Cho Myung, who saw Hua Sochen for the first time, just stared blankly.
"Hello. I'm Yunhui's older sister. I'm the master of this clinic."
It was surprising enough that she was Hua Yunhui's older sister, but when she said she was the master of the clinic, Cho Myung quickly bowed his head.
"Hello. My name is Cho Myung."
He had only meant to be polite to make a good impression, but in his haste, he had said his real name.
Of course, Cho Myung, who was still young, didn't even realize what mistake he had made.
"Yes, you're Cho Myung. It's nice to meet you. I heard your grandfather is very sick. How is he now?"
"They say he just needs to wake up now."
A pretty older sister, and the older sister of Hua Yunhui whom he liked and followed, asked him kindly with a smiling face, so Cho Myung was taken in and completely let down his guard.
"I heard Myung found these herbs. You're very admirable. It will be a great help in treating your grandfather's illness."
Hua Sochen patted Cho Myung's head.
"Yes. I found them. This nose is a lucky nose, so I can smell herbs from far away."
Cho Myung chattered excitedly.
At that, Hua Sochen nodded as if she believed everything.
By the time Old Man Ban realized it, it was too late to hide it or deny it.
'She must have come half-believing, half-doubting, but looking at her expression, it seems she completely believes it! What do I do now...'
Old Man Ban just sighed heavily inwardly.
It was obvious what Hua Sochen wanted, but it was doubtful if he could refuse.
Still, he couldn't just stand by, so he opened his mouth.
"It seems Doctor Hua has become even more beautiful."
Old Man Ban interjected smoothly.
However, Hua Sochen didn't even look back and raised her hand to stop him.
"Myung and I are not strangers, so please understand that I must meddle in what Doctor Hua is doing."
"Not strangers?"
Hua Sochen looked back with a puzzled face.
"Myung's grandfather and I are sworn brothers. I thought I would die without seeing his face because we hadn't seen each other for a long time, but to see him here. Hah! I don't know whether to be grateful or resentful that I get to see him like this."
Old Man Ban sighed heavily and lamented.
'There's no choice. Let's just do what we can for now.'
After a long sigh, Old Man Ban observed Hua Sochen's reaction.
But unfortunately, in the meantime, she had dealt with many people while managing the clinic, so she did not show her expression like a seasoned old man.
"If you are sworn brothers, will you pay for the medicine and lodging for Myung and Myung's grandfather?"
"I know that seven silver taels were taken from the purse that came from Myung's grandfather's body."
"I brought back someone who had already crossed the Yellow Springs. Is seven silver taels enough for a person's life?"
Since she had saved a dying person, the price was whatever she called it.
If he had been a rich man, he might have offered not seven silver taels, but seven gold taels, or even hundreds.
When Old Man Ban couldn't speak, Hua Sochen spoke again.
"When Old Man Ban was first brought here, the money you paid was all you had, and you haven't paid for medicine since. You haven't paid for lodging either. So how can you meddle?"
"I will leave the clinic as soon as Myung's grandfather regains consciousness."
It was the last card that Old Man Ban could play, but it wasn't a very good one.
But even that couldn't shake Hua Sochen.
"Do you know when he will wake up?"
"Yunhui said he would wake up soon."
"So when is that? Does the clinic have to wait indefinitely until then? What about the enormous costs that will be incurred until then if he wakes up a year later? Can you pay for everything then?"
It could be seen as a rather forced argument, but from Old Man Ban's position, who could not leave the clinic right away, he could not refute it.
When Old Man Ban was silent for a moment and frowned, Hua Sochen continued without giving him time to think.
"I think you know what I want, so if there is another way, please tell me. If it's reasonable, I'll follow it."
Old Man Ban couldn't even reply and just sighed.
"What is the reasonable method that you're thinking of, sister?"
Hua Yunhui's voice was heard.
When Old Man Ban turned his head, it seemed he had just arrived and heard Hua Sochen's words.
Seokcheong stopped at the entrance of the patient room and did not come in. It was because he thought he had made a mistake.
Hua Sochen did not look back at Hua Yunhui. She said, staring at the speechless Old Man Ban.
"You continue what you were going to do."
"What I was going to do?"
"Digging for herbs."
