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Chapter 1454: The Reason for High Charges
🕑 Added 2023-08-26 00:53:00 +0000 UTCChapter 1454: The Reason for High Charges
As they spoke, the two of them had already entered the main hall.
Not seeing anyone around, Shu Yu knew that her family members were all in the backyard.
She had someone serve tea to Doctor Xu and then sat opposite him, saying, "Doctor Xu, feel free to speak your mind."
Taking a sip of tea, Doctor Xu seemed to be organizing his thoughts. After a while, he finally spoke, "I want to cooperate with Doctor Zhao and open a medical clinic."
Shu Yu was taken aback and instinctively replied, "Don't you already have a clinic?"
Doctor Xu sighed, "You've seen my clinic, it's specifically for bone-setting. I only get a patient once every ten days or half a month. I feel like I'm rusting away, and at this rate, my skill in setting bones will deteriorate."
Shu Yu said, "That's because your prices are too high. If you lower them a bit, with your medical skills, many people will come seeking treatment."
At this point, Doctor Xu fell silent, his expression showing a sense of desolation. "I didn't want to set such high prices, but back then, I had no other choice."
Intrigued, Shu Yu leaned forward, wanting to know the inside story.
Doctor Xu then talked about the difficulties of his clinic. Some years ago, he offended the county magistrate of Jiangyuan County. Oh, it was that corrupt official who was taken down by Xiang Weinan.
The county magistrate was vengeful and naturally unwilling to let Doctor Xu go.
But luckily, Doctor Xu had a good set of skills and had made many connections before. Not just in this county, but also in other places. Otherwise, his scar removal ointment wouldn't have been sold all the way to the Dong'an Prefecture.
Some people interceded on Doctor Xu's behalf, which prevented the magistrate from throwing him directly into prison.
However, this also caused significant losses for Doctor Xu, and it took a long time for him to recover and reopen his clinic.
Yet, even so, while the county magistrate couldn't directly attack him, he made various covert moves. The magistrate's son frequently found people to cause trouble for Doctor Xu.
Doctor Xu's life became miserable, and the patients who came to him were even more frightened. They no longer dared to seek treatment from him.
Over time, Doctor Xu's clinic became unprofitable, and it gradually fell into decline.
He considered leaving Jiangyuan County and starting anew somewhere else. But firstly, this was his ancestral homeland, where his parents and wife were buried. He didn't want to wander outside alone and end up dying as a lonely stranger.
Secondly, even if he wanted to leave, he needed a guide. With the county magistrate blocking his path, he wouldn't be able to go far.
Doctor Xu had no choice but to continue living, so he gradually raised his fees.
The patients who came to him were wealthy people, seeking his medical skills. These people didn't mind spending a little more money as long as they could be cured.
With fewer patients but higher fees, Doctor Xu's clinic struggled on, barely covering the expenses.
"Back when you proposed that we cooperate and sell the scar removal ointment recipe to me, the amount you asked for was already all my savings," Doctor Xu explained.
Maintaining the clinic, paying the wages of his assistants, and buying high-quality medicinal materials for the patients, all cost him a lot.
Shu Yu was surprised, "If I had proposed a higher price back then?"
"Then I would have had to borrow. I could still borrow a few hundred taels of silver," Doctor Xu replied.
