Qibao said, "How can that be? Let's put it this way. Just deduct it from the money for the pills."

Shopkeeper Hong smiled and said, "Well, since the girl said so, I'll accept it." He thought that it was up to him whether to deduct the money or not, and the master had specifically instructed him to take good care of the girl. Even if he didn't accept the money, the master wouldn't be angry.

Qibao said, "Then we won't bother Grandpa Hong anymore. We still have some things to take care of at the barbecue restaurant, so we'll leave first."

Shopkeeper Hong nodded and sent the three people out the door again. He didn't return to the pharmacy until the carriage had gone far away.

As soon as Qibao entered the barbecue restaurant, it was not yet dinner time and the stove had not been lit, so the temperature was almost the same as outside.

When Zhang saw his boss coming, he was delighted, thinking that his boss had come up with a solution so quickly, so he immediately went to meet him.

After they sat down, the old man couldn't help but ask, "Qibao, why did you buy so much saltpeter at once? Could this thing solve the problem of the barbecue restaurant?"

Qibao smiled and said, "Grandpa, you are right. It is indeed possible."

Uncle Xu was surprised when he heard this and said, "What does this have to do with medicinal herbs? I really don't understand."

The old man said, "If you could think clearly and have this brain, our family would have no worries about food and clothing long ago, and there would be no need for Qibao to worry about it."

Uncle Xu touched his head awkwardly and said nothing.

Qibao said, "Manager Zhang, please fetch me a basin of water. It will be of use to me."

"Yes, I'll go right away."

After a while, Shopkeeper Zhang brought a basin of water and placed it on the table.

Qibao took some saltpeter and put it into the water. When the saltpeter was completely dissolved in the water, the water in the basin began to change slowly.

Uncle Xu exclaimed, "The water is frozen, and it's still steaming!"

The old man was also a little surprised. He stretched out a finger and poked it. When he found that it was indeed ice, he felt a little bit unbelievable and said, "This is really the most amazing thing I have ever seen. Since ice can be made in summer, today I can be said to have broadened my horizons."

Qibao said, "Putting this saltpeter into water can absorb a large amount of heat from the water, thus causing the water to turn into ice."

Shopkeeper Zhang was so excited. With this method of making ice, he no longer had to worry about having no business.

So he flattered her and said, "Master, you are really amazing. I have never seen a young lady as talented and knowledgeable as our master. I really admire you."

Qibao was speechless. In the previous life, everyone knew the principle of saltpeter, but every family had a refrigerator and did not need saltpeter. But in this ancient time, no one knew that saltpeter could be used to make ice.

Qibao said, "I bought a lot of saltpeter. From now on, I'll put a few more basins of ice in the hall at noon, so it won't be so hot."

"Yes, I know what to do now," said Zhang, looking happy. As long as the business was good, his salary would also increase.

Qibao thought that barbecue and cold drinks were the best match in summer. Now that the ice problem was solved, and he also grew fruits at home, he could build a counter specifically for making juice next to the counter, which would provide another source of income.

Qibao planned to go back and think about it carefully, discuss it with his family, and listen to their opinions.

The problem with the barbecue restaurant was solved. Before leaving, he told Manager Zhang that if the saltpeter ran out, he would go to Leshan Pharmacy to get more. If anyone else asked about it, he would find an excuse to make it go away.

Qibao thought that the family business was growing bigger and bigger, and everything needed to be done by his family members themselves, so it was time to hire a few servants.

Qibao expressed his thoughts. The old man and the others had thought about this day a long time ago and agreed. After all, home is different from before, and one should enjoy the life that corresponds to the level of life at which one is living.

The three of them came to a place that specialized in selling human beings. When the trafficker saw them coming, he knew he had business. He immediately approached them with a smile and said, "You three are here to buy people, right? I have maids, servants, and women here. Do you want me to call them out so you can take your pick?"

The old man said, "Okay, I'll buy it if there's something suitable."

The trafficker smiled even more brightly and said, "Okay, I'll have someone call all my people over right away." After that, he told the young man next to him to bring everyone over.

After a while, the young man came over with a group of men, women, old and young. It seemed that they had all been trained. Everyone consciously lined up in several rows, stood there with their heads down, and were all wearing pudding clothes.

The trafficker smiled again and stepped forward, saying, "All the slaves here have been carefully trained. There are no ones who don't know the rules. Feel free to choose your own."

Qibao didn't take her words to heart. Looking at this group of people, they were just like items in a shopping mall for people to choose at random. Qibao certainly wouldn't pity them like the Virgin Mary. Everyone's life is different. Some people are born high and mighty, while others are born as lowly as ants. This is the law of this world.

Qibao picked out a few people who looked honest. He planned to pick a maid for his grandmother, mother and two aunts, a servant for his father and his family, and a few brothers as well, and then a few servants.

Among the people Qibao picked was a woman who suddenly knelt down and said, "Please, Master, I have a two-year-old daughter. Please let me take my daughter with me. My daughter is still young and she can't be without a mother!"

Before Qibao could say anything, the trafficker said, "What's wrong? Are you rebelling? You're lucky to be chosen by this distinguished guest. Your daughter is only two years old. What can she do? Just leave her here. You can sell her when she grows up."

When the woman heard this, she cried even harder and kowtowed to Qibao and the others, saying, "Please, please buy my daughter as well. She's the only relative I have left. Woo woo."

Qibao asked, "Your wife is only two years old, where is your husband?"

The woman sobbed and said, "I lost my parents when I was young. I was bought as a child bride by my husband's family. I have always lived a life of being beaten and scolded. When I was old enough, I married their son. But after I gave birth to my daughter, my parents-in-law became even worse to me. They despised me for giving birth to a girl. I have always endured it for the sake of my daughter. But my husband hooked up with a widow half a year ago and got her pregnant. Then my mother-in-law despised us even more. She was convinced that the widow must be carrying a son. In order to give the widow and her unborn grandson a status, she cruelly sold me. Fortunately, they despised my daughter and sold her as well. Otherwise, I can imagine what kind of life my daughter will have in the future."

After hearing this, the old man said angrily: "There are people who are worse than animals. What's wrong with a daughter? My family needs a daughter. Don't worry, we will buy you and your daughter!"

When the woman heard this, she was stunned for a long time, then she kowtowed happily, saying, "Thank you, Master. Thank you, Master. I will definitely work hard in the future and live up to your great kindness to us mother and daughter."

Qibao said, "You should get up first. Where is your daughter? Bring her here too."