Anzhi Hall Qing He gave the leftover food to the three of them, An Zhitang and Qinghe.
Seeing his oxcart returning from afar, he hurried forward, his face full of gossip, and asked, "Master, guess what I saw today?"
Jin Shanyao the oxcart to the backyard. "What did you see?"
Every day when Qing He came back from grocery shopping, she would tell people that either the butcher on the east street had cheated on her, or the widows on the west street had quarreled, and she even knew which family's son was unfilial.
Qing He leaned closer mysteriously, "I saw Old Medicine Zhou fighting with someone?"
" Old Medicine Zhou is getting on in years, why is he fighting with someone? Didn't his son stop him?" Jin Shanyao.
"Why are you stopping him? He's the one who got beaten up," Qing He said while unloading the truck. "It seems he bought counterfeit medicine. It's quite a sad story... Shopkeeper Zhou is over thirty years old, how could he still make such a mistake?"
"Making fake medicine is a craft too; if it doesn't look convincing, how can you make money?" Jin Shanyao as she poured the deer antler into a wooden basin. "Has anything happened at the shop?"
"Not long after you left, someone came to sell medicine. Since you weren't home, Qing Yang told him to come back another day."
Zhou Xiaosi said the medicinal herbs didn't look right, like they were counterfeit... but he couldn't be sure, he was just saying it casually.
Several people were processing deer antlers around a basin. Meng Anzhi asked in confusion, "Auntie, why are there so many fake medicine dealers appearing in the city?"
Jin Shanyao placed the processed deer antlers aside. " Qingzhou Prefecture won first place in the ginseng competition, causing a sensation in the capital. Now the Sheng Dynasty Qingzhou Prefecture has excellent medicinal herbs, which has inevitably led to the emergence of counterfeit medicines, causing suffering for the common people."
Qing He, "These days, the bold get rich and the timid starve. Counterfeit medicine has low costs and quick profits, much more than selling real medicine."
Meng Anzhi was filled with resentment. "Tomorrow I'll go to the government office and ask Lord Su if he accepts fake medicine dealers. Five taels of silver per person... I'll deliver it to him."
Jin Shanyao chuckled, "Fine, anyone who dares to sell counterfeit medicine at the Anzhi Hall, I'll hand them over to you to deal with."
Meng Anci silently processed the deer antlers, he pondered repeatedly in his heart: ten highway robbers are not as good as one medicine seller, and ten medicine sellers are not as good as one fake medicine seller.
He realized that by abandoning his conscience, he could earn even more money... He understood!
At this moment Qing Yang came to report, "Master, Lord Su has arrived."
"What is it you wanted to say?"
Qing Yang shook her head.
Jin Shanyao up and said to the group, "Be careful when handling the deer antlers, don't damage them."
After saying that, she went around from the backyard to the main house. As soon as she entered, she saw Su Wenqian suddenly stand up and rush in front of her in a few steps, which startled Jin Shanyao a half step back.
He thought to himself, "My God, I have to suppress my instincts, otherwise she could slap Su Wenqian to death, and then her little sister would be crying and begging her to pay for her son."
Jin Shanyao pointed warily at the ground, " Lord Su, you're just standing here talking. Don't go any further!"
Su Wenqian was so anxious that his mouth was full of bubbles, and he didn't care about Jin Shanyao's warning. He briefly explained the situation.
He gulped down a cup of tea. "Miss Jin, if we don't bring these fake medicine dealers to justice, the good reputation that Qingzhou Prefecture has earned will be completely ruined!"
This year, many people have been clearing land, hoping to grow medicinal herbs next year to make a living—it's the livelihood of their entire family!
Su Wenqian was so angry that his face turned red. He slammed his hand on the table, making the teacups rattle loudly.
Jin Shanyao thought Su Wenqian was quite capable, but after so many days, he still hadn't caught a single person!
Her eyes darted around, and an idea came to her. Her expression, which had been cold just moments before, instantly became amiable.
With Jin Shanyao smiled and said softly, " Lord Su, tell me the details of the case, and I'll calculate it for you."
Su Wenqian's heart skipped a beat; he had a feeling of being targeted by a dog!
"Miss Jin, you'd better speak frankly. You're making me scared by that look you're giving me!"
Tsk... I shouldn't have smiled at you.
Jin Shanyao up her teacup, took a sip, and looked up, saying, "Finding someone starts at twenty taels, charged per person."
Su Wenqian subconsciously said, "Isn't it ten taels?"
Jin Shanyao playfully scolded, "Don't worry about the details... Are we talking about money or catching a thief? You need to know what your purpose is."
Su Wenqian... speechless!
