Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 17 Great Wisdom

Sun Mansion.

Manager Qin came to visit in person. Sun You greeted him politely and invited him to the main hall. Sun You directly expressed his intention not to continue the cooperation.

Shopkeeper Qin said, "Master Sun, whether you have heard any bad rumors or not, at least we have a contract. If we rashly break the contract, I'm afraid we will be ridiculed by the world, and there will be no chance for cooperation in the future... I hope you will think twice before acting."

Without asking the reason, he directly brought up the contract.

"Ugh!"

Sun You said, "I understand what Mr. Qin said. In addition to returning the grain we have already purchased, we will also return the grain we sold earlier that was higher than the market price. This business is really... difficult to explain. I hope Mr. Qin can understand."

Shopkeeper Qin asked in confusion, "Why would you stop doing such a good business? The north is short of grain this year. Even if you are selling old grain, you will definitely make a profit if you sell it on the market."

Sun You said, "Then... With such a good business, why don't you Huizhou merchants do it and leave it to us?"

"Is this what Master Sun is worried about? Tell the truth..."

Shopkeeper Qin spoke earnestly, "Grain basically comes from the water warehouses on both sides of the canal. It is customary to introduce new grains. New grain is added every year, and the old grain will be moved out... The old grain is usually sold locally to reduce transportation costs. Although it is a profitable business, it involves personal relationships with officials. After all, we Hui merchants are not local merchants, so we are inevitably worried about selling it."

Sun You asked, "Is it possible that there will be problems with the granary this year?"

"You mean...?"

Shopkeeper Qin looked confused.

Sun You seemed embarrassed. "I shouldn't have said it, but since it involves the reputation of my Sun family, I can only give a rough explanation... Someone told me that something might happen to the granary this year, and it will happen at the end of the year. If that's the case, anyone who sells the grain in the granary, even if it's obtained through legitimate channels, will be in trouble with the law, so I can only... put the business on hand aside for now."

Shopkeeper Qin said coldly, "How can you believe such hearsay? Is there something wrong with Shopkeeper Sun's family? If the funds are not flowing smoothly, we Hui merchants can help you. The purpose is just to maintain a good relationship with each other. In the future, the business of Xingji Land will rely on you more."

Sun You shook his head: "No, no, it's just that someone said so, and I have to believe it. Of course, there are also rumors from the government... I hope Mr. Qin can understand."

Shopkeeper Qin was furious when he saw that he couldn't convince Sun You, but he held back.

There is no such thing as forced buying or selling in business, and the Sun family did make some compensation, so the two sides did not fall out over this.

"Then... I can only say it's a pity."

Shopkeeper Qin said, "If there is similar business in the future, I hope we can have the opportunity to cooperate again. Mr. Sun can also think more about it in the next two days. Opportunities are rare and will never come again."

"I know, I know. I hope Mr. Qin will understand. I will also return the gifts I sent before. In addition, I have prepared some small gifts for you."

……

……

When Manager Qin came out of Sun's house, he was extremely angry.

But then a carriage stopped and a person got out. She had a pretty face and a graceful and soft figure in the white corseted long skirt she was wearing. It was Sun You's daughter, Sun Chengying.

"Ms. Sun?"

Shopkeeper Qin walked over.

Sun Chengying hurriedly bowed, "Did Mr. Qin come to discuss business matters with my father? Have you reached an agreement?"

Shopkeeper Qin shook his head: "Your father insisted on ending the cooperation, so we can only let him do it. At the beginning, your Sun family begged us eagerly, and we finally agreed after many investigations. Now you are turning the tables on us. It is really incomprehensible."

Sun Chengying smiled bitterly, "Don't be offended, Mr. Qin. I hurried back to discuss this matter with my father. Food prices are rising sharply everywhere now. There is no reason to give up at this time... My father must have been deceived by someone."

"Well, explain it to your father. We Hui merchants always abide by the rules when doing business. If you are tricked by others in the business world, it will be difficult to cooperate with you in the future."

Shopkeeper Qin spoke politely to Sun Chengying. After bowing and saying goodbye, he got on the carriage and drove away.

……

……

"Father, what are you doing? This is a good business. Many merchants are waiting to buy our grain. Shiploads of grain are coming in. The warehouse is almost full of grain. We can sell it for a high price in a blink of an eye... Our family is no longer the same as before. We can't hesitate for such a good thing that makes money from the sky."

Sun Chengying argued with her father.

Sun You said: "This business involves collusion between officials and businessmen. Can anyone tell the exact amount of grain stored in the granary? If the court investigates, our Sun family will be sued..."

Sun Chengying's eyes turned red with anxiety: "No one has ever investigated before. How could it be such a coincidence that the court would investigate us just when we want to do this business? Could it be that someone from the government came to inform us?"

"No." Sun You shook his head.

"That's it, isn't it? Father, even if the imperial court wants to conduct a thorough inspection of the granary, it's not something that the government of a small place like Xingji can know about. Maybe someone is jealous of our booming business and is deliberately making alarmist remarks in front of you."

Sun Chengying still didn't give up.

Sun You said: "It was not someone else who mentioned it, but my former father-in-law, Brother Zhang Laizhan, who pointed out the drawbacks."

"It's him?"

It would have been fine if Zhang Luan wasn't mentioned, but Sun Chengying's face turned dark as soon as this name came out.

Sun You sighed, "If it was someone else who had a conflict of interest with our family, I might consider whether he had ulterior motives, but Zhang Laizhan is not doing business, he just came to visit. You should know that the Zhang family has a strong background in the court. Even though no one in the family is an official now, they still have contacts with many court officials. Officials in Xingji and even Hejian Prefecture have to give them some face. Shouldn't I listen to what he says?"

