Chapter 89 Husband, shameless! (Please subscribe and vote)
In the following days, Shu Prefecture seemed to be much calmer.
However, for those with ulterior motives, there are some sinister secrets hidden in the shadows.
The news that the Xiao family's medicinal herbs had been stolen spread among travelers who were resting at the post station that night.
This sparked numerous speculations, which can be broadly categorized into three types.
Or rather, there are three versions of the story that three different groups of people are willing to believe.
Those who travel the martial world pay close attention to the southward journey of "Knife Madman" Liu Lang and the appearance of evil spirits from the Illusionary Sound Sect.
Therefore, they were more inclined to believe that the medicinal herbs that the Xiao family transported from Beizhou contained legendary rare and precious herbs.
The most outlandish rumor is that "among those medicinal herbs was a ginseng that was ten thousand years old, specially used by the old Marquis to prolong his life."
I don't know which bastard had such an idea, and even analyzed it in such a detailed way, saying that Old Marquis Xiao had been bedridden for a long time and was waiting for that ginseng to save his life.
Ordinary people scoffed at this.
"I think they're just old folks eating poison; they're tired of living!"
"They didn't even bother to find out what kind of situation the Xiao family is in before daring to provoke them in Shu Prefecture. Just wait and see, I reckon we'll see them in jail soon."
In the eyes of the people of Shuzhou, the Xiao family has stood in Shuzhou for two hundred years, and what treasures does the mansion not have?
The emperor alone has bestowed countless elixirs and miraculous medicines upon them; how could they possibly lack a single ancient ginseng?
Therefore, they felt that those martial arts practitioners were clearly courting death, and said that these people had forgotten Xiao Hou's past domineering ways.
Many elderly people like to talk about these things, such as how Xiao Hou once dominated the battlefield and had few rivals.
However, these folk tales, when placed within the officialdom of Shu Prefecture, can only be described as "laughable."
Ordinary people and martial arts practitioners had no idea that because of this incident, various government departments had turned Shu Prefecture upside down.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to describe it as "plowing the land three feet deep".
On the afternoon of the day the incident occurred, the third master of the Xiao family moved into the prefectural government office.
He didn't go anywhere, but would occasionally call Liu Si over to ask about the progress of the investigation.
Forced into a corner, Prefect Liu ordered a thorough investigation.
Not only were the officials in the yamen running themselves ragged, but all the commanders and centurions of the Provincial Judicial Commissioner were also mobilized.
Some went to visit ordinary people, some went to find the underworld gangs in Shu Prefecture, and some sought information through well-informed people in the martial arts world.
But they couldn't find even a trace of "Knife Maniac" or the Illusionary Sound Sect, and the batch of medicinal herbs seemed to have vanished into thin air.
Chen Yi, however, did not believe that the yamen runners were incompetent.
For him, no result is also a result.
Stripping away all the fog of mystery, there is only one truth—there are people in Shuzhou helping them.
He couldn't think of any other possibility.
However, Chen Yi was not in a hurry and simply waited quietly for the follow-up to this matter.
Aside from seizing opportunities every day, he still sat in the pharmacy without fail, following several doctors to diagnose patients.
He had absorbed most of the basic medical knowledge in his mind, and his skills in the four diagnostic methods and acupuncture had progressed rapidly, reaching the proficient level.
He is thoroughly familiar with common ailments, difficult and complicated diseases, and the properties of various medicinal herbs.
As for his skill level, even if all four of Li Laosi were tied together, they wouldn't be as good as one of his fingers.
Compared to martial arts, the gaps between each stage of medicine are much greater.
Those who understand will understand, and those who don't understand will still not know why even after practicing or seeing it.
What Chen Yi knew most was precisely the "reasoning behind it".
Therefore, he is already preparing to use the profound mysteries of medicine to create some new prescriptions to distinguish himself from other pharmacies in Shuzhou, so that Baicaotang can officially open.
