Spring in Shengjing was nearing its end, gradually taking on summer’s sweltering heat.

Early in the morning, the gate of the Ke family residence in the southern part of the city was pushed open, and a middle-aged woman walked out.

This woman wore a somewhat worn honey-colored woven cotton jacket, her hair arranged in a bun. She had a round, plump figure and a very kind face, with a bamboo-woven hanging basket hooked on her arm.

The gatekeeper greeted her: “Nanny Wan.”

Wan Fu’s wife nodded in response and headed straight toward the direction of the official lane flower market.

Old Madam Ke loved sweets, and Wan Fu’s wife was skilled at making sweet foods, most adept at steaming all kinds of cakes made with fresh flowers. Recently, Old Madam Ke most loved eating falling plum cakes—plum blossoms ground into juice and powder mixed into fresh pastries, pressed into small plum blossom shapes and served on plates, both beautiful and delicious.

However, the Grain Rain solar term had already passed, and in another half month it would be the Beginning of Summer. Plum blossoms should have long since left the market. The plum blossoms currently sold at the official lane flower market were stored from last year. When this batch was sold out, they would have to wait until this winter. Therefore, Wan Fu’s wife had come early.

When she reached the official lane, she could smell the overwhelming fragrance even before entering the flower market. There were many spring and summer flowers, with various stalls displaying blooms—mountain orchids, jasmine, peonies, purple orchids… rich and fragrant, bustling everywhere.

Wan Fu’s wife found a stall selling plum blossoms, bought up all the remaining plum blossoms on the stall, and also purchased several bundles of herbs for making sweets before carrying her basket and heading back.

The official lane entrance was naturally crowded with people, with endless carriages and horses, and the flower market was packed. Nanny Wan had just started walking out when suddenly a twelve or thirteen-year-old beggar child burst out from outside the flower market and crashed straight into her, knocking Nanny Wan down with an “aiya!” Before she could call out to stop him, the little beggar saw things had gone badly and ran off like smoke.

Nanny Wan fell sideways to the ground, feeling her ankle hurt piercingly. For a moment she couldn’t get up, so she propped herself up to gather the scattered flowers and herbs back into her basket while cursing under her breath.

At this moment, she suddenly heard someone speaking beside her ear: “Auntie, are you alright?”

Nanny Wan looked up and saw two young ladies standing before her.

One wore a blue vest, was pretty and clever-looking, with her hair styled in a maid’s bun. The other wore a deep blue cloth skirt, had red lips and white teeth with lustrous skin and bones, and was looking at her with concern.

Nanny Wan’s foot hurt terribly right now, and with people coming and going all around making things very inconvenient, she said: “Please trouble yourselves to help me to that stone chair at the lane entrance to sit for a while.”

The blue-clothed maid smiled and helped support her, saying: “It’s no trouble.”

Nanny Wan was helped by these two to walk to the stone chair outside and sit down. She felt her ankle hurt even more severely. When she tried to stand and walk, the moment she applied force, the pain made her grimace.

The blue-skirted young lady looked at her ankle and shook her head: “The bone is twisted. You can’t walk now, and it’s best not to apply force for three to five days.”

Nanny Wan exclaimed “Ah!” and said in panic: “This is terrible.”

She had come out to buy plum blossoms, and the flower market was still quite a distance from the Ke family home. Even if she called for a carriage now, it would be too late.

The blue-skirted young lady thought for a moment and said to Nanny Wan: “Although the bone is twisted, if we use golden needles for acupuncture, it can heal in less than half a day.”

“Acupuncture?” Nanny Wan was puzzled. “Is there a place for acupuncture around here?”

The blue-clothed maid smiled cheerfully: “I know there’s a Renxin Medical Hall nearby, very close to the flower market. Would you like to go take a look, Auntie?”

Nanny Wan was startled: “Renxin Medical Hall?” Her face showed surprise. “Is that the medical hall that’s been selling nasal congestion medicinal tea very well recently?”

The maid was also startled, then smiled: “You’ve also heard of Renxin Medical Hall’s name?”

“Of course, that medicinal tea’s name can be heard everywhere recently.” Nanny Wan looked at her own ankle. “Since everyone says Renxin Medical Hall makes good medicinal tea, they probably have some real skill. Please trouble you two young ladies to take me to Renxin Medical Hall. When my foot heals in a couple of days, I’ll definitely thank you both properly.”

“It’s just a small favor, Auntie needn’t take it to heart.” The maid smiled and glanced at the blue-skirted young lady. “Miss, let’s help this auntie walk over together.”

“Alright.”

