Denghuaxiao

Chapter 244 Painting Boat
Spring comes early in Shengjing.

The wine shops on the main street of West Street have hung up spring banners early. Only a little wax is left on the plum trees, but the new willows beside Luoyue Bridge are beginning to sprout.

During this festive New Year, Lu Tong returned to Renxin Medical Clinic.

After Miao Liangfang asked someone to inquire about the news in the medical officer's courtyard, he and Du Changqing prepared early in the clinic. They also went to Renhe Store to buy a table of good wine and food and moved them to the courtyard. As soon as Lu Tong returned to the door of the clinic, Yin Zheng hugged him and refused to let go.

"Miss," Yin Zheng said, "Didn't you say you would wait until the next month to return to the academy? Why did you come back early?"

The medical officers who went to southern Jiangsu had made great contributions in treating the epidemic. After returning to the imperial city, they would be rewarded. There were also some documents on treating the epidemic that needed to be sorted out, so they were very busy for a while.

"I asked the doctor for leave."

Du Changqing stood aside and looked at her carefully. After not seeing her for several months, Du Changqing still looked the same as before, with bright clothes and a lazy expression, but he looked more confident than before, more like a young boss with a bright future.

He grabbed a handful of walnuts and gave half to Lu Tong. He said to everyone, "Look, what did I say? She must have lost weight again when she came back! When I left the clinic, I ate and drank well. After working as a medical officer for a year or so, she has become so thin. This shows a truth."

Yin Zheng was curious: "What's the reason?"

"People shouldn't work!" Du Changqing cracked a walnut in one gulp. "If you ask me, don't be a medical officer. Isn't it better to be a human being in my office than to work like a slave in the Medical Officers' Office? I don't see you getting much salary."

Ah Cheng said in a low voice: "Boss, the Medical Officers' Hospital is better than our clinic."

Du Changqing rolled his eyes.

Miao Liangfang pretended to hit him with his cane while helping Lu Tong unload the medical kit. He laughed and said, "Glad you're back. You came back in a hurry and the family didn't have time to cook. Xiao Du specially ordered a banquet for you and even had someone kill a one-year-old hen to make soup..."

Yin Zheng heard this and said, "Why stew chicken soup? This isn't a postpartum maternity cat confinement."

"Aren't you trying to replenish Doctor Lu's body?" Du Changqing was dissatisfied, "Replenish his energy!"

"Oh," Miao Liangfang was speechless, "Actually, a cat in confinement doesn't need to drink so much chicken soup."

"So I stewed it wrong?"

The topic gradually deviated in the noise.

The cloth tent in the yard had been dismantled. After the New Year, there was no more snow in Shengjing, and it was getting warmer day by day. Everyone sat down at the table and talked about Lu Tong's trip to southern Jiangsu.

"Doctor Lu," Du Changqing asked her while picking up the chicken with chopsticks, "I heard from Lao Miao that you who went to rescue the epidemic will be evaluated for your merits when you return to the Medical Officers' Office. You will be promoted to level three after passing some kind of assessment, and you will go to the palace to serve as the imperial physician for the nobles in the future? Is that true? Have you been rewarded with silver?"

Yin Zheng said disdainfully, "Why is the boss so utilitarian?" She then served Lu Tong a bowl of chicken soup and said, "Miss, do you have to change the color of your medical officer's robe from now on?"

Newly hired medical officers wore light blue robes, and as their ranks rose, the color gradually darkened to reflect their change in status.

Lu Tong held the spoon and stirred the soup: "I'm not going back to the Medical Officers' Hospital."

Ah Cheng asked as he ate his meal: "What does this mean?"

Lu Tong raised his head and said, "I have resigned from the position of medical officer."

The yard was quiet.

The chopsticks in Du Changqing's hand fell to the ground with a "click".

"What?"

"I resign as medical officer."

"…Why is that?" Miao Liangfang was puzzled. "Why would you resign out of the blue?"

