Chapter 5: The Fragrant Bed, the Soft Meal

Shen Qingru, who had just arrived at the clinic, happened to hear that Zou Zhen seemed to want to take Jiang Yunzhou to some nice place, and immediately had the assistant send over the prepared medicine so that Zou Zhen could rest earlier.

She then brought Jiang Yunzhou out of the clinic and walked toward the rear courtyard, reminding him softly:

"Yunzhou, you've just arrived in Shangyang City and are also new to the martial world, so be careful of its temptations."

Looking from behind at the master's ninth junior sister, whom he had just met today, her graceful figure swayed as she walked under the moonlight, exuding a unique charm—a mature beauty that the constable Yang just seen lacked.

Jiang Yunzhou thought to himself, "The temptations in this household are no small matter either."

"Nephew, I understand."

Hearing that form of address, Shen Qingru furrowed her brows slightly, and seeing no one else around, she replied:

"Yunzhou, don't let outsiders know about your matter with the elder brother; it's better to change your address. Anyway, you've already been calling me 'little aunt' in front of everyone, so just maintain the relationship in front of outsiders—there's no need to be so formal in private."

"Understood, Sister Qingru."

Shen Qingru actually quite liked this address; after all, it's really uncomfortable for an unmarried young lady to be constantly called 'auntie' all day.

"By the way, Yunzhou, why is your medical experience so rich despite your young age?"

It seemed the question touched on some painful memories, and Jiang Yunzhou's handsome brows furrowed slightly on his handsome face:

"Because I've had over ten years of medical practice."

Shen Qingru's steps halted, and her bosom trembled slightly from inertia as she widened her almond eyes and said:

"What? Over ten years? Are you saying you started treating people from what age?"

Jiang Yunzhou nodded and recalled:

"Starting at age seven, my master began letting me diagnose and treat patients. Each time, my master would watch from the side to ensure no accidents occurred, and he would also take me to visit various places in Mist Prefecture to witness and treat all kinds of difficult and miscellaneous ailments, so my experience has become somewhat rich."

Shen Qingru thought, "You call this 'somewhat rich'?"

Probably, with your experience from those outings, there are few in the entire Cang Medical Hall whose diagnostic experience rivals yours.

Shen Qingru turned and glanced at Jiang Yunzhou, still lost in his recollection; under the moonlight, his slender face showed its contours more clearly.

If not for being in the medical hall, claiming he was the son of some noble family would surely be believed.

Shen Qingru broke the silence and asked softly:

"Yunzhou, the Cang Medical Hall has only been established a short while and is currently lacking physicians; if you don't mind, I'd like to invite you to serve as a physician at the Cang Medical Hall—what do you think?"

Relatives asked me to help manage the ruined medical hall of a fallen family×

A successful, independent, beautiful sister invited me to enter√

Elements correct.

This isn't just inviting wolves in—hey, family unity! What reason is there to refuse?

But one also shouldn't appear too eager, or it would seem one has ulterior motives.

"A physician? Actually, not keeping it from Sister Qingru, I originally wanted to go out and wander as an itinerant doctor, seeking no profit, only freedom; but since the Cang Medical Hall and Sister Qingru need me, I'm willing to stay and give her my full support."

Hearing this, Shen Qingru's almond eyes smiled as she patted Jiang Yunzhou's sturdy shoulders with her jade hands and said:

"Then thank you, Yunzhou. Don't worry—other physicians at the Cang Medical Hall can handle normal consultations; only if they're overwhelmed or encounter a difficult case they can't treat might they come to you, and the rest of your time will be free."

"If needed, I'll clear out a special clinic for you at the back of the medical hall, where you can see patients. The pay is five taels of silver per month, with a year-end dividend from the medical hall. The small courtyard on the east side of the Cang Medical Hall has already been prepared; I'll take you there now, and you can stay there temporarily. What do you think?"

Although Shen Qingru had only seen Jiang Yunzhou diagnose once, letting him become a physician was a spur-of-the-moment decision, but she trusted her judgment—Jiang Yunzhou is absolutely a talent in the medical arts.

