Chapter 95: Chapter 63: Cousin Visits_1
Lu Tong had just returned to West Street from the noodle shop when he saw the lamps burning bright inside Renxin Medical Hall from a distance.
Yin Zheng muttered, "It’s so late already; why hasn’t Shopkeeper Du gone home? Usually, he would have closed the shop by now."
Du Changqing was a lazy man. When Lu Tong first arrived at the medical hall, Du Changqing pretended to be diligent for a few days. But later on, he would only show up after daybreak and leave before dusk. This made some newcomers mistakenly think that Lu Tong was the owner of the medical hall, while Du Changqing was an assistant who would eventually be sold off.
Lu Tong and Yin Zheng walked over and, as they came closer, saw several people standing at the entrance of Renxin Medical Hall, appearing to be talking.
Lu Tong greeted, "Shopkeeper Du," and as Du Changqing, who was in the middle of a conversation, turned around and saw him, his eyes lit up immediately, as if seeing a lifesaver, and he came forward, "Doctor Lu, you’re finally back!"
Before Lu Tong could speak, he heard an unfamiliar voice coming from beside Du Changqing, "Cousin, this is...?"
Lu Tong lifted his eyes to look.
There were two young women in the shop, one dressed as a maid and the other delicate and lovely, wearing an apricot-yellow crossed-collar double-woven light gauze skirt, half hiding behind Du Changqing with a mix of timidity and curiosity in her gaze.
Du Changqing coughed lightly, "This is our Resident Doctor of the medical hall, Doctor Lu. Doctor Lu," he turned to Lu Tong and said, "this is my cousin, Xia Rongrong."
Lu Tong nodded slightly, and Xia Rongrong hurriedly returned the gesture.
Du Changqing gestured for Lu Tong and Yin Zheng to step inside, moving far enough so Xia Rongrong couldn’t hear them, and then he whispered, "That is... Doctor Lu, my cousin and her maid might need to live with you for some time."
Lu Tong asked, "Why?"
"She has no other family in Shengjing apart from me, and as a man, I can’t possibly have her stay in my house without being married - it wouldn’t sound right."
Yin Zheng said, "Since she is Shopkeeper Du’s fiancée, living together would naturally be proper. Why worry unnecessarily, Shopkeeper Du?"
"Who says she’s my fiancée!" Du Changqing nearly jumped up, his voice a bit too loud, drawing Xia Rongrong’s gaze their way.
Du Changqing flashed her a reassuring smile, then turned back and lowered his voice, "She’s the niece of my maternal aunt. These distant relatives are too confusing to keep track of. After my mother passed, only this family remained in contact."
"Her family is poor. In the past, she’d visit Shengjing every few years, and I could give her a little spending money. Now that her old man is gone, I can hardly cover my own expenses, and there’s not much I can give. She’s planning to stay in Shengjing for a few days before returning home, and I thought it’d be convenient since you’re both women."
Yin Zheng, coming to a realization, said, "Looking for a handout, is she?"
"Why speak so unkindly?" Du Changqing was displeased. "Who doesn’t have a few poor relatives? Besides, seeing them only once every few years isn’t going to cost me an arm and a leg."
Yin Zheng let out a sigh, "Shopkeeper Du, it’s good to be kind-hearted, but I think your cousin might have more in mind than just a little financial help."
"Look at what you’re suggesting," Du Changqing dismissed the idea, "If it’s not for silver, could she possibly be after this young master’s person? Don’t imagine people in such a vile way!"
Yin Zheng: "..."
Lu Tong interrupted their dispute, "It’s fine for Miss Xia to stay here. There are three empty rooms in the back courtyard, and the one furthest out is still available. Let Miss Xia tidy it up and settle in."
Du Changqing’s face broke into a smile, "Doctor Lu, I knew you would understand the big picture."
He scurried to the front of the shop to give his cousin, Xia Rongrong, detailed instructions. Yin Zheng could only shake her head and began to clear out the clutter from the outer room, making space for the lady and her maid.
After giving his instructions, Du Changqing left, as if he couldn’t bear to stay a moment longer. Xia Rongrong and her maid busied themselves laying out clean bedding, and Lu Tong, not one for warm interactions, made no move to start a conversation with Xia Rongrong.
Lu Tong, as usual, sorted out the medicinal herbs needed for tomorrow and then returned to her own room.
The night outside the window was deep, and a graceful crescent moon hung on the branches, emitting a faint, pale, cold light.
Lu Tong took a seat at the desk, pulled out paper and ink from the drawer.
Yin Zheng was boiling water in the kitchen, Lu Tong sat down at her desk, and flipping over a sheet of xuan paper, she dipped her brush in ink.
Today she had met Fan Zhenglian, Wang Chunchi, Liu Zixian, and Liu Zide; the only regret was not having seen her uncle Liu Kun.
But... she had also received some unexpected news.