The Renxin Medical Hall was bustling with activity today.

Early in the morning, Du Changqing had taken A’Cheng to Dai’s Butcher Shop at the temple entrance in the eastern part of the city to buy meat.

Yin Zheng and Miao Liangfang were cleaning the floors in the medical hall. Miao Liangfang stood outside while Yin Zheng stood on a chair wiping the plaque outside the door.

Tailor Ge from the tailoring shop across the street came out to set up his stall. Seeing the busy activity in the medical hall, he couldn’t help but ask: “Miss Yin Zheng is up so early – are there special guests coming today?”

Usually the Renxin Medical Hall wasn’t seen making such a fuss.

Yin Zheng turned around from the chair and smiled at Tailor Ge: “Today our young lady is returning to the medical hall for her rest period!”

Oh, so Imperial Physician Lu was returning to the medical hall!

Tailor Ge suddenly understood, and glanced at Miao Liangfang who was carefully arranging the medicine jars by the door into decorative patterns, muttering under his breath: “If she’s returning, she’s returning – such a big production. Those who don’t know might think it’s a new bride returning for her first visit home.”

Sister Song from the silk shoe shop came out of her store and rolled her eyes at him: “The Renxin Medical Hall is Imperial Physician Lu’s home – of course it’s returning to her maiden home!”

She walked to the front of the medical hall and called Yin Zheng over, handing her a basket of fresh yellow-skinned loquats: “Yesterday I heard Manager Du say that Imperial Physician Lu… no, Imperial Physician Lu was coming back. Her husband picked these loquats himself – they’re sweet and fresh. Take them back, wash them, and let Imperial Physician Lu try them.”

Yin Zheng tried to decline: “How can I…”

“Why are you being polite now?” Sister Song became anxious. “Don’t tell me that becoming an official makes her look down on us neighbors. When she has time, tell Imperial Physician Lu to come to our silk shoe shop to pick out some new shoes.” She then pulled Yin Zheng aside and whispered: “Imperial Physician Lu has entered the imperial city and must know many talented young men. If there are suitable ones, don’t just think about Widow Sun – keep an eye out for our little sister too.”

Yin Zheng laughed dryly, finally managing to send Sister Song away, when Miao Liangfang called for her again.

The old physician crouched at the entrance of the medical hall, concentrating on staring at the row of messily arranged medicine jars on the counter, asking cautiously: “Miss Yin Zheng, how do you think these jars should be arranged? Should they be arranged like a flower, or in four characters saying ‘Welcome Home’?”

Yin Zheng: “…”

Tailor Ge’s comment about Lu Tong returning to the medical hall with the fanfare of a married bride’s homecoming visit was exaggerated, but actually not far from the truth.

Lu Tong had sent word back a couple of days ago that she would return to the medical hall today for her rest period. Upon hearing this news, the Renxin Medical Hall immediately became busy.

Du Changqing had consulted his drinking buddies who ran food shops several days in advance, drafting a menu for Lu Tong’s homecoming… no, return to the hall. He led A’Cheng to sweep through various markets and butcher shops, buying chickens and fish – even New Year hadn’t seen such grandeur.

Yin Zheng and Miao Liangfang also renovated the broken wooden tables and chairs in the shop. The banner reading “Medicine Cures All Ailments” was wiped ten times a day by A’Cheng – it didn’t need more wiping. If not for Yin Zheng’s intervention, Du Changqing would have even wanted to trim the leaves of the plum tree by the door.

During Lu Tong’s absence, the medical hall had operated in an orderly fashion, and no one seemed to notice anything missing with one person gone. But when Lu Tong was about to return, everyone’s longing poured out like a burst dam, unstoppable.

They were filled with anticipation.

