Doctor’s Rebirth - Chapter 875
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 875
Throughout Gangso Province.
The total number of Baekrin Inns had increased dramatically to seventy-six establishments.
The number of martial artists engaged in the delivery business continued to grow steadily.
And customers began to trickle in proportionally.
Originally, there were those who ate out of curiosity, those who wanted to try it before the business failed, and those who figured this was better than waiting in line at the Medical Guild for dumplings—a true grand slam of motivations.
But now regular customers were emerging, and the business was settling into stability.
“Gwak Jangja praised it so highly that I finally placed an order myself.”
“I hear he’s become quite obsessed with it?”
“Extremely enthusiastic. It’s rare to see someone spend all day spreading word like that—he must have genuinely loved it.”
Indeed.
Gwak Jangja, who had once firmly resolved to spread bad rumors if the food was tasteless, had now become a regular customer and was proselytizing to everyone around him.
Gwak Jangja was particularly known in the neighborhood as a connoisseur.
Since he enjoyed it so much, others began purchasing one by one out of curiosity.
“But it feels odd eating the same thing as those underlings like pyosa and carpenters.”
“Well, they order enormous quantities at once instead.”
The wealthy had their own desire to stand out.
Strangely enough, even eating a single meal, they wanted it to be different from others.
‘On Earth, you could just buy Korean beef and grill it at home, yet people would go to fancy Korean beef restaurants just to appear refined.’
It seemed to be a universal aspect of human psychology across worlds.
So Muyue was receiving support from these esteemed patrons and sending dumplings ordered in small quantities in special containers.
The containers, created in collaboration with artisans from the Golden Blood Hall, shimmered with golden snowflakes when light struck them.
This was because lacquer had been applied to the wooden box and then gilded.
‘But the contents are identical.’
Just the same dumplings.
Yet I heard they were quite satisfied, whether it was a matter of human psychology or something else.
So now they were carving pear blossoms and bamboo in addition to snowflakes.
It was Sama Hyeon’s idea.
-Hyeong. Just create special containers each season and send them. Then people will want to collect them.
-Price? Of course it matters. But wealthy people go crazy over things money can’t buy.
Last season’s containers were never used again.
For holidays, special containers were used.
Those containers also only appeared during that year’s holidays and were never used again.
It was a mad scheme, but surprisingly workable.
Since only the containers changed and not the menu itself, the kitchen workload didn’t increase.
‘Did Muyue and this Sama Hyeon somehow visit Earth without my knowing?’
Muyue at least gathered all his chicks to put their heads together and plan.
He was the type who used collective intelligence effectively.
So he was actually a much better superior than people around him realized.
But Sama Hyeon was different.
This person doesn’t cultivate collective intelligence to work with others.
Only what comes from his own mind.
‘How does he even know that?’
It’s a strategy used by ultra-luxury brands.
I never expected someone would apply it to mere delivery dumplings.
Muyue and Sama Hyeon.
Could it be because both have roots in the Heterodox Faction?
Though their methods of arriving at such ideas differ markedly, they both understand the ecology of the wealthy exceptionally well.
Even if the contents are identical to what commoners eat, it’s simply a matter of appearance.
And that alone is enough to stimulate the desire to purchase.
Moreover, many have begun to regard it as a peculiar charm.
And it’s these two who fuel such sentiment.
“I hear they’ve even started serving fried rice and noodles drizzled with spicy oil.”
“Oh, that sounds delicious.”
“They say they send special foods during holidays—there’s no greater luxury than that.”
Money began to beget money.
But that wasn’t all.
“About the lightness technique learned at the Baekrin Inn.”
“Hmm. You mean that delivery divine technique?”
“I thought it was merely convenient for transporting goods and didn’t tire easily, but the more one practices it, the more profound martial principles it contains.”
“Oh?”
“To learn ascending lightness technique, one must become at least an intermediate delivery warrior, and eventually progress through senior delivery warrior status before finally becoming a supreme delivery warrior to learn the ultimate technique… *sigh*…”
“The salary increases aren’t that steep either.”
“But the starting pay is far too meager.”
“That’s true. But since one can learn lightness technique and the treatment for supreme delivery warriors is quite substantial, it does stir ambition.”
