Chapter 334: Chapter 131: The Red List_3
"Today is the day the spring examination results are released, and the lady is concerned about Doctor Lu’s exam results, so she specially sent me to deliver a congratulatory gift." She placed a big red celebration basket on the cabinet and pushed it toward Lu Tong, then looked around, feigning surprise, "Oh, where is the messenger?"
Today, Du Changqing and Ah Cheng went to the south of the city to collect herbs; only Miao Liangfang and Yin Zheng were in Renxin Medical Hall. Yin Zheng was boiling water in the backyard, and Miao Liangfang, sensing something amiss while sitting there, stood up with the help of his crutch and asked Lu Tong, "Little Lu, who is this?"
Before Lu Tong could speak, another voice came from outside, "What else could it be? Of course, it’s because he didn’t pass!"
The speaker was Bai Shouyi from the neighboring Xinglin Hall.
Ever since Lu Tong arrived at Renxin Medical Hall and produced several outstanding proprietary medicines, the medical hall’s business flourished. Xinglin Hall tried several times to trip them up, but each time they only ended up hurting themselves. Furthermore, after Lu Tong received that brocade banner with gold embroidery from Lord Zhao Ning’s daughter, it was displayed prominently in the hall every day, causing Xinglin Hall’s business to decline drastically, nearly reaching the point of closure like Renxin Medical Hall in the past.
Especially at this time, Lu Tong had offended the Minister of Imperial Treasury and even presumptuously participated in the Imperial Medical Bureau’s spring examination.
Ha, that was simply courting death!
Bai Shouyi was wearing a snow-white long gown, his neck nearly merging with the fabric, his eyes squinted with joy, and his chubby face brimming with delight.
He was happy indeed. Success was pleasurable, but the defeat of an enemy was even more satisfying.
Missus Wang was astonished, "That’s impossible, right? I thought Doctor Lu was confident and certain to succeed!"
Lu Tong remained silent.
Bai Shouyi’s smile deepened, deliberately continuing Missus Wang’s words, "Us ordinary folks, how dare we compare with the noble sons and daughters of the Imperial Medical Bureau? One must be aware of their own capabilities, alas..."
A crowd gradually gathered in front of the medical hall. The carriage of the Minister of Imperial Treasury was parked at the entrance, and this time, no one dared to stand up for Renxin Medical Hall.
If Lu Tong couldn’t enter the Hanlin Medical Institute, he would remain a simple resident doctor on West Street. The common people’s instinctive fear of the authorities seemed to be innate.
"The results haven’t been announced yet, so why are you taking pity on my mistress in advance?" Yin Zheng heard the commotion outside and, lifting the felt curtain, hurried out to stand in front of Lu Tong.
She maintained a dignified posture with a smile on her face, yet to Bai Shouyi and the other, it looked nothing more than bluffing out of desperation.
Miao Liangfang also muttered, "What concern is it of others whether he passes or not? It’s like the heavens appointing a county magistrate – meddling too much."
His muttering was overheard by Bai Shouyi.
Bai Shouyi glanced at Miao Liangfang, then purposefully sighed, "Speaking of Doctor Lu, he is truly casting about in panic, daring to hire anyone as a teacher. If it really won’t do, we’re all neighbors here, I can go to the medical hall and ask an experienced doctor to come over and teach him medicine. It would be a shame to have unclear teachings lead one astray."
His words targeted the heart, Miao Liangfang’s face turned ashen, "Who are you saying is unclear?"
The crowd of onlookers grew larger, and Lu Tong placed the porcelain jar she was holding down on the table with a thud.
It was a light sound, but it gradually silenced the surroundings.
She looked at the woman in front of her, "Missus Wang, have you seen the red list?"
Missus Wang was taken aback.
She had come to West Street early this morning after receiving a message from Lady Dong and naturally hadn’t seen the red list. But it didn’t matter whether she saw it or not because an acquaintance from the Medical Officer Institute had already seen the twenty names on this year’s spring examination list and told Lady Dong that Lu Tong’s name was not among them.
"Since you haven’t seen it, let’s wait for the results before sending gifts," said Lu Tong, pushing the red basket back toward Missus Wang.
The female doctor’s reaction was cool, and she didn’t feel uneasy at all about the crowd gathering around her. The dazzling brocade tapestry on the wall of the medical hall hung behind her, and in her plain clothes, she seemed like a beautifully transparent ink painting in this spring day’s medical hall.
She had clearly failed but still put on a nonchalant demeanor.
For some reason, Missus Wang felt annoyed.
A pretentious and affectatious commoner woman, no matter how noble she may act, cannot change the fact that she comes from the mud.
A broken household like West Street, in the past, she wouldn’t even spare a glance, but now due to her young master, she had to come here time and time again.
The Hanlin Medical Institute? A female medical officer?
With her? And these dubious-looking people in the medical hall?
Missus Wang felt contempt in her heart, ready to make a few more derogatory remarks.
"Doctor Lu! Doctor Lu!"
Suddenly, a cheerful voice approached from a distance.
Lu Tong looked up to see someone eagerly pushing through the crowd to enter, dressed in the uniform of the Patrol House, smiling from ear to ear – it was Shen Fengying.
"Officer Shen," Yin Zheng was surprised, "What brings you here?"
"I’m here to congratulate Doctor Lu!" Shen Fengying glanced around and saw the particularly bright celebration basket on the cabinet, his face lighting up with a smile, "With so many people, it seems I’m not the first one to congratulate."
"Congratulate?" Missus Wang didn’t know Shen Fengying, but his words immediately set off alarm bells, and she hurriedly asked, "Congratulate what?"
"To congratulate Doctor Lu for being first on the spring examination red list!"
There was a stunned silence around.
Shen Fengying was puzzled, "What’s wrong, weren’t you all here to congratulate Doctor Lu for passing the examination?"