Chapter 93 - 94: Selling Medicine
Bai Yugang cursed inwardly. ’That rebellious son! Besides making trouble for me, he’s a complete jinx to his own father. This time, he’s really screwed me over.’
"I wouldn’t dare, Your Majesty. I only wished for the boy to be tempered by more trials."
Hua Shunming said, "Le San, We recall that during the late Emperor’s reign, Marquis Wu’an submitted a memorial to appoint a Princely Heir. The Marquis must be getting old and forgetful. Have someone find that memorial to serve as a template for him."
Le San replied, "Your servant obeys!"
Bai Yugang was speechless.
§
"Marquis Bai, allow me to be the first to congratulate you. It’s still early, so let’s leave the palace at once! After you!" Le San said, holding the Holy Decree with both hands, a gleeful look on his face.
But Bai Yugang’s scalp prickled with dread. He could already imagine that the days to come would be anything but peaceful.
Sure enough, the moment Le San left the mansion, Bai Yugang was surrounded.
"My lord, why the sudden Holy Decree?" the Marchioness, Kuang Yunqiao, asked anxiously. "You promised me that the title of Princely Heir was reserved for Jingyang."
The Old Madam rapped her cane on the floor. "Ms. Kuang, Jing Lie is the eldest legitimate son of our Marquis Mansion. It is perfectly justifiable for the Holy Emperor to name him Princely Heir. Watch what you say."
Bai Yugang shot his wife a warning look. "This is the Holy Emperor’s grace. You should start the preparations. Once Jing Lie returns, we must choose an auspicious day to host a grand banquet."
After respectfully placing the Holy Decree on the altar, Bai Yugang immediately retreated to his study and summoned his advisors. Soothing his family was one thing, but what truly gave him a headache was the coming backlash from his peers.
§
"Why is it so lively on the street today?" Ouyang Bing asked a waiter, leaning against a large pillar at the entrance of Tianfu Restaurant.
"Sir, you don’t know?"
"Am I supposed to know?" Ouyang Bing let out an exasperated laugh. ’If I knew, why would I have bothered asking?’
"Divine Doctor Guo is at the city gate auctioning off medicine. He’s not taking gold or silver, only grain—be it white rice or coarse grains. As long as the quantity meets his requirements, you can get his life-saving medicine that so many people are dying for." As he spoke, the waiter gave Ouyang Bing a strange look. ’The Divine Doctor always used to eat at our restaurant, and his friendship with the boss is iron-clad. How could he not know about something this huge?’
"Has that Guo Yurong gone mad?" Ouyang Bing immediately stood up straight. "Doesn’t he know how much his medicine is worth? Trading it for grain... isn’t that just devaluing himself?"
He immediately strode outside and hurried all the way to the city gate. Seeing the massive crowd packed in layers upon layers, he could only squeeze his way through with great difficulty.
"Have you lost your mind?" Ouyang Bing blurted out the moment he saw him. "If your old man found out about this, he’d skin you alive."
Seeing his friend’s disheveled state, Guo Yurong just laughed. "He threatens to skin me countless times a year anyway. What’s one more?"
"Since you’re here, come help me with the registry. We need to see who’s offering the highest price so we can have some options."
Ouyang Bing grumbled, "You were so confident before, I thought you’d come up with some brilliant plan. Instead, you’re treating the precious medicine you worked so hard to concoct like some cheap street-side plaster."
"If I’d known you were this ridiculous, I would’ve hoarded more grain myself. Flipping it would earn me more than running that restaurant of mine with all my blood, sweat, and tears."
"It’s not too late!" Guo Yurong’s hearing was excellent. "After all, our families have been friends for generations. As long as you match the highest quantity on this list, I’ll let you have first pick."
"You’re always calling me a crooked merchant, but I think you’re the one who truly deserves the title," Ouyang Bing sneered. "I wonder, if I were to pass this news on to Uncle Guo, would the old man compensate me double?"
"..." Guo Yurong actually seemed to consider it for a moment. Then he sighed. "Alas, Little Ice Cube, I can’t believe after all these years, you still haven’t kicked that habit of tattling."
"I can be convinced not to tattle. Just take me to see that ’miraculous item’ you kept praising, and I’ll help you keep this a secret."
Guo Yurong rolled his eyes at him and used the end of his brush to gesture at the surrounding crowd. "You think you can keep this a secret? If you’re going to threaten me, at least find some decent leverage."
"However, if you behave yourself, I could make a trip for you after this is all over. I could ask them if they’re willing to part with it."
"Really?"
"I’m not like some people who’ve been shameless rascals since they were kids. Now hurry up and get to work!" ’He really has no sense. Can’t he see all these people are still waiting in line?’
Ouyang Bing was speechless.
§
By the time Ancient Wen Heng and his family heard that someone was distributing congee at the city gate, several days had already passed.
The area around the lake, which had once been jam-packed, was now more than half empty. After all, with only water and no grain, there was no way to go on.
"The hard times are finally ending," Hong Daya said, finding some rope to tie up their quilts securely.
Jin Qianqian wasn’t so optimistic. "All we know is that someone is giving out congee. There’s been no official word on anything else. If it doesn’t rain, we can’t go back home."
"If it really doesn’t work out, we can just come back here. There are mountains and water. We can figure out a way to grow some grain. It’s much better than wandering around out there," Li Cuicui said. She didn’t really want to leave, but she knew others might not feel the same.
"Mother, that won’t work," Jin Qianqian reminded her. "It’s already late autumn. This grass hut we built can’t possibly withstand the cold. Plus, being so close to the water... you can imagine how miserable that will be."
"Sigh! When will these days ever end?" Li Cuicui looked at her daughters-in-law. "Have you cooked everything? The weather is cooler now, so the food will keep. We don’t want to waste water steaming it again when we’re on the outside."
Jin Qianqian saw the old woman give her a few pointed looks and knew the question was mostly aimed at her.
"Mother, we’re all ready. But I’ve noticed Seventh Sister-in-law has been quite idle lately," Liu Liu said, her tone dripping with malice. "If we can’t get any relief aid outside the city, how are they going to survive?"
Jin Qianqian replied, "You don’t need to worry about that, Fourth Sister-in-law. On the other hand, I did see you sneaking out with something earlier. I just wonder if Fourth Brother knows about it?"
Liu Liu’s face stiffened. She glanced nervously at Li Cuicui, only to find that her mother-in-law wasn’t looking at her at all, acting as if she hadn’t heard their spat.
She shot Jin Qianqian a vicious glare before turning away to continue packing her things.
Hong Daya stifled a laugh. "Qianqian, did you ever get those fishhooks back that you lent out?"
Jin Qianqian shook her head. "I don’t even know who has them now. We’ll just have to see if they get returned."
"You two are just too accommodating," Li Cuicui said, pausing her work. "It’s not that I, as your mother-in-law, want to lecture you. In principle, each family manages its own affairs. But you and your husband are far too generous. At this rate, when will you ever build up your own savings?"
"Sometimes you need to talk to Seventh. Don’t just go along with everything he wants. He’s a man; what does he know about running a household?"