Chapter 219: The Treacherous Villain

The medicine boys and medicine workers were not naive people.

Having survived until now, how many were truly simple-minded?

It was just that, in their view, major powers only courted famous doctors or people with prestige; at the very least, they would be at the level of an apprentice. Why would these young masters and well-connected individuals waste effort on nobodies like them who did odd jobs and manual labor?

They had seen methods of winning people over; it was nothing more than the nobility bestowing things or handing out rewards.

But Young Master Rong was truly different.

They could sense that he might continue to place orders in the future!

Who wouldn't want to earn extra pocket money during such a sluggish season?

With the Zhao Clan backing him, Young Master Rong certainly wouldn't delay their pay. As long as the money was paid promptly, a small matter like making medicine was easy for them! Wasn't this just shearing wool?

That attendant surnamed Li had said that Young Master Rong liked a lively atmosphere—lively was simple!

It didn't cost money, nor did it consume a single grain of food; it was just providing some emotional value, which was too cost-effective!

If Young Master Rong was made happy, the next order would surely come quickly!

Therefore, the medicine boys and medicine workers actively helped cheer him on.

At the same time, the other people participating in the assessment arrived one after another.

The assessment sessions and lists would all be given out today to minimize the possibility of cheating.

The well-connected individuals who had already been pre-selected were very relaxed at this moment, chatting in small groups on the sidelines.

In their eyes, this assessment was just going through the motions, nothing more than an annual newcomer appearance event.

They had only come today to show their faces and get to know one another.

They were full of ease.

The atmosphere was completely different for those who were clearly dressed in more impoverished clothing.

They lived difficult lives; if they could be favored by a famous doctor and do odd jobs under them, their days would be much easier. They were putting all their effort into performing well today, their faces full of seriousness and tension. The garrisons of the Six Great Clans in Shenyi Gu had all sent people over to prevent their own trainees from being mistreated.

On the side of the Xinzhou garrison, Patrol Lieutenant Yang stood there, his gaze meeting those of the people from the other clans from afar, as if invisible blade light were flashing. After a while, they all withdrew their gazes and looked elsewhere.

Patrol Lieutenant Yang looked toward the place where Wen Gu was.

He had originally thought Wen Gu would be more low-key coming here, but he hadn't expected him to do the exact opposite!

Indeed, no one doubted the identity of "Rong Huan," but there were many people gossiping about him behind his back.

Just like now, there were many people on the sidelines discussing him.

"Have you heard? This time, the Xinzhou Xunweis wants to support that one surnamed Rong!"

"Which one surnamed Rong?"

"Rong Huan, of the Rong Family of Xinzhou."

"Never heard of him, a complete nobody!"

"But this person has already been admitted under Doctor Tang, and it is said that..."

Several people were picking through various rumors.

For example, Xinzhou had taken Yao Shiqi's medicinal materials, and that one surnamed Rong had also used Yao Family medicinal materials to open the door to Doctor Tang's sect.

But Councilor Yao had invested in the Dong Clan.

The Dong Clan was very angry now.

Someone sneered: "The people of the Dong Clan won't let that one surnamed Rong be too smug! Who knows, someone might make a move during this assessment!"

"Outsiders cannot interfere in the affairs of Shenyi Gu."

"That may be what is said, but they can always manage to cause a little trouble."

The examinees had not yet all arrived, but the time had come. The person presiding over the assessment was a disciple of the old Imperial Physician Zhan.

He looked to be in his forties, quite dignified when he kept a straight face, and had been a proper medical official before the chaotic times.

Soon, the groupings were released.

When everyone saw the list, they raised their eyebrows, tacitly conveying a sense of schadenfreude.

That one surnamed Rong's name appeared in the first session.

"Look, I told you, someone must have exerted influence to throw him into the first assessment session."

The first assessment session was not advantageous.

People in later sessions could refer to the previous examinees, but for the first session, the venue was unfamiliar, emotions were tense, and the atmosphere was cold; it was the easiest to make mistakes. While everyone was discussing, the examinees for the first session had to prepare to wait.

Just then, a person came from outside the venue, surrounded by a crowd.

