maidservant

Doctor Feng stroked his beard, looked at the bustling clinic, and said with emotion, "After this incident, the reputation of our Xinglin Chuntang is all thanks to you, Miss Yun."

Yun Shan quickly waved her hand: "Dr. Feng, I only did what I should do. I still need your guidance in medical skills. We must continue to work hard and study medicine in the future."

The two women cuddled each other, and Yunshan picked up a prescription and showed it to Doctor Feng, saying playfully:
"Second Manager, it's not just the doctor in white robes and peasant women who come to consult us. In the past month, I've also noticed some wealthy merchants from the East Lane coming here. So, I plan to stock up on more good medicinal herbs. I'll find out their plans later and then write out prescriptions."

Doctor Feng nodded, "These medicinal herbs are excellent and will certainly help with the recovery. This makes perfect sense."

After that, Yunshan would take time out of her room after closing each day to study medical books and organize the day's cases.

Yunshan assigned Afu a separate task: to visit medicinal farmers and merchants near the outskirts of Beijing and introduce some expensive but effective medicinal herbs for common diseases.

Ah Fu was indeed quick-witted, and he repeatedly purchased medicinal herbs at prices lower than those of ordinary pharmacies in Kyoto. Yun Shan noticed that he was also learning to recognize the herbs quickly, so she thought he was a promising talent and decided to have him learn to read.

As the variety of medicinal herbs increased, Xinglin Chuntang was able to treat more and more ailments. Yunshan always patiently received each patient and practiced medicine with Doctor Feng. Xinglin Chuntang became a renowned place of benevolent doctors, and Yunshan only wanted to steadily walk on the path of saving lives.

The tree may wish to be still, but the wind will not cease.

At midday, Xinglin Chuntang was as bustling as ever, filled with the aroma of medicine. The pharmacists skillfully weighed and packaged the herbs, responding to patients' inquiries. Yun Shan moved through the crowd, comforting anxious patients while checking newly arrived medicinal materials. Doctor Feng sat at his examination table, carefully taking the pulse of an elderly man.

After finally finishing her work, Yun Shan had a moment to sit down and have a drink of water. Just then, a servant rushed over and said, "Miss Yun, Lord Li has arrived." Yun Shan quickly got up to greet him.

Li Mao walked into the clinic, looked around, and said with a smile, "Manager, Xinglin Chuntang is becoming more and more prosperous."

Yunshan responded with a wry smile: "Brother-in-law is quite the joker. You have no idea how busy he is every day. He can't even take care of many things."

Upon entering the inner room, Li Mao's smile faded, and his expression turned slightly grave: "Auntie, I've come to remind you that in the business world, every trade has its own guild. The pharmaceutical guild is likely about to make a move. Guilds in Kyoto have always been powerful, and Xinglin Chuntang, despite its thriving business, hasn't joined yet; they might not let this go easily."

Yun Shan frowned slightly and said helplessly, "I had planned to join long ago, and I know that this guild has a wide network of connections and is well-informed, which would be beneficial to the development of the clinic. I had been thinking of visiting the guild leader and a few other guild leaders, but I just couldn't find the time, so it was delayed."

Li Mao nodded: "I understand your difficulties, but you still need to find time to go there as soon as possible, otherwise you may encounter trouble."

---

Meanwhile, in the guild's council chamber, the atmosphere was tense. Zhao Kui slammed his fist on the table: "That Xinglin Chuntang is too arrogant! They've taken so much of our business, yet they haven't even considered joining, nor have they paid a single penny in protection money. We have to teach them a lesson!"

The head waiter frowned and said, "Manager Zhao, I think we should not act rashly. Xinglin Chuntang has a good reputation and is trusted by the people. If we act rashly, it may cause public anger."

Zhao Kui snorted coldly: "Then what do you think, Xing Tou? Just let it go like this?"

At that moment, a subordinate rushed in and whispered a few words in Zhao Kui's ear. Zhao Kui's expression softened slightly:
"I have already sent people to Xinglin Chuntang to investigate their true capabilities and see just how capable they are. We will make a decision after we have a clear understanding of the situation!"

That day, Yunshan was busy helping Doctor Feng organize medical records when she caught a glimpse of several unfamiliar faces entering the clinic.

The men were arrogant, their eyes darting around; they clearly weren't ordinary patients. Yun Shan's heart tightened; she immediately realized these people probably had ill intentions.

She remained outwardly calm, a warm smile playing on her lips, and quickly stepped forward to greet him.

After exchanging pleasantries, she learned that they were from the guild, and said with a smile, "I'm so sorry everyone, I've been wanting to visit the guild for a long time, but the shop has been too busy, so it's been delayed until now. I will definitely pay a visit in person tomorrow."

After hearing this, the men's expressions softened slightly, and they left after giving a few brief instructions.

The next day, just as dawn was breaking, a light drizzle began to fall. Yunshan got up, carefully selected an elegant set of clothes, and, accompanied by Cui'er, the two of them carrying prepared gifts, headed towards the guild's location.

It was an imposing mansion, with its vermilion gates tightly shut and stone lions baring their fangs at the entrance. Yun Shan stepped forward and knocked on the door, and soon a servant opened it and ushered them into the front hall.

Yunshan and Cui'er sat down in the hall and waited for a long time, but no one came out to greet them. The surroundings were eerily quiet, with only the patter of rain outside the corridor.

Yunshan waited patiently for a while longer, but she couldn't stand it any longer, so she asked Cui'er to urge the servants to go and invite someone.

Cui'er returned after a while and whispered to Yun Shan, "Manager, the servant said he would go and inform them, but he doesn't seem to be in a hurry." Yun Shan frowned slightly, but could only continue to wait.

Another half hour passed, and there was still no movement; even the servant who had poured the tea earlier had disappeared.

Yun Shan immediately understood that the guild was deliberately trying to intimidate her and make her realize the consequences of offending the guild.

Anger welled up in her heart, but she quickly suppressed it, thinking that since she had come with sincerity, and the other party was so disrespectful, there was no need for her to continue to shamelessly stay here.

So she gently put down the gift, turned around and left with Cui'er.

"That's enough, we've done our duty."

"The shopkeeper is right. Even without relying on the guild, Xinglin Chuntang can definitely stand firm."

After leaving the guild mansion, Yun Shan remained silent the entire way.

Yunshan sat in the back room of the clinic, the account book in her hand untouched for a long time, her brows furrowed, her heart filled with sorrow.

She was well aware that the influence of the pharmaceutical guild was deeply entrenched, and if they were to become enemies, Xinglin Chuntang would likely face a major crisis.

Take the supply of medicinal herbs, for example. The guild controls the relationship with the herb farmers and suppliers in the suburbs of Beijing. Xinglin Chuntang doesn't buy much now, so it's still manageable to secretly gather some herbs in small quantities.

If demand increases in the future, and if they really try to sabotage things, Xinglin Chuntang might not even be able to get a single good medicinal herb. Then they'll have to use inferior herbs to prescribe medicine, greatly reducing its effectiveness. Wouldn't that ruin their own clinic's reputation?

(End of this chapter)