Meng Yutang's door was extremely thick, with a door panel weighing no more than two hundred kilograms, but Jiang Shuo could lift it easily with just one hand. All the elders feared him like a god, and they all dropped their hands aside, not daring to see him again. Noisy.
The Cangtou in charge had long since lost his previous aura. He licked his lips and said in a trembling voice: "This, this... I'm just a disciple. I don't know if the person your guest is looking for is in the residence." Jiang Shuo Wen Yan said: "Who is the head of your family? Can you tell me and let me wait for a meeting?" Cheng Qianli said: "Ah... Young Master, why are you so polite with this young man? We can just barge in." Jiang Qianli said. Shuo thought to himself that if everything goes well on the road, Xie Yanchang, Quan Xingjian and others escorting Ye Qingyao should have been living in this Meng Yutang for many days. How could people like him, who had just arrived, shout and kill and rush in? Wouldn't it be a loss? Got etiquette?
The look in his eyes stopped Cheng Qianli, but he still said kindly: "Is there something going on at the pharmacy today? We really don't know, please let the manager know." The old man in charge looked at Tuoba Chaoguang doubtfully. , said to Jiang Shuo: "Master, you are really not bait..." He was about to say it smoothly
"Bait medicine", he immediately changed his words: "...the helper invited by the Dangxiang Qiang people?" Jiang Shuo said: "This Tuoba Lang, like us, comes to Baohao for the first time." Tuoba asked However, Guang noticed something strange and asked, "Is there someone from my Xihai party in the residence?" The manager was afraid to say anything. Dugu Xiang took Jiang Shuo's hand and said, "Brother Shuo, this person is really special." Sorry, you can't ask me why, let's go in and see for ourselves!" After saying that, regardless of whether Jiang Shuo agreed or not, he dragged Jiang Shuo and ran inside.
When all the gray-headed men saw the two of them first showing off their magical power and now flying through the air, they all thought they had really met a man of gods. They were so frightened that they fell to the ground to pray and did not dare to get up.
When Dugu Wen and others saw this, they all found it funny and did not say anything. They followed Shuo Xiang and others into Meng Yutang.
Meng Yutang occupies a very large area. When entering the gate, there is a large carriage and horse farm, but at this moment, there is not a single horse or carriage.
Passing through the carriage yard is Meng Yutang's real residence. This residence is five couplets wide and all five doors are tightly closed. Duguxiang walked to the main door and pushed it casually, but the door only trembled. She forgot The internal energy of his Zhulong Gong had already been returned to Kong Kong'er. Instead of breaking the door latch, this push made his hand hurt.
Jiang Shuo smiled and patted the door. The door latch snapped and the door
It opens inward with a "bang" sound. But inside there were tall cabinets and medicine cabinets covering the walls, but they were empty.
The two heard someone's voice behind the house, passed through the cabinet and went to the back of the house, only to see that the courtyard behind the house was full of people.
These people are all wearing white clothes, but these white clothes are filthy and shabby. Judging from the color of their clothes, they should all be Dangxiang Qiang people. These Dangxiang Qiang people are crowded together in layers, and Jiang Shuo and Dugu Xiang's sight is blocked by the backbones of these people. , completely unable to see what’s going on inside.
Only a fierce quarrel was heard inside, and it seemed that countless people were rushing to speak out. No one noticed the arrival of the two people despite the commotion.
The two of them frowned and didn't know what was going on. Suddenly they heard someone shouting loudly: "Everyone! Everyone! Listen to Meng!" When this person shouted, he secretly transported Shaolin.
As soon as the "lion roared", the sound shook the house, and the courtyard immediately became silent. Jiang Shuo said to Dugu Xiang, "It's Meng Lu!" Dugu Xiang was short and short. He couldn't see clearly who was talking through the crowd of men. He was so anxious that he stretched his neck and stretched his legs, but he still couldn't see. The speaker, Jiang Shuo, held her hand and pointed back. Dugu Xiang saw that it was a large wooden frame, layer by layer filled with bamboo baskets, and the baskets were filled with various medicinal herbs.
Dugu Xiang saw that the wood used for the wooden frame was extremely thick and should be able to withstand the weight of the two of them, so he and Jiang Shuo joined hands and lightly jumped onto the wooden frame. The wooden frame was leaning under the eaves, facing north, and covered in shadows. In the middle, the top surface cannot be seen clearly, and Shuo and Xiang's hands and feet were very light, so no one in the courtyard noticed it.
