flstandardbreds Chapter 176 Selling Medicine (2)
Chapter 176 Selling Medicine (2)
Chapter 176 Selling Medicine (Part Two)
In a VIP room in the back hall of the Saint Dan Pavilion, Manager Zhao Ting sat on the sofa, clicking his teeth in confusion.
A tea table lay across Zhao Ting's face, on which sat a jade plate with a row of crimson pills.
The pills were provided by two guests sitting across the tea table, who said they were to be consigned for sale at the Holy Pill Pavilion.
There was nothing wrong with the identities of the two guests. The boy, who looked to be about seventeen or eighteen years old and had thick, bushy eyebrows, introduced himself as Xiao Chong and said he was a student of Qingfeng Academy. He also showed identification markings representing Qingfeng Academy.
The other, slightly younger boy, was named Long Wu. According to Xiao Chong, he was a servant who did odd jobs in the household.
Zhao Ting was not puzzled by the identities of the two guests, but by the more than ten pills they brought.
Based on his years of experience working at the Holy Pill Pavilion, Zhao Ting could tell at a glance that these pills were no ordinary items. However, he couldn't figure out their function.
If the function is not apparent, it means the actual value of the pill cannot be determined. This is less of a problem with ordinary pills, as the seller is simply consigning them and the Holy Pill Pavilion can simply take a cut.
But this time it was different. The other party priced these pills very high, each pill costing 100,000 yuan stones, and there were no discounts.
Although it's a consignment sale, these pills are placed with the Holy Pill Pavilion, and the pavilion is responsible for them. If I rashly accept these pills, it means that the Holy Pill Pavilion agrees that the other party's items are worth the price.
But if I misjudge and these pills turn out badly in my hands, the pavilion will have to compensate the guests.
One stone costs 100,000 yuan stones, and more than ten stones would cost more than a million yuan stones. If something really goes wrong, I simply cannot bear the responsibility.
After staring at the pills for a long time, Zhao Ting raised his head and asked, seemingly uncertainly, "How much did you say you were going to sell these pills for?"
"Exactly 100,000 spirit stones per stone." The young man named Xiao Chong stretched out one hand, clenching and unclenching his five fingers, and gestured.
"Could you offer a smaller price? Our establishment has never seen this kind of pill before, and we don't know if we can even sell it," Zhao Ting suggested.
"One hundred thousand yuan per piece, not a penny less," Xiao Chong shook his head and answered with absolute certainty.
Zhao Ting really didn't want to do this deal, but he was afraid that if word got out, people would laugh at him and say that Shengdan Pavilion didn't know its value.
Therefore, after careful consideration, he said, "Why don't you two honored guests wait here for a moment? I will invite the pavilion's steward over so that he can assess the value of these pills."
"Why didn't you say so earlier? You made Fifth Master waste so much breath." The boy named Long Wu rolled his eyes, his words quite impolite.
In fact, Long Wu's mouth hadn't stopped since he entered the room; he kept babbling on and on, and what he said wasn't very pleasant to hear.
This attitude made Zhao Ting feel very uncomfortable.
"I've been a manager at the Holy Pill Pavilion for so many years. Whether it's someone selling pills or buying pills, everyone treats me with respect and calls me Manager Zhao."
You're just a kid who hasn't even grown up yet, a servant-like figure. What right do you have to talk nonsense in front of me?
What's most infuriating is that he even calls himself Fifth Master! Where does that leave your master?
Zhao Ting was secretly furious, wishing he could break off the horn on the other person's head.
But guests are guests, and it's not right to offend them, so he could only suppress his hatred and say to Xiao Chong, "Please sit for a moment, I'll be right back."
"Go! Go!" Before Xiao Chong could answer, Long Wu waved his hand impatiently, showing that he didn't respect his master at all.
Urged on by Long Wu, Zhao Ting was unwilling to look at the other party's face any longer, so he turned around and left in a hurry.
Not long after, Zhao Ting came in again, this time with an elderly man by his side.
The old man moved slowly and unsteadily, walking listlessly as if he had been ill for a long time. But occasionally, his eyes would dart around, and two sharp glints would flash within them.
"This is our chief alchemist of the Holy Pill Pavilion, Master Feng. The pills brought by our two distinguished guests still need to be appraised by Master Feng's discerning eye."
Zhao Ting added a chair next to the coffee table, carefully led the old man to the sofa, then sat down himself and introduced him to Xiao Chong and Long Wu.
"A master of alchemy? Is he as good as me?" Long Wu muttered softly, about to say something sarcastic.
Before he could finish speaking, Xiao Chong glared at him, startling him into swallowing his words.
To become the chief retainer of a large merchant house like the Sacred Pill Pavilion, one must possess many extraordinary qualities. Xiao Chong held this learned elder in high esteem.
Therefore, the old man respectfully said, "I am a student of Qingfeng Academy. These pills are my practice pieces. I would appreciate it if you, Mr. Feng, could take a look."
Although Mr. Feng was old, he was not deaf. He was initially quite dissatisfied after hearing Long Wu's mutterings, but Xiao Chong's attitude softened his expression.
"Hmm, it's not often that something can leave Steward Zhao undecided. Let me see what kind of high-class item it is."
Mr. Feng nodded slightly and picked up a pill from the jade plate with his index and middle fingers.
Whether it was because the pill was too big and heavy, or because the old man was getting old and had some strength to lose, Mr. Feng's fingers almost slipped and dropped the pill as soon as he picked it up.
"Hiss!" Mr. Feng gasped, and after a flurry of activity, he finally managed to place the pill in his palm and brought it close to his eyes for a closer look.
Perhaps having never seen such a large pill before, Mr. Feng's eyes first gleamed with excitement, then became confused and bewildered, as if he was very uncertain about the pill's value.
Unable to discern anything amiss, he brought the pill to his nose and inhaled it intensely before closing his eyes and falling into deep thought.
After a long while, when Mr. Feng opened his eyes, the sharp light in his eyes had disappeared, replaced by a sense of relief, and a hint of loss.
"Looks like they're not any good either, otherwise why would Mr. Feng have such an expression? Hmph, you two charlatans, I'll show you in a moment that the Holy Pill Pavilion isn't a place where just any Tom, Dick, or Harry can pass off a few lousy pills as high-quality ones. No matter how big the pills are, it won't do!"
Seeing Mr. Feng's expression, Zhao Ting finally felt relieved and pointed disdainfully at the jade plate, asking, "Mr. Feng, do you see any value in these pills?"
"Unrecognizable."
Mr. Feng shook his head helplessly and said, "I have been immersed in the Dao of Alchemy for many years and have seen countless pills in my life, but I really can't figure out the function of these pills. But one thing is certain: these pills are of the highest grade."
"How could this happen? Then why are you both comforting and disappointed?"
Zhao Ting was startled, and somewhat unwillingly said, "Why don't you take another closer look, Mr. Feng?"
"No need. With my level of alchemy, even if I looked for another ten years, I'm afraid I still wouldn't recognize it."
Mr. Feng carefully held the huge pill in his palm, his expression somewhat forlorn.