Chapter 29 - 28: A Beauty’s Grace (First Update)

Chapter 29: Chapter 28: A Beauty’s Grace (First Update)

Cheng Qingqing and Cheng Xianbai were taken aback and instinctively turned their heads towards the direction of the voice.

In front of them stood a graceful woman they hadn’t noticed before, wearing a moon-white cross-collared blouse and matching half-sleeves, along with a variegated skirt of aqua green and white.

She wore a veil, and while they couldn’t see her features, those born with rare beauty often carry a unique aura. Even though her face was partially obscured, there was no doubt she was a rare beauty, adding an air of mystery and allure to her.

Cheng Qingqing, being more astute, quickly realized what was happening and couldn’t help furrowing her brow slightly. "Who are you, ma’am? This is a family matter and has nothing to do with outsiders."

Xu Jing wasn’t surprised by her resistance, smirking slightly as she replied, "But what if I’m not an outsider?"

Cheng Qingqing was even more bewildered, completely at a loss as to what this woman was referring to. Then she continued, "I overheard the content of your argument.

Your clinic is facing difficulties, the biggest being the lack of a highly skilled doctor.

Although your brother wants to sell the clinic, if given a choice, neither of you would want to see your ancestral clinic destroyed in your hands, am I right?"

Cheng Xianbai came to his senses and couldn’t help but frown, "That’s indeed the case, but..."

"In that case, I can help you."

Xu Jing unhurriedly interrupted Cheng Xianbai’s words, her gentle voice imbued with an inexplicable authority. "A doctor is the soul of a clinic. I can help you revitalize it and even promise to manage it better than any previous generation of yours.

But I want to run this clinic with you, and in the future, the earnings will be split seventy to thirty."

Cheng Xianbai looked as if he had been struck by lightning. Unable to contain himself, he jumped up, "Seventy to thirty, why don’t you just rob us? Do you think I’m a fool? Will I believe anything you say? Agree to any absurd demand? Don’t think that just because you’re a woman I..."

Before he could finish, a slightly trembling female voice interrupted, "If you have the confidence to propose such a division, you must have some skills. How do you prove that you can achieve all you claim?"

Cheng Xianbai was startled, turning around to stare at his sister in disbelief, his face asking—Are you crazy?

Cheng Qingqing didn’t glance at her brother, bit her lip, and took a deep breath as she looked at Xu Jing. "If you can prove you do indeed have the ability to achieve all you say, we might just consider cooperating with you."

"Cheng Qingqing!"

Cheng Xianbai couldn’t help but shout.

Cheng Qingqing glared at him, biting her lip again. "I’m at my wits’ end too! Rather than watch Xinglin Hall fall apart in our hands, why not take a desperate gamble? What if... what if what this lady says is true? As long as there’s a glimmer of hope, I don’t want to give up!"

If this woman truly could save their clinic, what’s the difference between seventy to thirty or even eighty to twenty?

Cheng Xianbai was so angry that he was steaming, "Is this something you can just go ahead and try? She’s just a woman appearing from nowhere! There are so few women skilled in medicine in this world; are we so lucky to just happen upon a female miracle doctor? Even if our ancestors’ spirits blessed us, such things don’t happen; clearly, she’s a fraud..."

"I wouldn’t dare claim to be a miracle doctor, but my medical skills are more than enough to rejuvenate your clinic."

A calm and composed female voice suddenly interrupted Cheng Xianbai’s rant, as Xu Jing raised her brows slightly, staring at the siblings in front of her. "If you don’t believe me, why don’t we make a bet? From now until the sun sets, I will treat any patient who steps into this clinic. If there is even one I cannot heal, you can refuse to cooperate with me.

But if I manage to heal all of them, then you must agree to my condition."

Cheng Xianbai’s eyes widened, and just as he was about to refuse, Cheng Qingqing nodded slightly, her voice tense, "Alright."

Cheng Xianbai whirled around to stare at her, but Cheng Qingqing remained calm, "It’s just a trial, we’ve nothing to lose. Plus, we’ll be here watching; what could go wrong?"

