Chapter 8

The entire Changley Fang had only one pharmacy, located next to Kuaihuo Lin.

Everyone else thought Changley Fang was a slum, with no profit to be made, and were unwilling to open a pharmacy here.

Kuaihuo Lin was indeed wealthy, but how many people on one street could get sick? Opening a pharmacy here would only result in losses.

But the owner of Wang’s Pharmacy had a longer-term perspective than others.

The poor couldn’t afford medical treatment; they would endure minor illnesses, only coming to the pharmacy when they couldn’t bear it anymore, to see a doctor.

By then, he could charge them exorbitant prices.

Even a dilapidated ship has three pounds of nails; no matter how poor the people of Changley Fang were, they could still be squeezed for some profit.

Therefore, Wang’s Pharmacy not only did not have poor business, but it even made more money than some pharmacies in more prosperous markets.

The owner of Wang’s Pharmacy, Mr. Wang, was in his sixties, with a body full of fat, looking more like a butcher than a doctor.

At that moment, Mr. Wang was admiring a bright green bracelet.

The jade bracelet was as clear and bright as water, with some hollow patterns engraved on it, making it look extraordinary.

"Pity, this bracelet is only one, if it were a pair, the price would be several times higher.

I just don’t know which family that little girl belongs to; otherwise, with a bit of effort, I might get the other bracelet too."

Mr. Wang shook his head regretfully, put the bracelet back in the box, and prepared to go to the pawnshop when he had time to exchange it for silver.

"Move quickly! Don’t be lazy! Otherwise, I’ll deduct your entire monthly pay!"

Mr. Wang shouted at the apprentices in the pharmacy. Just as he was about to get up, he saw a handsome young man leading a little girl walk in.

Seeing the little girl, Mr. Wang’s eyes lit up immediately. Wasn’t this the little girl who had stolen medicine from his pharmacy a few days ago?

"Ha! You little brat, you actually dare to come back! Last time you ruined so many herbs, one bracelet isn’t enough to compensate! Give me the other one quickly!"

Xin'er was frightened by Mr. Wang, tightly gripping the hem of Su Xin’s clothes, and said委屈地: "But I already returned the medicine."

"Hmph! Can the medicine you touched with your dirty hands still be used?" Mr. Wang sneered, his face full of disdain.

Su Xin patted Xin'er’s head and looked at Mr. Wang indifferently: "What medicine requires two jade bracelets as compensation?"

Mr. Wang finally noticed Su Xin and sneered: "Are you the little girl’s family? Look, she took pure Liaodong ginseng last time, all imported from the Eastern Jin.

From the Eastern Jin to our Great Zhou, it’s a distance of tens of thousands of miles. Each ginseng root is worth over a hundred taels! She ruined seven or eight of them at once. Can you afford to compensate?"

Mr. Wang even took out a box of ginseng wrapped in red cloth and placed it in front of them, looking as if he had them cornered.

"Liar! You’re lying! What I took last time wasn’t this at all!" Su Xin'er clenched her small fists and shouted indignantly.

"Hmph! I say it is, it is!" Mr. Wang looked at Su Xin and sneered: "Boy, hand over the other jade bracelet quickly, or I’ll report you to the authorities, and you’ll be waiting to eat prison food!"

Mr. Wang was most experienced in dealing with commoners like Su Xin.

As long as he threatened them with the authorities, they would definitely comply.

The government offices are open to the south, but if you have a case but no money, don’t come in.

Since ancient times, the government has never been for the poor.

But to Mr. Wang’s surprise, he saw no panic in Su Xin’s eyes. This young man remained calm.

After a long silence, Su Xin finally spoke: "I haven’t eaten prison food, but I believe you won’t be able to eat soon."

"You little brat, you dare to threaten me?" Mr. Wang sneered: "Do you know the Eagle Gang? I pay them several dozen taels every month. Do you think I can’t have your legs broken and thrown out right now?"

"Old Huang, come in." Su Xin called softly.

Hearing Su Xin’s words, Huang Bingcheng immediately led eight gang members inside.

"Hey! Master Huang, why are you here?" Seeing Huang Bingcheng come in, Mr. Wang immediately ran over with his short, fat legs.

