Qi Shu had spent many years navigating the streets and underworld, and gathering information was his specialty. Not only did he uncover the incident of the second manager’s home being ransacked by the gambling house, but he also questioned the thugs involved. At the time, the gambling house owner publicly declared that the second manager’s eldest son owed thirty thousand taels, and they intended to detain the entire second manager’s family to settle the debt.
Even after spending three years in the wealthy Zhang household, Zhu Qingyu was stunned by the sum:
“Thirty thousand taels? How could he gamble up such a sum! And then? How did the second manager resolve it?”
Qi Shu, anxious to report back, admitted he didn’t get all the details and looked slightly embarrassed:
“The thugs were low-level men; they couldn’t know all the details. But Madam, I did see the second manager’s eldest son today, having tea and listening to music at the teahouse. He seemed perfectly fine.”
The incident had happened months ago, yet the second manager had never hinted at it, nor asked Zhang Shen for help.
That his troublemaking son could now drink tea and enjoy music meant the second manager had somehow resolved the situation.
But the second manager’s annual salary at the Zhang household was only a hundred taels, and even if the whole family scrimped and saved from his first day in service, he could not have produced thirty thousand taels.
So how did he settle it?
The deeper Zhu Qingyu thought, the more serious the matter seemed.
Seeing her grave expression, Qi Shu added:
“Madam, I won’t hide it from you. In my younger days, I worked security at gambling houses to make a living. In cases like this, most often someone sets a trap for the person. Thirty thousand taels is just a number, meant to intimidate. Using such a figure, people are pressured to sell bones, blood, sons, daughters, wives, mothers, themselves—anything. I’m worried, since the second manager’s household is fine, perhaps this trap wasn’t aimed at him at all. But Madam, you must be careful.”
Zhu Qingyu nodded in agreement:
“Thank you, Qi Shu, I understand. Since the second manager hasn’t sold his son or himself, likely some other assets were at stake. Help me find out—just ask who he’s been close to recently at home, nothing else. Report back to me.”
Having arranged to meet Gu Zhao the next day at the clinic, but unsure of his exact arrival time, Zhu Qingyu decided to go early in the morning.
Upon entering the clinic, Lin Lan sat at the counter, busily calculating with an abacus, while Su Mu and two assistants crowded behind her, eyes wide with anticipation. Even Qi Shu sat at the door, smoking his pipe and watching.
Hearing Zhu Qingyu enter, all five heads turned at once, their eyes shining.
Zhu Qingyu was puzzled:
“What’s going on?”
Lin Lan put down the abacus:
“Madam Zhu, last month’s accounts are ready.”
At the Zhu Family Clinic, accounts were prepared before the tenth of each month, and salaries distributed afterward. With so few staff, Zhu Qingyu usually handled the distribution personally.
No wonder they were eagerly waiting. Zhu Qingyu realized:
“Oh, it’s time to pay the monthly salaries. We’ll do it today.”
Su Mu clutched her account book and ran over, practically begging for praise:
“Madam Zhu, look! Look!”
Her excitement suggested it wasn’t just about receiving money.
Zhu Qingyu flipped through the accounts, puzzled, then glanced at Su Mu.
The young girl couldn’t contain herself, pointing to her name in the account book, looking even more expectant:
“Look! I treated ten patients on my own last month!”
No wonder she was so thrilled. Zhu Qingyu exclaimed:
“That’s impressive, Doctor Su!”
Su Mu and Lin Lan had been studying medicine with Zhu Qingyu for nearly two years. While many patients came daily, few opportunities arose for the girls to see patients independently—they usually only assisted.
It wasn’t that Zhu Qingyu forbade it, but patients generally didn’t trust such young girls to treat them.
Zhu Qingyu had opened the clinic shortly after arriving in this world, about a year ago.
Having lived in the Zhang household for a year and treated Zhang Ruo Hua and Zhang Shen, she now felt uncertain about where to go next, as she had no path back to her original world and was unfamiliar with this one.
Zhang Shen had taken her to Yangzhou’s busiest main street and pointed out a prime location:
“Qingyu, I won’t ask about your family matters, but if you’re unsure where to go, stay in Yangzhou. I want to gift you the largest clinic in Jiangnan.”
A clinic of that stature would naturally intimidate ordinary citizens; only the wealthy and nobility would dare enter.
Was that why she had come all this way—to operate such an exclusive clinic?
Moreover, she could never repay Zhang Shen for such an extravagant establishment, even with a lifetime of treating patients.
Zhu Qingyu told Zhang Shen:
“Yangzhou doesn’t lack large clinics. I’d rather open a modest one, accessible to everyone.”
Ultimately, she chose a simple shop on an ordinary street.
Following Zhang Shen’s advice, she catered to local customs: the Zhu Family Clinic treated only female patients, and fees were set at the city standard—moderate, one hundred wen per consultation.
After Su Mu and Lin Lan had studied with her for about a year, they were capable of handling minor illnesses. Zhu Qingyu hung signs allowing them to consult independently, starting at twenty wen per patient.
Even so, with Zhu Qingyu present, few patients trusted two young girls alone. But this was part of every medical apprentice’s journey.
Things changed last year when Zhu Qingyu went to the capital. Some returning patients sought treatment from Su Mu. Gradually, by last month, Su Mu had seen ten patients independently, including one who came specifically on her neighbor’s recommendation.
Her skills recognized, and with salaries distributed, Su Mu walked around for the day practically floating, humming with joy.
Meanwhile, Lin Lan, having not yet seen a patient alone, felt dejected and spent the afternoon tearfully preparing medicine.
Seeing her, Zhu Qingyu was startled:
“What’s the matter? Has someone bullied you?”
At the question, Lin Lan’s tears poured down:
“Madam Zhu, I’m so useless.”
Though diligent and skilled, Lin Lan lacked Su Mu’s boldness. Naturally timid, she hesitated to treat patients independently.
Personalities differ, and Zhu Qingyu wanted to push her forward.
By evening, a young man with a sweat-drenched woman whose eyes were closed arrived at the clinic, followed by a small, panicked girl.
Lin Lan guided the young man to place the woman on the examination bed, while Su Mu ran upstairs to fetch Zhu Qingyu.
Zhu Qingyu assessed the woman’s condition by her complexion and pulse, then looked at the poorly dressed young man, asking:
“Sir, my consultation fee starts at one hundred wen, with medicine costs separate. Have you brought enough for both?”