Insufficient balance

  "Speaking of this grand mansion, it's the best in our Qinghe County. This elegant room is also specially reserved by the owner for our county magistrate to entertain guests." A middle-aged man who looked like a teacher was explaining the layout of the elegant room to the guests while spitting out white foam.

  "Look at this sky blue vase, it's a genuine Jun porcelain, the color... is a rare treasure. As the saying goes, having a million dollars at home is not as good as having one piece of Jun porcelain; even this teapot is not an ordinary product..."

  Bai Taisheng was about forty years old, with a pale face and no beard. He wore a black robe, which made his complexion even paler. At this moment, he saw the master introducing the layout of the room with great effort, smiling slightly as he looked around carefully before reseating himself. He nodded to the county magistrate who was sitting steadily beside him: "Although they are all civilian kilns, they can indeed be considered top-grade. The owner of this shop has really put a lot of thought into decorating this room. I suppose the county magistrate also looks at the owner with different eyes."

  County Magistrate Zhu of Qinghe County, about thirty-five or six years old, smiled and said: "Bai Taisheng, you are from the palace, used to seeing fine ceramics, these things may be too vulgar for your eyes." After finishing speaking, he coughed and the teacher's wife closed her mouth in annoyance and sat down at a lower seat.

  "The owner of this shop has some distant relatives in our county, so naturally he takes good care of us. The owner is also a sensible person. After White Taishan settles down, I will introduce him to others." Zhu Zhixian stroked his beard and said slowly: "And today, this Mr. Ximen is the owner of the only Chinese medicine shop in our county. Since White Taishan has returned to his hometown to open a medical clinic, he will inevitably have a lot of contact with us in the future, so I specially invited him to meet you today."

  Bai Taisheng nodded and said, "I've come out of the palace this time, and I have nothing to do in my hometown, so I want to use my skills to help people. This pharmacy is run by Ximen Daxia's father, who has been operating it for decades and has only recently reached its current scale. It's not easy. Ximen Qing does nothing all day, just sitting around eating and wasting money. If it weren't for the capable Fu Zhanggui helping out, I'm afraid the pharmacy would have..."

  Zhu Zhi County originally had his eyes closed like an old monk in meditation, but when he heard these words, his eyebrows twitched: "There's more to what White Imperial Physician said, this county isn't deaf."

  The teacher on the side observed and stood up to leave, saying: "Master, I'll go take a look at the gate to see if Officer Ximen has arrived."

  Zhu Zhi County nodded slightly, and the teacher went out and closed the door with a smile. Bai Taai praised: "Sir, where did you find such a good teacher? It's enviable."

  "It's just that I've used it for a long time and got used to it." Zhu Zhi Xian returned to his usual state: "Bai Taiyi has been in Tokyo for a long time, this time he returned to his hometown, the county is very delighted."

  Bai Taoyi took out two IOUs from his sleeve and respectfully placed them in front of Zhu Zhixian: "As soon as I arrived, you treated me like this. Please don't despise this small gesture. My intention is simple: no matter how much capital the Ximen family's pharmacy invests each month, I can invest twice that amount."

  Zhu Zhi Xian glanced at the two well-maintained fingers of Bai Taiyi, then took a peek at the two 50-guan IOUs on his head, casually adjusted his sleeve, and seemed to brush off some dust, but at the same time, the two IOUs also disappeared into his sleeve.

  "It seems that Bai Taoyi is a straightforward person, and a straightforward person is good at speaking plainly. In that case, Bai Taoyi not only wants to hang up his medical skills to benefit the world but also wants to do business with this herbal medicine shop?"

  Bai Taisheng smiled and said: "The little people are just thinking that the Ximen family's medicine shop is not well-run, it is of no benefit to the common people, and I hope the magistrate will give more support!"

  "White Taimed has the hearts of the people, and our county will naturally look at him in a different light!" County Magistrate Zhu, having received the bribe, immediately became familiar with White Taimed: "I see that White Taimed hasn't found a good location yet. As it happens, the owner of the East Street Inn doesn't want to continue running it anymore. White Taimed can go and take over that location to open his herbal medicine shop."

