The Medical Hall Opens

Xie Ci and his wife Chen Qian arrived very early in the morning. When they reached the Zhu Medical Hall, the door was still closed, so they knocked.

Zhu Changfang had just gotten up and was brushing her teeth in the courtyard of her home. Hearing the knocking, she quickly rinsed her mouth and went to open the door.

Seeing the couple, she smiled and asked, "It's you two. Why so early? Have you had breakfast?"

"We just ate before coming over." Chen Qian walked over with a smile. "Are we too early? Should we come back in a while?"

"You are a bit early. The person who boils the medicine for you hasn't arrived yet. You'll have to wait. Why don't you come sit at our place?"

Chen Qian quickly shook her head. "That would be too impolite. You're busy. We'll go out for a walk and come back later to take the medicine."

"Alright. I'll go urge them for you. Come back in half an hour and it should be ready."

"Thank you."

After Xie Ci and Chen Qian left Sanqing Lane, the couple looked at each other and couldn't help laughing. They really had been too impatient.

Two years ago, they had lost a child in an accident, and both had been heartbroken. They didn't know if it was because they thought about it so much during the day that they dreamed about it at night, but the couple dreamed of a beautiful little girl who tugged at the corner of their clothes with a grievance and asked why her mommy and daddy hadn't come to pick her up yet.

When Chen Qian woke up that morning, the tears at the corner of her eyes hadn't dried. Xie Ci quickly comforted her. Chen Qian told him that she had dreamed of such a good, obedient little girl calling her mommy.

Xie Ci found it strange. He said he had dreamed of her too, and he described the little girl's appearance. Clearly, the couple had dreamed of the same child.

At that moment, the couple simultaneously felt that the child they had lost two years ago was still waiting for them. They couldn't sit still anymore. As soon as they got up, they hurried over to Sanqing Lane.

Xie Ci held her hand. "Let's go get breakfast. We need to take the medicine on an empty stomach later, which hurts the stomach and is bad for the body."

Chen Qian agreed, and the couple walked side by side.

When talking to Zhu Changfang just now, Chen Qian had held back her tone, but her eagerness to take medicine and receive acupuncture, her desire to heal her body as soon as possible, was so evident that Zhu Changfang could see it at a glance.

Zhu Changfang didn't have time for her own breakfast. She went back inside and called her two daughters to quickly eat and go to school, then turned and went to knock on Sun Guizhen's door.

Sun Guizhen and Zhu Changfeng had only moved from the village to Sanqing Lane the afternoon before. Everything was still unsettled, and they were still tidying up early in the morning.

Zhu Changfang pushed the door open and said, "Stop tidying. Hurry and eat breakfast and go to the Medical Hall to boil medicine for the patient."

"I haven't made breakfast yet." Sun Guizhen put down the washbasin. "What, the patient is here?"

"Yes, that couple from yesterday just came. I sent them away and told them to come back in half an hour."

Sun Guizhen also got anxious. "Why so early? It's not even working hours yet."

"True, but I think that couple really wants to have a child soon, and they only have three days off. It's normal to be anxious."

"Then I'll go boil their medicine first. After that, I'll come back and make breakfast."

"Don't bother making breakfast. You're too lazy to trouble yourself. I'll bring breakfast to the Medical Hall later. Just make do."

"Alright, thank you."

As Sun Guizhen closed the door, she said, "I'm not always alone. Once the work at the Medical Hall gets sorted out, my Yingying will come live with me. She wants to transfer to county school. My in-laws have agreed."

"It's good to study in the county. Your Yingying is close in age to my two girls. They can play together."

They headed toward the Medical Hall. When they reached the main house, Zhu Changfang stopped. "Wait here. The key to the Medical Hall is with Fengniang. I'll go get it."

"No need to be so troublesome. Isn't the back garden of the main house connected to the Medical Hall? I can go through the back garden to the back workshop."

"No, we must go through the front door." Zhu Changfang whispered, "Do you remember Wang Erzhu? The water ghost. After our eldest young lady subjugated him, she put him in the back garden to guard the gate."

"Oh, I can't go through the back garden. If we clash with him, ordinary people like us will definitely suffer."

"Exactly."

Zhu Changfang led Sun Guizhen inside and went to the kitchen to get the Medical Hall key from Zhu Fengqin. She also mentioned that the couple from yesterday had just come.

Zhu Fengqin gave the key to Zhu Changfang. "You go first. I'll go wake An'an. An'an will need to give them acupuncture later, right?"

"The prescription does say acupuncture daily."

"Then you go busy first. An'an will go to the Medical Hall after breakfast."

"Alright."

