Chapter 42 Ji Yun's Gift

Outside Zhaoyu Hall, Liu Sijun nimbly dismounted and exchanged a few punches with the excited Cui Dacheng and Mei Sanzhong as a greeting.

He had barely stopped when he immediately directed the two men, "Quick, help me unload those two baskets of treasure from the horse's back!"

Cui Dacheng and Mei San stepped forward, grabbed the horses, and lifted two heavy rattan baskets off the horses' backs, one on each side.

The basket was completely covered with coarse burlap, making it impossible to see what was inside.

Cui Dacheng curiously weighed it in his hand: "What kind of treasure is in here? It's round and plump?"

Mei San, holding a basket, kicked him: "What do you care what that is? Just bring it in."

Hearing the noise, Meng Yutong came out of the consultation room, stopped by the door, and watched the group's movements.

Upon seeing her, Liu Sijun's face lit up with joy. He strode forward two steps, stepped over the threshold, and stood before her, laughing loudly, "Miss Meng, how have you been! I heard you opened a clinic, so I rushed here as fast as I could to congratulate you."

He was travel-worn, his face tanned dark, which made his white teeth and bright eyes shine even brighter. He exuded a free and unrestrained spirit, as if he had been wandering the world of martial arts.

Meng Yutong smiled and said, "Young Master Liu, you must be tired from your journey. Speaking of which, the smooth opening of the clinic is also thanks to the help of Brother Cui and Brother Mei these past few days."

"Hey!" Liu Sijun waved his hand dismissively, "You helped us through a major crisis, what's a little effort from those two? Just give me whatever you need in the future."

As the two were talking, Cui Dacheng and Mei San had already carried two wicker baskets into the house and placed them steadily on the counter.

"Young master, we've left your precious little thing here. Come and open it so we can have a look!" Cui Dacheng urged.

Liu Sijun's smile deepened. He took two steps forward, beckoned Meng Yutong in, and led her to the counter.

He grabbed the basket, lifted the coarse linen cloth covering it, and revealed a basket full of dark green, egg-shaped fruits with hard, stone-like shells.

Upon closer inspection, its surface was still covered with damp pond mud, as if it had just been dug out of the pond.

"Today is the opening of my clinic, and I certainly couldn't come empty-handed. This is my opening gift for you," Liu Sijun said confidently, head held high. "Take a look! This gift is much more substantial than those fancy silks, teas, books, and such! I guarantee you'll love it!"

Meng Yutong stared at the dark fruits, her gaze narrowing slightly. She picked one up; its shell was heavy and hard, and when she brought it close, she could smell a cool, earthy odor.

She asked in surprise, "These are lotus seeds?"

"Good eye!" Liu Sijun was surprised by Meng Yutong's extensive knowledge, and his handsome eyes showed even more admiration. "It is indeed this. Last month, on my way from Qinzhou to Lin'an, I passed by an abandoned pond in the suburbs and saw some naughty children trying to skip this hard lump on the water."

“I found it strange. This thing doesn’t rot when it’s submerged in a pond, and its outer shell is harder than stone. I remembered that a medical book mentioned that ‘lotus seeds that sink in water do not spoil for years and are a holy medicine for treating dysentery,’ so I kept it in mind.”

Their family ran a large caravan business, doing all sorts of trades. In their early years, they mainly dealt in medicinal herbs, and he often read medical books with them from a young age, recognizing many medicinal herbs.

Liu Sijun casually pulled out a piece of kraft paper from his pocket, which was drawn somewhat hastily. It had the location of the pond and the depth marked on it, especially the area with the thickest silt.

"That pond was formed by the siltation of an old riverbed, and it was more than ten feet deep. This time when I came back, I specially hired a young man who was good at swimming to go down and explore. Sure enough, he pulled out these two baskets of treasures from the old silt. I don't know if we can pull out any more. I was in a hurry to come back, so I didn't ask anyone to go down again."

Meng Yutong stared at the familiar scroll of paper, her heart trembling slightly.

It turns out that the medicinal vein Liu Sijun mentioned to her in her previous life was this stone lotus seed. He pointed out the location to her back then, but she was too busy with trivial matters to check what it was.

However, she knew that Liu Sijun valued loyalty and affection, and what he had explained to her so solemnly must have been something precious. Later, after Qiu Haitang was poisoned, she made a point of remembering the location and asked Bai Zhi to give it to her grandmother, so that her efforts would not have been in vain.

