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Yun Cuihe pursed her lips and said nothing more.
As the youngest daughter in her family, she had always been doted on by her parents and brothers. Even now, after being married for so long, her family still treated her so well, and for that, she felt deeply content.
When they arrived at the ferry crossing, the family said their goodbyes to Yun Dabao. Since it was still early, they decided to stop by Canghe Town to pick up some necessities before heading home.
Canghe Town was far less bustling than Nanping Town. There weren’t even two establishments comparable to the modest Ruyi Restaurant. The shops lining the streets appeared old and worn.
Remembering that Yun Cuihe’s prescription had been used up, Chu Yue entered a small pharmacy to refill it. She handed the prescription written by Dr. Zhu to an elderly, slightly disheveled man.
“Sir, can you fill this prescription here?”
It wasn’t that she doubted the pharmacy, but its worn-down appearance gave her pause.
The old man raised an eyebrow, took the prescription, and glanced at her.
“Did you visit a clinic in Nanping Town before?”
Chu Yue nodded, a little surprised. “How did you know?”
The old man chuckled, pointing at the prescription. “I recognize my apprentice’s handwriting and prescribing habits anywhere.”
Chu Yue’s eyes widened slightly.
“You’re Dr. Zhu’s master?”
Though he looked unkempt, the vigor in his demeanor surpassed even Dr. Zhu’s.
The old man raised an eyebrow. “Oh? That rascal actually mentioned me to you?”
Chu Yue hesitated for a moment. She couldn’t exactly admit that Dr. Zhu had suggested she be apprenticed to him.
At that moment, a middle-aged man entered from the back of the shop and addressed the old man. “Master, the patient inside is ready for acupuncture.”
The old man handed the prescription to the middle-aged man. “Here, this young lady is one of your Senior Brother Zhu’s patients. You handle her prescription.”
“Understood.” The middle-aged man smiled and took the prescription. “Miss, how many doses do you need?”
“Ten doses, please.”
The man nodded, told her to wait, and began preparing the medicine.
Curious, Chu Yue asked the busy man, “Was that elderly gentleman the owner of this pharmacy?”
The middle-aged man shook his head. “I’m the owner. That’s my master. A tricky patient happened to arrive, and since my master came to Canghe Town for roasted snails, I convinced him to stay and help.”
“Just for roasted snails?” Chu Yue raised an eyebrow.
The man laughed heartily. “My master is carefree and loves good food. Wherever he goes, he takes cases. Many physicians, regardless of their age, have learned from him. They all call him ‘Master,’ and he’s known far and wide as a mentor to many.”
The admiration on the man’s face was unmistakable.
“We apprentices often host him at our clinics when he’s traveling for food. But he doesn’t freeload—he either solves difficult cases or teaches us new techniques.”
It seemed Dr. Zhu’s master was indeed a remarkable individual.
A foodie, huh?
Chu Yue scratched her cheek, wondering if she should try making various delicacies to entice him into teaching her more medical skills.
“Is he planning to visit Nanping Town soon?” she asked.
The man chuckled again. “He’s been talking about a new dish in Nanping Town. If it weren’t for the tricky case here, he’d already be there.”
Chu Yue couldn’t help but smile. What an endearing old man.
After paying for the ten doses of medicine, she left the pharmacy.
Outside, Lu Xingping and Lu Xing’an were waiting for her. Lu Xingping quickly took the medicine bag from her hands.
“Sister-in-law, Mother’s at the fabric shop across the street, buying cloth to make clothes for you. She said you should join her after you’re done.”
“Clothes?”
Chu Yue looked at her month-old outfit in confusion. Didn’t she just get new clothes?
When she entered the fabric shop, she saw Yun Cuihe holding a large bundle of cotton and examining a red cloth. Upon spotting Chu Yue, she beckoned her over.
“Yueyue, come take a look at this red fabric. What do you think?”
Chu Yue stepped inside, taking the cotton from her mother-in-law’s arms.
“Mother, why are you making me new clothes again?”
With her hands free, Yun Cuihe held the red cloth against Chu Yue and nodded approvingly.
“It’s already August, and the weather’s cooling down. If we don’t prepare in advance, you’ll catch a chill later.”
She smiled in satisfaction.
“This red cloth is perfect for winter—bright and festive.” Turning to the shopkeeper, she added, “I’ll take this one. The skirt fabric should be blue. Just enough for two outfits will do.”
“Got it!” The shopkeeper began cutting the fabric.
After purchasing the fabric and cotton, they left the shop. Lu Xinghe was waiting outside and promptly packed everything, along with the medicine, into a basket.
Yun Cuihe and the Lu brothers walked ahead, while Chu Yue deliberately lingered behind with Lu Xinghe.
Lu Xinghe smiled at her and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Chu Yue pursed her lips.
“It’s nothing. I was just curious. But if you don’t want to say, I’ll pretend I didn’t ask.”
Lu Xinghe gently patted her head, then took a small pink-white flower hairpin from his pouch and placed it in her hair.
The young girl’s delicate features had always been exquisite. After more than a month of care, her once gaunt cheeks had become much fuller. The pink-white flower pinned in her hair made her look like a delicate porcelain doll.
“When I passed by a little stall earlier, I thought this one was quite unique, so I decided to buy it for you. It looks perfect.”
Chu Yue reached up to touch the flower in her hair, her lips curling into a smile as she looked ahead at Yun Cuihe, who had nothing in her hair.
“Why did you buy me a hairpin? Even Mother doesn’t have one. It might look odd if others see it.”
Lu Xinghe took out another simple and plain hairpin from his pouch.
“Your mother has one too.”
Chu Yue smiled brightly. “Oh, this one would be perfect for Mother. You really know how to choose.”
Lu Xinghe took her hand. “Let’s hurry up. Mother, Xingping, and Xing’an will be at the dock soon.”
Chu Yue looked at his hand in hers. Though it wasn’t the first time he had held her hand, she still felt a bit nervous, but more than that, she felt joy.