Chapter 69: Unremarkable Shopkeeper Chen

Chapter 69: The Unremarkable Manageress

Within the Chengzheng Courtyard.

Chen Yi arrived neither too early nor too late.

Xiao Wan’er had just stepped through the outer gate, accompanied by five men in long robes, their ages varying.

Xiao Wan’er stood outside the wooden pavilion, waiting. When she saw Chen Yi approach, the fine, cool lines of her face grew slightly strained.

Chen Yi glanced at her with interest, bowing slightly from afar.

A momentary hesitation.

Xiao Wan’er first sent Shen Huatang and the others to wait in the hall, then beckoned Chen Yi forward:

“Brother-in-law, did you come here to stir up trouble again?”

After all, how else could you have gotten into Chengzheng?

Chen Yi caught the implication in her words, unwilling to cling to the excuse of seeking a meal, so he smiled and shook his head:

“Earlier, the mistress said my elder sister had arranged a place for me to stay, so I came to inquire in passing.”

Xiao Wan’er stared at him doubtfully, then instinctively glanced toward the pavilion’s interior, and said:

“I had intended to set things properly, and then seek my brother-in-law.”

“Since my brother-in-law has come, I’ve invited a few pharmacy managers today—let’s have them listen in.”

Chen Yi readily agreed, bowed politely, and followed her into the wooden pavilion.

Earlier, he had heard whispers about Xiao Family’s business. Now, hearing Xiao Wan’er speak thus, he guessed where he would be taken next.

A pharmacy?

Well, that was a decent enough place.

His medical knowledge had lain dormant for some time; perhaps he could try his hand there.

After some polite conversation and taking their seats, the five pharmacy managers, already muttering about the visit bearing no good tidings, felt a sudden, sharp premonition upon seeing Chen Yi in person.

Each sat upright, brows furrowed, saying nothing.

Xiao Wan’er swept her gaze across them, then lifted a hand toward Shen Huatang.

Shen Huatang nodded slightly, pulled out several ledgers, flipped a few pages, and coldly spoke:

“These are the accounts of all five pharmacies this year—Miss Xiao, the managers should also know the state of their respective shops.”

“Compared to previous years, it’s not good, is it?”

Before they could answer, Shen Huatang continued:

“I called you here today to discuss the arrangements for the second half of the year.”

The five managers felt a chill in their hearts, quickly nodding.

Xiao Wan’er, seeing their compliance, then spoke:

“Liu Manager and Li Manager have managed their affairs well these past few months—whether in herb procurement or attending to physicians and patients, they’ve been timely.”

“By convention, you may take ten taels of silver from the government storehouse. I hope you’ll continue to strive.”

Two of the managers, the elder ones, relaxed slightly, rose to bow.

They were deeply grateful.

As for the remaining three—

Xiao Wan’er’s voice, crisp and gentle, continued:

“Ma Manager and Sun Manager, like last year, have the same old issues.”

“The prescriptions are too harsh, piling on doses for physicians—this is not advisable.”

“One must know that when patients and physicians meet, medicine should be given in appropriate measures to suit their ailments. If it’s merely to make profit, where does my Xiao Family stand?”

The two named managers exchanged glances, rose to bow, and apologized:

“We know our mistakes, Miss Xiao—please forgive us.”

Xiao Wan’er said nothing, raising a hand to signal Shen Huatang.

The latter nodded, stepped forward, and handed the ledger to the two managers:

“After you return, have the physicians revise their rules. If this happens again, you’ll know the consequences.”

“Yes, yes.”

By then, the last manager’s face was drenched in sweat.

Before Xiao Wan’er could speak further, he suddenly knelt on the ground, pale and trembling:

“M-Master, we’re in the wrong—we beg your forgiveness for our sins…”

Xiao Wan’er’s dark eyes lowered, not looking at him, and sighed softly.

“Wang, in this year’s five months alone, you’ve skimmed off hundreds of taels for personal gain—have you thought of your father’s hardships?”

“Yet, considering your father’s years of bloodshed, those funds need not be repaid. Keep them for a decent livelihood in the future.”

“Miss, I-I—”

Before he could beg further, Shen Huatang immediately stepped forward, dragged him out of the pavilion, and handed him over to the guards outside.

Seeing this, the remaining four pharmacy managers fell silent, their faces grave, as if ashamed to be associated with him.

Chen Yi, watching the spectacle, paid them no mind. His eyes remained fixed on Xiao Wan’er, finding her now more commanding than usual.

Though she seemed angry, it wasn’t quite so.

Rather, she was intriguing.

Perhaps noticing his gaze, Xiao Wan’er’s head dipped slightly, her face almost hidden beneath her collar, her lips pressed together.

What was he up to? Hadn’t he seen anyone inside?

After a moment’s thought, while Shen Huatang was still absent and the other managers hadn’t noticed, Xiao Wan’er lifted her head, her eyes sharp and calculating, glinting at Chen Yi.

The expression was neither quite wrathful nor quite joyful, as if saying, “Still watching?”

Chen Yi smiled, averting his gaze. He clearly remembered that poem.

Xiao Wan’er saw his attention ease and exhaled, her clenched fist relaxing. Yet her heart, still racing, refused to calm.

