Chapter 69 The Unremarkable Shopkeeper Chen
Inside Jiaxingyuan.
Chen Yi arrived at a time that was neither too early nor too late.
Shen Huatang happened to be leading five people of different ages, dressed in long robes, into the room through the outer door.
Xiao Wan'er was waiting outside the wooden building. Her usually aloof face became slightly unnatural when she saw Chen Yi approaching.
Chen Yi found it amusing and bowed slightly from a distance.
He was momentarily stunned.
Xiao Wan'er first ordered Shen Huatang to wait in the main room with the others, then called to Chen Yi:
"Brother-in-law, is Wu Ge throwing a tantrum?"
Otherwise, why would you come to Jiaxingyuan?
Chen Yi understood the implication in her words and, realizing he couldn't continue using the excuse of getting a free meal, smiled and shook his head.
"I heard from Madam that my eldest sister has found me a place to stay, so I came over to ask since I had nothing else to do."
Xiao Wan'er looked at him hesitantly, then subconsciously glanced into the room, and after thinking for a moment, said:
“I originally planned to make all the arrangements before talking to my brother-in-law.”
"Since my brother-in-law has come looking for us, and I happen to have invited a few pharmacy managers here today, why don't we come in and listen?"
Chen Yi readily agreed, said thank you for your trouble, and followed her into the wooden building with a smile.
He had heard about the Xiao family's business before, and when he heard Xiao Wan'er say this, he guessed where he would go next.
Pharmacy?
It's a good place to go.
His medical skills haven't improved in a long time, so he thought he could try his luck at the pharmacy.
After exchanging pleasantries, they took their seats.
The five pharmacy managers, who had already suspected that this trip was not going to be good, felt their ominous premonition intensify upon seeing Chen Yi present.
They sat upright, heads bowed, and remained silent.
Xiao Wan'er glanced around and then gestured to Shen Huatang.
Shen Huatang nodded slightly, took out several account books, flipped through a few pages, and said coldly:
"These are all the accounts of the five pharmacies this year. Even if the young lady doesn't say it, the managers should be aware of the situation of their respective pharmacies."
"It's not as good as in previous years, is that right?"
Before they could speak, Shen Huatang continued, "The reason I called you here today is to discuss the arrangements for the second half of the year."
The five pharmacy managers felt a chill run down their spines and quickly nodded.
Seeing this, Xiao Wan'er finally spoke:
"Manager Liu and Manager Li have managed affairs quite well these past few months, both in terms of the transportation of medicinal materials and in their timely care of doctors and patients."
"As is customary, you can go to the manor's treasury later to get ten taels of silver. I hope you will continue your efforts."
Two of the managers, who looked older, relaxed and stood up to bow.
I am extremely grateful.
The remaining three...
Then Xiao Wan'er said in a clear and gentle voice, "Manager Ma and Manager Sun are the same old problems as last year."
"It is not advisable to insist on increasing the dosage of a prescription that is too strong."
"You must know that medicine should be prescribed according to the patient's condition. If you are only after making money, where do you place the Xiao family?"
The two people whose names were mentioned exchanged glances, stood up, bowed, and said apologetically, "Miss is right to reprimand us; we know we were wrong."
Xiao Wan'er didn't reply, but raised her hand in a gesture.
Shen Huatang, understanding the implication, stepped forward and handed the account book to the two men, saying:
"When you get back, re-establish the rules for the doctors. If this happens again, you know what the consequences will be."
"Yes, yes..."
Hearing this, the last manager was covered in sweat.
Before Xiao Wan'er could speak, he knelt on the ground with a thud, his face pale and trembling as he said:
"Miss, I know I was wrong. I hope you will forgive me, considering my father's contributions to the Dingyuan Army..."
Xiao Wan'er lowered her beautiful eyes slightly, not looking at him, and sighed softly.
"Wang Ji, in just five months this year, you have embezzled hundreds of taels of silver. Have you ever thought about your father's hard work?"
"However, considering your father's years of bloodshed, we won't ask you to pay back that money. Keep it to find some legitimate business to make a living in the future."
"Young Miss, I...I..."
Before he could beg for mercy again, Shen Huatang immediately stepped forward, dragged him out of the wooden building, and handed him over to the armored soldiers outside the garden.
Seeing this, the other four pharmacy managers naturally looked solemn, as if they were ashamed to be associated with him.
Chen Yi, who was watching the show from the sidelines, paid no attention to the shopkeepers.
His eyes were fixed on Xiao Wan'er, and he felt that she had a more commanding presence than usual.
However, it wouldn't be accurate to say she was angry.
It's actually quite interesting.
Seemingly noticing Chen Yi's gaze, Xiao Wan'er unconsciously lowered her head, half of her face almost hidden under the fur collar of her cloak, her lips slightly pursed.
What is he doing? Can't he see there are other people in the room?
After thinking for a moment, taking advantage of the fact that Shen Huatang had not returned and the other managers were not paying attention, Xiao Wan'er raised her head slightly and glared at Chen Yi with "fierce" eyes.
His expression was a mixture of anger and joy, as if to say, "Still looking?"
Chen Yi smiled and looked away, clearly aware that she still remembered that poem.
Seeing that he had restrained himself, Xiao Wan'er loosened her clenched fist under her cloak and breathed a sigh of relief.
But she couldn't calm her wildly beating heart.
This left a faint blush on her pale face.
