Chapter 88 Luding Mountain
Referring to the experience in the previous life, Mengxi set a sky-high price for the pills on the second floor. When Li Du and his son received the price list sent by Zhiqiu, they were shocked. The master must be trying to kill several people with one stick. The price was too outrageous. How could it be sold?
They once advised the second grandma to set a similar price, but she came back and said it was okay, that was the price, whether you wanted to buy it or not, the first floor was cheaper, someone came to buy, the shop was opened by the owner, the Li father and son had no choice but to obey, but since the opening, the second floor has not been opened for business. Although there are not many medicines on the second floor and not much cost, it is always kept at a low price, which has become a concern for the buyers and sellers. According to convention, they should lower the price at this time, and today, seeing that the owner rarely comes, the father and son want to try to persuade the owner again.
Mengxi listened to what Li Du and his son said, thought for a long time, and thought to herself that no one was interested in the second floor because Xichuntang was not famous enough. Most people did not know the value of her medicine. When the situation on the first floor was fully opened, there would be no worries that no one would pay attention to the second floor. At that time, the sky-high price on the second floor would be a unique landscape, which would only attract more people. I remember a classic line in the movie Big Bowl directed by Feng Xiaogang in my previous life: "Don't ask for the best, just the most expensive!" These rich people are born to be cheap, and cheap goods are never their first choice. Thinking of this, she looked up and said to Li Du:
"No, just this price, hold on for now, there will always be someone who knows the value of the goods, Taigong fishes, those who are willing to take the bait will take it"
Seeing that the father and son were looking at her with confusion , as if there was something on her face, Mengxi pretended not to see it. Her idea could only be understood intuitively, so she let the father and son digest it slowly.
She paced to the shelf on the second floor and checked her medicine. Zhiqiu on the side couldn't help but asked:
"Second Grandma, who is Grandpa?"
Damn, could it be that the Great Qi Dynasty didn't even have the Shang and Zhou Dynasties? Oh right, "Investiture of the Gods" is a novel from the Ming Dynasty. Even if there were Shang and Zhou Dynasties before the Great Qi Dynasty, they were probably only recorded in the official history books. I secretly thought to myself that I was careless. It seems that I have to find a chance to study the history of the Great Qi Dynasty, so as not to make a fool of myself again someday.
He turned around calmly, tapped Zhiqiu's head with the fan in his hand, and said:
"I am a man now, call me Sir"
Although Li Du and his son did not understand what their master meant, they had to agree seeing her firm attitude. Fortunately, the medicine on the first floor was of good quality and low price, and they could sell dozens of taels of silver every day. Moreover, the business was booming, so they just pretended that there was no second floor and let her do whatever she wanted, as long as the master was happy.
Mengxi thought of the advanced communication in her previous life, which was not available in Da Qi. Messages had to be sent back and forth by people, which was a waste of time and manpower. This was always a headache for her. Now her Yichuntang had just opened, and business was light, so no one paid attention to it. If it really expanded in the future, it would be easy for Zhiqiu to run back and forth like this, and something would happen. A light bulb suddenly lit up in her head, and she thought of carrier pigeons, so she told Li Du to go out and look for them when he had time, buy some good pigeons, and have someone train them, so that they could be used to deliver messages in the future. Li Du listened, looked at his master puzzled and said:
"Second Madam, oh, Young Master , these carrier pigeons are said to be used by some people in the underworld to collect information. We are serious businessmen, how can we use these inferior things? I am thinking of training more capable servants in the future and sending them to the Xiao Mansion. On the one hand, they can work for you, and on the other hand, they can pass on information, so that you can have someone to take care of you in the Xiao Mansion."
Mengxi almost fainted when he heard this. The ancients were really pedantic. The only function of a carrier pigeon was to deliver messages. Who cares who used it? He glanced at Li Du and said:
"Don't be afraid to spend money, just pick the best ones and buy more. My backyard in the east wing is big, raise a few pigeons, and no one will be suspicious. Oh, and buy some other birds and animals and send them to me. That way, the people in the Xiao Mansion will only think that I like these."
Unknowingly a day passed. Zhiqiu saw that it was already past the afternoon and was afraid that something might happen if it was too late, so he reminded them that it was time to go home. Mengxi looked up at the sky and sighed. It was too late. She had been thinking of going to the market, but it was impossible today. She then gave Li Du some instructions, changed her clothes, and went out from the back door. The car had already been waiting at the door, and she and Zhiqiu got in the car and returned safely to the Xiao Mansion.
Zhixia and Zhidong had already been waiting outside the second gate. With a few people providing cover, Mengxi successfully entered the east wing after getting off the car.
After entering the north room, Zhiqiu sat down on the embroidered cushion, patted his chest and said:
"Thank God, you finally came back safely. I was so worried all day."
Mengxi rolled her eyes at her:
"It's your second grandmother who predicted it. Nothing will happen. What does this have to do with God?"
Zhiqiu glanced at their Second Grandma and shook her head helplessly. This Second Grandma was becoming more and more lawless. On the surface, she was well-behaved and was afraid that a falling leaf would hit her head, but secretly she did all kinds of shocking things. It was really bad that she even disrespected God. It only made life difficult for them, the servants, who had to worry about the heaven and earth.
Mengxi came over and patted her:
"Get up, get up, hurry up and pack up and serve dinner. After we finish eating, we can figure out where to go tomorrow."
Zhiqiu stared at Second Grandma with eyes wide open, her eyeballs almost falling out:
"Go out now! Second Madam, my heart is not in good condition."
"The old lady and the first lady will be back the day after tomorrow. This is a rare opportunity. Go quickly," Mengxi coaxed Zhiqiu gently.
Zhiqiu was really bewitched by the second grandmother's pair of gentle and innocent eyes. Looking at the second grandmother's pleading eyes, he suddenly became heroic and patted his chest:
"Second Madam, tomorrow I will go through the knife mountain and the oil pot with you."
Zhiqiu turned around and walked out, not noticing that a sly look flashed across their second grandmother's eyes and a wicked smile on her face. Zhiqiu, this child, was finally led astray by her.
The next morning, Zhiqiu and Mengxi left the house and went straight to the back door of Yichun Hall. Li Du was already waiting there. After a brief greeting, he took the two to the backyard and went to the room to change into men's clothes. Mengxi then left the carriage at Yichun Hall and went out from the back door with Zhiqiu, walking all the way to the downtown area.
After Zhiqiu's introduction yesterday, Mengxi learned that the two most famous attractions in Pingyang City are Jingyun Temple and Luding Mountain. After pondering for half a night, she finally chose Luding Mountain to visit the natural scenery of Da Qi. As for Jingyun Temple, she had been to Shaolin Temple, White Horse Temple, Jokhang Temple and so on in her previous life. It didn't matter if she didn't go. There was only one chance, so of course she would choose the best.
It is said that the color of Lu Ding Mountain is as red as crimson and as bright as bright clouds. The mountain is famous for its sea of clouds, strange pines, strange rocks and lakes. It is said that the whole looks like a huge bronze tripod, with both sides like deer antlers, hence the name Lu Ding Mountain. This reminds Mengxi of Jin Yong's Deer and the Cauldron in his previous life. I wonder if there is any legend of competing for the Central Plains in Lu Ding Mountain. I must go and see it.
