After Xu Changshou's youngest daughter returned, her other two older sisters never appeared again.
Knowing that their mother was dead and that their father and brothers were still alive and well, they could finally put down their heavy burden.
On the tenth day after he began his corvée labor, Baicaotang finally received news.
Huo Yanjie arrived, bringing with him a middle-aged man. They searched for Xujia Village and, after making inquiries, found a construction site outside the village.
At this time, Jiang Zhi was no longer working there; Xu Errui was the one who received him.
"Brother Errui, is Aunt Jiang here?"
Watching everyone busily carrying soil and digging stones, Huo Yanjie looked around for Jiang Zhi's figure.
Xu Errui rubbed the mud off his hands, his expression calm: "My mother is the village chief, she doesn't need to stay here and do the work, she has other things to do, she's very busy! Did Manager Huo come here for something?"
Huo Yanjie laughed and said, "Of course there's something, it's about you guys last time..."
He looked around again and said, "Brother Errui, let's find a quiet place to have tea and talk!"
People come and go here, and although no one comes over to listen to the commotion, it's not a place to discuss serious matters either.
Xu Errui suddenly realized: "You want tea? No, we only drink water. Let's go back to the village and talk about it."
Huo Yanjie wiped his sweat: "These villagers really speak so bluntly!"
Once inside the village, Huo Yanjie got some water, but felt increasingly uncomfortable.
He looked at the grass mound he was sitting on and the tree branch above his head. Was he really going to talk about something so important in the open?
"Brother Errui, what we need to say is very important. Let's find Aunt Jiang and go inside to talk!"
Xu Errui said, "Let's put things out in the open! Talking about things here is like having a clear sky; there's nothing we can hide from the heavens."
This is what Jiang Zhi said during a group meeting: from now on, all major events in the village must be recorded, and everyone present must leave their handprints, saying that this is fair and just.
Now Xu Errui repeated what his mother had said.
The middle-aged man who had come with Huo Yanjie hadn't spoken before, but now he said, "That's fine, let's talk under the tree!"
The three of them sat down next to the pile of stones. Just as Huo Yanjie asked about Aunt Jiang again, Xu Errui said, "My mother isn't here. If you have something to say, tell me first."
As he said this, he straightened his spine.
Mother said that if the Huo family came, I couldn't just agree or put my fingerprint on the contract, but I needed to find out the contents of the contract.
Moreover, you have to say no, even if it's possible, you have to say no.
Huo Yanjie: "...!"
Alright, let's start talking. Before he does, he introduces the middle-aged man who came with him. He is the steward of the Huo family and also surnamed Huo.
The Huo family pharmacy was a large family business. Apart from the pharmacy in the county town, there were pharmacies in various towns in Pingchuan County, each managed by a branch of the main family.
This Steward Huo is the one in charge of medicinal herbs in our family.
He was faced with a country bumpkin who had never seen the world, so if he was going to be so casual, he might as well be casual too.
Don't dare to discuss things in front of other elders in the family; you might just stumble upon a great opportunity.
Huo Yanjie took out a roll of paper from his small bag and unfolded it: "The Banlangen granules that Aunt Jiang brought last time, my Huo family is willing to buy the formula and process. You can check the price first. Also, here is a statement that your family is not allowed to produce or sell any other granules in the future."
Xu Errui took the paper and was stunned for a moment. Just as Huo Yanjie was about to read it to him, he had already read it quickly.
It's not that he's reached this level of skill; it's just that he doesn't know many characters. The Huo family contract is a long, densely packed document, and he can only find some characters that he recognizes.
He read it over and over again, but still couldn't recognize many words. Xu Errui's heart was pounding, but he calmly put down the contract and asked, "You said you're buying a formula?"
Huo Yanjie nodded: "Yes, we didn't come a few days ago because we were testing the efficacy of the medicine. We felt it worked well, so we decided to buy it. Brother Errui, you can name a price."
Xu Errui didn't mention how much silver, but simply shook his head: "No, that won't do!"
My mother said that if Baicaotang could cooperate in selling medicine, our family would specialize in making and selling medicine.
If the Huo family wants to buy the formula for Banlangen granules, that's also possible.
However, when signing the contract, it must be stated what kind of medicine formula is being sold.
Now the Huo family wants to buy the other powders as well, but that won't do. Mother said she'll only sell one kind of medicine.
Seeing that Xu Errui shook his head without even haggling over the price, Huo Yanjie asked, "You won't agree even if we offer you a hundred taels of silver. This prescription is worthless in your house."
Xu Errui still shook his head: "No, no!"
Manager Huo said, "If the price isn't right, we can discuss it! One hundred and twenty taels!"
Xu Errui shook his head again: "No way!"
Huo Yanjie also asked, "Explain clearly what's wrong!"
Xu Errui: "Nowhere is acceptable!"
Well, there's no way to negotiate now.
"I think it's best to talk to Aunt Jiang face-to-face about this. Brother Errui, where is Aunt Jiang? Could you ask her to come and tell us?" Huo Yanjie had been worn down and had lost his temper.
Manager Huo was clearly a worldly man and knew that good things don't come easily.
It would be strange if a young kid could decide the formula for this new drug; it would definitely take several trips to get results.
"Since it won't work today, then Brother Xu, show your mother the contract, and we'll come to visit again tomorrow!"
On the first day, Manager Huo and Huo Yanjie returned empty-handed.
The arrival of strangers in the village quickly attracted attention.
But the stone wall under the tree forbade people to come and join in the fun, so the women watched from a distance, not knowing what was going on.
As soon as the two left, Xu Errui tucked the contract into his pocket and prepared to go home. He needed to tell his mother about this as soon as possible.
But Xu Gensheng's wife, Pi, stopped him, looking on with curiosity: "Brother Errui, who are those people? What are you talking about?"
Birds of a feather flock together. Pi and Xu Gensheng are husband and wife. One of them likes to ask questions and is always arguing with people.
Another question people like to ask is about using loudspeakers to relay messages.
Seeing her blocking his way, Xu Errui took a step back: "Sister Pi, this has nothing to do with you. The village rules say that you are not allowed to meddle in other people's business."
This is a rule that Jiang Zhi set for the gossipy women in the village.
She doesn't care about casual conversations, but if someone spreads a rumor that causes trouble or insults, she'll slap their mouth with a bamboo stick.
These days, everyone lives in shacks with no soundproofing or light blocking. You can hear even a fart from someone else's house. If we let the gossipers talk nonsense, there will be a lot of trouble.
Pi was afraid of being beaten, so he dared not block the road anymore, but he couldn't control his curiosity.
He kept pressing, "If you have anything to say, just tell your sister-in-law quietly. I promise I won't tell anyone else."
In a nearby shack, some people were peeking out, clearly wanting to see what was going on.
Xu Errui shook his head: "If you want to hear it, then let Brother Gensheng tell you!" After saying that, he climbed over the low wall next to him and left.
How could she possibly discuss her own family matters with others, and even ask Xu Gensheng to control her wife? What kind of behavior is this, blocking the road in broad daylight?
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