Her pale face still bore a faint blush.

Only when Shen Huatang returned and reported to her did she regain her composure, feigning a cough.

“The one to take over Wang Manager’s post from now on will be my younger brother’s husband, Chen Yi.”

The last few words were emphasized with unusual weight.

Chen Yi heard it clearly, bowed, and said:

“My name is Chen Yi. If I fall short in any way, I pray you’ll excuse me.”

The managers exchanged glances, forcing smiles.

They had all heard of Chen Yi’s name—some truths, some rumors, praise and blame varying. They couldn’t judge, but knew his calligraphy was good and his learning solid.

But in the world of business, his scholarly skills were of little use.

They exchanged a nod of greeting, and thus became acquainted. Chen Yi listened earnestly as Xiao Wan’er spoke of the coming months’ arrangements.

“The medicinal herbs brought from Beizhou have already reached Jingzhou. Within another month, they should reach the capital city. After that, you may adjust the supplies according to your needs…”

“Lastly, I reiterate the rules—Xiaos family’s pharmacy exists primarily to heal the sick. Profit comes second!”

The shopkeepers all nodded in agreement.

Chen Yi naturally slipped into the role, though his thoughts, he felt, differed somewhat from Xiao Wan’er’s.

Indeed, healing the sick should come first. But the pharmacy’s profits didn’t necessarily hinge on treating illness.

Who could say that curing ailments that weren’t technically illnesses was where the real money lay?

For instance, one, two, three, four, five…

In general, it was about men’s unspoken desires, women’s vanity, the elderly’s longing for longevity, and children’s yearning for wisdom and purity of mind.

Of course, these thoughts only passed through Chen Yi’s mind before fading away.

To speak plainly, he cared little for making money—far less than that golden carp he’d seen in the pond.

After a while, the clerks filed out one by one—

[The witnesses to Xiao Wan’er’s speech felt joy and sorrow in equal measure. Reward: Pharmacy Shopkeeper position, plus six points in destiny.]

[Evaluation: A person known by reputation, heard of through others, seen in action. Ordinary, unremarkable.]

Chen Yi paused. A reward for becoming pharmacy shopkeeper?

After all, it had been Xiao Wan’er and Xiao Jinghong who had assigned him that role.

Xiao Wan’er noticed that the others had already left, but Chen Yi remained seated, unmoving. She found herself a little at a loss.

“Brother-in-law, hasn’t Jinghong returned yet?”

Chen Yi blinked, then smiled and shook his head. “Not yet. She’s been out busy these days.”

Xiao Wan’er frowned, unsure whether his tone carried complaint.

After some thought, she explained: “My younger sister hasn’t meant to slight you, dear. Recently, the supplies for the Dingguan army have run short, so she’s had to be away.”

Chen Yi arched an eyebrow. “Supplies for the Dingguan army?”

Xiao Wan’er spoke softly: “I don’t know the details.”

“But I can tell you this—Grandfather has already sold off most of his ancestral gifts to support my younger sister, allowing her to establish trade with the mountain clans.”

Chen Yi’s heart stirred. The Dingguan army’s supplies were in trouble.

So that was why.

So Xiaos family wasn’t reacting to strange moves from the court—they’d already been targeted outright.

After a moment’s reflection, Chen Yi nodded. “My elder sister, I’ll accept the pharmacy position for now. If things don’t go well later, you can take it back anytime.”

Xiao Wan’er relaxed slightly. “Then all is well.”

Not long after, Chen Yi stood to leave.

Xiao Wan’er stared, unsure whether her explanation had eased her husband’s mind.

Perhaps, if her younger sister was often absent, his thoughts about her were, after all, only natural.

Shi Huaotang fell silent for a moment, then asked: “My lord, since my guardian has never run a business, is it appropriate to appoint him as pharmacy shopkeeper?”

Xiao Wan’er instinctively shook her head. “Though my brother-in-law sometimes scolds, he has the scholarly ability.”

Since the day she’d seen Chen Yi’s calligraphy, earning the praise of countless scholars and court officials, she’d held him in some esteem.

Just as she’d comforted Xiao Jinghong earlier, she’d said: A person’s character is reflected in their writing.

Those who could write such elegant, free-flowing calligraphy must be both virtuous and talented.

Alas, the poem *Xiaowanshi* had been written in Wei Qing’s style…

Meanwhile, Chen Yi on the other side didn’t know what Xiao Wan’er was thinking.

If he knew, he’d surely refuse to rewrite *Xiaowanshi* in running script once more.

The first time, it had been spontaneous inspiration.

The second time, it would’ve become a love poem.

At that moment, Chen Yi stood at the end of the corridor, watching the group beneath the pavilion in the distance.

“The court has already made its move. The Xiaos place their hope in that trade post. It’s unlikely they’ll get what they want so easily, I suspect.”

After a moment of contemplation, Chen Yi shook his head silently. If the sky collapses, there’ll be tall people to stand on.

He, a mere son-in-law, an ordinary pharmacy shopkeeper, needn’t trouble himself with such matters.

Soon, he set his mood right and called from afar to Xiao Biao:

“Go find Zhang Yuwang. Today, my guardian insists those scrawny fish must see what real strength looks like!”

(Chapter Complete)