zhao Zian spoke slowly and deliberately.

"Manager Qian is a wealthy and powerful man, and he must run a charitable organization. He puts his own money into it just to benefit the local people. I admire his magnanimity."

Qian Defa's expression changed slightly.

He doesn't run a charity.

The medicinal herbs he used were all old, substandard products transported from other places.

Some were even moldy, after being smoked and processed.

They may look just like good medicinal herbs, but their medicinal effects are vastly different, and they may even be harmful.

The cost is ridiculously low!

"Of course! In business, I, Qian, value loyalty above all else!"

"What a fine word, 'righteousness'!"

A smile curved Zhao Zian's lips.

"Since Manager Qian is so kind and righteous, then I, Zhao, have a favor to ask."

"What?"

"The effects of medicine are only known after it enters the body. Manager Qian's Huichuntang is quite prestigious, so he must have complete confidence in his medicinal materials and medical skills. How about this: each of our two shops will randomly invite three patients who have just purchased their medicine to the town square. Our doctors will then personally brew and drink the medicine in front of the entire town to see just how effective it is."

"Manager Qian, do you dare?"

Having mingled for many years, Qian Defa had long since mastered the art of distorting the truth.

"Ha! Hahahaha!"

"You little gigolo! You've got a real scheme up your sleeve!"

"A public contest? That sounds nice! Who knows what you're really up to? You might secretly have someone switch my herbs, or tamper with the pot of medicine, and then bribe a few thugs to pretend to be sick, lie on the ground, and claim that someone died from medicine from my Huichuntang. If you throw this dirty water on me, I'll be filthy rich and won't be able to explain myself no matter how hard I try!"

This counterattack was swift and ruthless.

Yes, it's not impossible.

After all, you can't see into someone's heart.

Zhao Zian spoke slowly.

"Manager Qian, your concerns are very valid."

Qian Defa was stunned.

"Since Manager Qian is worried that I might tamper with the rules, how about we make them even stricter?"

"Patients. We won't look outside. We'll randomly select three from among the customers who got their medicine from your Huichuntang this morning and haven't left yet. Manager Qian, you can choose them yourself, is that alright?"

Qian Defa's eyelids twitched.

"The medicinal herbs will be randomly selected from your Huichuntang medicine cabinet, in front of everyone. Which herb to select and how to combine it are all up to you. The selected herbs will be divided in two, one part will be watched by your people, and the other part will be watched by my people. No one is allowed to touch them."

Zhao Zian took a step forward.

"For brewing the medicine, we won't use the pots, bowls, water, or firewood from either of the two shops. We'll just borrow from any of the neighbors watching. Anyone will do. During the brewing process, our two families will keep an eye on each other, and all the villagers will be watching. That way, there'll be no way to cheat, right?"

With each point he made, Qian Defa's expression grew increasingly grim.

Zhao Zian stopped in front of Qian Defa.

"Unless... Manager Qian, your medicine was already rotten at the core and blackened at the root before it was even put into the medicine cabinet."

Qian Defa trembled all over.

"Now, I'll ask you one more time."

Zhao Zian's voice suddenly rose.

"You dare, or you don't?!"

Inside the entire Jishetang, you could hear a pin drop.

Now even the slowest person can see it.

If it's not because I have something to hide, and if the medicinal herbs aren't truly problematic...

Faced with such fair rules, what reason is there to refuse them?

Zhao Gongfeng wasn't setting a trap at all; he was using a blatant scheme to force Zhao to abdicate!

"Yes, Manager Qian, Master Zhao has made it so clear. If you keep making excuses, it won't be right."

The onlookers couldn't help but speak up.

"That's right! We're taking medicine, something that could save our lives! Whether there's a problem or not, we'll know once we poop it out!"

Another voice echoed.

"Manager Qian, give me an answer!"

Qian Defa was surrounded by the crowd, and he felt a buzzing in his ears.

He was caught in a dilemma, unable to advance or retreat, and unable to dismount.

Agree? That's suicide!

He knows his medicines best. If they don't cause any problems, let alone cure diseases, it would be a blessing from his ancestors!

Refuse? He'll probably be walking out the door today!

Even if they go out there, Huichuntang's guilty reputation for selling fake medicine will spread throughout the entire Liuxi Town tomorrow!

"You...you've gone too far!"

Qian Defa's eyes were bloodshot.

Su Mei said calmly.

"You dare not compare, yet you refuse to admit it. Manager Qian, you're putting us in a difficult position."

"Who says I wouldn't dare!"

Qian Defa roared out of his mouth.

He had to keep either his dignity or his business.

Compared to being immediately disgraced, the public confrontation three days later at least gave him some breathing room and room to maneuver!

Given enough time, he has a way to turn things around!

"Fine! Fine! Fine! Just you wait!"

"It's just a competition, right? Let's compete!"

"Three days from now! In town center! I'll see what tricks you have up your sleeve!"

"The time will come to a fair judgment on who is truly capable and who is just bluffing! Just wait and see!"

After uttering these harsh words, Qian Defa turned away.

"Let's go!"

He pushed through the crowd and, with his men, escaped from Jishetang.