Chapter 33: How Did They Recruit a Child?
Having already taken her pulse, Shen Qingtang naturally knew what to expect. She said, "Of course, I will help you lose twenty pounds within a month."
Hearing this, Mrs. Li breathed a sigh of relief, but quickly frowned again and said, "But didn't you say that I have a pulse that indicates I'm too weak to tolerate tonics? How can I lose weight?"
Shen Qingtang took out a medicine bottle and handed it to the other person, saying, "This contains slimming pills. Just take one every five days before bed. I will come every three days to give you acupuncture and bring a medicinal meal. Walk for an hour every day. Just follow your usual diet. Don't overeat, but don't diet excessively either."
After hearing what Shen Qingtang said, Mrs. Li looked surprised and said, "Not only will you not let me eat less, but you're also going to add a medicinal dish to my diet. Won't this make me gain more and more weight?"
To be fair, this was the simplest and easiest way to lose weight that she knew. Not only did it not require painstakingly controlling food intake or doing a lot of strenuous exercise, but it only required an hour of walking every day, yet the results were so remarkable.
Shen Qingtang nodded and said, "The medicinal diet is mainly for regulating your constitution and can help you better promote your gastrointestinal digestion. It won't have a big impact on your weight." As if she remembered something, she paused and said, "Remember, take one slimming pill every five days. Don't overdo it."
Through the pulse diagnosis, she already knew the reason why Mrs. Li had gained weight. She had suffered severe bleeding during childbirth and, because of her wealthy family background, had consumed all sorts of tonics during her postpartum confinement. The medicine was very effective and her body recovered quickly in the short term, but after the confinement period, she was overnourished and unable to tolerate the tonics.
With no gaps in her internal organs to absorb nutrients, the excess nutrients naturally turned into fat, making her known as someone with a tendency to gain weight easily.
She came not only to impress Mrs. Li, but also to take the opportunity to build the reputation of Renxin Medical Clinic. Therefore, she naturally went all out and showed off her skills.
With a combination of weight-loss pills, medicinal diets, and acupuncture, if Mrs. Li listens to her advice, Shen Qingtang estimates that she should be able to lose 25 pounds. She's giving a lower estimate firstly to be on the safe side, and secondly to make Mrs. Li more pleased with the results.
Upon hearing Shen Qingtang's instructions, Mrs. Li nodded repeatedly, saying, "I will, I will."
Zhang Xining gestured to the dresses on the tablet and said, "These are nice, but if you lose weight, you can wear even better styles." Then, she smiled and said, "Mrs. Li, I think if you listen to Qing Tang, you'll definitely be able to lose weight this time."
As a socialite in high society, Zhang Xining also has her own fashion sense when it comes to dressing, and she is very familiar with the latest styles and popular elements of each brand.
The dresses on the tablet were mostly conservative, perhaps to accommodate Mrs. Li's figure, and seemed designed to completely cover her up. They weren't ugly, but they certainly weren't pretty either.
In short, it is the clothes that wear people, not the other way around.
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Li's eyes sparkled. Remembering the dress she had her eye on, she nodded repeatedly and said, "I will. I will do whatever Dr. Shen tells me to do."
After the examination, she realized that Shen Qingtang was indeed skilled and wouldn't make a mistake with even a simple Chinese herbal medicine. Having done business before, she understood the intricacies of the trade, and her gaze towards Shen Qingtang held a newfound understanding and comprehension.
With lunchtime approaching, Shen Qingtang and Zhang Xining thanked Mrs. Li for her kind invitation to stay and left.
"Qingtang, let me take you to a Sichuan restaurant nearby. Don't let its small size fool you, it's definitely spicy and flavorful, you'll love it." Zhang Xining asked while driving, "By the way, do you still have Mrs. Li's slimming pills? I'd like to buy a few too."
Shen Qingtang blinked, and instead of answering, asked, "You trust my slimming pills that much?" After all, Mrs. Li's slimming results hadn't been seen yet. She had come in a hurry, and the slimming pills were in an ordinary jade porcelain bottle, which, to put it bluntly, was almost like a counterfeit product.
Zhang Xining chuckled softly, turning the steering wheel without even glancing at her, and said, "It's not that I believe you, but..." She tapped her head with her middle finger and said, "My intelligence."
