AWB Chapter 789: Looking for Manager Liu
Chapter 789: Looking for Manager Liu
After returning to the Marshal's Mansion, Gui'er remained silent. At this banquet, she received too much information at once, and her mind was a little confused.
"What's wrong? Are you tired because the party was too noisy just now? This time the party lasted quite long." Sha Yanxiao reached out and touched her forehead.
Gui'er was hesitating. Her meeting with Song Xichen had just been interrupted, and she hadn't had time to tell him about the Eighth Concubine and Zhao Yingwu. She had originally wanted to ask his opinion on whether to tell Sha Yanxiao, but now she could only decide for herself.
The affair between the Eighth Concubine and Zhao Yingwu was neither a big nor a small matter. If it was a private matter, then Song Xichen's mother, the eldest wife of the Song family, had also been having an affair with the Marshal for so many years. It was probably known to everyone, and there seemed to be nothing to say.
But as for the matter of the Eighth Concubine, if she really gave birth to a boy, Sha Yanxiao's position might be endangered. But if it were to be made public, with the Marshal's temper, someone might die. Although the Eighth Concubine was sarcastic, harsh, and scheming, she did not deserve the death penalty.
"You look like you have a lawsuit on your face. Is there something on your mind? Why can't you tell your brother?" Sha Yanxiao moved to the sofa next to Gui'er and sat down, looking at her with a smile and asked.
"No, I just ran into an acquaintance at the banquet and got a piece of news. The shops of Shopkeepers Zhang and Liu have closed down due to poor business. Shopkeeper Liu is now a traveling doctor. You know his feet are in trouble because he was tortured before. Now he has to walk around all day. How can he bear it?" In a panic, Guier had to make an excuse about this matter.
"Do you think that acquaintance could be the eldest son of the Song family?" Sha Yanxiao's face suddenly darkened.
Gui'er didn't dare to hide it and said carefully, "Because, Manager Liu often helps his patrolmen with minor injuries. He knows that I am Manager Liu's apprentice. As an apprentice, I should help my master if I have the ability. I also wanted to ask Director Song for help, but after thinking about it, I think it's more reliable to ask you, brother."
When Sha Yanxiao heard this, his expression immediately brightened and he said with a smile, "Of course, we're close, so if there's something we should turn to our own people first. How do you want me to help him?"
Gui'er said, "Manager Liu is a skilled doctor. We can actually arrange for him to work in a hospital with a foreign doctor. I could then go with him and be his assistant, continuing to learn from him. And maybe I could even learn a little about Western medicine in the hospital. What do you think, brother?"
Sha Yanxiao thought for a moment and said, "Our big hospital is a Western medicine hospital. Manager Liu practices traditional Chinese medicine, the kind passed down from master to apprentice. I'm afraid he's not suitable for a hospital. However, I have some connections at Ren'antang, the largest pharmacy in Jiangcheng. I can arrange for him to work as a resident doctor. Is that okay with you?"
"Ren'an Hall, why haven't I heard of it? Is it reliable? How much money can it pay per month?"
"I'm sure the money I'll introduce won't be too little. It's at least enough for them to live on, so don't worry. By the way, where is their home address? I'll send someone to inform them."
Gui'er was stunned for a moment. She knew the address of Manager Zhang and Manager Liu in the countryside, but she didn't dare to tell it. If the address was known to outsiders, they would have nowhere to hide in the future.
She smiled and said, "I only know the addresses of their previous places in the city. Now they've all closed down, and I don't know where they've moved to. How about I go ask the shopkeepers they were familiar with tomorrow?"
The next day, Gui'er wanted to find Shopkeepers Zhang and Liu. She could have gone directly to Shopkeeper Zhang's hometown, but that would have exposed their hometown, and she was also under close surveillance by the spies. If she called Song Xichen to inform them, Sha Yanxiao would be unhappy, so she had to come out first.
Not long after leaving the Marshal's Mansion and getting on the rickshaw that Ah Cheng had ordered, she noticed that Ah Cheng looked nervous. She turned her head and saw that the sneaky spy was following them on a bicycle.
Gui'er didn't bother to pay attention. Even if she was seen meeting Manager Liu, it wouldn't mean anything.
She first ordered a rickshaw to go to the shop where Shopkeeper Zhang and Shopkeeper Liu used to be. When she arrived at the alley, she got off the rickshaw and found that not only Shopkeeper Zhang and Shopkeeper Liu's shops, but also some grocery stores, photo studios, and barber shops around them were closed. However, the brothel Xiuchuntang nearby was doing a booming business, with girls leading customers in and out from time to time.
Gui'er tried to find nearby shops to inquire about Manager Liu's whereabouts. She finally found a clothing store, and the owner recognized her immediately. He smiled and said, "Are you here to look for your master? He's closed his shop, and now he's going from street to street trying to drum up business."
Gui'er asked quickly, "Does the shopkeeper know where he usually moves around?"
The boss thought for a moment and said, "He does come back here from time to time. After all, many people here used to seek his treatment and trusted his skills. But I don't know when he will come again. Alas, the world is in a bad state. You see, this location is not good. I can only do business with the neighbors. Everyone is tightening their belts to make ends meet. Every penny saved is a penny earned. Many stores have closed down, and I don't know how much longer I can hold on."
Guier sensed his sadness and quickly said, "Boss, don't say that. With so many stores closing down around here, yours is the only one that's still open. There must be a reason for it."
"What benefit is there? It's just because this store was passed down from my father's generation. The store is mine and I don't have to pay rent, so I can hold on for a while. But you see, now we have to pay taxes and protection fees, and some bureau has come? They said they are investigating spies, but I'm surprised. Why would they charge us money for investigating spies? But you have no choice but to pay, and it's useless to sue the officials. What's going on in this world... If one day my earnings are not enough to cover the losses, why would I keep it open?" The boss became excited as he spoke.
"Oh, just keep your mouth shut. If we catch you as a rioter, you'll be happy."
The proprietress came out and scolded the boss, then said to Gui'er, "Miss, I don't know what to call you. When your master left, he left a message asking you not to worry about him. I heard that you are a daughter of a wealthy family, and you only followed your master to learn medicine because you like it. If that's the case, you might as well find a job for your master. He limps around practicing medicine every day, and it's really uncomfortable."
Gui Er felt very uncomfortable after hearing this and quickly said, "I asked someone to find him a position as a doctor at Ren'an Hall, but now I can't find anyone else. If you see him, please help me tell him."
The boss and his wife were delighted when they heard this and said, "That's great! Ren'antang is the largest pharmacy in Jiangcheng. Don't worry, we'll tell him the good news as soon as we see him."