Lamp Flower Smile

Renxin Medical Center is very busy today.

Early in the morning, Du Changqing took Acheng to Daiji Butcher Shop in Miaokou, east of the city, to buy meat.

Yin Zheng and Miao Liangfang were mopping the floor in the hospital. Miao Liangfang stood outside the door and watched Yin Zheng step on a chair to wipe the plaque outside the door.

Tailor Ge from the tailor shop across the street got up to set up his stall. Seeing how busy the medical shop was, he asked a few words: "Miss Yin Zheng got up so early. Are there any customers coming today?"

I have never seen Renxin Medical Center go through such trouble on weekdays.

Yin Zheng stood on the chair and turned around, smiling at Tailor Ge: “Today our girl will go back to the hospital during the break!”

Oh, it turns out that Dr. Lu is back at the hospital!

Tailor Ge suddenly understood, and glanced at Miao Liangfang who was carefully arranging the medicine jars at the door in a pattern, and couldn't help but muttered: "Just come back, with such a big battle, someone who doesn't know would think that the bride is coming back. "

Sister-in-law Song from the Silk Shoe Shop came out of the shop and rolled her eyes at him: "Renxin Medical Center is Doctor Lu's home, isn't it just to go back to your parents' home!"

Then he walked to the door of the medical center and called Yin Zheng over, handing over a basket of fresh yellow-skinned loquats: "Yesterday I heard Shopkeeper Du say that Dr. Lu... No, Doctor Lu is coming back. The boy's father picked the loquats himself. , sweet and fresh, take it back and wash it and give it to Medical Officer Lu to try."

Yin Zheng declined: "How can this be good..."

"Why are you so polite?" Sister-in-law Song said anxiously, "Don't look down on us neighbors as soon as you become an official. Now that you have time, ask Dr. Lu to come to our silk shoe shop to choose some new pairs of shoes." Li Yinzheng whispered: "Medical Officer Lu has entered the imperial city and has met many talented young people. If you find someone suitable, don't patronize Widow Sun. Let our little sister pay attention as well."

Yin Zheng laughed twice and finally dismissed Mrs. Song, but Miao Liangfang called her again.

The old doctor squatted at the door of the medical clinic, staring intently at the rows of messy medicine jars on the counter, and said cautiously: "Miss Yin Zheng, how do you think this jar should be arranged appropriately? Is it better to arrange it like a flower? , or should I put it in four words, 'Welcome home'?"

Yin Zheng: "..."

Tailor Ge said that when Lu Zhu returned to the hospital, he created a formation like a bride returning home. Although it was an exaggeration, it was not much different.

Two days ago, Lu Huan asked someone to come back and said that he would go back to the medical clinic during the ten-day holiday. As soon as he heard the news, Renxin Medical Center became busy.

Du Changqing consulted with friends from his own restaurant a few days in advance and prepared a menu for Lu Zhuo's return home... no, it was a menu for returning to the restaurant. He took Acheng to various wet markets and butcher shops to buy chickens and fish. Buying fish has never been so grand during the Chinese New Year.

Yin Zheng and Miao Liangfang repaired the lame wooden tables and chairs in the shop. The banner that said the medicine would cure the disease was wiped by Acheng ten times a day, but it didn't need to be wiped. If Yin Zheng hadn't stopped him, Du Changqing would have even trimmed the leaves of the plum tree at the door.

During Lu Zhen's absence, the medical clinic was open in an orderly manner, and no one seemed to think that missing one person was a big deal. But when Lu Zhuo was about to come back, everyone's thoughts were like a flood that had been released and could not be closed.

Looking forward to it.

As the sun gradually rose above the head, Du Changqing led Acheng back home with two large baskets of vegetables and meat, and then plunged into the small kitchen in the courtyard to start working. Until the aroma of boiling bones gradually floated from the small courtyard to the sky above West Street, until Tailor Ge across the street had already finished his lunch, and there was no sign of Lu Zhu at the door of the hospital.

Du Changqing sent Acheng to look around the street several times but didn't see anyone. He stood under the plum tree in front of the hospital with a cooking spoon in hand, like an anxious old mother waiting for her daughter to come back home, her brows furrowed. Suo murmured: "What time has it been? Why aren't you back yet?"

Just as he was talking, there was the sound of carriage wheels passing in front of him.

Du Changqing was shocked when he saw the broken carriage jingling and shaking, slowly stopping at the entrance of the medical center.

The curtain of the carriage was lifted, and a young woman got out of the carriage carrying a medical kit.

"Lu..." Before Du Changqing could say the remaining two words, he heard Yin Zheng behind him say "girl", pushed him away and ran over.

As soon as Lu Chen got off the carriage, he was hugged tightly by a person in front of him.

Yin Zheng's choking voice was right next to her ears: "You are finally back!"

