19: Being too strong can also be a form of torment.

"Since you're awake, get up and eat, then we'll go to the Pill Workshop together."

Feng Ming gently pulled Jiang Shuwan up.

Jiang Shuwan ate obediently.

However, her gaze kept drifting toward Chun Tao, who was serving by her side.

One glance.

Two glances.

Three glances.

Chun Tao was confused.

Feng Ming was also confused.

Both of them looked at her in unison.

"Madam, is there something wrong with Chun Tao?"

Jiang Shuwan quickly shook her head.

There was no helping it; she was a newcomer with no resources, and if she wanted to find a sister-in-arms to shoulder the burden, she had to start with the people around her.

"No, nothing. I just realized today how pretty Chun Tao is. Don't you think so, Husband?"

Feng Ming instinctively turned to look at Chun Tao.

She blushed from the compliment.

However, no matter how Feng Ming looked at it, she wasn't as pretty as Jiang Shuwan.

But to avoid causing his wife to lose Face, he offered a few perfunctory words.

"That's true. Shuwan, you are beautiful and kind-hearted, so naturally, the Maid by your side is also pretty."

This remark made Jiang Shuwan feel a bit embarrassed.

After the meal, the two left Feng Residence and headed straight for Linglong Pavilion.

As soon as they arrived at the entrance, they discovered two women standing at the door of Linglong Pavilion, looking hesitant and suspicious.

Feng Ming walked over curiously and asked, "Why don't you two young ladies go inside?"

"Sigh, we..."

One of them was about to speak, but when she looked up and saw the dashing and refined Feng Ming, she froze.

"Are you here to buy a Medicinal Pill?"

The girl wearing a white veil hat on the side saw her Maid staring blankly.

She tugged on her sleeve, "Let's go in now."

With that, the two stepped into Linglong Pavilion.

Feng Ming and Jiang Shuwan followed closely, hand in hand.

As soon as Shopkeeper Liu saw Feng Ming, he came forward to greet them.

"Second Young Master, Madam, you have arrived."

Shopkeeper Liu's gaze fell on Feng Ming's legs, his Face full of shock.

"Second Young Master, are your legs healed?"

Feng Ming nodded, "That's right, they are healed."

While the two were talking, the woman with the veil hat who had entered earlier looked astonished.

"Who did you say this is?"

The woman was wearing a veil hat, so her full Face couldn't be seen, but it was clear she was definitely a beauty.

Feng Ming stepped forward with a smile and said.

"Miss, do you recognize me?"

The woman with the veil hat shook her head, "I don't recognize you, but I do have an urgent matter to discuss with the Feng Family's Second Young Master."

"I heard that Linglong Pavilion is now under the management of the Second Young Master."

Feng Ming nodded, "That's right, Linglong Pavilion is indeed under my management."

"I have something I would like to discuss with the Second Young Master. I wonder if you might have the time?"

Feng Ming frowned slightly; he didn't know this person.

But Shopkeeper Liu clearly knew her and hurriedly introduced her.

"Second Young Master, this is the manager of Anping Pill Workshop, Lu An'an."

Feng Ming nodded. After hearing the introduction, he knew this was an independent merchant relying on the Feng Family's protection.

"Second Young Master Feng, I came specifically to see you this time. The waters of the Pill industry in Liumian Prefecture have been stirred into a muddy mess, and those of us who are independent merchants can no longer survive."

"Young Master Feng, rumors have it recently that you were not afraid of gossip and took your brother's wife! You protected the Feng Family's Face!"

"I believe you are a reasonable person, which is why I came to find you!"

"Shall we go inside to talk in detail?"

Feng Ming had decided from the beginning to handle the matter of the independent merchants, so even if Lu An'an hadn't said all this, he would have agreed.

Lu An'an, however, had originally thought she would need to spend a lot of words to get Feng Ming to agree, but she hadn't expected him to invite her inside to talk in detail just after she opened her mouth.

Her eyes couldn't help but redden, and she hurriedly nodded.

A moment later, in a guest room inside the shop.

Feng Ming, Jiang Shuwan, Shopkeeper Liu, and Lu An'an all took their seats, while the Maid Autumn Chrysanthemum stood obediently behind Lu Pingan.

Lu Pingan didn't waste words and spoke directly.

"I have always heard that your Ye Residence takes care of independent merchants, but now, independent merchants are collapsing and closing their doors one after another!"

"We are truly at our wits' end and can only beg for your help!"

"I believe you have also investigated that this matter involves Huidan Workshop, which is backed by the Huangfu Family. The Huangfu Family moved out from Qingyang City and is a branch of the Qingyang City Huangfu Family!"

"The Huangfu Family was already in the Medicinal Pill business in Qingyang City, and they dominated the market with massive assets!"

"The reason this branch moved to Liumian Prefecture now is to seize the Pill market of Liumian Prefecture!"

Feng Ming nodded; he had already guessed the reason behind it in his heart.

Clearly, the other party wasn't just here for this matter.

He asked, "Does Miss Lu have any other matters?"

Lu An'an nodded, then slapped a piece of paper on the table, "I want to sell myself to you."

"What did you say?"

Feng Ming was visibly stunned, while Jiang Shuwan's eyes lit up.

Could this be someone bringing a pillow just as she was getting sleepy?

She happened to be lacking a sister.

"That's great. If Sister Lu has taken a fancy to my husband, there's no need to sell yourself; you can just marry into the family."

Seeing everyone stunned, Jiang Shuwan was the first to react; she went to take Lu Pingan's arm, acting very affectionate.

This was a good sister, after all.

Lu An'an blushed upon hearing this.

"Second Madam, you have misunderstood. When I said I would sell myself to you, that's not what I meant."

"Then what did you mean?"

Feng Ming asked indifferently.

Lu An'an hurriedly explained.

"I have heard that the shops under the Feng Family's name have their Medicinal Pills refined by themselves and then distributed uniformly!"

"This ensures maximum profit!"

"We independent merchants are different; either we purchase Medicinal Pills from others, and the prices cannot compare to the Feng Family's at all!"

"Although we can hire an Alchemist ourselves, the costs are sky-high."

"In normal times, with the Feng Family's care, we independent merchants could still make a living, but now the Huangfu Family has entered the game!"

"We independent merchants have no way to survive at all, and my shop is about to collapse!"

At this point, Lu An'an looked at Feng Ming.

"So I want to join your Feng Family's Pill business!"

"But there's no need to sell yourself, is there?"

Feng Ming said helplessly.

What Miss Lu said was misleading, and Jiang Shuwan's attitude surprised Feng Ming even more.

Was she really this generous?

Shopkeeper Liu suddenly realized.

"So that's it. Second Young Master, we misunderstood."

"For our Feng Family's Pill shops, every manager and Alchemist must sign a deed of sale!"

"The manager knows our Feng Family's business scale and cash flow, and the Alchemist can freely study the Pill Formula provided by our Feng Family!"

"These are all Foundations that cannot be leaked!"

"So they all must sign a deed of sale; regardless of life, old age, sickness, death, or family members falling ill, our Feng Family will be responsible to the end!"

"But at the same time, they cannot leak these things. The deed of sale is established with a Blood Oath. Even if they want to leave in the future, as long as they don't leak this information, we won't stop them!"

"This is also the reason why the Feng Family has a good reputation."

Feng Ming nodded; it was indeed that he hadn't switched his thinking in time.

He knew about the deed of sale; otherwise, he wouldn't have given the Pill Formula yesterday.

It was mainly that Lu An'an's way of expressing it was a bit too scary.

It made him think this girl had taken a fancy to him!