Qi Yue that day, as usual, saw patients in the morning and returned to her residence in the afternoon. After dinner, she began to write prescriptions.
The names of traditional Chinese medicines in this world were a bit off, so she had to write them out clearly. For some herbs with similar names, she also had to draw diagrams to avoid confusion, lest those people make mistakes.
With medicinal wine, a little error could be fatal.
After finishing one prescription, she copied more than ten more, thinking about the twenty or so people who were coming, so she copied a few extra.
Just as she put down her pen, Nanny Zhang brought over some freshly brewed tea.
âMiss, all those people have arrived and are waiting outside!â
Qi Yue picked up the tea and took a sip.
âHow long have they been here? Why not let them in?â
Nanny Zhang bowed slightly.
âThe miss is busy, even if they had come, they would have had to wait.â
Those words were pleasing to hear, and Qi Yue couldnât help but look up and take a good look at Nanny Zhang.
Neatly dressed, clean-cut, with eyes that were always downturned, she never took the initiative to pry into this or that, nor did she say anything superfluous.
She was crystal clear about the affairs of Longnan County Government, and whenever Qi Yue needed information, Nanny Zhang could always speak sensibly and to the point, hitting the nail on the head every time.
She was much better than the other maids who beat around the bush.
âNanny Zhang, donât do the heavy work from now on, just help me manage things inside and out.â
As Qi Yue spoke, she reached into her bosom and took out a bottle of pills made from Spiritual Spring Water and placed them in her hand.
âYouâre weak, this will help you recover.â
Nanny Zhang thanked her repeatedly and joyfully accepted the gift.
Qi Yue then gathered the written prescriptions and slowly walked out of the backyard to the front hall, where she instructed the maids to let everyone in.
Businessman Zhang and the others had already been anxiously waiting, but they didnât dare to show any sign of dissatisfaction.
Seeing the door open, they all squeezed forward without regard for decorum, afraid that if they fell behind, the prescription would end up in someone elseâs hands.
Qi Yue watched with a silent smile on her face.
Each of them was a walking ingot of silver, they must all be looked after!
âBring stools for the gentlemen, and serve tea!â
Several maids immediately lined up neatly and brought stools over for each businessman.
The businessmen couldnât understand what Qi Yue was planning, but they all sat down.
Old Zhang, being the largest wine merchant in Longnan County Government, couldnât wait to speak as soon as he sat down.
âMiss Qi, weâve come this time to discuss the medicinal wine recipe. You name your price, and if itâs suitable, my Zhang Family will take it.â
Qi Yue nodded with a smile.
âSure, Iâve prepared all the prescriptions, just waiting for you! But as for the price, you should be prepared; it wonât be cheap!â
Upon hearing this, the eyes of the other wine merchants all widened.
They all wanted the medicinal wine prescription.
Not cheap? How expensive could it be?
Due to the power and wealth of Old Zhang, the wine merchants without the financial strength really didnât dare to speak up, and they started whispering amongst themselves.
âThe prescriptions are ready, but we have no idea about the price?â
âIf itâs really expensive, why donât we join forces?â
Businessman Li couldnât restrain himself any longer!
He had already made up his mind that he must get his hands on the medicinal wine recipe this time.
Afterwards, he could wholesale the medicinal wine to others and make a hefty profit.
Whatâs there to fear about the price being high? With his wealth, could he not afford a medicinal wine recipe?
He didnât even drink the tea in his hand anymore and immediately stood up, speaking generously, âMiss Qi, no matter the price, my Li Family can afford it.â
Businessman Zhang glared at him with round eyes and shouted, âMy Zhang Family can too, Miss Qi, please just name your price!â
The rest of the guests couldnât contain themselves any longer and they all stood up.
âMiss Qi Yue, just name your price! Weâve decided to buy the prescription!â
Seeing that everyone was so intent on having it, Qi Yue nodded in satisfaction.
âSince that is the case, Iâll speak plainly.â
She was going to name her price but instead took her time picking up the teacup, insisting humbly to the others, âHave some tea, have some tea. This is the finest Cloud Mist new tea. Surely you gentlemen donât want to miss tasting it?â
Upon hearing this, everyone picked up their teacups.
Just as they did, Qi Yue put down her teacup and threw out a figure unexpectedly, âOne million.â
âPffâ¦â
The merchants, who had just taken a sip of their tea, couldnât help but spit it out.
âCough, cough, cough⦠How, how much?â Mr. Zhangâs eyes were wide with disbelief.
It was the first time he had seen someone with the audacity to ask for such an outrageous price!
âOne million!â
Qi Yue repeated the amount slowly once more.
Suddenly, the great hall was abuzz with the murmurs of the merchants, as if a pot had exploded.
âIsnât that too expensive? There has never been a prescription that costly!â
âExactly, we might as well consult a doctor and have it prepared!â
âItâs no use, Iâve had experts try to discern it, but they couldnât identify the ingredients at all!â
âWhat are we to do? Itâs far too expensive!â
As the wealthiest wine merchant, Mr. Zhang had the most clout and the largest temper. He pointed at Qi Yueâs nose and started yelling.
âThis is extortion! You canât sell a prescription like this!â
Qi Yue hummed indifferently.
âI set the terms for my prescription. You are free not to buy.â
âFurthermore, this prescription is the result of many years of careful research and dedication. The effort and time I put into this are not something you can comprehend. One million is not at all expensive. Besides, once you buy this recipe, you can use it indefinitely. The profits youâll make, I assume you can do the math.â
Mr. Zhang grimaced and fell silent.
He knew that if the medicated wine sold well, one million would be recovered quickly!
But now it wasnât a question of profitability; with the contract for medicated wine from the Governorâs Office in place, failing to deliver the wine would mean either death or complete bankruptcy!
The others could cope; they were just small families with little to lose in a bankruptcy.
But not him â he represented half of Longnan County Governmentâs businesses, worth many times a million!
Thinking so, he was already somewhat tempted.
But he still couldnât quite accept it, spending one million just for a prescription seemed like a terrible deal.
If he could share the cost with the Li family, now wouldnât that be better?
Thinking this, he gave Mr. Li a meaningful look!
Mr. Li, ever so perceptive, was about to stand and speak, but Qi Yue beat him to it.
âI forgot to mention a rule, Iâm selling this prescription to an individual only, because there is an additional gift service included. If you decide to purchase collectively, I wonât provide the gift.â
âWhat kind of gift service?â Mr. Li asked reluctantly, not believing that a gift could be better than the item purchased for one million.
Qi Yue was too lazy to explain and simply handed a written note to the old lady Zhang, asking her to pass it around for everyone to see.
Mr. Zhang snatched the paper eagerly and began to read it on his own.
Mr. Li, anxious and scratching his head, craned his neck to peek as well.
Possibly too excited by what they read, the two of them began to read aloud.
âFree updates to the prescription for three years; included is a personalized medicinal wine prescription tailored to oneâs constitution, with free updates for one year; plus a gift of another medicinal wine prescription of the same value, with choices of: Strong Life and Health Prescription, Foundation-Strengthening and Vitality-Nourishing Prescription, Face-Nourishing and Beauty Prescription, Yang-Strengthening and Tonifying Prescription, Fall and Injury Treatment Prescription, Nourishing and Health-Preserving Prescription, Spleen-Strengthening and Dampness-Removing Prescriptionâ¦â
As they read, their breathing quickened.
âMiss Qi Yue, is the gift prescription as effective as the Rheumatism Relief Medicinal Wine?â