Chapter 099: I Was Just Treating You, You Stubborn Fool

Song Kai helped Zhou Ran into the car and drove straight out of the school.

“If anything happens at school from now on, just call me,” Song Kai said.

Zhou Ran nodded.

The car headed straight for the Traditional Chinese Medicine Factory.

“Where are we going? Does buying medicine require traveling this far?” Zhou Ran muttered curiously.

Song Kai drove while explaining, “It’s not just about buying medicine. We need to prepare a plaster, which is a complicated process. It takes at least an entire afternoon and requires several people to help.”

Hearing this, Zhou Ran sighed and said, “Alright then, I’ll just listen to music.”

Outside the Dongming Traditional Chinese Medicine Factory, Jia Dongming was busily loading cardboard boxes onto a van.

Song Kai parked and called out to him, “Hey, what are you up to?”

Jia Dongming turned his head, sweat pouring down his face. Upon seeing Song Kai, tears welled up in his eyes.

Song Kai was startled. “Stop, stop, don’t cry. What’s going on?”

Jia Dongming wiped his eyes and said, “Mr. Song, did you think that after investing ten million, you wouldn’t need to worry about anything? The factory is nearly out of money. We can’t even afford to pay the workers anymore. What should we do?”

Song Kai asked, “Has the ten million all been spent?”

“Only seven thousand left,” Jia Dongming replied. “I repaid the villagers’ money and the bank loan, then bought a batch of herbal materials and made the last batch of Kangxin granules. Now, I can’t afford salespeople, so I drive the van myself, selling at various pharmacies.”

Song Kai felt a bit embarrassed. After buying the factory, he had never seriously thought about running it.

“Well, don’t deliver the goods for now. Help me buy some medicinal materials at the pharmacy and come back quickly. I want to make a plaster,” Song Kai said. “I’ll figure out the factory’s situation later.”

Jia Dongming could only nod in resignation. Song Kai handed him a prescription with over forty kinds of herbs, including frankincense, myrrh, pine resin, and bone-penetrating grass, all relatively inexpensive.

Jia Dongming agreed and left in his van.

Song Kai took Zhou Ran inside the factory.

“Where are we?” Zhou Ran asked, puzzled.

“My factory,” Song Kai said. “This is where my career began, though it seems we’re still far from getting started.”

Zhou Ran was dumbfounded, then sighed, “You really know how to squander money...”

Over twenty workers, mostly elderly villagers who couldn’t find jobs elsewhere, sat outside smoking and chatting.

“It’s such a pity. This good factory just closed down.”

“The traditional medicine market is tough now.”

“Look at Dongming. I feel sorry for him. He gave up a good job to start this, and now look where it’s at.”

“Yeah, thank goodness someone bought the factory. Otherwise, the whole village would have suffered.”

The men sighed, worried about their future now that the factory was closing.

Soon, Jia Dongming returned with the herbs.

Song Kai directed him and the workers to start boiling soybean oil, then added the herbs to the pot.

The workers, knowing Song Kai was the boss, asked what the plan was.

“Don’t worry,” Song Kai said. “I have a lot on my plate right now, but when I’m free, I’ll get some big orders to keep the factory alive. We’ll take it one step at a time.”

The workers thanked him.

Holding his nose, Jia Dongming asked, “Mr. Song, what exactly are you doing? I studied traditional Chinese medicine too, and I’ve researched plasters extensively. I’ve never seen anyone make them like this.”

“Really? This is how it was always done,” Song Kai said, puzzled. “Has the method changed?”

Jia Dongming gave him a deadpan look. “Nowadays, machines do the boiling. What you’re doing isn’t sanitary — it’s sticky and stinky. Can it even be effective? Machine-made plasters are clean and breathable, very comfortable on the skin.”

Song Kai scratched his head. “I’ll study that later. For now, I need this batch done. My friend has a severe bone injury, and without the plaster, it might affect his college entrance exam.”

