In ancient times, the powerful and wealthy seized power step by step.

Having spent years navigating the underworld, Uncle Qi was a professional at gathering information. He not only found out that the second manager's house had been vandalized by the casino, but also questioned the thugs who had gone to smash things. The casino owner had declared on the spot that the second manager's eldest son owed 30,000 taels of gambling debt and that he would kidnap the entire second manager's family to settle the debt.

Even after spending three years in the wealthy Zhang family, the figure of 30,000 taels still stunned Zhu Qingyu.

"Thirty thousand taels? What could he have bet on to win thirty thousand taels? And then what? How did the second manager resolve it?"

Uncle Qi rushed back to report to Zhu Qingyu, and since he hadn't found out such details, he looked a little embarrassed.

"The thugs are all low-level henchmen; they wouldn't know such details, so we didn't find out. But boss, I did see the second manager's eldest son today; he was drinking tea and listening to music at the teahouse, and he seemed perfectly fine."

It happened before the Lunar New Year, and now it's been more than half a year, but the second manager hasn't mentioned it at all, nor has he asked Zhang Shen for help.

The fact that his troublemaking son can still drink tea and listen to music shows that the second manager eventually resolved the matter.

However, the second manager's annual salary in the Zhang family was only one hundred taels of silver. Even if the whole family didn't eat or drink from the first day he became the manager of the Zhang family, he still couldn't possibly come up with thirty thousand taels of silver.

So how did he resolve it?

The more Zhu Qingyu thought about it, the more serious the matter seemed.

Seeing Zhu Qingyu's solemn expression, Uncle Qi continued:

"Master, to be honest, I used to work as a bouncer at casinos when I was young. Usually, in these situations, it's a trap set up for the second manager. The 30,000 taels of silver is just for show, meant to scare people. They use that name to force people to sell their bones, their blood, their children, their wives, their mothers, and even themselves. There are plenty of cases like that. I'm worried because the second manager's family is fine. Maybe this trap isn't really targeting him. Anyway, Master, you'd better be careful."

Zhu Qingyu thought so too:

"Thank you, Uncle Qi. I understand. The second manager didn't sell his son or himself; he probably sold something else. Could you ask around for me? Don't ask anything else, just ask who the second manager's family is on good terms with lately, and report back to me."

Because she had arranged to meet Gu Zhao at the clinic the next day, but did not know when he would arrive, and did not want to keep Lord Gu waiting, Zhu Qingyu went to the clinic early the next morning.

Upon entering the clinic, Lin Lan sat at the counter, busily calculating accounts and ledgers with her abacus. Su Mu and her two mothers surrounded her, watching expectantly. Even Uncle Qi sat at the door, smoking his pipe and watching.

Upon hearing Zhu Qingyu enter, all five heads turned to look at her, their eyes shining.

Zhu Qingyu felt confused by their stares:

"What's wrong?"

Lin Lan put down her abacus:

"Wife, the accounts for last month are ready."

According to the rules of the Zhu Family Clinic, the account book is published before the 10th of each month, and the monthly salary is distributed after the account book is published. Since there are not many people, she distributes the salary herself every time.

No wonder everyone's been waiting so eagerly, Zhu Qingyu suddenly realized:

"Oh, it's time to pay the monthly salary. I'll pay it today."

Su Mu, holding the account book, ran over quickly, his face full of eager anticipation and a desire for praise.

"Look, look, Madam Zhu!"

Judging from his expression, it seems to be more than just receiving monthly allowances.

Zhu Qingyu picked up the account book and flipped through it, but couldn't figure it out for a moment. She was a little puzzled and glanced at Su Mu again.

Su Mu, the little girl, couldn't hold back any longer. She pointed to her name in the ledger and looked over with even more anticipation.

"Look, look! I saw ten patients all by myself last month!"

No wonder she was so happy, Zhu Qingyu suddenly realized:

"You're really amazing, Dr. Su!"