Huang Bingcheng had been in the Eagle Gang for over a decade.

When Liu Sandao was the leader, he trusted his brothers who had always followed him, but the task of collecting money was still given to experienced people like Huang Bingcheng.

So Mr. Wang was very familiar with him. When the Eagle Gang first occupied Kuaihuo Lin, he had even given Huang Bingcheng a few taels of silver to ask for his protection.

"Boss, what do you need?" Huang Bingcheng didn’t even look at Mr. Wang, but bowed respectfully to Qin Yu.

"Boss... Boss!?" Mr. Wang was stunned.

This young man was actually from the Eagle Gang? And an old member like Huang Bingcheng called him boss!

Huang Bingcheng looked at Mr. Wang coldly: "Let me introduce you again. My boss, Su Xin, is the adopted son of the head, Hu San, and a new sub-leader responsible for Kuaihuo Lin.

Mr. Wang, you’re quite capable, aren’t you? Extorting my boss, do you think you’re tired of living?"

Mr. Wang was drenched in sweat, his short legs trembling, barely supporting his fat body.

For a merchant with some assets like him, the government was not a big threat.

If the government caused trouble, he could just pay a fine and smooth things over.

What he couldn’t handle was a gang like the Eagle Gang.

Business is about harmony and profit. Encountering such a violent gang, they had a thousand ways to ruin you.

Even if they didn’t take your life, they could make it impossible for you to stay here.

"Boss Su, I failed to recognize your greatness, please spare me this time!"

Mr. Wang’s face was full of sorrow as he immediately returned the bracelet to Su Xin and even added a stack of silver notes, which Su Xin glanced at and estimated to be no less than three hundred taels.

"Spare you? Haha." Su Xin laughed lightly, carrying Xin'er out of the shop.

Mr. Wang was chilled by Su Xin’s laugh, not understanding what he meant.

Huang Bingcheng followed out, his eyes showing a hint of cruelty, and asked softly: "Boss, should we take care of this fat man?"

Despite his fawning demeanor in front of Su Xin, Huang Bingcheng was a veteran of the Eagle Gang for over a decade. Though not very strong, he had killed before.

Su Xin shook his head and said softly: "The old man doesn’t have many years left. Killing him would be too cruel. Just cripple him."

For some reason, hearing Su Xin’s calm words, Huang Bingcheng felt a chill run through him.

He nodded and re-entered the shop.

Inside, Mr. Wang’s screams echoed: "Don’t come near! What are you doing!? If you touch me, the government won’t let you off! Ah! Ah!"

Su Xin patted Xin'er’s head and covered her ears to shield her from Mr. Wang’s screams.

Seeing Mr. Wang lying on the ground, unable to even groan, Huang Bingcheng rubbed his chin and said: "That’s enough, stop. Don’t kill him."

Hearing his command, the eight gang members stopped.

Looking at the apprentices cowering in the corner, Huang Bingcheng sneered: "Bandage this fat man, don’t let him die. If the government comes, you know what to say."

The apprentices nodded repeatedly, not daring to provoke the Eagle Gang.

"Xin'er, let’s go home."

Su Xin picked up Xin'er, gave her the bracelet, and felt a bit of doubt.

The style and material of the bracelet were too good, not something the Su family could afford.

But Su Xin’s memories of his childhood were already blurry, even less clear than Xin'er’s.

After asking Xin'er a few questions and getting no clear answer, Su Xin decided not to press further.

After settling Xin'er at home and arranging for someone to take care of her, Su Xin called for Huang Bingcheng: "Old Huang, gather all the shop owners in Kuaihuo Lin at Zuiyue Tower for a meeting."

He had a main quest to earn ten thousand taels of silver, and this money had to be extracted from Kuaihuo Lin.

But Su Xin was not Liu Sandao and would not ruthlessly exploit the merchants. That would be like killing the goose that lays the golden eggs.

Huang Bingcheng understood immediately.

A new leader always had to make a strong start. When Liu Sandao took over, they had to pay a lot of respect.

Now the boss was Su Xin. If they didn’t show some respect, how could they continue to operate in Kuaihuo Lin?

Seeing Huang Bingcheng’s expression, Su Xin knew what he was thinking but didn’t correct him. He would understand in time.