Measure
"this……"
Uncle Xu looked up at the medicine cabinets around him, and was troubled for a moment when he thought about how the master had cared a lot about the reputation of the old brand.
Seeing Xu Bo was a little hesitant, Jiang Nian smiled slightly.
"Father called me in for a talk yesterday and gave me the account books and the essential items from the store. That's why I'm talking to Xu Bo about them today."
Looking at Xu Bo's hesitant and somewhat indecisive eyes, Jiang Nian knew that he was hesitating because of the reputation of the old brand, so he grasped the key point and continued calmly.
"Now that I've taken over the shop, I naturally have to make some changes. The medicinal herbs sold here are closely related to saving lives and are indispensable to the people. And because of this, as a long-established brand with a long history and a good reputation, our pricing is more closely aligned with the people's lives."
"Besides, the current pharmacy is on the decline, and it is not the right time to set prices higher than the usual prices."
Upon hearing the news of the price reduction, Xu Bo was still a little hesitant, but when he thought about the fact that the master had given the management rights of the store to the young lady, and saw that the young lady insisted, he struggled for a while, but finally nodded in agreement.
Seeing that Xu Bo accepted his proposal, Jiang Nian turned around and told Fuling to take out the account book that had been prepared in advance.
When Fuling reached down to find the account book from her bag, she turned her head slightly to look back.
Xiao Yingzhu, who was originally standing at the door, disappeared.
Are you going back?
Before she could think about it, Fuling took the account book out of her bag and placed it on the wooden table, turning the page to the one that detailed the pharmacy's financial income and expenditure.
Jiang Nian lowered his eyes and scanned the lines of small characters, and pointed his fingertips at several of the more commonly sold medicinal herbs.
"Although it's not necessary to lower all prices at once, the prices of frequently sold items should be lowered to a level slightly below the market price first, as they are more attractive to buyers."
Seeing that Xu Bo had marked the place she pointed to, Jiang Nian then arranged the other medicinal herbs in order of higher profit and lower cost.
"The prices of these medicinal materials will also need to be lowered in turn to increase overall profits."
"Look for any medicinal herbs with a large surplus in stock. See if there's any that are in high demand this season but haven't been sold. If they're needed in late summer, we can lower the price to attract more buyers."
Uncle Xu nodded while quickly writing down Jiang Nian's request on another unused straw paper.
Jiang Nian lowered her eyes slightly and looked at the notes that Xu Bo was taking. Her long and curled eyelashes cast a small shadow on her eyes. As she leaned forward slightly to look at the account book, her profile looked even more beautiful.
Xiao Yingzhu, who had just received a signal from the secret guard outside, returned to the wooden platform, raised his eyes casually, looked at Jiang Nian's face for a moment, then lowered his eyes and looked away.
He leaned slightly against the wooden carved wall, listening to Jiang Nian's words beside him. The cruelty in his eyes that had just come from knowing the source of the signal dissipated a little, and the murderous intent on his face was replaced by a calm and indifferent look again.
"...and Xu's Pharmacy, their prices for these herbs are slightly lower."
She reached out and pointed at a few herbs on the price list.
"We can compete on price on these herbs."
Jiang Nian slightly suppressed the calculating look in his eyes, and a soft and gentle smile appeared on his lips.
"I think Uncle Xu knows more about the changes that the Xu family has made in recent years than I do. I'd appreciate it if Uncle Xu could spend more time on this."
The temperature inside was just right, but Xu Bo felt a chill, as if he had just returned to the inexplicable tension that had arisen in his heart in the storage room. He shook his head and quickly added a sentence after Jiang Nian had finished speaking.
"No, no, what the young lady ordered is what I should do."
As he was recording the young lady's words, he suddenly felt that she was completely different from before.
The young lady before only wanted to be with an outsider and did not hide her emotions. She was pure-minded when it came to Mr. Li and had no motives at all. It was as if she only clung to him because she wanted to be with him.
As for running a drugstore, he naturally didn't even give it a second thought, and his mind was completely blank as to future business plans.
