Chapter 55: Chapter 51 Ji Xun_2
Lu Tong didn’t speak.
Suddenly agitated, Du Changqing grasped Lu Tong’s wrist, "Doctor Lu, you must help me!"
Lu Tong looked down, her gaze falling on his hand. Du Changqing coughed lightly, retracting his hand sheepishly, and looked at her before speaking again, "Doctor Lu, do you have a way to help me?"
Lu Tong said, "I have a way," but before Du Changqing could smile, she continued, "But why should I help you?"
Du Changqing paused, replying almost reflexively, "As friends, of course, we should have loyalty!"
Lu Tong was silent.
The tiny oil lamp, like a solidified orb of light, held the atmosphere still. Yin Zheng and Ah Cheng cautiously kept quiet, and Du Changqing eyed the person across the table, a flicker of confusion crossing his gaze.
Of all the people he knew, Lu Tong was the strangest.
As Young Master Du, who had embraced an efete life for years, surrounded by companions who, like himself, only cared about indulgence with no understanding of worldly sufferings.
Lu Tong was different.
This young lady’s disposition was entirely unlike her frail appearance, always cold and calm. To say she was indifferent, yet she aimed to carry on her master’s will, preferring to be the resident doctor without charging for medicinal teas. To say she had a kind heart, yet her methods against Xinglin Hall were strategic and insidious; even a crafty individual like Bai Shouyi couldn’t gain advantage over her.
He gazed at Lu Tong, carefully choosing his words, "We have known each other for months, and have shared both joys and hardships. Are we not friends...?"
The last word "friends" was spoken with little confidence.
Lu Tong simply smiled without saying a word.
Still not giving up, he said, "If we can’t sell the finished medicines, this shop won’t last much longer, and once it closes, you as the resident doctor will be forced out onto the streets. Even if you find another position, where else will you find an employer who understands and cares like I do... Tell me, what do you want?"
Lu Tong said, "I need silver."
Jumping to his feet, Du Changqing exclaimed, "Didn’t I give you a hundred taels just a few days ago?"
Lu Tong, "It’s been used up."
Du Changqing immediately turned to look at Yin Zheng, who indifferently looked away, avoiding his gaze.
"Let’s talk frankly, Shopkeeper Du. You don’t want to be trampled on as a worthless Young Master who accomplishes nothing. I need money to establish myself in Shengjing. Since we’re both in a predicament, it stands to reason we should collaborate. I will continue to practice medicine at the Renxin Medical Hall, and we will split the profits from the medicines I produce and sell evenly."
Du Changqing, "Split the profits evenly?"
Truth be told, the demand wasn’t excessive since the finished medicines were made by Lu Tong, but for Young Master Du, who was currently strapped for cash, it was still somewhat difficult to swallow.
Ah Cheng quietly tugged at Du Changqing’s sleeve, murmuring a reminder with his swollen mouth, "Master, an even split is already very generous from Doctor Lu."
"I know," Du Changqing replied, not so pleasantly, and then turned back to Lu Tong, hesitating before he spoke, "You’re quick to put forward such terms, but if I agree, how will you get through the tough times? You’re a stranger in Shengjing, how will you make those rogues at the drug market relent? Don’t just talk big."
Lu Tong rose to her feet and said, "It’s simple."
Du Changqing looked at her with a mixture of belief and doubt.
Lu Tong had already gotten up and walked outside the shop.
Outside the Renxin Medical Hall, the Dong Family’s luxurious horse-drawn carriage was still parked. Along West Street, all the shops were looking this way. After all, since Old Master Du’s death, aside from Official Hu, it had been a long time since such a distinguished carriage came to seek medical advice.
The matron from the Dong Family was still waiting outside. Seeing Lu Tong emerge, she hurried forward with a smile, "Doctor Lu."
Lu Tong apologised with a smile, "Young Master Dong’s chronic illness isn’t completely cured yet, and I planned to prepare some medicines for him to nourish his body. Madam had you come to the medical hall to fetch the medicines, but now, I’m afraid, you’ve made a wasted trip."
The matron was taken aback and asked, "What do you mean by that?"
Lu Tong stepped aside, allowing the matron to see the mess inside the shop. She sighed, looking troubled, "Recently, the medical hall made a new remedy for nasal congestion that was very effective, somehow this alarmed the drug market, and both the boss and the staff were injured. For the time being, we can’t continue selling the finished medicines." She apologised to the matron, "Please explain to the Madam when you return home."
Hearing Lu Tong’s helpless explanation, and seeing Du Changqing’s bruised face as he walked out, the matron made some guesses and smiled back at Lu Tong, "Doctor Lu, why such words? None of this is your fault. You shouldn’t worry too much. Once I report back to Madam, it won’t be a big issue."