Chapter Fifty-Seven: Guided Solely by Conscience

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Medicine +2
Reading +3
Chen Yushu finished reading today’s medical book, letting his mind absorb the gains from its pages.
Due to his busy schedule, he had only managed to read one book this time, a guide on health preservation authored by an elderly physician. Although not a formal medical text, such books were popular precisely because they lacked strict prerequisites.
In the side room of the pharmacy, not all the stored books were strictly medical; these related guidebooks were included as well.
The book introduced numerous health and fitness principles and pharmacological insights, and it even featured a recipe called “Vitality Decoction,” intended to nourish the blood.
Many medical books contained such small supplementary recipes.
For example, he had previously read a treatise on bone setting, which included a formula for red oil—a remedy renowned for its miraculous effects on muscle and bone injuries.
“Vitality Decoction?
It’s certainly not as potent as the Essence Decoction, but it should still help replenish some energy and blood.
The key is that the ingredients are inexpensive.”
Chen Yushu examined the recipe carefully.
His recent reading hadn’t been in vain; by verifying the pharmacology, he knew this recipe would indeed boost energy and blood to some extent.
Most importantly, the entire set of fifteen herbs cost just over thirty coins per batch.
To prepare twenty or thirty batches, it would cost at most one tael of silver.
He decided at once to mix up a supply.
...
The matter of the malevolent spirit possessing people was troublesome for many professionals.
To avoid affecting the pharmacy’s business, all the wounded had been arranged to rest upstairs on the second floor.
As a result, Chen Yushu was unclear about the situation above.
When the time was right, he consulted Manager Zhou, purchased twenty packs of ingredients for the Vitality Decoction, paying in silver of course.
The price was still rather favorable—five hundred coins, about a thirty percent discount.
“Thankfully, I’ve already moved out.
Otherwise, I wouldn’t dare sleep in the pharmacy.”
After leaving the pharmacy, he glanced back at the second floor, feeling a wave of relief.
He knew most of the wounded would be staying overnight.
If he hadn’t known, it wouldn’t matter, but with this knowledge, he could never sleep alongside those things.
If they were in a foul mood and wandered out, what disaster might follow?
With that thought, he quickened his pace.
“Big brother, wait for me!”
He had barely entered an alley when he heard a shout behind him.

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He turned hurriedly and saw Shi Hao rushing over.
“Big brother, do you have any more of those talismans?”
Shi Hao caught his breath, his face alight with excitement. “Your talisman worked wonders.
As soon as I applied it, the malevolent aura smoked and dissipated, vanishing quickly.
Now everyone’s asking me for talismans.”
“Oh?”
Chen Yushu frowned.
“Big brother, here’s what happened.
I intended to follow your advice and stay out of it.
But some said I was just a kid meddling in grown-up business, and since Brother Li—the one who recommended me—was there, I couldn’t let him lose face.
The others were busy dispelling malevolence from the injured, using all sorts of tools. Most of their devices lost effectiveness quickly; their spiritual energy depleted and needed time to recover.
I took out one of your talismans and helped someone.
Honestly, I wasn’t sure if it would work.
But as soon as the talisman was applied, smoke rose, and the malevolent aura was swiftly expelled. The man’s complexion improved visibly.
Instantly, everyone became curious about my talismans and offered silver to buy them.
If I hadn’t said I didn’t have many and would bring more tomorrow, they wouldn’t have let me leave.”
Shi Hao explained hurriedly.
“How many do you have left? How much are they offering?”
Chen Yushu raised an eyebrow, surprised.
He knew those devices must be “old implements”—imbued with spiritual energy, giving them power over malevolent spirits and ghosts.
For example, Uncle Zhong had used an old bell to drive away a ghost.
But such implements, though capable of holding spiritual energy, seldom lasted long; when depleted, they required incense and prayer to be recharged.
They were far inferior to true magical artifacts.
“Ten taels of silver per talisman.
I used two just now, and both men paid ten taels each on the spot.
But Old Liu, who seems knowledgeable, said talismans aren’t usually so expensive—eight taels would be fair, so I returned two taels to each.
I was afraid you’d run out, so I kept one for myself.”
Shi Hao lowered his voice.
Chen Yushu nodded. He had given Shi Hao three talismans earlier and said, “They’re not usually so expensive.”

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“But this is a different situation. If you can sell them at eight taels apiece, you’ve got real skill.”
He still remembered seeing the price of house-protection talismans at Old Fu’s incense shop.
One tael of silver!
Though it was a fake, so the cheap price made sense.
But a genuine house-protection talisman that actually worked would usually fetch three to five taels at most.
Of course, each trade has its own pricing.
Those in the know could buy for one tael; those ignorant or desperate might pay ten or twenty taels if they truly needed one.
Such is this world—some deals are made purely on conscience.
“As for the talismans, come to me tomorrow and I’ll prepare as many as I can.
If you can sell them for eight taels each, I’ll let you have them at five taels apiece—if you can’t sell them, I’ll take them back.”
After some thought, Chen Yushu grew excited himself.
Five taels per talisman—if he could sell ten, he’d net fifty taels of silver.
Of course, there would be risks, but opportunity and risk always go hand in hand.
He wanted to earn silver, and aside from selling talismans, there really wasn’t any other quick method.
“Alright.
Thank you, big brother.”
Shi Hao was excited as well.
All his confidence came from Chen Yushu; since both could profit, he had no reason to object.
“Good.
I’ve got one more talisman here—it should protect you from being targeted by those things.
As long as you don’t dream about them, there’s no karmic link, so they have no reason to trouble you.
Of course, even if you do dream of them, you’ll be safe for the first day.
After that, we’ll see.”
Chen Yushu handed him his last talisman.
“And the silver…”
Shi Hao reached out to take it.
Chen Yushu waved his hand. “You just gave me thirty taels earlier—I won’t return it. The extra ten taels can be tomorrow’s deposit.”
With that, he didn’t linger and went straight home.