The Daily Life of a Down-on-Hard-Life Medicine Girl Supporting Her Family

Chapter 210

Chen Xiaoyin managed to escape this ordeal.

She was very grateful to her grandfather for being able to prioritize things.

Of course, I am even more grateful to my master.

In her spare time, Chunnuan would chat with a few girls about everyday things, and Chen Xiaoyin told her master about her troubles at home.

"You should thank yourself the most. Only you have enough confidence and courage to make a request to your grandfather. And it is precisely because you are capable that your grandfather saw far more value in you than marrying into the Tang family, which is why he chose the aspect that is most beneficial to the Chen family."

Although it's a bit unfair to say this, it feels like it's not entirely true that Dr. Chen is protecting and doting on his granddaughter.

But that's the reality; reality is always cruel.

If you have no value to anyone, who will care about your feelings, and who will help you get what you want?

In this world, you must be useful before you are needed by others.

Chen Xiaoyin understood and secretly resolved to follow her master and learn medicine well so that she could become like him.

Just as Chunnuan was diligently studying medicine and making medicine with several female disciples, chaos erupted outside.

"The troops of the King of Shu and the Third Prince have actually joined forces to rebel."

Zhao Chengxun anxiously gathered his three sons together to discuss whether they should close the shop and avoid the situation.

Zhao Mingqing supports opening a shop.

He lived in constant fear, running a shop in Changzhou City, even when rebel troops came in to rob him.

If something is stolen, there's no way to file a complaint with the authorities, since the current government doesn't even know which side it's on.

The saying goes, "When gods fight, the common people suffer." Those royal relatives, high-ranking officials, and nobles only think about becoming kings and tyrants, never considering whether the common people can survive.

It's still unclear how this riot will end.

The grain stores in Changzhou County were the first to close, followed by other shops that also shut down.

The huge city was now completely closed off, and the once bustling streets were now deathly still. Young men and women, in particular, dared not go out, or they would be sent to the army if caught. The men fought, and the women suffered even more tragic fates.

Zhao Mingqing closed the shop today.

Regarding my father's question about whether or not to shut it down, I feel it's unnecessary.

Preserving one's life is more important than making money.

You can only have everything if you have life; without life, nothing is worth talking about.

“Father, I think it’s not appropriate to close down. Baicaotang is a family business that has been passed down through generations. We have been open to see patients and dispense medicine for many years. We should continue to do so even in this extraordinary time.”

Zhao Minglang, however, argued that the gates should not be closed, otherwise the sick people would suffer even more.

"Second brother, this is a situation we have to face."

Zhao Mingqing was also convinced. His brother had just gone crazy from studying. He was a bookworm who did whatever he could in any situation. At this critical moment, why should he care about others?
Taking care of yourself is the best approach.

"Third brother, what do you say?"

Zhao Chenghun asked his third son, who had remained silent.

That third brother is really unreliable. They're discussing such an important matter, but he's completely distracted, as if he's daydreaming.

"Has Changzhou fallen into their hands?"

Zhao Minghua's recent news has been a bit chaotic, and he's trying to sort things out.

I wasn't paying attention when my father called on me to ask questions.

"It is said that the county magistrate has been placed under house arrest and has not handled any cases for five days. He has also ignored the people's appeals for justice."

"Isn't this just occupying a position without doing any work?"

Zhao Minglang was still indignant.

Zhao Minghua... My silly second brother, how can he possibly succeed in officialdom like this?
I feel so sorry for him and anxious for him.

"Third brother, you haven't shared your opinion yet."

Zhao Chengxun felt that the eldest son was a bit timid, the second son was a bit dull and stubborn, and the third son was a bit cunning. It would be better to listen to the third son's opinion.

"I suggest that it is permissible to open it."

"Third brother, if you want to drive, you drive."

Zhao Mingqing quit. Why risk his life for that?
It's not like the Zhao family is short of money for food.

If something were to happen to him, leaving behind orphans and widows to be bullied, it's uncertain whether these two brothers could still be relied upon.

Judging from these two, they are not reliable at all.

"Don't worry, I haven't finished speaking yet."

Zhao Minghua calmly analyzed the situation.

"First of all, Baicaotang was passed down from my great-grandfather, and it is now a century-old brand."

Of course, this century-old shop originated in the town, not in Changzhou County.

"Many patients have been getting their medicine from Baicaotang for a long time. If we were to close the store abruptly, it would inevitably prevent them from receiving proper treatment, which would be no different from murder for profit."

Zhao Chenghun... it's not as serious as you make it out to be.

They didn't take their money since the store was closed, so how could they have embezzled it?

