Supply-Demand Relationship.
Doctor Xu naturally didn't dare to go himself. With his old bones, he'd probably be buried in the ground before even getting close to the black market. However, a fifty-fifty split really made his heart ache.
"How much does one packet of your medicine cost to make?"
"One... two taels."
Zhong Lin's face darkened. He shot an unfriendly look at the old man, Doctor Xu. "It costs one tael to make, but you sell it to me for three? A full two-tael profit? Not bad, old man."
With a cold snort, Zhong Lin said, "If you don't want to split it fifty-fifty, then let's change the arrangement. I'll buy each packet from you at two taels, and I'll sell it myself. Whatever price I get has nothing to do with you, and you won't have to take any risks. How about it?"
In short, he changed the partnership model into a supply-and-demand relationship.
Doctor Xu pondered for a while and finally agreed. Earning one tael per packet wasn't as much as before, but he couldn't always count on someone as foolish as Zhong Lin to come along. Plus, this way, he wouldn't be taking any risks—why not?
"Go make the medicine! The black market is only open for seven days at the start of the month. Today is already the second day—we need to hurry."
"Alright, I'll get started. Close the door. I won't be seeing patients for the next few days."
Doctor Xu hurried to the back courtyard and told Zhong Lin to shut the front door.
Zhong Lin, bored, found a chair and sat down. Watching the constantly busy Doctor Xu, a slight smile appeared on his face.
He had looked into Doctor Xu. The man came from a family of doctors. His son and daughter-in-law had been killed by bandits while traveling to provide medical aid, leaving behind only a grandson, whom he cherished dearly. Coincidentally, the boy was also a classmate of Little Shi.
Doctor Xu was over fifty, skilled in medicine, and had a fiery temper, but he was righteous at heart. The fact that he had just used Zhong Lin's name to save someone proved it.
Partnering with such a person was the easiest—and easiest to control.
As he thought, Zhong Lin noticed a stack of books on the clinic's desk. He had an idea and walked over.
"Treatise on Cold Damage Disorders"
Thanks to his recent efforts in studying, Zhong Lin had already mastered the commonly used characters. He could read this book with ease.
Picking one up, he returned to his seat and began to study it carefully.
Since it was placed on Doctor Xu's desk for casual reading, it was obviously not just any random book but a specialized medical text on cold damage illnesses.
Zhong Lin had already planned to study medicine. Now that he had the time, he might as well take a look.
One hour later
Footsteps from the back hall interrupted Zhong Lin's reading. He looked up to see Doctor Xu carrying five packets of medicine in each hand. His face, aged beyond fifty, showed clear signs of exhaustion—it was obvious that making these ten packets had been no easy task.
Zhong Lin glanced at his system panel, a smile appearing on his face.
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- Host: Zhong Lin
- Skills: Archery (Max Level), Flying Locust Stone (Max Level), Realistic Painting (Max Level), Calligraphy (Max Level), Culinary Arts (Max Level), Iron Mountain Strength Technique (Max Level), Instant Kill Technique (Max Level), Black Tiger Fist (Max Level), Willow Catkin Footwork (Max Level), Wind-Splitting Blade Technique (Max Level), Treatise on Cold Damage Disorders(Beginner).
- Skill Points: ∞
---
The system panel had now recorded Treatise on Cold Damage Disorders as a skill. And once something became a skill, for Zhong Lin, it was only a matter of thought.
With a single thought, the "∞" after skill points flickered. The next moment, *Treatise on Cold Damage Disorders* became max level. Instantly, a flood of memories poured into Zhong Lin's mind.
In those memories, he spent every day studying this book, spending over ten years seeing patients, specializing in cold damage illnesses. Another ten years passed before he finally mastered its contents completely.
Zhong Lin slowly opened his eyes, a newfound understanding appearing in his mind.
"Zhong brat, time is tight. I only managed to make ten packets today. Tomorrow, I can do thirty, and the day after, even more."
"No need to overdo it. Thirty packets a day is enough. The black market may not be able to absorb more than that." Zhong Lin waved his hand.
"Alright then."
Zhong Lin stood up and weighed the ten packets of Eight-Treasure Blood Nourishing Soup in his hand.
"I'll settle the silver with you tomorrow morning. I don't have any money on me right now."
Doctor Xu's smile stiffened. He suddenly felt like he had walked into a trap.
"This book looks good too. I'll borrow it."
Before leaving, Zhong Lin took another book from the pile—A Beginner's Guide to Herbal Medicine.
On the way home, he stopped by a butcher's stall and bought some meat. As the sky darkened, the number of pedestrians decreased, making the growing number of refugees even more noticeable.
"Tomorrow, I need to ask Old Zhou what's really happening outside."
That evening, Little Shi came back from school. He tossed his stitched-up book bag onto the bed and ran straight to the kitchen—the aroma was irresistible.
Zhong Lin untied the apron around his waist and smiled. "Go wash your hands first."
"Mm!"
Dinner was braised pork, cold shredded pig's ear, and minced meat sauce, served with freshly boiled noodles. The flavor was so good, one could eat three bowls without stopping.
From three pounds of fatty pork, Zhong Lin rendered a pot of lard. A spoonful added to stir-fried dishes instantly multiplied their fragrance. The leftover crispy pork bits were stored separately—perfect as a snack. Crispy and delicious.
After dinner, Little Shi diligently washed the dishes and then sat at his desk to practice calligraphy.
Meanwhile, Zhong Lin started reading A Beginner's Guide to Herbal Medicine.
He continued reading until the last bit of sunlight disappeared.
There was no habit of reading at night in this household. Not because they couldn't afford oil lamps, but because the dim lighting was harmful to the eyes. And in this era, there were no opticians to prescribe glasses.
Zhong Lin didn't want Little Shi to grow up unable to tell men from women at five meters or distinguish people from livestock at ten meters.
"Go to bed early."
"Mm! Second Brother, you should sleep early too!"
Little Shi obediently removed his outerwear, climbed into bed, and went to sleep.
Zhong Lin closed his book, glanced at his system panel, and smiled.
"Add skill points."
After a while, he slowly opened his eyes. He picked up a packet of Eight-Treasure Blood Nourishing Soup, scratched out a small portion with his fingernail, sniffed it, then swallowed it.
"Angelica, rehmannia, poria, cistanche, raspberry, dodder seed, privet fruit, polygonatum, and deer antler."
"Good grief! Is this for blood nourishment or
Just from a single taste, he had identified nine ingredients. A few others were still unfamiliar, but no rush—he'd figure them out after reading a few more books.
As time passed...
At the hour of Xu (9 PM - 11 PM), Zhong Lin changed into a gray robe, masked his face with a black cloth, strapped a bow and arrows to his waist, carried a leather pouch, and gripped a ghost-headed saber.
Hiding in the shadows, he quietly left the county and ran toward the dense forest.
"Entry fee—one copper coin."
At the black market entrance, the same burly bearded man was guarding the gate. Seeing Zhong Lin, his eyes brightened, especially when he noticed the ghost-headed saber in his hand.
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