Were these pills really that good?
Doctor Yan, seeing how warmly the Fifth Young Master of the Xing family treated this young man, had this as his first thought. Then he grew angry at that troublemaking apprentice. If Young Master Xing stopped purchasing medicinal supplies at his medical hall because of his friend’s mistreatment, the loss would be no small matter.
Doctor Yan glared irritably at the cowering apprentice, then turned to Xu Yi with a pleasant expression. “This old man didn’t realize Young Master Xing was already acquainted with this talented young gentleman. The boy at the hall didn’t know any better. May I ask how to address you, young sir?”
“My surname is Xu, given name Yi. You may simply call me by my name,” Xu Yi said.
He was humble and composed, conducting himself naturally, which put Doctor Yan’s heart at ease. Though only fifteen or sixteen years old, his words and behavior showed such bearing. He surely wouldn’t be the petty, calculating type.
Doctor Yan asked, “Just now this old man heard you discussing some digestive pills. Might I take a look?”
Xu Yi wasn’t surprised he’d be interested, or rather, that he was interested because of Xing Yuesen. This was evident from his attitude toward Xing Yuesen.
As before, he explained to the doctor what symptoms these Xin’an County Digestive Pills treated. Naturally, he didn’t mention the name Xin’an County, but instead called them “Chen’s Digestive Pills.”
Xing Yuesen was puzzled. “Why ‘Chen’s Digestive Pills’ instead of ‘Xu’s Digestive Pills’?”
Xu Yi shook his head. He wasn’t thick-skinned enough to claim these digestive pills as his own and seize someone else’s credit and reputation.
“I found the formula for these digestive pills in a book.” Worried they might think his preparation was incorrect, he added half-truthfully, “I’ve made them before. The effects matched what was described in the book.”
Upon hearing this, Doctor Yan opened the hemp paper Xu Yi handed him. Inside were five brown medicine pills the size of seeds. He brought them close and sniffed lightly, detecting the fragrance of several medicinal herbs.
Among them, the scents of dried tangerine peel and hawthorn were heavy and immediately identifiable. Sniffing more carefully, he could detect one or two other herbal scents, though he couldn’t identify what else was there. However, he could confirm these were indeed pills for treating indigestion.
The zhishi inside was a qi-regulating medicine. Not only did it break up qi and disperse accumulation, it also had effects of dissolving phlegm and dispersing fullness. For cases of severe constipation, using zhishi paired with other medicines could specifically purge gastric excess.
Regarding Xu Yi saying the pill formula came from a book, he believed it. He just regretted not knowing which medical text it was from. If it truly had so many effects, these digestive pills would surely be more popular than ordinary food stagnation decoctions.
Nearby, Xing Yuesen also opened a package of digestive pills. Smelling the medicinal fragrance wafting out, he had the thought that “good medicine need not be bitter.”
Seeing Doctor Yan’s moved expression, his heart skipped a beat and he quickly waved his hands. “I’ve already bought these pills, Doctor Yan.”
Doctor Yan: “…”
He stroked his beard and said, “This old man didn’t say he wanted to buy these pills.”
He’d only been thinking it; he hadn’t had time to speak up yet.
If this young Master Xu was willing to sell pills he made in the future to his medical hall, that would certainly work.
With that in mind, he asked Xu Yi, “Young sir, have you thought about where you would sell medicine pills if you made more in the future?”
Hmm?
Xu Yi paused, then answered truthfully, “I haven’t decided yet. If I make more, I’d probably still have to sell them individually to households that need them.”
Doctor Yan immediately perked up. “If young Master Xu makes more of these pills, our Jishi Hall will take them all.”
Having been a doctor for so many years, if he hadn’t examined ten thousand medicine pills, he’d examined at least a thousand. These pills in his hand were smooth and round on the outside with a rich medicinal fragrance, showing they’d been made with care. Though the efficacy hadn’t been tested yet, if all went as expected, they shouldn’t be lacking.
Before Xu Yi could agree, Xing Yuesen spoke up with a laughing scold. “You crafty Doctor Yan! I met Brother Yi first, and I haven’t even asked if more pills could be reserved for me, yet you already know to snatch them first.”
