Chapter 9: The Purple Gold Ginseng

“I’m willing to pay two or even three times the original price—maybe even more. Will you sell it?” Xiao Nan spoke with unwavering determination; he absolutely had to have this Purple Gold Ginseng!

Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper’s expression immediately changed, and he cautiously asked, “Are you serious?”

“Of course. I can pay right now.”

Xiao Nan reached for the bank card Lin Guoliang had given him. But after fumbling for a while, he realized he had forgotten to bring his card—he’d been kicked out by Lin Ziqing that morning and left it behind.

“I didn’t bring my card today. Could you hold it for me? I’ll come back and pay in a few days,” Xiao Nan said, slightly embarrassed.

The old shopkeeper’s face darkened instantly. Was this kid toying with him?

He snapped sharply, “Who do you think you are, coming here to mess around? Get out of my shop immediately!”

“No, shopkeeper, I really forgot my card,” Xiao Nan explained helplessly.

“Get out before I have someone toss you out! If you don’t have money, don’t act all high and mighty ordering so many herbs! Do you think Shen’an Hall is just a place anyone can stroll into?” The shopkeeper snorted disdainfully, utterly disbelieving Xiao Nan.

Xiao Nan sighed and turned to leave, hearing the shopkeeper mutter under his breath, “Coward!”

Just then, a strong yet aged voice came from behind.

“What’s going on here?”

Dr. Xu appeared, surrounded by a retinue of physicians, exuding an air of authority. It was his consultation day, and having heard the commotion downstairs, he had come down to investigate.

The shopkeeper immediately put on a flattering smile. “President Xu, you’ve come at the perfect time! This audacious kid is deliberately causing trouble at Shen’an Hall!”

Dr. Xu frowned slightly, following the direction of the pointing finger.

Xiao Nan slowly turned around with an innocent smile.

Dr. Xu’s eyes fixed on him; it could only be Xiao Nan.

He hurried forward excitedly, “Senior, what are you doing here?”

Xiao Nan felt awkward. “I came to buy some herbs, but I forgot to bring money.”

“President Xu, you know this kid?” the shopkeeper asked, approaching.

“What kid? This young man is the prodigious young doctor I mentioned. Yesterday, he cured the stubborn illness of the richest man in Lin County!”

At these words, a murmur spread throughout the hall.

The shopkeeper’s face instantly changed, his body trembling.

“What!?”

“So young?”

In their minds, anyone capable of curing the Lin tycoon’s unyielding disease had to be at least as old as Dr. Xu, around fifty or sixty years old at least.

But here stood a mere twenty-year-old!

Impossible!

Pale with fright, the shopkeeper hurriedly said, “President Xu, you must have mistaken him. He’s just a fraud!”

Before he finished, Dr. Xu slapped the shopkeeper sharply across the face, the sound crisp and clear.

“Impudent! In front of Doctor Xiao, I wouldn’t even dare call myself a doctor. How dare you insult him? Apologize!”

The shopkeeper was stunned, covering his face. “I… I’m sorry, Doctor Xiao. I didn’t recognize your stature…”

“You’re magnanimous. Don’t bother with me,” Xiao Nan smiled faintly. “It’s fine—I truly forgot my money today.”

Dr. Xu glared at the shopkeeper. “What are you waiting for? Hurry up and prepare the herbs!”

“Yes, yes, right away,” the shopkeeper stammered, nervously glancing at Xiao Nan before rushing off.

“Thanks. I’ll come by and pay for the herbs in a few days,” Xiao Nan said.

Dr. Xu had wanted to tell him the herbs were a gift, but seeing the look in Xiao Nan’s eyes, he held back.

Xiao Nan pointed to the herb and asked, “Could you bring that over for me to see?”

Dr. Xu immediately handed it to him.

Xiao Nan examined it carefully.

Indeed, this was the Purple Gold Ginseng he sought.

Dr. Xu pondered for a moment. “This herb was reserved by a customer and will be picked up soon. Since you want it, you can take it now.”

“Thanks. I see the price is marked at five hundred thousand. How about I pay an extra five hundred thousand as an apology to Shen’an Hall?” Xiao Nan said.

Normally, he wouldn’t break any rules—every trade has its customs—but this item was crucial to him.

“The original buyer probably needed it for treatment. You have my contact. If he has any illness, tell him to reach out—I’ll treat him as well.”

Satisfied, Xiao Nan tucked the herb into his coat and turned to leave.

After he left, Dr. Xu scolded the shopkeeper: “If this ever happens again, you won’t have a job here.”

“Remember, whenever Doctor Xiao comes, everything is free!”

“Yes, yes, President Xu. I’ll be more careful!”

The old shopkeeper wiped the sweat from his brow, secretly relieved.

How terrifying!

Are doctors nowadays all so modest?

If Doctor Xiao weren’t so generous, he’d have lost his job today!

Just as Xiao Nan stepped out the door of Shen’an Hall, hurried footsteps sounded behind him.

He turned to see a woman with flowing purple waves in her hair, wearing sunglasses and a pale purple pleated skirt that accentuated her graceful figure. Her fair, smooth skin and striking presence drew many gazes.

“Shopkeeper, what about the herb I ordered?” she asked at the counter.

“It’s been sold,” the shopkeeper replied reluctantly.

“What? It was already reserved by me! How could you sell it to someone else?”

“I’ll have to speak with President Xu about this,” the woman said angrily.

The shopkeeper sneered coldly. “Sorry, but this was President Xu’s decision. The customer said if you have issues, you can contact him directly. He just left a little while ago—you might still catch up.”

The woman snorted and hurried off.

Her mind flashed back to a handsome man she had brushed past at the entrance.

It must have been him who snatched the herb she needed.

Xiao Nan hadn’t gone far when the woman caught up, panting heavily, the contours of her figure quite noticeable due to her labored breathing.

She removed her sunglasses, revealing a face of breathtaking beauty.

Seeing her, Xiao Nan suddenly recalled a drama Lin Ziqing had been watching, in which this woman starred.

If he remembered correctly, she was Liu Binglan, a top-tier celebrity.

“Young man, I have a favor to ask,” Liu Binglan said, smoothing her breath and batting her eyes with innate charm.

“Go ahead.”

“I originally reserved this herb at Shen’an Hall, but the shopkeeper said you bought it.”

“Could you please give it to me? This herb is very important to me.”

“If you agree, I can pay an extra one million as compensation. How about that?”

Liu Binglan looked at Xiao Nan with tears like pear blossoms, utterly captivating.

Xiao Nan waited quietly for her to finish, then smiled and shook his head gently: “No.”