Chapter 39: Yan Xin’s Lucrative Venture

Chapter 39: Yan Xin's Lucrative Venture

By mid-May, City Yi was scorching hot.

The blazing golden sun beat down upon the ground, casting shimmering shadows that made the garden plants appear wilted and lifeless.

Madame Jiang had caught a slight heatstroke, and Yan Xin promptly prepared a herbal remedy using local wormwood for her. After consuming it, the elder felt refreshed and praised Yan Xin, "Your medical skills are truly remarkable."

"I can handle minor ailments like headaches and fever," Yan Xin replied with a smile.

When they were alone, Madame Jiang discreetly inquired, "People at home and outside have been talking about you buying local wormwood. Is there any truth to this?"

As the adopted daughter of the military governor's wife, Yan Xin was currently the "favorite" of the household.

The actions of a favorite were always under close scrutiny.

Moreover, her head manager had been spreading malicious rumors about her, exaggerating the situation in anticipation of seizing her business in the future.

Her "scandals" were common knowledge, and everyone was ridiculing her.

The old lady didn't scold her; instead, she asked if she could be relied upon.

Yan Xin felt a warmth in her heart; she nodded vigorously. "Reliable indeed!"

She continued, "Grandmother, when I earn money, I'll buy you a set of tourmaline jewelry."

"Does this old woman lack your tourmaline jewelry?" The matriarch scoffed, but then she chuckled. "It's the thought that counts. Keep the money for yourself."

On this particular day, as Yan Xin was leaving, she suddenly sensed a profound loneliness in the old lady.

It was a loneliness that Yan Xin had long perceived but had always struggled to articulate.

Until now.

Yan Xin had an epiphany: "If I hadn't died in my previous life, would I have suddenly become like Grandmother later on?"

—Her son was implicated in the death of the old lady's youngest daughter, causing her immense pain.

Her heart had turned cold towards her son, though she wouldn't genuinely act against him.

For a mother, both sides of her palm are equally dear.

Though a child may betray his parent, a tiger never devours its own cubs.

The pain was unbearable, causing the elderly lady to distance herself from her son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren.

Yan Xin's son, asking her to close the pharmacy for the sake of his and his father's future, dealt a fatal blow to Yan Xin.

Yet Yan Xin wasn't as resilient as the elderly matriarch; she was furious to the point of being driven to an early grave.

After a few more days, wails of sorrow began echoing outside.

Yan Xin instructed Bai Shuang, Sang Zhi, and Ban Xia to go out and gather information.

"Bai Shuang," Yan Xin was informed, "there's a rampant outbreak of yellow fever at the docks, and it's also spreading through the railway station daily."

Yan Xin chuckled bitterly. "The real drama has just begun."

Merchants chase profit, and without regulation, the market can spiral out of control, dragging everyone in and ultimately destroying them.

Just like the current situation with the Huanglian herb market.

Yan Xin still remembered how, in her previous life, under the coercion of the head manager Zhou Ransheng, her pharmacy had invested all its recorded funds into purchasing over two hundred catties of Huanglian.

They bought it at one silver coin per catty, but in the end, not even three copper coins could be fetched for it; it all rotted away in storage.

"Bai Shuang told Yan Xin, "Yesterday, Huanglian was selling at one and five copper coins per catty, but today it's down to one and two."

Yan Xin replied, "Those who sell now are still making a profit. Tomorrow, the price will change again."

There was no need to wait until "tomorrow." By evening, the price of Huanglian had dropped to one silver coin per catty.

Selling now would only just recoup their initial investment, after all that effort for nothing.

Yan Xin remained calm and composed. "If they sell now, they'll at least recover their costs."

Bai Shuang added, "The people at the pharmacy are cursing, but not many are actually selling."

"Buy high, sell high – the more extravagant the price, the greater the demand. Now that it's dropped, everyone is holding back. What a shame," Yan Xin commented.

The next day at noon, two more cruisers carrying Huanglian arrived in City Yi.

The price of Huanglian had soared from one silver dollar to eight fen.

By evening, it was down to five fen.

Everyone's profits were halved.

"Bai Shuang told me someone is planning to take poison to end their life," shared White Frost.

Yan Xin replied, "If we sell now, we can at least recoup half our investment. It's not like we'll starve."

