Chapter 49: The Head of the Bank Becomes Bigger and Stronger
"I don't know where the Herbal Medicine Shop got the news, but they said if I didn't sell them the herbs, they would report me to the imperial court."
"What are you reporting?"
"Send me to buy food."
Gu Youan was silent. This turned out to be the change in situation that Wan Fuchun mentioned!
Shopkeeper Han was extremely anxious: "Shopkeeper Gu, what do you think I should do now?"
In the past, when he was doing business, he used the money from the Han family's treasury to prepare stocks and purchase medicinal materials. This time, he used his own capital to purchase medicinal materials. Not to mention that there was a drought this year and the price of medicinal materials was high. If he sold the medicinal materials at a low price, what would he do in the future?
"Manager Han, you don't have to worry."
"How can I not be anxious!"
Gu Youan laughed and said, "It's impossible for Bencao to report you. First of all, you didn't buy any food, and secondly, the court didn't say that people from Songjiang City were not allowed to buy food inside the border."
"But the grudge between the Emperor and Prince Qi..."
"Did the Emperor say this himself? Did he issue an edict? Did the government issue a written document?"
Gu Youan asked three questions in a row, and Shopkeeper Han shook his head: "But..."
"No buts! Putting aside the fact that we are citizens under the rule of King Qi, we are also citizens of the Great Zhou Dynasty. We are all legitimate businessmen. The court has no reason to arrest you."
"Over at the Herbal Medicine Shop..."
"Since this herbal medicine store is not sincere in doing business, I will introduce you to another store. After you sell the herbs, we will go back."
"The food..."
"We'll find a way to get food later."
Gu Youan expected that the drought in Songjiang City could not be kept secret. There must be people in Luoyang City who knew about it. Those smart people who wanted to win the emperor's favor would definitely take advantage of the drought in Songjiang City to make trouble.
But King Qi also told her to buy food without worrying about being detained when leaving the country. She guessed that King Qi must have other ways.
Shopkeeper Han was abandoned by the Herbal Medicine Store and was almost threatened and robbed by the gang. With no other choice, Shopkeeper Han could only follow Gu Youan.
Shopkeeper Han took the initiative to follow Gu Youan, and the other shopkeepers from Songjiang City approached Gu Youan without hesitation. Gu Youan took them to Wanjing Pharmacy.
Wan Fuchun and Gu Youan met again in private, and Wan Fuchun said, "I didn't make a mistake in choosing you. I knew you could replace the Han family and become a major drug dealer in Songjiang City."
"There are no big drug dealers in Songjiang City."
"Why does Manager Gu say that?"
"All the medicinal herbs sold outside Songjiang City are leaked from Prince Qi's Mansion. If Prince Qi's Mansion doesn't allow it, people from inside the pass won't be able to buy any of them."
Gu Youan glanced at him and said, "However, if you want more of Songjiang City's finest medicinal herbs and want Wanjing Pharmacy to become the largest pharmacy in Luoyang and even the Great Zhou Dynasty, there are ways to do it."
Wan Fuchun smiled and shook his head, saying, "I just want to do some small business, don't drag me into it."
Gu Youan also laughed: "What a coincidence, I just want to do some small business."
"Manager Gu, I'm only doing business with you. I asked for more medicinal herbs, but you should have other ways to make this deal happen.
Gu Youan sneered, "I've already said this before, Boss Wan, you won't fail to understand, right? If you want to take advantage of others and they give you convenience, you should also give them convenience, right? That way, business will run smoothly and you'll have more frequent business in the future."
Gu Youan pointed to the east, which was the direction of the Herbal Medicine Shop, and said, "That's short-sighted. If they didn't have someone protecting them, and they were doing business like that, if they ran into someone with a strong temper and means, they wouldn't know how they died."
Gu Youan had something to say, guess, does Prince Qi have the means? Does he have the temper?
Wan Fuchun took a deep breath and said, "Manager Gu, you still dare to say that you don't want to drag me down with you?"
"I swear to God, I don't mean to drag you down. I just want to ask for a favor. But if you don't want to, we can part ways amicably. There are no shortage of buyers for the good medicinal herbs in Songjiang City. I can find someone else who's willing to help and discuss it."
Wan Fuchun looked at him coldly: "Can you talk to me on behalf of Prince Qi's Mansion?"
"I can speak to you on behalf of all the medicine dealers in Songjiang City. I promise that as long as we can mutually benefit and everyone makes money, all the medicinal materials produced in Songjiang City will be given priority to your Wanjing Pharmacy."
Wan Fuchun said nothing.
Gu Youan said calmly, "If Songjiang City is stable, Prince Qi's Mansion won't control so many medicinal herbs. By then, more medicinal herbs will be released, and they can all be sold to your Wanjing Pharmacy. Your Wanjing Pharmacy can then open pharmacies across the Great Zhou Dynasty and expand, becoming the industry leader is just around the corner."