However, it must be admitted that what he said was also true.

"But if the store continues to operate, its safety cannot be guaranteed."

It's not necessarily necessary to hire two guards.

That won't work either. Even if we hire two guards, it won't be enough to stop their large force. They could easily raze the shop to the ground as soon as they arrive.

"Post a notice at the shop entrance: A letter to our fellow villagers..."

Zhao Minghua's words made all three of Zhao Chengxun's father and sons look at this youngest son with new respect.

Yes, we insisted on opening the shop during this chaotic time, not to make money, but so that our fellow villagers would have a place to see a doctor and a pharmacy to get medicine when they are sick, so as to alleviate their pain.

It's already difficult enough to keep the clinic open and provide medical services during this period, so please be understanding and don't cause trouble or interfere.

If you're thinking of causing trouble, think about whether your parents and family members will also get sick one day and need to see a doctor.

Doctors do not get involved in disputes; their only concern is treating patients and saving lives. They ask all passing deities to be lenient and not disrupt the normal consultations at Baicaotang.

"Okay, let's do as the third brother says."

Zhao Chengxun nodded. He thought to himself, "This kid is cunning. Once this notice is posted, anyone with a conscience or humanity won't make things difficult for the practitioners of Baicao."

"Third brother, what if they don't listen to our advice?"

"If you won't listen to my advice, then I have no other choice."

Zhao Minghua said, "I am not one of them, and I don't know what they are thinking. I'm just betting on human nature. Besides, if they really want to go far and replace the current government, they certainly can't do things that anger the people. You know, the people can carry a boat, but they can also capsize it."

"What a perfect saying! Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. Third brother is absolutely right!"

Zhao Minglang thought Zhao Minghua's idea was excellent.

Moreover, once this battle is over, Baicaotang's reputation will definitely rise to a new level.

It's no exaggeration to say that Zhao Minghua's method kills two birds with one stone; it's truly a wise choice.

Zhao Chengxun agreed to the third brother's plan, making the final decision.

"Both Baicaotang stores will remain open as usual every day. The more turbulent the times, the more people need to see doctors and get medicine. This kind of fearless spirit is exactly what Baicaotang needs."

"Sigh, I have no idea what you guys are thinking."

Zhao Mingqing sighed: "When everyone was fleeing for their lives, you were thinking about saving yours; the grain merchants had already stopped selling grain, waiting for the price to double when things got chaotic."

According to Zhao Mingqing's idea, grain can be stockpiled, and medicine can also be stockpiled.

We can sell it for a high price then.

Of course, he only thought it in his heart and didn't dare to say it out loud.

After all, the Zhao family patriarch is still alive. He once said that the Zhao family's medical principle is: "I'd rather have medicine gather dust on the shelves than see people in the world suffer." If he dares to take advantage of the situation, the patriarch will probably uphold justice and expel him, the eldest grandson, from the family.

Therefore, it's no wonder that the Zhao family couldn't become one of the four richest families in Changzhou. They were too honest and couldn't make a fortune; they weren't destined for sudden wealth.

"Grain merchants want to hoard grain and sell it at high prices."

Zhao Chenghun was also a businessman, so he naturally understood the reasons behind this.

"No wonder they made a fortune."

Zhao Mingqing was somewhat envious.

"This is ill-gotten wealth; it's not good to make money like this."

Zhao Chengxun said, "Throughout history, no one who made a fortune by profiting from national crises has ever had a good ending. Wealth that comes quickly may not be able to be kept. It will become a thorn in the side of others, or a piece of fat in the eyes of some people, and will bring about unexpected disasters."

Zhao Mingqing disagreed, repeating his previous statement: "The Zhao family members are all too honest!"
Zhao Minglang, on the other hand, wrote a lengthy and eloquent work condemning this behavior.

"I just remembered, I have something urgent to take care of, I have to go now."

Zhao Mingqing was too lazy to talk to them anymore.

Generally speaking, the eldest brother has the potential to be a shrewd businessman but lacks the guts; the second brother is a bit too bookish, he can only become a minor official during prosperous times, and if he were to become an official during chaotic times, he would only be the one who dies a violent death.

Zhao Minghua, on the other hand, absolutely wanted both.

Now, the world has descended into chaos, just as he had predicted.

It's time to sell the grain you stockpiled last year.

However, the method of taking action depends on the situation.

My mind is a bit of a mess, and I haven't been able to sort things out even after thinking for a long time.

When I got home, I saw Chunnuan focused on making medicine again. I loved this beautiful scene and the peacefulness of life.

"What's wrong? Don't you recognize me?"

