Chapter 13: Serving as a Menial Worker
Hua Changxi stood for a long time at the corner of the square, ultimately not daring to confront that medical officer Sun head-on. Just as she was about to turn and leave, a commotion erupted from the neighboring courtyard.
“It’s itching me to death!”
“Help!”
Master Xu had just warned Hua Changxi not to wander about the Medical Department casually. She had intended to leave immediately, but as she passed the courtyard gate, she heard the voice of Eunuch Jia.
“Everyone, keep quiet! We’ve already sent for the physicians.”
Hua Changxi halted, standing at the gate peering inside.
Over twenty people inside were wailing incessantly, scratching their hands and arms relentlessly, even as their skin became raw and bloody, they did not stop.
Scanning the courtyard’s piles of herbs, Hua Changxi immediately understood what had happened, then turned her gaze to Eunuch Jia.
Earlier in the square, when Medical Officer Sun faced Eunuch Jia, he had been completely subdued, unable even to retort when mocked. This indicated that Eunuch Jia held an unusually high status.
Hua Changxi glanced up at the plaque above the gate: Miscellaneous Affairs Hall.
She probably wouldn’t be admitted to the Apprentice Hall, and since she couldn’t access many herbs outside, wasting a year waiting for the Medical Department to recruit apprentices again next year was pointless.
If she could work as a laborer in the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall, perhaps it would be an opportunity.
Since it was an opportunity, she must not miss it.
With this in mind, Hua Changxi stepped forward and cupped her fists respectfully toward Eunuch Jia. “Your servant, Hua Changxi, pays respects, Eunuch Jia.”
Eunuch Jia was currently quite agitated. Hearing someone call him, he frowned and turned. Seeing a stranger he didn’t know, his expression darkened immediately.
Hua Changxi quickly explained, “Forgive me, Eunuch Jia. I was passing by the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall and heard people shouting inside, so I came to take a look.”
She then pointed swiftly at those still screaming, “The problem these people have is easy to solve. Grind the Black Ice Grass into powder and apply it to their arms. They should improve within fifteen minutes.”
Eunuch Jia had initially intended to have her seized, but after hearing her words, he reconsidered. “Oh? You know what’s wrong with them?”
Hua Changxi nodded, pointing toward the herbs in the courtyard. “Fire Crystal Grass contains fire toxin and must not be washed directly with water. When placed in water, its poison spreads rapidly. Anyone who comes into contact suffers as these people have.”
Eunuch Jia’s brow arched. “You recognize the herbs here?”
Hua Changxi nodded again. “My family runs an apothecary. I know some herbalists and merchants and have learned a fair bit about herbs from them.”
To increase her value, she added, “Not only can Fire Crystal Grass not be washed with water, but neither can Thunder Bamboo.”
Thunder Bamboo is not actually bamboo but a herb resembling bamboo.
“If Thunder Bamboo is placed in water, anyone who touches it will have numbness in both arms, and in severe cases, the arms will become necrotic, ultimately leaving the person disabled.”
Hearing this, the laborers in the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall all looked shocked.
Anger surged in Eunuch Jia’s eyes.
A young eunuch beside him stepped forward and whispered, “Godfather, I think Apothecary Gong from Fourth Street is deliberately causing trouble because last time, when we supplied herbs to Apothecary Ji of Fifth Street, we didn’t give him any. He insisted on using Fire Crystal Grass and Thunder Bamboo but never told us how to handle them, which is setting us up to fail.”
Eunuch Jia said nothing. Seeing the laborer cleaning the Fire Crystal Grass wailing miserably, he hesitated, then beckoned a young eunuch. “Go to the storeroom and bring some Black Ice Grass.”
After the young eunuch left, Eunuch Jia looked at Hua Changxi again. “If these herbs can’t be washed with water, how should they be treated?”
Hua Changxi replied, “Use sand. Hot sand can quickly remove the impurities from Fire Crystal Grass and Thunder Bamboo.”
The Miscellaneous Affairs Hall was responsible for the initial processing of all herbs in the Medical Department. They had all the necessary materials for cleaning herbs, so upon hearing sand could be used, Eunuch Jia immediately ordered some to be brought.
The laborers had their specific duties, but now with over twenty people injured, manpower was tight.
Seeing this, Hua Changxi stepped forward without hesitation. “Eunuch Jia, I have nothing pressing at the moment and am willing to work diligently. Please grant me this opportunity to learn.”
Eunuch Jia now remembered that Hua Changxi was an apprentice candidate. Knowing the insider details of the apprentice recruitment, he seemed to understand what this young woman was after.
Yet, how did she know the apprentice positions were already predetermined?
At that moment, the eunuch sent to fetch physicians returned with two doctors.
Seeing Eunuch Jia did not respond—neither agreeing nor refusing—Hua Changxi took it as consent. Noticing Eunuch Jia greeting the physicians, she swiftly joined the laborers in handling the Fire Crystal Grass and Thunder Bamboo.
“What? They need acupuncture too?”
The two physicians explained that the over twenty laborers had been burned by the herbs and would require acupuncture and medicine to detoxify, needing at least ten days of rest to recover.
Eunuch Jia frowned. “We know that in recent years, many new medicines have been developed. Is there no ointment that can be simply applied?”
The physicians repeated that the injuries were severe and could not be treated with ordinary ointments.
