Chapter 54 Where did this...handsome young man come from?
The clinic has been bustling with patients for days, and the staff has been so busy that they've been eating irregularly. Now, with such delicious food in front of them, they don't care about their image and eat with extra relish.
Wu Ming stuffed his mouth full of braised pork hock and exclaimed indistinctly, "Mmm... I must say! The cooking skills at Qinglai Restaurant have really improved! This pork hock is fatty but not greasy, melts in your mouth, and leaves a lingering fragrance on your lips and teeth. It's wonderful! Wonderful!"
Bai Zhi carefully blew on the pork rib soup and handed it to Meng Yutong, saying, "Miss, try this soup. It smells delicious."
Cui Dacheng picked up a large mouthful of braised beef, chewed it a few times, and although he still had a stern face, he had to admit: "Hmph, the meat is stewed until it's very tender, and the flavor has penetrated it."
Mei San then focused his attention on the stir-fried lotus root dish, chewing it with gusto: "These lotus root slices are crisp and delicious! They cut through the greasiness!"
Everyone took turns eating with their chopsticks, their mouths never stopping, and the atmosphere at the table instantly became harmonious and joyful.
Liu Sijun carefully placed several delicious dishes into Meng Yutong's bowl. Looking at her slightly tired profile, he said seriously, "Yutong, judging from this situation, the sewage treatment of the Jade Belt River is by no means a task that can be accomplished overnight."
“If the clinic is flooded with so many patients every day, let alone whether your body can handle it, I don’t think Zhaoyutang’s medicine stock will last more than a few days. What are your plans? How about… closing the clinic for a day tomorrow so you can catch your breath? If you keep pushing yourself like this, I’m really afraid you’ll collapse from exhaustion first.”
His suggestion wasn't unreasonable. Given the complex and volatile situation in the city these past few days, many pharmacies had raised the prices of various medicines for treating diarrhea. Many clinics couldn't afford to buy more and were forced to rely on their existing stockpiles. Some smaller clinics couldn't keep up and closed early.
Meng Yutong put down her chopsticks, her expression serious: "Brother Liu, the purpose of opening a clinic is to heal the sick and help the world. As a doctor, how can you close your doors to patients because you are afraid of difficulties and hardships? I am not that delicate. It is you lot who are..."
Her gaze swept over Liu Sijun, Cui Da, and Mei San. "I feel really bad that they neglected their own business to help me."
Liu Sijun frowned, as if glaring at her, his tone carrying a hint of displeasure: "What kind of formalities are you talking about! How could I have meant that? Our primary task on this trip was to sell that batch of Qinzhou jade artifacts, and the money and goods have already been settled."
"We're just taking a look around now, nothing urgent. We'll stay as long as you need our help at Zhaoyutang! And don't say such distant things again!"
Upon hearing this, Meng Yutong realized her mistake, smiled, and raised the teacup beside her: "It was Yutong who misspoke. I will offer this tea instead of wine to Brother Liu to express my gratitude."
Liu Sijun then laughed heartily: "That's more like it!"
Sun Guifang thoughtfully included a small pot of sweet plum wine with the meal she brought, and poured a small cup in front of him as well.
He readily picked up his wine cup, lightly clinked it against Meng Yutong's teacup, then tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp, loudly proclaiming, "If it weren't for you, I, Liu Sijun, would probably have already returned to Qinzhou in disgrace, beaten half to death by my father! This is a life-or-death friendship between us! From now on, you're not allowed to be so polite with me anymore!"
He was used to traveling and was surrounded by his forthright and unrestrained brothers. After a few drinks, he was in high spirits and forgot that he was in the rule-bound city of Lin'an, and even more so, he forgot about the separation between men and women.
He reached out and naturally put his arm around Meng Yutong's shoulder, laughing with a hint of drunkenness, "The first time I saw you, I felt an instant connection. I just felt... I just felt..." He squinted, as if searching for the right words in his mind. After a while, his eyes lit up, and he exclaimed, "I wish we had met sooner!"
Meng Yutong was slightly stiffened by his sudden close embrace, her delicate eyebrows furrowed, and she subconsciously wanted to push him away.