The sun gradually climbed overhead. Du Changqing returned with A’Cheng carrying two large baskets of vegetables and meat, then immediately buried himself in the small kitchen in the courtyard to start cooking. The fragrant aroma of simmered bones gradually wafted from the small courtyard over West Street. Even after Tailor Ge across the street had finished his lunch, no sign of Lu Tong appeared at the medical hall entrance.

Du Changqing had sent A’Cheng to check at the street entrance several times with no sight of her. Holding his cooking spatula, he stood under the plum tree by the medical hall entrance like an anxious mother waiting for her daughter’s homecoming visit that never came, frowning and muttering: “What time is it already? Why isn’t she back yet?”

Just as he was speaking, the sound of carriage wheels suddenly came from ahead.

Du Changqing perked up and saw that ramshackle carriage clattering and swaying as it slowly stopped in front of the medical hall.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and a young woman carrying a medical box stepped down.

“Lu…” Du Changqing hadn’t finished the remaining two characters when he heard Yin Zheng behind him cry “Miss!” and rush forward, pushing past him.

Lu Tong had just gotten off the carriage when someone rushed forward and hugged her tightly.

Yin Zheng’s choked voice was right by her ear: “You’ve finally come back!”

She was startled, momentarily at a loss facing this sudden intimacy. After a long moment, she reached out and patted Yin Zheng’s back.

Miao Liangfang stood with his walking stick next to A’Cheng. Du Changqing, wearing an apron, looked at her sarcastically: “This late? The food is getting cold. I thought Imperial Physician Lu wouldn’t be coming back today.” He rolled his eyes at the carriage behind Lu Tong: “Someone drawing a salary now, couldn’t you hire a decent carriage? Embarrassing!”

Lu Tong was speechless for a moment.

Du Changqing’s manner was remarkably similar to Sister Song next door scolding her little sister.

Since the person had returned, there was no reason to stand waiting outside the medical hall. Everyone followed Lu Tong inside. The interior remained the same as before – the medicine cabinets and tables were wiped spotlessly clean, the golden banner on the front wall gleamed as always, but the calligraphy above the medicine cabinet had changed.

A whole piece of silk paper hung there, still in Yin Zheng’s delicate small script, beautifully written with: “Whether cloudy or clear, waxing or waning, let’s not speak of such things – let’s just rejoice in the good times in this world.”

Lu Tong stared seriously at that poem, hearing Miao Liangfang walking ahead laugh: “Imperial Physician Lu, I followed the prescriptions you left and made one formula. Although we can’t sell ‘Spring Water Life’ this year, the medical hall’s various income sources are doing well.”

“With Xinglin Hall gone, all the neighbors on West Street come to our medical hall for treatment. Sometimes I can’t handle it all alone, fortunately A’Cheng and Miss Yin Zheng can help.”

Du Changqing was displeased: “The way you talk – didn’t the owner help? Don’t forget who pays your monthly wages!”

This remark was tactfully ignored by everyone.

A’Cheng lifted the felt curtain: “Imperial Physician Lu, please come in quickly!”

Lu Tong followed them in.

The small courtyard seemed to be the same as before. The bluestone slabs had been scrubbed clean with water, showing a layer of gray-green. A red gauze lantern hung from the plum tree by the window. Perhaps because it was spring, the azaleas Yin Zheng had planted under the window were all blooming, their bright colors clustered under the banana leaves like a mass of brilliant red clouds.

Yin Zheng pulled Lu Tong into the inner room to look, smiling: “Knowing you were coming back, I washed and dried the bedding in this room a few days ago and replaced it all. I also went to the flower market in Official Lane to buy two camellias—”

Lu Tong followed the direction of her pointing finger. On the table by the window, a white porcelain vase held two fresh camellias. A woven grass dish beside it was filled with black dates, boiled chestnuts, and orange cakes, plus a pile of bean candy that someone had placed there.

Seeing Lu Tong look over, Yin Zheng whispered: “…A’Cheng bought them. He said you love sweets and specially went to the fruit shop to buy two taels.” As she spoke, she handed Lu Tong a piece: “Would you like to try one, Miss?”

