Chapter Eighty-One: In Hiding

  The third watch...

  Chrysanthemum and magpie stared at each other in shock, unable to utter a word.

  Zhen Shining's mouth corners slightly curved, faintly revealing a hint of a smile.

  It must be Xiao Yu!

  Yi Nuo has already sent her medicine to Tai Hospital.

  Wutong Town is remote, but it's still close to the capital after all. The wealthy families in the town and the princes and nobles in the capital have a lot of connections. It's common for them to go to the Imperial Hospital when they're sick. Seeing the medicine displayed at the hospital here too, and the price is cheaper, naturally they would rush to buy it.

  Xiao Yu is indeed a man of his word.

  Although she also believed that Xiao Yu was a man of his word, after all, he was a busy and important official, while she was just a humble folk doctor. Xiao Yu wouldn't really take her seriously, so it was normal for him to drag things on for a month or two, or even half a year. Therefore, when she left the medicine behind, she didn't expect immediate results, thinking that at least it would take a year or half a year.

  Overjoyed, Zhen Shiniang also felt a bit embarrassed. As the main doctor in charge, she was really unqualified. Since that day, she hadn't gone back to follow up and didn't know how Old Lady Xiao was doing or if she had recovered smoothly.

  "It's time to go to the capital." Zhen Shi Niang thought to herself, "Last year was too busy, after the new year, I'll pay a visit to Old Lady Xiao and also take a look at how the pills from the Imperial Hospital are selling, see if we can sign a long-term contract?"

  Seeing her frowning and not speaking, Li Qizhen's wife flashed a glance, took out a purse from her sleeve and handed it to Zhen Shiniang. "Here, I'm afraid you don't have the capital to buy medicine, your brother-in-law Li specially asked me to bring you the silver he earned from the last epidemic, a total of 158 taels, deducting 79 taels for you, plus the sold donkey hide and medicinal pellets, a total of 134 taels and 6 mace... this is 135 taels..."

  "Is it really that much?" The magpie took it over with a swoop.

  Qiu Ju followed and they both fell onto the kang with a thud, chattering away as they counted.

  Looking at the two of them with an expression as if they had never seen silver before, Zhen Shiniang smiled and shook her head.

  Li Qizhen's wife smiled and looked at her, "My husband Li Dage and I think that since the medicine and donkey hide glue are selling so well, you shouldn't be so petty anymore. Why not just open a pharmaceutical factory? Hire a few more workers to do the physical labor, and you can just focus on the secret formula. That way, you won't get tired..."

  "Th...". Zhen Shi Niang's voice was unnatural for a moment.

  This was her intention all along.

  But it's not with Mr. and Mrs. Li, but with Tai Hospital!

  Yu Guang saw Li Qizhi's wife looking at her with a deep gaze, and Zhen Shiniang felt even more ashamed. They had collaborated for two or three years. The couple had always treated themselves kindly... Now that things were just starting to look up, she kicked them away... But she also had no choice...

  Suddenly, Zhen Shiniang looked up at Li Qizhi's wife and pondered, "I want to open a pharmacy but can't show my face myself. Li Changhe is loyal but doesn't understand medicine, they are a couple who both understand medicine and know how to do business. If they were willing to come over and help me..." As soon as this thought flashed through her mind, Zhen Shiniang shook her head and thought to herself, "After all, they are their own bosses, free and easy. The pharmacy business is also good, they don't have to worry about food or clothing, but my business is uncertain, how could they be willing to come?" She let out a sigh. "Forget it, I'll talk about it later."

  "Are you afraid of not having enough money?" She didn't know what else she was thinking. Seeing her changing expression, Li Qiu's wife asked, "Don't worry, I and your brother-in-law Li..." Her voice stopped abruptly.

  Li Qizhen's wife looked somewhat embarrassed.

  How can she still lack the capital for a pharmaceutical factory with such a luxurious and grand house?