Seeing him standing at the door in silence for a long time, Chunnuan couldn't help but ask, "What happened to you?"

Zhao Minghua remained silent.

"I heard today that things are getting chaotic in Changzhou. Is our little town alright?"

Chun Nuan knew all too well what turmoil was like.

She decided to ask Zhao Minghua for a few women with some fighting skills to go to the village to protect her family.

She dared not take the man, after all, besides Chun Ning, the rest of the family consisted of women and children, and sometimes one cannot gamble with human nature.

"It seems there's nothing seriously wrong in the town right now," Zhao Minghua said. "I've asked the Fang sisters, Fang Ying and Fang Hua, to stay in the village and take care of things."

Fang Ying and Fang Hua are twins, and they are bodyguards raised by Zhao Minghua.

I had previously said I would be Chunnuan's maid, but Chunnuan didn't agree.

I felt that I wasn't that great, and using these two characters was a waste of talent. Good steel should be used where it's needed most.

"Thank you."

Chunnuan didn't expect that Zhao Minghua had already thought of it before she even brought it up.

This person...sometimes is so warm that she doesn't even know how to describe it.

When she got engaged to him, it seemed like she was scheming against him, but now it seems she's the real winner.

Of course, he's also a winner; he won his own heart.

His sincerity and passion moved her and touched her heart.

This kind of man might really be someone you can entrust your life to; it's time to have a child with him!

"How should I thank you?"

Looking at Chun Nuan's expression, you could tell she was daydreaming again. Little did she know that this side of her made her particularly unable to control herself.

He leaned forward and put his arm around her waist: "How about you offer yourself to me, young lady?"

In the past, Chunnuan would have glared at him, and might even have stepped on his foot when he wasn't looking.

But today, instead of spring warmth, it crept in...

In broad daylight, Chun Nuan broke her own vow.

Zhao Minghua, on the other hand, felt a little guilty. He had been too rough and was afraid that someone would get angry and kick him off the bed.

However, the expected outburst did not occur; instead, the person in my arms fell into a deep sleep.

Her face was flushed in her sleep, which made Zhao Minghua unable to resist kissing her again.

"Woo..."

Chunnuan hummed softly twice, and Zhao Minghua quickly rolled over and got out of bed.

Honestly, if he doesn't leave soon, he doesn't know if he'll lose control.

Oh, my wife is too tempting, I really can't blame myself.

I woke up hungry in the middle of the night when spring was warm.

When I woke up, my mind was still a little blank. I thought back to what happened in the evening, and my face felt slightly hot.

However, it was nighttime, so he couldn't see anything.

"Are you hungry? I'll have someone bring some food in."

"Hmm, I'm a little hungry."

"Someone, bring in the food."

"Yes."

The servants brought in the food box, and Zhao Minghua told Chunnuan to stay on the bed while he went to feed her.

"How could you do this? It's so wrong!"

There are truly no rules here.

Chunnuan felt that Zhao Minghua's pampering of him had reached its limit.

What wealthy family would spoil someone like that?

"It's alright, no one will see us in the inner courtyard." Zhao Minghua insisted on feeding her, and Chunnuan agreed. After all, it was just a bit of fun between the young couple.

Indeed, no one saw it in the inner courtyard.

It's not wrong to make a fuss like this occasionally when no one is watching.

"I've had the kitchen keep this soup simmering. How's the taste?"

"That's good." Chunnuan remembered something: "Didn't they say Changzhou was in chaos? What about the grain we stockpiled last year..."

"I was just thinking about it too. I think we should wait and see how things develop," Zhao Minghua said. "The situation is unclear right now, and we don't know how things will turn out. We need to make the most of this grain."

"That person has been in office for many years but has not made any significant achievements. I never expected to encounter such a major change."

"He's not particularly talented, so we'll see how he handles this situation." Zhao Minghua also sighed, "I really didn't expect that Sichuan would be the first place to be thrown into chaos."

Is it possible that the entire Great Xia Dynasty is in chaos?

"We haven't received any news yet. The main reason is that the Shu region is far from the emperor's reach. It's only because the Shu King and the Third Prince's people have reached some kind of consensus that they're acting together."

"The people suffer the most!"

Spring warmth brings only a sigh.

While the rich are still considering whether the soup tastes good, ordinary people are probably already selling their children to survive.

"When prosperity comes, the people suffer; when decline comes, the people also suffer."

“Yes, who knows how far this will go this time,” Zhao Minghua said. “Let’s see when that person will be able to stop it. I have a feeling he might send General Xia to quell the rebellion.”

real or fake?