Chapter 241 New Year's Eve

It was late at night, the snow was heavy, and the wind was still.

The lantern light under her feet was like a thin layer of yellow mist, and also like the magnificent sunset glow of Luomei Peak in the evening.

Lu Tong spoke softly.

"Yunniang, she died in my hands."

After saying this, it was like unloading the last burden, and a certain corner that had been heavy for a long time was completely relieved.

In fact, thinking about it now, some things happened really unexpectedly.

She stayed in Luomei Peak for seven years, day after day, year after year. At first, she always wanted to try to escape, but gradually she became numb. Like a puppet imprisoned on the stage, repeating the same play every day.

One day, she and Yunniang went down the mountain to buy herb seeds, and met a poor woman at the door of Sunan Medical Shop.

The woman was not from Sunan, and spoke with a local accent, begging the owner of the medical shop.

She stood at the door and listened for a long time. She learned that the woman had come a long way to buy a medicinal material for her son's treatment. However, she was still short of three copper coins. The journey was dozens of miles. The woman wanted to buy on credit or buy less, but the shopkeeper refused.

Lu Tong paid the three copper coins for her.

The woman was grateful to her and left with many thanks. She looked at her back in a trance.

The woman looked like her mother.

When she turned around, she saw Yunniang standing at the door of the medical store, looking at her with a smile, and her expression understood everything.

After returning to the mountain, Yunniang sprinkled the newly bought seeds under the plum tree, and suddenly spoke when she saw her sitting in front of the medicine stove.

"Little Seventeen," she said, "Do you want to leave here?"

Lu Tong was stunned.

The plum tree was in bloom, and the cold forest was red. The woman under the tree was wearing a gauze dress and rings, and her makeup was more beautiful than the red plum.

"You have lived in the mountains for so long, and you have also secretly read so many of my medical books and notes. You are good at making antidotes on weekdays, but you have never made poisons."

Every time Yunniang tried the medicine on her, Lu Tong would detoxify herself according to the medical books she had read. Sometimes she could detoxify a little, and sometimes she couldn't.

"Let's play a game." Yunniang looked at her with her chin on her hand.

"What game?"

Yunniang thought for a while: "You, learn to make a poison for me. If you can poison me to death, you can go down the mountain. If the opposite..."

The woman's eyebrows curved: "You stay in the mountain and be my medicine man for the rest of your life, okay?"

Lu Tong didn't say anything.

In fact, even if she didn't agree, Yunniang could keep her in the mountain and make her a medicine man for the rest of her life.

"Still don't dare?" Yunniang was a little disappointed and touched her head, "What a pity. I thought you wanted to go home."

Go home.

She looked into the distance.

The plum forest on Luomei Peak covered the path leading down the mountain. She thought of the woman who looked like her mother that she saw at the door of the medical clinic. She had not been home for a long time. She wondered how her mother was doing now. Was her hair half white like that woman?

She had been away for seven years, and maybe they would be separated for even longer. As long as Yunniang was not dead, she would not be able to go home.

"Okay."

The woman was a little surprised.

Lu Tong looked at her and repeated, "Okay."

She was stunned for a moment, then smiled in surprise, "I'll wait for you, Xiao Shiqi."

When she was in the mountains, she had made many kinds of medicine, all of which were made from poisonous herbs on Luomei Peak, but they were all for saving lives. She had read many of Yunniang's poison books, but this was the first time she had made a poison that hurt people.

Yunniang watched her with interest.

She divided the prepared poison into two parts, one for Yunniang to take and one for Yunniang to distinguish. She looked calm on the surface, but in fact she was waiting for the end anxiously.

Yunniang took it with a smile.

It took a total of seven days from taking the poison to the poison taking effect. This might be because Yunniang's physique was different from others. Otherwise, the poison would have taken effect on the third day.

The woman was lying on a chair under the plum tree, looking at her with a strange look: "Xiao Shiqi, what did you use in this medicine?"

Yunniang claimed to be familiar with all the poisons in the world, but she could not tell what the last ingredient was.

"Can't you tell it?"

"So, what is the antidote?"

Lu Tong shook his head: "There is no antidote."

Yunniang was stunned.

"I added my blood to the prescription." Lu Tong said.

Her blood, her blood has been mixed with hundreds of poisons in the seven years of drug testing, and it has become poison. Those poisons are mixed together, and it is difficult to tell which one is which, even Yunniang can't do it.

The tool that Yunniang used to test the medicine in the past finally became a problem that even she herself could not solve. The cause and effect in the world, reincarnation is like this.

