Chapter 28: Not Enough Purchased

"Yulan, can't you lower the price of your ointment? Four yuan is simply too expensive! The most expensive medicine at the health clinic only costs a little over a yuan. This is just too much, really too much."

"Alan, lower it a bit, please, lower it some more. How about two yuan?"

"Two and a half, let's settle on two and a half. That’s already a yuan more than the health clinic."

"If it’s two and a half, I’ll take a bottle."

"I’ll take one too; your ointment really is effective."

"Yes, I’ve used it myself. I only applied it once, and the pain actually stopped. The old folks at home have bad legs and feet, so I’d like to get a bottle for them to use as well."

"We country folk who work the fields—who doesn't suffer from backaches and sore muscles? Who has legs and feet that don't ache?"

"That’s true. I’ve tried so many folk remedies and even went to the health clinic for medicine, but it never worked."

"It only helps for a moment, not for the long run."

"Yes, yes, exactly."

"Sigh, I asked someone for some homemade medicinal wine last time; it cost me two yuan, but it flared up again not long after I used it."

"It’s not about the money. The key is that once this ailment flares up, you need something to treat it. Alan, we’re only haggling because we’ve tried it and know it’s good."

...

The ointment Lu Jia'er made had been distributed by Su Yulan to her close uncles and aunts, then five bottles were given to her parents and siblings, leaving only ten bottles remaining.

In these times, whether they were the elderly or middle-aged people like Lu Jianping and Su Yulan, years of working the fields made backaches and body aches a common occurrence. As they aged, they would inevitably suffer from rheumatic joint pain, not even sparing their wrists or necks.

Therefore, when the relatives heard that this ointment was sent back by Lu Jia'er from Beijing, those who were feeling unwell used it immediately. They had a mysterious, unshakable confidence in anything from Beijing.

In short, anything that came out of Beijing was good—the best of the best.

With such a mindset, once they finished using the medicine, they found that the discomfort was truly gone. After using it a few more times, they felt completely cured.

It was miraculous, simply too miraculous! Was the effect of this ointment really that powerful? As expected, medicine from Beijing was just better.

Then, word spread among the relatives. Once it got out, naturally, the relatives' own acquaintances started coming to ask for the medicine. Those with close ties were given some to use.

These people didn't know what they were missing until they tried it, and once they did, they were shocked. After being cured, they went out and helped spread the word further.

As a result, everyone who knew the couple Lu Jianping and Su Yulan learned that their eldest daughter, who had married into Beijing, had sent back an incredibly effective ointment. It was said to have been developed by the best hospital in the country. Several quick-witted acquaintances couldn't help but arrange to visit and ask for the medicine.

Su Yulan didn't hide anything, stating she only had ten bottles left and that they cost four yuan each.

Immediately, the women began complaining all at once that the ointment was too expensive, hoping Su Yulan would lower the price and not make so much money off them.

"Auntie Hong, Eighth Aunt, Third Grandma, Seventh Aunt, Azi, I’m really not making much money on this ointment. Not to mention the price of the medicine itself, the postage Jia'er spent sending it from Beijing was ten yuan! Doesn't the cost of the ointment itself count for several mao?"

"You say the medicine at the health clinic is cheap, but our rural medicine isn't exactly cheap, and many people can't afford it. When they get sick, they just have to grit their teeth and endure it. Don't the authorities know this? They only send the cheap medicine that everyone can afford because they have to. Everyone knows the standard of the rural health clinic. Why else would they send people to the city when they get seriously ill? It's because the good medicine, the expensive medicine, and the good doctors are all in the city."

"This ointment didn't even come from our Ning City; it came from Beijing. If the ingredients weren't expensive, it wouldn't be this price. My daughter cares about us, which is why she sent it from thousands of miles away. Anyway, this ointment is three and a half yuan at the very least. I won't sell it for a cent less; I'd rather keep it for ourselves. This ointment keeps well and won't spoil."

Su Yulan was truly annoyed. What were these people thinking? Her daughter Jia'er had told her the cost was already three yuan, so those five mao after factoring in postage weren't even pure profit.

Moreover, Lu Jia'er had made it very clear to her parents that these medicines and ointments were exceptionally effective. Currently, there was no other medicine better than these. As long as they followed her instructions, they could cure their chronic ailments. Unless they injured their waists or legs again, this ointment could be considered one-of-a-kind, both in the past and the future.

Therefore, knowing how good and precious this medicine was, Su Yulan didn't really want to sell it at all. After all, people eat all kinds of grains and it's impossible not to get sick. With so many people in the family, what if the medicine ran out? Or if her daughter couldn't buy any more in Beijing? That would be a tragedy.

"Alan..."

"Don't say another word. To be honest, I don't really want to sell this medicine. Jia'er said the effect is extraordinary, and I want to keep it in the house. If one day Jia'er can't buy it anymore, we won't have any for ourselves. So if you think it's too expensive, then so be it; I'm not selling."

The more she spoke, the less she wanted to sell, and the more she worried about there being no supply in Beijing. Su Yulan cut off any further haggling with a firm, resolute attitude.

Upon hearing Su Yulan's words, the acquaintances were startled and realized she was absolutely right.

If Lu Jia'er couldn't buy this medicine in the future, those of them who hadn't bought any would regret it to their dying day.

It wasn't just Su Yulan; if they were in her shoes, they wouldn't want to sell it either.

"Alan, I meant to say I'll take a bottle."

"Yes, three and a half is fine, three and a half! I'll take a bottle too."

"I'll take one, you can't refuse to sell to me."

"That's right, Alan, you can't go back on your word. If you say you're selling, you have to sell."

"I don't care, I must have a bottle."

Now, the acquaintances were all in a panic. Who cared about haggling? If the medicine ran out and wasn't sold, that would be the real disaster. They would regret missing out.

This was medicine from Beijing! Even if they had the money, they didn't know anyone who could help them buy or bring it over.

If it weren't for Su Yulan's eldest daughter marrying an officer whose family lived in Beijing, they would never have had the chance to even touch such a good thing.

In less than two days, the remaining ten bottles were sold out. Su Yulan made a total of five yuan, enough to buy meat for her family for half a month.

Just a few days after the ointment was sold out, several more groups of people came looking for Su Yulan, all wanting to buy the ointment. Some were even willing to raise the price to four yuan a bottle.

However, the ointment was truly gone, and Su Yulan turned them all away. Her daughter had mentioned in her letter that, at the earliest, more would not be available until after next May. She told her not to worry if she couldn't sell them for a while, as good medicine was never easy to come by.

Many didn't believe her, but with no medicine to sell, they could only feel immense regret. Because no one who had used the ointment ever said it didn't work, and once they knew there was no more to be had, those who had bought it treasured their bottles immensely. They wouldn't easily let others use it, as they only had one bottle for themselves.

Regret.
Sorrow.
Heartache.
They hadn't bought enough.