Unless Shen Qingtang is an idiot, why would she bring a useless weight-loss pill to Mrs. Li's door to deceive her? She even made a solemn promise that she would lose 20 pounds in a month. If she didn't deliver, Renxin Medical Clinic would have to close down immediately.
Of course, she wasn't without her own ulterior motives. At the art gallery, she witnessed the eldest son of the Yan family buying the Qi-boosting pills from her. She didn't know if his sleep quality was good or not, but she heard that he hadn't been working overtime late into the night recently.
What's more... the day before yesterday, when she went to Yonghetang to pick up medicine for someone, she unexpectedly learned that Yonghetang had launched a Qi-tonifying pill. It's said to be remarkably effective, priced at 150,000 yuan per pill, with a daily limit of ten pills; in some places, it's even being resold for 300,000 yuan per pill.
She wasn't stupid or foolish; she could naturally deduce the truth from these clues. In any case, the Qi-boosting pills that caused the fire at Yonghetang were definitely related to Shen Qingtang.
Talking to smart people always saves a lot of breath. Shen Qingtang smiled and said, "You helped me today, so I should treat you to this meal."
As for the weight loss pills that Zhang Xining was concerned about... she looked him up and down carefully and said, "You're already thin enough, you don't need weight loss pills." Shen Qingtang wasn't flattering him, she was telling the truth.
Zhang Xining is tall, nearly 170 cm, and weighs only 110 catties. If you don't compare her to female celebrities who need to appear on TV, she is already a representative of just the right amount of thinness in real life.
A little more would make it richer, a little less would make it bland.
No woman dislikes being praised, not even Zhang Xining, who was self-aware of her own beauty. She smiled and touched her face, but then sighed and said, "I didn't think I was fat, but those slim-waisted beauties are just too thin. Mrs. Li's son's wedding banquet is in a month, and I'm sure I'll be outshone by them. It's better to be even lighter."
She initially chose exercise to lose weight, but unfortunately, she was too small to begin with, and despite exercising diligently for half a month, her weight increased instead of decreasing.
Seeing that Shen Qingtang had given Mrs. Li some slimming pills, she was also tempted.
Shen Qingtang shook her head and said, "When the moon is full, it wanes; when water is full, it overflows; when flowers are full, they wither; when people are full, they become arrogant." But she also understood Zhang Xining's weight anxiety. She licked her lips and said, "I think the beauty pill is more suitable for you than the weight loss pill. It will not only replenish your energy and blood, remove wrinkles and spots, but also slow down the aging process."
"However, you'll have to wait a week for me."
Hearing this, Zhang Xining's eyes lit up, and her heart pounded. "Qingtang, I absolutely adore you! I'd wait a year, let alone a week." She said with absolute certainty, "Qingtang, if your clinic sells these two kinds of pills, I can guarantee that your Renxin Clinic will not only stay afloat, but it will also bankrupt the clinic across the street. From now on, the entire circle of wealthy young ladies and wives will be your support."
There is no woman in this world who doesn't pay attention to her weight, and there is no woman who doesn't love beauty.
With these two kinds of pills in hand, Shen Qingtang undoubtedly possessed two of the sharpest blades, and every woman would be eager to befriend her.
Hearing Zhang Xining's exaggerated words, Shen Qingtang smiled and revealed some of her true intentions: "I do want to make the clinic across the street go out of business."
Chen Maquan's methods were utterly disgusting. Everyone knew what "Xin Renxin" (New Benevolence) on the shop sign was really up to. She wouldn't get angry over such a small thing, but the disgusting feeling was like a dung beetle lodged in her lungs.
Since Chen Maquan is so eager to acquire Renxin Medical Clinic to realize his new Renxin Medical Clinic, she will not just sit idly by.
Shen Qingtang remembered every single one of these accounts firmly in her mind.
Zhang Xihua was about to say something when she suddenly heard Shen Qingtang's phone ring. In the rearview mirror, she clearly saw the other party answer and say "uh-huh" twice.
Shen Qingtang said without changing her expression, "Xining, we probably can't make it to dinner today. I'll treat you another day. Could you please take me to the clinic entrance?"
