Chapter 63

Ran Xiaorong felt embarrassed and told Jiang Ruan that she and her father were about to leave. Before they did, she wanted to see Qin Ao one more time.

“I didn’t intend to disturb him, but you all saw me,” she said.

Ran Xiaorong, wanting to drink away her sorrows, headed to Liang Yong’s barbecue stall. Jiang Ruan silently accompanied her, and once Ran Xiaorong was drunk, Jiang Ruan also took her home.

When the maid opened the door, Jiang Ruan handed Ran Xiaorong over and said to her father, “Please take better care of your daughter. Her sadness isn’t Qin Ao’s fault, it’s because of you. If something happens to her again, you have no one to blame but yourself.”

Ran’s father was left speechless by Jiang Ruan’s words.

After seeing Ran Xiaorong home, Jiang Ruan went to look for Xun Li. When she saw the lights were on at his house, she knocked on the door.

Xun Li answered, somewhat exasperated, “Visiting a single man’s house this late? Aren’t you afraid of rumors?”

“I came to tell you some good news. The breeding farm doesn’t need to be relocated.”

With the farm staying in place, the supply to the four fried chicken shops would remain steady. Xun Li said, “You’d better head back.”

Jiang Ruan replied, “There’s one more thing. I want to open a traditional Chinese massage clinic specializing in treating rheumatism. Can you help me find a good location?”

Jiang Ruan had finally perfected the herbal remedy for treating rheumatism, which was good news. Xun Li said, “What if we choose a spot right across from Chang Linyan’s clinic? Do you dare?”

“If you can find a storefront, I’ll do it.”

“Alright, I’ll handle the storefront,” Xun Li said with a smile. “By the way, did you discuss opening the massage clinic with Qin Yan?”

Jiang Ruan nodded. “Yes, I talked to him. It was actually Qin Yan who suggested I come to you. If we ever open a pharmaceutical factory, you’ll get a 10% share.”

“Why not open the factory now?” Xun Li asked. “Is there a problem that Qin Yan can’t solve? That doesn’t mean I can’t.”

Jiang Ruan didn’t elaborate. Qin Yan had told her it wasn’t the right time to open a factory yet. With the individual economy just recently opening up, only a few workers could be hired. If the factory were too large, it would easily attract complaints. Qin Yan suggested waiting a few more years until restrictions were officially lifted.

The seeds from the medicinal herbs wouldn’t spoil, so there was no rush.

…

Xun Li chose a location for Jiang Ruan’s rheumatism clinic right across from Chang Linyan’s Rejuvenation Hall.

After renovating the clinic according to Jiang Ruan’s requirements, Xun Li brought Qin Yan to inspect it, smiling as he said, “Didn’t you suggest giving me a 10% share? I covered the renovation costs.”

The clinic, named “Rheumatism Clinic,” specialized in treating rheumatism. The name and trademark had already been registered, but the location…

Qin Yan frowned at the busy medical clinic across the street. “You’ve stirred up some animosity for Jiang Ruan.”

Xun Li, also gazing coldly at the clinic opposite, said, “Chang Linyan has been causing trouble constantly. There’s no avoiding it. We might as well confront her head-on. Her clinic focuses on general treatments, while ours specializes in rheumatism, so there shouldn’t be a major conflict. But it will definitely annoy her.”

Qin Yan remarked, “Chang Linyan has Mu Xuehui as her strategist. She introduced an investor to her, so you should be cautious with your fried chicken business. If they secure the investment and start expanding rapidly, it could easily threaten your shops.”

Xun Li had just heard the same thing from Cheng Xinwang.

Cheng mentioned that Mu Xuehui always seemed to “coincidentally” meet wealthy people while dining out and introduced one to Chang Linyan. With her social skills, Chang had convinced the person to invest in the fried chicken business, and negotiations were going well.

Although no formal contract had been signed, Chang Linyan was being very careful. Cheng Xinwang had a hard time getting that information, yet Qin Yan seemed to know even more effortlessly.

Xun Li extended the invitation again, “You don’t have to give up your studies to go into business. Why don’t we join forces?”

Qin Yan shook his head, “I’ve already shown plenty of generosity by not stopping you and Jiang Ruan from working together.”

Xun Li retorted, “I’m almost ten years older than Jiang Ruan. Why are you still so jealous?”

Qin Yan said, “I’m heading back to school. Don’t push Jiang Ruan to start a factory now, it’s not the right time.”

“Then when will it be?” Xun Li asked, feeling that Qin Yan always seemed confident in his decisions. Despite being several years younger, he acted more seasoned.

