I attained immortality through meditation in the Great Qian Dynasty.

Zhao Zian picked up his pen and wrote down the prescription.

"Prepare the medicine according to the prescription, and simmer it over a low flame three times a day. After seven days, the old lady will be able to get out of bed and walk around."

Magistrate Zhang accepted it with both hands.

"Someone! Go to Jishetang immediately! Select the best of every ingredient from the prescription given by Doctor Zhao!"

The butler accepted the order.

Dr. Liu, his back hunched, moved his feet toward the hospital exit.

Magistrate Zhang did not stop it.

He settled his mother down to rest and made sure the old lady was fast asleep.

"Dr. Zhao, please follow me to the front hall for tea."

Zhao Zian nodded slightly and followed him out of the inner courtyard.

Outside the courtyard, Su Mei was waiting anxiously.

Magistrate Zhang walked up to Su Mei.

"This must be Manager Su. Please forgive my lack of courtesy earlier. Let's go to the front hall for tea."

Su Mei quickly curtsied and said, "This humble woman dares not."

She secretly went to see Zhao Zi'an.

Zhao Zian gave her a reassuring look and said nothing more.

The front hall of the county government office.

Magistrate Zhang dismissed all his servants.

Magistrate Zhang, facing Zhao Zian, lifted the front of his robe and knelt down on both knees.

"Dr. Zhao, your kindness in saving my mother is like giving me a second life! Please accept my deepest gratitude!"

Su Mei was so startled she almost dropped her teacup.

A high-ranking official of the imperial court, the head of a county, actually performed such a grand ceremony before a commoner doctor.

Zhao Zian hadn't expected him to pull this stunt.

He avoided this great gift.

"Lord Zhang, you mustn't."

"No! That won't do!"

Magistrate Zhang, however, was unusually stubborn.

"Beyond the laws of the land, there is still human ethics! You are my mother's savior, and therefore the benefactor of the Zhang family! You deserve this courtesy!"

Zhao Zian understood.

This county magistrate was a very filial son and also a wise man.

Zhao Zian no longer declined.

He accepted the bow without hesitation.

After Magistrate Zhang finished kowtowing, he stood up.

"Zhao Langzhong, this is just a small token of my respect, nothing more."

He clapped his hands.

Two servants carried in a wooden box.

Magistrate Zhang gestured to his servants to open it.

Su Mei quickly covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes wide open.

Inside the box were stacks of ingots of snowflake silver.

One thousand taels!

A thousand taels of silver!

Seeing Zhao Zian's calm demeanor, Magistrate Zhang's opinion of him rose even higher.

Young people who achieve success should avoid arrogance.

The young man before us possesses extraordinary medical skills and a calm and steady temperament!

"These meager gifts are insufficient to express even a fraction of Mr. Zhang's gratitude."

Magistrate Zhang took out his waist token from his bosom.

"Dr. Zhao, this is my personal seal and badge. Seeing this badge is like seeing me in person."

"In the future, if you or Jishetang encounter any trouble within the territory of Liuxi Town, as long as it can be resolved by the government, simply present this token to the county government office, and you will have no obstacles!"

"Furthermore, Mr. Zhang, I owe you a favor."

"As long as it doesn't violate national laws or commit heinous acts, Zhang will go through fire and water to fulfill any request!"

Zhao Zi'an did not refuse this time.

He accepted the badge and the favor.

"Thank you, Lord Zhang."

Seeing that Zhao Zi'an readily accepted the gift, Magistrate Zhang smiled.

What he feared most was that Zhao Zian was an extraordinary person, proud and unyielding, who wanted nothing.

Once you accept it, the bond of friendship is formed.

……

On the way back to Jishetang from the county government office, Su Mei's peach blossom eyes were glued to Zhao Zi'an the whole time.

"Mr. Zhao, you were absolutely amazing today!"

"Starting tomorrow—no, starting tonight! The reputation of our Jishetang will resound throughout the entire Willow Creek Town!"

Zhao Zian put his hands behind his back.

