Chapter 120
In the morning, as Yu Ying reached out of the bed curtain for her clothes, she was pulled back into the bed by a strong arm.
Fu Wei, relishing the moment, held his soft and smooth wife close, their intimacy palpable.
“I need to go to the clinic,” Yu Ying said somewhat helplessly while being held.
Fu Wei, embracing Yu Ying's waist and burying his face in the nape of her neck, murmured softly, “The boss is happy, being late by an hour won’t matter.”
After speaking, he whispered, “Stay with me a little longer.”
Yu Ying, feeling a bit tired, thought it over and decided, one more hour wouldn’t hurt.
She yawned and asked, “Don’t you have to go to the office?”
Fu Wei chuckled softly, "I already asked for leave from the county magistrate yesterday, so I can spend the entire day with you today."
Yu Ying shook her head, "That won’t work. The patients at the clinic are all women and girls; what would it look like with you there?"
Fu Wei thought about it and realized she was right.
Besides, while he could take a day off, Yu Ying’s clinic still needed a doctor, especially since the patients were all women. His presence indeed wouldn’t be appropriate.
He nuzzled into the nape of Yu Ying’s neck and whispered softly, “I just want to be with you.”
His voice in the morning was slightly deep and husky.
Yu Ying found his tone somewhat tickling and mesmerizing.
How could anyone resist such a clingy and affectionate Fu Wei?
She just couldn’t resist.
Still, Yu Ying had important things to do and couldn’t continue to indulge in intimate moments with Fu Wei.
When Yu Ying got up, Fu Wei naturally did too.
After getting ready, the two of them stepped out of the house together.
There had been a light rain in the middle of the night, typical for the plum rain season. Stepping outside, the air was uncomfortably damp and muggy.
Yu Ying went to the small warehouse used as a pharmacy to prepare some medicines for Luo.
“It’s quite humid now. In the afternoon, you should fumigate each room. It’ll help with the dampness and...” She swallowed the word 'germs' and changed it to, “reduce humidity.”
Luo's face lit up with a smile, eagerly responding, "Okay!"
Luo then added, "I prepared chicken soup early this morning. Have some before you go out."
Yu Ying...
Felt that Luo was concerned she might be tired from the previous night and wanted to nourish her...
Today seemed like any other day, yet there were subtle differences.
Not just Luo, even her sister-in-law and Fu An looked at her with added warmth and eagerness.
After Fu Wei and Yu Ying officially held their wedding ceremony yesterday, the Fu family felt a sense of relief, as if things had finally settled.
Yu Ying and Fu Wei came out of their room later than usual, so Wen Xing and her son had already eaten breakfast and did not accompany her to the clinic.
Since Fu Wei didn’t have to work today, he decided to accompany Yu Ying to the clinic.
Rather than saying he was accompanying her, it was more like Yu Ying pushing his wheelchair there, thinking to herself about asking him later how long he intended to keep up the pretense of being disabled.
Upon arriving at the clinic, they saw a carriage parked outside, and soon the curtains lifted, revealing the Li family’s young lady stepping out.
After the young lady, an older woman around fifty years old, presumably her mother, emerged from the carriage, supported by the young lady.
The elderly lady seemed to struggle as she got down from the carriage, clearly having difficulty with her legs.
This must be Old Madam Li, who had previously invited her to the Li residence for a consultation.
It had been two months since the Li family sought her out, and they hadn't visited since being refused. They probably felt slighted and underestimated her skills, initially seeking her consultation merely as a trial.
Their visit now suggested they hadn't found a cure and were desperate due to the severity of the illness.
After the grandmother and granddaughter stepped down from the carriage and saw Yu Ying and her husband at the clinic's entrance, they paused in surprise.
The Li young lady, upon seeing Fu Wei, blushed slightly and sneaked several glances at him, quite openly and unabashedly.
Yu Ying: ...
She glanced down at Fu Wei.
Even with his disability, his handsome features and gentle demeanor were like jade, inevitably attracting covert glances from young ladies.
She thought it might be best for him to continue feigning disability; otherwise, his recovery might draw unwanted attention from admirers.
The elderly lady, oblivious to her granddaughter's behavior, looked coldly at Yu Ying and asked in a chilly tone, "Are you Madam Yu, the head of this clinic?"
