During the Republican Era, Cien Tang in Harbin was meant to be just one main shop. But the young heir fancied himself a man of vision and insisted on putting up a sign declaring it the “Ninth Branch,” hoping the grandiose title would make passersby think his business was thriving and his premises impressive. Yet the deserted entrance and handful of customers made it clear to anyone with eyes that the shop was one step away from closing for good.
Old shopkeeper Cheng Qingzhang was red-faced as he argued with the young heir over who had run the perfectly good pharmacy into the ground. Just then, a knock sounded at the door.
“Sorry to trouble you, shopkeeper. May I ask if Cien Tang is looking for a physician to see patients here?”
That simple question at the door broke the deadlock at Cien Tang’s Ninth Branch and set in motion a whole series of colorful tales from the world of ordinary folk.
