Chapter 223 Heading to the Swamp Country

"Threat? How were you threatened?" Ning Jinli asked hurriedly.

Professor Hua told her that the country of Sanpota, which sells the drug, was at the request of country M, and that starting in January next year, the price of each box of the drug would be increased from the original 500 yuan to 1,500 yuan. If she did not accept this price, they would refuse to continue selling to her country.

"Tripled?!" Ning Jinli exclaimed in shock. "That's outrageous!"

Professor Hua looked worried. "In countries and regions outside of my country, the price of a single box of this medicine is only about fifty yuan. If it is a friendly country like the United States or Sussex, the price is less than ten yuan."

Ning Jinli was speechless.

While this is indeed something that certain Western groups, led by the United States, would do, it's far too exaggerated; it's practically sucking blood from our country by stepping on it.

Ning Jinli then asked, "What if we buy it from another country?"

Professor Hua shook his head. "They have strict controls, and the other countries that can import this drug from Sanpota are either its allies or friendly countries, or they simply don't dare to offend the United States, so... it's almost impossible."

What is the name of this medicine?

"Call it Bismuth Extended-Release."

"Hmm? I remember seeing this before when I bought medicine. I think the retail price in China is 100 yuan a box?"

"Yes... because our country subsidizes each box with 400 yuan. Even if we sell it directly at the import price without any profit, countless families still cannot afford it. But if we continue to import next year and keep the domestic selling price unchanged, then the government subsidy will be as high as 1,400 yuan per box. The total amount will be an astronomical figure and will put a lot of financial pressure on the country."

At this point, Professor Hua fell silent.

Ning Jinli now understood why the venom produced by so many purple-bellied golden-spotted snakes in Falling Eagle Gorge was far from enough.

This is indeed a drop in the ocean.

Even in China, which has a history of over two thousand years, this type of snake is only commonly found in Zhuiyingjian. It may exist in other places as well, but in very small numbers.

It's impossible to find more purple-bellied golden spots elsewhere.

"Professor Hua," Xiao Qidi suddenly asked, "what is the core natural ingredient you just mentioned?"

Professor Hua said, "It is an essence extracted from a plant. We have mastered the extraction technology. However, that plant is only distributed in Sanpota. Every year, that country makes a fortune from the production of Bis-Extended Release Agent, which accounts for 60% of its foreign exchange earnings. It has also become the only country in the world that can mass-produce and sell Bis-Extended Release Agent."

Speaking of this, Professor Hua couldn't help but feel indignant, complaining that the Republic of Santorini didn't take China, the largest buyer country, seriously at all.

Taking advantage of their control over our people's lifeline, they not only arbitrarily raise prices on this medicine, but also take advantage of our country in many other ways, which is already bad enough.

In the past, ordinary people from our country would be ridiculed and discriminated against when they traveled abroad, and even domestic scientific research experts were suppressed and bullied when they went to participate in seminars.

Xiao Qidi's face darkened. "Our great nation has been so humiliated."

Professor Hua smiled wryly, “There’s nothing we can do. The international situation is complicated. The United States still holds hegemony, and all those countries and regions, big and small, that follow the United States are jumping around in front of our country, waiting for an opportunity to make their move.”

Ning Jinli gently grasped Xiao Qidi's hand and asked Professor Hua, "We've been forced to this point, surely someone should have tried to get seeds or seedlings for cultivation, right? Why haven't we succeeded yet?"

Professor Hua looked even more helpless. “We have indeed tried this method, but due to the unsuitable environment, we can only cultivate it on a small scale in the laboratory. It is still far from meeting the required level. Alas… What is even more regrettable is that, according to ancient records, there was such a plant in ancient my country, but it gradually became extinct more than a thousand years ago due to climate change and other reasons.”

"Huh?" Ning Jinli's eyes lit up instantly, and she hurriedly asked, "What's that plant called? What does it look like?"

Professor Hua took out his phone, opened the album and flipped through the photos. "Look, this is it. This is cultivated in the laboratory. In ancient books and documents, it is called something like... moth-wing grass. It is named after its leaves, which resemble the wings of a moth. It is said that it was common in southern my country a thousand years ago."

Xiao Qidi also leaned closer to take a closer look, his brows furrowed slightly, as if he were pondering something.

Just then, a phone call came in. Professor Hua said it was an important call and he had to go and take care of something.

After he left, Ning Jinli immediately asked Xiao Qidi if he had ever seen the moth-wing grass.

Xiao Qidi shook his head. "I thought about it carefully and I haven't seen it. But I have never been to the Jiangnan region of the Central Plains. That is within the territory of the Zeguo. If the ancient books and documents are correct, the Zeguo should exist."

“Then we can only go to Zeguo to take a look,” Ning Jinli said. “Let’s try to solve this problem before January 1st next year, otherwise our country will be in big trouble.”