Others would have addressed her respectfully as 'Director Yu' or at least 'Madam Yu.' The old lady’s use of just 'Yu Shi' showed her arrogance.
Yu Ying responded coolly, nodding, "Yes, I am."
Perhaps sensing the lack of warmth in Yu Ying’s response, the Li family’s young lady frowned and said, "We’ve come for treatment, what kind of attitude is this?"
Yu Ying smiled gently, "May I ask, Miss Li, what kind of attitude should I have? Should I be bowing and scraping, or smiling and welcoming you at the door?"
Fu Wei, calmly interjecting, added, "In a medical clinic, there’s never been a tradition of special welcomes."
Old Madam Li frowned and turned her gaze towards Fu Wei.
After a moment of thought, she realized who he was and thought, ‘Just a mere clerk, yet so arrogant.’
Despite her displeasure, she knew he worked for the government, and making a scene might displease the county magistrate and reflect poorly on the Li family.
Thinking this, Old Madam Li turned to scold her granddaughter, “What are you babbling about?”
Seeing an opportunity, Yu Ying tactfully said, "Old Madam Li, since you've come for treatment, please follow me upstairs."
“Didn’t you see my grandmother’s difficulty in walking? How can she go upstairs?!” Miss Li retorted sharply, despite being scolded.
Old Madam Li looked around the ground floor hall, filled with commoners in patched clothing, and her eyebrows knitted slightly with disdain.
"We'll go to the second floor."
With the grandmother having spoken, Miss Li naturally dared not say more.
Yu Ying, looking around the room already occupied by three women waiting, said, "There are patients here needing attention. Please allow me, Mrs. Li, to spend a short half-hour attending to them first."
Mrs. Li instantly felt displeased. Why should she wait for these country folks to be seen before her?
Just as Miss Li was about to voice her complaint, Yu Ying added, "I need to be meticulous and focused while examining Mrs. Li. Surely, I cannot afford to be distracted, worrying about patients downstairs."
The initially irate grandmother and granddaughter, hearing this, seemed to find no fault in her reasoning.
Yu Ying smiled, "Please, go upstairs first. I'll have someone serve you hot tea and pastries."
After saying this, she called a female apprentice to escort them upstairs.
Miss Li huffed softly, then helped Mrs. Li, along with another maid, into the back courtyard, not without casting a regretful glance back at Fu Wei.
"Such a pity, a handsome young man like him, crippled."
"If he weren’t crippled, how could he end up with such an ugly woman?"
With this thought, she glared venomously at Yu Ying.
Yu Ying, inexplicably glared at: “…”
When glancing at the 'ugly woman', she noticed the spots on her face had faded to a faint mark, significantly lighter than a month ago.
Startled, she wondered, could it really be that she cured herself?
Upon reaching the second floor, Mrs. Li's initial disdain turned to surprise upon seeing the décor.
"Such a modest clinic, yet decorated so exquisitely and brightly, even the Li mansion isn’t this impressive."
"I heard this Madam Yu is the daughter of a disgraced official from the capital. Indeed, those who have seen the world are different. But what does that signify?"
"Even if this woman was once a lady of high birth, now she is nothing more than a woman of dubious reputation."
Watching them ascend to the second floor, Yu Ying turned to Fu Wei, "I'll have Fu An escort you back."
Fu Wei glanced toward the back courtyard and advised, "The Li family is cunning and peculiar. Be cautious, and if it's too troublesome, feel no obligation to treat them."
Yu Ying smiled, "I wouldn't refuse to treat someone without reason. Besides..." she lowered her voice, "the Li family is the wealthiest in Yu County. Turning down easy money is not my style."
Fu Wei also smiled, "Then don't be too polite with them."
Yu Ying nodded, then called Fu An to go back with her young uncle, and to buy some groceries on the way.
Yu Ying took a short half-hour to finish the downstairs consultations before heading upstairs.
Just as she was about to inquire, Miss Li suspiciously warned, "If you can cure my grandmother, our Li family will reward you handsomely. But if you fail, worsening her condition..." her eyes darkened threateningly, "you'll regret it."
