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Though Ye Wen intended to enter the pharmaceutical industry, his first task was to secure a steady supply of medicinal herbs in a world where systematic cultivation was nonexistent.
As the saying goes, "One should not let profit flow to outsiders." Ye Wen decided to start by introducing easy-to-grow common herbs in Holy Spirit Village.
Thanks to his previous reputation for helping the village prosper, the villagers readily cooperated with Ye Wen's plans. Many stopped growing crops and switched to cultivating medicinal herbs instead.
Fortunately, grain in the world of Douluo was exceedingly cheap. Even in the bustling Tian Dou Imperial City, a meal with meat and vegetables cost only two copper spirit coins. The low value of grain meant the authorities placed no restrictions on what commoners could grow, as long as they paid their taxes on time.
With a series of fortunate coincidences, Ye Wen's initial preparations proceeded smoothly.
In the blink of an eye, the third semester had passed, and Ye Wen's soul power had reached Level 19.
Ye Wen estimated that if he worked hard during the vacation, he'd be ready to hunt for his second soul ring with Grandma Huo and the others by the start of the next term.
This time, instead of visiting Tianxin City, Ye Wen returned to his home in Holy Spirit Village—a rare visit.
Accompanying him was Huo Yu'er. Though she had met Ye Wen's parents several times in Nuoding City over the years, this was her first trip to Holy Spirit Village, leaving her somewhat nervous.
"Relax," Ye Wen teased. "You know my parents well enough. Why are you acting like this is your first time meeting them?"
Three years had passed in the blink of an eye. Now nine years old, and with the accelerated growth from hunting his first soul ring, Ye Wen looked like an eleven- or twelve-year-old from his past life.
Though born a commoner, Ye Wen had always loved reading, both in his past and present life. This gave him an air of scholarly refinement.
Additionally, Ye Wen was meticulous about cleanliness, setting him apart from typical work-study students. He carried himself more like a noble young master but lacked the arrogance and haughtiness of lesser nobles in remote areas, giving him a unique charm.
Thus, the once-dismissed Ye Wen was now regarded with respect at Nuoding Academy. People thought he was a perfect match for Huo Yu'er—the two were seen as a golden couple, a handsome boy and a beautiful girl.
"Hmph, stop nagging. It's my first time visiting your home. Isn't it normal for a girl to feel nervous?" Huo Yu'er retorted, rolling her eyes and pouting.
Her adorable yet feisty demeanor struck a chord in Ye Wen's heart, making him chuckle. However, Huo Yu'er mistook his laughter for mockery and became even angrier. The two began playfully bickering and teasing each other along the way.
Soon, Ye Wen and Huo Yu'er arrived at Holy Spirit Village.
This was supposed to be the harvest season, and the fields should have been filled with golden crops. But due to Ye Wen's intervention, what greeted them was a vast expanse of vibrant medicinal herb fields.
The impact of 10,000 gold spirit coins was significant. In a year, the entire Holy Spirit Village would normally generate only a few dozen gold spirit coins in value.
Thus, the medicinal herb fields in Holy Spirit Village were just the tip of the iceberg compared to the surrounding villages near Nuoding City.
As the two strolled into the village, Old Jack, who was resting under a tree at the entrance, spotted Ye Wen despite being in his sixties or seventies. Waving, he called out:
"Little Wen, you're back!"
Old Jack then turned his attention to Huo Yu'er. Since Ye Wen's parents frequently visited Nuoding City, and Old Jack often did as well, he recognized Huo Yu'er and greeted her warmly.
Though Huo Yu'er was now considered nobility, she, like Ye Wen, treated others with kindness and lacked the arrogance of typical noble children. This was one of the reasons Ye Wen had grown fond of her.
After all, no matter how beautiful someone might be, if their values didn't align, the relationship wouldn't last.
Ye Wen continued on to his home. In this remote countryside, ordinary soul masters rarely passed through unless necessary, creating a peaceful atmosphere that Ye Wen cherished.
Over the next few days, Ye Wen inspected the growth of the herbs he needed, confirming their properties matched his requirements. He then began large-scale procurement and processing, creating more jobs and further boosting his reputation among nearby villages.
But would Ye Wen immediately start selling his medicine?
Reality dictated otherwise.
After all, "Even the finest wine goes unsold if it's hidden in a deep alley." Ye Wen needed to build his reputation before officially launching his products. Otherwise, the local villagers might mistake his strange concoctions of leaves for madness.
Thus, over the following days, Ye Wen began seeking out patients in nearby villages.
Actions spoke louder than words.
When the locals saw patients recovering after consuming Ye Wen's medicine, word would naturally spread, leading more people to seek him out for remedies.
However, not long after Ye Wen began treating patients, an unexpected visitor arrived.
"Stop, Ye Wen! Do you even know anything about herbs, feeding random concoctions to people? What if someone dies because of your medicine? Are you prepared to take responsibility?"
Just as Ye Wen was about to administer medicine to a patient, Tang San's voice suddenly interrupted him.
???
Ye Wen's mind was flooded with question marks.
Wait—why was Tang San here? Shouldn't he be busy courting Xiao Wu at school?
At that moment, Tang San entered the room.
Having shed the burden of Tang Hao's interference and benefiting from subsidies as a work-study student, along with stipends from the Spirit Hall and income from the blacksmith shop, Tang San no longer bore the dark, rugged appearance of three years ago. Under Yu Xiaogang's deliberate grooming, he now carried himself with a more heroic and imposing presence.
Unfortunately, without awakening the Blue Silver Emperor bloodline and weighed down by Tang Hao's genetics, Tang San still looked rather plain.
Following Tang San was another figure—Xiao Wu.
Contrary to their original storyline, the two hadn't become sworn siblings. However, over the past three years, Tang San had intentionally or unintentionally grown closer to Xiao Wu, and their relationship remained that of normal friends.
If Ye Wen remembered correctly, since Grandma Huo had broken through to Spirit Douluo last year, Xiao Wu had avoided visiting the Huo residence. With no home to return to, she had been idling around Nuoding Academy.
Before leaving the academy, Ye Wen had overheard Huo Yu'er mention that Tang San was planning to hunt for his second soul ring, with Xiao Wu tagging along for the adventure.
But why, after going on a soul-hunting expedition, had the two taken such a detour to come here and criticize him?
Before Ye Wen could respond, Tang San, eager to show off in front of Xiao Wu, snatched the bowl of medicine from Ye Wen's hands.
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