Chapter 214: Grand Opening
Xiao Huan and Shi Tou met up and discussed it, then together found Lu Chengjing, and said in unison: “Brother-in-law, let’s recruit a few more people.”
No merits, no salary; they really couldn’t hold on any longer!
Lu Chengjing set down his brush and handed the half-written paper to the two to look at.
The paper had about ten people’s names, all selected by Lu Chengjing from the list previously discussed with Old Man Wu and others.
“First pick twenty people. Shi Tou, you go run the errand in a bit. Record them whether they’re willing or not, and tell those who are willing to go to the Yuan Family to attend class after breakfast tomorrow.”
Taking advantage of before the busy farming season, Lu Chengjing planned to stock up on more medicinal herbs, so that during the busy season when helpers were needed, people could be found.
Anyway, Shang Wan’s space was big enough to store them, and there was no worry about the medicinal herbs being eaten by bugs or getting damp after a long time.
Shi Tou and Xiao Huan both breathed a sigh of relief; finally, they had something to report back.
Just collecting things had them almost too scared to go out, lest others think they were out collecting gifts; if that reputation spread, who could stand it?
·
News in the village spread fast. Those who received the notice were naturally delighted; those who didn’t, after feeling dejected, couldn’t help but reflect on themselves.
Why did others catch the Xiucai Scholar’s eye?
Was it because the things their family sent weren’t enough or not good enough?
Some reflected very specifically.
[The other day I didn’t get to grab the job of washing clothes for Young Lady Xiao Huan; next time I have to grab it faster, must let Young Lady Xiao Huan see my efforts!]
[There’s still some veggies in the field that can be picked; I’ll send them to the Lu Family in a bit.]
[I’m going to the mountains to chop firewood later; I’ll bring a bundle to the Lu Family too.]
[That land at the Lu Family should be turned over, right? No, it was turned yesterday; better to water it. Go early to avoid someone else taking it.]
Of course, among those reflecting, some were dissatisfied; they’d fawned but got no reward, feeling itchy with frustration.
Some came to the door to question; Xiao Huan was too lazy to argue with him, directly gave him two qian of silver, then crossed his name off the list right in front of him.
She hadn’t begged these people to send her things; initially when she wanted to return them, they got anxious with her, but now they felt they’d lost out.
Brother-in-law was right; just this could screen out quite a few people.
Those with the same idea, knowing they could get money, all came to the door to question; Xiao Huan didn’t want to waste words, so she simply gave money and crossed off names.
Those who got the money were still delighted, and went around the village publicizing it, saying to go to the Xiucai Scholar’s house to collect money.
“Just curse a couple times and it’s done; can exchange for two qian of silver.”
Some were tempted, but naturally some saw through it; actually, not even two were really stirred up to go.
Those who saw through it shook their heads, secretly cursing these people for their short-sightedness.
If the Xiucai Scholar family’s apothecary did well, they’d make money following the Xiucai Scholar family, a steady stream, wouldn’t that be more than these two qian of silver?
Besides, what they sent weren’t valuable things; to actually take the money people gave, how shameless; from now on, if the Xiucai Scholar family had good opportunities, they wouldn’t have a share.
·
In the evening, Shang Wan returned from the city and heard about this, reached out to pinch Xiao Huan’s puffed-up cheeks, and laughed: “Silly girl, just spending a few taels of silver to see people’s true colors; not only did we not lose, we made a huge profit.”
Xiao Huan pouted, still unhappy.
She didn’t care about the silver; she just felt how could people change so fast? One moment smiling at you, the next cursing you out.
She’d even bought quite a few things out of her own pocket, planning to make four-flavor pastries to give back to everyone.
“Those people have no taste for it.” Shang Wan smiled and teased the sulky young girl, “Almost five hours since we last saw each other, and my little beauty greets me with this expression?”
“Sis!” Xiao Huan’s lips twitched into a smile.
Yuan Yuan clapped her small hands, her baby voice soft and glutinous, “Auntie! Matchmaker!”
Xiao Huan “pfft” laughed out loud, the bit of frustration in her heart dissipating like smoke.
