Chapter 229: Chapter 101 Three Little Pigs_1

After Pei Yunmeng sent over that tapestry and it was hung up, whether it was an illusion or not, more people came to Renxin Medical Hall to fetch medicines and consult about their ailments.

It was not just about seeking medicine, the majority of the new patients were mainly there to have a look at the tapestry.

The shop owners along West Street all came after hearing about it, and after obtaining Shopkeeper Du’s permission, each one of them touched the golden characters on the tapestry in hopes of rubbing off some good fortune. Blind Man He did some calculations at the doorway and proclaimed that this location already had outstanding feng shui, with the plum tree by the door flourishing in an auspicious manner. Now with the addition of this tapestry, it was like a bamboo sprouting through the earth, climbing higher from joint to joint.

This irritated Shopkeeper Bai Shouyi from Xinglin Hall so much that blisters formed at the corners of his mouth overnight.

The neighbors were filled with envy and admiration; Renxin Medical Hall was a picture of jubilant prosperity, but only Shopkeeper Du went about with a long face every day, disliking the golden, shiny tapestry hanging on the wall, finding it as incongruous as a grasshopper’s thorax and a wasp’s waist.

Yin Zheng was peeling oranges with Ah Cheng to make lanterns at a small table when Lu Tong sent away another neighbor who came to "rub off some good luck". Turning around, she met Shopkeeper Du’s resentful gaze.

Lu Tong walked past him and went to the medicine cabinet to dispense herbs.

Shopkeeper Du followed behind her, clearly displeased, "Doctor Lu, look at this, our place is a medical hall, not a temple. Everyone’s coming to worship this torn tapestry, can we even get any real work done?" He looked at Lu Tong tentatively, "How about you make a new medicine to remind everyone, huh?"

As the season grew colder, nearing winter, people layered their clothing, and the slimness of their waists was consequently less apparent; the crowd buying "Xianxian" diminished quite a bit.

Typically, the neighbours from West Street who came for medical consultation were commonfolk, with very low consultation fees, so Renxin Medical Hall’s earnings weren’t as high as in the past. Shopkeeper Du was contemplating having Lu Tong concoct another medicine similar to "Xianxian" or "Chun Shui Sheng" to subsidize the medical hall.

Lu Tong said, "I haven’t thought of a prescription yet."

"You must be kidding me," Shopkeeper Du doubted, "when you first tricked me into hiring you to sit in the hall, didn’t you say ’If I can make Nasal Congestion Herbal Tea, can’t I make other herbal teas?’ How come you’ve run out of ideas now?"

Ah Cheng, unable to stand it any longer, intervened to mediate, "Boss, making a new medicine isn’t like taking a trip to the latrine, where you just squat, and it comes out; it requires thought."

"Crude!" Shopkeeper Du pointed at him, then looked at the tapestry on the wall and sighed, "I think we should place a bowl under this tapestry with a sign that reads ’Ten coins for a touch.’ We might even earn more than running the medical hall itself."

While portioning out some burdock seeds, Lu Tong asked, "Shopkeeper Du, if I want to make a name for myself so that high officials and wealthy households all invite me for consultations, what would I need to achieve?"

Shopkeeper Du was taken aback for a moment, then scornfully replied, "Aren’t you renowned already? Aren’t officials like the Minister of Imperial Treasury and the Prince’s Mansion high enough for you?"

"Not high enough."

Shopkeeper Du: "..."

He said irritably, "Then would you kindly tell me what sort of high officials would be considerable for Doctor Lu’s regard?"

Lu Tong thought for a moment, "The Grand Preceptor’s Mansion holds the greatest power in Shengjing currently. What if it were people from a household like the Grand Preceptor’s Mansion?"

Shopkeeper Du clucked his tongue several times, looking at her with admiration, "I didn’t realize you had such ambition." The next moment, his expression turned to one of utter despair, "Forget it, though, it’s impossible. Whenever someone from the Grand Preceptor’s household has a headache or a fever, the Officer from the Hanlin Medical Institute personally tends to them. Not to mention our humble medical hall, not every Medical Officer from the Hanlin Medical Institute has the qualification to offer treatment—"

Seeing that Lu Tong remained silent, he glanced at her and continued to explain proactively, "Those nobles and high officials are extremely cautious with their lives; they wouldn’t let outsiders know about any ailments. Those of us with common status can at best offer a consultation to their servants. No wait, we’re not even qualified to enter their residences; their servants will probably go to the well-known doctors from large medical institutions."

A sense of heaviness settled in Lu Tong’s heart.

What Shopkeeper Du said matched exactly what she had learned.

Grand Preceptor Qi’s mansion was located to the east of Imperial Street, its entrance guarded by sentries, making it difficult for ordinary people to enter. When someone in the household fell ill, they summoned the Hanlin Medical Institute for treatment. Grand Preceptor Qi had a son and a daughter; his youngest daughter was eighteen and yet to be married, and as for his only legitimate son, Qi Yutai, he currently held a nominal position at the Ministry of Revenue, serving as a chief judge of the Secretariat.

These three individuals were all out of reach, not to mention Qi Qing, with Qi Miss and Young Master Qi always accompanied by a large group of guards, and even their close aides were hard to persuade.

The situation appeared to be at a standstill.

As for the Kuaihuo Tower, given its connection to the Grand Preceptor’s Mansion, the astute Lord Cao would most certainly not be willing to risk involvement for a mere sum of silver; moreover, he might notice something amiss and become suspicious.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read