PFC Chapter 162: Setting a Trap
Chapter 162: Setting a Trap
Today we're going to a newly opened large medicinal herb market in the southern suburbs of Beijing.
It is said that this event was organized by the government in conjunction with medicine merchants from all over the Great Wei Dynasty.
It's not easy to get a stall in the expensive medicinal herb market in Beijing.
This requires not only connections but also a significant amount of money to accomplish.
Therefore, the pharmaceutical companies here must be quite influential.
After leaving the Marquis's residence, Wu Weiwei changed into a proper servant's outfit, and she even altered her face.
They will then wear servant's clothes.
She looked completely different from her usual self, and there was no trace of womanhood in her.
Right now, she and Lingfu are dressed like two servants of a wealthy merchant.
Because Weiyuan had been scammed by a medicinal herb supplier before.
Wu Weiwei came here today to find a suitable supplier for Jade Butterfly Garden.
In ten days, the Jade Butterfly Beauty Pharmacy will be able to open.
Once the negotiations are finalized here, the connection will be seamless.
Not only do the wholesale prices of medicinal herbs near the capital city go up high, but they also rip people off.
What's even more outrageous is that the medicinal herbs aren't all dried goods.
The laws of the Great Wei Dynasty stipulated that drug dealers were allowed to purchase drugs with residues.
However, a single serving of medicinal herbs must contain at least 70% genuine ingredients to avoid constituting the crime of selling counterfeit goods.
If the medicine obtained from the pharmacy is not effective when decocted, or if the condition does not improve after taking it for a period of time.
That must be because these unscrupulous wholesalers made fakes, mixing other cheap or inferior products into the medicinal herbs.
After arriving at the medicinal herb market with Lingfu, Wu Weiwei and Lingfu went from shop to shop, browsing through each stall.
Wu Weiwei didn't know anything about herbs, but she found them novel and started smelling and looking at them.
Seeing her like this, Lingfu chuckled and asked, "Auntie, did you smell something?"
Wu Weiwei glared at her.
Lingfu suddenly realized something.
The two are now dressed as men, so they can no longer be called "auntie".
"Brother Wu, how much longer do we have to wander around before we go find Steward Pang and the others?"
The fat steward Lingfu mentioned is Pang Tuo.
Wu Weiwei had a good impression of the chubby, fair-skinned Pang Tuo, who was sweet-talking and liked to say nice things.
As expected, the people Lin Fan recommended to her were all quite good.
Although Pang Tuo was a glutton and a bit overweight, he was a master at negotiating business.
Some time ago, she took out the silver she had obtained from Lu Hanting and prepared to have Pang Tuo get her a seagoing vessel.
If Qingzhu is to develop offshore shipping routes, then giant ocean-going vessels will definitely be indispensable.
Wu Weiwei drew a model of a modern warship on the blueprints.
After reviewing the drawing, Qingzhu made further modifications and added some features.
This allows the ship to be used for both defense and combat.
After reviewing the revised model diagram, Wu Weiwei expressed her satisfaction.
It seems that even without him, Qingzhu will be able to design such a ship.
A few days later.
Pang Tuo found a veteran shipbuilder, who was said to be a reclusive master craftsman.
The shipbuilder said that if she could come up with 500,000 taels of silver, he could build the ship in the drawing for her.
Wu Weiwei, of course, did not believe it.
So, accompanied by Pang Tuo and the others, they went to meet the craftsman.
Under her watchful eye, the craftsman made her a small boat in just two days.
Apart from the different sizes and models, everything else was made according to her pictures.
Of course, he replaced some modern materials with other materials.
Not only does it not affect usability, but the effect seems to be even better than the function she designed.
Thus, Wu Weiwei finally believed in his abilities.
After some haggling, Pang Tuo reduced the price of the ship from 500,000 taels of silver to 380,000 taels.
Both parties were happy with the deal.
Wu Weiwei agreed with that person to deliver the goods three months later.