That simple, even somewhat crude piece of bean candy lay in her palm. Lu Tong lowered her head and slowly peeled off the candy wrapper, putting it in her mouth.

The honest sweetness melted from her tongue.

Lu Tong felt somewhat dazed.

When she was little in Changwu County, every two weeks when Lu Qian returned home from the academy, their home was like this too.

Her parents would prepare Lu Qian’s favorite dishes early. Lu Rou would sweep the small courtyard over and over again. She had nothing to do, so after lunch she would sit on the doorstep with her chin in her hands waiting. She knew that before the evening glow filled the mountain tops and the long street in front of their house was completely dyed in dusky yellow, Lu Qian would appear.

He always returned home before dusk.

And Lu Tong would always bounce forward, circling around his book box, waiting for him to pull out a handful of bean candy from his chest – he would bring her the best yellow bean candy sold at the general store by the academy gate.

“…Miss?”

Yin Zheng’s voice reached her ears.

Lu Tong came back to her senses, suddenly feeling somewhat embarrassed, hesitantly saying: “I didn’t… bring anything for you.”

Yin Zheng was stunned. Du Changqing, who was walking out, stumbled at these words and nearly fell, turning back in alarm: “Imperial Physician Lu, did working at the Medical Academy damage your brain? What nonsense are you talking?”

Miao Liangfang pushed Du Changqing forward: “Say less. The chicken is still stewing in the pot. It’s past noon and we haven’t eaten yet. Hurry and set out the food. Don’t let little Lu go hungry.”

A’Cheng cheerfully agreed and went to the kitchen to bring out the food.

Yin Zheng pulled Lu Tong to sit at the stone table in the small courtyard.

Strangely, when Lu Tong and Yin Zheng had lived here alone before, it often felt deserted. Now with more people, it actually felt somewhat cramped.

Du Changqing and A’Cheng brought out the food, filling the entire table with dishes like “Wine-Steamed Mutton,” “Red-Braised Chicken,” “Honey-Glazed Fish Fillets,” and “Chicken and Fish Balls” – all meat dishes. At a glance, one could tell they were ready-made purchases from food shops, except for the bowl of bone soup in the center that had been stewed to tenderness, which seemed to be Du Changqing’s handiwork.

Yin Zheng placed a large green dumpling in Lu Tong’s bowl, smiling: “We made green dumplings a few days ago for Qingming Festival. I originally wanted to make some and send them to the Medical Academy for you to try, but Uncle Miao said the Medical Academy has its own kitchen, so we didn’t go. It’s good you came back.” She said: “This year’s green dumplings were made by everyone together. Widow Sun provided fresh mugwort leaves. Try them while they’re hot, Miss!”

The green dumpling was jade-green and oily, like an unripe fruit. Lu Tong lowered her head and took a bite. Perhaps to suit her taste, the dumpling was made glutinous and sweet. One bite filled her mouth with clear fragrance.

After a pause, she said: “Very fragrant.”

Du Changqing had been watching her movements. Seeing her praise, he spoke proudly: “Of course! Homemade is naturally better than whatever the Medical Academy makes. I told you – the imperial city doesn’t have everything!”

A’Cheng pouted: “I don’t believe it.” He poured a bowl of green plum soup and pushed it in front of Lu Tong, looking up curiously: “Imperial Physician Lu, tell us what the Medical Academy is like. Are the beds soft? What do you eat every day? What kind of incense do those important people use? Any interesting stories to hear?”

Du Changqing slapped him on the head: “All you think about is fun!”

A’Cheng covered his head and glared at him: “Boss, Uncle Miao said hitting the head makes you not grow tall!”

Children are naturally curious. Lu Tong smiled and patiently answered all their questions.

When finished, everyone nodded. Lu Tong was about to ask about the Renxin Medical Hall’s recent situation when Du Changqing immediately began talking with chest puffed out.

