The Fortunate Lady and Her Mountain Man

Chapter 159: Chapter 159: Win-Win Cooperation

"Sigh, I’m truly reluctant..."

After sighing, Widow Xie thumped her chest and tried to console herself.

"Forget it. The Cao Family’s eldest said something right—sooner or later, she’s going to marry into the Hu Family. And from what I’ve seen these past few days, Yunyun really isn’t like the rest of the Cao Family. She’s quiet, thin-skinned, but a very capable worker."

Ji Huan nodded in agreement. "As long as her character is good and she comes here to live a happy life with Liangzi, you don’t need to worry too much."

Besides, what’s done is done. All they could do was look on the bright side.

"You’re right. We won’t bring up the Cao Family business anymore. Even if not for anyone else’s sake, we have to consider Yunyun. You haven’t met Yunyun yet, have you? You should come see her at the stall next time. She’s asked about you several times. I’m sure the two of you will get along..."

’She asked about me?’

’What for?’

Ji Huan was a little puzzled, but she didn’t dwell on it.

As it happened, she had to return a book the next day and had some other errands to run, so it was the perfect opportunity.

Unfortunately, she woke up late and couldn’t travel with Hu Liang and Widow Xie. Instead, she took the village’s earliest ox-cart to town.

After returning the book at the bookshop, Ji Huan took Dabao to Yide Hall first.

Yide Hall was as deserted as ever. Doctor Xin was engrossed in a medical text, while the attendant, Ping’an, was already fast asleep, sprawled over the table that served as a counter.

Doctor Xin looked up and saw the two of them. He didn’t seem surprised. Setting down his book, he greeted them, "What are you buying today? Spices, or medicinal herbs?"

Besides the ingredients for her hot and spicy soup, Ji Huan also bought the herbs for the hand cream she made in private from Yide Hall.

Hearing voices, Ping’an jolted upright. Before his eyes were even open, he dazedly wiped a dribble of drool from his mouth.

When he saw that the customer was Ji Huan, he beamed. "It’s you, Miss Ji! Are you here to grace our business again?"

Ping’an was particularly fond of Ji Huan, not just because she made delicious food, but also because she always chose to buy things from their clinic.

’It must be because she sees how deserted it is here and wants to bring us some business. Miss Ji is such a good person.’

Ji Huan couldn’t help but be amused by his straightforward enthusiasm, but she shook her head. "I’m here to talk business."

"Talk business?" Ping’an was confused. He couldn’t imagine what kind of business one could discuss at a medical hall, other than seeing a doctor or getting a prescription filled.

Doctor Xin pointed to a chair on the other side of the square table. "Please, sit."

Ji Huan sat down. Ping’an then made a point of fetching a low stool for Dabao before busying himself with serving tea.

Ji Huan waited for Doctor Xin to ask what she was here for, but he proved to be quite patient. Instead, he bent down to examine the leg Dabao had previously injured.

Only after confirming that it was healing well did he sit down again.

Ji Huan patted Dabao, signaling for him to relax. ’This isn’t a bad person.’

Once Dabao went back to fiddling with his little lion figurine, Ji Huan finally spoke to Doctor Xin. "Doctor Xin, do you remember the herbs I bought from you last time?"

Doctor Xin nodded. "I have some recollection."

"Aren’t you curious what those herbs are used for when combined?"

"I can guess, more or less."

Ji Huan smiled at that.

When she had come to Yide Hall to get the herbs that day, she hadn’t deliberately tried to hide anything. Although a few key ingredients were missing from her list, it wouldn’t be impossible for Doctor Xin to figure out the formula if he put his mind to it.

He had guessed, yet he hadn’t acted on it for his own selfish gain. That was precisely why she had come here today.

Ji Huan pulled a piece of paper from her sleeve, unfolded it, and pushed it across the table toward him. "This is the business I want to discuss with you."

Doctor Xin picked it up and glanced at her.

Ji Huan gestured for him to go ahead, and only then did his gaze fall upon the paper.

After reading it, he looked up again, his eyes showing surprise. "This is the one the army uses..."

Ji Huan nodded. "That’s right."

’It seems Doctor Xin has paid attention to the army’s hand cream after all.’

She then briefly explained her previous collaboration with the army.

She concluded by assuring him that she had been given permission to seek other partners and that the rights to use the formula were back in her hands.

In truth, it wouldn’t have mattered even if she hadn’t explained all this.

In this era, the concept of patent applications and intellectual property protection was incredibly weak. Countless medical halls and pharmacies were now trying to develop their own hand creams—in Juyong Town, in Yeyang County, and in other towns as well.

Some had even paid a high price to buy unused portions from soldiers. Once they had the finished product, all they had to do was analyze it. Even if the final result wasn’t exactly the same, it likely wouldn’t be far off.

Doctor Xin was just as direct with his question. "Why me?"

She could have picked any other medical hall in town, and it would have been more powerful than the current Yide Hall.

Ji Huan felt that, in some ways, he was the same kind of person as her.

They were both guarded and unwilling to trust others easily.

Ji Huan knew this but didn’t explain. She only said, "You just need to tell me: are you willing, or not?"

Doctor Xin read the formula over one more time, his brow furrowed in thought.

’His intuition told him that this formula might be the first step to reviving Yide Hall.’

At the same time, he knew that while it was an opportunity, it also came with risks. It all depended on the choice he made.

A moment later, he looked at Ji Huan and nodded. "Alright."

"Great. Here, take a look at these, too."

Ji Huan took out two more sheets of paper. This time, however, it wasn’t a formula, but something like a contract.

It clearly stipulated the responsibilities and obligations of both parties, and the profit-sharing was laid out plainly.

In short, Ji Huan would provide the formula, while Doctor Xin would be responsible for production, the sales platform, and establishing distribution channels. The profits would be split fifty-fifty.

"This is business. It’s best to be clear on the terms from the start; even brothers keep clear accounts. Take a close look at the clauses. If there are no issues, you can just sign it."

Doctor Xin immediately had Ping’an bring a brush and ink. As he lifted the brush, he remembered something and asked Ji Huan, "Should we find a guarantor?"

Ji Huan waved her hand. "No need."

’I’ve already shown him the formula. If he really had other intentions, a guarantor wouldn’t make a difference.’

’Besides, when you trust someone, you don’t doubt them. I’m confident I haven’t misjudged him.’

They both signed their names, and each kept one copy of the agreement.

It was only then that Ji Huan learned Doctor Xin’s full name was Xin Ziqi.

Now she felt a little embarrassed.

"I don’t have any money, so I can only contribute my expertise. Everything else is up to you. You don’t think I’m taking advantage of you, do you?"

For once, a rare smile appeared on Xin Ziqi’s face.

"I can distinguish between the essential and the secondary. I also have a good idea of the profit margin this hand cream can generate. If anything, I’m the one getting the better end of the deal."

"In that case, we’re both getting the better end of the deal."

Ji Huan brushed a stray hair from her forehead with her little finger and asked, "As for funding, will there be a problem?"

She had actually guessed that although Yide Hall was truly deserted, the master and his attendant weren’t necessarily destitute.

’If they were truly on the verge of starvation, would they still be able to guard this dead-end clinic, calmly swatting mosquitoes?’

But then again, the capital needed to go from large-scale production to establishing market channels was no small sum...

Now that they were partners, Xin Ziqi was no longer reserved. He simply said, "You don’t need to worry about the silver. I will handle it."

’His tone was quite impressive.’

For the first time, Ji Huan truly sized him up.

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