"Boss Wan, if you hold onto these valuable medicinal herbs, you're holding onto half the lives of the dignitaries. Aren't you tempted?"
Wan Fuchun didn't believe her instigation: "Your Songjiang City is not the only city in the world that has good medicinal herbs."
"But in this world, Songjiang City supplies the high-quality and large-volume wild ginseng that can save lives."
"Manager Gu, don't forget that Shanxi Codonopsis is also a good product." Wan Fuchun said.
Gu Youan laughed and said, "Shang Codonopsis pilosula is moist, firm and sweet, and is indeed a good medicinal herb, but how much of it is still available on the market? Even if it hasn't been dug up completely, it's probably close to being gone."
That’s enough for now.
Gu Youan took a step back at the right moment and said, "If Boss Wan changes his mind, you can come to me before the day after tomorrow. If Boss Wan doesn't want to, that's fine. We'll have plenty of opportunities to do business in the future. Goodbye!"
After selling the medicinal herbs, Shopkeeper Han and other shopkeepers from Songjiang City went out to purchase cloth, tea and other goods as usual. They all agreed to return to Songjiang City the day after tomorrow.
Gu Youan did the same. He prepared the supplies and even took the time to buy an exquisite and compact bow for Axuan. He also spent a lot of money to hire two female teachers to go to Songjiang City to teach Axuan.
Uncle Du and Du Rending did not stay in Luoyang City. After selling some medicinal herbs, they purchased some goods. They planned to go south with the Du family, visit Songjiang Prefecture, and then return to Yizhou Prefecture.
The thrilling gambling scenes he witnessed these past two days had frightened Second Uncle Du. He couldn't help but nag, "You're smart, but don't treat others like fools. After all, on someone else's territory, it's better to earn less than to offend them. Be careful about everything!"
"Don't worry, I know."
Du Rendong smiled and said, "After my father returned from Songjiang City last year, he kept telling me how smart An An was. He said that no one in the Du family of your generation could compare to you. I didn't believe it at first, but now I do."
Gu Youan put the gifts he bought for his uncle and aunt in Du Rendong's car and said with a smile, "I'll feel embarrassed if my cousin praises me like this again."
"Hahaha, you actually said that, let me see if I believe it or not."
The Du family members were ready. Uncle Du said with a smile, "We are leaving now. You can go back as soon as you finish your business."
"Okay, be careful on the road."
Gu Youan sent the Du family out of the city before going to Imperial Physician Zhang's house.
After hearing that the shopkeepers in Songjiang City had sold all the medicinal materials to Wanjing Pharmacy, the Herbal Medicine Store had been trying to catch Shopkeeper Han. Their people followed him for two days and found out the detailed list of the stockpiles of the shopkeepers in Songjiang City, but they found out that there was not a single grain of food.
If they did not have a clear source of information that Songjiang City was indeed experiencing drought this year, they would have suspected that they were wrong.
"Master, the Han family is so disobedient, do you want someone to teach him a lesson?"
"No need. The Han family is no longer viable. The biggest drug dealer in Songjiang City right now is that guy named Gu. Go and invite him over to me."
"I'm afraid it's too late. They've already left the city and returned to Songjiang City."
"Well, next time he comes to Luoyang to deliver medicinal herbs, I'll invite him over."
"It's a pity that all the fresh ginseng from Songjiang City this year has gone to Wan Fuchun, so we only have last year's stock."
The boss behind the herbal medicine store knew that the Han family had declined and that a new shopkeeper named Gu had risen to power. He knew that most of the ginseng sent from Songjiang City was sold to Wanjing Pharmacy by Gu Youan, but he didn't know that Gu Youan was a woman, which showed his contempt.
Wan Fuchun never underestimated Gu Youan from beginning to end, but he did not expect that Gu Youan was smarter than he imagined and knew how to use the opponent's force to his advantage. He was under her control.
Wan Fuchun wanted to expand his medicine business and make money, but he also didn't want to get close to Prince Qi and get caught. If the emperor chopped off his head, all the money he made would be wasted.
Wan Fuchun waited for a day, and his men went to contact the shopkeepers from Songjiang City one by one. After contacting them all, Wan Fuchun realized that what Gu Youan said was true, and she could really represent the drug dealers in Songjiang City to negotiate with him.
Without waiting for Wan Fuchun to come to her, Gu Youan did not stay long and left as planned.
"Set off!"
Gao Jin, the head of the Gu family's guards, led the way, and more than 200 vehicles from various businesses in Songjiang City set off in a mighty procession.
