Chapter 114
Fu Wei had spent five days in the prefecture, discussing the imperial decree that changed the annual tax to twice a year, increasing it by twenty percent overall.
It was said to prevent well-fed commoners with extra money from thinking about rebellion, better to keep them focused on farming to fill their bellies.
Failure to pay would result in forced labor!
This decree was particularly devastating for the Lingnan region.
After paying the annual taxes to the court, the governor usually had some surplus, but now with an additional twenty percent, it meant he had to collect more taxes.
How could he be unaware of the actual situation in his seven counties?
"Who is the damned fool who came up with this terrible idea?!"
"The person proposing this policy must have water in their brain!"
Pressured from above, he had no choice but to pass that pressure onto the magistrates below him.
Magistrate Zhou privately inquired of the governor about how to deal with the situation in Yu County.
After all, they had received permission last year to pay taxes at the end of this year. Forcing people to pay taxes in June could lead to many facing ruin or even taking their own lives.
Governor Shen, who had been hands-off for a long time, cursed inwardly and annoyed, said, "At most, we can delay it by three months."
Even this three-month extension was hard-won by Magistrate Zhou.
The other county magistrates sought similar extensions, but the governor bluntly rebuked them.
After several days of negotiation, apart from Yu County, the other six counties still had to follow the imperial edict, with those unable to pay being forced into labor.
Fu Wei received the news from Shen Mingcong early on and wasn’t too surprised by this absurd edict.
"The person who proposed this has no understanding of the people's suffering, only indulging in their own pleasures."
The emperor who approved this proposal is severely incompetent and foolish.
County Magistrate Zhou, leading the poorest county in Cangwu, had a gloomy expression, muttering to himself, "The medicinal herbs and beans have just been planted not long ago. The herbs can only be harvested next year, but fortunately, the beans are already sown and will be ready by July, preventing people from being pushed to extreme desperation."
Although it won't drive people to extreme desperation, it's unlikely to fully satiate their hunger.
With this thought, County Magistrate Zhou sighed again.
He didn't know how many times he had sighed today.
County Magistrate Zhou looked at Fu Wei and asked, "Are you sure those medicinal herbs can be sold?"
Fu Wei replied, "This year, there were heavy snows and cold in the north, so there's a rapid consumption of medicinal herbs, which will certainly need replenishing."
County Magistrate Zhou sighed again, "The taxes are already heavy. Not to mention reducing them, but even changing to biannual collection shouldn't mean increasing the total tax burden."
Fu Wei, after a moment of silence, speculated, "The sudden policy change might indeed be influenced by the unrest in Longxi and Shu counties, but it could also be an excuse to collect more taxes and labor to continue building palaces."
County Magistrate Zhou looked at Fu Wei in surprise, "Palaces?"
Fu Wei nodded, "The emperor had started building the Heavenly Palace, but it stopped halfway due to an inauspicious date. The real reason, however, was the empty state treasury."
Hearing Fu Wei's words, Zhou, the county magistrate, suddenly remembered the palace built by the emperor a few years ago. His expression darkened in an instant, his mind filled with irritation, yet he restrained himself from speaking out of turn, "Do not speculate wildly, lest you bring trouble upon yourself."
Fu Wei lowered his eyelids, "I understand."
Yesterday, a maid from the Li family had invited Yu Ying to treat the old Madam Li. Today, she went to the Li Mansion in the east of the city to decline the invitation.
After the maid from yesterday left, Yu Ying told her that she was currently busy with work from the Chen family and also had to open her own shop, leaving her no time to spare.
She added that once her shop was open, she would send a note, and if old Madam Li's leg ailment was still untreated by then, she would come to see her.
Hearing this, the maid frowned and said, "Instead of opening a shop for a meager profit, it would be better to treat my family's old Madam first. If you cure her, the consultation fee will surely not disappoint you."
The maid's words seemed somewhat condescending.
Although Yu Ying was usually mild-mannered, she was no pushover. She asked with a gentle smile, "You are just a servant at the Li house, why do you speak so haughtily?"
The maid realized her slip of the tongue but didn’t apologize, merely rolling her eyes and saying, "I'm just telling it like it is. If Madam Yu finds my words unpleasant, pretend you didn’t hear them."
Yu Ying had a general understanding of the Li family, the largest donor among the gentry, which explained why their servants dared to be so insolent.
