Time Travel: The Best Doctor in Ancient Times

Chapter 324: Chapter 202 Good News Comes Chapter 324: Chapter 202 Good News Comes Before seeing the person, one hears his voice.

Gu Changsheng heard Yuan Bao’s loud calling from afar and couldn’t help but feel delighted. He put down the glazed nightlight cup he was holding and a mischievous smile bloomed on his face, “This is serious, Yuan Bao always brings bad news instead of good news. Did he just say it’s great joy for Lady Changsheng? And not that something bad happened to Lady Changsheng?”

“Indeed, he said you’re going to receive great joy.” Zhou Mu was still looking down at the scroll in his hand, and the corners of his mouth curled up in a faint smile as he spoke.

This foolish woman, it’s one thing for Yuan Bao to speak without restraint, but for her to actually repeat it!

For a woman, great joy means a wedding!

Does she understand at all?

Clearly, Gu Changsheng’s current focus wasn’t on this at all; she was looking forward to the entrance, waiting eagerly for Yuan Bao’s plump figure to barge in.

“I haven’t heard such joyful news in a long time; living such a constricted life has made me like this, it’s incomparable.” Gu Changsheng remarked as Yuan Bao indeed stumbled in, unable to conceal his excitement.

After watching Yuan Bao bow in greeting, Gu Changsheng asked eagerly, “What exactly is the great news, speak quickly!”

Yuan Bao had just picked up the cup to take a sip of tea and almost choked upon hearing this, his voice filled with a hint of grievance, “I hurried here from the city center to the mountains, enduring hardship and thirst without water. Since when are you so impatient, Lady Changsheng?”

Could it be that Lady Changsheng is begrudging this bowl of plain tea and doing this on purpose?

Seeing his reaction, Gu Changsheng smiled radiantly and waved her hand, “It’s just that every time you rush over in such a panic, it’s always to deliver bad news. I’ve developed a psychological shadow because of that. Of course, I’m anxious when good news comes; quickly, what’s the news?”

“Hehe…” Yuan Bao covered his mouth and chuckled twice, then bowed to Gu Changsheng and spoke solemnly, “Congratulations to Lady Changsheng, it’s a great joy for Lady Changsheng.”

“Pfft! Are you saying I won’t report back unless there’s a reward?” Gu Changsheng played along and sat up straight, waving to Dong Lei, “Xiao Leizi, deliver the reward!”

Dong Lei was startled upon hearing this. A reward? She had not prepared anything to give out. The young ladies Xiao Cui and Han Qiu obstinately stayed in the trial ground, not coming back, so she, a kitchen maid, had to multitask as a newbie and had not yet become proficient!

After patting herself down, she could only find a greasepaper-wrapped package. Reluctantly, she handed it over to Yuan Bao, her face aching with regret, “This is the lotus and osmanthus pastry I prepared for the Young Master, you’re getting a bargain!”

Originally, what the Young Master couldn’t finish should have been hers… Oh, how sad!

“Thank you, thank you!” Yuan Bao accepted it with a grateful face, tucking it away carefully in his bosom and then looked towards Gu Changsheng, “Lady Changsheng, for this reward, Yuan Bao would be ungraciously accepting of what he rightfully deserves.”

Clearly, what Dong Lei offered as a reward was to Yuan Bao’s liking, seeing how he grinned from ear to ear, all teeth and no eyes.

Gu Changsheng chuckled helplessly; the world of a food lover is so straightforwardly and simply satisfying!

“One’s speech softens when eating another’s food; can you speak now?” Under her guidance, Dong Lei’s culinary skills were approaching that of modern chefs, and her handiwork in creating desserts was genuinely authentic!

Yuan Bao nodded vigorously, then took another bow before babbling happily, “I report to Lady Changsheng, Yuan Bao has fulfilled the entrusted task, and the Gu Family Old Residence is now completed. I won’t need to play the role of contractor anymore, haha…”

“Really?” Gu Changsheng stood up in surprise upon hearing this.

