At the bow of the boat, Doctor Li gazed at the embroidered building standing tall amidst the wind and snow, growing increasingly amazed. With such a vast fortune, the Lu family's willingness to marry their daughter to his apprentice showed how much they truly valued her.
Granny Qian led several old women to the dock to move medicinal herbs. "Young Master, the female physician has been working hard these past two days and also shows signs of fever."
Lu Yunfeng had already anticipated this situation. "Those who are sick in the building should stay in their own rooms and not move around unnecessarily. In the afternoon, Dr. Li will brew a large pot of medicinal soup. Those who are not sick yet should all come and drink a bowl. Those who have had a fever in the past few days should see Dr. Li. Let the female doctor rest."
He turned around and said, "Thank you for your help, Doctor Li."
This was the first time Dr. Li had seen people from the embroidery tower and the textile factory. "How many people are there?"
Granny Qian quickly arranged accommodations for Doctor Li. There were several rooms to the north of the textile factory. They were not luxurious, but they were clean, tidy, elegant and quiet. "These are the accommodations for business people coming and going. Please stay here for the next few days, Doctor. There are a total of 238 people in the embroidery building and the textile factory. Thank you for your help."
Outsiders are not allowed to enter the textile factory and embroidery building at will, but visiting merchants can stay there temporarily, which will facilitate negotiations between the two parties.
After Dr. Li put away the medicine and his medical kit, people soon came to see him. Originally, the women were hesitant to come easily because the doctor was a man. Later, it was only after Granny Qian accompanied them the whole time that the embroiderers and weavers felt at ease to come.
For three to five days in a row, the county town was on high alert, filled with the smell of medicine. Qin Xiaozhou took two more doses of medicine before her fever gradually subsided. "How is things at Xiulou?"
Lu Yunfeng held the medicine bowl and fed her the medicine. "Don't worry, Dr. Li has been seeing patients at the Embroidery Pavilion these past two days. The people at the Embroidery Pavilion and the Textile Factory have all improved. You should rest well."
Qin Xiaozhou had nothing to worry about. He lay listlessly on the bed, his whole body drenched in sweat and feeling weak. The blanket was hot but the blanket was cold, and the alternation between hot and cold made him feel even more uncomfortable. Indeed, his illness was slowly healing.
Lu Yunfeng wiped her face with a hot towel and then carefully wiped her hands. "This winter came suddenly and suddenly. I'm afraid it will be very cold before the end of the year. The county magistrate has already ordered that no grain be sold to other counties."
When Lu Yan heard that Qin Xiaozhou had woken up, she ran in carrying a plate with two small snowmen on it. "Sister-in-law, the snow stopped and then started again. The snow piled up outside is as high as my legs. Business has been bad these past few days, so I told Uncle Ma not to set up his stall anymore. Two of the chickens at home froze to death."
"Then let's turn the barbecue stall into a hot pot restaurant. I want to eat hot pot." Qin Xiaozhou suddenly had a craving, and as she thought about it, she felt energetic. "We'll have hot pot tonight. Enjoying the snow and eating hot pot is a perfect match."
Lu Yunfeng didn't know what hot pot was, so after asking carefully, he set up a table and stove under the eaves and had someone buy a copper basin. With everything ready, he stir-fried the hot pot base according to the ingredients Qin Xiaozhou gave him. Soon, a spicy aroma wafted from the small kitchen. Lu Yan was very excited, "Sister-in-law, sister-in-law, what do you want to eat?"
"We'll eat mutton, pork belly, and shrimp. Do you have lotus root? I want to eat lotus root." Qin Xiaozhou's mouth was practically watering. "Have the embroidery shop make some pork ribs stewed with radish. Drink some meat broth and eat more radish. It'll help reduce coughing. It's suitable for people recovering from serious illnesses. Send some over for us too."
It's a good thing that she can still think about eating after a serious illness. Lu Yan ran out happily. Jing Yue was drawing well water in the yard to wash vegetables. Qin Xiaozhou got dressed and came out. The more she lay down, the more dizzy she felt, so she went for a walk. It was still snowing. There was no wind, and the world was just a gray blur.
"Don't wash things with cold water. Go to the kitchen and boil them before using the water."
Jingyue nodded lightly. In previous years, her hands would get chilblains, and after three or four months of winter, her hands would be covered in scars and swollen like steamed buns. This year, she hadn't touched cold water and was wearing thick clothes, so her hands were clean. "Shopkeeper, go back inside and rest. It's cold today. The first snow only lasted for one day before the second snow came. Don't catch a cold or get too hot."
Qin Xiaozhou nodded, looking at the shoes on her feet, "Jingyue, go to the warehouse and get those rabbit skins, two for each person, and distribute them to the people in the shop so that each person can make a pair of shoes."
Women are often deficient in qi and blood, and their hands and feet are most prone to getting cold. Only when their feet are covered with thick clothing can their whole body stay warm. The rabbit skins in the warehouse are from the rabbits at the barbecue stall. The barbecue stall sells seven or eight rabbits every day. Fortunately, rabbits can reproduce. Until this month when it got cold, the rabbits at home only had three litters. Otherwise, business would be bad. There are too many rabbits, and it is also troublesome to raise them. Since the barbecue stall opened, I have collected nearly six hundred rabbit skins.
Jingyue's smile grew even brighter. "Thank you, shopkeeper."
There are now six people in the cake shop. Jingyue counted the cakes and distributed them to everyone. "The shopkeeper is kind-hearted. Business has been bad these past few days due to the heavy snow, but she is still thinking of us. We should do our best."
After taking their things, the group thanked Qin Xiaozhou before going about their own business.
In the evening, a fire was lit under the eaves, and the fragrant hot pot broth was poured into a copper basin. The aroma was irresistible, and Lu Yan swallowed hard. "It smells so good, sister-in-law, can we put these in now?"
"Put the lotus root and arrowhead in first, and then add the meat once the water rises." Qin Xiaozhou seemed to come alive again when she smelled the chili. The meat was cut into pieces according to her instructions, and there was also half a bowl of chicken. "Eat to your heart's content. If there's anything that needs improvement, just let me know. We'll open a hot pot restaurant in a couple of days."
After a steaming hot meal, Lu Yan patted her round belly and exclaimed, "Wow, eating hot pot in the snow is so comforting! The broth that my brother made smells so good too!"
"It would be even more fragrant if it were stir-fried with butter, and the tripe is also delicious." Qin Xiaozhou lamented. In this era, cattle were the main force of production and could not be killed and eaten at will. Even high-ranking officials would be impeached by censors if they killed cattle at will.
Lu Yan was greatly shocked. She had never eaten beef since she was a child, and she didn't even know that cows could be eaten.
Lu Yunxing patted her head with a smile, "Who said you've never eaten beef? When you were four years old, the village chief's cow fell to its death. The village chief reported it to the yamen, and after the coroner confirmed that the cow had fallen to its death, he let the village chief handle it himself. The village chief sold it in the village, and your dad bought one piece and brought it back. You were happy eating it."
"What a pity, what a pity, I don't remember at all, what a shame, what does beef taste like." Lu Yan said with a mournful face.
Qin Xiaozhou could only comfort her by saying he would buy it for her when he had the chance in the future.
Round after round, finally ending with cabbage, Qin Xiaohou took a comfortable bath. She had a slight fever that night, but it didn't matter. She woke up the next day full of energy again.
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