Chapter 23: The Medical Hall Opens!

Following Liu Yao’s suggestion, Wei Lan decided to go to the slave market in Changsha City to find a suitable cook.

This market, known as “Dongshi,” was located in a remote corner of the city’s east side. As soon as Wei Lan stepped in, she was deeply shocked by the scene before her. The bustling prosperity of the city was nowhere to be found here. Instead, the air was thick with the mixed scents of sweat and dirt. Rows of simple sheds lined both sides, packed with people of all expressions—some numb, some vacant, and others quietly weeping.

As Wei Lan moved through the crowd, a sharp and harsh scolding caught her attention. She turned toward the source and saw a woman being roughly shoved by her seller. The vile words from the seller’s mouth were like blades, and his raised hand looked ready to strike at any moment.

The woman’s body was covered in bruises and scars—old and new wounds crisscrossing each other, a sight that was both shocking and heartbreaking. Most passersby merely glanced at her before quickly looking away, as wealthy buyers only cared about a maidservant’s appearance. However, what drew Wei Lan in was not the woman’s injuries but her eyes—a gaze filled with unyielding defiance.

Unable to resist, Wei Lan stepped closer to see her more clearly. There was no plea in the woman’s eyes, only stubborn resilience. A strange sense of sympathy welled up in Wei Lan’s heart, and she decided to do something for her. She walked up to the seller.

“I want this woman. How much?”

The seller glanced at Wei Lan with a smirk and said, “Three taels of silver. Take it or leave it.”

Wei Lan didn’t hesitate. She reached into her sleeve, pulled out the silver, and completed the transaction.

The seller pocketed the money and offered a half-hearted warning: “Be careful. She’s sick.”

Wei Lan scoffed internally—”She’s sick? Well, I can treat her.” She turned to the woman, who stood calmly by the side, her eyes now tinged with gratitude. The woman slightly lowered her head and softly said, “Thank you, Miss.”

Wei Lan smiled. “No need to thank me. You’re mine now.”

Back at the medical hall, Wei Lan treated the woman’s wounds, applying safflower medicine with gentle care. While tending to her, she casually asked, “What’s your name?”

The woman lifted her head, confusion flickering in her eyes. “I… I don’t have a name.”

Wei Lan pondered for a moment, her gaze landing on the safflower in her hand. Safflower was not only a medicinal herb used to treat wounds but also a vibrant red, symbolizing life and hope—just like the spirit she saw in this woman.

“How about I call you Honghua (Safflower)?”

The woman nodded slightly. “Honghua… I like it. Thank you, Miss.”

As Wei Lan examined her wounds, she noted that they were of varying sizes and stages of healing—old wounds layered with new ones, mostly bruises from blunt trauma.

“How did you end up like this? And where did these injuries come from?” Wei Lan asked.

Honghua remained silent, tears welling up in her eyes, but she didn’t utter a single word about her past. Instead, she knelt down and choked out, “Miss, from now on, I am your servant.”

Wei Lan quickly helped her up. “Don’t kneel. You are not a servant. I just need a cook for my medical hall. I’ll pay you a fair wage and provide a certificate of freedom. You are free to work as long as you wish, and if you ever want to leave after saving enough money, you may.”

Tears of gratitude shimmered in Honghua’s eyes. She looked at Wei Lan and, her voice trembling, said, “Miss, you are too kind. I will do my best.”

Wei Lan patted her shoulder encouragingly. “Also, don’t call me Miss. Just call me Wei Lan. Let’s work hard together!”

Grand Opening of the Medical Hall!

The long-awaited grand opening of “Weimin Medical Hall” had arrived. Early in the morning, Wei Lan was already busy. Standing at the entrance, she held a pair of scissors. With a swift snip, the red ribbon fell, revealing the plaque with four bold characters: “Weimin Medical Hall”—A Medical Hall for the People.

Cheers erupted from the gathered crowd, and a satisfied smile spread across Wei Lan’s face. She knew that attracting customers required more than just a signboard. So, she had meticulously planned a series of opening events.

She invited the most famous opera troupe in the city to perform on a stage set up in front of the medical hall. Their lively and colorful show quickly drew a large crowd, making the area bustling with excitement.

Meanwhile, Shunxing and Jiu’an moved through the crowd, distributing well-prepared pamphlets. These contained details about the medical hall’s services, its location, and even simple health tips. Since literacy was not widespread among commoners, the pamphlets featured large, clear characters and simple illustrations so everyone could understand.

To further engage the public, Wei Lan had also prepared small gifts, including herbal sachets and health tea packs, for the first hundred visitors.

As Wei Lan and Ming Yi warmly welcomed the continuous stream of guests, congratulatory gifts also began to arrive.

Suddenly, a servant rushed over, holding an exquisitely crafted box with a label reading “From the Tang Family.” Bowing respectfully, he said, “Wishing the medical hall prosperity and the ability to help many!”

Ming Yi opened the box to find two sets of Four Treasures of the Study—writing brushes of the finest wolf hair, handcrafted pine soot ink, high-quality Xuan paper, and a Duan inkstone of exquisite craftsmanship.

Wei Lan was surprised by the generous gift. “Who do you think sent this?” she asked Ming Yi.

Ming Yi shook his head thoughtfully. “I’ve treated members of the Tang family before, but I can’t tell which one sent this.”

Wei Lan chuckled. “I’d guess it’s the second Miss Tang. She’s always been generous.”

More well-wishers arrived, including Granny Zhou, who gifted a silk banner embroidered with golden words: “Healing Hands and a Benevolent Heart, Saving Lives and Helping the People.”

Then, Hunter Dan made an appearance, drawing attention with his towering figure. At his side was his loyal dog, Jiabao, a Chinese rural dog that wagged its tail enthusiastically, quickly winning over the crowd.

Dan handed Wei Lan a portrait of Hua Tuo, the legendary physician, followed by a carefully crafted rabbit-fur hat. Made from soft white rabbit fur, it looked incredibly warm.

Wei Lan’s eyes sparkled with delight as she immediately put it on and turned to Ming Yi, asking, “Does it look good?”

The white rabbit fur contrasted starkly with Wei Lan’s tanned skin. Though her features were strikingly beautiful, the black-and-white contrast amused the crowd, making a few chuckle.

Ming Yi, the only one who had seen Wei Lan’s true face before, simply smiled subtly and replied, “It looks good.” His words carried a double meaning—praising both the hat and the person wearing it.

Meanwhile, Shunxing, standing in the corner, clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. A shadow flickered in his eyes as he watched the interaction between Wei Lan and Ming Yi.

“Whenever Ming Yi is around, Wei Lan’s attention is always drawn to him.”

A wave of jealousy surged in Shunxing’s heart, making him feel ignored and left out. He silently vowed that one day, he would make sure Wei Lan only focused on him, no one else. Not even her own blood-related brother, Ming Yi.

As the festivities continued, the grand opening of Weimin Medical Hall was a resounding success.

Wei Lan stood in the bustling courtyard, watching the lively scene with a heart full of pride. From the early preparations to this triumphant moment, she had poured her heart and soul into this endeavor.

Looking up at the golden characters on the plaque, she made a silent promise to herself:

“I will make this a medical hall that truly serves the people.”