Mrs. Li sipped her tea, doing nothing to stop her granddaughter's threats.
Though Yu Ying disliked quarreling, she was no pushover.
Just having sat down, she stood up again and calmly stated, "I see Mrs. Li suffers from arthralgia, with severe pain during windy and rainy weather, especially this month, and last night was particularly sleepless, right?"
Recently, it was the rainy season, and it had rained last night. Yu Ying noticed Mrs. Li's stiff movements, rigid walking posture, pallor, and dark circles under her eyes, all signs of poor sleep.
The Li family, known for their pride, wouldn’t have come unless driven by unbearable pain. Given the rainy season, rheumatic pain was the most likely diagnosis.
Mrs. Li was taken aback.
Miss Li, not thinking much, scoffed, "You must have inquired beforehand and are now pretending, huh."
Yu Ying glanced at her and said gently, "Our Yongxi Hall is too modest and might lack the capability to treat Mrs. Li. I suggest seeking a more skilled physician elsewhere."
Miss Li glared and said, "At least you're aware of your limitations, but declaring it untreatable without even a look, that's sheer negligence on your part!"
"In Yu County, who doesn't rush to please our family, apart from the magistrate's? Who dares to disgrace us like this?!"
Yu Ying smiled, "I've never seen anyone threatening a doctor before the treatment even begins. What if the doctor, feeling slighted, decides to add an extra herb or two in the medicine? The consequences could be dire."
She then looked at Mrs. Li and added, "No clinic can guarantee a cure, but using threats of failure as leverage... who would dare to treat the elderly lady?"
Mrs. Li's expression darkened as she heard Yu Ying, who said with a smile, "I owe nothing to the Li family. If you're sincere about seeking treatment, I'll do my best. But it seems you're more interested in intimidating me than in treatment. I'm not without temper, so naturally, I won't tolerate too much."
The woman's voice was gentle, devoid of anger, yet her words were resolutely firm.
Mrs. Li frowned deeply.
Yu Ying had accurately diagnosed her condition, not as her granddaughter suggested, by prior inquiry; after all, did the Yu family even know she was coming for treatment?
"You're just emboldened by having the magistrate's wife backing you, but if she knew you were incompetent, I wonder..."
"Quiet."
Mrs. Li's stern voice silenced her granddaughter, who turned and said, "Grandmother, I'm only speaking the truth."
With a cold glance from Mrs. Li, the girl dared not speak further.
Turning to Yu Ying, Mrs. Li smiled, "My granddaughter is young and speaks out of turn. I hope you won’t hold it against her."
So, it all fell into the hands of the elder Mrs. Li.
Then Mrs. Li added, "To make amends for our earlier rudeness, we will pay double for your consultation fee and the medicines."
Yu Ying, a person of principle, had to adapt to the times. While she had her pride, she knew when to stand her ground.
Besides, the Li family held significant influence in Yu County; it wasn't wise to outright dismiss them. Earning extra was a bonus.
Yu Ying sat back down, foregoing any grandiose statements, and simply said, "In light of Mrs. Li's gesture and the doubled fee, I will dedicate myself fully to treating her rheumatism."
"Hmph, sounds nice, but it's just greed," Miss Li muttered under her breath, but stopped at her grandmother's stern glance.
Yu Ying glanced at her, seeing nothing more than a thoughtless young lady.
Ever since being scolded by Lady Zhou at the opening, she hadn’t learned her lesson. It was unclear whether the Li family was spoiling her or spoiling her rotten.
The affairs of the Li family were none of Yu Ying's concern, nor was she curious about them.
With Miss Li quieted, Yu Ying carefully examined Mrs. Li.
Mrs. Li said, "I've been in pain for two years, even consulted doctors in the county, but it keeps recurring."
Yu Ying replied, "Rheumatism is hard to cure completely, but soaking your feet, massaging, and applying heat to the joints can ease the symptoms and make the pain bearable."
"Why come to you if you can't cure it?!"
Yu Ying, unimpressed, glanced at her, "If Miss Li continues to disrupt, affecting my examination of Mrs. Li, please leave."
Mrs. Li frowned at her granddaughter upon hearing her, "Stop talking or leave the room."
Miss Li closed her mouth again, feeling wronged.
