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Difficult Birth with the Feet Exposed First
At this moment, snowflakes suddenly began to drift from the sky, light and delicate like willow catkins. The crowd was momentarily stunned, and then they erupted in cheers, “It’s snowing! It’s snowing!”
The blacksmith slapped his thigh and laughed heartily, “Haha, the snow this winter came early!” He strode into the yard, letting the snowflakes fall on his face and shoulders.
Jiu An was even more excited, dancing with joy. In the past, he had hated snowy days, as the swirling snowflakes were a symbol of hunger and cold, a depiction of endless suffering. However, today, he seemed to have discovered a new world, running joyfully in the snow, reaching out to catch the gently falling flakes.
He focused closely and was amazed to see that each snowflake had its own unique shape, none of them were the same. This was the first time he truly felt that snow could be so beautiful.
Wei Lan’s gaze swept across the clothing that had been purchased for everyone when they first arrived, and a wave of emotion surged in her heart. At that moment, the education session was just finishing, so she suggested, “It’s snowing today, and the temperature has dropped quite a bit. The clothes we’re wearing are a little thin. How about we go shopping for some new clothes?”
Hong Hua smiled slightly, her eyes full of tenderness, and said softly, “Good idea. It has indeed gotten colder today. It’s time to get some warmer clothes.”
Ming Yi shook his head, “I won’t go. You all go. I’ll tidy up here.”
Wei Lan nodded, and then she and Hong Hua linked arms, with Xun Xing and Jiu An following behind. The group of them left the medical hall, full of joy.
As they passed by the Liangji Tailor Shop, Wei Lan suddenly felt curious and wanted to check how her designed clothes were selling. She walked around the shop but couldn’t find any of her pieces, feeling confused, and she asked the shopkeeper, “Shopkeeper, are there any clothes that haven’t been displayed yet?”
The shopkeeper glanced around to make sure no one was watching, then leaned close to Wei Lan’s ear and whispered, “Are you perhaps interested in seeing the clothes inside?”
Wei Lan nodded slightly, still puzzled.
The shopkeeper led Wei Lan and Hong Hua into the inner room, passing through two doors to the back. There, a set of lace lingerie was displayed like a treasure in the center of the room, illuminated by soft lighting, surrounded by various accessories that made it even more eye-catching.
Hong Hua stared in astonishment, while Wei Lan felt embarrassed. She softly asked, “How much is this outfit?”
The shopkeeper grinned slyly, as if confident of the sale, and held up a finger, saying, “This is a rare treasure, priced at one tael of silver. However, there is no stock available right now. You can pay a deposit of five wen, and when the goods arrive, you can pay the remaining balance.”
Hong Hua was even more shocked, unable to close her mouth. Was this outfit made with gold thread? How could it be so expensive!
Wei Lan felt helpless; the shopkeeper was clearly a dishonest merchant. She said, “Let’s take a look at something else.”
Seeing that they had no intention of buying, the shopkeeper didn’t give up and continued to try to sell, “This outfit is our shop’s best seller. Once worn, it’s irresistible, soul-stirring, making it impossible to stop. Hehehe.”
The implication in his words was unmistakable. Hong Hua’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and Wei Lan was speechless. These people had turned the outfit into something sensual. She quickly shook her head, “No, no.”
Afterward, Wei Lan carefully selected a few warm and thick clothes for the three of them, preparing to pay and leave. Just then, the shopkeeper’s eyes lit up, and he seemed to recognize Xun Xing. He stared at him for a while, then hesitated, finally speaking cautiously, “You’re not…”
Before he could finish, he quickly stopped himself, worried that revealing something might expose the origin of the lingerie, which had been sold to him by Xun Xing earlier.
Xun Xing subconsciously glanced at Wei Lan. Seeing that she gave no clear signal, he responded in a low voice, “Shopkeeper, you’ve mistaken me for someone else.”
The shopkeeper, unwilling to let go of this potential money-making opportunity, hurriedly pulled Xun Xing into a corner and lowered his voice, with a forced smile, “Young master, you’ve come at just the right time. The set of clothes you gave me last time sold like hotcakes, and we’ve run out of stock. Could you perhaps ask that noble person to design some more unique styles? We can discuss the price, and I’m sure we’ll reach an agreement that will make you happy.”
Xun Xing frowned, clearly not pleased by the shopkeeper’s persistence. However, he didn’t show it outwardly, responding calmly, “I’ll mention it to the noble person.”
The shopkeeper, hearing this, showed a hint of joy in his eyes, nodding eagerly, and was hopeful that he could secure more profitable business from Xun Xing.
After returning to the medical hall, Xun Xing seized an opportunity and privately informed Wei Lan about the shopkeeper’s actions.
Wei Lan, after hearing this, fell into brief thought, a hint of displeasure crossing her face. She thought to herself, the shopkeeper was far too greedy. She had only sold the design blueprint of the outfit for 20 taels of silver, and now each outfit was being sold for an exorbitant price. She wondered how much profit the shopkeeper was making in between. However, since she wasn’t lacking money for now, she decided to set the matter aside for the time being. If she needed silver in the future, she could always consider taking on part-time work as a fashion designer.
She then told Xun Xing, “Let’s not deal with her for now.”
Xun Xing didn’t say more, understanding that Wei Lan had her reasons, and went about his business.
If only every day could be this peaceful, but alas… a doctor, no matter the era, can never escape the fate of emergency calls. It’s an endless race, each emergency a battle with death, and every effort is made to snatch life back from the hands of death.
That night, as Wei Lan was lost in a sweet dream, savoring various delicious dishes with a satisfied smile on her face, murmuring to herself, “This roast duck, the skin is so crispy, the meat so tender, it’s absolutely divine…” her peaceful dream was abruptly interrupted by a loud knock on the window, accompanied by Ming Yi’s voice calling, “Xiao Lan, Xiao Lan, wake up!”
This is a brief translation of the content. The excerpt involves characters from a historical context, mixing moments of peaceful everyday life with the urgency of medical challenges.