Eunuch Jia glanced at Hua Changxi, who was busily working among the laborers. Her method was much simpler than the doctors’ treatment plans.
He still had the physicians take the injured laborers indoors for treatment but kept a few behind. After the young eunuch returned with Black Ice Grass from the storeroom, he had the remaining laborers grind it and test it.
“Master, the itching stopped!”
After applying the Black Ice Grass, those left behind felt the burning, ant-like itching fading quickly.
Eunuch Jia, seeing the improvement, went to check on the laborers treated by the physicians, who were still scratching and wailing, causing him to ponder deeply.
In recent years, the Medical Department had discovered many new herbs, but many had not yet been fully tested. Even when tested, physicians and apothecaries often kept their knowledge secret rather than sharing it openly.
Within the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall, accidents had occurred several times while processing herbs.
Regarding Fire Crystal Grass and Thunder Bamboo, they were completely unaware of their effects.
Returning to the courtyard, Eunuch Jia silently observed Hua Changxi, who was swiftly processing herbs with skill and precision, even more proficient than the veteran laborers who had worked there for years.
At this moment, Hua Changxi was indeed working with great enthusiasm.
[Purification Technique (Beginner): Herb Cleaning 10/10]
After processing ten herbs, her mind was suddenly flooded with various methods of cleaning mundane plants, as if she had repeated them countless times until they were ingrained in her very bones.
Now, whether handling Fire Crystal Grass or Thunder Bamboo, she instinctively knew how to cleanse them.
It was as if, though a novice in medicinal herbs for martial artists, she had become an expert handling countless such herbs.
[Purification Technique (Intermediate): Herb Cleaning 88/100]
[Purification Technique (Intermediate): Herb Cleaning 89/100]
[Purification Technique (Intermediate): Herb Cleaning 90/100]
The sheer volume of herbs to be processed in the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall was overwhelming, and as the numbers before her eyes shifted constantly, Hua Changxi’s expression grew increasingly spirited.
After processing one hundred herbs, just as she anticipated, her mind instantly gained knowledge of various methods to cleanse spirit plants.
Eunuch Jia stood watching for a while, convinced Hua Changxi was truly an expert in herb processing. After some thought, he summoned the young eunuch, “Xiao Luzi, go investigate that young woman’s family background, and also find out which parts of the Medical Department she has visited today.”
An hour later, as they were nearly finished processing batches of Fire Crystal Grass and Thunder Bamboo, Xiao Luzi returned.
“Godfather, that young woman is Hua Changxi. She lives in South Gong Alley, Xiu Zheng District, is the ninth child in her family. Her father is a detective in the Six Doors.”
“Hua Changxi knows Apothecary Xu from Ninth Street. After leaving the square earlier, she went to Ninth Street to see him. Apothecary Xu is a close friend of Apothecary Wang from the Apprentice Hall.”
Xiao Luzi reported all the information he had gathered in detail to Eunuch Jia.
After hearing this, Eunuch Jia understood why Hua Changxi knew the apprentice positions had been predetermined.
“Go fetch Hua Changxi here.”
...
[Purification Technique (Advanced): Herb Cleaning 250/1000]
Hua Changxi was working enthusiastically when Xiao Luzi arrived.
Learning that Eunuch Jia wanted to see her, Hua Changxi reluctantly glanced at the unprocessed herbs before following Xiao Luzi to meet Eunuch Jia.
“Eunuch Jia.”
Eunuch Jia looked at her without intimidation, speaking directly. “You’ve helped us solve a troublesome problem today. Tell me, what do you want from us?”
Hearing this, Hua Changxi didn’t hesitate. She cupped her fists and bowed. “I wish to join the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall. I humbly ask for your approval, Eunuch Jia.”
Eunuch Jia’s expression confirmed his suspicions. “The work in the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall is not easy. Not even men can always handle it. Are you sure you want to join?”
Hua Changxi nodded firmly. “I am not afraid of hardship.”
Eunuch Jia continued, “As far as I know, you came here today to apply for an apprenticeship. Why? Do you think you won’t be accepted?”
Hua Changxi considered briefly. “I feel I am better suited to the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall.”
Eunuch Jia chuckled. “You really don’t regret it? If I agree today, you will be part of the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall. Even if your name appears on the apprenticeship acceptance list three days from now, you will no longer be allowed to join.”
Hua Changxi paused for a moment, then nodded resolutely. “I only wish to join the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall.”
Better to grasp what is certain than to chase after uncertainty.
Seeing her determination, Eunuch Jia showed a hint of approval. “You are quite decisive. Very well, I’ll give you the chance. Report to the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall tomorrow.”
Hua Changxi’s face lit up, and she bowed deeply at ninety degrees. “Thank you, Eunuch Jia, for granting me this opportunity. I will work diligently in the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall.”
Eunuch Jia made no reply. “Xiao Luzi, see her out.”
After Xiao Luzi escorted Hua Changxi away, Eunuch Jia returned to his office, where two other young eunuchs whispered among themselves.
“Xiao Shouzi, why do you think Godfather chose to accept Hua Changxi?”
“Godfather likes bold people. That young woman dared to come before him and advocate for herself, and she is truly capable. It would be strange if Godfather didn’t accept her.”
“Besides, our Miscellaneous Affairs Hall is often short-handed. The more workers, the better.”