Chapter 1214: Growing Stronger
As people came, drawn by her reputation, to have Gu Yi appraise all sorts of strange and peculiar items, the fame of both Jingran Pharmacy and Gu Yi herself soared. In comparison, Gu Yi's reputation significantly surpassed that of the pharmacy.
The reason Gu Yi's fame so vastly eclipsed that of Jingran Pharmacy was simple: among all the items customers brought for her appraisal, there were exceedingly few that Gu Yi didn't recognize. This led to her renown steadily growing, to the point where many even tried to poach her from Jingran Pharmacy. However, Gu Yi rejected them all, and did so unequivocally, leaving no room for negotiation.
Jingran Pharmacy's business had originally been quite slow, but as Gu Yi's reputation grew, more and more people came seeking her appraisal services, and the pharmacy's business naturally picked up.
Since all the medicines at Jingran Pharmacy were products of Feng Xiao's hand, and Feng Xiao was a Spirit Medicine, the quality of the medicines she created was naturally exceptional. Consequently, after trying them once, many customers found the effects excellent and the prices relatively inexpensive, making them return customers of Jingran Pharmacy.
With a constant stream of new customers and a growing base of returning ones, the Dānyào Yang Haoran had left at Jingran Pharmacy naturally proved insufficient and quickly sold out.
Jingran Pharmacy not only sold various medicines but also engaged in acquisitions. However, up to this point, while many people bought medicine from them, hardly anyone came to sell medicine there. On the other hand, quite a few came to sell spiritual medicinal ingredients, far outnumbering those who came to buy them.
After Gu Yi finished her report, she respectfully handed a ledger to Yang Haoran.
This ledger meticulously recorded all the income and expenses of Jingran Pharmacy, including which books Gu Yi had purchased and how much Underworld Currency she had spent; everything was noted within.
Gu Yi spoke with a face full of apprehension; it wasn't hard to tell from her expression that she was very nervous at that moment.
Though Yang Haoran had left her and Ban Kui each a sum of money when he last departed, it was nowhere near enough for her expenses. For one or two books, it naturally wouldn't cost much, and rental prices would be even cheaper. But the books she needed weren't just one or two; they were an immense quantity, thus requiring a vast amount of Underworld Currency, which led to the Underworld Currency Yang Haoran had left her being insufficient.
Not only was her own Underworld Currency completely depleted, but she had even borrowed all of Ban Kui's Underworld Currency, yet it still wasn't enough. In the end, having no other option, she had to resort to using the pharmacy's funds.
She knew her actions were somewhat improper, which was why she felt so apprehensive and nervous while reporting the matter to Yang Haoran now.
Yang Haoran, flipping through the ledger, spoke with a faint smile.
"Unauthorized use of the pharmacy's funds is indeed not ideal. We'll do as you suggested and deduct it from your salary."
Upon hearing this, Gu Yi inwardly breathed a sigh of relief, though a touch of disappointment still lingered. She hadn't expected Yang Haoran to actually go through with it.
In her view, while her unauthorized use of the pharmacy's funds was wrong, it was precisely because of it that she had brought greater profits to Jingran Pharmacy. If Yang Haoran truly intended to deduct the cost of the books from her salary, she felt a small pang of injustice in her heart.
Despite the slight injustice she felt, Gu Yi still managed to force out a faint smile, though it looked somewhat unnatural.
"Thank you for not holding it against me, Boss. Gu Yi won't dare to do it again in the future."
As Gu Yi's words faded, Yang Haoran closed the ledger and smiled as he looked at her.
Although Gu Yi tried her best to conceal the injustice she felt, Yang Haoran noticed the unnatural smile on her face. With his experience, he could, of course, tell that Gu Yi felt a bit wronged at that moment.
"Haha, unauthorized use of the pharmacy's funds is indeed wrong, and a penalty must certainly be applied. However, it's also precisely because of you that Jingran Pharmacy has become so popular and brought in such substantial profits. Therefore, I must reward you."
Gu Yi, who had still felt a touch of injustice, heard Yang Haoran's words, and the feeling vanished instantly. The smile on her face also became natural, for it sprang from genuine happiness within her.
