Chapter 8: Martial Arts
School and Pharmacy Gu Dan was given another share of the profits, five hundred taels of silver.
It is said that Emperor Zong Ming was overjoyed when he saw the five-colored Tai Sui presented by Pang Qi. This item secretly coincides with the way of longevity and has excellent meaning.
Not to mention that it has five colors and is unique in the world, which is exactly what he wants.
It was just slightly inferior to the white deer presented by the alchemist, and did not win the first prize.
Even so, the rewards were generous! The Imperial Hospital, which had been shrouded in the shadow of the alchemists for ten years, seemed to have a second spring recently.
Even the imperial physicians were no longer so leisurely, and were occasionally summoned by dignitaries.
It’s just that Gu Dan doesn’t have the energy to pay attention to these things for the time being, because Mo Qiu is finally back!
"Brother Mo, long time no see, what are you doing?"
Gu Dan was quite surprised to see Mo Qiu again.
Mo Qiu was still as strong as ever, and looked like a giant from a close distance, but there was a look of indissoluble worry between his brows. He was exhausted, his clothes were covered with dust, and his expression was quite solemn.
"It's a long story."
Mo Qiu sighed, "What I saw during this bandit suppression campaign makes me feel uneasy!"
"Let's go, let's welcome you first, and then we can talk slowly."
Gu Dan chose a restaurant with high-quality dishes and asked for a private room.
"The place where we are going to suppress the bandits is still a hundred miles away from the imperial capital. There are mountains and the roads are dangerous. The bandits are entrenched in the mountains and forests, and the government will scatter like birds and beasts when they are captured. The results are very limited. So I didn't rush after accepting the reward."
Mo Qiu picked up the wine pot, took a big gulp and said, "But soon I found that the number of bandits in the bandit suppression area far exceeded the expectations of the government, and it has become a force to be reckoned with!"
"oh?"
Gu Dan was also a little surprised, "How dare you become so powerful even though you are only a hundred miles away from the imperial capital?"
If there are only a few kittens, then the government will not bother to intervene.
You dare to gather in the mountains and forests, do you really think that the iron fist can't hit you?
Just because it's dark under the lamp doesn't mean you should light a lantern!
"I came to the imperial capital because of the flood in Yuzhou. Tens of thousands of people were displaced and hundreds of thousands were homeless. This was a natural disaster and we had no choice. But the increase in the number of bandits in the mountains this time was not just due to a natural disaster, but a man-made disaster!"
Putting the wine pot back on the table with a bang, Mo Qiu said in a cold voice: "Yuzhou has just experienced a natural disaster, but the taxes have to be increased! And it is definitely not increased for one year. Looking at the overall situation, it will be at least five years!"
"Hiss~"
Gu Dan couldn't help but gasp, "How dare he?!"
The issue of taxation concerns the livelihood of the people, and a change in taxation can mean a matter of life and death.
The natural disaster hasn't passed yet, and they are still levying five years of taxes. Isn't that crazy! "Oh, Yuzhou is an important grain-producing area. Although the natural disaster is terrible, it can still be survived. But when the taxes come this time, I don't know how many people will lose their families and have no livelihood! According to the bandits, the White Lotus Sect has taken the opportunity to stir up trouble and incite the people. There are also disaster victims who know that they have no way out, so they might as well join the bandits, which has greatly increased the number of bandit troubles."
At this point, Mo Qiu was already filled with murderous intent.
Even though Gu Dan knew that the murderous intent was not directed at him, he still felt a chill all over his body.
Suddenly, he thought of what Andy Hui said to him.
"The current emperor has been practicing Taoism for ten years. He has achieved something in these ten years, and he should be congratulated by the court and the public."
Ha, what a great celebration from the government and the people! The sea is peaceful and the rivers are clear, and the world is at peace! Gu Dan's palms were already white from clenching his fists. Even if he felt sad, what could he do?
He was just a ninth-rank doctor, what was that? The last imperial physician who advised the dog emperor not to be obsessed with cultivation had all gone.
On the contrary, this imperial physician is now constantly flattered and receives numerous rewards.
Those in the court already knew how to act.
Emperor Zong Ming had not attended court for ten years. Even if he was dissatisfied, he had long since stayed away from officialdom, which was a place of gossip.
Dog Emperor, you must not die well! The atmosphere at the banquet became dull, and both of them had lost interest.
After a while, Gu Dan perked up and said, "Let's not talk about state affairs. Brother Mo, why don't you tell me what you gained from this bandit-suppression trip?"
Talking about this, Mo Qiu's face finally improved a bit. "Because the number of bandits has increased greatly, the reward this time has also increased a lot. Although it took several months, I got three hundred taels of silver."
Three hundred taels is already a very high sum.
If an ordinary family wants to save so much, it is impossible even if the whole family works themselves to death.
But suppressing bandits is inherently dangerous, and one could lose one's life if one is not careful. If the government sends troops to encircle and suppress them, the amount of supplies and money consumed would be far more than this amount.
