Da Ming: Father, step aside, I'll be the prime minister!

Chapter 34 Pharmacies and the Plague

"A pharmacy?" Fourth Brother Zhang Jianxiu pondered for a moment, thinking that this was a respectable profession, at least it didn't seem "rebellious" like in the newspapers.

But he still had doubts: "There are pharmacies everywhere in the capital. Can your pharmacy succeed? It can't compete with Heniantang and Wanquantang."

With high-ranking officials and nobles gathering in the capital, how could merchants not think of opening a pharmacy? As early as the Yongle period, when Beijing was first built, Heniantang and Wanquantang already existed. It was wishful thinking for later entrants to try to surpass them.

Zhang Yunxiu, however, looked confident: "Fourth Brother doesn't believe me? I can sell tens of thousands of copies of newspapers, so opening a pharmacy would be a piece of cake."

Zhang Jianxiu, the fourth brother, naturally recognized Zhang Yunxiu's business acumen, especially his brilliant idea of ​​using newspapers to attract merchants to place advertisements.

But Zhang Jianxiu was still unsure: "Your pharmacy..."

Zhang Yunxiu quickly pressed his advantage: "Fourth Brother, you know I've always loved reading obscure ancient books. A few days ago, Yu Xiangdou brought over a batch of ancient books, and I found a wonderful secret recipe. I've heard that many officials in the court suffer from hemorrhoids."

"Can this be done?"

Fourth Brother Zhang Jianxiu's expression was somewhat strange.

He couldn't help but suspect that his younger brother was after their father, whose hemorrhoids had recently shown signs of worsening.

However, upon closer reflection, hemorrhoids have been a chronic ailment among scholars since ancient times, and it is difficult to cure them completely.

If Zhang Yunxiu can really solve this, it will definitely be a good business opportunity.

Seeing that things were looking promising, Zhang Yunxiu continued to encourage him: "The money is just sitting there anyway, and it will get moldy if you hide it away. Why not give it to your younger brother? Then I will get a share of the profits, and I won't have to do anything. I can just lie down and make money!"

This matter doesn't involve the government, so even Father has no reason to take it away.

Under the influence of sweet words, Fourth Brother Zhang Jianxiu was tempted again. He swallowed hard, but still hesitated.

"It's not that I don't believe you, it's just..."

Fourth Brother Zhang Jianxiu is wealthy.

The two thousand taels of silver for redeeming her from prostitution were initially given to the madam, but later, when Xiang'er came to the Zhang family, she brought it back with her dowry.

Since Zhang Juzheng came to power, people fawned over him like fish crossing a river, so it was not surprising that brothel owners would pay a loss to curry favor with him.

However, Zhang Juzheng was known for his strict family discipline, and if he found out, he would definitely break Zhang Jianxiu's legs.

Zhang Yunxiu feigned anger: "I was still thinking of Fourth Brother, but he doesn't believe me. Oh well, I'll just let Yu Xiangdou profit from this deal."

As expected, Zhang Jianxiu became anxious.

Despite his high rank as a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he never dared to take bribes. Although the title of the Grand Secretary's son sounded impressive, his monthly salary was less than thirty taels of silver, which was a lot for ordinary people, but it was far from enough for him.

Now, he also has to raise Xiang'er, which will increase his expenses even more. Is he going to just sit around and do nothing until his savings run out?
The newspaper already makes several thousand taels of silver a month? How could the pharmacy possibly make less?
A single share of stock could potentially earn him several hundred taels of silver a month; it was impossible for him not to be tempted!
He immediately grabbed Zhang Yunxiu and said, "Hey! No! Fifth Brother, let's talk again! I have money! I'll give it to you right now! Who is Yu Xiangdou? Why should he earn this money!"

Zhang Yunxiu glanced at him and said, "Fourth Brother, you can't force yourself. You might regret it later."

Fourth Brother Zhang Jianxiu shook his head vigorously: "Absolutely not! I, Zhang Jianxiu, keep my word! Even if I have to jump off the carriage, I will never go back on my word!"

He grinned and patted Zhang Yunxiu on the shoulder, saying, "How could I not believe you, brother?"

To show his sincerity, Zhang Jianxiu immediately began to loosen his belt.

"Wait here, I'll give you the silver notes right now."

Zhang Yunxiu was shocked, watching as his fourth brother pulled out several crumpled silver notes from his crotch, which still smelled of something.

