Chapter 17: Chapter 16: Advancing by Retreating_1
All was quiet. Yin Zheng was startled by Official Hu’s sudden outburst and instinctively looked towards Lu Tong in front of the medicine cabinet.
Lu Tong paused in the midst of arranging the herbal tea, her expression serene.
The middle-aged man suddenly turned furious, his goatee bristling with anger. He pointed a finger at Du Changqing and cursed, "Du Changqing, the Renxin Medical Hall is your father’s legacy left to you. Even if the medical hall is not doing well and the income is meager, it is what your father toiled over. How can you let it be ruined like this?"
Du Changqing responded blankly, "How have I ruined it?"
"You bring in a young girl to act as the Resident Doctor. Do you want your father to be unable to rest even in Hell?"
"Why can’t I bring in a young girl to be the Doctor?" Du Changqing was puzzled, "If the medical hall has a beautiful Resident Doctor, my father would be too proud to care. Even if he cannot rest in Hell, it would be out of joy."
"You!" Official Hu became furious and directly targeted Lu Tong. "A young lady, instead of learning proper manners, you pretend to be a Resident Doctor to deceive people. Leave at once—don’t think that just because Changqing is young and naive he’ll fall for your tricks." Then he said to Du Changqing, "Your father entrusted me to look after you. I cannot stand by and watch you sink deeper into trouble!"
After his rambling speech, everyone in the room was dumbstruck.
Lu Tong immediately understood.
It turned out that Official Hu mistook her for a deceitful swindler.
After a moment of silence, Du Changqing coughed lightly and awkwardly spoke, "Uncle, Doctor Lu is not some swindler. She truly is the Resident Doctor."
"Have you ever seen such a young Resident Doctor?" Official Hu exclaimed in distress, "Changqing, by having her sit in the medical hall, what will others think of you? They will only say that your medical hall deceives people without sincerity, causing chaos and ruin. What kind of image is that! Let me tell you..."
A cup of tea was placed on the table in front of Official Hu.
Official Hu was startled.
Lu Tong stood up and spoke to Official Hu in a calm voice, "Elder sir, you have swelling and inflammation in your mouth, the heat and pain are like burning, you should avoid frustration and heat. Even if you are upset, you might as well drink this warm tea first to disperse the turbidity and toxins, to calm your mind and reduce the fire."
Official Hu replied subconsciously, "Thank you." He picked up the tea and took a sip, and then it dawned on him. He glared at Lu Tong, "How did you know I have a mouth sore?"
Lu Tong smiled and remained silent.
Du Changqing hurriedly pushed Ah Cheng aside and said with a sheepish expression, "Uncle, I’ve told you, this Doctor Lu really knows how to treat illnesses, she’s not a swindler. That Nasal Congestion Herbal Tea you are using was personally made by Doctor Lu. Isn’t that right, Ah Cheng?"
Ah Cheng nodded repeatedly.
Now, Official Hu was truly surprised. He scrutinized Lu Tong from head to toe, still with a hint of doubt, "Are you really a Doctor?"
Lu Tong nodded affirmatively.
"Impossible," Official Hu pondered, "That genius Medical Officer at the Hanlin Medical Institute didn’t start practicing medicine until he came of age either. You are just a young girl, certainly not someone who has picked up a trick or two and come out to fool people, right? Moreover, when it comes to women practicing medicine, they usually handle tasks like midwifery and gynecology, not sitting in a medical hall like an old healer..." He looked at Du Changqing, "Changqing, even the previous Zhou Ji at Renxin Medical Hall began as a Resident Doctor only after he reached the age of maturity!"
Anyone would find it hard to trust a young girl barely in her teens over an old Doctor with years of medical practice.
Upon hearing this, Lu Tong did not seem to mind and simply said, "Whether the elder believes me or not is not important, as I will soon be leaving Shengjing."
At these words, both Du Changqing and Yin Zheng were shocked.
Official Hu was even more astonished, "What?"
