Qin Momo and Hua Ying went to purchase people. After about half an hour, they returned to Xinglin Medical Hall with two men.
Qin Momo bowed and handed over a thick stack of contracts.
“Master, the three-courtyard residence has been purchased. Here are the property deeds and land deeds. These are the shadow guards’ contracts of sale.
And these two are the leaders of the shadow guards.”
The two men knelt immediately.
“Feng One and Feng Two pay respects to Master!”
Feng Yiyi nodded. “I only want loyalty. Here is one thousand taels in banknotes—take it.
Your clothes are worn out. Make two new sets of clothing and two pairs of shoes for each person. Use the rest for daily expenses there.
For now, stay in the residence and rest, but continue training every day.
Find someone skilled in accounting and learn how to manage ledgers.
Once our clinic is stable, we will expand outward from the surrounding areas toward the capital.”
She paused, then continued decisively:
“Feng One, Feng Two—assign several shadow guards to start purchasing street-front properties in the surrounding counties.
Each town should first acquire two: one grain shop and one other type of store.
The people depend on food above all else. Our grain shops must spread throughout all of Western Chu.”
Feng One and Feng Two exchanged a glance.
“Master, rest assured. We used to travel everywhere with our former master. We are familiar with all regions.”
“Good. Eat well and rest well in that residence. You will become my right-hand men.
And don’t call yourselves ‘slaves.’ That title is unpleasant. You are my subordinates.
Tomorrow, I’ll make time to visit.”
“Yes, Master! We take our leave.”
After they departed, Feng Yiyi turned to Qin Momo.
“For the next two days, post notices here recruiting physicians and assistants. A physician will receive ten taels per month.
In two days, when everything is ready, I’ll transport the medicinal herbs here. You arrange them properly.
You’ve worked hard. Bring in the shopkeeper you hired and let him manage operations.”
She had discovered that Qin Momo was capable of handling anything.
“Yes, Master,” Qin Momo replied.
Upon returning to Zhao Village, Feng Yiyi saw the courtyard gate wide open. Someone was lying on the ground inside.
“Mother! You can’t abandon me!
That shrew Liu Meifeng kicked me out—said I’m useless and can’t earn money!
I have nowhere to go, Mother—you can’t drive me away too!”
The carriage rolled into the courtyard. Yiyi stepped down and saw Grandma wiping tears nonstop.
“Zhang Dahu,” Yiyi said coldly, “your wounds have healed—are you itching for another beating?”
“Yiyi… you’re magnanimous. Please forgive your uncle.
It was all my fault before. Now I truly have nowhere to go. Please take me in.”
He began to sob.
Grandma only cried silently, saying nothing.
“Hua Ying. Yue Ying. Lift Zhang Dahu. We’re going to Liu Meifeng’s house.”
The two former shadow guards grabbed him like a chicken and followed Feng Yiyi.
Arriving at Liu Meifeng’s home, Yiyi shouted,
“Liu Meifeng! Get out here!”
She pulled the Fiery Flame Purple-Gold Whip from her sleeve.
“Which little wretch dares cause trouble at my house?” Liu Meifeng stormed out.
“Zhang Dahu, you useless thing! Back again? Even your mother won’t keep you?”
Zhang Dahu lowered his head silently.
“Liu Meifeng,” Yiyi said sharply, “answer me. Did you drive him out?”
“He’s useless! I spent so much money, and now he still can’t work. Why should I support him?”
Yiyi turned to Zhang Dahu.
“Divorce her. Immediately.
You worked like an ox and horse for her. When you fell ill, she kicked you out.
Why keep such a wife?”
“Zhang Dahu, if you dare divorce me, I won’t live!” Liu Meifeng wailed, pounding the ground dramatically.
Yiyi sneered. “Then go die.
Zhang Dahu—will you divorce her or not? Even if you don’t, she’s already cast you out.”
“I’ll divorce her! I’ve endured enough. This time, I truly will.”
Seeing the situation turn, Liu Meifeng scrambled forward and knelt.
“Dahu! Forgive me! I’ll never drive you away again. If I do, you may divorce me!”
After much crying and pleading, Zhang Dahu softened.
“I’ll give you one more chance.”
Yiyi roared:
“Liu Meifeng, listen carefully! If you drive him out again, I’ll break your legs.
And don’t think of coming to my courtyard. My surname is Feng. Yours is Zhang.
If you want to send your mother there, I’ll send her back to you instead. You are her son and daughter-in-law. I have no blood relation to her.
The one who saved my life was not her!”
“If you dare disturb Grandma again, I’ll send her to live here permanently—and never interfere again.”
Liu Meifeng paled.
She’s serious… If she sends the old lady here, I’ll have to serve her!
She waved her hands frantically. “We won’t go again! Never again!”
“Hua Ying, Yue Ying. Let’s go.”
On the way home, just a few hundred meters from her courtyard, Lin Yida suddenly rushed up behind her.
I really chose a bad day to go out, Yiyi thought.
“Feng Yiyi! Wait!”
She ignored him.
He hurried closer.
“Yiyi, forgive me! My mother was wrong—but I truly like you!”
“You may like me. I don’t like you. Stay far away.”
“Is there truly no chance for us?”
“None. Never.”
He grabbed her sleeve.
“Yiyi, I only have you in my heart. My mother said—if you let us move into your big house and give her twenty taels per month, she’ll agree to our marriage.”
Yiyi stared at him in disbelief.
“You and your mother move into my house—and I pay you twenty taels monthly? On what grounds?
I’ve seen shameless—but never this shameless.”
“Give up this foolish dream.”
“Yiyi—”
She slapped him twice across the face.
“Hua Ying. Yue Ying. Beat him.”
At their master’s command, the two maids launched into punches and kicks. Soon Lin Yida’s nose and mouth were bleeding.
“If you pester me once more, I’ll beat you once more.
Let’s see whether your life is harder—or our fists.”
Watching her retreating figure, Lin Yida felt his heart grow cold.
Zhang Jiaojiao is much gentler. Feng Yiyi is too ruthless… she doesn’t even respect me as a scholar.
He slowly staggered to his feet.
After returning home, Yiyi comforted Grandma.
“Don’t be sad. Liu Meifeng won’t drive Uncle out again. If she does, he’ll divorce her.”
Grandma sighed. “With such a son… what can I do?”
“Don’t think about them anymore. They won’t dare come again.
If they break their word, Chun Tao and Qiu Ju will throw them out.”
That afternoon, Feng Yiyi sorted medicinal herbs inside her spatial storage, packing them carefully into bags.
I should refine more pills, she thought. Decoctions are too troublesome. Pills are far more convenient.
The next day, she loaded the herbs onto the carriage and returned to Xinglin Medical Hall.
Inside, everything had been arranged. Chen Yu was placing herbs into the cabinets one by one.
At that moment, Qin Momo entered.
“Master, this is Physician Lin. He once served in the Imperial Medical Bureau. After retiring due to age, he returned home.
But he still wishes to heal the sick, so he has come to assist at our clinic.”
Feng Yiyi lifted her gaze to examine the elderly physician before her.
The true opening of Xinglin Medical Hall was about to begin.