Crossing the Mountains

Chapter 46 Playing Such a Big Game
After parting with Uncle Zhali, Tan Huaike took Pei'er for a walk. Although she had anticipated a possible setback, she hadn't expected Dr. Qiu's refusal to her request to be so ruthless, which was a real blow.

As I walked, I inadvertently arrived at Yuefu.

Guessing that Shentu Zhuo should be in there preparing for the year-end sacrifice, Tan Huaike wanted to talk to him about it, but he didn't want to see his expression that said, "I advised you a long time ago, just as I expected."

Just as she was hesitating, Chi Fanyu, fanning himself, was about to enter. As soon as he saw her, he greeted her warmly, "Sister-in-law? Sister-in-law, you look so cheerful. Are you here to listen to some music? Or are you here to express your feelings for someone else again? If you have such anecdotes, don't forget me. Please come in, please come in!"

Tan Huaike felt helpless. How could such a good Yuefu become like Lanying Pavilion in this person's mouth?

Since she had been invited, she couldn't leave immediately. She said bluntly, "Chi Leguan, I have something to discuss with my uncle. I wonder if he is free at the moment. If it would be too much of a bother, there is no need to rush."

"When he has free time, of course he has free time. He's been very idle lately and just comes here to laze around."

"Free? Isn't the end-of-year sacrifice coming up soon? The Music Bureau should be very busy, right?"

"We were supposed to be busy, but a few days ago, my uncle, the county governor, got some news and suddenly told us to stop the music selections we had arranged, saying there might be a major change." Chi Fanyu sighed, "I asked for a long time, but I couldn't find out what the major change was. But seeing the solemn expression on my uncle's face, I guess it's not a good thing."

"Oh, so even though we have some free time now, we may have to go through a lot of trouble later," Tan Huaike guessed.

"That's right!" Chi Fanyu fanned himself quickly. "I'm really worried about this, too."

The two of them chatted until they came to Shentu Zhuo's place. Tan Huaike was about to knock on the door, but Chi Fanyu pushed it open and walked in, saying familiarly, "Zhuo, our sister-in-law is here to see you."

Shen Tu Zhuo's hands were in a frenzy, and he didn't have time to put away his writing materials. In the end, he had no choice but to give up and angrily complained to him, "Don't try to get close to me. This is my sister-in-law. What does this have to do with you?"

Chi Fanyu didn't care: "What's wrong? This is my territory. Can't I join in the fun?"

Shentu Zhuo didn't bother to argue with him. He spread out the wrinkled silk in front of him and confirmed that the marks on it were correct. Then he put down his pen and asked Tan Huaike with concern: "What does my sister-in-law want to talk to me about?"

Pei'er made tea for the three of them and waited on them.

All they wanted to talk about was the matter of hiring Doctor Qiu. Tan Huaike did not avoid Chi Fanyu and told him the whole story of how he had tried so hard to approach him and inquire about the matter but was sternly rejected by the other party. He wanted to hear if they had any good ideas.

After hearing this, Shentu Zhuo said with a hint of ridicule, "Look, I've tried to persuade you before, haven't I? Just as I expected, that old man surnamed Qiu is unyielding and can't be moved by ordinary money or power."

Tan Huaike rolled his eyes secretly. His reaction was exactly what he expected.

Chi Fanyu also said, "Old Doctor Qiu, I want to invite him to your pharmacy. It's so difficult. Even my uncle can't do anything to him. Last time he had a rash, the county magistrate's face was swollen like a pig's head, and he had to wait in line outside the clinic."

"I've heard about this too. Alas, it seems I was just daydreaming." Tan Huaike said unwillingly, "But I didn't expect that he was so prejudiced against merchants. He completely ignored my original intention and exchange conditions. He said that he hated dealing with merchants the most in his life. I guess he thinks I'm a villain who only cares about profit and has evil intentions." "What did sister-in-law mean?" Chi Fanyu asked blankly.

"My original intention..." Tan Huaike paused and said embarrassedly, "Of course it is to make money, but I don't want to make money by doing dirty work or exploiting the poor. I want everyone to be able to afford medical treatment and medicine. So the conditions I set are to supply medicine to the clinic at the lowest price and to give doctors with superb medical skills higher consultation fees. Wouldn't more patients be able to receive treatment this way? And they would have to pay less out of their own pocket."

"I never thought my sister-in-law would have such a heart to help the world." Chi Fanyu sighed.

"Her original intention was to make money through business. All merchants pursue profit, and there's nothing to be ashamed of." Shentu Zhuo reassured her firmly. "As for Doctor Qiu's attitude, you don't have to take it to heart. Daxuan has long considered merchants the lowest and most menial profession, and this mindset is deeply ingrained in many people. But when it comes to recuperation and a peaceful life, it's merchants who have brought the most vibrant vitality. If it weren't for this, Your Majesty wouldn't have expanded trade routes or even promoted imperial merchants."

"That's right!" Chi Fanyu echoed, "That old stubborn man has his own stubbornness, and you, sister-in-law, have yours too. What's wrong with trying to make money? It doesn't conflict with curing illnesses and saving lives. They're narrow-minded in judging by deeds, not by heart."

After hearing their unanimous praise, Tan Huaike felt much better. He said with an open mind, "Well, since I have a clear conscience, I won't worry about other people's prejudices. The herbal medicine shop has been reorganized, so let the two doctors who were there before run the shop for now."

Shen Tu Zhuo nodded. "That's right. I'll also help you find other doctors with excellent medical skills. We can find them slowly. There's no need to hang ourselves on one tree."

After coming to his senses, Tan Huaike felt like joking again: "Uncle Zhali's leg can always be cured. If I meet a miracle doctor next time, I won't have a reason to approach him. Then, uncle, please let me chop you again."

Shen Tu Zhuo was stunned for a moment, then said happily, "Sure, you can also apply some special spices on the blade, which can be bought on the black market, to make me look more suspicious."

Pei'er was already used to the bickering between the two and couldn't help laughing when she heard it.

Chi Fanyu, who was standing by, was amazed: "Is your uncle and sister-in-law playing such a big game?"
-
After discussing Doctor Qiu, Tan Huaike noticed the silk on Shentu Zhuo's desk and asked curiously, "What was my uncle doing earlier? Painting?"

Shentu Zhuo looked at Chi Fanyu for help, but Chi Fanyu pretended not to see it, fanning himself and smiling without saying a word.

Seeing the strange atmosphere, Tan Huaike felt abrupt. Could it be that these two playboys were trying to share some romantic scroll? Wouldn't she be spoiling their fun? So she said tactfully, "There are many things I don't understand. If it's inconvenient to tell me, I won't ask."

As she was about to stand up and leave, Shentu Zhuo quickly said, "It's nothing inconvenient. It's just that my ideas are still immature and the drawings I've made are not yet finished. I'm afraid people will laugh at me."

He turned the piece of silk over and pointed it towards Tan Huaike, indicating that it was okay for her to look at it.

Tan Huaike leaned in to take a closer look and saw that the lines on it were fine and neat, as if it was a painting of mountains, rivers and fields, but it did not look like a scroll depicting beautiful scenery. There were also many text annotations, but she really couldn't understand what they meant.

She shook her head, puzzled, "What...is this painting?"
-
　Next Chapter: If you don’t make a sound…

　　
　
(End of this chapter)