Stone lotus seeds are formed from water lily seeds that have been buried in the mud at the bottom of the water for many years. Their outer shell is calcified and hard as stone. They are sweet, astringent and slightly bitter in taste. They can clear heat and stop dysentery, and stimulate appetite. They are especially good at treating chronic dysentery and dysentery with anorexia.

Because its formation requires a special environment and a long period of time, most of the lotus seeds sold in pharmacies are ordinary lotus seeds that are actually fake. Genuine aged lotus seeds are extremely rare and are more valuable than gold.

"Knowing that you run a clinic, I know this kind of good stuff will definitely come in very handy. I specially delayed a day just to prepare this generous gift for you."

Liu Sijun patted Meng Yutong on the shoulder, "This medicine is specially for treating damp-heat diarrhea. You can't find the real thing in ordinary pharmacies. Keep it safe, it might be a lifesaver someday."

Meng Yutong stroked the plump lotus seed with her fingertips, feeling its weight in her hand; the weight not only pressed on her palm but also heavily on her heart.

This item was far too precious, and she wanted to pay for it, but Liu Sijun stopped her with a smile: "Sister Yutong, you're embarrassing your brother. If it weren't for your help last time, we brothers would have lost everything, including our goods, at the Eight Treasures Pavilion. We wouldn't be where we are today. This little thing isn't even a fraction of my gratitude. If you mention money again, I'll lose my temper!"

He raised his long eyebrows, and his heroic, chivalrous aura intensified, as if he could really break off all ties with her on the spot if she didn't agree.

Meng Yutong gazed at him, her heart filled with countless emotions. Whether in her past life or this one, she hadn't helped him much, yet he had always treated her with unwavering sincerity.

The gift was valuable, but his sentiment was even more valuable.

A warmth spread through Meng Yutong's heart as she suddenly recalled her previous life. In her interactions with others, she often gave more affection than she received in return.

She wasn't one to dwell on gains and losses, but occasionally she would feel secretly saddened by this imbalance. However, in the quiet of the night, she would always silently comfort herself, telling herself it was alright, that as long as she treated others sincerely and had a clear conscience, that was enough. And the next time, she would still offer her wholehearted enthusiasm without hesitation.

This is who she used to be. Looking back now, that reckless attitude towards herself certainly made her life exhausting.

Without further hesitation, she gently placed the lotus seeds back into the bamboo basket, raised her eyes to meet Liu Sijun's gaze, her expression solemn, and a sincere smile playing on her lips: "Young Master Liu, you flatter me. In that case, I, Yutong, will accept this generous gift without hesitation."

She summoned Bai Zhi and instructed her to bring several large-diameter earthenware jars, and to thickly line the bottom of the jars with dried mugwort to prevent moisture.

Then carefully wipe each lotus seed clean, gently place them into the jar, and finally cover them with breathable fine cotton gauze.

The two baskets of lotus seeds filled four earthenware jars, and were finally placed securely deep inside the cool, well-ventilated pharmacy in the backyard.

After carefully arranging the precious lotus seeds, Bai Zhi took out a jet-black wooden box with a smooth, warm touch from somewhere and mysteriously handed it to Meng Yutong, whispering, "Miss, this was secretly given to me by Yun Zhou when he returned the umbrella. He said it was a gift from Physician Ji to thank you for lending him the umbrella yesterday. This box looks quite heavy; I wonder what's inside?"

Meng Yutong was taken aback upon hearing this. Yesterday, she had only lent him two ordinary oil-paper umbrellas to temporarily shelter from the wind and rain, so why would Ji Yun, with his aloof and taciturn nature, specially prepare a gift of thanks?

This is unlike his usual style of doing things.

With doubts in her heart, she took the black wooden box, lightly tapped the clasp with her fingertips, and opened the lid.

Inside the box, nestled on a soft lining, lay a thread-bound book with a cover made of indigo silk.

Could this be the book "Pharmacology" that Old Master Ji wrote with his life's work and is hailed as the standard for medical practitioners?

Meng Yutong's heart skipped a beat.

Grandpa Ji was extremely meticulous and demanding. Although the book had already been published, he would often recall copies for revision and re-examination because he had made new insights or discovered new remedies. This repeated process made the book extremely difficult to find on the market, and it was hailed as a treasure coveted by medical students.

She suppressed the sudden surge of emotion that welled up inside her and carefully opened the silk cover.

Beneath the cover, what catches the eye is not the neatly printed font, but the handwritten ink marks, each stroke penetrating the paper.

The handwriting was clear, vigorous, and naturally strong; it was indeed Ji Yun's calligraphy...

This was actually a complete copy of "Pharmacology" that he had personally transcribed.