She was stunned, feeling a little at a loss when faced with this sudden closeness. After a long time, she stretched out her hand and patted Yin Zheng on the back.

Miao Liangfang stood with Acheng holding a walking stick. Du Changqing was wearing an apron and looked at her strangely: "So late? The food is almost cold. I thought Medical Officer Lu wouldn't be back today." He looked at Lu again. The carriage behind him rolled his eyes: "You're already a salaryman, so you can't hire a decent carriage. It's shabby!"

Lu Chen was speechless for a moment.

Du Changqing's appearance is very similar to Sister-in-law Song who taught Miss Song the lesson next door.

Now that people are back, there is no reason to wait at the door of the hospital. Everyone followed Lu Zhuo inside. The back shop was still the same as before, the medicine cabinet and table were wiped clean, and the banner on the wall at the front entrance was as golden as ever, but the calligraphy and painting on the medicine cabinet had changed.

A whole pair of silk paper hangs, still in the small regular script of Yin Zheng's hairpin, with beautiful words written on it: It doesn't matter whether it is cloudy or sunny, and we are happy to have a good time in the world.

Lu Chen stared at the poem carefully and heard Miao Liangfang walking in front laugh and say: "Doctor Lu, I made one of the recipes you left, although I can no longer sell 'Chun Shuisheng' this year. , the income of the medical clinic and shop is also good."

"The Xinglin Hall next door is gone, and all the neighbors on West Street come to our hospital for treatment. Sometimes I am too busy alone. Fortunately, Acheng and Miss Yinzheng can also help."

Du Changqing was unhappy: "As you said, didn't my boss help me? Don't forget who gave you the monthly payment!"

His words were silently ignored by everyone.

Acheng raised the felt curtain: "Doctor Lu, come in quickly!"

Lu Zhuo followed in.

The small courtyard seems to be the same as before. The bluestone slabs have been washed clean by water and are glowing with green. A red gauze lantern hangs on the plum tree in front of the window. It's a spring day, and the azaleas planted by Yin Zheng under the window are in full bloom, and they are brightly decorated under the banana leaves, like a brilliant red cloud.

Yin Zheng pulled Lu Zhu into the back room to take a look, and said with a smile: "Knowing that the girl was coming back, I washed and dried the bedding in this room and replaced it a few days ago. I also went to Guanxiang Flower Market and bought two camellias——"

Lu Yan followed the direction of her finger and looked. There were two fresh camellias in the white porcelain vase on the table in front of the window. The straw plate on one side was filled with black dates, boiled chestnuts and orange cakes, as well as a handful of beans that someone didn't know who put them there. sugar.

Seeing Lu Zhuo looking over, Yin Zheng whispered: "... I bought it from Acheng. He said that girls like sweets, so he went to the fruit shop to weigh two taels." After saying that, he handed Lu Zhuo a piece and said, "Girl, try it." taste?"

The simple and even rough bean candy was lying in the palm of his hand. Lu Zhu lowered his head, slowly peeled off the candy wrapper and put it into his mouth.

The earthy sweetness melts from the tip of the tongue.

Lu Yan was in a daze.

When he was a child in Changwu County, Lu Qian would come home from school every half month, and the same was true at home.

Her parents prepared Lu Qian's favorite meals early, and Lu Rou swept the floor of the small courtyard over and over again. She didn't have anything to do. After finishing her meal at noon, she sat on the threshold with her chin in her hands and waited. She knew that the sunset was full of Before the entire hilltop and the long street in front of the door were bathed in dusk, Lu Qian would appear.

He always returns home before dusk.

And Lu Yan would always jump forward and circle around his bookcase, waiting for him to take out a handful of soybeans from his arms - he would bring her the best soybeans sold in the grocery store in front of the academy. sugar.

"……girl?"

Yin Zheng's voice came to my ears.

Lu Chen came to his senses, suddenly felt a little embarrassed, and said hesitantly: "I didn't... bring you anything."

Yin Zheng was stunned for a moment. Du Changqing, who was walking out, staggered when he heard this and almost fell. He turned around and said in surprise: "Doctor Lu, did you have a brain problem at the medical hospital? What nonsense are you talking about?"

Miao Liangfang pushed Du Changqing forward: "Stop saying a few words. The chicken is still simmering in the pot. It's already past noon and we haven't eaten yet. Please prepare the food quickly. Don't make Xiao Lu hungry."

Acheng responded happily and went to the kitchen to serve the food.

Yin Zheng took Lu Zhuo to the small courtyard and sat down at the stone table.

It's strange to say that in the past, when Lu Zhuo and Yin Zheng were the only two people living here, they often felt deserted. Nowadays, when there are more people, it still feels a bit cramped.

Du Changqing and Acheng brought out the food and laid out a table full of meat dishes such as "wine-steamed lamb", "red-boiled chicken", "honey-roasted spots" and "chicken yuanyu". Du Changqing bought it ready-made from the restaurant. Only the bowl of simmered stick bone soup in the middle seemed to be made by him.

