Chapter 546: Chapter 193: Store Anniversary
It was a hot summer day, and the sun was blazing down mercilessly.
There weren’t many pedestrians on West Street in the afternoon, but there was quite a commotion under the Li Zishu tree at the entrance of Renxin Medical Hall.
A pile of old and worn miscellany gathered at the entrance, where Du Changqing held a rough drawing, discussing with Yin Zheng where the new medicine cabinet should be placed as he fanned himself.
The cobbler next door had moved away from West Street, leaving their shop vacant.
Ever since Xinglin Hall closed its doors for good, West Street was left with only Renxin Medical Hall to fill its pharmaceutical needs. Miao Liangfang’s medical skills were much better than Zhou Ji, who formerly presided over Xinglin Hall. Furthermore, he was considerate of the commoners’ hardships, choosing inexpensive medicinal herbs, and because his treatments were effective and his fees reasonable, the number of patients visiting Renxin Medical Hall grew each month. Sometimes, when the crowd was too large, a long line would form at the entrance, making the small medical hall seem all the more cramped.
Fortunately, with the cobbler moving out, Du Changqing rented the neighboring shop as well to break through, and Renxin Medical Hall suddenly felt much more spacious.
Ah Cheng, carrying several tubes of Ginger Honey Drink, was approaching from a distance when he saw a carriage stop at the entrance of Renxin Medical Hall. As the carriage curtain was lifted, Ah Cheng looked closely and shouted, "Doctor Lu!"
Several people inside the medical hall turned their heads at the same time.
Lu Tong stepped down from the carriage.
Before she could even speak, a radiant figure swept past her, and Yin Zheng, laughing and jumping, embraced her, "Girl, why have you suddenly come back without telling us in advance?"
"Xiao Lu is back?" Miao Liangfang’s fan-waving hand paused and he hurriedly limped out from the back of the shop with his cane.
After Lu Tong got down from the carriage, the coachman also got off to help unload the things from the carriage.
Shopkeeper Du was stunned for a moment before he reacted, asking in surprise, "...Isn’t it a bit soon for your days off? Did the Medical Officer Institute give you leave?"
Lu Tong nodded vaguely.
So it was. Taking the design he had in his hands, Shopkeeper Du folded it neatly and tucked it into his robe, walking into the back of the shop while humming, "You sure know how to give people a surprise... Go inside and have some water first, look how hot it is!"
Lu Tong did as told and entered, followed by everyone else, except for Miao Liangfang whose gaze lingered on the luggage being unloaded from the carriage outside, a hint of confusion crossing his expression.
Inside the shop, Ah Cheng handed Lu Tong a tube of Sweet Syrup he had just bought. Sitting at the table in the back of the shop, which was much cooler than outside, the strong scent of medicine comforted the mind and soul.
Miao Liangfang leaned against the medicine cabinet, fanning her while saying, "Xiao Lu, you’ve brought more luggage this time than you did the last time you returned. Did the Medical Officer Institute grant you a leave of absence?"
Yin Zheng’s eyes lit up, "Girl, does this mean you will stay a few more days at the medical hall this time?"
After taking a sip of Sweet Syrup, the cold sugar water dispelled the summer heat. Lu Tong, lowering her head, said, "I will be staying at the medical hall for three months."
Everyone was taken aback.
Miao Liangfang stopped fanning for a moment and tentatively asked, "But this leave of absence..."
"It’s not a vacation, I’ve been suspended from duty."
The room fell abruptly silent.
After a moment, Du Changqing cleared his ears, asking Ah Cheng with confusion, "Did I hear that wrong? What did Doctor Lu just say?"
"I have been suspended from duty," Lu Tong emphasized again.
This time, it was clearly understood. Yin Zheng put down the bamboo tube in her hand, asking dumbfoundedly, "...Why?"
Lu Tong was silent for a moment before speaking in her usual calm tone, "I secretly looked at the medical prescriptions issued by the Medical Officer Institute to the Imperial Apothecary. My actions violated orders, so I was punished with a three-month suspension."
Du Changqing turned to look at Miao Liangfang, "Is there such a rule?"
Stroking his beard in thought, Miao Liangfang mused, "If memory serves... I think... there might indeed be such a rule."
"That’s not the point," Shopkeeper Du looked at Lu Tong irritatedly, "Why would you idly peek at those things, bored out of your mind?"
"I was just curious."
"What’s with all this curiosity..." He was about to ramble on but was interrupted by Ah Cheng, "Doctor Lu, will you return to the Medical Officer Institute after those three months? They only suspended you without any other penalties, right? I’ve heard that in the Imperial City, they would flog you for an offense; did they hit you?"
Lu Tong smiled wryly, "No, I’ve only been suspended."
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
After some thought, Yin Zheng said, "A suspension is just a suspension, it’s only about three months’ salary. We’ll have Shopkeeper Du make up for it later. Besides, even if you hadn’t come back, we were planning to send a message to the Medical Officer Institute in a few days to ask you back for a visit."
"Why?"
"In five days, it will be the fiftieth anniversary of Renxin Medical Hall. Shopkeeper Du has rented the adjacent shop to expand, and these days he’s been busy decorating for the occasion. Your return is well-timed, you’ve played an indispensable role in the medical hall’s success up to now, and since we’re celebrating, how could we do without one of the main contributors?"
Listening with a cold eye, Shopkeeper Du snorted twice, "What? Are you implying that Doctor Lu is the real boss around here?"
Yin Zheng, hands on her hips, retorted, "Without the girl, Shopkeeper Du’s medical hall might’ve only managed to throw a forty-nine-year anniversary celebration."