  Seeing her understand, Zhen Shi Niang took the opportunity to say, "My husband's family is a respectable and wealthy household, they would never allow me to practice this kind of lowly skill. Previously, I was also forced by circumstances, but now that they have found me...". She looked at Li Qi's wife sincerely and slowly measured her words, "From now on, I won't even be able to sell donkey hide glue anymore... You just say... Jian Dafu has left Wutong Town..."

  Jian's reputation had grown too loud, she had to cut off all leads before Shen Zhongge discovered them, and let Jian disappear from then on.

  "How can this be!" Li Qizhen's wife suddenly stood up.

  Rui Xiang pharmacy business is getting better and better, all thanks to Jian Dafu's reputation.

  "I'd be killed by my husband's family if they found out I'm not following the traditional path of a woman and practicing medicine outside!" Zhen Shi Niang said in a low but unusually firm tone.

  Li Qizhen's wife's ears buzzed loudly, and her face immediately fell.

  What she said is true, which decent family can tolerate such a thing?

  Once the affair was exposed, if she had been favored, it would have been fine, and maybe she could have kept her life. But if she had really been favored, how could she have been abandoned here for so many years without anyone asking about her?

  "Is there really no other way?" Li Qizhen's wife asked, not giving up, but secretly thinking to herself, "If I use this as a threat, will she continue to be useful to me?" Zhen Shiniang's donkey hide gelatin and medicinal pills were not ordinary money-makers.

  Whoever runs into this money tree will not let go easily.

  "If he finds out, you and Li will also..." Zhen Shining shook her head and didn't continue.

  If it weren't for this threat, she probably wouldn't give up.

  As expected, Li Qizhen's wife's face immediately changed color

  Time becomes meaningless.

  Zhen Shi Niang let Qiu Ju pack some osmanthus cake for Li Qi's wife to take with her, "......This is a palace-made product, take it back and let the children taste the freshness." She also said, "Don't worry, my husband's family has a wide range of connections. If there is an opportunity in the future, I will help you introduce some medicinal material business to Li Da Ge. Even if only one deal is made, it will be enough for our family to enjoy for a lifetime."

  This is no exaggeration.

  If she could get the military's anesthetic order together with Li Qi, it would be enough for several lifetimes.

  But on one condition: Shen Zhongge must not know that she is actually Jian Dafu, and only if she lives a good life will Li Qi have the opportunity!

  Zhen Shining smiled brightly at Li Qizhi's wife.

  She could eat the imperial court's specially made Osmanthus cake, her husband's family was not ordinary and influential. Looking at the room full of gold and jade, Li Qizhen's face turned from white to red, and her dim eyes sparkled brightly. "Ayou, don't worry, I'd rather die than tell anyone about your affair!"

  Looking at her joyful and carefree back, the magpie chuckled, "The young lady is really good at handling people. In just a short while, she has turned her world upside down, and now she's completely obedient."

  Zhen Shining lazily leaned against the edge of the kang with a pillow, "If not for her constant threats and intimidation, I'm afraid she'll keep pressing me to make medicine for her, taking advantage of our weaknesses without end."

  Just as she closed her eyes and was about to rest, Qiu Ju burst in from outside with Jian Wen and Jian Wu, "Miss, Liu Ma has arrived!"

  Liu Ma is the only midwife in Wutong Town.

  It's already the 29th of the last month, and she only has a few decent girls in her hands. Eight or nine people stood in a row, unevenly matched. Zhen Shi Niang reluctantly chose a cook and a young maid. The young maid was very clever, thirteen years old, named Cui Gu, because her face was full of red rashes that looked unpleasant, she hadn't been sold yet. Due to lack of choice and being a doctor herself, Zhen Shi Niang didn't mind, and following Qiu Ju, she renamed her Dong Ju.

