Chapter 005: Ximen Chui Xue
Ximen Qing thought fiercely, yet a seemingly innocent smile spread across his face: "Since we have the strong support of the county magistrate, Brother Yaozu's medicinal shop is bound to thrive, making a fortune every day! However, for my own shop, this is a significant loss, and it cannot go uncompensated!"
The compound surname Ximen, single character Qing, styled as Chui Xue, Ximen Chui Xue
The two exchanged smiles, at which point the steward outside called out loudly: "Sir Ximen, my master has been waiting for you inside for quite some time!"
It seems that Doctor Bai is an understanding person; an understanding person can speak clearly. So, does this mean that Doctor Bai not only aims to heal the world but also intends to engage in the business of this herbal medicine shop
Zhu County Magistrate was originally like an old monk in meditation, his eyes drooping. Upon hearing these words, he raised his eyebrows slightly and said, "Doctor Bai, your words carry deeper meaning; I do not quite understand them."
Zhu Zhixian, on the other hand, was completely unconcerned, smilingly gesturing, "My esteemed guest, please take a seat. Today, I would like to introduce you to a colleague."
Zhu Zhixian stroked his beard and slowly said: "Today, this esteemed gentleman Ximen is the owner of the only herbal medicine shop in this county. Since Doctor Bai has returned to his hometown to open a clinic, there will inevitably be more interactions in the future. Therefore, I specially invited him to meet today"
With this call, the door to the elegant room swung open, and Ximen Qing, whose complexion was somewhat pale, entered with his head held high. He surveyed the elegant room and already knew from memory that the gentleman seated in the middle was the magistrate of Qinghe County.
Look at this sky-blue vase; it is indeed genuine Jun porcelain. The color... tsk tsk tsk, it is a rare fine piece. As the saying goes, having a fortune of ten thousand is not as good as possessing a piece of Jun porcelain; even this teapot is not an ordinary item
As a figure who does not mingle within the cultural sphere of the Song Dynasty, and lacking any official title, what kind of name could he possibly have? When Doctor Bai suddenly made this remark, it was clearly a reminder to Ximen Qing that he was merely a commoner, yet he dared to challenge him.
The magistrate of Qinghe County, surnamed Zhu, was about thirty-five or thirty-six years old. At this moment, upon hearing the words, he laughed and said: "Doctor Bai, you have come from the palace and are accustomed to the exquisite wares of the official kilns; these items are likely to offend your eyes."
Dr. Bai's expression showed no change, and his gaze remained unyieldingly fixed on Ximen Qing, saying: "Sir, you have long been in the business of selling raw medicinal herbs; do you still fear that someone might steal your business?"
Dr. Bai, who appeared to be around forty years old, had a pale face without a beard and was dressed in dark robes, which made his complexion seem even whiter. At this moment, he observed the steward enthusiastically introducing the decor of the elegant room, smiling as he took a careful look around before reseating himself. He nodded to the county magistrate, who sat calmly like a mountain, and remarked, "Although these are all from folk kilns, they can indeed be considered high quality. The owner of this establishment has certainly put a lot of thought into arranging this elegant room. I presume the county magistrate also holds this owner in high regard."
The steward, observing the situation, stood up to take his leave, saying: "Sir, I will go to the entrance to see if the esteemed official from the west has arrived."
Sitting in the middle, Magistrate Zhu observed the tense atmosphere and suddenly burst into laughter, which inevitably drew the attention of Ximen Qing and Doctor Bai: "In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with having two herbal medicine shops in Qinghe County; both are beneficial to the people's livelihood, and I fully support them!"
Where there are people, there is society! Where there are people, there are conflicts! Sitting idly at home, calamities come from the sky!
A middle-aged man resembling a steward is passionately explaining the arrangement of the private room to the guests, his mouth frothing with excitement.
Speaking of this grand establishment, it is undoubtedly the premier restaurant in Qinghe County. This private room is specifically reserved by the owner for our county magistrate to entertain guests. Doctor Bai, what do you think of the furnishings in this private room?
