It just so happens that they were also interested in buying medicinal herbs, otherwise they wouldn't have traveled so far to a county pharmacy to buy herbs.
After reaching an agreement, both parties immediately signed a contract. Although the amount of money offered was not as generous as that offered by Xinglin Academy, the quantity required was large, so it wasn't a loss in the long run.
...
Gu Fengyan and Huo Duan then entrusted the task of finding medicinal herbs for Jing Ge'er to two out-of-town herbal medicine merchants and Lin Ru. They also spent ten strings of silver to get a prescription for Huo A'die before leaving Xinglin Courtyard.
Next stop: Dong Fu Lou.
With the house they provided, Dongfulou's reputation had spread far and wide, and business was booming, leaving Yingchunlou across the street with no chance of survival. Every time Manager Zhou saw Gu Fengyan and Huo Duanlai, he would stand behind the counter gritting his teeth for a long time, wishing he could devour them alive.
They pretended not to see anything and followed Li Zhangguo into the Dongfulou restaurant. It was lunchtime, and the main hall was full of people eating. Judging from the waiters bustling up and down the stairs, the private rooms upstairs, which were reserved for VIPs, were probably all full.
With so many customers, Manager Li was so busy he barely had time to spare and had to attend to them. He had barely said two words when someone called him away.
Manager Li felt quite apologetic. Gu Fengyan and Huo Duan were fine and, seeing the situation, didn't want to stay any longer, so Manager Li simply gave them 40% of their monthly income.
The small Dongfu Restaurant had a gross profit of over 500 guan per month, something Gu Fengyan and Huo Duan had never imagined.
They received over a hundred strings of cash.
With such high profits, Gu Fengyan and Huo Duan immediately had an idea. Their medicinal cuisine recipes were so popular in a small county like Qianmo. If they could open a chain like Yingchunlou across the street, wouldn't the profits be even higher?
Manager Li was busy running around the room, and today was really not the time to talk business. Gu Fengyan and Huo Duan took the money and left.
However, after just one trip outside, he had already collected over two hundred strings of cash. He had fallen from the heights of power as a pampered CEO, only to rise again from the mud... This process was truly quite miraculous.
Gu Fengyan stepped out of the Dongfulou gate, stretched, and felt the warm sunlight streaming down his face.
"What's wrong, are you tired?" Huo Duan leaned over and massaged his lower back, chuckling softly.
Gu Fengyan glanced at him and said, "Hypocrite."
Despite being teased, Huo Duan wasn't annoyed. He grinned like a big dog and leaned closer to Gu Fengyan, his hand gestures becoming suggestive. "Is your back feeling better?"
Mentioning this made Gu Fengyan grit his teeth in hatred. He clicked his tongue and said irritably, "What do you think?!"
"It's my fault, shall I carry you back?" The two walked to a less crowded area, not far from the house, and Huo Duan asked with a smile.
The man's hands seemed to possess some kind of magical power, kneading Gu Fengkuangyan's waist until it felt numb, as if some strange switch had been pressed.
"Don't do anything rash, there are still people around." His voice finally softened a bit, afraid that Huo Duan would do something excessive.
"What's wrong with that? So what if there are people around..." Huo Duancai didn't care, and suddenly grabbed Gu Fengyan by the waist, half-carrying him on his shoulder—
"Ah..." Gu Fengyan exclaimed, and quickly hooked her arms around his neck.
“A proper married couple, who would dare to interfere?” Huo Duan raised his voice.
The sight of the loving couple in public drew the attention of several passersby. Instead of finding it indecent, the passersby found it pleasing to the eye. Several unmarried girls blushed and covered their eyes when they saw Huo Duan.
Gu Fengyan was completely at a loss with him, burying her face in Huo Duan's neck like an ostrich.
At night, after Gu Fengyan and Huo Duan finished bathing and washing up, they put on their clothes and studied the menu at their desk.
With water dripping from the ends of her hair, Gu Fengyan rolled up her sleeves, picked up a brush, and wrote down the recipes for the new dishes for Dongfulou on a sheet of white Xuan paper.
Huo Duan took a snow-white soft towel from somewhere and dried his hair. He then looked over his head and watched Gu Fengyan write.
"Five grams of epimedium and three grams of black tea, steeped in boiling water and drunk... to tonify the kidneys and strengthen yang, dispel wind and dampness," he recited, then suddenly chuckled, "Is this prescription really effective?"
