The Marshal’s Wife is Wild

Chapter 18: Chapter 18: Unscrupulous Merchants Chapter 18: Chapter 18: Unscrupulous Merchants In the interstellar age, people had long mastered the genetic intervention technology for seeds, allowing selected plants to grow at any time without considering the season.

So Qu Tong didn’t need to worry about his special ability being discovered, and could plant whatever he wanted.

Qu Tong asked the three to plant one square of each seedling, and even surrounded it with a fence.

The setting sun marked the end of another afternoon.

“Young mistress, everything’s done, can we go back now?” Li Kun asked, leading two younger boys and bowing repeatedly, sweat still forming on his brow.

“Mhm, not bad,” Qu Tong nodded affirmatively, “I’ll look for you again if there’s more work next time.”

Li Kun: “…”

Is it really okay to take advantage of someone like this?

*
At the Fei Family on Capital Star.

The Fei Family’s front gate was kicked open, and Fei Wenxing’s blustering voice could be heard.

“Mom! Your darling son is back! Eh? Brother, you’re here too! Where’s mom?”

“Why aren’t you at school, what are you doing back here? Itching for a spanking?” Fei Wenyang frowned at his light computer and disdainfully lifted his eyelids upon hearing his brother’s voice.

“I’m just worried about you and dad, and plus, I’m sure I can be of help this time,” said Fei Wenxing with a somewhat guilty chuckle.

“If you can just sit tight and keep from embarrassing me at your school, I’ll thank my lucky stars.”

Fei Wenxing felt a bit wronged: “How is that my fault? Others were bullying me, and I couldn’t just not fight back. Wouldn’t you have done the same?”

Fei Wenyang bluntly said, “No.”

“Well, there you have it.”

“I’m not as useless as you, losing to some A-rank trash.”

“…”

A stab of pain hit Fei Wenxing’s chest; he was defiant but had no comeback.

How could he compare to his brother, an SS-rank genius, when even reaching A-rank was a struggle, achieved only with the help of potions?

Fei Wenyang didn’t prick him further but said instead:
“Dad is at the old man’s estate, mom’s watching over him, don’t add to the chaos. It’s about time they returned.”

When Fei Wenyang spoke of their father, Fei Ze, his brows couldn’t help but show a tinge of sorrow.

Fei Wenxing too dropped his playful demeanor, replying with a concerned ‘oh’ and plopped down next to Fei Wenyang.

Recalling the purpose of his return, a sunny smile spread across his face again as he shared something he found online the previous day.

“Bro, I have good news for you. I found something great. I came back specifically for dad’s condition,” he announced.

Fei Wenyang turned to look at him, skepticism written on his face.

“What’s with that look, brother? You don’t trust me?”

And truth be told, Fei Wenyang had never seen his brother, Fei Wenxing, do anything reliable—he knew only how to laze about and stir up trouble.

Like the time he learnt some programming online, claiming it’d make the housekeeping robot cook as well as a master chef, only to end up blowing up the kitchen.

Or the time he bought a snake to set loose in his enemy’s dorm, insisting on peeking inside before doing so, and then not tying the bag properly, causing midnight chaos.

Or…

The foolish things he’d done since childhood were too many to count.

It had been hard enough getting him into the military academy, and in just half a year, his mother had already been called to the school five times on his behalf.

Fei Wenxing didn’t care about Fei Wenyang’s skeptical look and continued, “I found the Spirit Power Stabilizing Potion. I’ve checked, and it’s as effective as the Alchemist Association’s mid-grade Spirit Power Stabilizing Potion. I placed the order yesterday.”

Fei Wenyang was visibly surprised: “Are you sure?”

Ever since their falling-out with the Lan Family, they cut off his family’s supply of Spirit Power Potions completely.

Unfortunately, the Fei Family lacked sufficient resources and connections. He didn’t know anyone who could compete with the Lan Family, nor could he find another good source for Spirit Power Potions.

The few merchants he knew who had Spirit Power Stabilizing Potions were either affiliated with the Lan Family or sold potions that were too weak to have any effect.

Fei Wenxing nodded, “It took me several days to find this place. It’s a new shop, and they only sell this one type of potion.”

Upon hearing it was a new store, Fei Wenyang became skeptical. “How much did you pay for it?” he asked.

“200,000 Star Coins,” Fei Wenxing said matter-of-factly.

Fei Wenyang massaged his forehead and looked at Fei Wenxing with a complex expression.

Uncomprehending, Fei Wenxing queried, “Aren’t all mid-grade Spirit Power Stabilizing Potions priced at 200,000 Star Coins?”

The glimmer of hope that had just risen was shattered once more, and Fei Wenyang spoke impatiently, “Only the Alchemist Association can command a price of 200,000 Star Coins for their mid-grade Spirit Power Stabilizing Potions. Use your pig brain and think, how could a newly opened store possibly have potions of such high quality? I bet they don’t even have a drug quality report. It’s clearly a scam targeted at idiots like you.”

“Impossible,” Fei Wenxing’s eyes widened in uncertainty, “it lists the same effects as those potions from the Alchemist Association.”

Fei Wenyang laughed, even more certain of his own thoughts, and looked at Fei Wenxing as if he was looking at a con victim. “Figure out your allowance next month by yourself.”

“Don’t do that,” Fei Wenxing protested weakly.

Realizing that what Fei Wenyang said might be true, he quickly opened his light computer to check if he could get a refund.

Upon opening it, he discovered… the shop was reported and banned.

Fei Wenxing exclaimed in shock, “Oh my god! The shop has been banned!”

He clicked on the order details to attempt a return, only to find that it had already been shipped and was about to arrive.

Fei Wenxing was close to tears, 200,000 Star Coins down the drain.

Laughter came from the side. Fei Wenyang’s irritation that had built up over the past few days was momentarily lifted by schadenfreude.

Fei Wenxing glared at his older brother and pretended to be tough, “What if it’s real!”

“Then it’s probably even less likely than making up with the Lan Family,” Fei Wenyang hit where it hurt.

The feud between the Lan Family and the Fei Family was no small affair. Lan Guofu and Fei’s father were both in the Second Corps, and the position of deputy commander was supposed to be a fair competition. Just two days after Fei’s father assumed the role, Lan Guofu, that despicable man, betrayed them during an inter-racial battle, causing Fei Ze to sustain severe injuries and significant damage to his spiritual power.

How could Fei Wenyang swallow such an insult? He directly went after Lan Guofu and his nephew. Although Lan Guofu escaped unscathed, his nephew’s leg was crippled, and he’s still lying in the hospital.

Fei Wenxing had no mood to bicker with his brother anymore, as he collapsed listlessly, cursing under his breath.

There was no trace of the excitement from his earlier boast.

Just as he wanted to curse the shop owner, the butler robot came in with a delivery.

Fei Wenxing turned off the light computer and, with one last shred of hope, got up to open the package.

He held up the potion against the light; it was translucent and a pretty shade of amethyst.

However, the packaging was crude. The transparent vial lacked the detailed and authoritative product description that came with potions from the Alchemist Association, not to mention an official appraisal.

There was merely a slipshod label that read ‘Spirit Power Stabilizing Potion,’ without any mention of grade.

This couldn’t be a Low-grade Spirit Power Stabilizing Potion, a counterfeit inferior product, could it?

The more he looked, the colder his heart grew.

200,000 Star Coins conned, just like that!!!

Ah! He was furious and determined to berate the shop owner!

This was too damn immoral!!!

He also wanted to expose this unscrupulous merchant!

Serving them right for being reported! They should also be fined—a hefty fine at that.