Chapter Six Farewell

  Magpie became pregnant and it was not easy for her to run around, so the task of delivering medicine and collecting debts fell on Zhen Shiniang. In order to raise funds for Jian Wu's and Jian Wen's school fees and the capital for opening a pharmacy as soon as possible, Zhen Shiniang took out all the silver she had saved and bought medicinal materials, refining a batch of pills.

  "...This is called Wujibai Feng Wan." On this day, Zhen Shiniang brought the newly refined medicine balls to Rui Xiang Medicine Shop, "It's made from Wujibai, Lu Jiao Jiao, Bie Jia, Ren Shen, Huang Qi and other ingredients, which can tonify Qi and blood, regulate menstruation and stop leukorrhea, used for Qi and blood deficiency, physical weakness, waist and knee soreness..." She broke open a medicine ball and patiently explained the therapeutic effect and purpose of the medicine to Doctor Feng Xi and shopkeeper Li Qi, finally saying, "...These medicine balls are rarely seen in the Great Zhou Dynasty, their efficacy is absolutely no problem, Brother Li help me sell some for a try."

  Pill-making is no longer surprising in modern times, and has even been replaced by Western medicine. However, during the Great Zhou dynasty, most illnesses were treated with traditional Chinese medicine, and only the imperial hospital had the capability to produce medicinal pills. Ordinary pharmacies did not sell these pills, partly because they could not obtain them, and partly because ordinary people could not afford them. Although Zhen Shiniang knew about this situation, she was powerless to do anything about it.

  She was physically weak, making it impossible for her to go up the mountain to collect and process medicinal herbs for sale. Even coming over on time to work as a doctor was exhausting for her. It wasn't until she had no other choice that she thought of concocting medicinal pills to try her luck.

  Round pill!

  Li's eyes lit up in surprise, "Miss Jian can actually make medicinal pills?" But then his face fell again, "This thing is good, but you also know, our small town, where there are rich people? Even if there were, they would all go to the capital city to find a famous doctor to take a look, and get medicine from them." He shook his head, "Miss Jian's... I'm not saying I don't believe in Miss Jian's craftsmanship..." He shook his head again, "I'm afraid it won't sell."

  "Don't worry..." Zhen Shi Niang smiled and said, "This pill is effective for over a year, 30 cents per piece. Let Li Da Ge help me put it on the shelf to try it out. If it really doesn't sell, I'll return it to you." She also guaranteed, "You can rest assured, I won't let you lose a single cent."

  "Thirty coins?" Li Zhuang's eyes widened. "So cheap?" In the spring, he had been to Taiyi Hospital, where even the cheapest pills were at least fifty coins each.

  "They are all the secret recipes left by my father, and I made them myself..." Zhen Shi Niang nodded, seeing Li Zhuang's suspicious gaze, she added, "Don't worry, Li Zhuang, these are all top-notch, fake one compensate ten..." She sighed, "To be honest, for 30 cents, I'm just breaking even... My child will start school next year, and there are many places to use silver."

  Upon hearing the faint sigh, Li's heart softened, "Alright, I'll put it on the counter for you to try. Whether or not it sells is up to Miss Jian's luck." The topic shifted, "Miss Jian's donkey hide gel has been selling extremely well. Why don't you make more of that?" Thinking of her exceptional medical skills, he pointed to the empty space beside Feng Xi, "If you're willing, I'll set up a seat for you over there and you can come diagnose patients every day." Thinking that if she really came to work here, the place would surely be bustling with customers, "The consultation fees will all go to you, I'll just make money from selling medicine." He looked at Feng Xi again, "Don't compare yourself to her, it's not easy for a widow and orphan like them. They live in the same town as us, so we should help out if we can."

  Wutong Town convention, the consultation fee for a senior doctor is usually split 7:3, with the doctor taking 7 and the pharmacy taking 3.

  "Nowhere, nowhere..." Feng Xi shook his head repeatedly. "It's not easy for Miss Jian to be a woman with two children, and if you really take her as your concubine, I'll look down on you." Since two years ago when she helped him out of trouble, Feng Xi had been deeply impressed by Zhen Shi.

