The Martial Doctor-Chapter 99 - 97: Xia Cixi’s Sincerity

After finishing the procedures at the Medical Bureau, I still have to go to the Benefit People Pharmacy.

The government process is just full of bureaucracy, and you need to pay respects to every influential person, otherwise, in the future, you’ll be constantly harassed with minor issues. Can you handle that?

Moreover, these things can’t be delayed; any delay might lead to complications. You have to tackle it in one go!

So, after leaving the Xinglin Institute, we headed straight to the Benefit People Pharmacy.

Actually, by the time Lin Miao arrived at the Benefit People Pharmacy, Xia Yuan and Tian Yuan had almost reached an agreement, basically settling the matter.

So when Lin Miao arrived,

Xia Yuan directly took him to Tian Yuan to fulfill the promise, granting Lin Miao the Xiuyue Square’s Convenient Medical Diagnosis Point for a year.

Tian Yuan saw the situation and knew he had already agreed. If he backed out, with Xia Yuan’s temper, it would likely escalate to the point of him resigning from the Benefit People Pharmacy.

Anyway, it was no loss to him, and he might even benefit a bit.

There was no reason to offend this stubborn old ass like Xia Yuan for nothing!

"Additionally, approve the Convenient Medical Diagnosis Pharmacy as well!" Xia Yuan suddenly produced another application, slapping it onto Tian Yuan’s desk with a "bang."

"What do you mean? You want to open a pharmacy at the diagnosis point too?"

"Why not? My daughter is Mr. Lin’s apprentice. She’s a pharmacist. Doesn’t she have the qualifications?" Xia Yuan retorted.

"But there’s never been a precedent, and the Convenient Medical Diagnosis Pharmacy has already been appointed, hasn’t it?"

"Then reappoint it, can’t we?"

"Old Xia, you think this is child’s play? This represents the court’s reputation. How do you expect me to explain it to others?"

"The court never said that prescriptions from the Convenient Medical Diagnosis Point must be filled at designated pharmacies..." Xia Yuan had studied the court regulations well.

"But that’s how it’s been done for many years; don’t you understand?"

"Can’t the practice be revised? If the diagnosis point had its own pharmacy, why would patients need to go elsewhere to fill prescriptions?"

"Old Xia, you’re being unreasonable!" Tian Yuan was furious.

"If you don’t agree, we’ll just open a pharmacy right next to the diagnosis point." Xia Yuan refused to back down.

"You..." Tian Yuan burst out in anger; he couldn’t agree to this. If the Medical Association got involved, he wouldn’t be able to handle it.

Opening a pharmacy requires a license and permit from the Medical Association.

...

"Deputy Xia, isn’t it a bit harsh to press Chief Tian like this?" Lin Miao knew Xia Yuan meant well. He also understood that in treating illnesses, having the right prescription alone isn’t enough. The quality of the herbs is crucial. Without high-quality herbs, even the right prescription might not cure the patient.

Many illnesses remain incurable not due to the doctor’s capabilities but due to issues with the herbs.

This often leads to conflicts between patients and medical practitioners.

Therefore, qualified medical institutions usually have their own pharmacies and do not recommend their patients buy medicine elsewhere. If anything goes wrong, that would be hard to explain.

The Convenient Medical Diagnosis Point prescribes but does not sell medicine. Although there is a designated pharmacy, its quality control of herbs is not guaranteed.

And the designated pharmacy has a physician on site. After the diagnosis point is set up, it will surely compete with medical institutions. If they secretly sabotage you with inferior goods, and the patient’s illness doesn’t improve, is it the prescription’s fault or the medicine’s? If disputes arise, it can become endless...

Don’t ever assume people are essentially good; for profits, people will do anything.

As an experienced doctor of several decades, Xia Yuan clearly understood, as by establishing the diagnosis point in Xiuyue Square, Lin Miao was bound to disrupt the existing profit distribution. In a petty person’s eyes, there’s only their own interest; they wouldn’t care about others’ welfare.

Therefore, controlling both the medicine and prescriptions ensures the greatest protection of one’s interests, and this isn’t about "money."

In reality, operating a Convenient Medical Diagnosis and an affordable pharmacy might, at best, barely sustain itself; making a profit is impossible.

Lin Miao understood this too.

Xia Yuan has genuine intentions.

But challenging established practices is not easy. Lin Miao didn’t wish for Xia Yuan to strain relationships with the Benefit People Pharmacy; some matters might only be slightly troublesome, but none were unsolvable. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"Mr. Lin, you don’t understand. If we can’t seize this opportunity to make him agree to setting up the Convenient Pharmacy now, we may not get another chance in the future," Xia Yuan said.

"Deputy Xia, I understand your good intentions, but if the rules were changed because of me, I’d become public enemy number one," Lin Miao explained. "Besides, there are ways to solve this. If worse comes to worst, can’t we acquire that designated pharmacy?"

Hearing this, Xia Yuan’s eyes lit up. Yes, that could be a solution. How did he not think of it?

Young minds are indeed sharper!

"Deputy Xia, let’s settle the most crucial matters first. We’ll handle the rest gradually; there are always more solutions than problems."

"Mr. Lin, you certainly see the bigger picture. Fine, I won’t bicker with that Tian fellow anymore!" Xia Yuan nodded.

Actually, Xia Yuan wasn’t that obstinate. If you could persuade him, he wasn’t inflexible. Otherwise, why would he have let Xia Zhu become Lin Miao’s apprentice and pretend like nothing happened?

...

The two went back and kept an eye on Tian Yuan, not mentioning the "pharmacy" anymore, and swiftly expedited all procedures.

