Chapter 175 I've had enough of your exploitation

Ye Wanning listened attentively; this was the first time she had heard Pei Zhi talk about his childhood. Despite his seemingly glamorous life as Prime Minister Pei, his childhood wasn't exactly happy.

"So what do you like?" Ye Wanning couldn't help but ask.

Wu Kun said, "I established the mutual aid association simply to give everyone a fair chance."

"Fairness? Jiangnan belongs to Wu Kun. My presence is the rule! You, an outsider, dare to talk to me about fairness?"

"As long as my mutual aid society exists, no pharmaceutical company will supply you with goods, and your branch hospital will never be able to open!"

"Really?" Ye Wanning smiled. "I've already partnered with more than a dozen pharmaceutical merchants. We have more herbs than we can use, and they're 30% cheaper than yours. I think the people will be happy to buy our herbs."

Wu Kun's face turned pale instantly: "You really think those small-time drug dealers are on your side? I'll give them some benefits and they'll betray you!"

“They won’t,” Ye Wanning said. “They’ve just had enough of your exploitation and want to do business in peace. Besides, I’ve already told the prefect of Jiangnan about your monopolistic practices of raising prices and evading taxes, and he should be happy to hear it.”

Wu Kun collapsed to the ground with a thud, unable to utter a single word. He had never expected that a female doctor from out of town would have such power, not only uniting with small medicine merchants but also alarming the prefect.

Seeing Wu Kun being taken away, the small medicine merchants breathed a sigh of relief and thanked Ye Wanning one after another: "Madam Ye, thank you for helping us get revenge!"

"We will definitely follow your lead and make sure the mutual aid association is run well!"

"No need to thank me, we're helping each other out," Ye Wanning said with a smile. "Let's work together to bring down the prices of medicinal herbs in Jiangnan for the benefit of the people."

The medicinal herb mutual aid association was successfully established, and the prices of medicinal herbs returned to normal. Ye Wanning's preparations for the Jiangnan branch also went smoothly.

That evening, Ye Wanning and Pei Zhi sat in the courtyard of the inn, looking at the moon in the sky.

"Thanks to you," Ye Wanning said softly. "If you hadn't helped me collect that evidence, I wouldn't have been able to deal with Wu Kun so quickly."

“I was just doing what I was supposed to do.” Pei Zhi looked at her, his eyes full of tenderness. “You’re the one who’s amazing. You united so many small pharmaceutical companies to break the monopoly.”

Ye Wanning smiled, picked up the wine pot on the table and poured a glass for Pei Zhi: "To you, thank you for your continued support."

Pei Zhi took the wine glass and clinked it with her's: "A toast to us, wishing you all the best in the future."

The two drank and chatted, and the atmosphere became increasingly ambiguous. Ye Wanning drank a little, her face flushed, her eyes glazed over, and she couldn't help but say to Pei Zhi, "Pei Zhi, actually... it's so good to have you."

Pei Zhi's eyes lit up, and he put down his wine glass and moved closer to her: "Then would you... try to accept me?"

Ye Wanning's heart suddenly raced. Looking at his face so close to hers, she could smell the sandalwood scent emanating from him. She wanted to nod, but the shadows of her past life suddenly resurfaced, causing her to take a step back.

"I...I'm not ready yet." Ye Wanning lowered her head, her voice filled with grievance. "I'm afraid...afraid of getting hurt again."

Pei Zhi cupped her face in his hands: "It's okay, I'll wait for you, no matter how long it takes."

Ye Wanning looked up and saw the tenderness in his eyes. Her nose tingled and tears streamed down her face. "Pei Zhi, I know you just want to protect me, but I just can't get over that hurdle."

She swallowed her tears and sobbed as she spoke. Pei Zhi wiped away her tears, pulled her into his arms, and stroked her hair: "Silly girl, it's okay."

Pei Zhi tightened his arms around me: "Just don't push me away anymore, and let me stay by your side."

He stiffened, held her tightly, inhaled the scent of medicine emanating from her, and closed his eyes contentedly. Moonlight bathed them both, creating a warm and romantic atmosphere.

Ye Wanning knew that she was very close to accepting Pei Zhi.

However, the Su family's affairs have not yet been investigated, and his mother's medical knowledge has not been discovered, so he cannot afford to be distracted.

Once she has figured everything out and retrieved the medical text, she will bravely take the plunge and fight for her own happiness.

A few days later, Su Mingxuan sent a messenger to Ye Wanning to report the good news, saying that Master Su had returned and asked her to go to the Su residence.

Ye Wanning took Pei Zhi to the Su residence, where Old Master Su waited alone in the living room. Old Master Su looked to be over 60 years old, with white hair and cloudy eyes that revealed the domineering and arrogant demeanor of an upper-class person.

"Are you Lin Yuewei's daughter?" Master Su spoke first, his tone very calm.

"Yes, I do. I beg Master Su to return the 'Qing Nang Secret Essentials' to my mother." Ye Wanning nodded.

Master Su laughed, a hint of mockery in his voice: "The 'Secret Essentials of the Green Bag'? This is what your mother gave me. How could you say I stole it?"

"It was snatched away!" Ye Wanning retorted without any politeness.

Mr. Su snorted coldly: "Robbery? What evidence do you have?"

"No! My mother wouldn't give you our family's medical manual for free! You're lying!" Ye Wanning said excitedly.

“I’m not lying.” Master Su took out a book. “This is the meaning of ‘The Secret of the Green Bag’. At that time, your mother had nowhere to go. She asked me to provide her with shelter and, in return, gave me the medical books.”

Ye Wanning held the book, tears streaming down her face. This was her mother's medical book. The cover even had her delicately embroidered orchid pattern.

"There's no way... I don't have any." Ye Wanning shook her head, tears welling in her eyes, and refused him.

Pei Zhi helped Ye Wanning up, his tone icy: "Lord Su, words alone are not enough. What evidence do you have to prove that your mother-in-law delivered it voluntarily?"

Master Su took out a letter from his pocket and handed it to Ye Wanning: "That's a thank-you letter from your mother back then. It clearly records how she voluntarily gave me the 'Secret Essentials of the Green Bag' to repay her kindness in taking me in."

Holding the letter, Ye Wanning stared at the familiar handwriting as if struck by lightning. It indeed contained her mother's words, mentioning that she had taken the initiative to deliver the medical manual to Master Su.

No...no! Is it really just a misunderstanding by Mom? Ye Wanning's mind was in turmoil, and she didn't know who to believe.

The letter from my mother says that the Su family took away the medical book, but Mr. Su has proof that he took the patient to the hospital on his own initiative. Which one is true?

Seeing her dazed expression, Mr. Su smiled slightly and said, "Mr. Ye, it's all over now. You and your daughter should leave. Don't dwell on it anymore."

"This medical manual will be useful to me. If you are interested in medicine, you can go to the Su family's pharmacy to learn it. What do you say?"

"I didn't!" Ye Wanning raised her face, her eyes filled with determination. "I have to take it back! Whether it was voluntary or forced back then, this medical book belongs to our Lin family!"

"Stubborn fool!" Master Su's face darkened. "You're reluctant to take it back, aren't you? I will never return the medical manual!"

She stood up and walked away without looking back, giving her no chance to argue. Ye Wanning looked back, her heart filled with reluctance.

She was certain that Master Su was lying; her mother would never have willingly handed over the family medical manual!

"Don't worry." Pei Zhi supported her. "Something must have happened to Master Su. Let's investigate slowly."