Fleeing from famine? Not a chance; the divine healer's wife made her fortune.

Medicinal herbs in crisis, new pharmacists hired

Su Yunlan unfolded the letter in her hand. The black datura flower seemed to carry a strange fragrance, spreading in her eyes. The handwriting was simple, but it weighed on her heart like a boulder.

"The appearance of the snow lotus has stirred up undercurrents..." she murmured to herself, her brow furrowed and a hint of worry appearing in her eyes.

Xiao Yuhan sensed the change in her aura, gently took her hand, and the warmth of his palm conveyed a silent comfort.

"What's wrong, Lan'er?" His voice was deep, like a clear spring, trying to soothe the turmoil in her heart.

The laughter and chatter inside had long since faded, replaced by a somber atmosphere.

Young Master Xiao also sensed something was wrong, and cautiously walked to Su Yunlan's side, looking at her with concern.

The housekeeper stood helplessly to the side, his eyes filled with confusion.

Just then, a shop assistant rushed upstairs, panting, and said, "Madam, something terrible has happened! The medicine merchant Wu said... he's not supplying us with medicine anymore!"

Su Yunlan frowned even more deeply. She put down the letter. "What did he say?"

The man swallowed hard and stammered, "He said... he said he found a better buyer, and he doesn't care about our little business."

Su Yunlan took a deep breath and gestured for Young Master Xiao to calm the shop assistant down first. She then stood up and said to Xiao Yuhan, "Yuhan, I'm going to meet this Wu the pharmacist."

The two arrived at the backyard of the pharmacy, where Wu, the pharmacist, was sitting cross-legged in a grand chair. Several shop assistants stood cautiously to the side, their faces pale, not daring to look up at him.

The air was filled with a strong smell of medicinal herbs, but mixed with a hint of barely concealed stench of money.

"Oh, Madam Su is here." When Wu the pharmacist saw Su Yunlan, a contemptuous smile appeared on his lips. "I thought you were too busy counting money to pay attention to a small pharmacist like me."

Su Yunlan looked at him coldly, not angered by his attitude, but asked in a deep voice, "Mr. Wu, our cooperation has always been very pleasant, why do you suddenly want to cut off the supply?"

Wu Yaoshang laughed loudly, his obese body trembling with his movements.

"Enjoyed? Mrs. Su, you're joking. In business, I, Wu, always believe in the highest bidder wins. If someone offers a higher price than you, I naturally have to consider my own interests."

"How much do you want?" Su Yunlan cut straight to the point; she had already guessed Wu Yaoshang's intentions.

Wu the pharmacist held up five fingers and smiled like a cunning fox.

"Fifty percent! I want to add fifty percent to the original price!"

Su Yunlan's eyes narrowed, and her voice turned icy: "Mr. Wu, you've gone too far! At most, this is robbery!"

Wu the pharmacist paid no attention to Su Yunlan's anger, and instead became even more arrogant.

"Madam Su, if you're unwilling, then don't blame me for being impolite. Where else in this town can you buy medicinal herbs besides from me?"

Upon hearing this, Su Yunlan sneered, stopped arguing with him, and turned to Xiao Yuhan, saying, "Let's go."

“Madam, this…” Butler Qian looked anxious.

"Let's go," Su Yunlan said again, her tone calm but carrying an undeniable air of authority.

Su Yunlan's resolute decision caught Wu Yaoshang off guard. His smile froze, and his thick chin trembled slightly.

He had expected Su Yunlan to plead desperately, even at great cost, but he never expected her to turn and leave so decisively.

As he watched Su Yunlan's departing figure, a strange unease suddenly welled up in his heart.

"What...what's going on?" Wu the pharmacist panicked. He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and unconsciously raised his voice, shouting at the surrounding shop assistants, "Could she really find other pharmacists?" The shop assistants looked at each other, none of them daring to speak.

After Su Yunlan left, she did not encounter any setbacks in the town as Wu Yaoshang had predicted.

She had long anticipated that Wu, the medicine merchant, might cause trouble, so she had already secretly begun to inquire about other medicinal herb suppliers.

