Courtyard House: Wudang Disciple Sweeps Through the Compound

Chen Wenqi sighed heavily, his brows furrowed with an unyielding helplessness, his voice strained: "I wanted to buy some croton seeds to take home and keep on hand. We're struggling to make ends meet right now, and we're eating cornmeal every day. Everyone in the family is constantly constipated; it's unbearable."

"Alright, since that's the situation, I'll give you a pound, two yuan a pound."

Seeing his embarrassed appearance, the old shopkeeper's deep doubts faded slightly. After a moment of contemplation, he finally nodded slowly.

"Alright! Then please weigh out a pound for me, shopkeeper!"

Chen Wenqi quickly responded, his tone full of sincerity, and his eyes revealing a hint of barely suppressed eagerness.

The old shopkeeper still harbored some doubts, but looking at Chen Wenqi's honest and unassuming appearance, with no trace of cunning in his eyes, he didn't seem like someone with malicious intentions. So he stopped worrying about it, turned around and walked towards the medicine cabinet, taking out a package of croton seeds.

He carefully placed the croton seeds on the scale, weighed them carefully to make sure they were a full pound, and then steadily handed them to Chen Wenqi.

"Young man, I must tell you this seriously: croton is a powerful laxative. You only need to grind one seed each time. You must not eat more than that."

The old shopkeeper's expression was solemn, and his tone carried a serious warning as he cautioned, word by word, "If you take too much, you might suffer from severe diarrhea and become completely exhausted, which would be dangerous."

"I've kept your advice in mind, thank you for your kind reminder."

Chen Wenqi steadily accepted the packet of croton seeds with both hands, nodding repeatedly with gratitude on his face.

After paying for the croton seeds, Chen Wenqi, clutching the packet, was about to turn and leave when he suddenly stopped, turned back slowly, and asked hesitantly, "By the way, shopkeeper, if I may ask, do you sell any fresh ginseng here?"

"I do have a few fresh ginseng roots here."

The old shopkeeper nodded slightly and continued, "However, fresh ginseng isn't cheap; it costs eight yuan per tael. How much do you plan to buy?"

"I don't need too many, just pick out a fresh ginseng of average quality for me."

Chen Wenqi quickly explained, his tone calm.

The reason he specifically wanted to buy fresh ginseng was that he planned to plant it in his own secret realm. In his previous life, he had studied a professional technique called "tissue culture" and had successfully cultivated a precious orchid variety in the school's laboratory.

As long as he can extract intact cells from this fresh ginseng, he can use the abundant spiritual energy in the secret realm to cultivate more ginseng seedlings.

It's important to know that finding ginseng seeds in a place like Beijing is no easy task, especially since the climate and soil conditions here are not suitable for ginseng growth. Only fresh ginseng can be obtained through some special channels.

After hearing this, the old shopkeeper turned around and went into the inner room. He took out several fresh wild ginseng roots from a temperature-controlled wooden box. Each root was not very large and weighed about one to two ounces.

Chen Wenqi came closer and carefully selected a wild ginseng with excellent appearance and intact roots.

After weighing it, the wild ginseng weighed exactly one tael and five mace. Without any hesitation, Chen Wenqi readily paid twelve yuan before turning around and leaving the pharmacy, satisfied.

Back at the alley entrance, Chen Wenqi once again circulated his spiritual energy, silently dispelling the disguise and restoring his original appearance.

Without further ado, he strode quickly toward his home.

At this time, Yi Zhonghai was still hospitalized and receiving treatment. Although Jia Zhangshi dared not make a scene in the courtyard as she used to, she still muttered curses under her breath, her words full of resentment.

The pound of croton seeds that Chen Wenqi specially bought was specifically prepared for Jia Zhangshi of the Jia family.

Back in his room, Chen Wenqi gently closed the door behind him and re-entered the secret realm, retrieving the entire pound of croton seeds.

With the help of the stone mill placed in the secret place, he finely ground the croton seeds into a uniform and fine powder.

While Chen Wenqi was focused on grinding croton powder, the Jia family in the middle courtyard was also busy preparing dinner.

With her slightly protruding belly, Qin Huairu laboriously kneaded the cornmeal, intending to steam a pot of cornbread for the family's dinner.

Chen Wenqi originally planned to mix the croton powder directly into the dough that Qin Huairu was kneading, but after thinking about it again, he immediately gave up the idea. Qin Huairu was pregnant and her body was already very weak. If she accidentally ate the croton powder, she would suffer from severe abdominal pain at best, and at worst, it would endanger the life of the fetus and herself.

He had no deep-seated hatred for Qin Huairu, so he wouldn't resort to such a vicious act. This time, it would be enough to deal with Jia Zhangshi alone.