Zhu Changfang took the key and went to the Medical Hall with Sun Guizhen. After opening the door, she took two portions of medicine according to the prescription and gave them to Sun Guizhen. "You go boil the medicine first. I'm going home to eat breakfast. I'll bring yours later."

"Go ahead."

In the main house, Zhu Shian was still sleeping. Zhu Fengqin opened the windows and doors. "Get up. From now on, you're the head of the Medical Hall. You can't be like before, sleeping whenever you want."

"The patients are already here. A doctor still lying in bed is improper. Don't make people wait for you."

"I stir-fried a dish of pickled mustard greens with two liang of sesame oil for you this morning, and also boiled a salted duck egg. They're delicious with the corn porridge."

The windows and doors were wide open, and light from outside streamed into the room. Zhu Fengqin stepped on the footrest to open the mosquito net, almost stepping on the tip of White's tail. White let out a mrow and rolled from the footrest to the floor.

"I know you're awake. Don't linger in bed. Get up quickly."

Zhu Shian turned over to avoid the light and refused to open her eyes. "Who's here?"

"Who else? The couple who came to pray for a child yesterday." Zhu Fengqin urged. "Hurry and get dressed. I'll go get water for you to wash your face."

Zhu Fengqin hurried out after her flurry of nagging.

Zhu Shian slowly got up, slowly dressed and combed her hair, thinking that the Medical Hall needed to establish rules first. The opening time should be set at exactly ten o'clock.

Because of Xie Ci and Chen Qian, Sanqing Lane became lively an hour earlier than usual. After the couple finished breakfast and returned to Sanqing Lane, they正好 met the children of Sanqing Lane carrying their schoolbags, laughing and chasing each other as they ran to school.

"It's really wonderful," Chen Qian exclaimed.

Xie Ci nodded in agreement. He thought so too.

"If we have children in the future, let's raise them ourselves. I don't trust leaving them with our parents."

Xie Ci also wanted to raise them himself, but: "What about work? Our job has so many field days. We can't take the child with us everywhere we go, can we?"

"Then change jobs." Chen Qian said. "We're not young anymore. Everyone says that after thirty, the body starts declining. We can't handle high-intensity work like before for much longer."

Xie Ci couldn't decide yet. "Let's consider it after the railway survey work in Nanjiang County wraps up."

Chen Qian didn't push him. She let him think about it slowly.

Today, the door of the Zhu Medical Hall was half open. When Zhu Changfang saw them coming, she said, "You came at just the right time. The medicine is ready. I'll pour it out for you now."

Sun Guizhen was eating the breakfast Zhu Changfang brought in the back workshop. Hearing voices in the front hall, she put down her bowl and chopsticks to pour the medicine.

Zhu Zheng, who was sorting herbs beside Zhu Changzhen, quickly said, "Finish your meal. I'll pour the medicine."

Sun Guizhen didn't compete with him. Smiling, she said, "Then thank you."

Zhu Zheng waved his hand, telling her not to be polite. He poured two bowls of still scalding medicine and brought them to the front hall, placing them before Xie Ci and Chen Qian.

The medicine needed to cool before drinking. Zhu Changfang made small talk with the couple, asking where their hometown was and where they worked.

Learning that the couple were both from Beijing and their work unit was also in Beijing, Zhu Changfang said in surprise, "Here is completely different from Beijing—one is in the sky, the other on the ground. It's far away."

Chen Qian smiled and said, "Once the railway is built, it won't be far from here to Beijing."

"Speaking of building the railway, I heard the railway only passes through Nanjiang County, not through our Zhenshan County. Why not include our Zhenshan County? It's only such a small distance. Why not build it into the mountains?"

"Nanjiang County is a relatively important town on the Yangtze River waterway. According to your province's planning, Nanjiang County will definitely become one of the land and water hubs in the southwest region. This plan was approved several years ago, but our country had no money, so it was delayed until now to start the survey. As for your Zhenshan County, it's not in the current plan."

Chen Qian spoke politely, but Zhu Changfang understood. She smiled and said, "I don't think they'll include Zhenshan County in the plan in the future either."

"Because Zhenshan County's terrain and development prospects are relatively limited, there's little possibility of getting a railway in the short term. Once Nanjiang County has a railway, your county can plan two highways to strengthen the connection between Zhenshan County and Nanjiang County. Then your county will find it more convenient to sell agricultural products out or transport goods in."

Xie Ci added: "Nanjiang County has good development prospects. If you want to develop outward, moving from Zhenshan County to Nanjiang County is a good choice."

Zhu Changfang waved her hand. "Our Zhu Family has lived in Zhenshan County for generations. Our roots are here. We don't want to move and can't move."

Chen Qian smiled. "Small counties have their advantages too. Actually, compared to noisy big cities, I think a quiet and peaceful small county like Zhenshan County is very suitable for living."