"Has any patient come to our door seeking medical help?" Zhang Xining asked with a hint of teasing in his voice.
They all knew perfectly well that today was the opening day of the new Renxin Medical Clinic across the street, and Renxin Medical Clinic's already meager business was being directly snatched away, as evidenced by the deserted state of affairs when Shen Qingtang left in the morning.
Shen Qingtang pondered for a moment and said, "You could say I'm half a patient."
Zhang Xining was curious but didn't dare to press further. She sped to Renxin Medical Clinic, only to see a car on the main road that was even more luxurious than hers, with a license plate that included three eights.
With her sharp eyes, she immediately recognized the man sitting in the passenger seat. She clicked her tongue in surprise and said, "I didn't expect it to be Young Master Yan." Her eyes darted around, and she could roughly figure out his intentions. A sense of relief welled up in her heart.
It seems she has a good eye; Shen Qingtang is truly a promising prospect.
Upon seeing Shen Qingtang, Yan Yan got out of the car. Today, he was wearing a blue casual suit, unlike his formal demeanor at the banquet. He adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, his tone carrying a friendly and almost imperceptible air of flattery.
"Shen Qingtang, I hope my visit today at noon was uninvited and did not disturb you?" He glanced at the small Renxin Pharmacy in front of him and said with an approving smile, "It seems that your Renxin Pharmacy is doing quite well." After speaking, he nodded slightly to Zhang Xining behind Shen Qingtang, which was his way of greeting her.
Zhang Xining: "..." Because business was slow and it was close to noon, the two doors at the entrance were already closed, leaving only a narrow crack in the middle.
There was only a dilapidated, faded storefront sign and banner on the outside.
She couldn't help but admire the other person's ability to lie through their teeth; no wonder they were able to hold onto the position of president of the Yan Family Group. She thought to herself, but dared not say these words aloud. Instead, she put on an elegant and proper smile and said, "Young Master Yan, you've come to see Qing Tang today too? And who are these people behind you...?" Zhang Xining paused, seemingly wanting to say something but stopping herself.
Yan Yan did not arrive alone; he was accompanied by two elderly people with white hair but full of energy, and behind them was a young boy with delicate features.
He stood obediently at the back, motionless, his white eyes standing out conspicuously among the black eyes of those around him. He looked to be about thirteen or fourteen years old. For some reason, he seemed somewhat wooden, like a delicate puppet without a soul. He was beautiful, but his face showed no emotion. The longer you looked at him, the more he resembled a beautiful wooden sculpture.
Shen Qingtang also cast a curious glance and responded to Yan Yan's invitation, saying, "Why don't we go inside and talk?"
The other party's out-of-place demeanor on Changchun Street, along with the extended Bentley luxury car behind him, has already attracted a lot of attention.
“These are my seventh and eighth great-uncles, and this…” Yan Yan coughed and followed behind Shen Qingtang, speaking vaguely as he walked, “This is a distant cousin of mine.”
Although that's what he said, everyone present was shrewd and knew that this young boy was definitely more than just a distant cousin.
Cui Mingyue was about to go to the kitchen to get something to eat for lunch when she heard footsteps ahead and immediately ran over. Yan Yan's mature and humble demeanor and handsome appearance made her blush. She lowered her head and jogged over, saying, "Sister Chen, you're back so soon? Have you eaten? Has the matter been resolved?" Because there were outsiders present, she asked the last question even more quietly.
Shen Qingtang reached out and patted the other's head, saying, "More or less, you don't need to stay here." She glanced at Cui Min, who was busy in the front hall, and said, "You and your fifth senior brother go to the back to eat."
Zhang Xihua chuckled and handed a bag to Cui Mingyue, saying, "This is Haiyuelou takeout that your sister Chen packed for you. She's enjoying herself outside, but she hasn't forgotten about you."
Cui Mingyue was so happy that her molars almost stretched to her ears. She quickly thanked her, "Thank you, Sister Chen." She took the exquisite takeout box to the back and served tea and pastries to everyone before leaving.
Seeing Cui Mingyue's happy expression, Cui Min snorted and said, "Cui Mingyue, are you even Master's daughter? You have no ambition at all. You're easily pleased with such a small favor."
