Chapter 48: Unexpected Postponement

  Liang and his son Zuo Gui have already taken out their luggage, Zuo Gui said to Zhao San Niang with a gloomy face: "San Niang, we only brought our personal clothes, nothing else. Leave the rest as rent, thank you for taking care of us over the years. I'm really sorry that we owe you a lot of rent and haven't paid it back yet. We still owe you 4,100 coins, I will think of ways to pay you back." After finishing speaking, he turned his head to look at his hard-earned pharmacy, let out a long sigh, lowered his head and stepped out.

  "Wait!" Zhao San Niang looked at the family, then glanced at the small package in their hands, and also took a look around the dimly lit pharmacy. She let out a long sigh: "Alas, after all these years of renting to you, I must say that you've done your best to pay the rent on time. Besides, I really don't want to open an oil and salt shop or something like that in my store, it's too dirty. I like the fragrance of medicine. Looking at you, I feel a bit pitiful. Who made me, San Niang, so kind-hearted? Alright, I'll make another concession. The remaining 4,100 wen rent, you can pay together on the 15th of next month! How's that?"

  Zuo Gui and his family were truly reluctant to give up this pharmacy, which embodied their hard work and dedication. They tried every means to keep it, but unfortunately, they were forced out in the end. Without the signboard or any materials, it was impossible for them to open another pharmacy elsewhere. Becoming a traveling doctor was an unavoidable last resort. As for how to spend the rest of his days, Zuo Gui's mood had reached an all-time low.

  Unexpectedly, when it was time to leave, Zhao San Niang suddenly agreed to give them another extension of half a month, like seeing a ray of sunshine in the pouring rain! Everyone couldn't help but cheer. Although it's only an extension of fifteen days, having hope is better than having no hope at all.

  Zuo Gui excitedly stroked his white beard and repeatedly bowed, saying: "Thank you! Thank you, Third Sister! We will definitely raise the money as soon as possible."

  Li and Ai were also excited, seeing Zhao San Niang bring people over, it was clear that they were not just making a show of force, but were really preparing to drive them away. They couldn't understand why they had suddenly changed their minds at the last minute, and felt very grateful in their hearts.

  Zuo Shaoyang was overjoyed, thinking that with time comes opportunity. He thought to himself for half a month and believed he could still make five taels of silver. With a cheerful smile on his face, he said to Zhao San Niang: "Auntie San, thank you! - Chewing melon seeds is good, unlike hawthorn, no matter how much you chew, it won't hurt your stomach. Hehe."

  Zhao San Niang smiled and glanced at him, waving her hand to Zuo Gui and others who were bowing repeatedly in gratitude: "Alright, but let's get the ugly talk out of the way first. Debts can't be delayed until after the New Year, that's the rule. I've already dragged this on until the last day of the New Year, and it can't be delayed any further. You must come up with the remaining 4,100 wen in rent before the 15th of the first month. Not a single wen can be late. Otherwise, we'll have to turn against each other on the 15th."

  Zuo Gui smiled and said, "That's right, San Niang has already given us so much leeway. If we can't come up with the money that day, we have nothing to say for ourselves. We don't need San Niang to speak up for us, we'll just leave on our own."

  "Alright, that's all! I'm leaving now, you guys should also hurry up and prepare for the New Year! May you make a lot of money!" After saying this, he bowed once, turned around, cracked some melon seeds with his waist, and walked out the door.

  That burly man with a scar on his face couldn't understand why Zhao San Niang suddenly changed her mind, glanced at Zuo Gui and the others, hastily turned around and followed them out of the pharmacy, hurriedly catching up to ask: "San Niang, you said it was good, today no matter what, we must drive them away. How did you suddenly change?"

  Zhao San Niang glanced at him sideways, threw a melon seed into her mouth, cracked it open with a crunch, and spat out the shell with a "plop" sound. With a hint of pride, she smiled and said: "What do you know? I'm asking you, what did the second master of Hui Min Tang come for just now?"

  "Ah, buying Guizidang's square word."

  "This is getting out of hand! Think about it, Huimin Hall, that's a huge reputation, even the king in Chang'an City has been treated by them. In the entire Hezhou Prefecture, they claim to be second only to none, and no one dares to claim first place! When have you ever heard of Huimin Hall buying prescriptions from others? Today, they actually came to Guizhi Hall to buy a prescription, hah! Don't listen to what their second manager says, he's all talk, in the end, it's just that they're trying to take advantage of us and get a cheap deal. His words are full of nonsense and extremely unpleasant, which is why people got annoyed, and that's how things escalated."

