Rebirth: After Becoming the Villainess-Chapter 177: Rongbai Is Just Thin-Skinned

The grueling three-session imperial examination was finally over.

The scholars emerging from the examination hall had varied expressions. Some were beaming with confidence, some were utterly exhausted, and some were sobbing uncontrollably.

Among them, Yan Wen stood out. His expression was as placid as ever, his composure suggesting he had just attended a simple poetry gathering.

He had long been famous among the scholars, but he had later joined the Medical Clinic and become its manager. Some students and scholars claimed he had disgraced the integrity and character of a true man of letters, but Yan Wen paid them no mind.

He had once been one of these self-proclaimed men of character. But looking back now, ’what was integrity? And what was character?’

When he was starving and utterly alone, what use were such things?

He stayed in the cheapest inns in Ling’an City and ate the cheapest meals. Even so, his pockets were often empty, and he frequently had to rely on friends for help.

It was only after he was "forced" to move into the Medical Clinic that his life stopped being so wretched.

So, he had long since stopped caring about what others thought. He was living his own life and didn’t need to justify it to anyone.

"Manager!"

The two assistants from the Medical Clinic, Bai Shu and Shi Zhu, scurried over and eagerly took the chest from his hands. "Manager, how did the exam go?"

"Is that even a question? Our manager will definitely pass with high marks!"

The two had been hired by Su Huaqing. They were clever and good at reading people. Although Song Lianhe didn’t fully trust Su Huaqing, she knew he wouldn’t harm Yan Wen. She figured he must have put some thought into choosing them, so she decided to keep them on.

Yan Wen offered a rare, faint smile. "How has the clinic been these past few days? No trouble, I hope?"

Bai Shu said, "Don’t you worry, everything’s been great!"

Yan Wen glanced toward the carriage, paused, then slowly asked, "Where is Manager Cao?"

Shi Zhu replied, "Oh, business at the clinic has been so good lately that the second manager and the boss are both too busy to get away. That’s why they sent us two to come pick you up."

Only then did he look up and ask, "The boss... is at the clinic too?"

"Yep! For the past few days, medicinal herb merchants and pharmacy owners have been flocking here from all over. They all want our Seven Dragon Balls! The second manager couldn’t handle it all alone, so the boss has been negotiating with them personally."

Hearing that the clinic was busy, Yan Wen immediately said, "Let’s go back."

The two said cheerfully, "Sister Shuang Ye prepared a lot of delicious food for you. It’s a welcome-back feast!"

Yan Wen boarded the carriage. "I’ve only been gone a few days. There’s no need to go to all this trouble."

"It’s completely different! You were taking the imperial examinations. What other shop’s manager has your kind of talent?"

Bai Shu had always been a smooth talker, a real expert at flattery.

Shi Zhu added, "Exactly! Just by being associated with you, we feel like we have more standing when we’re out and about!"

Yan Wen chuckled and pulled some broken silver from his pocket, handing it to the two of them. "Then share in some of the good fortune."

"Whoa! Thank you, Manager!"

"It’s our good fortune to be able to work for you, Manager!" 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"Alright, let’s hurry back." Yan Wen closed his eyes to rest. After so many days of exams, he was mentally exhausted.

Shi Zhu hopped onto the driver’s seat and grabbed the reins. "Alrighty! Let’s go home!"

’Home...’

Yan Wen slowly opened his eyes, a soft light unconsciously appearing in their depths.

He lowered his gaze, his voice barely a whisper. "Yes, home."

The carriage had just pulled up to the Medical Clinic’s entrance when Shuang Ye’s voice rang out, "Miss, Manager Yan is back!"

By the time Yan Wen stepped out of the carriage, Song Lianhe and Cao Ying were already there to greet him.

"You’ve worked hard, Manager!"

"Congratulations in advance on passing the exam!"

The two flanked him as they led him inside, which made Yan Wen a little embarrassed. "Er, there’s no need for all this..."