As she flipped through the pages, she discovered that the book was filled with annotations in small red ink next to different paragraphs, detailing the additions, deletions, and insights from each revision, thus including the essence of each version.

This book is deeply thoughtful and of great value.

He has always been meticulous and serious, so this must have been copied down by him when he was studying medicine in private.

"So it's a medical book!" Bai Zhi also curiously came over to take a look. Although she didn't understand medical principles, seeing Meng Yutong's bright eyes and extremely serious expression, she knew that this was no ordinary item.

She commented softly, "The handwriting is so beautiful, it looks like it was printed! But..."

She paused, looked at Meng Yutong, and tentatively asked, "Miss, are you going to accept this gift? Yunzhou just handed it to me along with the umbrella, and I accepted it without thinking. Now that I think about it, I feel a little uneasy. You dislike owing favors, especially since this... this is a gift from Young Master Ji. Perhaps I should find an excuse to return it to you as is?"

With her eyelashes lowered, Meng Yutong, bathed in the warm light coming from the lobby, gently stroked the familiar yet unfamiliar words on the pages of the book, having already quietly turned several pages.

She had a deep impression of this book. Her grandmother had also kept a copy in her study, which seemed to be a handwritten copy as well. The handwriting on that copy was neat, meticulous, and precise. She had secretly glanced at it a few times when she was young and was immediately captivated by its exquisite and profound arguments.

Unfortunately, her grandmother soon discovered it. For some reason, her grandmother didn't like her reading the book. After scolding her severely, she locked the book away, and she never saw it again.

Not being able to read the book completely remained a deep regret for her.

Hearing Bai Zhi hesitate and suggest returning the book, she paused slightly, closed the book, and carefully placed it back in the box. She looked up, her expression unchanged yet quite assertive, and said, "I do dislike owing people favors for no reason. However, since he clearly stated that it was to thank me for lending him the umbrella, returning it and offering a gift are both polite and proper, so it doesn't count as owing him a favor."

After saying that, she gently pushed the wooden box back into Bai Zhi's hands, instructing her in a very natural manner: "Put it away carefully. Don't let it get damp or bumped."

Bai Zhi: "...?"

Is that how it's calculated? She held the wooden box, blinked, and felt that something about the logic didn't quite add up. But compared to the girl's calm expression, it seemed like she was overthinking things.

Meng Yutong stopped looking at her, and casually straightened the slightly wrinkled hem of her clothes, as if what she had just received was nothing more than an ordinary thank-you gift.

She turned and walked towards the lobby clinic.

Her departing figure appeared composed, but her fingertips, hanging at her sides, unconsciously twitched slightly.

It seemed as if they wanted to wipe away the lingering scent of ink from their fingertips.

Liu Sijun sat down to rest and chatted with Cui Da and Mei San about his experiences on the trip. The rest of the caravan had already returned to Qinzhou, and he planned to stay in Lin'an with Cui and Mei for a while to see if there were any new or interesting goods to sell.

Mei San took the opportunity to recount the events of the day: Li Jing's provocation and Aunt Sun's disturbance.

Upon hearing this, Liu Sijun frowned and said, "Just as I expected, those filthy scoundrels dare not act openly, so they resort to these underhanded tricks. Keeping you two here was definitely the right decision!"

"Exactly!" Cui Dacheng was still indignant. "Luckily, Miss Meng is incredibly quick-witted and saw through that woman's tricks at a glance. Not only did she not suffer a loss, but she also lost everything, having to pay for her own medical treatment. That's what you call reaping what you sow!"

Meng Yutong brewed a pot of hot tea with the Fuliang Xuehao tea given to her by He Haochuan, and the room was instantly filled with a fragrant aroma. She poured the tea for everyone.

Liu Sijun picked up the white porcelain teacup, observed the clear color of the tea soup, and then brought it close to his nose to take a light sniff. As the tea smoke rose, a delicate and elegant fragrance of orchids permeated his heart and soul.

He took a small sip and immediately felt a refreshing and sweet sensation spread from the tip of his tongue. It was slightly bitter at first, but then it turned into a long, sweet aftertaste. His throat felt refreshed and his thirst was instantly relieved.

His eyes flashed, and he couldn't help but praise, "What fine tea! Clear yet not thin, fragrant yet not overpowering, with a sweet aftertaste after the initial bitterness, and a lingering flavor. It's no less than the Dragon Ball and Phoenix Cake teas offered as tribute! Sister Yutong, may I ask what kind of celestial tea this is?"

"It's Fuliang Xuehao from Qingfeng Teahouse," Meng Yutong replied with a smile.

"Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful!" Liu Sijun exclaimed, taking another large gulp, his expression one of pure enjoyment.

