Chapter 24: The Articles of Association for Opening a Clinic
Inside the Apricot Blossom Courtyard, the moonlight was like a veil. The pale silver light spilled down from the sky, gently covering the blue brick path in the courtyard, outlining light and shadow of varying shades.
Night dew clung to the banana leaves in the corner, shimmering in the moonlight.
Inside the room, Meng Yutong let her hair down and leaned lazily against the soft couch by the window, her fingertips unconsciously twirling her hanging black hair, a slight smile playing on her lips.
After much effort, the location for the clinic was finally settled.
Bai Zhi brought in calming tea and smiled when she saw the girl's smiling face. "Miss, you have a shop now, but what are you going to do next? The place is empty and far from Zhang's place."
Although we finalized the shop deal yesterday, it's just an empty shop, far from the clinic she envisioned. I wonder what we should do next.
Meng Yutong took the teacup, its warmth comforting her. She counted on her fingers for Bai Zhi, her voice light and cheerful:
"Opening a clinic is no ordinary business; the procedures are complicated and intricate."
"Firstly, you need to register with the government's 'Market Affairs Office' and pay the deed tax to confirm the ownership of the shop in black and white. Only after receiving the red deed can you feel at ease."
"Secondly, and most importantly," she tapped her fingertips lightly on the table, "'Medical Registration Certification.' One must pass an examination administered by the Medical Academy, which tests one's foundation in medical theory such as the *Treatise on Febrile Diseases* and the *Pulse Classic*, verifying one's identity and confirming that one is indeed qualified to practice medicine and open a clinic. Otherwise, it would be practicing medicine without a license, and one would face legal trouble."
"Thirdly, one must take the medical records to the Imperial Medical Academy to obtain the 'medical token' that symbolizes one's status."
"Once these official connections are secured, then we can deal with mundane tasks like purchasing medicinal herbs, repairing the premises, recruiting staff, and choosing an auspicious day for opening."
She paused, recalling how she had asked about the procedures when Shi Yun was reviewing the medical academy's exam questions under the lamp. Although he seemed aloof, he had explained them in detail.
Unexpectedly, this saved her a lot of trouble.
He was always like this, treating her with considerable patience, and answering all her questions without reservation.
But if you want more, there won't be any left.
The two of them spent those years together, not like a newlywed couple, but more like... living together under the same roof.
His eyes were only on his medical skills. If there was anything else that could capture his attention or stir his heart... it was probably only Princess Jin'an...
“Right now,” Meng Yutong put down her teacup, her gaze calming down as she gradually returned to her senses, “the shop location has been roughly decided. The next step is to secure the ‘medical registration’.”
"Hey! What's there to worry about?" Bai Zhi's face immediately lit up with a smile. "The medical books you've read with the old lady over the years could be stacked higher than this servant. You can recite the Compendium of Materia Medica backwards, you know the Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Pieces of Gold by heart, and you even study those rare medical books on difficult and complicated diseases whenever you have free time. You'll definitely pass the Imperial Medical Academy's exam with ease!"
Meng Yutong's smile faded slightly; she was not afraid of the assessment.
But the Imperial Medical Academy... that's Ji Yun's territory. If she goes to take the exam, it's hard to guarantee that word won't reach his ears.
Since her rebirth, she has avoided Ji Yun like the plague. Yesterday, they bumped into each other in the market, but their conversation wasn't pleasant. And now she has to take the initiative to approach him again, which is really troublesome.
Seeing Meng Yutong's indifferent expression, Bai Zhi assumed she was pondering the next steps and asked, "Miss, once these official matters are settled and the premises are tidied up, we'll need to hire people, won't we? We'll need quite a few capable people—those who can prepare medicine, dispense it, clean, and handle receptions… Do you have any suitable candidates in mind?"
With his warm heart and strong physique, he would be a good candidate for guarding a shop, protecting the property, or running errands.
Unfortunately… she shook her head. Liu Sijun and the others had probably already fled Lin'an and returned to Qinzhou.
“No rush,” she said, her tone light and cheerful, “Once the shop’s contract is finalized, we can go to the labor market in the west of the city. We’ll surely find some reliable and hardworking people there.”
After chatting with Bai Zhi, Meng Yutong felt a little tired, so she blew out the lamp and went to bed.
The next morning, as dawn broke, the shops lining both sides of the Imperial Street creaked as they removed their doors, and the aroma of cooking and the sounds of vendors gradually filled the long street.
Zheng Hui got up early, changed into a new robe, and specially burned incense. Feeling refreshed, he strolled toward Bazhenfang.
The stench of last night still seemed to linger around my nose, but the thought of the new contract I was about to receive made that grime in my heart vanish.
He was already plotting how to squeeze another penny out of those country bumpkins when his steps became a little lighter.
The doors of Bazhenfang were ajar. Zheng Hui frowned and pushed the door open, a strange chill washing over him.
"Young Master Liu? Cui Dacheng?" he called out, but no one answered.
"Achang!" His heart skipped a beat, and he shouted sharply.
Achang stumbled and crawled in from outside the gate, his lips trembling, his finger pointing shakily in the direction outside: "Manager, manager, something terrible has happened! I just went to the 'Yuelai' Inn where they were staying! Everyone...everyone's gone! The guest rooms are empty, and in the backyard...there are only cart tracks left in the backyard, and the stables are empty too!"
They cleared out all the items they consigned in the shop, leaving only this smelly robe.
Zheng Hui felt a buzzing in his head, and his vision went black.
"They ran away?! They actually dared to run away?!" Zheng Hui's eyes were bloodshot, and his voice was distorted with extreme anger.
Last night, scenes flashed through my mind like lightning.
He's not a drunkard at all! He's clearly feigning madness to escape his predicament!
The original contract was burned. They had no intention of signing a new contract in the first place.
Last night's "drunken act" was just to stall him and buy him time to pack up and run away!
"Fine! Well done, Liu Sijun!" Zheng Hui was so angry that he trembled all over. He stomped on the dirty robe several times. "You brat! You cunning villain! How dare you try to trick me!"
After the initial rage subsided, fear spread rapidly like a tidal wave, and cold sweat instantly soaked through the undergarment he had just changed into.
The consigned gold and jade jewelry, the expected substantial profits, the expected cash flow... and the "guaranteed profit" he had assured Li Jing back then...
Young Master… Just thinking about how much Li Jing valued Bazhenfang, Zheng Hui felt his legs go weak and he almost collapsed.
Ah Chang was terrified and scrambled out of the room.
Zheng Hui stood alone in the empty Bazhenfang, suppressing his surging anger and fear, his mind racing as he considered how to explain things to Li Jing.
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