Insufficient balance

  "Compensation?" Bai Taoyi looked at Ximen Qing with a gaze that seemed to think he was an idiot: "Why don't you go ask the medicinal herb shop in Yanggu County for compensation? Just because they allow you to open a medicinal herb shop, does that mean others can't? As the saying goes, 'compare three houses', this is also giving the people of Qinghe County a choice, reasonable and fair, what's this talk of compensation?"

  Zhu Zhi County, who was sitting in the middle, murmured a sound of "hmm", seemingly piqued by the mention of "compensation". His slightly closed eyes also opened a bit wider as he took a sip of tea: "Since there's already a proposal on the table, why don't you, sir, explain what losses were incurred and how to compensate for them? I'll help mediate."

  Ximen Qing played with the sheep fat jade pendant, still with a lazy look: "Although the scale of my medicine shop is not large, it can still supply Qinghe County. Why open a second one? You also know that my family relies on this medicine shop. If others want to open another medicine shop, I don't object, but Ya Zu brother is already a doctor and runs a medical clinic and a pharmacy at the same time. He writes prescriptions in front and grabs medicine in the back. Who will come to my shop to grab medicine?"

  "There are also skilled doctors in your shop who can prescribe medicine, why speak alarmingly?" Bai Taoyi couldn't help but interrupt.

  Ximen Qing flashed a shy smile: "The young master's pharmacy is nothing compared to the craftsmanship of Yào Zǔ brother's fifteen years at Taiping Hospital."

  Zhu Zhi County nodded slightly and said, "This statement also makes some sense."

  Bai Taoyi was still thinking about how to counterattack, when Ximen Qing suddenly stood up and rushed to the county magistrate's office to pay his respects: "Your Honor is indeed fair! Qinghe County has such a parent official, I am delighted!"

  Anyway, let's first put a high hat on this Zhu Zhixian before talking.

  It's indeed a thousand flatteries and ten thousand flatteries, but the horse's buttocks are not flattered. Although Zhu Zhi County is old and steady, when Ximen Qing comes up with these two flattering sentences, he still finds them quite useful, and now even his title of address has changed.

  "Ximen brother! Is that so, what do you think is a good way to make amends?" Magistrate Zhu looked at Ximen Qing with a smile. You two families are fighting, but the benefits will still go to this county, right?

  Bai Taishan felt a chill run up from the soles of his feet, and his already pale face turned even whiter. This Zhu Zhiyuan was going to support two families with one hand! His own hundred taels were gone like water splashed on the ground.

  Ximen Qing deliberately coughed twice, and being in such a melodramatic situation was truly delightful. He almost forgot the hunger pangs in his stomach: "This... I have three plans here, White Imperial Physician can choose one of them, I will not regret it!"

  "Oh, there are actually three kinds? Younger brother, why don't you tell me one by one!" Zhu Zhi County seemed to be watching a play, and his interest didn't seem small.

  Ximen Qing used to be a spendthrift and a bully, didn't he? How come today he's one deal after another, like an old hand at business?

  Bai Taoyi leaned back, weakly waving his hand at County Magistrate Zhu, holding up two fingers. The meaning was don't forget the two IOUs I just handed you, each worth 100 taels of silver. Unfortunately, County Magistrate Zhu was now intently watching Ximen Qing, pretending to listen attentively, and didn't notice the two fingers waving in mid-air.

  Ximen Qing was sharp-eyed and exclaimed, "Yaozu brother, what's wrong with your finger? Why is it shaking like that? Two fingers! Could it be that you've committed the second..."

  Bai Taoyi quickly withdrew his finger, picked up the teacup and pretended to drink tea: "Don't interrupt, sir. I'm just holding a teacup. Hurry up and tell me about your three plans!"

  Ximen Qing smiled and stretched out a finger: "These three plans are actually very simple and easy to do. I'll start with the first one: no matter how well Eldest Brother's medicine shop is managed, the profits must be divided with me at a ratio of 3..."