Qin Yan didn’t bother replying.

Xun Li muttered under his breath, “Such a petty guy.”

…

The renovations and rent for Jiang Ruan’s Rheumatism Clinic were all covered by Xun Li, which made Jiang Ruan feel like he might be taking a loss.

“I haven’t hired anyone, just Grandma Huang and your mother to look after the place,” she said. “We probably won’t make much money. With only a 10% share, who knows when you’ll break even?”

Xun Li laughed, “I’m not concerned about the clinic’s profits. I’m buying into your future pharmaceutical factory in advance.”

The new clinic opened quietly, without a lion dance or a grand ceremony.

Jiang Ruan had prepared the herbal remedies herself, including herbal packs containing 70% Shen Grass flower seeds. Even without her special abilities, soaking for half an hour could alleviate symptoms. There were also herbal patches with a 98% concentration of the seeds. Used together with herbal baths, the results were impressive.

The clinic only offered herbal soaks and patches for now, and she didn’t advertise. A hundred units should last a while, right?

Previously, Jiang Ruan had promised to give Zhong Guangyuan the first batch of medicine. She called his office, informed him about the remedy for rheumatism, and asked when he could pick it up.

Zhong Guangyuan was delighted and said he’d send his secretary. Soon, a young man arrived at the clinic, introduced himself as Zhong Guangyuan’s secretary, and Jiang Ruan handed him ten sets of medicine.

“Use one soak and one patch daily for ten consecutive days without interruption. After the treatment, I’ll call to check on the results.”

The secretary thanked her and paid for the medicine, which cost 3.20 yuan per set. Ten days’ worth of medicine was almost half a month’s salary.

Jiang Ruan said, “Don’t think it’s too expensive. This is an 80% grand opening discount. The price will go back to normal afterward.”

The secretary was speechless—she had even charged Zhong Guangyuan, albeit at a discount.

His mother was currently undergoing treatment with Chang Chunyan across the street for insomnia and cold sensitivity, which had shown some improvement. He went over to express his gratitude.

Cheng Wanxia, who was on duty, greeted him warmly. “The master is in the office, you can go in.”

Jiang Ruan, with her sharp eyesight, saw Cheng Wanxia take the secretary’s herbs from the counter to the pharmacy after he entered. About ten minutes later, she brought the herbal packs back out.

The patches couldn’t be tampered with, but would they have messed with the herbal soak?

Jiang Ruan grew suspicious and waited for over half an hour. Estimating that the secretary had reported back, she called Zhong Guangyuan again to ask if he had received the medicine.

Zhong Guangyuan sounded pleased, “Xiao Ding said you only made a hundred sets, and you gave me ten. Thank you.”

Jiang Ruan felt a bit embarrassed, “Actually, I was worried they wouldn’t sell. Since your salary can cover the cost, I gave you a bit more.”

Zhong Guangyuan laughed heartily, “Did you call just to tease me?”

Jiang Ruan explained what she had observed and expressed her concerns, “I’m afraid they might have switched the medicine. How about bringing it back here for me to check before you use it?”

“Can you come over?” Zhong Guangyuan asked, feeling uneasy. Chang Linyan wouldn’t really swap the medicine, would she?

“I can’t get away right now.”

Jiang Ruan replied, “I’m also quite busy. I don’t have time.”

Zhong Guangyuan sighed, “Alright, I’ll bring it after work. It might be a bit late.”

“No problem. I’ll be up late too.”

…

Jiang Ruan’s pricing—a ten-day treatment costing nearly half a month’s salary—was out of reach for most working-class families. Few would be willing to spend that much on their parents. Moreover, with only Grandma Huang and Xun Li’s mother on staff, they seemed like hired promoters, and while some inquired about the treatments, no one actually purchased anything.

Chang Linyan, impeccably dressed, came over and asked to buy a ten-day course for herself. “My leg has some rheumatism. Give me a full course.”

Jiang Ruan sized her up, she did have some symptoms, but they weren’t serious. “Your condition would be a waste of my medicine. I’m not selling it to you.”

Chang Linyan was taken aback by the refusal. She glanced at the beautifully lit display in the glass counter, where the medicine was elegantly packaged and priced quite high. Clearly, it was all about selling the product.

She questioned, “If you’re not selling medicine, why did you open this place?”

Jiang Ruan found the question odd. “I opened Rheumatism Clinic to treat people, not just to sell medicine. The high price reflects the value and efficacy of my remedies. I’m not selling to you because it would be a waste.”

Chang Linyan had no reply and went back to her clinic.

