Chapter 35： Jiukang Medicine Hall

Chapter 35 Jiukang Medicine Hall

The dispensing man was polite and returned the greeting to Jiang Sanlang, "What does the guest want from my shopkeeper?"

Jiang Sanlang said bluntly: "A certain family has some golden ears, and I would like to ask if your house will accept them?"

The clerk was stunned, looked at a few people, and said, "It depends on the condition. If the condition is good, of course I will accept it."

Jiang Sanlang quickly took the backpack and put it on the counter, "Then please take a look at this."

The waiter picked up one, looked at it over and over, smelled it, and pinched it again.

He didn't say whether it was okay or not. He said to Jiang Sanlang: "You guys wait a minute, I'll go and ask the shopkeeper to come over."

The waiter asked the medicine boy next to him to take care of him, then turned and went to the inner hall.

Not long after, a middle-aged man with a long beard in his forties came out with the waiter. He looked at the three brothers with a haughty expression. "Are you selling gold ears?"

“Yes.” Jiang Sanlang clasped his fists.

The shopkeeper walked over, picked up a gold ear, looked at it, and said, "A gold ear of this quality is worth one tael of silver per catty here."

“What?” Jiang Sanlang was stunned for a moment, his expression a little ugly.

Li Langzhong paid ten taels of silver per catty, but he didn't expect that this medicine hall only gave out one tael.

Jiang Dalang and Jiang Erlang looked at each other, not too disappointed.

You must know that a pound of rice is only three Wen, and mutton is only eighteen Wen per pound.

This little golden ear can be sold for one tael of silver per pound, which is one thousand cash. That's a lot of money, and it can catch up with their farm family's income for several months.

But didn’t the third brother say that one pound is twelve taels? How could there be such a big difference? Jiang Dalang was confused.

Although Jiang Sanlang was annoyed, he didn't want to get angry. He only reminded: "Did the shopkeeper make a mistake? I am a golden ear, and I was selling it for ten taels of silver per catty a few days ago."

The shopkeeper looked impatient and said: "This is the price we are buying, you can sell it or not."

After speaking, he turned around and walked away. He passed by the clerk and glared at him.

The waiter looked embarrassed and said to Jiang Sanlang: "That is the shopkeeper of the medicine hall. Since you don't accept the price of one tael, please come back."

Jiang Sanlang said nothing with a sullen face, packed up his golden ears and left.

Ying Bao glanced at the boy quietly and felt sad.

This guy will be the head shopkeeper of Jiukang Medicine Hall more than ten years later. Alas, at this moment he is still a powerless boy and can't decide anything.

A few people left Jiukang Medicine Hall and discussed next to the donkey cart.

Jiang Sanlang: "Would you like to visit other places?"

“That’s okay. I see there are a lot of medicine halls on this street. Let’s go to two more and ask about the prices.” Jiang Erlang said.

Jiang Dalang: "Yes, yes! Ask a few more companies and you will have an idea."

So the three brothers wandered around the county town for a long time and asked several pharmacies, but they were all unsatisfactory.

Although the price has been raised from one tael to two taels, Jiang Sanlang is still not satisfied.

Mr. Li obviously gave a price of ten taels per catty, but how come it was so much less when it arrived in the county?

I am not willing to give in.

Jiang Sanlang was frustrated, but there was nothing he could do.

Finally, when he passed a large shop with raised eaves and corners, Jiang Sanlang stopped.

Fu Ruifeng Trading Co., Ltd.

Isn't this the address reported by the customer who bought fish last year?

I had promised him that I would send him the sturgeons I caught. But many things happened and I stopped fishing.

Unexpectedly, I happened to pass by here today.

Jiang Sanlang hesitated to go in and take a look. After all, there was a "Business House" on the signboard, so he probably did some business.

While hesitating, a middle-aged man came out of the gate, wearing a blue robe with longevity patterns, and walked down the stairs with the hem of his clothes in hand.

Looking up, he made a sound and walked over quickly. "Aren't you a fisherman? Why, did you catch a sturgeon?" Jiang Sanlang handed him his hand, "Jiang hasn't fished recently. He happened to pass by this place today and wanted to go in and have a look."

The middle-aged man felt a little regretful and said, "Oh, then you can go in." After that, he left.