  Huang Da Han slapped his forehead: "Ah! Could it be that Guizhitang really has some precious secret recipe?"

  "Nonsense! If Guizhitang's prescription is nothing to worry about, Huimintang will bring down the first medical hall's reputation. They won't be afraid of losing face and coming to our door to buy it?"

  "But in the end, it didn't sell, did it? It still hasn't been exchanged for money!"

  "You don't understand anything! You only know about money." Zhao San Niang spat a watermelon seed on his face, "One prescription sold and it's gone, how much money can you make from that? Making money with this prescription is endless!"

  Heng Da Han is Zhao San Niang's cousin, with the surname Tu. He has practiced some martial arts and is said to have achieved iron head skills, earning him the nickname "Tu Tie Tou". He is a rascal who usually helps people collect debts or watches over gambling dens. This time, he was asked by Zhao San Niang to help collect debts in exchange for money. As the saying goes, "eat someone's food and speak softly, take someone's money and be humble", so he didn't dare put on airs as her cousin in front of her. At this moment, he even didn't dare remove the melon seed shell stuck to his cheek, and accompanied by a smile, said: "Listening to San Niang say this, I understand now. That Left Guizi is indeed cunning, intentionally letting Hui Min Tang's people come buy, just to make people know that he has precious medicine formulas. Isn't this a good signboard?"

  "That's right, think about it, just a few days and they've already gathered 5,000 yuan, I secretly asked around, they even cured a woman who couldn't give birth to a dead fetus, that woman wasn't even cured by Huimin Hall! Today, the second manager of Huimin Hall came to buy medicine formulas, isn't this obvious? So, Guizhi Hall still has hidden skills!"

  "I don't get it, if he's really capable, how come he can't even pay his rent for so many years?"

  "You say I'm stupid and you'll be crying in no time!" Zhao San Niang spat again, saying "This person, when they have good luck, they also have bad luck. When they've had a streak of bad luck, even if they're talented, it's hard to turn things around. But once their luck changes, even a salted fish can turn over! Do you understand? Just watch, by the 15th of next month, this house rent will definitely be paid in full! And after that, Guizhi Hall's business will definitely pick up! I won't have to worry about my rent anymore."

  "Hmm, San Niang's idea is indeed good! I think this family is honest and sincere, even paying rent is a chore for them, unlike other families who are always trying to take advantage of others."

  "It's true." Zhao Sanniang looked around and lowered her voice, saying: "You go back and spread the news everywhere, saying that the illnesses that Huimin Hall can't cure have all been cured by Guizhi Hall. The second manager of Huimin Hall even ran to Guizhi Hall, offering a high price and begging pitifully to buy their prescription, but they refused to sell it to him. In the end, he had to leave with his tail between his legs."

  Tui Tie Tou said with surprise: "The prices at Hui Min Tang are not considered high, and it's hard to talk about..."

  "You fool!" Zhao San Niang kicked Tu Tie Tou's fat butt with her foot, "What's the use of your mouth? Can't you even make up a story?"

  "It's all right." Tu Tie Tou hastily rubbed his buttocks and chuckled, "Third Sister, rest assured, I've got this under control. Hehe"

  ————————————

  Inside the Guizhitang. A family was excitedly discussing why San Niang changed her mind. After a long discussion, they still couldn't figure it out.

  Li said with a smile: "Alright, no matter what, there are still 15 days to raise the money, let's get through the new year first!"

  "Exactly!" said Angelica, "Mother, how much money can we use for New Year's?"

  Li said with a glance at her husband Zuo Gui: "This is up to your father."

  Zuo Gui said, "At home, there are still over 200 wen left. We promised to pay the rent on the 15th of next month, so this money can't be touched." Seeing their disappointed faces, Zuo Gui thought for a moment and added, "However, we still have to celebrate the New Year. How about taking 100 wen to celebrate?"

  "Father, what can you do with one hundred coins? Now the food is so expensive, a pig's head costs one hundred coins, how can we afford anything else?"

  "Let's save a bit where we can. The peach symbol needs to be replaced, and there's still some red paper at home, cut out the window decorations and stick them up, it'll be festive enough. Firecrackers, though, we should buy a few, to ward off evil spirits and bring in wealth on New Year's Day. You two are grown adults now, so let's skip the new clothes and lucky money. Just buy some rice, flour, a few pieces of pork, a jug of wine, and use it for the ancestral worship first, then make some dumplings for dinner, and save the rest for when relatives come to visit on the second day of the New Year."