Xie Tianyang laughed again, looking up at the sky.
“Miss Luo, I’ve actually figured it out. If you caused this plague, why would you expose yourself a day in advance and suggest that I seal off the city? So I suspect that perhaps you have the ability to foresee the future, or perhaps you have some kind of premonition. In any case, just as Xun’er said, you don’t seem like a bad person…”
Luo Zhiwan was truly grateful for Xie Jiaxun's trust in her, and she was also grateful that Xie Tianyang did not look down on her because of the slander against her by others.
She suddenly felt that everything she had done for Phoenix City was worthwhile, at least she had been recognized by the city lord.
On the way back, worried that it would be unsafe for her to walk alone at night, Xie Tianyang specially ordered someone to drive a horse-drawn carriage to take her back to the Luo family's pharmacy.
Zhiruo and Jiawang had been waiting inside the shop. When they heard her knocking on the door, Zhiruo quickly went to open it.
"Big sister, you're finally back! We were all so worried!"
"I told you to go to sleep first, what's the rush?"
"Big sister, how is it? Did the city lord give you any trouble?"
She shook her head and chuckled as she walked inside.
"No, the city lord treated me very politely. He even accepted my suggestions. By the way, the city lord bought all these medicinal herbs, so we don't need to sell them retail, which saves us a lot of trouble."
"Really? What about the sick people?"
"The city lord said that the government office will provide medicine to patients for free. He is a really good person. However, these medicinal herbs still need to be stored here. They can come and get them anytime. Alright, go to sleep. There are still many things to do tomorrow."
As she spoke, she looked at the makeshift bed that Zhiruo and Jiawang had prepared, and lay down on it fully clothed. Seeing this, Zhiruo and Jiawang blew out the oil lamp in the room and also lay down.
That night, Luo Zhi slept soundly. With someone like Lord Xie managing Phoenix City, no matter how big the plague was, they would surely be able to defeat it.
The next morning, before the Luo family's pharmacy even opened, Li Dazui, Liu Erniang, and others blocked the entrance.
The moment the door opened, Li Dazui was the first to rush in.
"Give me ten doses... no, fifty doses, fifty doses of medicine for the plague."
Luo Zhiwan frowned slightly and reminded her:
“Aunt Li, didn’t I tell you yesterday that there are no sick people in the family, so there’s no need to prepare medicine in advance?”
"No, I need to prepare in advance. Who can control this plague? What if someone in my family gets infected and we can't buy any?"
"But my family's medicine is limited in quantity, so we can't sell more than that. Besides, we don't offer refunds once it's sold. Have you thought it through?"
"My family has seven members. What's wrong with buying fifty doses of medicine? Besides, I bought it, so why would I want a refund?"
Luo Zhiwan gave a helpless bitter smile, then nodded.
“That’s right, Zhiruo, get the medicine for the old lady.”
Zhiruo wanted to remind her that the government would provide medicine for free if she fell ill, but considering that her elder sister hadn't mentioned it, she figured it was probably to correct her tendency to be greedy for small gains! So she decided not to say anything more.
In a short while, Zhiruo placed fifty bags of medicine in front of Li Dazui. She happily paid the money, then cheerfully carried the bags of medicine away.
Seeing that she had bought the medicine so easily, Liu Erniang and the others swarmed around her.
"We want to buy it too! We want to buy it too!"
"I want thirty sets, I want twenty sets..."
Luo Zhiwan had only intended to teach Li Dazui a lesson, but now that everyone wanted to buy medicine, she naturally wouldn't agree.
She immediately raised her voice to remind him.
"Everyone, those who are not sick do not need to stock up on medicine."
Liu Erniang immediately retorted:
"Then why can Li Dazui buy it, but not us?"
"Aunt Li's family is large, so she can buy it. You don't need to buy anything, so go back!"
At this moment, she dared not say that the government office would distribute medicine for free, otherwise Li Dazui would cause an uproar.
But these people showed no sign of leaving and started shouting.
In a short while, several constables arrived at the entrance, led by Zhang Xiaoquan, the head constable of the prefectural government.
He looked at the shouting women and suddenly shouted:
"Stop arguing."
Upon hearing his voice, everyone fell silent. For the first time, Liu Erniang leaned closer and tearfully poured out her grievances to him.
“Sir, the Luo family pharmacy is not fair in its sales practices. They sell medicine to Li Dazui but not to us.”
Zhang Xiaoquan glared impatiently at Liu Erniang and reminded the other women:
"The city lord has already issued a notice that anyone whose family has contracted the plague must report to the government office. The government office will make unified arrangements and provide medicines free of charge. What's the use of you spending money to hoard medicines?"
Upon hearing this, Liu Erniang instantly felt as if she had struck gold.
She immediately muttered with relief,
"Luckily I didn't buy it, or I would have regretted it terribly. You guys go ahead and buy it, I'm leaving now."
After saying those words, she was the first to turn and leave. Seeing this, the other women followed her and slunk away.
Zhang Xiaoquan then approached.
“Miss Luo, my name is Zhang Xiaoquan, and I am a constable in the government office. The city lord has assigned me to liaise with you and oversee the treatment of the plague patients. In the coming days, please feel free to assign me any tasks you may have. Also, as you instructed, we have arranged all the plague-infected people on one street for easier management. Please go there and treat them. Furthermore, all the doctors in the city are on standby as ordered by the city lord. Please assign them to their posts, Miss Luo. In addition, the city lord asked you to calculate how many medicinal herbs you have here. He will have the accountant come to pay for them this afternoon.”
"Thank you for your trouble, Officer Zhang. I'll have my younger brother and sister sort out these medicinal herbs later. Let's go now!"
After Zhang Xiaoquan nodded, he gestured for Luo Zhiwan to leave. Luo Zhiwan lifted her skirt and went out the door, followed closely by Zhang Xiaoquan and the others.
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