She reached out to pick up the little one, correcting: “Good girl, it’s beauty, mei.”
“Match!”
“It’s beauty.”
“Mei!
“Not mei, it’s beauty.”
“Mei… beauty.”
“Right, beauty.” Xiao Huan kissed the little one’s soft tender cheek, “Yuan Yuan will definitely be a beauty when she grows up.”
“Not necessarily.” Chu Xu interjected, “What if Yuan Yuan is still round and plump when she grows up?”
The child frowned tightly, sincerely worried.
Were there round and plump beauties like little dumplings?
Shang Wan reached out to ruffle his hair, “A Nian, don’t say girls are round and plump; you can change it to cute.”
Chu Xu blinked in confusion, “Why?”
“Because…” Shang Wan tapped his forehead, “If you say it like before, it’ll be hard to marry a wife.”
Chu Xu: “…”
He-he still wanted to marry a wife.
“I won’t say it.”
Young Master Chu decided that from now on, he’d praise girls as cute when talking to them; that way he should be able to marry a wife, right?
Very much planning ahead!
The young master immediately put it into practice, turned to Xiao Huan and said: “Aunt Xiao Huan, you’re very cute.”
Xiao Huan: “…”
Knowing the cause and effect and then being praised like this, she couldn’t feel happy at all, okay?
·
Half a month later, the apothecary’s decoration was finished, and various medicinal herbs were fully prepared.
Shang Wan rarely got superstitious once, spent ten wen to have a fortune-telling blind man pick an auspicious day, and set the opening day three days later.
Shang Wan knew well the importance of publicity; paper was too expensive to print flyers, so she had Lu Chengjing compose a nursery rhyme, then bribed little beggars to sing it along the streets.
The nursery rhyme’s lyrics stuck in people’s minds, so on the day the apothecary opened, quite a few commoners came to watch.
The crowd chattered, discussing animatedly.
“Is that all-purpose ointment from this shop?”
“That’s the place sung about in the nursery rhyme, right?”
“Is there really golden wound medicine that stops bleeding immediately when applied?”
“I heard this place’s medicinal herbs are better than elsewhere; is that true?”
“I’m here to buy Jade Visage Powder.”
“How expensive is the White Jade Paste sold for?”
…
Shi Tou stared unblinkingly at the water clock; when the time came, he immediately struck the gong and set off firecrackers.
The “crackling” firecracker sounds rang in the ears, the air full of gunpowder smell.
Shang Wan and Lu Chengjing stood one on each side under the plaque, grabbed the hemp rope tied with red silk ribbon, and pulled down together.
The bright red silk ribbon fell, revealing the three hot-stamped gold characters ‘Spiritual Medicine Pavilion’ on the ebony plaque.
Shang Wan had of course considered names like ‘Wanxin Hall’, ‘Ren Kang Hall’, ‘Jiren Studio’ that sounded like apothecaries at first listen, but she felt those names were too euphemistic and didn’t reflect her apothecary’s characteristics.
After pondering back and forth, she struggled to choose between ‘Spiritual Pill Pavilion’ and ‘Spiritual Medicine Pavilion’, and finally the family voted for ‘Spiritual Medicine Pavilion’.
Amid the crowd’s commotion, friends brought congratulatory gifts.
Qiao Yu’an squeezed to the very front, the gift boxes behind him stacked higher than A Le.
He cupped his hands to Shang Wan and Lu Chengjing, “Congratulations, grand opening.”
Lu Chengjing returned the courtesy, “Borrowing your auspicious words.”
Shi Tou was in charge of receiving gifts, while Xiao Huan invited people inside.
The second gift-bringer was Chen Cai, who placed his gift on the table, said congratulations to Shang Wan, and went inside to visit.
The third was Steward Zhong from Linglong Gambling House; he said “Congratulations”, set down his gift, and went in.
Next came Dan Dajun, He Sizhi, Gao Yan, Ma Jieyong, the restaurant boss lady, Old Man Wu, Yuan Musheng, Liu Cheng…
Someone in the crowd suddenly exclaimed, pointing at the man at the doorway bringing a gift, “Quick look, isn’t that Wu Ba? How come the scar on his face is gone?”
