Chapter 419: Chapter 154 Return to Maternal Home_2
Lu Tong was at a loss for words for a moment.
Du Changqing’s manner truly resembled that of Sister Song from next door when she was scolding Younger Sister Song.
Now that everyone had returned, there was no reason to simply wait at the entrance of the medical hall. They followed Lu Tong inside. The interior was as it always had been, the medicine cabinets and desks were wiped clean, and the wall at the main entrance displayed the same shiny golden banner, although the calligraphy above the medicine cabinet had changed.
A whole piece of silk paper was hanging there, still with Yin Zheng’s fine small calligraphy for pinning flowers, gracefully written: "Speak not of the wax and wane; let us rejoice in the good times we share."
Lu Tong focused on the poem, hearing Miao Liangfang ahead of him laughing, "Doctor Lu, I went ahead and prepared one of the prescriptions you left behind. Even though this year we cannot sell ’Born in Spring’ again, every income stream for the pharmacy is quite good."
"With Huichuntang next door gone, the neighbors on West Street all come to our medical hall for consultations. Sometimes I am so busy I can barely cope, but thankfully Ah Cheng and Miss Yin Zheng are also able to help."
Du Changqing was displeased, "What are you talking about? Haven’t I been of help? Do not forget who provided your monthly wages!"
His words were tacitly ignored by everyone.
Ah Cheng lifted the felt curtain, "Doctor Lu, please come in!"
Then Lu Tong followed them in.
The small courtyard still looked the same as before, the bluestone slabs were washed clean and gleamed a layer of grayish green. A red gauze lantern hung from the plum tree by the window. Perhaps due to spring, the rhododendrons that Yin Zheng planted under the window had bloomed, vibrant against the banana leaves, like a splendid red cloud.
Yin Zheng pulled Lu Tong into the inner room to show her, laughing, "Knowing that you were coming back, I washed and dried the bedding a few days ago and replaced it. I also went to the Official Lane Flower Market and bought two camellias—"
Lu Tong followed her pointing finger to the window table, where a white porcelain vase held two fresh camellias. Beside it, a grass-woven dish was filled with black dates, boiled chestnuts, and orange-flavored pastries, and there was also a handful of bean sugar that someone had left.
Seeing Lu Tong look over, Yin Zheng whispered, "...Ah Cheng bought it, saying you have a sweet tooth, and he purposely went to the fruit shop and weighed out two ounces." Saying this, she offered Lu Tong a piece, "Would you like to try?"
The bean sugar, simple and even a bit crude, lay in her palm. Lu Tong lowered her head and slowly peeled the sugar paper and put it in her mouth.
The simple sweetness spread from the tip of her tongue.
Lu Tong felt somewhat dazed.
Back in her childhood days in Changwu County, every fortnight when Lu Qian returned home from the academy, the household would also be like this.
Her parents would always prepare Lu Qian’s favorite dishes in advance, and Lu Rou would sweep the small courtyard over and over. She had nothing much to do herself, so after lunch, she would sit on the doorstep with her cheeks in her hands waiting—she knew that when the sunset covered the entire hilltop and the long street outside was dyed a dim yellow, Lu Qian would appear.
He would always come home before dusk.
And Lu Tong would always bound forward, circling around his bookcase, waiting for him to pull out a handful of bean sugar—he would bring her the best yellow bean sugar from the grocery store at the academy’s gate.
"...Miss?"
Yin Zheng’s voice came from beside her.
Lu Tong returned to her senses and then felt a bit of embarrassment, hesitatingly she said, "I didn’t... bring anything for you."
Yin Zheng was stunned for a moment, and Du Changqing, who was walking out, stumbled upon hearing this, nearly taking a fall. He turned back in alarm, "Doctor Lu, did you lose your mind while at the Medical Officer Institute? What nonsense are you talking about?"
Miao Liangfang pushed Du Changqing to move on, "Talk less. The chicken is still stewing in the pot. We haven’t had lunch yet, even though it’s past noon. Hurry up and set the table for the meal. Don’t let Little Lu go hungry."
Ah Cheng responded cheerfully and went off to carry the food from the kitchen.
Yin Zheng led Lu Tong to sit at the stone table in the courtyard.
Strangely, when Lu Tong and Yin Zheng were the only two living there before, they often felt it was too quiet. Now that more people were present, the place even seemed a bit cramped.
Du Changqing and Ah Cheng brought out the food, filling the table with dishes like "Wine-steamed Lamb," "Red-braised Chicken," "Honey-glazed Pomfret," "Chicken Soup with Fish Maw," and other meat dishes. One could tell they were ready-made meals bought from a food shop by Du Changqing’s handiwork, except for the bowl of tender stewed pork spine soup in the center, which seemed to be his own creation.
Yin Zheng picked up a green mochi and put it in Lu Tong’s bowl, chuckling, "I was thinking of making some and sending them to the Medical Officer Institute for you to taste during Qingming festival, but Uncle Miao said they had them in the Medical Officer Institute’s kitchen, so I didn’t go. Thankfully, you have come back." She added, "The green mochi were made by everyone together this year. Widow Sun brought fresh mugwort leaves. Try them while they’re hot!"
The green mochi were bright and vibrant, resembling an unripe fruit. Lu Tong took a bite with her head lowered. Perhaps to accommodate her taste, the mochi were particularly glutinous and sweet. When she bit into it, the taste was pleasantly fragrant and sweet.