Xiao Qidi pondered for a moment and said, "There are still two months left in the year. Zeguo is the largest and strongest of the remaining China and Vietnam. I don't know if I can conquer it."

Ning Jinli looked bewildered. "Shoot it down?"

Xiao Qidi said, "That's right. As long as we annex Zeguo, we'll solve your problem of the severe shortage of moth-wing grass."

Ning Jinli chuckled, "If I remember correctly, Ze Kingdom is quite powerful right now, with a million soldiers. Moreover, its land area covers almost the entire Jiangnan region, and it occupies the Yangtze River as its border, making it both offensive and defensive. With the current strength of Da Xuan's army, even with the addition of the Xuanjia Army, I'm afraid they wouldn't be able to take over Ze Kingdom within two months, right?"

According to the original course of history, Da Xuan was no match for Ze Guo at this time, and it was not until Emperor Xuanzu was over thirty years old that he destroyed Ze Guo.

Now, in this parallel world, with Ning Jinli as a cheat code, Xiao Qidi's progress in sweeping across the Central Plains has naturally accelerated a lot, but he still can't break through the big bone of Zeguo for the time being.

Xiao Qidi silently considered the possibilities in his mind, and then said, "It is indeed quite difficult, but it is not necessarily impossible."

“How about this,” Ning Jinli suggested, “Let’s go to the Ze Kingdom first and see what’s going on. Going to the Ze Kingdom might be a bit difficult, but coming back will be easy. We can just open a portal there.”

Xiao Qidi agreed to her suggestion.

The two analyzed the current situation in the country and searched for the easiest route to enter the swampy territory.

The southern border of Xuan Kingdom and the northern border of Ze Kingdom are separated by the Yangtze River. Crossing the river by boat is too dangerous. In addition, both sides are on high alert. Even if one manages to cross the river successfully, he would most likely be killed by the Ze Kingdom's border guards.

Therefore, this road is not suitable.

In the northern part of Zeguo, there is a region located north of the Yangtze River, bordering the southern part of Huangguo.

Currently, the Wasteland Kingdom is busy dealing with the Great Xuan Army that has invaded its doorstep, and its troops from all directions have been forced to be transferred to the western side of the Wasteland Kingdom. Therefore, the southern side of the Wasteland Kingdom is bound to be weak.

In addition, that area is prone to flooding and is considered a useless place by both the Wasteland Kingdom and the Swamp Kingdom. The Swamp Kingdom's king also does not want to waste manpower and resources there, so the border defense and official administration are relatively lax.

In summary, it would be better to cross the southern border of the Wasteland and then enter the northern part of the Swamp Kingdom, which is located in the Jiangbei region. This way, if it is necessary to go to other parts of the Swamp Kingdom, it will be less likely to be discovered.

The two determined their route and set off the next day.

Five days later, Xiao Qidi and Ning Jinli, disguised as ordinary people, finally arrived in the Jiangbei region of Zeguo.

The long and arduous journey reminded them of their experience when they crossed the arid Gobi Desert from Xitun Pass to Hewan County.

Fortunately, it wasn't as difficult in comparison.

At least we don't have to brave the wind, sun, and dust during droughts.

However, conditions here are currently very poor, with continuous rain and mud everywhere, and some areas are even experiencing flooding.

With winter approaching, although it's not very cold here, the damp cold is still quite uncomfortable.

Seeing that it was getting late, Xiao Qidi and Ning Jinli hurried into a small town, intending to find an inn to stay in.

However, they were dumbfounded as soon as they entered the city.

Despite being called a city, it looked much like a village, with roads full of potholes and mud.

There were a few small shops scattered along the roadside, and a few vendors and laborers here and there.

The people were mostly dressed in rags and looked listless. Wild cats, dogs, and rats scurried around in the corners, and the damp air was filled with all sorts of indescribable filth and stench.

Xiao Qidi and Ning Jinli were already wearing their simplest clothes, and after five days of travel, they were in pretty bad shape. In fact, they even tried to make themselves look dirty so as not to attract attention.

Even standing here, the two still appeared to be among the wealthier residents of the area.

“Let’s go…” Xiao Qidi looked ahead, “Let’s see if there’s an inn.”

Ning Jinli felt that in this kind of environment, it would be difficult to find one.

But it's okay. If we really can't find one, we can just find a remote place, open a portal, and go back to rest.

"Brother and sister, please have mercy... give me a copper coin..." a childish voice suddenly rang out.

Then a pair of dirty hands grabbed Ning Jinli's legs.

Ning Jinli looked down and saw a little girl who was about ten years old. She was pale and thin and her clothes were barely covering her body.

It goes without saying that he was a little beggar who had fallen on hard times.

"Sigh..." Ning Jinli sighed with heartache, and without thinking, took out a few copper coins and gave them to the little beggar.

In this situation, she couldn't give too much, otherwise the little beggar would definitely be snatched by other beggars.

