Some interesting things about the Qing Dynasty.

Kangxi sees a doctor-the origin of Beijing Tongrentang

Emperor Kangxi had a strange disease, and all the imperial doctors in the palace used precious medicinal materials, but he stopped using them in a rage because his condition did not improve.

On this day, Kangxi traveled out of the palace alone and came to a street and found a small pharmacy. At this time, it was dead of night, but the small pharmacy was brightly lit, and I heard the sound of reading there. Kangxi thought that the imperial doctors in the palace were just mediocre people with no real skills, and the real talents were still among the people. Since ancient times, there have been ginseng in small pharmacies. Why don't I come and have a look? So Kangxi knocked at the door.

After entering the room, Kangxi saw a man in his forties reading at night by candlelight. He guessed that he must be a doctor in this small drugstore.

When the doctor saw a visitor visiting at night, he asked, "What do you think of your late-night visit? 」

Kangxi said, "It's presumptuous to drop in at midnight. Just because I got a strange disease, my whole body itched and I got red pimples. I don't know why. Many famous doctors were invited, but none of them were cured. Can you have a look, sir? The doctor said, "well, please take off your coat and let me have a look." 」

Kangxi took off his coat, and the doctor only looked at it and said, "Don't worry, sir, your illness is not serious. It's just that I ate too much delicacies on weekdays, and I ate ginseng for a long time, so I got angry, so I had a red thought and it was itchy. 」

Kangxi asked, "Can this disease be cured? 」

The doctor said with certainty, "It's not difficult. Just take some medicine. " With that, he reached for a jar on the wooden shelf, spread out a bag, and poured out all the medicine in the jar, which weighed seven or eight pounds.

Kangxi was shocked and said, "Sir, how many medicines do I have to take at a time?" ? 」

The doctor smiled and said, "This is rhubarb, not for you. Take it home, boil one hundred catties of water with eight catties of rhubarb, put it in the jar, and take a bath in the jar at least three times and five times, and it will be fine. 」

Kangxi thought, there are so many strange prescriptions of palace doctors that he doesn't care. Can his worthless rhubarb cure my illness? Seeing Kangxi's suspicious face, the doctor smiled and said, "Sir, please rest assured that I will never cheat you of your money. Please take this medicine first. If you can't cure the disease, I won't charge any money. 」

Kangxi said, "Well, I would be grateful if you could cure my illness. Kangxi returned to the palace and took a bath according to the doctor's instructions. Sure enough, when he got into the bathtub, he suddenly felt refreshed, comfortable and wonderful. I didn't even feel itchy after washing it for three times. Take a closer look, I don't have any red spots.

Kangxi was very happy. On the fourth day, he came to the small drugstore incognito.

As soon as the doctor saw Kangxi smiling and knew that he was all right, he deliberately said, "Did you pay for the medicine today? 」

Kangxi said, "Exactly. How much did you say it would cost, sir? 」

The doctor smiled: "I smiled. I saw you with a grain of salt that night. I deliberately said that I would not accept anything if I could not cure the disease. I still don't accept anything now. " I think you are ambitious. I just want to make friends with you. May I ask your name? 」

Kangxi said with a smile: "The student's surname is Huang, and the word is Tianxing, a scholar. 」

The doctor said happily, "My name is Zhao Guitang, and I am also a poor scholar. My father decided to let me be the first to pay homage to my ancestors, but it didn't work out. I was discredited many times in Sun Shan. Now I want to open a small pharmacy in Beijing and study while practicing medicine, hoping to jump into Longmen one day. 」

Kangxi said, "Brother Zhao, as the saying goes, there is no name on the list, and there is a road under your feet. According to your superb medical skills, I can strongly recommend you to be a physician in the palace. Isn't it just a leap from the dragon gate? 」

Zhao Guitang smiled and said, "You are wrong. In my opinion, medical practitioners should think of the people all over the world and solve problems for them. Being a physician in the palace, although enjoying all the splendor, can't treat the world. This is not my wish. What is the use of medicine? 」

Hearing this, Kangxi couldn't help saying, "I admire Zhao Dage's virtue and ability. Dear friend, please forgive me for telling you the truth. Since you have failed in many exams, why don't you settle down and make a great career in medicine? 」

Zhao Guitang said, "I think so, too. It's just not easy to practice medicine. I don't have that much capital, and it's hard for me to have great development prospects without lofty aspirations. Dude, if you make a fortune in the future, give me a hand and help me build a big pharmacy. It's not like I treated you for nothing. 」

Hearing this, Kangxi said without hesitation, "If you really want to build a pharmacy, what should you call it?" ? Let's call it Tong Ren Tang. What do you think of this name? 」

Zhao Guitang saw that he was serious and said with a smile, "I was joking just now. Don't take it seriously Besides, it costs a lot of money to build a big pharmacy. Who knows when you will get rich? This is on the edge of the cloud, far away. 」

Kangxi said, "Try it now. After that, he picked up a pen from the table, wrote a note conveniently, stamped it, and then said, "Brother Zhao, you will go to the yamen of the Ministry of Internal Affairs tomorrow. There is a friend of mine there who may really be the person in charge. " Say that finish and leave.

Zhao Guitang looked at Mr. Huang who left in a hurry and thought he was still a freak.

The next day, Zhao Guitang couldn't help but find the yamen of the Ministry of Internal Affairs with a note. Shortly after passing the note, a eunuch came out and led Zhao Guitang into the door. After walking through a yard, he came to a big house. The eunuch opened the door, pointed to the inside and said, "Mr. Zhao, are these enough for your medicine?" 」

Zhao Guitang looked intently and was surprised to find shiny money all over the room. He stayed there for a while. At this time, only the eunuch said, "Long live Mr. Zhao. You were kind to him for nothing. He wants to give you a Tong Ren Tang. You guessed it. " Zhao Guitang woke up like a dream: Xiong Huang, who didn't mind making friends with him, turned out to be the emperor today. I really regret that I was ridiculous and didn't notice it at all.

Sure enough, a few days later, a big pharmacy appeared like mushrooms after rain, named Tong Ren Tang. When Zhao Guitang was in the inauguration ceremony of his new house, he never thought that Emperor Kangxi would personally come to congratulate him. Zhao Guitang didn't know what to do.

Kangxi smiled and said, "Don't panic. I paid you back for the medicine. You still won't accept the next visit. Since then, there has been a famous Tongrentang drugstore in Beijing.