Chapter 601 A Dream of Youth 133
The lights in the main room were not completely turned off until Xie Ning returned home. After asking Xie Ning when he would be free, Chen Wanniang started calculating the days to go to Qingfeng to admire the flowers.
Xie Ning has been very busy these past few days. She's either in the palace treating palace maids and eunuchs or at the Qiu residence giving Qiu Yu a follow-up examination. Even so, she still manages to find time to study at Dejitang.
Xie Ning was puzzled as to why there had been a significant increase in patients seeking her medical attention recently.
Doctor Gu stroked his white beard and said, "Didn't you go to the Qiu residence to see patients recently? Those with good connections will naturally come to invite you."
After all, Xie Ning was a rare female doctor with excellent medical skills. Even though she was young, her medical skills were recognized by the Imperial Medical Academy, and no one dared to underestimate her.
No one had invited Xie Ning before, mainly because they were afraid they wouldn't be able to get him, so they didn't dare to ask him easily.
Now that the Qiu family has set this precedent, the ladies and young women in the inner quarters naturally can't hold back. It's not good to hire a male doctor, but there are fewer restrictions on hiring a female doctor.
Even Manager Du discussed with Xie Ning whether they should open a private consultation room for her, since Xie Ning is now capable of prescribing medicine independently.
Doctors accumulate experience over time. If Xie Ning were given her own consultation room, she could treat even more patients.
After all, many women dared not come near Doctor Gu, while the wealthier families were now inviting Xie Ning to make house calls.
It's because it's inconvenient.
Although outpatient consultations can earn more money, not everyone can afford them. Xie Ning's original intention was to treat more people, so he agreed after only a short thought.
Fortunately, Dejitang is a large place, so setting up a separate consultation room doesn't cost much; it's just a matter of cleaning a room and hanging up a curtain.
It's just that they represent different meanings.
Du Mingzhao was very envious, but that wasn't his goal. Once he passed the exam this year, he could get a job as a general practitioner in the Imperial Hospital. He would work his way up and eventually become a proper imperial physician.
Originally, Manager Du wanted to arrange a medicine apprentice to serve Xie Ning, but after seeing the maid who always followed Xie Ning, he decided to give up the idea. After all, all the medicine apprentices in their family were male, and it was impossible for a girl to be sent out to study medicine.
After thinking about it, Manager Du still felt it would be better to ask Xie Ning.
“Ah Ning, do you need a medicine apprentice? After all, it would be more convenient to have a medicine apprentice with you when you go out to make a medical consultation.”
"Can."
Xie Ning agreed without much hesitation. Although Qing Li had learned some pharmacology from her, she didn't have the same foundation as Xie Ning, so she couldn't even recognize all the medicinal herbs.
The medicine apprentices from the Du family are different; they have all studied in the Du family system for at least six or seven years, making them more adept at using the medicine.
Moreover, this also strengthens her connection with the Du family.
Since Xie Wangzhi is now in charge of the pharmacy, the Du family, as a family with a long history in medicine, naturally wants to get a share of the pie, which means they want to cooperate with each other. That's one reason.
Secondly, Xie Ning was very famous, and they thought that if they treated Xie Ning well and deepened their connection with him, they could also use Xie Ning's fame to promote Dejitang's reputation.
Seeing that Xie Ning agreed, Manager Du beckoned over a sturdy boy, about sixteen or seventeen years old, wearing a headscarf.
"This is Du Gansong. You can just call him Xiaosong. Xiaosong is a few years older than you and has been studying medicine for seven years. He will stay by your side as your medicine apprentice."
This child has no talent for medicine; at most, he is honest and diligent and familiar with medicine, but he hasn't learned to prescribe it yet. He can just follow Xie Ning into the inner quarters and help out.
Moreover, he is older and knows some of the dirty dealings within the inner quarters, so he can protect Xie Ning.
Xie Ning agreed, then looked at Xiao Song, "I'm going to the Qiu residence for a follow-up appointment later, so you can come with me."
"Yes," Xiaosong bowed in response.
This wasn't the first time for a follow-up visit, so after handing over the door pass, Xie Ning easily led Qingli and Xiaosong into the inner courtyard.
Qiu Yu's complexion looked much better than before, with some color returning to her face.
Xie Ning adjusted the prescription according to the new pulse diagnosis, since Qiu Yu was young and the medicine could be used more gently.
Having met several times, and with Xie Ning explaining some pharmacology each time he treated Qiu Yu, teaching her and Madam Qiu how to maintain their health, especially what women should pay attention to, their impression of Xie Ning improved day by day.
Qiu Yu blushed slightly, using her teacup to hide her shyness, before asking softly, "Dr. Xie, my mother is planning a flower-viewing banquet the day after tomorrow. Would you like to come and join us?"
Madam Qiu chimed in, "That's right, I'll send an invitation to Madam Xie then. Young Doctor Xie, you'll have to do me the honor of attending."
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