Shopkeeper Han had been riding beside Gu Youan's carriage. After they got on the road, he glanced back several times and hesitated for a long time before asking, "Shopkeeper Gu, what about Boss Wan..."
"Don't worry, the conditions I offer are attractive enough, he will make the move."
The caravan from Songjiang City left Luoyang and walked for another half a month to reach the fork in the road to the northwest. In the evening, the chief manager under Wan Fuchun was waiting at the intersection on horseback.
"Is Manager Gu here?"
Gu Youan, who was sitting in the carriage with her eyes closed, slowly opened her eyes. The person she was waiting for had arrived.
Wan Fuchun was the nephew of the Minister of Personnel. Minister Wan had been in office for many years. I dare not say that all the officials in the court were promoted by him, but the number of them was definitely not small.
When Gu Youan wanted food, the Wan family simply wrote a letter and asked a close foreign official to ask for her help. The local grain merchants would then give her some of the food, which was enough for her.
Before it got dark, the Gu family guards and servants from other caravans quickly gathered the scattered goods piled on the cart racks, freeing up two hundred carts to transport the grain.
In the darkness of the night, one could not see the face of the person selling grain, nor could one see the face of the person buying grain. Only the gold and silver shone faintly in the moonlight.
After three o'clock in the morning, roosters crowed in the distant mountain village, and the convoy that was parked at the intersection last night had already left.
The convoy was moving slowly due to the load of grain on the trucks, but everyone was not in a hurry. They just wanted to be safe.
Shopkeeper Han and Gu Youan bowed their heads and said, "I'm convinced. There's nothing in this world that Shopkeeper Gu can't accomplish."
The other shopkeepers echoed this, and Cao Da, the head of the shop, said even more straightforwardly: "From now on, our Songjiang City caravan will follow the lead of Shopkeeper Gu. Shopkeeper Gu, please don't think we are a nuisance."
Gu Youan laughed and said, "You guys are exaggerating. I'm just using the tiger's skin as a banner. Besides, we and Boss Wan are just getting what we need. It's just an equal transaction. I didn't contribute much."
"You can't say that. If it were me, not only would I be exploited and robbed, I'd probably even be thrown into jail. How could I get away so easily and buy so much food?"
"Yes, that's exactly the point."
"Manager Gu, from now on you will be the head of our Songjiang City!"
Being recommended by everyone, Gu Youan did not refuse, saying, "We are enemies but also friends. Everyone has seen clearly what happened in Luoyang this time. We are in a relationship where we all prosper together and suffer together. If we don't unite, we will be defeated one by one."
"I appreciate your understanding. For the long-term development of our industry, if you encounter any problems in the future, please feel free to come and discuss them with me."
Gu Youan said this in a magnanimous and respectful manner. Even if some of the older and more senior shopkeepers in the caravan did not fully agree with him, they could not find any fault with Gu Youan.
Besides, everyone is smart and knows how to choose what is best for themselves and Songjiang City, so they all agree with Gu Youan.
Seeing this, Guo Su and Xiao Ju were so happy that their faces turned red with smiles. They never thought that a woman would be recognized by everyone and elected as the leader of the group.
They witnessed it with their own eyes!
Now that Gu Youan has been given the title of head of the caravan, it is even more legitimate for him to manage it.
There was still a day's journey to Shanhaiguan, so Gu Youan sent Gao Jin to take people to Shanhaiguan to inquire about the situation first.
"Remember, go to the Haichao Inn and find the shopkeeper Ma. Ask him to take you to see a man named Zhang Heng. Listen to what Zhang Heng has to say."
"And then..."
Gu Youan waved Gao Jin over and said a few words in a voice that only Gao Jin could hear. Gao Jin understood.
After Gao Jin and his men left, the caravan's journey slowed down the next day. They only traveled twenty miles in half a day before resting.
When it was completely dark, Gao Jin came back and brought the man named Zhang Heng with him.
From five steps away, Gu Youan saw that the man looked like a mighty general, not a servant who was delivering messages or doing chores.
Zhang Heng said, "Manager Gu, don't worry. My uncle is General Zhang Minghui of Yanzhou. I'll be guarding Shanhaiguan for the next month. Just cross it."
"General Yanzhou and Prince Qi's Mansion have always kept their distance from each other, so what about you and Prince Qi's Mansion..."
Zhang Heng said, "This is not something that Manager Gu should inquire about."
Gu Youan laughed and said, "I'm sorry for talking too much and offending General Zhang."
"I dare not call myself a general."
Don't dare to call yourself a general? Does that mean you want to be a general?
Gu Youan seemed to see Zhang Heng's deep desire.
Zhang Heng stepped back and said, "Everyone, hurry up and get to Shanhaiguan tonight. I'll let you out tomorrow morning."
Zhang Heng rode away on horseback.