Jiang Sanlang quickly added: "Actually, I have brought some dry goods and want to sell them. Can I ask Mr. Lang to help me with the details?"

The middle-aged man paused and asked, "What's this?"

Jiang Sanlang revealed the golden ear in the basket on his back, "This is it."

The middle-aged man touched the short beard on his chin, his eyes flashed, and he said, "Then come with me."

After saying that, he took several members of the Jiang family to the backyard of the trading house.

Enter a spacious room, the middle-aged man invited several people to sit down, and asked the waiter to serve tea, and then asked: "Can I let someone take a look at your goods?"

Jiang Sanlang quickly handed the backpack to the middle-aged man, "This is the golden ear made by my family. It took a lot of effort to make it."

The middle-aged man inspected it and said, "It's well preserved. I wonder what price you want to sell it for?"

“I’ll tell you the truth,” Jiang Sanlang said, “Before I came here, I sold a batch at a local drugstore, and the doctor gave me ten taels of silver per catty. I just don’t know how much the price is here.”

The middle-aged man pondered, "Twelve ounces is too high. I guess the doctor gave it to you based on the selling price of the drug store."

Seeing Jiang Sanlang's disappointed expression, the man added: "Our trading company also has to make money, and we also have to travel long distances for transportation, moisture-proof and insect-proofing, and zero scale loss. The risks are quite high, so the price for the buying of golden ears by the trading company is at most three taels per catty." , no more, even if you send it to Fucheng for sale, the price will not be higher than this. "

"Furthermore, if you take these golden ears to a drug store for sale, they will only charge ten kilograms at most, and they won't ask for more than that. It's different for commercial banks. Since we receive the goods, we will naturally ship them all over the world, and the quantity we want will definitely be more than There are many drug stores and they are long-lasting.”

What he said was sincere and reasonable, and Jiang Sanlang was shaken.

With a long sigh, Jiang Sanlang said: "That's all, just three liang or three liang. I don't know what your surname is, but you are the head of a business company?"

The middle-aged man stroked his beard and smiled and said: "A certain person's surname is Zhou, with the single character Mao. He is not only the second manager of Furifeng, but he can still make the final decision when purchasing some goods."

“It turns out it’s Manager Zhou. I’m being disrespectful.” Jiang Sanlang clasped his fists and said, “My surname is Jiang, Xingsan. These are my eldest brother, my second brother, and my eldest daughter Ying Bao.”

Jiang Dalang and Jiang Erlang hurriedly raised their hands in salute, and even Yingbao called him "Uncle Zhou".

Zhou Mao also stood up and returned the gift, saying, "I wonder how many golden ears the three brothers Jiang brought? Why don't we weigh them together?"

He saw that the Jiang brothers brought a donkey cart.

Jiang Sanlang: "There is another basket. Our brother weighed it once at home. Jiang will go get it and weigh it again."

Zhou Mao waved his hand and said, "You don't need to rush around. Zhou just asks the waiter to bring the donkey cart in." After that, he ordered the waiter to go out and bring the donkey cart.

After a while, the donkey cart was brought to the door of the house. Jiang Sanlang moved the basket and placed it in the same place as the previous basket.

Zhou Mao has ordered the servants to bring them and weigh them one by one.

“The net weight is six kilograms.” The waiter reported the number.

Jiang Sanlang nodded, relieved.

It seems that this business is very polite and does not skimp on the weight. The number reported by the waiter is the same as what I weighed at home.

Zhou Mao: "For six catties, I will pay you eighteen taels of silver."

Jiang Sanlang was not very happy when he heard the number of money, but he breathed a sigh of relief.

Although the price is much less than expected, I am satisfied.

In previous years, I came to the county town to find work, carrying sacks and transporting goods for others. I was almost dead from exhaustion and could only earn one or two hundred cash. Now I have earned money that my parents have never saved in their whole life. What is there to be dissatisfied about?

Zhou Mao added: "If there is anything left at home for the third brother Jiang, you can send it to Zhou. If Zhou is not here, just go to the front hall and report your name. Someone will receive you then."

Jiang Sanlang nodded.

After a while, the waiter brought in silver, five liang and one ingot, a total of three ingots, plus three copper coins.

Jiang Sanlang put away the silver and copper coins and said goodbye to Zhou Mao.

(End of this chapter)