Chapter 204: Gritting One's Teeth

Chen Wuji thought picking a day was no better than just doing it, so he spent half a day studying with Zhang Lao, had a look at the shop, and then went to Yangji Tiejiangpu.

Only today did Chen Wuji finally understand why Zhang Lao kept insisting on him, demanding he become a disciple no matter what.

Zhang Lao's answer was very brief, just two words—"saving trouble."

Chen Wuji already had a foundation in Chinese medicine, but he leaned more toward the heterodox path, disliking orthodox prescriptions and preferring folk remedies and acupuncture.

Zhang Lao appreciated this, also liked Chen Wuji's perceptiveness, and believed that after a few more years studying their school, Chen Wuji could combine what he already knew and become the mainstay of the Charitable Relief Studio, easier to train than Xiaoyu, which is why they had that earlier connection.

Chen Wuji had once self-studied Chinese medicine just to treat himself and those around him, to avoid wasting money and suffering injustice, but in fact he never liked being a doctor.

But because of the Shocking Heaven Thunder and Bewildering Fragrance, those two ultimate weapons, he…… sold himself.

Nowadays, regardless of whether he likes it, he must become Zhang Lao's disciple.

As for whether he will later take on the mainstay role of the Charitable Relief Studio, that's another matter.

If, under his influence, Xiaoyu achieves something in his studies, then all the problems will be readily solved.

Yang Ji.

The chaotic, noisy clanging of hammering on iron had long become the daily routine here.

Chen Wuji sat outside the shop with Yang Tiejiang for a while, learned about the recent output and sales of the iron pots, and then…… he went bald.

Lao Yang and his nephews' pace of making pots could not keep up with the selling speed.

Now there's no need for Chen Wuji and others to go door-to-door promoting; the locals come on their own, and aside from the backlog of orders from Hengtong Business Business Business, there isn't a single spare pot in the whole shop.

The pots preordered by the townspeople already exceeded number three hundred.

"Any news from Hengtong Business Business Business?" Chen Wuji asked.

Yang Tiejiang shook his head. "Their young master hasn't returned yet, but they recognize this order. They sent someone over once more before, and specifically said to keep the pots for them, but this matter can only be decided after their young master returns."

Chen Wuji picked up the boiling kettle on the earthen stove, poured a cup for himself and Lao Yang, and said with a slight headache: "Lao Yang, I think the scale of the smithy needs to be expanded a bit; the progress is still lagging. I recently contacted another caravan, which has a market but no goods—this is a big problem."

As Yang Tiejiang was about to pick up his teacup, his hand froze. "Again…… there is?!"

He let out a pained groan: "Earning this silver, I really don't know whether to be happy or to lament. Tomorrow I'll send people back to the village to bring out those old things to work; there are hardly any able-bodied young men left in the clan."

Chen Wuji nodded. "Don't worry about losing money; judging by the situation in Yunan City, this will sell easily. We currently hold the first-mover advantage, so we can at least make a small profit."

"Even if imitators and competitors appear later, we won't be left without business in the short term, and I still have another livelihood; even without the pots, everyone will still have work to do."

Yang Tiejiang waved his hand. "It's not about worrying about that; leaving aside the distant future, just the silver we've earned recently would require them to work themselves to death for two or three years, and even if they could only work for a short period, it wouldn't matter."

"You're indeed the shopkeeper, but this business's risk can't be shouldered by you alone. If you keep doing this, where will I put my old face in the future?"

"Besides, your share of silver in my box is getting moldy; when exactly do you plan to take it? Other people's silver has been sitting with me, and I feel uneasy—I even have to sleep with one eye open at night."

"This silver isn't urgent for now; first take over the nearby shops, expand the scale, and we'll talk again next month." Chen Wuji said, "I'm not even looking at the accounts lately—I've been too busy; just handle it as you see fit."

Yang Tiejiang glared at Chen Wuji with a dark face. "Are you giving me an excuse to blatantly cheat you?"

"You're not that kind of person." Chen Wuji laughed.

Just based on Yang Tiejiang's willingness to follow him into battle without a word, even if he really got cheated by him, Chen Wuji would accept it.

Yang Tiejiang let out a soft hum, took a sip of tea, and said: "How many pots does your caravan need? I'll squeeze a bit more from the townspeople's orders first to fill the caravan's quota."

"One hundred."

Yang Tiejiang let out a light sigh. "This is really going to take my old life; go back, I'll go forge the pots and have someone come pick them up in a few days."

"There's more." Chen Wuji stopped Yang Tiejiang, who was about to go to work, and said, "I'm planning to open a tavern; does Fuwa have any interest in coming to work as my cook?"

"Why are you asking me about this?" Yang Tiejiang asked, puzzled.

"He's your person; why would I ask you instead of someone else? You nod to let him go, then also help me talk to him; if he agrees, once I've found a tavern, he can go straight there." Chen Wuji said.

Yang Tiejiang waved his hand. "All right, all right, I got it—get lost."

……

After leaving the city in the evening, Chen Wuji came to Sanlipu again.

It wasn't that he was particularly eager to get close to Qin Zhanhong; it's just that this woman is rather formidable.

The court's award of a thousand taels of silver, Qin Zhanhong didn't give him in the morning but told him to come get it when he left the city, making it obvious what medicine she was selling from her gourd.

Even the emperor's award had no threshold, but with Qin Zhanhong there turned out to be one.

If Chen Wuji didn't struggle in that crack for a couple of hours, that tigress of a woman would definitely dock some of that silver.

Although the silver was in her possession and Chen Wuji didn't mind, as a strong, vigorous young man who was only a few percent shy of being able to lift mountains, he also had spirit, and being constantly strong-armed by a woman was intolerable.

This distinction of priorities, he must reverse it, cannot let Qin Zhanhong continue to run wild.

In the dim twilight, Chen Wuji knocked open Qin Zhanhong's bedroom with a stick; after a clatter of noise, he left Sanlipu with the thousand taels of silver, feeling refreshed.

Today's record remains a draw.

Need to keep pressing on.

Adding this silver, Chen Wuji's savings smoothly broke through the two-thousand-tael mark, now approaching twenty-five hundred taels.

Compared to truly wealthy fortunes, his assets are only about one ninth.

But for ordinary folks, Chen Wuji could definitely be considered rich.

At night, after the family finished eating, Huo Sanniang and the two others lined up to take a bath.

Then they all rushed into Chen Wuji's room at once.

Seeing their graceful approach and their shy, embarrassed smiles, Chen Wuji's head buzzed—he was done for, today seemed destined to fail.

Even adding one more to the existing three times would be a burden.

But one cannot be full from wildflowers outside while neglecting the flowers at home.

Today, on this kang, he must go up even if he has to grit his teeth.