56: Open a clinic and practice medicine

The next morning.

“There’s no rush to open a medical clinic.

First, let’s appease the Five Viscera Temple…”

After washing up, Gu Changsheng, as usual, went to the breakfast alley.

It was just dawn, but the place was already bustling with people.

Porters from the docks who worked all night, courtesans who had toiled through the night, scholars who had read by lamplight… people from all walks of life gathered here.

Amidst their crude jokes, occasionally interspersed with a few ‘classical’ phrases that seemed out of place, they slurped down bowls of mutton soup, fragrant with emerald cilantro and fiery chili, that warmed their bellies.

Gu Changsheng was about to order a bowl of mutton soup when his gaze caught a familiar figure.

Widow Wang, wearing an old blue apron, uncovered the red wooden lid of a bucket containing tofu pudding, serving bowls of fragrant tofu pudding to the diners at the tables.

Beside her stood a fair-skinned little girl with two pigtails, her features vaguely resembling Xiao Cui’s. Her small hands were clutching a fried dough stick and eating it.

Suddenly, Gu Changsheng’s eyes lit up.

Ever since Xiao Cui got married, Widow Wang had closed her stall and gone to live with her son-in-law’s family.

He hadn't tasted this familiar tofu pudding in years.

“Widow Wang, the usual: three fried dough sticks, one bowl of tofu pudding, and extra chili.”

Gu Changsheng took a seat.

“Oh my, Mr. Gu, how did you come here!”

Widow Wang exclaimed, surprised and delighted.

She quickly wiped her apron and served a generously full bowl of tofu pudding.

Just like before.

“Haha, I smelled the fragrance of your tofu pudding from two li away, and I was so hungry.

So I followed the scent all the way here.

By the way, where’s Xiao Cui? Isn’t she out helping?”

Upon hearing this, the smile on Widow Wang’s face froze, and a hint of sadness flashed in her eyes: “Alas, Xiao Cui had a bitter life.

A month ago, she couldn’t survive the great plague.

Two days after her death, her son-in-law also fell ill and died shortly after.

Only this child, Yinian, was left behind.

Master Su of the Su Family looked down on Yinian, believing she couldn’t carry on the Su Family’s lineage.

Plus, her son-in-law’s elder brother was heartless.

Suddenly, my granddaughter and I were driven out.

Left with no choice, I resumed my old trade to earn a living.”

As she spoke, Widow Wang’s eyes reddened, and tears streamed down her face.

“Grandma… don’t cry…”

Seeing her grandmother cry, Yinian immediately clutched at Widow Wang’s apron and began to sob along with her.

“Alas…”

Gu Changsheng sighed softly.

Life is unpredictable, and things change.

No one knows whether tomorrow or an accident will come first.

After finishing his meal, as he was leaving the table, Gu Changsheng quietly used a spell to slip a silver ingot into the money box when Widow Wang wasn't looking.

While digesting his food, Gu Changsheng didn't rush to Qingyi Alley to sell paintings. Instead, he began to visit various places, looking for a suitable location to open a medical clinic.

Just then, he overheard some idle chatter from passersby on the street.

“Have you heard, Doctor Mo is closing his clinic to go on a journey for experience.

These past few days, he’s been trying to sell off the medical clinic.”

“Is that true?

Alas, during this great plague, only Jielu Medical Clinic was willing to make house calls and even provided medicinal porridge to patients… Without Jielu Medical Clinic, getting a headache or fever in the future will likely cost a lot of money.”

“Alas, these days are truly getting harder and harder to bear…”

Gu Changsheng raised an eyebrow: “Journey… selling off the medical clinic… Is Mo Yun disheartened?

However, buying it would be much more convenient than starting a medical clinic from scratch.”

A moment later, Gu Changsheng arrived at Jielu Medical Clinic.

From afar, he saw several real estate agents leaving the entrance dejectedly.

They were muttering: “Mo Yun is really stubborn.

Selling the deed would get him a large sum of money, wouldn’t it be more carefree?

He insists that the buyer must continue to operate it as a medical clinic, what a waste of such a good location.”

It seemed none of the real estate agents had agreed on a price.

Gu Changsheng stepped into the medical clinic, just as Mo Yun was seeing off the last real estate agent.

“Brother Gu, I trust you are well.

What brings you here?”

Mo Yun cupped his hands and smiled.

