Chapter 769 A Dream of Youth 301
She hadn't gone to see him before because General Xu's condition was uncertain, and she wanted to help keep it a secret. Now, however, there was nothing to worry about. But she still needed to do some background checks before going to the pharmacy.
The emperor had begun promoting the establishment of local pharmacies a few years earlier, but there were only a few formal and complete pharmacies. Bingzhou was remote, and Xie Ning had already lowered her expectations for pharmacies. However, when she actually saw what a pharmacy looked like, she still frowned deeply.
The county magistrate, who had just learned Xie Ning's identity, wiped the sweat from his brow. Why would they have to hire an imperial physician for such a small place?
It's Xie Ning again.
The county magistrate read the official gazette every day, so he naturally knew Xie Ning's identity and some of the policies she promoted. Despite being a woman, she had made a name for herself in the imperial court.
They couldn't help but glance at the somewhat dilapidated pharmacy, which looked like a small medicine shop. When they arrived, the clerk was still dozing off with his chin propped up on his hand.
The cold wind whipped up the fallen leaves on the ground, creating a desolate scene.
Xie Ning did not sit down, but stared at Du Mingzhao and the others as they examined the finished medicine and some processed medicinal materials.
"Why are no people coming to buy medicine?" Xie Ning's deep voice startled the county magistrate.
The magistrate bowed, his face paling. The registrar stepped forward and replied, "Your Excellency is unaware of the fact that ordinary people are generally fearful and do not usually enter the county government office. Since the pharmacy is located inside the county government office, there are few people who come to buy medicine. That is one reason."
Secondly…
The registrar looked up and met Xie Ning's gaze, but lowered his head again in an instant. "The pharmacy only has a small amount of medicine transported from the capital's pharmacy. The quantity is scarce. The higher authorities ordered the local area to procure the medicinal materials and refine the medicine, but... the Bingzhou pharmacy does not have a physician in charge. The clerk only has a rudimentary understanding of pharmacology and does not know how to make medicine or diagnose patients... That's why we are in the current situation."
By this time, Du Mingzhao and his group had finished counting the medicine and medicinal herbs and had arrived.
The pharmacy only had some inexpensive prepared medicines, and then there were the processed medicinal herbs, many of which had been damaged due to improper storage.
Xie Ning glanced at the county magistrate and the others indifferently, "That's a good excuse."
Now, not only the county magistrate, but everyone else was sweating profusely.
"Why would the people fear the county government? As the local official, you must have dignity, but you must also understand what it means to be a 'parent official'. That means you must love the people like your own children. If you truly do this, why would the people be afraid?"
Even if the people fear the county government, can't the pharmacy be moved out of the county government compound? If you can't make the decision, why don't you submit a memorial? Or are you just thinking about getting some brother-in-law a sinecure?
The official in question is the magistrate's brother-in-law, who is still kneeling. Besides his wife, the magistrate has eight concubines and a large number of brothers-in-law. He's quite capable.
After saying that, he glanced at the registrar again, "I have noted down the problem of the lack of a physician in charge of the local pharmacy. But since the magistrate can send in such a minor official, why not hire a physician who understands pharmacology and medicine?"
The last phrase, "Your Excellency the County Magistrate," carried a slightly sarcastic tone.
"Your humble servant admits his guilt." The magistrate immediately knelt down, as did the others.
Xie Ning was not only a royal physician but also a civil official with a noble title. In terms of rank, she was on par with General Xu! However, she had no real power as a civil official, but she was still a fourth-rank official.
Xie Ning lowered his eyes. In fact, the Central Pharmacy Bureau had given local pharmacies some privileges, or rather, it turned a blind eye to their recruitment of clerks.
The main purposes of establishing pharmacies are twofold: to benefit the people and to make money.
It sounds harsh to say it was about plundering wealth, but that was indeed its purpose. When it was first established, some court officials objected, saying it was about seizing the people's profits. However, Xie Ning thought it was more accurate to say it was about seizing the merchants' profits.
Because no matter whose interests the pharmacy touches, they can never affect the interests of the poor.
"You know your guilt..." Xie Ning looked at the people kneeling below, but did not call them up. He just snorted coldly and left with Du Mingzhao and the others.
Aqi Lan clutched her heart and whispered to Du Mingzhao and the others, "I think the adults were pretty fierce just now, but it wasn't the fiercest time yet."
Xie Ning was just a little unhappy, but he deliberately showed it to scare the other party.
When is it the fiercest?
Aqilan remained silent.
He chased after Xie Ning, climbed onto the carriage, but found it motionless. Xie Ning didn't say anything either. "My lord?"
As soon as she finished speaking, she heard a voice from outside the carriage, "Lord Xie, your ring has fallen."
Aqi Lan lifted the curtain and saw the registrar who had just spoken holding a jade thumb ring up to his eyebrows with both hands. After Xie Ning nodded slightly, Aqi Lan took the thumb ring off.
At this moment, Xie Ning spoke up, "What's your name?"
"My surname is Luo, and my given name is Yueqian."
"A good name."
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