  "Ah...!" Bai Taoyi, who was pretending to drink tea, had just taken a mouthful of tea and nearly spat it out all over Zhu Zhixian when he heard this utterly ridiculous proposal. He jumped up like his buttocks were on fire and cursed: "You little scoundrel, how dare you open your mouth so wide! What kind of compensation plan is this?!"

  Magistrate Zhu frowned, "Bai Taigong, even if you don't agree with Xi Men Xian's first plan, there's no need to spit tea all over me."

  Seeing Zhu know the county blame, Bai Taisheng had to fart back:"Adults, small people lost their composure. It's just that this first plan is really forcing people to be difficult, and small people can't accept it."

  Ximen Qing looked at the tea snacks on the table and muttered to himself, "Fortunately, no dishes have been served yet, or else they would all be ruined. Others haven't even eaten yet, but you've already sprayed saliva all over them. What a waste of these few plates of tea snacks! Just look at this fried dough twist, it's made so well... and I didn't even get to eat it yet... But that's not the worst part, you actually spat on Master as well..."

  Bai Taichang was annoyed, and at this time it wasn't good to argue about whether it was tea or saliva. He could only suppress his anger and say: "The first plan is really unacceptable to the certain family, so please continue with the second plan."

  Ximen Qing nodded in satisfaction, and then stretched out two fingers, shaking them at Bai Taai: "The second plan is also very simple. It's just that all the medicinal materials for Yanzu's pharmacy must be purchased from our store, and I will give the lowest price to everyone!"

  Uh, this second plan is obviously even more vicious than the first one...

  And Ximen Qing wiggled two fingers, clearly mocking the awkward appearance of Bai Taai just now.

  Bai Taoyi glared fiercely at Ximen Qing, as if he wanted to cut a piece of flesh from his body: "Impossible! What's the difference between this and the second Ximen Sheng pharmacy?"

  Magistrate Zhu heard the second plan and also smiled on the side: "Ximen's second plan is still not feasible, although this official doesn't understand business, I know that opening a shop to do business is nothing more than exchanging what one has for what one lacks, buying low and selling high, only then can there be profit. If Bai Taai wants to purchase goods from your medicine shop, it's indeed somewhat difficult for Bai Taai."

  "Magistrate Zhu knows me well! This second plan is simply outrageous!" White Physician hastily expressed his stance, taking the opportunity to attack Ximen Qing.

  Ximen Qing shook his head, extending three fingers and laughing: "This won't do, that won't do, so it's the third plan. If Brother Yaozu still doesn't agree, I'll have nothing to say, and we can only disperse, each going our own way."

  Bai Taoyi heard this and was so angry that he could have swallowed Ximen Qing with a mouthful of water. He bowed to Zhu Zhiyuan: "Please, sir, uphold justice. If the third plan is also as shameless as this, our family really can't accept it. We'll just have to rely on our own abilities."

  Zhu Zhi County nodded: "This county will preside over justice. Ximen, my younger brother, please present the third plan. If it is also unreasonable, this county will not agree with it either."

  Seeing Bai Taicheng fall into his own trap, Ximen Qing strongly suppressed his wild laughter and, with a straight face, said seriously: "This third plan is the simplest. That is to ask Yanzu brother to sit in Xiaosheng's shop, and Xiaosheng will offer five taels of silver every month..."

  "What!!!" Bai Taoyi thought and thought, but he never expected that Ximen Qing's third condition was actually to have him work as a doctor at Ximen's pharmacy!

  "This is an insult, a barefaced insult!" Bai Taoyi tore his face and shouted recklessly.

  Bai Taoyi, who had been stuck in the hospital for 15 years, was forced to become a doctor at a pharmacy. This is clearly an impossible task. Even Zhu Zhixian felt it was unbelievable: "Ximen Xian's plan is really inconceivable and unacceptable."

