Chapter 197 Yunniang

The pergola blocks the sunlight above the head, and the table is full of delicacies that are steaming hot. In front of the stone table, the woman is standing on one side to the left and the other to the right, so the wind is slightly lighter here.

Ji Xun looked at Pei Yunying.

He looked calm, smiled slightly, and spoke in a natural tone, but Ji Xun couldn't help but frown, and suddenly there was a hint of displeasure in his heart.

For some reason, he didn't like Commander Pei.

Everyone at the table was silent. Duan Xiaoyan, with quick eyes and quick hands, pulled Pei Yunying and sat down on the empty seat next to Lu Zhu. "Oh, do you mind if you can't find a seat at such a big table?"

The young man looked at Ji Xun and smiled brightly: "Medical Officer Ji, where would you like to sit?" He pointed to an empty seat, which was far away from Lu Xun and facing him on both sides of the round table. "Just next to him." The white fried spring goose is easy to serve with vegetables. ”

Zhuling: "..."

The fried spring goose was so oily that it really didn't match Ji Xun's clean clothes.

However, Pei Yunying had been forced to sit down by Duan Xiaoyan. The stone table was not big in the first place, so a wooden table was placed next to it to accommodate only one person. The space was really limited.

After a pause, Ji Xun turned around and sat down where Duan Xiaoyan pointed just now.

Lu Zhuo breathed a sigh of relief.

For some reason, she always felt that every time Ji Xun and Pei Yunying met, the atmosphere was always a bit weird. It was obvious that the two of them were talking normally and behaved appropriately, but there was always a sense of hidden tension. The more cordial Pei Yunying smiled and the more polite Ji Xun behaved, the stronger this feeling became.

Lu Chen suspected that the two of them had had an affair in the past.

Lin Danqing coughed lightly, turned away and said with a smile: "Shopkeeper Du's table is really rich. This pot of duck with lychees and kidneys looks similar to what the chef of Renhe restaurant makes."

Acheng spoke quickly: "Medical Officer Lin is very good. This duck with lychee and kidney was originally bought by my boss at Renhe Store."

Du Changqing knocked him on the head and cursed: "You are the only one who talks too much!"

"Did you buy it at a restaurant?" Zhuling said blankly, "I thought it was homemade."

The food on the table was indeed rich and well-presented. The little medicine boy initially disliked the narrowness of the hospital courtyard, but after seeing the dishes, his dislike immediately disappeared. Ji Xun studied medicine, and his diet was very light. The children were greedy. It was rare to see a table full of oil, but who knew he bought it from outside.

Miao Liangfang explained: "A few of the people in our medical clinic have average cooking skills. I was afraid that the hospitality would not be good enough and make people laugh, so Xiao Du went to Renhe store to buy wine and food."

Zhuling was confused: "In that case, why not just eat in the restaurant?"

The restaurant is a bit more spacious, and my son doesn't have to squeeze in with the oily fried goose.

Du Changqing rolled his eyes and said with a smile: "They all practice medicine in a hospital. The medical officers in the Medical Officer's Hospital receive salary. Occasionally, they can leak gold beads or something from the hands of nobles. It's different here. ”

"The people who come to West Street to see a doctor are all poor people. Not to mention the reward of some money, sometimes they have to pay a small amount of money to those who are kind-hearted." At this point, Miao Liangfang glared at Miao Liangfang, and Miao Liangfang quickly lowered his head. Eat peanuts and pretend not to hear.

"I only earn so much money, but prices are soaring, and taxes have been increased this year. To be honest, the expansion of the medical center this time has wiped out my family fortune, but I may not be able to make it back in the future. To be honest, It’s not like opening a shop, it’s just giving money and doing good deeds.”

He leaned back and said, "If you book a table at Renhe Restaurant, you will also need to pay for the seat. Of course, it is more cost-effective to eat at the hospital."

Zhuling was at a loss.

Although he is just a little medicine boy, he has followed Ji Xun since he was a child. Apart from a light diet and a boring life, he has never suffered anything.

Especially for the Qingliu bachelor of the Ji family, it is really hard to understand this kind of shopping around for 800 yuan for one coin of silver... Zhuling secretly looked at her young master.

Ji Xun lowered his eyebrows and said nothing, as if he was thinking seriously about Du Changqing's words.

Lin Danqing saw this and said with a smile: "You can't say that. Although life in West Street is poorer, you don't have to worry about food and drink. You are content and happy. Besides, Shengjing is pretty good here. A few days ago, I went home I heard from my father that there is a locust plague in southern Jiangsu, and the young crops have been eaten up, and the people there are starving. "

Yin Zheng was surprised: "Locust plague in southern Jiangsu?"

