Chapter 278 Personal Inspection
A smart man never fights an unprepared battle. Zhou Boxu sent people to buy medicines from various shops. He only bought one or two herbs from each shop, and then pretended to be a drug dealer to inquire about the lowest price for large quantities, which did not attract any attention.
Yesterday, he also consulted Du Zhong and compared the price with the price of medicines his men had found out.
Therefore, he knew the prices of various medicinal materials clearly.
Hearing that the drug dealers' prices were reasonable, even slightly lower than he expected, Zhou Boxu did not hesitate and let Lin Jun count and pay.
"Thank you, sir." The drug dealers took the money and thanked him with a forced smile.
The price they gave Zhou Boxu was the lowest price for normal large-scale sales. But they were urgently buying medicine yesterday, so the price was naturally a little higher than usual, but they didn't dare let Zhou Boxu make up for the premium.
They didn't have that much brains.
Therefore, they didn't make any profit from this business, but instead suffered a loss. They had to swallow their anger and feel bitter.
"Sir, there are still 80,000 taels left." Lin Jun reported to Zhou Boxu after the settlement.
Zhou Boxu was a little surprised: "Take it back for His Highness to use for other purposes."
He expected there would be some left, but he didn't expect there would be so much left.
Well, the purchase of medicine at the place of production is indeed a lot.
"Yes." Lin Jun took the order and asked someone to load the remaining silver into the car.
Zhou Boxu looked up at the sun in the sky. It was almost noon.
"Pass the order down and set off immediately after dinner."
"Yes, I'll arrange it right away." Fei Kai responded quickly.
It was a great blessing that Zhou Boxu did not make things difficult for him today. Arranging a meal for him was nothing.
This killer was finally leaving. Fei Kai and the drug dealers breathed a sigh of relief.
Seeing Zhou Boxu getting up and entering the mansion, the drug dealers also prepared to go home.
"By the way." Zhou Boxu suddenly turned around and said to the drug dealers, "I have written down the price of the medicine and the person. If you need it again in the future, come and find someone."
When the drug dealers heard this, their legs and feet became weak and they almost fell to the ground.
Still coming...
"I am waiting for you at any time." The drug dealers smiled, which was uglier than crying.
Fei Kai, who had already walked far away, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead when he heard Zhou Boxu's words.
We can't let him come again!
Not only did he not get a penny this time, but he was also stabbed. If things go wrong, he will be reported later.
If he comes again, will he still be alive?
The weather in May is already a little hot, and the sun is even more scorching at noon, but in order to get back to Duanzhou as soon as possible, the team went out of the city under the scorching sun.
Fei Kai looked at the convoy driving away, and ordered the master with a sinister look: "Find someone to leak the news to the Black Wolf Camp, do it cleanly, and don't reveal your identity."
He wanted Zhou Boxu to never have the chance to come to Dayan City again, let alone return to the capital to report him.
"Yes." The master took the order and left quickly.
Unlike the bright sun scorching the sky in Dayan City, the sky in Duanzhou is gloomy.
"Your Highness, it's going to rain, go back." Shen Changze reminded softly.
He arrived at Duanzhou a few days ago while escorting the third batch of money and grain. When he learned that the situation in Duanzhou was serious and that manpower was needed, he stayed and obeyed Yu Cheng's orders.
Yu Cheng looked at the rows of makeshift sheds. Because there were no doors, the scene inside was in full view. The floor
of the simple house was covered with dry grass and rough straw mats. Men, women, old and young lived in the same house. The infected people curled up, and those who were in better spirits made a fire in the open space to cook porridge and boil medicine, taking care of each other.
Fortunately, it is summer now and it is not cold at night, otherwise many people would be frozen to death under such living conditions.
Reluctantly retracting his gaze, Yu Cheng frowned and sighed: "What you worry about will come true. I don't know what consequences this rain will cause."
