"Oh? The pregnant women have all arrived? How many are there?"
Fang Er asked in surprise.
Only these two fellows had arrived at the mansion, along with their dozen or so retainers. Fang Er really didn't know these two had brought pregnant women with them.
"Hahahaha, Your Excellency, you have no idea how capable the young men of our Tianying Department are!"
"This time, this subordinate has brought three thousand pregnant women. We are counting on your hospital to ensure the safe birth of these three thousand little ones."
Yelü Goudan said proudly, as if those three thousand unborn children were all his.
"Hiss—!"
Fang Er was stunned. The hospital wasn't even finished yet, and suddenly there were three thousand pregnant women.
This was a major event!
"Su Feng!"
"Your subordinate is here!"
"Go invite the True Man Sun!"
"Yes!"
Su Feng saluted and turned to leave the front hall, heading towards the side courtyard.
That was where Old Sun resided. Five hundred palace maids and Chai Yue's twelve best friends were crammed into that courtyard, learning nursing knowledge from Old Sun.
Before long, Old Sun arrived.
"Does the young friend have something to discuss?"
Old Sun entered the front hall with a waddle, accompanied by Li Chunfeng and Yuan Mengjia.
Fang Er gestured to the chairs on the lower left.
"Please have a seat, True Man Sun. Let me introduce you."
After speaking, he nodded at Li Chunfeng and Yuan Mengjia, acknowledging them.
Then, he pointed at Yelü Goudan and Xi Guatingtian and introduced them to Old Sun.
"True Man Sun, these two have brought three thousand pregnant women this time. It will depend on you from now on."
"How many?"
Old Sun's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Three thousand!"
Fang Er said with a pained expression, holding up three fingers.
"Hiss—!"
Old Sun was so shocked he plucked out a small clump of his beard.
"You're trying to kill this old daoist!"
"Are you sure it's three thousand, not three hundred?"
Old Sun asked for confirmation again.
"True Man Sun, I, Prince Yelü Goudan, on behalf of the three thousand pregnant women in my tribe, request your assistance and protection!"
"We trouble True Man Sun!"
Yelü Goudan and Xi Guatingtian immediately stood up and bowed deeply to Old Sun.
Now that they had submitted to the Great Tang, external affairs were no longer a concern. Strengthening the tribe was the top priority for the Tianying Department, so they were particularly invested in this matter.
Old Sun rubbed his chin, which was sore from being plucked, and said with some difficulty, "Young friend, this is three thousand people!"
"This old daoist and the five hundred girls can manage them, but where do you plan to house them?"
"The hospital isn't finished yet. Even if it were, it wouldn't be usable for at least a month, right?"
Yelü Goudan heard Old Sun's concerns and, pulling at his collar, cupped his hands towards Fang Er and Sun Simiao.
"Hahahaha! There's no need for Your Excellency and True Man Sun to worry about this matter."
"We are all children of the grassland; a tent is our home. I will have them set up tents. All we need is for Your Excellency to point us to a location."
"As for the nursing fees, you two can name your price. This prince guarantees we won't be stingy!"
Old Sun, hearing this, gained some confidence. "Very well! Young friend, this matter is on my shoulders!"
Fang Er nodded and looked at Yelü Tianying, saying, "Alright, it's settled then! Tianying, the location will be to the east of Shenyang City, adjacent to the new district. You arrange it."
"This way, once the residences in the new district are ready for occupancy, they can be moved in at any time."
He then looked at Yelü Goudan and Xi Guatingtian. "The nursing fees will be as we discussed before: five strings of cash per pregnant woman, from the time they arrive until the babies are born."
"Very good, very good! We will do as Your Excellency says! We have no objections!"
Xi Guatingtian and Yelü Goudan stood up again and bowed.
Yuan Mengjia, standing behind Old Sun, looked excited. She had learned so much and finally had an opportunity to put her skills to use.
After all, she represented the Taoist temple, and they had a twenty percent share. This meant that for every pregnant woman cared for, the temple would earn one hundred wen!
Although this was income before deducting costs, the costs were only a few copper coins.
In these vast forests of Liaodong, valuable herbs for pregnancy and labor were abundant and practically worthless.
She was so excited her face turned red.
While they were talking, Li Baoju brought in the wine and food.
The rooms on either side of the main hall were Fang Er's study on the left, and the right was specially converted into a dining room.
A two-tiered round table, three meters in diameter, was laden with a variety of meat and vegetable dishes, dozens of them.
Old Sun was accustomed to such tables; he had seen them when Zhao Gang had them made.
However, the two "country bumpkins" from the grassland were instantly shocked.
"What a big table!"
"This must be bigger than a small tent on the grassland!"
"By the way, with such a big table, how do we pass the dishes?"
"Tianying, Butian, pour the wine!"
Fang Er motioned for Sun Simiao to take the head seat. As the eldest and the one who would be responsible for all the pregnant women, this position was rightfully his.
Old Sun did not stand on ceremony and sat down.
The others also took their seats according to their status.
Yelü Tianying and Xi Guabutian, who had been instructed by Fang Er, took the "Mendoulu" wine and began pouring for everyone.
As soon as Yelü Goudan's wine was poured, he stood up with his cup.
"Hahahaha, this prince must first toast you three cups!"
"For the first cup, this prince toasts you for educating the two juniors of my tribe to be well-behaved."
"For the second cup, this prince toasts you for opening the market and establishing schools!"
"For the third cup, this prince toasts your broadmindedness, for not holding grudges, and for always considering the welfare of all the tribes on the grassland!"
After speaking, without waiting for Fang Er to respond, he drained his cup.
Then, he looked at Yelü Tianying beside him.
"What are you standing there for? Pour the wine!"
"Oh, oh, oh!"
Yelü Tianying quickly refilled his cup.
After drinking three cups in rapid succession, Yelü Goudan raised his cup again, this time towards Sun Simiao.
"True Man Sun, I am a rough man of the grassland, and I am uncultured. Please do not take offense. If anyone from my tribe offends you in the future, feel free to discipline them as you see fit. Do not hold back!"
"For the sake of those unborn children, I toast you!"
Xi Guatingtian also stood up. "True Man Sun, I will toast you as well!"
Old Sun had never been in such a situation. Although as a renowned physician, he was always treated with courtesy, he had never experienced such fervor.
To drink four cups in a row like this! And these were two-ounce cups! That's eight ounces of wine down already!
He wondered if this "Goudan" was just being generous because he was thirsty for alcohol.
Despite his thoughts, he smiled and raised his own cup to respond.
"You two are too kind. This is merely the duty of a physician. As Young Friend Fang puts it, it is a small effort, and no thanks are necessary."
Fang Er listened from the side, constantly touching his nose.
"Well, this old man remembers a casual remark I made to him so clearly."