Cui Mingyue waved her hand dismissively and said, "If the Haiyue Restaurant's 2,000 yuan per person is considered a small favor, I'd rather have no ambition for the rest of my life."
She opened the exquisite takeout box, then suddenly paused, looking at Cui Min and saying, "Fifth Senior Brother, there are two whole boxes of your favorite raw marinated drunken crab inside!"
"It seems... Sister Shen isn't trying to please me."
Hearing Cui Mingyue's teasing tone, Cui Min's ears turned red, a rare occurrence for him, and his whole body felt as hot as if he had just passed through a volcano. However, he said, "Don't think you can please me like that."
Hearing the other person's insincere words, Cui Mingyue smiled and stuffed the chopsticks into his hand, saying, "Fifth Senior Brother, stop talking. These drunken crabs are raised in Yangcheng Lake, and each one costs 588. You should eat more."
lobby.
Yan Yan's gaze swept around the clinic, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
Shen Qingtang saw through the other party's thoughts and took a sip of tea unhurriedly, saying, "Renxin Medical Clinic has been open for thirty years and has never been renovated. Now it looks small and dilapidated."
Yan Yan touched his nose and said, "It's not too dilapidated. It may be small, but it has all the essential parts." After saying that, his gaze lingered on Shen Qingtang for a long time before he looked away.
After returning to the clinic, Shen Qingtang changed out of her casual clothes and put on the white robes of Renxin Clinic. These white robes were usually plain and unadorned, and Shen Qingtang wore no makeup, but the professional attire perfectly highlighted her calm and composed temperament, making her even more beautiful.
He seemed quite different from the wealthy young ladies who usually surrounded him.
"Is there something you need from me?" Shen Qingtang asked, seeing that Yan Yan remained silent.
"The Qi-boosting pills are very effective. After taking them, I haven't had insomnia since." The feeling of being able to fall asleep quickly as soon as I lay down in bed was wonderful, unlike before when he couldn't fall asleep no matter how hard he tried and could only toss and turn in bed, unable to sleep.
After a week of sleeping soundly, he finally understood why Shen Qingtang had sounded so arrogant back then; it turned out that the other party was truly capable.
After speaking, he paused for two seconds and handed a bank card to Shen Qingtang, saying, "There's 100,000 in here. Consider it the final payment I'm making up for." Hearing this, Shen Qingtang shook her head and didn't take the bank card, saying, "I've already received your thanks. You already paid the full amount for the Qi-replenishing pill."
Thinking back to the scene, Yan Yan felt a little embarrassed. He thought the price of 100,000 was too high at the time, but now it seemed too cheap.
"Is there anything else? I'm very busy this afternoon." Seeing the silence fall again, Shen Qingtang wanted to tell them to leave. She needed to hurry up and prepare the formula for the Beauty Pill for testing before she could send it to Zhang Xining.
Upon hearing this, Yan Yan went straight to the point: "Qingtang, the Qi-replenishing pills you gave me are very effective. Can I buy a few more? Don't worry, I'll give you the same price as Yonghetang." Hearing this, Zhang Xining's eyes twitched involuntarily.
This isn't about money; it's clearly about whether you can snatch it.
After all, it's said throughout Kyoto that a Qi-replenishing pill is priceless. If it could be bought at the original price... or even at a premium, Renxin Medical Clinic would be packed with people.
Shen Qingtang took a sip of tea, shook her head and refused, "I'm sorry, Young Master Yan, I have already sold the formula to Yonghetang. Apart from my own and my family's use, I cannot sell it."
"Why did you sell this pill formula?" Yan Yan frowned, somewhat puzzled.
Upon hearing this in the back hall, Cui Min gasped in shock, while Cui Mingyue whispered, "Fifth Senior Brother, did you hear that? The formula for the Qi-replenishing pill belongs to Sister Chen."
Cui nodded blankly, her eyes still filled with shock, unable to process it for a long time.
In his heart, he always thought that Shen Qingtang was just a medical novice, someone who was lucky enough to pass this year's junior TCM doctor exam.
It's worth noting that Yonghetang has been making quite a splash lately, mainly because their newly launched Qi-boosting pill costs 150,000 yuan per pill, and due to its effectiveness, it's in high demand and short supply.
