Smiling Under Lanter Chapter 229 - 101 Three Little Pigs1

Chapter 229: Chapter 101 Three Little Pigs_1

After Pei Yunng sent over that tapestry and it was hung up, whether it was an illusion or not, more people ca to Renxin dical Hall to fetch dicines and consult about their ailnts.

It was not just about seeking dicine, the majority of the new patients were mainly there to have a look at the tapestry.

The shop owners along West Street all ca after hearing about it, and after obtaining Shopkeeper Du’s permission, each one of them touched the golden characters on the tapestry in hopes of rubbing off so good fortune. Blind Man He did so calculations at the doorway and proclaid that this location already had outstanding feng shui, with the plum tree by the door flourishing in an auspicious manner. Now with the addition of this tapestry, it was like a bamboo sprouting through the earth, climbing higher from joint to joint.

This irritated Shopkeeper Bai Shouyi from Xinglin Hall so much that blisters ford at the corners of his mouth overnight.

The neighbors were filled with envy and admiration; Renxin dical Hall was a picture of jubilant prosperity, but only Shopkeeper Du went about with a long face every day, disliking the golden, shiny tapestry hanging on the wall, finding it as incongruous as a grasshopper’s thorax and a wasp’s waist.

Yin Zheng was peeling oranges with Ah Cheng to make lanterns at a small table when Lu Tong sent away another neighbor who ca to "rub off so good luck". Turning around, she t Shopkeeper Du’s resentful gaze.

Lu Tong walked past him and went to the dicine cabinet to dispense herbs.

Shopkeeper Du followed behind her, clearly displeased, "Doctor Lu, look at this, our place is a dical hall, not a temple. Everyone’s coming to worship this torn tapestry, can we even get any real work done?" He looked at Lu Tong tentatively, "How about you make a new dicine to remind everyone, huh?"

As the season grew colder, nearing winter, people layered their clothing, and the slimness of their waists was consequently less apparent; the crowd buying "Xianxian" diminished quite a bit.

Typically, the neighbours from West Street who ca for dical consultation were commonfolk, with very low consultation fees, so Renxin dical Hall’s earnings weren’t as high as in the past. Shopkeeper Du was contemplating having Lu Tong concoct another dicine similar to "Xianxian" or "Chun Shui Sheng" to subsidize the dical hall.

Lu Tong said, "I haven’t thought of a prescription yet."

"You must be kidding ," Shopkeeper Du doubted, "when you first tricked

into hiring you to sit in the hall, didn’t you say ’If I can make Nasal Congestion Herbal Tea, can’t I make other herbal teas?’ How co you’ve run out of ideas now?"

Ah Cheng, unable to stand it any longer, intervened to diate, "Boss, making a new dicine isn’t like taking a trip to the latrine, where you just squat, and it cos out; it requires thought."

"Crude!" Shopkeeper Du pointed at him, then looked at the tapestry on the wall and sighed, "I think we should place a bowl under this tapestry with a sign that reads ’Ten coins for a touch.’ We might even earn more than running the dical hall itself."

While portioning out so burdock seeds, Lu Tong asked, "Shopkeeper Du, if I want to make a na for myself so that high officials and wealthy households all invite

for consultations, what would I need to achieve?"

Shopkeeper Du was taken aback for a mont, then scornfully replied, "Aren’t you renowned already? Aren’t officials like the Minister of Imperial Treasury and the Prince’s Mansion high enough for you?"

"Not high enough."

Shopkeeper Du: "..."

He said irritably, "Then would you kindly tell

what sort of high officials would be considerable for Doctor Lu’s regard?"

Lu Tong thought for a mont, "The Grand Preceptor’s Mansion holds the greatest power in Shengjing currently. What if it were people from a household like the Grand Preceptor’s Mansion?"

Shopkeeper Du clucked his tongue several tis, looking at her with admiration, "I didn’t realize you had such ambition." The next mont, his expression turned to one of utter despair, "Forget it, though, it’s impossible. Whenever soone from the Grand Preceptor’s household has a headache or a fever, the Officer from the Hanlin dical Institute personally tends to them. Not to ntion our humble dical hall, not every dical Officer from the Hanlin dical Institute has the qualification to offer treatnt—"

Seeing that Lu Tong remained silent, he glanced at her and continued to explain proactively, "Those nobles and high officials are extrely cautious with their lives; they wouldn’t let outsiders know about any ailnts. Those of us with common status can at best offer a consultation to their servants. No wait, we’re not even qualified to enter their residences; their servants will probably go to the well-known doctors from large dical institutions."

A sense of heaviness settled in Lu Tong’s heart.

What Shopkeeper Du said matched exactly what she had learned.

Grand Preceptor Qi’s mansion was located to the east of Imperial Street, its entrance guarded by sentries, making it difficult for ordinary people to enter. When soone in the household fell ill, they summoned the Hanlin dical Institute for treatnt. Grand Preceptor Qi had a son and a daughter; his youngest daughter was eighteen and yet to be married, and as for his only legitimate son, Qi Yutai, he currently held a nominal position at the Ministry of Revenue, serving as a chief judge of the Secretariat.

These three individuals were all out of reach, not to ntion Qi Qing, with Qi Miss and Young Master Qi always accompanied by a large group of guards, and even their close aides were hard to persuade.

The situation appeared to be at a standstill.

As for the Kuaihuo Tower, given its connection to the Grand Preceptor’s Mansion, the astute Lord Cao would most certainly not be willing to risk involvent for a re sum of silver; moreover, he might notice sothing amiss and beco suspicious.