Chapter 22
After chatting in the backyard, it was time for lunch.
Under Liu Niang's guidance, Shi Yanqing successfully made a bowl of birthday noodles. She scooped a spoonful of the mixed sauce that Zhou Hangui liked and covered it with the fried egg.
Finally, a bowl of fragrant and hot birthday noodles is ready to be served!
"How is it delicious?" Shi Yanqing looked at Zhou Hangui eating noodles expectantly and couldn't help asking.
Zhou Angui took a big bite, and there was still some noodles in his mouth that he hadn't swallowed. He just nodded heavily to indicate that it was delicious.
After swallowing the noodles, he added, "It's delicious! It's the best birthday noodles I've ever had!"
Shi Yanqing smiled happily, "If it tastes good, eat more. I will make it for you later."
As she spoke, Zhou Hanzhang, who had been eating in silence beside her, couldn't help but look up at his younger brother who was immersed in eating noodles, with a hint of jealousy.
Zhou Hangui: Hmm? Why do you feel a little cold?
He looked up for a moment, but didn't notice anything unusual, so he continued eating his noodles. These were birthday noodles made by his sister-in-law, and they were super delicious!
After a satisfying meal, Liu Niang and the two newly bought maids cleared the dishes on the table and carried them to the kitchen to wash.
The two maids were both fifteen or sixteen years old. They were sold to the pawnbroker because of their poor family background. As long as they saved enough money, they could redeem themselves and leave.
Their names were Yuanhong and Yuanlu, and they followed Liu Niang in the kitchen to cook, wash dishes and do laundry.
After drinking the fragrant Pu'er tea, Shi Yanqing felt comfortable all over.
She sat on a pearwood chair, listening to Dan Ye reporting on matters related to the pharmacy, watching Zhou Hangui and Zhou Hanzhang walking around the flower beds and plants in the yard, feeling the leisure after dinner.
"Madam, the owner of the medicine shop has been busy dealing with the funeral arrangements for his mother who passed away. He said he doesn't have the energy to manage the shop and wants to resign."
Shi Yanqing took a sip of tea and said, "There's not much to do in the shop anyway. I can take charge of it for a while. If he insists, we can find a new manager."
Tan Ye understood immediately after hearing this, and her tone rose: "Once Manager Sun knows what Madam means, he will definitely be grateful."
Next, Shi Yanqing dealt with several matters regarding the purchase of medicinal materials. After explaining the details one by one, she asked Dan Ye to do it according to her requirements.
"Yanqing," Zhou Hanzhang walked in after Dan Ye left, his face beaming with a smile. "I usually work at the county office, so I rarely ask what you're busy with back home. Today I've learned that you're not much less busy than I am."
He walked to the pearwood chair next to Shi Yanqing and sat down, and asked Shi'an to serve him a cup of Pu'er tea.
I ate a little too much today. After taking a walk in the yard, I still feel a little full.
Shi Yanqing noticed him rubbing his belly and smiled inwardly, "I don't usually have anything to do, but when something does happen, everything will appear at once."
"By the way, do you want to take Hangui to the temple outside the city to worship this afternoon? We've been in Yunshui County for so long, and we haven't gone out to play."
Zhou Hanzhang thought for a moment and shook his head: "I have things to deal with this afternoon, and time is too tight. We can go out together when he comes back."
He received a message yesterday that the new legal advisor had arrived in Yunshui County, and he would take time to meet him in the afternoon.
Tell that person about the current situation of the county government.
Shi Yanqing was not disappointed when she received a rejection. This was just a sudden surge of interest in her. Thinking about it carefully, she was afraid that she would not be able to fall asleep until late at night after all this going on, which would affect Han Gui's spirits for the next day.
She changed the subject and told Zhou Hanzhang the information she had learned from Pang Guan in the morning. After all, he was the county magistrate, and since witchcraft had occurred in Yunshui County and caused the deaths of civilians, he could not escape the empress's punishment.
Now we can only take timely remedial measures, take precautions and investigate secretly.
"I have asked Shi'an to secretly investigate the doctors at Xinglin Hall," Zhou Hanzhang raised his hand and pinched the back of his neck, rubbing it a few times. He had been sitting at the desk working hard for a while, and his neck was a little stiff.
"Through investigation, Shi'an discovered that Doctor Xu had been practicing in Yunshui County for twenty years, but only started practicing at Xinglin Hall six years ago. The rest of the doctors also started practicing in Yunshui County six years ago. There was originally another clinic in the county, but a doctor there made a mistake in prescribing medication and killed someone, so the clinic closed down."
Shi Yanqing had some vague guesses in her mind, as the manager of the dental shop once said that the predecessor of her pharmacy was a medical clinic.