  This medicine shop is not big, really put two sitting hall doctors, with her craftsmanship, it's afraid that in less than half a month, Feng Xi will have to drink the northwest wind. After hearing this, Zhen Shi Niang smiled and said, "Thank you, Li Ge." She changed the subject, "You also know my physical condition, at least I need to rest for half a month after taking donkey-hide gelatine, how can I still sit in the hall?"

  Looking at Zhen Shiniang's frail body that would collapse with just a gentle breeze, Li Zhuang and Feng Xi both shook their heads.

  Poor people have grown rich bodies, this is really going to be the death of them!

  "Cough, cough..." Feng Xi unnaturally coughed twice, "...it's okay if Miss Jian can't sit in the hall, one day when I meet a big client, I'll definitely recommend you. If Miss Jian can go to those inner housewives and ladies to diagnose their illnesses, just the rewards will be more than what we earn from sitting in the hall for a month!"

  Feng Xi's words were not meant to frame anyone, but those young ladies and madams from wealthy families had some gynecological diseases that they found hard to mention, and it was indeed not suitable for these male doctors to examine them. More importantly, Feng Xi sincerely wanted to find a good family for Zhen Shi Niang, although she was dressed coarsely, but upon closer inspection, Zhen Shi Niang could be considered a rare beauty, and if some wealthy old master took a liking to her, even becoming a concubine would be better than her current miserable life.

  It's a good thing she can continue her family line, and now mother and son are considered to be living a life of luxury.

  Last year, Feng Xi had introduced her to see a young lady from the inner court, and the mistress of that house gave a reward of ten taels of silver as soon as she came out. She also knew that such things were hard to come by. After hearing this, Feng Xi still had this thought in mind, Zhen Shi Niang nodded, "Thank you, Uncle Feng."

  Just then, the door of Yaotang was pushed open with a creak, and a clear voice asked, "...... Boss, do you have Jianji Agar?"

  When she heard someone asking for her homemade medicine, Zhen Shiniang lifted her head with a hint of excitement and inadvertently took a deep breath:

  The speaker was a young man of seventeen or eighteen years old, which wasn't anything out of the ordinary. What shocked Zhen Shiniang was the majestic-looking man standing behind him.

  She had seen celebrities and big shots in her past life, but only at this moment did she truly understand what it meant to be unparalleled throughout the ages. His black hair was like ink, his facial features were clear-cut, his lips were thin and moist, his eyes were narrow and long, and his gaze was as clear as a star in the vast night sky, making people fall into its depths with just one glance.

  Beautiful things are always pleasing to the eye, and this man was not only handsome but also cool, just her type. Zhen Shiniang couldn't help but stare blankly at him.

  It felt like someone was peeking, and the man glanced back sideways.

  Their eyes met, and Zhen Shining's heart skipped a beat. She quickly lowered her head, the man's gaze shook, he furrowed his brow as if deep in thought.

  "Right, right, right! Jianji Agar is exclusively managed by our small shop!" Although the man's expression was dull, Li Qi, who had seen countless people, could see that this person was extraordinary at a glance. He quickly pushed aside Zhen Shiniang and nodded his head to welcome him.

  "First give me ten catties..." the young servant said.

  "This... " Li Zhuang hesitated for a moment, looking at the man behind the young servant with an awkward expression. "The customer has come at an inopportune time. Jianji Agar had been sold out several days ago. If you want to buy some, I'm afraid you'll have to wait until next month."

  "Next month?" He thought he was intentionally stalling, that little servant's eyebrows stood up straight, "Today is just the 20th, how can you send me off to next month already?" Seeing Li Qi wanting to speak, he said again, "You mustn't get the wrong idea, do you know who our master is?" He turned his head and pointed at the man behind him, "Our master is the Auxiliary General of the State who just won a battle and returned to court!"

  He paused for a moment, staring at Li Qi with wide eyes, "If you use your donkey hide well, the reward will not be less!"