But now the young lady seemed to have come to her senses. She concealed her meticulous and sharp mind inside behind her sweet and quiet demeanor during ordinary conversations. Only those who were close to her could gradually sense it.
Every move she made for the operation of the pharmacy was like slowly laying a fine net in her seemingly endless strategy. No one involved could escape and everyone had to follow the plan.
Looking back at Jiang Nian's changes, Xu Bo sincerely discovered that his young lady seemed to have finally grown up.
Seeing that he had almost finished what he had said, but the handwriting on the paper drawn with the brush was still far from finished, and the light in the room was gradually dimming, Jiang Nian stood up from the counter and added the last sentence.
"Finally, there's the matter of stockpiling goods, which I'll handle personally."
As he took a step back from the counter, the back of his hand rubbed against the sleeve of the person next to him.
She turned her head slightly and saw Xiao Yingzhu standing beside her.
As if feeling her gaze, Xiao Yingzhu raised her eyes and saw the indifferent emotion in her eyes when she met Jiang Nian's gaze.
Being looked at by him expressionlessly, Jiang Nian felt a slight chill running through his body.
I was concentrating on instructing on the prices of medicinal herbs and didn't pay attention to Xiao Yingzhu's movements. I didn't expect that he would still be here at this time.
Is there nothing else to do tonight?
Jiang Nian blinked, and there was a hint of inquiry in his eyes.
"Night is approaching. Why don't you leave earlier to avoid a difficult journey back?"
Although oil lamps would be hung on Baima Street in Liangdu at night, candles for lighting would be placed on fixed lampstands on the street.
However, the location of Liangdu Pharmacy is still a little far from the city center, so it is always easy to cause trouble.
However, Xiao Yingzhu should not be bothered by complicated matters, and she asked this question only out of politeness.
The room was quiet. Fuling was helping Uncle Xu check the price ranking of the corresponding medicinal materials. Xiao Yingzhu's gaze fell on Jiang Nian's face for a while, and after a pause, she gently curled her lips, with a casual tone.
"Miss Jiang and I are allies, so we will naturally pay attention to the situation in the store."
There seemed to be a hidden meaning in Xiao Yingzhu's words, and his tone was difficult to discern. Jiang Nian didn't think that he was standing there just to pay attention to the business situation.
Thinking of the other two people in the pharmacy, Jiang Nian turned and raised his hand slightly to signal towards the yard behind the pharmacy:
"In that case, why don't you come with me to the courtyard to discuss this in detail?"
Seeing Xiao Yingzhu nod, Jiang Nian understood.
The sky gradually darkened, and a few crows landed on the branches, looking at the two people below with smart eyes.
The yard was originally used to store sundries and cleaning tools. There were many fallen leaves blown down by the wind on the green stone slabs. When people stepped on them, there was a sound of dead branches breaking.
Jiang Nian thought Xiao Yingzhu would still talk about matters related to business, and he had prepared his own set of excuses in his mind, but he didn't expect Xiao Yingzhu to ask a question that seemed to have nothing to do with business.
"I would like to ask Miss Jiang, what I said to Shopkeeper Xu just now came from my heart..."
He paused.
"Or just say whatever comes to mind?"
This place is quiet and remote. In the evening, only a slight breeze blows in from outside the courtyard gate, lifting the sleeves of the two people. Apart from that, there is no other sound.
The tea-white brocade robe worn by the person standing in front of him highlighted his seemingly charming and beautiful features, making him look even more elegant in the setting sun.
And these questions, combined with her clothes, made Xiao Yingzhu look even more unworldly and elegant.
It seems that he has nothing to do with the world's power struggles and comes only to ask for advice.
Jiang Nian paused for a moment at the corner of his elegant clothes, then shook his head and smiled knowingly.
"It's about being honest and frank."
"From the beginning of this business, I have always understood that buying and selling cannot be separated from buying and selling. And in Pingzhou, it is very far away from the capital, so I dare not have any unrealistic expectations."
"Since the store is established to serve the people, the prices should be in line with what the people can afford. We cannot offer unreasonable prices."