"Wow! So many!" The little beggar was overjoyed, holding the coins and thanking them repeatedly, while also saying some auspicious words that sounded like rhymes.

Ning Jinli asked, "Are you hungry?"

The little beggar nodded vigorously.

Ning Jinli took out a piece of dry food from her package.

Before she could even hand it over, the little beggar quickly snatched it and began to wolf it down.

"Slow down...don't choke," Ning Jinli said softly.

The little beggar finished his meal in a few bites, then lay down on the ground and drank a few mouthfuls of water from the mud puddle. He then licked his lips and asked, "Is there any more? I haven't had enough."

“Yes, I do,” Ning Jinli took out the cloth bags filled with dry food. “These are all for you, but first tell me, where is this place?”

Ning Jinli planned to take this opportunity to chat with the little beggar and see if she could help her in any way.

No sooner had he finished speaking than the little beggar leaped up like a monkey, snatched the whole bag of dry food, and ran off in a flash, disappearing without a trace.

Its speed left Xiao Qidi and Ning Jinli speechless.

However, the two were not angry. Instead, they felt sorry for the child, who had developed such skills just to survive.

The two continued walking, but before they had gone far, the rain began to pour down harder.

Then a large group of beggars, around teens in age, suddenly appeared out of nowhere and swarmed around the two of them, shouting for money and food.

Xiao Qidi's face darkened, and he was about to reprimand and drive him away.

Ning Jinli quickly stopped him with a look.

After all, these children, no matter what, wouldn't cause her any harm. She didn't want to create chaos and end up hurting the children.

Besides, even if Ning Jinli and Xiao Qidi shared all their money and food, it wouldn't affect them in the slightest.

In the pouring rain, the contents of the package were quickly distributed, and the little beggars scattered, leaving only the two bewildered in the rain.

"Hahahaha!" A burst of laughter suddenly came from the side.

Ning Jinli and Xiao Qidi turned their heads and saw a boy wearing a straw raincoat and worn-out straw sandals sitting under the eaves of a house by the roadside, clapping and laughing at them.

"What are you laughing at?" Xiao Qidi frowned and asked loudly to the boy who was about two or three years younger than him.

"You two are such idiots!" the boy sneered. "Now look what happened! Those beggars robbed you clean, and you're all soaked to the bone, hahaha!"

So this kid was just watching the show.

He watched the whole process with great interest, from the very first little beggar to the emergence of a large group of them.

"A good-for-nothing idler." Xiao Qidi gave his assessment with a stern face.

"Let's go over there and get out of the rain," Ning Jinli suggested. "There seems to be a shop behind that kid."

Xiao Qidi grunted in agreement and strode over.

The boy chuckled, and when he saw him coming over, he generously shifted his position and patted the steps next to him. "Come on, you two sit here. Don't be shy with me."

Xiao Qidi said irritably, "Who's being polite with you?"

The boy looked up at him, his eyes filled with surprise. "What did you eat to grow so tall? I was already amazed when you were far away, but now that you're closer, you're like a doorpost standing right in front of me."

Xiao Qidi was speechless and too lazy to pay attention to him.

Ning Jinli approached and asked, "Little brother, it's getting dark, aren't you going home?"

"Little brother?" The boy scoffed. "I'm already fifteen. You look younger than me. Don't call me that."

"This kid doesn't deserve to be called that by you," Xiao Qidi blurted out, his voice tinged with jealousy.

Ning Jinli: ...

The boy then added, "I'll go back after it gets dark and my dad is asleep, otherwise he'll beat me."

"What did you do that made him want to beat you up?" Ning Jinli's curiosity was piqued.

The boy grinned and said, "I didn't go to school today."

Xiao Qidi immediately mocked, "Well done! You're idle and good-for-nothing, you'll definitely amount to something in the future."

The boy didn't seem to care and lazily said, "The schoolteacher is too old-fashioned. Just because I got into a fight, he scolded me for being unruly. I don't want to see him again."

"Ha! You think you're right? In my opinion, scolding you is too lenient." Xiao Qidi glanced at him and sneered.

Ning Jinli nudged him lightly with her elbow, then continued to ask the boy, "You can't just sit here doing nothing, can you? You should go home soon so your family won't worry."

“I wasn’t just sitting there,” the boy said nonchalantly. “I just finished running some errands, and when I came out of the shop, I saw you two having a good time…”

At this point, his expression suddenly changed slightly. He covered his chest with one hand and slapped his forehead with the other. "Oh dear! I was so engrossed in watching the fun that I almost forgot about the important matter!"

"Oh? You have important business to attend to?" Xiao Qidi didn't miss any opportunity to tease him.

Just then, a burly middle-aged woman rushed out of the shop, clutching a kitchen knife, cursing as she headed straight for the boy.

"Oh, you little brat, you're still here! I'll chop you to pieces today!"