The four people - Mei Lan, Yu Chen, Zhu Ying, and Hu Xiao - shook their heads in unison upon hearing this. "Master, we have never thought of such a thing," they said. "Master is kind and compassionate at heart. You are the best master we could ask for." They added, "We didn't understand what you meant by taking a holiday. We thought you were going to dismiss us. Now we understand that you mean that we should go home every month and be reunited with our families for one day." They truly thanked the master for this decision!
Upon hearing this, Mo Wenjie nodded in agreement. "Since you all understand, then you can make your own arrangements," he said. "You can go back two at a time or one at a time."
Mei looked at the other three people. "Since Master has allowed us to arrange things ourselves, I think it's better to go one by one. It's not as tense when there are fewer people serving Master here. Anyway, we all have to go home for a day, whether it's earlier or later doesn't matter. Let's start from the youngest today. Little Sister Ju, you're the youngest, so you go home first today. Taking care of Master will be our responsibility!"
Upon hearing this, Little Sister Ju smiled and nodded at Mo Wenjie. "Master, I'll go home first to see my family. I'll come back tomorrow morning to take care of Master!"
Mo Wenjie nodded. "Hurry back! I've heard that your home is quite far away. I've already arranged for a carriage to be hired for you. It's waiting outside the gate. Just hurry back!"
Hearing this, Little Sister Ju was moved to the point of tears. "Master, you've been so kind to us. Why don't I offer myself to you?"
Upon hearing this, Mo Wenjie almost stumbled. He poked her forehead with his finger and asked, "What kind of thoughts are you having? You all come from the countryside and if you walk back home, it will be noon already. You will be exhausted and hungry. Since you are going home to be reunited with your families, let's be happy. We can't have you exhausted and hungry when you get home!"
Hearing this, Little Sister Ju looked at Mo Wenjie and said, "Master, you have been so kind to us. I will tell my family that I will serve Master for the rest of my life!"
Mo Wenjie covered his forehead upon hearing this. "Don't say that. Just go back quickly, don't make your family wait anxiously!"
Little Sister Ju looked at Mo Wenjie with reluctance as she left the mansion and climbed onto the carriage to go home.
Mo Wenjie watched the departing carriage and muttered to himself, "These country girls are really not easy. Those with poor family conditions find it hard to have a peaceful life. They have to go out every day to help others. It's really hard for them!"
Mei, upon hearing this, looked at Mo Wenjie. "Only Master understands and thinks about us. We could even offer ourselves to you, if you'd like. We're not ugly now, are we? Could Master not see us?"
Mo Wenjie quickly shook his head. "It has nothing to do with beauty. You three are very beautiful. It's a personal reason of mine, and has nothing to do with your appearance!"
Mei looked at Mo Wenjie and shook her head. "Master still dislikes us. Although we have eaten beauty pills, we cannot compare to them. After all, they are people with status, while we are children from poor families. There is a fundamental difference between us! This is what they call social stratification!"
Mo Wenjie shook his head. "It's not like what you're thinking, it has nothing to do with status. Don't overthink it, please? I've told you before, it's a personal reason of mine. I really don't want to owe too much emotional debt. If all my previous consorts ascended, what should I do with so many of them? Emotional debt is indescribable; you can't just drop it or give it up. It's hard to move forward when tied down by emotional debt!"
Mei, Lan, and bamboo heard his words and nodded in agreement. "Master, you are very correct. We may not have experienced matters of the heart, but we have seen and heard about it. Sometimes it can be difficult to let go. It's not that it doesn't affect our progress, but of course it does. As human beings, we cannot avoid emotions. People who are heartless do not necessarily have high cultivation either. In our understanding, those who value relationships and loyalty have higher cultivation that is hard to reach."
Mo Wenjie shook his head. "I'm not sure how to explain it, as there are many things that can't be explained with common sense. Some things really puzzle me, and I'm not sure how to express them. Anyway, I believe that responsibility is greater than heaven, and kindness brings boundless blessings. As long as a person has nothing to feel ashamed of in their heart and nothing to feel sorry for towards the heavens and the earth, others' opinions don't matter!"
Mei, Lan, and bamboo nodded repeatedly upon hearing Mo Wenjie's words. "Master said it so well. We truly admire you, Master. Is there anything wrong with offering ourselves to you? Master just said that as long as a person does not have anything to feel ashamed of in their heart or towards the heavens and the earth, what others say doesn't matter. We're not afraid of what others say; they can think whatever they want!"
Mo Wenjie shook his head in disbelief upon hearing this. "You're trying to trap me, aren't you? You're deliberately leading me down this path, then waiting for me here. You all seem to be playing mind games with Master. You really are good at it!"
Mei, Lan, and bamboo heard this and giggled. "Master, we also learned this from others. How could we possibly have such a way of thinking? We only heard it so many times that we knew how others said and did it. We truly are not intentional!"
Mo Wenjie looked at the three of them. "Alright, I won't count it against you. I'm going to the military camp to find Qian Brother now. You rest at home!"
Mo Wenjie arrived at the military camp and immediately someone notified Qian Xiao Yong.
Qian Xiao Yong personally went to the gate of the military camp to welcome him. "Brother Wenjie, what is it that you have come to find Brother Qian for?"
Mo Wenjie looked at Qian Xiao Yong and said, "Brother Qian, I need to get some more ingredients for the Breaking World Pill. However, this time we can use the Beauty Pill in exchange. By then, Brother Qian won't have to worry about being checked by others, and we will have nothing to feel guilty about!"