His complexion was much rosier than before.

“Haha, I heard that Jielu Medical Clinic is for sale, and I, Gu, happen to be interested in opening a medical clinic.”

“Open a medical clinic? I haven't heard that Brother Gu knows medicine?” Mo Yun frowned slightly.

“As for medical skills… I, Gu, know a little.”

‘Probably only at the third-tier level, thanks to you and Doctor Mo…’

As he spoke, Gu Changsheng began to discuss medical principles with Mo Yun. Mo Yun’s initially tightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed.

After a short while, a joyful expression appeared on his face.

“Brother Gu is truly talented; his medical skills are no less than mine.”

Mo Yun smiled.

“You flatter me, you flatter me.

I, Gu, open a medical clinic not for wealth, but to practice medicine for the benefit of the world and to relieve the suffering of the common people.

The medicine prices and consultation fees will be implemented according to Jielu Medical Clinic’s previous standards.”

Upon hearing this, Mo Yun was overjoyed and immediately bowed: “Brother Gu is truly benevolent.

In this way, Jielu Medical Clinic has found its home, and I can go on my journey with peace of mind.”

“A journey?”

“Indeed, my medical skills are not yet sufficient… Going on a journey to gain experience, meeting renowned doctors from all over the world, tasting various herbs, only then can my medical skills improve.

If I could have cured my grandfather’s… everything… perhaps things wouldn’t have turned out this way.”

Mo Yun’s face showed a complex expression.

Gu Changsheng immediately understood.

Soon, Gu Changsheng obtained the deed to Jielu Medical Clinic for a price far below market value.

Within two days, the neighbors discovered that the previously closed Jielu Medical Clinic had reopened.

Only the doors were freshly painted, and a couplet was pasted on either side.

The upper couplet read: May all people in the world be well, the lower couplet: Why worry about medicines gathering dust on the shelves.

The horizontal inscription: Peace under Heaven.

However, when people saw that the person in charge was Gu Changsheng, their interest immediately waned.

Everyone knew that Gu Changsheng’s painting skills were superb.

But they also understood that behind exquisite painting skills, a large amount of energy must be divided.

Even if he knew some medical skills, how proficient could he be?

A quack doctor could kill people.

For a time, the newly opened Jielu Medical Clinic was deserted, with not a single visitor.

Gu Changsheng was not in a hurry.

He still spent half the day selling paintings from his stall and half the day consulting at the clinic.

One day, a Young Hunter with a fierce but honest face rushed in, looking anxious, carrying an old man on his back who was barely breathing.

“Doctor Mo… please save my grandpa… Huh?

Why has it changed hands?

Where is Doctor Mo?”

“Doctor Mo has gone on a journey. I am the one in charge now.”

Gu Changsheng dropped the medical book in his hand and walked over.

When he saw the old man’s face clearly, he was immediately surprised.

The old patient before him was none other than Old Hunter, who had sold him the white fox at the flower and bird market.

‘So, that Clear Heat and Detoxification Pill must have gone into this young man’s stomach… What a coincidence…’

“Please, Doctor, save my grandpa…”

The Young Hunter, having lived deep in the mountains, was clearly unaware of Gu Changsheng’s situation.

“Don’t worry.”

Gu Changsheng comforted him.

His abilities were not limited to medical skills alone.

As long as an ordinary person had half a breath left, it would be difficult for them to die in his presence.

He activated his ‘Malady Eye,’ and a layer of light and shadow covered his eyes.

He saw various miasmas emanating from Old Hunter’s body, transforming into centipedes, toads, scorpions, and other five poisons, invading his internal organs.

“The deep mountains are full of miasma. Old Hunter has miasma entering his body, invading his internal organs.”

Gu Changsheng said calmly.

“Invading his internal organs?

Wuwu~ It’s all my fault!

I kept nagging about getting married, otherwise, Grandpa wouldn’t have gone deep into the mountains to hunt…”

The Young Hunter cried out in fear.

‘So that’s how it is.’

Gu Changsheng glanced at the Young Hunter, who was crying his eyes out, and performed a hand seal.

An invisible emerald green light emanated from his palm. The miasma on Old Hunter’s body seemed to be pulled, gathering continuously, and transformed into a centipede about a foot long, which was extracted from his mouth.

It was a disease seed.

In less than three breaths, Old Hunter opened his eyes.