Cooperation

Xiao Xitong drove Su Ye to the largest villa in the complex.

Su Ye admired the scenery along the way, broadening his horizons quite a bit.

"This is the place. Let's get out," Xiao Xitong said.

Xiao Qiujun and the others had long been waiting in front of the villa's entrance.

"Young friend Su, it's a pleasure to meet you! I'm sorry to trouble you to spend your time on these old bones of mine. I really must apologize," Xiao Qiujun said with a smile, coming forward to greet Su Ye as he got out of the car.

"You're too polite, Elder Xiao."

"Come, young friend Su, let me introduce you. This is my daughter, Xiao Xiao." At that, Xiao Xiao stepped out from behind Xiao Qiujun and bowed to Su Ye.

"Greetings, Grandmaster Su. You're so young, yet you've already achieved so much in martial arts. It's truly admirable."

Su Ye wanted to complain. I'm really not a grandmaster. I'm just a perfectly ordinary Middle Qi Refining Stage cultivator!

After exchanging pleasantries, everyone entered the villa and sat down in the hall.

The villa really was luxurious. It had an open-air parking garage, three swimming pools, one three-story house and two single-story houses, with every kind of facility imaginable.

Inside the hall, the black marble floor was polished to a reflective shine, and a huge crystal chandelier hung overhead.

Su Ye couldn't help marveling that rich people really knew how to enjoy themselves.

Su Ye placed several principal and supplementary medicinal herbs on the table and said to Xiao Qiujun, "Elder Xiao, there are three portions of Chinese medicine here. Just boil them in water and take them once a day. Each portion will last three days."

"After taking the medicine, remember to circulate your qi to loosen your meridians."

"Sorry for the trouble, young friend Su," Xiao Qiujun said.

While the two were talking, Xiao Xiao came over with a box made of red sandalwood. She offered it to Su Ye with both hands and said, "Thank you for treating my father, Grandmaster Su. This is a small token of our appreciation. Please don't refuse it."

"Yes, it's a small token from my daughter. Please accept it, young friend Su," Xiao Qiujun added from the side.

After declining several times, Su Ye had no choice but to accept the wooden box.

Su Ye then spoke with Xiao Qiujun about a number of matters concerning the martial arts world. Before long, Xiao Xiao came over and called everyone to dinner.

They ate in another single-story house. It was spacious and well lit, with potted plants, miniature rockeries, and ornamental fish arranged along the side of the room. Just looking at them lifted one's spirits.

At the table, Su Ye picked up a piece of cabbage and couldn't help freezing. Then he was somewhat speechless. Wasn't this what he had grown?

"What's wrong, Grandmaster Su? I went to great lengths to buy this from the owner of the Supreme Flavor Pavilion. Eating vegetables like these over a long period can even do a great deal to improve one's martial arts cultivation. For some reason, the food at a few restaurants in Lingnan County has been exceptionally delicious lately," Xiao Xiao explained, seeing Su Ye freeze and thinking he didn't like the taste.

"Uh, if you don't mind me asking, how much did you pay per jin for these vegetables?" Su Ye asked Xiao Xiao.

"I bought them from the owner of the Supreme Flavor Pavilion for 6,666 a box. Each box contains exactly one jin. If you like them, Grandmaster Su, I'll get you a few jin to take home later. I'll notify you the next time the Supreme Flavor Pavilion has them in stock," Xiao Xiao said.

Su Ye froze when he heard the price. Good grief, wasn't that several thousand times higher?

"Are they out of stock?" Su Ye asked.

"I heard they had a lot at first, but then a Houtian Realm martial artist happened to eat at their restaurant and broke straight through to the Xiantian Realm. After looking into it, people learned that these vegetables were highly beneficial to martial arts cultivation. Later research showed that they had a substantial effect on martial artists below the Xiantian Realm, but not much effect on those at or above it. Even so, that was enough to drive everyone crazy. The major martial arts families flocked to Lingnan and bought up all the vegetables," Xiao Xiao explained.

"To tell you the truth, I grew these vegetables myself," Su Ye explained.

Su Ye hadn't expected the vegetables to cause such a sensation. Even the government might eventually get involved, and when that happened, lies about laboratories and the like would surely collapse on their own. For now, his only option was to find a reliable backer to partner with.

At present, Su Ye could only try to drag the Xiao Family into it to keep himself alive. The Su Family was so impressive that it surely had considerable influence, didn't it?

When everyone heard that Su Ye had produced the vegetables, they couldn't help stopping what they were doing and looking at him in silence.

"Elder Xiao, would you be willing to cooperate with me? When I first met you, I told you I was a farmer, didn't I?" Su Ye said slowly.

Xiao Qiujun paused. "Me? Young friend Su, what would we need to do if we partnered with you?"

Xiao Qiujun was a clever man too. There was no such thing as a free lunch; if you wanted something, you had to give something in return.

"I'd like you to invest in a laboratory in Lingnan, Elder Xiao, specifically to research these crops and create better varieties," Su Ye said.

"All right, that's no problem. The laboratory will be up and running in Lingnan in less than a week," Xiao Qiujun said.

"Are there any other requirements?" Xiao Qiujun asked.

"Um, if those martial arts families come asking about the vegetables and causing trouble, please help shield me from them as far as you're able, Elder Xiao. If you can't handle them... we'll think of something else," Su Ye said.

"That's only right," Xiao Qiujun said.

"In the future, I can sell my vegetables exclusively to you, Elder Xiao. Whether you keep them for your own use or sell them to others is up to you."

When Xiao Qiujun heard that the Xiao Family would have the rights to distribute the vegetables, his face immediately lit up. "Rest assured, young friend Su. I'll make sure to do everything you just mentioned."

"Then thank you, Elder Xiao," Su Ye said, cupping his fists in thanks.

"There's no need to be polite, young friend Su. It's all part of my duty," Xiao Qiujun said, returning Su Ye's salute.

With his worries resolved, Su Ye breathed a sigh of relief.

He hadn't expected the vegetables to bring about all this trouble. Fortunately, he had turned around and found himself a backer.

The food was delicious, and everyone soon finished eating.

After the meal, Su Ye and Xiao Qiujun took a walk inside the villa.

"Young friend Su, you've achieved so much in martial arts at such a young age. Who was your master?" Xiao Qiujun asked.

"You flatter me, Elder Xiao. I'm just a country boy. How could I have a master?" Su Ye replied.

Xiao Qiujun understood, and this only made him more certain of his suspicion. Young friend Su was either a genius from some reclusive family or the personal disciple of an old monster of a grandmaster. Whichever it was, the Xiao Family couldn't afford to offend him.

Early the next morning, Su Ye ate breakfast with everyone and made sure Xiao Qiujun took his medicine before taking his leave.

P.S. Thanks to the big shot 893303121 for the Great God certification. How generous!