It's better to say something than to say it.
Wang Ji and Yan Hai are indeed intelligent.
After finding a shop a few days ago, they immediately started setting up, making signs, decorating, and so on.
At the same time, they have a clear division of labor.
Yan Hai was responsible for contacting the farmers and merchants who had previously supplied medicinal herbs and negotiating subsequent prices for the herbs.
Wang Ji spent three days visiting all the major pharmacies in Shuzhou Prefecture to discuss the distribution of medicinal herbs.
It's worth mentioning that the term "distribution" was given to him by Chen Yi, with the aim of achieving "win-win cooperation."
When ordinary people see a doctor and get medicine, they naturally haggle over the price.
With "Bai Cao Tang" as a safety net, all the major pharmacies are guaranteed a stable income, regardless of the circumstances.
Even those who thought their prices were too high went to Baicaotang to buy medicine, they could still get a share of the profits from Baicaotang based on the prescriptions they wrote.
Why not do something that's easy to do?
Therefore, the talks with Wang Ji went relatively smoothly.
Aside from not visiting the five pharmacies owned by the Xiao family, about 60% of the other pharmacies reluctantly signed contracts with him.
I had a bit of a "let's give it a try" attitude.
Of course, many people also look down on "Baicaotang", after all, who doesn't have a few unique prescriptions?
Those prescriptions and medicines were the foundation of their survival.
That evening.
As Chen Yi walked out of the inner room of the pharmacy with his newly developed prescription, he saw Liu Quan and the others standing outside the door, pointing and gesturing to the side.
"What's all the commotion about?"
"Shopkeeper, come and take a look, a new shop has opened."
Chen Yi walked over and took a look, raising an eyebrow involuntarily.
Outside Yan Hai's former herbal medicine shop, people were coming and going, carrying things inside.
There were baskets and baskets of medicinal herbs, as well as medicine scales, pulse pillows, and other items.
Looking at the plaque above, it clearly reads "Linglanxuan," with a couplet on either side that reads "A century-old brand, saving lives and curing diseases," and so on.
Chen Yi pondered for a moment, then laughed and instructed Liu Quan, "Go next door and buy some pastries and gifts to send over."
Liu Quan was taken aback and hesitated before saying, "Manager, this pharmacy is clearly trying to steal our business. You... are you giving a gift?"
Chen Yi waved his hand, "We're neighbors, we'll see each other all the time, we can't neglect manners."
He might not know about other things, but this shop was probably a follow-up to the "herbal medicine robbery".
What's meant to happen will happen eventually; even if he chooses to ignore it, the other party will probably still rush over.
It would be better to be open and honest about it.
After observing for a while longer, and seeing that the person in charge of the pharmacy had not shown up, Chen Yi smiled and beckoned Ge Laosan over, then took a carriage back home.
Old Ge San, who was driving ahead, had already spotted the pharmacy and found it an eyesore, so he asked through the curtain while driving:
"Son-in-law, you're not angry?"
Chen Yi sat leisurely in the carriage, looking at the passengers outside the window, and said casually, "What's there to be angry about?"
"Of course it's 'rivals in the same trade are enemies,' that damn Linglanxuan is clearly bullying us."
"Third brother, you seem to know quite a lot. After spending so many days in Dongshi, I thought you only had eyes for those girls."
Ge Laosan blushed, the seven-foot-tall man was embarrassed by Chen Yi's words and his face turned red. "Young master, I haven't married yet, I'm just looking."
Now, he forgot about being angry about that pharmacy.
Chen Yi naturally didn't think too much about it.
When soldiers come, generals will block them; when water comes, earth will dam it.
However, when he got home, he learned that Linglanxuan was not only located next to Jishi Pharmacy.
Next to the other four pharmacies of the Xiao family, there are also shops of Linglanxuan.
Chen Yi shook his head and let out a long sigh, "They really don't dare to force it."
However, opening another pharmacy next to the Xiao family's pharmacy seems a bit petty.