Yin Zheng put a large Qingtuanzi into Lu Chen's bowl and said with a smile: "I made Qingtuanzi during the Qingming Festival a few days ago. I wanted to make a few and send them to the Medical Officer's Hospital for the girls to try. Uncle Miao said that the Medical Officer There is a kitchen in the courtyard, so I didn’t go. Fortunately, the girl is back.” She said: “This year’s Youth League is made by everyone together. Widow Sun sent us the fresh mugwort leaves. Please try it while it’s hot, girl!”

The green ball was bright green, like a green fruit. Lu Zhu lowered his head and took a bite. Perhaps to take care of her taste, the dumplings were made glutinous and sweet, and when she took a bite, her mouth was full of fragrance.

After a pause, she said: "It smells very good."

Du Changqing kept watching her movements, and when he saw her praising her, he said proudly: "Nonsense, of course what I do is better than what the medical hospital does. As I said, the imperial city doesn't have everything!"

Acheng curled his lips: "I don't believe it." He raised his hand and poured a bowl of green plum soup and pushed it in front of Lu Yan. He raised his head and asked curiously: "Doctor Lu, please tell us what the Medical Officer's Hospital is like. Is the bed there soft? You guys?" What do you eat every day? What incense do those adults use on daily basis? What fun things do you have to listen to?"

Du Changqing slapped him on the head: "You know how to have fun!"

Acheng covered his head and glared at him: "My boss, Uncle Miao said that if you start with a head, you will not grow taller!"

Children are always curious, so Lu Zhuo smiled and patiently answered them one by one.

After saying this, everyone nodded. Lu Yan wanted to ask how Renxin Medical Center was doing, but as soon as he said it, Du Changqing patted his chest and started talking.

"...Of course it's very good. Even though you're not here, the hospital is still busy every day. The new medicine I made according to your prescription is selling well, and the income is so high that I can't bear to keep accounts."

"...The roof leaked a few days ago, so I hired someone to repair it. I felt that the shop was a bit old, and it was very narrow. I wanted to raise money to expand it to the side. You came back just in time. Can you help me see how big it is? ?”

"...Lao Miao? Lao Miao is very good now. He is so old that he can bluff people. To be honest, more people come to see him for treatment than when you were here. It can be seen that the old bark can be reborn. One spring.”

"Yin Zheng won't mention it anymore. She lives and eats what I have, she has a bad temper, and she is often unwilling to say a few words. If she hadn't been yours, I would have taught her a lesson and taught her what it means to respect the boss. "

"... Acheng is not young anymore after the Chinese New Year. Yin Zheng usually teaches him literacy and other things. I guess I should learn from Wu Xiucai and let him go to school. If he passes the exam, I can have more The son of an official should be filial and enjoy peace and happiness..."

"Anyway, everything remains the same. You won't starve to death even if you don't make a fortune. If you can't work in the medical hospital anymore, you can still come back. Considering our previous friendship, my boss will give you a charity..."

He talked a lot.

It was mixed with Acheng's interruption and Miao Liangfang's rebuttal, or Yin Zheng's sarcasm. It was a little noisy, but like the sun shining above people's heads in April spring, it was warm and reassuring.

The meal was very long.

Du Changqing was the first to get drunk again.

Acheng helped the eldest young master go home early to avoid vomiting all over the floor like he did during the New Year. Miao Liangfang still wanted to say a few more words to Lu Zhuo, but there was someone at the shop in front of him coming to see a doctor. He couldn't delay, so he had no choice but to go see the patient first - without Xinglin Tang, the only medical clinic on West Street became precious. stand up.

Lu Chen and Yin Zheng cleaned up the leftovers in the yard and sat down to rest for a while. The sun gradually set in the west. The plum tree at the entrance of the medical center made a rustling sound in the evening wind, and the sunset was slanting. The light shines obliquely through the roof tiles, covering the entire courtyard.

Night is coming.

Yin Zheng sat in the yard with Lu Zhu for a while, until Miao Liangfang came in and urged Yin Zheng to close the door because it was getting late, and asked Yin Zheng to go ahead and count the remaining medicinal materials for the day.

Lu Zhu was the only one left in the yard.

The twilight shines in the evening, the sun sets, and the light gradually dims, but the sky becomes faintly brighter. A shallow crescent moon appears in the silver-blue sky, hanging thinly on the tips. It becomes dim and bright as the clouds in the sky gather and disperse. .

Lu Chen sat with his eyes lowered.

She stayed in the medical hospital for several months, consulting people and making medicine every day. Whether she was picking red catkins or giving Jin Xianrong acupuncture, her heart was always calm, like a stagnant water.

