Chapter 177: Chapter 87 Mid-Autumn_1
The next day, the 15th of the eighth lunar month, mid-autumn in Shengjing.
Early in the morning, the fragrance of osmanthus wine wafted through West Street.
Du Changqing and Ah Cheng arrived earlier than usual. Du Changqing wore a robe of apricot-yellow with a round collar and an embroidered sash, while Ah Cheng was clad in a tender yellow short garment with a round collar. Both had deliberately put on new autumn clothes and stood under the plum tree at the entrance, looking like two vibrant osmanthus branches in full bloom.
Lu Tong and Yin Zheng came out of the shop. Du Changqing first hesitated to comment on Yin Zheng’s lilac-colored skirt with pick-up stitches; however, when Lu Rou emerged afterward, his gaze lingered on her half-worn deep blue cotton skirt and didn’t move away.
After a moment, he touched his face and pointed at Lu Tong with a pained expression, "Doctor Lu, is it that I haven’t given you your month allowance, or what? Why must you always wear such shabby clothes? Others will see and think our clinic is financially struggling, about to close down tomorrow."
Lu Tong was unmoved.
Most of the time, she stayed inside the shop, and unlike Du Changqing, she wasn’t fussy about her attire. As long as her clothes were wearable, they were fine.
Yin Zheng, hands on hips, retorted, "What’s so shabby about these clothes? They aren’t torn or damaged. The densely woven ’Hearts United’ skirts from Mingyu Pavilion might not be shabby, costing twenty silver a piece, but will Shopkeeper Du pay for them?"
"Don’t try to provoke me," Du Changqing snorted. "Normally you dress like this fine, but we’re going out to eat today. Dressing so shabbily, I’m worried the restaurant won’t even let you in."
Lu Tong: "Going out to eat?"
Ah Cheng said cheerfully, "The boss said that since today is the fifteenth and Doctor Lu has been in Shengjing for half a year, he’s booked a table for a noon banquet at Renhe Restaurant by Xinmen Bridge, to treat our clinic staff."
Lu Tong looked at Du Changqing, who cleared his throat lightly, "Since you two joined the clinic, it has been revitalized as if an old tree has greeted spring. As the shopkeeper, I’m truly gratified."
"I’m not one to be ungrateful. Today, I will take you out to broaden your horizons so you can’t accuse me of being stingy," he quipped.
Shengjing was replete with restaurants and taverns; many wealthy families were especially keen on enjoying the Mid-Autumn moonlight and gambling on the jade rabbit. Around this time, these places did brisk business. For the usually thrifty Du Changqing to splurge this time showed real consideration.
A thought struck Lu Tong, who suddenly asked, "If that’s the case, why don’t we go to Fengle Building?"
Fengle Building was where her sister, Lu Rou, had once encountered the people from the Grand Preceptor’s Mansion.
Du Changqing was taken aback and faced Lu Tong’s genuinely puzzled look, turning his head away irritably, "How wishful thinking, that place costs nearly a hundred silver per seat. If my father were still alive, maybe I could take you there to splurge. Forget it now."
Lu Tong showed a look of disappointment.
Seeing this, Du Changqing briskly laughed through his annoyance, "I never realized Doctor Lu was so vain. Besides, even if I were willing to spend the silver, I couldn’t secure a reservation. Today is Mid-Autumn, all the decent restaurants have been booked full by those officials and the wealthy. I can take you to Renhe Restaurant only because the owner owes me a favour from the past and reserved us a table."
Lu Tong contemplated and then replied, "Thank you for that. However, Yin Zheng and I need to deliver some medicine first. After that’s done, we’ll return to the clinic to change clothes."
"Deliver medicine?" he frowned, "What medicine are we delivering?"
Yin Zheng lifted the medicine chest onto the table, "Prince Wen’s Mansion has ordered several jars of ’Xianxian.’ It should have been delivered a few days ago, but the mansion said that on the fifteenth, the Princess Consort is hosting a ladies’ banquet to celebrate the festival. My Lady thought that delivering the medicine today when more guests are present could attract additional clients, so she specifically chose today."
When Lu Tong initially visited Fan Mansion to diagnose and deliver medicine to Zhao Feiyan, Zhao rapidly slimmed down over a few months, stealing the show at the summer viewing party. Some ladies inquired about her secret, and Zhao Feiyan didn’t want to reveal that Lu Tong had assisted her with acupuncture, so she credited all her success to the ’Xianxian’ treatment.
Consequently, the clinic received many appointment cards from noble and official households.
These families, proud of their status, often sent word for Lu Tong to make house calls to deliver medicine, and she complied every time.
But her reason for choosing to deliver the medicine today wasn’t to attract clients as Yin Zheng claimed, but rather due to the recent events—first the poisoning of Liu Kun and then the pawn shop soldiers conducting a nocturnal search. It was only today that she found herself with some free time.
Du Changqing, however, believed Yin Zheng’s offhand fabrication and looked at Lu Tong with a newfound appreciation.
"Doctor Lu, you always have the clinic’s interests at heart. The boss is deeply moved. With a Resident Doctor like you, it’s only a matter of time before our clinic celebrates next year’s Mid-Autumn at Yuxian Tower," he stated.