Before long, Chen Wenqi had also prepared all the meals for his own family.

Although my mother's cooking skills were not top-notch, they had a unique home-style flavor. In addition, the water tank in the house was filled with spiritual spring water from a secret place. As soon as the braised rabbit was taken out of the pot, the rich and tempting aroma instantly filled the whole house.

Even though the Chen family's doors and windows were tightly closed, the rich and lingering aroma of meat still managed to seep out through the cracks, slowly permeating the entire alley.

Upon smelling the enticing aroma of meat, Jia Zhangshi of the Intermediate Court flew into a rage, and the foul language she uttered became increasingly offensive.

She wanted to ask Qin Huairu to go to the Chen family to ask for some more rabbit meat, but this time Qin Huairu just shook her head and refused decisively. After silently enduring a few harsh words of scolding from Jia Zhangshi, she picked up her bowl and started eating by herself.

When Madam Jia saw that Qin Huairu dared to disobey her, her anger burned even more fiercely. However, she had no way to deal with this daughter-in-law who was always submissive. So she could only grab a hard cornbread from the table and stuff it into her mouth angrily.

Chen Wenqi sensed Jia Zhangshi's every move through the courtyard wall. With a slight thought, he used his powerful mental strength to pick up a small pinch of croton powder and silently flick it into the bowl in front of Jia Zhangshi.

Jia Zhangshi picked up the bowl and gulped down more than half a bowl of cornmeal porridge in a few mouthfuls, but still felt unsatisfied. She then grabbed two cornbread buns and wolfed them down, all the while cursing viciously:

"Damn the Chen family! They live a life of luxury and don't even bother to help us out. It's no wonder their men died young, and those little brats deserve to be hit by a car as soon as they step outside!"

Chen Wenqi heard the poisonous curse clearly, and his anger flared up instantly. In a flash, he threw a handful of croton powder into her bowl.

Jia Zhangshi devoured the porridge and cornbread in the bowl in a whirlwind, then collapsed onto the kang (a heated brick bed). Just as she was about to catch her breath, a sudden, nauseating pain shot through her abdomen.

She frantically tried to get up and run to the toilet, but then heard a muffled "plop" sound, and she uncontrollably soiled her pants.

Terrified, Jia Zhangshi clutched her stomach and staggered towards the public toilet outside the courtyard.

"Puff—puff puff—puff puff puff—"

She walked along, constantly having diarrhea; yellowish-brown excrement dripped down her trouser legs, and a pungent, foul odor instantly filled the entire alley.

Madam Jia was in so much pain that her face turned ashen, cold sweat poured down her forehead, and she swayed as if she were about to faint.

She stumbled and staggered into the public restroom, but as soon as she squatted down, she couldn't control herself anymore. The diarrhea became even more severe, and she felt as if her intestines were twisted into a knot. She groaned in pain and couldn't stop at all.

The neighbors in the middle and front yards frowned at the stench, covering their noses and cursing under their breath, finding the smell unbearable.

Fortunately, Chen Wenqi's house was located upwind of the backyard, and the doors and windows were all tightly closed, so it was not greatly affected.

Chen Wenqi sat upright in the room, clearly sensing Jia Zhangshi's miserable state in his mind. A cold smile slowly curled up at the corner of his mouth: Since this old thing is so rude, today I'll let you taste the taste of diarrhea. This matter won't be over until you're completely exhausted.

The neighbors in the front and middle courtyards were full of complaints and curses. In particular, the Yan family, who were always petty, simply stood at their own door, pointed in the direction of the toilet, and gave Jia Zhangshi a severe scolding, their words full of undisguised disdain.

Jia Zhangshi squatted in the toilet for more than half an hour before she finally felt the cramps in her abdomen ease a little, but her legs were as weak as cotton wool.

She struggled to her feet, leaning against the wall. Just as she reached the bathroom door, still planning to go back and confront Qin Huairu, demanding to know what unclean things she had given her, a sudden, excruciating pain shot through her abdomen.

She had no choice but to clutch her stomach tightly again, stumble back to the toilet, and squat down once more.

After being tossed and turned several times, Jia Zhangshi's face was already ashen, and she was so weak that she seemed about to collapse at any moment.

With a dull thud, her legs suddenly gave way, and she lost her balance, plunging straight back into the filthy latrine.

"Help! Someone, please help me!"

Jia Zhangshi's extremely shrill screams pierced through the courtyard from outside, mixed with the stench rising from the latrine, the foul smell making people nauseous.

Before long, some neighbors noticed the unusual commotion. However, this time, Yi Zhonghai, who usually liked to take charge, was not in the yard.