Gu Youan asked someone to harness the horses and they were ready to leave.
Gao Jin left the horses alone. He went to his master and whispered, "Zhang Heng's wife and children are not in Shanhaiguan. They said they went back to their hometown to visit their relatives."
"Where is Zhang Heng's hometown?"
"Outside Shanhaiguan."
Gu Youan said he understood and asked him to do the work.
They traveled all night to Shanhaiguan. The next day, at dawn, the gates of Shanhaiguan were opened and the convoy from Songjiang City quickly left.
Gu Youan asked Zhang Heng, "Master Zhang, would you like to go with me?"
"Don't worry, there will always be a day to go."
Gu Youan understood and said, "Master Zhang, we'll meet in Songjiang City in the future."
"Goodbye."
Manager Han and others were originally worried, but they didn't expect that this time the customs clearance would be smoother than ever before. They passed the customs without even making any arrangements. It was incredibly smooth.
"Manager Gu, did that Zhang become a disciple of Prince Qi?"
"What are you thinking? His uncle is the general of Yanzhou and has a promising future. Why would he want to support an outcast prince?"
Shopkeeper He quickly stopped him: "Boss Cao, please mind your mouth."
Cao Dadang quickly slapped himself and said, "My broken mouth is just missing a key. Please don't be offended. Just treat it as my nonsense."
Everyone laughed for a while, then pretended not to hear and stopped talking.
After leaving the customs, everyone was relaxed, chatting and laughing on the way, feeling very comfortable. After walking for two days, they met mountain people coming down the mountain to sell medicinal herbs. Gu Youan and his friends were going back to Songjiang City, and there was no space in the car to put the herbs, so they refused to take them.
When they had rested enough and were about to leave, someone suddenly called her: "Miss Gu, do you still remember me?"
Of course Gu Youan remembered her, Zhang, Li Hongwen's former concubine. They had met at the door of Haichao Inn last year.
Zhang came forward and bowed, her face full of apology as she said, "I didn't mean to bother Miss Gu, but this year... life in the mountains is tough, so I'd like to ask Miss Gu for a favor and do some small business with us."
"You want to sell medicinal herbs?"
"Exactly."
"Why not sell it at Shanhaiguan?"
"This year, the price of medicinal herbs has been severely depressed, and food prices have also risen significantly. We mountain people are poor and cannot afford expensive food."
Gu Youan pointed at the dried herbs in her basket and asked, "How much do they charge per pound for this quality of Asarum?"
"Five cents a pound."
The dried Xixin is large in size and light in weight. I'm afraid the basket she carries probably doesn't even weigh 20 kilograms. Considering the price of grain this year, it's really difficult to afford it.
Cao Dazhang came over to take a look and said, "This quality of Xixin can only be sold for five coins per pound? Those merchants who buy medicinal herbs are really ruthless."
Zhang and other mountain dwellers looked distressed. Since they didn't grow crops in the mountains, they could only trade mountain products for food. Life in the mountains was easy in good years, but in bad years, they found it difficult.
Gu Youan asked: "How many medicinal herbs do you have?"
Zhang said hurriedly, "Everyone should pool their resources. There are about two hundred kilograms of various medicinal herbs in total."
Gu Youan wanted to help, so he said, "If you trust me, then sell the herbs to me, or you can exchange them for food."
Zhang hurriedly thanked him, "We are willing to do so. Thank you Miss Gu for your kindness. Thank you very much!"
Gu Youan didn't care about selling the goods. She told Gao Jin to handle it: "According to the price of medicine in Songjiang City, buy the goods."
"yes."
The mountain folk didn't have much medicinal herbs, so they quickly weighed them, settled the bill, and sold the food to them. Half an hour later, the caravan was back on the road.
Shopkeeper Han sighed, "Shopkeeper Gu is so kind and righteous!"
Gu Youan said: "It's just an encounter."
A few days later, the caravan returned safely to Songjiang City. When Gu Youan entered the city, the news reached Prince Qi's Mansion.
After reporting to his master, Xu Zhi smiled and said, "Mrs. Dahu is not only brave and resourceful, but also kind-hearted. I wonder how Master Gu raised his daughter."
Prince Qi glanced over and asked: "What did you call her?"
"Fighting the tiger..."
Xu Zhi was quick-witted, but his mind was even faster. He made two quick "Puh" sounds and knelt down to beg for mercy: "It's all my fault for having a foul mouth. Master, spare my life!"
Prince Qi snorted, "Get out!"
"Hey, little one is going to get out of here!"
“Get back here!”
Xu Zhi came back and knelt down obediently.
"Go tell Zhang Heng's family to come to Songjiang City in October. Good things are waiting for him."
After October, the autumn harvest was completed inside the Great Wall.
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