Master Hu stood rooted to the spot, his expression somewhat dazed. He hadn’t been to West Street for some time and didn’t know that a new medicine called Chunyang Sheng had appeared there, much less that it came from Xinglin Tang. Xinglin Tang was operated by Bai Shouyi.

Master Hu’s impression of Bai Shouyi was that of an amiable, kind-looking good fellow. Apart from his medicines being more expensive than others, which was somewhat difficult for the poor people of West Street to afford, he was considered a decent merchant.

Now, suddenly hearing news of Chunyang Sheng, Master Hu was genuinely surprised. Though he was a pedantic scholar, he wasn’t completely foolish. Chunyang Sheng and Chunshui Sheng differed by just one character, and both were medicines for treating nasal congestion. People hearing about them would inevitably confuse the two, and with the backing of a major establishment like Xinglin Tang, people would eventually only know of Chunyang Sheng and forget about Chunshui Sheng.

This Bai Shouyi was deliberately copying Renxin Clinic’s medicine. Copying itself was already disgraceful, especially since they were neighbors on the same street, seeing each other daily. Such shameless behavior was completely at odds with Bai Shouyi’s previous image as a good person.

But why would Bai Shouyi do this? Xinglin Tang was flourishing, and Bai Shouyi himself was wealthy, while Du Changqing was a down-and-out young master who had finally managed to gain some recognition through Chunshui Sheng. Just as the clinic was about to revive, Bai Shouyi pulled this stunt.

Against Du Changqing, who was inferior in every way and posed no threat, was it necessary to push him to death?

Master Hu couldn’t understand it.

While he was pondering, Fourth Master Chen had already straightened his collar and stamped his foot, saying, “So that’s it! Xinglin Tang must have copied the medicine tea from the other clinic, but their skill is inferior. It’s fake, yet they’re spreading word of its miraculous effects everywhere. Such an unconscionable clinic – this old master must go there today and demand an explanation!” With that, he called for his servant, preparing to take a carriage there.

Master Hu snapped back to attention and said, “Brother Chen, wait!”

“What for?”

Master Hu took a few quick steps into the carriage, squeezing him aside. Forgetting about the earlier beard-pulling grudge, focused only on getting to the bottom of this matter, he said, “I’ll go with you!”

“What are you going for?”

Master Hu touched his swollen chin and declared righteously, “I was the first to discover and promote Chunshui Sheng. Now with fake products causing trouble, my reputation is also being damaged. How can I not go and clear things up? Of course, I must go.”

He waved his sleeve: “Let’s go!”

…

So Master Hu and Fourth Master Chen took the carriage straight to Xinglin Tang on West Street. When they arrived at the street entrance, the two got down from the carriage, walked a few steps, and could see Xinglin Tang’s gold-lettered signboard from afar.

Fourth Master Chen took a deep breath, flicked his robe, and walked toward the clinic entrance, saying, “What an audacious sign this scoundrel has!”

Master Hu hurriedly followed, but mindful that neighbors quarreling on the same street would look bad, he couldn’t help but advise, “Let’s talk it through properly, don’t let it come to blows.”

As they were speaking, suddenly a gust of wind swept past, and a sturdy woman with broad shoulders came walking by, bumping Master Hu to the side.

He steadied himself, about to get angry, when he looked up and saw the woman storm into Xinglin Tang, slamming her hand on the counter: “Is anyone here? Get out here for this old woman!”

Master Hu and Fourth Master Chen’s footsteps stopped simultaneously.

What scene was this now?

…

In Xinglin Tang’s back room, Bai Shouyi was carefully moving an orchid indoors.

Recently, there had been continuous rain at night in Sheng City, destroying many of the peonies in the courtyard in a single night. This orchid was delicate and couldn’t be left outside anymore.

The orchid was one he had bought for a high price of one tael of silver some days ago. Its fragrance was subtle and rich, diluting the medicinal smell in the shop somewhat. Taking a deep breath, one felt instantly refreshed.

Indeed, his mood had been quite good lately.

Xinglin Tang’s “Chunyang Sheng” was selling well.

For medicine tea with the same effect, Xinglin Tang was one tael of silver cheaper than Renxin Clinic, and Xinglin Tang was a well-reputed old establishment. People needing medicine tea didn’t need to weigh their options; they would naturally come here.

He heard that Renxin Clinic’s business had plummeted, with barely anyone seen at their door these past few days. Thinking of this, Bai Shouyi felt satisfied.

What great ability could Du Changqing, a useless prodigal son, have? Even if he had a moment of glory, it was nothing more than a fleeting illusion, not worth taking seriously.

Bai Shouyi looked at the flower branch before him, calculating this month’s income. The medicine tea was undeniably profitable – in just over ten days, it had matched several months’ worth of previous income. The materials for the tea weren’t expensive, and seeing how demand currently exceeded supply, it seemed that by the end of spring, Xinglin Tang’s profits would be considerable.

