While Zhao Xu was busy refining the "Rejuvenation Pill", he asked Wu Zhengjun from the provincial capital to help him collect various medicinal materials needed to refine the "Strengthening Pill".

This time, Zhao Xu needed a lot of medicinal materials.

Just the Jiutang and Beizhu Gangs, there are at least several hundred people.

Wu Zhengjun told Zhao Xu that it would take at least half a month to collect all these medicinal materials.

Zhao Xu calculated the date, and it was almost time for the elixir to be completed.

When refining low-level and intermediate-level elixirs, the last day and three days are the key dates. The last week when refining mid-level and high-level elixirs is the key date.

By that time, Zhao Xu no longer dared to walk around casually and had to watch the alchemy being made in the alchemy room. Therefore, he asked Wu Zhengjun to collect the medicinal materials while waiting for news from Su Rou.

As long as Xu Fangtu can be found, there will be a furnace cauldron to refine the elixir. Otherwise, so many people will need to take the "Strengthening Pill", and Zhao Xu's only one elixir furnace will not be enough.

Two days later, Su Rou called and said that Xu Fangxu's family had moved to Dan City, Province L.

After Su Rou gave Zhao Xu the detailed address, Zhao Xu was worried that the alchemy would go awry, so he asked Chen Xiaodao to take his place and go to the Alchemy City to look for Xu Fangtu.

Chen Xiaodao knew that this matter was very important to Zhao Xu, so he drove straight to Dan City in L Province with Nong Quan.

With the detailed address given by Su Rou, it was easy to find Xu Fangtu's home.

What shocked Chen Xiaodao was that the Xu family actually lived in a dilapidated house.

When you come to visit someone for the first time, you always have to bring some gifts.

After Chen Xiaodao got better, he took Nong Quan to buy gifts and came to Xu's house again.

Before Chen Xiaodao could call out, Nong Quan shouted: "Hey, is anyone here?"

Nong Quan's voice was already loud, and it made Chen Xiaodao's eardrums buzz.

Chen Xiaodao said to Nong Quan: "You can't keep your voice down, or you might scare others!"

Nong Quan said with a smile: "I'm afraid they can't hear me!"

At this time, the door opened and a man about fifty years old came out.

The man had not shaved, and his mouth was covered with green stubble, looking unkempt and downcast.

When the man saw that Chen Xiaodao and Nong Quan were two strangers, he frowned and asked, "Who are you looking for?"

Chen Xiaodao said politely to the man: "Uncle, is this the home of Master Xu Fangtu?"

"Yes!" The man nodded and then asked: "Are you...?"

Chen Xiaodao explained: "I heard that Master Xu is good at casting furnace tripods, so we came here specially to ask Master Xu to help cast the tripod."

"I'm sorry, my father is gone!"

Chen Xiaodao was shocked when he heard this and asked: "When did it happen?"

"Five days ago!"

"Please have my condolences!" Chen Xiaodao saluted the man.

"Then may I ask, who among you in the Xu family can cast a tripod?"

"Sorry! Our Xu family will not make any more tripods in the future."

"Why?"

"because......"

Before the man could finish his explanation, a sharp shout was heard.

"Xu Tang, how are you preparing?"

Chen Xiaodao and Nong Quan looked back and saw four people walking into the alley.

All of them were tall and muscular, with big gold chains around their necks and mink coats. At first glance, they looked like they were not good-natured ones.

The man named Xu Tang was obviously afraid of these people. He replied cautiously: "Brother, didn't I tell you? My father has just been buried, and I have to pass the first seven days before I can go to work at your place."

"Hmph! Don't even think about running away. You owe us so much money that you can work for decades. If you dare to run away, we will break your legs."

"Don't worry, I will definitely pay you back."

The leader glanced at Chen Xiaodao and Nong Quan and asked, "Who are you?"

Nong Quan's eyes widened and he shouted: "Who we are is none of your business!"

"you......"

The man did not expect Nong Quan to have such a hot temper. He warned Nong Quan and Chen Xiaodao: "The Xu family owes us a lot of money. If you are not related to them, you'd better stay away from them."

"You try to glare at me again?" Nong Quan was about to take action when he saw it.

Chen Xiaodao immediately dissuaded Nong Quan and said: "Nong Quan, shut up!"

Nong Quan glared at the other person fiercely, wishing he could beat him to the ground and rub him immediately.

The other party saw that the Nongquan people were tall and strong and did not look like a kind person, so they did not dare to say any harsh words.

He let out a loud "Huh!", then turned around and left the Xu family.

After these people left, Chen Xiaodao asked Xu Tang: "Uncle Xu, what is going on?"

Xu Tang sighed and said: "You also know that our Xu family is engaged in crafts. But these days, craftsmen are starving to death! After we moved here, we originally wanted to make a living by relying on the craftsmanship inherited from our ancestors. I turned to those

Someone borrowed money to set up a foundry company. But because we were purely hand-made, the production costs were extremely high and we couldn't cope with the market. People simply didn't buy our business. In this way, the debts continued to grow."

It is a fact that business is difficult to do now.

Because all the easy businesses are monopolized by some big companies.

It's okay to say that some conscientious large companies will support some small businesses in disguise. However, some large companies only care about their own interests and don't care about the lives of others.

It is expected that traditional craftsmen like the Xu family will lose money when running a business.

After all, the Xu family's hand-made furnace tripods not only have high production costs, but now, except for some temples and monasteries, there are very few places that need such things as furnace tripods.

It can be said that the furnace tripod has become an unpopular commodity.

It can be seen that although the Xu family's craftsmanship is good, it is not suitable for business.

Chen Xiaodao said to Xu Tang: "Are those people from loan companies?"

Xu Tang nodded and said: "It would be okay if it was a company that specializes in lending. This company has a very powerful background and our Xu family simply cannot afford to offend it."

"oh?"

Chen Xiaodao became very interested after hearing this and asked: "What is their background?"

Xu Tang shook his head and said, "I don't know!" He only knew that the other party couldn't afford to offend him.

"Then how much do you owe me?"

"More than three million!" Xu Tang said.

As a private detective, Chen Xiaodao naturally understands the ways of these loan companies.

The interest rate of this kind of loan company is much higher than that of bank loans. It is more than three million yuan. If it is compounded with interest, the Xu family will owe more and more money.

"Uncle Xu, where do they want you to go to work?" Chen Xiaodao asked casually.

He always felt that it was a bit unrealistic to ask Xu Tang to go to work to pay off a debt of three million.

Xu Tang said: "Go to a company that makes handmade weapons. I don't know what company it is. Anyway, they told me that my Xu family's making technology is good. They can help make handmade weapons."

After hearing this, Chen Xiaodao felt a thump in his heart.

Handmade weapons are knives, swords, and the like.
Chapter completed!