I attained immortality through meditation in the Great Qian Dynasty.

Zhao Zian allowed her to examine him.

"Manager Su, the way you're doing it makes it seem like you're inspecting goods."

Su Mei quickly withdrew her hand.

"I...I wasn't joking with you!"

"Do you know what people are saying outside? A living god? I'm afraid you've become a short-lived hero."

Zhao Zian found it somewhat amusing.

"Don't worry, I'm standing right here unharmed."

"Dealing with a bunch of rabble doesn't require me to roll up my sleeves and get into battle myself. Using my brain is enough."

Just then, the atmosphere became delicate.

"Shopkeeper! Doctor Zhao! The...the county magistrate is here!"

County magistrate?

Zhang Jing?

Zhao Zian raised an eyebrow.

Why is this guy here too?

"Please come quickly!"

Su Mei was about to open the door to greet her.

Zhao Zian stopped her.

"There's no need for that. He's not here to show off his official power."

The door was pushed open as soon as he finished speaking.

Zhang Jing was dressed in casual clothes, followed by seven or eight figures.

"Brother Zi'an!"

"You little rascal, you're truly my lucky star! The lucky star of Willow Creek Town!"

He looked at Su Mei and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture.

"Manager Su, I apologize for disturbing you. I have come today for two reasons: first, to thank Brother Zi'an, and second, to fulfill a long-cherished wish."

Su Mei quickly returned the greeting.

"You flatter me, Lord Zhang. It is an honor for our shop to have you here in person."

Zhang Jing turned around and faced the group of women.

"Girls, don't be afraid. This is Jishetang. This is Dr. Zhao Zi'an, who devised the plan last night to rescue you from the fire."

Upon hearing this, the seven or eight women all trembled.

The woman at the head of the group suddenly collapsed to her knees.

As she knelt, the women behind her also knelt down.

"My benefactor!"

The woman at the head of the group raised her head.

"Thank you so much for saving our lives! If it weren't for you, my sisters and I... my sisters and I would probably..."

She choked up and couldn't continue.

What fate awaits them if they are kidnapped by someone like Tu San?

They were simply sold to those filthy brothels and reduced to playthings.

They lived a life worse than death until they grew old and faded, were kicked aside, and died of illness on the street.

Su Mei's eyes also reddened.

Zhang Jing stood aside, also sighing deeply.

He is unworthy of being a county magistrate.

If it weren't for Zhao Zian, he probably wouldn't even know whether these innocent women were alive or dead.

Zhao Zian genuinely felt it was a minor matter.

"Get up, everyone."

"Your lives are your own, not given to you by me. You don't need to kneel before me, or anyone else."

He personally helped the woman in the lead up to her feet.

"But... my benefactor..."

"My surname is Zhao, and I am a doctor. If you don't mind, you can call me Doctor Zhao."

Zhao Zian interrupted her.

"Let bygones be bygones. You are still young, and you have a long road ahead of you. Living well is the best way to repay all those who have helped you."

The women were stunned.

They had assumed that since this benefactor had saved them, he might make some demands of them.

But to my surprise, he said something like that.

Your lives are your own.

Yes, their lives belong to themselves.

It doesn't belong to his parents, nor to Tu San, and certainly not to this benefactor.

Zhang Jing smiled at Zhao Zian.

"Brother Zian, your words are more effective than a hundred of mine as the county magistrate."

He then spoke to the women.

"I have already sent people to investigate your hometowns and places of origin. Once verified, we will issue you travel permits and travel expenses to send you home. If any of you do not wish to return home, the county government will find you a legitimate job in town and will ensure that you are never bullied again."

Upon hearing this, the women expressed their gratitude profusely.

One of the women was a little bolder.

"Sir...we...we sisters have discussed it, and we don't want to go home."

Zhang Jing was taken aback.

Why?

The woman bit her lip.

"If our family can sell us once for money, they can sell us a second time. Going back would just be another hellhole. We...we want to stay in Willow Creek Town and earn our own living."

Su Mei was incredibly clever and perceptive.

"If you ladies don't mind, I need a few helpers in the backyard of my Jishetang clinic to help dry medicinal herbs and do other chores. Although the work is hard, it includes room and board, and you'll receive a small monthly wage. Would you be interested?"

The women's eyes lit up.

"Yes! Yes! We are willing!"

"Thank you so much, Manager Su! Thank you so much, Manager Su!"

What better place could there be than to stay at Jishetang and by the side of our benefactor?

Upon seeing this, Zhang Jing clapped his hands and laughed.

"Excellent! Manager Su is truly kind-hearted! Now I can rest assured."

And that's how it was settled.

Zhang Jing exchanged a few more pleasantries with Zhao Zi'an, agreed to have a private drink another day, and then took his leave.

Su Mei walked up to the group of women who were still somewhat at a loss.

"Sisters, come with me."

The woman at the head of the group, named Wan'er, gave Su Mei a deep bow.

"Thank you for your trouble, Manager Su."

"Don't mention it."

Su Mei reached out and helped her up.

"From now on, we're family. I'm a few years older than you, so if you don't mind, just call me Sister Mei."

The women felt reassured.

Su Mei led them around to the backyard.

"These rooms are all empty. You two can stay in one room. The bedding has been changed, so don't worry."

Su Mei pointed to a few rooms on the west side.

"Please settle in first and change into clean clothes."

"These are coarse cloth clothes prepared for you. Although they are not as good as brocade, they are clean and neat, and convenient for doing things."

These women's eyes welled up with tears again.

After settling into her lodgings, Su Mei assigned tasks.

"There are many of you, and the work is varied. Wan'er, you seem the most reliable. From now on, you will be in charge of drying and storing the medicinal herbs in the backyard. Here are the processing manuals for various medicinal herbs. Take a look at them first, and if you don't understand anything, feel free to ask me or ask Physician Wang in the hall."

She handed her a book.

Wan'er took it.

"Don't worry, Sister Mei, Wan'er will definitely study hard."

Su Mei then made arrangements for the remaining women one by one.

Zhao Zian stood under the eaves and did not interrupt.

"Dr. Zhao."

Su Mei came to his side.

"Is everything arranged?" he asked.

"Um."

Su Mei responded.

"What, you're thinking of just washing your hands of things? You rescued the person, dumped them on me, and now you're all free to do nothing."

Zhao Zian smiled.

"Manager Su made better arrangements than I did. I'm only good at treating patients and saving lives; I'm not good at managing people."

"I think you're not bad at it, you just don't want to bother with it."

Su Mei gave a soft snort.

"You seem to have something incredibly important on your mind, while you don't care about these mundane matters at all."

Zhao Zian smiled and was about to speak.

"what!"

Immediately following was Wan'er's tearful cry.