The woman listened, stunned for a moment, then smiled, looking at her eyes full of admiration and relief.

"So that's how it is," she sighed, "You are indeed a good candidate."

"But I don't have an antidote," Lu Tong looked at her, his voice trembling slightly, "and I can't make an antidote."

That was her blood, her poison. She couldn't even cure her own poison, so how could she cure Yunniang's poison?

Yunniang glanced at her: "What are you afraid of?" She smiled faintly: "I was about to die anyway."

Lu Tong was stunned,

Gradually, blood began to flow from Yunniang's lips, which she brushed away nonchalantly.

"After I die, Xiao Shiqi, remember to burn the medical books and manuscripts in my room and bury them with me. Yes, I will be buried with the previous sixteen."

"It would be a waste to leave those manuscripts and poison scriptures to the world. It's better to leave with me. Luomei Peak is big, and I'm afraid of being alone."

Lu Tong listened blankly.

She looked at Lu Tong again, smiling strangely and lovingly: "Xiao Shiqi, you are really amazing. I didn't expect you to last so long in Luomei Peak."

"You are my last medicine man, and also my first apprentice. I am very satisfied with you."

"I am the first life in your hands, Xiaoqi. From today on, you are the same person as me."

She smiled slightly: "Congratulations, you are now a master."

Lu Yan looked at her blankly, his eyes were a little sore, but he didn't shed a single tear. He was just a little helpless.

More and more blood spilled from the woman's lips. She sighed softly and slowly closed her eyes.

Yun Niang is dead.

He died from poison mixed with her blood.

Lu Zhen could no longer hold her and cry loudly like he did when Wu Yun died. He numbly stood up to help Yun Niang restrain herself and change her clothes. It was then that she saw the scars on Yun Niang's body.

There were large burn marks on Yun Niang's body. Judging from her injuries at the time, she would not be able to survive now. Lu Chen gradually understood that perhaps in the past seven years or even more, Yun Niang had been hanging her life with poison, but drinking poison to quench her thirst would eventually reach its end.

Therefore, before she died, she must see Lu Zhuo "depart the army" with her own eyes.

The flames engulfed the thatched cottage where Yun Niang once lived, and those carefully collected medical books and pharmacology were reduced to ashes in the flames. Lu Zhuo knelt in front of the tomb and was about to carve the inscription when he suddenly stopped.

What is the relationship between her and Yun Niang?

She stayed in Luomeifeng for seven full years, and Yun Niang's presence throughout these seven years made her become a different person. She had hated Yun Niang, and she had also been grateful to Yun Niang. In those cold days with snow, she might not have experienced the loneliness of a woman at a certain moment.

She finally carved the word "mentor" on the inscription.

No matter what the purpose was at the beginning, her medical skills, poison classics and pharmacology were all taught by Luo Meifeng in the seventh year. Yun Niang taught her many things she had never seen when she was a child, including the gambler father who sold his daughter's body for money, the scoundrel son who secretly poisoned his sick father just to get rid of the burden, and the man who wanted to win back his husband and spent a lot of money to have a child. A woman, a scholar who poisoned her brother to seize the family property...

She's seen a lot.

Then I gradually understood that things in the world are not all bright. The human heart is dangerous in the mountains and rivers, and it is difficult to know the sky. There are still autumn, winter, summer and twilight periods in the sky, and people are kind and affectionate.

The truths that I didn't understand in books when I was young were gradually understood by traveling through the market.

Life taught her patience, taught her to be vicious and decisive, and taught her how to protect herself. That's why she decided to go to Beijing without hesitation after returning to Changwu County.

If she hadn't been taken away by Yun Niang, her first reaction might have been like Lu Qian's, suing the officials and asking for help. But she was taken away by Yun Niang. The decoction she drank unwillingly at night in Luomei Peak, the corpses in the mass grave, the tears and fear finally turned her into a different Lu Yun.

She just wants revenge.

By mistake, everything is destined to happen.

In the world, there are joys and sorrows, ups and downs, Yun Niang has long been beyond the simple words of love and hate for her.

"Actually, I'm...scared." She said softly.

She killed someone, the first time she killed someone, and a life was in her hands. Yun Niang's words before she died were like a curse, always lingering in her heart.

"From today on, you are just like me."

"Congratulations, you are now a master."

She guarded this secret fear, but tonight, she suddenly got tired of hiding it and allowed herself to be honest in front of the other person.

The long night was long, the lantern light reflected the bright white snow, and there was a faint moonlight in the clouds, shining on the two people under the tree.

"Don't be afraid."

One hand reached out and gently held her face.

