Upon hearing the 60 wen, Zhang Qiulan's eyes lit up.
She had 60 wen on her, and had expected to need three to four hundred wen at least.
Zhang Qiulan quickly took out 60 wen from her bosom. Liu Cai took out 6 pills, placed them in a paper bag, and handed them to Zhang Qiulan.
Zhang Qiulan hurried home with the medicine.
Upon arriving home, she opened the wax shell around the pills and discovered they were for children, carefully made into more than a dozen black pills the size of soybeans, making them extremely convenient for patients to swallow.
No wonder the shopkeeper had asked if it was for an adult or a child earlier; there was such a difference.
Zhang Qiulan felt that while Phoenix Pharmacy's medicines were cheap, they were of superior quality.
Zhang Qiulan touched her daughter's face; she was very hot.
The child felt her mother's return and weakly opened her eyes, calling out "Mama" in a low voice.
Zhang Qiulan half-carried her daughter and said, "Mama bought you medicine, and you'll be well after taking it. You have to take it all, be a good girl and take it."
As soon as her daughter heard that she would be well after taking the medicine, she pushed herself up with Zhang Qiulan's support, then swallowed the pills. Zhang Qiulan fed her a few mouthfuls of water, and then had her daughter lie down in bed.
Perhaps because of the medicine, the child felt more relaxed psychologically and soon fell into a deep sleep.
Zhang Qiulan went outside to busy herself with picking vegetables and cooking. After a while, her son ran out to call her:
"Mama, Sister is sweating."
Upon hearing that her daughter was sweating, Zhang Qiulan was overjoyed. Sweating when you have a fever meant the fever was breaking, so she hurried into the room to check.
Indeed, a layer of sweat had appeared on her daughter's forehead.
The pills from Phoenix Pharmacy were truly effective, good and cheap. Zhang Qiulan could not express how grateful she felt.
After the child sweated profusely, her fever subsided. Zhang Qiulan wiped her daughter with warm water and changed all her damp clothes into dry ones.
Before the three days' worth of medicine was finished, Zhang Qiulan's daughter's illness was cured.
The reputation of Phoenix Pharmacy spread through case after case like this.
Wang Dapeng had been out for a month and a half. Seeing that the pharmacy and rice shop were on the right track and all the goods to be procured were loaded onto ships, he planned to return to the village to report.
Just then, the intermediary Lao Hu came to find him.
"Boss Wang, I've got news about the iron ore."
"What?"
Wang Dapeng's eyes lit up at the mention of 60 wen: "Oh? Come in and talk."
Wang Dapeng led Lao Hu into the inner courtyard of the rice shop.
The inner courtyard was serene and quiet; he had been living there during this period.
He wasn't living on the ship because living here allowed him to better understand the situation on Chaoliau Island.
Based on Wang Dapeng's current analysis, Chaoliau Island had the potential to become a new important trading town in the future. This was because Chaoliau Island had a natural sheltered harbor and was at a high elevation. According to Young Master Gu, this location was unlikely to be flooded again.
"It's like this. I heard about a young master from a family that used to own an iron mine. After the flood, his properties and shops were all submerged, and his family is gone. He went from living extravagantly to having nothing.
However, the iron mine he invested in was on the mountain and was luckily not flooded. He now wants to sell the iron mine to make a living.
But at this juncture, who would take it seriously? No one wants to buy, nor do they have the financial means to buy."
"Oh, if the situation is true, can this person be brought to talk?" Wang Dapeng asked.
"He's very down and out, drowning his sorrows in alcohol every day. I went to the tavern that day, and I heard the waiter asking him to pay the bill. He couldn't pay and was shouting that he had an iron mine, so how could he not afford a drink, those kinds of boasts.
Remembering that you asked me to inquire about iron ore, I paid his tab and found out after asking in detail."
"I see," Wang Dapeng nodded.
He did not underestimate the fallen young master.
Because Young Master Gu had said that anything was possible in times of chaos. The once high and mighty chosen ones could be brought down by natural disasters and upheavals, becoming destitute; the once ruffians might soar to great heights. One should not underestimate anyone.
In the Jianghu, anything could be encountered.
"How about this, shall I arrange to meet him at the Jianghu Tavern? He likes drinking, so we can chat while we drink," Lao Hu suggested.
"Alright," Wang Dapeng nodded in agreement.
After half an hour, Wang Dapeng set off for the Jianghu Tavern.
The Jianghu Tavern was the largest tavern on the island, comparable to famous taverns like the Yue Lai Tavern in Jinsha City. It was clearly opened by someone with considerable influence.
Sitting in the tavern, Wang Dapeng felt as if he had returned to a bygone era.
The patrons in the tavern were all elegantly dressed, in silk robes, adorned with gold and jade, clearly indicating they were no ordinary people.
Although Wang Dapeng didn't look like a person of great wealth, the aura he exuded from his experiences made him someone not to be underestimated.
The waiter solicitously served him a pot of Fujian Oolong tea and set out 4 plates of snacks.
A short while later, Lao Hu arrived with a young man whose eyes were unfocused and reeked of alcohol.
The young man was wearing a silk robe of superior fabric, revealing the aura of past wealth, but several tears on the robe could not conceal his current fallen state.
Wang Dapeng politely invited him to sit.
Lao Hu introduced them to each other, stating that the young man's name was Wang Shicong.
"You want to buy my iron ore?" Wang Shicong cut straight to the chase.
"That's right. Where is your iron ore? I need to see it with my own eyes."
Wang Dapeng was not easily fooled.
"It's not far, about fifty li from here. The original iron mine wasn't very large, and it was on the mountaintop, making transportation difficult. My family didn't pay it much attention.
My family was primarily in the shipping business, even operating overseas. Who would have known that when the flood came, our merchant ships encountered a tsunami and were completely destroyed. Haha, it's quite funny, those who lived by water died in the water.
The shops my family used to own were all flooded. Do you know how many shops my family had? A street longer than this entire street was all mine.
Yet it was all flooded.
Alas, the only valuable asset I have left now is this iron mine. Don't laugh at me, haha.
However, the reserves of this iron mine are quite high, so I must sell it for a good price."
As expected, no second-generation rich kid was simple. Although Wang Shicong got himself drunk every day, he became incredibly sharp when it came to matters of money.
Wang Dapeng grumbled inwardly, but his smile remained as he said,
"Then we'll have to see it on-site before we discuss."
"Hmm, do you have the capability? I'm afraid you'll see it and still won't be able to afford it."
Wang Shicong said impolitely.
"Young Master Wang, Boss Wang definitely has the capability! He's in the grain business on Chaoliau Island."
Lao Hu quickly vouched for him.
As an intermediary, he naturally hoped for this deal to go through so he could earn a commission, so he highlighted Wang Dapeng's credentials.
Upon hearing that Wang Dapeng was a grain seller, Wang Shicong's attitude softened considerably. It was clear he knew that someone who could sell grain now was no simple person.