Huajia Tofu Shop is located at the entrance of an alley, with a clump of banana trees planted at the entrance, bringing a touch of coolness to the hot summer days.
The summer heat in Nanyue was like an oven. Even though it was only a few minutes' walk and she was holding an umbrella, Xiao Qingyin was still covered in sweat when she arrived at Hua's Tofu Shop.
I really want a bowl of tofu pudding.
A young woman dressed in a coarse cloth long skirt, with her hair in a topknot, and a face as beautiful as a peach blossom, is standing in front of the counter serving tofu pudding to customers.
"Would you prefer sweet or savory, sir?"
The diner was a young man who was staring at the woman with a fascination. When he heard the question, it took him a while to react before he replied, "It has to be sweet, just like you, Fangniang."
Zhao Xu's face darkened instantly.
These shameless people, they even try to take advantage of Fangniang while eating a bowl of tofu pudding, they deserve a beating!
Fangniang seemed to notice his muttering and cast a warning glance at him, urging him not to make any rash moves.
Zhao Xu stood obediently in place, looking down at his toes, just like a scolded puppy.
After the customers left, he led Xiao Qingyin into the tofu shop.
"Fangniang, this is the Doctor Ye I told you about. She is very skilled in medicine and can definitely cure your mother."
Xiao Qingyin coughed lightly.
"Let's see the patient first."
You've made promises for her without even meeting her. What if she can't cure it?
Giving people hope only to then disappoint them—isn't that just needlessly hurting their feelings?
Eager to take credit, Zhao Xu realized his wording was imprecise after her reminder and quickly corrected himself: "Let her see if she can cure it."
Fangniang seemed to be used to his impetuous behavior and chuckled, "Alright, thank you for your hard work. This way, Doctor Ye."
The tofu shop had a front shop and a back residence structure, with Fangniang and her daughter living in the back residence.
After Xiao Qingyin followed her into the house, she saw Aunt Hua picking beans.
Aunt Hua's features are exactly like Fang Niang's, only they are covered with the marks of time. But true beauty lies in the bone structure, not just the skin. Even when she gets old, she will still be a beauty.
Zhao Xu has pretty good eyesight.
"Mom, if your eyes hurt, don't pick up the beans."
Fangniang stepped forward and moved the bean basket in front of her mother.
"Da Lang has invited a doctor over; please have her examine your eyes."
Aunt Hua looked up at Xiao Qingyin and said in surprise, "She's a female doctor? That's rare."
After greeting her, Xiao Qingyin examined her and found that apart from a stye, she had no other symptoms.
However, her abscess was quite severe and required surgery to drain the pus.
Draining pus isn't a big deal, but the problem is that the pus has spread to her entire lower eyelid, making anesthesia impossible and requiring surgical intervention.
Seeing her frown, Zhao Xu's heart tightened, and he cautiously asked, "Is this difficult to treat?"
“It’s easy to cure,” Xiao Qingyin replied, “but you’ll have to suffer a bit.”
She explained her treatment plan.
Before Zhao Xu could speak, Aunt Hua laughed and said, "I've endured the pain of childbirth, so what's a few cuts on my eyelids? I can handle it. Just go ahead and do it."
Her sty has been swollen for over a month, and she's so frustrated she wants to cut it out herself.
"Okay, then I'll help you drain the pus."
Xiao Qingyin opened her medical kit, took out a thin knife, cut open the affected area, scraped off the pus plug, and then applied medicine.
To minimize Aunt Hua's pain, she acted quickly, but even so, it still took some time.
Aunt Hua has remarkable endurance; she didn't utter a single cry of pain throughout the entire ordeal.
After Xiao Qingyin finished applying the medicine, she praised her, "You're really amazing, you can even withstand being cut with knives."
Aunt Hua, afraid of hurting herself, simply smiled in response.
"Don't get the incision wet," Xiao Qingyin instructed, handing a bottle of ointment to Aunt Hua. "Apply this ointment three times a day, morning, noon, and night. I'll come back for a follow-up appointment in three days."
"Thank you, Dr. Ye."
Fangniang said gratefully.
"Are you thirsty? Would you like a bowl of tofu pudding?"
Xiao Qingyin could not obtain it.
"I wanted a bowl as soon as I walked in."
After tasting the tofu pudding made by Fangniang, Xiao Qingyin gave a thumbs up: "Delicious, so sweet and refreshing."
"If you like it, please have some more."
"Then I won't stand on ceremony."
Xiao Qingyin drank three bowls of tofu pudding before putting down her bowl.
I have to say again that Zhao Xu has a good eye. Although the Hua family is a small family, Fangniang is beautiful, sweet-talking, and has good skills. The mother and daughter can support a small business, which is much better than those rich girls who don't know the hardships of life.
Aunt Hua had long taken a liking to the handsome Zhao Xu. It was rare to meet someone she knew about Zhao Xu, so after recovering, she came to ask Xiao Qingyin about him.
"Dalang said he lost his mother when he was six years old. His father was biased and abandoned him after marrying a stepmother. Now he has given the family business to his younger brother, and he doesn't even have a proper job. It's really heartbreaking."
So that's how Zhao Xu kept his background a secret from the Hua family mother and daughter?
Although the facts are quite different, every word is correct.
Xiao Qingyin nodded: "This child has had a very difficult life."
And then there's bad luck.
Zhao Xu's lips twitched when he heard the word "child".
Don't be so old-fashioned, okay? He's a few years older than her.
Fangniang, however, felt that the word "Xiao Qingyin" was used extremely accurately.
Dalang is just a half-grown child.
If a customer says something unpleasant, he'll try to kick them out. If he were to run the business himself, he'd definitely lose all his money.
Aunt Hua was relieved and smiled, "Although our tofu shop doesn't make much money, it's enough to support a family. I only have one child, Fangniang. Once she gets married, the young couple can make a living by running the tofu shop, even if they don't have any other assets."
This means that the speaker acknowledges Zhao Xu's abilities.
Zhao Xu understood, and his smile stretched so wide it almost reached his ears.
Xiao Qingyin: It's unbearable to watch.
Before leaving, Fangniang wanted to pay Xiao Qingyin's consultation fee, but Xiao Qingyin pointed to Zhao Xu and said, "He has already paid."
“That won’t do,” Fangniang glared at Zhao Xu. “This is my mother, not his. I should pay for it.”
After saying that, he asked Zhao Xu how much silver he had paid.
"Just fifty coins."
Zhao Xu lied without batting an eye.
Fangniang cast a questioning look at Xiao Qingyin, who nodded.
Yes, the consultation fee is fifty coins, and the rest is for medicine.
Fangniang then returned the money to Zhao Xu.
Zhao Xu reluctantly accepted it: "Talking about money hurts our relationship. We're such good friends, why are you being so formal with me?"
Fangniang spat at him: "Who said I'm on good terms with you? Don't tarnish my reputation."
Zhao Xu laughed like a complete idiot.
Xiao Qingyin watched from the side and felt that their good news was not far away.
Will Zhao Xu invite her to his wedding?
Even if he is not favored, there should still be many people at his wedding banquet. If all the celebrities from the Southeast Prefecture come, wouldn't she be able to take the opportunity to find the Prince Xian?
Xiao Qingyin patiently waited for the right opportunity.
Unexpectedly, what awaited him was not a wedding banquet, but Zhao Xu's heartbreak.
It was the day after she had a follow-up visit to Aunt Hua. She and Yi Shuihan were strolling on the street when they passed a small tavern and saw Zhao Xu lying at the entrance of the tavern.
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