Shen Changze said nothing and followed Yu Cheng to the carriage silently. After
a long period of clear weather, rain will inevitably come. I heard that Duanzhou has been sunny for a long time, so rain is inevitable.
They cannot change the will of heaven, so they can only hope that the rain will not be heavy or long.
When they returned to the mansion, the raindrops fell as expected. After Yu Cheng took a shower, his bodyguard Yang Quan delivered an urgent letter from the capital.
Yu Cheng unfolded it and was half happy and half worried after reading it.
The good news was that the emperor had sent an imperial physician, who was on the way to Duanzhou. The worry was that it would take some time to raise money.
I wonder if the people of Duanzhou can wait.
Putting down the letter, Yu Cheng asked solemnly, "How long has Zhou Boxu been gone?"
Yang Quan said, "It has been twelve days. Calculating the time, he is on his way back."
"Can the remaining herbs support him until he comes back?"
"It should be possible."
Yu Cheng was relieved when he heard that. He leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and pinched his brows to calm down.
These days, he goes out early and comes back late, and often discusses matters until late at night. He is busier than when he was in Beijing, so Yu Cheng is inevitably a little tired.
Listening to the sound of rain outside the house and looking at Yu Cheng with a tired face, Yang Quan wanted to leave the house and let Yu Cheng rest for a while.
However, as soon as he took a step, he heard Yu Cheng ordered: "Go and inform all the adults to come to the study to discuss matters after returning."
It was just past noon and it was still early before dark. Yu Cheng was unwilling to waste any time.
"Yes." Yang Quan took the order and left.
The room fell into silence, and the sound of drizzling rain outside the window was clearly audible.
Yu Cheng leaned back in the chair for a while, feeling his neck a little sore, and subconsciously called out in a daze.
"Wanruo..."
No one responded.
Yu Cheng opened his eyes and looked around the strange and empty house, feeling a little lost.
In a blink of an eye, he had been away from Shangjing for more than a month. Without Xie Wanruo by his side to ask about his well-being and take care of him, he was really a little uncomfortable.
After thinking about it, Yu Cheng walked to the desk, spread out paper and picked up a pen to write a letter to Xie Wanruo, waiting for Zhou Boxu to return to Shangjing to take it back.
It rained for half a day and a night, and it stopped only at dawn.
Water droplets dripped along the eaves, hit the water puddles on the ground, and created circles of ripples.
"Your Highness, the sun is out." Shen Changze looked at the faint light in the sky, full of joy.
Yu Cheng looked up at the sky, a smile appeared on his lips: "It will be good if it clears up."
It seems that God has not rushed to kill all the enemies.
Yu Cheng took a deep breath, stepped out of the door, and patrolled as usual.
In addition to Duanzhou City, there are many villages and towns around. Yu Cheng and Shen Changze are in charge of the affairs in the city, and the other Duanzhou officials are in charge of the surrounding villages and towns.
Epidemics are hard to prevent. People die every day, and people get sick every day. Even if you patrol every day, you can't miss everything.
Today, Yu Cheng and Shen Changze patrolled to the south city and found that the terrain here is slightly lower. Last night's heavy rain flooded the sheds, and the ground was wet. The people couldn't lie down to sleep, and they had to sit all night.
The young child couldn't hold on, and fell asleep with his head tilted in the arms of his parents.
Those innocent faces were stained with mud, their clothes were tattered, their bodies were thin, but they had a faint smile on their lips, and they slept very soundly.
I heard that Nancheng was originally prosperous, and the people living here had enough food and clothing.
But a flood took away everything, and they became disaster victims overnight, living on porridge given by the government.
"Is that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?"
"It's His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"
The people recognized Yu Cheng and ran out of the shed excitedly, but they stayed far away, not daring to get close, for fear of spreading the disease to Yu Cheng.
Although the people living in their area were not infected with the disease, there was no guarantee that something might happen, so it was better to be careful.
"Are you all... okay?" Yu Cheng asked with a choked smile.