Chinese Medicine: Starting with Daily Intelligence-Chapter 145: Activity Funds?

The clinic didn’t have many patients.

Li Xu could handle things on his own.

So, Song Sisi decided to set up a stall on the sidewalk in front of the clinic to sell mugwort.

She had just set up the stall when a passing Aunt Zhang came over. "Oh, Xiao Song, you’re selling mugwort too?"

"Aunt Zhang! We grew this ourselves—it’s completely natural and pesticide-free!" Song Sisi greeted her enthusiastically. "Want a bundle? You can hang it by your door to repel mosquitoes and ward off evil spirits!"

Aunt Zhang leaned in and sniffed. "This smells authentic! Much stronger than the stuff at the market."

She took out five yuan. "I’ll take a bundle."

Soon, neighbors who had heard the news swarmed the small stall.

Wang Ruiying was also squeezed into the crowd, a grocery basket in her hand.

"Sisi, save three bundles for me!" she shouted. "My coworkers at the office all asked me to buy some for them!"

Song Sisi was sweating profusely, deftly tying mugwort into bundles with red string while taking payments.

In less than an hour, the dozens of mugwort bundles were almost completely sold out.

"Don’t worry, everyone, I’ll go cut more this afternoon!" she shouted to the customers still in line.

Just as business was booming, a stern voice came from behind the crowd. "You can’t have a stall here. Pack it up, now!"

The crowd automatically parted, revealing two uniformed city enforcement officers.

The one in the lead, Captain Jia, had a grim expression.

Song Sisi’s eyes darted around, but she wasn’t flustered. "Captain Jia, I’m almost sold out. Just let me stay for a little longer, please?"

"No can do... We’ve already received a complaint."

Captain Jia glanced northward.

Song Sisi turned her head,

just in time to see a figure duck back inside the entrance of the Weimin Clinic.

"Alright, I’ll pack up now."

Song Sisi took the remaining mugwort back inside.

"If you want to set up a stall, go to the alley next door. No one patrols there... Hss..."

Jia Yong’s mouth suddenly twitched, and he couldn’t speak clearly.

"Captain Jia, what’s wrong?" Song Sisi asked.

"I’ve been under the weather, and I got a sore in my mouth. It hurts at the slightest touch... Hss..." Jia Yong grimaced, clutching the side of his jaw.

"Do you want our boss to take a look? He’s a very skilled doctor."

Song Sisi suggested.

Jia Yong shook his head. "No need. It’s not a serious problem. I’ll just drink more water later and it’ll... Hss... Just don’t set up the stall here again... If you do, we’ll have to confiscate your things."

With that, Jia Yong led his team member away and drove off.

...

Inside the clinic, Song Sisi was gleefully counting her money.

Many of the mugwort buyers were elderly people, so they used cash.

Fives, tens... a whole handful of bills.

Song Sisi rarely got to experience the joy of counting cash.

After counting, she was pleasantly surprised to find they had made nearly five hundred yuan.

"Boss! We’re rich!" she exclaimed, excitedly waving the wad of cash. "And it’s only been an hour!"

Li Xu just smiled and shook his head. "This little bit of money is nothing. However..."

He looked thoughtfully at the remaining mugwort. "I did just have an idea, though."

"What idea?" Song Sisi asked curiously.

"Tomorrow’s the weekend, right? Hu Qiming is coming over for the ’assistance program’ to promote traditional Chinese medicine and wellness. We could make some Mugwort Bags and give them to residents for free. It would definitely attract a lot of people," Li Xu explained.

"For free?" Song Sisi pouted. "After all that work, we’re giving them away for free...?"

Li Xu smiled and shook his head. "You, you’ve got money on the brain. It’s already the Dragon Boat Festival; everyone who was going to buy mugwort has already bought it. You won’t be able to sell any tomorrow. We’re better off giving it away. But, if you really want to experience the joy of making money, you can ask Hu Qiming for the funds."