Cui Dacheng and the others also took a few sips, smacked their lips, and found that it was more fragrant than ordinary tea, but they couldn't really discern much of its flavor.

Suddenly remembering something, Cui Dacheng took out the calming sachet that Meng Yutong had given him the night before and handed it to Liu Sijun: "Young master, Miss Meng knows that you are always traveling and have very light sleep, so she specially asked me to save one for you to try."

Liu Sijun took the sachet, held it under his nose and took a deep sniff. A light and soothing herbal fragrance entered his nasal cavity, as if instantly calming the fatigue and restlessness of the long journey.

He let out a long sigh of relief and exclaimed sincerely, "Great! This smell is so calming and soothing! Thank you so much, Sister Yutong, for your trouble!"

Seeing that he liked it, Meng Yutong smiled and replied, "Young Master Liu, you are too kind. Compared to the lotus seeds you gave me, this sachet is really insignificant."

"Hey!" Liu Sijun waved his hand, his gaze fixed intently on Meng Yutong. His eyes shone brightly, revealing his straightforwardness and enthusiasm. "We men and women of the martial world don't stand on ceremony. I see you're so decisive and straightforward, and we get along so well. How about we address each other as brother and sister from now on? You can call me Brother Liu; it makes me feel comfortable!"

His eyes were full of expectation, eagerly awaiting her reply, making it hard for anyone to refuse.

Inside the room, Cui Dacheng, Mei San, and the others laughed and egged them on, shouting, "Sworn brothers! Sworn brothers!"

Liu Sijun smiled and gestured with his hand: "Alright, alright, stop stirring things up, it's rude!"

Amidst laughter, Meng Yutong finally nodded slowly and called out, "Brother Liu."

"Yes!" Liu Sijun immediately responded loudly, his face beaming with joy. "Good sister! It's settled then, from now on we're family! Don't be so polite with your brother anymore!"

Outside, the bright moonlight quietly spilled over the eaves, draping the brown roof of Zhaoyutang in a hazy silver veil.

Inside, the warm lights and fragrant tea filled the air, and bursts of cheerful laughter occasionally broke the stillness of the night.

In the backyard, by the well, Wu Lin sat cross-legged, holding his precious tortoise shell, gazing up at the jade disc in the sky.

Hearing the lively sounds coming from the front hall, a faint smile appeared on his face. He lightly tapped the tortoise shell with his finger and murmured softly in the cool moonlight:

"A full moon in the courtyard signifies harmony between host, guests, and friends... Hmm, that's a good reading, very auspicious."

*

April 16th, heavy rain.

When waters collide, wealth flows in; when thunder is hidden in the clouds, innovation and breaking new ground are beneficial.

Large raindrops pounded on the green tiles of the Songfeng Courtyard of the Meng Family Mansion, making a crackling sound and weaving a white curtain of water.

The room was dimly lit. Madam Meng, Jiang Yunshang, sat upright in a rosewood armchair, carefully reviewing the medicinal herb ledgers from the past few months by the light of a glass lamp on the table.

The sound of pages turning mingled with the sound of rain outside the window, creating a dull and oppressive atmosphere.

Granny Wu quietly stepped forward and gently draped a dark Hangzhou silk outer garment over her shoulders, whispering, "Madam, with the rain so heavy, are you still going to the shop to check on things today?"

Jiang Yunshang's gaze never left the ledger, but her brows were furrowed.

As fingertips traced lines of ink, the familiar names of pharmacies were revealed to be accompanied by a gradual decrease in purchases. Herbs like Panax notoginseng, Coptis chinensis, and Angelica sinensis, once in high demand, were now showing signs of sluggish sales.

The cash flow has visibly thinned in the past two months.

She knew in her heart that the Meng family was not the only one in Lin'an City engaged in the medicinal herb business. She was aloof and disdainful of scheming and flattery, and since her husband's death, those old relationships that had lasted for many years had gradually faded away.

With the new rulers in power, who would still recognize their old ways?

She inexplicably recalled the words Meng Yutong had spoken that night when he resolutely asked her to annul the engagement: 'The family business may seem to still have a solid foundation, but in reality, it's like being trapped in a lonely city; sales are declining day by day, and its vitality is gradually withering.'

She is right. Now that the marriage ties with the Ji family are gone, there is no way to leverage that connection to turn the situation around.

The once vast family business, like an old tree infested with insects, gradually withered away.

She looked up at the torrential rain outside the window, the rain blurring the view of the courtyard.

After a long pause, he said calmly, "Go. Go when the rain subsides."

