"What?"
Huang Wenlei was greatly surprised by this. It was as if he had arranged this.
But Heaven and Earth knew that this had nothing to do with him.
To prove his innocence, he immediately ordered the store manager, "Go to the surrounding pharmacies and procure the goods. Within half an hour, I want enough medicinal ingredients laid out before me."
"Yes, Mr. Huang."
The store owner said respectfully and then went to arrange the procurement.
However, less than ten minutes later, the store owner returned with an embarrassed expression.
"Mr. Huang, I've already inquired. All the medicinal ingredients of these types in all our branches have been cleared out. Not even an ounce remains."
"What? How can this be? Who did this? Could it be that other pharmacies are deliberately clearing out stock to disrupt the market?"
Huang Wenlei asked with a frown.
The store manager shook his head, "I don't think so. It was a woman from out of town who bought them. She had many bodyguards with her, like a young lady of high status. And it wasn't just at our Tongrenxuan. I've inquired, and all the medicinal ingredients in all the pharmacies were bought out by that young lady."
"Is there such a thing?"
Huang Wenlei couldn't help but feel confused. "These medicinal ingredients aren't rare. Why would this young lady come to Jiaonan to clear out stock?"
Chen Xiao, however, frowned slightly, realizing that the young lady might also be trying to refine the Qingxin Dan. Her purpose in refining it might also be to reach Binghuo Island.
Chen Xiao stepped forward and asked, "Store manager, do you happen to know the address of that young lady? I'd like to pay her a visit."
The store manager knew that Chen Xiao was brought by Huang Wenlei and dared not be negligent. He cupped his hands and said, "Sir, you're making things difficult for me. She just came to buy medicine; how would I have the right to ask where she lives..."
Chen Xiao felt a little awkward and apologized, "I'm sorry, I was overthinking. She bought so much medicine, I thought you might need to deliver it to her residence."
The store owner explained, "No, that young lady brought many people with her and didn't need us to deliver the medicine."
At this moment, Sun Buzhou impatiently said, "Can't this vast Jiaonan City even get these common medicinal ingredients?"
"Well, it's not that there aren't any..."
The store manager hesitated, glanced at Sun Buzhou, and said, "Sir, have you perhaps heard of the 'Underground Medicinal Ingredient Auction'?"
Huang Wenlei said proudly, "Store manager, this is no ordinary elder. Open your eyes and see, this is the revered national physician Sun Buzhou, Elder Sun!"
The store manager looked closely and became even more respectful. "Elder Sun, I didn't recognize you earlier. My apologies."
Sun Buzhou waved his hand, "It's nothing. Quickly tell me, what is this underground medicinal ingredient auction?"
The store manager quickly introduced, "Elder Sun, the underground medicinal ingredient auction is held once a week. The medicinal ingredients there are not ordered from wholesale markets but are collected directly from medicinal farmers or mountain herb collectors. There are many types of medicinal ingredients, and perhaps the ones you are looking for can be found there. Moreover, if you are lucky, you might even encounter some medicinal ingredients over a hundred years old."
This kind of auction is privately organized and kept out of sight, hence the name underground medicinal ingredient auction.
Sun Buzhou quickly asked, "When does this auction start?"
Sun Buzhou was not a rigid old man. He didn't care whether it was underground or not. Being able to buy medicinal ingredients was what mattered.
The store manager quickly checked the date and said, "There's one tonight at eight o'clock, held at Yanzi Garden!"
Chen Xiao looked at the time; it was already 7:30. He immediately said, "Without further ado, let's set off now."
The group immediately left Tongrenxuan and headed for Yanzi Garden.
Yanzi Garden was originally a luxurious mansion built by a wealthy compradore during the Republic of China era. However, as time passed and the world changed, Yanzi Garden changed hands several times. Its current owner is a hidden tycoon.
Even the local rich young master Huang Wenlei didn't know who the current owner of Yanzi Garden was.
He drove the group to the entrance of Yanzi Garden and found it heavily guarded. A circle of security guards in black suits with earpieces stood at the entrance.
As they approached, they were stopped by the security guards.
"Excuse me, please present your invitation!"
The security guards spoke politely but with a cold tone.
Huang Wenlei frowned and said only one sentence, "I am Huang Wenlei!"
He thought that with his name and the status of the Huang family in Jiaonan, these security guards would surely let him in.
However, the security guard, upon hearing his words, still said coldly, "I'm sorry, this is private property. To enter, please present your invitation!"
Huang Wenlei was greatly displeased. "I told you I am Huang Wenlei. Don't you recognize me? I am the young master of Tongrenxuan. You dare to stop me at your lousy auction? Are you tired of your job?"
Hearing this, Chen Xiao couldn't help but frown.
This Huang Wenlei, who appeared experienced, was actually a good-for-nothing.
Your Tongrenxuan is indeed the leader in Jiaonan's medicinal ingredient circle, but this is an underground auction, clearly an existence that is incompatible with you!
As the saying goes, it is among competitors that hatred is most naked. It's no wonder they would let you in upon hearing your name!
As expected, as soon as the security guard heard Huang Wenlei's name, he immediately spoke into his earpiece, "All units, assemble at the entrance immediately. Someone is causing trouble."
Huang Wenlei immediately became scared and said feebly, "Don't talk nonsense. I'm not here to cause trouble, I just want to go in and buy some medicinal ingredients!"
Just then, a black Rolls-Royce stopped at the entrance, and a middle-aged man with a receding hairline got out of the car.
The man with the receding hairline saw Sun Buzhou at a glance, his eyes lit up, and he quickly walked over, saying with pleasant surprise, "Master Sun, I never expected to meet you here!"
Sun Buzhou looked at the man with the receding hairline and couldn't help but show a look of confusion, "Who are you?"
The man with the receding hairline said excitedly, "Master Sun, you have a good memory for everything but people. I am Wu Degui. Five years ago, I was seriously ill, and it was your skillful hands that saved me. Otherwise, I would have already kicked the bucket!"
Sun Buzhou then remembered, "Oh~~ I remember now. You are Boss Wu, who is in the real estate business!"
"No, no, I dare not be called Boss. Master Sun, you can just call me Xiao Wu. Why are you here?"
Boss Wu asked with a smile.
Sun Buzhou said with a blush, "I wanted to attend this underground medicinal ingredient auction, but I was stopped by the security guards and not allowed to enter."
As soon as Boss Wu heard this, the smile on his face disappeared, and he glared fiercely at the security guards.
"You bunch of dogs, you've really got blind eyes to dare to stop Master Sun. None of you want your jobs anymore, do you?"