Chapter 13: Becoming a Laborer
Hua Changxi stood at the corner of the plaza for a long time, but ultimately didn’t dare to confront Physician Sun directly. Just as she turned to leave, a commotion erupted from the adjacent courtyard.
“I’m so itchy!”
“Help!”
Pharmacist Xu had just instructed Hua Changxi not to wander around the Medical Affairs Department. Hua Changxi had intended to walk away, but as she passed the courtyard gate, she heard Eunuch Jia’s voice.
“Quiet down, all of you. I’ve already sent someone to fetch a physician.”
Hua Changxi stopped and peered inside from the courtyard gate.
Inside the courtyard, over twenty people were groaning in pain, constantly scratching their hands and arms. Even though their arms were bloody and mangled, they couldn’t stop.
Hua Changxi scanned the medicinal herbs piled in the courtyard and immediately understood what was happening. She then turned her gaze back to Eunuch Jia.
Earlier in the plaza, Physician Sun had been completely dominated by Eunuch Jia, not daring to utter a sound even when insulted. This showed that Eunuch Jia’s status was not ordinary.
Hua Changxi looked up at the plaque above the courtyard gate: Labor Department.
She probably wouldn’t be able to become an apprentice. She couldn’t access many medicinal herbs from the outside, and she couldn’t waste a year waiting for the Medical Affairs Department to recruit apprentices again next year.
If she could join the Labor Department as a laborer, it might also be an opportunity.
Since it was an opportunity, she couldn’t miss it.
With that thought, Hua Changxi stepped forward and cupped her fists in greeting to Eunuch Jia: “This humble girl greets Eunuch Jia!”
Eunuch Jia was extremely annoyed at the moment. Hearing someone call him, he frowned and turned around. Discovering it was someone he didn’t recognize at all, his expression immediately turned grim.
Seeing this, Hua Changxi quickly explained: “Eunuch Jia, please forgive me. This humble girl was passing by the Labor Department, heard cries from inside, and thus peeked in.”
Then, she quickly pointed to the people still screaming: “Their problem is very easy to solve. Crush Mystic Ice Grass and apply it to their arms; they will improve within a quarter of an hour.”
Eunuch Jia had intended to have Hua Changxi arrested, but after hearing her words, he changed his mind: “Oh, you know what their problem is?”
Hua Changxi nodded and pointed to the herbs in the courtyard: “Fire Crystal Grass has fire poison and cannot be washed directly with water. If Fire Crystal Grass is placed in water, its toxicity will quickly spread, and those who come into contact with it will suffer the same fate as them.”
Eunuch Jia raised his eyebrows: “You recognize the herbs in the courtyard?”
Hua Changxi nodded again: “Replying to Eunuch Jia, this humble girl’s family runs an apothecary shop. I know some medicinal herb merchants and vendors, and I’ve learned a lot about medicinal herbs from them.”
To increase her value, Hua Changxi added: “Not only Fire Crystal Grass in the courtyard cannot be washed with water, but Thunder Bamboo also cannot.”
Thunder Bamboo is not a bamboo, but a type of medicinal herb that looks like bamboo.
“If Thunder Bamboo is placed in water, those who come into contact with it will have their arms paralyzed. In severe cases, their arms will necrotize, and they will ultimately become disabled.”
Hearing this, the laborers in the Labor Department showed looks of fear. If the person handling the Fire Crystal Grass hadn’t had an accident, they would have already started processing the Thunder Bamboo.
Eunuch Jia’s eyes surged with anger. He knew the Labor Department was being targeted.
A young eunuch beside him stepped forward and whispered: “Godfather, Pharmacist Gong from Fourth Street is probably retaliating because we supplied medicinal herbs to Pharmacist Ji from Fifth Street last time and didn’t give them to him. He’s deliberately making things difficult for us.”
“He specifically requested Fire Crystal Grass and Thunder Bamboo but didn’t tell us how to handle these two medicinal herbs. This is trying to kill us.”
Eunuch Jia remained silent. Seeing the laborer who was washing the Fire Crystal Grass crying out in agony, he summoned a young eunuch: “Go to the storeroom and get some Mystic Ice Grass.”
Mystic Ice Grass is a commonly used medicinal herb by martial artists and is quite valuable. Martial artists outside might not even be able to buy it.
But this is the Medical Affairs Department. The Labor Department is responsible for the initial processing of all medicinal herbs entering the Medical Affairs Department. There are thousands of catties of Mystic Ice Grass in the storeroom yet to be processed.