Lu Tong stirred the soup and said calmly, "I thought about it and decided that the Medical Officers' Institute is not suitable for me. I prefer the days of being a doctor in West Street, so I resigned."

"No, you like to be a chef in West Street, so why are you eager to join others in the fun in Southern Jiangsu?" Du Changqing pushed the bowl away and said anxiously: "They went to fight the epidemic, and they gained fame and promotion, but why are you worse off than before?" As he was talking, he suddenly thought of something, slapped the table, and stared at Lu Tong with burning eyes: "I know!"

"Did you get into trouble outside again?"

Lu Chen didn't speak.

"It must be," Du Changqing was more and more certain of his guess, "Last time you looked at the prescription of the Imperial Pharmacy and went back to West Street to reflect on yourself for three months. You must have gotten into trouble in southern Jiangsu again. You didn't resign voluntarily, but were kicked out of the Medical Officers' Institute?"

After these words were spoken, the rest of the people in the courtyard also looked at Lu Tong.

It is indeed puzzling that he lost his official position after a good trip to southern Jiangsu.

Lu Tong looked calm: "Just think of it as me going there, seeing the difficulties of the epidemic, and becoming afraid of death. As an imperial physician, I deal with noble people. If I don't handle it well, I might get into trouble. It's better to be free in West Street."

"Besides," she smiled, "isn't it good to have a clinic on West Street? Mr. Miao is sometimes too busy to handle it alone, so adding me is just right. I can also make new prescriptions for festivals. Shopkeeper Du had a great ambition to open a clinic on Qinghe Street in the south of the city to earn money from the rich. Maybe he will have the chance in the future."

When Du Changqing heard the words "to make money from the rich", he immediately lost confidence and looked a little shaken.

Seeing this, Yin Zheng smiled and advised, "If you don't want to go to the Medical Officer's Office, then don't go. The salary is not much more than our clinic. Our clinic closes at dusk every day, but you have to stay up half the night at the Medical Officer's Office. It's just in time for the young lady to come back. Renovate the yard in the spring, and I won't be afraid to live alone anymore."

After saying this, he secretly winked at Miao Liangfang.

Miao Liangfang came back to his senses and agreed, "Yes, yes, yes, the boss wouldn't be reluctant to pay an extra monthly salary, right? Why is it necessary? The new medicine Xiao Lu made is much more than the monthly salary."

Du Changqing still frowned, and said angrily: "You have such a bright future, why don't you stay in West Street as a doctor? Are you crazy?" He waved his hand impatiently, "Forget it, I don't want to talk about your affairs, none of them make people happy... Well, since you are back, think about what new medicine you want to make. I'll tell you first, although you are a medical officer from the Imperial Medical Officer Academy, your monthly salary will remain the same, and you are not allowed to raise the price."

Lu Tong smiled and said, "Okay."

He asked a few more questions, both openly and covertly, to find out whether Lu Tong had made any mistakes in Southern Jiangsu, and Lu Tong answered them one by one. Du Changqing saw that he could not get anything out of him, so he gave up, but he still looked a little upset.

After finishing the meal, Miao Liangfang took Lu Tong back to the house. While Du Changqing was paying the bill at the inner shop, he whispered to Lu Tong, "Xiao Lu, are you really resigning?"

Lu Zhuo nodded.

"Why?" Miao Liangfang was puzzled. "Now that you have returned from southern Jiangsu, it is the most important time for the clerk assessment. Did Chang Jin agree to your resignation?"

Lu Tong smiled and replied gently, "Doctor Chang knows that."

"Xiao Lu..."

"Mr. Miao," she looked at Miao Liangfang, "You have been there before, so you know better than me what the Imperial Medical Academy is like. I am not suitable for such a place, and I cannot live a life of kowtow and fawning on others. It is much more comfortable to be a doctor in West Street and treat common people than to be in the Imperial City."

Miao Liangfang looked at Lu Tong.

Lu Tong let him look at her with an open look.

Miao Liangfang felt that Lu Tong was a little different after returning from southern Jiangsu.

