Chapter 219: Bargain
In the backyard, the children had all run to the front to play.
Shang Wan had just coaxed Yuan Yuan to sleep, so she didn’t need to worry about things in front for the time being. She planned to stay in the backyard to interrogate those five people who tried to take advantage of the chaos.
These people included both men and women, dressed quite plainly, with no distinctive features in their appearances. Their common trait was that they were all tight-lipped, either claiming ignorance to every question or keeping their mouths firmly shut and responding to everything with silence.
While Shang Wan was pondering how to deal with these people, Lu Chengjing led Old Doctor Sun into the backyard.
Seeing the five people in the courtyard who were tied up tightly, Old Doctor Sun asked in surprise, “Who are these people?”
“Troublemakers.” Shang Wan kicked each one over to the stone mill and dumped them in a pile, then waved her hand to invite Old Doctor Sun to sit.
The tea had just been brewed, so it was perfect to drink now.
“Good tea.” Old Doctor Sun praised.
The tea leaves were spiritual field produce that Shang Wan had specially planted; they couldn’t be found outside.
Seeing that Old Doctor Sun liked it, Shang Wan knew how to pamper customers like gods and immediately said, “This year’s new tea—I’ll pack a pound for you to take back later.”
Old Doctor Sun didn’t stand on ceremony with Shang Wan; he really liked this tea.
Lu Chengjing went into the house, fetched a booklet, and handed it to Old Mister Sun to look over.
The booklet was filled with the unit prices of medicinal herbs, prepared by Shang Wan for Lu Chengjing to save some breath when introducing them to people.
Old Doctor Sun was getting on in years after all, and his eyes weren’t as good as a young person’s. Reading the small print in the booklet was quite a strain, so he simply had Lu Chengjing read it aloud.
Of course, he didn’t have him read every single one; he named a few medicinal herbs, and Lu Chengjing reported the prices.
Old Doctor Sun took a sip of tea before saying, “More expensive than other apothecaries in the city.”
“Old Mister, you know better than anyone how my medicinal herbs are.” Shang Wan picked up the teapot and poured more for Old Doctor Sun. “You’re an expert on medicinal herbs. You surely understand the reason that you get what you pay for better than I do.”
“For the sake of our past affection, the prices your husband quoted earlier are the real prices. Others can’t get them at this rate.”
Old Doctor Sun had been practicing medicine for many years and knew best the difference between good medicine and inferior stuff.
He hummed, not really intending to haggle seriously; he just needed to go through the motions to have something to report back to the owner.
It took almost no persuasion, and the price was settled.
Shang Wan and Lu Chengjing saw Old Doctor Sun off together. Not only did they pack tea leaves for him, but also quite a few fruit preserves and pastries made by Xiao Huan.
Old Mister didn’t like crowds. He could have come any time, but he chose to come on the opening day. Though he didn’t say it outright, Shang Wan understood the gesture of support and was naturally grateful.
Niangzi Lou came out from the restaurant and saw Shang Wan standing in the doorway. She raised her hand and called to her, “The meals are all ready. Take advantage of the fewer people right now and quickly call everyone over to eat.”
“Alright.” Shang Wan agreed and went in to call people.
Someone had to watch the shop, so they ate in two shifts.
Shang Wan wasn’t hungry and told Lu Chengjing to go first; she took over the accountant’s work.
Adding and subtracting according to the account book, Shang Wan calculated the inventory of medicine.
Thanks to everyone’s efforts, the morning’s business was unexpectedly good, with sales volume more than twice what Shang Wan had anticipated.
Among them, all-purpose ointment, Jade Visage Powder, and White Jade Paste were the top sellers. Even sold at half price, they still made quite a profit.
Shang Wan calculated carefully: just this morning, they had taken in three hundred twelve taels and seven qian of silver. After deducting costs, wages, tea, and other miscellaneous expenses, the profit was around two hundred forty taels.
The reason for such high profit was that Shang Wan hadn’t included the herbs from the spiritual field in the costs at all.