"Herbs? What does that have to do with... don't tell me?"
"You'll be able to solve the medicine and lodging costs for Myung, Myung's grandfather, and Old Man Ban all at once."
"Sister!"
"Don't shout. You'll startle Myung."
"Myung is still a kid. He's only five!"
"So you took Myung to the mountains?"
"We didn't expect anything from Myung. We just took him to run around in the mountains."
"Yes, he can continue to run around in the mountains. He can play to his heart's content, and if he smells an herb, he just has to tell us the location. What's wrong with that, that you're reacting like that?"
"...!"
Hua Yunhui, who was losing the argument, couldn't refute anymore and just frowned.
Hua Sochen, without even looking back at such a Hua Yunhui, continued to push him.
"I pretended not to know that Seokcheong was staying here, and I also continued to pretend not to know about the decoction that was going to Old Man Ban. I endured it and left it alone because it was what my younger brother wanted, but now are you going to interfere with your sister's work of trying to raise the clinic somehow?"
"That's a separate issue. Myung is only a five-year-old kid!"
"Because he's only a five-year-old kid, I'll have him do what's appropriate for his age, so don't interfere anymore. If you continue to interfere, I'll close Jangsaengwon and kick everyone out."
"Sister-!"
"Shut up!"
Hua Sochen, who had raised her voice coldly for the first time.
When Hua Yunhui closed his mouth, Hua Sochen took a few deep breaths and then pulled an empty chair and sat down.
Then she looked at Old Man Ban.
"What I want is just for the clinic to be able to continue to take care of patients. To do that, I have to give the doctors a sufficient monthly salary so they can stay at the clinic. The cooks in the kitchen who make the patients' food also have to stay, and there also have to be people in charge of the laundry that comes out of the patient rooms and workers who do the chores. I can't make all those people work for free."
It was a statement that made the clinic's situation understandable at once.
Old Man Ban couldn't open his mouth because he had nothing to say.
"Myung."
Someone called Cho Myung in a weak voice.
While everyone was wondering "Who is it?", Cho Myung ran to one side in a flash.
"Grandfather!"
Everyone was surprised by Cho Myung's action and looked back to see Jeok Yorap on the sickbed with his eyes open.
At that, Hua Yunhui went over in one step, grabbed his wrist, and checked his pulse.
The pulse was beating a little stronger than usual.
"This is the Hua Family Clinic. Please calm your mind."
"Ah, doctor, thank you."
Jeok Yorap, who had spoken with a slight smile, turned his gaze to Cho Myung.
"You rascal, you saved this grandfather again."
"Big brother Yunhui here treated you."
"Yes, that's right. I have received the grace of saving my life from the doctor. Thank you."
"It is what a doctor should do."
"Just from your words, doctor, I can fully understand why it is praised as the Divine Doctor Family of the Divine Land."
"You praise me too much. More importantly, do you feel stuffy or dizzy? If there is anything uncomfortable, please tell me."
"I'm fine. More importantly, Myung."
"Yes."
"If you receive a favor and pretend not to know, you can't be called a human being. Isn't that right?"
"That's right."
"You rascal."
Jeok Yorap gave Cho Myung a pleased smile.
Then he turned his head and looked back and forth between Old Man Ban and Hua Sochen and said.
"It seems you've found out that Myung is good at finding herbs?"
"Yes. That's right."
Hua Sochen answered.
"I thought so. But what do you do at the clinic, young lady?"
"I am the temporary head of the family."
"...!"
Jeok Yorap, who was surprised and flustered.
At this time, Old Man Ban interjected and explained briefly.
"The divine doctor and the head of the family and his wife have passed away."
"Ah, such a thing...! I'm sorry."
"It's okay. More importantly, will you help the clinic?"
Hua Sochen asked.
"Of course I should help. But there is one problem."
"...?"
It was when Hua Sochen was having a question.
"Let's rest for a while. I'll give you acupuncture, so catch your breath and then talk."
Jeok Yorap's breathing was becoming rough, and his complexion was getting a little bad.
Hua Yunhui brought the golden needles and inserted them into several acupoints to boost his energy.
A moment later, Jeok Yorap's breathing, which had been getting a little rough, became comfortable, and his complexion also improved.
"Thank you."