Many medical clinics were green with envy, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they were making a fortune every day.
Zhang Xining also said, "Qingtang, you're really confused. You're not short of money, so why do you want to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs?"
Shen Qingtang waved her hand dismissively, saying, "It's just a pill formula." She had countless ancient pill formulas in her mind, so this one wouldn't make a difference. "Besides..." she paused, "this Qi-replenishing pill is very troublesome to prepare, so why not just sell it for ten million?"
Hearing this, Cui Mingyue didn't know whether to be happy or not, but in any case, their clinic should no longer have to be sold.
Upon hearing this, the two silent old men stood up, sighed softly, and said, "Xiao Yan, let's take Xiao Bing with us and go."
One of them glanced at Shen Qingtang and said, "Thank you for your help." As soon as they stood up, the little boy with the white eyes also stood up.
Shen Qingtang pursed her lips and reminded him, "If the Qi-replenishing pills you want are for him, I advise you not to give them to him."
Seeing that everyone's eyes were on her, she paused and said, "Qi-replenishing pills are for replenishing qi and blood. His body is very healthy and he doesn't need such a powerful tonic."
A glint of light flashed in Seventh Uncle's eyes, and his tone held a sliver of hope as he asked, "Doctor Chen, do you know what illness he has?"
Shen Qingtang shook her head and said, "I don't know."
Upon hearing this, Uncle Ba, who had been looking forward to it, said coldly, "Alright, let's not delay other people's business. Let's have Old Huang take a look again."
Yan Yan had a gut feeling that Shen Qingtang wasn't telling the truth, and bit his lip, somewhat unwillingly asked, "Qingtang, is there really no way you can save Xiaobing?"
Shen Qingtang nodded without changing her expression and said, "There's nothing I can do."
After hearing this, he could only sigh softly and leave with a disappointed look on his face.
Seeing the four leave, Zhang Xining couldn't help but sigh, "The Yan family really kept this a secret. Even I didn't know they had a boy named Xiao Bing." Thinking of the little boy's well-behaved appearance, she couldn't help but ask, "Qing Tang, do you really not know what illness the little boy has?"
Shen Qingtang said without blinking, "He should have a soul separation disorder, which is commonly known as being haunted. His soul followed the ghost, and he became mentally impaired. Although he can still eat and sleep, he has no thoughts or feelings of his own."
After hearing Shen Qingtang's explanation, Zhang Xining asked, somewhat puzzled, "Why didn't you tell them these things? Could it be that you really can't save them?"
Shen Qingtang replied, "He can be saved, but only when he turns sixteen." Upon hearing this, Zhang Xining instantly understood Shen Qingtang's concerns.
The little boy looked to be no more than thirteen or fourteen years old. If Shen Qingtang agreed too early and then couldn't keep her promise, it wouldn't be a good thing. Understandingly, she patted Shen Qingtang on the shoulder and said, "If I were you, I would do the same."
Shen Qingtang pursed her lips and said, "That's not actually the main reason." She didn't want to give people hope so easily anymore; two years was too long, and there were too many variables.
Giving hope and then taking it away only pushes people into an abyss deeper than despair. She had already learned this lesson enough from Brother Qin.
Yan Yan and his men arrived and left in a hurry, a scene that Chen Maquan and Chen Li witnessed.
Chen Li scratched the back of his head, somewhat puzzled, and asked, "Dad, didn't you say that Young Master Yan came because of our new store opening? How come he went to Shen Qingtang's place again?"
Mentioning this matter made Chen Maquan's face burn. He thought he had some influence, that even the young master Yan from a top-tier wealthy family would come to visit him. But he never expected that the other party would come specifically to find Shen Qingtang.
They even subtly pointed out that their name wasn't very good.
He took a couple of sips of water, trying to calm his anger, and said, "Shen Qingtang used to be in the elite circle, so it's not surprising that she knows Young Master Yan. Being approached so aggressively is definitely not a good thing, so let's not get involved."
"By the way," he paused, "no one went to Shen Qingtang's place for a job interview today, right?" He was more concerned about this matter than about Young Master Yan coming to see Shen Qingtang.
Chen Li patted his chest, quite proudly saying, "Dad, don't worry. This morning, apart from Young Master Yan, not even a mosquito flew into their place."
