Just as Miss Jun had said, Jiuling Hall did not have people seeking consultations flooding in; there was still no one knocking on the door.
Liu'er could sit still, content as long as the Miss was not worried, but Manager Liu could not.
This reputation was failing to take off.
"Miss Jun, I think perhaps we should ask the family of the woman who received treatment that day to send over a plaque or something," he suggested, looking at Miss Jun, who was organizing her medicine box in preparation to go out. "I think they wouldn't refuse."
Miss Jun smiled.
"That would be troublesome," she said.
If they were willing to pay five thousand taels for a consultation, would a plaque really be a problem?
Manager Liu was stunned for a moment, but then realized, those who were willing to pay but unwilling to publicize probably had an illness they did not want others to know about.
So that was it – there really was no way around it; they could only prosper in private, like being rich yet walking in silence at night.
Not to mention, if they treated only this one patient for the rest of their lives, the consultation fee earned would be enough to guarantee this girl a life free of material concerns.
But then again, the girl herself was not in need of money. Even without earning anything, she would still live without worry.
Ultimately, opening this medical hall was not for money, but for fame.
"No rush, no rush. If Miss Jun really has such skills, there's nothing to worry about," Manager Liu said with a smile.
"Yes, no rush," Miss Jun said, slinging the medicine box on her back, ringing a bell in hand, and walking out with Liu'er.
The clear sound of the bell echoed through the streets as Manager Liu watched them depart.
But a few days later, Manager Liu still quietly inquired and learned that the family of the woman they had encountered in the alley had left the capital.
So they weren't from the capital?
He had hoped that even if they did not promote it widely, a discreet recommendation would do, considering that reputations of many doctors were built by noblewomen extolling them to one another.
Well, now that was it; the people had left, and an event that was unknown to begin with became completely unknown.
Manager Liu shook his head – it was all about timing and fate. However, after this incident, whenever he heard Miss Jun taking Liu'er out to roam the streets every day, he no longer felt anxious.
This child, though somewhat eccentric in her ways, seemed to have a sense of measure.
"Come, come over here," he called out.
The servant boy immediately entered.
"Brew this tea for me," Manager Liu requested, passing the package of medicinal tea Miss Jun had given him to the servant boy.
"Shopkeeper, what kind of delicacy is this? Why have you been drinking this so often lately?" the servant boy asked with a smile.
Manager Liu patted his belly. Miss Jun had said this tea was good for the throat, and he hadn't initially taken it seriously. But after drinking it a few times, even the old throat discomfort from his younger days of running the streets and managing a shop seemed to have improved. Just the other day, his little grandson even complimented that his voice sounded nice.
At his age, there was no need for fancy teas to impress others; good health was the best front.
"This tea might not be a delicacy, but it's worth its weight in gold," Manager Liu declared.
Miss Jun, who selected her patients carefully and demanded five thousand taels for a consultation, likely did not give her medicine to just anyone, and the price certainly wasn't cheap.
It was fitting for someone of Manager Liu's status to drink a tea worth a thousand taels, and the servant boy left with a chuckle.
Sitting in his room drinking tea, Manager Liu still couldn't help but reflect.
Miss Jun had the medical skills to earn ten thousand silver taels, she could have easily made a name for herself in the capital, so why did she persist in acting this way?
Did she really want to become famous or not?
..........................
Meanwhile, on another street, a few young men were strolling together.
"Getting you, Zhang Baotang, out for a meal is truly a feat," one of the young men remarked, clapping the shoulder of the person next to him.
Zhang Baotang grinned bashfully and was about to reply when another young man draped an arm around his shoulders.
"Baotang has been ill, so he must adhere to the doctor's advice and abstain from drinking," he joked.
"Zhang Baotang, are you really sick?" the others inquired.
Before Zhang Baotang could answer...
"Of course, he's sick; our Lord Heir went as far as to break into the Imperial Guard Camp with two doctors in the middle of the night for Baotang's ailment. Now, who doesn't know?" the young man said laughingly.
He then looked backward.
"Second Brother, I'm sick too," he declared, pressing on his chest and coughing forcefully twice.
Zhu Zan, who was walking behind them, grabbed the jester.