"Reputation is meaningless."

Su Mei was slightly taken aback.

Zhao Zi'an continued, seemingly oblivious to the fact that "the favor shown by Magistrate Zhang is the real deal."

Su Mei understood Zhao Zi'an's meaning.

A good reputation can bring business, but it can also bring trouble.

Liuxi Town is not large, and the rapid rise of Jishetang will inevitably affect the interests of others.

The gun is easy to hide, and the dark arrow is hard to prevent.

With the county magistrate's private seal and personal connections, Jishetang gained a powerful backer.

The two stepped across the threshold.

Inside the pharmacy, there was a wooden box.

Accountant Sun was wearing reading glasses, holding an abacus, and counting.

"Boss! Boss Zhao is back!"

"Manager Su is back too!"

Someone shouted.

All the guys rushed over.

Accountant Sun dropped his abacus and jogged over.

"Master Zhao! You're finally back! I've counted the silver the magistrate rewarded me, and not a single tael is missing! A full one thousand taels!"

Su Mei's eyes sparkled, and she waved her hand with captivating charm.

"Accountant Sun, you've worked hard."

"Now that the inventory is complete, have two people carefully pack it up and deliver it to Master Zhao's residence!"

Zhao Zian shook his head.

"Need not."

Everyone was stunned.

Su Mei's smile froze for a moment.

That's a thousand taels of silver, and he... he doesn't want it?

Zhao Zian ignored the astonished expressions on everyone's faces.

"Let's go to the Jishetang's account."

For a moment, Accountant Sun didn't know whose advice to take.

"This...how can this be? Master Zhao, this is the consultation fee specifically requested by the county magistrate..."

"I said to put it in the tent, so it is put in the tent."

Su Meilian moved lightly and walked to Zhao Zian's side.

"Since the master has spoken, Accountant Sun, let's do as the master says."

"But, Manager Su..." Accountant Sun wanted to persuade her again.

Zhao Zian waved his hand.

"Accountant Sun, don't be in such a hurry."

"This money didn't just come in for nothing."

Everyone perked up their ears.

Zhao Zian turned to Sun, the accountant.

"How many people are there in our Jishetang, from top to bottom, including the kitchen helpers?"

Accountant Sun replied immediately: "Master, including you, Manager Su, myself, and Doctor Wang, plus seven shop assistants, two apprentices, and three kitchen helpers, there are a total of seventeen people."

Zhao Zian nodded.

"Take out 170 taels from this 1,000 taels."

"To everyone present, including those not here, ten taels each, as a reward. Thank you all for your hard work and dedication to Jishetang during this time."

"What?!"

"Ten...ten taels?!"

"My God!"

"Thank you for the generous gift, Boss Zhao! Thank you for the generous gift, Boss Zhao!"

The guys were so excited they were incoherent.

Ten taels of silver!

Their monthly wages were only a few hundred coins.

After a year, I could barely save three or four taels of silver.

This is equivalent to them working for two or three years without eating or drinking!

Dr. Wang also showed an excited flush.

He thought he was going to lose his position, but to his surprise, Zhao Dongjia not only did not ostracize him, but was also so generous!

Su Mei covered her mouth and chuckled, giving Zhao Zi'an a charmingly reproachful look.

"Master Zhao is really generous; isn't he afraid of spoiling these little rascals?"

Zhao Zian didn't take it seriously.

"It is only right and proper to reward those who have rendered meritorious service."

"The remaining eight hundred and thirty taels will all be deposited into the account."

"Yes! Yes! I'll take care of it right away!"

Accountant Sun had no further objections.

Zhao Zian walked towards the back hall.

Su Mei swayed her slender waist and followed.

"Have Accountant Sun come over here as well."

"Okay."

……

The back hall, the tea room.

Su Mei brewed a pot of Biluochun tea for Zhao Zi'an and Accountant Sun.

"Accountant Sun, after these eight hundred taels of silver have been deposited into the account, approximately how much working capital does Jishetang have?"