The first day of opening was a good start.
However, the healing medicine bought would take some time to use up, so all-purpose ointment sales should drop in the near term.
Shang Wan took a pen and circled the two beauty products, Jade Visage Powder and White Jade Paste.
Don’t underestimate women’s purchasing power.
These two were fast-consumable items with moderate prices. Once those who bought today used them and found them good, there should be plenty of repeat customers.
By then, with good reputation spreading, the women in large courtyards would become her new gods.
She thought she needed to research some more good things for her gods, like floral dew, facial cream, body lotion, and shampoo and bath products.
Which woman didn’t want flawless skin and lush, seaweed-like beautiful hair?
As for men, who said men didn’t love looking pretty? There were men wearing flower hairpins on the streets, and there were men who bought Jade Visage Powder today too.
Also, Shang Wan really wanted to research aphrodisiacs; it was said there was huge demand for them.
With all sorts of miscellaneous thoughts in her mind, Shang Wan felt the top priority was to poach a skilled doctor to be her formulator.
Spiritual spring water was indeed very useful, but a good formula combined with spiritual spring water was the real jackpot.
Why could others encounter divine doctors after time travel, but she couldn’t even see a hair of one?
Of course, Shang Wan had considered swinging a hoe to dig at Gu An Hall’s corner.
But the corner was too hard to dig. Old Doctor Sun wanted to stay at Gu An Hall to retire in peace and go nowhere else.
As for the others, Shang Wan thought Doctor Mei was pretty good too, but wouldn’t running his own medical hall be better than working for someone?
For now, Doctor Yuan would have to do.
She hoped Doctor Yuan could still tap into some potential.
·
Afternoon customers were clearly fewer than morning ones, and many people were idle. Shang Wan prepared tea and pastries to treat everyone.
When Steward Zhong came over, he also got a piece of date paste crisp.
Shang Wan poured him a cup of tea; the tea was a gorgeous red color with a fragrant aroma, perfect to drink with pastries.
After finishing a piece of date paste crisp, Steward Zhong wiped the pastry crumbs from his fingers and got down to business.
“One hundred boxes of all-purpose ointment, three hundred bottles of golden wound medicine. Shopkeeper Shang, give me a price.”
Shang Wan said, “For the red-box all-purpose ointment, I’ll give you eight taels per box, one tael per bottle of golden wound medicine. That adds up to one thousand one hundred taels.”
Steward Zhong countered immediately, “Six taels for all-purpose ointment, seven qian for golden wound medicine.”
Shang Wan tugged at the corner of her mouth: “Steward Zhong really loves to joke.”
“The owner instructed that if Shopkeeper Shang is willing to sell at this price, we’ll order another two thousand boxes of Jade Visage Powder and two thousand bottles of Jade Visage Cream.”
Steward Zhong believed Shang Wan would agree to his quote.
Shang Wan was indeed very tempted.
She considered and asked, “When do you need the latter?”
Steward Zhong said, “Sign the contract and pay a deposit first, take delivery in batches—one time, two hundred boxes of Jade Visage Powder and two hundred bottles of White Jade Paste.”
Shang Wan asked, “Boss Zhong, where are you planning to sell these?”
Buying so much couldn’t possibly be for personal use.
Steward Zhong seemed to have been instructed and didn’t hide it from Shang Wan: “Capital City and the Jiangnan area.”
Shang Wan’s mind was calculating furiously. She turned and called Shi Tou over, “You keep Steward Zhong company for a bit; I’ll be right back.”
Shi Tou sat down as told and grinned at Steward Zhong, showing a mouthful of big white teeth.
Steward Zhong: “…”
This young fellow looked spirited, so why did his smile seem so silly?
Shang Wan stood up and said, “Steward Zhong, this is my younger brother Shi Tou. You two chat first; excuse me for a moment.”
Steward Zhong knew Shang Wan probably needed to consult someone, so he nodded and watched her leave.
