Chapter 13: Working as a Servant

Hua Changxi stood at the corner of the plaza for a long time, ultimately not daring to confront that Medical Officer Sun. Just as she turned to leave, a burst of commotion erupted from the adjacent courtyard.

"It itches so much!"

"Help!"

Pharmacist Xu had just instructed Hua Changxi not to wander aimlessly within the Medical Bureau, and she had intended to walk away directly. However, as she passed the courtyard gate, she heard the voice of Eunuch Jia.

"Everyone, be quiet! I have already sent someone to fetch a physician."

Hua Changxi paused, standing at the courtyard entrance to peer inside.

In the courtyard, more than twenty people were wailing in agony. They were incessantly scratching their hands and arms; even when their flesh was torn and bloody, they could not stop.

As Hua Changxi's gaze swept over the herbs piled in the courtyard, she instantly understood what was happening, and then shifted her focus to Eunuch Jia.

Earlier at the plaza, Medical Officer Sun had been completely suppressed by Eunuch Jia. Even when mocked, Sun did not dare to make a sound. This suggested that Eunuch Jia's status was far from ordinary.

Hua Changxi looked up at the plaque on the courtyard gate: *Labor Hall*.

She was likely unable to become an apprentice. Without access to many medicinal materials outside, she couldn't afford to waste a whole year waiting for the Medical Bureau's next recruitment cycle.

If she could enter the Labor Hall as a laborer, perhaps it would be an opportunity.

And since it was an opportunity, she could not let it slip away.

With this thought, Hua Changxi stepped forward and cupped her hands in a respectful salute toward Eunuch Jia: "This humble girl greets Eunuch Jia!"

Eunuch Jia was currently in a state of great irritation. Hearing someone call out to him, he frowned and turned around, only to find a complete stranger. His expression instantly darkened.

Seeing this, Hua Changxi quickly explained, "Forgive me, Eunuch Jia. This humble girl was passing by the Labor Hall and heard the shouting inside, so I merely looked in to see."

She then quickly pointed to the people still screaming, "The problem with these people is easily solved. Grind the Frost Ice Grass into a powder and apply it to their arms; they will show improvement within fifteen minutes."

Eunuch Jia had intended to have someone seize Hua Changxi, but after hearing her words, he changed his mind. "Oh? You know what is wrong with them?"

Hua Changxi nodded and pointed to the herbs in the courtyard. "Fire Crystal Grass contains fire poison and cannot be washed directly with water. If Fire Crystal Grass is placed in water, the toxicity disperses rapidly; anyone who comes into contact with it will end up like them."

Eunuch Jia raised an eyebrow. "You recognize the herbs in this courtyard?"

Hua Changxi nodded again. "To answer your Excellency, my family runs a pharmacy. I know several herb merchants and traders, and I have learned much about medicinal herbs from them."

To increase her perceived value, Hua Changxi added, "In this courtyard, not only can Fire Crystal Grass not be washed with water, but Thunder Bamboo cannot either."

Thunder Bamboo was not actually bamboo, but a type of herb that resembled it.

"If Thunder Bamboo is placed in water, those who touch it will suffer paralysis in their arms. In severe cases, the arms will undergo necrosis, eventually leaving the person permanently disabled."

Hearing this, the people of the Labor Hall present showed looks of terror. Had it not been for the accident involving the Fire Crystal Grass, they would have already begun processing the Thunder Bamboo.

Anger surged in Eunuch Jia's eyes; he knew the Labor Hall was being targeted.

A young eunuch beside him stepped forward and whispered, "Godfather, I suspect Pharmacist Gong of the Fourth Street is doing this on purpose because we supplied medicinal materials to Pharmacist Ji of the Fifth Street last time instead of him."

"He insisted on using Fire Crystal Grass and Thunder Bamboo but failed to tell us how to process them. He is trying to ruin us."

Eunuch Jia remained silent. Seeing the laborers cleaning the Fire Crystal Grass screaming miserably, he summoned a young eunuch. "Go to the warehouse and fetch some Frost Ice Grass."

Frost Ice Grass was a common herb used by martial artists and was not inexpensive; even martial artists outside might struggle to purchase it.

However, this was the Medical Bureau. The Labor Hall was responsible for the preliminary processing of all medicinal materials entering the bureau, and the warehouse held several thousand catties of unprocessed Frost Ice Grass.

