Chapter 47: The second follow-up consultation

Mu Dong ran breathlessly to Song Yuntang and bowed respectfully.

“Last time at Baicao Hall, I thank you for saving my mother.  She’s much better now.” He handed a package wrapped in oiled paper to Song Yuntang, “I heard you were in town this morning.  This is a freshly baked white flour cake from my mother.  We don’t have anything valuable at home; I hope you don’t dislike it.”

After looking at him for a while, Song Yuntang took it.

“I’ll accept this as your consultation fee.”

Mu Dong scratched his head embarrassedly, “How could that be? You saved my mother’s life; how can a few cakes pay for that?”

Song Yuntang smiled faintly, “I can tell your family’s circumstances; those white flour cakes must have cost you quite a bit, right? Thank your mother for me and tell her to take care of her health; don’t waste money on me again.”

Mu Dong’s smile faded, and he nodded earnestly.

“I’ll tell my mother what you said, Miss Song.”

Song Yuntang nodded slightly and walked towards the town entrance with Xu Qingye.

Looking at the girl beside him, Xu Qingye’s eyes showed inquiry.

“I didn’t expect Miss Song to be so kind-hearted.”

Song Yuntang smiled faintly, “The person was lying in front of me; I could have easily saved her. I couldn’t just watch her die because they couldn’t afford the consultation fee.”

…

Lin Jingyao watched everything from the side.  After the two left, he walked out of the bookstore with a puzzled expression and went to Mu Dong.

“She saved your mother?”

In his impression, although Tang’er was knowledgeable in various arts, she hadn’t learned medicine. How could she save someone?

Mu Dong didn’t answer his question but cautiously looked at the well-dressed man.

“Who are you?”

Lin Jingyao touched his nose, “My mother has recently suffered from headaches, and I want to find a good physician for her.  I’ve found many doctors, but nothing has worked.  I heard what this young man said; that girl’s medical skills must be excellent, right?”

Mu Dong wholeheartedly agreed with Lin Jingyao.

“Miss Song’s medical skills are naturally excellent.  My mother was barely breathing; everyone thought she couldn’t be saved, but Miss Song used a few silver needles to save her.”

Surprise filled Lin Jingyao’s eyes.

“She knows acupuncture?”

Mu Dong nodded, “Not only does she know it, but she’s also very skilled.”

Lin Jingyao recovered from his shock and bowed to Mu Dong.

“Thank you for telling me.  It seems my mother’s headaches can be cured.”

“You’re welcome.  Farewell.”

Mu Dong bowed, turned, and walked south.

Lin Jingyao looked in the direction Song Yuntang had left, muttering to himself, “She knows medicine but won’t go to the Lin family.  Does she really not care about the Lin family anymore?”

After all, her mother had raised her for thirteen years.

Awang beside him asked, “Young Master, when Miss Song was at the Lin family, we never heard that she knew medicine.  Could it have been a fluke?”

“The previous doctor said that acupuncture might alleviate my mother’s headaches,” Lin Jingyao looked at Awang, “Whether it’s true or not, go and inquire again.  If it’s true, I’ll personally go to Rongshu Village to invite her.”

Awang bowed, “Yes.”

…

Seeing Song Yuntang and Xu Qingye together, Song Jinyuan was slightly surprised.

“Mr. Xu is also in town.”

Xu Qingye nodded slightly, “I was reading at the bookstore and happened to meet Miss Song buying paper, so I came together.”

Song Yuntang looked around and beckoned to Old Man Sun under the tea shed.

“Old Man Sun, if there are more people, there won’t be enough seats.”

The ox cart could seat four or five people.  There were already three of them, plus a bag of soybeans; it was almost full.

“Coming.” Old Man Sun replied, settled his bill with the tea shed owner, and walked towards the ox cart. “When did you arrive in town?  I didn’t see you on the way.”

“We walked to town when we saw that your ox cart hadn’t arrived at the village entrance this morning,” Song Yuntang said with a smile.

Old Man Sun laughed heartily.

“It seems I need to leave earlier in the future?”

Song Yuntang shook her head, “No need, just as usual.  We don’t come every day.”

It was Si Shi; the sun wasn’t too strong yet. Old Man Sun drove the ox cart, “It’s just right to go back; I can make another trip to town later.  Besides you, there are two or three more people who haven’t returned.”

Song Yuntang smiled, “It seems you’re doing well today, Old Man Sun.”

Old Man Sun sighed, waving his hand, “I can barely make a living.”

Song Jinyuan watched Song Yuntang talking with Old Man Sun and felt relieved.  She seemed to be adapting to the life of a farmer’s family.

After talking to Old Man Sun, Song Yuntang looked at Xu Qingye, “If I’m not mistaken, tomorrow is your follow-up appointment?”

Xu Qingye nodded, “Yes.”

“Since we’ve met today, I’ll check on you now, and I won’t go to the private school tomorrow.”

“Okay.”

With a large bag of soybeans between them, Xu Qingye stretched out his hand and placed it on the bag.

Song Yuntang took his pulse and withdrew her hand after a moment.

“Just continue taking the medicine I adjusted for you.”

Xu Qingye nodded and looked up at her, “I won’t be teaching at the private school often in the second half of the year.  Miss Song, perhaps you should call me something else.”

Song Yuntang was startled, “Isn’t Mr. Xu fine?”

“It sounds a bit old-fashioned.”

Seeing his embarrassed expression, Song Yuntang couldn’t help but laugh, “I’m sorry, I didn’t expect the usually serious Mr. Xu to care about this.”

Looking at the girl who wanted to laugh but didn’t dare to laugh out loud, Xu Qingye touched his nose.

“If Miss Song doesn’t mind, you can call me by my name.”

“Xu Qingye?” After thinking for a moment, Song Yuntang shook her head, “That’s not good; it seems impolite.”

Xu Qingye said calmly, “It’s fine.”

“Mr. Xu is three years older than my Big Brother; I’ll call you Big Brother Xu,” Song Yuntang put away her smile, “Big Brother Xu, why won’t you be teaching at the private school often in the second half of the year?”

Xu Qingye replied, “A friend of mine will take my place, but I’ll still go to the private school in Rongshu Village occasionally in the second half of the year.”

“Is it Mr. Zhuang whom you met at your place before?” Mr. Zhuang had taught at the private school for a few days, and he was there when Song Yuntang went for Xu Qingye’s follow-up consultation last time, so it wasn’t difficult to guess.

Xu Qingye nodded, “It’s him.”

Seeing that Song Yuntang didn’t speak for a while, he said, “Miss Song, do you have any objections to him?”