To express her gratitude to Wu Caiwei, the Prefect praised her medical skills to everyone he met, marveling that she could diagnose his mother's condition at a glance and prescribe the right medicine, when so many others had failed.
With the Prefect's endorsement, her business flourished. Those who had been hesitant soon became believers when they saw a figure as ethereal as an immortal frequently visit her shop. They heard it was the Prefect's son, who had been on death's door, brought back by her. In his gratitude, he frequented her establishment daily, reinforcing the rumors.
Wu Caiwei also strategically introduced her Rongyang Pills, Detoxification Pills, and Healing Pills.
Although these pills were made with relatively simple ingredients, the combination of ordinary items produced remarkable effects. Those who used them were delighted, and the demand far exceeded the supply.
Skilled physicians bought the medicine home, dissolved it in water, and tasted it. They were astonished to find that each small pill contained dozens of medicinal herbs. Unfortunately, they could only identify about a dozen, and the remaining ingredients remained a mystery.
Those with ill intentions quickly set their sights on her formulas. However, knowing she was protected by the Prefect, they dared not act rashly.
Guan Tianyi, having recovered from his illness, had long since moved out of the bamboo grove. He found the adoring gazes of women somewhat tiresome, but to see the person he loved, he endured the discomfort and stepped outside.
Every time Wu Caiwei saw his bewitching face, she felt the injustice of heaven. She, a woman, was plain, while he, a man, possessed such impossibly attractive features.
"Little Weiwei, do you need any help?" Guan Tianyi asked, his innocent eyes looking at her. This was something he had grown fond of doing recently.
"Stop trying to charm me with your good looks. I can't resist temptation," Wu Caiwei said with a sigh. Ever since he discovered she often fawned over him, he seemed to have found an amusing pastime, doing it every day.
"I'm just playing along with your preferences," Guan Tianyi replied. Though he felt a bit affected and even disgusted, he enjoyed teasing her.
"Go and sort through the herbs in my backyard. Don't show your face out front too much; it affects my business," she said, casting a pointed glance towards the door.
Guan Tianyi looked and saw that a group of women had gathered outside the medical hall, all shy and demure. He felt goosebumps prickle all over his body and quickly retreated to the backyard.
Wu Caiwei shook her head. It seemed she couldn't rely on him for anything in this lifetime; his face was too recognizable.
Because her products were so effective, they had spread to the capital without her knowledge. Many merchants, seeing a business opportunity, flocked to her to stock up.
To earn more money, she had to expand her production scale, which proved very effective. Money flowed into her pockets like a river.
With more money, she had not forgotten the purpose of her arrival in the prefecture.
She therefore sent people to open a shop in Ning'an County. Guan Tianyi volunteered, believing that such an important task was best handled by himself to ensure it was done right.
Wu Caiwei immediately agreed, trusting his capabilities. However, the Prefect was somewhat displeased. Previously, his son's health was weak, and he was content as long as his son was alive. Now that his son was energetic and lively, he wanted him to pursue the imperial examinations and inherit his legacy, continuing the Guan family's tradition of scholarly prestige.
Guan Tianyi actually had no objection to the imperial examinations. After all, in ancient times, all professions were considered inferior except for scholarship. No matter how successful a business was, without protection, it would eventually be taken advantage of by others.
However, the imperial examinations, held once every three years, were still two years away. While this might seem like a tight schedule for others, for him, having studied for lifetimes, passing the exams, if not becoming the top scholar, would be achievable. His immediate priority was to help her seek revenge.
Thus, under the Prefect's helpless gaze, Guan Tianyi instructed him to take good care of Wu Caiwei and then led a group of people to Ning'an County.
Old Master Ye, dissatisfied with the struggling Liu family, prepared to deal with the Jiang family. However, the Jiang family was in a peculiar situation. Master Jiang was a scholar, making it difficult to find fault with him. Therefore, he decided to target Liu Wenjie.
He merely complained to some merchants, and opportunistic individuals eager to curry favor with the Ye Mansion immediately had their sons lure Liu Wenjie to gambling houses.
Initially, Liu Wenjie kept it a secret, but as the stakes grew higher and his losses mounted, he not only gambled away all the money he brought from the Liu family but also incurred a substantial debt.
When Jiang Feng learned of this, she sat on the ground, speechless for a long time. Nearly a hundred taels of silver, while not a large sum for them in the past, was a significant amount now. Where could she get one hundred taels? She felt a profound sense of disappointment and frustration.
Her heart wavered between saving him and not saving him. If she saved him, she feared that borrowing money this time would clear his debt, only for him to relapse later, and she would be unable to help. If she didn't save him, after raising him for twenty years, she had developed feelings for him, and she also needed him for her old age.
"Mother, please save me. Those people at the gambling house will really cut off my hands. If my hands are gone, how can I work in the future? How will we survive?" Liu Wenjie was clever and hit directly at the crucial points.
"But if we save you this time, we'll be drowning in debt. If you relapse next time, won't this money be wasted?" Jiang Feng retorted.
"Mother, give me one more chance. I promise to reform and work hard to earn money to support you and see you through your old age," Liu Wenjie knelt and kowtowed to her firmly, saying,
"Fine, fine, fine. I will help you this once. You must know this is the last time. If you make another mistake, no one will save you." Jiang Feng's heart softened. She would help him this once, primarily because she felt she couldn't rely on her own family. Regardless, after raising her son for so many years, she still had feelings for him and was counting on him for her old age.
"Thank you, Mother. Thank you, Mother. I will surely be filial to you from now on," Liu Wenjie said joyfully. At that moment, he secretly vowed in his heart never to enter a gambling house again.
Easier said than done. When Jiang Feng said she would help him repay the debt, the only person who could truly lend her money was her elder brother's family.
Jiang Yongnian looked at his sister before him, unsure of what to say. This nephew had completely spoiled his sister. He didn't believe someone who had gambled for so many years could truly reform. He genuinely didn't want to lend the money, but if he didn't, and his nephew was ruined, he feared they would become a burden for life.
"I wish I could help you, but I don't have that much money," Jiang Yongnian said with a troubled expression, appearing unable to assist.
"Six months ago, I brought back a hundred tael silver note. Your family can't possibly not have savings. Besides, you've collected rent several times in the past few months. How can you not have even a hundred taels?" Jiang Feng clearly didn't believe him, thinking he was trying to fool her.