  Two people looked at each other and smiled. At this time, the teacher outside shouted loudly: "Ximen Daren, my master has been waiting for you inside for a long time!"

  As the voice called out, the large gate of the Ximen residence swung open and Ximen Qing strode in with a somewhat pale face, looking around the room. He knew from memory that the county magistrate of Qinghe County was sitting in the middle.

  "I don't know why you called me, sir; what instructions do you have for me?"

  Looking at Ximen Qing's careless attitude, he only slightly nodded to Zhu Zhi County and didn't take himself seriously. White Taishou, who was sitting beside him, frowned slightly. Ximen Qing had no official title or reputation, which made his behavior seem very sloppy. It seems that this Ximen Qing is just like the rumors, unlearned and unskilled, and it shouldn't be difficult to deal with him.

  Zhu Zhi County was not at all concerned, and smiled: "The official has taken his seat. Today I will introduce you to a colleague." He pointed to Bai Taishi with his hand: "This is Bai Taishi from the palace, who has returned to his hometown to hang up his medical license and benefit the world. You should get close to him."

  Is the white imperial physician from inside the palace? In this era, all doctors can be called imperial physicians, but not every imperial physician is a doctor for the emperor. This white imperial physician came out of the palace, naturally has some extraordinary abilities, but definitely cannot compare to An Daoquan's, and if his medical skills are really good, the old emperor would not have let him go.

  "Oh, I don't know how many years White Physician has been in the Imperial Medical Bureau, what kind of medicine is he good at?" Ximen Qing looked at White Physician and asked casually, with a lazy tone, clearly showing that he didn't think much of this White Physician.

  How dare you! You're just a proprietor of a crude medicine shop, and yet you also dare to question me? Also dare to look down on my medical skills? White Imperial Physician felt that Ximen Qing's words seemed to ignite an unnamed fire in his heart, hurriedly drank a mouthful of tea to calm himself, then coughed once, put down the teacup and replied: "I've worked at the Imperial Medical Bureau for 15 years, deeply favored by the imperial family, proficient in all fields! Especially skilled in internal medicine!"

  Ximen Qing lightly responded with an "oh", clearly not very interested. Deeply favored by the officials? Who believes that? Those who are deeply favored by the officials can still be released? Absolutely impossible, after mixing for 15 years, you can't mix down anymore, and were squeezed out by others.

  Bai Taichang couldn't help but think that Ximen Qing didn't even flinch, his nose almost crooked with rage, and he shook his somewhat trembling hand: "My family's name is Guang, my style name is Yaozu, I haven't had the pleasure of asking for your esteemed name and title?"

  As a western official who is not in the Song Dynasty cultural circle and has no merits, what kind of courtesy name can he have? Bai Taai suddenly came up with this sentence, obviously reminding Ximen Qing that he is just a commoner, how dare he argue with him?

  Zhu, who was sitting beside him, also knew what was going on in his mind. However, since he had accepted the money from Bai Taai first, at this moment, he just focused on drinking tea and observed Ximen Qing with a sidelong glance to see how he would react.

  Unexpectedly, Ximen Qing's face showed no signs of difficulty, but instead a few mocking smiles slipped out from the corner of his mouth.

  White light? You're as dull as a whiteboard!

  Ximen Qing looked at Bai Taoyi's well-maintained old white face and almost burst out laughing when he heard the name. He also knew that Ximen Qing originally didn't have a courtesy name, only later did he come up with the courtesy name "Four Springs Scholar". From his merged memories, he hadn't discovered this courtesy name yet, obviously the plot hadn't unfolded yet, so naturally he wouldn't use this courtesy name either.

  Ximen Qing smiled and returned the courtesy: "Yaozu brother is too polite, my humble name is Qing, a commoner from Qinghe County. In my leisure time, I gave myself a pseudonym, called Blowing Snow!"