Lu Yan raised his head, the person in front of him lowered his eyes, and raised his hand to wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes.

She reacted belatedly, and she shed tears at some point.

Pei Yunying touched her head, leaned over slightly, and held her in his arms.

His voice was gentle.

"Doctor Lu is not a bad person."

Lu Chen was stunned.

He could always see through her at a glance, see through her fear and worry, her restlessness and anxiety. Whether they were tit-for-tat at the beginning or tacitly understanding each other later.

The quagmire entangles people to sink deeper, but there is always a hand stretched out from the shore.

She grasped the hand now.

The warmth of the cloak and his embrace drove away all the chill. Lu Zhen smelled the faint and cold fragrance. She had been awakened by this smell in her dream. She was as attached to this smell as she was to the meager sunlight in winter.

She buried her face in his arms and hugged him tightly.

"I know."

…

Half a month after the snow in southern Sunan stopped, the sun came out in the city.

The better the climate is, the better it will be for disease control.

The emperor ordered that redwood vines and golden vines from all over the country were continuously transported into southern Jiangsu. The new anti-epidemic prescriptions were so effective that the dispensing bureaus were reorganized in the city. In addition to patients in the hospital, people in southern Jiangsu voluntarily went to the dispensing bureaus every day to receive anti-epidemic decoctions.

Sunan gradually became angry.

No new corpses were buried in the execution ground after the ruined temple. After the epidemic stabilized, the imperial court issued an order to send another epidemic relief medical officer to southern Jiangsu to handle the aftermath. After the new medical officers arrived, the original batch of medical officers He was about to set off back to Beijing.

Amid this gradually improving momentum, Southern Jiangsu ushered in the first New Year after the pandemic.

Early in the morning, firecrackers were set off in the medical officer's dormitory.

The red "Mantangcai" shattered all over the yard, and the smoke from the firecrackers diluted the medicine, adding a lot of excitement to the yard. Chang went in to ask for two red lanterns, and asked Ji Xun to write Spring Festival couplets and post them at the door of his dormitory. When Lin Danqing saw this, he said: "Yizheng, we will return to Shengjing in a few days, why are we doing this in vain?" Post this?”

"Young people don't understand." Chang Jin directed Ji Xun to put up the Spring Festival couplets. "This is a ceremony. Besides, won't it take a few days for the medical officer from Pingzhou to arrive? What does it look like when it's so bare?"

Lin Danqing had no choice but to say: "You are so particular." Turning around, he saw Lu Zhu coming out of the house, and immediately smiled and said: "Sister Lu!"

Lu Tong came over.

When Chang Jin heard this, he turned around and held her pulse first as usual, then withdrew his hand and nodded with satisfaction: "Not bad, not bad, getting better day by day."

Lu Yan's health is much better.

Perhaps it was Lin Danqing's ancestor's exquisite medical prescription. Since she vomited black blood that night, it seemed that some of the accumulated toxins in her body had been taken away with her. After that, Ji Xun performed acupuncture on her every day, and together with Lin Danqing and Chang Jin prepared new prescriptions, her weak pulse became much stronger than before.

The most gratifying thing is that some of the drugs are starting to work on her body.

Even though the effect of the medicine is much weaker than that for ordinary people, the fact that it has an effect means that everything is developing for the better.

"There are still not enough medicinal materials in southern Jiangsu," Chang Jin sighed: "When we return to Shengjing, I and the Royal Pharmacy Academy will pick up a few medicinal materials to prepare the formula. It should be better than now."

Lu Tong thanked Chang Jin and looked outside the dormitory door.

There was a lot of noise outside, and there were faint sounds of bargaining, mixed with one or two crackles of firecrackers.

"That's a shop that sells window flowers for the New Year." Lin Danqing explained, "Today is New Year's Eve."

Lu Chen suddenly realized.

It's already been another year.

Since the epidemic has improved, Southern Jiangsu has gradually ceased to be as lifeless as when they first arrived. Pedestrians are also passing by on the streets, and some shops have also reopened. Although it is not as lively and prosperous as before the epidemic, it is gradually getting better. Return to the way it was before.

Therefore, this new year after the disaster becomes more and more precious.

"Cai Xian Cheng said that fireworks will be set off in Sunan City tonight. Yi Zheng originally planned to have New Year's Eve dinner together in the hospital tonight and watch the fireworks together."

"New Year's Eve dinner?"

"Yes," Lin Danqing said: "We are working desperately to rescue the epidemic in southern Jiangsu. There is no credit but hard work. I heard that in previous years before the New Year's Eve of the Medical Officer's Hospital, everyone would get together in advance. Eat, drink, and listen. The hospital envoy is thinking about the future of the medical hospital, but this year the location will be changed to southern Jiangsu. "

Lu Zhen was speechless. He thought of something again and glanced past the door.