Although he couldn’t freely take the medicinal herbs from the storeroom, he could take a small amount to treat the injured laborers.
After the young eunuch left, Eunuch Jia looked at Hua Changxi again: “These two medicinal herbs cannot be washed with water, so how should they be handled?”
Hua Changxi: “With salt. Salt can quickly remove the dirt from Fire Crystal Grass and Thunder Bamboo.”
《Hundred Herbs Annotation》 detailed the precautions for handling Fire Crystal Grass and Thunder Bamboo.
Eunuch Jia saw that Hua Changxi spoke with certainty. After a moment of hesitation, he decisively ordered someone to fetch salt.
When the salt arrived, they found they were short-handed.
The laborers in the Labor Department had their own divisions of labor. With over twenty people injured, manpower was naturally scarce.
Seeing this, Hua Changxi immediately stepped forward and said: “Eunuch Jia, this humble girl is currently free and willing to offer her services. I beg the Eunuch to grant me an opportunity to broaden my horizons.”
Eunuch Jia now remembered that Hua Changxi was a candidate who had applied for an apprentice position. Knowing the inside story of this apprentice recruitment, he seemed to understand what this young woman was planning.
However, how did she know that the medical female apprentice slots were already pre-determined?
Just then, the eunuch sent to fetch a physician returned with two physicians.
Eunuch Jia did not respond to Hua Changxi, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, and went to greet the two physicians.
Seeing Eunuch Jia’s reaction, Hua Changxi decided to assume he had agreed. She quickly walked to the laborers and began processing the Fire Crystal Grass and Thunder Bamboo with them.
The laborers were unsure if salt could clean the Fire Crystal Grass and Thunder Bamboo, so they silently watched Hua Changxi operate.
Only after confirming there was no danger did they begin processing the medicinal herbs according to Hua Changxi’s method.
“What, acupuncture is also needed?”
The two physicians also stated that the over twenty people were burned by the herbs and required acupuncture and medicinal decoctions for detoxification, needing at least ten days to recover.
Eunuch Jia frowned: “I know that many new medicines have been developed in the past two years. Isn’t there any ointment that can be applied to heal them?”
The two physicians reiterated the injuries of the twenty laborers, all stating that the injuries were too severe for ordinary ointments to treat.
Eunuch Jia glanced at Hua Changxi, who was busy among the laborers. The method this young woman proposed was much simpler than the treatment plans of the two physicians.
Eunuch Jia still had the two physicians take the laborers to a room for treatment, but he kept a few behind. After the young eunuch brought Mystic Ice Grass from the storeroom, he had them crush it and experiment.
“Eunuch, it really doesn’t itch anymore!”
After applying the Mystic Ice Grass, the remaining laborers felt the burning and biting itch, as if thousands of ants were gnawing at them, rapidly receding.
Seeing the laborers improve, Eunuch Jia then went to see the laborers being treated by the physicians. Those laborers were still scratching and moaning, and he fell into thought.
In the past two years, the Medical Affairs Department had discovered many new medicinal herbs, and the properties of many of them had yet to be fully understood. Even when they were understood, the physicians and pharmacists kept them secret and did not share them completely.
In the Labor Department, there had already been several accidents involving injuries while processing medicinal herbs.
For instance, the Labor Department had no knowledge of the toxicity of Fire Crystal Grass and Thunder Bamboo.
Eunuch Jia returned to the courtyard and silently watched Hua Changxi quickly processing the herbs.
When she processed medicinal herbs, her movements were fast, accurate, and steady, even more skilled than other laborers. These laborers had been experienced hands for many years.
At this moment, Hua Changxi was indeed working with great enthusiasm.
『Pure Body Technique（Beginner）: Washing Medicinal Herbs 10/10』
After she processed ten stalks of medicinal herbs, her mind was suddenly filled with various methods for cleaning mortal plants. It was as if she had experienced these methods countless times, and they were etched into her bones.
At this point, whether she picked up Fire Crystal Grass or Thunder Bamboo, she instinctively knew how to clean them.
It felt as if, in handling martial artist medicinal herbs, she was a complete novice, but now, she had become an experienced hand who had handled countless martial artist herbs.
『Pure Body Technique（Minor Accomplishment）: Washing Medicinal Herbs 88/100』
『Pure Body Technique（Minor Accomplishment）: Washing Medicinal Herbs 89/100』
『Pure Body Technique（Minor Accomplishment）: Washing Medicinal Herbs 90/100』
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There were too many medicinal herbs for the Labor Department to process. Watching the numbers in her vision change, Hua Changxi’s expression became increasingly excited.
