It was said to be 20,000 taels, and Wang Ping's heart slightly relaxed, but he said: "20,000 taels? This is too much! Brother Zhao, you initially said it would be at the purchase price, and you also said how good our brotherly relationship was. Why did you treat me like a sheep when I came to ask for your help?"

  Zhaobi hastily shook his head and said, "Younger brother, I really didn't mean to cheat you. What I said was the wholesale price, without adding even half a cent of profit!" He held up the prescription and pointed at the long list of medicine names on it, saying, "You also know that our family doesn't do retail business, we only deal in bulk. If we were to store these medicinal materials in warehouses, we would need to use up eight large warehouse rooms!"

  Wang Ping'an furrowed his brow and said, "Eight large warehouses, are there really that many? If we were to decoct them into medicinal soup, it would be enough for all the people of Xuzhou to have a bowl each!" He expressed skepticism on the surface, but in his heart he was delighted - this was exactly the quantity he wanted, and the more the better!

  Zhao Bi smiled and said, "Not just that! Our family's business isn't limited to just Xu Zhou, the pharmacies in nearby counties also purchase medicine from us. We're a wholesale business!"

  He paused, looked at the prescription again, shook his head and said: "Younger brother, why do you need so many medicines? If it's just for opening a pharmacy, not to mention other states, even in Xuzhou itself, not everyone will come to your house to see a doctor. Moreover, not everyone will get sick. You have so many medicinal materials that they can't be used up in a short time, and some of them will decrease their efficacy over time!"

  "Wang Ping'an chuckled softly and said, 'Don't worry, it won't be for too long!'"

  Zhao Bi fell silent for a while, and after a long time, he said again: "Younger brother, although I'm a useless person, our family is doing business, and I'm not completely ignorant of the ways of the world. Brother, let me advise you on one thing: in a year of great disaster, don't hoard goods and raise prices, that's a beheading offense!" As he spoke, he stretched out his palm flat and made a chopping motion at his neck.

  Wang Ping'an shook his head and said, "I didn't mean that. Alright, are you going to help or not? If you don't want to help, I'll find someone else. From now on, let's just forget about our relationship!" His face showed displeasure, but he knew Zhao Bi would definitely help, he just needed a little push!

  Zhao Biyi smiled and waved the prescription, saying: "Brother, you're joking. If you want to get this done, unless you go to Luoyang right now, otherwise in our Xuzhou's one mu three fen land, no matter who you look for, it won't work! Alright, since we've said it to this point, I'll have to help you out. However, I'm not the one in charge of this matter, you come with me back home and I'll ask my dad!"

  The two of them didn't greet any other students and left the academy directly, hurrying to the Zhao's residence.

  The Zhao family was wealthy, and their mansion was extremely beautiful, many times more magnificent than the Wang family's large courtyard. The two entered the mansion, Zhao Bi went to the back to find his father, while Wang Ping'an waited in the front hall!

  Zhao Bi arrived at the back house and saw his father, Zhao Jia Lao Die's name was Zhao Qi, a very astute old man. Zhao Qi saw that his son had suddenly returned and asked: "Why can't you focus on your studies? Today isn't there a poetry meeting? Why did you come back halfway? You're really disappointing!"

  Zhao Bi smiled and said, "Today my son has made you proud, and it's a big deal! Do you remember Wang Ping'an? He had some business to attend to today, originally he was going to Luoyang, but my son used all his efforts to persuade him, and with great difficulty, finally got him to agree to do it in our Xuzhou, and cooperate with our family!" He handed over the prescription and added, "Whatever you need, we'll provide as much as you want!"

  "Wang Ping'an, isn't he the nephew of Governor Li? Why does he also want to do business? Doesn't he take the imperial examination anymore? How is his studies?" Zhao Qi took over the prescription and looked at it.

  Zhao Bi sighed and said, "Others' dads are quite capable, they can even get their children's student quotas changed for them. Wang Ping'an will go to the Ministry of Works directly next year, what's the point of studying? Unlike me, who has to study hard from dawn till midnight!" Zhao Da Nian's face was expressionless as he spoke, with a hint of bitterness, as if he were telling the truth.

  "Believe it or not, I'll slap you right now!"

  Zhao Bi dodged with a smile and said: "Believe me, Dad's words are always the most believable. Dad, take a look at these medicinal materials, they're probably worth a lot of money."

  Zhao Qixin thought for a moment and said, "There's no rare or expensive medicine, but even if he buys everything, it'll cost at least 30,000 yuan. Can he afford such a large sum of money?"

  "Goodness, if it were 30,000 taels, I would have agreed to the other party's offer. But this is only 20,000 taels and they still think it's too much!" Zhao Bi suddenly became anxious, having underestimated the value by 10,000 taels, which was no small amount!

  Zhao Qi snorted and said, "You're such a waste, can't even do your own business well, what else can you accomplish!" Looking at the prescription again, he shook his head and said, "Why does he need so much medicine? Is he trying to hoard it?" He also thought that Wang Ping'an was trying to speculate!

  Zhao Bi didn't care at all, saying: "What he wants to do is his business. Since he's spoken up, if we don't agree, that would be offending him. After all, it's just doing business, and who we do it with isn't the issue, besides, we'll have sold our goods ahead of time, so the crime of hoarding won't fall on our heads!"

