Chapter 567: Chapter 567: Good News
Tong Dayu and the other servants were all very happy and quickly thanked Gu Jinli.
They thought they had to serve the master’s family, but unexpectedly they didn’t have to, instead they were assigned to work in the workshop and didn’t need to live with the master’s family, which was almost like not being a servant at all.
Gu Jinli then called Sister Li and Feng Jin over and said to them, "Fight each other for me to see, don’t hold back."
Sister Li and Feng Jin, both of whom were persons of few words but had real skills, responded and started fighting in the courtyard.
To everyone’s surprise, the victor turned out to be Sister Li.
Feng Jin lost to Sister Li again, looking slightly embarrassed, although he had never beaten her before, but now, even with Sister Li being ill, he still couldn’t win.
Gu Jinli smiled with satisfaction, "Sister Li is indeed formidable."
Sister Li clasped her fists and saluted Gu Jinli, "Young Master overpraises, when this servant has recovered, I will win even quicker."
Gu Jinli gave Feng Jin a wicked glance, and indeed, the young man seemed to wish he could find a crack to crawl into.
Gu Jinli’s smile deepened, he said to Sister Li, "I have a big sister who knows a bit of martial arts, but she’s not as good as me. I want to assign you to her side to stay with her and protect her thoroughly, would you be willing?"
Sister Li was someone with real abilities, and such people have their pride. Sister Li was willing to follow her because she was grateful for the kindness shown to them, but Gu Jinxiu had not extended any kindness to Sister Li and the others.
Hearing this, Sister Li paused for a moment, then asked, "Does the Young Master care a lot about Sister Xiu?"
Ye Jingzi had already introduced the Gu Family People to them and mentioned that they didn’t like servants calling them Miss or Young Master, so they could call the Young Master’s sister Sister Xiu.
Gu Jinli nodded, "She is my own elder sister. She has suffered a lot since she was young and has taken quite a few beatings to protect our three younger siblings below her."
Granny Gu was prone to hitting people, and when they were in their old home, she often beat and scolded them. Gu Jinxiu couldn’t defeat Granny Gu, so whenever she saw them being beaten, she could only hug them, using her own body to shield them from Granny Gu’s cane.
She inherited the original owner’s memories and remembered all these things, and she also appreciated everything that Gu Jinxiu, as the big sister, had done for them.
Sister Li responded, "Since it is someone the Young Master cares about, this servant will do her best to protect Sister Xiu. No one will touch Sister Xiu unless I am dead."
Gu Jinli said, "Sister Li, thank you. I’m entrusting my big sister to you."
She had experienced hardship and knew many disgusting things... In rural areas, many people were afraid that if their daughters were too beautiful, they would be kidnapped. In ancient times, purity was valued, and if a girl was abducted and dishonored, she could only marry the villainous abductor, or else she would be drowned in the pond.
Mrs. Cui and Gu Dashan had always been worried about Gu Jinxiu, fearing that a momentary lapse might fail to protect her. Gu Jinli was also concerned, so she assigned Sister Li, the best at martial arts, to Gu Jinxiu, to stay close to and protect her.
Immediately, Sister Li followed Gu Jinli to meet Gu Jinxiu, and after giving her respects, Sister Li stayed at Gu Jinli’s house, serving with Gu Jinxiu.
Gu Jinli, on the other hand, received good news from Xuanhu Fang.
After trying out the tooth powder, Doctor Wu confirmed there were no issues with ingredients conflicting and turning poisonous, and he had the tooth powder sent to Yuanzi Pharmacy.
When Boss Min and the others tried it, they were pleasantly surprised and immediately sent Manager Cheng, who was nearest to Tianfu County, and he had now arrived.
"Little Xiao Yu, the God of Wealth has come; hurry up and open the door to discuss the tooth powder," Doctor Wu, who had lately been in high spirits, said loudly as soon as he got to the workshop residence.
Manager Cheng and another gentleman in brocade robes stood waiting behind Doctor Wu.
Gu Jinli led Mu Tong, Han Liu, and Ye Jingzi to open the door, welcoming them inside.
"Grandpa Wu, Manager Cheng, please come in... And this uncle is?"
Manager Cheng said, "This is Manager Zhang from the Jinling branch of Yuanzi Pharmacy. The tooth powder you make is excellent. There are many wealthy families in Jinling, making it suitable to sell there."
Manager Zhang greeted Gu Jinli with clasped hands: "Miss Gu is gracious."
Gu Jinli smiled: "Manager Zhang, welcome, please come inside."
She led them into the pharmaceutical workshop, with Managers Cheng and Zhang looking around as they went, growing more and more satisfied. The workshop was very well set up; mosquito repellent grinders were laid out in the courtyard, and inside, workers were using tools to grind medicinal herbs into mosquito repellent.
Gu Jinli took them to the main guest hall and had Ye Jingzi bring the tooth powder: "Managers, take a look. This is the tooth powder from our workshop. Not only does it have a fragrance, but the scent lasts long, and it can also treat dental abscesses and pain."
"How much is the price?" Manager Cheng asked. Yuanzi Pharmacy had only received some of the medicinal herbs used to make the tooth powder from Gu Jinli but didn’t know what price she had set.
Gu Jinli: "Tooth powder is something that ordinary farmers do not use; it’s sold to families in comfortable circumstances. The lowest price is one hundred copper coins per tael, with each packet weighing exactly one tael."
Doctor Wu laughed upon hearing this: "You girl, you truly know how to do business. None of the herbs you use to make tooth powder are expensive."
The cost was merely ten copper coins per tael, yet she resold it at ten times the price.
Gu Jinli said: "Grandpa Wu, I did not deliberately raise the price. Although the medicinal herbs are not expensive, the costliness is in the labor. Grinding the herbs into tooth powder takes a lot of effort."
Hence, she had also spent quite a bit of silver to buy servants.
Manager Cheng didn’t think it was expensive, and Manager Zhang found it even more reasonable. Such a fine product as tooth powder, once it crossed the Huai River into the prosperous places of Jiangnan, could be sold for at least one tael of silver per bottle.
Both managers agreed on the spot: "This price is acceptable, and Yuanzi Pharmacy will purchase it. However, we want two types of bottles, one terra cotta and one porcelain."
In Great Chu, noble families all used porcelain, while terra cotta was something used by the common folks and considered not suitable for high society.
Gu Jinli smiled: "That can be arranged. But it will cost extra."
Elder Wu laughed out loud: "Ha, you girl, really diving into the money pit."
Gu Jinli shook her head: "No, no, no. The main issue is that porcelain bottles are too expensive. A good small porcelain bottle costs over a hundred copper coins. If we don’t charge extra, I would be operating at a loss."
Porcelain is expensive, and terra cotta isn’t cheap either. Her family was poor, and at home, they still used wooden bowls.
Managers Zhang and Cheng had anticipated this move and nodded: "Yuanzi Pharmacy will provide you with the terra cotta and porcelain bottles."
So, don’t think about increasing the price.
Gu Jinli responded: "That’s fine. But if there’s any problem with the bottles you provide leading to issues with the tooth powder, you must take full responsibility."
Manager Zhang was taken aback and looked at Elder Wu: "Your words are true, Elder. This young lady knows how to do business; she’s thought of everything."
Elder Wu said: "Indeed, this girl is clever. Don’t think about taking advantage of her; not losing out is already your good fortune in her hands."
Boss Min had instructed both managers beforehand that when doing business with Gu Jinli, they need not haggle too much, so quite swiftly, an order was placed.