Su Mu and Lin Lan have been learning medicine from Zhu Qingyu for almost two years. Although there are quite a few people coming to the Zhu family clinic every day, they don't have many opportunities to actually see patients on their own. They usually just help out.

It wasn't that Zhu Qingyu wouldn't let them see her, but rather that most patients wouldn't trust two such young girls to treat them.

Zhu Qingyu's clinic opened almost a year after she transmigrated.

For the past year, she had been living in the Zhang family home. After curing Zhang Ruohua and Zhang Shen, it was time for her to leave, and she suddenly felt a little lost.

Because she had nowhere to return from where she came from, and in this unfamiliar world, she didn't know where to go.

At that time, Zhang Shen led her to the most bustling main street in Yangzhou, a place teeming with carriages and horses, and pointed to the shop in the best location:

"Qingyu, it's not convenient for you to talk about your family matters, and I won't ask. But if you haven't decided where to go yet, why don't you stay in Yangzhou for now? I'd like to give you the largest medical clinic in Jiangnan."

In such a location, opening the largest medical clinic in Jiangnan would obviously be something ordinary people wouldn't dare to enter.

Is the purpose of her coming all this way to open a clinic that keeps most people out and is only frequented by high-ranking officials and wealthy families?

Moreover, even if she treated patients for a lifetime, she still couldn't repay Zhang Shen for the expenses of such a clinic.

Zhu Qingyu said to Zhang Shen:

"Yangzhou has no shortage of the largest clinics, but I want to open an ordinary clinic that anyone can come in for treatment."

Finally, Zhu Qingyu chose a simple shop on an ordinary street.

Following Zhang Shen's advice, and adapting to local customs, the Zhu Family Clinic, like other female doctors, only accepted female patients. When setting prices, they also took into account the standards of their counterparts in Yangzhou, setting the consultation fee at a moderate level of one hundred coins.

After Su Mu and Lin Lan had been learning from her for about a year, they were able to diagnose some simple illnesses. Zhu Qingyu then put up a consultation sign for them and started charging 20 coins per person for each consultation.

Even so, when Zhu Qingyu was around, very few people sought out the two young girls for treatment. But there was nothing that could be done; it was an inevitable path for every medical student.

Things have changed. At the end of last year, Zhu Qingyu was away in Beijing and not at home. When some old customers came for follow-up visits, they would also ask Su Mu for medicine and treatment. From a few people, last month, the number finally exceeded ten. One of them was even introduced by a neighbor and came specifically to see Su Mu for treatment.

With his medical skills recognized and a monthly allowance, Su Mu felt incredibly happy, walking with an air of superiority and even singing a few lines whenever he thought about it.

In contrast, Lin Lan, who had accompanied the patients to the clinic but hadn't seen a single patient independently, inevitably felt disappointed. In the afternoon, she was alone, tears welling up in her eyes, preparing medication.

Seeing her pitiful look, Zhu Qingyu, who was passing by, was startled:

"What's wrong? Who bullied you?"

Zhu Qingyu's question only made things worse; it caused Lin Lan's tears, which had been welling up in her eyes, to stream down her face.

"My lady, I'm so useless."

Lin Lan actually studied very hard, and her basic skills were even more solid than Su Mu's. However, compared to Su Mu's boldness and willingness to try anything, Lin Lan lacked confidence and was naturally somewhat timid about seeing patients on her own.

People naturally have different personalities, the key is to take the first step, and Zhu Qingyu wanted to give her a push.

As evening approached, a young man with an anxious expression, carrying a woman with her eyes closed and sweating profusely on his back, followed by a young girl with an equally panicked face, suddenly ran into the Zhu Family Clinic.

Lin Lan led the young man to place the woman on the examination bed, while Su Mu ran upstairs to invite Zhu Qingyu down.

Zhu Qingyu glanced at the woman's face, felt her pulse, and, having made up her mind, looked at the young man in his tattered clothes and asked:

"Young master, my consultation fee starts at least at one hundred coins, and medicine costs are extra. Do you have enough money with you?"