After leaving the Prime Minister’s Mansion, Mingyue led the way, and Feng Qianqian arrived at Xianyi Fang, changing into a snow-white dress.
Seeing that the style was good, she bought another one.
She glanced at the dresses on the side. “Mingyue, pick two you like.”
Mingyue hurriedly refused, “Eldest Miss, this servant has clothes to wear. There’s no need to buy more.”
“Mingyue, in the past, you protected me and sold embroidered handkerchiefs to make ends meet for the household. From now on, that won’t be necessary. I’ll take care of you. As long as I have food to eat, I won’t let you go hungry.”
She looked at the jade-green dresses. “Shopkeeper, wrap those two up.”
“No, Eldest Miss, your silver is hard-earned. You should save it. This servant’s clothes aren’t torn and can still be worn.”
Mingyue didn’t want Feng Qianqian to spend any more money.
The female shopkeeper was a middle-aged woman with a gentle smile. “Your mistress is kind-hearted. You should accept them and not reject her good intentions. Seeing how close you two are, and your shoes are worn out too, I’ll give each of you a pair of shoes as a gift.”
Feng Qianqian was full of gratitude. “Thank you, shopkeeper.”
At that moment, a fat woman with a fierce, fleshy face walked in. “Guihua, close up the shop and come home with me right now. Your brother has arranged another marriage for you.”
The female shopkeeper was furious. “Give up on that idea! I’ve divorced and just escaped from a living hell. I absolutely will not marry again.”
The fat woman’s face turned vicious. “That’s not up to you. Your nephew is about to get married and still needs betrothal gifts. Marrying you off is the perfect way to get some dowry money.”
The shopkeeper grabbed a prepared kitchen knife and swung it at the fat woman. “Get out! Get out of here!”
Seeing the situation turn bad, the fat woman ran outside while shouting, “You ungrateful Li Guihua! You really don’t know what’s good for you!”
Feng Qianqian felt a sudden surge of anger. She walked the line between good and evil—her right hand saved lives, her left hand took them. Casually, she flicked out two poisoned Plum Blossom Needles, which struck the fat woman’s plump buttocks.
Little did she know, anyone poisoned by this would die within seven days!
The fat woman ran quickly, screaming, “Ah! Murder!”
The shopkeeper chased her with the kitchen knife. “Come back and I’ll kill you!” The fat woman was so scared she vanished from sight.
Seeing the fat woman flee in such a sorry state, the shopkeeper sighed, looking utterly helpless.
After calming herself, she said with embarrassment, “I’m sorry you had to see that, miss.”
Feng Qianqian expressed deep sympathy. “You shouldn’t show mercy to such wicked people. She won’t come back again.”
The shopkeeper didn’t understand the meaning behind her words. Her eyes reddened, tears welling up at the corners.
“Back then, it was my parents’ order and the matchmaker’s arrangement that married me off to an ordinary merchant. But he would beat and curse me, especially when he was drunk. It became a habit. After seven years, I finally managed to divorce him and gain my freedom, no longer having to endure beatings. I never expected my greedy brother and sister-in-law would try to marry me off again.”
“If they come, I’ll drive them out. Next time, I’ll bring a big cleaver. Let’s see who dares to come then.”
“Wicked people will get their just deserts!” Feng Qianqian said.
“…”
After leaving Xianyi Fang, Feng Qianqian and Mingyue continued strolling down the street. She wanted to see if there were any shops available.
At a corner, they saw a two-story medical clinic for sale at the intersection and walked in.
Mingyue was puzzled. “Eldest Miss, what are you planning to do?”
“We’re going to buy this shop and open a medical clinic. Don’t tell anyone about this. We need to solve our basic needs—we can’t eat spoiled food and wear tattered clothes every day.”
Mingyue confidently assured, “Eldest Miss, I definitely won’t tell outsiders.”
Feng Qianqian walked in and asked, “Your shop is for sale—how much silver?”
A middle-aged man emerged from the inner room and replied, “Our owner wishes to return to his roots, which is why he reluctantly decided to sell the shop.
A fixed price: three thousand six hundred taels of silver, including all the medicinal herbs and the shop space.”
Mingyue felt disappointed: We simply don’t have that much silver.
She advised, “Miss, let’s just go back.”
Feng Qianqian began bargaining, “Shopkeeper, could you lower the price a bit? This location isn’t particularly good.”
The shopkeeper smiled and explained, “Young lady, this old man has no say in the price—it was set by the owner.
If the young lady cannot accept the price, this old man is powerless, as he merely follows orders.”
Feng Qianqian understood and said, “Let me take a look at your medicinal herbs.”
The shopkeeper gestured politely, “Please follow me.”
Feng Qianqian followed him to the Treasury at the back, which still contained quite a few herbs.
She picked up several types of medicinal herbs and sniffed them—there were no fakes here, and the quality was quite good.
“Young lady, the second floor has always been empty—it’s a storage room. Would you like to follow me and take a look?”
Feng Qianqian went up to the second floor, where a few broken chairs were stored. It seemed this place had been used as a dumping ground for scrap.
It would be perfect to serve as a consultation room and ward.
“Shopkeeper, we’ll buy this shop. If the shop is sold, what will you do?” Feng Qianqian asked.
Shopkeeper Song looked slightly troubled, “I have a son still studying, and this old man must support the family, so I’ll need to find another job.”
“How much do you earn per month managing the shop?”
“Five taels of silver.”
Feng Qianqian thought that this was precisely the time to recruit talent. This shopkeeper seemed honest enough and had been running this medical clinic all along, so he knew the place inside out.
She made a decision on the spot, “Shopkeeper, if you wish to stay here, you may. I’ll pay you ten taels of silver per month.”
Shopkeeper Song looked pleasantly surprised, “Miss, are you serious? I can really stay?”
Feng Qianqian nodded, “If you perform well, there will be a bonus at the end of the year.”
Shopkeeper Song knelt down, “Song thanks the young lady!”
Feng Qianqian quickly helped him up, “Shopkeeper Song, there’s no need for such formalities. I won’t be here often, and I imagine you have an attachment to this shop.
Just continue as before, guarding this shop faithfully.”
Shopkeeper Song assured her, “Miss, rest assured, this old man will spare no effort and remain utterly loyal.”
“If I doubt someone, I won’t employ them; if I employ someone, I won’t doubt them. With your word, I am at ease.”
Feng Qianqian took out three thousand six hundred taels in silver notes from her clothes and handed them to Shopkeeper Song, “Mingyue, go with Uncle Song to the government office to handle the transfer. I’ll wait here for you.
Close the clinic for the next few days, and change the shop’s name to Shenyi Tang.”
Then, she took out one hundred taels in silver notes and gave them to Shopkeeper Song, “Uncle Song, replace the signboard and add that on the first and fifteenth of each month, a Divine Physician will be here for consultations.”
Shopkeeper Song looked bewildered, “Miss, we must run our business honestly—we can’t deceive people.”
Feng Qianqian smiled, revealing her dimples, “Don’t worry, I never speak falsely.
Also, any physicians who previously practiced here and are willing to stay may do so, with their wages doubled. I’ll return tomorrow.”
Shopkeeper Song was visibly excited, “Miss, rest assured, this old man will arrange everything properly.”
Feng Qianqian nodded.
Shopkeeper Song and Mingyue went to the yamen, while Feng Qianqian rested in the main hall.
The shop door was open when a man carrying a woman on his back hurried inside.
His voice was urgent: “Doctor, please save my wife—she’s unconscious.”