Zhu Changfang agreed.

The Chinese Herbal Medicine had cooled to a warm temperature, just right for drinking. The couple took the medicine and continued chatting with Zhu Changfang.

Xie Ci was very curious about the Zhu Family. He had inquired from friends about the Medical Practitioner Qualification Certificate and knew that the exam was extremely difficult to pass. Moreover, at that time, the news hadn't spread widely. Only a few people near Beijing and Shanghai knew about this exam. How did the Zhu Family in such a remote small county find out about it, and travel so far to take the exam?

Xie Ci wouldn't be so foolish as to ask directly. He circled around the topic and learned from Zhu Changfang that their Zhu Family had many relatives in Shanghai. Xie Ci automatically assumed that it must be the Zhu Family's relatives who heard the news and helped them sign up.

Zhu Shian came after finishing breakfast. She went to the back workshop and asked, "Where are the patients?"

"In the front hall. Should I call them over?"

"Yes, ask them to come for acupuncture."

Sun Guizhen went to the front hall to call the patients. Xie Ci and Chen Qian quickly came from the front hall.

Zhu Shian felt their pulses and asked how they slept last night.

"We slept very well, but we had a dream last night." Chen Qian hesitated whether to say it.

Zhu Shian didn't pry further. "I think the prescription I wrote yesterday is very appropriate. Drink the Herbal Decoction for two more days. When you leave, I can make it into Pills for you to take, or you can take the herbs back and boil them yourself."

"Is there a difference in effect between Pills and Herbal Decoction?"

"The Pills I make have no difference in medicinal properties from the Decoction." Whether other doctors' Pills have differences, she didn't know.

Xie Ci was clever and understood the implication. He quickly said, "Then麻烦祝大夫帮我们夫妻制作成丸药吧."

"Alright, let's go in for acupuncture first."

The couple followed Zhu Shian into the acupuncture room. After she inserted the needles, she came out and gave two prescriptions to Zhu Zheng: "Grind the medicine into powder. I'll need it later."

"Yes."

At this time, Zhu Shouxin and Zhu Shouguang arrived. Zhu Shouxin said, "What prescription? Let me see."

Zhu Zheng handed the prescription to Zhu Shouguang. After reading it, Zhu Shouguang said, "It's a bit different from yesterday's. Did you add six qian of Shudihuang and Walnut Kernel?"

Zhu Shian nodded. "Yes, Shudihuang nourishes blood and enriches Yin, fills essence and supplements marrow; Walnut Kernel tonifies kidney Yang. It's suitable for their condition of both kidney Yin and Yang deficiency. Since we're making Pills, I added six qian more to fully supplement the medicinal properties."

Zhu Shouguang was pouring tea. Hearing this, he said, "Actually, for treating such Yin-Yang deficiency, Shudihuang and Deer Antler Gelatin are suitable. It's just that we don't have Deer Antler Gelatin on hand, so we can only use more Walnut Kernel to tonify kidney Yang."

"In a few days. Our clan is already contacting old friends in the northeast."

"How's the quality of the Deer Antler Gelatin on the County Hospital's procurement list?"

Zhu Shouguang disdainfully said: "The medicine was probably good originally, but I don't know how it was stored. It actually got moldy. What a waste of good stuff."

"Alas, there are many kinds of medicinal herbs, and the preservation methods are also very different. Even the old medicine traders, because of the various preservation needs, usually only dealt with herbs they were familiar with. They wouldn't dare do business in all kinds of medicinal materials."

Cultivating a knowledgeable Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner takes years, and cultivating someone who knows medicinal materials is also a long process.

The Zhu Family had family traditions and solid foundations. The older generation hadn't all passed away yet, so they still knew the methods of planting, processing, and preserving medicinal materials.

Those with slightly thinner foundations, like Director Li at the County Hospital—the Li family had few people, the older generation had mostly died, and the younger generation didn't understand. In the Traditional Chinese Medicine field, only two or three people remained. They had given up on everything related to Chinese Herbal Medicine and could only be doctors who wrote prescriptions. Whether the medicine worked depended on luck.

As the saying goes, with bad medicine, even the best prescription is useless.

Patients won't distinguish which link went wrong when the prescription you wrote has no effect. They only think you as the doctor have no skill.

A good doctor's reputation is ruined bit by bit.

The Zhu Family has good prescriptions and insists on providing patients with good-quality medicinal materials with good properties. In the past, when Traditional Chinese Medicine was flourishing, they didn't need to pay extra costs.

In the future, if good medicinal materials become hard to obtain, to get them, they would have to personally manage from collection to final processing and preservation—this cost would become very high.

