Chapter 58 Because of You
Today was a busy day, and although she was only able to catch her breath after being so busy until now, she managed to resolve two important matters that had been weighing on her mind.
Firstly, the prescriptions for critically ill patients have finally been finalized today;
Secondly, there was the promise she made to her grandmother when she broke off the engagement: to use her own strength to open up new paths for her family business.
Now it seems that relying on the clinic to boost the Meng family's medicinal herb business has shown great promise.
However...upon closer examination, Ji Yun did indeed provide considerable assistance in these two important matters.
Thinking of this, Meng Yutong raised her eyes and looked at Ji Yun, who stood tall and elegant beside her. Her tone was much gentler than usual, and it carried a hint of sincerity: "Physician Ji, thank you for speaking up for me at Qingfeng Tea House today."
She understood that if it weren't for Ji Yun, the conversation in the teahouse today wouldn't have gone so smoothly.
Upon hearing this, Ji Yun turned to look at her. Half of his handsome features were bathed in the moonlight outside the window, while the other half was illuminated by the lamplight inside the room. The different colors of light and shadow softened his usual coldness.
His lips curved slightly, forming a faint arc, and his voice seemed to soften under the moonlight: "What Doctor Meng just said means that you and I are already friends. Since we are friends, there is no need for such formality."
This time, Meng Yutong did not deliberately try to discern the subtle hint of trying to build a closer relationship in his words. She simply nodded slightly and readily agreed, saying, "I must be tired today, Physician Ji. Please go back to your residence and rest early."
Ji Yun said no more and bid her farewell. The two agreed that Ji Yun would personally go to Zhaoyu Hall the following evening to check on the recovery of the critically ill patients.
After Ji Yun left, Meng Yutong took a plump lotus seed from a pottery jar next to her, held it in her palm, stepped out of the pharmacy, and went into the medicine-decocting room next door, which was managed by Bai Zhi and Wu Ming.
After working for about half an hour, feeding the three critically ill patients freshly brewed medicine and carefully instructing Wu Ming on the precautions for nighttime care, Meng Yutong and Bai Zhi left Zhaoyutang and embarked on their journey back to the Meng residence.
It was early 11 PM. The moonlight was cold and clear, hanging high in the sky like a curved blade, casting its gentle glow across the empty streets.
The bluestone path reflected the moonlight, gleaming with a faint, lonely glow. The shops on both sides of the long street had long since turned off their lights and closed their doors; there was no sound of anyone, except for the occasional sound of the night watchman's clapper coming from afar, which only accentuated the utter silence of the surroundings.
As the two young women walked alone on such a deserted street, Bai Zhi couldn't help but feel a little scared.
She clung tightly to Meng Yutong's arm, glancing warily left and right, her voice lowered slightly: "Miss, perhaps... we should have the driver pick us up tomorrow? It's so quiet tonight, there's not a soul in sight, it's rather eerie..."
Just as Meng Yutong was about to speak, her eyes suddenly caught sight of a blurry black shadow moving in the shadows of the corner of the wall ahead.
She felt a chill run down her spine, immediately grabbed Bai Zhi's hand, took two quick steps back, and assumed a defensive posture.
Immediately afterwards, the dark figure leaped out from under the wall and landed lightly a few steps in front of the two.
"Miss Meng! Miss Baizhi! Don't be afraid! It's me!"
The newcomer hurriedly spoke, revealing a smile; it was Yunzhou.
He scratched the back of his head sheepishly and explained, "My young master instructed me to come. He said it was getting late and it might be inappropriate for the two young ladies to return home alone, so he specifically asked me to wait here and escort them for a while."
Bai Zhi finally breathed a long sigh of relief, patting her chest and saying, "Even so, you can just wait inside the clinic. Sneaking around in the shadows like that only gave us a fright!"
Yunzhou chuckled: "Young Master specifically instructed me to wait outside. He said that Miss Meng is the type who doesn't like to trouble others. If I go into the hall early to explain my purpose, the young lady will definitely refuse, and then I will have messed up my job and will definitely get a scolding when I get back."
Upon hearing this, Meng Yutong's eyes flickered slightly in the moonlight, and she finally nodded gently, saying softly, "Thank you for your trouble, Yunzhou."
Yunzhou then stood guard behind the two, and the group walked south along the quiet Imperial Street.
On the way, Yunzhou took the initiative to strike up a conversation with Baizhi, mentioning the new story that Zhang the Blind, a rather famous storyteller in the entertainment district of the west of the city, was currently telling, titled "The Mistake of a Broken Mirror."
"It tells the story of a young couple who were a perfect match, both in terms of social standing and appearance. However, after their marriage, misunderstandings arose due to various trivial matters. They refused to open up to each other and remained silent all day long. In the end, their affection faded, and they divorced."
Yunzhou recounted the story vividly, "The strange thing is that after the two separated, they were forced to interact again due to some coincidences. In the process of going back and forth, the man suddenly realized that there were many misunderstandings between them that had not been cleared up in their previous relationship, and that he had been dull and obtuse, thus overlooking how many good qualities and how much sincerity his wife had shown him... So the feelings that had been dead in his heart were quietly rekindled."
During this period, Rizhaoyutang was extremely busy, and Baizhi had not gone to listen to storytelling for a long time. She only heard half of this story, which ended right at the most poignant part where the two signed the divorce agreement.
Hearing Yunzhou recount the rest of the story, Yunzhou's curiosity was piqued: "Since the man later realized his feelings, why didn't he simply go to the girl, clarify things, and rekindle their romance?"