“I hear they rank all delivery warriors based on delivery performance.”
Ranking system.
Koreans love ranking systems.
“How ruthless. Competition, no less.”
“Indeed. They compete to divide into ranks. According to rank, they award badges to wear on the chest.”
Honor was also provided.
Naturally, the higher the tier, the more one’s heart swells when something shiny is attached before one’s name.
Wearing it doesn’t actually increase one’s martial prowess or refine one’s techniques naturally, but it’s human nature that once you wear it, your spirits lift.
I myself was too busy to participate in ranking system games, but I’d seen enough on video platforms to understand that psychology well.
“Wouldn’t it be better if delivery warriors simply determined superiority by crossing blades with each other?”
A truly Kang Ho-in sentiment from someone who’s eaten by the sword their entire life.
“Ah, if they cross blades with each other, immediate expulsion follows. They can never learn ascending lightness technique.”
“Ugh…”
The warriors groaned.
“This is rather frustrating.”
“Thanks to that, we’re seeing quite a few people who lack talent as swordsmen but excel at lightness of step.”
“Just because someone’s good at lightness of step doesn’t make them a Kang Ho-in! Pfft! A true blade wielder should….”
“Ugh. Enough.”
Before he could launch into a speech about Gangho spirit, the other martial artists quickly silenced him.
“Anyway, from what I hear, once you reach the intermediate delivery warrior rank, you’ll be transporting patients to the Medical Guild quite often, so they have you sign formal contracts. Monthly wages? Goes without saying. And if you become an official Baekrin Medical Guild warrior….”
“Oh, you mean they cover almost all medical treatment and medicine costs for your family?”
“Ooooooh!”
In a world without health insurance, having medicine costs nearly free was enormous.
Especially for those with mothers, fathers, grandmothers, and grandfathers still living at home.
There was no greater filial piety than this for a child.
“Man, I really want to go.”
“Plus, since you’re saving lives, they say you wear special martial uniforms while running, and those outfits are quite expensive. And they issue you a special blade. Spear users and archers get new weapons made to suit them too.”
“Imagine how happy my grandmother would be if I came home wearing something like that.”
“Heh… she’d be thrilled.”
“Once I put on that uniform, I’m never taking it off.”
The warriors’ eyes gleamed with light.
The completion of the ranking system was fashion.
Martial skill, money, honor.
The result of perfectly understanding what Kang Ho-ins desired most.
A veritable ant trap designed exclusively for martial artists had been created.
“But we’re still just low-rank delivery warriors. When will we ever reach that level?”
“We’ll have to beat the people around us first.”
At those words, the warriors’ eyes shifted slightly.
They would have to defeat each other.
Just as competitive fire was about to ignite among them.
The oldest warrior among them calmly dropped a statement.
“Well, that’s true. But we’ve shared drinks together, so let’s help each other when needed.”
“Huh?”
“Let’s form groups with our close friends and climb to the intermediate rank together, yes?”
In that moment, the tension spreading among the warriors quickly dissipated.
Even a blank sheet becomes better with help, as they say.
The veteran warrior laid out reality for everyone to consider.
“Speaking frankly, the fact that we’re doing this work means we lack sufficient lightness of step, doesn’t it? We know we don’t have the talent to climb as individuals. So let’s pool our strength with the warriors we know and reach the intermediate rank.”
A reasonable goal.
Since it was right in front of them, it felt achievable.
“Good. Our target is intermediate!”
“Intermediate!!”
“Let’s reach intermediate!”
When the veteran warrior who had spoken raised his cup, the others raised theirs as well.
“Right, we can’t drink while working, so tonight’s our last chance. After this, we’ll have to switch to non-alcoholic drinks.”
“I’d rather drink plain water, Doctor.”
“Baekrin Medical Guild is particular about such things. They said they won’t use anyone who drinks while making deliveries.”
“Tsk. Ilgwang has no appreciation for refinement.”
All the lower-ranking delivery martial artists grumbled.
But there was no helping it. Rules were rules.
To win in this ruthless ranking battle, there was nothing to do but comply.
“A toast!”
Clink!
Cups collided together.
