Lu Yang's words seemed to lack any basis, leaving Du Yiyi utterly bewildered.
Su Xiaoqi, however, immediately caught the underlying implication.
Or rather, this was also her impression of Shen Yun.
From the very beginning, she had known what kind of person Shen Yun was.
From the moment she appeared, her sole intention was to leave him.
It was only because her spatial dimension required his use that she reluctantly stayed by his side for a while.
Later, when he truly entered the capital, it would likely be the day of her departure.
Because from that point on, Shen Yun would no longer be the Shen Yun of old.
Su Xiaoqi knew these things, but she was curious how Lu Yang came to know them.
Yet, she couldn't ask, as that would be tantamount to admitting her own intentions.
She smiled and agreed.
Lu Yang seemed to feel that having taken her things, it would be somewhat improper not to give her something in return.
He stood up, called her back, and took out a very thick volume from behind the counter, handing it to her.
"You might find this book useful."
Su Xiaoqi accepted it with both hands and, after a brief flip through, was overjoyed.
It was a handwritten record of medical practice.
It meticulously detailed the cases encountered, the pulse conditions and symptoms of each, as well as the medications used and their prescriptions.
In essence, it was an extremely valuable clinical record manual.
Su Xiaoqi, recalling what Du Yiyi had told her previously, understood that this must have been left behind by Lu Yang during his earlier medical practice.
The records were complete, the prescriptions were extremely accurate, and the physician possessed a benevolent heart.
She was immediately filled with respect. She no longer viewed the old man before her as eccentric and deliberately making things difficult for her.
"Thank you, Elder Lu, for your generous gift." Su Xiaoqi bowed sincerely to express her gratitude, and silently vowed to herself that in the future, she would also prepare something for Elder Lu whenever she found anything delicious or fun.
Although they had no formal master-disciple relationship, if she learned the "Miscellaneous Illnesses" from before and also studied the medical texts recorded by Lu Yang, they would indeed have the substance of a master-disciple bond.
She would treat him as an elder to be filial to.
Lu Yang saw through Su Xiaoqi's clear and bright eyes, looking directly into her heart.
This young woman of her age was a good one; she would surely be able to learn and propagate his medical skills.
He had finally found the person he had been waiting for.
He had lived in seclusion here for several years, watching the coming and going crowds daily, yet none among them was the person he sought.
Until her arrival.
From the moment she spoke, she wanted to buy the medical book he had deliberately placed there.
At that time, he had already paid special attention to her.
He had people inquire about her and discovered that she was the one who, along with the prefect's youngest daughter, had provided grain seeds to the people of Tongchuan County for free not long ago.
He immediately concluded that she must be someone who cared for the common people.
It is said that a physician should have a benevolent heart.
As a medical practitioner, if one lacks a benevolent heart, they will bring harm to the populace; his medical skills would naturally not be passed on to such a person.
Therefore, when he saw Su Xiaoqi return a second time, Lu Yang was pleased.
She not only showed compassion but was also persistent in her own path and not easily discouraged.
All of this fit his requirements for a successor to his medical arts.
Coupled with seeing someone who bore a striking resemblance to a departed friend.
Lu Yang felt he had finally found the person he had been waiting for.
That was why, after Su Xiaoqi took the "Miscellaneous Illnesses" from the bookshelf, he had quietly stopped Shen Yun and voluntarily given him the other half of "Miscellaneous Illnesses."
It was considered a favor to him.
However, having only met twice was not enough for him to impart his entire medical knowledge.
But such thoughts were discarded the moment he saw Su Xiaoqi proactively visit with gifts.
A person who cared for the common people, possessed a benevolent heart, and knew gratitude.
She would surely use his medical skills well and be his most qualified successor.
Indeed, due to Lu Yang's lack of overt promises, Su Xiaoqi did not presume to call him master, but she performed the禮 of a junior to a senior.
This fully expressed her respect and admiration for Lu Yang.
"Old sir, I will be leaving the prefectural city and returning to Mianzhou City in the next few days. I will visit you again when I have time to come to the prefectural city," Su Xiaoqi informed Lu Yang of her whereabouts before parting, so he wouldn't worry.
Although perhaps he wouldn't take her to heart at all.
However, from this moment on, Su Xiaoqi had an additional person she needed to be filial and respectful towards.
As they walked out of the library, Du Yiyi looked at Su Xiaoqi with adoration, constantly giving her a thumbs-up.
"Sister Xiaoqi, you are amazing. This is Elder Lu.
He usually doesn't even give my parents face."
In Du Yiyi's memory, Lu Yang had only met her parents twice.
Both times, her mother had been suffering from severe dizziness and pain, and no other doctors could help.
Her father had then asked her eldest brother to present his visiting card to invite Lu Yang.
Lu Yang did go, but his attitude towards her father was certainly not very good; when no one else was around, he was even somewhat gruff.
Of course, he meant no harm, but his tone was simply unpleasant.
This showed a lack of respect.
From then on, Du Yiyi was very curious as to whom such an old man like Lu Yang would speak kindly to.
She never expected it to be Sister Xiaoqi.
"I'm not that amazing; it's just the elder's fondness," Su Xiaoqi modestly replied, not taking credit.
She had already figured out Lu Yang's intentions.
He was passing on his skills, just unwilling to take the conventional path.
Or perhaps he simply didn't want anyone to know about their relationship.
Regardless, she respected his wishes.
As the two walked, they arrived at Chen Jin Ji, located in Erbing Alley.
The business inside was very popular, with the shopkeeper and his staff too busy to manage.
Because this establishment was large, Su Xiaoqi suggested opening two entrances.
One to serve female customers, and the other to serve male customers.
The two entrances were separated by bead curtains, and the pastries displayed were identical.
Only the staff were separated by gender.
The purpose of this arrangement was to comply with the gender segregation prevalent in this era.
The effect now appeared to be excellent.
Female customers could browse the pastry shop with complete freedom.
They could also sit at the small tables in the back to eat and rest.
Du Yiyi looked at the shop and then at Su Xiaoqi, saying, "The business is so good, why don't we open another one?"
Su Xiaoqi did not commit to this statement. Indeed, in the vast prefectural city, with only one Chen Jin Ji, the supply was far from sufficient.
It was heard that because their shop's business was so booming, even the shops imitating them had garnered considerable business.
However, the pastries they made were simply not tasty, and after a brief period of popularity, they quickly declined.
Su Xiaoqi suggested to Du Yiyi that this place serve as the main branch.
Conveniently, there was a large courtyard behind this shop, which could be converted into a pastry processing workshop.
From then on, no matter how many Chen Jin Ji branches she opened in the city, they could all receive their supply from here.
In any case, the supply was limited daily, and if they sold out, customers would have to come early the next day.
Pastries that could not be kept overnight would absolutely not be sold the next day.
Naturally, with food safety and hygiene guaranteed, service would still need to be done properly.
"To prevent people from making a wasted trip, we can issue reservation cards to those who couldn't buy pastries the previous day.
When they come the next day, they won't have to queue and can directly use a fast lane to collect their pre-packaged pastries."
"That sounds convenient, but what if the person who bought the pastries has something urgent to do and can't come to collect them?" Influenced by Su Xiaoqi, Du Yiyi had also developed some business acumen and a broader perspective when considering issues.
At this point, Su Xiaoqi smiled.
"This brings us to the concept of a membership system."
This novel phrase instantly bewildered Du Yiyi.
She opened her wide eyes, waiting for Su Xiaoqi to explain it to her.