Chapter 147: Chapter 147: An Expert in Her Field, No One Is Stronger!
"Manager Mi, I’m planning to sell the few shops I own and buy that three-story storefront at the end of the street."
Mi Zhenchuan put down the account book in his hands and said, "Fifth Missy, our shop is already one of the largest grain stores. Moving to a bigger place would be a waste. We don’t have enough business to justify it."
He knew the place Ji Qingwu was talking about. It was the largest restaurant in the city.
"Who said anything about continuing to run a grain store?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
Mi Zhenchuan asked in surprise, "Fifth Missy, what do you mean?"
Ji Qingwu revealed her plan. "We’re going to enter a new line of business and open a medical hall. The first floor will be a pharmacy for preparing and decocting herbal medicines, and the second floor will be where the doctors see patients."
The largest medical hall in Lin’an was Qingchun Hall. Its consultation fees were steep, but business was always booming, and you had to wait in a long line just to see a doctor.
’How could another medical hall possibly compete with Qingchun Hall?’
Ji Qingwu continued, "This medical hall will be different from all the others."
Mi Zhenchuan asked, puzzled, "Fifth Missy, how exactly will it be different? I would like to hear the details."
Ji Qingwu’s eyes shone as she said, "I’m talking about a wellness hall opened specifically for women of childbearing age. It will offer physical examinations, treat infertility, and also provide midwifery and postpartum care."
Mi Zhenchuan was speechless for a long moment.
He was over forty years old. His first wife had died during a difficult childbirth, taking their unborn child with her, and he had never remarried.
From his years of business experience, his instincts told him this venture would be incredibly profitable. Besides, the household finances in Lin’an City were managed by the madams. These women’s money was the easiest to earn—this could be hundreds, even thousands of times more profitable than selling grain.
He sighed. "This is truly unheard of. If we can really open such a medical hall, it would be a blessing for the women of Lin’an City, and a highly profitable venture for us. The only problem is, where would we find such capable people?"
Ji Qingwu smiled faintly.
Mi Zhenchuan pondered, "The divine doctor in the city, Le Xi, is highly skilled, but he has an eccentric personality. I’m afraid he wouldn’t be willing to work at our medical hall."
But Ji Qingwu said in a relaxed tone, "We don’t need him."
’Everyone has their specialty,’ she thought. When it came to the matter of childbirth, she was confident that no one was more skilled than her.
She had already made a name for herself in Nanchu. After returning to Lin’an, her older sister, Ji Qingrong, had become pregnant after receiving her care. Many madams had already heard of her abilities and wanted to seek her treatment, but Mrs. Qiao had secretly blocked them all.
Now was the perfect time to open a medical hall, and the benefits were numerous.
Those seeking medical help could come find her here, making it easier to earn money. Moreover, building good relationships with the wives of these officials would also help her establish a firm foothold in Lin’an.
Mi Zhenchuan said worriedly, "I’m afraid it won’t work without a famous doctor to anchor the establishment."
Ji Qingwu said methodically, "Manager Mi, you don’t need to worry about this. Leave it to me. I’ll have to trouble you and the staff to help me find out about the famous midwives in the city, as well as any older women who have served as wet nurses in official households and have experience with children. Please invite them over another day for me to meet."
Mi Zhenchuan observed that although she was young, at first glance, she seemed like a delicate and inexperienced woman.
But upon interacting with her, he realized her appearance was extremely deceptive. Not only were her ideas bold and her mind meticulous, but she could also turn her plans into reality.
Moreover, the gentle, unhurried tone she used when speaking was inexplicably convincing.
Mi Zhenchuan said, "Fifth Missy, rest assured, we’ll get right on it."
Ji Qingwu smiled and stood up. "Thank you for your trouble. There will be rewards for everyone once this is done. I’m going to find the restaurant owner now to discuss the transfer of the shop."
But Mi Zhenchuan said, "Fifth Missy, the owner of that restaurant is no longer around."
Hearing this, Ji Qingwu stopped in her tracks and turned back. "No longer around? What do you mean?"
"The original owner’s surname was Liu. He was a compulsive gambler who lost his entire fortune at the gambling dens. The restaurant has already been taken over by the people from the den."
Ji Qingwu said, "But when I came, I saw a notice saying it was for sale."
"Yes, the restaurant is poorly managed, so they are planning to sell it." Mi Zhenchuan stepped forward and whispered, "Fifth Missy, do you know who is in charge of this gambling den?"
Ji Qingwu shook her head. She didn’t know, but seeing the look on Manager Mi’s face, she guessed the person behind the gambling den was likely someone not to be trifled with.
Mi Zhenchuan said, "Two years ago, this gambling den was discovered to be maliciously cheating people out of their money. The management was changed, and now an official from the Imperial City Department is in charge."
He warned, "Fifth Missy, you haven’t been back for long, so you may not know how ruthless that official from the Imperial City Department is. They say he chops off people’s fingers at the slightest provocation and even dips steamed buns in human blood to eat."
Ji Qingwu already knew who he was talking about. "Manager Mi, is this official you’re speaking of Duan Mingfeng?"
With clear fear on his face, Mi Zhenchuan said in a low voice, "Fifth Missy, you mustn’t say that official’s name so directly."
’So Duan Mingfeng isn’t just gloomy on the outside; he also has so many terrifying rumors circulating about him.’
Ji Qingwu’s lips curved into a smile. "If it’s him, then that’s even better."
Then, she turned and left, leaving them with a view of her carefree, departing figure.
「A short while later.」
Ji Qingwu sat in the restaurant, surveying the layout.
After she sat down, no one came to greet her. There were only a few scattered customers in the establishment, and a waiter was leaning against the counter, slacking off.
Only when she called out did the waiter slowly saunter over.
"What’ll you have?"
It was just around noon, and Ji Qingwu’s stomach was rumbling. She said directly, "Bring me one of every house specialty you have."
The waiter said, "We don’t have any."
Ji Qingwu said with dissatisfaction, "You don’t even have your house specialties? What kind of restaurant are you running?"
’Might as well close up shop and sell the place to me.’
The waiter said, "The head chef ran off with the old owner’s wife. We’ve only got a few kitchen hands left who can’t make hot dishes. All that’s left are drinks and cold food. See for yourself what you want to eat."
’That’s a pretty solid reason, I suppose.’
Ji Qingwu said directly, "No dishes, the chef’s run off... get your current boss over here."
The waiter’s eyes finally snapped open. Thinking she was looking for trouble, he looked at her and said, "Are you tired of living? If our new boss comes over, you’ll be skinned and served up on a platter."
’Is Duan Mingfeng really that terrifying? Everyone I meet says the same thing. His reputation really is bloody and violent.’
A customer at a nearby table suddenly stood up, slammed his sword on the table in front of Ji Qingwu, and barked, "Mr. Duan is busy with official duties! How dare you summon him!"
Ji Qingwu wasn’t intimidated. Observing his attire, she asked, "Are you also from the Imperial City Department?"
The man in the black robe stared at her for a moment, then whispered hesitantly, "The barbecue girl?"
’What barbecue girl?’ Ji Qingwu looked at him for a long time but couldn’t recognize who he was.
The man in black quickly stood at attention. This was the girl who had followed the Emperor into his tent on the grasslands that night.
He looked as flustered sheathing his sword as he had looked imposing when he slammed it on the table.
When Duan Mingfeng received the message from his subordinate, he was in the city at Weirui Pavilion, assisting his master with some business.
Upon learning that Ji Qingwu was looking for him, he suppressed his astonishment and cautiously glanced up at the expression of the man before him.
A voice as faint and distant as a cloud spoke.
"Go."