Sitting on a high place, Dugu Xiang saw clearly that the Dangxiang Qiang people were only standing on one side of the courtyard. On the other side of the courtyard, there was Meng Lu surrounded by Meng Yutang's gray heads. That Meng Lu was short and fat. No wonder Dugu Xiang was standing on one side of the courtyard. Xiangfang just couldn't see him. Thinking of this, she couldn't help but laugh. She covered her mouth with both hands and tried her best to suppress her laughter.
The number of Meng Yutang Cangtou was far less than that of the Dangxiang Qiang people. Although they were equipped with swords, the Dangxiang Qiang people also held hunting bows and long knives. Therefore, Meng Yutang Cangtou looked quite nervous. He held his sword in his hand and looked around. But he didn't dare to draw his weapon first.
Meng Lu seemed very calm and said: "Everyone, our Meng Yutang's price for purchasing medicinal materials has always been the most reasonable, but we are doctors and merchants... we can't do business at a loss, right?" Upon hearing this, the Dangxiang Qiang people said, Suddenly the pot exploded, and one person shouted: "Meng Yutang's business is getting bigger and bigger, but the price for collecting medicines is getting lower and lower! What's the reason for this?" Another person followed and shouted: "It's not easy for us to collect medicines, so If you sell it at a low price, you will have no way to survive!" Another person shouted: "Yes! Now that Tubo has blocked the meander of the river, we risk our lives to deliver medicine, but it is sold at a low price. It is really disgusting!" Everyone, you say something and I say it. After speaking, the scene began to become chaotic again. Meng Lu kept raising his hands to suppress his words, but to no avail.
Meng Lu had no choice but to use the lion's roar skill again and shouted: "Everyone, everyone... you are talking so much, I don't know who to listen to. Can you please recommend one person to speak?" After shouting and arguing for a long time, one person was finally elected as a representative. The person said: "I, the Qimei family, would like to ask the Meng family master on behalf of all the brothers, why is the price of purchasing ice silkworms this year so low?" Meng Lu He said with a bitter face: "Ah... Brother Qimei doesn't know something. Now the Tang Dynasty and Tubo are at odds with each other. The people in the Central Plains share the same hatred of Tubo. They can't even sell the medicinal materials from the river meander of Tubo. This, this... Meng It's also very embarrassing." After hearing this, Dugu Xiang sneered in a low voice: "This profiteer is talking nonsense..." Jiang Shuo said curiously: "It is true that the Tang and Tibetans fought for years to compete for Shibao City. What do you say, Xiang'er? Are you talking nonsense?" Dugu Xiang said: "This ice silkworm is an extremely precious medicinal material. Ordinary people cannot afford it. Those who can afford it are the dignitaries in Chang'an City. These fat-headed guys only know who they are but don't know anyone else. Do you think that Tang and Tibet are at war and don’t want to buy the enemy’s goods?” Sure enough, Qimei snorted coldly and said, “Our brothers pretended to be merchants and asked Meng Yutang at the Chang’an counter that the price of ice silkworms in Chang’an this year is higher than ever before. The age is 20% higher!" At this time, a person on the side shouted: "That's right! Buy low, sell high, how shameless!" Meng Lu still said in a long voice with a grimace: "Brother Qimei... ...I have already said that when Tang and Tibet were at war, medicinal materials from this war-torn place would of course be more expensive." Qimei seemed to be offended by Meng Lu and said: "Mr. Meng, what you said is really ridiculous. It was the Dangxiang Qiang people who went deep into the battlefield to seize the ice silkworms, and it was the Dangxiang Qiang people who risked their heads to transport the ice silkworms to Jincheng. What does this war disaster between Tang and Bo have to do with you?" Someone else shouted: "Since Meng Meng The boss also knows that it is not easy to collect medicine on the battlefield, so he should pay more money and silk. Why is the price getting cheaper?" As soon as he said this, there was an immediate response. Meng Lu sneered and said: "The Shipping Department does not allow it. I am responsible for the sale of Tibetan goods in the east and west cities. Don’t I need money and silk? How can you and other untouchables understand this account?" Meng Lu's words aroused the anger of the crowd, and the party members cursed one after another, and the scene was once again chaotic.
