Denghuaxiao

The young man from Luyuan Dianxing entered the room and quickly brought out two huge copper plates. The copper plates were padded with rose red velvet. All kinds of jewelry were wiped clean and placed on the plates and presented.

The old shopkeeper smiled and said: "Here are the newly delivered jewelry. Miss, you can choose as much as you like."

Among the two copper plates, one contains mostly jade, jade, agate and other relatively expensive hairpins, while the other contains some plain silver bracelets and rings, and ordinary necklaces with cracks.

Lu Tong put down the tea cup, looked at the two copper plates, and slowly stroked the carved edges of the copper plates with his fingers.

After Ke Chengxing's death, the Ke family's business suffered a setback. Mrs. Ke had to sell her belongings to pay for the debt.

When Lu Rou got married, even though her family was poor, with the temperament of her parents, she would never miss out on Lu Rou's dowry. After Lu Rou's death, I don't know how much of the dowry was used by the Ke family, but thinking about it, if there was any leftover, Mrs. Ke would be the first to take it out and exchange it for money.

As for the new wife of the Ke family, Mrs. Qin, she is now eager to cut ties with the Ke family and will probably not keep the belongings of the Ke family's great-grandmother.

Lu Tong fiddled with the copper plate twice and picked out a delicate bamboo hairpin and a fairly bright silver bracelet. Finally, looking over the dazzling array of fragrant red dots on the velvet, he picked up a silver-plated gold bracelet. Gem-encrusted hibiscus hairpin.

The flower hairpin seems to have been used for a long time. The body of the hairpin has been rubbed until it is smooth, but the luster of the small gemstones inlaid on it is still bright.

Lu Tong picked out these three things and looked at the old shopkeeper: "I want these."

The old shopkeeper asked the waiter to take away the copper plate, and said with a smile: "Miss, you have good taste. These three items are new gifts. The bamboo hairpin is five taels of silver, the bracelet is fifteen taels, and this gemstone hairpin is a little more expensive. I need it." One hundred taels. But I see that the lady is a stranger, and it’s her first time here. I’ll erase the change, and the lady will only pay one hundred taels.”

"So expensive?" Yin Zheng couldn't help but blurt out, "It's not some kind of tourmaline coral. Master, don't bully us into not knowing the goods!"

The old shopkeeper was not annoyed when he heard this. He just smiled patiently and said: "Young girl, you don't know. Although the material of this hairpin is not as good as tourmaline and coral, it is more exquisite and special in craftsmanship. It will definitely not be a loss for one hundred taels of silver. If the girl feels that the price is not right, why not look at it?" Looking at something else?”

Lu Tong was silent.

She came here for this hibiscus hairpin, but the price was unexpected. Even if she bought the hibiscus hairpin alone, the money would still be half the price.

Now, it's really a bit difficult.

When Lu Tong and Yin Zheng were in trouble for money in the pawn shop, someone came down from the Yuxian Building next door.

The young man was wearing a crimson official uniform with a narrow waist, and his wristbands were embroidered with silver brocade patterns, giving off a dark glow under the sunlight. He walked downstairs, untied the horse's rope, and was about to get on his horse.

The young man behind him followed and suddenly said: "Huh? Isn't that Dr. Lu?"

Pei Yunying stopped for a moment before mounting his horse and looked up.

In the pawn shop not far across the street, two familiar people were standing. Lu Tong's white dress and hairpin were really eye-catching, and she was so delicate and frail that she could be blown away by a gust of wind. Standing in the shop, it was difficult not to recognize her.

Duan Xiaoyan was a little excited: "I didn't expect to see you here again just after we parted ways in the temple. What a coincidence."

Pei Yunying looked at her thoughtfully for a long time before saying, "It's a coincidence."

In Lu Yuan's pawn shop, Yin Zheng was still arguing with the old shopkeeper. She said: "Shopkeeper, no matter how exquisite the craftsmanship of this hairpin is, the material is just like this. If my girl doesn't like it, others will not be willing to spend a hundred dollars." Buy it for two. Why don’t you sell it to us less, and we’ll still come here to buy things in the future.”

The old shopkeeper had a gentle face and said without giving in: "Young lady, you are joking, I am telling you the truth. Our shop is located on Qinghe Street in the south of the city. The rent is already more expensive than elsewhere. We are also a small business. If the girl says that we are missing a few Three or five taels is okay, but this opening is only fifty taels... It’s really embarrassing for me.”

"But..." Yinzheng wanted to say more.

A hand came over from his side and dropped a silver ingot on the table. Someone behind him said, "No need to say anything, I'll pay for her."

Lu Tong raised his head and met a pair of smiling black eyes.

"Master Pei?" Lu Tong frowned slightly.

I didn't expect to meet Pei Yunying here.

He seemed to have just finished an official errand, and he had not yet taken off his official uniform. His official hat covered his bun, which made him look handsome, and his posture was a bit more elegant. The crimson official uniform on this person made him look bright. Eye-catching.

He smiled at Lu Tong: "Doctor Lu, we meet again."

