At this year’s Peach Blossom Festival in the capital, what became most famous wasn’t the poetry collection compiled after the scholars’ feast in the lake pavilion, nor was it the ethereal, clear songs floating from the young opera performers by Falling Moon Bridge’s embankment. Instead, it was a medicinal tea called “Spring Waters Rise” from Benevolent Heart Medical Hall.

This medicinal tea was said to greatly relieve the torment of nasal congestion, allowing refined scholars who couldn’t leave their homes in spring to once again see spring’s splendor. For the literati who had missed such magnificent scenes in previous years due to sinus problems, it was like a living Buddha in hell.

Moreover, it had such an enchanting name.

Spring Waters Rise – just hearing the name left a fragrant taste in one’s mouth.

They heard that the person selling medicinal tea at Benevolent Heart Medical Hall was a young lady, delicate as a willow in the wind, with skin like snow and the beauty of flowers. That this young lady was also a resident physician made people even more curious.

So these days, half the people came to see this “Medicine Tea Beauty,” while half came to follow the refined fashion. Those coming to buy “Spring Waters Rise” formed an endless stream, with the front of Benevolent Heart Medical Hall becoming busy with visitors daily, completely different from its desolation just days ago.

Du Changqing counted the incoming silver, his face nearly splitting from smiling, his tone sweeter than honey: “Doctor Lu, in these five days, we’ve sold thirty jars of medicinal tea, and after deducting materials, we’ve earned a hundred taels. Heavens,” he found it hard to believe himself, “this is the first time I’ve earned so much silver since my father died!”

Yinzheng leaned on the medicine cabinet, looking at Lu Tong with a smile: “Miss was right, just giving the medicinal tea a beautiful name meant we didn’t have to worry about selling it.”

Lu Tong lowered her head to organize medicines, giving only a casual smile in response.

Yinzheng was well-versed in poetry, so Lu Tong had asked her for many verses about poplar fluff, choosing “Spring Waters Rise” as the tea’s name. Estate Manager Hu’s friends were mostly refined scholars who didn’t lack money and loved elegance. With Estate Manager Hu’s slight guidance, these people would come to try it.

One told ten, ten told a hundred – the capital never lacked people who chased fashionable trends, and those coming to buy medicinal tea would only increase.

Moreover, “Spring Waters Rise” was genuinely effective at relieving nasal congestion. Once people used it and knew its benefits, they would surely return.

As Acheng stored the silver ingots in the box, Du Changqing stared at Lu Tong, and after staring for a while, suddenly spoke: “Doctor Lu, I see you have a clever mind. Even if you weren’t making medicinal tea, you’d surely succeed at something else. Why don’t you and I join forces in business, carve out a bloody path in the capital’s commercial world, and become the greatest wealthy merchants in Liang country – what do you think?”

He xdared to dream. Lu Tong replied coolly: “I don’t think anything of it.”

“How can that be?” Du Changqing said seriously: “I have money, you have brains. If we two join forces, we’ll be unstoppable.”

Yinzheng couldn’t help interjecting: “Master if you have money, why not first increase my lady’s monthly salary? Times are hard – my lady wouldn’t dare dream of becoming the greatest wealthy merchant.”

Du Changqing glanced at the unmoved Lu Tong and clicked his tongue: “I know, Doctor Lu has lofty aspirations and only wants to practice medicine to help people.”

Lu Tong gave an “mm” of agreement.

Du Changqing still wouldn’t give up: “Doctor Lu, won’t you consider it?”

Lu Tong looked up: “If Shop Owner Du has the mind to think of such things, you’d better find more medicinal tea ingredients instead. Today is the fifth day – the first batch of people who bought and drank the tea should be seeing results. If nothing unexpected happens, tomorrow there will only be more buyers.”

“Really?” Hearing this, Du Changqing perked up and immediately rose to call Acheng over to move medicines: “Come, come, Acheng, let’s move more, don’t let Doctor Lu tire herself.”