While he could not take materials from the warehouse at will, taking a small amount to treat injured laborers was permissible.

After the young eunuch left, Eunuch Jia looked at Hua Changxi again. "Since these two herbs cannot be washed with water, how should they be processed?"

Hua Changxi replied, "Use salt. Salt can quickly remove the impurities from the Fire Crystal Grass and Thunder Bamboo."

The *Commentary on the Classic of a Hundred Herbs* detailed the precautions for processing Fire Crystal Grass and Thunder Bamboo.

Seeing Hua Changxi's certainty, Eunuch Jia hesitated only briefly before decisively ordering someone to fetch salt.

Once the salt arrived, they found they were short-handed.

The laborers in the Hall had specific duties, and with over twenty people injured, there was a natural shortage of manpower.

Noticing this, Hua Changxi immediately stepped forward. "Eunuch Jia, I happen to be free. I am willing to offer my services; please grant this humble girl a chance to gain experience."

Eunuch Jia now remembered that Hua Changxi was a candidate applying for an apprenticeship. Knowing the internal workings of this apprenticeship recruitment, he seemed to understand what this young lady was plotting.

However, how did she know that the medical apprentice slots had already been pre-allocated?

Just then, the eunuch sent to fetch the physicians returned with two of them.

Eunuch Jia did not respond to Hua Changxi—neither agreeing nor disagreeing—and went directly to attend to the two physicians.

Seeing this, Hua Changxi simply took his silence as consent. She walked quickly into the midst of the laborers and began processing the Fire Crystal Grass and Thunder Bamboo alongside them.

The laborers were unsure if salt could actually clean the herbs, so they watched Hua Changxi's operations in silence.

Only after confirming there was no danger did they begin processing the materials following her method.

"What? Acupuncture is also required?"

The two physicians also stated that the twenty-odd people had been burned by the herbs. To treat them, they would need acupuncture and medicinal decoctions to expel the toxins, and it would take at least ten days of recuperation to recover.

Eunuch Jia frowned. "I am aware that many new medicines have been developed in the last two years. Is there really no ointment that can simply be applied?"

The two physicians repeated the severity of the twenty laborers' injuries, insisting they were too serious for ordinary ointments.

Eunuch Jia glanced at Hua Changxi, who was busy among the laborers. The method this young lady suggested was far simpler than the physicians' treatment plan.

Eunuch Jia still had the physicians take the laborers to a room for treatment, but he kept a few behind. Once the young eunuch brought the Frost Ice Grass from the warehouse, he had them crush it to test it.

"Euncer, the itching is really gone!"

After applying the Frost Ice Grass, the remaining laborers felt the previous sensation—which felt like being burned and gnawed by millions of ants—rapidly recede.

Seeing the improvement in the laborers, Eunuch Jia went to check on those being treated by the physicians. Seeing them still scratching and wailing, he fell into deep thought.

In the past two years, the Medical Bureau had discovered many new medicinal materials, many of whose properties had yet to be fully tested. Even when they were, the physicians and pharmacists were secretive and did not share the knowledge completely.

In the Labor Hall, several accidents had already occurred while cleaning medicinal materials.

In the case of the Fire Crystal Grass and Thunder Bamboo, the Labor Hall had been completely unaware of their toxicity.

Eunuch Jia returned to the courtyard and silently watched Hua Changxi as she rapidly processed the herbs.

Her movements in processing the herbs were fast, accurate, and steady; she was even more skilled than the other laborers, even though those laborers were veterans who had worked there for years.

At this moment, Hua Changxi was indeed working with great vigor.

[Pureness Technique (Beginner): Cleaning Medicinal Materials 10/10]

Once she had processed ten plants, her mind was suddenly filled with various methods for cleaning mortal plants. It was as if she had experienced these methods countless times before; they were etched into her very bones.

Now, whether she picked up Fire Crystal Grass or Thunder Bamboo, she instinctively knew how to clean them.

It felt as though, despite being a novice in processing martial arts herbs, she had suddenly become a seasoned veteran who had handled countless such materials.

[Pureness Technique (Intermediate): Cleaning Medicinal Materials 88/100] [Pureness Technique (Intermediate): Cleaning Medicinal Materials 89/100] [Pureness Technique (Intermediate): Cleaning Medicinal Materials 90/100]

┊

There were simply too many materials for the Labor Hall to process. Watching the numbers in her vision constantly change, Hua Changxi's expression grew increasingly excited.

