While Bai Fuchi had not emerged from the bedroom, some residual black energy still emanated from the room.
Liu Sandao probed with his divine sense and found it was the black wedge accompanied by a golden-yellow ring.
As expected, Bai Fuchi would no longer be infected by the plague.
"Auntie, why did Uncle suddenly catch a cold?"
Fu Ruhai continued the conversation.
Since the beginnings of the plague had been discovered, it was best to know its source.
Fu Ruhai used the conversation as an opportunity to conduct an investigation.
"It was at the vegetable market!" Bai Suxiang interjected.
"Oh, is it close to the vegetable market here?"
"Close, close, close, of course it's close. You just need to go downstairs, turn right, and it's about two hundred meters to a large vegetable market!" Guo Xiufang said, feeling an urge to speak her mind for some unknown reason.
Whenever she saw Fu Ruhai, she felt she had a lot to say.
"Oh, I see!"
Fu Ruhai responded perfunctorily and glanced at Liu Sandao with his eyes.
Liu Sandao understood his meaning, and his divine sense instantly left his body, heading to the vegetable market to investigate.
In a corner of the vegetable market, some black energy was emanating. Although the area was not large, everyone leaving the market had to pass through it.
"This is bad!" Liu Sandao exclaimed inwardly.
This meant that everyone who entered the market would carry black energy back with them.
Judging by Bai Fuchi's symptoms, this situation had been going on for two or three days.
He had no idea how many people had already been infected.
Just then, a middle-aged man approached the entrance of the market.
His right eye was slightly askew, not noticeable unless one looked closely. He had a small mustache on both sides of his mouth, slanted.
With a sharp mouth and monkey-like cheeks, he sported a side-parted hairstyle reminiscent of a collaborator.
His appearance was such that it was impossible not to notice him.
"Hey! Old man, want some plague medicine?" he rudely asked an elderly person who was about to enter the vegetable market.
Seeing his demeanor, the old man pursed his lips and walked into the vegetable market without looking back.
The man with the small mustache was not angered, only muttering, "Ungrateful old fool, you'll be dead by the time you get home!"
Fortunately, the old man's legs were not slow, or he might have turned hostile upon hearing those words.
"Hey, little sister, I have medicine for the plague, want some?" At this moment, he saw a young girl walking towards him.
"You have medicine? How much?" The girl stopped and asked.
"How many boxes do you want? Bulk orders get a discount." Seeing a potential customer, the man with the small mustache's attitude improved considerably, and he spoke with a smile.
He even pulled his mask, which had been hanging below his chin, back up when he saw the girl wearing one.
The mask was wrinkled, but he didn't seem to care.
The girl didn't mind, thinking that if he had medicine, he would surely be immune to the plague.
"What medicine? Does it work?"
"One patch, guaranteed to be effective! One box will show results. Even if you're in the ICU, three boxes will guarantee you walk out of the hospital alive!" the man with the small mustache said excitedly. Su Dan Novel Network.
"Ah? Three boxes? How much will that be?" The girl frowned and asked.
Hearing that she might need three boxes, the man with the small mustache was overjoyed. Given the current price of "one patch," anyone who asked for three boxes must either have a genuine plague case in their family or be truly wealthy.
"650 per box, three boxes then! I'll give you a discount, 50 off per box, how about that? Am I being sincere enough?"
"Ah, that's too expensive!" The girl exclaimed in surprise, but she remained rooted to the spot.
The man with the small mustache was quite perceptive. Seeing that the girl didn't move, he knew he had her.
She definitely wanted the medicine, but she was hesitating about the price.
"Too expensive? Haven't you inquired around? Where can you even buy this medicine now? I'm not boasting, but within twenty li, only I have this medicine. It's a bit expensive, but I can absolutely guarantee it's real medicine! And it works well!" the man with the small mustache explained.
The girl was half-believing, half-doubting. The hand holding her grocery bag unconsciously swayed, and she said, "Can it be any cheaper? The price you quoted is indeed too high!"
The man with the small mustache originally didn't want to lower the price, but although the price of "one patch" had increased significantly, his wholesale cost was only a little over three hundred. Doubling the price was already extremely profitable.
Furthermore, the authorities had issued a notice to strengthen crackdowns on such activities.
To ensure long-term business, the man with the small mustache didn't want to be caught as an example.
"How about this? Seeing that you genuinely want it, and you're not old, about the same age as my daughter. If you can buy six boxes at once, I'll sell them to you for 500 per box. How about that?" The man with the small mustache proposed a solution.
Selling at 500 per box was a significant concession.
The girl was stunned.
The man with the small mustache quickly added, "This is my bottom line. If not, I won't sell it!"
"Are you telling the truth? I want it, I want it!" A voice came from the side.
At this moment, a middle-aged woman emerged, carrying a basket, and suddenly appeared in front of the man with the small mustache.
The man with the small mustache was startled by this sudden appearance.
Who knew where this person had come from?
However, with his extensive experience in assessing people, he quickly adjusted his demeanor.
He loved this kind of customer in business. The more eager, the more potential for profit.
"Hey! How can you do this?" The girl, who had finally managed to negotiate a lower price, didn't want to be robbed halfway.
Besides, her family was in dire need of this medicine. If it hadn't been for the severe shortage, she wouldn't have come to the hospital to try her luck.
"What do you mean? If you don't want it, I do. I'll pay immediately, cash or transfer!"
"I also have money. Don't you believe in first come, first served?" the girl said, reaching out to block the middle-aged woman.
The man with the small mustache was inwardly delighted. Though he said nothing, the tips of his mustache curled upwards.
He had about twenty boxes in his backpack, which he had planned to sell throughout the day.
But now, with two customers appearing at once, if they were to argue heatedly, he might sell a large portion of his stock.
"Heh, what do you mean by first come, first served? It's not certain if he'll sell to you, is it, brother?" the middle-aged woman called out to the man with the small mustache while arguing with the girl.
"I want it, of course I want it. Brother, we had an agreement, you can't go back on your word!" the girl said sweetly.
The man with the small mustache stroked his mustache, his eyes narrowed, and said, "That won't do. I already told you, you can't buy this medicine anywhere else. The price is still 650 per box. Take it or leave it!"
"It's all your fault! Now look! I could have bought six boxes earlier, but now I can't even get one!" The girl yelled angrily at the middle-aged woman.
"Hmph! You said 500 per box just now, why has the price gone up? Pfft, you profiteer!"