Mrs. Li then turned to Madam Yu, saying, "The county doctor also said it's hard to cure. He just gave me some medicine for foot baths. It helps a bit, but my pain flares up whenever it rains, sometimes so badly I can't even walk."
Mrs. Li wouldn't have visited this clinic if it weren't for the unbearable pain.
She heard from others that their backaches were much relieved after visiting Yongxi Hall just once, and felt much lighter after a few visits.
Initially, Mrs. Li didn't take it seriously, but as she heard more, she gradually became concerned.
Yu Ying said, "First, soak in a medicinal bath for seven days, then have a massage. You shouldn't suffer too much during the rainy season."
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Li decided to give it a try.
After pondering, Yu Ying asked, "I can also provide relief for shoulders and neck, and even facial treatments. Would you like to try, Mrs. Li?"
Mrs. Li, not lacking in money, nodded in agreement.
Yu Ying left the room with a smile, heading downstairs to prepare the medicine.
Wen Xing, who just finished massaging a woman's back, approached her sister-in-law with curiosity, "I heard from Mei Zi that the Li family is quite arrogant, more like they came to cause trouble than to seek treatment. How can you be so happy?"
Yu Ying was in a good mood, smiling warmly.
"They're bringing us money, why wouldn't I be happy?"
Foot soaks, hot compresses, leg and foot massages, shoulder and neck massages, and even facial treatments, all doubled in price. How could she not be happy with two guan of money for all these?
And it's for seven days. Even if we can't do everything, we'll still make at least ten guan in the end.
When Yu Ying mentioned the price, her sister-in-law hesitated and worriedly said, "How could the Li family agree to be such easy targets? Won't this cause trouble?"
Yu Ying laughed, "The Li family's wealth is immense. Besides, if they're willing to pay, why would I nobly refuse?"
Besides, that Miss Li is so arrogant, she might even end up offending someone. Yu Ying felt perfectly justified in accepting their money.
Hearing this, her sister-in-law's face lit up with joy, no longer fearing the Li family causing trouble. She eagerly said, "I'll go and brew some more damp-removing tea for them!"
Chapter 120
In the morning, as Yu Ying reached out of the bed curtain for her clothes, she was pulled back into the bed by a strong arm.
Fu Wei, relishing the moment, held his soft and smooth wife close, their intimacy palpable.
“I need to go to the clinic,” Yu Ying said somewhat helplessly while being held.
Fu Wei, embracing Yu Ying's waist and burying his face in the nape of her neck, murmured softly, “The boss is happy, being late by an hour won’t matter.”
After speaking, he whispered, “Stay with me a little longer.”
Yu Ying, feeling a bit tired, thought it over and decided, one more hour wouldn’t hurt.
She yawned and asked, “Don’t you have to go to the office?”
Fu Wei chuckled softly, "I already asked for leave from the county magistrate yesterday, so I can spend the entire day with you today."
Yu Ying shook her head, "That won’t work. The patients at the clinic are all women and girls; what would it look like with you there?"
Fu Wei thought about it and realized she was right.
Besides, while he could take a day off, Yu Ying’s clinic still needed a doctor, especially since the patients were all women. His presence indeed wouldn’t be appropriate.
He nuzzled into the nape of Yu Ying’s neck and whispered softly, “I just want to be with you.”
His voice in the morning was slightly deep and husky.
Yu Ying found his tone somewhat tickling and mesmerizing.
How could anyone resist such a clingy and affectionate Fu Wei?
She just couldn’t resist.
Still, Yu Ying had important things to do and couldn’t continue to indulge in intimate moments with Fu Wei.
When Yu Ying got up, Fu Wei naturally did too.
After getting ready, the two of them stepped out of the house together.
There had been a light rain in the middle of the night, typical for the plum rain season. Stepping outside, the air was uncomfortably damp and muggy.
Yu Ying went to the small warehouse used as a pharmacy to prepare some medicines for Luo.
“It’s quite humid now. In the afternoon, you should fumigate each room. It’ll help with the dampness and...” She swallowed the word 'germs' and changed it to, “reduce humidity.”
Luo's face lit up with a smile, eagerly responding, "Okay!"