Making more silver was naturally good. Once he acquired Renxin Clinic for himself, he would be the only medical establishment on West Street. Then he could raise consultation fees and medicine prices – those common people would have to buy from him whether they wanted to or not. Why worry about not making money in the future?

As Bai Shouyi calculated thus, his smile increasingly revealed a sense of springtime triumph. Just as he was thinking, he suddenly heard noisy voices coming from outside Xinglin Tang, seeming like someone was causing trouble.

He frowned, lifted the felt curtain to look outside, and saw a sturdy woman with a headscarf standing before Zhou Ji, shouting, “Call your manager out!”

Must be someone coming to make trouble, these lowborn people…

A flash of contempt crossed Bai Shouyi’s eyes, but his face showed a friendly smile as he came out from the back room and spoke amiably, “Madam, I am Bai Shouyi…”

“Ptui!” A glob of thick phlegm was spat onto Bai Shouyi’s face.

Bai Shouyi was stunned.

He had run the clinic on West Street for many years and had quite a reputation in Sheng City’s medical community. Because the clinic’s medicines were expensive, those who could afford to visit Xinglin Tang were mostly wealthy families who minded their manners. When had he ever encountered such a shrew? For a moment, his mind went blank, and he felt nausea rising in his stomach.

The woman, however, paid no attention to Bai Shouyi’s expression and berated him: “Some Xinglin Tang you are! Talking about your Chunyang Sheng medicine tea, claiming it instantly cures nasal congestion – it’s all lies! You boasted to high heaven and made me scrimp and save to buy three jars to brew, but there wasn’t the slightest effect. Miraculous healing? More like the King of Hell posting notices – nothing but ghost stories!”

The woman was tall and sturdy, quick-tongued, and finished her tirade without taking a breath, nearly making Bai Shouyi lose his composure. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to maintain a calm tone: “Without evidence, how can madam randomly slander and damage my clinic’s reputation at our door?”

“Reputation? What damn reputation do you have!” The woman sneered, her words sharp, and simply turned to face the bustling street outside the shop, shouting: “If you dare, ask around yourself – has your Chunyang Sheng shown any effect at all when drunk?”

A crowd had already gathered at Xinglin Tang’s entrance due to this commotion. Master Hu and Fourth Master Chen were among them. Before Master Hu could speak, Fourth Master Chen, as if finding someone to lead the way, immediately burst out: “Isn’t that right! What effect does this medicine tea have? I drank it as instructed for seven or eight days, but as soon as I went out, I was still choking with a runny nose and tears. What nonsense about instantly curing nasal congestion – who are you trying to fool!”

“Three taels of silver per jar, I spent fifteen taels of silver. You were quick enough to take the money, but there’s not a hint of effect. Do you still have the face to accuse others of slander? Don’t you know business should be about honest goods at fair prices, let alone you being a clinic dealing with matters of life and death!”

Fourth Master Chen had started in business, and his tongue had always been sharp. Now that he had studied some poetry and literature, he was even more aggressive.

There were others in the crowd who had bought Chunyang Sheng. Previously, being neighbors who saw each other daily, they had found it awkward to speak up and had just accepted their losses when the medicine proved ineffective. Now hearing Fourth Master Chen speak up, someone taking the lead, gradually, discussions began to emerge.

“That’s right, earlier I heard rumors that Xinglin Tang’s medicine tea had remarkable effects, so I bought several jars to drink. It’s no different from ordinary nasal congestion medicine – how could it be as good as they boasted?”

“Indeed, I thought it was just me, but it turns out I’m not the only one who feels this way.”

Someone else said: “With such exaggerated claims outside, isn’t Xinglin Tang failing to live up to its name?”

“Probably just for money – you know these people would sell their conscience for profit.”

“Tsk, to think even a major clinic like Xinglin Tang would be so unconscionable…”

Such discussions reached Bai Shouyi’s ears, and his expression changed drastically.

Xinglin Tang’s good reputation of many years was now being criticized because of this medicine tea – how could this be allowed?

Just as he was about to speak, someone in the crowd said: “Oh well, you get what you pay for. This Xinglin Tang’s medicine tea is just a copy of Renxin Clinic’s Chunshui Sheng. The one that was remarkably effective at first was Chunshui Sheng. I say there’s bound to be a difference between fake and genuine products. Everyone, for treating nasal congestion, you still need to go to Renxin Clinic!”

“Renxin Clinic’s Chunshui Sheng is the true miraculous medicine with real effects!”

This voice was neither loud nor soft, just right to reach everyone’s ears, but it made Bai Shouyi’s gaze suddenly turn sinister.

Renxin Clinic…

He gritted his teeth – it was Du Changqing again.