"Of course, I'm not someone who's greedy for money. Lord Su is ridding the people of a scourge, so I'm naturally willing to do my part."
Su Wenqian's expression was indescribable. He wanted to say, "When you're scheming against me, can you at least tone it down a bit? Don't laugh so blatantly, it makes me look like a fool!"
"Miss Jin, why don't you speak frankly?"
Jin Shanyao praised, "Of all the people I've met, you're the smartest."
Su Wenqian's lips twitched; he didn't want this honor.
Jin Shanyao feigned maturity, suppressing a slight smile. "I want the procurement rights for medicinal herbs from Qingzhou Prefecture."
Su Wenqian stood up abruptly, his face ashen as he stared at Jin Shanyao. "No, the procurement rights for Qingzhou Prefecture must be decided through fair competition. If you're going to use this as a bargaining chip, then I've misjudged you."
Jin Shanyao was stunned, wondering what it was like when she made the right guess?
Forget it... none of that matters. Jin Shanyao believes that in business, there has to be give and take. "Alright, I don't want the purchasing rights anymore. Can I get a year's tax exemption?"
"You..." Su Wenqian was speechless with anger, "Can't you be reasonable for once?"
So, being so righteous is just taking advantage of her? Jin Shanyao slumped back in her chair, completely unconcerned.
"Then let those who sell counterfeit medicine go unpunished, and let the people of Qingzhou Prefecture starve to death in the streets, so that Lord Su's lifelong reputation can be preserved."
After speaking, she secretly glanced at Su Wenqian and saw that his expression had softened, so she quickly added, "According to the laws of this dynasty, purchasing mountain land can exempt you from taxes for at least one year, so you are not considered to be bending the law for personal gain."
Think about it carefully... The livelihoods of millions of people in Qingzhou Prefecture shouldn't crumble because of your one thought."
Su Wenqian was trembling with anger. Hat Mountain had abundant vegetation, and it was already good enough that no extra taxes had been imposed; she even wanted to exempt it for a year.
"Alright, one year it is. Let's go to the government office to look at the case files."
As she got up to leave, she saw Jin Shanyao her head and said irritably, "What's wrong with you now?"
"Oh... I'll wait for you here."
Su Wenqian's head buzzed, a surge of anger stuck in his chest, unable to be released. Fine... if you're so capable, then you call the shots. He plopped down in a chair.
Summon the yamen runner, "Go and fetch the case file."
"Yes," the clerk acknowledged the order, turned and quickly left, returning shortly afterward with the case file in his arms.
Su Wenqian unfolded the case file. "This is the first person to report the crime. He came from out of town and was scammed as soon as he arrived."
These two are from Jing'an Prefecture; their prefect has already sent them official notices.
If I can't catch the people selling counterfeit medicine, I'll submit a memorial to the emperor accusing me of inaction. Can you believe how protective people are of their own?
And this one is Old Medicine Zhou's son. He's been around his father since he was little, so how could he possibly be fooled?"
Su Wenqian kept rambling on and on. He had been holding these words in for a long time. Who could he talk to? As a prefect, he couldn't very well complain to his subordinates, or others would look down on him.
He could only nag Jin Shanyao, hoping to awaken her conscience and get her to lower her fees!
The Jin Shanyao through the case files, and Spiritual Power instantly arrived at the scene of the crime. Based on the description of the surrounding vegetation, the hiding place of the group of fake drug dealers was finally found.
The Jin Shanyao, withdrawing its Spiritual Power and interrupting Su Wenqian's incessant chatter, " Lord Su, I've divined that those people are hiding on the west street of the prefectural city. Tomorrow at Chenshi (7-9 AM), you'll surely find something if you lead your men there."
Why must we go at Chenshi (7-9 AM) tomorrow?
A ruthless glint flashed in Jin Shanyao's eyes as she said in a sinister tone, "Make an example of them. If they dare to sell fake medicine here, let them never leave."
Su Wenqian felt a chill run down his spine. "What are you trying to do? Let me tell you Jin Shanyao and shouting for bloodshed is not the behavior of a gentleman."
Jin Shanyao at him sideways, as if looking at an idiot, "I am a woman..." Don't think she didn't know; "gentleman" refers to a man.
After saying this, he dusted off imaginary dust from his body and said slowly, "Things that ghosts can solve don't need living people to do."
Su Wenqian seemed to recall something, his face turning deathly pale. He quickly looked outside, but seeing that it was already dark, he dared not linger. "Then I'll have to trouble Miss Jin."
Before he finished speaking, he disappeared from sight!
Jin Shanyao stared blankly at the empty room. Wait, why did Su Wenqian run away? She hadn't finished speaking yet...