Her home, her magnificent Hua Mansion, the place where she would settle and establish herself, was it really built?

“Of course, it’s true! With Yuan Bao’s work, what would Lady Changsheng have to worry about?” Yuan Bao nodded solemnly, “The structure and layout of the buildings, the design of the pavilions and towers, all were done according to the plans designed by the Lady. It has taken over three months. Yuan Bao has come to report the completion!”

“Good! Good! Good!” Gu Changsheng clapped her hands and said ‘good’ three times in a row, her joy unspeakable.

Since she secluded herself under Baili Mountain from early July, the chill of early October had already set in, and now her house was finally ready!

With a place to settle down, one feels a sense of belonging at the bottom of their heart. Suddenly, Gu Changsheng felt an exciting sensation of an estranged child about to return home.

Her self-designed Gu Residence! Her own entranceway!

“Lady Changsheng, when would be the most auspicious date to hold the sign hanging ceremony?” Yuan Bao asked as he counted on his fingers, “I’ve already had Little Monk Bu Jie calculate a good day, seven days from now, on the Young Master’s birthday, which is a propitious day suitable for marriage, moving into a new home, and all kind of affairs. After that, it’s the third day of the eleventh month, followed by the twenty-seventh. Which date do you think would be more appropriate?”

One is always in high spirits during happy times, and now Gu Changsheng was truly the image of Spring Breeze, unable to hide his joy. Upon hearing this, he paced to and fro and chuckled lightly, “Just now I said the little monk was good for nothing, but now I’ll have to eat my words. Who would have thought despite his young age, he would be able to pick out the ‘yellow and white’ days.”

Yuan Bao nodded in agreement. His master had said that when it comes to these matters, consulting Little Monk Bu Jie is always certain to be correct.

“Seven days from now would be the fifteenth of the tenth month. When the Gu Family Medical Hall closed for business, I promised that the day the Gu Family Old Residence is restored would be the day the Medical Hall reopens. The first and fifteenth of the month are the days I promised free consultations. Wouldn’t it be too rushed to have the sign hanging ceremony on that day?” As Gu Changsheng spoke, he looked towards Zhou Mu.

Zhou Mu, seeing her joy, was naturally smiling in return, “Didn’t my beloved mention wanting to pay a visit to Mr. Ban Shan? This matter is better sooner than later, and we should also head back to the city.”

Gu Changsheng nodded in agreement and looked at Yuan Bao, “If we hang the sign at the Gu Family Medical Hall seven days from now, will it be fit to live in? The new house has just been built; does it need some time to cool?”.

Upon hearing this, Yuan Bao shook his head, “Madam, you must have forgotten, the house has been built for more than half a month; it’s only the eaves and decorative carvings that have caused this delay. I called you to the roof-raising ceremony that time when you were too busy with your troops to spare a moment. If you count the time, this new house has cooled for nearly a month, quite enough indeed. The walls have been covered with highly valued chili mud, which has long since dried thoroughly. Living there seven days from now is absolutely not a problem!”

At hearing this, Gu Changsheng’s eyebrows immediately leaped with joy, but his face quickly fell, “But we haven’t even finished arranging everything at home yet; if the Medical Hall is to open, we still need to prepare enough medicinal materials. And the old furniture needs replacing too–these things all take time!”

Zhou Mu saw her wavering and pursed his lips without speaking.

But Yuan Bao was taken aback by what he heard and glared, “Madam, you should be careful not to let Old Mr. Song hear you say that. If he did, he would fight you to the death!”

“Uh…” Gu Changsheng was taken aback.

Yuan Bao started counting on his fingers and continued, “Oh, my Lady Changsheng, you have no idea how incredible Old Mr. Song is, an absolute master at managing household finances. He made a large fortune from Prince Liang and came down riding a crane to Liuzhou. He personally oversees the accounts for the medicinal material warehouse run by the Lau Quansheng brothers. Day to day, he’s never idle.”

