The herbs were exclusively for their own clinic, and Simon paid him a monthly salary for his work.
Of course, on top of that modest wage, there were the clinic's dividends.
After all, the clinic still belonged to the Lawler family.
However, considering they were in a small rural town, the dividends didn't amount to much.
Silas didn't mind.
After his wife passed away, he had very few desires. Simon covered his meals, so he barely had any reason to spend money at all.
His son needed money, of course. Silas had a substantial nest egg tucked away for his son's future wedding, and he hadn't touched a single cent of it.
"This time you..." Simon was about to ask what had finally brought him to his senses, when he noticed a young woman trailing behind Lawler.
His eyes went wide with shock before breaking into a huge grin. "You brat, why didn't you give me a heads-up that you were bringing your girlfriend?"
"Come on in, child, have a seat."
Simon eagerly welcomed Claire inside.
Claire hesitated. "...You've misunderstood."
Lawler hurriedly tried to clarify, "Simon, she's not my girlfriend. She just graduated high school. She's practically a kid."
"You boy, what am I going to do with you?" Simon automatically ignored the part about her not being his girlfriend.
Hearing that the girl had just graduated high school instantly filled him with a wave of guilt, as if his nephew had lured an innocent teenager away.
"My boy can be a bit thick-headed. I know you're young, and your parents probably wouldn't approve of you being with him."
"But if he ever dares to wrong you, we'll definitely break his legs for you."
"Lawler is a bit older, but he's a good man at heart."
"He's grown now, and he's never brought a girlfriend home before. You're the very first."
Lawler didn't know whether to laugh or cry at his uncle's reaction.
"I'll go to the backyard and get his dad."
Simon figured this was a matter the boy's actual father needed to handle.
No matter how deep the rift between his senior colleague and his son was, seeing Lawler bring a girlfriend home would definitely make Silas set his grievances aside, at least for a while.
It was already rare enough for the family to sit down and share a harmonious meal. "Simon, don't go just yet!"
"What's wrong?" Simon looked a bit annoyed at being stopped. "Are you scared your dad is going to thrash you?"
He knew exactly what his senior colleague was like. The man always looked incredibly stern.
If Silas found out his son had tricked a young girl into coming home with him, he'd definitely blow his top.
But a beating was unlikely. Even if Silas tried, Simon would step in and stop it.
How could they let Lawler lose face in front of the young lady?
"No, you're just not listening to a word I'm saying."
"She's not my girlfriend. She's actually a colleague of mine. She also studies traditional medicine."
Simon wasn't buying it. "There's not a single shred of truth coming
_said she just graduated her
your mouth. Just a second
you
school."
"Now you're telling me she's studying medicine? Is she already in college?"
"Lawler, have you been up to no good out there?"
Lawler slapped a hand to his forehead. "..." You're a great guy, Simon, but you always assume the worst about me.
Claire finally stepped in to rescue him. "Mr. Vance, it's like this. I've
been studying traditional media ne
since was little, so you could say we're somewhat in the same field.
"I did just finish my college entrance exams, but I'm already participating in a research project at Dr. Lawler's hospital..."
Claire took a few moments and finally managed to explain the whole situation from start to finish.
Simon looked half-convinced. "You're saying you studied traditional medicine from a young age?"
Claire nodded. She certainly wasn't lying.