Without absolute strength, what good would it do to force all of the Xiao family's pharmacies to close down?
However, Chen Yi was not in a hurry, but Xiao Wan'er was a little impatient.
There has been no news from home or the government for the past few days.
With the hope of finding the medicinal herbs dwindling, she has begun contacting the previous herbalist to prepare a batch of herbs for emergency use.
Hearing about Linglanxuan's affairs so suddenly caught her somewhat off guard.
However, she couldn't express these thoughts to anyone, so even in front of Shen Huatang, she acted completely at ease.
It seems they had the intention of resolving this crisis by themselves.
Xiao Wan'er sat alone in the pavilion, looking lost in thought.
"If only my second sister were home."
...
Late at night, deep in the Wumeng Mountains.
Bamboo houses are built against the mountainside.
In front of each bamboo house, a brazier was lit, and the firelight illuminated the village, making it appear less dark.
Moreover, at this time when people should be sleeping, a bonfire was burning brightly in the open space in the middle of the village, and hundreds of people dressed in their unique tribal clothing were singing and dancing.
"The mountain turns, the water turns, and the brother and sister sit on the boat..."
The singing was loud and cheerful, full of joy and celebration.
Faintly, the clear sound of bells could be heard echoing through the mountains.
Ding-a-ling, ding-a-ling.
"Sister, sister, sing quickly! Brother is getting impatient."
Pei Guanli saw several young men across the way singing folk songs and making a fuss, so she raised her hand and threw out two packets of medicine powder.
The men were so frightened that they ran away, which made the girls laugh.
"Don't run away! Aren't you looking for Sister Guanli?"
"It's just a few packets of poison powder; it won't kill you."
Pei Guanli blinked. "It can still kill someone with medicine."
The girls stopped talking, and after a moment, someone started to surround Pei Guanli and try to hit her.
"Are you crazy? How could you use poison like that?"
"I was wrong, I was wrong..."
They played around for a while.
Pei Guanli finally managed to break free from the pull of her clansmen, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and her round face was flushed red in the firelight.
She glanced around and spotted Xiao Jinghong sitting quietly on the roof of a bamboo house not far away, then skipped and hopped over to him.
"Sister Jinghong, what have you been looking at for so long?"
"Let me see?" Pei Guanli curiously leaned forward and looked at her hand.
She didn't see anything else, but she did see the signature.
Pei Guanli's eyes widened, and she immediately reached out to snatch it...
*Smack*
Xiao Jinghong reached out and pressed his hand against her face, blocking her view.
"My brother-in-law wrote a letter, please let me see it, Sister Jinghong, sob sob..."
Xiao Jinghong pinched her mouth shut, forcing her to be silent, and said calmly:
"Tomorrow, let Granny Shan arrange the people, and we'll set off to choose a site."
Pei Guanli sobbed, but couldn't break free, and stubbornly refused to speak.
I'll give you a good glare and see how I kill you.
Xiao Jinghong glanced at her, then let go of her hand and walked outside, saying, "Don't forget."
Pei Guanli punched her back, muttering, "Just forget it, just forget it."
After Xiao Jinghong had walked away, she raised her voice: "I've already forgotten!"
"Um?"
Upon hearing the sound, Pei Guanli shrank back and hurriedly ran away.
Upon hearing the voice, Xiao Jinghong's lips curled into a smile.
However, upon seeing the two letters in his hand, his smile deepened, though a hint of shyness lingered in his bright eyes.
"My husband, you have no shame."
Compared to the poem Chen Yi wrote, she didn't take her elder sister's reminder to heart.
"You ask when I will return, but there is no set date... There is, though."
"I'll go back as soon as I'm done."
P.S.: That's my limit, only four chapters today.
I probably drank coffee and strong tea, and I feel terrible all over. My life is more important, so I need to moisturize myself first.
I'll learn from this experience and make up for it tomorrow.
(End of this chapter)
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