His spirits were high with good fortune, and as he walked, he glanced outside and said proudly in an affected opera tone: “Salvation in desperate times – I imagine over at Apricot Grove Hall, they must be furious by now—”

…

Bai Shouyi was indeed choking with anger.

Several days of poor sleep had made his face swollen, and even the smile usually fixed on his face had become somewhat stiff.

When Benevolent Heart Medical Hall suddenly had a group of refined scholars come to buy medicinal tea a few days ago, Bai Shouyi had people inquire about it. It turned out that Estate Manager Hu’s words at the Peach Blossom Festival had aroused people’s curiosity, bringing considerable business to Benevolent Heart Medical Hall.

Estate Manager Hu was an old friend of Old Master Du. After Old Master Du’s death, Estate Manager Hu always looked after Du Changqing to some extent. Truth be told if it weren’t for Estate Manager Hu buying some medicines now and then, Du Changqing’s broken-down medical hall wouldn’t have lasted until now. Bai Shouyi looked down on Estate Manager Hu too – an affected pedant, an annoying old fellow who deserved to be disliked.

Therefore, upon learning that Estate Manager Hu was involved, Bai Shouyi was very contemptuous.

He thought that Du Changqing, to revive the dying medical hall, had in desperation found a woman of unknown origin to be the resident physician and concocted some medicinal tea to affect refinement, getting Estate Manager Hu to help. Such opportunistic things might work for a while, but it was impossible to maintain long-term.

Though thinking this way, for some reason, Bai Shouyi still felt somewhat uneasy.

He paced back and forth in Apricot Grove Hall’s spacious back courtyard, tightly gripping the silk belt at his waist, not even having the mind to admire his newly bloomed noble orchid.

Seeming to notice Bai Shouyi’s agitation, Zhou Ji tried to please him with comforting words: “Manager needn’t worry. Nasal congestion and sinus problems have always been difficult to treat, and our medical hall’s nasal congestion pills sell best every spring. Now these people are attracted by the scholars’ words at the Peach Blossom Festival and buy the medicinal tea mostly to affect refinement. Once they drink it for a while and see no effect, they naturally won’t buy more.”

Bai Shouyi pondered these words and felt they made some sense: “That’s true. Few of those scholars hold official positions – they’re just a bunch of stinking bookworms often trying to put on airs. ‘Spring Waters Rise’ costs four taels of silver per jar – it’s not small money. Even if they’re willing to spend silver on refinement, they won’t want to be suckers day after day.”

“Exactly right,” Zhou Ji nodded. “Moreover, Benevolent Heart Medical Hall has boasted so much about the medicinal tea. When people who buy it drink it for a few days and find it has no effect, we won’t even need to act – those scholars’ spittle alone will drown them. Why worry?”

Bai Shouyi’s eyes flickered, and after pondering for a while, he beckoned his assistant and whispered in Wenyou’s ear: “Go outside and spread some rumors. Say that Benevolent Heart Medical Hall’s ‘Spring Waters Rise’ can immediately relieve nasal congestion when drunk, with remarkable effects. Spread the word, especially around the marketplace and temple entrances.”

The young assistant nodded and quickly left.

Bai Shouyi’s brow smoothed out again.

The common people in the marketplace and around temples weren’t as well-off as pedants like Estate Manager Hu. Especially those calculating middle-aged women who counted every copper coin carefully – if they spent a fortune on medicinal tea but saw not the slightest effect, they would likely storm Benevolent Heart Medical Hall the next day.

Praise to death – the higher the praise, the harder the fall.

Bai Shouyi’s mouth curved into a smile, his expression as benevolent as Maitreya.

He had long considered that shop at the street corner as good as his. He had even planned how to renovate and decorate it after taking it over, just waiting for the day to get the deed.

West Street could only have one medical hall, and as for Du Changqing…

He snorted.

A prodigal son should act like a prodigal son.

What’s all this about turning over a new leaf?

[Du Changqing: Let’s join forces to become the wealthiest merchants.

Lu Tong: Politely declined.]