Qimei turned around and pressed her hands for a long time before stopping everyone and said to Meng Lu: "Mr. Meng, actually we don't want more, we just ask you to charge the medicine at the price five years ago." Meng Lu's eyes widened. "What? What? What? The price of medicine five years ago? Do you think I, Meng Lu, am a fool?" Qimei said, "Mr. Meng, don't think that we are ignorant and don't know the evil deeds you have done. Five Years ago, there were ten pharmacies in Lanzhou that harvested ice silkworms. After Meng Yutang came, he sold all the ice silkworms picked that year at a high price in the first year. In the following two years, the price for purchasing ice silkworms was increased year by year. Regarding the price, those ten drug stores either have no goods to sell, or they have moved to other places to sell other goods..." Meng Lu rolled his eyes strangely and said: "I charge medicine at a high price, and you are not satisfied?" Begging? Mei Dao: "Your high prices only lasted for three years. After ten drug stores closed down, there was only one in Jincheng that dealt with ice silkworms. Meng Yutang showed his evil side. The purchase price has been decreasing year by year over the years, and the asking price on the counter this year is even less than Half of what it was five years ago." Meng Lu said: "Qimei, you are so messy, why do you say so many useless things? Since you think the price is low, why don't you sell it to Meng Yutang?" Jiang Shuo He also thought in his heart: Meng Yutang is not a government official. Since the purchase price is not suitable, then just don't sell it. It seems inappropriate to surround Meng Lu and force him to buy it at a high price.
Qimei said angrily: "Mr. Meng, don't act like a good boy here. Now only Meng Yutang's family collects ice silkworms in Jincheng. If we don't sell Meng Yutang, who will we sell them to?" Jiang Shuo asked Dugu Xiang in a low voice: "Xiang'er, What is this ice silkworm?" Dugu Xiang said: "Hey, ice silkworms are very magical. Ice silkworms are insects in the wind and snow in winter, and they look like silkworms. But in summer, for some reason, they become as stiff as dead. Withered grass, so it is also called 'Cordyceps sinensis'. Ice silkworms are unique to the meanders of the river. They can only be picked in summer when the grass is there. If not picked in time, they will turn into insects and run away in winter!" In fact, ice silkworms are mycelial parasites. The body of the insect, once it matures in summer
"Grass", that winter will never change again
"Insect", naturally there is no such thing as turning into an insect and escaping. Jiang Shuo frowned and said: "This is both an insect and a grass, how dare anyone eat it?" Dugu Xiang scoffed: "I heard from my grandfather that this ice silkworm is born in winter, matures in summer, and emerges in autumn. According to the Its principle of yin and yang is a magic medicine that nourishes the kidneys and helps yang. This medicine is extremely expensive in Chang'an, even as expensive as gold. Every time it goes on the market in early autumn, it is snapped up by dignitaries." Jiang Shuo frowned and said: "Replenishing the kidneys? Wouldn't it be good to practice enough Shaoyin kidney meridian? What are you doing eating this weird thing? What does it mean to help the yang? Do the dignitaries in Chang'an all practice the internal strength of the yang?" Dugu Xiang said with a red face. : "I don't know this..." Jiang Shuo thought to himself, why are you blushing when you don't know?
While the two were chatting nonsense, Meng Lu said to Qimei: "If I sell you, I feel cheap, but if I don't sell you, I won't accept it. Isn't this a contradiction? You can't let the Xiang Qiang people in your party take all the benefits, right?" Jiang Shuo clenched his fists and said, "This Chief Meng is going too far." Dugu Xiang said, "Brother Shuo, I have a way to get rid of him, but..." Jiang Shuo asked, "Just what?" ?" Dugu Xiang said: "If Quan Xingjian really takes the Ye family's sister to live here, and we dismantle Master Meng's position, your sister Qingyao is afraid of being kicked out..." Jiang Shuo tapped his forehead and said: "Why didn't I think of this? This is indeed a troublesome matter..." At this time, an old man's voice was heard: "We have checked inside and outside the backyard. Caobang, Quan Xingjian and his party are not here. Place." Shuo and Xiang were startled, and when they turned around, they saw that there was a high window on the wall, and Dugu Wen was talking to them behind the window, holding the grille open.
