Chapter 254: Chapter 108: Running Into Him Again_2
Lu Tong was taken aback.
Du Changqing was completely confused, "The spring exam? What spring exam?"
The nearby shop owners also craned their necks.
Granny Wang smiled a little, and as if fearing the onlookers might not understand, she explained slowly and methodically.
"Doctor Lu asked our young master to seek a favor from the medical community, allowing him to participate in this year’s spring exam. Our young master, who is simple-minded and especially kind-hearted, agreed right away."
"But when Lady Dong learned of this, she said it wasn’t proper. The young master doesn’t understand these things; the medical community has its own candidates to recommend each year. If we, as the Minister of Imperial Treasury, were to intervene rashly and word got out, wouldn’t people say we were abusing our power?"
"Doctor Lu," Granny Wang sighed, her tone full of difficulty, "You also know about this year’s tribute exam incident. At this juncture, who would dare to help others in private? Therefore, the mistress sent this old servant here to explain to Doctor Lu, lest you wait in vain."
She spoke sincerely and with extra care, and the people around gradually began to understand.
Official Hu looked at Lu Tong with puzzlement, "Doctor Lu, you want to take the Imperial Medical Bureau’s spring exam?"
Each year in the Imperial Medical Bureau’s spring exam, it’s one thing for the students of the Bureau to participate, but among the senior doctors recommended by the medical community, there have only been a few who managed to become medical officers through the spring exam in recent years.
Lu Tong stood at the entrance of her clinic, her gaze sweeping over the mess in front of the clinic’s door.
The group of women had come in a fierce manner, trampling the already shabby snow lion at the door into a complete mess, leaving only two dark, buried dates in the snow indistinguishable in their original form.
Lu Tong looked up, her voice calm, "I see. I understand now."
The reason she initially didn’t ask Lady Dong for help and instead turned to Dong Lin was that Lady Dong was too shrewd, and if she, out of the blue, mentioned wanting to take the spring exam, Lady Dong’s caution might cause complications.
But she hadn’t expected Dong Lin to be discovered by Lady Dong.
Lu Tong had considered the displeasure of Lady Dong upon finding out about this matter, but she hadn’t anticipated Lady Dong would be so ruthless as to instigate Missus Wang to come and cause a scene in front of the clinic.
Even considering Pei Yunmeng’s sake, it shouldn’t be...
After all, Lady Dong had always believed she had been clandestinely involved with Pei Yunmeng.
Now, with such an outright confrontation, it was unclear what she intended.
Lost in thought, Lu Tong’s indifferent demeanor seemed provocative to Missus Wang.
Missus Wang’s face began to look slightly unpleasant.
After all, Lady Dong had a quarrel with Dong Lin the day before, almost fainting from anger due to the rebellious act of her usually obedient son, and then had taken to bed. Yet here Lu Tong stood, still so composed—was it because she was convinced that their young master would surely fight with his family over her?
Missus Wang’s lips curled into a smirk, her tone somewhat mocking.
"Having high aspirations is a good thing for Doctor Lu, but sometimes you shouldn’t just look up at the sky. You also need to watch where you’re stepping. Most who pass the spring exam are students from the Imperial Medical Bureau. Why bother joining in the commotion, Doctor Lu?"
Before Lu Tong could respond, Du Changqing at her side frowned, "What do you mean by that?"
Granny Wang replied with a grin that was more sly than pleasant, "I mean that people should do what suits them and recognize their own status."
Having already been patient for a long time, Du Changqing blew up upon hearing this, immediately stepping forward and shouting, "Who should recognize their status?" but was stopped by Yin Zheng.
Ignoring the hopping-mad Du Changqing, Granny Wang only looked at Lu Tong and said with a laugh, "Speaking of which, I shouldn’t be too nosy, but Miss Lu would do well not to seek out our young master in private anymore. Miss Lu, having lost your parents young, you’re a bit lacking in understanding some rules. There’s a difference between men and women, and if word spread, it wouldn’t be good for a young lady’s reputation."
Yin Zheng’s expression changed instantly at these words.
The implication was clear, that Lu Tong, who lacked parental guidance, shamelessly threw herself at Dong Lin. With so many people at the clinic entrance today, and society being extremely critical of women, coupled with Lu Tong working openly as a doctor, this smear would have a substantial impact on how the neighbors on West Street and others viewed Lu Tong in the future.
Granny Wang was deliberately tarnishing her reputation!
Lu Tong looked coldly at the person before her.
She actually didn’t care about things like reputation and honor.
But they had mentioned her deceased parents...
She took a step forward, ready to retaliate, when suddenly a voice came from the crowd, "Young Master Dong? Who is that? Have I seen him?"
Widow Sun, holding a handful of sunflower seeds, squeezed in among the crowd, cracking seeds with relish.
Sister Song eagerly answered, "He’s the son of the Minister of Imperial Treasury’s household; I pointed him out to you last time he was here at the clinic, not very tall, a bit plump, and quite good-natured."