“…Of course it’s been great. Even though you weren’t here, the medical hall was as lively as ever every day. Old Miao made new medicine according to your prescriptions and it sold so well that I got tired of keeping accounts from all the income.”

“…The roof leaked a few days ago, so we found someone to fix it. I think this shop is getting old too, and it’s too cramped for storing medicine. I want to spend money to expand it to the side. You came back just in time – help me see how much expansion would be appropriate?”

“…Old Miao? Old Miao is amazing now. He looks old and is quite good at intimidating people. To tell the truth, more people come to see him for treatment than when you were here initially. Shows that old tree bark can have another spring.”

“As for Yin Zheng, no need to mention her. She eats my food and lives in my place, yet has a bad temper. Say two words and she’s often unhappy. If she weren’t your person, I would have given her a good lesson long ago to teach her what respecting the owner means.”

“…A’Cheng is not small anymore after New Year. Yin Zheng usually teaches him to read and such. I think if it doesn’t work out, I’ll follow Scholar Wu’s example and let him attend school. If he passes the exams, I’ll have an official son to show filial piety and can enjoy some peace…”

“Anyway, everything continues as usual. We won’t get rich but won’t starve either. If you can’t make it at the Medical Academy, you can still come back. Given our past friendship, the owner will graciously let you work as a resident physician…”

He rambled on about many things.

Interspersed with A’Cheng’s interruptions and Miao Liangfang’s rebuttals, or Yin Zheng’s sarcasm, it was somewhat noisy yet like the April spring sun shining on people’s heads – warm and reassuring.

This meal lasted a very long time.

Du Changqing was again the first to get drunk.

A’Cheng helped the young master go home early to avoid vomiting everywhere like during New Year. Miao Liangfang wanted to talk more with Lu Tong, but someone came to the front shop for treatment and it couldn’t be delayed, so he had to go see patients first – without Xinglin Hall, West Street’s only medical hall became precious.

Lu Tong and Yin Zheng cleaned up the leftover food in the courtyard, then sat resting for a while. The sun gradually set westward, the plum tree by the medical hall entrance rustled in the evening breeze, and sunset colors slanted across the roof tiles, filling the entire small courtyard.

Night was about to fall.

Yin Zheng sat with Lu Tong in the courtyard for a while until Miao Liangfang came from the front urging them, saying it was getting dark and time to close, asking Yin Zheng to go count today’s remaining medicinal materials. Only then did Yin Zheng leave first.

Only Lu Tong remained in the courtyard.

In the evening glow and setting sun, the light gradually dimmed, yet the sky seemed to brighten faintly. A shallow crescent moon appeared in the silver-blue long sky, hanging thinly at the treetops, waxing and waning dimly with the gathering and scattering of floating clouds at the horizon.

Lu Tong sat with lowered eyes.

She had spent several months at the Medical Academy, daily treating patients and making medicine. Whether gathering red fang catkins or performing acupuncture on Jin Xianrong, her heart remained calm as still water.

Yet upon entering the Renxin Medical Hall, even this still water seemed to gain a bit of vitality. It was a completely different kind of tranquility, as if a kite in the boundless sky had found a thin thread connecting it to the human world – invisible and intangible, yet linking them together.

Sound came from behind.

Yin Zheng lifted the felt curtain, and wind from outside came through the curtain opening. She walked to the plum tree in the courtyard and lit the red gauze lantern hanging from the branches. The small courtyard was filled with golden-red light.

Miao Liangfang followed behind her: “Little Lu.”

He hesitated, his hand gripping the walking stick tightening and loosening. Yin Zheng looked at Lu Tong, then at Miao Liangfang, and suddenly smiled: “There are still some medicinal materials in the kitchen. I’ll go organize them first, so the mice don’t get to them at night.”

After speaking, she took an oil lamp and left.

