Chapter 191 Your Brother-in-Law is the Most Powerful

Chen Yi tried to express his suggestions in a tactful way, but seeing the smile gradually disappear from Xiao Wan'er's face, he couldn't help but feel a little sorry for her.

Finally, he gestured for Xiaodie to make tea and pour water, then coughed and said:

"This charter is actually quite commendable, but at present, the Xiao family's several pharmacies are too burdensome, and compared with Baicaotang, they do not yet have the conditions to expand outward."

That is indeed the case.

For a traditional pharmacy to expand, it not only needs doctors and apprentices who can manage the shop, but also a supply of various medicinal herbs.

It cannot be compared to the simple model of Baicaotang, which mainly uses tea drinks and common medicinal herb prescriptions.

Training doctors alone is not something that can be done overnight, not to mention the large sums of money spent on preparing medicinal herbs that may be sold at any time.

In short, Xiao Wan'er's decision to write this charter based on the Xiao Family Pharmacy itself was flawed.

At least the current Xiao family cannot support such a heavy pharmacy model.

After he finished speaking, Xiao Wan'er thought for a moment and said, "Brother-in-law is right. I was being a bit presumptuous."

"Not entirely..."

Before Chen Yi could offer any comfort, Xiao Wan'er pursed her lips and said, "You don't need to comfort me. I did not think things through before."

"Thinking back now, the only doctors that the five pharmacies can really offer are those sent by Baicaotang."

Xiao Wan'er paused and asked, "According to what you just said, if we want to expand Baicaotang, we need a sufficient number of doctors with superb medical skills?"

Seeing that she didn't seem to intend to give up, Chen Yi could more or less guess what she was thinking.

It's likely that Xiao Wan'er's desire to expand the pharmacy wasn't for the purpose of making money, but rather, like before, to help more people avoid the suffering of disease.

Thinking about all this, Chen Yi said seriously, "If eldest sister is willing, we might as well take the first step."

Xiao Wan'er's expression shifted slightly, and her eyes immediately became bright and clear, reflecting his figure.

"Please speak frankly, brother-in-law."

The facts were pretty much as Chen Yi had guessed.

Xiao Wan'er was frail and sickly since childhood and had deeply experienced the suffering caused by illness. Therefore, she hoped to do what she could to help those who were suffering from illness.

This aligns with the wish to "provide shelter for all the poor and needy, so that they may all be happy."

Chen Yi hummed in agreement and pondered, "Expanding the pharmacy would require too much manpower and money, and it would be difficult to see any progress in the short term."

"We might as well simplify things a bit, abandon the pharmacy, and instead focus on training more doctors."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Wan'er vaguely understood, and said with a hint of seeking advice and pleading, "Speak slower."

Then she gestured for Shen Huatang to get paper and pen, "I'll write it down."

Chen Yi was in no hurry. After everything was ready, he continued:

"Actually, it's not much different from the academies of today. However, academies specifically teach scholars, aiming to enable them to pass the imperial examinations and obtain official titles."

"What the eldest sister wants to do is to create an academy that specializes in teaching medical skills and the way of medicine."

"As long as the methods are appropriate, the procedures are rigorous, and the instructors have superb medical skills, students who come to learn medicine can achieve success."

"In the future, as more and more apprentices grow into doctors, even if they do not expand their pharmacies, they can still benefit more people."

Xiao Wan'er's eyes brightened even more. "That's right, that's right."

“My brother-in-law is right. As long as the academy that teaches medicine is established, there will be more doctors.”

"That way, even if they don't come to the Xiao family's pharmacy, they can still spread out throughout Shu Prefecture and even the three prefectures of the Great Wei to treat and save lives."

As she spoke, she meticulously copied down every word Chen Yi said with her delicate pen.

After finishing writing, Xiao Wan'er asked, "Then, is there anything else I should pay attention to?"

