The Time-Limited Elixir of the Ruined Clan - Chapter 37

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Decline of a Great House: A Limited-Time Remedy—Episode 37

“This is the revenue from when all the stock that was released sold out…….”
Click-click-click!
“……!”
“The moment I saw the list of Provincial Examination passers, I recalled the Superior Grade Cheongryeonsu midway and adjusted the price slightly. But then all of these sold out, so now…….”
“……!”
Click-click! Tap-tap!
The abacus rang out with a crisp sound, and as Ryeon’s eyes widened, a faint smile briefly crossed Gyeon Wiyun’s previously composed expression before vanishing again.
“In any case, I apologize for adjusting the sales volume on my own. The situation became rather urgent.”
To be honest, with revenue like this, even two urgent situations would feel justified, but Ryeon took pains to steady herself and compose her thoughts.
“Still, after seeing me do that, Father asked me to manage the Cheongryeonsu supply together with him.”
Ryeon’s eyes lit up. Though she had spoken indirectly, Gyeon Wiyun seemed to have grasped what she meant.
“So the reason I came in such haste is that supplies have run short. This is the hottest moment right now……I was hoping we could provide much larger quantities.”
“That’s welcome news. If that’s the case, we should naturally prepare more.”
Ryeon answered with an composure unsuitable for a child, but inside her head, fireworks were exploding.
‘Money matters aren’t what’s important right now.’
Crudely clashing swords with each other wouldn’t help a person’s life one bit!
What truly helped in real life was something like this: small, round, with a hole pierced through the center, crafted from metal.
“And the Standard Grade Cheongryeonsu that went to the medicine shops—did that all sell out too?”
In contrast to the Superior Grade Cheongryeonsu, Ryeon had created a Cheongryeonsu by channeling only a small amount of essence into it and selling it cheaply, which she had named “Standard Grade Cheongryeonsu.” It seemed better than calling it inferior grade, and Gyeon Wiyun had greatly admired the naming.
“Yes. Wihak used the Superior Grade Cheongryeonsu, but because this fellow ended up achieving Top Rank Pass, people flocked to medical clinics and pharmacies as though grasping at straws.”
“How much time is left until the Metropolitan Examination?”
“Hmm?”
Gyeon Wiyun was somewhat taken aback.
After having struck such a windfall with the Provincial Examination, she hadn’t thought about the Metropolitan Examination that Gyeon Wihak would take.
“Ah…… I believe it’s half a year away, or no—I heard the next Metropolitan Examination is around next spring. Apparently His Majesty’s health hasn’t been well, so it was postponed for a time.”
“Is that so?”
“But the Metropolitan Examination…….”
“Is held in Beijing, isn’t it?”
“It…… is.”
Ryeon smiled broadly. Beijing—that city where people and money swirled together would surely carry rumors just as swiftly.
“Well, Ryeon. Wihak did achieve Top Rank Pass in the Provincial Examination this time, but whether he’ll do well in the Metropolitan Examination…….”
Ryeon simply blinked and smiled. At that very moment, Gyeon Wiyun flinched slightly, then trembled a little before speaking quickly.
“By then, it seems we’ll need quantities beyond imagination.”
A faint chill ran down Gyeon Wiyun’s arm.
The bottles in which the Cheongryeonsu was sold bore the relief carving of a small duck.
Gyeon Wiyun had poured care into the bottle’s manufacture after hearing that it was drawn by Danmok Ryeon’s uncle, who adored his niece.
But the character for duck
(Duck)
comprises the character meaning first rank
(First Rank)
and the character meaning bird
(Bird)
combined.
The bird character
(Bird)
resembles the character for name
(Name),
and thus carried the wish for Top Rank Pass, the first rank among ranks one through three in the Civil Service Examination
(First Rank)
—the topmost
(First Place)
achievement.
Yet there were two ducks on the Cheongryeonsu bottle?
This could be interpreted as a command to achieve Top Rank Pass in both the Provincial Examination and the Metropolitan Examination.
One of them had already achieved it, so would the other fulfill her share as well?
‘There’s no way she actually drew a real duck after seeing something shaped like this. Could Ryeon have foreseen things this far ahead……!’
“I should diligently prepare Cheongryeonsu before Uncle Wihak takes the Metropolitan Examination.”
Ryeon turned over the quantities of Cheongryeonsu in her mind. Gyeon Wihak would achieve Top Rank Pass in the Metropolitan Examination.
If Gyeon Wiyun alone was surprised enough to rush over just from a Top Rank Pass in the Provincial Examination, what would the Metropolitan Examination be like?
At the thought of this, she suddenly felt as though she could go three years without eating a thing.
“And I should prepare a gift of thanks to send to Uncle Wihak.”
The fact that such a fuss had broken out meant Gyeon Wihak had used the Cheongryeonsu with considerable sincerity. You might say he’d grasped her intention in entrusting him with the advertisement well.
Gyeon Wihak would have passed the Civil Service Examination even without Cheongryeonsu—and even if that weren’t the case—it was right to pay him fairly.
“To Wihak?”
Gyeon Wiyun’s brow furrowed. She didn’t seem to approve.
“That way, wouldn’t he continue to use it well through the Metropolitan Examination?”
“But will that scoundrel really even…….”
Pass?
Gyeon Wiyun spoke in a deeply skeptical tone.
From the way her father Gyeon Eonjo had rejoiced, it didn’t seem like he’d resorted to other methods, but the part of her that worked in secret harbored a thought: ‘Still, Father did take out his purse and meet with the examiner-in-chief…….’ This was because she still found it astonishing that such a wastrel could have achieved Top Rank Pass.
That dissolute one achieving Top Rank Pass still amazed her.
“Uncle Wihak, they say, never forgets anything he’s seen once.”
This was one of the stories Ryeon had heard about Gyeon Wihak, and it was a famous one. People who’d made a verbal misstep in front of him, never to be forgotten, had suffered considerable embarrassment for it.
“I heard such things when that scoundrel was young, but…….”
“Uncle Wihak is still in his prime—surely his memory hasn’t suddenly declined?”
The Civil Service Examination wasn’t something that could be passed on memory alone, but with memory that good, the matter was certainly different.
Gyeon Wiyun tried to count how many books her younger brother had merely pretended to open, then felt a chill run down the back of her neck and rubbed it away.
Her brother claimed he’d seen every book in the library at least once. She’d thought it was mere boasting when she was younger, but…….
“That may be…….”
There was a hint of grievance in Gyeon Wiyun’s voice, and Ryeon tilted her head in curiosity.
“Aunt?”
“That dissolute fool achieving Top Rank Pass just because he has a good memory. I wonder how many diligent scholars who studied hard must feel wronged…….”
Ryeon burst out laughing.
“Then should we first make the Superior Grade Cheongryeonsu……or, shall we call it True Cheongryeonsu?”
“That sounds good.”
“First I’ll make it with the Essential Oil we have here at the Seong Ga, and after that, for procuring materials…….”
“The merchant company has prepared some materials beforehand. Of course, that won’t be enough, but we’re purchasing more.”
“I’ll prepare things while making some at the Seong Ga as well.”
Having said that much, Ryeon suddenly looked up at Gyeon Wiyun as a thought came to her.
“Would it be possible for the Danmok Seong Ga to handle some of the Cheongryeonsu transport?”
“Transport? You mean the Pyo Bureau?”
“Yes. Since the Seong Ga has a Pyo Bureau. It’s not large, so we couldn’t handle all the volume at once, but I think we could manage what goes between the merchant companies.”
“Hmm, very well. Since I’ve taken over the Pyo Bureau, adjusting that won’t be difficult. Not as compensation, but could we receive the Cheongryeonsu daily as it’s produced?”
Gyeon Wiyun waved her hand, saying she’d pay fair price for the transport—don’t worry. She seemed truly urgent. Ryeon nodded with a bright smile.