Only by securing all the documents would they feel at ease, to prevent anyone from interfering upon hearing the news. Delayed action invites trouble.

...

"Such speed! I only just received the news, and they’ve already completed all the procedures for the Convenient Medical Diagnosis Point and gotten the approval!"

"Yes, it’s incredibly fast!"

"This was clearly premeditated..."

"That Xia Zhu became Lin Miao’s apprentice, and Deputy Xia even sold himself too. That old guy has no integrity! I used to think he had principles, but he’s quicker than anyone at tailoring his words to the situation!"

"Isn’t that the truth!"

"Society is deteriorating, people’s hearts are changing; Xia Yuan, the old rascal, actually kowtows to a junior! What a disgrace!"

A wave of gossip rapidly spread through the Xinglin community in Dongshan City, with such speed that it left people flabbergasted. Deputy Xia Yuan’s reputation once again plummeted to a low point.

This, however, helped deflect some of the criticism away from Lin Miao.

...

Actually, the location of the Xiuyue Square Convenient Medical Diagnosis Point is pretty good, with three street-facing rooms. Both the land deed and the property deed are held by the Benefit People Pharmacy.

It’s public property.

Although there are regular visits by a physician, and someone is hired to clean, the doors are open all day, allowing anyone to go in.

It has long become a place where local children play.

Lin Miao came in, looked around, the three rooms: one for check-ups, one as the lobby and waiting area, and another for treatment. After all, some patients have external injuries that need attention and sterilization.

It’s just barely adequate, but if they truly open a pharmacy, it’ll feel cramped.

"Mr. Xie, I’ll sketch a design later. Find someone to renovate according to my plan, renovate inside and out. Don’t be afraid to spend money."

"Owner, you’re only going to be here for a year at most, why put in so much effort..."

"I want to."

"Alright, it’s not my money anyway," Xie Shouchang grinned awkwardly.

"If you have foresight, try to acquire some of the street-facing shops nearby. I guarantee business will be great here in the future," Lin Miao chuckled and gave a hint.

Xie Shouchang’s eyes lit up upon hearing this; he had personally witnessed this young owner’s medical skills, absolutely unparalleled in Dongshan City.

In the future, the Convenient Medical Diagnosis Point will surely be bustling with patients, and the area will become lively. When people gather, business flourishes.

"Owner, if it’s such a good business, why don’t you do it?" Xie Shouchang asked.

"I’ve already asked Mrs. Yun to find someone to negotiate; you better hurry up," Lin Miao chuckled.

"Owner, you probably don’t have much cash, do you? How about we partner up?" Xie Shouchang contemplated and quickly approached.

"Are you sure?"

"The owner eats meat, I get to sip the soup, right?" Xie Shouchang laughed slyly and smartly.

"Alright, you can invest roughly ten thousand taels," Lin Miao said, "That’ll get you two percent equity; how about it?"

"Only two percent for ten thousand taels?"

"You don’t have to worry or work hard. If our luck holds, we could recoup the investment in a year," Lin Miao said, "Su Chen, Mr. Su, invested twenty thousand taels, and I only gave him thirty percent. I’m offering you this as a favor to someone close, understand?"

"Mr. Su invested twenty thousand taels..." Xie Shouchang was startled.

"Are you investing or not? If not, I might offer this chance to Xia Zhu and her team?" Lin Miao smiled at him.

"Invest, invest, I’m in!"

...

Lin Miao was well aware that the Convenient Medical Diagnosis Point wouldn’t make money. Even if a pharmacy is opened, profits would remain minimal. But once this Medical Diagnosis Point stimulates foot traffic on this street—

Other ventures could then be profitable.

Then, he could open a Medicinal Cuisine Workshop and dessert shops and develop other relevant products and so forth.

This is traffic monetization.

He doesn’t necessarily aim to be the richest, but he must have enough money. Without it, progress anywhere is difficult.

Only unburdened by financial troubles can he pursue higher dreams.

The premise is that he can drive this traffic.

...

Looking at the thick wall in the passage, Qin Yanran instantly fumed.

Then she punched it.

The wall collapsed.

But before she could walk far, there was another wall...

Another punch!

The wall collapsed again!

After smashing through four walls in succession, Qin Yanran felt she had almost exhausted her internal energy and was struggling, staring at yet another wall before her!

She ground her teeth in anger, nearly biting through her molars.

"Disciple, why are you back so quickly this time?" Long Po was eating grapes with one hand and looked at the visibly upset Qin Yanran who came in from outside.

"Don’t mention it, he’s bricked up paths in the passage, blocking them."

"Ha..." Long Po, hearing this, mindlessly brought a grape to her mouth, and with a "slurp," it went in, getting stuck in her throat.

Fortunately, being a Meridian Passage Realm master, this mishap was no challenge. With a breath, she sucked it in, then expelled it, sending the grape out of her mouth.

"Ah, I almost suffocated, Master."

"Master, this guy obviously doesn’t want to be with me," Qin Yanran grumbled, sitting down, biting into a pear.

"Do you really want to be with him, or are you just tempted by his body?"

"I both want to be with him and am tempted by his body, why can’t I?" Qin Yanran glanced at Long Po.

"I have a way; it depends if you dare to do it."

"What way, Master?"

"At night, sneak over, undress, and get into his bed," Long Po suggested.

"Master, is that how you subdued the old monk at the Reclining Buddha Temple back then?" Qin Yanran’s eyes lit up.

"It was, and so what? Will you dare?"

"What’s there not to dare, I’ll..." Qin Yanran suddenly remembered something, "Tonight won’t work, maybe in a few days."

Long Po chuckled softly.