Chen Yi thought for a moment and said, "First of all, if we want the medical academy to attract talented students, we need a dean with superb medical skills, preferably a master of medicine."

"Secondly, the medical courses taught by professors also need to be specially compiled. At least the current medical traditions are too complicated, which is not conducive to students becoming proficient in a limited time."

"In the end..."

He had never done this before, but based on his understanding of medicine and his hearsay about the medical school model, he provided Xiao Wan'er with a relatively complete and novel approach.

After rambling on for half an hour, Chen Yi finally stopped.

"In this way, without spending too much money, we can benefit the people in all directions within five or ten years."

Xiao Wan'er put down her wolf-hair brush and looked at the contents of the few pages of cloud pine paper with great delight.

Overjoyed, she didn't forget Chen Yi, "Thank you, I know what to do now."

Looking at that stunningly beautiful smiling face, Chen Yi couldn't help but admire it. "I was just making this up. If it doesn't work out in the future, don't blame me for being nosy."

"Of course... I wouldn't."

Noticing his gaze, Xiao Wan'er's eyebrows and eyes reddened slightly, but she did not speak reproachfully. Instead, she turned her head away while tidying up the papers.

Considering my brother-in-law's helpful guidance, I'll let him take a look.

But after she finished tidying up, seeing that Chen Yi's gaze was still on her, Xiao Wan'er couldn't help but feel a little awkward, and quickly stood up and said:

"Hua Tang, Hua Tang, it's getting late. Go check if Madam Tang, who is supposed to visit today, has arrived yet?"

Shen Huatang was slightly taken aback. "Miss, Madam Tang did not send a visiting card today. Miss Wan is coming at noon."

Xiao Wan'er's face turned even redder. "Yes, I was mistaken. It was Sister Wan who came."

With that, she hurriedly said goodbye to Chen Yi and led Shen Huatang and the others back to Jiaxing Garden.

Chen Yi smiled as he watched her retreating figure.

However, he knew in his heart that after today, Xiao Wan'er would probably be even busier than before.

Medical Academy

If this were not unique in the present-day Great Wei Dynasty, it would at least have pioneered a new path.

Therefore, it is by no means easy to truly establish and implement the Medical Academy.

The selection of a site for the hospital, the invitation of renowned doctors, the compilation of medical books, the recruitment of students, and its future operation all require meticulous attention.

If each and every matter is to be handled meticulously, Xiao Wan'er cannot remain uninvolved.

"That's fine too."

"She has a long life ahead of her, and it's inevitable that her life will become somewhat mundane if she wastes her energy on collecting land rent, money, and distributing monthly allowances."

Chen Yi couldn't help but smile as he imagined Xiao Wan'er being busy yet happy in the future.

After resting briefly, he instructed Xiaodie to take Xiao Wuge to Jiaxing Garden, and then went to Guiyun Academy alone.

When Xiao Wuge arrived at Jiaxing Garden.

While instructing Cui'er and the others to prepare for receiving today's guests, Xiao Wan'er was looking at the Yun Song paper containing Chen Yi's instructions.

"Sister, are you really going to create that academy to teach people medicine?"

"certainly."

"Don't underestimate its complexity. If we do it well, it will benefit our Xiao family as well."

Xiao Wuge nodded as if he understood, but then, remembering that this was what Chen Yi had said, he felt there was no problem.

"Brother-in-law is really amazing."

Xiao Wan'er nodded and said, "What he said makes sense."

Xiao Wuge's eyes darted around twice, then he chuckled and asked, "How does it compare to the charter written by my eldest sister?"

Xiao Wan'er paused, turned her head to look at him, and smiled on her pale face with a hint of red: "Want to know?"

"I'll tell you after you finish your etiquette course today and read two volumes of the history of the previous dynasty."

"ah?"

"Three books, please."

Xiao Wuge didn't have time to ask any more questions and quickly asked Xiao Die to take him to the study.