In the past, Lu Tong always did things in silence and didn't like to explain to others, as if no one knew what she did or what she thought. In fact, everyone in Renxin Medical Clinic knew that Lu Tong was doing her own thing, but she was like a stone that was difficult to pry open, so they all chose not to ask.

Now she suddenly felt relaxed, as if she had done everything she should do and put down all the burdens she didn't want to carry. She felt relaxed and peaceful, and this obvious simplicity was reluctant to break.

Miao Liangfang sighed.

"Okay," he leaned on his cane, "You always have your own ideas, just make sure you know what's going on."

Now that things have changed in the Imperial City of Shengjing, and all the relationships are complicated, it may not be a bad thing to retreat at this time and stay away from the trouble. Thinking of this, looking at Lu Tong's decision again, I feel that it is somewhat wise.

"Since you have resigned, you should return to the clinic in the future. I also have something I want to discuss with you." Lu Tong asked, "What is it?"

Miao Liangfang waved his hand: "Let's not talk about it for now. Let's talk about it later."

He gave Lu Tong a few more instructions and went back to work in the shop.

Lu Tong watched quietly. After not seeing him for half a year, more and more patients came to Renxin Medical Clinic. Not only people from West Street, but also people from farther away were willing to come here to pick up medicine and see a doctor. Perhaps it was because Miao Liangfang was a skilled doctor and did not ask for much consultation fee. Most of the medicine he picked up was ordinary and inexpensive medicinal materials, so patients from far and near loved to come here.

Lu Tong also wanted to help, but Yin Zheng kept her in the room and refused to let her come out, saying that she had just returned and needed to rest.

In the evening, the sunset was setting at the alley entrance. Du Changqing was ready to take Ah Cheng home. Lu Tong was talking to Miao Liangfang in the inner shop when he suddenly heard Ah Cheng shouting, "Little Master Pei!"

Lu Zhuo raised his head.

The sun was about to set, and half of the golden color was sprinkled in the shop. A young man walked in from under the plum tree, his robe slightly blown up by the evening breeze, making people suddenly feel that the weather was warm and the days were long, and it was a beautiful spring.

Du Changqing's expression changed: "Why is he here?"

Lu Tong walked out from the cabinet, and Pei Yunying walked into the inner shop. After greeting Miao Liangfang and the others, he looked down at her and smiled, "You're not going to start working as a waiter today, are you?"

"No, take a break today and start tomorrow."

He nodded and said, "That's great, let's go out for a walk?"

Lu Tong agreed and was about to go out with him.

Everyone in the clinic was stunned by their conversation as if no one was around, and stood there in confusion for a while. It was Du Changqing who reacted first: "Wait!"

Lu Zhuo raised his eyes.

Du Changqing quickly stepped forward and blocked the door. He glanced fiercely at Pei Yunying and said to Lu Tong, "Why are you still going out at this time?"

Lu Tong: "The sun hasn't set yet."

"The sun will set soon!" He suddenly said angrily: "Did I say I agreed?"

Pei Yunying glanced at Du Changqing indifferently.

That look was very calm, and there was even a hint of a smile on the young man's lips, but it made Du Changqing suddenly feel cold, and he subconsciously hid behind Lu Tong.

"...I am your boss and I am responsible for everyone in the clinic." He stuck his head out from behind Lu Tong and shouted without confidence.

Miao Liangfang coughed awkwardly. Yin Zheng pushed Lu Tong out, glared at Du Changqing, and said with a smile: "Miss, you have stayed in southern Jiangsu for a long time, and now you are in the Medical Officer's Court after coming back. It's time to relax. It's good to go out and relax with Master Pei. The weather in Shengjing has been good these days, so the boss doesn't have to worry..." After that, she gave Du Changqing a warning look.

Du Changqing was still unwilling to give in, but Lu Tong and Pei Yunying had already left the door, so he had no choice but to chase them out and said, "You must be back before the hour of Xu. Did you hear me?"

No one answered.