"After the clinic closed, many of the patients who had received treatment there came to Xinglin Hall," Zhou Hanzhang said finally.
He had been investigating this matter for a long time, and this was all he knew so far. Although it wasn't much, the information revealed was shocking enough.
The secret controller of Yunshui County Medical Clinic is the witch doctor.
It can be said that the people of the entire Yunshui County are controlled by witch doctors. As long as they need to see a doctor or take medicine, there is a chance that they will be poisoned by the witch doctors.
Shi Yanqing also thought of this. She couldn't help but frown and felt a little worried about the people here.
"As the saying goes, the emperor is far away. Even if Your Majesty sends people here to investigate the witch doctor forces, it can only temporarily intimidate them, but cannot completely eliminate them."
"Han Zhang, I want to open a clinic here to treat the people." Shi Yanqing did not ask for opinions, but made the decision directly.
She had not realized before that the witch doctor was the person behind Xinglintang. Now that she knows, she must take measures to fight against the witch doctor's actions.
Opening a clinic is the basis of all actions.
Zhou Hanzhang didn't ask why. He knew what she wanted to do. Coincidentally, he was also ready to take action for it.
"I'll write to Grandfather and tell him all about it, and then we can go ahead and do it."
Upon hearing this, Shi Yanqing looked into Zhou Hanzhang's eyes and saw himself in them.
For some reason, she smiled, briefly but brilliantly.
After the unconscious woman woke up, Dan Ye went to tell Shi Yanqing.
"Madam, I asked her name and where she came from. She just said she was homeless and that's why she fainted outside."
Shi Yanqing pushed open the door of the wing room. The furnishings inside were very simple. There were a few calligraphy and paintings hanging on the wall and a few pots of green leaves in the corner.
The bed was inside, and the woman was sitting on it, staring blankly into the air.
Shi Yanqing increased the volume of his footsteps to attract the woman's attention.
"You're awake. How do you feel? Are you feeling any discomfort anywhere?" She sat on the round stool beside the bed and asked in a gentle voice.
The woman's eyes moved, and the peach blossom mole under her eye was very attractive. A hint of red appeared at the corner of her eye. "Thank you, madam, for saving my life. My name is Yan Rong. I am not feeling unwell now."
Yan...Rong..., Shi Yanqing silently repeated this name in his heart, and felt that it suited her very well.
"It's not really saving your life. I just brought you back to the mansion. Where is your home? I will send someone to take you back now to avoid worrying your relatives."
Tears streamed down Yan Rong's eyes. She wiped them away with her hand and lowered her eyes, saying, "I lost my parents when I was young, and my younger brother and I have been dependent on each other for life. But not long ago, my younger brother died of a sudden illness, and I am now left without any relatives."
Shi Yanqing saw her crying so hard that her eyes were filled with tears. He felt sorry for her and asked, "Have you found some work to support yourself?"
Yan Rong shed tears and shook her head. "I'm a timid person and don't dare to do jobs that would expose me to the public. I'm not good at embroidery, so I can't make money from it. These past few days I've been living on the copper coins my younger brother left behind. I spent the last copper coin last night. I was so hungry this morning that I fainted outside."
Shi Yanqing tried to comfort her softly, trying to bring her out of her sadness. "It's okay. Even though you can't make money, you haven't given up yet, have you? I have a job that suits you. Think about it when you go back."
Since she had decided to open a clinic, she had to rent a shop and recruit employees. Most of the work in the clinic required seeing patients, but there were also some that did not require her to be in person.
Shi Yanqing decided to give Yan Rong a chance to make money to support herself. It depends on whether she is willing to seize this opportunity.
"If Madam is willing to help me, I am naturally willing to do so."
"Okay," Shi Yanqing was very happy when he heard this.
She thought of Yan Rong's current situation and said, "It's fine if you're willing. But there's still some time before you start work. During this time, I'll give you some silver as advance payment. Is that okay with you?"
Yan Rong nodded, her eyebrows curved: "Okay!"
After going out, Dan Ye followed Shi Yanqing, hesitant to speak.
She held it in all the way until she returned to the backyard, then she asked, "Madam, do you believe what Yan Rong said?"
Shi Yanqing shook his head: "I don't believe it."
"Then why do you still help her and let her stay in the clinic?"
Shi Yanqing recalled the details he had just observed. Yanrong's skin was fair and delicate, her teeth were white, her fingers were pink and slender, without any calluses. It was obvious at a glance that she was a lady who had never touched women.
She sighed slowly, "I don't know her background or her purpose. She suddenly appeared in front of us, isn't she just trying to get close to us? In that case, I'll give her this opportunity. Keeping someone under your nose and monitoring them is better than being stabbed in the back. At least, we can prepare in advance."