Yunzhou spread his hands and said, "The master said that the girl is a thoughtful and sensitive person. She was deeply hurt in that previous marriage, and her heart is now tightly closed. She will not easily open it to anyone again. The man must know this too, and he is worried about how to approach her carefully without disturbing or hurting her!"
"And then what happened? Did he come up with a solution?" Bai Zhi pressed.
"What a coincidence! Mr. Zhang just happened to stop here, keeping us in suspense! I'm also eagerly awaiting the next installment!"
"You went to listen by yourself?"
“No, that’s not it,” Yunzhou shook his head. “I’ve been busy these past few days. Three days ago, I went out with you on business and happened to run into Mr. Zhang giving a lecture when we passed through the West City Wazi. I stood and listened to two of his lectures.”
Bai Zhi sighed, her tone filled with nostalgia: "I haven't been there in a long time. In the past, when the young lady went with the old lady to the pharmacy in the west of the city to check and reconcile accounts, I would go with her and get most of the day free. I loved to sneak off to the side to listen to Mr. Zhang tell stories. Now I'm so busy at Zhaoyutang that I don't have the chance to go to the west of the city anymore."
"What a coincidence!" Yunzhou laughed. "Three days ago, I was accompanying you to the Meng family's pharmacy in the west of the city! After finishing our business, I happened to pass by Zhongwazi and overheard that story."
Meng Yutong, who had been walking quietly to the side, seemingly lost in her own thoughts, suddenly stopped upon hearing this and turned to look at Yun Zhou with a hint of doubt: "Did Physician Ji go to my family's pharmacy?"
Yunzhou, oblivious to the doubt in her tone, nodded frankly: "I heard from you, young master, that it's because of the recent spread of diarrhea, which may have caused shortages of medicine in clinics throughout the city. Although the Imperial Medical Academy has its own reserves, its primary task is to ensure the needs of the nobles in the palace and various government departments are met."
"Therefore, the young master personally led two physicians to inspect the quality and inventory of the medicines in the pharmacy. If the quality meets the standards for official medicines, the Imperial Medical Academy can purchase and store them for unforeseen circumstances. Speaking of which, the inspection results should be available in the next couple of days. Why didn't the young master mention this to you?"
Meng Yutong's gaze narrowed slightly, and she shook her head, but her steps unconsciously became a little out of rhythm.
Upon returning to the Meng residence, Granny Wu was already waiting at the gatehouse. Seeing her return, she hurried forward and whispered, "Miss, you're finally back. The old lady has been waiting for you at Songfeng Courtyard for quite some time, saying she has something to discuss with you."
Meng Yutong had some doubts, but followed Wu Mama through the courtyard in the night and into Songfeng Courtyard, where her grandmother lived.
The room was brightly lit, and Jiang Yunshang, as usual, sat upright in the carved rosewood armchair. When she saw Meng Yutong enter, a glint of light appeared in her eyes, and she beckoned to her, her tone carrying its usual authority: "Why are you back so late? Come and sit down to talk."
Meng Yutong stepped forward, curtsied, and sat down on the embroidered stool below her grandmother. She asked softly, "Grandmother, you are still awake so late at night. Is there something important?"
“As people get older, they need less sleep and don’t feel as sleepy.” Jiang Yunshang’s expression and tone were quite different from usual today. The sharpness and severity between her brows seemed to have been softened by the candlelight, and her tone of voice was also slower, revealing a rare gentleness.
"Grandmother, please speak." Meng Yutong sat up straight and listened attentively.
Upon hearing this, Granny Wu, who was standing to the side, immediately handed a paper document to Meng Yutong respectfully.
Meng Yutong took it and, by the light emitted from the glass lamp on the table, began to read it carefully.
The document's heading prominently displays the official words, "Approval for Procurement of Medicines by the Imperial Medical Academy." Further reading reveals that the document clearly states: Several commonly used bulk medicinal herbs supplied by Meng's Pharmacy, including 'Coptis chinensis,' 'Poria cocos,' and 'Paeonia lactiflora,' have undergone rigorous verification by specialists from the Imperial Medical Academy. Their medicinal properties, quality, processing techniques, and storage conditions are all of superior quality, and their prices are fair and reasonable. Having successfully passed multiple reviews, they are hereby approved for inclusion in the Imperial Medical Academy's procurement list and permitted to be supplied.
Looking at the undisguised astonishment on her granddaughter's face, Jiang Yunshang immediately understood that she probably didn't know about this either.
"Actually, not long after your Zhaoyutang opened, that boy Ji Yun had already secretly visited several of my pharmacies."
Jiang Yunshang slowly began to speak, “The supply of official medicines to the Imperial Medical Academy has its own strict precedents and regulations. If a supplier needs to be temporarily added or changed, there must be a very good reason, and it must be reported and approved at each level, which is a complicated and complicated process.”
“After he first came to visit, he also came to see me personally and frankly explained the key points. The boy is upright and honest, and he does things in a methodical way. He does not let personal matters interfere with public affairs. I knew that his grandfather might have given him instructions or help on his way here, so I told him not to make things difficult for himself and to just do everything according to the rules.”
"Because of me?" Meng Yutong suddenly raised her head and looked at her grandmother, her eyes full of confusion and incomprehension.
A few days ago? She clearly hadn't mentioned the family's medicinal herb business to him.
Even today, I only brought it up because I happened to take out a jar of lotus seeds, and I did so casually, harboring a selfish motive of using this opportunity to connect my own pharmacy with potential clients.
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