"Besides, we've already given them a heads-up. How could those people be so foolish as to apply for jobs there?"
Chen Maquan nodded repeatedly, saying, "That's good, that's good." He wondered how the other party would run the pharmacy without a doctor on duty.
In the face of bankruptcy, it's just a matter of how long it will take.
No sooner had Yan Yan and Zhang Xining left than Sun Yun arrived. He frowned as he looked at the job posting outside and said, "Qingtang, I heard you offended Mrs. Li and that Chen Maquan from across the street took away most of the doctors from your clinic. Do you need my help?"
He glanced at the "New" in "New Benevolence" on the sign across the street and felt a wave of unease. This Chen Maquan was a veteran in the industry, yet his actions were so unethical.
Upon hearing this, Shen Qingtang waved her hand and said, "No need."
Sun Yun raised an eyebrow, puzzled, and asked, "Could it be that you don't trust the medical skills of the doctors at our clinic?"
Shen Qingtang shook her head and said, "No." She spoke the truth without any emotion: "Our clinic is not doing well, so even if we borrowed it, there would be no use for it." Besides, what is lent out must eventually be returned, a simple truth she understood.
Seeing that the other party was unwilling to accept his opinion, Sun Yun could only sigh softly and said to Shen Qingtang, "I heard that Young Master Yan brought a child here. You didn't accept it, did you?"
"No," Shen Qingtang shook her head.
Hearing this reply, Sun Yun breathed a sigh of relief. He wanted to explain the details to Shen Qingtang, but his phone rang soon after. He hung up and said apologetically, "Qingtang, my pharmacy is too busy. They're urging me to go back now. Let's talk next time."
Shen Qingtang nodded indifferently.
As soon as Sun Yun left, Cui Mingyue excitedly exclaimed, "Sister Chen is really amazing, she knows so many people."
Cui Min revealed a disdainful expression and said, "Although she was kicked out of the elite circle, she used to be one of them, so it's not surprising that we know each other. Everyone has a few shrews..." Thinking of the two full boxes of crabs, he finally relented and said, "Good friends."
Upon hearing this sudden change of address, Cui Mingyue couldn't help but burst out laughing. Before she could utter her teasing words, she heard Shen Qingtang's voice.
"Mingyue, please change the job posting in front of you."
"Change it? Change it to what?" Cui Mingyue touched her ear, somewhat puzzled, thinking she had misheard. In her opinion, the job posting could be torn down completely.
Shen Qingtang's eyes flickered, and she said, "Let's hire three apprentices instead. They'll provide meals during the apprenticeship period, and after three months they can become full-time employees with a basic salary of three thousand."
Cui Mingyue: "......"
But what they lack are experienced doctors, not inexperienced apprentices.
But seeing Shen Qingtang's persistent gaze, she still sighed softly and reposted the printed apprenticeship recruitment notice.
This scene was witnessed by Chen Li, who was on the opposite side.
He glanced at the contents and burst into laughter, "Mingyue, weren't you recruiting doctors this morning? Why are you recruiting apprentices this afternoon?"
Cui Mingyue waved her hand impatiently and said, "Go away, don't cause trouble here."
"Why don't you come to my family's clinic? Considering how long we've known each other, I'll have my dad give you a higher salary." Chen Li stroked his chin, trying to recruit the other person to his family's clinic.
Hearing the other party's arrogant laughter, Cui Mingyue felt a surge of annoyance. After changing the job posting, she deliberately stood up and fanned herself by her ear, saying sarcastically, "Where did this fly come from, buzzing around so annoyingly?"
Before Chen Li could react, she walked straight into the clinic.
Chen Li snorted coldly and said, "Heh, I'd like to see how long you can hold out."
Shen Qingtang planned to recruit three apprentices. Since there were no restrictions, many people applied. Unfortunately, many of them were not qualified. After getting a general understanding of the situation, she asked Cui Mingyue to keep an eye on things.
Three days later, she looked at the four people in front of her—no, it should be three adults and one child—and frowned.
Cui Min was also somewhat dissatisfied and directly questioned, "Cui Mingyue, how could you bring a child in? This is a pharmacy, not a charity, where just any Tom, Dick, or Harry can come in."
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