Locked: God is the matchmaker, neither you nor I can escape

The couple stood not far from the Jimin Pharmacy and saw from afar that there were a lot of people here. Some patients lined up to the door, and several long wooden benches were filled with patients and their accompanying family members.

The two were not in a hurry to go in. They asked the people next to them about the locations of other pharmacies. They both looked at the pharmacies from a distance and had no intention of going in.

Although there were people in other pharmacies, the number of people was not large, especially in a pharmacy called Zhang's, which had no more than five patients.

Yan Yiyi got off the horse and asked the lady next to her about the situation. The lady saw that the girl was fair and polite, so she did not hide anything from her.

"This Zhangji Pharmacy has killed people. Moreover, the doctors in their shop are very critical of patients. Ordinary people like us would not go to Zhangji Pharmacy unless we have no other choice."

Yan Yiyi was puzzled: "Aren't doctors supposed to treat patients? How can they make money if they offend patients?"

"Oh! The doctors at Zhang's Pharmacy are indeed arrogant, but they are also capable. They only treat patients for the rich and powerful. If they can't just drive people away and affect their reputation, they would not bother to treat ordinary people like us."

"Then, Auntie, what did you just say about curing someone to death?"

"It was said that the new pharmacist dispensed the wrong medicine. He was arrested and compensated the family of the patient who died. But who knows whether it was actually the new pharmacist who dispensed the wrong medicine?" The aunt almost said the word "scapegoat".

Yan Yiyi was silent for a moment: "Aunt, how much are the herbs at Zhang's Pharmacy?"

"It's so expensive!" the aunt said with gritted teeth, "For a dose of ordinary typhoid medicine, his family charges 200 coins, while Jimin Pharmacy only charges 50 coins."

"Are the herbs the same? What are the effects?"

"I don't know about this." The aunt advised, "My daughter, if you want to see a doctor, go to Jimin Pharmacy, it's more affordable there."

Yan Yiyi smiled and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Auntie. I am not here to see a doctor, but to sell some medicinal herbs. It is getting late, so I won't delay you. Go back and have lunch. Bye."

She returned to Xin Ye. Although Xin Ye was some distance away, he could still hear their conversation. Yan Yiyi knew that he had martial arts skills and his ears were more sensitive than ordinary people. He could hear everything clearly at this distance.

Without repeating the conversation with the aunt, he asked directly: "What do you think? Should we go to Zhang Ji or Jimin Pharmacy?"

Xin Ye thought for a while and said, "I don't think we can listen to the one-sided words of outsiders. There is always competition between drug stores. Who knows if the owner of Jimin Pharmacy is deliberately throwing dirty water on Zhang's Pharmacy in order to create a good reputation for his own store?

Besides, we are not going to see a doctor, but to sell ginseng. Most people cannot afford ginseng, but Zhang Ji happens to deal with rich people frequently. We can take a ginseng and ask the price first."

Yan Yiyi thought he made sense: "Then what year should we take?"

"Twenty-something is about the same. It won't attract too much attention."

The price given by the system was ten taels, which was indeed not a rare item. Nodding, the couple led the horse to Zhang's Pharmacy, tied the horse, and entered the store.

The medicine boy came over immediately to greet them: "Welcome, two distinguished guests. Are you here to get medicine or see a doctor?"

"Selling ginseng. Is the shopkeeper here?" Xin Ye went straight to the point.

When the medicine boy heard that it was ginseng, he smiled and said, "Wait a moment, I'll go get the shopkeeper."

After Yan Yiyi saw him walk away, she leaned close to Xin Ye's ear and whispered, "When he saw us coming in just now, his eyes didn't have the arrogance that the rumors said he had."

She looked down at herself and then at Xin Ye. They were both wearing common cloth clothes, but the one Xin Ye was wearing was a little pale from being washed, and it was obvious that he was not from a wealthy family.

Xin Ye nodded: "Perhaps the rumor is wrong, or maybe the medicine boy has been replaced, and this time the medicine boy knows how to behave."

After the shopkeeper came out, he walked to the counter. The medicine boy took the initiative to lead the two of them over, and then he consciously went to the door to watch the horses for the customers.

"Are you two here to sell ginseng?"

Xin Ye took out the ginseng wrapped in cloth from his bosom and placed it on the counter. The shopkeeper opened the cloth, picked up the ginseng and examined it carefully: "The roots are well preserved, and the quality of the processing is good. This ginseng is more than 20 years old. The price is 15 taels."

Yan Yiyi was shocked, and her first thought was that she had been tricked by the system again! Moreover, she had been tricked out of five taels, 5 points!

Xin Ye didn't expect that he would offer such a high price. Even if the medicinal materials were prepared well, it should only be one or two taels more.

"Shopkeeper, can you tell me why you offer such a high price? In other medicine shops, the highest price is only 10 taels."

The shopkeeper chuckled and said, "You are honest, young man. Fifteen taels is indeed a lot, but at this critical juncture, you chose our Zhang's Pharmacy, which is a big help to us. We are in need of ginseng."

The drug dealers that had previously cooperated with them ended their cooperation because of the impact of the previous incident and were afraid that Zhang Ji would affect their reputation. Now the owner is looking for new drug dealers to cooperate with.

The eldest lady of the Zheng family needs ginseng to regulate her body. Zhangji cannot afford to lose such an important customer as the Zheng family. Naturally, they will not let this young man take the ginseng away for just a few taels of silver. Instead, they will sell it to Jimin Pharmacy.

Xin Ye looked at Yan Yiyi. Yan Yiyi had recovered from her anger at being tricked by the system and nodded at him. She handed over the money and received the goods.

"Boss, I need some medicine. Here is the prescription. Three doses each."

"Okay." The shopkeeper took the prescription and prepared the medicine for them according to the requirements. When it came time to pay the bill, one dose of medicine for Uncle Li cost 300 wen, and one dose for Aunt Zhang cost 200 wen.

After getting the medicine, the two left Zhang's Pharmacy and turned to Jimin Pharmacy.

They both took out ginseng that was more than twenty years old, but this one was three years older than the one sold to Zhang Ji. The price offered by Jimin Pharmacy was a standard ten taels. The two did not sell it, but chose to get some medicine.

They also got three prescriptions, one for Uncle Li cost 250 wen, and one for Aunt Zhang cost 180 wen. After paying the bill, the two left the pharmacy without saying anything.

The two did not plan to go back immediately, so they went to the inn, booked a room and asked the waiter to deliver lunch to the room.

Yan Yiyi took the medicines from the two medicine shops, opened them, and placed them on the table for Xin Ye to compare. Xin Ye concluded, "Zhangji's medicinal materials are of better quality, but I'm not a businessman, so I don't know if the quality is worth the price increase."

"The quality of medicinal materials will affect their efficacy. It is reasonable that the price is higher. And it is not outrageously expensive. Each kind only costs a few cents more. I think it is reasonable." Yan Yiyi said.

"However, the prices at Jimin Pharmacy are not deceptive to the people." Yan Yiyi added that it can be understood that they are targeting different customer groups, but it is not known whether the good reputation of Jimin Pharmacy was deliberately created by them or spontaneously recognized by the people.