"In addition to a generous reward of Underworld Currency, I have a special reward for you. From this moment forward, you are no longer the acting manager of Jingran Pharmacy. The word 'acting' can be removed; from now on, you are the true manager of Jingran Pharmacy."
Yang Haoran spoke with a smile, and Gu Yi, whose face was already wreathed in smiles, found her smile growing even more radiant at that moment.
"Thank you, Boss!"
In a short span, Gu Yi's two expressions of gratitude to her boss felt entirely different. The previous one had conveyed no happiness, but this time was different; those four short words fully articulated the joy in her heart.
"Haha, in a moment, I will set an amount that will thoroughly satisfy you. As long as the matter benefits the pharmacy and doesn't exceed this amount, you can use these funds to do whatever you wish – for example, hiring new employees, promotions, or acquiring any items you need. You won't need to report back to me."
Gu Yi hadn't expected Yang Haoran to grant her such extensive authority, so she immediately promised him, her face alight with excitement.
"Boss, rest assured, I definitely won't squander the pharmacy's money. Every penny will be spent where it counts!"
Yang Haoran smiled and nodded, his expression remaining as unperturbed as ever.
"Haha, 'doubt not those you employ, employ not those you doubt. ' Since I've decided to make you the manager of Jingran Pharmacy, it shows I have absolute trust in you. If I don't grant you sufficient authority, how can I prove that I trust you? And wouldn't your title as manager just be an empty name then?"
Gu Yi nodded rapidly, her excited face filled with agreement.
"Boss is right! Thank you for trusting Gu Yi!"
"Haha, being a manager isn't easy; I believe you've deeply experienced that over this period. However, it's precisely in facing difficulties that a person's worth and ability are truly reflected. Whether my Jingran Pharmacy can grow and thrive in the Underworld from now on rests entirely on you."
"Boss, rest assured! You've entrusted Jingran Pharmacy to me, and I will absolutely make it the number one pharmacy in the entire Underworld!"
Gu Yi promised with a smile. Regarding this, Yang Haoran didn't pour cold water on her enthusiasm. Making Jingran Pharmacy the number one pharmacy in the Underworld was nowhere near as simple as she made it sound.
Yang Haoran knew that Gu Yi had strong learning abilities, an incredible memory, and had now become an appraiser halfway through her journey. But for Jingran Pharmacy to become the number one pharmacy in the Underworld, these alone were far from sufficient.
As manager, whether she could develop Jingran Pharmacy depended on crucial factors like her management skills, adaptability in various situations, foresight, and more. Yang Haoran didn't know, nor could he be certain, if Gu Yi would excel in these areas.
Furthermore, since it was a pharmacy, the quality and variety of its Dānyào were equally important. If there were issues with the medicines, even the most capable manager would be helpless, for 'a clever housewife cannot cook without rice'.
However, when it came to Dānyào, he, as the boss, would naturally find ways to improve, ensuring quality only got better, never worse. But whether Gu Yi, as the manager, had the ability to lead Jingran Pharmacy to glory still depended on Gu Yi herself. All he, as the boss, could do was spare no effort in providing Gu Yi with every possible assistance to accelerate her growth.
He didn't pour cold water on Gu Yi because he didn't want to dampen her enthusiasm; after all, it was a good thing that Gu Yi had such aspirations.
Moreover, he himself harbored the same ambition. From the moment he decided to open a shop in the Underworld, he had envisioned making it the largest in the Underworld, whether it was the general store he initially wanted to establish or the now-flourishing Jingran Pharmacy.
Therefore, not only did he not pour cold water on Gu Yi, but he also affirmed her resolve.
"Haha, with your abilities, I believe Jingran Pharmacy will certainly become the number one pharmacy in the Underworld, and that day won't be too far off."
Gu Yi was delighted to receive Yang Haoran's affirmation, and his kindness gradually dispelled the nervousness in her heart, making her no longer as reserved as before.
"Boss, just leave it to me. Though I'm not old, I have complete confidence in my abilities. Oh, by the way, what Dānyào did you bring to restock this time? Our pharmacy has been needing a refill for a while now. If you hadn't come, I would have had to use some special methods to contact your esteemed self!"
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