Qingshui District
Returning to his temporary residence, Lu Yaoqing entered the house and immediately sat down on the sofa. He rubbed his temples, looking visibly tired.
Lately, he had been busy with Tongrentang’s new business direction. In recent years, fewer and fewer people believed in traditional Chinese medicine, leading to a decline in patients. Coupled with fierce competition in the industry, even though Tongrentang was the industry leader, business had become increasingly difficult. Therefore, exploring new avenues had become an urgent priority.
After discussions, the board of directors decided that Tongrentang would venture into medicinal cuisine restaurants. The Chinese people highly valued culinary pleasures, and with rising living standards, they had begun paying attention to all aspects of life. Medicinal cuisine, which was both beneficial to health and delicious, would undoubtedly appeal to many.
Currently, the medicinal cuisine market remained largely untapped. However, medicinal cuisine required customization—it couldn’t be consumed indiscriminately. If customers couldn’t trust a restaurant’s offerings, how could they be expected to pay for them?
Tongrentang, however, had a unique advantage. With access to top-tier Chinese medicinal channels, they could procure high-quality herbs. Moreover, their team of experienced TCM doctors could tailor the most suitable medicinal dishes based on customers’ health conditions.
If successfully developed, this venture could become a game-changer.
Lu Yaoqing, the initiator of this project, was particularly excited about it.
But launching a new direction was inherently risky—its outcome and chances of success were uncertain. To minimize losses, the board decided to let Lu Yaoqing, as the project’s initiator, take the lead in testing the waters by selecting a location for a pilot restaurant.
Lu Yaoqing chose Yuzhou City, where Elder Li resided. On one hand, his research showed that Yuzhou lacked established medicinal cuisine restaurants, meaning competition would be minimal. On the other hand, it was also a personal choice—Elder Li, feeling overwhelmed by the pressures of the capital, had retired to the slower-paced Yuzhou. Lu Yaoqing hadn’t seen him in a long time and missed him dearly. Of course, if possible, he also hoped to seek Elder Li’s assistance. After all, opening a medicinal cuisine restaurant without proper recipes was unthinkable.
Pioneering, however, was always the hardest part. Even though he was being groomed as Tongrentang’s next successor and could leverage the company’s connections, those resources were limited. As a result, he had been running around lately—meeting with local food industry leaders, finalizing the restaurant’s location, and handling everything personally.
This was both an opportunity to prove his capabilities and a challenge. Men, after all, thrived on conquering new territories.
If he succeeded, his position as the heir would be solidified. But until then, nothing was certain, and many were watching closely, eager to find fault with him.
Now, all preliminary preparations were complete—except for the most crucial element: the medicinal cuisine recipes.
It would be laughable to suggest that Tongrentang had no medicinal cuisine recipes, but none of them were suitable as signature dishes.
A medicinal cuisine restaurant was, at its core, still a restaurant. And the importance of a signature dish for any restaurant went without saying.
This left Lu Yaoqing troubled. After some thought, he decided to visit Elder Li the next day to ask if he knew of any rare medicinal cuisine recipes. If he did, Lu Yaoqing would inquire whether Elder Li was willing to sell them.
The next day, Lu Yaoqing first visited the site he had chosen for the restaurant.
The location was near Xizi Lake, a famous scenic spot in Yuzhou—and even across the country. Tourists visiting Yuzhou always made it a must-see destination, ensuring a steady flow of visitors. Naturally, the surrounding area was prime real estate.
The building he had selected was a standalone two-story structure, not particularly tall but spacious. Previously a teahouse, it had been decorated in a classical style, which aligned perfectly with Lu Yaoqing’s vision. As a result, minimal renovations were needed.
Lu Yaoqing had been fortunate—the previous owner had gone bankrupt and sold the building to settle debts. Otherwise, acquiring it would have cost far more time and money.
After arriving, Lu Yaoqing inspected the renovation progress. Things were moving smoothly—the first floor was nearly complete, including the kitchen. Once the second floor was finished and the place aired out, everything would be ready in about two months.
—
“Auntie, how do you feel?” Qin Chaoyu asked after massaging the elderly woman’s head for a while.
The woman nodded enthusiastically. “Young lady, you’re amazing! I’ve had this headache for ages—medicine never helped. Sometimes, the pain was so bad I wanted to stab my own head. But your massage actually made it better!”
Pleased to hear it was effective, Qin Chaoyu continued adjusting her technique to ensure the woman’s comfort. “Auntie, I’m glad it helps. Your headache is actually caused by exposure to wind during postpartum confinement. In TCM, it’s called ‘head wind’—rheumatic or cold-induced headaches. Back then, it might not have seemed serious, so you didn’t treat it. But as you age, the pain worsens, which is why simple medication doesn’t work now. My massage can only provide temporary relief—the real cure requires acupuncture and herbal treatment.”
The woman sighed regretfully. “Back then, my family was poor, so my confinement period wasn’t properly managed. Who knew it’d turn out like this?”
She then looked at Qin Chaoyu with trust. “Dr. Qin, I’ll leave my condition in your hands.”
The title “Dr. Qin” was spoken with genuine respect. The woman, Wang Danxia, had once worked as an accountant. But as her headaches worsened, she retired early to recuperate at home. She had come here on a friend’s recommendation, hearing about a skilled and honest young doctor. Initially skeptical due to Qin Chaoyu’s youth, she was now convinced—anyone who could alleviate her pain with just a massage was undoubtedly highly skilled.
“Don’t worry, Auntie. After the massage, I’ll explain the acupuncture schedule and precautions in detail.”
Wang Danxia glanced at the crowded waiting area, feeling guilty. She had arrived late, and the queue was long—she would’ve had to wait three or four hours. But unable to bear the pain, the other patients had kindly let her go first.
“I’m so sorry for taking up so much time and making you all wait,” she apologized after the session.
An elderly man waved it off. “No worries! Our conditions aren’t as urgent as yours. Besides, chatting with everyone made the time pass quickly.”
“Exactly! Don’t feel bad, sister,” another woman, older than Wang Danxia, chimed in. “We let you go first willingly. A little delay doesn’t matter.”
The harmonious atmosphere warmed Qin Chaoyu’s heart. In the month since she had started practicing at Tongrentang, she had not only built a reputation (albeit still limited in scope) but also gained invaluable hands-on experience that textbooks couldn’t teach. Now, the clinic saw about twenty patients daily.
Li Zhongming, whose spot she had “taken,” wasn’t upset. Sipping tea nearby, he was perfectly content.
This was exactly what he wanted. Age had made practicing medicine increasingly taxing, so having a young colleague handle patients—for free, no less—was a blessing he welcomed wholeheartedly.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage