Even the usually steady Ling Wan was stunned. Since ancient times, there had never been a woman who opened a pharmacy.
"That's right, a pharmacy."
Feng Jin said resolutely. She had observed that women here were embarrassed to speak of their illnesses and would not seek medical treatment from a doctor, simply because the doctor was a man.
Due to their reluctance to seek treatment for their ailments, many women suffered a lifetime.
Her purpose in opening the pharmacy was, firstly, to make money, and secondly, to provide a place for these women to get treated.
"Eldest sister-in-law, since ancient times, there has been no precedent for women opening pharmacies or practicing medicine. You are the young madam of the Ling Mansion and also a Princess Jiaining personally conferred by His Majesty. It is not proper for you to appear in public and treat people."
Ling Wan was subtly worried. The reason there were no female doctors was fundamentally due to the principle of not mixing between men and women. If a male patient suffered an external injury and required treatment with his chest exposed, it would ruin the woman's reputation if word got out.
"Yes, young madam. Second sister's words are reasonable. What if a man comes? Will you treat him or not? Moreover, it's not good for your reputation to be seen in public!"
Cai Qing advised, "Otherwise, young madam could open a restaurant."
It was much better than opening a medical hall.
"My mind is made up. I am determined to open this medical hall. There is no distinction between men and women when it comes to illness. I am doing the work of healing and saving lives, what is there to be ashamed of."
What gave Feng Jin the most headaches were these pedantic ideas of ancient times. The saying "men and women must not touch" directly confined women within a square world.
It completely stifled women's freedom and turned women into appendages of men.
"Young madam..."
"If you keep babbling, you can go back to the mansion and stop following me."
Annoyed by Cai Qing's nagging, Feng Jin directly warned her.
Cai Qing quickly covered her mouth, her watery eyes blinking, looking harmless.
"I'll take you to eat hot pot tonight."
The weather was starting to cool, which was a good season for hot pot.
"Hot pot? What is that? A pot on fire?" Ling Wan had never heard of what Feng Jin referred to as hot pot.
"It's a delicious food. It's just a pot with soup, and then you put the food you want to eat into it to cook, take it out, and dip it in the sauce."
Coincidentally, the vegetables she grew in her garden were ready to eat. She had previously had some picked and sent to Princess Qing Ping, and there were still plenty left in the garden. If they weren't eaten soon, they would spoil.
All she ate at the Ling Mansion was dried vegetables; she lacked vitamins.
Taking this opportunity, she needed to make some good food.
"Miss, you're back?" A middle-aged nanny opened the door.
"Aunt Zhang, I've brought two friends. Please help me pick some fresh fruits and vegetables. We're having hot pot tonight."
"Alright, I'll go right away." Aunt Zhang said with a smile and bustled off.
Aunt Zhang had been domestically abused by her husband and beaten black and blue. Out of desperation, she had attempted to drown herself, but Feng Jin had saved her. After learning of her plight, Feng Jin took pity on her, helped her divorce her husband and escape her suffering, and then took Aunt Zhang to live at the manor.
She usually helped Feng Jin take care of the vegetable and fruit gardens.
This manor was purchased by Feng Jin with the consultation fees she earned from treating a wealthy family in the countryside before she married into the Ling Mansion.
It was used to grow fruits and vegetables.
"Miss, these are peaches and grapes just picked, they're fresh and sweet, try them!"
Aunt Zhang placed a basket of fruit on the table.
"Eldest sister-in-law, you have grapes here."
Grapes, being seasonal fruits, could only be enjoyed for a few days around the Mid-Autumn Festival. After the festival passed, not a single one could be found.
It was truly unexpected to be able to eat grapes today. Ling Wan picked one and put it in her mouth. It was really sweet, the sweetest grape she had ever eaten.
"So sweet! How did you grow them, eldest sister-in-law?"
"The grapes you're eating are grown in a greenhouse. I'll take you to see them after dinner."
Aunt Zhang placed Feng Jin's specially made pot in the center of the table, surrounded by vegetables and sliced meat.
"Aunt Zhang, this is enough. Stop busy and sit down to eat with us."
Feng Jin urged everyone to sit down. The aroma of the soup base continuously stimulated her taste buds; hot pot was her favorite.
After preparing the dipping sauce, Feng Jin couldn't help but start eating.
Just as they began, there was a series of urgent knocks on the door.
Feng Jin frowned. This manor was usually unknown to anyone. At this time, who could it be?
"Perhaps someone has come to buy vegetables," Aunt Zhang said, getting up. She had been selling vegetables and fruits for the past few days, and perhaps someone had inquired about the address and come to buy vegetables.
Aunt Zhang opened the main door and, looking at the unfamiliar faces outside, asked, "Young sir, whom are you looking for?"
The leading young gentleman was elegant and graceful, exuding an air of nobility in his every move. He was clearly not from an ordinary family. The person beside him, dressed in a fitted outfit, had a rather rough appearance and looked more like a retainer.
"Young sir, this is a private residence, it's my lady's house. You cannot intrude, lest you damage your lady's reputation."
Aunt Zhang was momentarily stunned. In her lapse of attention, she had allowed these two men to slip in. Following behind them, she tried to usher them out.
Feng Jin heard the commotion and hurried over. Upon seeing who it was, she froze on the spot.
"Ling Mohan, why are you here?"
How did he find this place?
"Greetings, young madam." Lu Shi said respectfully from the side.
"Young general truly has a good hobby, always liking to break into people's private residences. Do you know that trespassing can be punished by imprisonment?"
Feng Jin said angrily. She truly suspected that Ling Mohan had planted spies around her.
Ling Mohan's expression turned extremely gloomy. An ungrateful woman. After returning home from the training grounds, he had gone to find her, but she was nowhere to be found in the entire Ling Mansion.
He learned from a servant that she had secretly run out with Ling Wan.
It took the combined efforts of all the imperial guards in the capital to locate her here.
As soon as they met, she was being difficult with him.
He didn't understand why he was so mad as to search for her all over the capital.
Ling Mohan strode up to Feng Jin, suppressing the urge to break her legs.
His gaze passed over Feng Jin and landed on the food on the table, and he couldn't help but sneer. She was eating quite leisurely.
"Brother." Ling Wan called out timidly, subtly moving back a step. She had always been most afraid of Ling Mohan since childhood.
Ling Mohan nodded in acknowledgment, sat in Feng Jin's original seat, and without any reservations, picked up the bowls and chopsticks Feng Jin had used and began to eat with gusto.
He had been searching for her all over the city, and the person in question was enjoying herself here.
"What are you doing? Those are my bowls and chopsticks." Feng Jin's displeased voice rang out.
"Here you go." Ling Mohan handed the bowls and chopsticks back to Feng Jin.
Feng Jin's mouth twitched slightly, "You can use your own!"