With her exceptional memory, she quickly recalled an old herbalist she had met in another city.

The old herbalist's herbs are of superior quality and the prices are very fair. However, because he is old and unwilling to travel long distances, he has not been able to expand his business.

Su Yunlan immediately arranged for Young Master Xiao to go there in person, bringing with him a generous deposit.

When Young Master Xiao returned to the pharmacy with brand-new medicinal herbs, the entire pharmacy was in an uproar.

The newly arrived medicinal herbs were not only complete in variety, but also of excellent quality, emitting a rich medicinal aroma, a world apart from the adulterated and counterfeit herbs supplied by Wu the pharmacist.

The pharmacy clerks busied themselves excitedly, counting and categorizing items, their faces beaming with long-lost smiles.

Upon learning of this, Wu, the pharmacist, deflated like a punctured balloon and slumped into his chair.

He was filled with regret. If he had known that Su Yunlan was so capable, he shouldn't have been greedy for petty gains and lost such a big client.

His wishful thinking completely failed. Not only did he fail to extort a large sum of money from Su Yunlan, he also ruined his own business.

"You...you, this...how is this possible?" Wu the pharmacist pointed at the shop assistant who had come to inquire about the information, his fingers trembling, his face pale, and he even stuttered a little.

With the crisis at the pharmacy successfully resolved, Su Yunlan stood in the backyard, gazing at the mountain of medicinal herbs, a satisfied smile appearing on her lips.

She turned around and saw Xiao Yuhan standing not far away. He was backlit, with a faint smile on his face. Su Yunlan looked at him and felt an indescribable emotion welling up in her heart.

"Yuhan..." Su Yunlan was about to speak when she was drawn to a gesture by Xiao Yuhan. He took out a piece of paper with a drawing on it...

Su Yunlan looked at Xiao Yuhan, her eyes shining with gratitude. His composure and wisdom always gave her strength at crucial moments.

She knew that he was not only her husband, but also her most reliable support.

Just as she was about to speak, Xiao Yuhan unfolded a piece of paper. On it was a map of the distribution of medicinal herbs drawn with simple lines. It was detailed to the characteristics of each herb and possible substitutes. It even marked how to store the herbs to maximize their efficacy.

Su Yunlan immediately recognized that this was the result of his all-night effort, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart.

"These might be of some help." Xiao Yuhan's voice was slightly hoarse, but his tone remained firm. His deep eyes were full of concern for Su Yunlan. He gently held Su Yunlan's hand, the warmth of his palm conveying silent support.

Su Yunlan felt the warmth of his palm, and a warm current seemed to flow into her heart. She squeezed his hand back.

"It's so good to have you," Su Yunlan said softly, her voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible coquettishness.

Just as the pharmacy's business was gradually returning to stability, the arrival of an uninvited guest shattered the peace.

Pharmacist Lin, who used to be arrogant in his pharmacy, is now spreading rumors about Su Yunlan's pharmacy in the town's pharmacists' association.

He spoke ill of the medicinal herbs in Su Yunlan's pharmacy, even accusing her of selling inferior goods and disregarding human life. These remarks immediately caused a huge uproar.

The customers who had initially trusted Su Yunlan's pharmacy began to whisper amongst themselves. One of them, Zhao, a patient who was usually timid and suspicious, stood at the pharmacy entrance, pointing and whispering to the others around him, "Hey, do you think the medicine from this pharmacy is really safe? I've been taking their medicine lately, and it doesn't seem as effective as before..."

More and more people gathered at the entrance of the pharmacy, and the discussions grew louder and louder, surging towards Su Yunlan's pharmacy like a tide.

Su Yunlan stood in the pharmacy, listening to the harsh comments, without the slightest panic on her face.

She knew that at this moment, she absolutely could not back down; she had to confront the issue head-on in order to salvage the pharmacy's reputation.

"Hmph, how ridiculous!" Young Master Xiao couldn't stand it anymore and said angrily, "This Pharmacist Lin actually repaid kindness with enmity and slandered our pharmacy behind our backs!"

