Need for money

The territory of the Dagan Dynasty is very large, and some small-scale natural disasters will break out every year. The north is mostly drought, while the south is flooded. If they can escape to Liuzhou Luocheng, it means that these people wearing ragged clothes should come from in the north.

Zhou's pharmacy is one of the smaller pharmacies in Los Angeles. The shopkeeper's surname is Zhou Mingding. He is in his early fifties this year. Although his medical skills are not outstanding, he is somewhat level. He manages the business with his old wife Zhou Jiangshi on weekdays. , but you can earn seven or eight taels of silver every day.

However, although there are many patients in front of his small shop today, his brows are deeply furrowed together, and his old wife Zhou Jiangshi also has a very pale face when she is taking medicine from the scale.

Another patient was given a prescription, but the other party only took out five copper coins, which was not even enough for the medicine, let alone the consultation fee.

Zhou Ding really wanted to say that the money was not enough, but when he saw the helpless eyes of the patient, his heart suddenly softened. He subconsciously glanced at his old wife, then waved his hand gently, signaling the patient to get the medicine, and his heart swelled. Sigh, that's all, it's considered a blessing for the children and grandchildren.

It's good not to mention children and grandchildren, but when he thinks of children and grandchildren, his heart hurts.

The patient also knew that the money was not enough, so he knelt down and kowtowed three times to Zhou Ding. Then he got up and handed the prescription to Zhou Jiangshi. Zhou Jiangshi took the prescription without saying anything. , just taking the medicine according to the prescription mechanically, like a lifeless wooden man.

Just after the patient took the medicine and walked out of the store, there was a sudden commotion outside. It turned out that Tang Yuxiang had no intention of eating after seeing these refugees, and finished it without eating a few mouthfuls when the dishes were served. tent, pulled Zhiqiu Zhidong and ran down. Seeing this, the guards in the lobby on the first floor naturally didn't care about eating meat and drinking, and all followed up. They still don't understand why the master said no. He hummed and ran downstairs.

Who is Tang Yuxiang, what is he dressed in, and he squeezed into such a group of people abruptly, which naturally caused quite a stir.

While walking, Tang Yuxiang stared at the faces of these patients, her willow eyebrows became more and more wrinkled, and there were many women in the crowd. She stopped and asked a middle-aged woman holding a child: "Is this sister-in-law , where are you from? Let me ask you, how long has it been since you had salt?"

Seeing that Tang Yuxiang was dressed luxuriously, the middle-aged woman didn't dare to look at Tang Yuxiang directly. She lowered her head and replied, "Mrs. Hui, the woman is from the north and comes from Shengzhou. Because of the drought at home, all the wheat seedlings have died. This is for survival." , I came here after fleeing famine, and the women’s family begged for food, and I don’t remember how long I haven’t eaten salt.”

Tang Yuxiang has been bullied by Mrs. Tang since she was a child. She knows how uncomfortable it is to be hungry. When she heard this, her nose was sore and she almost shed a few tears. She stretched out her hand and loosened the child's skirt, and took a closer look. Sighed: "Your family's neck is swollen because you haven't eaten salt for a long time. This is not a serious illness, and you don't need to take medicine. You just need to put some salt in your meals."

The woman quickly said thank you a few times, but she still held the child and did not leave.

Seeing this, Zhiqiu frowned, and said dissatisfiedly: "My second grandma is very skilled in medicine. She said that if you eat some salt, you will be cured, and you will be cured. Why are you still here? Ask the doctors here to see a doctor and get medicine. Don't you need to spend money?" Is it?"

The woman glanced at the man beside her, blushed in embarrassment, lowered her head, and said nothing.

Zhiqiu pouted and stomped his little foot hard, just about to say something, but saw the master took a few steps forward and went to see a doctor again, so he left the family of three and followed closely.

Tang Yuxiang is highly skilled in medicine, and she told the illnesses of these people one by one while walking. However, although these people said thank you, none of them left. Seeing this scene, they directly told Zhiqiu to The angry little face turned pale, thinking that they didn't trust Tang Yuxiang's medical skills.

Zhidong's eyesight is better, she saw these people's clothes were patched and looked shy and embarrassed, she suddenly had an idea in her mind, she leaned into the master's ear and said: "Second Mistress, is it true that the shopkeeper has a good heart and won't accept you?" Medicine money, so these talents have been standing here for a long time?"

Tang Yuxiang only cared about the patients, but didn't think deeply about it. Hearing the words, he nodded and said: "Well, there is a possibility, and these patients don't have any serious illnesses. Most of them can be cured by taking a few simple herbs. For a pharmacy, it’s not too much of a burden.”

Zhiqiu on the side also heard the conversation between the two, and suddenly realized that these patients didn't leave when they knew about their illness. They were waiting for the shopkeeper to deliver the medicine.

"May I ask who this lady is?" Zhou Ding came out in a hurry after hearing the noise outside, wanting to see what happened, thinking that some patient might have fainted or passed out , This caused panic, but he didn't want to go out, and found a young woman in luxurious clothes seeing a doctor.

Curious, he stood aside and watched, and saw that this noble lady didn't need to signal her pulse when she was seeing a doctor, but she could get a correct conclusion just by looking at her face.

Hearing the voice of inquiry, Tang Yuxiang raised her head and saw an old man in her 50s with a square face and a kind expression. She was dressed in a long gown and dressed like a shopkeeper. The shopkeeper of a pharmacy."

Zhou Ding nodded and said with a smile: "Exactly, my surname is Zhou. This pharmacy is an industry handed down from our ancestors. To me, it is already the fifth generation."

"So it's Mr. Zhou, the younger generation is being polite." Tang Yuxiang bowed again politely.