The old shopkeeper also recognized Pei Yunying, and hurriedly squeezed out a smile. This time the smile was much more sincere than when he faced Lu Tong just now, and there was also a hint of fear: "I had known that this young lady was a friend of Mr. Pei, how could I have done this? I will also accept money from the young lady. You can just take these three pieces of jewelry back with you as a gift from me to the young lady."

He stretched out his hand to push the silver back, and held the silver ingot down with one hand.

Pei Yunying leaned on the table and said nonchalantly: "Old sir, this shop is located on Qinghe Street in the south of the city. The rent is already more expensive than elsewhere. Since it is a small business, why should you spend money?"

He returned the exact words that the old shopkeeper just said, and the old shopkeeper's face became stiff.

Pei Yunying knocked on the table with her finger: "Can I trouble the shopkeeper to wrap it up for her?"

This time the old shopkeeper didn't dare to delay and hurriedly ordered the boy to wrap up the three selected jewelry and hand them to Yin Zheng.

Lu Tong and Yin Zheng collected their things and walked out of the pawn shop. They found Pei Yunying waiting outside the shop, followed by the young man named Duan Xiaoyan. When they saw Lu Tong and Duan Xiaoyan, Duan Xiaoyan hurriedly waved to them and said hello.

Lu Tong returned the greeting, walked behind Pei Yunying, and said to him, "Thank you for just now, Mr. Pei."

He turned around, looked down at Lu Tong, and said, "Doctor Lu has bad eyesight."

Lu Tong looked at him.

"You seem to have been tricked by that old guy," he glanced at the cloth bag in Yin Zheng's hand: "I dare to charge you a hundred taels for just this little thing."

The old shopkeeper of Lu Yuan Pawn Shop may seem kind and kind, but in fact he is a good person. Lu Tong knew this very well. If he was not smart, he would not be able to open a shop in a prosperous place like Qinghe Street and still stand for many years.

Yin Zheng was stunned for a moment, then plucked up the courage to speak: "Why didn't Mr. Pei remind us girls when he was in the pawn shop just now?"

Pei Yunying crossed her arms and looked at Lu Tong, and suddenly smiled: "Because, if you say it, there will be no chance for Doctor Lu to owe me a favor."

His expression was ambiguous and his tone was subtle, but it made Lu Tong frown slightly.

Lu Tong said: "I owe you the fifty taels of silver to Lord Pei. I will collect it and return it immediately after I return."

"No need." Pei Yunying looked at her: "I heard that in Dr. Lu's medical clinic, there is a herbal tea called Chun Shuisheng that sells very well, so let's use that to pay for it."

"Okay." Lu Tong agreed, "Master Pei, give me your address, and I will have someone deliver it to you tomorrow."

"No need to bother," he smiled: "West Street is not far away, I can just come and pick it up another day."

Lu Tong stared at him, his expression was calm, as if what he just said was natural.

After a moment, Lu Tong nodded and said calmly: "Okay."

Lu Tong and Yin Zheng left first, and Duan Xiaoyan followed Pei Yunying to the Yuxian Downstairs. Duan Xiaoyan said: "Doctor Lu doesn't wear any jewelry. I thought she didn't like hairpin bracelets, but she didn't expect it to be the same as usual." Just like a girl." Pei Yunying said leisurely: "Yes, so after you get off work, you go back to the pawn shop and ask where the three pieces of jewelry she bought today come from."

Duan Xiaoyan said "Oh" and suddenly reacted: "Why are you asking this? You also helped her in Wuhuai Garden yesterday. Brother, why do I think you are particularly concerned about Dr. Lu's affairs?"

Pei Yunying walked to the Yuxian Tower, untied the horse's rope, got on the horse, smiled, and said: "How can a woman who may kill someone not give her some snacks?"

After saying that, he ignored Duan Xiaoyan and rode away.

Duan Xiaoyan was stunned for a moment, then quickly mounted his horse and chased after him, asking: "Killing someone? Who?"

……

As summer enters, the nights gradually become less cold.

The rose planted in front of the yard has grown a few, and it won't be long before it blooms.

In the room, Lu Tong sat at the table, looking at the hibiscus hairpin in his hand in trance.

Mrs. Ke's grandma, Mrs. Qin, really didn't take away the hairpin. As Lu Rou's dowry, the hairpin was pawned by Mrs. Ke immediately.

The hairpin is exquisite, and under the dim candlelight, the gems give off a hazy old light, like the sunset on the mountains in Changwu County in early summer.

It seemed to be a night like this. Her mother was sitting in front of the lamp doing acupuncture. She had just finished taking a bath, lying on Lu Rou's lap, and let Lu Rou wring her wet hair with a handkerchief.

Lu Rou combed her hair and said with a smile: "When our little girl grows up, her hair will look good when tied up." Then she leaned over and whispered in her ear: "Don't worry, I don't need that hairpin. I can help you." You keep it, and when you meet the young man you like, I will comb your hair."

She was still young at that time, and she answered without thinking: "Okay, then when I meet the husband I like, I will bring him to your door to ask for it. Sister, don't keep your word." .”

The mother glared at them both: "Don't be ashamed."

