stubborn

The secret guard behind him realized that something was wrong with the atmosphere in front of him and took a few steps forward.

"Matsubuki? Is there anything going on up ahead?"

The boy with his back to them did not respond. After a while, he made a gesture with his back to them - this was to signal them not to stand there, but to continue tracking forward.

The secret guards were confused, but the five people who were following Xiao Yingzhu had the power to command them, so they could only look blankly at the open space in front of them, and after receiving his order, retreat to the surrounding area.

Qiu on the ground seemed not to pay attention to the changes around him. He looked up at Songchui who was standing next to him for a while, then stood up from the ground with a normal expression.

The leaves on his hood turned from green to yellow, and the color shone golden in the beam of light. The sound of his departing footsteps gradually faded into the sound of the wind blowing through the trees.

The dry and astringent smell came from the fruits that rolled on the ground. When I saw the golden color, I suddenly breathed a sigh of relief.

Autumn is coming.

When all the knowledge is flying in the sky, this series of things will come to an end.

"You don't consider me an enemy...why?"

Qiu stood up. He was slightly taller than Song Chui and looked straight into Song Chui's calm gaze. He seemed to realize something and suddenly laughed, "You're not taking Meng Jian's decision not to snatch the insect repellent as a sign that he's escaped from this situation, are you?"

"It's not that easy."

The fallen leaves on the ground were piled up and fluttering around. Song Chui looked into Qiu's eyes in silence.

Qiu was silent for a few moments, then sheathed the knife handle in her hand. With her hands empty, she laid them down towards him. "Dong Lan has things to tie him down. If you think Meng Jian is out of this, you're totally wrong. He just doesn't want to complete this mission."

"Chasing like this is so boring..." He pulled out the insect repellent from somewhere and threw it up. "How about this, how about we play a game?"

"When you find me, I'll give you this insect repellent as a gift, how about that?"

Songchui's eyes fell on Qiu's hand, and his gaze paused for a moment. Even though he flashed and rushed towards Qiu, Qiu had already anticipated Songchui's action, and his expression was no longer playful. He turned around and went forward again following the mark.

—

When Jiang Nian returned from the mansion, Fuling, who was waiting for her, came up to her and handed her the first list.

Surprised that Yu Fuling was so efficient this time, Jiang Nian was stunned for a moment, reached out to take the list she handed over, and flipped through a few pages with his eyes lowered.

The names above were all unfamiliar. Jiang Nian didn't pay much attention to the names and went straight to look at the place of origin marked next to them.

Most of them are from Pingzhou, but there are also some itinerant merchants from outside the city, or scholars from neighboring states.

Jiang Nian glanced at the crowd of people from Pingzhou, circled some of the people he remembered, and asked Fuling to eliminate them, and then kept the rest.

There weren't many people on the first list, but the last page showed significantly more people from other states than the previous pages. When Jiang Nian returned the list to Fuling, he couldn't help but ask, "Did anyone on the last few pages come together?"

If they were lining up one by one to register, then these people lining up together should have come together, otherwise it would be too much of a coincidence.

Fuling nodded, then thought about it: "It must have been brought by a teenager. That teenager had spoken to the others while waiting in line, but the age difference was quite large."

"The young lady's insect repellent is really spreading widely. Uncle Xu had just been promoting it for a while and people were already coming."

Jiang Nian paid attention to what Fuling had said earlier. His gaze paused for a moment, recalling the young man surnamed Shang. He then nodded and said, "I've got it. You can continue to remember it. Except for those who want to take advantage of this school to steal the insect repellent formula, everyone else is welcome."

The competition had a significant impact on Liangdu Pharmacy. In the next few days, apart from Guizhi going out to look for the old woman every day, many customers who came here to visit Liangdu Pharmacy, observed the newly launched anti-worm formula, and observed those who lined up to enter the school.

Many people came to join in the fun, but when they saw a long line next to them - no less long than the line for buying the buy-one-get-one-free insect repellent, they became hesitant. The friends who came with them whispered to each other, and thought that since they were already there, they just followed the crowd and ran to the back of the long line to queue up.

