Chapter 340: Chapter 133 Plot_3
Lu Tong was slightly taken aback.
The box wasn’t large, but it looked weighty. Upon opening it, neatly arranged silver ingots filled the interior, with scattered pieces of silver piled on the top layer—it was quite a substantial amount.
"This is..."
"Aren’t you heading to the Medical Officer Institute tomorrow?" Du Changqing slumped onto the recliner, crossing his arms across his chest in a lazy manner, "I’ve asked around with brothers from the palace. Your salary as a medical officer isn’t much, and you’ll inevitably need to grease some palms."
"I’ve been your employer for a year after all. Consider these two hundred taels of silver a parting gift. You’re the first medical officer from West Street, so you can’t disgrace the Renxin Medical Hall. Be generous when you’re outside, don’t let others look down on you."
Ah Cheng was surprised, "Shopkeeper, you also have brothers in the palace?"
"Go on, shoo," Du Changqing said irritably, "There’s a lot you don’t know, stop prying."
Ah Cheng made a face, but Yin Zheng, seeing that Lu Tong hadn’t moved, quickly snatched up the box with agile hands, and said with a smile, "The shopkeeper is truly handsome and kind-hearted; no wonder everyone says the Shopkeeper of West Street is the most generous. Who else could compare?"
Du Changqing was very pleased with the flattery, "Naturally."
Lu Tong pursed his lips but did not speak. He got up, went into the courtyard, and soon came back out, handing a letter to Du Changqing.
"I’m leaving tomorrow," Lu Tong said, "Before I go, this is for you."
Du Changqing grimaced, "Do we really need to write the kind of stuff that gives people goosebumps?"
"Here are four prescriptions. Every three months, you should make one medicine according to the prescriptions. If Renxin Medical Hall wants a place in the medical field, relying only on ’Jade Dragon Ointment’ and ’Xianxian’ won’t be enough."
Du Changqing was taken aback and suddenly sat upright, exclaiming, "Prescriptions?"
If these were indeed prescriptions for medicines, they could be far more valuable than the two hundred taels of silver he had given to Lu Tong.
Miao Liangfang was also quite surprised. Prescriptions were such valuable assets, why did Lu Tong always give them away so casually? How many more unknown prescriptions did her accomplished master have, and would he not feel heartbroken seeing his good disciple squander them like this in Hell?
Lu Tong didn’t react to Du Changqing’s astonishment and turned to Ah Cheng, smiling, "When Shopkeeper Du has some free time, perhaps he could also teach Ah Cheng how to read and write. It would be even better if he can teach him some pharmacology and medical classics."
"Reading... is indeed useful," she said softly.
Ah Cheng, not sure what to make of this, nodded subconsciously.
Miao Liangfang watched the scene unfold and felt a prickling sensation behind her eyes, wondering if it was just her age that made it difficult to watch these goodbyes, when she heard Lu Tong call her, "Mr. Miao."
He suddenly tensed up, responding with caution, "I’ve already given gifts, and now I don’t have a penny on me!"
Lu Tong didn’t speak, but reached out and took the wine gourd from his waist.
"How come, are you giving me wine..."
Before he could finish, Lu Tong casually let go, and the wine gourd dropped with a "thud" into a waste bucket inside the house.
"Hey——" Miao Liangfang was startled and quickly reached out to retrieve it, "Why are you throwing my gourd into the trash?"
Lu Tong stopped him, "You cannot drink while practicing medicine at the hall."
"Which hall am I going to work in..." Miao Liangfang started to say, but suddenly froze, incredulously lifting his head.
Lu Tong stood in front of him, speaking in an ordinary tone.
"I’ve arranged with Shopkeeper Du, from now on you will practice medicine here."
Miao Liangfang was shocked, abruptly turning to look at Du Changqing.
The disheveled young man lay sprawled on the chair, his leg swinging high up, and in an irksome tone said, "First off, you look too old, and although you were once a medical officer, heroes don’t dwell on past glories. Plus, you’ve got a lame leg, so your month allowance is halved. One tael of silver per month, food included but not lodging. Oh, and when you’re free, you can teach me and Ah Cheng too."
"Do a good job, and there’s a chance your month allowance could increase. If you slack off, Xinglin Hall is just next door—wouldn’t mind seeing you off."
"And another thing..."
Whatever Du Changqing said next, Miao Liangfang didn’t hear a word of it. His mind kept echoing that first part of the conversation.
They wanted him to practice medicine here.
How could this be? Miao Liangfang thought dazedly.
It couldn’t be possible; they must be playing a joke on him.
He was a disgraced officer driven out from the Hanlin Medical Institute, branded with disgrace, and if he practiced medicine, his past would inevitably come to light on official medical documents. No medical hall would dare take the risk of employing him.
Or rather, no one would be willing to trust him.
So for these years, he could only hide in his dilapidated hut on West Street, tending wild-growing herbs in front of the house to fulfill his longstanding wish.