Lu Rou laughed so hard that she couldn't stand up, and pinched her face to tease her: "No problem, you can bring him to see me when you introduce me. I want to see which young man has this honor and is favored by my sister." Treat each other.”

There was wind outside the window, causing the candlelight to sway slightly. Lu Tong came back to his senses and put the hairpin in his hand into the box.

Yin Zheng came in from outside the house carrying a basin, and Lu Tong handed her the remaining silver bracelet and bamboo hairpin: "This is for you."

"Send it to me?" Yin Zheng was surprised, "Don't you need it yourself?"

"I bought it just to cover up others' eyes." Lu Tong said, "I don't need it on weekdays."

Yin Zheng took it in his hand and paused before speaking: "How about I change the pawn shop to another one? We went to the pawn shop today and spent one hundred taels, not to mention the fifty taels from Mr. Pei. , I still owe money to Shopkeeper Du. Asking Shopkeeper Du to borrow money all the time is not an option, he himself doesn’t have much left."

"what ever."

Yin Zheng looked at Lu Tong, who was sitting at the table, like a camellia in bud on an early summer night, more beautiful than the one she wore on her temples.

Just looking at his appearance, he is really pitiful.

"Girl," Yin Zheng said carefully, "that Mr. Pei has helped you out several times, but today he said he doesn't want you to pay back the money...Does he like you?"

Seeing that Lu Tong remained silent, Yin Zheng thought for a moment: "He is the heir apparent of Zhao Ning. He is good-looking and has good skills. If he really treats you..."

"No." Lu Tong interrupted her.

"He doesn't like me, he's testing me."

Prince Pei didn't look at her with any affection at all, but rather as if he knew all her secrets, which was alarming.

However, no matter what the purpose of Pei Yunying's test against Lu Tong was, Lu Tong didn't have time to pay attention to it.

For several days, Lu Tong was busy making medicine for Dong Lin.

The Renxin Medical Center could not afford to offend the minister of Taifu Temple for the time being. In addition, the Dong family provided a very generous medical fee for medicine, so Du Changqing could not say anything. Lu Tong was busy for several days before he prepared the medicine and ordered Du Changqing to do it in person. Send it to the minister's house in Taifu Temple.

This person has just finished delivering the medicine, and the person who cooked the medicine has arrived at the other end.

The pharmacist from the Medicine Institute stood in front of Lu Tong and said respectfully: "Doctor Lu, the Chun Shui Sheng prescription has been improved by the Royal Medicine Institute and has been accepted as an official medicine. In the future, Chun Shui Sheng herbal tea can only be sold in the Imperial Medicine Institute. It is purchased from and cooked medicines, and no other medical shop merchants can continue to sell it."

This was what Du Changqing heard when he just came back from Dong's Mansion. He couldn't hold back for a moment and grabbed the pharmacist's collar: "What did you say?"

The pharmacist was still young and stammered: "...This is a good thing. It is a supreme honor for the prescription to be prescribed by the pharmacy. The shopkeeper should be happy."

"I'm so happy!" Du Changqing couldn't help but cursed: "He took away the prescription, how can I make money? Did the person named Lou do it on purpose? You bastard, didn't he even listen to the words of the Minister of Taifu Temple? ?”

"This... this is the decision of the Imperial Medicine Institute," the pharmacist said helplessly, "Young people can't make the decision. Please, shopkeeper... calm down..."

Getting angry at a little pharmacist was definitely not an option. Du Changqing let go of his hand, his face changed with anger, and he gritted his teeth and said, "Shameless!"

Lou Si did not dare to disgrace the Dong family and allowed the medical clinic to continue selling medicinal materials. However, at this juncture, he took the initiative and turned Chun Shui's prescription into an official pharmacy prescription. For Ordinary Medical Center, this was indeed a promising move, but for Renxin Medical Center, which now relied on spring water to generate the bulk of its income, it was not a good thing.

When money is tight, it is no good to be famous.

Acheng and Yinzheng looked at each other, Acheng looked at Lu Tong cautiously: "Doctor Lu, what should we do now?"

Since it can no longer sell Chun Shui Sheng, Renxin Medical Center has lost its most important source of money and has returned to its original state.

Lu Tong said nothing, took the pharmacist's official seal, watched the young pharmacist leave, then turned back to the back berth and said, "Don't worry."

Three pairs of eyes stared at her, with a glimmer of hope in Du Changqing's eyes.

"The same medical center can only requisition one patent medicine prescription as the official medicine. Chun Shuisheng is used by the cooked medicine, which means that all the patent medicines produced and sold by Renxin Medical Center from now on will no longer be used by the cooked medicine. Take care." Lu Tong said, "Shopkeeper Du, you are free."

"Freedom is useless." Du Changqing said angrily: "The money is gone, I would rather be a prisoner of wealth!"

"If you don't have any money, you can make more money." Lu Tong said in a calm voice: "If one medicine is taken away, just make another one."

"Again?" Du Changqing stared at her with some doubts: "It's easy to say, but can you do it?"

Lu Tong said nothing.

After a while, she said: "I can."

Xiao Pei: Today is also a good day for fishing.