Hermit in the Mountains

The next morning, after finishing his cultivation practice for the day, Gu Changsheng changed into a dark blue robe, coiled his long hair on top of his head, put on a bamboo hat that had been prepared in advance, and wore a pair of bamboo sandals.

He opened the bedside table drawer and took out nine Grade One Qi-Nourishing Pills and nine Grade One Yang-Boosting Pills, placing them into the wide inner pocket of his sleeve.

He picked up his phone and walked towards the door. He stopped at the door, looked down at Big Yellow at his feet, and instructed, "Big Yellow, I'm going out for a bit. You three guard the house."

"Woof woof woof........." (Yes, yes, yes.)

Big Yellow trotted along and escorted Gu Changsheng to the entrance of the bamboo forest trail. After watching his master's figure disappear, he did not leave but squatted in the same spot, becoming a goalkeeper.

Yang Dashan, who was waiting at the valley entrance, saw Gu Changsheng appear and greeted him with a smile, "Good morning, Brother Gu!"

"Brother Yang, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting!" Gu Changsheng replied with a smile.

"I just arrived recently too," Yang Dashan waved his hand.

Gu Changsheng knew Yang Dashan's personality; the other party would be waiting for him at the valley entrance at least half an hour in advance. He didn't say much and walked towards the passenger seat. "Let's go."

A Wuling van left Xiahe Village and drove onto the provincial highway, then onto the expressway leading to Chang'an City.

After the vehicle entered the highway, Gu Changsheng brought up the matter of peach blossom planting, saying, "Brother Yang, have you rested enough?"

Yang Dashan focused on driving, not turning to look at the passenger seat, but asked with a hint of joy, "Brother Gu, are we going to start planting peach saplings yet?"

Gu Changsheng told the other party about his new plan, "Yes, this time we will plant all the remaining 20,000 peach tree saplings."

"Give back those thirty people from last time, paying them a thousand a day each. Can they finish planting all the crops in half a month?"

"Sure, I guarantee they'll all be planted within half a month." Yang Dashan replied without hesitation.

The planting period given by Gu Changsheng was within a generous range; previously, thirty people could plant five thousand plants in three days.

This time, the peach trees were planted in the area downhill from the mountainside. The slope was much better than at the top of the mountain, and it was closer to the foot of the mountain, making watering more convenient. It took less than half a month to plant them.

"Take me back to where I was last time. I have some things to take care of. You go to the tree seedling wholesale market and order some seedlings first."

"Pre-order the peach saplings. You can wander around the city by yourself. I'll call you once I've taken care of things."

After Gu Changsheng finished arranging things, the two started chatting about everyday matters.

Yang Dashan's eyes light up whenever he talks about his daughter, radiating confidence.

Unbeknownst to them, the vehicle exited the highway and turned onto the main road in the center of Chang'an City.

In the ancient city of Chang'an, the street where Fushou Hall is located remains quiet and sparsely populated.

When Gu Changsheng appeared at the entrance of Fushou Hall, Zhang Yuanfu, who had been waiting in the hall, saw him out of the corner of his eye and immediately got up to go out and greet him.

He received a message from Gu Changsheng yesterday, saying that he would bring some nice things for him to taste today, but he didn't reveal a word, which aroused his curiosity.

He was itching to get there, and waited for Gu Changsheng in the lobby an hour before the appointed time.

"Mr. Gu, it's been a long time. What fine goods have you brought for this old man today?"

"Long time no see, Elder Zhang. You'll see soon enough!" Gu Changsheng replied mysteriously, and the two walked into the lobby.

Even at the door, Gu Changsheng was still reluctant to reveal what the treasure was, which only fueled Zhang Yuanfu's curiosity.

As Gu Changsheng passed the front desk counter, Zhang Dafu, who was dispensing medicine, greeted him, "Mr. Gu, you've arrived."

"Brother Zhang, it's been a long time. You're busy." Gu Changsheng didn't disturb the other party from getting the medicine.

At the tea table, Zhang Yuanfu poured Gu Changsheng a cup of tea and gestured with his hand, "Have a taste, this is the first tea of ​​the year."