But Liu Sijun was the type to become somewhat unserious once he had a drink, and instead hugged her even tighter, continuing, "I...I have a younger sister, about your age..."
Seeing this, Bai Zhi got up with a look of disgust, wanting to pull Cui Da and Mei San to help pull Liu Sijun, this drunkard, away from her young lady.
Just then, she caught a glimpse of a familiar figure standing outside the door. Upon closer inspection, she realized it was Ji Yun, who had arrived at some point and was standing quietly in the shadows outside the Zhaoyu Hall, his face obscured.
"Physician Ji?" Bai Zhi's hand on Liu Sijun's shoulder paused. Liu Sijun shrugged uncomfortably and shook her hand off.
"Wh...what physician?" He tried to open his sleepy, drunken eyes and looked in the direction of the voice. He saw a figure dressed in a purple-brown casual robe, with a tall and straight figure like a pine tree, walk in from outside the door and stop in front of him.
He squinted and looked closely, muttering, "Wow...where did this...handsome young man come from? Yutong, good girl, do you...do you recognize him?"
Mei San and Cui Da looked utterly miserable. They quickly got up, grabbed Liu Sijun's arms on either side, and dragged him away from Meng Yutong.
Mei San, while straining, smiled apologetically at Meng Yutong: "Miss Meng, I'm so sorry, so sorry! This fellow becomes like this as soon as he gets a drink! He's really making a fool of himself!"
Cui Daze scoffed with disdain, "This plum wine is supposed to be fruit wine, how can it be so bad? Unbelievable."
Meng Yutong managed to escape, and after slightly straightening her wrinkled clothes, she looked up at the uninvited Ji Yun.
Under the lamplight, his expression remained as cold and solemn as ever, but upon closer inspection, it seemed that a hint of displeasure had become more pronounced than usual.
She remained calm and asked in a low voice, "Does Physician Ji have come here on an important occasion?"
Ji Yun's gaze swept over her slightly disheveled shoulders and collar before returning to her face. His voice was clear and cold, like a jade chime: "Doctor Meng, may I speak to you in private?"
Meng Yutong had just finished eating. She turned her head and said something to Bai Zhi, then got up and left Zhaoyu Hall with Ji Yun.
The two stood under the eaves at the corner of Zhaoyu Hall, with the paper lanterns overhead casting a soft light from above, enveloping them like a light veil and slightly dispelling the darkness of the night.
"There must have been quite a few patients coming to Zhaoyutang these past few days. Is Dr. Meng managing to handle it all by himself?"
Ji Yun raised his eyes, and his deep, cold black eyes, with the slight upturn at the corners, were now bathed in the warm yellow light, like the first melting of ice and snow. His gaze seemed to soften, giving people the unexpected illusion that he was actually gentle and approachable.
Meng Yutong chuckled inwardly, almost fooled by appearances. A polite smile curved her lips as she replied, "If I were alone, I would indeed be struggling. Fortunately, with the help of several friends, I can barely manage for now."
Ji Yun nodded, his tone calm, "I have come today at the request of the heads of Huichuntang and Jishetang to discuss the treatment plan for this case of typhoid fever and dysentery with Doctor Meng. I wonder if Doctor Meng is available now? Perhaps we could move to Qingfeng Teahouse for a chat."
Meng Yutong had the same idea. She also wanted to find an opportunity to discuss treatment plans for critically ill patients with Ji Yun and other experienced doctors, especially the three elderly and young patients on the second floor.
She readily nodded and bowed to Ji Yun, saying, "That suits me perfectly. Physician Ji, please."
Ji Yun nodded slightly and stepped forward, while Meng Yutong followed at a leisurely pace. The two were about half a person's width apart and looked rather unfamiliar with each other.
Meng Yutong had expected the short journey from Zhaoyutang to Qingfeng Teahouse to be uneventful.
Unexpectedly, when they were only four or five steps away from the teahouse entrance, Ji Yun turned his head slightly, spoke in a low voice, and in a tone that was a little slower than usual, sounding somewhat casual: "Doctor Meng, were you referring to those merchants from Qin Prefecture when you mentioned your friends?"
He spoke casually, but when Meng Yutong looked up, she met his probing gaze and nodded frankly, "Exactly."