Ah Cheng said helplessly: "Boss, they are both holding hands and going out, what's the point of you shouting here?"

"Holding hands?" Du Changqing was shocked: "When did they get together?"

I was busy with other things just now and didn't notice this.

Yin Zheng looked at him with disdain, "Boss, don't do these inappropriate things in the future. Do you know what you looked like just now?"

"like what?"

"Just like what's written in the storybook, the wicked mother-in-law who forcibly separates a couple."

"..."

……

Lu Tong was not aware of the chaos in Renxin Medical Clinic after he left.

As the evening passed, all the people who had visited Shengjing during the day had gone back. Along the way, there were many flowers and red apricots everywhere, and there were countless spring colors. As we walked, it gradually began to drizzle. At this time, we happened to walk across Luoyue Bridge and arrived at Qinghe Street in the south of the city.

Qinghe Street was still as prosperous as ever, and the "Luyuan Pawnshop" remained the same. The shopkeeper, who had deliberately sold a hairpin to Sister Lu Tong at a high price, was dozing off in the shop, looking a bit tired in the drizzling spring rain.

Pei Yunying didn't bring an umbrella when he went out. He looked ahead and turned back to ask Lu Tong: "Do you want to go upstairs to avoid the rain?"

Lu Tong followed his gaze.

Not far ahead is Yuxian Tower.

"The rain won't stop for now." He pulled Lu Tong to the eaves to take shelter from the rain, and said slowly: "In this case, you won't be able to return to the clinic at 12:00 p.m., what should we do?"

Lu Chen: "..."

Pei Yunying is a person who sometimes seems to be very generous, but sometimes seems to be very resentful.

She was speechless for a moment, and was about to agree when her eyes were suddenly attracted by the river in the distance.

Yuxian Tower is next to the river, and both banks are planted with new willows. It is spring, the spring rain is like smoke, the green willows are like fog, and several pleasure boats are floating in the river. Soft piano sounds can be heard from the boats, accompanied by the poems of elegant scholars.

The ten-mile-long pond is half covered with smoke, where is the most pitiful spring breeze?

The birds are singing on the long embankment, and the sound of catkins is silently entering the old boat...

Lu Tong was stunned for a moment, and suddenly remembered what Du Changqing had said.

"If you really want to enjoy the rain, why don't you go to Yuxian Tower in the south of the city? There are willows on the riverside. When it rains, the river water is green and misty. It would be even better if you could find a pleasure boat and sit in it. Ask the boat girl to play a few melody, drink some warm wine, and order a dish of goose oil rolls. That would be the joy of life..."

It was raining, and Lu Tong had an idea, so she pulled Pei Yunying's sleeve and said, "Let's go sit on that."

Pei Yunying followed her gaze and asked, "Boat?"

He looked down at Lu Tong and asked in confusion: "Aren't you seasick?"

Lu Tong was a landlubber. He vomited a lot when he went to southern Jiangsu, and his condition was not much better on the way back to Shengjing. During the days of crossing the river, he was seasick, which made everyone around him feel uncomfortable.

"I see that the boat doesn't need to be rowed, it's just floating in the water. Unlike the previous trip on water, which was shaking violently, it should be fine. And I have this." Lu Tong said, taking off the sachet from his waist and shaking it in front of Pei Yunying.

It was strange that Pei Yunying's scent of "Xiao Guang Leng" was very much to her liking. Every time she smelled it, she felt calm and refreshed. On the way back, she took the waterway, all thanks to this sachet. For Lu Tong, it was much better than seasickness medicine.

Pei Yunying looked at her and disagreed: "Why don't you take care of your body?"

Even though I know that my body will suffer, I am always eager to try. It was the same in the past and it is still the same now.

Lu Tong: "I just want to sit on this."

Pei Yunying: "..."

He lowered his head and looked at Lu Tong intently. Lu Tong looked at him calmly.

After a while, Pei Yunying sighed and nodded, "Okay."

I told you that Miss Lu San has a bad temper.