The display was exceptionally grand!

"Who is that?"

"It's that one surnamed Rong!"

The people everyone else brought with them numbered at most three to five.

What the hell, he brought a whole bunch??

"With so many people, how did he bring them in?"

"Where are the guards? Guards! Didn't you see? Someone is breaking the rules!"

"Stop shouting, those are all locals, they can enter. I heard they are Doctor Tang's medicine boys and medicine workers."

The well-connected individuals already had their sects in advance, but the problem was that other people in their sects were generally quite busy; where would they find the leisure to come and cheer them on? Medicine workers and medicine boys belonged to the famous doctors!

You, a newly entered apprentice, want to overstep your authority and order them around?

You would absolutely enrage your master!

The problem arose.

"How is he, that surnamed Rong, allowed to do that?"

Rong Huan had overstepped his authority!

Bypass Doctor Tang and order the medicine boys and medicine workers around!

They looked at Doctor Tang, who was sitting in the physician's seat, hoping that Doctor Tang would rebuke him on the spot.

However, Doctor Tang seemed to be indifferent.

"Wasn't it said that the people from the Tang Sect have been busy lately?"

"I just sent someone to ask; they said they happened to be free today."

"Happened to be?"

Happened to be my foot!

This was absolutely premeditated!

Look again at those medicine workers surrounding Rong Huan.

Those people were not just quietly watching; they had come prepared and even brought Bamboo Tubes usually used for holding water.

The empty Bamboo Tubes made a clattering sound when knocked.

"They really did come specifically to cheer him on!"

"Are you kidding me? Is it really necessary?"

"That guy has stirred up the atmosphere like this; even if he just stands there without moving after going on stage, the clueless crowd will think he must be a very famous big shot." "Pah! What kind of celebrity is he? He has no fame at all! Who had ever heard of his name before coming to Shenyi Gu?"

Marketing! Hype!

Pah! Shameless!

"Treacherous villain!"

"To actually pull such a flashy and unsubstantial stunt!"

"It's so undignified!"

The complexions of a group of young masters became visibly ugly.

That guy surnamed Rong is too treacherous!

You've made such a big scene, so what are we supposed to do afterward?

We can't be outdone, can we?!

If it were a skill related to literature, martial arts, or medicine, losing would just mean one's skills were inferior.

But how could one lose in a matter like this?!

This is a matter of face!!

They don't just represent themselves; in many situations outside, they also represent their families.

Like in this situation right now, they cannot show weakness!

Especially those from noble and aristocratic backgrounds; at this very moment, face is more important than anything!

Those from prominent aristocratic families suddenly felt a sense of crisis.

Even if they didn't care themselves, their friends and family would.

In an instant, the previous sense of relaxation faded away. An invisible, tense atmosphere spread among certain groups of people.

A certain aristocratic young master scheduled for the second round of examinations retreated behind the crowd, gritted his teeth, and pulled out a Money Voucher.

In Shenyi Gu, the six types of Money Voucher from Beidi can all be used.

He shoved the Money Voucher to his attendant and, squeezing the words through his teeth, said bitterly: "Hurry and hire some locals to come and cheer!"

Hiring people on the spot certainly costs more money.

This money spent made his heart ache unbearably.

There was clearly no need to spend this money!

Even if one comes from a wealthy household, coming to Shenyi Gu for advanced studies means one's competitive advantage in the family is not great, and the resources received are not abundant. Money is naturally spent sparingly; except for the necessary times to keep up appearances, one saves where one can.

Now, spending this wasted money made him feel terrible, yet he had no choice but to spend it.

He truly hadn't expected that the first large sum of money he spent upon arriving at Shenyi Gu would be to hire people to cheer!

"Who the hell arranged for that guy to be in the first round?!"

If Rong Huan had been scheduled for the third round or later, he, as a person in the second round of examinations, wouldn't have had to worry so much.

But Rong Huan just had to be in the first round of examinations, making it impossible for people to avoid him even if they wanted to!

When pulling out the Money Voucher, he had an inexplicably bad premonition.

He had a feeling that he would have to spend quite a bit more wasted money in the future.