"Three Hundred Taels"
Gu Dan looked puzzled, he did nothing, but his income during this period was more than twice what Mo Qiu earned by working so hard.
In terms of ability, he is far inferior to Mo Qiu.
But his family has been an imperial physician for three generations, and even though he is the only one left now, there is still someone to take care of him. His days are very leisurely. Not to mention the white-collar salary, he also received all the benefits of profit sharing.
In addition, there are some intangible conveniences. For example, the medicinal materials he needs to treat the prisoners in the prison are all provided by the Imperial Hospital, and no money is required.
This is not his privilege; every imperial physician holding an official position is like this.
Only some very precious medicinal materials need to be recorded when they are used.
To put it bluntly, even if he was completely ruined, as long as he didn't touch gambling or drugs, with the remaining property and prescriptions in his family, he could live a life of luxury, but it would be easy for him to live a carefree life like an ordinary person.
It was not until then that Gu Dan suddenly realized that the second generation was actually me! "Three hundred taels sounds like a lot, but when I really spend it, it's like water flowing eastward, and it will disappear in the blink of an eye." Mo Qiu seemed a little helpless, "I don't want to go to those princes and nobles, really..."
"The bandit didn't even leave any gold or silver?" Gu Dan asked curiously.
"That's wrong."
Mo Qiu immediately shook his head and said solemnly, "The money obtained by the bandits was all obtained by killing people and robbing their goods, robbing merchants and travelers, and persecuting the people. A gentleman loves money and gets it in a proper way. If you spend this money on yourself, how is it different from the bandits? I have used all the money I got from the bandits to help the victims, and there is not a penny left."
"Brother Mo is so righteous! Listening to your words is worth ten years of reading!"
Gu was worried and said immediately, "Brother Mo's strength is far beyond the reach of ordinary people, but the matter of suppressing bandits is extremely dangerous. This can't happen again and again. If you suppress bandits one after another, the other party must be prepared. If you are not careful, it will be a life-threatening situation. It is really not a good opportunity. In contrast, Brother Mo has skills, are you interested in opening a martial arts school?"
"Martial arts gym?"
Mo Qiu thought about it and shook his head again, "Nowadays, martial arts schools are not doing well. Just talking about buying a venue, every inch of land in the imperial capital is worth a lot of money. I'm afraid that there will be nothing left to buy a suitable courtyard with three hundred taels of silver. In the meantime, we have to build a reputation and recruit students. I don't know how many years it will take."
You can't open a martial arts school just because you have the ability.
You still have to be recognized by others! If there is no one to protect you, and someone comes to your house every few days to cause trouble, who can stand it?
Not to mention that alchemists are highly respected nowadays, and there are far more people willing to go to Taoist temples than those who are willing to go to martial arts schools.
One is responsible for reporting to the emperor, the other is for guarding the house. There is no need to think about which one to choose.
Gu Dan clapped his hands and said, "Ha, it just so happens that my father left behind a nice house in Beijing. I have never been there on weekdays, so it is just sitting there idle. If Brother Mo is interested, you and I can open a martial arts school and a medicine shop together, wouldn't that be wonderful?"
Mo Qiu shook his head repeatedly and said, "That is the house left by your father. How can we tear it down and turn it into a martial arts school? It is neither reasonable nor logical!"
"No! When my father was still alive, he told me that if I didn't have much talent, I could leave the Imperial Hospital and open a pharmacy to make a living. But I don't dare to act rashly because I am still not very talented. It was only after hearing Brother Mo mention the difficulties that I had this idea. You and I can live as neighbors and take care of each other.
What's more, medicine and martial arts are inseparable, and if they promote each other, the business may be more prosperous. Even if there is really no one, it doesn't cost much money, and the place will not run away!"
Mo Qiu was just saying it, but Gu Dan had already thought about it.
The Imperial Medical Bureau is very good, but it is not his home.
Not to mention that the current imperial physician has been causing trouble all the time.
If you often walk by the river, you will get your feet wet. Wucai Taisui taught Gu Dan a lesson that his caution was far from enough, and also made up his mind for him.
It’s time to move out of the Imperial Hospital!
Mo Qiu hesitated.
He had also thought about opening a martial arts school.
However, the capital and time costs are too high, and whether there are apprentices or not, a pharmacist must be found to provide support - it is normal to suffer injuries while practicing martial arts, and it is impossible to do so without a pharmacist, which is another huge expense.
"Brother Mo, you can teach people martial arts, and I will provide the land and provide medical treatment. We can split the revenue 50-50. What do you think, Brother Mo?" Gu Dan struck while the iron was hot. "To be honest, I also want to learn some martial arts, but I am not sure about the martial arts schools outside. If Brother Mo is willing to teach, that would be great."
Mo Qiu looked at Gu Dan, and Gu Dan met his gaze without hesitation, with only anticipation and excitement in his eyes.
He had waited for more than four months for this day! Although a large part of the reason was to avoid the attention of those who cared about him, the wait was real.
"Brother Gu, it's kind."
Mo Qiu thought about it and couldn't help feeling a little emotional.