Moreover, more importantly, he is not an outsider.

Jiang Yunzhou suppressed a smile that was harder to hold back than an AK, thinking, "This treatment is far better than what my mentor in my previous life got."

"Then I'll trouble you, Sister Qingru."

The brother and sister strolled under the moonlight from the side gate of the medical hall's rear courtyard to the small courtyard that had been prepared for Jiang Yunzhou.

The small courtyard isn't large, but it's neat and tidy: the main house has one room and one hall, the eastern side chamber also has a room, the western woodshed has a small door connecting to the medical hall, and the southern gate leads to the street corner.

The large water vat in the courtyard is filled with clear water, and various flowers and grasses are arranged around it, showing that the courtyard seems to have been tidied up long ago.

Looking at the small courtyard, Shen Qingru let out a soft sigh and said:

"Living here does indeed wrong you a bit. When the Cang Medical Building was sealed off, all the family's medicines were confiscated, and on top of that, my father, in his lifetime, insisted on properly settling all the medical staff and assistants, which cost a lot."

"The clan's younger members also switched professions one after another; I, too, sold all my fields and most of my properties, taking out nearly all my savings to reestablish the Cang Medical Hall, so the remaining properties are rather dilapidated."

Shen Qingru herself and the household servants also live in an old-style two-courtyard residence on the other side of the Cang Medical Hall.

"Sister Qingru, you're being too distant—reestablishing the Cang Medical Hall is our duty, and I think this place is quite fine."

Hearing those words, Shen Qingru felt warm in her heart.

Since single-handedly reestablishing the Cang Medical Hall, I've basically been fighting alone.

Although family members support me, it's only moral support.

The physicians in the medical hall still fulfill their duties, but they can't empathize with family matters.

I never expected this heavenly-sent younger brother to not only possess astonishing medical skill, but also, as a family member, to support me so much.

Even though he hasn't done anything yet, I already feel an inexplicable sense of reliance in my heart.

The maid Bai Zhi walked out from the lit main house, and Jiang Yunzhou peeked in to see that the new bedding, including the quilt, had already been laid out.

What a great helper—this level of service hasn't been given even by mentors, let alone senior and junior schoolmates.

The girl making the bed looks about sixteen; her cute face makes her seem even younger, with two little braids held by a butterfly hairpin, her every movement full of youthful vigor—though she's dressed as a maid, she shows no fear, only a hint of shyness.

Bai Zhi bowed and said:

"Young master, the room has been tidied up."

Shen Qingru thought, "This little maid has never been so proper in front of me, but today, with Yunzhou present, she's putting on a lady-like act."

"May I ask how to address you, miss?"

His deep eyes and sharp brows gazed at her, his soft inquiry sounding like a flirtation; Bai Zhi, who had hardly ever seen such a handsome young man, felt her legs go weak.

"Young master... just call me Bai Zhi."

"Thank you for your hard work, Miss Bai Zhi. Sister Qingru, where does Uncle Hu live?"

I had originally planned to let Uncle Hu stay in your side room, but he said he's used to the lively atmosphere, so he stayed with the fellows who came with him in the rear hall courtyard.

Jiang Yunzhou thought to himself, that old guy clearly doesn't want to live here under supervision.

Bai Zhi's eyes brightened and she said:

"Young Master, since you've just arrived in Upper Yang City, if you need care, I can also stay in the side room to look after you."

Before Jiang Yunzhou could even open his mouth to refuse, Shen Qingu directly reached out and pulled Bai Zhi's ear to scold her:

"You young lady really have no shame, Yunzhou—then you should rest early; it's rare to come to the capital, so I'll give you three days off to go around before you resume practice."

"Good."

After a moment's hesitation, Jiang Yunzhou did not mention his own lack of money.

He only had three taels of silver in his pocket, and it seemed he had no other choice.

The folks at the Azure Medical Hall say 'white is white, soft is soft,' but I need to toughen up—I can't let people say I'm eating soft rice for free; I have to eat soft rice the hard way.