CMWKSD -Chapter 63 Carrot and Stick

Jiu Yue wasn’t good at social niceties, and Shao Qing’s mother likely felt that her blindness made her a poor host. After exchanging a few casual words with Jiu Yue, she excused herself and left.

Instead, Shao Qing’s younger sister, Shao Ning, bustled about, constantly bringing Jiu Yue snacks to eat and water to drink.

Seeing that the two were about to discuss serious matters, Shao Ning turned and left the room. Just before going out, she glanced back at Shao Qing.

All of a sudden, Jiu Yue felt that Shao Qing, who thought he had concealed things well from his mother and sister, probably hadn’t fooled anyone at all.

This little girl was quite clever. Was it really true that vegetables grown without hormones and food without any additives in ancient times were that nourishing?

Only then did the two of them begin their real discussion. Following her original plan, Jiu Yue explained everything to Shao Qing in detail—what she intended to do, how she would do it, and the specific steps involved—laying it all out clearly.

Then she said, “I hope you can help me keep an eye on this shop.”

Shao Qing hadn’t expected Jiu Yue to entrust him with something so significant. Was this… the position of shop manager?

But how could he deserve that?

“I… I… Doctor Jiu Yue, I can’t do it.”

Jiu Yue looked at him. “Is it that you can’t, or that you’re afraid?”

Shao Qing lowered his head, not daring to speak. To be honest, he didn’t think he was incapable—he was just afraid. After all, it would be a shop. If it lost money, how could he ever face his benefactor?

“I’ll have dedicated clerks and a shopkeeper handle selling the pills,” Jiu Yue said. “But collecting those bits of information and compiling them into records—that will be your job. One tael of silver per month. Is that acceptable?”

Hearing “one tael of silver,” Shao Qing jerked his head up and nodded repeatedly, but then felt it was far too much. After all, he would just be chatting with little beggars or the maids and servants from various households.

How could that possibly be worth one tael of silver?

“No, no, that’s too much.”

Jiu Yue smiled. “If I say it’s worth it, then it’s worth it. You just need to tell me whether you can do it.”

This was something Shao Qing was already accustomed to doing, so naturally he didn’t feel incapable. Moreover, his original worry had been about managing a shop. Now that Jiu Yue had clearly divided the responsibilities for him, he no longer felt unqualified.

He nodded quickly. “I can do it.”

Jiu Yue nodded. “Good. I’ve taken a liking to the shop on Qingyun Street. Help me find out how much it would cost to buy it, and how much it would be to rent.”

She was already assigning him tasks just like that?

Shao Qing’s eyes lit up as he watched Jiu Yue directly take out one tael of silver. “This is for this month.”

Shao Qing hesitated, not daring to accept it at all—he hadn’t done anything yet.

Jiu Yue looked at him, the young boy’s gaze firm and clear. “If you come across anyone quick-witted or suitable for work, you may give them a few copper coins each month and recruit them.”

“Working for me, keeping your mouth shut is one thing. Knowing what should be said and what shouldn’t, and knowing what should be done and what shouldn’t—that’s what matters most.”

“As for the people you recruit, it’s best if they have no parents and no attachments. Ideally, bring them to me for a look.”

Shao Qing nodded repeatedly. Just moments ago he had even thought about selling himself into servitude, but Jiu Yue had refused.

In Jiu Yue’s view, a piece of contract paper was utterly useless. If someone truly wanted to betray you, they would do so no matter what.

Jiu Yue couldn’t directly tell Shao Qing what this was all for, but someone as clever as Shao Qing—how could he not understand?

Jiu Yue was cultivating her own power base.

Thinking of what had happened with the former county magistrate, Shao Qing felt there was nothing wrong with this at all. If he had known about the magistrate’s proclivities back then, he could have prepared earlier.

If Jiu Yue hadn’t been there that day, who knew what kind of situation he’d be in now?

Jiu Yue was about to stand up and leave when her fingertips lightly tapped the table. She wasn’t someone who liked meddling in other people’s affairs, but she did understand the principle of combining reward and authority.

“Go bring your mother out. Take the silver.”

Knowing Jiu Yue’s decisive nature, Shao Qing finally took the silver, missing the fleeting hint of darkness that flashed through Jiu Yue’s eyes as she looked at it.

The silver was poisoned. As long as there was no betrayal, it was fine—but if there was, Jiu Yue wouldn’t even need to get close. She could kill with this poison alone.

Jiu Yue had never been someone who easily trusted others. Having everything under her own control was what mattered most.

No matter why Shao Qing agreed, this matter was inherently fraught with danger.

“Remember—be extremely careful when doing this.”

Shao Qing nodded and hurried out to lead his mother inside. Though he didn’t know what Jiu Yue intended to do, since she had saved him, she would never harm his family.

Supported by Shao Qing, his mother trembled her way into the main hall.

Jiu Yue lifted her chin slightly. Shao Qing quickly guided his mother to sit on a stool. “Doctor Jiu Yue, why did you have me bring my mother here?”

Shao Qing’s mother suddenly tightened her grip on the walking stick in her hands.

“Raise your hand.”

At first Shao Qing didn’t understand who she was talking to. A moment later it dawned on him that she meant his mother. He recalled how Jiu Yue had dealt with the county magistrate using silver needles.

Realization struck him—was Jiu Yue… was she going to treat his mother’s eyes?

His heart pounded with excitement. “Doctor Jiu Yue, are you… are you going to treat my mother’s eyes?”

Jiu Yue extended her hand with a smile. “Since you’re working under me, as long as you’re obedient, I won’t treat you poorly.”

Shao Qing could no longer find words of thanks. With tears in his eyes, he lifted his mother’s hand and placed it on the table.

Jiu Yue leaned in to examine Shao Qing’s mother’s eyes. As long as it wasn’t cataracts or glaucoma, things were manageable—those conditions would take far too long to treat with traditional medicine alone.

She placed her fingers on the pulse. Shao Qing’s mother clutched Shao Qing’s hand tightly, not daring to let go. This distinguished guest had been invited by Shao Qing; she absolutely couldn’t show any disrespect and cause him to lose face.

Jiu Yue took her pulse for quite some time. After a while, she said, “Do you have paper and ink at home?”

Shao Qing nearly burst into cheers. Was Jiu Yue going to write a prescription for his mother?

“Yes, yes! My father left some behind.”

Jiu Yue laid out the hard truth first. “I won’t be coming to the county every day. I should come tomorrow or the day after, and I’ll use acupuncture on your mother. After that, it will be once every three days. If I don’t notify you in advance, you’ll need to find a way to bring your mother to Ji Family Village for the treatment.”

Shao Qing nodded quickly. “My mother’s condition… can it be cured?”

Jiu Yue pondered for a moment. “She’ll be able to see, but it probably won’t be very, very clear. There’s blockage, and on top of that—did she cry often in the past two years, damaging her eyes?”

Neither Shao Qing nor his mother spoke. Those two years had been the years after Shao Qing’s father passed away.

Back then, his father had fallen from the mountain. They had invited countless doctors and spent a great deal of silver, but his life still couldn’t be saved.

The family fell into debt and nearly lost their house.

It was during that period that Shao Qing’s mother damaged her eyes.

Jiu Yue had no interest in their past. “So—do you want it treated?”

Shao Qing’s mother interrupted outright, “No. We won’t treat it.”

They didn’t know how much silver it would cost. Shao Qing already worked day and night to earn money—adding this on top of everything else would only make things worse.