You expect me to serve your mistress? The mistress is driving this scumbag and his entire family cra

Chapter 106 The Half-Month Agreement
Liang Jiang scoffed: "Connections? Officials in the imperial court can't live off medicinal herbs, can they? You've limited your business to such a small group of people, no wonder your path is getting narrower and narrower."

If all the people of Chang'an, or even the entire world, were our customers, why would we worry about not having business?

Master Liang scoffed, "Easy for you to say. What does a little girl like you know?"

"I may not know much else, but I do know a little about medicine."

"Then, niece, have you looked carefully? This is a pharmacy, not a drugstore. We disdain those small-time businesses. Do you perhaps want my sister-in-law to personally diagnose and sell medicine?"

Liang Jiang did not refute his words: "When Second Uncle mentioned my mother, he should naturally remember why the military camp had to purchase these medicinal herbs every year, right?"

Master Liang was speechless.

He knew, of course, that the large-scale purchase of these medicinal herbs by the military camp every year was actually thanks to the prescription left by Lady Liang.

Using this formula to make wound medicine can quickly stop bleeding, promote wound healing, reduce infection, and is easy to carry.

So even though Lady Liang wasn't in the capital, the military camp continued to prepare medicines according to the original formula every year. These ingredients were the main medicinal materials sold by the pharmacy.

Liang Jiang hit the nail on the head: "If my mother had a better, cheaper medicine recipe now, and the required herbs were not these few, then Manager Liu, all the herbs you have stockpiled would be wasted."

Manager Liu's heart immediately jumped.

Liang Jiang wasn't exaggerating; Lady Liang's medical skills in treating external injuries were virtually unmatched in the entire capital. She wielded such influence within the military camp. Losing everything this year was simply a matter of a single word from her.

Master Liang sneered, "Even if my sister-in-law's prescription is the best and the cost is the lowest, whether or not to use it is not up to you. After all, the interests involved are very complex, and you wouldn't understand."

Furthermore, do you think the army will adopt your new prescription given your past conflict with General Tong?

Liang Jiang took out the waist token bestowed upon her by the Empress Dowager from her waist and slammed it on the table: "It's easier to see the King of Hell than to deal with his underlings, so why don't I just go directly to the person in charge?"
"If I were to process these medicinal herbs into a finished medicine directly, and then remove the profits siphoned off by the Ministry of War at each level, and present it to the Empress Dowager at a price nearly 30-40% lower than the original prescription, do you think the Empress Dowager would agree?"

The three of them fell silent for a moment.

Liang Jiang's move was undoubtedly aimed at cutting off Liang Erye's source of income, leaving the three of them with nowhere to go.

The employees who were just moments ago eager to leave the pharmacy with the three of them and find better jobs have wisely resumed their work, though they are still observing how things develop from a distance.

Master Liang smiled insincerely: "If the water is too clear, there will be no fish. Cutting off someone's livelihood is like killing their parents. You alone dare to be an enemy of the entire Ministry of War. How far do you think you can go?"

"Second Uncle, don't forget that I, Liang Jiang, have single-handedly taken control of half of Fucheng. You were able to gain access to the Ministry of War by relying on the Duke's mansion, but do you think I, a princess, am powerless?"

Liang Jiang then said in a deep voice, "Manager Zhao, Manager Liu, please think twice about disbanding the partnership. After all, sometimes giving others a chance to prove themselves is also giving yourself a chance to make money. You can't let that opportunity slip by."

Manager Zhao and Manager Liu exchanged a glance: "But you just said that Chang'an may need to recuperate and not launch any more wars in the coming years. So even if you can successfully take over, you may not be able to make a profit."

Liang Jiang smiled slightly: "As I just said, we should have a long-term and broad vision, and not put all our eggs in one basket."

Master Liang Er hadn't expected that after spending so much time persuading his two partners to withdraw their shares and sideline the pharmacy, Liang Jiang would convince them with just a few words and shake their resolve.

He quickly interjected, "Anyone can talk big and boast, but we have to put them to the test to see what they're really made of." Manager Zhao nodded, "That's right. Princess, please share your plans with us so we can calculate whether there's any profit to be made."

Liang Jiang slowly uttered, "When you're poor, you think of change; you need to transform."

What does "transformation" mean?

“It’s about changing the business model,” Liang Jiang said confidently. “We’ll build a pharmacy, using my mother’s prescriptions and the reputation of a renowned physician, to process the herbs we’ve stockpiled into pills that will benefit ordinary people. We’ll then sell them in bulk to various pharmacies at prices slightly lower than retail.”

"Like a nitroglycerin pill?"

Liang Jiang nodded: "My mother has many prescriptions for treating typhoid fever, diarrhea, diabetes, heart disease, headaches and other ailments. If they are made into traditional Chinese medicine pills, they will be convenient to carry and take, and there will definitely be a market for them."

Master Liang scoffed: "Treating illnesses requires taking the pulse; each person needs a different prescription. How can you generalize? One pill can cure all diseases? That's a joke."

Manager Zhao also stated unequivocally: "What Second Master Liang said is absolutely right. The transformation of the pharmacy's business cannot be accomplished overnight; it requires long-term planning and investment. Please forgive me for not being optimistic about the princess's plan."

Liang Jiang looked at Manager Liu: "What do you think, Manager Liu?"

Manager Liu hesitated for a moment.

He naturally had unwavering faith in Lady Liang's medical skills, and since Liang Jiang held his lifeline in her hands, he worried that if Lady Liang really made a move, wouldn't all the medicinal herbs he had cultivated be wasted, and all his efforts be in vain?

Furthermore, he had inquired about Liang Jiang's background beforehand and learned that she was actually the city lord of Fucheng, whose every move could make the city tremble. He still held Liang Jiang in high esteem.

So he stammered, "The princess's idea is good, but as Manager Zhao said, we can't break even in the short term. I'm afraid I can't handle investing too much."

Liang Jiang said confidently, "If Manager Liu trusts me, the pharmacy will have enough orders to maintain its basic operation before the medicine workshop becomes profitable."

Manager Liu weighed the pros and cons in his mind, and gritted his teeth: "If the princess can secure enough orders within a month, I'm willing to take the gamble."

Galangal was very confident: "Why wait a month? Half a month will suffice."

Manager Zhao jumped up: "Old Liu, are you stupid or crazy? You actually believe this woman? Are you trying to part ways with us?"

“Brother Zhao, you are too kind. I think what the princess said makes a lot of sense. Why don’t we give her half a month? It’s not too late to make a plan after half a month.”

Master Liang Er also hummed softly as he stood up: "Truly, a strong wind reveals the strength of the grass, and a critical moment reveals a person's true character. Some people are just opportunistic and disregard brotherhood of many years. Why should Manager Zhao say anything more to them?"

Manager Zhao chimed in, "I don't object to you staying at the pharmacy, but let me make this clear: Master Liang and I are going to start our own pharmacy."

Then I'm going to take all the original customers of this pharmacy with me, including Renhetang. Their manager and I are sworn brothers, and I've spent money to maintain this relationship. That's why they've been so good to our business these past two years, buying our products from the pharmacy at high prices.

If I leave, the pharmacy will have no business at all. The medicinal herbs will be piling up and unsold, and you'll all be starving!
If you regret it later and come back to us for cooperation, don't blame us for being heartless if we refuse outright.

Liang Jiang's eyes narrowed: "I happen to have some connection with the manager of Renhetang, so I'm afraid you won't be able to take this business with you, Manager Zhao!"

(End of this chapter)