Chapter 29, Zhaoyu Hall
Three days later, the night was deep.
Peach Blossom Street was shrouded in silence. The daytime hustle and bustle had long since dissipated, leaving only the distant sound of the night watchman's clapper echoing from the Imperial Street across the bridge.
Two plain white lanterns swayed gently in the evening breeze, their dim yellow light spreading into two hazy, warm colors on the bluestone path, casting long, slender, and unsteady shadows of Meng Yutong and Bai Zhi.
The two, master and servant, stood before the door, their steps dappled with lamplight. Bai Zhi reached out and gently pushed open the half-closed inn door.
Inside the inn, only one oil lamp was lit, its wick smoldering with tiny flames, casting a dim light that barely illuminated the small space.
Sitting upright at the elmwood eight-immortal table, Wu Lin was slowly sipping warm water, a long-lost sense of comfort radiating from his brow. After taking the "calming and mind-stabilizing soup" for three consecutive days, the tightness in his chest had completely disappeared, he slept soundly at night, and his mind was much clearer.
Across from him, Wu Ming propped his head up with his hand, his eyelids drooping heavily, and his head bobbing up and down like a chick pecking at rice, almost hitting the table.
Several freshly written contracts were neatly laid out on the table, the ink still damp. A brush, ink, and a box of red inkpad were all quietly placed to the side.
This is a lease agreement that Wu Lin carefully drafted according to the prevailing market practices.
Today marks the three-day meeting that I had arranged with Meng Yutong.
During the day, the grandfather and grandson discussed it and felt that the matter was feasible, so Wu Ming went to the Meng residence to deliver the message. However, Meng Yutong set the signing of the contract for midnight. Although Wu Ming felt strange at the time, he did not ask any questions. When he returned, he explained to his grandfather, and the two waited at the inn as agreed.
It wasn't until three quarters past 9 PM that a cool night breeze swept through the hall, causing the flame of the oil lamp inside to flicker up and down.
A series of light yet steady footsteps approached from afar.
Hearing the noise, Wu Lin looked up and saw Meng Yutong leading Bai Zhi into the dim light.
"Some miscellaneous matters at the manor have kept me waiting. I apologize for the delay."
Meng Yutong spoke gently, apologizing with a smile on her face, and calmly stepped into the hall.
Bai Zhi followed behind her, steadily carrying a bamboo food box in her hand.
"It's so late at night, you two must be hungry. This is a late-night snack that my young lady made herself." Bai Zhi said as she gently placed the food box in the center of the octagonal table.
Upon opening the lid, an enticing aroma of food immediately wafted out, stirring the appetite.
Startled by the aroma, Wu Ming abruptly raised his head, all sleepiness vanished, and his eyes widened as he stared into the food box: in the center was a bowl of golden, glistening astragalus-stewed chicken, next to it was a plate of vibrant green stir-fried bamboo shoots, a plate of dark brown, oily braised tofu with shiitake mushrooms, and a small pot of warmed Shaoxing wine.
A combination of meat and vegetables, brightly colored, and steaming hot, this is the perfect dish for nourishing the body in spring.
He couldn't help but swallow hard.
“The old man has a weak stomach and can’t digest all this oily food in the middle of the night,” Wu Ming said, but his hands moved as fast as lightning. He picked up the food box and moved it to a slightly smaller square table next to him. He impatiently laid out the dishes one by one and turned to shout at them, “Hurry up and sign them, so I can enjoy my meal in peace.”
Before the words were even finished, the person had already sat down, grabbed their chopsticks, and devoured the food with gusto, smacking their lips loudly as they ate.
Wu Lin glanced at his grandson with disdain and waved his hand helplessly: "Ignore this glutton! Let him be!"
He immediately composed himself and solemnly pushed the few pages of the contract on the table in front of Meng Yutong: "Miss Meng, I have used the prescription you wrote for a few days and it is indeed effective. I was indeed judging you by your appearance before, so please don't take offense."
"I've drafted a rough outline based on common market practices. Please take a closer look at the terms. The rent is for a minimum of one year, with an annual rent of one hundred and twenty taels of silver and a deposit of twenty taels. During the term, you are responsible for all repairs, large and small, inside and outside the inn, while I am responsible for any damage to the main beams or structure of the building."
If both parties have no objections after one year, the contract can be renewed. If the young lady finds nothing amiss, the contract can be finalized and sealed tonight, so you can begin setting up the clinic as soon as possible.”
Meng Yutong took the contract and carefully read it word by word by the dim light. She read it very attentively, her slender fingers occasionally tracing lightly across the pages.
A moment later, she handed the contract back and said gently, "Sir, your considerations are thorough and the terms are clear. There is nothing wrong with it. However, regarding the matter of inviting Brother Wu Ming to join my clinic as a partner that I mentioned last time, do you think it would be possible to attach another clause to this contract as an agreement?"
Wu Lin was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, his hand stroking his beard froze in mid-air, and a hint of surprise and scrutiny flashed in his eyes. He had originally thought that Meng Yutong's words that day were mostly just a gesture of comfort. After all, his relationship with Meng Yutong was merely a business transaction involving renting a shop.
He hadn't really intended for that guy to 'partner' with him, so he hadn't mentioned it when writing the contract today. He just hadn't expected that the girl would actually be prepared to keep her promise.
His gaze swept over his grandson, who was wolfing down his food, and then returned to Meng Yutong's calm and sincere eyes. After a moment of contemplation, he finally nodded slowly: "I admire your integrity, young lady. In that case, I will add it as you say."
He picked up his pen, dipped it in ink, and neatly added the specific clauses regarding Wu Ming's joining the business, his five percent share, and his wages to the blank space at the end of the contract.
Both parties had no further objections. Meng Yutong and Wu Lin each signed their names at the end of the contract, and then, dipping their fingers in the crimson ink, firmly affixed their personal seals to their names and the newly added clauses. Two copies were made, each kept by their respective parties.
Wu Lin carefully folded his copy of the contract, put it in his pocket, and instructed, "Tomorrow, young lady, take this 'License Certificate' to the yamen, pay 600 cash for the contract and 100 cash for paper money, and you will receive the official seal and 'Approval Certificate'. Only then will this contract be the official document."
Thus, the agreement was finalized.
A smile appeared on Meng Yutong's face. She carefully put away the contract, nodded to Wu Lin, and thanked him.
Wu Ming, his mouth greasy from eating, saw that the matter was settled and, with his cheeks puffed out, mumbled, "It's done! Miss Meng, from now on we're all in the same boat! Our clinic definitely needs to work harder and squeeze into the top ten on the official register as soon as possible!"
He patted his belly, feeling full of energy, as if he could already see himself dressed in new clothes, welcoming and seeing off patients in a magnificent medical clinic.
"By the way, Miss Meng, what's the name of our clinic?"
“It’s called Zhaoyutang. A doctor’s heart is benevolent, like a bright candle illuminating a dark corner. Even if someone is suffering from illness and distress in a remote place, we should still shine our light, comfort them, and heal them,” Meng Yutong said, her eyes calm as she looked at Wu Lin. “My initial thought of entering the world to practice medicine was thanks to the divination you performed for me nine years ago. Now, taking over your inn as a clinic may be the will of Heaven.”
A hint of satisfaction appeared in Wu Lin's eyes. He laughed heartily, nodded, and said loudly, "It's a good name."
Meng Yutong turned to Wu Ming: "Brother Wu Ming, can the inn remain open as usual for the next few days? After I finish the medical examination in four days, I will bring people to modify the layout and do some simple renovations."
Wu Ming replied, "You're the manager, I'll listen to you!"
Upon hearing this, Meng Yutong smiled gently, her light smile rippling like waves under the lamplight. She hoped that Zhaoyutang could truly provide convenience for those suffering from illness, so that perhaps there would be fewer people like her mother in this world.
The two bid farewell to Wu Lin and his grandson, then turned and stepped into the deeper night outside the door.