Everyone was stunned. The news of the locust plague came from the palace first, and Xijie had not heard about it yet.

Du Changqing looked at Lu Yan: "Isn't that your hometown?"

Lu Zhuo and Yin Zheng came from southern Jiangsu.

Miao Liangfang frowned, "Locusts cover the sun and crops will be wiped out in an instant. Once famine breaks out, a major epidemic may follow..."

He sighed, looking worried.

When he heard the word "big epidemic", Lu Zhuo's eyes moved slightly.

The atmosphere in the hospital suddenly became a little heavy.

When Du Changqing saw this, he coughed lightly and stood up and said, "Let's have a good celebration, why are you talking about these unhappy things? Today we gather here to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the opening of Renxin Medical Center -"

"My father would be happy if Izumi knew it. After all, even if he comes by himself, he may not be able to drive to forty-nine."

His interruption somewhat dispersed the depression just now.

The host picked up the wine jar on the table and said, "I bought some sweet wine. Before you use your chopsticks, please raise a glass."

He was about to uncork the wine when Ji Xun, who had been silent all this time, suddenly said: "Drinking is harmful to the body. I brought Qingzhuli today, which is just in time for use."

Du Changqing held the wine jar and said "Ah" and looked at Ji Xun with some confusion.

Isn’t it common to have drinks at celebrations? But this person just said that drinking alcohol is harmful to the body.

It’s too disgraceful.

No wonder there are rumors outside that he doesn't like to get along with others.

I guess people don't like to get along with him either.

No one was talking, so Lin Danqing naturally followed up with a smile and said, "Qingzhuli...what a nice name!"

"Doctor Ji is the imperial physician. Usually, only the nobles in the palace can have him write prescriptions and make medicines. The 'Fairy Jade Skin Cream' he made before is now unavailable to anyone outside. Since Qingzhuli was specially prepared by Doctor Ji, it must be made of extraordinary materials. We are lucky to taste it today. Isn't it?"

Yin Zheng also hurriedly tried to smooth things over, "That's right, I heard that the medicinal materials in the Imperial Pharmacy are completely different from those outside. If the medicinal dew is placed outside, it must be sold for a hundred or eighty taels. Today, we are able to see this good thing thanks to Doctor Ji and the boss!"

On the table, the beautiful glass jar was engraved with delicate patterns. The dew inside was green and faint. It swayed in the jar like a pool of emerald green. The cork had been opened, and a faint bitter fragrance spread out, which was very effective in removing summer dryness.

Du Changqing's eyes sparkled.

To be fair, he didn't want to drink this stuff. Which family doesn't drink wine but only medicine at a celebration banquet?

This is too unlucky!

However...

The medicinal materials in the Imperial Pharmacy are precious, and Lin Danqing's words make sense. I wonder how valuable this thing would be if it was placed outside.

Let's try it.

Having made up his mind, Du Changqing put down the sweet wine just now, and instead picked up the jar brought by Ji Xun, and said with a smile: "That's right, since it was carefully brewed by Medical Officer Ji, if we don't drink it, it seems that we are so ungrateful."

"Come on--"

He said: "Raise your wine bowls, the nectar and dew in our imperial city is coming!"

He said exaggeratedly, and Ji Xun was not used to being teased like this, and a trace of unnaturalness flashed across his face.

The medicine boy Zhu Ling looked desperate.

Du Changqing didn't realize it, and vowed to be the best host, and intimately held the jar and gave everyone a bowl.

A bowl was also placed in front of Lu Tong.

She looked down at the wine bowl in front of her.

Ji Xun's "Qingzhuli" was just as its name suggested, green and lush, the color of spring bamboo. When it was poured out, it was much more fragrant than when it was in the jar. A bitter medicinal aroma filled the nose, and one could even smell several medicinal ingredients.

Lu Tong couldn't help but frown.

She really didn't like taking medicine.

In comparison, she wanted to drink the peach wine that Yin Zheng bought, which was sweet and cool after being placed in an ice bucket.

"Ahem--"

On the other side, Du Changqing had already picked up the wine bowl and stood in front of his seat.

He said, "Thank you all for visiting our clinic today. You are all young talents in the imperial city. Our West Street is so prosperous because of you."

"Let's not talk too much," Du Changqing raised the bowl, "I will drink first as a sign of respect!"

He raised his head and drank it down with a heroic spirit.

Zhu Ling hesitated: "Hey..."

"Cough cough cough——"

As soon as he finished speaking, Du Changqing covered his neck and coughed violently.

Ji Xun held the wine bowl and hesitated: "The medicine will be a little bitter..."

Zhu Ling covered her face.

The medicine made by my son is so bitter that it makes people sad. Every year on the birthday of the old man of the Ji family, Ji Xun would send a can of medicine made by himself, and every time the people of the Ji family would swallow it with bitter faces.