It wasn't until Shen Huatang returned and reported back to her that Xiao Wan'er came to her senses and pretended to cough a few times.
"The person who will succeed Manager Wang from now on will be my second sister's husband, Chen Yi."
The last few words were inexplicably stressed.
Chen Yi could tell from the conversation, and he smiled as he stood up and bowed, saying, "I am Chen Yi. Please forgive me if I do anything wrong in the future."
The managers exchanged glances and forced smiles in agreement.
They had all heard of the name "Chen Yi".
Some of it was true, some was false, and opinions varied. They couldn't be sure, but they knew that Chen Yi's handwriting was good and that he was knowledgeable.
However, in business, academic knowledge is ultimately of little use.
After exchanging greetings and acquaintances, Chen Yi listened attentively as Xiao Wan'er explained her plans for the second half of the year.
"The medicinal herbs transported from Beizhou have arrived in Jingzhou and should be able to reach the prefectural city in another half month. After that, you can allocate them as needed..."
"Finally, I want to reiterate the rule—the Xiao family's purpose in opening a pharmacy is not to make money, but to heal the sick and save lives!"
The shopkeepers nodded repeatedly.
Chen Yi naturally immersed himself in the role, but ultimately his thoughts were somewhat different from Xiao Wan'er's.
While healing the sick and saving lives should indeed be the priority, a pharmacy doesn't necessarily have to rely on healing the sick and saving lives to make money.
Everyone knows that treating those illnesses that aren't really illnesses is where the real money is made.
For example, one, two, three, four, five...
Generally speaking, it refers to men's unspeakable secrets, women's love of beauty, the elderly's desire for longevity, and children's intellectual development and rejuvenation.
Of course, these thoughts only flashed through Chen Yi's mind before disappearing.
To put it bluntly, he had little interest in making money; nothing was as appealing as that golden carp.
After a short while, several managers left one after another.
[Witnessing Xiao Wan'er's reprimand, some rejoice while others grieve. Reward: Pharmacy Manager position, +6 Fortune.]
[Comment: The person arrived, their voice was heard, and the scene was observed. Nothing special.]
Chen Yi was taken aback. The pharmacy manager was considered a reward?
It was clearly Xiao Wan'er and Xiao Jinghong who insisted on arranging it for him.
Seeing that everyone else had left, but Chen Yi was still sitting there, Xiao Wan'er couldn't help but feel a little troubled.
"Brother-in-law, has Jinghong returned yet?"
Chen Yi snapped out of his reverie, looked at her, and shook his head with a smile: "No, she's been busy out these past few days."
Xiao Wan'er paused, unsure whether his words constituted a complaint.
After thinking for a moment, she explained, "My second sister did not mean to neglect her brother-in-law. It's just that the Dingyuan Army has been short of funds and provisions lately, so she has to travel around."
Chen Yi raised an eyebrow: "The Dingyuan Army's money and provisions?"
Xiao Wan'er said softly, "I don't know the specifics either."
“But I can tell you that my grandfather recently sold most of his birthday gifts to support my second sister, so that she could use the money to build a trade market with the mountain tribes.”
Chen Yi suddenly realized that there was a problem with the Dingyuan Army's money and supplies.
I see.
It turned out that the Xiao family did not sense anything unusual from the imperial court, but rather that the imperial court had already made its move in a very obvious manner.
After thinking for a moment, Chen Yi smiled and nodded: "Big sister, I'll agree to the pharmacy matter for now. If things don't go well in the future, you can take it back at any time."
Xiao Wan'er breathed a sigh of relief, "That's good then."
Not long after.
Chen Yi got up to take his leave.
Xiao Wan'er was lost in thought, wondering if her explanation had reassured her brother-in-law.
If it's because his second sister is often away from home, then his feelings for her are... just human nature?
After a moment of silence, Shen Huatang asked, "Miss, the young master has no business experience. Is it inappropriate to directly arrange for him to take over as the manager of the pharmacy?"
Xiao Wan'er subconsciously shook her head: "Although my brother-in-law is sometimes reckless, he is talented and capable."
Ever since she saw Chen Yi's calligraphy being appreciated by a group of great scholars and court officials, she had developed a certain amount of respect for him.
Just as she had said to comfort Xiao Jinghong earlier: one's handwriting reflects one's character.
Those who can write calligraphy with such elegant and unrestrained artistic conception are always people of excellent character and talent.
Unfortunately, that poem, "Ode to the Graceful Spirit," was written in the Wei Qing style...
Chen Yi, on the other side, was unaware of Xiao Wan'er's thoughts.
If he had known, he probably would have refused to rewrite "Ode to the Graceful Goddess" in running script.
The first time, I could still say it was a spontaneous expression of feeling.
The second time, it truly became a love poem.
At this moment, Chen Yi stood at the end of the corridor, looking at the group of people in the pavilion in the distance.
"Now that the imperial court has made its move, the Xiao family's hopes for that trade market are unlikely to be fulfilled easily, are they?"
He pondered for a moment.
Chen Yi shook his head inwardly. When the sky falls, there will always be tall people to hold it up.
As a son-in-law who married into the family and an unremarkable pharmacy owner, he didn't need to concern himself with these matters.
Immediately, Chen Yi composed himself and instructed Xiao Die from a distance:
"Go find a fishing net. Today, I, the son-in-law, will show those small fry what I'm made of!"
(End of this chapter)
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