Doctor Yan wasn’t annoyed. “Good medicine pills are naturally welcome in abundance.”
His desire to buy these pills had another reason: this Xu Yi was acquainted with the young master of the Xing family.
The Xing family was a famous large household on West Street with numerous business ventures. Of the ten silk and ready-made clothing shops along Guangyun Street, five belonged to the Xing family’s enterprises.
Not to mention, this Fifth Young Master Xing Yuesen of the Xing family was promising. It was said he studied diligently with good results and had prospects of achieving scholarly success by the age of thirty.
In these times, many people studied, and the civil examinations grew more difficult each year. Cultivating a scholar wasn’t easy. The Xing family had six grandchildren; only two were still studying. The other was still young, barely thirteen, and already showed little talent for scholarship. This Xing Yuesen might well be the most promising of the Xing family’s generation, and plenty of people wanted to befriend him.
Though Doctor Yan was a doctor who saved lives and healed the sick, he ran a medical hall that needed management and operation. Maintaining good relations with wealthy families with bright futures brought more benefits than drawbacks.
Xing Yuesen waved his wide sleeve and grabbed Xu Yi’s sleeve, saying, “Brother Yi, you must consider me! These few dozen pills won’t last more than a few days. I’ll still need to buy from you in the future.”
Xu Yi blinked. These pills that couldn’t be sold had suddenly become sought after.
He smiled slightly. “There’s no rush with this matter. After Brother Xing’s family members in need have taken the pills and seen their effectiveness, buying more won’t be too late. Additionally, Doctor Yan, if you want some, I can make a small batch first next time. If they work well, I’ll continue coming to Jishi Hall afterward.”
This couldn’t be better for Doctor Yan, so they agreed to meet again in five days. The purchase price for the pills was also set: ten wen for five pills, the same price as selling to acquaintances.
However, Xu Yi had a requirement: if these pills were sold to poor people, the price couldn’t be raised, it couldn’t exceed twenty wen. But if sold to wealthy people… he had no requirements.
…
With the discussion concluded, Xu Yi and Xing Yuesen left Jishi Hall together.
Xing Yuesen, who’d been silent until then, suddenly furrowed his brow and spoke up. “Brother Yi, I believe in your abilities.”
“I want to buy the medicine pills you make not because we’re acquainted, but because I believe these digestive pills are good and I don’t want to miss out.”
His tone was firm, not merely polite.
Xu Yi let out a soft sigh and quickly explained, “That’s not what I meant either. I just don’t want Brother Xing to spend too much. Moreover, digestive pills can’t be eaten like food. Buying too many at once means their efficacy will weaken if stored too long.”
Xing Yuesen smiled ruefully. “You still underestimate my household.”
The eating and drinking of wealthy young masters was incomparable to ordinary families. Naturally, it was all rich meat and fish with oil in every meal. Even though the family elders repeatedly instructed them not to overeat and to cultivate their health, how many could truly listen?
He explained this reason to Xu Yi, not afraid of Xu Yi laughing at him. Even he occasionally witnessed such scenes and couldn’t help shaking his head.
Speaking of this, he gratefully told Xu Yi that in recent days, after his grandfather had been taking the prescription Xu Yi had written, his symptoms had improved considerably.
This was a prescription that even Doctor Chen had praised. If not for those words, how would his grandmother have agreed to use a prescription written by a greenhorn youth? It was simply because she trusted Doctor Chen and transferred that trust to Xu Yi.
Xu Yi said, “This medicinal decoction needs to be taken persistently. When your grandfather can walk around, if Brother Xing doesn’t mind, you can have me come for a personal diagnosis.”
Last time he’d only heard Xing Yuesen’s account. The specific symptoms, pulse, complexion, and so on. He’d need to go in person to diagnose the problems in greater detail.
Xing Yuesen immediately agreed, then looked at Xu Yi thoughtfully and asked, “Brother Yi, do you have anything to attend to shortly?”
“Nothing.”
His task today had been to sell the pills, and now Xing Yuesen had bought them all.
Xing Yuesen instantly became spirited, patting Xu Yi’s shoulder and saying, “Come, I’ll treat you to tea.”
It was rare to have such a fortuitous meeting. He wanted to have a good, thorough chat with Xu Yi!