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"What's the solution?" Doctor Luo stared straight at Yang Mengchen.
Yang Chengrong's five brothers knew their sister was intelligent, but even Doctor Luo was at his wit's end; could their sister really do it?
Yang Mengchen glanced around.
Understanding her hint, Doctor Luo immediately led the six siblings to his own room on the second floor. After closing the door tightly, he said to Yang Mengchen, "Little girl, you can speak freely now."
"Just take those honeysuckle flowers, for instance," she began. "First, Uncle Luo should get someone to clear out the moldy ones and destroy them. The second batch of cleared honeysuckle can be boiled into a decoction, then placed at the entrance for people to drink for free. It would minimize losses and add to the reputation of Apricot Forest Hall. The remaining good ones can naturally be used for medicine. And there's more," Yang Mengchen suddenly stopped talking.
Doctor Luo had been listening intently and, seeing her pause, couldn't help but urge her, "What else is there?"
"Uncle Luo could also make a syrup or pills out of honeysuckle and other herbs," Yang Mengchen said methodically. "Uncle Luo could also have someone fire some delicate and airtight porcelain bottles to hold the syrup or pills. Then write the name of the medicine, its main functions, directions for use, precautions, and expiration date on the bottle. First, it's delicate and beautiful; second, it's convenient to carry and take; third, it extends shelf life; and fourth, the elderly, children, or those who have difficulty taking decoctions can still get the therapeutic effects by taking the syrup or pills. Even if the price is a little higher, we won't worry about a lack of buyers, especially since wealthy families would likely buy some to have on hand in case of need. It's truly a strategy with multiple benefits."
"Indeed, it's a strategy with multiple benefits. Little girl, you've helped your uncle a great deal! Ha ha ha ha..." Doctor Luo laughed loudly with excitement.
This clear change in the situation with the medicinal herbs, and once the syrup and pills were introduced, along with the innovative and exquisite packaging and instructions, the reputation of Apricot Forest Hall would undoubtedly reach its peak. After all, Apricot Forest Hall was pioneering in the pharmaceutical field. From then on, they would see a rolling influx of wealth. Little girl was truly his lucky star.
Yang Mengchen smiled faintly, remaining silent.
Yang Chengrong's five brothers were happy to have helped Doctor Luo and felt proud and honored for their youngest sister.
Suddenly recalling something, Doctor Luo stopped laughing and asked in surprise, "Little girl, do you know how to make medicine?"
"You must have heard of the old Taoist who visited our village a few years ago," Yang Mengchen said half-truthfully. "The old Taoist said we had a destiny together, so he taught me the art of medicine in secret, but he didn't allow me to call him master. He also warned me not to tell anyone, including my family, although I was foolish back then, and I've forgotten a lot of what I learned."
Yang Chengrong's five brothers nodded in agreement.
"I see," Doctor Luo said, relieved.
He had heard people in Yangliu village mention that old Taoist, who had cured the little girl's foolishness. Clearly, the old Taoist's medical skills were more advanced than his own. It was a pity he never got the chance to meet him; otherwise, he would have loved to discuss the medical skill with him.
"Would the little girl be willing to teach your uncle how to make the syrup and pills? Of course, your uncle wouldn't let you teach for nothing—I'll give you one thousand taels for each method. How does that sound?"
Two thousand taels for two methods? Yang Chengrong's five brothers were astonished and their eyes widened.
Yang Mengchen smiled and said, "Of course I'm willing to teach my uncle, but..."
"But what?" Doctor Luo's eyes darkened slightly.
"For every preparation method I teach for one thousand taels, I'll also provide a large amount of herbs at a reasonable price. Uncle Luo will be responsible for making the medicine, and I'll take a twenty percent cut of the sales," Yang Mengchen enticed gently. "Uncle, rest assured, besides syrup and pills, I can also make ointments, plasters, granules, and many other forms of preparations;
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"Additionally, for the medicinal products made according to my prescriptions, we'll have a fifty-fifty split of the sales revenue. I have quite a few effective remedies for treating ailments, such as the Black Chicken White Phoenix Pills for replenishing qi and nourishing blood, the Fritillaria Syrup for suppressing coughs and easing asthma, and the Sanqi Hemostasis Paste for healing bruises and injuries, among others. Uncle, what do you think?"
Staring intently at Yang Mengchen, Doctor Luo was so shocked that he couldn't speak for a long time. Finally, he stuttered, "Is, is what you said, true?"
The multitude of preparation methods and effective treatments for ailments—this was the dream countless doctors never realized in their entire lives, yet he had encountered it and was very likely to realize it. It was as if a pie had fallen from the sky and hit him squarely; how could he not be overjoyed?
Yang Mengchen nodded slightly.
Looking at the ever-composed Yang Mengchen, Doctor Luo felt both admiration and frustration in his heart.
How wonderful it would be if this intelligent, calm, well-learned, and talented girl were his daughter! Alas, he had only three sons with no interest in medical skills, causing him frequent anxiety over who would carry on the family's medical legacy, so much so that he had lost his appetite, couldn't sleep at night, and had grown who knows how many white hairs.
He really wanted to agree to the young girl's proposal instantly, but thinking of his shrewd and proud eldest son, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "Young girl, give me some time to consider before I give you an answer, is that alright?"
"Fine." Yang Mengchen agreed with a smile.
Doctor Luo took out two hundred taels of silver notes and handed them to Yang Mengchen, "Young girl, if it wasn't for your honeysuckle, they would have gone to waste. This is a small token of my gratitude."
Yang Mengchen accepted it graciously.
"Ninth Sister?" He had only mentioned one method, so how could Ninth Sister accept these two hundred taels? Yang Chengrong and his four brothers were anxiously troubled.
Looking at the earnest and sincere five brothers, and then at the calm and collected Yang Mengchen, Doctor Luo waved his hand, "If it hadn't been for this young girl, I would have lost much more, so this is what she deserves. Don't blame her."
The five brothers quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Ninth Sister had indeed been a great help to Doctor Luo, and accepting the silver note was justified.
"Everyone in the village says Uncle Luo has a benevolent heart and skill, and seeing you today, it is indeed true," Yang Mengchen sincerely said.
Doctor Luo had heard plenty of praise before, but he felt the young girl's words were particularly resonant with him, especially since she had also shared with him some methods for preserving medicinal materials, some of which he had never heard of and were far superior to their methods. Naturally, his fondness for the young girl increased even more.
After leaving Apricot Forest Hall, Yang Chengbin gripped his sister's hand tightly, overwhelmed with excitement, "Ninth Sister, you are truly amazing!"
Yang Chengrong and his four brothers felt both happy and complicated inside. They had not expected the herbs to sell for thirty-six taels and seven hundred wen, and one method to garner another two hundred taels, with possibly more to come in the future. It all seemed like a dream to them.
"Don't worry, brothers. Our family's days will get better and better," Yang Mengchen said with a smile.
The five brothers had no doubt about this, convinced in their hearts that their sister could do anything.
After putting the medicine they bought for their eldest uncle and his wife into the eldest brother's basket, the six siblings then went to the embroidery shop.
Wu Xuehua was skilled and fast with her embroidery. In the nearly twenty days since Mengchen's incident, she completed fifteen pieces, each earning twenty wen, amounting to three hundred wen money in total. When the shopkeeper asked how many more they would take, Yang Mengchen politely declined. Embroidery was damaging to the eyes, and since their aunt had to keep busy with many chores, she didn't want her to strain herself too much.