The two lanterns in front of the inn emitted a warm, dim yellow light in the night, quietly illuminating a corner of Peach Blossom Street.
*
As night deepened, inside the Ji residence.
The serene courtyard was bathed in the soft moonlight, and the sparse shadows of a few old plum trees were cast obliquely on the window screen.
Inside the brocade tent, Li Wan tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
Feeling restless and unable to find peace, she sighed and finally sat up, wrapped in the quilt. She reached out and pulled a fragrant pillow beside her into her arms, her fingertips gently tracing its surface, a hint of sorrow lingering between her brows.
The scented pillow in her hand emitted a light, refreshing fragrance, yet it could not soothe the turmoil in her heart.
The slight noise woke Ji Hongye, who was beside her. He got up, took a soft satin outer garment from the bedside clothes rack, and gently draped it over her thin shoulders.
His gentle gaze fell on his wife's slightly furrowed brow, and his voice was low and concerned: "Wanwan, since the Meng family broke off the engagement, you've been looking rather downcast these past few days. Are you worried about Yun'er's future?"
Although Li Wan held the title of princess, she possessed none of the arrogance of royalty. Instead, she resembled the plum blossom she loved, pure and aloof, indifferent to worldly splendor.
When she reached marriageable age, the emperor selected a consort for her. The garden was full of talented men from prominent families, but Li Wan didn't even glance at them, leaving everyone else in the garden to admire the plum blossoms by herself.
The Emperor was furious and said, "Let her go."
At that time, she fell ill while admiring plum blossoms, and Ji Hongye, who was then the Crown Prince's tutor, was summoned to the palace to treat her.
That day, he walked through the plum grove into the princess's palace, his sleeves tinged with a cool fragrance.
Li Wan's vision was blurry, but she could only see his upright figure, like a pine tree in the snow, with an unyielding and graceful demeanor between his brows.
She knew it was him at first glance.
She despised the golden cage of the palace and willingly gave up her honor and status to marry into the Ji family, guarding this peaceful haven.
Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, she has been married into the Ji family for nearly thirty years.
Li Wan gently stroked the fragrant pillow on her lap, slowly shaking her head with regret: "I do regret it. Yu Tong is such a kind and intelligent girl. I have always hoped that she could enter my Ji family."
Ji Hongye gazed at his wife, his eyes filled with pity: "Madam, after the birthday banquet, I noticed that your mood seemed different. The knot in your brows had gradually loosened, and you were no longer as cold towards Yun'er as before. What could have resolved your long-standing inner conflict?"
Li Wan looked up into her husband's concerned eyes, hesitated for a moment, and finally whispered the story of that dream that seemed like a distant memory.
In her dream, she was still immersed in the upheaval in her family and unintentionally took her anger out on Ji Yun. She neglected the trivial matters at home and felt deeply indebted to Meng Yutong, who had devoted herself to the Ji family after marrying into it.
In the end, their home was destroyed, and it was too late for regrets.
Waking up from a nightmare, I realized that the people and things around me are the most precious treasures. How can I dwell on the past and add to my regrets?
After hearing this, Ji Hongye sighed deeply and placed his broad hand on her slightly cool hand: "It's good that you can think so positively. Seeing you so depressed and emaciated over the years has been heartbreaking for me. Now that the clouds have parted and the sun is shining, let's live our lives as a family from now on and not think about anything else."
"If only Yun'er could be like you and let go of her inner turmoil, that would be wonderful."
He paused, his gaze warm: "If, as you say, the Meng family's daughter is as pure and flawless as crystal, then canceling this marriage would indeed be a regret for the Ji family. However..." He looked at the swaying shadows of the trees outside the window, his words carrying a deep meaning: "Although the engagement is dissolved, neither family has yet made a new betrothal. There may still be a chance to turn things around, but Yun'er's personality is deep and reserved, which is truly worrying."
Li Wan squeezed her husband's hand slightly with her fingertips, a glimmer of light appearing in her eyes: "Do you have a good plan? Shall we give it a try? If fate is against us, I will give up."
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