News of the dispute at Xinglin Tang reached Renxin Clinic’s ears in the time it takes to burn a stick of incense.

Du Changqing could barely contain his laughter, his eyebrows nearly flying to the sky as he paced around the clinic twice, exclaiming excitedly, “How satisfying, how truly satisfying!”

Seeing Lu Tong’s expressionless face as she arranged medicine jars, he approached with a fawning smile to compliment her: “Doctor Lu, you’re truly prophetic! Now that old scoundrel Bai Shouyi doesn’t even dare open Xinglin Tang’s doors, hiding inside like a coward. Serves him right! Such a morally corrupt bastard deserves to suffer!”

Acheng blinked: “I heard many people went to Xinglin Tang to denounce their fake medicine and demand refunds.”

Du Changqing sneered: “The silver he earned probably won’t be enough to cover the refunds. With Xinglin Tang’s reputation damaged, he’s truly lifted a stone only to drop it on his own feet – losing both the battle and the war.”

Yinzheng came in from outside, approached Lu Tong, and said quietly, “Miss, everything has been arranged.”

Lu Tong nodded.

These past few days, she had asked Acheng to keep an eye on the gatherings of scholars near the river embankment. When Acheng returned with news, he reported that the scholars had been constantly arguing, and the cause was Chunshui Sheng.

For instance, two scholars who were good friends – one would say the medicine tea was quite effective, while the other would claim it had no effect at all. They would argue endlessly. The better ones would eventually discover they had bought different medicine teas; the worse ones would end their friendship without even realizing the source of their disagreement, each believing the other was lying.

One could hardly blame these single-minded scholars. Under Xinglin Tang’s deliberate misdirection, Chunyang Sheng and Chunshui Sheng had become very similar, making it difficult for others to distinguish between them. As long as both medicine teas remained in the market, people would inevitably confuse them.

Therefore, Chunyang Sheng had to completely disappear from Sheng City.

Du Changqing had given Lu Tong some silver. Seeing the time was right, Lu Tong had Yinzheng find a farm woman to make trouble at Xinglin Tang’s entrance and bribed several idlers to mix with the crowd and stir up trouble. Sure enough, Xinglin Tang’s reputation plummeted.

This was Xinglin Tang’s own doing.

Xinglin Tang had been selling Chunyang Sheng for quite some time, and those who bought it surely knew whether it had any miraculous effects. The street gossip praising Chunyang Sheng had elevated Xinglin Tang to an extremely high position. When common people spent their silver only to buy medicine tea that didn’t live up to its name, they naturally harbored resentment. Once enough public anger had accumulated, it only took a slight provocation for people to surge forward demanding explanations.

Finally, she had those idlers take the opportunity to mention Renxin Clinic’s Chunshui Sheng, promoting it in the process. People fear comparisons most – one was the slightly more expensive but immediately effective genuine product, the other a cheaper counterfeit with no effect at all. The difference was obvious. After this, not just Xinglin Tang, but other clinics and pharmacies would likely not dare to thoughtlessly try to replicate this medicine tea.

It served both as a warning to others and a way to build their reputation.

Du Changqing was elated, his face beaming with joy as he said, “That surname Bai tried to take advantage of us, but his cleverness backfired. He must be hiding inside now, regretting his actions until his intestines turn green—”

…

Whether Bai Shouyi’s intestines had turned green was unknown, but his face had certainly turned blue – from anger.

Xinglin Tang’s doors were now closed, lamps lit inside the shop, with the shouts of protesting commoners still faintly audible from outside.

Bai Shouyi wiped the filth from his face with a handkerchief, still able to feel the sticky sensation of that thick phlegm, which made him nauseated again.

Wenyou watched him nervously: “Manager, what should we do now?”

In the past, because Xinglin Tang’s prescriptions were more expensive than other clinics, their patients were wealthy and concerned with their faces. Common people were different – they would risk everything for silver. Once someone took the lead in causing trouble and demanding compensation, a crowd immediately gathered hoping for a share.

Bai Shouyi hadn’t realized so many common people had bought the medicine tea. When Chunyang Sheng’s reputation spread through the streets days ago, he had secretly rejoiced. Now he truly regretted it.

Bai Shouyi’s expression darkened as he looked at Zhou Ji crawling out from under the medicine counter: “Zhou Ji, what exactly happened?”

Zhou Ji was beside himself with anxiety, forcing a smile: “Manager, I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?” Bai Shouyi had lost all trace of his usual kind smile, staring at him expressionlessly, “You said you could reproduce the same formula. How is it that the medicine tea we made is so much less effective? Now these lowborn commoners are at our door!”

Zhou Ji was equally puzzled: “The formula was correct – chrysanthemum, gardenia, mint, scallion white, honey…” he recited anxiously, still unwilling to believe, “Besides these, I couldn’t identify any other ingredients. Why isn’t our medicine tea as effective as before?”

Seeing him like this, Bai Shouyi cursed under his breath, “Fool.”

A crowd had gathered at the door. If he hadn’t quickly ordered Wenyou to close the main gate, the people outside would surely have torn down Xinglin Tang today. Those lowborn commoners were like hungry wolves, clearly determined to extort money through this incident.

Bai Shouyi’s eyes were dark and heavy.

He had run his business on West Street for so many years. Although his medicines and consultation fees were a bit more expensive than other clinics, his reputation and long-standing presence had made Xinglin Tang’s position unshakeable. Except for a small number of poor people, most people chose his Xinglin Tang when seeking treatment or medicine.

Just when Renxin Clinic was about to close and he was about to become the only clinic owner on West Street, he suffered this setback at this crucial moment.

Now because of this Chunyang Sheng incident, Xinglin Tang’s reputation was damaged. Once word spread, aside from what others might think of him, the shop’s income would surely suffer significantly.

After all, in running a medical clinic and pharmacy, reputation could be as important as medical skill.

Those lowborn commoners were such gossips – who knew what nonsense they might spread? If word reached the medical community and caused trouble…

Bai Shouyi gritted his teeth.

This matter wasn’t just about the current crisis but concerned Xinglin Tang’s prospects. How to handle it required careful consideration.

The commotion outside continued unabated. Assistant Wenyou carefully asked, “Sir, how long will we stay here?”

Bai Shouyi spoke with disgust: “Until these lowborn people disperse, of course.”

These commoners had nothing better to do daily, and given the chance to extort money, how could they not try to take full advantage? If he returned to his residence today, he probably couldn’t go out for several days, and Xinglin Tang would have to temporarily cease operations. Otherwise, as soon as the doors opened, those lowborn people would surely swarm in.

It seemed they couldn’t open for business these next few days.

Not only could they not open the doors, but they also had to avoid people’s gossip.

Bai Shouyi’s eyes were cold and his tone chilling as he instructed Zhou Ji and Wenyou beside him: “In half an hour, open the door and lead the people away.”

“Don’t come to the clinic these next few days. Wait at home.”