Zhu Shian, Zhu Shouguang, and Zhu Shouxin all knew the stakes. Without saying a word, they默契地 made the same choice—they couldn't ruin the Zhu Family's reputation.

Write good prescriptions, use good medicine, charge whatever the price should be.

The Zhu Family doesn't make black-hearted money, but they don't do losing businesses either.

Zhu Changfeng quietly listened to the eldest young lady and Old Master Shouguang and Old Master Shouxin discuss the Zhu Family's future path. He only heard the eldest young lady say: "The world is changing, and our Zhu Family must change too. If the Zhu Family only runs the Medical Hall and does medicinal material business like before, the money earned won't be able to support the Zhu Medical Hall's sign."

"What changes does the eldest young lady suggest?"

"Whatever changes outside, we follow. Whatever industry makes money, we do it. Our Zhu Family has money and people. Are we afraid we can't compete with others?"

"But, us old folks only understand Traditional Chinese Medicine. We don't know anything else."

Zhu Shian smiled: "You don't, but the young people definitely will. We've sent so many relatives out to study and gain experience. Not one of them will be useless, right?"

Zhu Shian told Old Master Shouguang to rest assured: "I've met all the young people in the clan. They'll become useful talents."

Zhu Fengqin and Zhang Hui carried the plaque from the back workshop. Zhu Fengqin said happily: "Come look at how the air-drying is going? I think it's ready. Let's hang the plaque today? And hang a piece of red cloth on the plaque. We'll uncover it tomorrow for the opening. It's not troublesome."

Zhu Changfeng and Zhu Changzhen quickly came to take the plaque and placed it on the Medicine Cabinet.

Zhu Changfang and the others gathered around to look and reached out to touch it. It seemed ready to hang.

Zhu Fengqin picked at it with her nail. Everyone looked at her. Zhu Fengqin flicked her little finger casually: "It won't pick off. The paint is fixed. Hang it up."

Zhu Changfang and Zhang Hui couldn't help laughing. Fengniang is so funny.

Zhu Changzhen smiled and said: "Then I'll go get the ladder from the storage room?"

Zhu Fengqin quickly went to the main house: "You go get the ladder. I'll go get the red cloth."

Zhu Fengqin brought the red cloth from the main house, attracting the elderly, children, and young wives who were gluing matchboxes in the front hall of the main house.

Wu Shenpo held her granddaughter Fufu to watch the excitement: "Are you hanging the plaque now?"

Fufu raised her hands, excitedly bouncing in Wu Shenpo's arms: "Grandma, set off firecrackers."

Zhu Shian pinched her little hand: "No firecrackers today. Tomorrow, okay?"

"Okay."

"Pop, pop, pop." Zhu Changzhen's two-year-old son Chengcheng, in his mother's arms, excitedly provided sound effects, as if there was a string of firecrackers in his mouth.

Zhu Changzhen's wife couldn't help laughing, patting her son's bottom: "Behave, or I'll put you down to walk yourself."

Chengcheng wouldn't get down. When he saw his father carrying the plaque up the ladder, he shouted in his small voice: "Daddy, high, high."

Zhu Changzhen had no time to attend to his son. He climbed to the very top of the ladder and, together with Zhu Changfeng, hung the plaque.

"Is it straight?" Zhu Changfeng asked the crowd below.

Zhu Changfang looked left and right: "Yes, it's quite straight."

Wu Shenpo smiled: "The position for hanging the plaque was set by our ancestors. For a thousand years, plaques have been hung there. How could it be crooked?"

Zhu Changfang giggled: "Looking at this plaque makes people happy."

When this plaque was taken down more than ten years ago, she was already over ten years old. The hot tears in the clan's eyes, the unwilling sighs—she saw and heard it all. She remembered it in her heart and felt heartache whenever she recalled it.

At that time, no one thought that the Zhu Medical Hall's plaque, hung in Sanqing Lane for a thousand years, would actually be taken down one day.

And now, the Zhu Family has a new head, and the Zhu Medical Hall's plaque is hung up again.

Today's long sigh was a satisfied and happy sigh.

Zhu Fengqin handed the red cloth to Zhu Changzhen: "Cover the plaque with the red cloth. Leave one side longer, so it's easy to pull down when we uncover it tomorrow."

"Don't worry. We'll handle it properly."

Zhu Shian went inside after they hung the plaque. It was time to remove the needles.

Xie Ci and Chen Qian were sleeping soundly. Zhu Shian removed the needles and let them continue sleeping.

Without disturbance, Xie Ci and Chen Qian slept in the acupuncture room until almost eleven o'clock. When they woke up, their faces were red. They came out feeling quite embarrassed.

