The Lucky Farmgirl

Chapter 1708 - 1683: Frugality

Manbao sighed and said, "Madam, our Imperial Hospital now only has thirty-six people, even Director Xiao has to teach classes. There are many courses to teach, and this is only the first year. Next year, we will have to recruit new students. Don’t think this is just one class; we need at least four instructors to teach them. Not to mention the efforts of the imperial doctors, the court and His Majesty have spent a lot to establish the Imperial Hospital. Those who are trained will become private doctors, different from the disciples who will join the hospital and serve everywhere."

Manbao did not say it outright, but the meaning was clear.

You’re raising private doctors; do you actually have the nerve to undermine the court and His Majesty?

The Empress sitting there sighed as well. "To build the Imperial Hospital, all the money from His Majesty’s private treasury was spent. It’s also for this reason that Changyu’s wedding was postponed for two years."

All the ladies: ... Wasn’t it Zhou Man who said it was not good for girls to marry too early, and the Emperor postponed it out of love for his daughter?

The words said at the previous palace banquets are now changed?

But no one would be tactless enough to point this out. Since the Empress spoke herself, even if they felt it was expensive, they wouldn’t haggle over these dozens of silver taels.

Therefore, they exchanged glances and agreed, "One hundred taels will be one hundred taels, but you must leave more slots for us."

Manbao said, "Then we’ll double it, ten slots turned to twenty." Seeing they seemed somewhat unwilling, Manbao immediately explained, "This small class can better attend to the students. Any more, the instructors will be stretched too thin and won’t be able to care for everything."

Upon hearing this, they reluctantly agreed.

After discussing the serious matters, Lady Su held Manbao’s hand and smiled, saying, "Young Lady Zhou, when you have time, come sit at our house. My second son’s wife hasn’t been feeling well, and after inviting a doctor, we found out she’s pregnant. We’d like to invite you to check on her."

Since they’ve already invited a doctor, is there really a need for her to see again?

However, Manbao thought for a moment and still nodded in agreement.

After sending off Lady Su and the others, Manbao glanced at the remaining State Duchess Zhao and bowed before leaving.

Director Xiao, who had been waiting in the side hall for news, saw her and immediately came out, asking quietly, "How did it go?"

Manbao nodded to him and said softly, "One hundred taels a year, twenty slots, they’ve agreed."

Director Xiao was stunned and asked, "How did you convince them to agree?"

Manbao said, "I didn’t say much, just talked about the difficulties of the Imperial Hospital. Plus, with the Empress present, they wouldn’t dare to undermine His Majesty, would they?"

Director Xiao: ... But why are they so ready when dealing with him?

He looked up at Zhou Man, cleared his throat, and said, "You’re lucky. If the officials from the court were negotiating, they would calculate every coin and wouldn’t be so straightforward."

Manbao nodded with deep agreement, "Men are stingy and not forthright at all."

Director Xiao: ... Somehow, this doesn’t sound right.

"Director Xiao, the people they send need to be taught separately. I will draft a course outline, and could you discuss it with the imperial doctors?"

Director Xiao immediately turned his attention and nodded, "Fine, you draft the outline, give the list to me tomorrow, and I’ll consult with Imperial Doctor Liu and the others."

Thus, the matter was settled.

Back at the Chongwen Pavilion, Manbao took out paper and pen and began drafting the courses they needed to learn.

The initial courses were already set. She needed to draft the subsequent ones. Knowing what kind of doctors they want to train makes drafting the courses easier.

After all, the Imperial Hospital has spent four months setting the entire hospital’s courses. She could select the essentials from them along with some closely related courses.

After dismissal, Bai Shan came over seeing her still engrossed in writing, peeked, and asked, "Why are you still drafting courses? Weren’t they settled long ago?"

While writing, Manbao explained to him, "I now believe this is mutually beneficial; two thousand taels is not a small amount."

Bai Shan chuckled and asked, "Does His Majesty still lack such funds?"

"Do you know what ’many a little makes a mickle’ means?" Manbao said, "If this place doesn’t know to save, and that place doesn’t know to cut spending, if everyone doesn’t know thrift, even if His Majesty had mountains of gold and silver, it’d be insufficient."

"Let’s not even mention the Ministry of Revenue. Since I’ve learned about it, I’ve never heard any official say the national treasury was ample; every year they claim funds fall short. Last time our hospital wanted to purchase another medicine cabinet, we listed twenty taels on the request, and the Ministry of Revenue denied it, saying one cabinet suffices, why need two?"

Manbao shook her head, "They’re so tight-fisted. If our hospital had money, would we have to apply to the Ministry to buy cabinets? We could buy them directly, even ten at once."

Bai Shan laughed, "Would you use five and discard five?"

Manbao laughed too, nodding, "Exactly."

After everyone left, State Duchess Zhao approached the Empress gently, "Madam, is His Majesty’s private treasury really empty?"

The Empress smiled, "His Majesty does this for the people’s livelihood."

State Duchess Zhao said, "But shouldn’t money from your private treasury be kept for yourselves and for the children?"

She continued, "Princess Changyu is already of age; even if you wait, she should be matched within a year or two. Besides, the Fifth Prince is about to leave the palace to establish his residence and go to his fiefdom, where each step demands money."

Indeed, his fief estate will be funded by the Ministry of Revenue and built by the Ministry of Public Works, but what will be inside the newly constructed mansion?

In the end, won’t it require contributions from both the Emperor and the Empress? Even though Noble Consort Yang will prepare for her son, the Emperor will also contribute. As for the Empress, for appearances or for affection, she will contribute significantly too, especially since she treats the Fifth Prince well.

State Duchess Zhao couldn’t help worrying for the Empress and asked quietly, "Shouldn’t my husband and I contribute some funds?"

"Absolutely not," the Empress stopped her, smiling, "My sister-in-law also supports her whole family; we may be struggling, but it’s not that bad, rest assured."

State Duchess Zhao sighed, "I heard you’ve reduced the number of palace maids and sent more to the Imperial Hospital; rumors outside say the palace is struggling."

The Empress didn’t expect such rumors and commented, "That was only because the Imperial Hospital couldn’t find suitable girls outside, so I selected some from the palace to replace them."

Seeing the disbelief on State Duchess Zhao’s face, the Empress changed the topic, "Why is my sister-in-law also requesting people from the Imperial Hospital?"