The young girl, only thirteen or fourteen, thought working for a wealthy family made her superior, a lesson she would inevitably learn.
"You are here to seek a doctor for old Madam Li, not to make enemies. If I treat her today, given that I am a female doctor recognized by the county magistrate and my husband is an aide in the magistrate's office, if I mention to the old Madam your strange tone and unfriendly face, what do you think your masters will do to you?"
Unaware of Yu Ying’s background, the maid's face suddenly changed to one of panic upon hearing these words, and her previously raised chin quickly lowered.
"I was offensive earlier, please forgive me, Doctor Yu," she said, her previously arrogant demeanor now subdued.
Yu Ying’s expression remained cool, "When you relay this back, make sure to tell it exactly as it happened. If any exaggerations reach my ears, I will investigate thoroughly."
The Li family was a major household in Yuxian, and making enemies was always unwise.
The maid quickly agreed, "I will surely relay it accurately, please don't worry, Doctor Yu."
After speaking, Yu Ying turned and left.
Her plans to open a shop were not an excuse, but a reality.
Fu Wei had returned at some unknown time. Setting up a medical clinic involved many miscellaneous tasks and would take a long time. Besides, she had thought it through thoroughly and could make her own decisions without much discussion.
After visiting much of Yuxian, she found a suitable location for her clinic. It was a bit remote, but it was quiet, which was an advantage.
The building had two floors, comprising a single storefront.
The rent was to be paid every six months, at a rate of 1,300 wen per month.
Yu Ying had done her research; for a single storefront in the street, the going rate was also 1,300 wen per month, so this price was reasonable.
With a minimum lease of six months, she would need to pay 7,800 wen upfront.
This amount was still manageable for Yu Ying, who decided to rent the shop on the spot.
After renting it, she came with her sister-in-law and a few apprentices to clean up.
After the cleaning, her sister-in-law curiously asked, "Sister-in-law, what are your plans for the clinic?"
Yu Ying pondered for a moment, then said, "The shop is about twenty square meters. Besides the storefront on the first floor, we can only partition three small rooms, each about two square meters, which should be enough. The second floor will be for guests of some standing and naturally cannot be too cramped."
She paused in thought, then continued, "We'll partition two larger elegant rooms, leaving a larger space near the stairway with a couple of small tables and chairs, convenient for servants to rest."
At this, Yu Ying murmured to herself, "It seems I will need to order some furniture."
This would be a significant expense.
Including the rent, getting everything set up would cost at least fifteen taels of silver.
With sufficient funds at hand and connections with the government office, Yu Ying dared to undertake this bold venture.
Yu Ying first went to a carpenter to order medicine cabinets and simple wooden beds, and also had the carpenter build the partitions.
As for the medicine cabinet, it's essentially the same as in a medical hall. The wooden bed is not big, similar to a beauty bed, with a hole carved at the head of the bed.
The medical hall serves both as a place for treatment and a profitable venture for health and wellness, achieving two goals at once.
She decided on five beds of the same design, covered with coarse or cotton fabric, so there's no visible difference, eliminating the need to make distinctions.
The three simple partitions only require a wooden bed and a small table each, but the two upper rooms, the private chambers, need careful and exquisite decoration.
The decoration should be economical, focusing on creating an atmosphere.
Fu Wei is skilled in painting, so he could create several paintings depicting proud snow-covered plum blossoms and bamboo groves, to be used as screens.
Commissioning paintings can be uncertain in terms of quality and cost, but having seen Fu Wei's excellent painting skills, getting him to paint would save money and he could even design the signboard.
Beyond the screens, place several tall stands in the room with porcelain jars or vases on them, filled with flowers, bamboo, or green pines.
Lighting homemade incense for guests would complete the ambiance.
Further intricate decorations can be added gradually after these primary elements are in place.
Completing all the furniture and partitions would take at least a month.
During the waiting period, she could prepare the medicinal herbs and also take time to teach some basic knowledge to a few apprentices. Though they wouldn't be fully trained, they should at least know the basics of preparing medicines.
As for the massage therapy, she definitely couldn't do it alone.
After much consideration, Yu Ying decided to involve her sister-in-law in the venture.
She approached her sister-in-law to discuss learning massage therapy.