It seems that Fourth Brother Zhang Jianxiu went to great lengths to hide these few silver notes.

"Take it quickly!" Fourth Brother Zhang Jianxiu handed over the silver notes, appearing very enthusiastic.

Zhang Yunxiu immediately stepped back, his face stiff, and said, "Um... could we exchange it for silver ingots?"

I really find it rather unappealing!

Fourth Brother Zhang Jianxiu looked troubled: "Where am I supposed to find you silver ingots? This crotch can't hold up!"

Just as the two were arguing, a commotion suddenly broke out outside.

"Xu~"

The horses let out a long neigh, and the carriage began to lurch. Fourth Brother Zhang Jianxiu, somewhat displeased, spoke to the coachman outside.

"Uncle Wu, what's going on?"

The coachman quickly explained, "Young master, there are many people handling matters outside. It seems the carriage can't get through."

"Get things done?" Zhang Jianxiu, the fourth brother, was somewhat dissatisfied with the driver's vague answer and immediately lifted the curtain to look outside.

It's fine if you don't look at it, but once you do, you'll feel unlucky.

For some reason, the sun was shining brightly when I went out, but as I walked through the bustling Qipan Street, the sky suddenly became overcast.

A cold wind was blowing on the street, and the bustling Qipan Street of the past was nowhere to be seen.

Funeral processions moved slowly around the street, and almost everyone on the street was dressed in white mourning clothes.

They held up banners to summon the souls of the dead, their eyes vacant. Some had swollen faces, whether from crying or some illness, it was hard to tell. Every now and then someone would cough, accompanied by the soft sound of weeping.

Those who passed by could only watch from a distance, and dared not linger for long.

"unlucky!"

Seeing this scene, Fourth Brother Zhang Jianxiu cursed, but also said with some relief.

"Fortunately, His Majesty ordered me to come to the palace for an audience at noon, otherwise I would have been late today."

He said to the driver, "Turn around, turn around, let's take another road."

The driver quickly turned the horse around, preparing to take another route.

Zhang Yunxiu couldn't help but ask with curiosity, "Although today's calendar is auspicious for breaking ground and burial, aren't there just too many people holding funerals?"

Mentioning this, Zhang Jianxiu glanced at his younger brother speechlessly and said, "I have to thank you for this. The Wanli Xinbao newspaper you published has made things much more convenient for ordinary people. In the past, the price of the imperial calendar was outrageously expensive, and ordinary people could not afford it easily."

Nowadays, people can simply buy a newspaper every three days to know the calendar for the seven days of the year.

People each had a newspaper in hand, using the almanac to plan their household affairs, so naturally, crowds gathered.

As a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Zhang Jianxiu was very sensitive to these matters.

The imperial calendar was a good thing for ordinary people, but it was a headache for the Embroidered Uniform Guard. With people gathering in the capital, the number of cases had increased several times over.

If it weren't for the fact that the Wanli Xinbao was run by Zhang Yunxiu and had the emperor's backing, the Embroidered Uniform Guard would have definitely caused them some trouble.

The Ming Dynasty did not have the concept of "week," so "seven days" meant a week.

Zhang Yunxiu noticed this detail, then frowned and said, "But there shouldn't be so many people holding funerals at the same time. I see that many of the people on the street have illnesses, making it seem like the plague is raging."

The situation was truly exaggerated. In a fantasy world, this scene on the street would be considered the birth of a demon.

Zhang Yunxiu also noticed that the abnormality on these people's faces did not resemble mourning at all.

At this moment, Zhang Jianxiu, the fourth brother, remembered something.

"I almost forgot!" he exclaimed, slapping his forehead. "This is the Big Head Plague!"

Before Zhang Yunxiu could ask, his fourth brother, Zhang Jianxiu, looked nervous and quickly instructed the driver.

"Uncle Wu, turn the horse around immediately and whip it! Let's get away quickly!"

"Don't worry, young master!"

The coachman, having received instructions, whipped the horses until they neighed and howled, working even harder than the oxen and horses of later generations.

After the carriage had traveled some distance, Zhang Yunxiu finally had the opportunity to ask what "big head plague" was.

"You don't even know about Big Head Plague?"

Fourth Brother Zhang Jianxiu looked at his younger brother with some surprise.

(End of this chapter)