"I didn't expect so many people to line up... I remember there was a long line outside this pharmacy a few days ago."

"Brother, if you remember correctly, the previous line was for the buy-one-get-one-free clearance sale of insect repellent, and this time we're lining up for that 'Little Science' class."

"I'm curious how Miss Jiang made such an effective insect repellent. Will she tell us how she did it?"

"Oh, what are you thinking? At most, you can teach us some basic knowledge. If you teach us how to make the recipe, then we won't make any money."

"Forget it, forget it. Stop overthinking it. You'll know everything after Miss Jiang tells you. It's free anyway, so it's good to listen."

"Indeed, it seems many immigrants from other places have also signed up to learn this skill."

......

Ever since Jiang Nian issued the order to open the school, the news had spread throughout the streets and alleys of Pingzhou City, and many people had different opinions on Jiang Nian's move. Most praised him, while many were jealous and said that this was just a new way to promote Liangdu Pharmacy.

Even Manager Xu was so jealous that Jiang Nian could mobilize so many people and there was no official in the city to control him.

He couldn't understand why Jiang Nian had been so widely publicized for so long, Baima Street was packed with people. Where were all those officials who usually flaunted their power? Not a single one stood up to criticize her.

Could it be that he was frightened by the grand academy? How could it be possible?

Shopkeeper Xu sat behind the counter with his legs crossed, looking at the obviously deserted pharmacy. He also heard some gossip about Liangdu Pharmacy from the street outside the pharmacy, and he became furious.

Is his Xu's Pharmacy any worse than Liangdu's? Those customers who usually offered him benefits were also half attracted there. After the competition, he was still thinking about making a fortune from the new customers promoted by the competition. Now, all of it was wasted, and he was making wedding clothes for that little girl Jiang!

The rocking wooden chair suddenly stopped. Shopkeeper Xu was grabbing his scalp, which had very little hair, and thinking about what tricks he could use to deal with the people from Liangdu Pharmacy. Then, a wind chime rang outside.

! A guest is coming.

Shopkeeper Xu suddenly stood up and hurried forward to meet the customer that Zhu Wang brought to him.

The customer, whose eyes were shining with gold, walked out of the drugstore in the sunlight, walked in front of him like a bunch of copper coins, and then gestured to him to introduce all the insect repellent powders in the drugstore in front of him.

Why not make money when you have the chance? Make money, make money!

Although he lost the customers who came because of the publicity, he still had the customers given to him by Lord Zhu!

Thinking of the insect repellent powder he had come up with earlier to defeat the insect repellent in Liangdu Pharmacy, Manager Xu slapped his head, turned around and called the servant, and hurried to the warehouse to personally present this "sudden inspiration" insect repellent powder to the customer.

—

There were very few customers in Xu's pharmacy on this side, but the other street behind a row of shops was already crowded with people who wanted to attend the free school.

The queue was particularly long, stretching from the shop entrance to the outside of Baima Street.

Fuling, who was busy registering, and Xu Bo, who was collecting and counting money, were both very busy. The newly hired servants stood in the pharmacy, which had been expanded into three rooms, to help watch the customers coming and going. Occasionally, when they saw customers hesitating in front of the goods, they would step forward and explain actively, and find suitable and affordable purchasing plans based on what the customers needed.

Jiang Nian, who had just come out of the mansion and arrived at the pharmacy, happened to see this scene and felt quite satisfied.

It was becoming more and more like what she had imagined in her mind.

Because she was wearing a veil today and came in from the less crowded area, the people queuing up and looking around did not catch a glimpse of Jiang Nian.

While avoiding the passing crowd, Jiang Nian took off his veil in a corner, and his peripheral vision caught the moon-white sleeves.

She was about to have a heart attack because of the color of the clothes. She paused and looked up at the person next to her.

The young man surnamed Shang noticed her at some point and walked up to her when she took off her veil.

"Miss Jiang."

Jiang Nian turned around and immediately straightened his mind. He smiled at the young businessman and said, "I haven't seen you for three days. Today I'm here to register for the school."

"I registered yesterday. Miss Jiang can find me on yesterday's list."

The list of names that he had received from Fuling yesterday suddenly appeared in his memory, and a name suddenly emerged in his mind.

