Bradley Ford laughed heartily and said, âI am a man who always repays his debts of gratitude, as you well know, and besides, this matter isnât without alternative solutions.â
âAlternative solutions? What kind?â
âLet Greg Jensen heal your body.â
Upon hearing this, Fraser Simmons stared blankly for a long while and then chuckled resignedly, âOld Ford, are you deliberately looking for trouble with me early in the morning? Iâve seen so many so-called famous doctors for this ailment of mine, and none could cure it. Do you expect me to believe in a twenty-something-year-old kid?â
Bradley Ford grew angry as well and retorted sharply, âAre you out of your mind, or has going lame made you blind too? Canât you see the change in me?â
Fraser Simmons was taken aback once more, scrutinizing him for a long time until he suddenly exclaimed in surprise, âIs this⦠Have you taken some Elixir?â
âHeh, if I really had access to an Elixir, would I forget about you?â
Bradley Ford smiled proudly, âIâve been treated with acupuncture and Elixirs by Mr. Jensen.â
âHe really possesses medical skills?â
âHeh, what do you think? If he didnât have medical skills, how would my body have recovered?â
Bradley Ford intentionally sneered, âThe Cultivation Technique of your Simmons family may damage the body, but it has no impact on longevity. But our Ford familyâs art of geomancy and physiognomy, thatâs a different story altogether. Of the generations before me, apart from myself who rarely used geomancy, how many lived past sixty? Tell me, if Greg Jensen wasnât skilled in medicine, if his medical skills werenât so impressive, could he pull off a feat that so many generations failed to achieve?â
âThisâ¦â
Fraser Simmons couldnât help but hesitate. In fact, he was already more than halfway convinced but held back from admitting it outright because of pride.
Seeing his silence, Bradley Ford knew the answer and smiled faintly before turning his gaze to the Simmons brothers and frowned, âAnd you two, in your thirties and forties, only know some disgraceful tricks, arenât you afraid of tainting the reputation of the Simmons family?â
Donald Simmonsâs expression turned slightly cold as he turned his head away, remaining silent.
Mick Simmons furrowed his brow and said indifferently, âUncle Ford, whatâs a little reputation compared to my fatherâs health?â
âIs that how you speak to your Uncle Ford?â
Fraser Simmons glared at him and then turned to Bradley Ford with a smile, âOld Ford, let me consider this matter a bit more.â
âOkay, then take your time thinking about it.â
Bradley Ford didnât linger on the thought and was about to leave when suddenly something came to mind, and he couldnât resist warning, âYouâd best not provoke Greg Jensen. That kid is likely someone neither of our families can afford to offend.â
âAlright, let me see you out, Uncle Ford.â
Fraser Simmons smiled nonchalantly and signaled to Mick Simmons with a glance, motioning him to see the guest out.
Good intentions repaid with ingratitude!
Bradley Ford observed the situation, shook his head gently, and silently walked away.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
Watching Bradley Fordâs retreating figure, Fraser Simmons couldnât help but frown in thought and then asked, âDonald, is that kid really just a rural person?â
âYes, Ethan Locke even brought his family from the rural area not long ago, but⦠that kid probably knows some martial arts.â
âHmm.â
Fraser Simmons fell silent again, and after a moment, he asked, âIs that kid very formidable?â
Donald Simmons said disdainfully, âFormidable my foot, heâs just in his twenties. Even if he started martial arts in his motherâs womb, how skilled could he possibly be?â
Fraser Simmons frowned deeply at these words and muttered, âIf he has no background and his martial arts arenât impressive, what is that old fool Bradley Ford afraid of?â
Just then, Mick Simmons returned from outside and, hearing his fatherâs words, sneered, âHeâs just saying that on purpose to keep us from bothering Greg Jensen. After all, the kid did save Uncle Fordâs life. If he didnât show any gratitude, that wouldnât seem right, would it?â
âHmm, thatâs a possibility.â
âDad, what do you mean? Should we let that kid examine you first, or should my cousin and I just bring back the Fragrant Spirit Grass?â
âWe should take the Fragrant Spirit Grass back first; a young doctor in his twenties, no matter how skilled he is, canât be that great.
Being able to cure old Bradley was probably just like a blind cat running into a dead mouse. We canât put our hopes on him.â
Upon hearing this, Fraser Simmons fell silent. He also felt that what Antonio Conner and Donald Simmons said was right. They indeed couldnât pin their hopes on a young guy in his twenties.
Compared to that, trading the Fragrant Spirit Grass for a Nine Revolutions Muscle Changing Pill was much more reliable than Greg Jensen.
âHmm, then take the Fragrant Spirit Grass. You two go and handle this matter.â
Fraser Simmons finally made up his mind and instructed, âRemember, try not to hurt anyone, after all, your Uncle Bradley is there.â
âI know. Donât worry.â
The three from the Simmons family thought that the only reason Bradley Ford called Greg Jensen a benefactor of the Ford family was that the young man had saved his life.
They never would have imagined that the first favor Greg Jensen had done for the Ford family was to give them a superior internal cultivation technique book.
If they had known, they probably wouldnât have been so impulsive.
â¦
On the other side, Lindsey Wolfe learned that the young assistant was going to spend the New Year in the village and was very happy, smiling as she said:
âI was just worrying that not many people would be at home. You can stay here for the New Year, and after it ends, you can go back to the city with Greg Jensen.â
âThank you, Auntie,â
Trey Holmes sweetly called out and went into the kitchen to help with cooking.
Lindsey Wolfe quickly said, âHey, you should just wait to eat inside. Youâre a guest; we canât let you cook.â
âItâs okay, Auntie. Let her do it; sheâs really good at cooking,â Greg Jensen said with a laugh.
âAlright then, be careful. Iâll start the stove first.â
While the two were busy, Greg Jensen stepped out of his house, ready to deliver the gifts he had brought back.
This time he had come back with many gifts, not just for Lindsey Wolfe and Esther Jensen, but also for the Second Elder, Third Elder, and others.
After making a big round, snowflakes suddenly started to drift from the sky.
In the blink of an eye, it became a heavy downpour.
Greg Jensen looked up, watching the goose feather-like snowflakes falling from the sky, and couldnât help grinning, âA snow year promises a good harvest!â
Before his words were finished, the sound of a car came from afar.
Greg Jensen turned around and saw an off-road vehicle advancing through the wind and snow.
Screech!
The off-road vehicle came to a firm halt in front of Greg Jensen.
The car door opened, and the Simmons brothers, Antonio Conner and Donald Simmons, stepped down from the car.
Greg Jensenâs brow furrowed slightly, âWhy have you come?â
âKid, donât play dumb; you know damn well why weâre here,â
Donald Simmons scoffed, âYou think hiding away in some little mountain village means we couldnât find you? Cut the crap, whereâs the Fragrant Spirit Grass?â
Greg Jensen was getting irritated; his good mood completely spoiled by these two. He said impatiently,
âDidnât Bradley go to see you?â
âHe did!â
Donald Simmons sneered, âYou think having seen Bradley, you can just slip away?â
âThe Fragrant Spirit Grass is mine, and Iâm not selling. Got it?â
Greg Jensen couldnât be bothered to continue their useless discussion and flatly rejected them, then added, âIf you understand, then leave. Out of respect for the Ford family, I donât want to make things difficult for you.â
With that, he turned and walked toward his house.