Her outward calmness belied her true emotions, as her clenched hands and trembling eyelashes gave her away.

Cheng Xianbai was momentarily speechless, and after a while, he let out a long sigh, "If I keep opposing it, I’ll seem even less of a man.

Fine, a trial it is, since we’ve nothing left but this clinic anyway. Surely no serious fraud would target us."

Speaking thus, he eyed Xu Jing with a hint of scrutiny, "May I ask, madam, how should we address you? And why do you suddenly wish to cooperate with us?"

"My surname is Xu. Due to family misfortunes, I found myself alone here. Thankfully, I learned medicine from my grandfather when I was young. I intend to use these skills to make a living."

Xu Jing finished and smiled slightly, "Well, may I enter your clinic now?"

Her words seemed reasonable enough.

Cheng Xianbai pondered briefly and finally nodded, "Please, and it will be an honor to have Miss Xu with us."

With that, he stepped aside, opening the door to the clinic.

Xu Jing glanced at the clinic’s entrance, her gaze pausing at the "Xinglin Hall" signboard above before stepping inside.

Chunyang and Chunxiang hastily followed her in.

The clinic was small, with the front area for receiving patients and the back for examinations, connected by a narrow doorway with a gray curtain.

Apart from the counter, the front room could barely accommodate four or five people.

To alleviate the cramped feeling, Cheng Qingqing and Cheng Xianbai stepped behind the counter, pointing to some crescent-shaped stools against the wall. "Please have a seat."

Xu Jing asked Chunxiang and Chunyang to sit while she turned to the Cheng siblings, "The back is for consultations, right? May I take a look?"

Cheng Xianbai, gritting his teeth slightly, nodded, "Of course, Miss Xu, please follow me."

Trust begets trust, and since they had decided to give it a try, there was no point in withholding anything.

Cheng Xianbai led Xu Jing into the back room, a space similar in size to the front room but appearing more spacious without the counter.

In the center was a table surrounded by chairs, presumably for observations and consultations, with a long couch against the back wall, separated from the table by a folded screen.

On each side were open-shelved cabinets filled with medical books and jars.

The room was small but fully equipped.

Xu Jing pointed to the jars and asked, "Are these medicines?"

Cheng Xianbai nodded, "They’re emergency medications."

"So, these are primarily for treatment rather than sale?"

Cheng Xianbai frowned slightly, eyeing Xu Jing with suspicion, "This is a clinic, not a pharmacy. While we do have some common medications, they are not stocked for sale."

In ancient times, clinics and pharmacies were separate entities; only the most successful clinics could manage both.

Xu Jing seemed unfazed by Cheng Xianbai’s look and nodded knowingly, smiling slightly, "I understand the situation; let’s go out."

Returning to the front room, Xu Jing sat beside Chunyang and Chunxiang, while Cheng Xianbai rejoined Cheng Qingqing.

While waiting for patients, Cheng Xianbai casually engaged Xu Jing in conversation. Having spent years outside, his medical skills might not be impressive, but his street smarts and slyness certainly were.

Xu Jing, aware of his intentions, didn’t expose him. She answered his questions, deftly deflecting those she preferred not to answer.

In matters of wit, how could Cheng Xianbai compare with Xu Jing, experienced in outsmarting various dangerous criminals? After a long conversation yielding no tangible information, he reluctantly fell silent.

For a considerable time, they sat quietly in the clinic, with only Cheng Qingqing occasionally pouring tea for Xu Jing and her companions.

Despite waiting for the better part of a day, with the sun nearly setting, not even a single patient appeared. Xu Jing suspected not even a fly had wandered in.

She gently rubbed the cup in her hand, remarking softly, "The clinic’s business is quite dire indeed."

Cheng Qingqing bit her lip, clearly embarrassed.

Cheng Xianbai’s mouth twitched uncontrollably.

As if anyone didn’t know!

Otherwise, why would they risk agreeing to such a humiliating revenue-sharing condition?

Suddenly, urgent footsteps echoed from outside, accompanied by a frantic male voice nearly breaking, "Doctor! Is the doctor here? My wife is in critical condition! Please, save her!"