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Lu Man was set to visit Tongren Hall, having already informed the Princess of her leave in the morning. Although Jiang Jiu wanted to accompany her, Lu Man declined, instructing her to take Sweet Pea to keep company with the old Marquis. This time, even Jiang Zhankui didn’t object, as he was busy preparing for his upcoming exams.
Tongren Hall had been completely renovated, now with three physicians, two pharmacist, and twelve apprentices. Yesterday, on an auspicious day, they had opened their doors. Although the Princess didn’t approve of Lu Man attending the opening, Imperial Physicians Fu and Wang did attend to show their support. Both Fu and Wang had gained renown in the capital for their involvement in treating the old Marquis’s soul separation illness. Curing such a condition displayed their remarkable medical skills.
Lu Man had already arranged with her attendants that she would only be responsible for pulse-taking, leaving the medicine picking and acupuncture to them at Tongren Hall. The Princess had also decreed that anyone from the Princess’s residence, whether seeking medical advice or purchasing medicine, should visit Tongren Hall instead of the Imperial Medical Institute.
Despite some initial resistance from the First Madam, both the masters and the servants in the residence were willing to visit Tongren Hall. They had witnessed the prowess of Lu Man’s medical skills—curing the soul separation illness, reviving Jiang Zhanyu from near-death, and even helping two previously infertile women conceive.
As the founder of Tongren Hall, with two skilled physicians under her wing who were disciples of her maternal grandfather, the clinic was bound to excel.
Moreover, Lady Yang from Duke Xie Household and Lady Min Fourth Madam of Min’s household, upon learning of Tongren Hall’s opening, had pledged their support. They not only promised to seek treatment and buy medicine from Tongren Hall when needed but also encouraged others in the household to do the same, whether masters or servants, as long as the ailments weren’t severe enough to require imperial physician intervention.
Lu Man felt a sense of accomplishment, in her eight months since arriving here, she had achieved some success. Not only had her medical skills progressed significantly, potentially making her a revered Physician or surgical expert, but she had also managed her relationships well and become the chairwoman of a private hospital, no easy feat. Despite her unsatisfactory personal life, she acknowledged the trade-offs that came with it. At just fifteen years old in this lifetime, fresh and vibrant like a budding flower, she wondered what other experiences lay ahead.
Starting by checking the gynecology department, Lu Man observed Physician Chen attending to three women awaiting treatment. She smiled at Physician Chen, silently calling him “Uncle Chen”, signaling him to continue with the consultations.
Exiting the gynecology department, she entered Tongren Hall through the main entrance, noting a moderate number of patients seeking treatment.
Manager Li blushed slightly as he addressed Lu Man, “I’m incompetent, far inferior to Master when he was here.”
Lu Man chuckled, reassuring Manager Li, “Uncle Li, take your time. Renhe Hall has a century-old reputation, and many come here because of my maternal grandfather’s name. Despite the change in name and the influx of patients, it’s already quite an achievement.”
She then instructed Manager Li that regardless of the clinic’s profits, Physician Chen, Physician He, and Master Qin, who had worked under He Huang, must be paid the agreed-upon high wages. If the clinic funds were insufficient, she would personally cover the expenses.
After a thorough inspection, Lu Man expressed satisfaction. She then proceeded to her small room, summoning the Manager Li to bring Master Qin to discuss an important matter.
Upon seeing the old cabinet with its unique patterns, Lu Man couldn’t shake off a feeling of unease. Recalling Mama Wang and Manager Li’s insistence on preserving Renhe Hall before He Huang’s death, she understood the significance. Even if the clinic couldn’t sustain itself, the front shop could be rented out, but the backyard, especially the heavy and valuable cabinet, was off-limits. The design on the cabinet didn’t sport the usual floral or animal motifs favored by ancient people but rather a four-pointed star, identical to the pendant pattern left by He Huang.
Lu Man opened the cabinet, inspecting and tapping all around, but unfortunately found nothing suspicious or unusual.
As she continued her search, Manager Li and Master Qin arrived.
Seating them down, she handed over two prescriptions to Master Qin, instructing him to prepare and sell the medicines at the pharmacy. One prescription was for a postpartum healing ointment, named “Tongren Postpartum Ointment”, and the other for frostbite and cracked skin, named “Tongren Clam Oil”, aiming to reinforce the “Tongren Hall” brand.
Lu Man had devised the recipe for the frostbite ointment by referencing a formula in the “Records of Revival” for treating frostbite, combining it with some memories from her previous life. Most of the Chinese medicinal ingredients used were dark in color, but after being processed into oil, the resulting ointment appeared yellowish-white. She had already prepared a batch, which looked promising, and had distributed some to relatives and friends. With Master Qin’s extensive experience in pharmaceuticals, the quality of the final product was sure to be even better.
This affordable and effective product served multiple purposes, preventing frostbite, skin cracking, and maintaining skin moisture. Importantly, it was colorless when applied to the skin, suitable for hands or face, unlike other dark-toned traditional ointments that could affect appearance.
During this era, creating appealing packaging was a labor-intensive task. The more aesthetically pleasing the package, the higher the cost. Lu Man remembered clam oil from her past life. Clam oil was stored inside natural clamshells, readily available near the seaside with minimal costs apart from shipping. Once cleaned and waxed, they made charming containers. The nearest Bo Bay Prefecture, reachable by ox-cart in two days, offered reasonably priced transportation.
Both the ointment and packaging were cost-effective, making Tongren Clam Oil an affordable commodity for the masses. Even women from affluent households could use it without compromising their status. Once the market was ready, a touch of fragrance could be added for a specialized clientele.
Manager Li exclaimed in surprise, “Clamshells can be used to store ointments?”
“Of course.” Lu Man chuckled, “but this matter must be kept confidential…”
As for the postpartum ointment, it could only be packaged in intricately carved wooden boxes. Given the higher costs of the ointment itself, adding the packaging would increase the selling price significantly.
Lu Man reiterated the importance of keeping both items confidential until they were produced in large quantities for the market.
Although Manager Li and Master Qin agreed, their expressions hinted at some skepticism, especially regarding the clam oil. Lu Man didn’t elaborate further, confident that the quality of the products would speak for themselves once produced.
After leaving Tongren Hall, Lu Man instructed the carriage to make a detour to the Drunken Spring Pavilion, a large restaurant. Since the old Marquis was upset about not being taken along for leisure outings, Lu Man had promised to buy him his favorite Xiaochunyang wine and some delicious food. With his health gradually improving, a small glass of wine each day was beneficial for him.
At the restaurant, Lu Man purchased five casks of wine, along with dishes and snacks favored by the old Marquis, the Princess, and several children. The selection even included crispy-skinned red carp, a favorite of Sweet Pea, and spiced braised pork bones favored by Qichang.
Just as Lu Man was about to leave the entrance of the restaurant, she encountered two well-dressed young gentlemen exuding a strong scent of alcohol.