"Thank you, Elder Zhang." Gu Changsheng picked up his teacup, a faint orchid fragrance mingled with a refreshing coolness.

He took a small sip. He didn't know much about tea, but he described his first impression as "fresh, sweet, and with a hint of icy coolness."

"Impressive. Many people can't taste the refreshing coolness of snow." Zhang Yuanfu gave it high praise. "The tea you are drinking is the new buds of wild white tea from Changbai Mountain, which are a hundred years old. The new buds, after being infused with ice and snow, have their own unique refreshing coolness."

"I managed to snatch a few ounces from an old friend to try it out."

"I don't know much about tea, I'm just expressing my feelings," Gu Changsheng put down his teacup and shook his head in reply.

Remembering his business, Zhang Yuanfu couldn't help but ask, "By the way, what kind of 'good stuff' are you talking about?"

After speaking, he glanced at Gu Changsheng.

Gu Changsheng carried nothing on him; a bamboo hat and a long robe suggested he wasn't carrying anything large, but rather something exquisite.

Gu Changsheng reached into his left sleeve with his right hand and pulled out a wooden casing containing a sealed elixir, handing it to Zhang Yuanfu opposite him. "Elder Zhang is a master of medicine; how about you taste the elixir I refined?"

When Zhang Yuanfu heard Gu Changsheng mention the pills, he looked curious and suspicious as he reached out to take the wooden casing.

He didn't rush to open the wooden casing; instead, he brought it to his nose and sniffed it to identify the medicinal ingredients inside.

The aroma of the medicine was familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar. He pried open the wooden shell and took a deep sniff, confirming that it was a Peiyuan Pill. What puzzled him was that this Peiyuan Pill was different from those made by Fushoutang, as it had an additional smell of some indescribable medicinal herb.

The aroma of the medicine was even richer and more mellow; he only took one sniff and his breathing became much easier.

He looked up at Gu Changsheng and asked curiously, "The Qi-Nourishing Pill?"

"Yes and no," Gu Changsheng said with a mysterious smile.

"You have improved the formula for the Peiyuan Dan (a traditional Chinese medicine formula)."

"Yes, in addition to the improved prescription, the production process has also become more complicated."

Upon hearing Gu Changsheng's answer, Zhang Yuanfu stared intently at the Peiyuan Pill in his hand.

He wanted to know the new formula, but since it was the result of Gu Changsheng's research, he wouldn't presume to ask.

"Have you tried the medicine? How is it different from the Peiyuan Dan in our store?"

"The effects of the medicine are quite different. It is harmless to the human body, but it may produce some side effects." Gu Changsheng did not specify what the side effects were. This was his perverse sense of humor. Those who took his elixir would have to experience a poison gas attack without knowing it.

When Zhang Yuanfu heard that it was harmless to the human body but would produce some side effects, he frowned. Wasn't this a paradox?

"Dad, Mr. Gu, what are you talking about?" Zhang Dafu came over after getting the medicine and heard his father and Gu Changsheng talking in riddles again.

Seeing the pills in his father's hand, he asked curiously, "Mr. Gu, did you bring these today?"

He had also heard his father mention that Gu Changsheng would bring some nice things for them to taste today.

"Brother Zhang, my improved Peiyuan Pill has excellent effects on regulating the body. Would you like to try it?" Gu Changsheng pointed to the pill, a smirk playing on his lips. "It's worth at least tens of thousands, but I'll give it to you for free."

When Zhang Yuanfu and his son heard that a single Peiyuan Pill cost tens of thousands of yuan, their faces showed disbelief.

Their family has been running a pharmacy for over a century and also makes pills, including Peiyuan Dan.

The highest quality Peiyuan pills in the store only cost 365 yuan each, but Gu Changsheng asked for tens of thousands of yuan. No wonder they were shocked.

Zhang Dafu blurted out, "Tens of thousands of yuan a pill, is it some kind of magic pill?"

"It can't be considered a magic pill," Gu Changsheng replied, then named the new Qi-Nourishing Pill, "First-Grade Qi-Nourishing Minor Spirit Pill."

Zhang Yuanfu and his son never expected Gu Changsheng to answer so confidently, even coming up with a name for the new pill.