The First Volume of Qinghe County

  "What's that? What kind of thing is that!" Ximen Qing was shocked to hear this, could it be that the Great Song Dynasty still had such a trick of burning incantations and drinking clear water to cure illnesses? Looking at Fu Zhuanggui's serious expression, it didn't seem like he was just casually saying something so simple.

  This kind of madness is actually mostly due to brain damage, in an era where even surgical knives are not available, let alone CT scans, can you diagnose illnesses just by reciting incantations?

  "I also learned from the divine doctor that there is a department called Zhu You, which has thirteen departments, one of which is the needle and thread department, specializing in treating madness." Fu Zhanggui said: "However, recently I had to go to the mansion of the famous name, only then did I see a family with the Zhu You department."

  "Alas, distant water cannot quench present thirst. Master, please give me a calming medicine instead." Pan Jinlian listened for half the day and still didn't find any good solution, and couldn't help but feel somewhat disheartened.

  Fu Zhuanggui knew that Pan Jinlian and his master had a complicated relationship, so he got up and ordered someone to fetch the medicine.

  "Wu Dalang has gone mad, are any of you injured?" Ximen Qing asked with concern: "I heard that this illness will recur."

  "I'm also very worried about this." Pan Jinlian heard some fear: "Master, you haven't seen the look of Master Lang going mad, it's really scary! During this time, I will ask my mother-in-law to stay with me, in case something happens, there is someone to take care of me."

  "This is for the best." Ximen Qing thought for a moment: "Otherwise, I'll send two yamen runners to keep watch under your house. Who knows what might happen? You two are still not easy to deal with after all."

  Pan Jinlian heard this and became somewhat displeased: "What's wrong with being a woman? I'm also a man without a headscarf, I can stand on my fists, and walk horses on my arms. Just now, wasn't it me who took action and subdued Wu Dalang?"

  Ximen Qing's forehead was sweating upon hearing this, and he didn't expect Pan Jinlian to repeat what she had said to Wu Song: "Alright then, if anything happens, you must come find me."

  Ximen Qing thought for a moment and said: "No matter when, be sure to come find me. In two days I'll have time to drop by the tea house on my way."

  "My family will wait for your honor." Pan Jinlian's heroic spirit just now disappeared, and suddenly became a gentle and elegant feeling, bowing her head and muttering a sentence.

  Fu the shopkeeper is really something, he's been grabbing medicine for half a day. Ximen Qing saw that Fu the shopkeeper still hadn't come over and complained, then turned his head to look around, only to see Fu the shopkeeper standing far away with a string of medicine packets in hand, probably thinking that Ximen Qing and Pan Jinlian were chatting happily and didn't dare to come over and disturb them.

  "Uh, did you get the medicine?" Ximen Qing asked.

  "Alright!" Fu Zhuanggui brought over the medicine with a playful flourish, and exchanged a couple of sentences with Pan Jinlian about the decoction method.

  Pan Jinlian then picked up the medicine package and bowed to the two of them before turning around and leaving.

  Ximen Qing looked at Pan Jinlian's back, and couldn't help but feel a little melancholy in his heart. This Pan Jinlian's fate was truly bitter, she had never had a good day, did he count as lending a helping hand to her when she was in dire straits?

  While he was lost in thought, Fu the shopkeeper suddenly spoke up with a thoughtful expression: "If every master's favorite woman came to grab medicine for free, the business of this herbal medicine shop would be difficult to do."

  "What did you say?"

  "It's nothing, sir. I was just talking nonsense. Don't mind it."

  The next day, the grain and salary donation meeting presided over by Zhu Zhi County went very smoothly, completely in line with Ximen Qing's expected effect. Not to mention the enthusiastic donations from local merchants in Qinghe County, even a large group of people from Yanggu County came after hearing that they wanted to set up a merit monument, insisting on writing their names on the monument.

  How can such a good thing that can bring fragrance for thousands of years be let go? Not to mention it can also be placed in the Jade Emperor Temple for people to admire, widely revered and receive incense offerings. When you're old, you can even take your grandchildren to touch the words on the stele and show off.

  How much money do you think it takes to settle this kind of thing?

  One hundred yuan? Starting bid at ten yuan for a jump in price!

  The shrewd businessmen thought this thing was worth it!

  Ten Coins!

  Fifteen strings of cash!

  Twenty taels!

  The merchants' eyes all turned red, and the chubby merchant in the crowd added: "Take money to smash those birds from Yanggu County to death!"

  Next is Qinghe County and Yanggu County two factions played with their lives to smash money.

  After many years of doing business, who still doesn't have a few hundred taels in their hands? Bang!

  Not enough money? No worries! Buy it first and I'll be responsible for door-to-door collection, dear!

  Not even Ximen Qing, this hidden big boss, has appeared on stage, and each quota has already been auctioned off for at least 100 guan.

  At this time, Master Shi had taken over the auction, Jiang Jing was in charge of collecting money and keeping accounts, while Ximen Qing went to the backyard of the county government with Zhu Zhiyuan to sit down, listening to the rising prices and drinking Jingyang Spring wine.

  At this time, Jingyangchun has been mass-produced and can be put on the market at any time.

  Ximen Qing has already vacated a storefront in the best location on his half of the street, and is just waiting for a free publicity opportunity before putting up a sign.

  This promotional opportunity is today's auction. If it were to be rescheduled, it would be unrealistic to gather the merchants of Qinghe County and Yanggu County again.