Zhu Changfang smiled and said: "If you hadn't woken up, I was about to go in and call you. If I let you sleep longer, it would be noon, and it would be time for medicine again."

Chen Qian didn't understand either: "I don't know why, but we never sleep so soundly at home. Here, there are people coming and going, it's not quiet, but we slept especially deeply."

Zhu Zheng, who was organizing the Medicine Cabinet, said: "According to our Traditional Chinese Medicine theory, 'Yang transforms Qi, Yin forms shape.' You couple have both Yin and Yang deficiency. Your body's circulation is not smooth. The eldest young lady's needling technique is good. It mobilizes the Yang Qi in your body. Your meridians are unblocked, your body is comfortable, and naturally your sleep is better."

Chen Qian admired: "You also understand acupuncture?"

Zhu Zheng shook his head with a smile: "I can recite many medical books, but I have no skill in practice. Not only do I not have it, but I think there are few old Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners who can surpass the eldest young lady in acupuncture attainment."

Zhu Zheng wasn't afraid that Xie Ci and his wife would think he was bragging for his family, only knowing how to self-praise. He said: "It's just that you encountered her. If it were at a different time or place, it would be difficult to invite a master like our eldest young lady to treat patients."

Zhu Changfang glanced at Xie Ci's couple, then turned to smile at Zhu Zheng: "The clan elders chose you and praised you for being steady. I didn't expect you to say such flattering words too."

"I didn't dare say it before because I know my own ability. Now I dare say it because I know the eldest young lady's skill. It's important to know yourself, especially for doctors. If I had the eldest young lady's skill, I would walk down the street with my chest out, making patients feel stable just by seeing me."

After all, they're Zhu Family people. The Zhu Family's elders spare no effort in training willing descendants to learn medicine. Zhu Zheng's medical skill may not be great, but his insight is much stronger than ordinary doctors.

Chen Qian laughed at these words. What that doctor said was not wrong. However, that young doctor doesn't need to walk down the street with her chest out. Her patients must trust her very much.

By the same token, they couple are like that now.

The body is one's own. One feels most obviously whether it's good or bad. Xie Ci and Chen Qian don't know if pregnancy will go smoothly in the future, but they know the comfort they feel in their bodies right now.

Zhu Changfang said to the couple: "You came after breakfast, took medicine, then did acupuncture and slept until now. I suggest you go out for a walk now. When you're hungry, have lunch and come back for the noon medicine."

Zhu Zheng suggested: "It's hot today. Don't walk on the main street. From Sanqing Lane, turn right, then walk straight to Spring River. The banks of Spring River are full of trees. Walking along Spring River is both cool and the scenery is beautiful."

"We'll definitely go to the river."

Xie Ci and Chen Qian had come to Zhenshan County from Nanjiang County by boat. They knew where Spring River was.

The couple walked slowly to the riverbank. Along the river, although the sun was scorching, they had shade from the trees above and the river breeze, so it wasn't too hot.

The North Bank of Spring River was the county town; the South Bank was villages and fields. The wind blew from the South Bank, and in their ears was the rustling sound of rice leaves, the fragrance of rice flowers drifting in the air. Chen Qian closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Without the anxiety she had when she came, she discovered the beauty of this small county.

"Xie Ci, after going to so many places, where do you like best?"

"I can't say my favorite place right now, but at this moment, I like it here best."

Chen Qian linked arms with him: "Have you thought about our retirement life? Where do you want to live?"

Xie Ci understood what she meant. He said: "We don't have to live in Beijing. Beijing winters are too cold."

"Yes, I think so too."

Their work made them wander everywhere. Their feelings for their hometown seemed just so-so. Where the heart is at ease is one's hometown. After retirement, they really didn't have to live in Beijing.

"We're still young. We'll go to many more places in the future. We have a long time until retirement. We can slowly find a place we like."

Chen Qian lowered her head and kicked a stone at her feet: "I think our work is very meaningful. Our work can make trains cross mountains and seas to connect the people on this land, let resources flow, and make our country more tightly united."

Chen Qian looked at the boys running by the opposite riverbank and淡淡 said: "Leaving work aside, sometimes I think being too tightly connected isn't good either. People are like trees. They also need independent space to get nutrients from the sky and the earth."

"To put it plainly, you just don't want to return to Beijing, don't want to live in big cities?"

Chen Qian's head rested on his shoulder. She smiled and said: "You understand me after all."

Xie Ci also knew that she had endured a lot of pressure because they were nearly thirty and still had no children. Not only were both sets of parents anxious, but some presumptuous relatives also took liberties, saying many harsh words. Worse, under the pretense of giving his wife time to get pregnant and have children, they wanted to take over his wife's job.

