Most of the people playing chess and watching chess in the teahouse are old people, after all, there are never many customers in this teahouse, and it is just after the afternoon at the moment, and few young people will come to kill time.

So in a patch of gray hair and old cheeks, Gu Huai was particularly conspicuous, he greeted a few old people who were familiar with him, and looked at the chessboard with a smile, but there was no absent-minded appearance, but Qingming who was standing on the side could see clearly, compared with some time ago, Gu Huai's eyes were much sharper.

Chessboard fighting, has always been a good means to kill time, the truth of watching chess is silent in the eyes of old chess friends does not exist, every game of chess has a chaotic sound in the move, occasionally there is anger and pale, but let the face of the seat also get better, but also point out where others want to play, causing a burst of laughter and scolding.

After a few games of chess, the time has passed the evening, there is a person who looks like a domestic servant comes to the front of an old man to say a few words, the old man also bows his hand, most of the family is urging, the rest of the old people also say a few words of resignation, three and three by two, only a lonely figure is still sitting on the edge of the chessboard, Gu Huai knows him, the most addicted to chess, the old man, can see him in the teahouse almost every day.

On weekdays, Gu Huai was already on his way back at this time, but today Qian Lao estimated that he hadn't finished his fun, so he opened his mouth to Gu Huai: "Gu Gongzi has often come to watch chess recently, and I think he is also quite virtuous about this way, why not talk about a game with the old man?" ”

This made Gu Huai stunned, he came to see chess mostly to kill time and think about things, there is really nothing to say about chess strength, he has played with people on the Internet before, and he has memorized a few chess games.

But after looking at the sky, he still sat down, and honestly said that he was not good at chess, which was regarded as a modest remark by Qian Lao, so he pushed the boat down the river and let Gu Huai Zhibai go first, which was regarded as the etiquette of the elders on the chessboard to the juniors.

When the chess pieces fell, the two naturally chatted a few words, such as "where is the son", Gu Huai also casually perfunctory, but after a few more chess pieces on the chessboard, Qian Lao raised his head in amazement and looked at Gu Huai on the opposite side.

"This start... Childe turned out to be really not modest. ”

"Just to tell the truth..."

"It's quite a novelty."

"I watched the chess game and pondered it, which made Qian Lao smile."

"No, no, no..."

Between the words, the chess game has entered the middle game, Bai Zi has been killed in pieces, and he has been shortlisted for the suppression, but he can still support it hard, but he can't see a way out, as if the defeat has been decided.

After playing easily, the old man's words became more, and he talked about the recent plague in Jiangning Mansion during the chat, but it aroused the interest of Gu Huai, who was thinking hard with the chess pieces:

"The plague?"

"It's been a while, but it hasn't been transmitted to Jiangning City, but a lot of people have died in the south, and there are already refugees outside the city, but they can't enter the city gate after closing the gate."

He sighed: "The old man has lived for so many years, and he has only seen a 'pimple plague', or when he was studying in the north, he also thought about choosing a good prescription to benefit the world in the future, but this 'pimple plague' is really incurable." ”

Gu Huai thoughtfully put down a chess piece and made a crisp sound: "Qian is always a doctor?" ”

"I've been practicing medicine for most of my life, and I barely deserve this title," Qian Lao shook his head, "but the more this happens, the more ashamed the old man is when he thinks of so many people waiting for death outside the city." ”

"Qian Lao is really a benevolent doctor."

"It's no use just having a heart... The day before yesterday, the old man also went to the city gate to see once, and it was indeed a 'pimple plague', this time I don't know how many people will die, but the old man can't do anything, he can only kill time here," he stroked his beard, and showed some sad expressions: "Most of the medical shops in the city are closed, I don't know how many merchants are hoarding medicinal materials, this world is really chilling... They also pretended to send people out of the city to give porridge, and they didn't know who to show them! ”

The sunspots fell, and several white seeds that had entered a desperate situation were lifted, but Gu Huai didn't care at all, and his thoughts sank into the words of Qian Lao just now.

It wasn't until Qian Lao urged him that he came back to his senses, so he asked, "While hoarding medicinal herbs, while giving porridge?" It is difficult to make a fortune in the country, but also to have a good reputation? ”

Qian Laoshen nodded approvingly: "Heh, most of the wealthy businessmen in Jiangning started their lives by silk weaving, and they don't know how much they have pressed on the weekdays to buy silk and hire weavers, and now they are hoarding life-saving medicinal materials for the people, and they have to put on a face of being kind and charitable... Anyone can see that after earning money, they still want to buy people's hearts. ”

"After all, it is to do business, give some money, food and medicinal materials, you can fight for a good reputation, even if the food is ugly, and there are more people, it is equivalent to advertising, and business will naturally improve."

"Advertising?"

"It means to advertise."

"I see."

"And when it comes to buying people's hearts, these rich businessmen have not done enough, the income of this kind of advertising is too low," Gu Huai straightened up and thought slowly, "There should be a person... It's one thing to cure the plague well, it's another thing to walk in the world to save the suffering, walk around the refugees, pretend to be compassionate, and then spend money to build propaganda and make a living Buddha-like role... It is best to incite some people's dissatisfaction with the government, and when the plague passes, they will set up a shrine and open a chain of pharmacies, gaining fame and fortune. ”

Qian Lao was dumbfounded when he heard this, and the young scholar's words in front of him were a little intermittent, which sounded a little unrealistic, but the more he thought about it, the more he felt that this method had some eerie smell... Could it be that those medicine gods in ancient times also used this method?

Picked up the teacup and took a sip, swept his eyes lightly without a trace, confirmed that Qingming was moved by this topic, and continued with satisfaction:

"Of course, things can't be overdone, and if you go too far, it will backfire, after all, buying people's hearts in front of the government is not to rebel?"

As soon as these words came out, the old and the young all laughed, as if it was just a harmless joke, but Qingming's body next to him instantly tensed.

“... Therefore, it is very important to grasp the degree, not only to make the refugees grateful to Dade, but also not to make the government feel that it is a big rebellion, and this kind of 'god-making' movement is indeed profitable. ”

Looking at the sunspot that Qian Lao finally fell, Gu Huai calmly admitted his defeat and continued: "Fame and fortune are secondary, the biggest benefit is to be remembered by the people, there is a saying...'Those who pay salaries for everyone should not be frozen to death in the wind and snow', that's the truth." ”

Qian Lao pondered these words for a long time, then shook his head and smiled, not knowing what to say, he just lowered his head and packed up the chess pieces, but Gu Huai followed up with the last sentence:

"Speaking of medicine... The younger generation has some ideas, but I don't know if I can bother Qian Lao another day, and then talk about the plague outside the city. ”

"Childe studied medicine?"

"It's not that I've studied it, it's just that I'm curious, and I've read one... Among them, there are many home remedies for incurable diseases, and the symptoms of this 'pimple plague' sound quite familiar. ”

Qian Lao's face moved, but he also felt that Gu Huai was just whimsical, but judging by his words, he was not a pedantic reader, and he had a good appetite for chatting, so he nodded: "There is no need, the old man lives..."

Noting down the address, the two of them got up, Qian Lao groaned slightly, and still asked:

"The medical book that Childe said... What's the name? ”

The sky outside the building had already darkened, and there were faint rain flowers, Gu Huai walked out with Qingming who had listened to it for a long time, and when he heard Qian Lao asking, he stopped and looked back, and smiled:

"The Barefoot Doctor's Handbook."