Qian Xiao Yong nodded upon hearing this. "Brother Wenjie, you make a lot of sense. We're not short of money now, so there's no need to get caught up over a small amount. It's better not to give others an opportunity to catch us. Since Brother Wenjie has said this, let the military provisions officer exchange the herbs according to the previous rules. Do as you please."
Mo Wenjie looked at Qian Xiao Yong after hearing his words. "Brother Qian, let me handle this matter myself. It's not appropriate for you to be involved. If a few individuals with ill intent happen to see us, they might make a big deal out of it and it wouldn't be good for your reputation!"
Qian Xiao Yong nodded. "Alright, then I'll just stand aside for this matter. You go and negotiate with them. We don't have any shortage of money, so spending a bit more is no problem. Our big brother will always support you."
Qū Hóng Hǎi also came over, "Brother Wenjie, what is it that you have come to find Brother Qian for?"
Qian Xiao Yong looked at Qū Hóng Hǎi after hearing this. "You're just in time. Brother Wenjie wants to exchange Beauty Pill for medicinal materials. You go with him to find the military provisions officer. As for the price, we can be generous so that there's nothing others can say. We'll handle it according to the rules!"
Qū Hóng Hǎi nodded and said, "Master, you can rest assured that I will handle this matter. I guarantee that our price will not be low, but we also cannot let ourselves be taken advantage of. We will make sure to get a fair deal."
Qian Xiao Yong looked at Qū Hóng Hǎi after hearing this. "That's exactly what I want to hear. I know you have the capability to handle this. Go with Brother Wenjie to the military provisions office and find the military provisions officer. As for the outcome, that will be up to you."
Qū Hóng Hǎi chuckled upon hearing this. "Is it that Master Qian doesn't believe in my abilities?"
Qian Xiao Yong looked at Qū Hóng Hǎi and said, "Whether you believe it or not doesn't matter. What's important is that Brother Wenjie believes in your abilities. Now is the time to show your skills. Whether you can achieve the expected results and complete the task successfully, that will depend on your performance."
Qū Hóng Hǎi shook his head. "My strength is sufficient, so there's no need for all this trouble. Brother Wenjie can just watch the show."
Qian Xiao Yong, upon hearing this, smiled and nodded at Mo Wenjie. "Brother Wenjie, go with Deputy Commander Qū to find the military provisions officer. Remember, we're business people; harmony is the most important thing, and don't use your authority to pressure anyone. I'll be waiting in my office for your good news!"
Qū Hóng Hǎi answered quickly, "Master Qian, you don't have to worry. I promise that everyone will be satisfied!"
Qian Xiao Yong laughed out loud. "Hurry up and take Brother Wenjie with you. Don't dawdle! If you delay any longer, it will be time for lunch. Then it will be your treat to have some good food!"
Qū Hóng Hǎi chuckled. "Even if I didn't dilly-dally, it's appropriate to treat Brother Wenjie to a meal. It's no big deal, let's go!"
Qū Hóng Hǎi accompanied Mo Wenjie in saying goodbye to Qian Xiao Yong and heading off to find the military provisions officer.
Qian Xiao Yong watched their backs, hoping that they would be able to successfully exchange the medicinal materials!
Qū Hóng Hǎi led Mo Wenjie to the military provisions officer's office and knocked on the door.
The military provisions officer replied lazily, "Come in!"
Qū Hóng Hǎi pushed open the door with Mo Wenjie and entered the office.
The military provisions officer, upon seeing Qū Hóng Hǎi, immediately stood up. "I apologize for not having welcomed you, Deputy Commander Qū. Please punish me!"
Upon hearing this, Qū Hóng Hǎi shook his head and said, "Alright, no need for chit-chat. I came here today for a specific reason. Could you help me find out how the exchange for medicinal materials is done?"
Mo Wenjie looked at the military provisions officer, who had a large head and ears. He must have received his fair share of benefits. It seems that the military provisions officer has a lucrative position. If it's someone they know, it would be much more convenient. It seems that he still needs to cultivate his own people to make the process of exchanging medicinal materials more convenient in the future. He thought about this and opened his mouth to say: Brother, do you know how my pills can be exchanged?
The military provisions officer looked at Mo Wenjie upon hearing his words. "We've had records of exchanges here before. You can just follow the previous method for the exchange!"
Mo Wenjie watched as the military provisions officer took out the record of the exchange. He walked up and looked at it, murmuring to himself, "This is too incredible! With such an exchange record, it's almost like giving it away for free. He then took out the Beauty Pill and his list of needed medicinal materials!"
The military provisions officer held the Beauty Pill and said, "What kind of pill is this, and what are its effects? Please tell me in detail so I can make a record."
Mo Wenjie looked at the military provisions officer and said, "This pill is called the Beauty Pill. It can make women's appearance more beautiful and youthful forever!"
The military provisions officer looked at Mo Wenjie, "Are you sure it has such effects? You're not deceiving me, are you?"
Upon hearing this, Mo Wenjie shook his head at the military provisions officer. "If you don't believe me, it's simple. You can just find someone to try it out and see for yourself. How about this: You have your wife try it, and I can give her a Beauty Pill. Once you are satisfied, we can discuss the exchange of medicinal materials."
The military provisions officer looked at Mo Wenjie and asked, "Is this appropriate?"