Xie Ci's tone was gentle as he comforted: "Don't put those annoying matters in your heart. Wherever you like, we'll live there in the future."

"Yes."

On September 8th, the great day of the Zhu Medical Hall's opening, the Zhu Family relatives happily came from the village and nearby counties. They planned to uncover the plaque and set off firecrackers at nine o'clock, but before nine o'clock, Sanqing Lane was already packed with people. Those who came later were blocked outside the archway.

"Excuse me, please make way. Our child is sick and needs to see a doctor. Thank you!"

"Brother in front, please let us through."

"Elder sister, excuse us, excuse us."

The Zhu Medical Hall was the first individual business in Zhenshan County to obtain a Business License. He Zaiming, the county chief, definitely had to be present today. He also asked his secretary to invite the pen pushers from the county newspaper office, as well as a photographer. After today's event, there must be a report with pictures and text.

As a result, He Zaiming and his people were squeezed outside the archway and couldn't get in.

Just as He Zaiming's secretary was about to announce that the county chief was here and ask everyone to make way, a tall, sturdy man at that moment hoisted his child onto his neck and squeezed through, asking people to make way.

He Zaiming quickly told his secretary to call the county police to maintain order. He himself turned and squeezed in behind the man, paying attention to the front but not the back. His heel was stepped on, and his shoe was kicked off.

He Zaiming had no time to look back for his shoe. He could only squeeze in with the crowd. He saw that the Zhu Family's eldest young lady was about to pull the red cloth and uncover the plaque. He quickly shouted wait.

There were too many people and too much noise. No one listened to him. Fortunately, the photographer he brought was good at seizing the moment. Click—he took a photo of the moment the plaque was uncovered.

The firecrackers crackled and popped. The surrounding crowd clapped along. The atmosphere was热烈.

The Zhu Family's eldest young lady nodded to everyone and went back into the Medical Hall. She didn't even notice He Zaiming.

He Zaiming finally squeezed in. The Zhu Family people didn't recognize him. It was Director Li standing on the steps who saw the sweaty, disheveled County Chief He arrive.

Director Li quickly shouted: "Quick, quick, make way for County Chief He."

Those at the very front of the Medical Hall were mostly Zhu Family people, most of whom came from the village or from other counties. Few knew He Zaiming. Only after Director Li shouted did they make a path.

The path was made, but before He Zaiming could cross, the brother who had hoisted the child on his shoulders entered the Medical Hall first, shouting in his loud voice: "My son is sick. Please, doctor, treat my son quickly."

On the first day of opening, those who came to watch the excitement and those who came to see a doctor were mixed together. Even with Zhu Family people maintaining order at the door, not allowing无关人员 to squeeze inside, the Medical Hall was still full of people.

Zhu Kanglin and Zhu Yongwen, who came to help today, were assigned to receive patients. At this time, Zhu Yongwen, who had a moment of free time, quickly greeted them: "What's wrong with your child?"

The brother lowered the child from his shoulders and said: "A few days ago, my son's eyes suddenly went blind."

"Let me see."

Zhu Yongwen waved his hand in front of the child. The child didn't react, but the child's eyes were bright and looked uninjured—normal eyes. Taking the pulse, the pulse was also normal. At least Zhu Yongwen couldn't find any illness.

"Before he went blind, did anything happen? Like falling?"

"No. I'm the only child. There are many adults at home. The child always has adults watching him. It's impossible for the child to fall."

After a simple examination, Zhu Yongwen found nothing else. He pulled the brother to the door of consultation room number one to queue: "There are six people ahead of you. It's your turn. Wait here with your child. Don't leave. Be careful someone cuts in front of you."

The brother sat down on the chair with his child in his arms: "Who dares cut my line?"

The people waiting to see the doctor looked at his bowl-sized fists and thick arms, then looked away.

Outside, after the plaque-uncovering ceremony, the idle onlookers gradually dispersed. The Zhu Family relatives walked toward the main house, some went to other Zhu Family homes in Sanqing Lane. The crowd dispersed at once.

He Zaiming's secretary picked up the shoe that had been kicked off and quickly brought it over. He Zaiming put on his shoe, tidied his hair that had been messed up in the squeeze, and maintained his image as county chief.

Director Li was good at handling things. Seeing the pen pushers and photographer County Chief He brought, he quickly invited the Zhu Family clan elders to come over and took several photos with County Chief He under the plaque.

Director Li warmly shook He Zaiming's hand and said: "County Chief He serves the people wholeheartedly. Even on such a hot day, you can still inspect work. Really辛苦了."

"辛苦了 County Chief He for making the special trip."

"Thank you County Chief for your concern for our Medical Hall."