  The bottled Jingyang Spring has been quietly waiting in a wooden box for a long time.

  "Congratulations to these fifty merchants, who have obtained the names on the Merit Stele!" The master stood on the table, shouting with foam in his mouth. The scene was almost out of control: "Other merchants don't need to be discouraged, as long as they come, they can receive a gift at the entrance of the Cow's Head Gate!"

  Gift, of course is a bottle of Jingyangchun.

  The merchants dispersed in a hurry, those who got the quota were extremely excited, with red faces and thick necks, boasting to others as if they had gained a great advantage; while those who did not get the quota hung their heads in despair, deeply regretting that they had hesitated for a moment during the auction, and the ducks they had obtained had flown away.

  "What is this thing?" The merchant at the front of the team, who had not obtained a quota, looked at the small wine bottle in his hand and was extremely angry: "The old master traveled from Yanggu County to Ba Ba's mountain pass, just to get a bottle of broken wine? Is it worth more than ten cents?"

  As he spoke, the merchant suddenly smashed the wine bottle to the ground with a loud "crash", and the bottle shattered into four or five pieces. The wine inside splashed everywhere, instantly releasing an intoxicating aroma.

  "What a wonderful smell!" The strong aroma of wine suddenly made the merchants who were originally hiding from the broken porcelain pieces stand still: "Is it wine?"

  "Is it red?"

  "Wrong, Daughter Red is not this fragrant!"

  One of the merchants curiously pulled out the wooden stopper from the wine bottle in his hand, and indeed, a strong aroma of liquor wafted out of the transparent liquid.

  "Good wine!" Some merchants, who didn't get a quota, picked up the bottle and started drinking. They also used it to drown their sorrows, but as a result, they discovered that they had tasted a good wine they had never had before.

  "Good wine!"

  "What wine is this? How come it tastes so good?"

  "How come this wine is transparent!"

  At this time, Ximen Qing and Zhu Zhi County appeared in a timely manner, announcing that these wines were all sponsored by the Ximen Wine House as mysterious gifts. If everyone wants to drink such wine again, they can go to the Ximen Wine House on West Street, Qinghe County tomorrow to purchase it.

  "What a great selling point!" A wine merchant from Yanggu County suddenly saw endless business opportunities, his eyes burning with excitement: "I want thirty jars, to sell in Yanggu County! I need them right away!"

  "See you tomorrow. No business today." Ximen Qing smiled and declined, at this time he should be worried about his stomach instead of being overjoyed.

  "Double it, I'll pay double the price!" The wine merchant was insistent, holding up both hands: "As long as you deliver the goods today, that's all that matters!"

  Most of the merchants looked at the wine merchant from Yanggu County in surprise, knowing that the county magistrate had not even made an offer yet, how did he quote double the price?

  Some businessmen nodded silently in their hearts, this wine merchant's approach was the correct one. What is most important? Of course, it's business opportunities.

  The wine merchant saw a great business opportunity, an opportunity he had been waiting for his whole life, how could he let it go!

  "There is an inn on that street, very close to our wine shop." Ximen Qing reminded him: "If you plan to taste or buy tomorrow, you can stay nearby."

  "Thank you for your advice!" The wine merchant heard this and felt as if he had received a timely rain, how did Ximen Qing understand his thoughts so well!

  "I also want thirty jars!"

  "I want twenty jars!"

  Merchants suddenly woke up, even if they opened a silk store, what's the big deal? Even if they bought grain, what's the big deal?

  This Jiu Yang Chun fine wine, buy some to store at home, waiting for appreciation, or sell it out. If Yanggu County doesn't work, aren't there other nearby county towns, even the famous city of Damingfu? That's just waiting to count the money!

  "The first batch is in limited supply, very sorry." Ximen Qing's heart was delighted: "If you are interested, please line up at the wine shop tomorrow morning, limited supply available."

  At this time, it is necessary to use extremely shameless hunger marketing to ensure that goods are in short supply.

  "Good brother, the smashing of the wine jar was well arranged. That Yanggu County wine merchant, won't he also be your pawn?" Zhu Zhixian asked in a low voice, also very pleased.

  The more wine Ximen sells, the more taxes flow into the government. By the end of the year, when it's time for evaluation, a promotion is naturally guaranteed. Magistrate Zhu now thinks that his initial encouragement of Ximen to brew wine was an unintentionally brilliant move.

  "This...isn't true." Ximen Qing also replied in a low voice.

  As a result, the inn next to Ximen Wine House was fully booked, and even local merchants in Qinghe County simply moved into the inn. Isn't this going to be a long queue at dawn? The closer you live, the better!

  Anyway, there's no much money left, might as well go home and live!

  The family was busy sending messages and raising funds, while the merchants were also busy for a moment.

  The next morning, the sleepy shopkeeper opened the door and was surprised to find a long line already formed at the entrance. The first in line was the wine merchant from Yanggu County, who apparently hadn't slept all night and had spent the whole half-night wrapped in his quilt right outside the wine shop.

  As for the security, of course, Cow Head will lead the team personally and ensure that there is absolutely no queue-cutting phenomenon, to achieve fairness and justice.

  Jiang Jing temporarily took on the role of the wine shop owner and came out to announce: "Today, retail is limited to two bottles per person, wholesale is ten jars per person, limited daily, sold out as soon!"