Sun Chengying said, "Father, he is about to break off the engagement with my brother and has no connection with our family anymore. What's the point of listening to him? You also said that there is no one left in the Zhang family's court now."

Sun You said, "When he went to Wang's house to treat smallpox, outsiders said he had no self-awareness and that he was causing trouble for no reason and would definitely suffer a great loss. But everyone saw the result. Not only did he escape unscathed, but he also made a great reputation... I discussed the cancellation of the engagement with him, and he kindly reminded me. I don't think he had any bad intentions, he just wanted to help us."

"Father! Our family is no longer the same as before. Once we miss this opportunity to make money, it will never come back again." Sun Chengying shouted angrily. "Stop talking. I have concerns about this matter. I thought that the Huizhou merchants have connections and they must have known the inside story in advance. But I think again, they don't make money for themselves, but sell the grain to us. How can they just give money to others? It shows that they are consciously avoiding risks... If we don't notice it, we will have to bear the consequences if something goes wrong."

"Son, you should know that doing business with the government is like this. Although you can earn much more than doing business with ordinary merchants, you will be implicated if something goes wrong. Our Sun family can't afford to be tossed around anymore... Let's look for other business to do later."

Sun Chengying looked annoyed: "I'm afraid that the chance for our Sun family to turn things around will be missed because of this. Father, you must not trust my words."

"Don't say anything more, your father has made up his mind!"

Sun You frowned and waved his hand to dismiss his stubborn daughter. He felt uncomfortable at the moment and didn't know whether it was right or wrong to listen to Zhang Luan's words.

……

……

The next day.

Zhang Luan carried a medicine box on his back and took Zhang Yanling into the city.

When they arrived at the county government office, the magistrate, Li Weishao, came out to greet them personally, and summoned several local doctors, preparing to work with Zhang Luan to open clinics to treat diseases and prescribe medicines in various places in the city.

"Mr. Zhang? Please demonstrate it to a few people first, so that they can learn it and grow medicine for the people in the city." Li Weishao looked at Zhang Luan with a smile.

Zhang Luan said: "The medicine is a family secret. Should the government pay for it in advance?"

Li Weishao looked embarrassed: "The county magistrate has allocated a sum of money, but it also depends on how much medicinal materials you used. Your medicine..."

"It's all here."

Zhang Luan took out four small porcelain bottles, which contained the pus fluid he collected from the sick cows.

"Just... just this?"

Li Weishao's face was full of surprise.

Everyone thought that Zhang Luan had used some sophisticated methods to treat acne for patients, but they were greatly disappointed when they saw what he did.

Zhang Yanling said, "Sir, you may not know that as long as you plant a little of this substance on a person's arm, one bottle can plant thousands of people, no problem at all."

Li Weishao said, "Master Zhang, your son is not Yan Xiao, right?"

Seeing the people around talking about the excitement, Zhang Luan felt embarrassed and said with all his strength: "Then...Mr. Li, do you believe it or not?"

Li Weishao shook his head: "It is not up to me to believe or not. The magistrate ordered me to come out to assist in the diagnosis. Everything should be done according to your rules. If this thing is really effective, the government will prepare a full cent for the diagnosis."

He said he would pay for the consultation, but didn't say how much. In fact, he knew that Zhang Luan was unable to bargain with the government.

Seeing his son giving him a look, Zhang Luan straightened his back and said, "The consultation fee is secondary. As long as I can get a place in the township tribute and enter Beiyong for further studies, that will be enough."

"That's natural."

Li Weishao said, "The county magistrate has already informed the local teachers, and will recommend you to the Northern Zhili Education Commissioner later. As long as you can help me save the people from the plague, you will be a first-class good man... For a student like you who is both virtuous and academically excellent, who will enter Beiyong if not you?"

"That's good, that's good, let's get started."

Zhang Luan then demonstrated to the doctors present how he grew the medicine.

"You don't have to use a goose feather tube, you can use an ordinary needle. Whoever comes to plant the medicine should bring their own needles. Otherwise, you have to buy them on the spot... Ask someone to buy more needles."

As Zhang Luan spoke, he completed another practical exercise on Zhang Yanling's arm.

The people around almost dropped their jaws.

"End?"

Li Weishao watched Zhang Luan's complete demonstration and felt as uncomfortable as if he had swallowed chicken shit.

"Ah."

Zhang Luan nodded firmly, "That's it. You all have learned it, right? Use each bottle sparingly, it's not easy to prepare this medicine."

Li Weishao said: "Then...what kind of medicine is used? Is it harmful to the human body? We need to plant many people at a time. If there is any deviation, the people of the whole city may suffer."

"This……"

Zhang Luan couldn't answer.

Zhang Yanling laughed and said, "No matter how powerful the poison is, this amount won't kill people, right?"

"Hahaha……"

The people around were laughing and thought what the child said was interesting.

Li Weishao looked embarrassed: "Nothing will happen, but at the same time, I'm afraid this medicine won't have much effect, right? Master Zhang, this is a major event for the people of this area to treat diseases and prevent epidemics, we can't do it carelessly."

"Who's messing around?"

Zhang Luan said unhappily, "The medicine is right here, you can believe it or not! Besides, who is responsible for treating the disease?"

Li Weishao said, "Well, let's quickly get people to clean up the sheds and tell the people that whoever wants to grow herbs can come, and if they don't want to... we won't force them. It'll only be for a few days, and we won't wait any longer."

(End of this chapter)