The Zhu Family clan elders were also cooperative, spilling all kinds of flattering words, making He Zaiming laugh in exasperation.

He Zaiming held Zhu Fujiang's hand and said: "Elder, I came today to congratulate your Zhu Family on the grand opening. The Zhu Medical Hall must operate well and contribute to the health of Zhenshan County residents."

"Please rest assured, the Zhu Medical Hall will definitely remember your entrustment."

There were still people present. After the necessary formalities were done, He Zaiming walked into the Medical Hall. The first thing that caught his eye was the wall of Medicine Cabinets.

The Medicine Cabinets were golden and lustrous, with wood grain flowing like clouds and water. He didn't know what material they were made of, but just looking told one they were something good.

The floor-to-ceiling wall of Medicine Cabinets not only made people feel they were precious, but also felt awe-inspiring. Just looking at these Medicine Cabinets made people feel convinced that the doctors here must be skilled.

Director Li sighed softly. It still has to be the Zhu Family. When his grandfather was alive, every time he talked about the Zhu Medical Hall, he especially envied the Zhu Family's Medicine Cabinets. He always wanted to replace his own Medical Hall's cabinets with a set like theirs.

Unfortunately, until his grandfather passed away, the plaque of their family's Medical Hall was taken down and hidden in the woodshed to gather dust. Until now, family members left or scattered, and the Li family's foundation was nearly gone.

Now, not to mention making a set of Medicine Cabinets like the Zhu Family's, Director Li was even thinking—if one day the country relaxes restrictions on individual medical practice, who in their Li Family can carry on and open the Li family's Medical Hall?

While Director Li was in a daze, He Zaiming had already walked to Zhu Shian's consultation room. He didn't go in to disturb, only stood at the door and waited. When Zhu Shian glanced at him and showed her face, He Zaiming turned and left.

At the same time, the pen pushers He Zaiming brought were writing down everything busily. His photographer was still finding angles to take photos. Director Li quietly walked to He Zaiming's side, struck an appropriate pose, and took a photo with him.

Although the County Hospital and the Zhu Medical Hall aren't subordinate units, in terms of policy, the Zhu Medical Hall's medicinal material procurement has to go through the County Hospital. The Zhu Medical Hall opened, and as the director of the County Hospital, he had a small contribution. Showing his face was reasonable.

The Zhu Medical Hall's opening went smoothly. He Zaiming was also preparing to leave. Before leaving, he mentioned something to Zhu Changfeng: "During the Dragon Boat Festival, my wife came to the Zhu Family to give the doctor holiday gifts and mentioned introducing a patient to the doctor. That patient has the surname Peng. I wonder if you're aware."

Zhu Changfeng nodded: "I know."

"Tomorrow morning, the patient with the surname Peng will come to Zhenshan County to see the doctor. I wonder if it's convenient."

There are three Zhu doctors in the Medical Hall. He Zaiming was referring to which Zhu doctor, Zhu Changfeng was clear. He smiled and said: "Just come, but after nine o'clock."

"Your Medical Hall opens at nine."

"Yes, we see patients from nine in the morning to five in the afternoon." Zhu Changfeng pointed to the wooden sign hanging on the wall outside the Medical Hall for He Zaiming to see.

The wooden sign not only wrote the Medical Hall's opening and closing times, but also had an area writing which days the doctors would be at the Medical Hall. For example, the Zhu Eldest Young Lady, starting from today, would see patients for the next four days, then rest for three days."

He Zaiming asked: "Seven days a week, your Eldest Young Lady rests for three days?"

"Yes."

He Zaiming was envious. Opening one's own business—really can work whenever one wants and rest whenever one wants."

Zhu Changfeng remembered the scene yesterday when the Eldest Young Lady seriously proposed that the Medical Hall's opening time start at ten in the morning and work one day and rest one day. The clan elders were silent.

Even the current business hours were after the clan elders persuaded the Eldest Young Lady for a long time, and she reluctantly agreed.

Director Li also saw the sign on the wall. He touched his head and started worrying in his heart that Zhu Changming would quit his job at the County Hospital because the work hours were too long.

In the consultation room, the brother with the child went in. Seeing Zhu Shian was so young, he hesitated first, then said his child's eyes suddenly went blind and asked if she could treat it.

"What's your name?"

"I'm Liu Wu. Hey, what's my name matter? Little doctor, first treat my child. If not, I'll have those two older doctors treat my child."

Zhu Shian said: "This illness can only be treated by me."

Liu Wu's face was full of disbelief.

Zhu Shian said to Zhu Yongwen outside the door: "Pull the curtain shut."

Zhu Yongwen reached out and pulled the curtain that was aside shut, but he himself stepped one foot into the curtain. He wanted to see how the Eldest Young Lady would treat this illness.