Luo then added, "I prepared chicken soup early this morning. Have some before you go out."
Yu Ying...
Felt that Luo was concerned she might be tired from the previous night and wanted to nourish her...
Today seemed like any other day, yet there were subtle differences.
Not just Luo, even her sister-in-law and Fu An looked at her with added warmth and eagerness.
After Fu Wei and Yu Ying officially held their wedding ceremony yesterday, the Fu family felt a sense of relief, as if things had finally settled.
Yu Ying and Fu Wei came out of their room later than usual, so Wen Xing and her son had already eaten breakfast and did not accompany her to the clinic.
Since Fu Wei didn’t have to work today, he decided to accompany Yu Ying to the clinic.
Rather than saying he was accompanying her, it was more like Yu Ying pushing his wheelchair there, thinking to herself about asking him later how long he intended to keep up the pretense of being disabled.
Upon arriving at the clinic, they saw a carriage parked outside, and soon the curtains lifted, revealing the Li family’s young lady stepping out.
After the young lady, an older woman around fifty years old, presumably her mother, emerged from the carriage, supported by the young lady.
The elderly lady seemed to struggle as she got down from the carriage, clearly having difficulty with her legs.
This must be Old Madam Li, who had previously invited her to the Li residence for a consultation.
It had been two months since the Li family sought her out, and they hadn't visited since being refused. They probably felt slighted and underestimated her skills, initially seeking her consultation merely as a trial.
Their visit now suggested they hadn't found a cure and were desperate due to the severity of the illness.
After the grandmother and granddaughter stepped down from the carriage and saw Yu Ying and her husband at the clinic's entrance, they paused in surprise.
The Li young lady, upon seeing Fu Wei, blushed slightly and sneaked several glances at him, quite openly and unabashedly.
Yu Ying: ...
She glanced down at Fu Wei.
Even with his disability, his handsome features and gentle demeanor were like jade, inevitably attracting covert glances from young ladies.
She thought it might be best for him to continue feigning disability; otherwise, his recovery might draw unwanted attention from admirers.
The elderly lady, oblivious to her granddaughter's behavior, looked coldly at Yu Ying and asked in a chilly tone, "Are you Madam Yu, the head of this clinic?"
Others would have addressed her respectfully as 'Director Yu' or at least 'Madam Yu.' The old lady’s use of just 'Yu Shi' showed her arrogance.
Yu Ying responded coolly, nodding, "Yes, I am."
Perhaps sensing the lack of warmth in Yu Ying’s response, the Li family’s young lady frowned and said, "We’ve come for treatment, what kind of attitude is this?"
Yu Ying smiled gently, "May I ask, Miss Li, what kind of attitude should I have? Should I be bowing and scraping, or smiling and welcoming you at the door?"
Fu Wei, calmly interjecting, added, "In a medical clinic, there’s never been a tradition of special welcomes."
Old Madam Li frowned and turned her gaze towards Fu Wei.
After a moment of thought, she realized who he was and thought, ‘Just a mere clerk, yet so arrogant.’
Despite her displeasure, she knew he worked for the government, and making a scene might displease the county magistrate and reflect poorly on the Li family.
Thinking this, Old Madam Li turned to scold her granddaughter, “What are you babbling about?”
Seeing an opportunity, Yu Ying tactfully said, "Old Madam Li, since you've come for treatment, please follow me upstairs."
“Didn’t you see my grandmother’s difficulty in walking? How can she go upstairs?!” Miss Li retorted sharply, despite being scolded.
Old Madam Li looked around the ground floor hall, filled with commoners in patched clothing, and her eyebrows knitted slightly with disdain.
"We'll go to the second floor."
With the grandmother having spoken, Miss Li naturally dared not say more.
Yu Ying, looking around the room already occupied by three women waiting, said, "There are patients here needing attention. Please allow me, Mrs. Li, to spend a short half-hour attending to them first."
Mrs. Li instantly felt displeased. Why should she wait for these country folks to be seen before her?
Just as Miss Li was about to voice her complaint, Yu Ying added, "I need to be meticulous and focused while examining Mrs. Li. Surely, I cannot afford to be distracted, worrying about patients downstairs."
The initially irate grandmother and granddaughter, hearing this, seemed to find no fault in her reasoning.
