Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
By the time Pei Rong reached the restaurant, Lin Shuwen had already been waiting for 30 minutes, but he did not appear impatient.
“Hi, Young Master Pei.” Lin Shuwen reached his hand out to greet Pei Rong.
Ever since Pei Rong had passed the test and gotten promoted to advanced apothecary last year, he looked even more energetic and confident. He touched Lin Shuwen’s hand gently before pulling his hand back. “Hi, Secretary Lin.”
Lin Shuwen narrowed his eyes the moment he saw Pei Rong and smiled courteously. He took a seat and handed Pei Rong the menu.
Lin Shuwen had not told Pei Rong or Old Mr. Pei about the Chinese herbs he needed over the phone. After Pei Rong was done ordering and the waiter had left, he turned to look at Lin Shuwen.
He smiled and said, “Secretary Lin, you could have told me directly over the phone and didn’t have to go through the trouble of buying me dinner.”
Although things sounded polite on the surface, Lin Shuwen knew exactly what Pei Rong implied.
He was reminding Lin Shuwen not to bother getting Old Mr. Pei to send the message.
Sure enough, he was right about Pei Rong.
People’s attitudes changed with their social status.
Lin Shuwen cleared his throat and got straight to the point. “You are right. I genuinely need your help.”
He retrieved a piece of paper containing a list of Chinese herbs from his briefcase and handed it to Pei Rong.
Pei Rong took the list and looked at it. “What’s this?”
“Mr. Fang’s friend needs these Chinese herbs urgently. Since you have high status in the Apothecaries’ Association, I was hoping you could do the favor and help me obtain them,” said Lin Shuwen politely.
Pei Rong looked at the list of Chinese herbs. He could recognize all the herbs on the list. They were very expensive and were mainly used to neutralize poison while two of the herbs were good for recovery.
Hardly any members of the Apothecaries’ Association would use these herbs to refine pills since they were particularly rare. They were usually used to make S class medicine.
There were hardly any S class apothecaries in the Apothecaries’ Association.
Pei Rong put down the piece of paper. He narrowed his eyes and simply said, “Can I ask why you need the ingredients?”
Had Fang Chen suffered a relapse?
Then again, judging from the prescription, it was unlikely.
Pei Rong could still remember Fang Chen had received treatment from the young woman with whom his father was acquainted. Also, he had studied her prescription and even refined C to B grade pills using the prescription.
Lin Shuwen remembered Fang Chen telling him not to tell anyone about his teacher’s condition, so he shook his head before he said, “Mr. Fang gave me the list, but I don’t know why he wants it. I have tried to buy the Chinese herbs off the market, but they are only available in the Apothecaries’ Association. That is the reason I reached out to you.”
Pei Rong glanced at Lin Shuwen. He knew Lin Shuwen was an expert at politics, so he was slick and sly. Even though Lin Shuwen knew what the herbs were for, he would probably not tell him.
Pei Rong looked concerned. “These herbs are genuinely available in the association. Since they are very rare, I am not sure if the chairman will let me have them.”
Lin Shuwen smiled and said, “Young Master Pei, you are already an advanced apothecary, so I am confident that he thinks highly of you, and you probably won’t have any problem obtaining them.”
Ever since Pei Rong was promoted to an advanced apothecary, everyone kept ingratiating themselves onto him. Even though he enjoyed the flattery, he was not stupid. “No promises, but I will do my best to ask around.”
He did not give 100% assurance of success.
“Great. Thank you so much.” Lin Shuwen nodded slightly.
Pei Rong looked at the piece of paper once more with his eyes narrowed.
