Chapter 237: Inferior Goods
In truth, Qin Tuo could tell at a glance that Jishi Hall was likely suffering from poor management. Its cash flow was tight, and its stock of medicinal herbs was insufficient.
But Qin Tuo wasn’t bothered. He shook his head and smiled.
"It’s no matter, Mr. Zhou. It’s the thought that counts."
Zhou Qihua nodded, feeling a little touched.
He then made a suggestion.
"How about this, Mr. Qin? I’ll take you for a look around town. For the hundred-year-old herbs you’re looking for, we’ll have to go to the Hundred Medicines Workshop. They might just have them!"
Just then, Lin Yuyan, who was standing nearby, came over and explained,
"It’s like this, Qin Tuo. The Hundred Medicines Workshop is the largest apothecary in Jin City, even bigger than Jishi Hall."
Only then did Qin Tuo realize that the Hundred Medicines Workshop was indeed the largest apothecary in Jin City.
This immediately made him want to visit the Hundred Medicines Workshop to see if he could find the precious herbs he needed.
Zhou Qihua nodded and said with a smile,
"Don’t worry, Mr. Qin. The Hundred Medicines Workshop has many precious and famous medicines. Things like hundred-year-old herbs are put right on display. In all of Jin City, only they have the audacity to do that."
Qin Tuo listened, smiling in satisfaction.
Suddenly, Zhou Qihua lowered his voice and said mysteriously,
"And I’ve also heard that the Hundred Medicines Workshop has a Thousand-year-old Ganoderma. It’s their most prized treasure!"
At these words, Qin Tuo’s eyes lit up, and his heart began to race.
He couldn’t help but think, ’If there really is a Ganoderma that’s grown for a thousand years, I have to buy it, no matter the cost!’
After all, an herb like that could be called a divine medicine a millennium old. For Qin Tuo, the benefits would be immense.
He secretly guessed, ’A single Thousand-year-old Ganoderma might be enough for me to advance an entire cultivation realm!’
However, Qin Tuo also knew full well that such an herb would be incredibly expensive. For now, he decided to take things one step at a time and just go check it out first.
Following that, Zhou Qihua led the group to the main store of the Hundred Medicines Workshop in the center of Jin City.
Their arrival at the Hundred Medicines Workshop immediately alerted the manager.
After all, Zhou Qihua was the Young Hall Master of Jishi Hall. His status spoke for itself.
The manager hurried over to greet them, his face full of enthusiasm, and immediately went to notify the owner of the Hundred Medicines Workshop.
Soon, the owner of the Hundred Medicines Workshop, Wu Chenggang, rushed over.
"Mr. Zhou, what an honor! Please forgive me for not greeting you at the door," Wu Chenggang said with a welcoming smile.
"Boss Wu, for you to personally greet me despite being so busy, you honor me!" Zhou Qihua replied with an equally humble smile.
Just then, Qin Tuo heard Lin Yuyan beside him quietly explaining Wu Chenggang’s background.
Apparently, this Wu Chenggang was a self-made man. He had run with the triads in his early years, but he quickly made a fortune and gradually washed his hands of his past.
Now, he had built the Hundred Medicines Workshop into the number one herb merchant in all of Jin City.
Hearing his story, Qin Tuo nodded to himself in appreciation.
"Boss Wu, this is Mr. Qin. I’ll let him tell you what he needs himself!" Zhou Qihua said, quickly making the introduction.
Qin Tuo got straight to the point.
"It’s like this, Boss Wu. I want to purchase a batch of herbs that are over a hundred years old. The more, the better. And I want the highest quality specimens. Money is no object!"
Hearing such a bold tone from Qin Tuo, Wu Chenggang’s eyes lit up.
It had been a long time since he’d met such a generous customer.
So Wu Chenggang nodded readily and said,
"Excellent, Mr. Qin. Please, follow me!"
He then led the group to a special counter nearby and mysteriously took out five small, black wooden boxes.
Qin Tuo knew at once that these wooden boxes must contain extremely precious medicinal herbs.
This was because this type of specialized wood was generally used to make containers for storing herbs.
Wu Chenggang opened the five boxes one by one, revealing five herbs lying quietly inside.
The five herbs exuded a rich, medicinal fragrance, and their appearance was clearly of the highest grade.
Beside them, Zhou Qihua’s eyes went wide.
"Heavens, these really are top-grade, hundred-year-old herbs! And their quality is second to none!"
Zhou Qihua was instantly filled with envy.
With Jishi Hall in such dire straits, it would be extremely difficult for them to produce even one hundred-year-old herb of this quality.
Yet Wu Chenggang could casually produce five, a clear testament to the Hundred Medicines Workshop’s immense strength.
Zhou Qihua thought, ’Qin Tuo is definitely going to be satisfied this time.’
Qin Tuo glanced over the five top-grade, hundred-year-old herbs without a word.
"Mr. Qin, are you satisfied?" Wu Chenggang asked with a smile.
He thought, ’A young man like Qin Tuo, how many hundred-year-old herbs could he possibly have seen?’
’These five specimens in front of him must be enough to shock him!’
But Qin Tuo just asked casually,
"Boss Wu, name your price."
Hearing this, Wu Chenggang smiled in satisfaction.
Then, he seriously held up one finger.
"A flat price... one hundred million. Consider it a friendly gesture!"
Beside them, Zhou Qihua quickly chimed in with a smile,
"Mr. Qin, one hundred million is a great deal! At market price, this is an absolute steal!"
Clearly, Zhou Qihua was offering his own opinion. He felt that buying these five herbs for one hundred million would be an incredibly good deal.
But just when everyone thought Qin Tuo would nod in agreement, he shook his head with deep regret.
"What a pity. The great Hundred Medicines Workshop, which claims to be the biggest herb merchant in Jin City, can only bring out goods of this caliber?"
Hearing this, Wu Chenggang froze.
Zhou Qihua’s mouth fell slightly agape, not expecting Qin Tuo to say such a thing.
He couldn’t help but think, ’Isn’t Qin Tuo being a bit too arrogant?’
’Besides, aren’t these hundred-year-old herbs right in front of us?’
’Isn’t this exactly what he wanted? Why would he say something like that?’
Wu Chenggang frowned and said slowly,
"Mr. Qin, my wares are all genuine. I never sell fakes. Which of these herbs do you claim is not over a hundred years old?"
Zhou Qihua was also completely bewildered, unable to understand what Qin Tuo was getting at.
Qin Tuo nodded, but then said seriously,
"Boss Wu, these herbs are indeed a hundred years old. But you must know that even among hundred-year-old herbs, there are high and low grades."
As his words fell, Wu Chenggang’s expression suddenly became a bit unnatural.
And beside them, Zhou Qihua suddenly looked as if he had just had an epiphany.