Ji Yun's gaze shifted slightly, landing on her face, his eyes deep and unfathomable. "Doctor Meng is intelligent and perceptive, with a clear mind and a discreet demeanor in her dealings with others. I originally thought that you would not easily form deep friendships with people."
Upon hearing this, Meng Yutong couldn't help but smile, her face bright and lively under the lamplight: "What Physician Ji said is quite strange. Even the most aloof and upright person will always have a few like-minded friends in the world. In this life, who can guarantee that they will never encounter difficulties? If one encounters difficulties, one will naturally need the help of friends. Has Physician Ji never had such feelings?"
Her tone carried a hint of natural teasing.
Ji Yun turned his gaze forward, his profile appearing somewhat hard in the light and shadow. "If I encounter difficulties, I don't want to trouble others. However... when Doctor Meng encounters difficulties, would you rather have someone help you than solve them yourself?"
"Medical Officer Ji is of noble character, self-disciplined and self-restrained, which is truly admirable."
Meng Yutong's tone was normal, but her praise sounded somewhat perfunctory. She thought for a moment and then said, "If I encounter difficulties, I naturally hope to have the ability to solve them independently, but I don't rule out having someone to help me. After all, it's quite tiring to do everything myself."
Ji Yun lowered his eyes, as if he were listening very attentively, "Doctor Meng is afraid of getting tired?"
Meng Yutong smiled and said frankly, "Of course."
Ji Yun didn't ask any more questions, but nodded as if he was thinking.
The two arrived at the entrance of Qingfeng Teahouse. Ji Yun led Meng Yutong straight up to the second floor and pushed open the door to a private room. Inside, three men were already seated at a small table.
A young man, about twenty years old, sat by the window. He was wearing a gray cloth long gown that was neither new nor old. His clothes were very simple and casual, and there were even some medicine powder stuck to his cuffs, which showed that he did not care much about his appearance.
However, the medical kit beside him was spotless, its wood smooth and its brass clasps gleaming, a stark contrast to his casual demeanor.
Beside the gray-clad man was an elderly man with white hair and beard, a gaunt face, calm and wise eyes, and a dark scholar's robe that was meticulously starched. He exuded the air of a rigorous, dignified old scholar who had been immersed in medical books for many years.
Another middle-aged man, who looked to be in his early forties, had a fair complexion and a scholarly air about him. He sat quietly in the corner of the other side of the small table.
When the group saw Ji Yun enter, they stood up to greet him.
Ji Yun stepped aside and led Meng Yutong slightly into the room. The two were very close, and he introduced them one by one in a clear and steady voice: "This is the head of Huichuntang, Doctor Ma Chun. He is skilled in internal medicine and specializes in regulating the spleen and stomach. He has a lot of experience in treating diarrhea and dysentery and has treated many patients with severe dysentery with his own prescriptions."
"This is Dr. Shen Bing, the resident physician of Jishetang. He used to work at the Imperial Medical Academy. After retiring, he was invited by Jishetang to serve as a physician. He is experienced and highly respected."
"This is the head of Jishetang, Dr. Song Yinshen. Although young, he is quick-witted and often uses medicine without adhering to ancient methods, forming his own unique approach. He is quite well-known in Lin'an City."
Ji Yun's introduction of the group was simple and clear, summarizing their backgrounds and strengths in just a few words.
Meng Yutong noted them down one by one, and then gracefully bowed to the three doctors in turn: "Greetings, Doctor Ma, Doctor Shen, and Doctor Song. I am Meng Yutong, the junior, and I am honored to be the head of Zhaoyu Hall."
Her sudden appearance as a young woman in such a gathering of medical veterans inevitably drew attention and was more likely to be looked down upon.
In addition, Shen and Song of Jishetang had privately discussed the matter at the beginning of Zhaoyutang’s opening and concluded that the clinic opened by this woman was nothing more than a showy “embroidered pillow”.
Therefore, after she bowed, only Dr. Ma Chun from Huichuntang kindly returned half a bow and said, "Dr. Meng, you are too kind."
As for Shen Bing and Song Yinshen, they merely raised their eyelids slightly, their gazes sweeping over her as a greeting, their expressions showing a certain indifference.
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