Chapter 90: Ten Days Off a Month, Utterly Rebellious

Chapter 90: Moon Rest for Ten Days, the Great Inversion of Morality

Not a single soul anticipated what would unfold.

Ling Ran Xuan’s proprietor, Qian Kuan, opened his shop, and in merely three days, he had claimed the majority of the sick in the eastern market’s three-mile radius.

Not only were the herbs cheaper, but a renowned physician attended, drawing countless long-term ailments to seek treatment.

Meanwhile, Chen Yì, the young master of the Xiao family, encountered Qian Kuan, the proprietor of Ling Ran Xuan.

A middle-aged man with a pale, angular face, named Qian Kuan.

Contrary to his name, his frame was tall and thin, his appearance equally lean.

Fortunately, his spirit was sound; otherwise, a distant or close glance might lead one to feel his body was deficient.

Moreover, Qian Kuan was quite shrewd and perceptive.

Day after day, he stood at the entrance of Ling Ran Xuan, greeting visitors with a smile, engaging in light conversation with everyone he met.

Compared to him, the three disciples of Ji Shi Tang seemed like children newly learning to speak, their few words easily coaxed into conversation.

Chen Yì naturally had spoken with him, though only in polite exchanges.

Perhaps because of his identity as the Xiao family’s son-in-law, or due to his talents and calligraphy, which had gained some reputation in Shouzhou.

Qian Kuan always treated him with respect, bowing politely each time he saw him.

Not a scholar or official by birth, yet he mastered the art of deferential gestures thoroughly.

Chen Yì, however, smiled warmly in return, showing no trace of being affected by the business setbacks of the herb shop.

Yet he was in no hurry; the others in the shop seemed restless.

The accountant, Liu Quan, tapped his abacus rapidly, calculating thrice, then sighed and wrote a number on the ledger.

“Daily earnings are less than a third of usual. If this continues, we’ll barely break even this month.”

In the past, Ji Shi Tang had over a hundred patients daily, with fees from diagnoses and herbs totaling about thirty taels of silver per day, netting four hundred taels monthly after expenses.

But these three days, especially yesterday, had brought only ten taels.

After balancing the books, Liu Quan glanced at Chen Yì, seated beside the four physicians, noting his calm demeanor, and muttered to himself.

“This gentleman is from the Xiao family; he doesn’t care about the silver.”

“But we can’t help but care.”

The shop’s earnings directly affected the physicians, disciples, and accountant’s monthly wages.

According to the Xiao family’s rules, a thriving shop meant extra rewards for everyone.

Yet with daily earnings of only ten taels… no rewards.

Thinking this, Liu Quan bit his lip, hurried over to Chen Yì with the ledger.

Chen Yì set down his tea cup, took the ledger, glanced at it, and immediately understood.

“Less?”

“Yes, sir, you know it’s less.”

Nodding, Liu Quan glanced at the four physicians beside him, then muttered, “The neighboring Ling Ran Xuan has taken too many customers.”

“If we don’t act, they’ll only get worse…”

Li Lao said nothing, another physician nodding in agreement. “That Ling Ran Xuan is downright despicable. Their herbs are only seventy percent of ours, and their fees are free—this is a relentless assault on us.”

Since they were already rivals, their proximity and various tactics in competition naturally bred resentment.

But Chen Yì had said little these two days, so their frustration was futile.

After hearing this, Chen Yì looked each of them in the eye, smiling gently.

“Have the silver you earned previously been given to Wang Ji?”

The others blinked, their faces reddening with visible embarrassment.

“Master, uh… sorry, I said too much, you busy, you busy, hehe.”

The accountant scurried away first.

The other physicians and disciples, more straightforward, couldn’t find words.

Chen Yì smiled, shaking his head. “Let each of you attend to your own matters for now.”

This man, after all, was one whose greed was never satisfied.

Though Wang Ji had already informed them privately that the fees from prescriptions issued by Ji Shi Tang were theirs to share, they still clung to the immediate, sinking into the money.

Upon reflection, Chen Yì also understood this.

Except for the initial day when he gave them a stern warning upon taking over the shop, he had been too gentle otherwise.

Thus, Liu Quan and others had forgotten that he still held the signed documents and seals.

Half a day passed with no customers.

An entire morning, Ji Shi Tang had only three patients.

Li Lao and the other three physicians hadn’t even taken a turn, and there was still one more.

Chen Yì looked over, feeling his medical knowledge had fully matured, his diagnostic and acupuncture skills were unmatched, rendering the herb shop no longer appealing.

Thus, after lunch, he gave a few instructions, said he’d rest for a few days, and left the shop directly.

