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Upon Lu Man’s arrival, Manager Li was overjoyed. He introduced her to Physician Chen, Physician He, Master Qin, his son, his grandson, and Li, the accountant.
Lu Man was aware that both Physician Chen, Physician He, and Master Qin had previously served under He Huang and had willingly joined Tongren Hall. Therefore, she treated them with great respect. Apart from Qin’s son and Li, the accountant, she gave a formal greeting to the others, expressing gratitude and rewarding each of them with twenty taels of silver.
Manager Li also hired two servants, Uncle Chen and Aunt Chen, specifically for the maintenance and cooking duties at Tongren Hall. They were a couple in their thirties. Both of their children were born with illnesses, leading them to endure hardships to pay for their treatment. After their children passed away, they worked hard to repay their debts. They were considered Lu Man’s servants, and Manager Li handed over their contracts to her.
Observing that Uncle Chen and Aunt Chen bore a resemblance, likely being cousins, resulting in their children’s poor health, Lu Man had Xing reward each of them with four silver ingots.
Upon hearing about the miraculous effects of the Angel’s Trumpet, Master Qin was intrigued. After studying the two plants for a while, he mentioned a traditional method passed down in his family that could potentially reduce some toxins in plants, though he was unsure if it would work for the Angel’s Trumpet.
Delighted by the expertise displayed, Lu Man remarked, “Since the Angel’s Trumpet is a plant, it should work. If we can reduce some toxins and add suppressants in the medicine, consuming the Angel’s Trumpet would be much safer.”
Master Qin instructed his son to take the Angel’s Trumpet to the pharmacy. While Tongren Hall had not officially opened for business, the pharmaceutical work had already begun. Manager Li and Master Qin had channels to procure medicines, stocking up on various herbs and starting the processing. As soon as Tongren Hall opened, they could start selling medicines.
Lu Man urged for haste, as she had an urgent need. She also suggested making a portion into a powder form, as heart failure patients experiencing acute episodes couldn’t wait for the medicine to be prepared.
Later, she inquired with Physicians Chen and He if they had any specific antidotes for the Angel’s Trumpet. They only knew of using mung bean soup and Sophora flavescens soup for detoxification but were unaware of any specialized antidotes.
Disappointed by the lack of a solution, Lu Man continued her tour of Tongren Hall. Though the renovations were almost complete, the office furniture such as cabinets and desks were still being prepared by the carpenters.
Her own room was fully furnished, and she sat there for a while. Sensing Manager Li’s hesitation, she chuckled and asked, “Manager Li, if you have something to say, please speak freely.”
Manager Li’s face reddened as he asked, “I was wondering if there is news about Lady He?”
Lu Man sighed, “I’m anxious too. There’s been no news from the people sent to Shu Region.” She added, “Let’s wait a bit longer. If there’s still no news after the New Year, I’ll send someone to inquire.”
As Uncle Chen interrupted, “Madam, there’s a Lady named Lu here who claims to be your aunt…”
Before he could finish, old lady Lu’s eldest daughter-in-law, Mrs. Ding’s voice echoed from outside, “Man, it’s harder to see you now than it is to see a consort in the palace.”
As Mrs. Ding squeezed into the room past Uncle Chen, Lu Man’s expression darkened. She had a particularly low tolerance for dealings with the Lu family, unwilling to engage with them even for the sake of appearances. The constant attempts at contact from these relatives were annoying for her.
Observing Lu Man’s displeasure, Uncle Chen blushed profusely, realizing his mistake.
Guiding him outside, Manager Li whispered, “From now on, whenever anyone from the Lu family comes, no matter who it is, tell them Third Young Madam is unavailable. They’re not trustworthy and bring nothing but trouble.”
Uncle Chen quickly nodded in agreement.
As Mrs. Ding sat down and began to cry, she implored, “Man, I plead with you. Please help your uncle. Due to his relations with your maternal family, he remains a low-ranking official. Although Master Huang had promised him a favorable position before, it was given to someone else. The Huang family’s treatment towards us has changed.”
Lu Man responded, “Mrs. Ding, your words could invite trouble, not just for your husband but for Master Huang as well. If this continues, your husband might even lose his current position. Initially, without my mother’s connections and my maternal family’s efforts, your husband wouldn’t have even attained his current rank. Being an imperial scholar doesn’t guarantee anything, many scholars end up as minor officials in remote regions, some without any real responsibilities. Mr. Lu has lived a luxurious life in the capital for years, yet instead of being grateful to my mother and maternal family, he now complains.”
Mrs. Ding quickly lowered her handkerchief, admitting her fault, “I misspoke. Man, I’ve heard of your close relationship with Madam Huang’s daughter, Lady Min. Could you speak on your uncle’s behalf? His status would elevate yours, and after all, we’re family on your father’s side.”
Lu Man coldly remarked, “My relationship with Madam Huang’s daughter is indeed strong, and I wish nothing but success for Mr. Lu. However, advancement in the government requires competence. If he hasn’t been promoted, it might be due to his lack of ability. While I value my relationship with Lady Min, meddling in official matters isn’t within our capacity as women. We cannot secure promotions for Mr. Lu.”
After speaking, Lu Man stood up and instructed Lu Ying, “Summon the Eighth Young Master and Qichang. It’s getting late, and it’s time to return.”
Mrs. Ding didn’t dare visit the Princess’s residence but always kept an eye on Tongren Hall, ensuring to send a message promptly whenever Lu Man arrived. Upon receiving a message today, she urgently rode in a carriage to the hall, unwilling to let Lu Man leave easily.
Anxiously attempting to grab Lu Man’s sleeve, Mrs. Ding was intercepted by Xing, who warned, “Madam, if the guards outside sense any offense towards our Third Young Madam, they won’t hesitate to act.”
Mrs. Ding withdrew her hand and pleaded, “Man, I’m begging you on behalf of your uncle. Xiao Chen mistreated you before, stole the contract, and with the support of the mother-in-law, we couldn’t do anything…”
Lu Man responded, “Mrs. Ding, please don’t make things difficult for me. I truly can’t assist you with your matters.” With that, she walked away.
Internally, she couldn’t help but scoff at the ungrateful white-eyed wolf. It was the He family’s money and He Huang’s assistance that had secured an official position for Lu Fangming. Despite this, they never sought to help the unfortunate He family and instead blamed He Huang for hindering Lu Fangming’s career. They benefitted from the He family’s resources while watching Lu Man endure mistreatment.
Mrs. Ding’s voice echoed from behind, “Man, mother-in-law asked me to inquire, why weren’t the Lu family invited when the Princess hosted a gathering for all in-laws? It seems the Princess doesn’t hold your maternal family in high regard, affecting your reputation as well.”