Wu Ding chuckled, waved his hands and said, "Madam Tang doesn't have to be so polite. To be honest, this old man really admires Madam Tang's medical skills. I don't take the pulse, but just look at the face, and I can draw a conclusion. Compared with Madam Tang, the old man is the most It’s been a waste of most of my life.”

"That's right, my second wife's medical skills are unparalleled in the world!" Zhiqiu was young and didn't know how to be modest, so she unceremoniously put a halo on her master's head.

On the contrary, Tang Yuxiang is thin-skinned, and she is quite embarrassed to be praised by her maid. Fortunately, she wears a veil on her face, otherwise she would have to find a hole in the ground ashamed. How can the word "Unparalleled in the World" be used casually, "Zhiqiu, Shut up, I don't dare to pretend that this medical skill is unparalleled in the world."

"Well, Tianxia Wushuang is a bit too much, but Mrs. Tang's title of Xinglin Miaoshou is absolutely deserved. Mrs. Tang, if you don't think the small shop is shabby, please tell me in the room." Zhou Ding said, turning sideways , lead with the right hand.

Tang Yuxiang hesitated for a moment, then agreed, and then walked into Zhou's pharmacy one after the other with Zhou Ding. Zhou Jiangshi, who was picking up the medicine, saw a luxuriously dressed young woman walking in, she was slightly taken aback for a while, then When he came back to his senses, he quickly put down the herbs in his heart, and while patting the dust on his sleeves, he ran into the back hall, brought out two chairs, and placed them in the center of the hall.

Zhou Ding pointed to the chair and said, "Madam Tang, please sit down."

Tang Yuxiang was not polite, so he walked to the chair and sat down slowly, and asked: "Mr. Zhou, these people are all refugees. They have fled all the way here, and they don't have much money. Do you want to see a doctor for them?" Can't make money?"

Mr. Zhou was still smiling at first, but after hearing this sentence, his face immediately became gloomy. After a long time, he sighed heavily and replied, "Mrs. Tang, I won't hide it from you. In fact, this store will be closed soon. My surname is Zhou, so I can give some medicinal herbs to the common people to heal their illnesses, which is considered a good fortune for my descendants.”

"Oh? Why is that?" Tang Yuxiang asked curiously seeing Zhou Ding's brows filled with sorrow.

Zhou Ding and his old wife looked at each other, smiled bitterly, and after pondering for a moment, told the ins and outs of the matter one by one. Tang Yuxiang sighed in his heart after listening.

It turned out that the couple had an only son called Zhou Bao. This year, because they got a son when they were old, the old Zhou and his wife doted on him very much, and because of this, they made Zhou Bao a young master. Temperament, he didn't study since he was a child, and when he grew up, he couldn't bear his temper to study medicine. He hung out with those third-rate ruffians all day long, gambling, prostitution, and being proficient in everything.

Those rascals don't have any good things, but the old couple didn't listen to Zhou Bao's persuasion. Until a few days ago, Zhou Bao was finally plotted by these ruffians. After entering the gambling house, he lost a lot of money. Then he was coaxed into borrowing usury.

How can ordinary people afford usury?

The capital was originally only 50 taels, but within a few days, the thugs who came to collect debts demanded 500 taels. The poor old couple worked hard for most of their lives, and they only saved less than 300 taels. How could they afford it? Seeing that they couldn't get the silver, they took Zhou Bao away directly, and put down the words. After three days, they got the silver. If they couldn't get 800 taels of silver, they had to pay it with the medicine shop.

And tomorrow is the third day that the other party has set.

After listening to Mr. Zhou's bitter complaint, Tang Yuxiang and others fell silent. For a while, they didn't know how to persuade them. At this moment, Zhidong suddenly reached out and pushed Tang Yuxiang's back, and leaned down, whispering: : "Second Grandma, don't you want to buy a pharmacy, why don't you buy this shop?"

Tang Yuxiang was taken aback for a moment, and then thought for a while. Although this shop is small, it can still be worth 1000 taels of silver. The old couple would rather take the medicinal materials in the shop to the common people for free to see a doctor than sell them, "Old Zhou, this junior has an idea, please don't blame me if you say it."

"Oh? Mrs. Tang is going to sell this small shop to raise money to save my unworthy son?" Elder Zhou asked with a wry smile.

"That's right. According to this junior, this shop, together with the medicinal materials stored in it, can sell for at least 1000 taels of silver."

Elder Zhou sighed first, and then said: "That's right, if the two things are added together, it can be worth at least 300 taels of silver, but now that I want to sell it, someone has to dare to buy it!"

"Actually, the one who plotted against my son this time is none other than the boss behind Jule Casino. The boss not only opened a casino brothel, but also opened several pharmacies. The reason why they targeted Bao'er this time was because they wanted to Take over my shop! Since Bao'er was taken away, there have been ruthless words, saying that whoever dares to buy my pharmacy will have his legs maimed!"

It really makes no sense!

Tang Yuxiang slapped the armrest of the chair outright, this group of people is really disgusting!

"Second Mistress, are you planning to..." Zhiqiu's pretty face flushed with anger, and she also remembered that her master was just about to buy a medicine store, so she planned to say it directly, but she only said half of her words, and saw the master glaring at her glance.

Glancing at Zhiqiu, seeing her silence, Tang Yuxiang said: "Old Zhou, if this junior can find a buyer who is willing to offer 1000 taels of silver plate to this small shop, I wonder if you would like to sell it?"

"Yes!" Mr. Zhou patted his thigh, and agreed quickly. In the past two days, he was worried about saving his son and selling the store. He couldn't eat well or sleep well.

If this noble lady can really find an owner who is willing to pay 1000 taels of silver plate, it will be regarded as a great help to him.

"Okay, then it's a deal!"