The others stared blankly.

“What the master said just now—what does it mean to rest ten days a month? Unreasonable and outrageous!”

“If we truly rest ten days, will the shop still function?”

“Only this gentleman could take such a rest. We, on the other hand, can’t afford to idle like those official elders, working from dawn till dusk without pause.”

In the end, Li Lao sighed and said, “Never mind, let him go.”

“This shop belongs to the Xiao family. He, a Xiao family son-in-law, doesn’t even care about it. What use are we?”

“Indeed, Ling Ran Xuan has already bullied us, and he hasn’t even responded…”

They let it go, not mentioning the thoughts of Ji Shi Tang’s four staff members.

As Chen Yì left the shop, he spotted Qian Kuan across the street at Ling Ran Xuan.

Saluting him, he walked north.

Qian Kuan smiled as he watched him depart, then folded his smile.

He glanced at the silent Ji Shi Tang, frowned, and returned to Ling Ran Xuan, penning a record of the past three days:

“June 8th: Ling Ran Xuan’s opening was auspicious. Ji Shi Tang sent greetings. The Xiao family’s son-in-law showed courtesy.”

“June 9th: Ling Ran Xuan was busy with patients. Ji Shi Tang’s business suffered. The Xiao family’s son-in-law showed courtesy.”

“June 10th: Ling Ran Xuan as usual. Ji Shi Tang’s shop was closed to visitors. The Xiao family’s son-in-law… showed courtesy.”

Strange.

Qian Kuan stared at the words on the paper, his brow furrowed, utterly perplexed by the nature of the Xiao family’s son-in-law.

He served as the proprietor of Jishen Pharmacy, watching his shop's fortunes wane—yet he seemed in no hurry at all?

Luckily, he remained unaware of what Chen Yi had just said; had he known, his expression would have been far more remarkable.

For any merchant, the very mention of "rest" is exceedingly rare, let alone "closed for ten days in the month"—such a phrase was downright unthinkable.

Chen Yi paid no heed to others' thoughts, ambling and pausing along his journey from the East Market to Kangning Street in the north.

The weather had indeed turned summertime.

At noon, the sun blazed overhead, its rays glinting off the rounded edges of the cobblestones, so dazzling that pedestrians struggled to keep their eyes open.

The north of the city fared better, with trees casting shade and birds singing among fragrant flowers.

Scholars dressed in long robes, fans in hand; beauties in flowing gowns, holding white oil-paper umbrellas adorned with flowers, their sashes fluttering in the breeze.

Chen Yi, clad in fine silk, strode among them, his carefree bearing perfectly complementing the scene.

Such was the scholar's demeanor.

After walking a while, he paused before a teahouse, glancing around before settling on a pavilion by the pond.

Wang Ji had been waiting there for some time.

As Chen Yi approached to offer his respects, he waved dismissively, turning with a smile to address the pond: "Tell me, what's the story with that Linglan Pavilion?"

Wang Ji sized him up, understood, and feigned unfamiliarity, speaking softly: "I've only learned they're from Jingzhou, a young master from the Xinglin Pavilion in Jingzhou seeking to establish a business in Shu."

"Though apparently, someone from the Department of State Affairs secured their patronage."

Jingzhou folk, Department of State Affairs.

Chen Yi noted this silently, continuing his inquiry: "Has the negotiation gone poorly?"

Wang Ji hesitated, replying, "I couldn't see the young master myself, only a steward who appeared in his place. He seemed courteous enough, but offered no firm promises—he's no real authority."

Chen Yi slightly nodded, finding this unsurprising.

After all, if Linglan Pavilion wasn't specifically targeting the Xiao family's pharmacy, they'd naturally be cautious in their business dealings in the capital.

As for establishments like Bai Caoguang, obscure yet newly founded and proactive in seeking patrons, they'd easily go unnoticed.

Thinking this, Chen Yi drew a scroll of prescriptions from his sleeve and handed it to him: "Here, take these."

Wang Ji grasped it immediately, carefully tucking it away, relieved.

With these formulas, Bai Caoguang could finally open its doors.

Yet after a moment's thought, he hesitated, asking: "Sir, you mentioned earlier that the silver money should be repaid to the young mistress—when might that be?"

"Not urgent."

"Then, about this matter..."

Chen Yi glanced at him sideways, smiled, and turned away: "First, focus on getting Bai Caoguang established."

"And remember, once it gains traction, seek out several accomplished martial experts to protect you."

Wang Ji looked at his retreating back, puzzled.

Bai Caoguang taking root, protection?

What did the gentleman mean by that?

(Chapter Complete)