He feared that if he stayed any longer, today's lessons would increase from three volumes of classics and history to four.

Xiao Wan'er watched him walk away, then slightly raised her head and said, "I know your brother-in-law is the best, but that doesn't mean I'm inferior."

However, thinking about her masterpiece created after burning the midnight oil last night, which was criticized from beginning to end by Chen Yi, she couldn't help but feel a little ashamed.

"How does he know so much when he's never done it?"

Cui'er and Juan'er, who were standing nearby, had no idea what she was thinking, but seeing the blush on her face, they knew she was in a good mood.

"Ever since Miss drank Doctor Ma's herbal soup, her complexion has been getting better and better."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Wan'er composed herself and smiled as she instructed, "The Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching, so please remind me to prepare a small gift for Doctor Ma."

"We also need to prepare for the owner of Baicaotang."

"yes."

Xiao Wan'er remembered what Chen Yi had brought back yesterday, knowing that the "Chen Yu" boss was not in Shuzhou at the moment, so she only gave one instruction and started doing her own thing.

With the owner of Baicaotang absent, Xiao Family Pharmacy could only make some preparations in advance.

For example, money, which connections to use, which prefectures and counties in Shu Prefecture to go to first, and so on.

Most of them were things she felt she could do within her duty.

...

There are less than ten days until the Mid-Autumn Festival.

The atmosphere of the approaching festival could be felt early in the city of Shuzhou.

The shops along the street have been decorated with festive red lanterns, and the ropes for hanging riddles are still left at the bottom of each lantern.

In this windy weather after the rain, they sway like fluttering flowers.

Aside from these most visually obvious arrangements.

The restaurant has introduced seasonal snacks such as mooncakes and rice cakes.

Some of the larger restaurants on Corning Street even posted notices announcing that they would be holding poetry gatherings on the Mid-Autumn Festival.

For example, the notice for Fengchunlou also specified which great scholars or intellectuals might attend, as well as the rewards for the talented scholar who won the poetry competition.

It is not something mundane like money, but rather something like a masterpiece by a famous artist or the Four Treasures of the Study.

As Chen Yi passed by, he glanced at the prizes and saw that the area was surrounded by interested men and women, but he didn't pay any attention to them.

The Marquis of Dingyuan's residence naturally made preparations for the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Similar to the old Marquis's birthday celebration, there were ancestral worship ceremonies, family banquets, and some elders giving rewards and recognition to their younger generations.

However, none of this has anything to do with Chen Yi, the son-in-law.

Unless the old master or Xiao Jinghong gives the order, he doesn't even have the right to sit at the banquet.

Of course, he himself would not want to appear in such a setting.

Not only were their eating and drinking habits restricted, but they also had to deal with the various complex and scheming members of the Xiao family, leaving them physically and mentally exhausted.

On the contrary, it is more peaceful and comfortable to stay in Chunhe Garden.

Aside from that, Chen Yi still quite enjoyed the lively atmosphere as the festival approached.

The travelers coming and going were bustling with activity.

Whether it's street vendors, strolling young men and women, merchants from other places, wanderers, or even people of other races like the Vaishyas, everyone on Kangning Street is all smiles.

Of course, some are similar in spirit, some in form, and some are just as beautiful as flowers.

Chen Yi walked around and looked around, a smile on his face, but he knew the truth in his heart.

It will be somewhat difficult for the Xiao family to have a lively Mid-Autumn Festival this year.

Even if everything goes smoothly, the fact that the evil spirits like Black Fang from Mingyue Tower and the hidden guards of Dingyuan Army have made their move probably doesn't make the old master, Xiao Jinghong, and the other masters of the Xiao family very happy.

If we also include Xiao Dongchen...

Chen Yi grinned, thinking to himself, "It's hard to say about others, but the second branch of the family must not be in a good mood."

Even if his plan fails.

The tigress and the hawk wouldn't let the gray wolf go either.

(End of this chapter)