“As for furniture and home decorations, he insists on perfection, not caring about cost, only seeking the finest quality. The preparations are impeccably done: Rosewood beds with Nanmu carved falling flowers from Xuanzhou, sour branch wood inlaid with mother-of-pearl concubine couches from Capital City, the Golden Throne of Rosewood from Sea Mountain Immortal Hall, Rosewood Inlaid Cloisonne Embroidered Stools, Carved Red Fortune and Longevity Patterned Kang Tables, Ebony Edge Pear Core writing desks…”

As Yuan Bao’s mouth opened and closed, Gu Changsheng’s eyes grew wider and wider…

“The cold silk for the smoke cages has been made into gauze curtains, the breezy tulle surrounding pavilions for the moon cages, not to mention filling up your storage; it takes up half the warehouse at the County Prince’s Mansion. Lady Changsheng, even the brocade handkerchiefs you use to wash your face and the footstool for your feet–Uncle Song has thought of everything. What could you possibly be lacking?” Yuan Bao said, almost out of breath.

Rendered speechless, Gu Changsheng gulped and blinked her large, bewildered eyes, murmuring, “It’s not that anything’s missing, but just how much silver has all this burned through?”

It was as if she was meeting her Fourth Auntie Grandma… How did she never realize that Uncle Song was such an expert at squandering money?

Those things, just listening to them, that’s blinking silver, alright!

It pained her slightly…

Yuan Bao nodded emphatically in agreement, “You say, Madam, Uncle Song’s extravagant spending–just looking at it makes even Yuan Bao tremble with fear. Compared to the furnishings at our County Prince’s Mansion, those things he’s acquired hardly fall short. Lady Changsheng, Uncle Song said it’s on your command: seek the ultimate in perfection and comfort!”

Looking at Yuan Bao’s sparkling, expectant eyes, Gu Changsheng harbored a feeling of suffocation. Could she say that Uncle Song had taken liberties with her instructions?

Having money doesn’t mean it should be squandered like this!

She hadn’t even had the chance to enjoy the thrill of being wealthy before Uncle Song grandiosely took the lead and got his fill of lavish spending!

“Oh! The news that Lady Changsheng’s Gu Family Medical Hall is about to be completed has spread far and wide. A multitude of doctors have already converged in Liuzhou City, claiming to be grateful for the teachings of your ‘Gu’s Pharmacy Annotation’ and to express their thanks for the half-mentorship,” Yuan Bao said with a beaming smile, and not yet finished, he added, “Medicine merchants from various places have also come with generous gifts to thank you for the free medicine and guidance. Elder Yhan from the Bozhou Medicine Merchants Association is presiding over Liuzhou, spending lavishly to book all the inns and guest houses in Liuzhou, responsible for accommodating the visitors. Given their arrangements, if you do not return to the city before the new year, they plan to camp in Liuzhou and celebrate the Lunar New Year there.”

“Lady Changsheng, now in Liuzhou City, not to mention inns and guest houses, even a spare civilian house can’t be found. There are doctors who walk the countryside already laying out bedding on the ground at your doorstep in anticipation. Not counting those who travel from afar to seek medical advice. Lady Changsheng, you should be mentally prepared,” Yuan Bao added with a pat on his chest to calm his startled heart upon recalling the daily sights.

“Uh…” Gu Changsheng was at a loss for words.

Was it really necessary to be so exaggerated?

Hu Yihai helped her compile half of the ‘Gu’s Pharmacy Annotation’. Fulfilling her grandfather’s last wish and commitment, she had it printed and distributed, unknowingly benefiting countless doctors.

Her collaboration with Elder Yhan from the Bozhou Medicine Merchants Association worked out because he was a wise man too. He did not have the mentality of monopolizing the benefits, wholeheartedly endorsing her proposition to give medicine and advice to the medicine merchants. Now, the goodwill she had extended was indeed quite widespread…

If they really opened for business, what a scene it would be…