With the curtain pulled, the consultation room suddenly darkened. Zhu Shian looked at the child's lifeless eyes and asked: "Liu Wu, before your child's eyes went blind, did you take them to the mountains? I mean, to the graveyard."

"What do you mean?"

Zhu Shian said: "Your child offended a small ghost. That ghost used Yin money to paste over your son's eyes, making him unable to see."

Liu Wu was half-believing: "Then what should we do?"

"It's very easy to restore your son's eyesight. I can remove the Yin money now so he can see. However, after you go back, you must find the small ghost your child offended, go to their grave, and apologize. Or you can wait. Hold your son to get more sun exposure every day. At most ten to fifteen days, when the Yin Qi of the Yin money disperses completely, his eyes will naturally see. Let your son be blind for a while longer, also let the ghost vent its anger. Then it won't linger over your son."

Liu Wu didn't believe Zhu Shian's words. He said: "Then first restore my son's eyes. If he really gets better, I'll immediately go back to find the ghost and apologize."

Zhu Shian looked at him deeply: "You'd better keep your word. A ghost that would trouble a child is not a generous ghost."

Liu Wu still didn't believe Zhu Shian. He thought she was tricking him. This doctor is not honest."

Zhu Shian's right hand reached in front of the child's eyes. Just see her hand gently pull in the air. In her palm appeared a pinch of burned black paper ash. Smelling it, it was exactly like the smell of burned paper money.

"Daddy, eyes."

The child rubbed his eyes, blinked. He turned and pointed at the corner of his father's mouth: "Daddy, you didn't wash your face? It's black."

Liu Wu, such a sturdy man, at this moment was shaking all over. The doctor wasn't lying. It was true!

His son really offended a ghost?

My mother, which ghost did he offend?

How does he go find it, and how does he apologize?

Liu Wu was so anxious he broke out in a sweat, completely flustered. He looked at Zhu Shian pitifully.

Zhu Shian said: "Ask whoever took your child out before the child went blind. Don't worry about how they offended. Go kowtow and apologize to them, and burn more paper money for them. Also, your child's soul is light. On days like the Ghost Festival a few days ago, don't bring the child to those places. It's easy to get冲撞."

Liu Wu nodded "oh, oh," clearly his ears heard, but his mind was completely blank.

There were still patients waiting. Zhu Shian didn't have time to talk more with him. She asked Zhu Yongwen to invite him out.

Zhu Yongwen slightly loosened his tightly clenched fist, pretending to be calm as he invited Liu Wu and his son out.

"Pull the curtain open."

"Okay."

Zhu Yongwen opened the curtain. Xie Ci and Chen Qian stood at the door.

They had come in the morning to take medicine and finished acupuncture. They were about to leave after receiving the Pills and settling the medical bill. They specially came to say goodbye to Doctor Zhu. They didn't expect to hear such words outside the curtain.

The couple stared intently at the child in Liu Wu's arms. The child saw Chen Qian smile at her. His eyes were clearly fine.

Liu Wu quickly turned around: "Master... no, that doctor, does my son need to take any medicine?"

"No need to take medicine. Get more sun exposure these few days."

"Oh."

Liu Wu took two steps and turned back: "Doctor, I forgot to ask, how much?"

"One mao."

"Oh."

Liu Wu again felt that such a big matter only giving one mao was too little. He took out one yuan from his pocket and slapped it on the table, hoisted his son on his shoulder, and left.

The patients queuing in consultation room one whispered to each other. Really a miracle doctor!

Before going in, the child's eyes were still blind. In a short while, he came out and could see. Isn't that a miracle doctor?

The couple left Sanqing Lane, returned to the reception center to pack their luggage, and went to the dock to take a boat. The boat went downstream to Nanjiang County. Zhenshan County grew farther and farther behind them.

Xie Ci said: "Do you remember, on the first day when Doctor Zhu felt our pulses, in the Medical Hall's back courtyard, the pharmaceutical workshop, Doctor Zhu said you lost a child two years ago."

How could she not remember? Such an important matter, she would remember it until she died.

Chen Qian tightly gripped Xie Ci's hand: "That female worker who prepared our medicine asked who introduced us to the Zhu Family. She told us to go back and ask the person who introduced us if they knew about the Zhu Family's other abilities."

Xie Ci sighed: "No wonder she could tell we lost a child."

So not only was she a doctor, but also a master.

No wonder, if she didn't have some supernatural ability, for a young woman of Doctor Zhu's age, it's rare to have such excellent medical skill.

This place Zhenshan County, it seems not only has spiritual land, but also outstanding people.

They really underestimated this remote small county, and underestimated the people in this small county.