Chapter 644: Chapter 221: The Golden Bell on the Flower
When the list of those going to Su Nan for epidemic relief reached West Street, everyone at Renxin Medical Hall was stunned.
Du Changqing rubbed his eyes several times, staring at Lu Tong, "I’m not seeing things, am I? How could your name be on the roster?"
Lu Tong placed the medical kit on the desk cabinet, speaking with an equanimity as if she were about to step out to buy a cup of sweet syrup.
"I’m going to Su Nan for disaster relief, and I’ll be leaving early tomorrow morning."
"That’s not right, Xiao Lu," Miao Liangfang came out leaning on his crutch from the back shop, "You’ve just entered the Medical Officer Institute at the beginning of this year, and haven’t even passed the first Official Examiner assessment, and you have no prior experience in epidemic relief. How could the Medical Officer Institute select you to go to Su Nan?"
A gleam flashed in Du Changqing’s eyes, "Is it Pei Yunmeng?"
"You visited the Palace Marshal’s Mansion for a consultation yesterday, and today upon return, you tell us you’re leaving for Su Nan tomorrow." He burst out cursing, "Did that black-hearted person pull some strings, forcing you to go? Damned bastard!"
"I’m going to save lives, not to die," Lu Tong said indifferently, "Moreover, this is an arrangement from the Medical Officer Institute."
Miao Liangfang expressed his doubt, "The Medical Officer Institute shouldn’t let a new Imperial Medical Officer like you follow along... Is there some mistake?"
Lu Tong paused for a moment, then shook her head, "I’m from Su Nan. Perhaps my going can be of help to them."
Upon hearing this, Du Changqing rolled his eyes dramatically, "Well, I’m from Shengjing, who have I helped? Besides," he continued, "it’s no good, my father told me before, countless people die during a great epidemic, it’s almost like going to your death. I think we should just send gifts to the Medical Officer Institute, how much silver will it take to get your name off the list?"
"Shopkeeper Du, I am a Medical Officer."
"So what of being a Medical Officer? Aren’t Medical Officers human? Should Medical Officers rush to their deaths?" Du Changqing was impatient, "Enough with the healer’s benevolent heart nonsense, if I, a layman, don’t have that benevolence, then you don’t need to pretend to be a saint. Hurry up and gather some silver to take to the Medical Officer Institute."
Lu Tong did not move an inch.
Miao Liangfang let out a sigh.
Ah Cheng cowered in the corner, daring not to make a sound, while Yin Zheng stood before the felt curtain, her eyes subtly reddening.
Du Changqing tugged at Lu Tong a couple of times without moving her, his temper rising, "Can’t I direct you anymore?" He flared up again, "When you first came to Renxin Medical Hall last year and proposed terms for doing business with me, why weren’t you so foolishly kind-hearted then? Playing the saint!"
Lu Tong shook off his hand and said, "I want to go to Su Nan."
The autumn wind was sharp and clear, and the leaves of the pear tree by the doorway rustled down, gathering and then dispersing again.
The back shop remained silent.
After a while, Du Changqing lowered his head and sat down in front of the seat in the back shop without a word, then asked grumpily, "You must go, no matter what?"
"Yes."
He fell silent.
So did the others.
At Renxin Medical Hall, no one had ever been able to stop Lu Tong from doing what she wanted to do. Whether it was the imperial examination in spring or going to the Imperial Medical Bureau, once she made up her mind, she would not change for anyone.
Nor would she stay for anyone.
After a while, Miao Liangfang began to speak, "I’ll write you prescriptions."
Like finally finding a backbone, Miao Liangfang prattled on, "I’ve never been to Su Nan, but I’ve seen people infected with the epidemic before. In Miao Family Village, there are all sorts of prescriptions for preventing epidemic diseases. I don’t know if you can use them, but I’ll write them all for you, just in case they come in handy?"
"Healers are also individuals of benevolence and love." He looked at Lu Tong and sighed, "If I were you, I’d also go to Su Nan."
Du Changqing felt an irritating ache in his teeth.
"Mollycoddling, I’ll go to the medical practice and ask what’s needed to bring to the epidemic area!" he said and stormed off.
Indeed, everyone knew full well that the roster from the Medical Officer Institute had already been finalized, with names written down in black and white; how could it be changed just by offering some silver? The news had just come too suddenly and the departure was too rushed, leaving everyone struggling to accept it.
Time was of the essence, so Ah Cheng and Du Changqing hurried off to the medical practice, while Miao Liangfang bent over the table and began to write the prescriptions from memory for Lu Tong.
Lu Tong lifted the felt curtain to go back to the courtyard to pack her clothes, with Yin Zheng following her.
Yin Zheng stood at the doorway, watching Lu Tong fold each garment neatly, and suddenly spoke up, "Miss, I’ll go with you."
Lu Tong turned around.
Yin Zheng stepped into the room, her voice choking, "I’m also from Su Nan, I can help you..."
She didn’t know what had happened, but before this, whether going to the Medical Officer Institute or visiting the Qi Family, it had always been within Shengjing.
But Su Nan was different.
Thousands of miles away and with the epidemic raging, she had never been separated from Lu Tong for such a long time; it brought her an unsettling fear that perhaps Lu Tong would not return this time.
Lu Tong looked at her and shook her head slightly.
"The Imperial Medical Officer group’s expedition is not something you can join," she said.
"I can secretly follow! I’ll follow you from a distance."
"It’s too dangerous, and I would have to worry about looking after you," Lu Tong said.
"Miss..."
Lu Tong walked up to her.
"Why must you return to Su Nan?" she said, "Having set out, you shouldn’t look back."