Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

Wang Meng was standing some distance away, not daring to approach.

Hearing Emperor Jing's praise, he bowed and said, "This humble commoner dares not take the credit; it is all due to Lord Fang's good teaching."

"Haha, you're being modest! He poisoned over fifty people; what medical skills does he know? This time, I will reward you handsomely. Speak freely, what is your wish?" Emperor Jing said with a smile.

Why bring that up again? Is it a lifelong stain?

Fang Zheng's smile vanished instantly, quickly shifting to Li Yuanzhao's face.

Li Yuanzhao walked up to him, leaned in, and chuckled, "Old Fang, you have this day too! My son is nothing like me; he resembles Father Emperor? You should at least find a credible excuse for your nonsense."

"Haha, Your Highness, don't slander me; I'm just telling the truth."

Wang Meng knelt on the ground, thinking. He had originally been sent to the palace as a backup, but he hadn't expected to receive such a generous reward.

After a moment's thought, he said, "This humble commoner has been treating patients at the Taoyuan Medical Hall for a long time, but many women are hindered by the separation of the sexes. They could be treated, but they retreat after arriving at the medical hall, leading to life-threatening delays."

"Therefore, this humble commoner wishes to request that Your Majesty inscribe a plaque for the Taoyuan Medical Hall and establish a separate gynecology department. In the future, we can recruit women to study medicine and continue to treat the people of the capital."

Hearing him say this, Emperor Jing was surprised and also developed a greater appreciation.

This man seemed dull, but he turned out to be a man of noble aspirations.

Utterly selfless, dedicated to benefiting others, what kind of spirit is this?

Fang Zheng was also surprised.

Wang Meng wasn't usually like this... How did he suddenly become so concerned about the world today?

"Have you thought it through carefully? The reward is for you; you only have one chance."

Wang Meng raised his head and said, "Your Majesty, this humble commoner is certain. Master once taught me at the medical hall, saying that human life is of utmost importance, more precious than gold. He also left medical precepts for our medical hall: 'Though the preparation is complex, we must not skimp on labor; though the ingredients are expensive, we must not reduce the quality.'"

"This humble commoner's life is comfortable; I lack nothing. I only wish to run the medical hall well, continue to treat illnesses and save lives, and study medicine."

"Good!" Emperor Jing couldn't help but clap his hands in praise, "Then it shall be as you say. I grant you permission to open a separate gynecology department, recruit female doctors, and I will also bestow upon you a plaque."

"This humble commoner kowtows in gratitude to Your Majesty." Having said that, Wang Meng lowered his head and bowed again.

"'Though the preparation is complex, we must not skimp on labor; though the ingredients are expensive, we must not reduce the quality,' well said! Zheng Yi, I didn't expect that although you don't understand medicine, your medical ethics have surpassed many famous doctors," Emperor Jing exclaimed.

Fang Zheng pursed his lips and lowered his head, saying, "Your Majesty overpraises me. I don't understand any medical ethics, but I was taught from a young age to be grounded in my actions and practical in my work. Therefore, I think... treating illnesses and saving lives should be done in this way, nothing more."

Emperor Jing laughed heartily, his mood reaching its peak today.

However, seeing that too much time had been wasted here, and not wanting to linger any longer, he said, "If you wish to stay here to care for him, then stay. I have important matters to attend to; I'll take my leave."

After seeing Emperor Jing off, Fang Zheng hurried forward and grabbed Wang Meng, saying, "When did you learn to flatter people, kid? You've picked up so many bad habits; who did you learn them from?"

Wang Meng said, "No, Master, I really want to recruit some female doctors. You don't know, many women from brothels come to Taoyuan Medical Hall for treatment. Penicillin is very effective for many of their illnesses, and those women don't hesitate to spend money. I think, if so many women in the common populace are too embarrassed to seek treatment, wouldn't we be missing out on a lot of money?"

"Moreover, I just had a new idea... Women lose a lot of blood during childbirth, and stopping the bleeding in time is often impossible. Could we transfuse blood from another person into the patient who is losing blood? If we then find a way to stop the bleeding, the patient would have a chance of survival."