The delivery martial artists steeled their resolve in that moment.
* * *
The Patriarch’s office of Baekrin Medical Guild.
There, I was holding a meeting with my Master, Jegalling, after a long time.
Jegalling had summoned me, saying he needed to conduct a comprehensive review.
We had finished checking all the various matters that had been brought up so far.
And now my Master, Jegalling, broached a new topic.
“So Hope, it seems the elderly and pregnant women have benefited the most. The elderly was expected, but everyone seems surprised about the pregnant women.”
“Yes, yes. When it comes time to give birth, they would normally have to call a midwife, but it’s better to have a martial artist carry them and rush to a nearby medical clinic.”
‘Emergency medical services. This seems quite good.’
A newly launched service following the success of the restaurant delivery business.
This so-called ’emergency medical urgent transport service’ was something I had strongly advocated for and established.
In truth, it wasn’t generating profit—it was operating at a loss.
But that deficit was covered by taxes.
It was a form of welfare, after all.
Only Baekrin Medical Guild, which Jegalling had received as a fief, could make such a thing possible!
This was a system where people could come to the administrative offices established throughout Baekrin County to request it, and elite delivery martial artists would rush out to transport patients.
Of course, unlike a telephone where one could receive immediate contact and dispatch, someone from the family had to run to a nearby administrative office first—that was a drawback, if one could call it that.
But even with this limitation, it was possible to save a considerable number of lives, and it was receiving high praise.
And it was taking root properly.
‘The reason this is possible is because there are almost no single-person households in this era.’
It was common sense that one should marry when of age.
And in one house lived children, myself, my wife, my mother, my father, my grandmother, my grandfather. Add to that unmarried uncles, aunts, and if from the maternal side, maternal uncles and aunts.
Everyone living together in one place was simply natural.
Having lived in a city, I found it suffocating and wondered how people managed, but for someone with a personality like Hye-a who enjoyed everyone bustling about together, it was apparently less lonely and more happy?
In any case, because of this ’emergency medical urgent transport service,’ the survival rate of mothers and newborns increased even further.
Originally, with soap being widely distributed and midwives—experts in childbirth—being forced to use soap, the survival rate of mothers and newborns had already increased exponentially.
And with the added effect of the ’emergency medical urgent transport service,’ it rose even higher!
‘In the old days, people would say women gave birth while working in the fields, but that was an era with correspondingly high maternal and infant mortality rates.’
Thanks to this, the mortality rate began to drop significantly.
‘Of course, this still isn’t enough for me….’
Originally, the infant mortality rate on this martial world was nearly fifty percent. One could say that half of all children died.
Even the noble families and imperial clans lost many children in infancy.
But now I had spread knowledge of hygiene and medical techniques throughout the realm.
Moreover, within Baekrin County alone, medical costs had been reduced and facilities improved.
As a result, the mortality rate had dropped to nearly one-tenth of what it once was.
A miracle.
Officials and doctors called it the miracle of Ilgwang.
Of course, the mad doctor himself wasn’t satisfied yet.
Because compared to Earth’s standards, it was still high.
‘On Earth, advanced nations have infant mortality rates around five per thousand?’
In percentage terms, that’s 0.5%.
I knew that matching that was realistically impossible.
Still, the fact that survival rates had increased so dramatically was encouraging.
As I was thinking that far, I suddenly looked ahead.
My Master was staring intently at me.
‘Wow, I feel like holes are being drilled into my face.’
I didn’t know what was happening, but it seemed he’d called me for something quite important.
And in response to my Master’s summons, he was watching his disciple sit before him without blinking once.
It’s a bit frightening…
Then my Master spoke without taking his eyes off me.
“Come in.”
Permission was granted before anyone outside could even announce their presence.
A Medical Assistant had come to serve tea.
Normally he would send Yoo Ho, but since he wasn’t around lately, the Medical Assistants had to do it instead.
Creak—
“Patriarch, I’ve brought the tea as you ordered… Kyaaaah…!”
The Medical Assistant screamed and dropped the teacup.
‘Why are you startled? My Master seems to be in a good mood today?’
Baek Rin-ui-seon’s only disciple thought so.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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