“He was bribed by his competitors,” Su Yunlan said coldly. She looked around and saw Butler Qian anxiously wringing his hands, clearly at a loss.

"Don't worry." Su Yunlan patted the housekeeper's shoulder, her voice calm yet carrying a powerful force. "We can't just sit here and wait to die; we must take the initiative." After she finished speaking, she looked up at Xiao Yuhan, her eyes questioning.

Xiao Yuhan nodded, and Su Yunlan's lips curled up slightly, revealing a barely perceptible smile.

She knew that the real counterattack was about to begin.

"Get the car ready, I need to go to the Pharmacists Association," she said calmly, her eyes resolute.

Xiao Yuhan looked at her, his eyes filled with tenderness.

"Let's go, together." Xiao Yuhan walked up to Su Yunlan, gently put his arm around her shoulder, and his voice was firm and full of strength.

Su Yunlan looked at him, and the two turned around and walked out of the pharmacy, leaving Steward Qian and Young Master Xiao looking at each other in bewilderment.

"Madam, where are you going?" Butler Qian couldn't help but step forward and ask with concern.

Su Yunlan didn't answer, but stopped and a meaningful smile appeared on her lips. She said to Xiao Yuhan, "Yuhan, take the things out."

Xiao Yuhan took out a letter from his pocket, the envelope of which was clearly stamped with the seal of a rival pharmacy.

Su Yunlan took the letter and opened it in front of everyone. Inside was a letter from a competitor to Pharmacist Lin, detailing their plan to bribe Pharmacist Lin and discredit Su Yunlan's pharmacy.

The evidence is in black and white, conclusive and undeniable.

The atmosphere inside the Pharmacists Association was somber.

Pharmacist Lin was deathly pale and sweating profusely. He never expected that Su Yunlan would receive such a letter.

He opened his mouth, wanting to argue, but found that any explanation seemed pale and powerless.

The competitor's representative sat to the side, his face ashen. He had thought his plan was flawless, but he never expected Su Yunlan to expose it so easily.

Su Yunlan's voice was clear and powerful, echoing in the hall of the Pharmacist Association.

"Ladies and gentlemen, facts speak louder than words. This letter is sufficient proof of what Pharmacist Lin has done. For personal gain, he has not hesitated to sell his conscience, slander his colleagues, and tarnish the reputation of the Pharmacist Association. His crimes are unforgivable!"

The president of the Pharmacists Association was a highly respected old man. After reading the letter, his face darkened, and he slammed his hand heavily on the table.

"Pharmacist Lin, do you have anything else to say?"

Pharmacist Lin's lips trembled, but he couldn't utter a single word.

Ultimately, he was expelled from the pharmacists' association and his medical license was revoked.

Their competitors' schemes also failed, their reputations plummeted, and their businesses were severely affected.

Su Yunlan's pharmacy's reputation was restored, and customers returned to the pharmacy, having gained even more trust in Su Yunlan's medical skills and character.

The pharmacy's business is booming, and Su Yunlan has begun recruiting new pharmacists.

On this day, a woman named Miss Sun came to apply for the job.

She was simply dressed, but her eyes were clear and her manners were impeccable.

Su Yunlan tested her and found that she had a certain understanding of pharmacology, but lacked practical experience and her techniques were somewhat clumsy.

Su Yunlan looked at Miss Sun, feeling somewhat hesitant.

She knew that a qualified pharmacist needed years of study and practice before they could work independently.

Although Miss Sun has some talent, she still has a long way to go before becoming a qualified pharmacist.

"Your basic skills are still lacking," Su Yunlan said tactfully, with a hint of regret in her voice.

Miss Sun's expression changed slightly, but she did not give up. Instead, she raised her head and looked at Su Yunlan with a determined gaze.

"Mrs. Su, I know my abilities are not yet sufficient, but I am willing to learn. Please give me a chance!"

Su Yunlan looked at her, remained silent for a moment, and finally nodded.

“I can give you a chance, but…”