Shang Qi.

Jiang Nian was stunned for a moment, then smiled slightly and said, "I remember now. It's too noisy here. Mr. Shang, why don't you come with me to the backyard to chat?"

Shang Qi nodded with a smile in response. His demeanor would not put too much pressure on Jiang Nian. Although his smile was somewhat similar to the one Zhou Jinyu had when he first met her, compared to Zhou Jinyu's undisguised purpose, Shang Qi gave people a lot of space and did not make people feel oppressed.

Jiang Nian's heart calmed down, and he put away the veil and turned to walk towards the backyard which had just been decorated.

They didn't have much to talk about. In order to understand Shang Qi's knowledge about insect repellents, Jiang Nian immediately took out a test paper that he had just written last night and gave it to him to complete. After correcting it, he even taught him some relevant knowledge.

At this rate, I would be able to become her assistant in another week. Then, when Emperor Changde summons me, I would be able to hand over the school to him without any worries.

Shang Qi did not expect Jiang Nian to act so quickly. In less than a day, he had finished all the matters. He also made an appointment with him to come and study alone in the next few days.

Without figuring out why Jiang Nian trusted him so much and didn't even check his background, Shang Qi finished tidying up the books spread out on the stone table in the backyard, then raised his head and looked at Jiang Nian who was drinking tea in front of him.

"The teachings Mr. Jiang gave me today were unprecedented and I benefited greatly from them. However, there is one thing I still do not understand, so please enlighten me, young lady."

Jiang Nian was resting, and when he heard the words, he turned around and asked curiously, "What?"

Shang Qi paused for a moment, then asked the question in his mind: "Why would Mr. Jiang teach you such precious knowledge? And why did he teach it to me first?"

Jiang Nian was stunned for a moment, then met Shang Qi's slightly questioning eyes. After a moment of silence, he sighed and said, "I'm worried that things will get complicated later, and I won't have many people to entrust to. So I want to train a few people to help me."

Shang Qi nodded in understanding and said, "I see. I'm grateful for your favor, young lady."

Jiang Nian smiled, shook his head, and sighed, "There will be many things to do in the future, and I will need your help. I am most grateful to you for helping me share these tasks."

After saying goodbye to Shang Qi at the pharmacy, the people gathered outside the pharmacy dispersed for a while and night had already fallen.

Jiang Nian breathed a sigh of relief after reducing the amount of words that always required him to be on guard. He turned around and looked at Fuling behind him.

Feeling Jiang Nian's gaze, Fuling raised her head and shook the list in her hand at her.

Another thick portion.

I don't know how the contact with Guizhi's warehouse is going.

Jiang Nian glanced at it a few times in the candlelight in the pharmacy, then put it away.

"I'm sorry to bother you today. I'm afraid there will be more people in the next few days than today. I will go to Duke Xiao to ask for some manpower to assist you."

When Fuling heard the three words "Duke Xiao", her expression froze. She almost wanted to wave her hand and tell him not to bother the noble man. But she saw that Jiang Nian's expression was not fake. She looked at Xu Bo who was tidying up the shelves with Xiao Shitou in the back and asked quietly:

"Miss, I can do it alone."

I just saw you secretly flicking your wrist.

Jiang Nian is now using Xiao Yingzhu's manpower very smoothly, with almost no hesitation, and he has become accustomed to it. Xiao Yingzhu had previously told him that if he encountered any difficulties, he could seek help from him. Now that he has such a good candidate, why not keep him until the right time to use him?

Seeing that Fuling still had some panic in her eyes, Jiang Nian smiled at her soothingly: "It's okay, Duke Xiao doesn't have a habit of eating people, don't worry."

Even with her young lady's life as a guarantee, Fuling could not get rid of the neighborhood rumors and change her opinion of Xiao Yingzhu. However, she had to obey the young lady's order and had to silently accept this kindness that was a bit too much for her.

Jiang Nian didn't notice that Fuling had a look of distress. Thinking about what he would talk about with Xiao Yingzhu later, he turned around and walked towards the mansion outside the pharmacy.

Fuling sighed and followed.