Song Sisi’s eyes lit up, and she nodded vigorously. "That’s right, we should ask them for it. Hmph, ’assistance program’ this, ’assistance program’ that. They can’t just show up for a photo op. They should at least provide some funding."

As she spoke, she pulled out her phone and dialed Hu Qiming’s number—they had already exchanged contact information during his previous assistance visits.

While waiting for the call to connect,

Song Sisi unconsciously twirled the ends of her hair, her eyes darting about like a little fox calculating its next move.

"Hello, Dr. Hu~"

She deliberately dragged out her words, her voice turning syrupy sweet. "I have some great news for you!"

On the other end of the line, Hu Qiming seemed to be in a meeting; discussion could be faintly heard in the background.

He lowered his voice. "Xiao Song? What’s the good news?"

"Are you still coming for the assistance program event tomorrow?"

"Of course. It’s not over yet."

"Just checking blood pressure is so boring. I cut some mugwort and plan to make them into Mugwort Bags. When you come tomorrow, you can give them out to the public for free. What do you think?" Song Sisi said, her expression animated.

Hu Qiming was clearly interested. "That’s a great idea!"

Song Sisi winked at Li Xu and continued in her cutesy voice, "It’s just that... this mugwort, we worked so hard to harvest it from the mountains... Ouch, I even got blisters on my hands..."

’This girl is so obviously hinting for money.’

Sure enough, Hu Qiming read between the lines and cut her off with a laugh. "Alright, Xiao Song, stop beating around the bush. You want funding for the event, right?"

"Oh, Dr. Hu, you’re so perceptive!" Song Sisi immediately pressed her advantage. "I mean, there’s the labor cost for harvesting the mugwort, the packaging materials..."

"Stop, stop," Hu Qiming said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. "The event is indeed meaningful, and I can apply for funding, but there’s no way the paperwork will be processed by tomorrow."

Song Sisi’s face fell. "Huh? Then..."

"But you should get everything ready first," Hu Qiming added. "Once we have the photos from the event and the summary report is written, I’ll definitely get you reimbursed. If this event goes well, we can fight for more resources for the next assistance program."

After hanging up, Song Sisi pouted. "I knew it. Just making empty promises..."

Li Xu instructed, "Alright, we were going to do the event anyway. Go on and get the Mugwort Bags ready. We’re going to be busy tomorrow."

Song Sisi’s eyes suddenly lit up. "Boss! I have a great idea! We can put the clinic’s business card inside the Mugwort Bags, and print some wellness tips on it..."

Li Xu shook his head. "There’s no need. Our clinic doesn’t need to build its reputation that way anymore."

「In the afternoon.」

Song Sisi went to Tang Mountain again to cut more mugwort.

Then she bought a pile of sachets from the wholesale market.

Li Xu found a recipe for the Mugwort Bags in a book:

Mugwort leaves, the main ingredient of the sachet.

Possesses the effects of dispelling cold and dampness, warding off evil spirits, and repelling mosquitoes.

And mugwort from the Dragon Boat Festival season has the highest aromatic oil content, making it the most effective.

Then there’s Dahurian Angelica root, which is aromatic, opens the orifices, and enhances the effect of warding off filth.

Mint, for a cooling and refreshing effect, preventing heatstroke, and repelling insects.

Sandalwood, to warm the core and regulate qi.

Calamus, to resolve dampness and awaken the spleen.

"Wow, Boss, with all these ingredients, I almost don’t want to give them away."

Song Sisi said as she filled the sachets with the ingredients.

Li Xu replied, "If we make them well, people will cherish them, and the promotional effect will be better."

The day passed quickly.

「The next day.」

New intelligence refreshed.

[Today’s Intelligence: Premium Mugwort Bag Recipe—Mugwort 20g, Dahurian Angelica root 5g... Rosewood (heartwood, 500+ years) 1g... Exceptionally effective.]