CHAPTER 656: CHAPTER 48: DOMINANCE AND ANTI-DOMINANCE

"Cultivation is a personal matter; I don’t want to owe anyone favors," Xiao Xian answered with full confidence, her eyes bright as the morning stars.

Wang Shuai just shrugged his shoulders upon hearing this and didn’t press further. Xiao Xian’s response didn’t come as a surprise to him.

Despite being born into a prominent family, the number of times he relied on his family’s power for his cultivation was few and far between. Some people wished to gain the favor and support of prominent families, yet others relied on their own strength to breakthrough in their cultivation; one took a shortcut, while the other preferred to expend more Qi, and the outcome varied from person to person.

"Let’s not talk about that then, and discuss the purpose of your visit today. Ziang has already told me everything. He can help you improve the hangover medicine, and in turn, you must help me with something—mutual benefit, with no debts owed on either side." Wang Shuai, being a shrewd man, immediately proposed an alternative plan when the initial project collaboration didn’t work out. "As long as you can double the strength of this Cushion, I’ll not only agree to lend a person, but I will also provide a test subject for free for you to conduct clinical experiments."

Wang Shuai’s terms resolved two major issues for Xiao Xian and her group. Although both antiemetic and hangover medicine are supportive drugs, they are quite different. The effectiveness of hangover medicine can easily be tested on someone who is drunk. However, antiemetics, which are intended for pregnant women like Zhuo Feng, cannot be directly administered to a pregnant woman once the formula and pills are ready. Wang Shuai’s reference to a test subject likely means similar simulation testing equipment or animal models; having such conditions and equipment would spare Xiao Xian and Xuerou a lot of trouble in the later stages.

"A Cushion is just meant for sitting, isn’t it? Why do we need to strengthen its durability?" Xuerou returned to her normal self—she had been sitting aside, quietly observing Wang Shuai’s expressions without asking any questions. When Wang Shuai mentioned the Cushion, she picked it up again; it had been lying on the sofa for quite a while. Similar Cushions had also been brought by Xiao Xian for Grandma Zeng and Mrs. Zeng, and they were said to be quite useful.

For someone like Wang Shuai, he wouldn’t be simply seeking the comfort of a Cushion but would specially provide significant hospital equipment and staff.

"I don’t know if you have come into contact with Huanqiu Art Company, but about a few months ago, they successfully sold a hand-woven Purple Bamboo Mat at an appreciation event. Xiao Xian, you must be familiar with the specifications of the mat, as its weaving technique is almost identical to that of this Cushion, except that the distribution of Spiritual Power is more even on it. Speaking of which, I have some recollection that, along with my father, I had the honor to attend that appreciation event, and it seems I saw Chairman Zeng of Zeng Real Estate there." Xiao Xian and Xuerou had dressed quite differently that day, and Wang Shuai did not recognize them at first. However, his father had taken the Purple Bamboo Mat to Huake Institute for data analysis and found some surprising results.

"Regarding that Purple Vine Mat, my father conducted firearms tests and impact tests. In the firearms tests, it could withstand bullets from handguns with a caliber of 6mm or less. As for impact resistance, the mat could handle a medium-speed crash test with a compact car. You might not fully understand if I explain it in such professional terms," Wang Shuai was about to continue explaining when he noticed the change in Xuerou’s facial expression, realizing she had something to say.

Xuerou wasn’t well-versed in firearms, but she was quite familiar with automotive impact tests. Internationally, ordinary cars are categorized into compact cars, mid-size cars, large cars, luxury cars, MPVs, and SUVs. Automotive impact tests concern the safety coefficient of cars in the event of an accident. Generally, Europe and America cars with thicker exteriors tend to fare better in impact tests, striving to save both the vehicle and passengers. On the other hand, some manufacturers, for economic considerations, produce cars with thinner exteriors, and in impact tests, the result is more about saving passengers rather than the vehicle.

Wang Zhonghe’s decision to test the Purple Vine Mat in this manner followed the firearms test when the experimenter, feeling quite impressed, said: "If this mat could be made into a bulletproof vest, I reckon it’d be more formidable than one made out of high-performance composite steel materials." Thus, the automotive crash test as a subsequent experiment was performed.