Chapter 547: Chapter 193: Store Anniversary_2
"Hey!"
"Alright, enough noise," Miao Liangfang raised his hand to stop their bickering, "Now that Xiao Lu has returned, just settle down here peacefully. It’s been tough manning the clinic alone; I could use the help. The back room needs to be tidied up. You’ll be staying longer this time, so let’s see what Xiao Lu is lacking and fill in the gaps over the next few days."
Yin Zheng clapped her hands together, "That makes sense. I’ll go tidy up the room for the young lady first. Miss," she lifted the felt curtain, instructing Lu Tong, "You’ve just arrived, rest here in the shop for now, and I’ll call you in once the bed is made."
Lu Tong nodded.
Du Changqing asked a few more questions, but seeing that Lu Tong wasn’t in high spirits, he didn’t press further and went next door with Ah Cheng to clean up—the cobbler’s shop that had just been vacated still needed setting up with medicine cabinets and chairs.
Lu Tong sat at the table, slowly sipping the sweet syrup in her hand. There were no patients consulting in the clinic at that moment. Miao Liangfang walked towards the chair by the medicine cabinet but suddenly turned back, limping to sit opposite Lu Tong.
"Xiao Lu," he looked at Lu Tong and lowered his voice, "Tell me honestly, was your suspension related to me?"
Lu Tong paused.
Miao Liangfang stared at her tensely.
He always felt something was off.
Lu Tong was always cautious and careful, not one to act on impulse. There was no reason for her to secretly view the Imperial Apothecary’s medicine list without cause. There must be a hidden story.
Du Changqing and Yin Zheng didn’t ask because they knew that even if they did, Lu Tong wouldn’t go into details; she seldom spoke of her own affairs.
But could occurrences within the Imperial City really be something a small clinic on West Street could inquire about casually?
The Medical Officer Institute’s Envoy was Cui Min, and the one who had Lu Tong suspended for three months was also Cui Min...
This was all he could think of.
The bamboo cup filled with crushed ice and sweet syrup grew cold in her palm. Lu Tong said, "It has nothing to do with Mr. Miao."
"Xiao Lu, don’t lie to me."
"It’s true."
She smiled, "I merely made a small, unintentional error, hence my three-month suspension. Mr. Miao knows well that if I had committed a truly unforgivable crime, being a commoner, it wouldn’t have ended with just a suspension."
Miao Liangfang was at a loss for words.
Her statement was indeed true.
"Right now, the Medical Officer Institute is swamped with work and short on staff. Mr. Miao needn’t worry; I’m just staying temporarily. Who knows, they might call me back even before the three months are up."
"Nonsense," Miao Liangfang laughed, his earlier concerns somewhat dispelled, "Those people are too proud; how could they possibly lower themselves to ask you back?"
Lu Tong said nothing and took another sip of the sweet syrup before her.
She had caused such a scene at the Medical Officer Institute, and whether or not anyone believed it, she had poked at the most hidden secret in Cui Min’s heart.
If it had been any other time, Cui Min would surely not have let her off easily.
Yet it was precisely now.
Qi Yutai had only recently recovered from madness, and Cui Min himself was not sure whether Qi Yutai would relapse or if the previous prescriptions would still work if he did.
If they didn’t work, whom could he turn to clean up this mess?
Ji Xun was noble-born and extraordinarily talented. Cui Min felt both inferior and proud in his presence and would never stoop to Ji Xun, thus he could only exploit a commoner like himself.
Only amongst commoners like himself could he experience a strong sense of superiority and control.
As an unexpected contingency, Cui Min would never easily dismiss himself. Even after three months, he dared not banish her from the Medical Officer Institute.
A mediocre who had ascended to such a high position through scheming, no matter how nonchalant he appeared, was inherently insecure and lacked a real foundation.
Birds fly high for the bait; fish dive deep for the lure.
Yet they covet vain glory...
She put down the bamboo cup, "Has the sweet syrup stand up front changed hands?"
"Yes," Miao Liangfang was taken aback, "How did you know?"
Lu Tong lowered her gaze, looking at the clear syrup in the bamboo cup and smiled faintly.
"It’s sweeter than before."
...
Bamboo swayed, casting shadows, at sunset.
Ji Xun returned to the Medical Officer Institute as evening approached.
At this time, the medical officers had gone for their dinner, leaving the small grove completely empty.
Ji Xun entered the pharmacy, picking up a metal box from the bookshelf.
Though called a box, it was more like a small chest, not very large, with its lid open, containing five or six damaged books.
He reached out, gathered the carefully arranged medical books from the table, and placed them inside the box, then he shut the lid and locked it with a small padlock. Behind him, the pharmacy attendant Zhu Ling sat on a small stool, shaking her head in disbelief.
To think their Young Master, a man of good character and kindness—someone whom anyone would call a decent person—could be so unorthodox in his approach to dealing with others.