However, although I am not an MBA, during that era of information explosion, I watched countless television dramas. It is evident that this white light has undoubtedly provided numerous benefits to the county magistrate. It seems that we are now comrades who share the same interests. If I cannot even handle such trivial matters, what am I even doing in this world
Ximen Qing casually took a sip of tea and set down the teacup: "Your Excellency, you flatter me. I am but a commoner, and this kind of title is merely something I have obtained by chance, a stroke of luck! A stroke of luck!"
Zhu Zhixian, sitting nearby, couldn't help but slap the table and exclaimed: "I never expected that the title of the great official was derived from such circumstances, making one see him in a new light"
Ximen Qing would certainly not say that this is a character from a martial arts novel. Instead, he picked up the tea cup, assumed a serious demeanor, and replied in a measured tone: "In winter, appreciating the clear snow, occasionally a gentle breeze brushes the face, stirring the floating snow on the pavilion, this is what is called blowing snow"
What a beautiful ambiance! What a wonderful snowfall!
Doctor Bai respectfully took out two banknotes from his sleeve and placed them in front of Magistrate Zhu, saying: "Upon my first arrival, Your Excellency treats me in such a manner. I hope you do not find this small token unworthy. My intention is quite simple: regardless of how much the Ximen family's pharmacy contributes each month, I can offer double that amount."
I can't believe it! I have a well-established herbal medicine shop, and you, as a court physician, could simply run your own clinic. Why do you have to wade into the murky waters of the herbal medicine shop?
White light? It's both white and bright; you might as well just call it a whiteboard!
Zhu Zhixian, who was sitting nearby, was naturally well aware of the situation. However, having received the money from Doctor Bai beforehand, he was now solely focused on drinking tea, while observing with his peripheral vision how Ximen Qing would respond.
Zhu Zhixian nodded slightly, and the steward closed the door as he left. Doctor Bai praised, "Where did you find such an excellent steward, Sir? It makes one envious."
It is simply that over time, I have become accustomed to it
Ximen Qing looked at Doctor Bai with a noticeably sharp gaze, and his address changed: "Doctor Bai, it would be quite sufficient for you to open a clinic; why must you also open a pharmacy? Such business should be left to someone like me to handle"
Ximen Qing glanced at www.hetushu.com, casually asking a question in a languid tone, clearly showing his disdain for this Bai Taiyi
I am unaware of why you have summoned me, esteemed one. What guidance do you have?
At this moment, the relieved Dr. Bai cast a grateful glance at County Magistrate Zhu, making Ximen Qing understand the situation clearly. He suddenly felt as if he had arrived at the Hongmen Banquet, realizing that this world is indeed filled with intrigue and lurking dangers. It seems that while he had only considered the potential threat posed by Wu Song and Wu Erlang, he had overlooked these aspects.
The white imperial physician who has come out of the palace? In this era, all doctors can be referred to as imperial physicians, but not every imperial physician treats the emperor. This white imperial physician has emerged from the palace, naturally possessing some exceptional qualities, yet he is certainly not on par with An Daquan. Moreover, if his medical skills were truly outstanding, the emperor would not have let him go.
Pointing with his hand, he said: "This is the esteemed Physician Bai who has come from the palace. He has returned to his hometown to practice medicine and help the world. You should get to know him better."
The others present, including people from this world, surely do not know the significance of this nickname. Looking at Ximen Qing with a smile, Bai Guang, filled with anger, pressed further: "Do you not know the origin of this title?"
Dr. Bai smiled and said, "I was merely considering that the Ximen family's herbal medicine shop is not being managed well, which is of no benefit to the common people. I hope the county magistrate will provide more support!"
Oh, may I ask how many years Dr. Bai has worked at the Imperial Medical Bureau and which field of medicine he specializes in
Dr. Bai nodded and said: "This time I came out of the palace, and since I have nothing to do back home, I want to use my skills to help the world. I have long heard that this herbal medicine shop was opened by his father, Ximen Da, and it has taken decades to reach its current scale, which is no easy feat. Ximen Qing spends his days idly, consuming his resources. If it weren't for the capable Manager Fu assisting him, the herbal medicine shop would have long..."
Ximen Qing looked at the well-preserved old face of Doctor Bai, and upon hearing this name, he nearly laughed out loud. He also knew that Ximen Qing originally did not have a pseudonym; it was only later that he adopted the title of Mr. Siquan. From his merged memories, he had not discovered this title, indicating that the events had not yet occurred, and naturally, he would not use this title.
