Chapter 2439 - 2413: Just Thinking About It Is Exciting

"The first three batches of patients didn’t have any issues, why is it that you people have problems?"

Ultimately, it’s because the obedient ones were chosen first, and the quality of this fourth batch is not very good, resulting in double the effort from what we managed before.

The overseer pointed at them and scolded them, prompting a few individuals to sneak off and quietly retrieve their items.

The overseer saw this and snorted coldly but upon turning his head and seeing Manbao, he immediately flashed a flattering smile, took a step back, and then spoke with confidence, "Hurry up, hurry up, move forward quickly; the lords still need to eat, where is there time to waste on you?"

After being reprimanded once, no one dared to hold back any items again. They took out the items they had received, checked them thoroughly, and threw them into the fire pit one by one.

Manbao watched the fire burn out and nodded with satisfaction, saying to the overseer, "You can send them away with the guards later."

"Yes, Sir."

Someone boldly asked, "Sir, can the cattle in the manor be distributed to us?"

Manbao asked, "What do you need the cattle for?"

"The manor requires cattle for farming; it would be much easier with them. Also, the cattle have had smallpox; if they die of illness, others can’t eat them, but we can, so it would be better for us to have them, wouldn’t it?"

Manbao: "Who told you that cattle that have had smallpox can’t be eaten?"

Everyone was stunned and asked, "Isn’t that the case?"

"Of course not, when these cattle die of old age, I’ll show you by eating them."

Everyone: ...Thanks, but no thanks. They just wanted to use the live cattle or just eat them themselves, not watch others eat.

Manbao waved to dismiss them, "Don’t even think about it, these cattle all belong to our Imperial Hospital, no one is getting them."

These are the property of the Imperial Hospital, bought by Director Xiao and me, of course, it’s impossible to just give them away.

Director Xiao decided to keep the cattle in this imperial manor to observe them. If the Imperial Hospital ever lacks money, they could sell some cattle for funds.

Of course, right now Director Xiao doesn’t lack money, so he generously handed them over to the manor overseer for farming.

Director Xiao stayed in the palace for half a day, and after reporting the results of the team’s work to the Emperor and ministers, he generously left some on duty while taking the rest to dine out.

Including medical assistants and medical maidens, he reserved two tables at Primus Pavilion.

Director Xiao and Imperial Doctor Liu personally came to fetch Imperial Doctor Lu and Zhou Man, cheerfully saying, "Tomorrow’s grand assembly, join me in attending court. Although His Majesty hasn’t explicitly said it, I believe there will be substantial rewards."

Who doesn’t love a promotion?

Manbao and Imperial Doctor Lu felt a hint of excitement.

At Primus Pavilion, Director Xiao had them sit on each side of him, showing his appreciation for them.

Manbao naturally had to yield a position for Imperial Doctor Liu, thus sitting one spot behind him.

This was the Imperial Hospital’s first gathering in three months, and due to their significant achievements, everyone was in high spirits. Apart from Manbao and a few medical maidens, others drank quite a lot.

After having her fill, Manbao glanced outside and noticed the sun was nearly completely set. Since Director Xiao seemed keen on moving to another venue, she rose to bid farewell and conveniently pulled Liu Sanniang and a few medical maidens along from the other table.

Director Xiao indeed planned to invite some singers from the Imperial Music Bureau, so it was better for Zhou Man and the others to leave; he didn’t stop them, smilingly nodding to Imperial Doctor Zheng to see them off.

Manbao, leading a group of girls downstairs, turned and asked them, "Are you going back to the palace or home?"

Medical maidens generally lived in the palace, but since the Imperial Hospital was evidently on break, they could return home.

After thinking for a moment, the medical maidens decided to go home.

Manbao then instructed Liu Sanniang’s driver to send each of them home, while she and Liu Sanniang strolled slowly along the street.

Walking beside Manbao, Liu Sanniang said, "Master, I heard from my grandfather that you might be promoted again."

Manbao, having drank two cups of wine earlier, had a slightly flushed face. She replied, "One shouldn’t speak lightly of things not yet decreed."

Liu Sanniang nodded in agreement.

The two master and disciple walked home, and before they reached their street, they saw Bai Shanzheng coming out leading a horse, surprised at the encounter, Bai Shan smiled and asked, "You are out?"

Manbao nodded.

Glancing at the horse Bai Shan was leading, Chiji, she asked, "Where are you going?"

"To fetch you," Bai Shan handed her the horse, smiling, "I heard from Senior Brother Tang that the manor’s people are all being sent away, so I guessed you’d be coming out today. But as you hadn’t returned by this time, I thought I’d come see."

Daji dismounted and handed his horse to Liu Sanniang.

Liu Sanniang politely declined, and Manbao and Bai Shan didn’t ride either. Instead, they walked, leading the horses leisurely along the street, chatting casually.

Manbao told him, "The experiment has paused temporarily. Tomorrow, we attend the grand assembly, and the day after, we should be off; are you having Ministry of Personnel exams the day after?"

Bai Shan nodded, intrigued, "Why is the grand assembly tomorrow, wasn’t it supposed to be the day after?"

Manbao replied, "The Emperor is eager."

With assemblies being held only once a ten-day period, a day early or late doesn’t make much difference. The Emperor decides with a word, and officials notify those required to attend.

Bai Shan looked around, leaned close to Manbao’s ear, and whispered, "You’re about to be granted the title of a village lord."

Manbao’s eyes widened, and her already rosy cheeks grew redder, seeming to glow, "Really?"

Bai Shan chuckled, nodding, "Really, Bai Er heard it from Princess Changyu, she said it was the Emperor who told her personally."

Manbao started calculating, and couldn’t help asking, "Is it an official rank, or a bestowed honor?"

There’s a significant difference between an official rank and bestowed honor.

For instance, Manbao’s long-standing goal is to bestow honor upon her parents. With her current rank, she could ask for her mother to be honored as a fifth-rank county lady and herself as a Bureau Inspector, which is an honor. The court provides ceremonial attire and hats, and during holidays, they send items like grain, oil, and meat, but typically there’s no salary.

Unless she died on duty, which grants consolation benefits. Of course, she has no intention of dying.

An official rank is like Bai Shan’s—a real title, which comes with salary, grain allowance, and land grants, very prestigious.

However, in Great Jin, there hasn’t been a village lord. In the Prior Han dynasty, daughters of princes or meritorious ministers could be granted titles like village or pavilion lord, but later, daughters of kings mostly received land for a whole county and were directly titled as countesses.

Manbao, rubbing her chin in thought, contemplated, a village lord is fifth-rank, with five hundred households granted, a place to live, just the thought of it was exciting.