Lin Danqing rolled his eyes and came closer and said, "Are you looking for Pei Dianshuai?"

"No."

"Nothing," Lin Danqing chided, "You two don't have enough thoughts on your face. Who can you deceive?"

Lu Chen: "..."

"He went out with Li County Wei, Cai County Cheng and others." Lin Danqing explained enthusiastically, "We have to go back to Shengjing in a few days. There are too few guards in Sunan City, so he wants to keep some people here. It is probably very busy these days. "

Lu Chen nodded.

In fact, it wasn't just Pei Yunying who was busy, the medical officers were also busy.

In a few days, medical officers from Pingzhou will come to take over, and various previous epidemic affairs in southern Jiangsu also need to be handed over. After Chang Jin finished posting the Spring Festival couplets, he went back to sort out the handover documents with the medical officers.

When you are busy, the passage of time is always invisible. When Lu Yan and Lin Danqing finished sorting out the last volume of epidemic control documents, the sun set.

The lanterns in the dormitory were lit up.

Li Wenhu and Cai Fang had people put together a long table in the yard in advance and also prepared meals. Southern Jiangsu had just survived the epidemic and it was no better than Shengjing. Even though there are relief medicines and food now, they still need to be frugal. The meals are very simple, and the middle There are pots of Yuanxiao, and I heard that some of them are wrapped with coins.

Lin Danqing took Lu Zhuo to the yard and sat down. Chang Jin specially opened Tusu wine, but only allowed everyone to drink a small cup to avoid trouble. Lu Zhuo only had a cup of hot water because he was taking medicine.

"Thank you for your hard work," Chang Jin stood up with a cup of wine and said with emotion, "In the past few days since I came to Southern Jiangsu, all my colleagues have worked together with one heart and one mind, sharing joys and sorrows, and fighting the epidemic together. Now that the crisis in Southern Jiangsu has been resolved, all of you here We are all heroes. I would like to toast you all and wish you all the best. No matter where you go when you return to the Medical Officers Hospital, you will always remember the days when we fought side by side in Southern Jiangsu. We will never forget our original intention and support each other. I also wish Jiangsu Southern. Well, after this epidemic, everything will be fine!"

He seemed to be drunk before he drank, and spoke a long paragraph in one breath.

Lin Danqing leaned close to Lu Zhu's ear and whispered: "Look, the old medical officer is right. Dr. Chang really wants to think about the future."

Lu Chen: "..."

The next moment, Chang Jin pointed at Lin Danqing and said, "Medical officer Lin performed well this time. He will be exempted from level three in the official examination!"

"Really?" Lin Danqing stood up happily, swept away the look of disgust he had just shown, held the wine cup and said seriously: "Thank you, doctor, I'd like to drink a glass to doctor!"

The medical officers burst out laughing.

There were noisy toasts everywhere, and Lu Yan carefully poked the Lantern Festival in the bowl with a spoon.

A large bowl of Yuanxiao in the middle of the table was given to each person, a small bowl of four, as a sign of peace in the four seasons.

Lu Zhuo slowly finished four of them and found that there was not a single coin left.

She stirred the empty porcelain bowl with a spoon. She was a little disappointed when a voice came from her ear: "Are you looking for coins?"

Lu Zhen turned around and saw Ji Xun pushing his bowl over.

She was stunned for a moment, and Ji Xun coughed lightly and explained: "I see you've been looking for it... I haven't touched this bowl. You can eat it."

He saw that Lu Zhuo was not interested in other food, and he didn't use his chopsticks much all night. He only ate the Yuanxiao in front of him cleanly, and he still seemed to be unsatisfied. After thinking about it for a while, he realized that Lu Zhuo was probably looking for coins.

It is said that eating Yuanxiao wrapped with coins will bring good luck in the new year.

"No need." Lu Tong thanked and pushed the bowl back to Ji Xun, "I'm full."

Perhaps influenced by Lin Danqing, she has recently believed in luck. However, although she wants more good luck, Ji Xun's move is inappropriate. If there is no Yuanxiao in Ji Xun's bowl, she will probably be full tonight after eating eight Yuanxiao in a row.

Ji Xun paused and was about to speak when Chang Jin's voice suddenly came from behind: "Little Master Pei."

The two looked back and saw a young man with a smile on his face outside the dormitory door. He glanced at the people at the table and walked in.

"I'm late, sorry." He said.