But at this point, even if you wanted to sell, no one would be purchasing in bulk.

For a pharmacy, it was typical to buy only a few dozen pounds of Huanglian in a year.

Hundred or thousand pounds – those were all speculative bubbles.

Yan Xin waited patiently in silence.

A month later, the Huanglian Market was utterly ruined.

Just as in her past life, it became a neglected place where money turned into worthless debris piling up in storage rooms.

As the weather grew hotter, many people fell victim to heatstroke.

Though Huanglian was effective in cooling and detoxifying, its potency and extreme cold nature made doctors hesitant to prescribe it easily. The best remedy for heatstroke was Earth Houttuynia Cordata.

"Without Earth Houttuynia Cordata, how can we compound the medicine? Go buy some."

"It's not available?"

"Didn't Miss Sixth of the Yan family collect Earth Houttuynia Cordata? People were buying Huanglian from her before."

Due to its scarcity, the price of Earth Houttuynia Cordata soared.

Some individuals sought to speculate on it, just as they had with Huanglian.

Turmeric basil, however, wasn't widely cultivated. If it wasn't available, it truly wasn't to be found, not even in the neighboring provinces, let alone purchased with money.

Yan Xin's stock had long been sold out.

Not only did the people of City Yi seek her for purchases, but now even pharmacies from nearby towns were requesting supplies from her.

In a short while, the price of turmeric basil quadrupled.

Despite this, many still clamored for it, as a pharmacy's reputation was at stake if they couldn't provide the herb.

During this season, turmeric basil was an absolute necessity.

Within a brief period, Yan Xin's entire stock of turmeric basil was completely sold.

Her initial investment of ten thousand silver dollars had multiplied to forty thousand.

With a net profit of thirty thousand, Yan Xin gave Zhang Fengchun a tenth of it; she also bestowed three hundred silver dollars to the second manager and eighty silver dollars to each apprentice and junior clerk.

The second manager's monthly salary was five silver dollars, while the apprentices earned one dollar and two cents; the apprenticeships were unpaid positions, and they were expected to contribute labor as well.

Upon receiving the young master's generous reward, everyone was deeply moved to tears.

Following the lead of the second manager, more than ten people knelt and bowed three times to Yan Xin in gratitude.

One of the apprentices even broke down in tears.

Yan Xin was also somewhat touched.

She addressed them, "As long as you remain loyal to me, I will naturally treat you well."

Continuing, she said, "The head manager, Zhou RanSheng, doesn't acknowledge my authority and often manipulates the accounts. I intend to dismiss him. If any of you have knowledge of his misconduct, please inform me."

Two apprentices stepped forward and informed Yan Xin that the head manager indeed had dishonest practices.

The second manager hesitated before speaking.

After an entire night of deliberation, he told Yan Xin, "Miss, I've secretly kept an account book."

Yan Xin took it from him.

The second manager replied, "I didn't intentionally betray..."

"Yan Xin," she corrected, "I am the owner. Your actions don't constitute betrayal; they show loyalty. Ban Xia, bring another hundred silver coins."

The second manager wept with joy.

Thus, Yan Xin obtained evidence of Zhou RanSheng's embezzlement and promptly reported him to the police station.

With the account book submitted, Zhou RanSheng was apprehended, and Yan Xin seized the opportunity to dismiss him.

She promoted Zhang Fengchun to the position of head manager.

The second manager, clerks, and apprentices had all traveled extensively with Zhang Fengchun, admiring his medical skills. As someone trusted by the young master, everyone naturally respected him.

The pharmacy reopened its doors.

Busy dealing with Zhou RanSheng's aftermath and winning over the staff, Yan Xin was unaware that her deeds had once again become the talk of City Yi.

"Isn't she the Young Divine Healer? This level of wisdom is truly uncommon."

"Everyone bought gentian, yet she opted for radix agastache. Everyone else suffered losses, but she gained profit."

"Go ask her what medicine will be valuable next time. She's truly remarkable."

"The Young Divine Healer from the Yan family can revive the dead. It shouldn't be Miss Seventh, but rather, Miss Sixth, right?"

Yan Xin never imagined that her speculation in radix agastache would lead her peers to believe that she was indeed the Young Divine Healer of the Yan family.

It was an unexpected delight.