…

Lu Tong and Yin Zheng helped the ankle-injured Nanny Wan all the way to Renxin Medical Hall.

Du Changqing was sitting in front of the medicine cabinet in a daze. Seeing Lu Tong return, he was somewhat surprised: “Doctor Lu, didn’t you go to buy flowers? How did you come back so early?”

Early in the morning when Renxin Medical Hall had just opened, Lu Tong had told Du Changqing she was going to the flower market to buy flowers and had left first with Yin Zheng.

Hearing Du Changqing’s words, Nanny Wan looked at Lu Tong in surprise: “Doctor Lu… you’re a doctor?”

Lu Tong nodded.

Yin Zheng smiled as she helped support Nanny Wan’s arm walking inside: “Don’t worry, Auntie. My young lady has excellent medical skills. That medicinal tea was made by her. In a moment she’ll give your ankle some acupuncture, and I guarantee it won’t hurt in a while.”

Du Changqing still didn’t quite understand the situation. After hearing Lu Tong explain the whole story, he looked at her with mixed feelings: “You’re really being charitable, helping people everywhere.” He then moved closer and asked in a low voice: “But do you really know acupuncture? You’re not deceiving people, are you? I’ll say this first—if you poke someone and cause damage, I can’t protect you.”

Lu Tong ignored him and went to get golden needles from the clothing chest herself.

Outside, Nanny Wan was half-reclining on a lounge chair, looking at Lu Tong with some doubt in her eyes, hesitating: “Doctor Lu, if it won’t work…”

“Internal connections to the organs and viscera, external networks to the limbs and joints.” Lu Tong had already removed Nanny Wan’s shoes and socks and sat on a slightly lower chair, placing the woman’s leg on her own knee.

She could see that the ankle had swollen into a large lump, looking frightening. She said: “After needle insertion, the meridians will be unblocked and the swelling will subside. You’ll be able to walk soon. Auntie needn’t worry.” With that, she raised her hand and inserted the golden needle into Nanny Wan’s ankle.

Nanny Wan’s mouth full of words could no longer be spoken.

Lu Tong’s movements were simply too fast.

Seeing this, Yin Zheng poured a bowl of tea from the side and handed it to Nanny Wan, smiling: “Auntie, please relax. Since my young lady is the resident physician here, her skills are naturally considerable. Please have some tea first to calm yourself. After the acupuncture, in about an hour or so you’ll be fine.”

Nanny Wan accepted the tea with a very forced smile.

Yin Zheng moved a stool to sit in front of Nanny Wan and chatted with her: “I just heard Auntie’s accent—it doesn’t sound like a Shengjing accent, but more like Yingchuan.”

Hearing this, Nanny Wan’s attention was diverted, and she smiled: “That’s right, I am from Yingchuan.”

“Really?” Yin Zheng became happy: “My family is also from Yingchuan. I never expected to see a fellow townsperson in Shengjing—what fate!”

Nanny Wan was also surprised: “What a coincidence! No wonder I felt such affinity when I first saw you today!”

The two fellow townspeople meeting unexpectedly naturally felt infinite warmth and immediately began chatting enthusiastically. Yin Zheng was naturally clever and lively. Talking with Nanny Wan about hometown matters, in no time she had coaxed Nanny Wan into blooming with joy. Nanny Wan held onto Yin Zheng calling her “my dear girl” with great affection. Getting excited in their conversation, she even forgot about the golden needles in her ankle.

Du Changqing picked at his ears, seeming somewhat annoyed by the chattering conversation in his shop.

Lu Tong, however, smiled slightly.

Since entering Renxin Medical Hall, she had never forgotten her mission for a moment and never slackened in gathering information about the Ke family.

This woman came to buy flowers and herbs at the official lane flower market shops every five or six days and spoke authentic Yingchuan dialect. When Yin Zheng had fallen into the pleasure quarters, she had known a sister whose family was from Yingchuan and had fortunately learned a few phrases.

So Lu Tong had long since bribed the temple entrance beggar children to stage a scene of helping others at the official lane flower market.

The collision, the charity, attracting people, fellow townspeople—everything was merely a deliberate means to approach this woman.

She lowered her head, took the last golden needle from the velvet cloth, and slowly inserted it into the acupoint on Nanny Wan’s wrist, hearing Nanny Wan laugh: “There are few people in my household. My husband works for Master Ke. I came out early this morning to buy plum blossoms, but unfortunately got bumped into by that little rascal, and many of the plum blossoms were broken.”

Lu Tong’s hand inserting the needle paused slightly.

After a moment, she smiled and looked up, asking: “Master Ke? Could that be the Ke family that sells kiln porcelain in Shengjing?”