Lu Tong spoke calmly and deliberately, "After my mentor, a renowned doctor, passed away, I came to Shengjing alone, hoping to heal the world and continue his legacy. But people tend to judge by appearance and do not trust me to practice medicine at the hall. Since I cannot gain people’s trust, nor can I bring the medical hall back to life, naturally I have no face to stay here any longer."
She walked over to the medicine cabinet, took out several packs of herbal tea from the drawers, and placed them in front of Official Hu.
"I know you’ve come for the herbal tea today, Official Hu, so I made a few extra packs. Here are ten packs in total; use them sparingly, and they can last two months," Lu Tong said. "As the willows flourish in the coming days, elder, please remember to go out less."
Her tone was even, her demeanor humble, showing no hint of annoyance. Inexplicably, she made Official Hu feel a twinge of guilt. Looking at the delicate young girl, slender and fragile like a feather falling in the chill wind, Official Hu felt a surge of chivalrous spirit. Forgetting his original intentions, he blurted out, "Nonsense! Who says you can’t be trusted?"
Yin Zheng secretly rolled her eyes.
Official Hu sighed, "A young girl like you bravely heading to Shangjing alone shows courage. Continuing your master’s will demonstrate righteousness. Willing to heal the sick and relieve people’s sufferings shows virtue. Someone with such sentiment, righteousness, virtue, and courage—how can they not be trusted? Just for this spirit alone, you stand out in this world!"
This time, even Du Changqing couldn’t help but roll his eyes.
Official Hu then looked at Lu Tong with some hesitation in his voice, "Doctor Lu, if you really are going, what about the herbal tea..."
"The herbal tea will no longer be made," Lu Tong said. "I won’t sell the recipe either."
"That can’t be!" Official Hu jumped up, truly alarmed now, saying, "That herbal tea has greatly improved my nasal congestion. These past few days, I’ve even dared to go to the river bank, whereas previously, the poplar fluff there would have turned my nose into a river. Doctor Lu, you must continue to sell the tea, and you must not leave Shengjing!"
Lu Tong remained silent.
Du Changqing timely interjected, sighing deeply, "It’s a pity that our medical institute has no fame, and Doctor Lu, being so beautiful, fails to convince anyone that the tea we sell is effective. If only someone with a good reputation and many noble friends would be willing to bring us customers. Alas, all I have are unreliable friends, and my own reputation is tarnished..."
Official Hu was suddenly taken aback.
Du Changqing continued persuasively, "Speaking of which, the Peach Blossom Festival is just a few days away..."
Official Hu sprang to his feet, grabbed the herbal tea on the table, and marched out, saying, "I understand, rest assured. Doctor Lu, give me ten days, and within ten days, your Nasal Congestion Herbal Tea will become renowned throughout Shengjing!"
He hurried away, and Du Changqing watched his retreating figure, shaking his head, "This old pedant is so impetuous, no wonder he gets mouth sores."
Lu Tong returned to her seat in front of the medicine cabinet. Ah Cheng looked puzzled at the small tower-like jars on the wooden table and asked, "Doctor Lu, isn’t there still so much of the Nasal Congestion Herbal Tea? Why did you just deceive Official Hu into thinking there are only ten packs left?"
Du Changqing kicked at his backside and scolded, "Idiot, without saying that, would the old pedant have panicked?"
He snorted, "Don’t think he’s so kind-hearted to help; he’s just afraid of running out of tea to drink. But Doctor Lu," he looked at Lu Tong, winking and nudging, "you’re not too shabby yourself. With just a few words, you drew the old man into the fray."
"Miss," Yin Zheng said, somewhat worried, "will that Official Hu really bring customers for the herbal tea?"
Lu Tong smiled faintly, "He will."
In two days, it would be the Peach Blossom Festival in Shengjing.
Someone like Official Hu, a refined scholar, would certainly stroll leisurely, appreciating the scenery and calling for wine under the marquees. In the midst of his drunken revelry among friends, mentioning the Nasal Congestion Herbal Tea would inevitably arouse curiosity.
Sometimes, a literati’s words are more effective than any beautiful sign.
"Just wait," she said softly. "We’ll know in two days."