  The servant girl didn't meet expectations, but the four hired to guard the courtyard were extremely suitable. The son of Sun Baiman, a wealthy family in the east, was going to be transferred out after the new year and had planned to resign from his position as a guard. He heard that Madam Zhen was hiring people and didn't want to miss the opportunity, so he resigned early. There were seven or eight of them in total, all recommended by Sun Baiman, who knew their backgrounds thoroughly. Madam Zhen chose four of them and had Li Changhe take their household registration documents to the government office for verification, and they stayed on.

  The family suddenly added six or seven people, and it was more lively than in previous years.

  Jian Wen and Jian Wu had been pestering Zhen Shi Niang to put up couplets since early morning. In previous years, their family was too poor to afford couplets, but this year Zhen Shi Niang not only bought a pair of couplets, but also bought fu characters, New Year's paintings, and spring couplets. The New Year's paintings were all chosen by Jian Wen and Jian Wu, and they were all joyful and festive paintings of Bodhi lamps and Nezha's brain sea. They had been eager to put them up since the day they bought them back, but were finally coaxed into waiting by Zhen Shi Niang.

  "This you can't stick......" Seeing Jian Wu and Jian Wen chattering away under Zhen Shining's guidance, dividing up the couplets for each door, moving a stool to go out and post them, Xi Que snatched it over with a joyful cry.

  It looks simple, but pasting couplets is a technical job. If it's too high or too low, straight or crooked, it directly affects the appearance of the door, and it's not something a five-year-old can do.

  "Mother..." Jian Wu gazed at Zhen Shi Niang with pleading eyes.

  "Wugong will be five years old after tonight, and he can paste well." Zhen Shiniang smiled and rubbed her son's hair, changing the subject, "Wengong Wugong must stick carefully, if you stick crookedly, you will be laughed at by your little friends."

  They will eventually have to support this family on their own, she can't accompany them for a lifetime, the earlier they learn to be independent the better.

  "Don't worry, sister. With Brother Ji's help, we'll get it done perfectly!" Encouraged by Zhen Shi Niang, Jian Wen and Jian Wu were filled with enthusiasm, patted their chest to guarantee, and didn't forget to turn back to make a ghost face at Xi Que.

  Ji Ge, also known as Ji Huaifeng, was the leader of the four bodyguards newly hired by Zhen Shiniang. He was a calm and reserved person who didn't talk much, but he especially liked Jian Wen and Jian Wu. After just one day, they had already become familiar with each other. Ji Ge was tall and strong, and Jian Wu loved to have him carry him on his shoulders to show off. When Jian Wu looked at him, he said, "Don't worry, Miss, I will help Young Master put up the couplets well." Since they were hired, they hadn't signed a contract of servitude, so the four of them called themselves "I" in front of Zhen Shiniang, although this way of addressing her was somewhat presumptuous. However, Zhen Shiniang came from a modern society that valued equality, so she didn't mind.

  It was the magpie who muttered behind her back that she wanted to teach the tenth daughter a lesson, but the tenth daughter didn't say anything. She just let Jian Wu and Jian Wen call them "big brother", which meant they were of the same generation as her son. As their "mother", it wasn't necessary for her to argue with the younger generation.

  "Miss......" Ji Yu was still worried, "This isn't someone else, you can't let a child mess around, it's better to let Chang He stick with her." She turned around and glared fiercely at Ji Huai Feng.

  Ji Huai Feng just did it without looking, turning his head to one side.

  "But the couplets on the door, whether they're straight or crooked, are only for family members to see..." Zhen Shi Niang smiled and pushed Xi Que out, "There are many people this year, you don't need to take care of things here. You should go back with Zhang He and accompany your mother-in-law. Don't forget to come over tomorrow to pay your respects."

  "Miss..." she called out again, seeing Li Changhe had taken her scarf and gloves, smiling and thanking Zhen Shiniang. Ji Kuai let out a sigh, one foot already out the door, then remembered something and turned back around, "Miss, you mustn't let Wu Ge put that poster of Nezha Conquering the Dragon in the east wing, the east wing is where I bought that beautiful painting of The Joyful Gathering...