It's really bitter!

I don't know where my son found such strangely bitter medicinal materials.

The shopkeeper Du drank it all in one breath, and he guessed the taste after thinking about it.

Du Changqing's face turned red, and it was hard to spit out a bowl of bitter water in his mouth. After all, it was the medicine made by the imperial physician, so he had to swallow it with difficulty. After swallowing the last mouthful, his face wrinkled into a ball, but he still tried to squeeze out a calm smile.

"Not bitter." He said to everyone sincerely with a serious face: "It's sweet."

Everyone: "..."

No one would believe him.

Du Changqing tasted the bitterness himself, and he was unwilling to let himself be the only victim. He had to drag everyone down with him. He squinted and said: "Why don't you drink it? The boss has already drunk it. You look down on the boss. Don't you give face to Doctor Ji?"

"Pick it up, don't dawdle!"

Everyone looked embarrassed.

Ji Xun felt a little uncomfortable. After thinking for a while, he explained softly: "Good medicine tastes bitter. Although it is a little bitter, it is beneficial to the body."

He was so serious that the people around who wanted to refuse to drink it were embarrassed. They thought that fortunately this glass jar was not big, and one bowl for each person was just right. Just drink it as a tonic, and put a candied fruit in it after drinking to remove the bitterness.

Everyone responded with their mouths, raised their wine bowls, said some auspicious words, and held the medicine in front of them.

This medicine is probably really bitter.

Some were older and more stable like Miao Liangfang and Ji Xun, who drank the wine in one go, while others were as pale as death, and vomited after every sip.

Lin Danqing and Yin Zheng were better, but their noses wrinkled after drinking, and they were obviously also bitter.

Pei Yunying was calmer than these people. He reached out to take the wine bowl and drank it slowly.

He was as calm as if he had drunk a bowl of water.

Lu Tong lowered her head and looked at the wine bowl in front of her.

The wine bowl contained a large bowl of bamboo juice, which looked very cool at first glance, but the bitter smell in it was really uncomfortable, and people instinctively wanted to avoid it.

Everyone had swallowed the bitter water, and she was the only one who hesitated until the end. Lu Tong took a deep breath and was about to pick up the wine bowl in front of her-

A hand reached out from the side.

Lu Tong looked up.

Pei Yunying took the wine bowl from her hand, lowered his head and poured the medicine dew into his empty bowl.

He then picked up the peach wine that Yin Zheng bought and poured it into her bowl again, and said casually: "Drink this."

His movements were so natural that Lu Zhuo shook his hands, raised his eyes again, and met the different eyes of everyone.

Lin Danqing was almost crying in pain. When he saw this, he choked on a mouthful of medicinal dew and suddenly started coughing.

Even though Lu Yan didn't touch the medicinal dew in the cup, even though Pei Yunying seemed to do it smoothly, but...

Is it also a little too close?

Especially Lu Zhen, who is always cold and cold on weekdays.

For a moment, everyone didn't know whether they should be surprised that the commander of the front department actually took the initiative to deal with the remaining remains of others, or whether they should be surprised that Medical Officer Lu, who had always rejected people thousands of miles away, did not strongly refuse this time.

Sensing the attention of everyone, Pei Yunying raised his eyes.

The young man had a handsome face and a smile. He did not look as unattainable as when he was wearing public clothes. He looked as bright as a boy next door. He "tsk", as if he was a little confused by everyone's reaction, and innocently said: " Why are you looking at me like that?”

"Isn't it very expensive? It's a waste."

He looked at Ji Xun and curled his lips.

"I drank an extra cup of medicinal dew, Doctor Ji shouldn't mind, right?"

Ji Xun pursed his lips.

This was not a big deal, but for some reason, he suddenly felt a little depressed in his heart. He felt that the friendly smile in front of him looked a bit dazzling at the moment.

Duan Xiaoyan secretly clenched his fists and applauded, while Du Changqing made a long face.

I don't know when the wind started outside, making the arbor set up in the courtyard whistle. Yin Zheng greeted with a smile: "Everyone, please stop sitting around and eat first. The food won't taste good when it's cold." . Shopkeeper Du and I prepared the menu half a month ago. It’s not as exquisite as the ones in the Imperial City, so please don’t dislike it.”

"I don't dislike it, I don't dislike it." Duan Xiaoyan happily raised his chopsticks: "It's much richer than the same meals in the imperial city!"

The atmosphere gradually became lively again.

Yin Zheng and Lin Danqing are good people, best at creating a lively atmosphere. Coupled with Duan Xiaoyan's talkativeness and Du Changqing's occasional yin and yang comments, everyone's initial uneasiness has dissipated a lot.