  Xīmén Chuīxuě

  The others present, including the people of this world, would definitely not know what this alias represents. Seeing Ximen Qing's smiling face, Bai Guang asked again in annoyance: "I don't know where this word comes from?"

  What's its origin? If the signboard of Ya Zu is a bungalow, then the poetic signboard of Chui Xue is at least a 300-story skyscraper.

  Ximen Qing naturally wouldn't say that this was a character from some martial arts novel, instead he picked up his teacup and made a serious expression, saying in a measured tone: "Winter sunshine brings snow, occasionally there's a gentle breeze that brushes against the face, blowing up the floating snow on the pavilion, this is called 'blowing snow'."

  "What a wonderful scene! What a great snowfall!" On the side, Zhu Zhi Xian couldn't help but slap the table: "I didn't expect that the origin of this title would come from such a situation, it's really eye-opening!"

  The white doctor on the left had a dull expression, as if a fly had flown into his throat, and he couldn't swallow or spit it out, making a humming noise.

  Ximen Qing casually took a sip of tea, put down the teacup: "Your Excellency is overpraising me, I am just an ordinary person, this kind of reputation is only occasionally obtained, it's all luck! Luck!"

  Bai Taichang made a great effort, seemingly swallowing the flies in his throat, and said in a slightly hoarse voice: "Blowing snow... Blowing Snow Xian Di, our family's return to their hometown this time is not only to hang up the pot to save the world but also to open a Chinese herbal medicine shop on East Street. Blowing Snow Xian Di has been operating a Chinese herbal medicine shop for many years, please give me more guidance!"

  I'm going! Your old man's pharmacy is doing well, you're a good doctor and can just open a clinic, why come to stir up trouble at the pharmacy?

  Ximen Qing's eyes became slightly sharp as he looked at Bai Taoyi, and his tone changed: "Bai Taoyi, it's fine to just open a medical clinic. Why bother opening a pharmacy too? Let me handle this kind of business."

  What a joke! This monopolistic business, how can there be a second one in this small Qinghe County?! You're both a medical clinic and a pharmacy, offering one-stop service, openly trying to dominate the market! I still need to rely on my pharmacy to achieve a happy life!

  Bai Taoyi's face showed no change, his eyes still gazing steadily at Ximen Qing: "Master Official, having long run a pharmaceutical business, are you afraid that someone will snatch your business away?"

  "Haha... " Zhu Zhixian, who was sitting in the middle, suddenly burst out laughing, attracting the attention of Ximen Qing and Bai Taigong: "In my opinion, having two medicinal herb shops in Qinghe County is not a bad thing at all. They are both beneficial to the people's livelihoods, and I will support them individually!"

  What is called benefiting the people? What is called supporting each other? Although this body was originally whole day eating, drinking and having fun, but also remembers that the pharmacy's annual supply of money to the county magistrate is not a small number, accounting for more than 30% of the profit. Is this corrupt county magistrate taking bribes?

  At this time, Bai Taichang, who was relieved of his burden, threw a grateful glance at Zhu Zhishou, making Ximen Qing see clearly that he had a feeling of having arrived at the Hongmen Banquet. This world is indeed also full of intrigue and hidden dangers. It seems that he only considered the potential threat of Wu Song and Wu Erlang, but neglected these aspects.

  Where there are people, there is society! Where there are people, there are conflicts! Calamity comes from heaven when one sits idle at home.

  However, although my brother is not an MBA, in that era of information explosion, he has watched countless TV dramas and somehow knows how to get benefits from the county magistrate. Now they seem to be close friends who share a pair of pants. If I couldn't even handle such a small matter, what's the point of me being in this world?

  Ximen Qing thought wickedly, but a seemingly innocent smile spread across his face: "Since we have the great support of the county magistrate, Brother Yao's Sheng medicine shop will definitely be booming with business, making a fortune every day! However, for my humble shop, it would be a huge loss. We can't just let that happen without compensation!"