"Is that so, Sifeng? Come, let big brother treat you," he said.
The one called Sifeng yelped and pleaded for mercy, while the other young men roared with laughter.
Their group of five overshadowed the liveliness of the entire street.
People on the street recognized these young men as being the offspring of high-ranking officials and affluent families from within the capital, noticing their imposing figures, bright clothes, and extraordinary presence.
```
These people were born into privilege, receiving official titles at birth, and when they grew up, they joined the Imperial Guard, never worrying about food or drink, engaging in horse racing and dog fighting, acting tyrannically and oppressively, but they were not to be trifled with.
And now, these five walking on the street were even more infamous, a reputation earned from fighting with the twelfth prince in public that year.
It was said that they collided at the drill ground, where the twelfth prince and his group were knocked to the ground by the Duke of Chengguo's heir's party, gaining instant fame.
Daring to fight even a prince, and after the scuffle, merely facing reprimand from family members, the emperor said not a word; there in the capital, there was no one they wouldn't dare to fight.
Usually, they were known as a group of four, as Duke of Chengguo's heir Zhu Zan rarely came to the capital; but when he did appear, everyone felt no strangeness at all, as if he was always there.
Seeing these five approaching, everyone on the street made way for them, and Zhu Zan and his friends didn't mind in the least, clearly accustomed to such flamboyant displays.
"Second Brother Zhu said that being ill is useless," Zhang Baotang finally found an opportunity to speak and laughed, "Miss Jun's words are what counted."
Miss Jun?
The young man known as Sifeng raised an eyebrow.
"Is that the mysterious bell healer lady?" he asked, looking at Zhu Zan, "Is she really... that persuasive?"
He smirked, winking playfully.
Zhu Zan raised one eyebrow, but before he replied, Zhang Baotang spoke up.
"Miss Jun is incredible," he said, "My shoulder stopped hurting after one or two treatments, and my night coughing's gone too."
Zhang Baotang was known for his honesty, and everyone believed what he said.
Sifeng had his doubts.
"Is she really that remarkable?" he asked, looking at Zhu Zan.
"I am only stating what I saw with my own eyes," Zhu Zan replied, "You know, on my way here I passed through Runan, and that's where I encountered Miss Jun."
It was his own initiative to bring up his acquaintance with Miss Jun.
The young men all looked at him.
Zhu Zan pondered for a moment.
"Her medical skills are beyond question," he said.
The young men murmured in acknowledgment.
"What else?"
"Is there more?"
They laughed, egging him on.
Who cared about her medical skills? What could a girl's medical prowess amount to, really?
What men cared about was the meeting between a man and a woman, and the various amusing events that ensued.
"How would I know anything else, I'm not even close with her," Zhu Zan replied.
Sifeng draped an arm over his shoulder.
"But it seems this miss is quite familiar with you," he said teasingly.
Zhu Zan burst out laughing.
"Which woman wouldn't warm up to me at first sight?" he said, "I can't help being so likable that I can't block it even if I try."
"Shameless!"
The young men laughed and mock-scolded.
Amidst the commotion, Zhang Baotang exclaimed.
"There's Miss Jun," he said.
Speak of the devil and he shall appear; the young men hurriedly looked over, and indeed, they saw a girl walking leisurely down the alley, with a maid carrying a flag beside her and the sound of bells ringing.
............…
Seeing Miss Jun approach, both children and adults in the alleyway looked on.
Nowadays, a girl claiming to be a bell healer and choosing her patients had become the talk of the town. As Miss Jun appeared, children gathered around giggling, while the adults showed disdain with whispers and finger-pointing.
Miss Jun paid them no mind, merely ringing her bell as she walked through the alley.
Suddenly, she stopped in front of a few chattering women and looked at one of them.
"Madam, I see an ominous sign about you," she said.
With those words, the chattering women froze, and so did Zhang Baotang and the other young men who had followed.
Ominous sign?
Sifeng couldn't help but snort with laughter.
"This Miss Jun has quite a unique style of diagnosing," he commented.
Zhu Zan followed, a look of disgust on his face.
I've said it before, this woman is no proper person.
```