Chapter 80 Has he gone mad?
Chen Yi, Chen Qingzhou.
This name was very familiar to the doctors, apprentices, and accountants of Jishi Pharmacy.
Putting aside the fact that he succeeded Wang Ji as the new manager of Jishi Pharmacy, his status as the husband of the second young lady Xiao Jinghong after marrying into the Xiao family was enough to make them dare not underestimate him.
Moreover, Chen Yi's name has been widely rumored in Shuzhou City recently.
Although opinions are mixed, it's generally agreed that he's notoriously unruly.
Therefore, the doctors, apprentices, and accountants who had been cornered by Ge Laosan managed to force out a smile.
Bow respectfully and address the shopkeeper.
Chen Yi remained calm and took out the written record signed and sealed by the pharmacy owner, slapping it on the table beside him.
"Regarding the pharmacy next door, even if I don't say anything, I believe you all know the details."
"So I don't want to listen to your nonsense. Just write down everything you know and everything you've done, and sign it."
Chen Yi paused, glanced at the stunned group, and said calmly, "You dare to embezzle the Dingyuan Marquis's silver? I think you're tired of living!"
These words are undeniably heavy.
However, according to the pharmacy owner's account, he alone had amassed no less than a thousand taels of silver over the past five years.
Needless to say, Wang Ji of Jishi Pharmacy could easily earn several thousand taels of silver, perhaps a little less than ten thousand.
The remaining doctors and accountants also received a share of the profits, the only difference being that they received less money.
Upon hearing his words, the pharmacy fell silent.
The doctors and accountants were older and more composed.
The other apprentices, however, were already pale with fright, their legs trembling, and they hurriedly knelt down to beg for mercy:
“Manager, you are wise. We came here only to learn a skill. We have not taken a single penny. In fact, we have to pay tuition to the pharmacy every month.”
"The shopkeeper is very perceptive."
Chen Yi glanced at it and said, "Just write down what you know clearly. If there are any discrepancies between what they wrote and what you did, you will go back to where you came from."
"Thank you very much, shopkeeper."
The apprentices were too terrified to care about the doctor's or accountant's feelings.
Outsiders may not know, but how could those of them who were born and raised in Shuzhou not understand the meaning of the three words "Marquis of Dingyuan"?
If the Xiao family finds out what they've done, losing their heads would be the least of their worries.
It might even implicate family members, and if things go wrong, the whole family could be exiled to the harsh and cold Lingnan region.
The apprentices were insignificant, and Chen Yi's target was not them.
Looking at the unmoved doctor and accountant, he asked, "Not planning to cooperate? Or are you feeling confident and fearless?"
The group exchanged glances, and the accountant, dressed in brocade robes and a mandarin jacket, stepped forward and said:
"Shopkeeper, while we acknowledge that what you just said is true, this money is a share of the pharmacy's profits and does not violate the rules set by the young lady."
Chen Yi smiled and shook his head, "This is the first time I've seen someone talk about embezzling the master's money in such a grand and dignified way."
The accountant bowed again, saying, "No need for the manager's praise. We are simply following the rules set by the previous manager."
"We weren't exactly diligent, but we were honest and upright. We didn't take a single penny more than we were entitled to."
Chen Yi continued to smile, and one had to admit that he still had some talent for sophistry.
"Since you're the accountant, let me ask you, is the monthly amount of silver to be handed over to the Xiao family fixed?"
"yes."
"So, for the excess amount, do you just have those patients go to the nearby pharmacy to get their prescriptions?"
The accountant hesitated before nodding, "The manager is right."
Chen Yi's smile vanished. "In that case, you shall go to the yamen."
"If the Prefect also thinks you did the right thing and that it is in accordance with the laws of the Great Wei, I will not only not punish you, but will also reward you handsomely."
“I will even post notices in various cities of Shuzhou to publicize how you have kept your duties and how you have served the Xiao family.”
"..."
The accountant's expression changed slightly, and he lowered his body, not daring to look up. "Please forgive me, sir. I... I'll write it down right away."
Chen Yi glanced at him sideways, then looked at the doctors, "And you?"
"We wouldn't dare trouble you, shopkeeper. We'll write it down truthfully right away."
For a moment, the pharmacy fell silent again. The group of people bit their brushes and wrote down what they had done over the past few years on paper.
Chen Yi sat quietly to the side, observing, and began to have some thoughts about the accountant's mindset.
Don't underestimate his little bit of sophistry.
But from this, it's not hard to see how the Xiao family, or rather, how Xiao Wan'er, usually treated them.
To put it nicely, it means trusting people; to put it bluntly, it means lax rules, unclear rewards and punishments, and being too lenient.
Under normal circumstances, Chen Yi might have praised Xiao Wan'er for being beautiful and kind-hearted.
However, given the current predicament of the Xiao family, beset by internal and external troubles, even the slightest mistake could lead to total defeat.
Although Ge Laosan, who was standing to the side, couldn't see that far ahead, he knew that his son-in-law had established his authority.
The fact that a single pharmacy owner embezzled a thousand taels of silver from the Xiao family is truly audacious.
Fortunately, the son-in-law discovered it, otherwise the Xiao family would have suffered a great loss.
Not long after.
Just as the doctors, apprentices, and accountants were writing down their embezzled funds, Liu Si'er arrived with Wang Ji in tow.
He was literally pinned down, practically bound hand and foot, and even his mouth was gagged.
"Son-in-law, I have fulfilled my mission. I have delivered Wang Ji."
Chen Yi glanced at Liu Si'er, waved him to go outside and keep watch, and also to see if the owner of the pharmacy next door had run away.
After hesitating for a moment, Liu Si'er accepted the order and left the pharmacy.
Although he couldn't understand the fledgling's plan, judging from today's results, as long as the fledgling reported this matter to Miss Xiao and the old master, it should be able to receive some reward.
If he puts in more effort, it's not impossible for him to become an official in the imperial court or join the Dingyuan Army.
I just don't know what his plans are.
After Liu Si'er left, Chen Yi signaled Ge Laosan to untie Wang Ji and also to guard the door.
Wang Ji rubbed his wrist, which was throbbing from being strangled, and looked around.
He then noticed the look the accountant gave him, and he immediately realized that things were unlikely to end well that day.
A moment of silence.
Wang Ji stood up and bowed, saying, "Shopkeeper, have you informed the young lady of your actions today?"
Chen Yi raised an eyebrow slightly, looked him up and down, and then nodded with a smile: "Not bad, a bit better than the others."
Wang Ji couldn't tell whether his words were a compliment or sarcasm.
Chen Yi didn't try to guess his thoughts, and gestured for him to sit down, saying, "I really didn't ask Miss Xiao what she thought."
"However, Manager Wang should know the consequences of what he did; nearly ten thousand taels of silver is no small sum."
"Do you think the old master and the second master of the mansion will inquire about this matter?"
Upon hearing this, Wang Ji sat down next to him with a grim expression.
This is precisely why he previously avoided the main issue and only mentioned Xiao Wan'er.
As a veteran of the pharmacy, he knew Xiao Wan'er's temperament well. Even if he knew she had embezzled money, he probably wouldn't do anything to her.
But if the other masters in the mansion were to speak up, he would probably only have death as his fate.
Chen Yi noticed the sweat beading on his forehead and knew that he had made up his mind.
"Come on, everyone else has written it. It's going to be difficult for you, the manager, to extricate yourself from this."
Chen Yi handed him paper and pen, and asked with a smile, "You've earned so much silver, have you thought about what trouble it would bring to the young lady if things were exposed?"
Wang Ji's expression grew even more grim.
He knew better than anyone what impact this would have on Xiao Wan'er if it got out.
Since it was a woman who was in charge of the household's business, if she made a serious mistake, even if the old master didn't say anything, the masters of the second and third branches would be dissatisfied.
Thinking of this, Wang Ji took a deep breath and said in a heavy tone, "You don't need to say anything more. This matter was done by me and has nothing to do with Miss."
Chen Yi chuckled lightly, "He's a straightforward person."
Then he changed the subject, saying, "But he's also a fool."
"You've made so much money in secret, haven't you ever thought about cultivating a relationship with a lord in the mansion as your backer?"
Wang Ji was taken aback. Although he didn't understand the meaning behind his words, he still explained after thinking for a moment:
"I do this only because my parents did good deeds but were not rewarded. I thought I could make some money from it so that I could help them if they encounter difficulties in the future."
"To be honest, I never intended to harm the young lady or seek protection from the master of the manor."
No reward for meritorious service?
Chen Yi suddenly thought of Uncle Gui, who had also performed meritorious service but received no reward, which led to his fate of becoming a servant in the Xiao family.
It seems that the incident a few years ago had a significant impact on these veterans.
After thinking for a moment, Chen Yi waved his hand and said, "Finish writing and signing first."
"Whatever your reason for doing these things, you've already done them, so you must be prepared to bear the consequences."
Wang Ji nodded silently, took the paper and pen, and buried himself in writing down what he had done.
This includes how he opened that herbal medicine shop next door, how he colluded with that Boss Yan to seek personal gain, and so on.
Not long after, the group finished writing, signed, and affixed their fingerprints.
After reading through them one by one, Chen Yi smiled with satisfaction: "You've verified each other's work and there are no mistakes. You can be considered honest."
"Honesty" forced upon us is still "honesty".
That's truly remarkable.
Wang Ji and the others exchanged glances, then fell silent, awaiting his judgment.
Chen Yi naturally understood their thoughts. After folding the notes and tucking them into his sleeve, he clapped his hands and said:
"Don't look so sad. I have two conditions. If you agree to them, this matter will be over."
Seeing his smile, Wang Ji was puzzled, but quickly asked him what his conditions were.
If there is any room for maneuver, it can at least spare his family from suffering.
"The first condition is that you return all the profits you previously made."
"Well...we're willing."
Although Wang Ji and the others were reluctant to part with their lives, money was nothing compared to their own.
Chen Yi continued, "As for the second condition, I want you to continue to stay at Jishi Pharmacy, and to continue operating as before."
Wang Ji paused for a moment, then asked cautiously, "What you mean by 'everything is as before' is...?"
Chen Yi nodded and said with a smile, "It means exactly what you think it means."
"You, you..."
Wang Ji and the others were dumbfounded. Had he gone mad?
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