Miao Liangfang sighed in relief and hobbled with his walking stick to sit across from Lu Tong at the stone table.

“Mr. Miao.”

Lu Tong looked toward Miao Liangfang.

Miao Liangfang looked somewhat different from before.

When she left, Miao Liangfang had not yet officially practiced at the medical hall. Although Du Changqing had said he would have him treat patients at the medical hall, Miao Liangfang was excited but also visibly nervous. After several months, his beard had grown longer, washed clean and trimmed into a goatee shape. He wore wide-sleeved brown hemp clothing with hemp cloth binding his hair. Gone was his former hunched posture, replaced by a more open bearing.

He indeed looked like an experienced, distinctive old physician.

Lu Tong smiled: “Mr. Miao looks well recently.”

Miao Liangfang smiled too, somewhat emotional: “It is quite good.”

When he was expelled from the Medical Academy years ago, he had not dared to practice medicine for many years. He never imagined he would have the opportunity to treat patients again in his lifetime. The neighbors on West Street didn’t know his past. When he treated patients at Du Changqing’s medical hall, sometimes when patients were poor, he wouldn’t charge consultation fees. Du Changqing saw this but only turned a blind eye.

What was moving was that many years ago he had desperately wanted to pass the spring examination to enter the Hanlin Medical Academy, yet only now when he was destitute with nothing did he truly follow his ancestors’ teachings of many years –

“Do not overcharge or demand heavy fees, but listen to what they can pay. If the patient’s family is extremely poor, take nothing at all – this shows benevolence and integrity.”

Life was full of ironies.

Gathering his thoughts, Miao Liangfang looked at Lu Tong with some concern: “What about you, little Lu… after entering the Medical Academy, has anyone made things difficult for you?”

Miao Liangfang understood better than anyone what kind of discriminatory treatment common medical workers would face when first entering the Medical Academy. Back then, he too had felt indignant, let alone a young, delicate girl like Lu Tong.

“No.” Lu Tong shook her head. “Everything at the Medical Academy has been smooth, with no other incidents.” After a pause, she continued: “Only the matter I promised Mr. Miao cannot be fulfilled now. Having just entered the Medical Academy, it’s not wise to act rashly.”

She was referring to dealing with Cui Min.

Hearing this, Miao Liangfang waved his hands repeatedly, saying urgently: “I wanted to tell you – this matter is too dangerous for a young lady like you. The past incident, the ‘Miao Family Remedies’… I don’t insist on them anymore.”

Perhaps when people lived comfortable lives, they would be grateful to heaven and their feelings of “hatred” and “resentment” would fade. Having found stability at the Renxin Medical Hall, he had let go of much of the past. He thought that although Cui Min had stolen the “Miao Family Remedies” and renamed them “Cui Family Pharmacology,” ultimately those prescriptions being passed on to physicians throughout the world still benefited the people.

This kindness reached heaven and earth, so there was no need to worry about whose name would be remembered forever.

And Lu Tong didn’t need to ruin her bright future for his selfish desires.

Lu Tong remained silent.

After a while, she slowly spoke: “The matter I promised you, I will definitely accomplish. This was the condition of our original agreement.”

“Little Lu…”

“Actually, I came back today with another matter I wanted to consult Mr. Miao about.” Lu Tong interrupted him.

Miao Liangfang was startled: “What matter?”

All of West Street was immersed in deep night. Wind blew from higher places, making the red gauze lantern hanging from the plum tree sway back and forth, pulling at the chaotic tree shadows on the ground.

Lu Tong withdrew her gaze.

She said: “Mr. Miao served as院使 at the Medical Academy for many years. You should have seen the medical records of various officials stored in the medical archive.”

“I want to ask Mr. Miao, the current Grand Tutor Qi Qing’s legitimate son Qi Yutai…”

“Did he previously suffer from visual hallucinations and perceptual disorders?”

Miao Liangfang was stunned.

All around was silent.