"But such research still requires using monkeys, and buying monkeys can't stop. However, monkeys are too expensive, and Taoyuan Medical Hall is responsible for its own profits and losses. The county doesn't allocate money to me, so I have to find a way to get more money."

Damn! He's already thinking about blood transfusions? I wouldn't even dare to think about it!

Fang Zheng felt a pang of shame in his heart.

This is too damn depressing. How come all my subordinates seem like they've transmigrated here... It's truly tragic; it seems I need to hurry up and register the patents.

Seeing Fang Zheng's silence, Wang Meng asked, "Master, is there a problem? Will it cause trouble?"

"No problem, no problem at all. Business is charity! Making money and charity are not contradictory; we're doing good deeds."

"If you need money, tell me. Master has plenty of ideas."

Wang Meng quickly asked, "Master, please instruct me."

Fang Zheng grinned and said in a low voice, "I ask you, how do patients come to the medical hall?"

"The rich ride horses or carriages, and the poor walk."

"Then draw a line in front of the door to create an area for parking or tying up horses and charge a fee. This is a source of income. Moreover, it can filter patients. Those who walk are naturally poor, and since our penicillin production is low, you can charge the rich more and the poor less."

"When patients enter the medical hall, do they need to be examined? The examination should be comprehensive. Some illnesses aren't just about treating the head when it hurts or the foot when it hurts, so you have to examine everything from head to toe! Doesn't the examination cost money? During the examination process, you have to use more tools to show professionalism, right? Otherwise, patients will complain. You have to charge for the equipment, right? Our equipment is all disposable to ensure cleanliness and is never reused."

"Finally, when patients are hospitalized, they want to go home, but you can't let them go back easily. Common people don't understand anything about medicine; they need to be nursed here and provided with the most comprehensive nutrition! Doesn't the nutritional meal cost money? Don't the most professional medical nursing staff cost money?"

"Finally, our medical hall's wards are all of a standard level! How can you allow wealthy customers to show their respectability? Seeing a doctor should also be about the ritual, right? Renovate the rooms and divide them into A, B, C, and D grades. Recruit beautiful women from brothels to work as nurses in the A-grade rooms, so that the distinguished patients will linger and forget to leave."

"Turn the C-grade rooms into communal sleeping platforms and let the poor devils get treated and get out quickly. You have to improve efficiency!"

"Can you not make money with this setup?"

Li Yuanzhao listened silently from the side, his expression gradually changing from disdain to amazement.

As expected of Old Fang! He can play so many tricks even when treating illnesses...

"Old Fang, aren't you being unethical doing this? Aren't you afraid someone will come and make trouble?"

Only then did Fang Zheng see Li Yuanzhao eavesdropping on the side, and he licked his lips in embarrassment, "How is it unethical, Your Highness? We're selling services; not a single penny is wasted! Moreover, the reputation of businesses all over the world depends on the majority of people. The vast majority of customers in any business are poor devils, and if the poor devils are satisfied, you have a reputation."

"As for the rich, they're actually very easy to take care of and aren't so demanding. You can engage them separately. To show their respectability, they aren't afraid to spend money. Once they know what 'night service' is... ahem, they'll wish they were sick every day!"

"Night service what?" Wang Meng and Li Yuanzhao curiously leaned in at the same time.

Fang Zheng calmly said, "It means that nurses diligently inspect the wards at night, reflecting the medical hall's meticulous care for top-tier patients."

"Oh ~" The two of them suddenly understood.

"I have something else to do; I won't say much more. I have to go home. Congratulations to Your Highness on the joyous occasion of having a dragon grandson." Fang Zheng cupped his hands and turned to leave.

"Old Fang, stay with me for a while; you're already here."

Fang Zheng said, "Your Highness, do you remember the merchant matter we discussed before? Now that you've just had a dragon grandson, His Majesty has no worries in his heart. The matter is urgent, and I must go back and draft a memorial to submit to His Majesty as soon as possible."

.....