When Cheng Wanxia saw her return empty-handed, she guessed the medicine hadn’t been purchased. “Master, should I send another patient to buy it?” she suggested.

Chang Linyan shook her head, “No need. The medicine must have some efficacy, but I can’t allow her to gain a foothold in the medical industry. Today’s action was necessary, but don’t worry, the medicine won’t harm anyone.”

Cheng Wanxia said, “Xuehui mentioned that tonight she would bring Mr. He, who has quite a slick tongue, for a massage. Master, I could handle it. There’s no need for you to wait personally.”

Chang Linyan’s eyes brightened, “Treat Mr. He with respect. You can leave on time tonight; I’ll take care of him.”

Cheng Wanxia was curious. Who was this person Xuehui was recommending this time? Was he an investor?

…

Grandma Huang and Xun Li’s mom enjoyed chatting together, and Jiang Ruan was very laid-back about the clinic’s hours. They’d open the doors when they were around, and close when they left.

Grandma Huang was concerned. “Ruan Ruan, running the clinic this way, how will you make any money?”

Jiang Ruan wasn’t expecting to make money with the Rheumatism Clinic. She was building a reputation as a foundation for opening a pharmaceutical factory in the future. That would still take several years, and when the time came, she could manage the business more seriously.

She said, “Treating patients depends on fate. If you two are bored, feel free to invite some old friends over to chat or watch TV.”

While Jiang Ruan had this relaxed approach, Xun Li wasn’t willing to let such an effective rheumatism medicine go unnoticed.

He introduced a few reputable clients who had long suffered from rheumatism. Seeing the well-decorated shop, which didn’t look like a scam, they decided to give it a try and each bought a course of treatment. It only cost a few dozen yuan, so it was worth a shot.

When Jiang Ruan returned that evening, only forty sets of medicine were left. She was surprised by how quickly they sold out.

Grandma Huang explained, “The patients were referred by Xun Li. We followed your instructions, only selling to those who came in person, and we didn’t sell to anyone without serious rheumatism.”

Jiang Ruan nodded and asked Grandma Huang and Xun Li’s mom to go home while she stayed to keep the clinic open for Zhong Guangyuan.

Around 8 p.m., Zhong Guangyuan’s driver arrived, parked in front of the clinic, and personally delivered the medicine to Jiang Ruan.

Across the street, in the Rejuvenation Clinic, He Ziqi ignored Mu Xuehui’s greeting and stared at the plain “Rheumatism Clinic” sign across the way. “That’s Secretary Zhong’s car. Did Secretary Zhong just go in?” he muttered.

Mu Xuehui grew anxious. He Ziqi was a Hong Kong businessman she had worked hard to connect with for mainland investment opportunities. She couldn’t let him and Jiang Ruan meet.

She quickly said, “My master has mentioned Secretary Zhong’s temperament. If you go over now, he might think you’re tracking him down, and it could leave a bad impression. It’s not worth the risk. Let’s arrange another time.”

…

Jiang Ruan inspected the medicine Zhong Guangyuan had returned. The patches had been switched for ordinary ones after the packaging was removed, although all patches looked dark, Jiang Ruan’s patches had a distinct herbal fragrance from the Shencao Grass flower. The herbal soak bags were even worse—they had been entirely swapped. There was no concern at all about whether the replacement might worsen Zhong Guangyuan’s condition.

Jiang Ruan was furious, slamming the table so hard it cracked. “I have to confront her!”

Chang Linyan’s blatant switch wouldn’t be her only move. If Zhong Guangyuan used the tampered medicine and suffered adverse effects, the remnants would be in the trash by then, leaving Jiang Ruan to take full responsibility.

Given that Zhong Guangyuan had publicly stated he had no relatives, it seemed Chang Linyan was prepared to burn the bridge and make one last exploitation.

Zhong Guangyuan sighed and advised Jiang Ruan not to go, “Without catching her red-handed, she’ll never admit it. You’ll end up being accused of slander.”

Jiang Ruan was angry. “She has no sense of medical ethics. I have to go, or I won’t be able to sleep tonight.”

Jiang Ruan grabbed the swapped medicine bags and rushed across the street. For some reason, there were no other doctors or staff around at Rejuvenation Hall tonight, only Mu Xuehui, and a light was on in one of the treatment rooms.

Jiang Ruan hadn’t seen Chang Linyan leave, so she had to be in there.

“Move aside,” Jiang Ruan said, pushing Mu Xuehui away.

Mu Xuehui desperately blocked her, “The master is treating a patient, you can’t go in.”