The white physician on the left wore a dazed expression, as if a fly had flown into his throat, unable to go up or down, producing a buzzing sound.
Unreasonable! You, the owner of a herbal medicine shop, actually dare to question yourself? You dare to belittle your own medical skills? Doctor Bai felt that Ximen Qing's words seemed to ignite an unnamed fire within him, so he quickly took a sip of tea to suppress it. After coughing once, he set down the teacup and replied: "I have worked in the Imperial Medical Bureau for fifteen years and have received great appreciation from the officials. I can treat all kinds of ailments! Especially proficient in internal medicine!"
Hahaha ... ...
Zhu Zhixian received the money and immediately became familiar with Doctor Bai: "Seeing that Doctor Bai has not yet found a suitable shop, it just so happens that the owner of the inn on East Street no longer wishes to continue operating. Doctor Bai can certainly take over that shop to establish a herbal medicine store."
Ximen Qing let out a soft "oh," clearly showing little interest. Deeply appreciated by the officials? Who would believe that? If one were truly valued by the officials, how could they be released? It is absolutely certain that after struggling for fifteen years, he was pushed out by others.
Ximen Qing smiled slightly and returned the greeting with cupped hands: "Brother Yaozu, you are too polite. My name is Qing, a commoner from Qinghe County. In my spare time, I have given myself a nickname, called Chui Xue!"
The shopkeeper mentioned that there is a distant familial relationship with this county, so naturally, there will be more consideration. The shopkeeper is also a perceptive person; once Doctor Bai is settled, I will introduce him further in this county
What a joke! How can there be a second business in the small Qinghe County with such a monopolistic operation? You run both a medical clinic and a herbal medicine shop, providing a one-stop service, clearly aiming to dominate the market! I still need to rely on the herbal medicine shop to achieve a happy life
What is meant by benefiting people's livelihoods? What does it mean for everyone to support? Although this body originally spent its days indulging in food, drink, and entertainment, it also remembers that the apothecary provided a considerable amount of money to the county magistrate each year, accounting for as much as thirty percent of the profits. Is this unscrupulous magistrate embezzling money?
Looking at Ximen Qing's boisterous demeanor, he merely gave a slight nod to Magistrate Zhu, simultaneously showing a complete lack of regard for himself. Bai Taiyi, who was sitting nearby, slightly furrowed his brows, as Ximen Qing had no official title, which made his behavior seem quite dismissive. It appears that Ximen Qing is indeed as rumored, lacking in learning and skill, and thus should not be difficult to deal with
Origin? If we say that the name Yaozu, which is quite common, is akin to a single-story house, then the name Chui Xue, with its boundless poetic essence, is at least as tall as a three-hundred-story building
Dr. Bai possesses the well-being of the people, and naturally, this county regards him with special consideration
Zhu Zhixian glanced at the two well-maintained fingers of Doctor Bai, then cast a sidelong look at the two fifty-guans banknotes in his hand. He casually adjusted his sleeves, as if brushing away some dust, but at the same time, the two banknotes also vanished into his sleeve.
After coughing once, the master clerk reluctantly closed his mouth and sat down.
Contrary to his expectations, Ximen Qing showed no signs of difficulty on his face; instead, a hint of mockery emerged from the corners of his mouth
How could Doctor Bai have imagined that Ximen Qing would not react at all, nearly causing his nose to crinkle in disbelief? He nudged his trembling hand, which was somewhat agitated, and said: "My name is Guangzi Yaozu, may I ask for your esteemed name and courtesy title, sir?"
Zhu Zhixian returned to the state of meditation: "Dr. Bai has been in Tokyo for a long time, and this time he returns to his hometown, which brings great joy to our county"
Dr. Bai exerted himself, seemingly swallowing the fly in his throat, and with a somewhat hoarse voice said: "Chui Xue... Chui Xue, my dear brother, this time I return to my hometown not only to practice medicine and help the world, but also to open a herbal medicine shop on East Street. You have managed a herbal medicine shop for many years, so I kindly ask for your guidance!"