During this time, Qingzhu was preparing the things she would need for her voyage.
The security escort agency has now recruited nearly a hundred people.
The first batch of escort missions has already begun.
Everything was proceeding smoothly according to her plan.
After strolling around for a while, the two turned into an alley.
Then they saw that Pang Tuo was already waiting for them.
"My boss."
Fat Tuo bowed to her with his hands clasped.
Looking at the chubby boy in front of her, who looked exactly like a simple-minded young master from a wealthy family, Lingfu couldn't help but laugh.
Wu Weiwei glanced at her sideways.
Lingfu then said shyly, "Hello, Steward Hao."
Fat Tuo nodded.
"Master, Ma Hongmao has arrived."
"Okay, let's proceed according to plan then!"
Wu Weiwei and Ling Fu followed Pang Tuo out of the alley.
These past few days, Wu Weiwei has had Pang Tuo disguise himself as a wealthy young master from a neighboring country who came to their Great Wei Dynasty to purchase medicinal herbs.
He had been staying at the famous Chang'an Inn in the capital for several days, all to build up his reputation.
This is also to implement her plan for today.
After leading the two around the medicinal herb market and asking about prices, Pang Tuo finally stopped in front of a stall.
How much is this Panax notoginseng?
Ma Hongmao had just sat down and drunk a cup of tea.
Then a richly dressed young man with a belly as round as his own came to the stall next door.
"This number!"
The thin boss held up a number to him.
"Give me a thousand catties first."
Boss, you have to pick out the best quality ones for me, don't try to cheat me..."
Fat Tuo glanced at him.
Lingfu took out several thick rolls of silver notes and began counting the money.
Waiting for payment.
The boss asked them where the goods were to be delivered.
"Jingyun Inn, after you drop me off, tell the innkeeper. He knows which room I'm staying in."
The group was about to leave.
Just then, Wu Weiwei, who was walking behind, suddenly said, "Young master, this time when you went out, the master instructed you to buy tens of thousands of catties of high-quality Coptis chinensis to bring back."
You might as well take advantage of the current market opening and buy all the medicinal herbs you need at the discounted price.
When you get back, the master will probably reward you with 100,000 taels to spend...
The shop owner, who was packing the items, heard that this simple-minded young man wanted to buy more, and even more than 10,000 jin (5,000 kg).
I was shocked.
Tens of thousands of kilograms of Coptis chinensis, how much profit must that generate?
If he could take on the order, wouldn't he be rich?
Although he doesn't have that many items in his shop, he can purchase them from other pharmaceutical companies.
For example, the one next door.
I heard that this Mr. Ma owns tens of thousands of acres of medicinal herb base in Huizhou.
"Sir, you just said you wanted to buy the best quality Coptis chinensis."
I have it, and I can offer you this price.
The shop owner gestured a price.
Upon seeing this, Weiwei scoffed, "Boss, you're really ripping me off."
We just looked around, and this is clearly the retail price…
"Young master, he thinks we're easy targets. Let's go check out another place!"
The simple-minded young master listened and thought it made sense.
So he took his two servants and headed to the next stall.
"Hey, I'll earn a little less, here's the amount for you, is that okay?"
However, Wu Weiwei and the others looked back and were still not satisfied with the number he had shown.
He turned and left without a second thought, leaving the boss furious and heartbroken.
I knew I shouldn't have set such a high price.
Less than an hour.
News of the wealthy young master of Xiliang Kingdom secretly visiting the Fangyun Mountain medicinal herb market and purchasing medicinal herbs at high prices spread throughout the entire market.
It is said that the medicinal herbs Coptis chinensis, Scutellaria baicalensis, and Panax notoginseng are purchased in quantities of tens of thousands of kilograms.
Where did this arrogant young master from a wealthy family come from?
Herbal medicine merchants began to inquire about the whereabouts of this wealthy but simple-minded young master.
Ma Hongmao frowned, already having some calculations in mind about this simple-minded young master.