"The serious matters concluded, Tang Haoran regained his usual heroic demeanor and asked Han Lang mysteriously.
"Brother Han, after you treated me last time, you said that if you brewed another prescription for me, I could recover seven or eight tenths of my strength. Can I ask, relying on the fact that I helped you this time, how much longer do I have to wait?"
Han Lang glanced at Tang Haoran slyly, his playful mood stirred. He immediately pretended to be troubled.
"Well... my strength isn't enough right now, so I really can't make it for you. Calm down and keep waiting!"
Regarding Tang Haoran's physical condition, Han Lang actually had a plan.
Due to the long-term effects of stagnation, his dantian had long been imbalanced, and the true qi of the martial artists within his body had scattered throughout his body.
Although the Shen Nong Eighteen Needles could clear his stagnation, they could not repair the dantian and reconcentrate the true qi of the martial artists.
For this, Han Lang had to first use the Peiyuan Pill to solidify his foundation and replenish his essence.
Then, he would use the Xiaohuan Pill to guide the true qi of the martial artists throughout his body back to the dantian, thereby restoring his strength.
But the problem now was,
Han Lang was currently only at the sixth level of Qi Refining.
While refining the first-tier Peiyuan Pill was not a major problem, he was still not confident enough for the second-tier Xiaohuan Pill.
Therefore, his words were actually half true and half false!
"Brother Han, it's not that your brother is impatient. Can you tell me more clearly how much longer I have to wait? Otherwise, without the true qi of a martial artist, I feel so awkward every time I practice my punches!"
Han Lang smiled slightly, put away his playful mood, and answered seriously.
"This is indeed hard to say. However, according to my estimation, one or two months should be about right."
Upon hearing Han Lang's approximate timeframe, Tang Haoran slapped his thigh decisively.
"Alright! If it's one or two months, then I'll hold on. If it takes any longer, I'm bound to develop some other illness from being cooped up. Haha..."
Seeing Tang Haoran's amusing demeanor, Han Lang couldn't help but shake his head and laugh along.
As night fell,
The bustling Le City gradually quieted down, with countless lights illuminating the happiness of every family.
But the atmosphere in the Cao family at this moment was extremely solemn!
"Jian'er! Did you reject Brother Han's cooperation request today?"
Old Master Cao sat on the sofa, looking at Cao Jian with a face full of anger.
Cao Jian was somewhat surprised. He did not directly answer Old Master Cao's question but looked at Cao Xuerong with a hint of blame.
"Did you tell Grandpa about this?"
Cao Xuerong's face was resolute. Just as she was about to answer, she was sternly interrupted by Old Master Cao.
"Don't change the subject, answer me first!"
Cao Jian glared at Cao Xuerong, then quickly walked over and sat beside Old Master Cao, explaining with a helpless expression.
"Dad, I considered this from the Cao family's perspective. Although billions are not a lot, this is clearly the kid Han Lang trying to use our Cao family's influence to counter the Gou and Wang families. Moreover, Wang Shan, the head of the Wang family, specifically found me and asked me not to interfere in this matter. I can ignore the Gou and Wang families, but I have to give face to the Wang family, don't I?"
"Slap!"
Old Master Cao slapped the coffee table in front of him.
"Pedantic!"
"Who does that Wang Shan think he is, to make our Cao family owe him a favor with just a word?"
Cao Jian felt a bit uncomfortable hearing this. However, since the person opposite him was his father, he had no choice but to continue to answer patiently.
"Dad, what you're saying is wrong. The Wang family is, after all, one of the four major families. And the Han family? They aren't even among the eight great families. Why should we offend the Wang family for him? Is it just because you call him brother?"
Hearing this, Old Master Cao became even more furious, pounding his chest and stamping his feet. He pointed at Cao Jian with trembling fingers, his face filled with disappointment.
"You... you... what can I say about you!"
"Not to mention that Brother Han saved my life, but even if he hadn't, you shouldn't have turned away this business!"
"Even Rong'er knows that this business is beneficial and harmless to our Cao family. How can you be so cowardly that you don't even dare to take this little risk!"
Cao Jian felt even more unconvinced after hearing these words.
He was now the head of the Cao family. Although it was his father scolding him, the word 'cowardly' was still a bit excessive.
So, he answered unwillingly.
"Dad, what you're saying is a bit too much! Although I'm not as good as you were in your prime, how could I not see the business opportunities that Rong'er sees?"
"The profits involved are entirely based on the Wang family not participating in this struggle!"
"If we intervene, given the relationship between the Wang family and the Gou family, will they stand by and do nothing?"
"Once the Wang family intervenes, with one major family joining forces with two great families, we have no chance of winning!"
Old Master Cao was even more furious at this moment.
"You're still quibbling!"
"If this matter truly escalates to a struggle between major families, where would the eight great families have a chance to intervene?"
"Although the Wang family is slightly superior to us in all aspects, market competition is not just about financial strength!"
"The competitiveness of the two products developed by Brother Han is so strong. No matter how you calculate it, the Wang family would not have the confidence to participate in this struggle!"
Old Master Cao's words left Cao Jian speechless, but he still disagreed with this statement.
"Even so, the Wang family will not stand by and do nothing. Supporting the Han family will ultimately disrupt the balance between the four major families and the eight great families in Le City. The consequences of that will be unpredictable!"
"You..."
Old Master Cao was so angry that he even raised his hand.
If it weren't for his granddaughter Cao Xuerong being present, he would have loved to slap Cao Jian hard across the face to wake up his disappointing son.
"Who told you that Le City can only have four major families and eight great families? Which law stipulates that?"
"Why can't it be four major families and nine great families? Why can't it be five major families? Even, why can't there be a supreme major family?"
Supreme major family?
Cao Jian was so scared that he was stunned by these words.
Even Cao Xuerong had not expected Old Master Cao to say such a thing.
Although she was optimistic about the Han family, reaching the level of a supreme major family seemed a bit too exaggerated?
So, she asked with confusion.
"Grandpa, aren't these words a bit much? From the current situation, the Han family does have considerable potential, but they aren't even considered one of the eight great families yet. A supreme major family, this..."
Seeing that Cao Xuerong also did not fully agree, Cao Jian immediately echoed with confidence.
"Yes, Dad! No matter how much potential the Han family has, just relying on these two products to enter the ranks of a supreme major family is somewhat fantastical, isn't it?"
Seeing the doubt on both their faces, Old Master Cao sighed deeply.
"Alas... your vision is still too shortsighted. You only see the surface of things!"