  Zhao Qi nodded and shook his head, saying: "We don't have to worry about this crime being pinned on us, but if it's pushed onto Wang Ping'an's head, if his brother-in-law finds out, can we be forgiven? This matter must be handled carefully! I cannot meet him in person, so you should take the lead. Tell him this..."

  Zhao Bi heard this and laughed, saying: "You're still as cunning as ever, Dad. Doing it this way, whether something happens or not, has nothing to do with our family!"

  "What nonsense are you talking about? Is this how you speak to your father?" Zhao Qi dictated, ordering Zhao Bi to write it down on a piece of paper and take it out.

  Zhao Bi returned to the front hall and said to Wang Ping'an, "Brother, I just used all my strength to get this done for you, but it's going to cost an extra 10,000 yuan. I originally thought it would be 50,000 yuan, but I felt sorry for you, so I begged my father on my knees and he reduced the price by 20,000 yuan. Can't you see that this is a good deal?"

  Wang Ping'an snorted and said, "Believe you? Unless the sun rises in the west." He said: "Okay, but I'm going to pick up the goods today, is that okay?"

  "This is also a problem! With so many medicines, how can you carry them back and forth? Why not just put them in my house's warehouse, take them as needed, and save you a lot of trouble?" Zhao Bi said while handing the paper note to Wang Ping'an.

  Wang Ping'an saw that the top was a loan receipt, saying that Zhao Bi owed Wang Ping'an 30,000 yuan, and was willing to use medicinal materials to offset the account. The list of medicines attached below was the date of repayment after the 10th. He frowned and said: "What does this mean?"

  Zhao Bi hurriedly explained it for him, of course some things couldn't be said clearly.

  To be on the safe side, Zhao Qi did not take the lead. He first asked Zhao Bi to write an IOU, which was for Wang Pingan. Niu Zhenghong went to Luoyang and the Zhao family knew about this matter, so the repayment date was set ten days later, by which time Niu Zhenghong would have returned. When Niu Zhenghong came back, they would see his attitude. If he agreed to this matter, these medicinal materials would belong to Wang Pingan. If not, they would think of another way. By doing so, they would neither offend Wang Pingan nor Niu Zhenghong, and it also showed respect for the governor.

  Then, Wang Ping'an also had to give Zhao Bi an IOU, this IOU didn't need to specify the reason, just say that he owed Zhao Bi 30,000 yuan. In this way, if the business couldn't be done, the two IOUs could cancel each other out, and if they could do the business, then the two IOUs would be taken back and destroyed at the same time, and the business would go on as usual!

  Wang Ping'an listened to his explanation and said with a smile, "Your respected father is really kind-hearted and thoughtful. He does things in a steady and stable manner, no wonder he's so successful! Alright, I'll write the IOU then!"

  He took up his pen and wrote an IOU, handing it to Zhao Bi, saying: "But let's get one thing straight, we can't start counting from ten days later, but from now on, those medicines are mine, you can't sell them to anyone else!"

  "That's definitely going to happen!" Zhao Bi took the IOU and looked at it, laughing: "Brother, I'm telling you, this is just like you. If it were someone else, my dad would never give them this kind of face. Who let us have a good relationship? We're sworn brothers for life!"

  Wang Ping'an laughed twice and said, "You all think I want to hoard, it's really with the heart of a small person...it's really with the heart of Yaru, measuring my young master's belly!"

  Zhao Bi smiled and said: "Better be careful, it's a big deal of 30,000 taels!"

  Wang Pingan said, "Well, I'm off. I'll head home first and tell my family about this." He paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "It's a big deal worth 30,000 taels!"

  Zhao Bide said, "In that case, I won't see you off. I have to return to the academy soon and recite poetry. I specially asked someone to write two good poems for me, spending a lot of money. Today is a great opportunity to show them off!"

  Wang Ping'an bid farewell and left, while Zhao Bi rushed back to the rear house and explained things to Zhao Qi.

  Out of the Zhao residence, Wang Ping sat in his own carriage, planning to leave the city. However, when he arrived at the city gate, he saw that it was surrounded by many people, including a number of soldiers.

  He didn't know until he heard a dozen people say it, but just now the Xu Zhou governor had given an order and sealed off the city gates!

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  Thanks to book friends Didi, Du Ai Feng Kuang, Xiaomaner, Kai Xin Ba La, Ye Huang, FCloud, 100525210529405 for their continuous enthusiastic and generous rewards! Peace also wants to thank book friends Erd FCV123, Min Sheng Xing Chen Jian Kang Ka, Ming Che Ru Shui* for their enthusiastic rewards. Peace is very grateful for your support, thank you, thank you very much!

  Medicinal diet for regulating blood and qi

  Mandarin Orange Peel and Lean Pork Porridge

  Prescription: Chenpi 9g, lean pork 50g, japonica rice 100g, salt 3g.

  Production: 1. Soak dried tangerine peel slices; wash lean pork, chop into granules; rinse glutinous rice clean.

  Put the japonica rice into the pot, add water in an appropriate amount, boil over high heat, add lean pork, dried tangerine peel and salt, then simmer over low heat for 45 minutes.

  Dosage: Once daily, take as needed.

  Function: Regulate Qi and tonify spleen, supplement Qi and blood.

  Taboo: Those with damp-heat should avoid eating.