Wen Xing panicked and waved her hands, “I can’t do it. I barely know a few characters, how could I learn this?”
Yu Ying reassured her, “Sister-in-law, you are strong and meticulous. You listened while I taught Fu An and the others; you're already familiar with some acupoints, how could you not learn?”
Wen Xing still hesitated, “I might know them, but I dare not just massage anyone. What if I cause trouble?”
Yu Ying chuckled, "I certainly wouldn't expect you to start working with clients immediately. You'll be trained for a while, and only when I'm sure you're ready, will you begin. Besides, massage is different from treating illnesses. While medical treatment requires years of study, with hands-on teaching, you could learn massage in as short as a month or, at most, three months."
Wen Xing expressed her surprise, "So soon?"
After a moment of thought, she hesitated, "What if, even after you've taught me, I still can't learn? Maybe I should just not bother and stick to helping out with odd jobs."
Yu Ying pondered for a while, then found another angle to persuade her sister-in-law, "This skill shouldn’t be carelessly taught to outsiders. I'm concerned that some might learn and then leave the clinic after a few months to perform massages elsewhere. If problems arise, the clinic would still be held responsible. And what if they quit after learning? That would be problematic."
Concluding her argument, Yu Ying earnestly added, "In my heart, I truly believe sister-in-law is the most reliable person for this."
All her reasoning paled in comparison to this last statement.
Hearing her sister-in-law praise her reliability, Wen Xing felt her heart thumping excitedly, a warmth spreading within her.
With her cheeks slightly flushed, Wen Xing asked softly, "Since sister-in-law has so much faith in me, of course, I want to help. But what if I really can’t learn?"
Yu Ying smiled reassuringly, "Let's start with learning, and if you can’t do it, I won't force you."
Wen Xing pondered seriously for a moment before hesitantly agreeing, "Then I’ll start learning."
She was determined to study diligently, knowing she couldn’t let her sister-in-law down if she truly couldn’t learn.
With her sister-in-law on board, that part was settled.
Including herself, her sister-in-law, Fu An, and three other apprentices, there were six people in total. Being the only one able to conduct consultations, the size of the clinic was sufficient.
Any other improvements could be planned later, once the business was thriving.
Chapter 114
Fu Wei had spent five days in the prefecture, discussing the imperial decree that changed the annual tax to twice a year, increasing it by twenty percent overall.
It was said to prevent well-fed commoners with extra money from thinking about rebellion, better to keep them focused on farming to fill their bellies.
Failure to pay would result in forced labor!
This decree was particularly devastating for the Lingnan region.
After paying the annual taxes to the court, the governor usually had some surplus, but now with an additional twenty percent, it meant he had to collect more taxes.
How could he be unaware of the actual situation in his seven counties?
"Who is the damned fool who came up with this terrible idea?!"
"The person proposing this policy must have water in their brain!"
Pressured from above, he had no choice but to pass that pressure onto the magistrates below him.
Magistrate Zhou privately inquired of the governor about how to deal with the situation in Yu County.
After all, they had received permission last year to pay taxes at the end of this year. Forcing people to pay taxes in June could lead to many facing ruin or even taking their own lives.
Governor Shen, who had been hands-off for a long time, cursed inwardly and annoyed, said, "At most, we can delay it by three months."
Even this three-month extension was hard-won by Magistrate Zhou.
The other county magistrates sought similar extensions, but the governor bluntly rebuked them.
After several days of negotiation, apart from Yu County, the other six counties still had to follow the imperial edict, with those unable to pay being forced into labor.
Fu Wei received the news from Shen Mingcong early on and wasn’t too surprised by this absurd edict.
"The person who proposed this has no understanding of the people's suffering, only indulging in their own pleasures."
The emperor who approved this proposal is severely incompetent and foolish.
County Magistrate Zhou, leading the poorest county in Cangwu, had a gloomy expression, muttering to himself, "The medicinal herbs and beans have just been planted not long ago. The herbs can only be harvested next year, but fortunately, the beans are already sown and will be ready by July, preventing people from being pushed to extreme desperation."
Although it won't drive people to extreme desperation, it's unlikely to fully satiate their hunger.
With this thought, County Magistrate Zhou sighed again.
He didn't know how many times he had sighed today.
County Magistrate Zhou looked at Fu Wei and asked, "Are you sure those medicinal herbs can be sold?"