Jiang Ruan replied, “Who’s in there with such guts? Aren’t they afraid of getting treated to death?”

Chang Linyan had no choice but to come out, opening the door and calmly controlling her emotions, “Jiang Ruan, you shouldn’t make reckless accusations. I’ll sue you for slander.”

Jiang Ruan wasn’t intimidated. Since Chang Linyan wouldn’t admit to swapping the medicine, Jiang Ruan wouldn’t be foolish enough to confront her directly.

She opened one of the herbal packs and threw it in Chang Linyan’s face. “My uncle came here for a course of rheumatism treatment. Smell this, look at it—is this what’s used to treat rheumatism?”

Chang Linyan immediately understood the situation. It was true she had swapped the medicine, confident that Jiang Ruan had no evidence. Even if Jiang Ruan found out, she wouldn’t be able to do anything about it.

However, she didn’t anticipate Jiang Ruan would come looking for trouble in such a bold manner.

And she had no proof that the medicine wasn’t from her clinic, the patches did indeed have a scent similar to one of their own ointments.

Calmly, she said, “Every medicine dispensed from Rejuvenation Hall has a receipt. Show me the receipt.”

Jiang Ruan didn’t have a receipt, and it wasn’t uncommon for transactions to occur without one. She stood her ground, “You sell fake medicine; of course, you wouldn’t dare issue a receipt. My uncle is Zhong Guangyuan—do you think he’d falsely accuse you over ten sets of medicine? He was a comrade of your late husband, could he possibly wrong you?”

From inside the car, Zhong Guangyuan thought to himself, “Good thing I’m not the one confronting her. I wouldn’t be able to lie like that.”

The driver, experienced in such situations, simply smiled without saying anything.

Chang Linyan conceded, “What outcome do you want?”

Jiang Ruan replied, “I just wanted to scold you. My uncle lost the receipt, and we don’t need compensation. I’ll be satisfied after giving you a piece of my mind.”

The man lying on the treatment bed, already shirtless, had been watching the entire scene with great interest, his gaze lingering on Jiang Ruan.

She glanced at him a few times and said, “Your physique isn’t all that great. You should put your shirt back on.”

He Ziqi’s smile faded. “…Wait for me.”

…

Jiang Ruan retrieved another ten sets of medicine for Zhong Guangyuan and delivered them to his car. She explained, “I only called you my uncle to have an excuse to scold her. Don’t take it seriously, I’m not trying to establish any familial connection.”

Zhong Guangyuan counted out the money for the ten sets and smiled, “I wouldn’t mind having a sharp-witted niece like you.”

Jiang Ruan replied apologetically, “No, I already have plenty of relatives to look after.”

She waved goodbye as Zhong Guangyuan’s car drove off.

The driver thought to himself that the rumors about this girl weren’t unfounded—she truly was a bit naive, not even seizing the opportunity to form a connection.

As Jiang Ruan closed up the shop, the man she had remarked about earlier was standing across the street, arms crossed, looking at her with a disgruntled expression.

Jiang Ruan thought he was being petty, his physique was indeed average. If he was so nonchalant about being shirtless in front of several women—even during a dispute—why not cover up a bit? He had no sense of shame.

Well, she couldn’t take back what she’d said. If he was upset, so be it.

Over the weekend, Qin Yan visited Jiang Ruan in the countryside. That night, when they were getting ready for bed, Jiang Ruan kept staring at the neckline of his pajamas and even lifted the hem.

Qin Yan couldn’t help but laugh. “What’s gotten into you today?”

Jiang Ruan replied, “I want to see your waist and feel your abs.”

Qin Yan said, “No, stop that and go to sleep.”

Jiang Ruan continued, “Why is it that some men have no sense of shame, walking around shirtless in front of several women without a care? Yet, Qin Yan, you’re still so shy with me, even though we’re together. Are you really that modest?”

Qin Yan sensed something off and asked cautiously, “Which man did you see that makes you want to compare?”

Jiang Ruan quickly said, “No one in particular. I just happened to stumble upon someone. I don’t even know his name, but he seemed overconfident. Anyway, I still think you have a better body.”

Qin Yan was silent for a moment. “…Where did you see this guy? How old was he, and did he look better than me?”

Jiang Ruan replied, “Not as good-looking as you, but he had a refined, celebrity-like aura. He was a patient Mu Xuehui brought for Chang Linyan, maybe someone special. If you don’t like him, I won’t talk to him again.”

Based on her description, the man sounded like He Ziqi.

Qin Yan clenched his teeth. “There’s no way his body is better than mine. There’s no need for comparisons. Now, go to sleep.”