The Foolish Husband of the Landlord's Family (GL)

Chapter 18: Miss Song's Shock

After a brief rest at the inn, Jiang Yuan and Lin Kong went to inspect their new shop. As Shopkeeper Bai had described, the shop was spacious, with areas for sales and a residential courtyard. Its prime location ensured heavy foot traffic.

The next step was to decide how to set up the shop and what business to conduct. Grain stores, jewelry shops, and fabric stores were abundant in Xu Prefecture, whereas people continuously dealt with health issues.

After a day of observing the city's needs, Jiang Yuan decided to open a pharmacy, though it would be more than just that.

She and Lin Kong studied herbal medicine at a local clinic. During this time, Shopkeeper Bai provided them with 2,000 taels of silver for initial expenses, which they used to procure medicinal herbs from afar.

To protect the herbs, Jiang Yuan stored them in her spatial vortex, using the carts to transport grain purchased at low prices. In ancient times, grain was always in demand and could yield high profits during bad harvests or national unrest.

She had no intention of exploiting disasters but knew others might.

To ensure the pharmacy's success, Jiang Yuan hired a well-regarded traditional Chinese medicine doctor to lend credibility.

After three months of preparations, the pharmacy opened in June, as spring turned to summer. By then, they had a bookkeeper, four staff members, and the doctor's apprentice, but they also owed a significant debt—the 2,000 taels from Shopkeeper Bai.

Jiang Yuan installed a preservation cabinet in the pharmacy, offering temporary storage for fresh goods for a fee based on the item's value and storage duration.

The cabinet appeared ordinary, designed to mislead those with ill intentions. It was a risk-free endeavor, set at a modest price with limited daily storage to attract customers. Jiang Yuan was prepared for a slow start.

On opening day, after setting off firecrackers, the pharmacy was bustling with people, and Shopkeeper Bai came to congratulate them, bringing a cart covered with fabric, sparking curiosity.

"Isn't that Shopkeeper Bai from Tianyuan Tavern? Why did he bring so much stuff?"

"Who owns this pharmacy? They must be quite capable to secure such a prime location and attract various businesses."

"My nephew works here. They have some preservation cabinet that keeps things fresh, but space is limited."

"Can it really keep things fresh? Sounds too good to be true."

"Why not try it and see?"

The onlookers speculated about the pharmacy's owners, hearing only of a couple from the countryside with no influence, ready to witness its failure.

Today, Jiang Yuan wore women's clothing, as Shopkeeper Bai already knew her identity. It was time to be upfront since they planned to settle there.

Despite this, Jiang Yuan led the opening ceremony. She greeted Shopkeeper Bai, eyeing the cart behind him curiously.

"Congratulations, Manager Jiang. I wish your business prosperity and longevity," Shopkeeper Bai said warmly, signaling his men to bring the cart forward.