After processing 100 stalks of medicinal herbs, just as Hua Changxi had expected, her mind was instantly filled with various methods for cleaning spiritual plants.
Eunuch Jia watched from the side for a while and found that Hua Changxi was truly an experienced hand at processing medicinal herbs. After some thought, he summoned a young eunuch: “Xiao Luzi, go and investigate the background of that young woman, and also find out which parts of the Medical Affairs Department she has visited today.”
An hour later, as several carts of Fire Crystal Grass and Thunder Bamboo were nearing completion, Xiao Luzi returned.
“Godfather, that young woman is Hua Changxi. She lives in Xiuzheng Ward, South Luo Lane. She is the ninth child in her family, and her father is a constable from Six Doors.”
“Hua Changxi knows Pharmacist Xu from Ninth Street. After leaving the plaza earlier, she went to Ninth Street to find Pharmacist Xu. Pharmacist Xu is a good friend of Pharmacist Wang from the Apprentice Hall.”
Xiao Luzi reported the information he had gathered to Eunuch Jia one by one.
After listening, Eunuch Jia understood why Hua Changxi knew that the medical female apprentice slots were pre-determined.
“Go, call Hua Changxi over here.”
『Pure Body Technique（Great Accomplishment）: Washing Medicinal Herbs 250/1000』
Hua Changxi was working with great enthusiasm when Xiao Luzi arrived.
Upon learning that Eunuch Jia wanted to see her, Hua Changxi cast a reluctant glance at the unfinished medicinal herbs and followed Xiao Luzi to Eunuch Jia.
“Eunuch Jia.”
Eunuch Jia looked at Hua Changxi and didn’t resort to any intimidation tactics. Instead, he got straight to the point: “You’ve helped me solve a problem today. Tell me, what do you want from me?”
Hearing this, Hua Changxi didn’t dally. She cupped her fists and bowed: “This humble girl wishes to join the Labor Department. I beg Eunuch Jia’s permission.”
Eunuch Jia showed an expression of “as expected”: “Although the Labor Department doesn’t require public announcements for recruitment like the Apprentice Hall, it doesn’t mean anyone can just join. Why should I recruit you?”
Hua Changxi no longer felt the need to be modest: “Eunuch, this humble girl has a good memory. I remember all medicinal herbs I’ve seen or heard about.”
“When it comes to processing medicinal herbs, I have my own insights. To put it immodestly, even when facing an old hand who has processed medicinal herbs for decades, this humble girl believes she is no worse than them.”
Hearing her say this, Eunuch Jia laughed heartily: “You little girl, you’re not afraid of your tongue getting twisted when you brag.”
Hua Changxi looked at Eunuch Jia with full confidence: “If Eunuch doesn’t believe me, feel free to test me.”
Eunuch Jia gazed at Hua Changxi. Seeing that she didn’t flinch, he didn’t test her but continued: “The work in the Labor Department is not easy. Let alone you, a young woman, even men here would often find it unbearable. Are you sure you want to join the Labor Department?”
Hua Changxi nodded firmly: “This humble girl is not afraid of hardship.”
Eunuch Jia added: “As far as I know, you came to apply for an apprentice position today. What, do you think you definitely won’t be accepted?”
Hua Changxi thought for a moment and replied: “This humble girl feels she is more suited for the Labor Department.”
Eunuch Jia chuckled: “Are you really not regretting it? If I agree today, you will be a member of the Labor Department. Even if your name appears on the apprentice recruitment list in three days, you won’t be able to go to the Apprentice Hall.”
Hua Changxi was silent for a second, then nodded affirmatively again: “This humble girl only wishes to join the Labor Department.”
Compared to an uncertain outcome, she preferred to grasp what was certain before her.
Seeing Hua Changxi like this, Eunuch Jia showed a hint of approval: “You are quite decisive. I see you do have some skills, and the Labor Department is indeed short-handed. I will give you an opportunity today. Report to the Labor Department tomorrow.”
Hua Changxi’s face lit up, and she bowed ninety degrees to Eunuch Jia: “This humble girl thanks Eunuch for fulfilling my wish. I will surely work hard in the Labor Department from now on.”
Eunuch Jia said noncommittally: “I don’t need your thanks. I hope you won’t regret it after joining the Labor Department. Xiao Luzi, escort her out.”