Gu Fengyan turned around, smiling as she looked him over. "What? Does President Huo need an aphrodisiac?"
Huo Duan pressed him down on the stool, rubbing the ends of his hair dry little by little. Hearing this, he paused for a moment... then suddenly lifted the stool and turned it around.
Gu Fengyan had no choice but to face him directly. His tall figure, long legs, and imposing presence were overwhelming.
"Do you think I need it?" Huo Duan leaned down slightly, smiling as he looked Gu Fengyan up and down, his eyes full of malice. "I, on the other hand, wouldn't mind..."
Staring at those long legs, broad chest, and burning, dark eyes, Gu Fengyan couldn't help but imagine... If Huo Duan were any stronger, he would surely die on the bed.
He swallowed hard, unable to utter a single word.
Gu Fengyan's eyes darted away, his cheeks burning.
"Ah Yan isn't saying anything..." Huo Duan suddenly leaned down even lower and chuckled softly, "Was it because I didn't serve you well enough?"
Their breaths were too close. Gu Fengyan was trapped between his arms, unable to move, and had no power to resist.
Gu Fengyan stared at him, "You dare!"
The angry look in his eyes had no effect whatsoever. Huo Duan felt that his eyes could drip water, and with the redness at the corners of his eyes and the water soaking into his semi-transparent white nightgown.
Once something like this happens, it's bound to happen again. Once you've tasted the sweetness, you get hooked. The two of them, who were at the age where they were indulging in pleasure, would find their gazes locked for a while before turning sour.
Gu Fengyan licked his dry, hot lips with the tip of his tongue... How could Huo Duan possibly hold back any longer?
He stood up and swept everything off the table, then pulled Gu Fengyan down and pressed him onto the table.
The paper fluttered to the ground, and the ink flowed down the table.
Tick-tock, tick-tock—
"Ayan, I have a project worth several hundred million that I'd like to discuss with you..." Huo Duan's eyes were dark yet exceptionally bright, and his voice was like a gust of wind.
The teasing made Gu Fengyan feel uncomfortable all over, and he also had a lot of pain in his back.
"Pervert, lecher!" he muttered hoarsely, covering his eyes and tightening his legs.
The table couldn't bear the weight, so Huo Duan pulled him up, and then pulled him up again... Gu Fengyan felt the world turn upside down, the moonlight swaying and pouring in through the window, and he swayed too.
The undried ink stained their snow-white nightgowns, like a messy painting.
The author writes: "This formula tonifies the kidneys and strengthens yang, dispels wind and dampness. It is suitable for men with impotence, seminal emission, dribbling urination, muscle spasms, weakness in the lower back and knees, and rheumatic pain. Ingredients: 5g of Epimedium and 3g of black tea. Steep in boiling water and drink."
—Yue Guihua and Yang Gaohua, *Illustrated Complete Guide to Chinese Herbal Medicines*
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
Chapter Forty-Two
Gu Fengyan slept until the sun was high in the sky. His whole body ached, and his throat was parched. He shielded his eyes from the sunlight streaming in through the window with the back of his hand and tried to clear his throat. The sound he made was like a duck's quack, extremely unpleasant.
The things on the floor and the table had all been rearranged and put away by Huo Duan. A set of clothes was neatly folded by the pillow, and there was a scent of soap pods.
Gu Fengyan felt empty inside. He got up to put on his clothes, but as soon as his toes touched the ground, his knees buckled and he fell to the ground with a thud. The low table next to him was also affected, and the small white porcelain jar and several booklets on it scattered to the ground.
"Ouch..." Gu Fengyan was hurt from the fall. He frowned at the begonia-colored ointment spilled from the white porcelain jar on the ground, and felt a surge of hatred for Huo Duan. "Pah, beast!"
"Are you cursing me again?" Huo Duan was carrying breakfast and was about to walk to the door when he heard someone fall inside. He hurriedly stepped forward, but before he could even open the door, he heard Gu Fengyan cursing.
Gu Fengyan sat sideways on the ground, his bloodshot eyes glaring at him.
Huo Duan put down the food, then carefully picked the person up, helped them stand up, and dressed them piece by piece, chuckling, "Why are you scolding me?"
"Can't I scold you?" Gu Fengyan asked, raising his eyes as he allowed him to serve her.