  "Isn't this okay?" Ximen Qing made a painful expression, gritted his teeth, and seemed to have made up his mind: "Since that's the case, then let Yanzu brother open a prescription to go to his own pharmacy to grab medicine. As long as Yanzu brother goes to the small shop to sit in the hall, it's fine! I'm also thinking of the people of Qinghe County! After all, now everyone comes to my shop to grab medicine, but the level of the doctor sitting in the hall inside the shop is clearly not enough! Brother Yanzu, please sympathize with the people and hang up your medical license to serve the common people!"

  Ximen Qing said this, and although Zhu Zhikun felt a bit strange, he also found it somewhat reasonable: "This..."

  Bai Taoyi was also stunned, not knowing how to refute it. It wouldn't be good to directly say that his purpose was to squeeze out the Ximen family's pharmacy and replace it with his own Bai family pharmacy, which was completely at odds with the lofty goals he had proclaimed.

  For a moment, Bai Taoyi hesitated before responding: "This certain family was originally going to hang up their medical skills to benefit the world, but this certain family went to the high-ranking official's place, and their identity didn't match..."

  Ximen Qing didn't give White Taibei a chance to think, and directly interrupted: "As soon as Brother Yaozu arrives, he will be the honored guest! All other doctors in the hall, I will dismiss them all! Also, hang up Brother Yaozu's medical plaque at the entrance of the pharmacy! What do you think, Brother Yaozu?"

  "Ah..." Bai Taoyi looked at Ximen Qing with his hands spread out sincerely, and his mind suddenly became a bit dull.

  "I'm honored to have you here, Brother Ximen, please don't decline! " Ximen Qing said as he stood up and poured a full cup of tea for Bai Taai, as if persuading an old friend.

  "Ximen's younger brother is so enthusiastic, Bai Taai can consider it for a moment." Zhu Zhixian lightly twirled his mustache and nodded slightly.

  Bai Taoyi was cornered, and could only grit his teeth and say: "My humble pharmacy will also need some time before it can open for business. Since the great official has graciously invited me, my humble household can temporarily..."

  "Three months!" Ximen Qing took advantage of the situation and pursued his victory.

  "No, no, it's been too long, after a month..." Bai Taoyi's train of thought was completely disrupted, and he couldn't help but start haggling over the price.

  "One month is just one month, it's a deal!" Ximen Qing didn't care about the length of time and directly agreed.

  Anyway, as long as you're in my pharmacy, are you afraid of not being able to turn the sky upside down? I'm the boss of Qinghe, and whether your pharmacy can open or not is still a question mark. Why don't you just honestly work in my pharmacy? What's the use of messing around in the Imperial Hospital for 15 years? You're still working for me obediently!

  Bai Taichang originally meant that his own White Family Pharmacy would open in a month, but unexpectedly Ximen Qing cut him off, leaving no room for maneuver. He could only nod reluctantly: "In that case, I'll be the sitting doctor for this one month..."

  "It's not a Situ Langzhong, it's a Taiyi. I'll get someone to make a plaque for the medical hall right away and hang it on the door of the pharmacy!" Ximen Qing corrected. They're all working for Ge, what's the difference in calling them anything else?

  "Th...". Bai Taoyi was unable to refute it, as if a fishbone had gotten stuck in his throat.

  Zhu Zhi Xian looked around and laughed: "This plan is wonderful, it doesn't hurt the harmony! The two families shake hands and make peace, it's a beautiful thing! Come on, bring up the dishes! Pour wine! Bring out the best wine!"

  The host of the Hao men building entered at the sound, presented a small pot of wine, removed the mud seal, and instantly a strong aroma filled the entire room.

  "It's hard for adults to get this, but finally, after ten years, our small shop's aged wine has the chance to be opened!"

  Behind him was a row of dishes of various colors, vaguely like the emperor's dining table in Qing Palace dramas, making Ximen Qing eagerly anticipate...