Just as he crossed the clinic’s threshold, Su Huaqing appeared, twirling a flower. "Our dear Rongbai has worked so hard~" he cooed, stuffing the flower into Yan Wen’s arms.

The patients and their families inside the clinic watched with smiles, occasionally offering words of good luck. Yan Wen, red-faced, clutched the flower and hurried upstairs.

Su Huaqing stood downstairs, tutting twice. "Ah, Rongbai, he’s just so thin-skinned."

Behind him, Cao Ying snorted. "Yes, not like Mr. Su, whose face has been forged into a wall of bronze."

"My, my, Manager Cao, have I offended you in some way? Your animosity is a little too obvious!"

"Not at all."

Cao Ying looked back at him, her face a mask of innocence. "I just happen to dislike you, Mr. Su."

"Ha." Su Huaqing immediately replied with magnanimity, "Many people dislike me. You needn’t feel guilty, Manager Cao!"

Cao Ying gave a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. "Oh, I’m so grateful to you~"

At noon, the Medical Clinic was bustling with people coming and going. Business was so good it made their competitors burn with envy. The assistants from several rival pharmacies stood by their doors, cracking melon seeds and craning their necks to watch.

Downstairs were patients seeking consultation, handled primarily by Su Huaqing and Yan Wen.

The two of them initially had only a slight grasp of medical principles. Later, after being squeezed dry... er, no, *trained* by Song Lianhe, their medical skills had shown clear results. They could diagnose common symptoms with near-perfect accuracy, only calling for Song Lianhe when they encountered a truly difficult case.

From the second-floor tea room, the sounds of arguing, followed by the slapping of tables and shattering of cups, could be heard from time to time.

Song Lianhe stood at the top of the stairs, cracking and eating walnuts.

"Miss, aren’t you going to go up and take a look?"

Shuang Ye came over carrying a tray of tea, jutting her chin toward the upper floor. "It sounds like they’re about to start a brawl up there!"

"It’s fine."

Song Lianhe continued eating her walnuts. "Have faith in our second manager."

Her philosophy was: if you doubt someone, don’t use them; if you use someone, don’t doubt them.

She had entrusted Cao Ying with authority. If Cao Ying wanted to sell the shop, Song Lianhe would support her, thinking, ’If she wants to sell it, she must have her reasons.’

Shuang Ye pressed her lips together and nodded emphatically. "Miss, you’re really something else!"

Song Lianhe smiled and gestured for her to hurry up. "They should be about done breaking cups up there."

With a sigh of resignation, Shuang Ye carried the tray upstairs.

Song Lianhe had just finished her whole bag of walnuts when footsteps sounded from upstairs.

"Manager Cao, we’ll await the good news, then!"

"Haha, Manager Cao is so straightforward! A true heroine in her own right!"

"Manager Cao, that... er, that franchising matter, we’ll do it your way! We’ll have someone draw up the documents later, and we can go to the yamen to sign and seal them!"

Cao Ying smiled and agreed, seeing the group to the door. "Boss Zhang, Boss Li, Shopkeeper Zhao... I’ve already had someone book rooms at an inn for you. I’ll have an assistant escort you over in a moment."

"Oh! How can we accept this?"

"Yes, yes, how could we trouble Manager Cao with such a small matter?"

Cao Ying laughed. "Nonsense. Business deal or not, let’s just consider it making new friends."

After seeing the men into their carriage, Cao Ying immediately called over Bai Shu and slipped him some silver. "Be sharp."

"Hehe, don’t you worry, Second Manager! I guarantee I’ll watch them like a hawk!"

Bai Shu took the silver and led the men to the inn.

When Cao Ying turned around, she saw Song Lianhe standing behind her with a grin. "Not bad, Manager Cao. You even know to have them tailed."

"As long as the contract isn’t signed in black and white, anything can happen! Sigh, what can you do? These are lessons learned from bloody experience."

As Cao Ying was speaking, her gaze suddenly froze.

"What’s wrong?"

Song Lianhe followed her line of sight and saw the man standing across the street.