Fu Wei replied, "This year, there were heavy snows and cold in the north, so there's a rapid consumption of medicinal herbs, which will certainly need replenishing."
County Magistrate Zhou sighed again, "The taxes are already heavy. Not to mention reducing them, but even changing to biannual collection shouldn't mean increasing the total tax burden."
Fu Wei, after a moment of silence, speculated, "The sudden policy change might indeed be influenced by the unrest in Longxi and Shu counties, but it could also be an excuse to collect more taxes and labor to continue building palaces."
County Magistrate Zhou looked at Fu Wei in surprise, "Palaces?"
Fu Wei nodded, "The emperor had started building the Heavenly Palace, but it stopped halfway due to an inauspicious date. The real reason, however, was the empty state treasury."
Hearing Fu Wei's words, Zhou, the county magistrate, suddenly remembered the palace built by the emperor a few years ago. His expression darkened in an instant, his mind filled with irritation, yet he restrained himself from speaking out of turn, "Do not speculate wildly, lest you bring trouble upon yourself."
Fu Wei lowered his eyelids, "I understand."
Yesterday, a maid from the Li family had invited Yu Ying to treat the old Madam Li. Today, she went to the Li Mansion in the east of the city to decline the invitation.
After the maid from yesterday left, Yu Ying told her that she was currently busy with work from the Chen family and also had to open her own shop, leaving her no time to spare.
She added that once her shop was open, she would send a note, and if old Madam Li's leg ailment was still untreated by then, she would come to see her.
Hearing this, the maid frowned and said, "Instead of opening a shop for a meager profit, it would be better to treat my family's old Madam first. If you cure her, the consultation fee will surely not disappoint you."
The maid's words seemed somewhat condescending.
Although Yu Ying was usually mild-mannered, she was no pushover. She asked with a gentle smile, "You are just a servant at the Li house, why do you speak so haughtily?"
The maid realized her slip of the tongue but didn’t apologize, merely rolling her eyes and saying, "I'm just telling it like it is. If Madam Yu finds my words unpleasant, pretend you didn’t hear them."
Yu Ying had a general understanding of the Li family, the largest donor among the gentry, which explained why their servants dared to be so insolent.
The young girl, only thirteen or fourteen, thought working for a wealthy family made her superior, a lesson she would inevitably learn.
"You are here to seek a doctor for old Madam Li, not to make enemies. If I treat her today, given that I am a female doctor recognized by the county magistrate and my husband is an aide in the magistrate's office, if I mention to the old Madam your strange tone and unfriendly face, what do you think your masters will do to you?"
Unaware of Yu Ying’s background, the maid's face suddenly changed to one of panic upon hearing these words, and her previously raised chin quickly lowered.
"I was offensive earlier, please forgive me, Doctor Yu," she said, her previously arrogant demeanor now subdued.
Yu Ying’s expression remained cool, "When you relay this back, make sure to tell it exactly as it happened. If any exaggerations reach my ears, I will investigate thoroughly."
The Li family was a major household in Yuxian, and making enemies was always unwise.
The maid quickly agreed, "I will surely relay it accurately, please don't worry, Doctor Yu."
After speaking, Yu Ying turned and left.
Her plans to open a shop were not an excuse, but a reality.
Fu Wei had returned at some unknown time. Setting up a medical clinic involved many miscellaneous tasks and would take a long time. Besides, she had thought it through thoroughly and could make her own decisions without much discussion.
After visiting much of Yuxian, she found a suitable location for her clinic. It was a bit remote, but it was quiet, which was an advantage.
The building had two floors, comprising a single storefront.
The rent was to be paid every six months, at a rate of 1,300 wen per month.
Yu Ying had done her research; for a single storefront in the street, the going rate was also 1,300 wen per month, so this price was reasonable.
With a minimum lease of six months, she would need to pay 7,800 wen upfront.
This amount was still manageable for Yu Ying, who decided to rent the shop on the spot.
After renting it, she came with her sister-in-law and a few apprentices to clean up.
After the cleaning, her sister-in-law curiously asked, "Sister-in-law, what are your plans for the clinic?"
Yu Ying pondered for a moment, then said, "The shop is about twenty square meters. Besides the storefront on the first floor, we can only partition three small rooms, each about two square meters, which should be enough. The second floor will be for guests of some standing and naturally cannot be too cramped."