* * *

“Was it just the three of us?”
Ryeon murmured the question.
In preparation for mass production, they’d summoned all the pharmacy staff while gathering together every last bit of Essential Oil remaining in the Seong Ga’s medicinal pharmacy, and only three had shown up.
The chief pharmacist, the assistant chief, and Ryeon herself.
‘Can we meet the supply volume with this?’
In truth, the work itself wasn’t difficult. Rather, it could be called simple.
All they had to do was prepare each Essential Oil according to the blending ratio, mix them all together, and send them off. The merchant company had agreed to handle the dividing, portioning, and packaging.
Normally she could have done it alone or only with Danmok Hyeonwu…….
“If you need extra hands, I will, I will help. Young Miss.”
Jeong Young, the warrior who guarded Ryeon’s quarters, spoke with sincere devotion.
He’d always been one to give his all, but ever since he’d embodied the advice she’d once given him about the Footwork Technique through Enlightenment Through Practice, he’d become more respectful.
‘Should I say he looks up to me?’
“I appreciate the sentiment, but…….”
Ryeon hesitated, uncomfortable with putting him to work outside his duties, but when she saw the paper Danmok Hyeonwu showed her, she made up her mind firmly.
The order quantity Gyeon Wiyun had given was written there, and even borrowing fern-like hands wouldn’t be enough.
“I really appreciate your help, and I’m truly grateful. I’ll give you extra compensation too.”
“Oh, no, not at all. It’s a matter for the Danmok Seong Ga, so naturally it’s my responsibility to help.”
“That’s absurd.”
Danmok Ryeon shook her head firmly, her expression turning serious. Before Jeong Young could even refuse, she set to work.
Everyone participating in the production washed their hands thoroughly, and in the meantime, Danmok Ryeon used Purification once as well.
She calculated the quantity needed for one jar of Cheongryeonsu and posted it on the wall, then each person took charge of two or three different Essential Oils and began measuring them out.
“Ah… being a martial artist proves this useful.”
Her senses were naturally sharp, so after weighing the amounts those first few times, she began dividing out the Essential Oils flawlessly in just one or two tries.
Jeong Young felt embarrassed, and Danmok Hyeonwu mumbled that he could show off more impressive skills than measuring Essential Oils, though he didn’t say it loudly.
Once she mixed the measured Essential Oils into the final jar and Danmok Ryeon applied Harmonization and Purification once each, the Standard Grade Cheongryeonsu was complete.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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