Hearing this, Dan Ye also understood.
"I will keep an eye on her every move and prevent her from endangering the Madam and the Master."
Shi Yanqing: "Thank you for your hard work."
······
The backyard of the Qian Mansion.
Mrs. Qian was watching with a worried look on her face as her son was being chased and beaten by her husband. She was supported by her personal maid and stood aside. She couldn't help but want to step forward to stop it.
"Master, calm down. Your son is back now. Why don't you sit down and have a good talk? What are you doing?"
Master Qian was panting from the chase. He leaned against a wooden chair to catch his breath, trying to calm himself. "Talk? I've talked to him before! This rebellious son is determined not to study and wants to become a playboy and wander the world. Does he still have me as his father, and does he even have this family in his eyes?"
"Dad," Qian Yueshu, hiding behind a flowerpot, poked his head out and shouted, "I didn't say I wouldn't study anymore. I just wanted to stop for the next two years and continue my studies after I return from my travels. You only listened to half of what I said and got angry, and even beat me whenever you saw me. I had no choice but to hide away!"
Mrs. Qian said in a supportive tone, "Yes, Master, listen, my son never said he wouldn't study for the imperial examination. Let's sit down and have some tea to relax."
But Mr. Qian was still furious. He picked up the whip in his hand and chased Qian Yueshu behind the flowerpot.
"The traitor! The traitor!"
Seeing this, Qian Yueshu knew he was going to get beaten again today. He turned and ran out of the yard, shouting, "Dad, Mom, I suddenly remembered that Brother Lin wanted to talk to me about something. I'll be out first and back tonight!"
Soon, his figure disappeared from Master Qian's sight.
The maid helped Madam Qian walk to Master Qian's side. She sighed, "Master, your son is gone too. Now you can sit down and rest for a while."
Master Qian threw the whip in his hand to the ground and said, "Why are you taking a break? I still need to go see Jin Shou."
Jinshou, Mr. Qian's pet turtle.
Qian Yueshu ran out of the Qian Mansion. He said that Lin Zhi had something to talk to him about, but it was just an excuse.
After coming out, he was like a headless fly with no destination and could only wander around outside.
Zhou Hanzhang came to Yuelai Inn according to the address in the letter. His master was staying here at the time.
Entering the inn, the waiter came to greet him. He quickly glanced at Zhou Hanzhang and asked, "Sir, would you like to have a meal or see someone?"
Zhou Hanzhang: "Looking for someone, a scholar in a wheelchair."
The clerk knew all the guests in the store, especially those with obvious appearances. Without thinking, he said, "Sir, you are late. The guest you mentioned left half an hour ago. If you are not in a hurry, why don't you wait in the store for a while?"
Zhou Hanzhang didn't have to deal with any official business later, but he had to accompany his younger brother today, so he took the time to come out.
He hesitated for a moment, but after thinking for a moment, he decided to leave his address to the waiter and ask the waiter to inform him when he returned.
After leaving the inn, Zhou Hanzhang had only taken a few steps when he heard a clear male voice calling him.
"Master Zhou!"
The voice sounded familiar, Zhou Hanzhang thought.
He turned around and looked up, only to see Qian Yueshu pushing a young man in a wheelchair towards him.
Isn’t it a coincidence that the young man is the advisor Zhou Hanzhang is looking for - Lu Jue.
"Hanzhang, long time no see. Your aura is different now than before. You have a bit of official authority." Lu Jue smiled gently and looked at Zhou Hanzhang lightly.
After hearing Lu Jue say this, Qian Yueshu realized that the two knew each other.
His cheeks moved slightly, but he didn't say anything and stood quietly behind the wheelchair.
Seeing that his friend was not trapped by the past, Zhou Hanzhang's worries dissipated a lot. He curled his lips and said, "Don't worry, you will have it after you take office."
After saying that, he looked at Qian Yueshu. He still had some impression of this Young Master Qian, a naive and lively young man from a wealthy family.
Qian Yueshu's heart tightened when he saw Zhou Hanzhang looking at him, and he quickly said, "Master Zhou, so you and Lu Jue know each other."
"Lu Jue was knocked to the ground just now. I happened to see him and took him back to the inn. Since you are here, I won't stay any longer. My father is waiting for me to go home for dinner, so I'm leaving first!"
After saying that, Qian Yueshu hurriedly said goodbye to Lu Jue and ran away.
Lu Jue couldn't help but laugh out loud: "What did you do to him that he is so afraid of you?"
Zhou Hanzhang remembered that Qian Yueshu hadn't acted like this the last time they met. He shook his head and said, "This is only our second meeting. What can we do?"
"Forget it. I'll push you back to the house and have a good chat with you about what happened in the county government office."
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