Huo Duan glanced at the red marks on Gu Fengyan's neck, knowing he was in the wrong, and quickly kissed the corner of his lips, "You've scolded me, you've scolded me... Now that you've vented, shall we eat? Are you hungry?"
Gu Fengyan didn't speak, looking languid, as if he was forcing his eyelids open. Huo Duan knew he was hungry, so he quickly dressed him, helped him wash his face and rinse his mouth, and then set out the meal.
The meal was simple: a few dishes of pickled vegetables and two bowls of plain porridge with crushed peanuts mixed in, which tasted sweet and delicious.
Gu Fengyan took a bite of cucumber shreds and his appetite was whetted. He still ate in a refined manner. Huo Duan watched happily from the side and picked up chopsticks to serve him some food.
"I made this myself this morning, Ah Yan, eat more." He smiled gently and picked up a piece of the thousand-pound vegetable with his chopsticks and put it in a small dish.
After being served, Gu Fengyan was quite pleased, and his attitude improved considerably. He took a bite and said with a smile, "It tastes good. I didn't know that President Huo could make this."
Huo Duan seized the opportunity, saying, "I'm good at so many things. I can cook and I can be a womanizer. Ayan has really struck gold."
Gu Fengyan paused with his chopsticks, his face slightly red, and muttered a soft "tsk".
That's not wrong. Huo Duan's skills are indeed impressive. Gu Fengyan couldn't believe he was a virgin.
"No news from the village, is there?" He coughed lightly to change the subject.
Seeing his expression, Huo Duan served him another half bowl of porridge. "Oh, Brother Shen came by this morning. He said that Rui-ge'er is two months pregnant. He said that he was worried about the instability of the pregnancy in the first three months, so he quit his job of buying medicinal herbs..."
"Pregnant?!" He stopped eating and his eyes widened slightly.
Gu Fengyan has always chosen to ignore the men in this world... including the fact that she can conceive.
Gu Fengyan was quite shocked when he first heard that Ruige'er was pregnant.
Huo Duan nodded, "Yes, Father told us to go back after we've eaten and find someone to take over Rui Ge'er's work."
Gu Fengyan was somewhat dazed. "Father is very thoughtful. I should go back and take a look."
“I think this can be given to Uncle.” Huo Duan put a few more bites of food on his plate. “He works hard making money back and forth in the county. With Aunt’s help, he can do this job. He can also take care of the fields when he’s free.”
He paused and added, "However, they've been busy with my older brother's wedding these past few days, so they're probably too busy to help out. Why don't we stay in the village for a few days and help out?"
Gu Fengyan finished his meal, put down his chopsticks, and said, "Okay, you can arrange it."
...
After serving Gu Fengyan his meal, it was almost afternoon. Taking advantage of the remaining time, they told Father Huo and hurried back to the village.
I went to Shen Zhuo's house first.
News in the village spreads like wildfire. If someone's wife or husband is pregnant, or if someone has a baby, the whole village will know about it in less than a night.
When Huo Duan and Gu Fengyan arrived at the Shen family's door, there were many people inside. Some were carrying eggs, and others were carrying brown sugar. Jiang Xuerui's belly was not yet noticeable, as the young master was not very pregnant to begin with.
A group of people surrounded me, guessing the baby's gender.
Opinions varied, but everyone wished him to have a healthy baby boy so that the Shen family could have many descendants.
Jiang Xuerui blushed and invited them to drink tea, saying, "Whether you're a boy or a girl, or a young master, the most important thing is that you're healthy and safe."
Shen Zhuo chimed in, and the others didn't say anything.
Gu Fengyan and Huo Duancai went inside with the things they had brought.
"Congratulations, Second Brother Shen and Brother Rui," Huo Duan said with a smile.
The attention of the group was drawn to them again, and everyone looked over. Shen Zhuo hurriedly came up to take the things and poured tea for the two of them.
Jiang Xuerui was about to help, but Gu Fengyan just told him to sit down and not to bother.
"Did Shen Zhuo tell you about collecting medicinal herbs?" Jiang Xuerui asked apologetically. "He should have told you beforehand, but I only found out when I noticed something was wrong and asked Mr. Liang to come and take a look. I hadn't paid much attention to it before."
Gu Fengyan smiled and said, "No need to apologize. This is a joyous occasion. Huo Duan and I came to visit and wish the baby good health and safety. We will come to celebrate the baby's one-month birthday."