“Oh, your friend is in high school? Mr. Song, you’re not a high school student too, are you?” Jia Dongming asked, eyeing him.

“No way! I’m not that young...” Song Kai quickly waved off the suggestion. “Keep stirring, keep stirring in one direction. Don’t stop.”

The foul smell began to waft through the air.

After six hours of continuous boiling, the smell softened into a faint herbal fragrance.

As evening fell, Song Kai looked at the herbs in the pot. “It’s about done. Bring the black dog skin over and coat it all.”

Jia Dongming was speechless. “What era is this, Mr. Song? Using dog skin? Believe me, animal protection groups will come after you.”

Song Kai replied, “Dog skin works better. Since it’s for my friend, I can’t be careless... Alright, done!”

He set a piece of plaster to dry and cut two small patches. “I only need this much. You can keep the rest. It’s great for fractures or shattered bones.”

Jia Dongming looked at the dark dog skin and sighed. “Mr. Song, are we running this factory or not? If we are, I can’t afford to pay salaries. If not, I guess I’ll have to prepare to go to Shanghai and find a new job.”

Song Kai thought for a moment. “Give me a month. After the college entrance exams, I promise the factory will have work. Trust me, I’m just really busy right now.”

“Alright...” Jia Dongming sighed.

Song Kai got back into the car and drove away as twilight settled.

He pulled over on a quiet roadside and said to Zhou Ran, “Okay, lie down. I’m going to apply the plaster.”

“Why didn’t you do it at the factory?” Zhou Ran asked, dumbfounded.

“There were too many people there. I didn’t want you to feel embarrassed.” Song Kai reclined the passenger seat and helped Zhou Ran lie across it.

“Pull your shirt up. This plaster’s a bit hot. Bear with it,” Song Kai said.

“It’s fine. I’m in so much pain already. Hurry up.” Zhou Ran pulled up her T-shirt.

Song Kai gently touched her slender waist and rolled down her shorts a little.

“What are you doing? My buttocks aren’t injured!” Zhou Ran protested immediately.

“Don’t scream,” Song Kai said, pressing on the injured spot and then applying the plaster. He lightly tapped it a few times.

“Ooh! It is hot, but it feels good,” Zhou Ran took a deep breath.

“Of course. This plaster works wonders. Lie down for five minutes, and you’ll be able to get up,” Song Kai said confidently.

Zhou Ran nodded.

Song Kai’s hand naturally rested on her buttocks. They felt firm and full of vitality.

Zhou Ran lay there, speechless. “Don’t take advantage of me. If you do, next time I might just mess you up!”

“Oh, you dare talk back?” Song Kai smiled and pinched her.

It felt really nice.

Then he pinched again.

And again.

Suddenly, Song Kai realized he might have gotten himself worked up.

“You pervert!” Zhou Ran slapped his shoulder.

Song Kai stopped immediately. This was indeed a bit perverse.

After a few minutes, Song Kai checked the time. “That’s enough. Try getting up.”

Zhou Ran slowly moved and sat up, surprised. “Wow, it really feels much better. You’re amazing, Song Kai!”

“That’s right. When I pinched your butt, I wasn’t being a pervert—I was performing therapeutic acupressure,” Song Kai said solemnly.

“You’re kidding, right? Don’t treat me like a fool!” Zhou Ran pinched him back and glanced at the time. “You owe me dinner tonight. Otherwise, I won’t forgive what you just did!”

“Alright, alright...” Song Kai laughed.

Meanwhile, inside the Dongming Traditional Chinese Medicine Factory, Jia Dongming and several elderly workers sighed, knowing the factory’s end was near.

“Alright, clock out. You don’t need to come in tomorrow,” Jia Dongming said with a heavy heart.

“Okay. By the way, give me some of those plasters. My son hurt his leg a few days ago. I want to try them,” Qiu Hai said.

Jia Dongming waved him off. “Take some yourself, but they probably won’t help much. And dog skin isn’t breathable; be careful not to get a rash.”