Chapter 39 Renxin Hall Opens

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Dragon Boat Translation

Finally, Lu Zheng bought three sets of Hu Brushes, a box of Hui Ink, a Duan Inkstone, and a stack of Xuan Paper. Under the slightly expectant gaze of the shop assistant, he turned and left without looking back.

He went to the neighboring old street to buy traditional Yellow Paper and a bottle of vermillion. Lu Zheng immediately went home to start his experiment.

The results proved that the core of the Paper Talisman was still the True Qi within the body.

However, the brush that could channel Spiritual Qi and the vermillion and Yellow Paper that could lock in the Spiritual Qi were the same in both worlds.

He looked at the brush in his hand, about a foot long, with a handle made of Small-leafed Padauk and Cow Horn, and a tip made from carefully selected Weasel Tail Hair. It was made through over 180 processes.

It was simply a work of art.

"Alright, another present I can take to the Great Jing Dynasty!"

...

Over the next three days, Lu Zheng wandered between both sides.

In modern times, his parents didn’t ask about his work, so Lu Zheng would occasionally reply to messages or pop into various groups to show that he was still alive.

In ancient times, with nothing to do, Lu Zheng began to help Elder Liu, since neighbors should help each other after all.

So, with Lu Zheng’s help, they quickly completed the preparations for Renxin Hall.

"The Renxin Hall opens tomorrow morning!"

Every day over the past few days, Lu Zheng was invited by Elder Liu to the Liu Family for dinner, and tonight was no exception.

Opening a medical hall, it turns out, was much more difficult than opening a candy shop.

Lu Zheng only needed to buy rock candy online from modern times and bring it over, while Elder Liu needed to purchase medicinal materials from various channels, and also prepare medicine cabinets, beds, furnaces, clay pots, needle tools, and so on.

"Wishing Uncle Liu a prosperous business!" Lu Zheng raised a cup and said, then suddenly paused, "Uh, that’s hard to say, isn’t it? It makes it seem like I’m hoping for more sickness in the county!"

"Hahaha!"

The outdated joke made the Liu Family erupt in laughter.

"There’s no one who doesn’t fall ill. I’m a doctor; I don’t care how much I earn. As long as I can support my family while treating patients, that’s enough," Elder Liu chuckled.

Even in modern times, doctors who cure illnesses are held in high regard. So, when people discovered Elder Liu was a physician, the Liu Family was highly respected throughout Tongyi Lane.

Furthermore, with Liu Qingyan’s celestial beauty, it wasn’t even a month before matchmakers came to the Liu Family in Tonglin County, unlike Lu Zheng, who remained practically invisible.

"Father, why don’t I accompany you to the medical hall opening tomorrow?" Liu Qingyan suggested.

"Hmm?" Elder Liu was about to refuse, but after thinking for a moment, he nodded.

"Alright, if there’s a lot of patients, I might not be able to handle it all alone. It’s good for you to come along."

Liu Qingyan glanced slyly at Lu Zheng, who, sipping his wine, smiled and added, "I’m free tomorrow as well. I can lend a hand at the pharmacy. Is there anything secretive that Uncle Liu wishes to keep confidential?"

Elder Liu burst out laughing, "The medical knowledge is all in my head, and the prescriptions are tailored to treat specific symptoms. It’s not something you can learn just by looking! Besides, if Lu Lang wants to learn, I’d be more than happy!"

"Me too! Me too!" Liu Qingquan blurted, with a bun stuffed in her mouth.

"You get sleepy just looking at medical books and can’t even identify the herbs. What could you do if you went?" Liu Qingyan teased, tapping Liu Qingquan on the forehead.

"Oh." Liu Qingquan rubbed her forehead and continued eating.

Liu Qingyan cast a glance at Lu Zheng, and seeing no reaction, felt relieved and placed a piece of food into Madam Liu’s bowl.

...

That evening, Lu Zheng returned to modern times and checked his phone, finding no new messages.

Not bothering to change clothes, he decided to sleep directly in the ancient world.

To be honest, he often slept here now; there was a certain charm to lying under silk velvet in a canopy bed.

...

The next morning.

"Thankfully it’s Friday; otherwise, a day at the medical hall would push back the dinner plans with Lin Wan."

After washing up and practicing his martial arts, he bought two wild vegetable buns from Aunt Li’s stall at the door.

"Lu Lang."

"Uncle Liu, Miss Liu!"

The group made their way to Renxin Hall, where they saw the two workers hired by Elder Liu removing the boards from the doors and beginning to clean up the entrance in preparation for the opening.

Elder Liu hadn’t made any arrangements for flower baskets, firecrackers, performer shows, or the like. He simply hung a sign at the door saying that for the first three days, treatment would be half-price, and thus commenced without much fanfare.

Nonetheless, news of the new medical hall in Tonglin County spread, and curious townsfolk came by to check it out, alongside some who were ill and sought treatment.

Elder Liu treated the patients; Liu Qingyan assisted with dispensing medicine, and Lu Zheng helped both of them, effectively taking over part of the workers’ duties.

At noon, Liu Qingquan and the Liu Family’s old servant brought a box of food.

It wasn’t until evening that the number of patients and prescriptions began to dwindle.

After sending off the last patient, Elder Liu smiled, "Lu Lang, you worked hard today. Your aunt prepared roast chicken; come to the house for a drink tonight."

"Sure." Lu Zheng agreed without reservation.

Just then, a commotion arose at the entrance, and four men barged in, stumbling.

"Quick! Quick! Let us see the doctor first!"

"Hmm? No one’s here! That’s even better. Who’s the doctor? Hurry up and take a look at us!"

A faint foul smell emanated, causing Lu Zheng to wrinkle his nose, and he felt a cold, eerie presence.

But it was just four strong men who had barged in.

The four, dressed in coarse clothes, were of average appearance but had sharp eyes.

Both Elder Liu and Liu Qingyan frowned.

The four brightened upon seeing Liu Qingyan, then approached Elder Liu.

"Quick, take a look at us."

"Um, please have a seat," Elder Liu said awkwardly, "I’ll take your pulse."

"If you fix us, you’ll get a reward. If not, don’t blame us for wrecking your quack’s shop!" the leader menaced.

"Hehe." Elder Liu chuckled dryly, twitching his mouth.

He reached for the man’s wrist, then asked him to switch hands, finally examining his face.

"You’re not ill, just seem to have some cold Qi in your body," Elder Liu assessed.

The man’s eyes lit up, "Then expel it for us, San’er!"

The man behind him immediately slapped a treasure note onto the table in front of Elder Liu.

Ten thousand coins!

"There’s no need for so much..."

"Take it if it’s given!"

"Alright, then I’ll accept it." Elder Liu tucked away the treasure note, then retrieved a leather pouch from a wooden box beside him.

"Um, please remove your shirt."

The man chuckled and quickly took off his shirt, revealing his toned muscles, stealing a glance at Liu Qingyan.

Liu Qingyan stayed behind the medicine dispensing counter, not looking his way at all.

Elder Liu opened the leather pouch from both sides, revealing dozens of shiny Silver Needles.

He lit a lamp, passed the needles through flame, and began acupuncture.

Soon, the man’s head and upper body were covered with Silver Needles.

Insertion! Rotation! Scraping the handle! Vibration!

Elder Liu’s fingers worked like butterflies as he executed different manipulations on each Silver Needle, leaving Lu Zheng dazzled.

Very soon, although invisible to the naked eye, Lu Zheng, possessing True Qi, sensed the cold being expelled from the man’s body.

Lu Zheng felt it clearly; aside from the predominant chill, there was also a faint whiff of stench and a hint of deathly aura within the Qi.