As he talked, he slowly came up with the matter of Lu Zhuo being suspended from the Medical Officer's Hospital.

Du Changqing said dissatisfied: "I said, it's so easy to find a medical officer in our West Street. Why is he being sent home less than half a year after entering the hospital? I just took another look at the medicine list. What a big deal, Emperor?" People in the city are just making fuss out of molehills, so how can one look at the medicine list and go to heaven?”

When Ji Xun heard this, he looked at Lu Yun in surprise.

It seems that Lu Chen did not inform Du Changqing of the real reason for his suspension.

"Everyone in the imperial city is like that, they have no discernment." Lin Danqing shook his head. She didn't drink well. She drank a little peach wine, her cheeks turned bright red, and she spoke more boldly than before.

"I am ranked first in the imperial medical bureau's examination every time," she pointed at Lu Huan, "Sister Lu, I am ranked first on the red list in the spring examination. With our abilities, the medical officer's academy is the best in the world, and our salary must be increased at least ten times from now. That’s right.”

"Just a small amount of money to send the beggar away?"

"On duty every day, scolded every day, even the writer knows that there is a danger of being buried with him. He is not as good as an ox or a horse. He is definitely not as good as an ox or a horse!"

Zhuling retorted in a low voice: "That can't be said to be the best in the world, right? Where do you put my young master?"

Lin Danqing paused.

This is actually true.

She thought for a moment: "Your young master has family support, can he compare to me and Sister Lu who have become monks halfway?" Then she emphasized, "Furthermore, at least among female medical officers, it is not an exaggeration for us to say that Xinglin is a double beauty. ?”

There is a quota for the number of students admitted to the Imperial Medical Bureau, with fewer women and more men. And because of the high profile of practicing medicine, those with better family backgrounds did not want their daughters to suffer this hardship. There were few people who studied, and even fewer who became medical officers.

"That's right, that's right," Du Changqing cheered, "I think the future female envoy in Daliang will most likely choose one of you two."

Lin Danqing said proudly: "I accept your good words."

Miao Liangfang said with a smile: "Xiao Lu and Medical Officer Lin are indeed very talented, but when it comes to female doctors, I know a better one."

"I have been practicing medicine for more than half my life, and I have seen a lot of illnesses, but that girl's talent and medical skills are truly rare in her life." He stroked his beard and looked at Ji Xun: "I'm afraid this Medical Officer Ji, after seeing She also wants to be defeated."

Ji Xun was stunned.

When Miao Liangfang left the medical hospital, Ji Xun was still young. He didn't like to interact with others, so he didn't remember Miao Liangfang's name. All he saw was that the other person was a lame, elderly ordinary doctor who had been invited by Renxin Medical Center to sit in the hospital.

Lin Danqing was surprised: "There is such a number one person? Why didn't I know that she is from Shengjing?"

"yes."

Zhuling looked at Ji Xun and asked, "Master, have you ever heard of it?"

Ji Xun shook his head.

Not only Ji Xun, Duan Xiaoyan and Du Changqing also looked puzzled.

Miao Liangfang sighed: "No wonder you haven't heard of it. After all, it was twenty years ago."

"Twenty years ago..."

He spoke in a distant tone, "Twenty years ago, some of you were still little babies sucking milk and couldn't remember anything. Some of you were not even born yet..."

For example, at the age of Lu Zhen and Lin Danqing, they were not even born twenty years ago.

"At that time, I was still young and vigorous. It was the first year I arrived in Shengjing. I worked as a waiter in a drug store in Shengjing."

"One day, a mother came to the drug store with her child in her arms. She said that her three-year-old daughter had eaten poisonous weeds by mistake, and she was rushed to the drug store for rescue."

"It was getting late at that time, and there was only one doctor in the medicine shop. When I looked at the little girl, I rolled my eyes, foamed at the mouth, and my body was stiff. I was breathing more out than in."

"The doctor said it was too late. The girl's mother held her daughter in front of the pharmacy and begged and cried. We were heartbroken when we saw it. We thought the girl would definitely not survive the night."

"Who knew that a carriage happened to pass by on the street. A young girl wearing a veil got off the carriage and helped the mother and daughter up."

Lin Danqing was fascinated: "Did she save the girl?"

"She saved her."

Miao Liangfang was absent-minded for a while, as if immersed in the critical moment of the year. After a moment, he slowly spoke: "I later learned that she was the daughter of the Mo family, the imperial physician in Shengjing..."

"...Mo Ruyun."

As soon as these words came out, Lu Tong's eyelashes trembled.

The wine bowl in her hand was not held firmly, and a few drops of sweet wine splashed on the back of her hand, gradually spreading a bit of stinging coldness.

She raised her eyes, her face suddenly pale.