Chapter 400: Planning and Scheming, Demanding the Medical Clinic
"Objectively speaking, Zheng Ning is indeed a good head of the family. Under his leadership, the Wen family has improved a lot in terms of both wealth and status over the years. However, his shortcomings are also obvious. He values reputation and status too much and neglects the foundation of our Wen family - medical skills."
"Over the years, the Wen family's talent pool has been dwindling, and I have seen it all but been powerless to do anything about it. With your abilities, if you were to intervene and manage the family, the Wen family's branch of the family would be better off, and the Wen family would surely make further progress."
Kong Wange did this not for the development of the Wen family, but purely to help her mother find the murderer. However, she knew that she could not tell the whole truth yet. She smiled tactfully and said, "Grandma, I am not as capable as you say. But with your support, I do feel much more at ease. Don't worry, I will do my best and will not let you down."
The old lady patted her head with a look of satisfaction.
Remembering something, Kong Wange asked, "By the way, why haven't I seen my uncle? Isn't he going to pay respects to our ancestors?"
The old lady sighed: "Ever since his leg injury, he hasn't participated in any ancestral worship ceremonies. It's better for him to stay at home and recover. Going there would only make some people laugh at him, and he wouldn't be happy about it."
Kong Wange lowered her eyes and remained silent.
Twenty minutes later, the convoy arrived at the ancestral hall.
A group of people got off the bus and filed in one after another.
Despite Wen Zhengning's efforts to integrate acupuncture and medicine over the past two years, all his efforts are instantly undone once he enters the ancestral hall.
The ancestral tablets for acupuncture and medicine are placed on the two sides at the very top of the altar.
The countless memorial tablets below are arranged in a row, like two distinct small pyramids, each standing apart from the other.
The first head of the Wen family came from the acupuncture lineage, which is why the acupuncture lineage's ancestral tablet has remained consistently higher than the medicine lineage's for hundreds of years.
According to custom, the group had to first go to the acupuncture point to pay their respects before going to the medicine point.
Throughout the entire ceremony, Wen Zhengning and Wen Zirou maintained a composed expression. Although nothing was outwardly apparent, Kong Wange was certain that Wen Zhengning harbored resentment.
The head of the household presided over the ceremony, burning three incense sticks, bowing, praying, and burning paper money.
After going through all the procedures, the morning had already passed, and everyone went to the nearby hotel for lunch.
At the dinner table, Wen Zhengning and Wen Zirou chatted about the recent medical forum, while Wen Luoyun sidled up to the old lady and chatted to make her happy.
Wen Sichen was too lazy to get involved in the adults' affairs and was engrossed in chatting with someone on his phone.
At the entire dinner table, only Kong Wange was eating quietly.
After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill and finished their conversation, a quiet silence fell. Kong Wange put down her chopsticks and spoke slowly: "Uncle, I was deeply moved by today's ancestral worship ceremony. Since everyone is here, there are some things I would like to discuss with you and Aunt."
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone in the hall turned their attention to him.
Before Wen Zhengning could speak, Wen Zirou smiled and said, "There's no need to be so formal at the dinner table. Wan Ge, just say what you want to say."
Kong Wange nodded: "Then I won't beat around the bush. Uncle and Aunt, I heard that the two clinics in the East Street are short of staff to manage them. I happen to be free, so if you haven't found suitable people yet, I'd like to give it a try."
Kong Wange knew the importance of taking things slowly, so she didn't ask for an exorbitant amount. The clinic at the entrance of East Street was only considered a third-tier shop in the Wen family's eyes, and it wasn't very large.
Even so, after she finished speaking, everyone except the old lady was stunned.
In the silence, it was Wen Sichen who spoke first, mocking without any attempt to hide his sarcasm: "What kind of international joke are you talking about? Even if the clinic at the East Street intersection isn't making money, it's still a property of the Wen family. You're just someone who's returned to the Wen family. It's not your place to manage the long queues!"
"Si Chen, shut up," Wen Zhengning said in a deep voice.
Wen Sichen glared at Kong Wange and remained silent. He then picked up his phone and typed furiously: "Damn it! I have something really infuriating to tell you. Your stepmother is so restless! It hasn't been long, and she's already eyeing our family's clinic!!!"
Kong Ran quickly responded from the other end: 【Huh?】
Wen Sichen embellished the story, concluding with: "That woman is shameless! No wonder the three of you don't like her, and neither do I! I really don't know where she gets the nerve!"
After reading it, Kong Ran first sent a string of ellipses, then said: 【How can you say that? You have to support this!】
Wen Sichen: [Why should I support her? Are you kidding me?!]
Kong Ran: [Let me analyze this for you. You said she lacks ability, so why don't you let her manage it? When she really makes a fool of herself, we'll have a chance to laugh at her, right? Am I right?]
Wen Sichen stared at his phone for a while, then nodded and sent her a message: "You're right, you little brat! When it comes to bad walls, I admire you the most!"
Kong Ran replied with a "hehe" emoji: "Then what are you waiting for? Remember to vote for me!"
Wen Sichen: [My support is useless; I'm not the head of the family. I'm not going to chat anymore. Let's hear what my uncle has to say!]
Kong Ran: [OK, remember to broadcast live and share the battle situation with me!]
Wen Sichen thought to himself that he wondered how deeply this girl had been hurt by her stepmother before, given how eager she was to see her make a fool of herself. He sighed sympathetically and sent a message: 【No problem!】
Wen Sichen's fingers flew across his phone screen. On the other side, Wen Zhengning narrowed his eyes as he scrutinized Kong Wange, confirming with her, "Wange, what you just meant was that you wanted to take over the two clinics at the East Street intersection?"
Kong Wange nodded and said, "Yes."
Wen Zirou sneered, "Wange, you're new to the Wen family, so you may not know much. Although these two clinics at the east end of the street are just third-tier shops, they have more than twenty people working together. They're not so easy to manage."
She said earnestly, "I know you have good medical skills, but you can't run a shop with just medical skills. You also need to know management and operations."
Kong Wange nodded: "Auntie is right, but as far as I know, since Yaomai took over these two clinics, their income has been getting lower and lower. After all, these used to be acupuncture clinics. As someone who is part of the acupuncture lineage, I really can't bear to see them decline like this."
"Sigh, my maternal grandfather and mother put a lot of effort into these two clinics back then. Now that I've taken over, it's like returning the favor. The people there will definitely give me some face, so managing them won't be difficult."
Wen Zirou coughed lightly, interrupting, "Wange, what era are we living in? Why bother with needle and pulse diagnosis? We're all family. You're being too formal."
Kong Wange nodded in deep agreement: "Aunt is right. Since we're all family, it doesn't matter who takes care of it. If you and Uncle give me a chance, I will definitely make the pharmacy successful. If the pharmacy is profitable, the Wen family will ultimately benefit. It won't benefit outsiders, right?"
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