"Father always prioritizes fame over success, forgetting that this time-honored brand owes its existence to the recognition of the people."
"So today's shops are going downhill, and the reason is that they've lost touch with the people."
Jiang Nian was silent for a few seconds, then calmly cast his gaze on Xiao Yingzhu's face.
"What do you think, Your Excellency?"
Although it was unclear what Xiao Yingzhu meant by asking this question, even if Xiao Yingzhu's current appearance was indifferent to the world and she was deceiving others, the starting point of this question would ultimately fall on interests.
Now that she had answered her opinion, she had to take the opportunity to find out Xiao Yingzhu's background.
The person before him had a calm expression, a faint smile still lingering on his lips. However, the pure and elegant image from just now seemed to have faded like a shadow.
"I would like to confirm what Miss Jiang said once again."
He narrowed his eyes slightly, revealing a perverse inquiry.
"Are these really what you think?"
"You haven't concealed anything?"
Jiang Nian was well aware of Xiao Yingzhu's suspicion and was also expecting his sudden change. The smile on her face did not waver at all. As she listened to his reply, she understood the meaning behind it and her eyes curved slightly.
"Yes, I never hide anything from my allies."
Xiao Yingzhu's gaze fell on Jiang Nian's expression, then she suddenly turned away and smiled. The slight cruelty in her eyes dissipated a little, and was replaced by a hint of smile.
"Miss Jiang always surprises me. I'm really curious, who taught her all this?"
"Is it a heartfelt feeling based on the reign of the current emperor?"
"Or was it because of some insight gained from another wonderful book?"
…
Just now, when discussing pricing strategies with Uncle Xu, Jiang Nian realized that what he was saying was informed by modern concepts.
However, the ideas she put forward were indeed somewhat inconsistent with her status as a young lady in that era.
Hearing the obvious casualness in Xiao Yingzhu's words, Jiang Nian sighed softly from the bottom of his heart.
He really is clinging to his identity.
I didn't see him in the front hall when I was talking to Xu Bo, but he still heard it.
When did Xiao Yingzhu begin to doubt his own identity?
Had she noticed it from the very beginning when she came here?
That's too much of a coincidence.
Jiang Nian suppressed the chaotic thoughts in his mind and looked as gentle as ever.
"Neither. You really don't trust me? I've clearly shown you my sincerity."
"It is truly what I thought, without borrowing even a little bit from the world."
Xiao Yingzhu listened to Jiang Nian's words, which sounded like truth or false, and did not investigate further.
"Ms. Jiang, have you told this to other people?"
“No.”
Hearing Jiang Nian's affirmative answer, Xiao Yingzhu narrowed her eyes slightly, curled her lips, and her true nature was hard to discern from her words.
"Then Miss Jiang's idea is quite coincidental."
His tone was so light that the last word was inevitably made a little unclear by the wind blowing past his ears.
Jiang Nian secretly suppressed the sudden shock in her heart. Their eyes met and then separated. Then she smiled lightly with a hint of tacit understanding.
The information she learned today obviously exceeded her expectations.
Xiao Yingzhu revealed the secret to her now. Was he hinting at something?
The yard was silent for a moment. The crow on the branch got tired of the conversation between the two people below, so it flapped its wings and flew up from the tree. A few black feathers fluttered down from the sky.
The rhythm of the setting sun disappears behind the clouds, leaving only a faint halo of the setting sun.
Xiao Yingzhu took Jiang Nian's reaction in full view, and the suspicion in his heart became more certain. He nodded at Jiang Nian, and his expression returned to the calm and casual look of the morning.
"I'll take my leave now. Miss Jiang, there's no need to see me off."
The conversation that just took place in the yard seemed to be forgotten by both parties. Jiang Nian said goodbye to Xiao Yingzhu with a normal expression, and turned to see Fuling who had been standing at the gate of the yard waiting.
There was some worry in Fuling's eyes. She looked at Jiang Nian after he had just talked with Xiao Yingzhu. She didn't know what her young lady's current relationship with the Duke was like. The envelope in her hand was wrinkled because of worry.
"Miss, there is a letter."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