However, as soon as I entered Renxin Medical Center, it was as if the stagnant water had gained a glimmer of life. It was a completely different kind of tranquility, as if a kite had caught a thin thread between the sky and the human world. It was invisible and intangible, but it was They are also involved in each other.

There was a noise behind me.

Yin Zheng opened the felt curtain, and the wind from outside passed through the curtain. She walked to the plum tree in the courtyard and lit the red gauze lantern hanging on the branch, giving the small courtyard a golden-red light.

Miao Liangfang followed her: "Xiao Lu."

He hesitated, his hand on the walking stick tightened and loosened. Yin Zheng looked at Lu Zhuo, then at Miao Liangfang, and smiled suddenly: "There are some medicinal materials in the kitchen. I'll go over and clean them up first to avoid being caught by mice at night. "

After saying that, he took an oil lamp and left.

Miao Liangfang breathed a sigh of relief, limped to the stone table with a cane, and sat down opposite Lu Zong.

"Mr. Miao."

Lu Zhuo looked at Miao Liangfang.

Miao Liangfang looks a little different from before.

When she left, Miao Liangfang had not yet officially sat down at the medical clinic. Although Du Changqing said that he wanted him to perform consultations in the medical clinic, although Miao Liangfang was excited, he looked uneasy. After not seeing him for a few months, his beard had grown longer, washed clean, and trimmed into the shape of a goat's beard. Wearing a brown linen garment with wide sleeves and a bun tied up with linen, she no longer looked rickety as before and became a bit more spacious.

He does look like an experienced and well-disposed old doctor.

Lu Zhuo smiled and said, "Mr. Miao seems to be doing well lately."

Miao Liangfang also laughed and said with emotion: "It's pretty good."

He was expelled from the medical hospital. He had neither practiced medicine nor dared to practice medicine for many years. He never thought that he would have the opportunity to treat people in his lifetime. Neighbors on West Street didn't know about his past. He practiced medicine at Du Changqing's hospital. Sometimes the patients who came to see him were poor, so he wouldn't accept the money. When Du Changqing saw him, he would just turn a blind eye.

What's sad is that many years ago, he wanted to pass the spring examination and enter the Hanlin Medical Academy. But now that he is down and has nothing, he can only follow the teachings of his ancestors for many years——

"Don't ask for too much, but you should be rewarded. If the sick family is extremely poor and takes nothing, it is particularly benevolent and honest."

Things in the world play tricks on people.

After retracting his thoughts, Miao Liangfang looked at Lu Yan with a worried expression: "What about you, Xiao Lu...Have you ever been in trouble after entering the Medical Officer's Hospital?"

Miao Liangfang knows better than anyone what kind of differential treatment an ordinary medical worker will receive when he first enters the hospital. He also had a sense of injustice back then, not to mention a young and fragile girl like Lu Zhen.

"No." Lu Zhuo shook his head, "Everything went well in the Medical Officer's Hospital, and nothing happened to her." She was silent for a moment before continuing: "I just promised Mr. Miao, but I can't fulfill it now. I have just entered the Medical Officer's Hospital, and I have to act accordingly." It’s not easy to take risks.”

She was talking about dealing with Cui Min.

Hearing this, Miao Liangfang waved his hands repeatedly and said anxiously: "I just want to tell you that it is too dangerous for a girl like you to do this. What happened at the beginning and "Miao's Recipe"... are not forced."

Perhaps when people live a comfortable life, they will be grateful to God for showing mercy, and their "hatred" and "unwillingness" will be diluted a lot. Now I have found peace at Renxin Medical Center, and I feel relieved about the past. He thought that although Cui Min took away "Miao's Prescription" and changed it into "Cui's Pharmacology", in the final analysis, the prescription would also benefit the people if it was passed on to doctors all over the world.

This kindness reaches heaven and earth, so there is no need to care about who the person who will be famous for eternity is.

As for Lu Zhen, there is no need to ruin his promising future for his own selfish reasons.

Lu Yan was silent.

After a while, she slowly spoke: "I will definitely do what I promised sir. This was the condition for the deal between you and me."

"Xiao Lu..."

"Actually, when I come back today, I have one more thing I want to ask Mr. Miao." Lu Zhu interrupted him.

Miao Liangfang was stunned: "What's the matter?"

The entire West Street fell into darkness, and the wind blew from higher places, blowing the red gauze lanterns hanging on the plum trees swaying and pulling the messy tree shadows on the ground.

Lu Zhuo looked away.

She said: "Mr. Miao has been a hospital envoy at the Medical Officials' Hospital for many years. He should have read the medical records recorded by each official household in the Medical Officials' Hospital's medical database."

"I would like to ask Mr. Miao about Qi Yutai, the direct descendant of the Grand Master Qi Qing's mansion..."

"Have you ever suffered from visual confusion or confusion in the past?"

Miao Liangfang was stunned.

There was silence all around.