Once she reached 100 plants, just as she had expected, her mind was instantly flooded with various methods for cleaning spiritual plants.

Eunuch Jia watched from the side for a while. Realizing that Hua Changxi was indeed an expert at processing materials, he thought for a moment and summoned his young eunuch. "Xiao Luzi, go find out about this young lady's family background. Also, see which parts of the Medical Bureau she has visited today."

An hour later, just as the several carts of Fire Crystal Grass and Thunder Bamboo were nearly finished, Xiao Luzi returned.

"Godfather, that young lady is named Hua Changxi. She lives in Nanluo Lane, Xiuzheng Ward. She is the ninth child in her family, and her father is a constable of the Six Doors."

"Hua Changxi knows Pharmacist Xu of the Ninth Street. After leaving the plaza earlier, she went to the Ninth Street to find him. Pharmacist Xu is a close friend of Pharmacist Wang from the Apprentice Hall."

Xiao Luzi reported the gathered information to Eunuch Jia in detail.

Upon hearing this, Eunuch Jia understood why Hua Changxi knew that the medical apprentice slots had been pre-allocated.

"Go, call Hua Changxi to me."

[Pureness Technique (Master): Cleaning Medicinal Materials 250/1000]

Hua Changxi was working enthusiastically when Xiao Luzi arrived.

Learning that Eunuch Jia wished to see her, Hua Changxi cast a reluctant glance at the unfinished materials before following Xiao Luzi to Eunuch Jia.

"Eunuch Jia."

Eunuch Jia looked at Hua Changxi. He did not attempt to intimidate her; instead, he got straight to the point. "You have helped me resolve a trouble today. Speak—what do you wish to obtain from me?"

Hearing this, Hua Changxi did not dally. She cupped her hands in a salute. "This humble girl wishes to enter the Labor Hall. I beg Eunuch Jia for your permission."

Eunuch Jia wore an expression of "just as I thought." "While the Labor Hall does not require public notice for recruitment like the Apprentice Hall, that does not mean it is easy to enter. Why should I hire you?"

Hua Changxi could no longer afford to be modest. "Eunuch, my memory is quite good. Any medicinal herb I have seen or heard of, I have committed to memory."

"Furthermore, I have my own insights regarding the processing of medicinal materials. To put it bluntly, even when facing a veteran who has processed herbs for decades, I would claim I am not inferior to them."

Hearing her say this, Eunuch Jia burst into laughter. "You little girl, you don't even fear tripping over your own tongue when you brag."

Hua Changxi looked at Eunuch Jia with full confidence. "If Your Excellency does not believe me, please, test me."

Eunuch Jia gazed at her. Seeing that she did not flinch, he did not test her but continued, "The work in the Labor Hall is not easy. Never mind that you are a young lady; even men often find it unbearable. Are you certain you want to join the Labor Hall?"

Hua Changxi nodded firmly. "This humble girl is not afraid of hardship."

Eunuch Jia added, "As far as I know, you came here today to apply for an apprenticeship. What, do you feel certain you won't be recruited?"

Hua Changxi thought for a moment before replying, "I feel that I am better suited for the Labor Hall."

Eunuch Jia chuckled. "Are you truly not regretting this? If I agree to your request today, you will be a member of the Labor Hall. Even if your name appears on the Apprentice Hall's recruitment list three days from now, you cannot go to the Apprentice Hall."

Hua Changxi fell silent for a second, then nodded firmly once more. "This humble girl only wishes to join the Labor Hall."

Compared to an uncertain outcome, she preferred to grasp the certainty before her.

Seeing her resolve, a hint of approval appeared on Eunuch Jia's face. "You are quite decisive. I can see you indeed possess some skill, and the Labor Hall does indeed lack manpower. I will give you a chance today. Report to the Labor Hall tomorrow."

Hua Changxi's face lit up with joy. She performed a ninety-degree bow to Eunuch Jia. "This humble girl thanks Your Excellency for your kindness. In the future, I will surely work hard in the Labor Hall."

Eunuch Jia remained noncommittal. "I do not require your thanks. I only hope you do not regret it after joining. Xiao Luzi, escort her out."

(End of Chapter)