Yu Ying smiled, "Please, go upstairs first. I'll have someone serve you hot tea and pastries."
After saying this, she called a female apprentice to escort them upstairs.
Miss Li huffed softly, then helped Mrs. Li, along with another maid, into the back courtyard, not without casting a regretful glance back at Fu Wei.
"Such a pity, a handsome young man like him, crippled."
"If he weren’t crippled, how could he end up with such an ugly woman?"
With this thought, she glared venomously at Yu Ying.
Yu Ying, inexplicably glared at: “…”
When glancing at the 'ugly woman', she noticed the spots on her face had faded to a faint mark, significantly lighter than a month ago.
Startled, she wondered, could it really be that she cured herself?
Upon reaching the second floor, Mrs. Li's initial disdain turned to surprise upon seeing the décor.
"Such a modest clinic, yet decorated so exquisitely and brightly, even the Li mansion isn’t this impressive."
"I heard this Madam Yu is the daughter of a disgraced official from the capital. Indeed, those who have seen the world are different. But what does that signify?"
"Even if this woman was once a lady of high birth, now she is nothing more than a woman of dubious reputation."
Watching them ascend to the second floor, Yu Ying turned to Fu Wei, "I'll have Fu An escort you back."
Fu Wei glanced toward the back courtyard and advised, "The Li family is cunning and peculiar. Be cautious, and if it's too troublesome, feel no obligation to treat them."
Yu Ying smiled, "I wouldn't refuse to treat someone without reason. Besides..." she lowered her voice, "the Li family is the wealthiest in Yu County. Turning down easy money is not my style."
Fu Wei also smiled, "Then don't be too polite with them."
Yu Ying nodded, then called Fu An to go back with her young uncle, and to buy some groceries on the way.
Yu Ying took a short half-hour to finish the downstairs consultations before heading upstairs.
Just as she was about to inquire, Miss Li suspiciously warned, "If you can cure my grandmother, our Li family will reward you handsomely. But if you fail, worsening her condition..." her eyes darkened threateningly, "you'll regret it."
Mrs. Li sipped her tea, doing nothing to stop her granddaughter's threats.
Though Yu Ying disliked quarreling, she was no pushover.
Just having sat down, she stood up again and calmly stated, "I see Mrs. Li suffers from arthralgia, with severe pain during windy and rainy weather, especially this month, and last night was particularly sleepless, right?"
Recently, it was the rainy season, and it had rained last night. Yu Ying noticed Mrs. Li's stiff movements, rigid walking posture, pallor, and dark circles under her eyes, all signs of poor sleep.
The Li family, known for their pride, wouldn’t have come unless driven by unbearable pain. Given the rainy season, rheumatic pain was the most likely diagnosis.
Mrs. Li was taken aback.
Miss Li, not thinking much, scoffed, "You must have inquired beforehand and are now pretending, huh."
Yu Ying glanced at her and said gently, "Our Yongxi Hall is too modest and might lack the capability to treat Mrs. Li. I suggest seeking a more skilled physician elsewhere."
Miss Li glared and said, "At least you're aware of your limitations, but declaring it untreatable without even a look, that's sheer negligence on your part!"
"In Yu County, who doesn't rush to please our family, apart from the magistrate's? Who dares to disgrace us like this?!"
Yu Ying smiled, "I've never seen anyone threatening a doctor before the treatment even begins. What if the doctor, feeling slighted, decides to add an extra herb or two in the medicine? The consequences could be dire."
She then looked at Mrs. Li and added, "No clinic can guarantee a cure, but using threats of failure as leverage... who would dare to treat the elderly lady?"
Mrs. Li's expression darkened as she heard Yu Ying, who said with a smile, "I owe nothing to the Li family. If you're sincere about seeking treatment, I'll do my best. But it seems you're more interested in intimidating me than in treatment. I'm not without temper, so naturally, I won't tolerate too much."
The woman's voice was gentle, devoid of anger, yet her words were resolutely firm.
Mrs. Li frowned deeply.
Yu Ying had accurately diagnosed her condition, not as her granddaughter suggested, by prior inquiry; after all, did the Yu family even know she was coming for treatment?