"There's plenty of time, so you can speak slowly."
"I will do that."
Jeok Yorap, who had nodded, turned his gaze to Hua Sochen.
"Head of the family."
"Please speak."
"I think I have something important to say, but is this place okay?"
At Jeok Yorap's question, Hua Sochen looked around at the people and said.
"This is my younger brother, that person is someone I followed after my deceased parents, and that kid is a guy who comes back here thinking this is his home even if I kick him out of the clinic."
She said, pointing to Hua Yunhui, the head of the pharmacy, and Seokcheong.
Now the only one left was Old Man Ban.
"I know more about Myung than anyone else here. I know what you're trying to say and what you're worried about."
Old Man Ban said, telling him he could trust him.
Jeok Yorap smiled and nodded.
He had heard Old Man Ban speak a few times when he had regained consciousness intermittently, so he knew that he was a trustworthy person.
"If a younger brother can't trust his sworn brother, who can he trust?"
It seemed he had heard him say they were sworn brothers.
Old Man Ban smiled and nodded.
Jeok Yorap smiled back and then turned his gaze to Hua Sochen.
"Head of the family, there are people who are chasing Myung. They are dangerous people who can do this to someone like me with just a wave of their hand. It is right that I should help the clinic by digging for herbs, but I am worried that I might bring danger to the clinic, so I don't think I can stay for long."
At Jeok Yorap's words, Hua Sochen's face hardened.
Everyone thought Hua Sochen would give up.
It was because she was more concerned about the existence of the clinic than anything else.
But the words that came out of Hua Sochen's mouth were not so.
"I don't want to lose to martial artists."
"...!"
"I don't want to give up the clinic because I'm scared of the people who did that to my grandfather and parents. If you have to hide, hide here. And help me. Help me to continue to protect the clinic. I will do my best to help Myung be safe as much as I can."
A strong will was visible on Hua Sochen's face.
Jeok Yorap was relieved to see her sincerity.
It wasn't good to stay in one place as a pursued person, but with his current physical condition, he couldn't go even if he wanted to.
"Myung."
"Yes, grandfather."
"What do you think?"
"I like it here."
Cho Myung answered immediately as if there was nothing to think about.
Jeok Yorap smiled and held Cho Myung's hand.
And he said to Hua Sochen.
"Head of the family, I will be indebted to you without shame."
"Everything will be fine."
Thus, Jeok Yorap and Hua Sochen reached an agreement.
At this time, Old Man Ban said.
"It would be better to have only Myung and Cheong for the work of digging for herbs, without calling for other people. I will also help later when my body gets better, so let's do that for the time being."
At Old Man Ban's words, Hua Sochen got up from her seat.
"My thoughts have changed too. I think it would be better to do as you said. And I will pretend not to know that Myung is here, as I have been doing so far. If you need anything, please tell me through my foolish younger brother here."
At Hua Sochen's words, Old Man Ban nodded.
Soon, Hua Sochen looked back at Cho Myung.
"Myung."
"Yes."
"I'm sorry."
"...?"
"I was having a hard time, so I only thought of receiving your help."
"I'm fine."
"Yes, thank you. You're a very good child."
Since the situation had changed greatly from when she had come, she could see Cho Myung's true self properly.
He was a truly good child.
To the point where she was ashamed of herself for only thinking of using such a child.
Hua Sochen approached Cho Myung and patted his head.
At that sight, Hua Yunhui smiled without realizing it, as if his sister, whom he had known before, had returned.
"He's not a lucky nose, but a lucky charm..."
***
"By the way. What if Myung and I go alone and meet a beast? Since you hunted and were an herbalist, you must know some way, right?"
"Don't worry. You'll be safe with Myung."
"What?"
"The beasts are afraid of Myung."
"What? Is that lie true?"
"Did you hear it from Myung?"
"He said he was saved because he fell from the sky and the beasts tucked their tails..."
"That's right. He did. I was saved thanks to Myung falling from the sky."
"No... the beasts... fall from the sky?"
"No, the one who fell from the sky was Myung, and the beasts tucked their tails."
"...!"
Seokcheong could not hide his bewilderment.
Jeok Yorap just smiled and did not say any more about how that could be.
(End of Chapter)