Ge Hong, upon hearing Gu Zhaobei's decision, had nothing more to say. In their partnership, Ge Hong was the passive one; Gu Zhaobei made the decisions, and Ge Hong executed them. This time was no different.
Recently, the weather had turned cold and damp, causing many elderly villagers and children to suffer from runny noses, headaches, and coughs.
Zhu Liang was overwhelmed, attending to these patients daily. Patients lined up, with some still seeking treatment as late as eight or nine at night.
Once Gu Qingcheng had finished producing the medicines, she handed the finished products to Zhu Liang, instructing him to administer them to patients first.
With a tentative mindset, Zhu Liang prescribed these pills to patients exhibiting matching symptoms.
In Phoenix Village, medical treatment and medicine were free. Patients took whatever Zhu Liang prescribed.
The efficacy of this batch of medicine was thoroughly validated and proved to be excellent.
As these were finished products, the pressure on Zhu Liang's clinic was greatly alleviated. Gu Qingcheng surmised that the climate was similar everywhere recently, and there would undoubtedly be many people suffering from colds and flu. Therefore, she instructed Da Peng to take ten thousand pills and ten thousand medicated patches to sell in the surrounding villages.
Seeing Gu Qingcheng's meticulous instructions, Wang Da Peng understood the significant importance of this batch of medicinal materials and naturally took the task to heart.
Da Peng was already familiar with the current new village distribution patterns and knew which areas had formed new power bases.
After descending the mountain, he learned that Chaliao Island was a recently established and relatively prosperous port.
Upon hearing this, Da Peng set sail for Chaliao Island. The information he had gathered was vague, indicating Chaliao Island was to the southeast.
Fortunately, Da Peng had extensive experience at sea. He used a compass and steered directly southeast.
After two days of sailing, they finally spotted a bustling area with a pier full of ships in the distance. Upon closer inquiry, they confirmed it was indeed Chaliao Island.
When Da Peng heard it was Chaliao Island, he told his subordinates to take down the Phoenix Village flag.
His deputy, Chen Sheng, asked why they weren't flying their village flag. Da Peng replied, "People's hearts are unpredictable these days. This is a new island, and we don't know what new powers have emerged. It's best to gather information first and proceed with caution."
Chen Sheng appeared enlightened, realizing that one truly gains experience by venturing out; he had been too naive.
Around Phoenix Village, simply flying the Phoenix Village flag would garner admiration and longing from the populace, which had fostered a sense of arrogance in him.
Now, seeing Da Peng's caution, his arrogance subsided.
Indeed, it was better to be low-key and humble when traveling.
The merchant ship Da Peng and his crew were on was exquisitely crafted and well-maintained. Among the other merchant ships, which were only about forty to fifty percent new, theirs stood out.
As soon as their merchant ship docked, someone proactively approached them.
"Boss, are you here to buy or to sell?"
"Both buying and selling. We do both," Da Peng replied.
He understood that this person was likely a professional runner, a middleman who facilitated business between parties for a commission. He treated the man respectfully.
Since they were new to the area, using a middleman was the quickest way to save a lot of trouble.
"Time is money," as Gu Qingcheng had said.
Da Peng, now an experienced merchant, wholeheartedly agreed with Young Master Gu's words.
"Boss, I'm a local intermediary. You can just call me Old Hu. If you need anything, just tell me."
Intermediary Old Hu's attitude was very amiable.
Da Peng gave him a piece of silver and said:
"We need to buy ironware. Also, if you have any news about iron ore, please help us inquire. There will be a generous reward for accurate information. We intend to buy an iron mine.
In addition, we also want to sell a batch of finished medicines. Can you find pharmacies to act as agents for us?
And we want to buy more cloth. Can you recommend where we can find a good quantity at a favorable price?"
Seeing Da Peng's ruddy complexion and neat attire amidst the chaos, his aura of wealth was undeniable.
Old Hu's eyes lit up. The volume of buying and selling was substantial! This was precisely how an intermediary made money. He quickly bowed and said:
"Regarding cloth, I know a fabric shop with excellent quality and a moderate price. Would you like to take a look?"
Old Hu enthusiastically led the way.
Wang Da Peng found Old Hu to be quite sharp and capable, so he followed him into the town to investigate.
Of course, Wang Da Peng wasn't foolish enough to go alone with a stranger to an unfamiliar place. He brought along his two assistants, Chen Sheng and Wu Guang.
With more people, they weren't afraid of the other party trying anything untoward.
Seeing that Da Peng and his two companions all had swords at their waists and carried themselves like seasoned fighters, Old Hu's demeanor became even more respectful.
In times of chaos, those who could conduct large-scale business were typically well-connected and influential; he couldn't afford to offend any of them.
Fortunately, Old Hu proved to be a genuine intermediary. Apart from seeking his commission, he harbored no ill intentions.
Old Hu led the trio to a shop called Xia Ji Fabric Store.
The shopkeeper, Master Xia, stated that he had a batch of cotton cloth. With Old Hu hinting at the patrons' considerable wealth, Master Xia even recalled that he also had some stock of silk cloth.
Wang Da Peng remembered Young Master Gu's instruction: "Buy any cloth, regardless of type."
Although silk cloth was more expensive, Young Master Gu hadn't explicitly said not to buy it.
With this in mind, Wang Da Peng bought all the fabrics from Master Xia, costing over two thousand taels of silver.
Shopkeeper Xia was overjoyed. This was a massive deal! It was rare to find such a generous patron. In these tumultuous times, not many merchants were so free with their spending.
Da Peng promptly paid half the deposit, with the remaining half to be paid after Master Xia arranged for the goods to be delivered to the merchant ship and confirmed to be of satisfactory quality.
Da Peng politely declined Master Xia's invitation to a banquet, stating he had other matters to attend to and would dine together after everything was settled.
Master Xia, possessing such a large stock of cloth, was clearly no ordinary person. Da Peng also wished to foster a good relationship with him for future commercial dealings.
Master Xia readily agreed.
Leaving Xia Ji Fabric Store, Da Peng asked Old Hu if there were any large pharmacies on the island, as he had a batch of finished cold medicine to sell.
"There are pharmacies, of course. However, the price of your finished medicine? If it's too expensive, pharmacies might not necessarily accept it, especially since they don't know its quality," Old Hu replied truthfully.
Witnessing Wang Da Peng's evident wealth, Old Hu's attitude became even more diligent and cautious.
"You don't need to worry about the quality. Our medicines are made with superior medicinal ingredients, and their quality is reliable."
Wang Da Peng observed the bustling trade here, with a new port town clearly taking shape. A thought suddenly struck him: it would be beneficial to suggest to Young Master Gu that Phoenix Village establish a storefront here to sell medicines and receive goods. This would be much more convenient and save them from wandering aimlessly like headless flies after landing.
With this idea in mind, he asked Old Hu if there were any shops for rent on the street.
Old Hu was surprised that he intended to purchase a shop as well. He couldn't help but rejoice inwardly: "It's been three years without business, but now one opening will last for three years."
The commission from the cloth sale alone was enough for his annual expenses. If he also factored in the benefits from selling medicines and purchasing a shop, he could truly afford to be idle for three years.