She turned another page of the ledger, her fingertips tapping unconsciously on the table, then suddenly asked, "How has she been these past few days?"

The question was directed at Meng Yutong.

Since the bet was made that night, exempting her from the daily greetings, she completely let go of her granddaughter, ignoring her and letting her run wild outside.

More than half a month passed, and I vaguely heard that the girl had actually opened a clinic on Peach Blossom Street.

Jiang Yunshang's lips twitched upwards very slightly. It seemed that all the skills she had been taught over the years had not been wasted.

Upon hearing this, Granny Wu slapped her forehead: "Look at my memory! Last night, the eldest young lady returned to the manor and asked me to pass on some things to you. Seeing that you had already retired for the night, I accepted them."

As she spoke, she turned to get it.

Jiang Yunshang remained noncommittal, but the rhythm of her tapping on the table slowed down.

Before long, Granny Wu returned carrying some things. Behind her followed a girl wearing a peach-pink jacket.

The girl followed behind with her head bowed, but her slender eyes couldn't help but dart around, taking in everything. Only when they entered the warm, shadowy room did she raise her head and force a slightly stiff smile: "Grandmother, your granddaughter has come to pay her respects."

A hint of helplessness flashed across Jiang Yunshang's eyes.

She had stopped paying her respects to Meng Yurou many years ago. The child was impetuous and feared her like a tiger; every time she came, it was like being tortured, and she found it an eyesore.

But ever since she ordered Aunt Qin to return Liu's dowry, this girl has been coming to show up every day without fail, presumably at the behest of her birth mother.

They arrived but said nothing, sitting there for half an hour as if they had just completed a task.

Jiang Yunshang simply waved her hand, indicating that she should do as she pleased.

The item presented by Granny Wu was an exquisite moon-white satin sachet and a folded letter.

The sachet is made of plain white satin, embroidered with a cluster of blooming pomegranate flowers using rich and vibrant crimson and golden orange silk threads.

The petals unfold layer by layer, as if you can smell the vibrant life under the scorching summer sun. The stamens are adorned with golden threads, dazzling in their splendor. The overwhelming flamboyance and passion almost break through the elegant background.

“Look, Madam,” Granny Wu said with a smile, holding up the sachet. “This is a new calming sachet made by the eldest daughter. She said that the one she gave you years ago was probably not as effective, so she specially changed the formula and made it again. Her Zhaoyutang also sells these now!”

Seeing that Jiang Yunshang's gaze had fallen on the sachet and that her brows seemed to have softened, she quickly praised, "Look how vividly this pomegranate flower is embroidered! Young lady, your embroidery skills have really improved a lot!"

"Hmph," Jiang Yunshang snorted coldly, her fingertips tracing the full outline of the pomegranate flower. "The stitches here are clearly not her work. Her embroidery is truly 'horrible.' It's probably Bai Zhi, the girl beside her. That little girl is quite skillful."

His tone conveyed understanding, yet also a hint of disappointment.

Granny Wu smiled and smoothed things over: "That's just the eldest daughter's filial piety, isn't it? The eldest daughter is just a little lacking in needlework, but she excels in everything else."

"Ha," Jiang Yunshang snorted again and began to criticize, "Outstanding? Tell me, where is she outstanding? Her handwriting has been terrible since she was little, like a dog crawling on the ground! What respectable young lady's handwriting is that ugly?"

"And this needlework, even more so... sigh!" She recalled how, in order to earn a good reputation for Meng Yutong, she had forced her to practice calligraphy every day until she finally managed to make her handwriting passable. To outsiders, she only praised Bai Zhi for her exquisite embroidery work, barely maintaining the facade of "dignified and virtuous, knowledgeable in calligraphy and painting, and skilled in needlework."

This embroidery skill was truly a knot in her heart that she could never get rid of.

Meng Yurou sat idly to the side, listening to her grandmother's conversation with Granny Wu, feeling resentful.

Her aunt instructed her to behave well so that her grandmother would like her.

Seeing that her grandmother seemed dissatisfied with the sachet her eldest sister had given her, she felt that an opportunity had come.

Her eyes darted around, and she pointed at the sachet, her voice deliberately raised a few decibels, carrying a hint of innocence but sounding rather sarcastic:

“Grandmother is right! Why is the calming sachet embroidered with such a gaudy bright red pomegranate flower? It doesn’t look like it was specially prepared for Grandmother; it looks like it was just bought casually from outside. Grandmother is of a certain age and status. Wouldn’t people laugh at you if you wore this color out? Eldest sister is so careless!”

After he finished speaking, the room fell silent.