In the world of martial arts, grind your skill level to become a saint.

He immediately told his father about the information Su Hao provided.

Then the father's side negotiated the matter with the Ren family.

After all, taking over Qingzhi Valley was originally a business partnership between the two companies, and the marriage alliance was just a convenient side effect.

As for why a small place like Qingzhi Valley requires two companies to join forces to take it over.

That's because Qingzhi Valley itself is rich in medicinal herbs, and it was previously secretly guarded by government troops.

The reason this land is being given up now is due to corruption within the court, or perhaps changes in the new policies. They want to sell this land to make more money and prepare for the future.

Of course, this was just a rumor that Zhou Zhengtang had heard, but it cannot be denied that there were indeed many forces in Yanshan City that had their eyes on Qingzhi Valley, but they were not from the three gangs or two factions.

Therefore, until the official document issued by the imperial court is obtained, this land remains under the court's control. Other forces that want to seize it can only pave the way with money and see who can offer the most benefits to sway the government.

Originally, the Zhou family was not qualified to participate in this competition, but the Zhou family was a major producer of medicinal herbs, and together with the Ren family, a great pharmaceutical family, the two families joined forces and thus had the opportunity to be seated at the table.

But that's not enough. After all, Qingzhi Valley is a small area, and its value has already been fully estimated, so everyone's bids are pretty much the same.

However, thanks to the collaboration between the Zhou and Ren families, and the partnership between major pharmaceutical and medical experts, they inadvertently developed a medicine that could suppress the recent epidemic outside the city.

This gave the government some hope, since the recent epidemic had been spreading outside and had begun to infiltrate the inner workings, causing widespread panic among officials.

Now, whoever can concoct the medicine will naturally take over Qingzhi Valley.

Originally, this matter was a foregone conclusion, but for some unknown reason, the formula for the drug to suppress the epidemic began to leak out.

This has led to the takeover battle for Qingzhi Valley becoming opaque once again.

However, now that the Zhou and Ren families have fought to this extent, they naturally cannot give up the fight for Qingzhi Valley because of some intelligence.

It is important to know that in addition to producing medicinal herbs such as Ganoderma lucidum that can suppress epidemics, there are also many other precious medicines there.

If managed properly, artificial planting can be carried out there. With the soil and climate there, it will be a great boost to the development of the Zhou and Ren families!

Su Hao nodded slightly and said nothing more.

Since the Zhou and Ren families have already decided to stick to their decision, he naturally couldn't say anything more.

However, he had a lingering worry in his heart.

After all, in his view, Yang Lu, as a member of the Rice Gang, had no reason to tell him this news about Qingzhi Valley without cause.

Moreover, the other party must also know some inside information.

However, since the Zhou and Ren families have reached a consensus, all he, as an outsider, can do is provide this information and cannot influence their decision.

"Let's go! Let's not think about this anymore. It's been so many days since we had a drink together. How about we go to Fuquanlou for a bit?"

Zhou Zhengtang waved his hand, not continuing this heavy topic.

Instead, she pulled Su Hao towards the door.

"But I still need to cultivate..." Su Hao was about to refuse.

"Screw your self-cultivation! You'll get sick from all that hard work every day. After we finish drinking today, I'll take you to Fengxian Tower. I heard they recently got a new batch of courtesans, beauties from Jiangnan..."

Zhou Zhengtang decisively interrupted Su Hao's refusal and then pulled him toward the door.

Su Hao shook his head helplessly at the other party's actions.

But thinking that it had been a long time since he had sat down to eat with the other person, and that he had been training hard for more than ten days and had exhausted all his energy, he didn't say much and left the boxing gym.

After Su Hao and Zhou Zhengtang left the boxing gym, a somewhat sinister gaze was cast from the inner courtyard, watching the departing carriage at the gate.

"Su Hao... I underestimated you before, but do you think you can rest easy just because you've gained Master Liu's approval in this way...?"

Tang Huang stood up and looked in the direction where Su Hao and the others had left.

He gently put down the teacup he was holding and walked away from the boxing academy.

Blackwater Street, Xia's Rice Shop.

Xia Jin hurriedly took a clay pot that was burning with white steam and overflowing with dark brown medicinal liquid from the stove outside the counter.

With a thud, the earthenware pot was placed on a dark wooden board.

Xia Jin rubbed his hands together near his ears to cool them down before opening the jar and scooping out the liquid medicine into a bowl.

"Father... do you think my little sister will be able to go back to the Lin family this time...?"

Behind him stood a thin woman with sunken cheeks and a somewhat sharp and mean-spirited appearance, her voice low and deep.

Xia Jin paused in his movements, and the worried expression on his face instantly turned into one of anger.

He slammed the jar lid on the table, turned to the woman, and yelled, "Going back to the Lin family? Are you afraid your little sister won't die fast enough?"

Xia Jin looked at his eldest daughter, never expecting that at this point, she would disregard the life or death of her own younger sister, Xia Yingying, and still be thinking of sending her back to the Lin family!

If it weren't for the Lin family's quick discovery this time, Xia Yingying would probably have been beaten to death by Lin Hong!

"Not going back? Do you think Lin Hong will let her go? If you let her stay here, you'll be beaten to death one day too. Have you forgotten how Lin Hong treated you before?"

The mean-spirited woman was not to be outdone, and retorted to Xia Jin in a cold tone.

"Xia Qingqing! Don't go too far! You're no longer someone to interfere here!"

Xia Jin said angrily.

I never imagined that my eldest daughter, who used to be the most obedient and sensible, would turn out to be so heartless and cruel.

"Why didn't you say that when Lin Hong beat you half to death?" Xia Qingqing sneered. "Besides, if I hadn't told Lin Hong the whole story, do you think you'd still be standing here now?"

"My sister chose this person herself, so she has to bear the consequences. Back then, she thought she had snagged a rich husband and was incredibly mean and rude to me. Now that I want to sever ties with her, why won't you allow it?"

Xia Qingqing turned her head to look at the half-open door inside the shop, her voice growing louder and louder.

Thinking back to her younger sister's true colors after she gained power, she now wishes the younger sister were dead.

It was truly foolish of her not to lend a hand during her most difficult time, and even to ridicule her for not striving for herself and taking control of her destiny, but instead letting her father arrange things for her.

But when Xia Yingying said those words, did she ever consider her own predicament?