She paused in thought, then continued, "We'll partition two larger elegant rooms, leaving a larger space near the stairway with a couple of small tables and chairs, convenient for servants to rest."
At this, Yu Ying murmured to herself, "It seems I will need to order some furniture."
This would be a significant expense.
Including the rent, getting everything set up would cost at least fifteen taels of silver.
With sufficient funds at hand and connections with the government office, Yu Ying dared to undertake this bold venture.
Yu Ying first went to a carpenter to order medicine cabinets and simple wooden beds, and also had the carpenter build the partitions.
As for the medicine cabinet, it's essentially the same as in a medical hall. The wooden bed is not big, similar to a beauty bed, with a hole carved at the head of the bed.
The medical hall serves both as a place for treatment and a profitable venture for health and wellness, achieving two goals at once.
She decided on five beds of the same design, covered with coarse or cotton fabric, so there's no visible difference, eliminating the need to make distinctions.
The three simple partitions only require a wooden bed and a small table each, but the two upper rooms, the private chambers, need careful and exquisite decoration.
The decoration should be economical, focusing on creating an atmosphere.
Fu Wei is skilled in painting, so he could create several paintings depicting proud snow-covered plum blossoms and bamboo groves, to be used as screens.
Commissioning paintings can be uncertain in terms of quality and cost, but having seen Fu Wei's excellent painting skills, getting him to paint would save money and he could even design the signboard.
Beyond the screens, place several tall stands in the room with porcelain jars or vases on them, filled with flowers, bamboo, or green pines.
Lighting homemade incense for guests would complete the ambiance.
Further intricate decorations can be added gradually after these primary elements are in place.
Completing all the furniture and partitions would take at least a month.
During the waiting period, she could prepare the medicinal herbs and also take time to teach some basic knowledge to a few apprentices. Though they wouldn't be fully trained, they should at least know the basics of preparing medicines.
As for the massage therapy, she definitely couldn't do it alone.
After much consideration, Yu Ying decided to involve her sister-in-law in the venture.
She approached her sister-in-law to discuss learning massage therapy.
Wen Xing panicked and waved her hands, “I can’t do it. I barely know a few characters, how could I learn this?”
Yu Ying reassured her, “Sister-in-law, you are strong and meticulous. You listened while I taught Fu An and the others; you're already familiar with some acupoints, how could you not learn?”
Wen Xing still hesitated, “I might know them, but I dare not just massage anyone. What if I cause trouble?”
Yu Ying chuckled, "I certainly wouldn't expect you to start working with clients immediately. You'll be trained for a while, and only when I'm sure you're ready, will you begin. Besides, massage is different from treating illnesses. While medical treatment requires years of study, with hands-on teaching, you could learn massage in as short as a month or, at most, three months."
Wen Xing expressed her surprise, "So soon?"
After a moment of thought, she hesitated, "What if, even after you've taught me, I still can't learn? Maybe I should just not bother and stick to helping out with odd jobs."
Yu Ying pondered for a while, then found another angle to persuade her sister-in-law, "This skill shouldn’t be carelessly taught to outsiders. I'm concerned that some might learn and then leave the clinic after a few months to perform massages elsewhere. If problems arise, the clinic would still be held responsible. And what if they quit after learning? That would be problematic."
Concluding her argument, Yu Ying earnestly added, "In my heart, I truly believe sister-in-law is the most reliable person for this."
All her reasoning paled in comparison to this last statement.
Hearing her sister-in-law praise her reliability, Wen Xing felt her heart thumping excitedly, a warmth spreading within her.
With her cheeks slightly flushed, Wen Xing asked softly, "Since sister-in-law has so much faith in me, of course, I want to help. But what if I really can’t learn?"
Yu Ying smiled reassuringly, "Let's start with learning, and if you can’t do it, I won't force you."
Wen Xing pondered seriously for a moment before hesitantly agreeing, "Then I’ll start learning."
She was determined to study diligently, knowing she couldn’t let her sister-in-law down if she truly couldn’t learn.
With her sister-in-law on board, that part was settled.
Including herself, her sister-in-law, Fu An, and three other apprentices, there were six people in total. Being the only one able to conduct consultations, the size of the clinic was sufficient.
Any other improvements could be planned later, once the business was thriving.