To say that the profit was split fifty-fifty was an understatement.
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He only needs to sit back and teach people, and the other party will take care of the rest.
It is not as simple as simply offering territory and providing medical treatment.
Apart from anything else, if you want to open a martial arts school in the imperial capital, you must first obtain credentials from the government and go through the connections to ensure that you will not cheat people into paying their money and then run away.
This step alone stopped countless people.
Of course, he also knew that Gu Dan worked in the Imperial Medical Bureau, his family had been imperial physicians for three generations, and he himself was a ninth-rank medical officer, so there must be some connections.
"Brother Mo, even if you don't agree, I will definitely open a pharmacy. How much more money can I spend if I open a martial arts school? Even if I lose everything, the Imperial Hospital will always provide for my livelihood."
Seeing that Mo Qiu was interested, Gu Dan couldn't wait to speak.
"In that case, I'll trouble you, Brother Gu!"
Mo Qiu nodded. The conditions offered by the other party couldn't be better. Even preferential treatment was not enough to describe it.
Even if it is impossible, it is just a waste of some time and can be regarded as practicing martial arts.
"Haha, come on, drink some!"
Gu was worried and happy.
Opening a pharmacy was a necessity, and as for the martial arts school, it was opened purely for Mo Qiu.
Although he had not known Mo Qiu for a long time, whether from what he saw in prison or from their conversation now, it was not difficult to see that Mo Qiu had his own bottom line, and that this bottom line was beyond the reach of ordinary people.
He felt at ease learning martial arts with this man.
Being together day and night and having someone to give you guidance is what I want most.
After having a good meal and a few drinks, Gu Dan did not hesitate at all and directly dragged Mo Qiu to the old house left to him by his cheap father.
According to the rules of the previous life, if the imperial palace was divided into one ring, the house left by my father was located a little further away from the second ring. It had more than a dozen rooms and occupied a considerable area.
It is more than enough to open a martial arts school, and it is also very simple to set aside a room for him to run a medicine shop.
Do you understand the value of the three generations of imperial physicians in your family?
After handing a key to Moqiu, Gu Dan immediately went to get down to business.
Holding the key to the Gu family's old house, Mo Qiu was still a little unresponsive.
"Brother Gu is really..."
After thinking about it, even though he was knowledgeable, he couldn't think of a suitable word.
He had only known Gu Dan for a little over three months, and they hadn't even met for two months.
But the other party could actually entrust him with such a trust and directly handed him the keys to the old house! What kind of trust is this?
On the other side, Gu Dan had already run back to the Imperial Hospital and put on his ninth-rank official uniform.
Although the ninth rank is nothing in the imperial capital, it depends on who you compare it with.
He wasn't going to compete for the most beautiful woman, so the ninth rank was enough for him.
As for whether Mo Qiu would take the key, rummage through the drawers and run away with the money?
Gu Dan didn't have this worry at all.
Not to mention that the other party's behavior and style were fine, even if he really made a mistake, so what? He would only lose a little money and get a clearer view of the person.
Ordinary people have only a limited time in their lives, so they are bound to be calculative and even risk their lives to fight for temporary gains and losses.
As long as he can safely treat patients and save lives, immortality will not be a fantasy.
He simply handed the key to Moqiu and ran away. Rather than saying that he was careless and unaware of the wickedness of human nature, it was more like a test for Moqiu.
No matter how nice something sounds, it may not be true.
Before he left, he specifically told Mo Qiu that there was some extra money at home and he could use it as he pleased.
If the other party really wants to take it, then just take it.
He wouldn't care even if the old house was burned down.
The background of three generations of imperial physicians gave him enough capital for trial and error.
And if the other party does not run away, it proves that his trust is worthwhile.
From now on, you can follow Mo Qiu to practice martial arts with peace of mind, which will bring you benefits without any harm! Time flies, and seven days have passed.
Mo Qiu sat in the lobby, listening to the tinkling sounds all around him, and couldn't help but be dazed.
After a while, he murmured to himself: "Brother Gu, you are truly an extraordinary person!"
During these seven days, Gu Dan never came back.
On the third day, a group of people came in with their food. Mo Qiu thought they were thieves and almost caught them on the spot.
When they asked, they found out that it was a young man who asked them to come and demolish the house, saying that he wanted to turn it into a martial arts school.
You can tell who is at home by just asking, and he has the final say.
It is really difficult to describe Mo Qiu's mood at that time.
The yard is now bustling with activity, but the real owner of the yard is not here at all.
When the workers had problems, they would come to Mo Qiu to ask. What could Mo Qiu do? The Imperial Hospital also went to ask once, but they didn't even see Gu Dan.
You can only do it based on your own ideas.
He thought he knew countless people and was knowledgeable, but this was the first time he had seen someone like Gu Dan.
If they didn't look so alike, he would have suspected that Gu Dan was his long-lost brother.
"Haha, Brother Mo. Have you been busy these days? Everything has been done."
While Mo Qiu was still thinking, Gu Dan had already stepped into the door and greeted him with a smile.
(End of this chapter)