"You're just emboldened by having the magistrate's wife backing you, but if she knew you were incompetent, I wonder..."
"Quiet."
Mrs. Li's stern voice silenced her granddaughter, who turned and said, "Grandmother, I'm only speaking the truth."
With a cold glance from Mrs. Li, the girl dared not speak further.
Turning to Yu Ying, Mrs. Li smiled, "My granddaughter is young and speaks out of turn. I hope you won’t hold it against her."
So, it all fell into the hands of the elder Mrs. Li.
Then Mrs. Li added, "To make amends for our earlier rudeness, we will pay double for your consultation fee and the medicines."
Yu Ying, a person of principle, had to adapt to the times. While she had her pride, she knew when to stand her ground.
Besides, the Li family held significant influence in Yu County; it wasn't wise to outright dismiss them. Earning extra was a bonus.
Yu Ying sat back down, foregoing any grandiose statements, and simply said, "In light of Mrs. Li's gesture and the doubled fee, I will dedicate myself fully to treating her rheumatism."
"Hmph, sounds nice, but it's just greed," Miss Li muttered under her breath, but stopped at her grandmother's stern glance.
Yu Ying glanced at her, seeing nothing more than a thoughtless young lady.
Ever since being scolded by Lady Zhou at the opening, she hadn’t learned her lesson. It was unclear whether the Li family was spoiling her or spoiling her rotten.
The affairs of the Li family were none of Yu Ying's concern, nor was she curious about them.
With Miss Li quieted, Yu Ying carefully examined Mrs. Li.
Mrs. Li said, "I've been in pain for two years, even consulted doctors in the county, but it keeps recurring."
Yu Ying replied, "Rheumatism is hard to cure completely, but soaking your feet, massaging, and applying heat to the joints can ease the symptoms and make the pain bearable."
"Why come to you if you can't cure it?!"
Yu Ying, unimpressed, glanced at her, "If Miss Li continues to disrupt, affecting my examination of Mrs. Li, please leave."
Mrs. Li frowned at her granddaughter upon hearing her, "Stop talking or leave the room."
Miss Li closed her mouth again, feeling wronged.
Mrs. Li then turned to Madam Yu, saying, "The county doctor also said it's hard to cure. He just gave me some medicine for foot baths. It helps a bit, but my pain flares up whenever it rains, sometimes so badly I can't even walk."
Mrs. Li wouldn't have visited this clinic if it weren't for the unbearable pain.
She heard from others that their backaches were much relieved after visiting Yongxi Hall just once, and felt much lighter after a few visits.
Initially, Mrs. Li didn't take it seriously, but as she heard more, she gradually became concerned.
Yu Ying said, "First, soak in a medicinal bath for seven days, then have a massage. You shouldn't suffer too much during the rainy season."
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Li decided to give it a try.
After pondering, Yu Ying asked, "I can also provide relief for shoulders and neck, and even facial treatments. Would you like to try, Mrs. Li?"
Mrs. Li, not lacking in money, nodded in agreement.
Yu Ying left the room with a smile, heading downstairs to prepare the medicine.
Wen Xing, who just finished massaging a woman's back, approached her sister-in-law with curiosity, "I heard from Mei Zi that the Li family is quite arrogant, more like they came to cause trouble than to seek treatment. How can you be so happy?"
Yu Ying was in a good mood, smiling warmly.
"They're bringing us money, why wouldn't I be happy?"
Foot soaks, hot compresses, leg and foot massages, shoulder and neck massages, and even facial treatments, all doubled in price. How could she not be happy with two guan of money for all these?
And it's for seven days. Even if we can't do everything, we'll still make at least ten guan in the end.
When Yu Ying mentioned the price, her sister-in-law hesitated and worriedly said, "How could the Li family agree to be such easy targets? Won't this cause trouble?"
Yu Ying laughed, "The Li family's wealth is immense. Besides, if they're willing to pay, why would I nobly refuse?"
Besides, that Miss Li is so arrogant, she might even end up offending someone. Yu Ying felt perfectly justified in accepting their money.
Hearing this, her sister-in-law's face lit up with joy, no longer fearing the Li family causing trouble. She eagerly said, "I'll go and brew some more damp-removing tea for them!"
